Page 71 of Heart of a Hero

“Yeah. I figure it will take time for everyone to settle into a routine.” Sitting on the side of the bed, she dipped her head to hold Laura’s gaze. “Are you okay? I know this was a lot to spring on you and your sister.”

Laura leaned forward, placing her hand on Karen’s. “Mom, it’s cool. Our house isn’t the biggest, but that’s okay. We have room for everyone and can offer them a better place.”

Overcome with emotions, she nodded, but Laura wasn’t finished. “Their place with their mom was really bad, wasn’t it?”

Wanting to protect Laura, it was hard to admit the truth. But at fourteen, she was well on her way to becoming the woman Karen knew she could be. Sucking in a deep breath through her nose, she let it out slowly as she nodded. “Yes… it was bad.”

Laura grimaced, then mimicked her mom when she inhaled deeply before nodding. “Then it’s good they’re here with us.”

“God, I love you, sweetheart,” Karen said, leaning closer to place her lips on Laura’s forehead. Standing, she said, “See you in the morning. Sweet dreams.”

“Love you, Mom,” Laura said in return.

Karen stood in the hall for a moment, stunned at the turn of events of her day. It started with her wondering about her coworkers in light of the recent burglaries and ended with a whirlwind of activities in fostering two children she’d come to know.

Before allowing her mind to continue the path of strange occurrences, she hurried to the kitchen, where she found Mark wiping down the counters and taking the clean dishes from the dishwasher.

“Oh, Mark, you’ve done so much,” she said, moving straight to him.

He turned, grinning, and scoffed. “Me? I’d say your day was filled with more than mine.”

Chuckling as he set the final plate in the cabinet, then turned and wrapped his arms around her. She encircled his waist. “I’d say our days were both fairly nutsy.”

“Nutsy? I like that,” he said, leaning closer until his mouth hovered over her lips.

Suddenly, she wanted to forget for a few minutes that her household of children had doubled. She just wanted to stand in the arms of the man she was falling for and feel his mouth on hers.

He must have felt the same thing because as his lips landed on hers, the fireworks began. Soft and strong, the combination ignited against her mouth, and she felt the warmth blossom throughout her body. Their heads twisted and moved as noses bumped and tongues tangled. This was no delicate kiss of new lovers. This was raw and rough… the kind of kiss that two people who know what they want and know that time will not be their friend. Responsibilities loomed, but for a few moments, they could steal a kiss, and neither wanted to waste a second.

Her hands fisted in his shirt just before she slipped them underneath the material and let her fingers trail upward over the taut muscles in his back. He groaned, and she swallowed the sound. His arms pulled her tight, and she felt his cock thicken as it pressed against the softness of her belly. Her hips shifted intuitively, seeking the pressure, and she wished there were no layers of clothes between them.

One hand fisted in her hair, and the slight sting now had her moaning. He angled her head and held her in place as his mouth sealed and his tongue plundered. She welcomed each invasion, wanting him to drink her in as she feasted on the flavors and scents that were all Mark.

Far too soon, they slowly separated. First, their lips as they both gasped and panted for air. Then his fingers ungripped her hair, and her hands glided from his satin skin to where they rested on his leather belt. Their long exhalations combined, and their chests moved apart as their arms loosened. Finally, their hips separated as they took a step backward. His erection was still prominent, and she wondered if it was painful.

Holding his gaze, she felt a smile slip over her face. “Thanks. I needed that.”

He chuckled, and the deep rumbling moved from his chest straight through her. “My pleasure. Anytime you need me or my body, just let me know.”

At that, she giggled and then rolled her eyes. “I can’t remember the last time I giggled.”

“Did it feel good?”

Nodding, she now laughed. “Yes. Giggling felt good.”

“There is nothing wrong with a giggle sometimes, but after a day like today, I’m glad you can find some lightheartedness.”

Thinking about the day, she sobered. “Tell me what happens next, Detective Robbins?”

His brow lifted. “Detective Robbins?”

“Yes. When you’re my boyfriend, it’s Mark. But right now, I need you as a detective to let me know what is happening.”

He sighed heavily, and she tried to ignore how his chest moved. She failed. What she really wanted was to know how his chest would feel pressed against hers again. His words cut through her musings.

“Tonight, we sleep. Tomorrow, I’ll start work on finding their mom and Alan. We’ll arrest them on endangerment, neglect, and abandonment. Brad will help me with this, but so will John or Elizabeth. Brad will also be working on the thefts.”

“I’m sorry you’re off the case.”

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