He turned and surveyed the room.
“This is a great room,” he told her enthusiastically. “Northern exposure. Fabulous light. Be a wonderful place to work.”
Abruptly, he dropped into the oversized stuffed chair on the wall facing her bed.
“I’d wake up in the morning, sit right here in this chair with my sketchbook and charcoals and draw a sleeping nude in that very bed.”
His eyes locked on hers as he continued. “Black curls rumpled against the white pillow. Childlike face in peaceful dreams. Blankets kicked off during the warm night, soft cotton sheets clinging to her ankles and feet. On her side, facing me. Curves of creamy white shoulders and hips and thighs. Breasts like nesting doves. Black pubic hair and a slit of pink pussy. I’d have to sketch fast to catch her in all her many poses.
“Now she’s turned her back to me, one leg over the other. That beautiful black hair pasted to that white neck by sweet summer sweat. Her backbone a little row of white hills on that beautiful expanse of milky back, tracking down to that lovely, heart-shaped, perfect ass.”
Elgin’s skin prickled as if electricity suddenly charged the air. He sat just out of reach, his implied invitation hanging in the small space between them like a ripe apple. She had only to reach out and take it.
“That sounds lovely,” she said finally, her voice raw with emotion, “and I envy the lucky lady. Too bad I’m so shy. Especially around handsome strangers.”
He rose, closing the gap until he stood over her, his lips so close she felt his hot breath on her cheek.
“There’s no reason to be shy,” he assured her tenderly. “We’re not strangers. Our souls have known each other always. The bodies may be different but I knew you the first moment I looked in your eyes. And you knew it too.”
“Please…” An anxious uncertainty…perhaps even a tinge of fear rippled through her.
His eyes clouded over like thunderclouds and his face grew dark.
“Your ‘secretary’…Harm? Is there…more than a business relationship?”
“No. I mean, not what you think.”
The big body relaxed and the clouds disappeared. “I’m glad. I wouldn’t want to trespass on someone else’s property. But it’s all right. I’d never hurt you. I want you to want me too. We’ll take it slowly, whatever you’re comfortable with. I’ll go down to the dock now and paint and you won’t even know I’m here.
“Maybe though, you’d let me take you to the Lodge one night soon for drinks and dinner. Get to know each other better. Even sit for a portrait…fully clothed for now. Just give me a chance, please.”
Longing and need filled those beautiful eyes, that mouth so sensual, so close. The heat of him rolled over her in waves, making her dizzy and hot herself. It had been such a long time…and he wanted her so much…
She felt their bodies being drawn together, his lips brushing hers.
A shock went through her but instead of burning away the last of her doubts, it seemed to snap her out of whatever spell had possessed her. Instantly, they separated.
“I think that would be very nice,” she managed, flustered, trying to regain her composure. “I think dinner at the Lodge would be a great idea. Maybe sometime next week.”
“That’s fine,” he murmured. “I look forward to it.”
Silently, they walked slowly back down the narrow stairs, Elgin feeling the touch of his warm body in her back as they descended. On the deck, Chad picked up his sketchbook and charcoals and strode quickly down to the beach, settling himself on a flat rock in the shade of a giant old pine and began to draw.
Elgin stood at the railing, watching his every move. Inside, a gnawing hunger wrestled with a haunting uncertainty. This kind, gentle, sexy exterior couldn’t possibly hide a monster capable of terror and murder. Certainly not here in her own peaceful, safe haven. Someone who created such beauty would never do such a horrible thing.
He wanted her. Even if he hadn’t said the words, his body had been screaming its need, its desire, practically since he’d appeared so unexpectedly on her deck that morning. And she certainly didn’t need X-ray vision to see the bulge still pressing against his zipper. A bulge she’d put there without so much as a caress.
That thought sent tiny bolts of lightning coursing through her blood again. He had a gorgeous face and a beautiful body and she imagined him a thoughtful, gentle, skilled lover. There did not need to be any entanglements. A summer fling, and nothing more. And she had to admit he attracted her like no man had in a long time.
Harm.
Elgin frowned and bit her lip. Instantly, the prickles stopped.
He didn’t like Chad, she knew. Didn’t trust him. He’d made that plain enough after their first meeting. She’d invited him to come and paint but if she took him inside, upstairs, Harm would surely figure out the situation. And there were only so many errands she’d be able to send him on. Going out would only bring on suspicious questions. Not to mention he could always locate her with the ‘dog collar.’ Of course, she could “accidentally” forget to put it on, but he’d see through that in a minute.
She wanted to make love again. Feel a hot, hard cock in her wet, excited pussy. Passionate lips on hers, tender fingers on her swollen nipples. Slick, heated skin moving against slick, heated skin in a primal rhythm of need and fulfillment. She wanted to have scorching, animal lust, needy sex. And she wanted it soon.
Harm yawned and glanced at his watch. Almost one thirty. What could be taking so long?
As soon as he’d left Moon’s End, he’d headed straight for the secluded storage locker his people had been able to rent on short notice. Fortunately, he’d only had to drive a short distance to find it. Using the code number he’d been given, he’d pulled into the double garage sized unit, a tech had pulled down the door and the forensics team had gone to work.
They’d found smudged prints on the doors, the wheel, the gearshift and the emergency brake. Also hair and fiber trace evidence. From bumper to bumper, they’d gone over every centimeter of the SUV, including making sure that it hadn’t been damaged, accidentally or on purpose, by the incident. It had taken several hours and then several more as they’d searched the area of the accident, lookouts with two-way radios posted to warn them of anyone approaching from either end.
Comstock had been on the deck with Elgin, showing her his sketchbook, enjoying a beer and behaving like he owned the place when he’d finally returned, late in the afternoon. Even though the thorough background report had showed the artist to be everything he represented himself to be, Harm still didn’t like him; either personally with his boyish charm and easy sexuality, or professionally with his hanging around Elgin. Seeing Harm, he’d gathered himself up and made a hasty exit.
He’d grilled steak on the barbecue for their dinner. It had been a long time and he’d been hesitant about his rusty skills, but Elgin had insisted so he’d cranked up the grill and done a pretty fair job. She’d produced mixed fruit and potato salad and they’d watched a gorgeous sunset, lingering over a second Irish coffee before Elgin had gone upstairs about eleven.
Making an excuse that he wanted to watch the stars and enjoy the warm night air, Harm waited for the information about the SUV to arrive. He prayed they’d find some clue, no matter how small, to point him towards his quarry.
Restless, Harm got up and walked around the large main room. He’d had more coffee than he should have trying to stay awake but the inactivity and waiting were taking their toll. Sleep lurked just over the horizon of his mind. His body cried out for him to lie down and close his eyes. But he couldn’t risk his PDA’s mail alarm going off and waking Elgin and he needed to get the forensic information before morning. Especially if they’d turned up something solid.