Page 32 of Dark Terror
Gabe was lost in sensations. The scent of her, the taste of her, the heat of her. He’d never wanted a woman the way he did Cara, and tomorrow… or maybe next week or month, he’d let himself think about what that meant. Now, all he cared about was having her under him. Or him under her. He didn’t care which as long as it happened.
He trailed his hands up to her waist, slipping them under the soft camisole she wore with the boy shorts. Her breasts perfectly fit his palms, but her top was hiding them from view. He needed to see them, to confirm what he already knew, that they were perfection. He claimed her mouth again as he slid her camisole up, and… There was a dog pushing his wet nose between their faces, his breath drowning out Cara’s erotic scent as he lapped at their cheeks. She giggled.
“Can we let him out? Maybe he’ll run away.” Gabe rested his forehead against Cara’s as he tried to calm his breathing. Damn dog. But the interruption brought him back to his senses.
Her eyes not leaving his, she pushed Cricket away. “Your bedroom has a door we can close.”
“We can’t do this, Cara. Not while I have an open case and you’re the only witness.”
You’ve got to be kidding me, man,a very eager part of him said.
Not kidding, dude, he answered.Deal with it.
No matter how much he wanted her, the timing was wrong. He couldn’t risk the possible consequences, and he especially wouldn’t put her in the position of having to try to justify her actions on the witness stand.
She scooted off him. “I’m sorry. I’ve never attacked a man before.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for.” He took her hand, linking their fingers. “Believe me, being attacked by you was the best thing that’s happened to me this century.” He grinned when she blushed. “I want this as much as you do, Cara. But it just can’t happen. Not now.”
She nodded as if she understood, but he wasn’t sure she did. “It’s late. I’m going to bed.”
He smiled but didn’t say anything, afraid that if he opened his mouth, he’d ask her to come with him to his bed. Cricket gave him a look that seemed to say Gabe had let down the men of the world before following her down the hallway.
“Can’t argue with you there, Ugly Dog,” he murmured before heading for the bathroom to take a cold shower.
* * *
“This is some extensive information on Sherman Enterprises that Cara compiled,” Harry said on Monday morning.
Gabe glanced at her across their two desks. “I guess if you want an in-depth report on something, a librarian is a good one to ask.”
“Why are you smiling?” Harry narrowed her eyes.
Gabe dropped the smile. Hell, he hadn’t even realized he was smiling, but Cara’s password,librarians go deeper, was stuck in his brain. Even the way she’d blushed after realizing how that sounded had been sexy.
“I picked up Sheri Carstad’s bank statements from Benjamin this morning. Fortunately she kept the last three years’ worth, saving us from having to wait on a court order for the bank to turn them over.”
Harry scowled at him. “You’re ignoring me.”
Yes, he certainly was, or trying to. “I was smiling because I’m happy to have my partner back.”
“You were smiling because of Cara.”
“There’s no hiding anything from you. It’s damn annoying, Harry.” Thank God he’d had the presence of mind to stop before taking things too far last night, even though that was what they’d both wanted. Cricket’s trying to join in on the kissing fun had brought him to his senses.
When this case was over, different story. Until then, he had to keep his pants zipped. Cara would have to testify in court if it came to that, and if the defense found out she was in a relationship with him, one that had started after she’d witnessed the murder, they’d tear her to pieces. Him, too. That couldn’t happen.
“Listen, I really need you to let Cara stay with you.”
“Gabe, you know—”
“Yes, you don’t play well with others, and you don’t have an extra bed. Well, she’s nice and impossible to dislike, and we can go buy you a sleeper sofa this afternoon. I’ll even pay for the sheets and pillow she’ll need.”
If he didn’t get her out of his house, he wasn’t sure he’d be able to resist her the next time he kissed her. Because kissing her—and more—was all he wanted to do when he was anywhere near her.
Harry gave a long-suffering sigh. “Does the dog have to come?”
“I’d hate to separate them. They both experienced a traumatic event and have bonded over it. But if that’s a deal breaker, I’ll keep the thing I’m not entirely sure is really a dog until Cara can go home.”
