“Oh God.”
Ignoring the throbbing of his own body, he took the time to admire what he’d enjoyed. Her breasts were full, round. Perfect. Her skin was pale, flawless. Except for the red areas his beard had scratched. He kissed those places, softly. “I was rough.”
Eyes still closed, she hummed contentedly. “I liked it.”
“I’ll shave next time.”
Her knuckles slid across his jaw. “I liked it. I like this. Makes you look like a pirate.”
He smiled at that. “Open your eyes.” She did and in them he saw sensual satisfaction. “You’re beautiful.”
Her eyes flickered, surprising him. “So are you.”
He pressed a kiss to the valley between her breasts. “You were wet,” he murmured.
“I was dreaming. Then there you were.” Her eyes grew troubled. “But you didn’t…”
“Not yet. There isn’t enough room or enough time for me to do what I want to you.”
He could see the pulse pound at the hollow of her throat. “To me?”
“To you.” He kissed her mouth, then nipped her lower lip lightly. “With you, for you. In you.” He brushed his lips over her throat. “I didn’t get to that last time, did I?”
“No. I, um, then you… fell asleep.”
He winced. “I’ve got a lot to make up for. Good thing I’ve got fantasies saved up.”
She shivered. “Like what?”
“Most are better shown than told, but there is one… No. I don’t know if I should tell you. You might never sit at your desk the same way again.”
He could feel her pulse hammering. “Just tell me it doesn’t involve handcuffs or butter,” she said and he laughed softly.
“No butter.”
“But handcuffs?”
“Mmm. And your Hat Squad fedora. And my very big bed with the wrought-iron headboard. And nothing else.”
“How cliché.” Her cheeks were red as flame.
“But effective.”
She swallowed hard. “When?”
“Tonight would be good.”
“I don’t know when I’ll be done.”
“That’s okay. I’ve waited this long, I can wait a little longer.” He slid back down, resting his head between her breasts. It felt right. Comfortable. Like he belonged.
For a long moment she was quiet, her fingers toying with his hair, then she sighed. “I have to get up and shower. Go into work. It’s not going to be a fun day.”
He wondered what would make one day as a homicide detective less fun than any other. He thought all the days would pretty well suck, which was why he respected her for doing it every day. “Why not?”
“The girl you pulled out of the condo? Her mother comes today and she’ll want to see her. I hate that part.”
He’d thought of it, wondered how she and the other cops managed it. “I’m sorry.”
“Me too. But I do have to get up, and as good as you feel, you’ve got me pinned.”
David made himself move, rising from the sofa and pulling her up with him. “I don’t have to report back to the firehouse until tomorrow morning at eight. I’m at the dojo till nine tonight, but if you get done before then, call me and I’ll bow out early. Otherwise, I’ll be at my apartment house, probably picking out carpet with my mom.”
She pulled the edges of her blouse together self- consciously. “I met your mom at the wedding. Mia thinks the sun rises and sets on her.” She was halfway up the hall when she turned. “Did you say dojo?”
Paige. Had she said anything? “Yeah, I go a few times a week.”
She tilted her head, considering. “You told me about that, back in Chicago. You were a brown belt then. You helped with karate classes for the kids at the local Y.”
That she’d remembered made him feel foolishly proud. “I made black belt last year.”
She smiled at him. “And you still work with the kids?”
“Yeah. It gives a kid confidence he might not get anywhere else. And teaches them how to protect themselves.” Sometimes from the very people who are supposed to protect them. If Megan had been protected…
“My friend Paige teaches a self-defense class for women at the Y. I should introduce the two of you. I have to jump in the shower now or I’m going to be late. Can you take Mojo out in the backyard?”
He watched the bathroom door close and snapped his fingers for the dog to follow. Out on her patio, he dug his cell from his pocket and called Paige.
“You didn’t tell her,” he snapped when she picked up.
“Where are you, David?” Paige asked cautiously.
“On Olivia’s patio. You said you’d tell her we were friends and you didn’t.”
“Why are you on Liv’s patio? I thought she dumped you.”
“She thought so, too, but I managed to change her mind.”
“Oh. Exactly how far did you change her mind?”
He thought of Olivia going taut in his arms and clenched his teeth against a new wave of need. Not nearly far enough. “None of your business,” he said. “Look, she offered to introduce us and I didn’t know what to say. Now what?”
“I tried last night, but she was so mad,” Paige said miserably. “I was about to blurt it out when she got called to that fire. I thought you were history, and I had more time.”
“Well, I’m not and you don’t.” At least he hoped he wasn’t. She hadn’t taken kindly to his watching her and he couldn’t really blame her. “I’ll tell her.”
“Tell her I was duped. Or you could just blame it on Rudy. Everybody does.”
“Tempting, but no,” he said dryly. “I’ll see you tonight.” He whistled for the dog and went back inside. The shower stopped and he couldn’t help but think of Olivia wearing nothing more than drops of water. Trying to push the picture from his mind, he wandered her living room, satisfying at least a small portion of his curiosity.
He’d wondered how she lived. Very modestly, he could see, most of her money going into the posters on her wall. She collected animated art cels, she’d told him the night they’d talked until the sun came up. He could see them now, hanging in her living room-Daffy Duck and all the other characters from the cartoons he’d loved as a kid. Road Runner, it seemed, was her favorite. A giant poster of the Coyote holding his little umbrella hung over her TV and on top of her set was a stack of Road Runner DVDs.
There were pictures on the mantel over her fireplace. An older couple smiling from a faded snapshot that he assumed were her grandparents. A pair of teenagers mugging for the camera. He leaned closer, recognizing a young Olivia and Paige, arm in arm. There was another of a woman he thought was her mother. In another a stunning redhead sat on the grass, surrounded by puppies. And finally, a more recent picture of Olivia with Paige and the redhead at a restaurant, lifting glasses in a toast.
“That was my birthday,” Olivia said from behind him. “The big three-oh. Last year. Those are my friends Brie and Paige.”
She’d dressed in what seemed to be her work uniform, slacks and a blouse. Her face was free of makeup, the way he liked it best. She was braiding her hair and for a moment he just let himself watch.
“I know,” he finally said and she frowned.
“What?”
“I know your friend.” He held the picture out as if that explained it. “Paige.”
Slowly she lowered her arms. “How?”
He explained how he’d met Paige, how he’d gleaned information on Olivia over the past seven months, how Paige had been unaware. Olivia’s eyes went flat and David got the uncomfortable feeling that this was how she approached suspects. “Are you mad?” he asked when he was done.
“I don’t know,” she said honestly. “I’ll have to think about it.”
“While you’re thinking, think on this.” He cradled her face in his hands and kissed her hard. “All these months, all I thought about was you. About this. Now, go to work.”
“Mojo-”
“Can ride in my truck. I’ll drop him off. Just tell me where.”
She gave him the address and backed away, studying him in a way that made him want to squirm. “Who are you?” she asked him quietly.