Page 23 of Whispers in the Dark
“You okay?” he murmured, his voice low and rough, lips against her thigh.
She nodded, breathless. “Yes. Don’t stop.”
When he felt her ready, relaxed, warm, willing, he moved up her body again, kissing her deeply. Then he pressed into her with careful, steady motion, his breath hitching at the feel of her.She was tight, even now, but his patience didn’t falter. He held her gaze as he entered her fully, letting her adjust, letting them adjust.
They stayed like that, still and close, breathing in sync. When she wrapped her legs around him, he began to move—slow, measured thrusts designed for connection, not speed. His hand slipped between them, finding her clit with practiced care, and he massaged it gently, circling in rhythm with his thrusts.
Charlotte gasped, her body tensing, her fingers digging into his arms as her breath came faster. “Right there,” she whispered, and he didn’t stop.
She arched into him as the climax took her, quiet and fierce, her hands clutching his back, her breath catching in his ear. He held her through it, slowing his movements with gentle care until her grip softened and her thighs relaxed around him.
Still catching her breath, Charlotte kissed his jaw, his neck, his collarbone—each one deliberate, tasting him. Then she slid down his body without hesitation, her lips brushing a trail across his chest, her hand already reaching for him.
He looked at her, wide-eyed, reverent. “You don’t have to?—”
“I want to,” she said simply, not looking away.
She took him into her mouth with a slow certainty, one hand steadying his hip while the other wrapped around his base. Her rhythm was unhurried, her gaze flicking up to meet his as she worked him—intimate, focused, and utterly in control. He groaned, his hand fisting the sheet, hips tensing, but she didn’t flinch. She kept going, reading every sound and breath he gave her.
When he came, it was with a gasp—her name whispered like a prayer—his body shuddering beneath her touch. She stayed with him through every pulse, every tremor, her mouth softening only when his hand found her shoulder in a silent plea for mercy.
She pulled back slowly, kissed his stomach, then curled beside him without a word. He turned to her, awed and breathless, and she met him with a warm, wicked smile before tucking herself into the curve of his arm.
After, he stayed close. One hand in her hair, the other at her waist. Her body curved against his. Not needing to speak. Not needing to move.
For the first time all day, she exhaled fully. She was in his arms. And for now, that was enough.
Later, as they lay tangled in the sheets, her head resting on his chest, Alex traced small circles on her back. "You okay?"
Charlotte exhaled, her breath warm against his skin. "Yeah."
He kissed her forehead. "Try to sleep."
She didn’t answer, but he felt her nod. Alex tightened his arms around her. He knew this was only a short reprieve. Tomorrow, they would face whatever else was coming. But tonight, she was in his arms. And tonight, that was enough for him too.
Eight
Tuesday
Alex reached out,brushing a hand over her cheek, his fingers slow and deliberate. "Last night wasn’t just about the case, was it?"
He had known Charlotte for a few years. She wasn’t the kind of woman who needed saving, nor to admit she may want it. But last night, she let him hold her. She let herself need him. And for the first time since he had fallen for her, Alex felt the shift. Maybe, just maybe, he wasn’t competing with the grief for her dead husband anymore.
Charlotte exhaled, flattening her palm against his chest. "I didn’t want to be alone."
Alex pressed a kiss against her fingertips. "You never have to be."
A knock at the door shattered the moment. Bailey stood, his coat ruffled, with a feral growl from deep in his throat.
Charlotte tensed immediately. Alex sat up and reached for his gun on the nightstand, slipping out of bed in one smooth movement.
She moved just as fast, pulling on the hotel robe, her eyes sharp and alert. They exchanged a glance before Alex approached the door, stepping around the dog to check the peephole.
“Brad.” Alex let out a slow breath before moving the chair. While holding on to the dog, he unlocked the door.
Brad stepped inside, his expression unreadable. "Didn’t mean to interrupt.” He leaned down and stroked the now happy Bailey’s coat. "We found something." He carried a cardboard cup holder with three cups of coffee and handed it to Alex.
Charlotte tightened the belt around her robe. "What?"
