Perhaps there was some sort of hope for Louise. Faye wanted to think so. “Did Louise indicate that the, ah, man she talked about, knew about these robberies?”
Clara shrugged a bony shoulder. “No. But when she first came in and pointed the gun at me, she did mention that she couldn’t get blood on her clothes, so she asked me to back up to the far side of the counter.”
Chills slid down Faye’s back. “I’m so sorry that happened to you.”
Raider turned around. “Did you back up?”
“Gracious, no. I moved toward her,” Clara said, nodding emphatically. “Figured if she shot me, she deserved towear my blood.”
Faye shivered, impressed and alarmed at the same time.“Good for you.”
Clara patted her hand again. “You all need to be careful. She seemed awfully determined to protect this boyfriend from you, Hunter. I heard you give your name to her, and she didn’t like it. Said she’d make sure you never saw eitherof them again.”
Chapter Eleven
Hunter finger-combed his wet hair after his shower, drawing his jeans back on and leaving his chest bare. His tattoo looked even darker than usual. Was Faye’s still delicate and beautiful against her pretty skin? He was sure it would always be that way.
His body hurt, his temples pounded, and his temper was ready to roar. They’d taken Clara to the hospital against her wishes, and her daughter the doctor had been there, so Hunter had felt allright leaving.
Then they’d driven west until they couldn’t drive any longer, finally finding yet another fleabag motel to stay the night. This one had several available rooms, so he’d gotten three, wishing there had only been two. But losing himself in Faye right now, in her delightfully curvy body, wouldn’t be fair to either one of them. And there was no way he could sleep platonically next to her foranother night.
Ever since the first time he’d met her, when they were just kids, he’d wanted to bespecial to her.
Why the hell had he given up that dream? He was a fighter, but he’d been too screwed up to fight for the one thing, the one person, who truly mattered in his life.
He stepped out of the bathroom just as a knock came at the door. The rough carpet scratched his bare feet as he walked past the dark blue bedspread and opened the door, expecting an update from Raider.
Faye stood in the moonlight dressed in yoga pants and a T-shirt, her hair wet and her pretty facescrubbed clean.
All words deserted him.
She shifted, her movements uncharacteristically nervous. “Raider got a report. The cop Louise shot is going to be okay.”
Relief filtered through the raw awareness grabbing Hunter around the throat. “Good.” He looked both ways down the deserted walkway and then out to the quiet parking lot. “I’ll walk you backto your room.”
“I don’t want my room.” She placed both hands on his bare abdomen and pushed him back inside.
His mind shut down. Just one little touch from her and his body went from slow burn to wild inferno. “I can’t sleep next to you tonight. Can’t do it.” How could she not understand that? She pushed him again, and he backed up, wanting her touch more than anything in theworld. “Faye.”
She shut the door. “Then sleep under me. On top ofme. Inside me.”
His mouth went dry. Hope and want and need attacked him so quickly, his hands reached for her when his mind knew better.
She stretched up onto her tiptoes and pressed her sweet mouth against his.
He groaned low, letting her kiss him for the briefest of moments. Then he took over. Unable to help himself, he kissed her hard, knowing her taste. Wanting it more than he wanted his next breath. She tasted of honey and wildness and everything sweet in the world. Of desire and trust and even the faintest hint of a chocolate milkshake she’d had before they’d found their rooms.
It wasn’t enough. It’d never be enough. He slid a hand up her soft neck and pressed his thumb against her jaw, forcing her to open her mouth. To let him in. He’d tried to warn her. To let her have some space. To keep her safe and untouched and happy with the memories of them.
He couldn’t be the same guy he’d been at eighteen. Even at twenty-five. He’d seen too much. Hell, he’d done too much. But for now, just this moment, he let himself drown in her taste.
She moaned, leaning into him, her mouth so soft. It was like she’d shocked him with a taser, shooting sparks down his spine to land hard in his cock. God, he wanted her. Almost too much. He released her jaw to slide his fingers deep into her wet hair, remembering the softness he’d dreamed about while fighting worlds away. So far away.
He tightened his fingers into a fist, pulling back her head, swallowing her gasp of surprise.
That sound. That simple and sweet sound should’ve stopped him. Should’ve made him remember why it was safer to keep her away from him. A decent guy wouldstop right now.
He’d stopped being a decent guy a million years ago. She’d come to his room. She’d kissed him. It was too late for him to talk her out of it. He pushed his tongue deeper into her mouth, kissing her harder, taking them both higher than wasprobably sane.
