Body of Evidence (Evidence Series) (42 page)

She took a step toward him, then stopped and stared at him. All he could do was stare back and let her see the truth in his eyes. After a lifetime of hiding behind a cold façade, it wasn’t easy to let the shield go.

Speechless, she stood in the middle of the room. Finally, she lifted a hand in the air and studied it wonderingly. “I’m so afraid to believe you, I’m trembling.” He saw her shaking fingers and the shivers that traveled up her arm.

He crossed to her in three quick strides and held out his own hand. “And I’m so scared you
won’t
believe me, I’ve been shaking since I was on my knees.” He took her hand in his and stilled both their tremors.

She let out a half sob, half laugh. “This is nuts. I started falling for you the first moment I saw you, and I’ve been second-guessing myself every moment since.” She studied their entwined hands. “I can’t fall in love with
you
. I can pretend to date you, but a real relationship is crazy. You’re a legendary crusader for justice, and my uncle is an arms dealer. You’ll be the next attorney general, and I helped create an international incident.”

His heart pounded as hope sprang anew. “Sounds like a perfect match to me.” He pulled her against him, slowly, giving her a choice, then cradled her face in his hands. “I’m sorry, Mara. It killed me to know how much my actions would hurt you.”

She gripped his tie, pulling him down as she rose on her toes. When their lips were millimeters apart, she said, “Promise you won’t ever manipulate me like that again.”

He raised his voice to be heard over his loud, racing heart. “I promise.”

Her lips touched his. A soft, fleeting kiss, and it took all his willpower not to crush her in a demanding embrace. The only way to win was to surrender and grant her complete control.

Still gripping his tie, she said, “I have something I need to tell you.”

Fear surged at her trepidation. “Hopefully it’s that you love me?”

She shook her head, and his heart dropped. He rallied a second later. Dammit. He’d convince her to love him. She was a jury of one, and he would sway her. “Give me time, then. That’s all I ask.”

She laughed. “No. It’s not that. I mean, I do love you, but it’s not that.”

Relief flooded him. “Wow. And people say men are bad at romance. Could you say that again, but without the other stuff?”

“It’s my fault you were the envoy.”

Her words took him aback. “Your fault?”

“I suggested your name to my interrogator. They wanted—”

He planted his mouth on hers before she could finish. He lifted his head long enough to say, “I don’t give a damn,” then resumed kissing her. Fear, tension, anxiety all left him at once, and now, all he felt was the urgent need to make her his. He dropped small kisses along her jaw, traced her ear with his tongue, and murmured his intention against her skin.

She lifted his head and gazed into his eyes. “If you’d asked me to testify, I don’t know how I would have answered. But I’m glad you forced me. I know if I hadn’t testified, I’d have regretted it.”

This was her gift, absolving him. He sucked in a deep breath, continually amazed by her. “About your uncle, I need to tell you—”

“No. Not now. He doesn’t get to share this moment. This is for us.” She smiled wickedly. “You are finally going to put out.” She worked the knot on his tie.

He grinned and began unbuttoning her blouse. “Yes, ma’am.” When he had her shirt open, he lowered his mouth to her breast, laving the hard nipple through the thin satin of her bra. She let out a soft moan and ran her fingers through his hair. “You’re mine,” he said, feeling positively Neanderthal and enjoying every primal-possessive moment. He slid a hand over her butt and down her thigh, then moved upward to press against her center. “And I’m going to have you.”

She tugged his shirt from his slacks. “Promise me the guard won’t interrupt us.”

He glanced toward the door. “I’m pretty sure he knows what we’re doing.”

She laughed and pushed his jacket and shirt down his shoulders.

He let go of her long enough to remove both items, then nodded toward the fireplace. “I want to make love to you in front of the fire, like we did on our fourth date.”

“Third. The football game wasn’t a date.”

He chuckled, tossed her over his shoulder, and deposited her in front of the hearth. He reached for the clasp on her slacks. “You’re wearing too much.”

“So are you.” She tugged on his belt.

Their arms tangled at cross-purposes. He stepped back and removed his pants, while she doffed her blouse and slacks. She reached for her bra, but he stopped her hands and traced the cups with deliberate slowness.

