Page 46 of Hidden Hero

The kiss not only sent currents straight to his cock, but he felt tingling along every nerve in his body. Instinct had him go for the closest surface, and he turned so that her ass could rest on the counter. He’d been waiting for this moment like she was the only thing that mattered. His hands slid to her waist, fingers pressing into the fabric of her T-shirt as he pulled her flush against him.

Cora melted into him, her own hands tangling in the hair at the nape of his neck. The kiss grew hotter, more urgent, as months of unspoken tension between them ignited like a struck match. She gasped softly when his lips trailed along her jaw, down to the sensitive spot beneath her ear.

Jeremy couldn’t get enough of her—the way her body leaned into his, the soft, insistent press of her lips against his, and the intoxicating sweetness of her taste. Her fingers slid into his hair, tugging gently, and he swore he nearly lost all control right there in her kitchen.

“Cora,” he murmured against her skin, his voice rough, breath coming in uneven bursts.

Her grip on his shirt tightened as though she needed the anchor, and when she whispered his name in return, it was like a match striking inside him. The sound was soft but potent, threading through him and settling low in his belly. He wanted her—no, needed her—in ways that felt startlingly consuming.

The suggestion to move this to her bedroom, where she’d be more comfortable, hovered on the edge of his lips. He could already imagine her warmth beneath him, the way she’d call his name again in that same breathy voice.

Then his phone buzzed. The sound cut through the haze of desire like a shard of ice. He groaned, pressing his forehead to hers as he reached into his pocket. “You’ve got to be kidding me,” he muttered, voice strained with frustration.

Before he could even glance at the screen, another buzz sounded. Cora’s phone, perched on the counter, lit up with its own interruption. Jeremy let out a string of curses under his breath as his gaze dropped to his phone. The number flashing on the screen was painfully familiar, and his gut tightened in recognition.

“Suspicious death,” he said flatly, the shift from lover to detective sharp and unwelcome.

Cora sighed, her professionalism slipping into place as she grabbed her phone. Her expression was calm and composed, but the slight flush on her cheeks, the faint swell of her lips, and the rumpled edges of her shirt were undeniable remnants of the moment they’d been sharing.

“We’ve got to go,” she said, her tone steady even as her chest rose and fell in quick breaths.

Jeremy’s hands slid to her waist, lingering for a heartbeat before he lifted her down from the counter. He sucked in a slow, measured breath, willing his pounding heart to calm and his body to cool. But as his eyes met hers, the heat flared anew. Her pulse fluttered visibly at the base of her throat, and her lips parted slightly as though she wanted to speak but couldn’t quite find the words.

“Cora,” he said, his voice low and full of promise, “this isn’t over.”

Her cheeks flushed deeper, but a small, playful smile curved her lips. “Agreed,” she said, her voice a soft tease as she gave him a light shove toward the door. “Now, get moving, Detective.”

He chuckled, though the lingering tension between them made it hard to fully let go of the moment. He grabbed his jacket and pulled it on, forcing his focus to shift toward the task ahead. But as they stepped out into the cool night, the crisp air doing little to temper the fire still simmering inside him, Jeremy couldn’t help the small, determined smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

Walking her to her car, he stared at her, memorizing every detail. The way her hair caught the moonlight, the determined set of her jaw despite the faint, lingering blush in her cheeks—it was enough to remind him that the pull between them wasn’t going anywhere.

As he jogged to his SUV and started the engine, the familiar needs of the job began to settle over him, but the tension from their interrupted moment hung heavy in the air. He knew one thing for certain—this wasn’t the end of whatever had started in her kitchen. The night’s demands might have stolen them away, but he’d be damned if he didn’t find his way back to her soon.

The promise of unfinished business burned between them, just waiting to be fulfilled.

20

Cora drove behind Jeremy to the site. Typically, her mind would have completely shifted into work mode when approaching a death scene. But her lips and other parts of her body tingled, and the interruption of what they were doing had left her rattled.

Jeremy. A detective I have to work with. A relationship with someone I see professionally isn’t wise. But what if it’s more?

Before she could wrap her head around the situation, she pulled next to his SUV outside a run-down trailer. There were lights on from the deputies, who had set up lamps to illuminate the area. And from the expressions on their faces and with their hands over their noses, she knew this would be unpleasant.

She climbed out, moved to the back of her small SUV, and opened the hatch. By the time she had stepped into the pants of the PPE, Jeremy had jogged over.

“Hey, babe… uh… Cora… damn… Dr. Wadsworth…” He shook his head and mumbled, “Sorry. I didn’t mean to?—”

“It’s okay, Jeremy. Being on a first-name basis is still very professional under the circumstances.” Seeing the relieved expression on his face, she added, “But maybe call a halt on thebabesalutation.”

He grinned, then walked over to talk to one of the detectives outside the trailer door. She pulled on her full PPE suit. With the arrival of several more vehicles, she observed Pete offering her a chin lift as he walked over to Jeremy. She looked to the side, glad to see Carl standing outside his vehicle and suiting up.

She leaned in and picked up her mask, assuming that what was inside would need odor control as they performed their jobs. She held it up and inclined her head toward the mask, alerting Carl that he would also need his.

As she moved through the overgrown grass toward the trailer, Jeremy broke from the small cluster of officers, his strides purposeful as he met her on the uneven walkway leading to the door.

“Neighbors complained of the smell and realized they hadn’t seen the occupant for a while. They didn’t want to go in, saying they didn’t know what they would find. According to them, the resident was quiet but usually had a string of men going in and out, and has often appeared under the influence of either alcohol or drugs.”

Cora glanced past him at the two detectives stationed outside, their pale faces and tight grips on their radios revealing more than words ever could. “Did anyone go in yet?” she asked, her voice steady.

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