Page 28 of Investigation of a Quest

“Go to sleep, Detective.” He tossed her onto his mattress before grabbing her feet and pulling off her shoes.

“You’d think after all your years of practice, you’d be decent,” Bel continued, and Eamon pinned her to the bed so fast that she yelped in his face.

“Keep talking,” he growled the threat in her ear, and a tingle ran through her nervous system at the roughness.

“It’s just such a shame,” she half-laughed, half-moaned at the way his body pressed against hers. “You’re so pretty. It sucks you can’t—oh!”

Eamon didn’t let her finish. It didn’t matter that she’d had a long day. He proved why he was the love of her life. He had her toes curling and her back arched, and when they finally collapsed in a sweaty heap, Bel almost couldn’t remember her own name. Her spine had left her body, and she was melting into his skin. She definitely didn’t want space. She wanted this. Eamon kept her sane. He kept her safe, and even though they were going to bed too late now, she loved that his need for her hadn’t waned in the slightest since their first kiss.

“All right, that kiss was decent,” she teased into his neck, and he tightened his hold on her hips.

“Don’t start again, Detective,” he said, “or I will start again, and you’ll never sleep.”

“Is that a promise or a threat?”

“Depends on whether you stop lying.”

“You’re rich and handsome. I can’t admit you’re good in bed. You’ll be obnoxious, so I’ve gotta keep you humble.”

“I love you,” he groaned against her lips. “Even though you’re a liar, I love you.”

“Swear it?”

“On Cerberus’ life, so you know I’m serious.”

“I don’t want space.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed tight, loving that he was invincible. “I want to sleep here on top of you.”

“So move in with me.”

“Not until you learn to kiss.”

“I’m glad you’re back at work,” Eamon said. “This is my Isobel. I missed her.”

“I missed her too,” she whispered, “and I love you so much.”

“Even though I can’t kiss?” He buried his face in her scars.

“Even though you can’t kiss.” She hugged his neck tighter. “I know the past few months have been rough between us. Thank you for sticking by me.”

“You don’t have to thank me. You may frustrate me at times, but the thought of leaving you never crosses my mind. I worry you’ll leave me, but I’m not going anywhere. I also plan to keep asking you to live with me until you agree.”

“Good.” Bel smiled. She wasn’t ready to make the official move, but she secretly loved the almost biweekly requests. “I’d panic if you stopped.”

“Really? So move in with me.”

“Go to sleep.” She kissed him before curling against his chest, letting the rumble of his laughter soothe her into oblivion.

“Is this okay?” Bel gestured to her outfit. She wore black jeans and a sweater, but she’d paired them with a cat-ear headband and drawn-on whiskers.

“Why are you dressed up… kind of?” Eamon asked.

“Olivia thinks I should stay on the haunted house committee. Not everyone knows that I’m back on the force yet, so she’s hoping I’ll be less conspicuous than the other officers if I’m judging the houses. I doubt it since we think the killer is a witch, but who knows?” She shrugged. “I don’t feel like dressing up though, so I just grabbed cat ears.”

“You look cute.” Eamon kissed her forehead. “I don’t have anything to wear, but I could throw on my cowboy hat.”

“If you want to,” Bel said. “Just as long as you’re there in case we find another body. I don’t think our killer is done yet.”

“We’re leaving him home, right?” Eamon asked as he scratched Cerberus’ head. “If we spot that witch, I need to be able to follow her.”