He pulled back a little. “I’m sorry. I know you didn’t come here for this, but—”
Kenzie captured his face between her hands and silenced him with a kiss. He was right. She hadn’t come here for this—or maybe she had. She kept on kissing him, aching for him with a desperation even greater than before.
Reese unbuttoned her simple cotton blouse and slid it off her shoulders, unhooked her plain white cotton bra and tossed it away. She hadn’t dressed for seduction, hadn’t thought that far ahead.
“Such pretty breasts,” he said, thumbing her nipple, turning it hard, then settling his mouth there, tugging until she moaned.
He kissed her as he stripped away her clothes, then shed his own. The time he spent keeping himself in shape showed in his solid biceps and six-pack abs. She ran her fingers over his tanned chest and amazing pecs, ringed a flat copper nipple, and heard him groan.
“I want you,” he said, caressing her breasts as he eased her back onto the sofa and settled himself between her legs. “I need this so much, Kenzie. I need you.”
“I need you, too, Reese.”
Reese kissed his way down her body, kissed the inside of her thighs. She was trembling when he began to pleasure her with his mouth and his hands, bringing her to a shattering climax. Then he came up over her and slid deep inside, kissed her as he began to move.
Kenzie thought that she had never known what sex really was until she’d made love with Reese. As his strong, deep thrusts carried her higher, driving her toward the peak again, Kenzie squirmed beneath him, silently begging for more.
“Not yet,” he said, drawing her hands above her head and locking her wrists together. “Not until it’s time.” In and out, fast and then slow, setting up a rhythm so delicious she began to moan.
She started pleading, saying his name over and over. It embarrassed her—and it turned her on.
“You want more?” he asked, pausing.
“Yes, oh, God, Reese, please don’t stop...”
He kissed the side of her neck, then took her mouth, let go of her wrists as he began to move faster, deeper, harder. Pleasure tore through her, stretched into what seemed eternity. For the second time, she was flying, tears in her eyes, her heart filled with emotion.
Afterward, Reese just held her. “You okay? I was a little rough. It wasn’t too much?”
A soft sigh whispered out. She reached up and touched his cheek, felt the dark bristles along his jaw. “You were perfect.” This time it was exactly the right word.
TWENTY
Kenzie curled up next to Reese on the sofa beneath the lightweight throw he’d tossed over them. Pulling her close, he slid an arm around her and Kenzie leaned against him. They were quiet for a while.
“I need to tell you about what happened with Lee,” she finally said, braving a subject she dreaded. “I should have told you sooner, but I was embarrassed. I didn’t want you to be disappointed in me.”
Reese caught her chin, forcing her to look at him. “You could never disappoint me, Kenzie. You stayed because you felt you had to for Griff. I understand that. I don’t like that it happened. But Lee’s dead. There’s nothing either one of us can do about it now.”
There was no mistaking the hard note that had crept into his voice. It occurred to her that in one way or another, he would have made Lee pay.
“I should have left sooner,” she said. “There are places that help women in trouble. But more than a year passed between the first incident and the second. By then, I was sure it wouldn’t happen again. Still, that terrible first time made me realize how dependent I was on him. I started making plans just in case. Then one night he came home and I could see the anger in his face. He didn’t hit me that night, but if I had pushed him the least bit, he would have. I was grateful Griff was having a sleepover with one of his friends that night.”
“I saw the way Lee treated you at the hospital. Maybe he knew Griff wouldn’t be there so he could deal with you the way he wanted.”
“Maybe. I don’t know. After that, I knew I had to leave. A few weeks later, he came home early and caught me packing. That was the second time it happened. I moved out a week later.”
Reese released a slow breath. She realized he was working to summon his usually unshakable control. He leaned down and softly kissed her. “I’m sorry for what Lee did to you. But I’m glad you ended up working for me.”
She smiled at him. “So am I.” She sighed. “Unfortunately, Lee’s abusive behavior is just one more thing that makes me look guilty.”
Reese squeezed her hand and sat up straighter on the sofa. “I talked to Chase this afternoon.”
“About the tabloid article?”
“About the murder. Chase and Hawk both think Lee’s killer was a professional, someone good enough to murder him and not leave any evidence—or at least none he didn’t plant.”
She frowned. “You aren’t talking about a hit man of some kind?”
“It’s a possibility. Hawk thinks it could be a guy who works for the Louisiana mob. He’s looking for a connection.”
Unease filtered through her. “Lee’s brother, Daniel, is a Louisiana state senator.”
He nodded. “I remember you saying that.”
“As far as I know, Daniel’s a really good guy. I can’t believe he’d have anything to do with murder.” She had met Lee’s older brother and his wife only a couple of times, but she had liked them both.
“Lee said Daniel was as straight as an arrow. According to Lee, he’d always been his father’s favorite. In Arthur’s eyes, Lee could never quite measure up. I don’t think Daniel would associate with criminals.”
“In Louisiana, the mob is heavy into the casino business,” Reese said. “Was Lee a gambler? The riverboats in Shreveport are only a few hours away.”
“Lee didn’t gamble. He didn’t like to lose at anything. Same reason he didn’t play golf.”
“I’ll dig into it, see what I can find out.” He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips, pressed a soft kiss into her palm. He rose from the sofa, magnificently naked. “In the meantime, let’s go to bed.”
She thought of the falcon tattoo on his back and a fresh rush of desire slipped through her. With regret, she shook her head. “It’s a school night. I have to get home.”
“You sure you can’t stay, at least for a while?” At the heat in those amazing blue eyes, her abdomen contracted. Her mouth dried up while the rest of her body went soft and damp.