Page 45 of Baited

His lips quirked and his hands moved to rest on her waist. She leaned back against the counter and ran her hands over his forearms.

His thumbs toyed with the waistband of her jeans, sending goosebumps across her midsection. His gaze sharpened on her, seemingly unaware of the effect his touch was having. “You said you have her journal, right?”

Riley nodded. She’d only read halfway through, so it was possible there could still be clues hidden in the pages.

“We need to go through it with a fine-tooth comb. I want you to stay with me until we find this guy.” Ethan brought his hands to her hair and brushed it behind her shoulders. “This is so much more than him trying to scare you.”

Her heart beat steadily in her chest. “If he wants to get rid of me, he must be afraid I’m getting close to him… But I don’t feel like I am.”

Ethan scoffed. “You’re the closest friend Hanna had, right? Maybe she told you something, dropped a hint about him… anything. Then you moved back here after she went missing, you’ve been questioning people, talking about Hanna, not letting the situation sleep when the rest of the town would like to forget there could be a monster among them. You’re a threat.”

She dropped her forehead to his chest and squeezed her eyes shut. She’d been so focused on finding Hanna, so damn consumed, that she hadn’t once thought about herself. Ethan’s knuckle found her chin and he lifted her head up for her eyes to meet his. Fog swirled through her brain. For the life of her, she couldn’t recall Hanna hinting about anyone.

But if she had… and his identity lay in one of their conversations…she’d never forgive herself for not listening.

“It’s all right, you’re safe. Whoever he is will have to go through me first.”

Warmth spread through her and she curved her lips into a smile. While she had chugged a cup of coffee waiting for Joe to arrive, Ethan had dressed and shaved. The stubble that had adorned his jaw this morning was now gone. She reached her hand up to coast her fingers on it, reveling in its smoothness. He turned his face to press a kiss on her palm.

Heat scorched her. “Do you think Joe will be able to locate the owner of the truck?”

Ethan grimaced. “I think he doesn’t want to acknowledge that the person behind this or Hanna’s disappearance lives righthere in Beaufort. On top of that, he wasn’t sold that the driver of the truck could be related to Hanna’s disappearance or your break-in. I don’t believe in coincidences.” His fingers skimmed under the hem of her shirt, his thumbs smoothed over her belly. A tremor rippled down her spine. “I’ll do some of my own digging.”

His gaze moved over her face, then dropped to trail down her body and back up again. “I think we should talk about your ex and that guy who lives above you. What’s his name, Michael?”

She narrowed her eyes at him. “What do they have to do with anything?”

“Brian was an old boyfriend. He could still have interest in you or—”

She shook her head and a scoff rumbled over her tongue. “I seriously doubt it.”

Ethan’s shoulder lifted and dropped. “You could be right, but the possibility is there. And Michael is in close proximity to you. He’d easily be able to watch your comings and goings.”

“Brian, maybe. But Michael? He’s older and he’s been a prominent resident here for years.”

His mouth came down to hover inches above hers. “As far as I’m concerned, everyone is a suspect.”

“I’ll tell you whatever you want to know. But can we discuss it later?”

His fingers flexed on her back. “Of course.” His lips inched closer to hers, hovering.

Her pulse hammered against her throat and she closed the gap between them. His mouth curved against hers, his tongue gently licked her bottom lip. Her breath stalled in her lungs as pleasure surged through her body. Last night, he’d pulled the plug on their hot and heavy moment in the shower, making her question his attraction.

Now there was no denying it.

His thigh slipped between hers, pressing against where she wanted him most. His hand fell to the small of her back, crushing her to him.

Her fingers tunneled through the hair at the back of his head, pulling him closer, wanting more. He lifted her in his arms and set her on the kitchen counter. His tongue moved through her teeth, taunting hers to mingle with his. A deep throbbing tore through her.

“Mmm…Ethan,” she moaned.

His smile moved against her. His mouth left hers to trail down her throat, and over her collarbone. He pushed the top of her shirt and bra aside, exposing her breast. His hot, wet mouth closed over her nipple, his tongue moved around the tight hard nub until a sob broke through her throat.

“Riley. I want you.” The blues of his eyes darkened to deep indigo, desire ebbed through her. His thick hands coasted expertly up her thighs, his thumbs grazing the insides of her shorts.

Her skin tingled with need. She dug her fingernails into his scalp. His mouth pressed to hers again, taking her tongue in his and gently suckling. Her toes curled and her back arched as his index finger slid into the leg of her shorts, his fingertip moved aside her underwear. Her teeth nipped into his tongue, craving more. His free hand held her ass, pressing her closer to the edge of the counter while his finger swiped over her wetness.

Her body jolted and she cried into his mouth. His body turned rock-solid against hers, his erection strained against the inside of her knee.

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