Page 102 of Nowhere Good

“What’s your plan, then? You’re gonna keep acting like everything’s fine while you live in fear?”

“I thought you said I didn’t have to explain anything…”

“Yeah, but…”

She angled herself back so she could see his face, then traced her fingertips along the square of his jaw, feeling its soft grit. “I know you want to help, but I think I have to just… bide my time, spy on them, try to gather more evidence. Isn’t that what you’d do?”

“Yeah, but that’s my job… what you’re talking about is dangerous…”

“I know that.”

“At least get Chief Wells involved. You can trust her.”

Claire didn’t want to talk anymore. She didn’t want to think anymore. She repositioned herself so she was straddling him, her fingers digging into his shoulders.

“Claire,” he protested, his voice husky. His strong hands gripped her waist, so wide they practically engulfed her as he held her in place. Lust filled his gaze again, so she kissed him. He kissed her back, but pulled away to say, “Hey, we’re still talking…”

“Shh, it’s okay,” she breathed out, then slipped to her knees in front of him, holding his stare the whole time. Once she was firm on the floor, she trailed her hands along his bare thighs, and to her benefit, his body betrayed him.

“That’s not fair,” he murmured, but he was helping to hold her hair back as she positioned her mouth to take him in. “I dreamed of you like this.”

She looked up at him with a devious smile, appreciating his eyes on her. Only her. “I dreamed of you too.”

There were so many problems she had to work through, so many truths she had to face.

But she didn’t have to deal with any of them right now.

As far as Claire was concerned, there was no place on Earth that felt safer than his arms.

But when the sun peeked through the curtains, pulling her from her sleep, the first thought that crept into her dreary mind was that their time was coming to an end. Seth’s warm, naked chest was pressed against her back as he spooned her, softly breathing. He hadn’t woken up yet, and she didn’t move, not wanting to disturb him. Memories of last night burned through her like hot smoke.

Four times. That was more than she’d had in over a damn year. It was like she was making up for an entire life of infrequent, lackluster, or straight-up bad sex in the span of ten hours. She’d thought the type of intimacy she craved as she got older was a girlish fantasy, but things really could be that good. Better, actually, than anything she could’ve imagined.

Of course, between all that, he’d tried to press her for more information about what she’d told him, till she eventually asked him to stop and he respected her enough to listen. That left them time to lay together and talk about anything between being tangled up in each other. She liked those moments the most. Hugging him. Hearing him talk. She could listen to his voice forever; it’d been her lullaby last night.

Seth stirred behind her, and she shimmied back into him. His breath was warm against her neck as he held her closer. When she felt him tuck between her thighs, she shivered and opened her legs, allowing him to slide against her skin.

“Seriously?” she murmured. “How do you still have more in you?”

He grinned against her neck. His voice was thick with sleep as he said, “You just drive me crazy.”

His hand found its way to her throat as he angled himself to kiss her, effectively turning her to mush yet again.

Okay, maybe once more.

Then she had to go.

Really this time.

Claire tugged her shorts back on, perched on the edge of the motel bed as the early sun poured through the gaps in the curtains. On the other side of the room, Seth, red-faced but fully-clothed, punched a code into a small safe he had. She watched as he took out his gun and quickly, expertly checked the magazine, then did a few other clicky things with it. Making it safe to carry, she assumed.

“What happens now?” she asked.

“I have to take some statements, finish up some paperwork, then head back to KC tonight,” he said, holstering his weapon.

“You really have to leave?”

He turned back, all soft eyes. He appeared before her and offered his hands; he was so sweet, it made her heart hurt. He pulled her to her feet and steadied her.