She looked up at him and her expression might as well have said, “Screw off.”
It took more than that to deter him. “Can we talk about this?” He shrugged out of his jacket and laid it on the stool she’d been sitting in. After he rolled up his shirt sleeves, he stepped closer to her. He wasn’t going anywhere until they hashed this out.
“What’s there left to say?” Gillian used a candle snuffer to extinguish the numerous candle flames around the room. She closed out the register and then turned to face him. “Except for maybe, ‘you’re being an asshat, and that was a crappy thing to do.’”
“Maybe we should start with why you’re deliberately trying to blow this cover? Unless of course, you’re interested in that guy?”
Hurt and anger flared in her eyes. “Are you really going to ask me that question after last night?” She walked to the brick wall and flicked off all but one light, casting the store in a dim glow. “I told you already, he's a customer.”
Garrett followed her, closing the distance between them. “Maybe I am being an asshat, but it sure looked like something was going on, and I think I have a right to know.”
“Now you’re talking out of both sides of your mouth, Garrett. You want me to tell you if I’m interested in someone else when we’ve never talked about our respective love lives. Your reputation with the opposite sex is not a big secret. But do you think that’s in any way my business? No, dammit!”
“Yeah? Well, that’s where we disagree because I’m making this my business.” He reached for her waist and hauled her up against his chest. He tilted his head to the side and his mouth clamped down on hers in a searing kiss. At first, she resisted, pressing her hands to his chest. But then, as he deepened the kiss, she moaned and wound her hands around his neck. Her tongue darted into his mouth and tangled with his. A fuse ignited inside him.
The kiss became rough and possessive. He wasn’t gentle, and God help him, he didn’t think he had it in him at this point. He wanted her so much and had for so long. Raw desire coiled down his spine and shot straight to his groin. He devoured her, taking her prisoner. To hell with what he’d said earlier about taking his time and going slow. All rational thought flew out the window when he saw her talking to another male. He needed to kiss her and touch her like he needed air. He wanted to wipe away any doubts from her mind and make her his.
Her fingers dug into his hair, and she kissed him back with hot, fiery lashes of her tongue. Her sweet taste exploded in his mouth like ripe fruit. He smelled her arousal, which only spurred his own.
He wanted to pleasure her, make her scream his name, but first, he needed her to be sure. With a gasp, he pulled back to gaze into her eyes. “Tell me you want this, Gillian, or tell me to stop.” He rested his forehead against hers, breathing hard and fast, his body strung tight with need. He’d let her dictate how things would go, even if it killed him. After what she’d been through, she deserved to call the shots.
Her chest heaved and her lips parted. “Garrett, please don’t stop.”
Those few simple words were all the encouragement he needed. His lips trailed kisses along her neck. When he unbuttoned the first button on her blouse, her breath came out in short, little rasps. When he sucked on her shoulder and nipped at her collarbone, she moaned.
“I love how responsive you are. You drive me insane.”
He unbuttoned the next button, and then the third, until her bra was exposed. And not just any bra, this one was black and lacy and pushed her breasts up to her chin. Staring at her, he licked his lips. He eased the cup down, exposing her areola and the rosy tip of her nipple. His erection throbbed and he pressed it against her thigh.
“Gillian, you’re so fucking hot,” he rasped and closed his mouth over her nipple.
She arched into him, whispering incoherent words of pleasure. He sucked on her breast and then moved to suck on the other one until she clawed at his back.
“Your mouth feels so good. Don’t stop, Garrett.”
His name on her lips made him wild. In the wake of his raging lust, relief washed over him. Despite her worries and distraction, she was right there with him.
He shifted his hips so they pinned her against the wall. Then his fingers trailed up her leg to her inner thigh. He cupped his hand over her crotch, and she let out another moan. He felt her heat, even through her jeans. His fingers went to her zipper, and then his cell buzzed.
The unfamiliar ringtone made him hesitate for a moment. “Shit, it’s my burner phone. It’s about the case.” When his breathing became normal again, he pressed a button and put the call on speaker. “Sebastian Beam here.”
“Good evening, Mr. Beam. This is Jason Massey. I wanted to let you know that we received your paperwork along with your wire transfer. Everything appears to be in order. I’d like to welcome you into the sanctity of the Du Sang Brotherhood. There’s a party in Greenwich, Connecticut on Halloween that I’m sure you’ll want to attend. It’s a masquerade ball.”
“I’ll be there. I’m looking forward to it. Send me the address.” Garrett ended the call and glanced over at Gillian. She watched him with weary eyes.
He cupped her cheek. “That was good news. We may have found a way to rescue Brooke and all the other victims. Once we get the address of the house, we can send an invisible drone and get a visual on the victims. Then, we get the task force in place.”
A mixture of hope and gratitude flashed in her eyes. “I pray this works. I can’t believe the party’s on Halloween. It’s when the veil between this world and the afterlife is at its thinnest and magick is at its strongest. This has to be a sign that we’re on the right path.” Squaring her shoulders, she gave him a hard look. “The potion Saje is helping me with requires my blood to break Brooke from her bond with Lawrence, and it must be done before the next full moon. I’ll need to perform a spell at the same time. You may not get her away from him without making sure her bond is broken first. So like it or not, Garrett, I’m going with you.”
Chapter 23
“This isn’t open for discussion. You’ve already explained to me how both the spell and the potion works, countless times I might add, and I’ve told you we will get your blood beforehand. You’re not going with me, and that’s final,” Garrett said in a raised voice and turned away from her.
He grabbed his cell off the breakfast bar. It had been beeping nonstop since the moment they left the shop. “Are there any new leads about Brooke? What aren’t you telling me, Garrett?”
They’d both changed out of their work clothes, her into sweats and sneakers, Garrett into jeans and a t-shirt.
Moving from the dining room to the kitchen, their argument continued. “No one will see me. I’ll be wearing a mask. I can find a way to sneak in.” Gillian groaned and her eyes slid to the fridge. She got out a water pitcher, poured some into a glass and took a sip, hoping to calm down.
