“Reese...” Her eyes closed in relief. She was shaking, she realized, as she slid her arms around his neck. With a sigh, she pressed herself against him and just hung on.
“It’s all right, baby. I’m right here. Whatever’s going on, it’s going to be okay.”
She felt his hand running up and down her back, reassuring her. Just being with him settled her nerves. She held on a little longer, then let go.
“I should have called first,” she said. “But I...I wasn’t thinking. I just... I had to see you.”
He led her farther into the apartment and eased her down onto the sofa in the living room, an elegant space with lots of glass and polished dark wood floors, a sleekly modern, high-ceilinged interior done in white and silver with cool aqua accents.
It was as beautiful and remote as Reese was on the outside, giving no hint of the warm, caring man he was on the inside. She was sure someone else had done the design with little input from Reese.
“Tell me what’s happened,” he said, looking down at her from his superior height. He was wearing faded jeans and a soft white cotton T-shirt that hugged his powerful chest. She had never seen him dressed in such casual clothes, but he looked good. So incredibly good.
Kenzie swallowed. “I got a call after supper. It was Lee’s attorney, Martin Bales. According to Bales, Lee had a life insurance policy. Three million dollars, Reese. And Griff is the beneficiary.” Nerves slid through her. “Worse than that, Lee named me custodian. That means I have control of the funds until Griff turns eighteen. Oh, God.” She pressed her fingers over her trembling lips. “The police are going to be sure I killed Lee to get the money. Reese, I’m so scared.”
He sat down beside her, eased her down beside him and into his arms. “It’s okay, baby. The money Griff inherited has nothing to do with you. Every man wants to insure his son’s future. Even Lee Haines.”
She should have anticipated Lee doing something like this. He was always talking about his son being his legacy. And because he had been just thirty-five, Lee’s death benefit policy wouldn’t have been that expensive.
“Maybe there’s a way to prove I didn’t know anything about it,” she said.
“Maybe. You have the best criminal attorney in Dallas working for you, along with my brothers, both top-notch detectives. We’ll figure it out.”
Some of her tension eased. She could feel the heat of his body beside her, incredibly solid and strong. The muscles in his biceps flexed and desire slipped through her. It was completely unexpected and totally out of place. She pressed her knees together, but it only made it worse.
“I know I shouldn’t have come,” she said. “But I wanted you to hear it from me. I needed you to know the truth, and...”
“And what?” His beautiful blue eyes searched her face.
“And I just needed to see you.”
His gaze didn’t waver and Kenzie couldn’t look away. He must have read the desire she was trying so hard to hide because his pupils flared. Her heart skittered an instant before he tipped her chin up and settled his mouth over hers.
Hunger hit her full force. Kenzie clutched his shoulders and Reese deepened the kiss, turning it hot, wet, and intense, completely swamping her senses. It went on and on until her skin felt flushed, her body damp and throbbing. She could feel Reese’s arousal, hard against her thigh.
“I needed to see you, too,” he said pressing soft kisses to the corners of her mouth. “Being with you again like this is all I’ve thought about since we were together. Holding you. Kissing you. Being inside you.”
“Reese...”
He pulled back a little. “I’m sorry. I know you didn’t come here for this, but—”
Kenzie captured his face between her hands and silenced him with a kiss. He was right. She hadn’t come here for this—or maybe she had. She kept on kissing him, aching for him with a desperation even greater than before.
Reese unbuttoned her simple cotton blouse and slid it off her shoulders, unhooked her plain white cotton bra and tossed it away. She hadn’t dressed for seduction, hadn’t thought that far ahead.
“Such pretty breasts,” he said, thumbing her nipple, turning it hard, then settling his mouth there, tugging until she moaned.
He kissed her as he stripped away her clothes, then shed his own. The time he spent keeping himself in shape showed in his solid biceps and six-pack abs. She ran her fingers over his tanned chest and amazing pecs, ringed a flat copper nipple, and heard him groan.
“I want you,” he said, caressing her breasts as he eased her back onto the sofa and settled himself between her legs. “I need this so much, Kenzie. I need you.”
“I need you, too, Reese.”
Reese kissed his way down her body, kissed the inside of her thighs. She was trembling when he began to pleasure her with his mouth and his hands, bringing her to a shattering climax. Then he came up over her and slid deep inside, kissed her as he began to move.
Kenzie thought that she had never known what sex really was until she’d made love with Reese. As his strong, deep thrusts carried her higher, driving her toward the peak again, Kenzie squirmed beneath him, silently begging for more.
“Not yet,” he said, drawing her hands above her head and locking her wrists together. “Not until it’s time.” In and out, fast and then slow, setting up a rhythm so delicious she began to moan.
