Part 17 (1/2)

”I'd be better than ne if you'd do me one little itsy-bitsy favor.”

Keri's head felt like someone had blown insulation in through her ears.

”And what's that, Of cer Morgan?” Alex asked as she tucked the covers around Keri's neck.

”Kiss me. Every time I see you, that's what I want.” She grinned like a kid asking for an ice cream before dinner.

The request burned through Alex. More than anything she wanted to say yes, but that would be totally sel sh and very unfair. ”Go to sleep, Morgan. You've had a rough night.”

Keri wanted to object but she couldn't speak anymore. She felt too sleepy to move, or talk, or reach out. Alex was so close, but she felt far away. As Keri drifted into a deep, inebriated sleep she thought she felt Alex's cool, soft lips against her burning forehead. With a sigh of contentment, she gave in to the fog closing on her mind. Alex liked her.

The thought made her smile.

* 150 *

v On the drive home Alex called Beth. ”I want you to make sure Morgan gets to the hospital tomorrow for a blood test. I want her checked for drugs, especially roo es. I know it's Sunday but it has to be done tomorrow ASAP.”

Beth wanted details.

”She was out of it and I want to know why. I think somebody put something in her drink. On your way, ask her about tonight. See what she remembers. Make her be speci c.”

”You got it, boss. You're still coming up to the lake tomorrow, right?

We've still got a couple of days off with the holiday on Monday.”

”You better believe it. I need a break.”

As Alex drove, Keri Morgan's face and near-naked body refused to leave her mind. She'd been unable to resist a single, light kiss to Keri's forehead after tucking her safely into bed. Would Keri remember the kiss or any of the heart-wrenching comments she'd made on their way home? I know I'll never forget.

* 151 *

* 152 *

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

Keri stood in the shower and allowed the cold stream of water to a.s.sault her body into consciousness. She'd slept through the alarm, which she didn't remember setting, and was still in bed when Beth called and said she was coming to pick her up. Her head felt like it was lled with steel wool, cold and abrasive and unable to produce discernable memories of the night before. As she pulled on her jeans and T-s.h.i.+rt, she tried to remember where she'd left her car. How had she gotten home? She peeked into her mother's bedroom, smiled at the peacefully sleeping frame, and rushed to the unmarked police car in her driveway.

”I thought you had today off, Sarge.”

”I do, but before I go you and I have to talk.” Beth waited for her to settle into the pa.s.senger seat then began the inquisition. ”What happened last night?”

Keri toyed with the idea of making something up so she wouldn't sound like a total incompetent but opted for the truth. ”I have no idea, Sarge. The last thing I remember clearly is drinking a beer in the club.

I have some fuzzy images but nothing speci c after that. Did I blow the case?”

”No, Alex called it off. She thought you might've been drugged.

We're going to get you tested right now.”

For the first time Keri noted the concern in Beth's voice and her death grip on the steering wheel. Her own skin started to ush as anger boiled to the surface. ”You mean one of Davis's cronies slipped something into my beer?” She thought of Josh and could barely contain her emotions. ”That son of a b.i.t.c.h. I'll-”

* 153 *

”Let's hold off on the threats until we know for sure. If this thing happened, we'll make it right. You're not alone, Keri.” She paused for a moment, her expression thoughtful. ”Listen, I think you need to take a couple of days off.”

”No, I'll be ne. I'm just a bit fuzzy this morning.”

Beth shook her head. ”Go back in the house and throw some clothes in a bag. You're coming out to the lake with me.”

”The lake?”

”You heard me.” Beth tapped her wrist.w.a.tch. ”They're expecting you at the hospital. You've got ten minutes. We'll leave town right after they're done with you.”

Keri couldn't think of a reason not to go. When she'd talked with Pat a couple of days earlier, she'd even suggested some time off to get away from Alex Troy, just to think about things. And the personal invitation meant a lot coming from her sergeant. Flattered, Keri said, ”Thanks. I don't know what to say.”

As she hurried away to collect some clothes, she heard Beth mumble something. It sounded like, ”Don't thank me just yet.”

v Keri sat in the waiting room and mentally plowed through the last twelve hours. Someone had to have drugged her because one beer had never affected her that way. She remembered drinking the beer and then piercing brown eyes boring into hers while strong hands encircled her waist. Maybe it had been Alex. The touch had seemed gentle. It felt like Alex's touch-but how could she know?

A ash of memory poked at her, a rm arm around her waist supporting and guiding. Her frustration grew as she was unable to discern real events from fuzzy images. The pulse at her temples pounded ercely the more she tried to recall. A light tap on the shoulder startled her, and she looked up at a nurse.

”Of cer Morgan?” The young woman motioned her to follow.

When they reached one of the examination rooms at the rear of the facility, Keri sat on the bed and followed instructions. The nurse tucked Keri's arm under hers, applied the blood pressure cuff, and slid a thermometer under her tongue. Her gentle touch brought another image to mind. Keri's hand was resting on Alex's, their ngers entwined. Fiery * 154 *

heat spread through her body. The feeling was so intense, then and now, she knew it was real.

”I don't know what just happened, but your pulse and temperature just spiked. Are you feeling okay?” The nurse removed the thermometer and inadvertently touched Keri's lip.

The sensation spiraled directly to her core and she remembered ”Kiss me...” Alex's surprised face and tempting lips were very close to hers. She had actually asked Alex Troy to kiss her last night. And she was just as certain Alex had declined. Keri would de nitely remember if they'd kissed.

”I'm all right,” she nally responded to the nurse. But she wasn't at all sure if that was true.

”Okay, I'll be back in a minute to draw your blood for the test.”

The young woman left her alone with her disjointed thoughts and confused feelings.

Keri sifted through the evening's events again and felt Alex's warm hands stroking her arms, her rm grip closing around her waist, and her lips a breath away from kissing hers. s.h.i.+fting uncomfortably on the examining table, she clamped her thighs around the painful ache, then slipped her hand between her legs and closed her eyes. She imagined Alex cupping her s.e.x, feeling the evidence of arousal that soaked the crotch of her jeans, sliding her ngers along the sides of Keri's pulsing c.l.i.t and stroking slowly up and down.

Pressure built like a hungry beast in Keri's center. She had never wanted anyone so much. Placing her other hand over the one that tormented her, Keri squeezed and imagined Alex's lips, full and wet like the esh that throbbed between her legs. All she needed was one kiss from Alex and she'd come. She needed that kiss desperately.

A light knock at the exam room door jolted her back from near o.r.g.a.s.m. She rubbed her hands briskly over her jeans-clad legs and tried to regain her composure. ”Come in,” she croaked.

As the nurse prepared to take a blood sample, Keri took deep, calming breaths. She had almost brought herself to o.r.g.a.s.m in the hospital while fantasizing about her lieutenant. When had her feelings completed their gradual change from distrust and caution to attraction and longing? Reluctantly, Keri relived that confrontational interview with Alex once more. Her feelings were intense, but not the same as before. The outrage and righteous indignation had faded. This time, * 155 *

she could isolate Alex's words and nonverbal responses from her own defensive reactions. Alex had phrased her questions very carefully.