Page 69 of Run to Ground
Silently, they got into the SUV, and they remained quiet for most of the drive. Inside Jules’s mind, though, the rush of thoughts was very loud, as if she had an entire fleet of sorority sisters in there who were all trying to give Jules advice at the same time at the top of their lungs. When Theo finally spoke, it was a relief to focus on something other than her spinning thoughts.
“I want someone to watch your place again tonight. We still haven’t found Rounds.”
“Okay.” Jules didn’t mind. Although it was strange having someone she didn’t know sitting in her driveway all night, it was a huge relief. If she and the kids had to stay alone in that house with Norman on the loose and mysterious shadows moving in the trees… Jules shuddered. She wouldn’t sleep at all. “I’ll bring him—or her—coffee. And maybe a snack.”
“Do that.” Reaching over, Theo poked her side with a gentle finger. Although she was normally very ticklish, shock kept her from reacting, other than to stare at him. Had Theo actually tried to tickle her? “Right now, watch the road.”
“Sorry.” Jules snapped her attention back to the street, but her brain was still whirling. Surly Theo was tempting enough. She wasn’t sure if she could handle friendly, teasing Theo without her head—and heart—exploding.
As she turned onto her driveway, her breath started coming quickly. After the first curve in the rutted gravel path, they were surrounded by rocks and trees, hidden from everyone. The isolation of the property made her so much more aware of being alone with Theo. It was a good kind of excitement, but that tiny voice in her head—a voice that sounded a lot like Sam—wouldn’t shut up about the stupidity of getting involved with a cop.
Pulling up next to the house, she turned off the engine. When she peeked at Theo, he looked back with heated eyes, a tiny smile touching his mouth.
Who am I kidding?She gave a mental sigh.I’m already involved with a cop.
Getting out of the car, climbing the porch steps, unlocking the front door…all the things that were becoming routine in her new life had a new tension now that she was with Theo. Before she could step inside, he was there first. Even though he was a cop, someone who could bring her world crashing down, could break apart her family just as easily, Theo made her feel safe. Having him as a wall—a strong, solid wall—between her and any dangers that might be lurking in the house was such an intoxicating feeling that she was afraid she’d already become addicted.
She wanted to be strong and independent. For her siblings’ sakes, sheneededto be strong and independent. It was just such a relief to have a little help.
“You okay?” Theo asked, eyeing her carefully.
Jules realized she’d stopped in the doorway, half-in and half-out. Flushing, she moved all the way inside and closed the door before turning the dead bolt. “Yes.”
He was still watching her, but his expression changed. Concern morphed into focus, and he took a step closer. Jules watched, like prey hypnotized by a predator, as he moved in, not stopping his advance until every part of his body, from his legs to his belly to his chest to his lips, were just a fraction of an inch from hers. Her breaths were quick and shallow; her breasts brushed his chest with every inhale.
“I don’t want to want you,” he murmured, the heat of his words warming her lips. It took a second for the meaning to penetrate her brain. When it did, her gaze locked onto his, and she raised her hands to his chest, intending to push him away.
“Then don’t.” She meant her voice to sound challenging, rather than husky. The feel of his pecs beneath her palms startled her into stillness. Her hands flattened against his chest, but her touch turned into more of a caress than a shove.
“Too late.” He moved infinitesimally closer, and his lips barely grazed hers when he spoke. It made it very hard for her to concentrate on what he was saying. “You know what’s worse?”
“What?” Jules asked, distracted as her desire rose. If he didn’t move, didn’t close that tiny gap between them so they were finally kissing for real, she was going to either scream or kiss him herself.
“I actually like you.”
Despite her growing impatience, his words made her smile, especially the bemused exasperation in his tone that made what he was saying sound so sincere.
“You know what else?”
“What?”
“My dog likes you, too.”
Her laugh was soft and surprised. In the middle of such intensity, she didn’t think she could feel amused, especially by Theo. “And I like your dog. Not as much as Dee, though. Shereallylikes your dog. In fact, I think she might be in love.”
At the word “love,” his dark eyes went soft and hot at the same time. Without another word, he finally,finallyclosed the gap and kissed her. Because of the long lead up, his extended, teasing almost-kiss, she’d expected it to be gentle, exploratory. It wasn’t.
It was explosive.
The touch of their mouths was the ignition switch, and Jules’s brain went white as all her thoughts were blown out of her head. Only Theo remained, his lips and tongue and the press of his body flattening her against the door. She burrowed her fingers through his short hair, pulling him impossibly closer, trying to fall even more deeply into him.
With a groan that set off vibrations she could feel down to her toes, Theo snaked one arm around her waist and slid the other over her hip to her thigh. With an effortless ease that Jules—even in her kiss-clouded state—couldn’t help but appreciate, Theo lifted her off the floor.
Immediately, she wrapped her legs around his waist, wanting the pressure and friction of that position. His hands ran up the back of both thighs, kneading and squeezing her hamstrings. With a groan, she pressed closer, locking her ankles behind him and her arms around his shoulders.
He leaned his weight into her, sandwiching her between his powerful body and the unyielding door. Her shoulder blades rubbed against the wood panels, an aching pressure that only drove her arousal higher. And during everything, he kept kissing her—and she kept kissing back.
Jules couldn’t stop. She could barely stand to pause long enough to suck in a quick breath before diving back in for more. In those seconds, it felt as if her physical connection with Theo was more important than her need for air.
