“What are you thinking?” she asked.
“If my partner is compromised… or if he’s being used.”
“Which would be better?”
He looked at her. “Either way, I have to move carefully.”
“O’Reilly knows about me.”
“Yeah.”
“If he told Shannon, she might tell Kedrov, especially after today…”
“Other than tense, you didn’t get a clue about their relationship?”
She exhaled shakily. “My visions don’t come with subtitles. I wish they did.”
“I’ll put it together.”
She reached for his hand. Not casually. Needing an anchor.
“Breathe, darlin’,” he urged, as he laced his fingers through hers.
She didn’t nod or give him an okay this time. That was easier said than done.
***
Erica gripped his hand all the way to her house. As the miles rolled by, something else began building beneath the fear. In herdriveway, he shut off the engine. Neither of them moved. The tick of hot metal filled the silence.
Coop lifted her hand and pressed his lips to her knuckles, lingering there.
“I’m sorry you have to deal with this, darlin’.”
“Me too,” she whispered.
His thumb brushed over her pulse point. “Come here.”
She unbuckled and leaned into him. He pulled her close, arms enveloping her firmly as if he knew she was shattering and he could physically hold her together.
His strength, words of comfort whispered gently, his lips against her head felt so damn good. Usually, she dealt with this alone. Tonight, she didn’t have to.
As the seconds passed, still wired, the tension spiraling inside her, she needed more than comfort. She needed a physical connection. A lot more than she was getting now with the console between them.
She hiked her skirt up and shifted into his lap, facing him astride. The heat of him registered instantly, solid and immediate between her thighs. His hands came to her hips.
“Erica—”
“I don’t want to talk about it.” She cupped his face and kissed him. And she wasn’t tentative or playful or sweet, as much as desperate.
He returned the kiss, slower, more measured, trying to rein in the pace she was setting.
“We should go inside.”
“It’s dark.” Her fingers traced the buttons of his shirt, sliding lower. “No one will see.”
He stilled at the edge in her voice. “Darlin’, you’re wired.”
“I know.” She stayed close, her lips grazing his. “But I need this. I need you.” She reached his waistband, pausing there.She had enough control and sense left not to proceed before he agreed.
