Part 45 (1/2)
That scared the h.e.l.l out of him.
”Find out anything?” he asked.
”I might have a lead. An older lawyer who apparently knows everyone who ever practiced law in Memphis. He's going through lists for names of shady lawyers who might have been involved in black market adoptions.”
”It's going to be a rather long list.”
”That was a cruel blow.”
”Present company excluded.”
He found himself relaxing after the long, anxious drive. He'd imagined any number of scenarios, none of them good. He'd particularly worried about the fact that she hadn't talked to him before leaving.
”You brought Beast.”
”You're also observant.”
She grinned. ”He's hard to miss. Where are you going to stay tonight?”
”Here. I bribed the clerk. I take it they're not too particular.”
”How did you find the motel? I didn't tell Sarah where I was staying.” Her eyes narrowed. ”That is where you got the information?”
”Don't be angry at her. I wheedled it out of her only by saying you could be in danger.”
”But she didn't know about this motel.”
”She gave me the information about your great-aunt. I simply put myself in your shoes. I'm glad your mind works logically.”
”You mean yours does?”
He gave her what he hoped was an indignant look.
”I think we're both in a heap of trouble.” Her voice gentled. ”How are you?”
”That's my question. 'I' didn't just bury my father, lose my mother and get shot.”
”I'm numb. What did the shooting board say?”
”They're still investigating. I'm the departmental bad boy. I also suspect that another player is stalling a ruling.”
”Need a good lawyer?”
”I think your plate is full already. But there's no way they can go against four eyewitnesses. They just want to string it out awhile ... tie my hands so I won't get involved in something they disapprove of.” His expression mocked such thinking.
She held out her hand. ”Thanks for coming.”
”I would have been here sooner but Sarah said you wanted to be alone. She's been keeping me updated on your calls. Then I just found myself on the road.”
”I'm glad,” she replied simply.
Something intense flared inside. He intertwined his fingers with hers, feeling warmth creep through him, a kind of belonging he'd never known before.
He let her lead the way, Beast on his heels. He then took the key from her--the old kind of key, not a card key--and turned it in the lock. They stepped inside and immediately Meredith moved into his arms.
Moments later they were in bed and their lovemaking was frantic. Part of it, he told himself, was the survivor's need to feel. To know she was still alive. He didn't want to think about the other part.
He told himself not to take advantage.
But they were in the eye of a storm that wouldn't let them go. His need was explosive, and so, he sensed, was hers.
She had lost so much. Her family. Her sense of safety.
He had killed. That moment affected him far more than he'd ever expected it would. There had also been a split second when he thought he would die, and that the woman he cared about might also die.
He would never forget the surprise on Fuller's face. He suspected it would haunt him for a long time.
He needed her as much as she needed him, and that need fueled the attraction that had always linked them.
He didn't prolong the foreplay. She was ready and so was he. Need drove them. Need for human intimacy. Need for each other. Need to live. To feel. To love.
His lips met hers as he lowered his body on hers. Hot desire raged through him as he entered her. Her arms wrapped around him, bringing him closer to her, and her body reacted to his every stroke. She caught his tempo and together they moved in a primitive dance that became a frantic, whirling race toward a peak he'd never reached before.
He felt her body shudder in climax, and he caught himself just before he did the same and quickly withdrew, spilling his seed on the sheet.
Then he lay back and held her, as her body trembled. ”I'm sorry. I should have brought something. I was d.a.m.ned worried about you. Why in the h.e.l.l didn't you tell me?”
”I'm not used to having people worry about me.”
”I can remedy that.” He showered her face with kisses, then moved to her neck. ”You taste good,” he murmured.
”So do you.”
”You feel great.”
”Hmmmmmmm. Likewise.”
He touched her hair. It was soft and silky and smelled like roses. ”Don't ever do that again,” he said.
”What?”
”Run off without telling me.”
She looked at him with eyes glazed by pa.s.sion and lips slightly swollen from his kisses. ”I felt like I had to.... I was a danger to you. If it hadn't been for me, you wouldn't have had to shoot Fuller.”
”He was a powder keg, Meredith, and nothing anyone did was going to defuse him.”
She s.h.i.+vered in his embrace, and he ran his hands up and down her arms.
”What about supper?”