Page 353 of A Matter of Time

“Okay.” He sounded very clinical as he started speaking into my phone. “I need a trace on this number right now. See who called it in the last five minutes and then have Hefron or Moore call me back on my phone. Yep. Okay.”

I closed my eyes and put my face down on my knees. The idea that the guy could just call me, that he knew my number…it was just so creepy. I heard Sam barking orders at people and fumbling around in the kitchen before he started yelling. For some reason his anger and volume were comforting, and when I heard him swearing, I didn’t scold him like usual. I just sat still and silent, listening to the crackling of the fire when the room finally fell silent.

“Hey.”

I lifted my head to look up into his face.

He pointed at the front door. “That’s locked, I’m here, I have a gun, and you know, besides that, I’m a really strong guy.”

I had no idea where this was going.

“So you know when I’m here, you’re safe, right?”

“I know.”

“Good.” He dropped to his knees in front of me. “So come here and kiss me.”

I unwrapped myself and reached for him as he pulled me to my knees in front of him, his hands all over me, tugging my T-shirt off over my head before he eased me down onto the rug in front of the fire. My sweats were next to go, and the briefs underneath. I lay there naked, staring up at him as his eyes swept over me.

“Stay,” he said before he got up and left me there, vulnerable and cold, despite the fire. And I wondered if it was a test to see if I’d move. Did I trust what he’d said? Did I trust that there was no reason for even a sliver of fear to touch me as long as he was there?

I heard him and turned to look, and he was back, wrapped up in one of the blankets off the bed.

I smiled wide. “What’re you doing?”

“I’m here for you,” he said softly as he crouched over me, opening the blanket to reveal both the lube from the nightstand and the fact that he was completely naked.

“I see.” I grinned lazily. “Something you want?”

“Yes, baby…there’s something I want.”

“Whatzat?”

He leaned over and gathered me in his arms, and the contact with his warm, sleek skin made me gasp. I wrapped my legs around his waist and moved around under him until I was where I wanted to be.

“I’m thinkin’ maybe there’s somethin’ you want too, J,” he said softly, his hands on me, drawing me into his arms, his lips on my throat.

I arched my back, lifting for him, and begged him to just make everything else disappear. And he was magic, so it did.

TWELVE

Iwas standing outside getting the mail, after being on the phone with Caleb Reid for half an hour, waving at the uniformed policeman sitting in the cruiser in front of my building, when I heard the roar of Sam’s SUV behind me. Even though I was in nothing but jeans and a T-shirt, I waited for him. It was nice that, as soon as he saw me, his smile was huge. I watched him parallel park his monster vehicle, which I was always amazed that he could do, and saw him climb down out of the cab.

“What are you doing out here?” he called over to me as he started across the lawn that kids played on in front of the building, waving to the patrol officers just like I had.

“Just enjoying the view,” I said, hearing the alarm chirp as he pocketed his keys.

He gave me a look like I was crazy, gesturing around at the gray sky, barren trees, and slushy sidewalks. “What view, baby?”

I pointed at him. Just looking at him made me happy. The swagger in his walk, the fluid way he moved, the easy-to-spot confidence, and the heat that just radiated off the man. I should have been embarrassed that I was standing there sighing like a lovesick schoolgirl, but I had no pride where he was concerned.

His wicked grin nearly stopped my heart.

“Hi, baby,” he said as he reached me, hand instantly on my bicep, rubbing gently. “Let’s go inside before you freeze.”

I looked him up and down. He looked really good. “Jeans to work today?”

“I’m on a stakeout.”