Stefanie’s brow creased. “That would be awful, if one bad thing led to another,” she stated soberly.
“Of course, whatever her own culpability was, Mia didn’t deserve what she got for the bargain.” Campbell stuck his fork into the grilled vegetables. “And neither did Lynda Boxleitner. The deaths occurred two decades apart—but under very similar circumstances…”
Stefanie gazed at him. “Do you still think that the two deaths are connected in some way to the Braison Family?”
Campbell sat back contemplatively, then replied with a catch to his voice, “My gut instinct says yes. But the facts, as they are currently, may tell a different story. I suppose I’ll just have to keep digging till the right answers surface one way or another. In the meantime, I have someone else who’s occupying my attention these days…”
Feeling the weight of his steady gaze, Stefanie couldn’thelp but color as she asked playfully, “And who might that be?”
“You, Stefanie,” he said clearly and concisely.
Her cheeks reddened with satisfaction. “You’re occupying my attention just as much these days, Campbell,” she stated candidly.
He grinned. “Good to know.”
She thought this was as good a time as any to mention the gala to him. “I’ve been invited by Bella to the Annual Reston Hills Charitable Gala on Saturday. She’s organizing it to raise money for various local causes. I’d love it if you could come as my guest…” Stefanie paused. “I know that as a police detective you probably don’t have the luxury to plan anything too far ahead—”
Campbell interjected. “I’d be delighted to go to the gala as your guest, Stefanie. I’ll make the time. Having been to a previous gala for guard duty, more or less, it should be fun to attend recreationally, and it’s certainly a worthwhile event.”
“I think so—and thanks.” She showed her teeth, happy to have him accompany her to a public outing.
He echoed those thoughts, saying, “Glad to spend more time with you wherever I can.”
“I feel the same,” she assured him.
Before Stefanie knew it, they had leaned in to each other and started kissing. The powerful effect it had beyond her lips was instantaneous, causing her entire body to quaver.
Campbell pulled away from her swollen lips, and Stefanie, looking deeply into his eyes, asked in earnest, “Do you want to take this to your bedroom?”
“Yes.” His voice was raspy. “But only if you do?”
“I want to make love to you,” she responded point-blank.How could I not, with the way you make me feel?But she still needed to be responsible. She wasn’t currently on birth control. “Do you have protection?”
“Yeah, I do,” he assured her succinctly.
That was good enough for Stefanie as she rose from the table. She grabbed his arm and pulled him up toward her and uttered with anticipation, while knowing in her heart the timing was picture-perfect, “Then let’s do this…”
* * *
STEFANIE WAS ANXIOUSas she stepped inside the large primary bedroom. She glanced at the hickory furniture before her eyes rested on the king-size copper-panel bed, with a dark green quilt coverlet and two large pillows.Nice, she thought as her gaze shifted to Campbell, who hadn’t taken his own gaze off her, as though hypnotized. The notion turned her on even more.
He cupped her cheeks, and they began to kiss passionately, as Stefanie felt light on her feet. She felt the rigid contours of his body pressed against hers. Just as she had lost herself in the moment, Campbell pulled away.
“Be right back,” he said on a breath.
“Okay.” Stefanie watched as he went into the en suite bathroom. She started to undress, feeling strangely unabashed, while eager to see the whole of him, and to touch and be touched by him. In her heart, she knew that this was something that needed to happen—and she very much wanted it to.
When Campbell returned, he was holding a condom packet, tossing it on the bed. He peered at her and said desirously, “You’re gorgeous—from head to toe.”
Stefanie blushed. “You think?”
“Without a single doubt,” he doubled down on it, andbegan removing his own clothes. They fell to the parquet floor one piece at a time as she took in his flat chest, rock-hard abs, long legs and strong feet. In between, his full manhood was clearly ready for her. As she was for him.
“I need you,” Stefanie uttered, sotto voice, reaching out to him.
“I’m all yours,” Campbell responded, scooping her up in his arms and carrying her to the bed.
“And I’m yours,” she told him, eager to proceed on that meeting of the minds with their bodies.
