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“That was beautiful,” she said. “I’m so sorry it’s broken.”
“My father gave it to me when I was a kid.”
Her grasp tightened on his shoulder. “I’m so sorry, Gerard,” she repeated. “Those bastards! We’ll make sure the police find them, I promise.”
“Yeah.” He stood, his knees rubbery from fatigue, and swiped at his eyes. “Let’s get the hell out of here. I have everything I need.” He set the broken toy on the nightstand and walked away.
Chapter Eleven
Linda watched Gerard asleep beside her, fighting the urge to stroke his hair and to soothe the dark circles under his eyes with her fingertips. He needed sleep, and she didn’t want to do anything to wake him. She’d even put off getting up to use the bathroom, although the need was growing rather urgent. Still, she would stay here beside him as long as she could.
Conflicting emotions twisted inside her soul. She didn’t know which one to address first. For the second time in a matter of days, she’d awakened next to a man who made her happier than she’d ever been. The events of the past few days puzzled and overwhelmed her, even if the break-in at Gerard’s had put a dark cloud over things. Still, it couldn’t obliterate her joy.
Gingerly, she fingered the pearl necklace Chantalle had given her last evening. Her thoughts returned to the natural way Gerard had introduced her as his girlfriend.
She shouldn’t feel threatened by the beautiful and busty Danielle, but she couldn’t help it. What man in his right mind could remain immune to that body? The stripper might not be a Mensa candidate, but she knew how to use what she had to impress most men. Even the two police officers had all but drooled at the sight of her Barbie Doll body. Danielle clearly had a thing for him, even if Gerard was oblivious to it—and if he really was, then he was a saint.
The bedroom door was ajar, and Pirata padded into the room. Alarmed out of her musings, Linda slid out of bed. Pirata could wake the dead with his caterwauling, so she shushed him and shooed him away, rushing out and closing the door behind her.
She picked up the cat, murmuring to him and stroking his white fur as she went down the stairs. Quickly giving him food and water, she left him munching away contently at his crunchy breakfast, while she attended to her needs in the powder room. She washed her face and brushed her teeth. Since she didn’t have a hairbrush, she used her fingers to tame her hair, before tying it up into a messy bun.
Last night—this morning, actually—Gerard had offered to sleep on the couch, but she pretended not to hear him. As she’d hoped, he’d gotten the subtle hint, and they’d shared her bed. While Gerard had showered, she’d made sandwiches. After she’d washed up, they’d eaten and then crashed. Gerard had slept in cotton boxers, and she’d worn an oversized white jersey with the England National Rugby Union team’s red rose logo printed on it. It was long enough to cover her black lace panties. They were too drained to do anything but sleep. After Gerard had kissed her tenderly, he’d fallen asleep with his arms around her. She’d basked in the wonderful feeling until sleep had claimed her.
What should she do now? She didn’t know how long Gerard was going to sleep, so cooking breakfast didn’t make sense. She brewed a pot of the Turkish coffee she enjoyed on occasion, knowing they would both need the heavy dose of caffeine today.
Linda was looking out the window, watching a squirrel scamper about the yard and waiting for the coffeemaker to finish when she felt arms around her. Startled, not used to having anyone in the house, she jumped, then covered her hammering heart with one hand.
“God, you scared me. How can you move about without making noise?”
Gerard nuzzled her neck, his warm breath tickling her skin. “You didn’t make any noise when you snuck out of bed.”
“I didn’t sneak out; I slipped out. I didn’t want Pirata to wake you. How did you sleep?”
She turned inside his arms to face him. He looked much better, not completely rested, but not as pale and defeated as last night.
“I slept as though I were in Heaven—that is until my sexy angel disappeared. Why do you keep running away from me each morning?” he asked before drawing her closer to him to kiss.
He probably hadn’t intended it to be anything more than a morning peck, but before she knew it, their mouths melded together while their bodies didn’t seem able to get close enough.
Linda was dizzy with arousal, but Gerard continued to kiss her relentlessly, his mouth hot over her neck, his hands cupping her buttocks as he pulled her tighter to him. She felt his erection through his boxers and could think of nothing other than having him inside her.
As if he could read her mind, Gerard lifted her onto the counter in one swift motion. Before she knew it, he’d removed her panties and was naked between her thighs. Her vision blurred as he eased himself inside her, angling her hips with powerful fingers so he could get in deeper, higher. Her head fell back as she gave in to the vortex of intoxicating sensations. With each thrust of his hips, she used her legs wrapped around him to pull him in deeper. His gaze drilled into hers, glassy with wild passion. Need, hunger, and friction intensified until their bodies shuddered, shaken by thousands of volts of ecstasy.
“Mon Dieu, what you do to me,” he said huskily, panting, still holding her protectively, possessively.
Linda made a sound between a scoff and a laugh. Her breaths were choppy, her heart rate through the roof. “Me? I’m the one who should be asking you that.”
She felt his cheek against hers curve as he smiled.
“Anytime. Happy to oblige,” he murmured.
Pirata came in from the terrace and strolled toward them. He cocked his head curiously at the humans tangled on the kitchen counter.
Linda spotted and dragged her jersey down to cover her bare ass.
“Oh, Lord. Should he see us like this?” she whispered, absurdly embarrassed.
Gerard laughed, took a step back, and pulled up his boxers. He picked up her panties and handed them to her, like a knight offering his lady his favor.
