“Here. Let me help you with those.”
Quicker than she could blink, Hunter ditched his shoes and pants and was on top of her—stark naked. Wow. She ran a finger down a thick scar on his shoulder. She located another one near his rib cage and a third low on his hip.
“Police work is tough,” she said.
He chuckled but said nothing, as his eyes glazed over with lust. It had to be lust because he couldn’t have true feelings for her, could he?
When Hunter plunged a thick finger into her swollen, wet opening, all questions flew from her mind. She relaxed and let go, enjoying herself.
Hunter was gentle and rough, fast, yet slow. He made her come alive again even as her hands and mouth worked feverishly over his body.
The air conditioner clicked on, cooling the slick sweat on her skin. They became twisted in the sheets, laughed, unrolled, and kissed some more.
Intense need whipped her into a frenzy. She wanted all of Hunter—his passion and his body, but most of all his heart.
With his knee, Hunter parted her thighs and plunged into her with one slick move. She gasped and Hunter stilled.
He cupped her cheek. “Did I hurt you?”
“No.” She grabbed his hips and began pumping her legs. Blood pounded in her ears, helping to erase her past. Hunter must have understood her need for more, for he too matched her rhythm.
“What you do to me is beyond words,” he said.
His admission sent her soaring. When she tried to answer, all that came out was a groan.
With his eyes closed, he moaned, kissed, and touched her everywhere. Oh, God. Stars exploded behind her lids, and she climaxed hard. A second later, Hunter came.
Once they caught their breath, he kissed her hard once more, and then rolled on his back taking her with him.
The sweet smell of sex perfumed the air.
Like a limp doll, she placed her face on his heaving chest, his hairs tickling her face. She’d never been happier.
Her cell rang, but Kerry didn’t move, didn’t care.
“You going to answer that?” he asked.
“Can’t. You killed me with passion.”
He laughed. “I hear ya.”
Together they basked in the wonder of their lovemaking. The sharp trill of the phone stopped. “It was probably Susan, and I can’t talk to her yet.”
Hunter kissed her, and his musky scent sent her into the thrill zone once more. “You want me to come with you when you speak with her?”
“Would you?” Her pulse beat hard.
“I might be able to give not only moral support but some background information.”
“I’d love that. This will earn you mega bonus points.” She ran a hand down his rough face, the hairs prickling her hand.
He smiled and her heart began to heal. “Do you know what we forgot?”
“What?”
“We left the pizza outside on top of the car.”
She giggled. “My mind was on other things.”
“Me too.” Hunter sat up. “I don’t want the animals to get it. Be right back. We can chow and then maybe have a repeat performance.”
“Now you’re talking.”
The sun might be shining and the air warm, but there was nothing good about this morning. Susan’s car sat in Grandpa’s drive. Kerry dreaded telling her sister her child was dead, but with Hunter by her side, she’d find the strength.
Kerry and Hunter entered the house through the back door. The smell of omelets and burnt bacon lingered in the air, but the kitchen was empty. “Grandpa?”
Susan came from the living room into the kitchen wrapped in a pale gray fleece robe and no makeup. Kerry couldn’t imagine wearing something so hot in the summer.
“Hey. You two come for breakfast?”
“No, we ate earlier.” Not really. They’d had coffee and juice, but Hunter’s kisses had fed her all morning.
Buster pranced around the corner, looking cool and calm—and quiet for a change. He sniffed Hunter, bounced over to Kerry and sat, his tongue hanging out. She dropped to her knees and rubbed his head, and then his belly. Buster barked once in appreciation.
“Come join me,” Susan said. “Sit and stay a while. Grandpa is picking up more juice at Publix.”
Kerry’s sister looked tired, but her spirit seemed upbeat. That was about to change.
Kerry dragged the kitchen chair next to Susan and took her Susan’s hand.
Terror and hope splashed across Susan’s face. “What’s wrong? Is it Brad? Did you find Teresa?”
Hunter scooted his chair closer to the table and the legs ground against the wooden floor. “We arrested Brad. You won’t have to worry about him hurting you anymore.”
Susan volleyed her gaze between them. “Arrested him? Why?”
“Susan. I don’t know how to tell you this, but—”
“But what?” Susan squeezed Kerry’s hand.
“Teresa is dead.” The three simple words stole her breath away.
Susan shook her head. “No. That’s not possible. She was a healthy baby. Did Brad hurt her?”
“She died of SIDS, Susan. It could have happened even if she’d stayed with you.”
Through tears and hugs, Kerry told her what she knew about sudden infant death syndrome, and Hunter filled in the rest—about the illegal burial, about the lies.
Kerry speared Hunter with a glance. He masked his emotions, but the ache behind his eyes caused his lids to sag.
She loved him. As surely as she knew she had to identify her women, she knew Hunter was meant for her.
“Poor Brad,” Susan said.
Kerry sat back. “Poor Brad? Don’t feel sorry for him, Susan. He hurt you, just like Dad did.”
“Brad wasn’t that bad. I think I overreacted,” Susan said, as she cast her gaze downward.
Any glow of happiness she’d felt a moment ago, evaporated. “You told me he abused you.” Kerry tamped down her anger.
Susan bit her lip. “Emotionally, not physically—except once, when he was drunk. But I provoked him. I was mad because he’d leave me alone to take care of Teresa all the time. He said he had to work late, but I didn’t believe him at the time.”
“You thought he was having an affair?” That would be the only reason to get on his case.
“Yes. After I moved to Florida, I learned he really was at work.” Susan’s face turned ashy gray. “I think I want to lie down. All of this is so hard to understand.”
“Do you want me to stay?” Kerry couldn’t remain mad at Susan. Her sister had been through so much.
“No. I’ll call you later. Okay?” Her voice came out small and pathetic.
“‘K.”
Kerry leaned over and hugged Susan, all past issues forgotten. Her sister dropped her head on Kerry’s shoulder and cried. When all the tears had been shed by both, Kerry and Hunter left.
They were half way to the cabin, when Kerry realized Hunter hadn’t mentioned anything about his plan to capture the man who’d murdered so many women. “So what are we going to do about Dr. Dalton?”
He flicked a glance over at her as he pulled to a stop at a light. “I want the bastard as much as anyone, but we don’t arrest people without evidence.”
“Evidence is highly overrated.” Her bones told her Dalton did it. “Will you talk to him at least?”
“And ask him what?”
I guess questioning him about the five murders is not a good idea, but can’t you put a twenty-four hour tail on him to see if he’s stalking the women?”
“I did tail him for a few days, but the guy was clean. The department won’t authorize any more time, and I don’t want to leave you alone to follow him after hours. So, we’ll have to find another way to get him.”
“The bastard will slip up.”
“Let’s hope.”