Greeley's Spyce (9 page)

one person, one entity.

Exhausted, Ernst sagged to the bed, barely avoiding crushing the ex-

quisite woman beneath him. He had nothing left; she had sucked him dry.

But in a good way. A very good way.

The chime of his watch told him it was three in the morning. Gather-

ing Kacy in his arms, he tucked her head under his chin and just held her.

Ernst wanted to yell it from the top of the world, that he was in love with this

woman; but for the moment, he could be content just to hold her.

The same as the night in Hawaii when she had fallen asleep in his

arms, he knew the exact moment she was truly asleep. Ernst readjusted them

52

Aliyah Burke

so their bodies were comfortably entangled. Her body caused his to begin to

stir. He wanted her again, but he gritted his teeth and let her sleep.

C H A P T E R E I G H T

Kacy awoke a five. It never failed; no matter what time she went to

bed, she woke at five. At least today was Sunday. Opening her eyes, she saw

rain running down the windowpane. Perfect. A rainy Sunday, more reason to

lie around.

A gentle smile crossed her face as she thought of Ernst and the tender

and gentle way he had made love to her. Slipping out of bed, she grabbed

some clothes and headed for the bathroom.

Ernst was awake the second she stirred against him. He watched

through lowered lids as she snuck from the room.
Why was she up so damn

early?
His body relaxed as he heard the toilet flush. Still tired, he drifted back

to sleep to the sound of rain pounding against the glass.

He woke again. Alone. This time he sat up and glanced at his watch.

Six-thirty, but no Kacy in bed. Wiping the sleep from his eyes, Ernst slid on

his boxers and crept up the hall. She wasn‘t in the guest room, office, living

room, or kitchen. About to get dressed and really search, he noticed the

sliding door to her porch open.

Stepping out, he saw her sound asleep on the swing. The rain was

coming down hard, but it didn‘t wake her. Ernst stood over her and looked,

really looked at her. Her hair was in disarray. He could see where she had

whisker burn on her neck courtesy of him. Thick lashes were resting on her

baby soft skin. Her cute little nose and full lips that he loved to kiss made her

appear angelic.

Leaning down, he scooped her right out of the swing and carried her

back into the bedroom where he put them both back under the covers. Ernst

fell easily back to sleep with her in his arms again.

Someone or something was watching her. Copper eyes opened and

the first thing they saw was a pair of heart-stopping blue eyes. The man who

owned those eyes was propped up on one arm looking down at her.

54

Aliyah Burke

―Good morning, Kacy,‖ Ernst spoke in a deep voice. It was so com-

forting to hear his timbre. He reached over and began to trace her lips.

―Morning,‖ she mumbled. ―I thought I was on the porch,‖ Kacy said,

more to herself.

―You were but you belong in your bed, and my body missed yours.‖

He kissed her before going back to his touching quest.

Kacy put her gaze on him. ―Why did you come back?‖

His caresses never paused. ―Aside from the fact I wanted you and I

still do? I came back because it was after midnight, a new day. I came back

because I wanted to be with you. I wanted to fall asleep with you in my

arms.‖

His fingertips lightly roamed over her face, as if memorizing every

detail. ―How are you feeling?‖ His touch moved down her neck.

―Lazy,‖ she answered with a sigh. His touch was so different; it could

stoke her to burning frenzy or offer such comfort and tenderness as it was

doing now.

―Hungry?‖

―Yes, I am.‖ His touch changed and she began to tremble from the

desire she could feel emanating from his fingertips.

His hand stilled. ―What do you want to eat?‖

Kacy misunderstood. She wanted him to want her again. Since he

was asking about breakfast and no longer caressing her, she figured she had

been a disappointment, after all.

Feeling her body‘s reaction, Ernst growled low in his throat and

pinned her between him and the mattress. ―Sweetheart, I want you so much I

hurt.‖ Taking her hand, he placed it on his throbbing erection. ―I was think-

ing of you and how your body is doing.‖ He kissed her briefly. ―You didn‘t

disappoint me. Quite to the contrary, I love every response you give me.‖

Tightening her hand around him, Kacy looked directly into his eyes

and murmured, ―This is what I want. This is what I need.‖

Ernst was slipping his penis inside her body in seconds. Soon, they

were screaming their releases to the house that shuddered with the force of

thunder claps raging outside.

When she awoke a third time, Kacy found one strong, lightly tanned

arm holding her down. Running a hand over her face, she turned to look at

the clock. Ten.
I never sleep this late.

Pushing at the arm that kept her there, Kacy groaned as the hold

tightened. ―Where are you going?‖ the masculine voice asked as Ernst buried

his face into her neck.

―I was going to get up and eat, but…‖ She shrugged and tapped his

arm as she burrowed closer to his naked body.

―I‘ll take you out for breakfast or brunch.‖ Ernst kissed her behind

the ear.

Greeley's Spyce

55

―That‘s okay.‖ Finding the strength, she wriggled out of his hold. Ka-

cy got out of bed and slipped on her robe saying, ―I‘m going to go shower.‖

Ernst flopped on his back and watched as her shimmering gaze

moved over his exposed body. ―I thought you were hungry.‖ He put his arms

behind his head as if allowing her a better view.