She purred with impatience and unhooked the back, then slipped the straps from her shoulders. He caught the cups before they slid off and instead revealed her magnificent curves in slow millimeters. Nipples exposed at last, he covered one with his mouth while rolling the other between his fingers.

“You really do have spectacular breasts.” Her skin was hot in his hands. He tasted her other breast, and she panted his name.

Every sensation was heightened, intense. He’d never known what he was missing, engaging in sex without love. This was new. And incredibly hot. She moaned and closed her eyes. The pleasure on her face pushed his arousal to a new level as satisfaction shot through him.

This beautiful woman was his. All his.

He pulled her against him and captured her mouth in another searing kiss. Her hands found his erection, and he groaned as she put his staying power to the test.

“Condoms,” she said. “Please tell me you have condoms.”

“I do.” He released her to rummage in his jacket pocket and returned with a box.

“You’re prepared.”

He hooked a finger inside the top of her panties and pulled her closer. “I wasn’t afraid to hope.” He dropped to his knees, pulling down her underwear as he went. She obliged by stepping out of the skimpy satin.

He knelt before her, bringing his face level with her breasts. He kissed a trail south while his hands slid between her thighs and stroked between her legs. With a gentle nudge, he indicated she should widen her stance. She groaned and obeyed, spreading her legs for his touch.

He breathed in her scent and slid a finger inside her. Holy crap, she was
so
ready for him. He gazed upward. With closed eyes, she whimpered. It was the most erotic thing he’d ever seen.

His mouth found her center. She gripped his shoulders and rocked on her heels. He separated her folds with his tongue and groaned at her slick heat. “I’ve been aching to taste you forever,” he said against her center. “And now I’m going to feel you come against my mouth, just like we talked about.”

She was sweet and hot against his tongue, and with each stroke she let out a sexy whimper. He felt her knees tremble and knew she perched on the precipice of orgasm. The fire warmed his bare back and sweat beaded on his neck while her breath came out in sharp pants. She pulled back from his mouth, attempting to stop him from making her come. “Make love to me, Curt. Now.”

He shook his head and laved her center while sliding fingers inside her slick heat. “Come for me, sweetheart.”

“No.”

He cupped her bottom and pulled her to his mouth. He licked her clitoris, then sucked on it and lightly grazed it with his teeth. He felt the exact moment she tumbled off the precipice, and only iron will kept him from following.

He maintained pressure with his tongue, and her orgasm continued until her knees gave out. He caught her and lowered her to the carpet. The scratchy rug wouldn’t do for the first time he made love to her. “Be right back,” he said and escaped into the bedroom. A moment later, he returned with blankets and pillows and spread them out before the fireplace.

She stretched out with a sated smile. He lay down beside her and gathered her against him. Golden firelight caressed her smooth skin as her mouth relaxed in a sensuous smile. He kissed her, a slow, thorough kiss, claiming her for his own.

She reached for the condoms and opened a foil packet, then slid the latex over his erection, and he gasped at the feel of her hand as she explored him, cupped his testicles, and slid her hand up his hard shaft.

How had he managed to resist her on their journey? All he wanted was to bring her pleasure, make her laugh, and take away her sorrow. Love her body and mind.

She opened her thighs and gripped his hips, pulling him to her. Unable to resist a moment longer, he pressed against her opening. His lips found hers, and he delved into her mouth with slow, sensual need.

“Please,” she begged.

“Now,” he agreed and filled her in one swift motion.

She was so hot and slick and,
sweet Jesus
, tight, he could come right now. Lightning-like jolts of pleasure shot through him. He held still, reveling in the thrill of being inside her, with her. He kissed her, deep and slow.

Her hands cradled his face. “I love you, Curt.”

And with those words, his heart soared. Unable to remain still a moment longer, he thrust with slow, deep strokes. Those lightning jolts intensified with each thrust. She moaned and gasped, and he felt like the superhero she wanted him to be. In moments, she was frantic and trembling, but despite her urging, Curt maintained the slow, erotic pace. In absolute control. He slowed further when she begged him to go faster. “No, love. Don’t rush.”

His mouth found her nipple, and she clenched tightly around his cock. He let out an uncontrolled groan and quickened the pace.

