When the door's rusty hinges creaked, the intruder hesitated before pulling it open only wide enough for him to slip inside. He eased it closed behind him.
"Remy?"
Her heart nearly burst with relief."Burke?"
She shot to her feet and ran toward him, but drew up short when she saw the gun in his hand.
Burke was so relieved to see her unharmed, he was on the verge of grabbing her and clutching her to him when he spotted a knife in one hand and the lantern in the other.
He hadn't used the boat motor for the last mile or so, knowing how far sound carries over water. He hadn't wanted to lead the people looking for him into this hidden slough. Struggling like hell to get back, it hadn't occurred to him that Remy herself might pose a threat But the knife clattered to the floor and she set the lantern and a book of matches on the table. He engaged the safety on the pistol and set it beside the lantern. Then they faced each other. He spoke first."Are you all right?" She nodded vigorously."Frightened."
"Of what?"
"I didn't know who you were at first."
"I was afraid you might not be here."
"Where would I go? Why were you sneaking up "
"To avoid being captured."
"Captured?"
"There's a manhunt on for me."
"Why?"
"It's a long story."
"You're sweating."
"I've been rowing."
"Oh." Again they just stood there looking at each other across the darkness. Then she said, "You were away so long."
"I know. I'm sorry. I couldn't get back."
"It's okay, I just "
"It couldn't be helped. If "
"What happened?"
"Did anyone come here?"
"No."
"Have you seen anyone?"
"Not all day. I've been frantic."
"With fear?" Worry."
"Worry?"
"That something had happened to you." The space separating them narrowed. Later, he didn't recall con Her lips moving against his skin, she said, "I was afraid you wouldn't come back for me."
"Nothing could have stopped me from coming back."
"I didn't know."
"You knew, Remy."
"How was I to know?"
"Because I promised you I would."
With that, his lips searched blindly for hers. He kissed her hard, crushing her mouth first at one angle, then another, and yet another.
He was awkward, clumsy even. But ravenous men eat gracelessly.
He kissed her hungrily, not with finesse. Tasting her for the first time, a low moan rose out of his chest, partially from gratification, partially from heightened want.
Eventually, he pulled back, pushed his fingers through her hair, tilted her head back and looked down into her face to see if he had mistaken her response. But in her expression he read the same wonder and confusion he was feeling.
Shyly, she reached up and touched his mouth with her fingertips.
Burke closed his eyes and swayed toward her. He dipped his knees slightly, fitting himself into the notch of her thighs.
His hands moved to her hips and held her firmly against him. Her hand, now resting lightly on his hair, guided his head down to her and they kissed again with more passion and less restraint than before.
He stumbled backward toward the bed, dragging her with him, until the backs of his legs touched the mattress. He sat down, spread his knees, and pulled her between them. Impatiently he peeled the sweatshirt over her head. The sweatpants were pushed to the floor for her to step out of. First his eyes, then his hands moved over her shoulders, breasts, waist, hips, thighs touching as much of her as he could as quickly as he could.
Then he rested his hot cheek against her belly, and her arms enfolded his head.
He caressed the backs of her calves and thighs. He squeezed her ass.
He kissed her V through her panties, then nuzzled her with chin and nose and brow in a rubbing motion that felt like loving.
He placed her on the bed, stretched out beside her, and slipped his arm around her unconsciously reaching for her. He didn't remember placing his hand inside the front of her underpants. Springy hair curled around around her. It happened without forethought. One second he washis fingers.
He parted the swollen lips. The center of her sex was longing to hold her, and the next he was. very wet. He sent his fingers deep, then withdrew them and used the He clutched her tightly. She felt incredibly small and soft against the ball of his middle finger to lightly massage that most sensitive spot.
him. He buried his face in her neck beneath her hair. His hand cupped j Her soft gasping of his name he took as permission. Within sec her head and pressed her face against his throat. onds, his jeans were open, and he was positioned above her. When ... .
he entered her, he almost sobbed from the pleasure of it. He didn't want it to be rushed, but the sensations were so intense, so long anticipated and frequently fantasized, that they overtook him, and he could no longer hold back.
The climax passed too quickly. He raised his head, an apology on his lips. But her features were soft and slack. Beads of sweat dotted her upper lip, her eyes were closed. Beneath him, her chest rose and fell.
Her nipples were tight. He feathered them with his thumb. He felt her belly quicken against his an instant before she caught her lower lip between her teeth.
He rocked forward slightly and stayed inside her to share each rippling, pulsing pressure. When it subsided, he rolled to his side and drew her close to him, pressing her head to his chest and stroking her back. They lay like that for a long time, and he could have stayed that way forever. But he felt compelled to say something.
"I know how religious you are. You probably regard adultery as a mortal sin. So, you can say I forced you if you want to. Just ...
just don't feel bad about it, okay, Remy? I don't want you to feel bad about this.
About me."
She worked her head free so that she could look into his face. She laid her palm against his cheek and searched his eyes."You don't have to worry about that. I'm not really married."
From the window of his office, Pinkie watched the revelers on the street below. The Orpheus parade was over, but the crowds were still out in full force, sinning with a vengeance before the start of Lent, almost twenty-four hours away.
Hearing the door open and close behind him, he turned. Bardo slunk in, looking uncharacteristically subdued."My men won't go near the place.
Said it's still crawling with heat in all its forms. Cops, sheriff's deputies, state police, coroner. You name it."
"It's been confirmed that Mccuen is dead?"
"As a doornail. Story is, Pat whacked him to protect Basile."
"What about Basile?" Pinkie asked.
"You aren't gonna believe it. Pat had him in custody, but he got away."
Duvall swore viciously.
"Basile overpowered the old codger who runs the bait shop."
"Overpowered my ass," Duvall roared."Did Pat buy that?"
"I don't know."
"Didn't that Gregory character tell us that Basile and Dredd what's-his-name are thick as thieves? The way you describe the heat around the place, even Saint Basile couldn't have escaped that compound unassisted. And what the hell happened to Gregory and the men I sent with him? Any news?"
Bardo shook his head."Nothing."
"I don't think they ever made it to Dredd's Mercantile. Obviously they double-crossed us."
"They're two of my most dependable guys," Bardo argued."I tell them what to do, and they do it, no questions asked."
"Gregory James's family has a lot of money. He bribed them to let him o. By now they're probably in Vegas banging whores two at a time."
"They couldn't be bribed," Bardo said stubbornly.
"Then explain to me where they are."
Bardo shrugged, and Pinkie cursed.
He didn't remember ever feeling this confounded or incompetent.
He'd had two excellent chances to trap Basile, and both had failed.
Mccuen had apparently planned to bypass Del Ray Jones and act independently.
Duvall didn't have a problem with that. In fact he admired Mccuen's initiative. Except that it had backfired and Mccuen had got himself killed. Thank you, Doug Pat, Pinkie thought. He must be dealt with later.
In the meantime, Gregory James had vanished and taken two expert hit men with him. How the hell had that sniveling queer coward managed that?