Jace watched Taryn during all of this. He went to her and kneeled beside her chair when he saw her face turn pale. “You all right?”
“If someone in the organization is undercover, Boyd will find them. He always does. He doesn’t do anything stupid, so the Feds won’t know he’s the one who killed their agent, but he will end their life. Whoever this person is needs to be careful. If they’re smart, they’ll stay away from anyone who looks even remotely like a cop.”
Ryan caught her attention. “We sent the patrols out looking for you because Jace was worried. We weren’t going to have you arrested. The officers were simply going to ask that you remain until we could get Jace there to talk to you.”
“Not to mention, both you and Danny wanted information,” Taryn said, a hard edge to her voice.
Ryan threw up his hands. “I’m not denying it. The thought of getting a criminal such as this off the streets is too much to resist. However, I’ve got a feeling this is out of both my and Danny’s jurisdictions.”
“I can’t imagine the Feds were too happy about your interference,” Abby pointed out.
Jace put his hand atop Taryn’s. He wanted to say so much to her, but he saw her exhaustion. She was weary, and she needed some time.
“Thank you all for helping us tonight,” Jace said. “I know y’all probably have a lot more questions, but they’ll have to wait. It’s been a long day, and Taryn needs to rest.”
Audrey got to her feet. “You’re absolutely right. Taryn, I hope we girls can catch up soon. Until then, please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of us if you need anything.”
Caleb brought his chair back to the dining room and waved at Jace and Taryn as he walked Audrey out of the house. The others followed one by one until only Ryan remained.
He stood and rocked back on his heels. “Thank you for sharing your story. You’ve given us a lot without giving us what we really need. I know you want out, and if you don’t want to trust me or Danny, then trust Jace. He’d do anything for you.”
“I know,” Taryn said.
Once they were alone, Jace moved to the sofa. “You hungry? Thirsty?”
“No, thank you.”
“Do you regret coming back?” He hadn’t wanted to ask the question, but he had to know the answer.
Her head swiveled to him as she smiled. “The one thing about my life I don’t regret in any fashion is you. To answer your question, no, I don’t regret coming back to you tonight. I’m just scared of what might happen because I did.”
“We’re a pretty resourceful group. We’ve been through quite a lot together.” Jace grinned as he thought back. “Naomi’s best friend used to be a rodeo queen who was blackmailed and used for sex by some business owners in town. Naomi found out, and then she was threatened. Brice immediately stepped up to help her, and the rest of us joined in. In the end, we stopped the individuals, and they were arrested.”
“Really?” Taryn asked, genuine interest in her green eyes.
Jace nodded. “Then there were the dying horses at an auction house. Audrey was blamed. As it turned out, a woman jealous of Audrey did all of it, but we helped Caleb and Audrey sort through it all. It actually involved a couple of shoot-outs and some scary situations.”
“Y’all have been busy,” Taryn replied with wide eyes.
Jace scratched his head as he frowned. “I think you’re right. Skylar came back to town while running from an abusive, controlling ex-boyfriend who came from a wealthy and well-connected family. The ex-boyfriend kidnapped Danny and nearly had him beaten to death. We helped to track him down and then helped him find Skylar and free her from her ex.”
“Shit,” Taryn whispered. “That sounds intense.”
“It was.”
“Is that all?”
Jace shook his head. “About seven months ago, Marlee came to town. She specializes in locating kidnapped babies and children. When her twin, Macey, was eight months pregnant, she was murdered, and the baby was stolen.”
“Dear God.”
“Marlee thought Brice and Naomi had adopted the child but it turned out there was a kidnapping ring right here in Clearview. We helped her locate it and bring it down. Marlee was nearly killed, Cooper was kidnapped and locked in a building rigged with a bomb, and I was hit over the head and left for dead.”
Taryn rose from the chair and came to sit beside him. She took his hand in hers and held his gaze. “I’m so happy that all of those stories ended happily for everyone. I don’t think this one will.”
“We’ll have to see about that.”
“You’re amazing, but you can’t do everything,” she said.
Jace linked his fingers with hers. “What I do know is that I’ll do whatever it takes to free you and your sister.”
He felt her pull, the same one that had brought them together so long ago. Blood surged to his cock as he thought about earlier when they had given in to the urge to have each other. Jace slid his hand under the fall of her hair to her neck and then leaned toward her. She met him halfway, their lips meeting for a slow, languid kiss that had them both breathing heavily within moments.
Taryn broke the kiss as she rose to her feet. She shot him a seductive smile and motioned with her finger for him to follow her. As she walked away, she began undressing. Jace pulled off his boots before he stood and yanked off his shirt, tossing it aside. He had his jeans unfastened and pushed down his hips by the time he reached his room.
When he looked at the bed, Taryn was already stretched out on it, waiting for him. His hard cock jumped at the thought of being inside her again. He strode to the bed and moved over her, yet she pushed against his shoulder until he was on his back. Then, with her eyes locked on his, she kissed down his chest, stopping at every scar to run her tongue over it like she used to. She traveled down his abdomen until she reached his arousal.
Her long fingers wrapped around him as she slowly slid her hand up and down his length once. Twice. She flipped her hair to one side and licked the tip of his rod. Jace groaned in anticipation of her amazing mouth.
He kept his gaze on her. His heart raced when she parted her lips and wrapped them around his cock. She moved her hand and mouth up and down, stroking him as she gradually increased her speed. Jace dropped his head back onto the bed and closed his eyes as he was overcome with desire, the type that only Taryn could bring out in him.
Though they hadn’t had sex that long ago, her amazing hands and mouth had him on the edge quicker than he would’ve liked. As if sensing that he was close, she lifted her head and straddled him, then guided his aching cock into her body.
Jace clamped his hands on her hips as she began rocking back and forth. He reached up to fondle her ample breasts, teasing the nipples as he knew she liked. When her breath hitched, he knew she was closing in on another orgasm, as well. Earlier, things had been quick because they both needed it. He wanted to extend this time for as long as he could. Which meant he needed to get her off him if he didn’t want to come. Because nothing could make him climax quicker than having Taryn on top.
He flipped them, then pulled out of her to rise up onto his knees. She readily got on all fours facing away from him and looked at him over her shoulder. He entered her from behind and moaned. He kept her hips still with his hands as he drove into her again and again. Faster, harder. Deeper.