She smiled and clenched tighter, rocking her pelvis into his. Another notch of control slipped, and he moaned against her chest, “Mara, you’re killing me.”

“Come for me, Curt.”

“Not yet.”

She gripped his butt and ground her hips against his, and it was his turn to tumble off the precipice. He thrust into her hot, urgent, and, thankfully, bringing her over the same edge. He came in a single burst of lightning that erupted from his core.

He collapsed, bathed in sweat and panting.

She ran her fingers through his hair. “You’re mine. Finally.” She let out a contented sigh. “The moment you put yourself between me and the firing squad, I fell, hard.”

He slid out of her and adjusted his position, rising up on his arms as he did so. Bending his elbows, he lowered himself, push-up style, and kissed her, an openmouthed kiss that promised hours more of pleasure. He dropped down on one elbow to her side. “I was taken with you the moment I saw your dignity and strength.” He traced circles on her belly. “I haven’t let myself get close to someone since I was sixteen because I was afraid of not being in control. I sent a kid to the hospital—”

“He pulled a knife on you.”

“I know. But when I think about Evan—and what he did to you—I want to dig up his body and kill him again. I’m a prosecutor; I’m supposed to believe the system will mete out justice. But no judge or jury could bestow what Robert Beck and the others deserve. I spend my nights searching for the evidence necessary to convict him, when all I really want is to go to his house and tear him apart with my bare hands.”

“If you do, promise me you’ll let me kick him in the balls a few times.”

Since he’d never allow her within a mile of Robert Beck, he said, “Sure.” The mantel clock chimed, and he sat up and cursed. “Hell. I was supposed to meet Aurora twenty minutes ago to draft the plea bargain. I didn’t want to do this—make love to you and run—but we can’t release the jury without a signed agreement, and they’re sequestered. It would be shitty to keep them longer just because I’d rather spend the night making love to you.”

He left her side to dispose of the condom. When he returned, she handed him his clothes. “When can you come back?” she asked.

The firelight on her skin tested his commitment to the very nice jurors who’d given up weeks of their lives for civic duty. But he had a duty to them. “You’ll be moved tomorrow. It’s not a good idea to keep you in the same place for long. Your uncle rolled on Raptor. His word alone isn’t good enough for indictments, but you can back up several of his claims. Beck will be twice as anxious to get to you.” While he spoke, he pulled on clothing.

She wrapped the blanket around her naked body and moved to the couch. “Why did he do it? My uncle has his faults, but greed isn’t one of them.”

“It’s a long story—and I’ll tell you the whole saga later—but the truth is, we were both right about him, and we were both wrong.”

“What do you mean?”

He’d looked forward to this moment ever since he’d determined Stevens had told him the truth. He could restore a small amount of honor to her view of her uncle. “He traded the arms for hostages, and—he claims, and I believe him—the plan to get the smallpox bomb was originally to destroy it in place. Robert Beck, with the help of Evan and Roddy, betrayed him.”

“He gave weapons to a war criminal.” Her lips tightened. “In Bosnia I saw firsthand what war criminals do. Killing children is just as heinous in Darfur. He’s going to prison?”

“He’ll get five to ten years.”

She pulled the blanket tighter and looked down. “A lot of people died thanks to those weapons, didn’t they?”

The best estimate was a hundred and twenty, but after trying to shatter her relationship with her uncle for weeks, he found he couldn’t deliver that blow. He stopped dressing and knelt before her. “Stevens arranged the deal, but it was Beck who took blood-soaked money from a Janjaweed militia leader. You’ll remain in protective custody until after Beck is convicted.”

“How long will that be?”

He had to tell her the truth, no matter how much she’d dislike it. “At least a year.”

“A year?” She looked crestfallen. “Will you be able to visit me?”

“I won’t work the case. We’re involved, and you’re a key witness. I expect a special prosecutor to be appointed. So yes, I will be able to visit you. Often. And not in an official capacity.”

Her eyes widened. “I thought special prosecutors only investigated government officials? Raptor is private. Are you saying a politician is involved?”

He’d hoped to avoid telling her the rest until after her meeting with the secretary of state. He probably already suspected he was under investigation, but if Mara accidently tipped him off, it would be that much harder to gather evidence. But she had a right to know the truth. “Yes—”