―I am but you don‘t need to buy me a meal.‖ With difficulty, Kacy

tore her gaze from his naked chest and began to pick up the scattered clothes.

Rolling his eyes, Ernst climbed out of bed and stepped in front of her.

His hands latched onto her wrists as he waited for her to look at him. She did.

One eyebrow rose in silent question. It took so much willpower not to look

down to his midsection for she knew he was naked.

―I want to buy you breakfast. That is what dating couples do.‖

Throwing his boxers at his chest, she shook her head. ―We aren‘t a

couple.‖
No matter how nice it sounds.

His eyes narrowed as he put on his boxers. ―What are you saying,

this was a one-night stand?‖

Kacy heard the menace in his tone and her body instinctively tensed.

―I guess so. Look we have nothing in common and I don‘t—‖

―Don‘t start that shit,‖ he growled. ―I want more than that from you,

Kacy.‖ His movements were jerky as he pulled on his jeans.

Get rid of him now, girl, before you get any deeper.
―But I don‘t,‖ she lied,

nearly breaking down from the pain that flashed across his face.

Ernst clenched his jaw, as if he were struggling to hold onto his con-

trol. ―Will you have dinner with me tonight?‖

―Sure,‖ Kacy said, not looking at him.

―About five at
Fountains
?‖

Her dark head nodded. ―Sure.‖

―I‘ll let myself out.‖ His tone was so formal it killed her.

―Okay.‖ Turning away, Kacy walked up the hall to the bathroom and

shut herself inside, not wanting to watch him leave.

The second he heard the bathroom door shut, Ernst sank down on

her bed, still rumpled from when they had lain in it and made love. Putting

his head in his hands he sighed. ―What am I going to do with you, Koali

Travis?‖

Blinking a few times, Ernst stood up and made the bed. He elected at

the last minute to take the picture she had under her pillow and place it on

top of the newly made bed, just to let her know he knew how she felt.

―I don‘t give up that easily,
liebling
.‖ The words were whispered as

he kissed two fingers and pressed them to the door she was behind. Making

sure the door would lock behind him Ernst walked out her front door and

down to his truck. An older woman was on her porch watching him. Ernst

nodded at her and waved as he climbed into his vehicle and drove away.

56

Aliyah Burke

Clean and damp from her shower, Kacy walked out of the bathroom

and knew he was no longer there. Her house seemed emptier somehow.

Blinking back tears, she headed to her room and saw the bed was made. On

top of the pillow lay…

He had found her picture. Ernst knew how she felt. Still in her robe,

Kacy crawled into the side of the bed where he‘d been. The pillow still held

his scent and she buried her face in it. She cuddled the pillow until her

doorbell rang. Wiping her eyes, she got out of bed and went to the door.

Looking through the peephole, she opened the door with a squeal and

jumped into the arms of the person on the other side.



―When are you going to get over this hold Kirby has on you?‖ The

question was direct, just like the person asking it.

Kacy swirled her drink. She had changed and was sitting in her liv-

ing room confronted by a feast and her very good friend Ilanderae Rogue

Nycks who‘d stopped by for a brief visit. ―It‘s like I told you on the phone,

Landi. Every time I think I have gotten past or over him, I see him.‖

―But, hon, he is still running your life, especially if you let a man like

this,‖ she held up one of the pictures they had taken in Hawaii, ―walk out of

that door.‖ Ilanderae tucked a strand of curly hair behind her ear.

―I know, but my mind is so into self-preservation; it is an instinctive

reaction. And Lord knows I wanted him to stay.‖

Arching a tweezed brow, Ilanderae smirked. ―I don‘t blame you

there. How was he, anyway?‖

―Landi!‖ Kacy gasped.

―Girl, please,‖ she scoffed, ―tell me all.‖

So Kacy did. They ate rich food and talked. About men, sex, food,

and more sex.

―What are you going to do about Kirby?‖ Ilanderae asked, suddenly

serious.

―I don‘t see him often,‖ Kacy said.

She leveled one manicured finger at her. ―Koali Cynemon, don‘t you

give me that shit. Any second you see him is too much. You need to tell this

man of yours about that bastard.‖

―He‘s not my man,‖ Kacy protested.

―Any man who rocks your world like that is a keeper. He‘s your

man,‖ Ilanderae insisted.

―I‘m doing okay, Landi. Really, I am. I go to the meetings and get

support, and I stay busy with work. Really busy,‖ Kacy said, reaching across

the coffee table to grab her friend‘s hand.

Greeley's Spyce

57

―Still live in fear, don‘t you? When a man raises his voice, you still

tense up and cringe. And you will until that bastard is gone from your life

forever,‖ Ilanderae swore.

―But I am not giving in and moving my business. I‘m established

here and I don‘t want to let him win,‖ Kacy spoke softly as she moved to sit

next to her friend.

―You know that man is dangerous. I don‘t want to get a call saying

come down and identify the body. You know you are family to me.‖

Kacy nodded. ―I know. I take precautions, but I haven‘t seen him

around here in a while. It has always been in a public place where I have seen

him.‖ Leaning in, she kissed Ilanderae on the cheek. ―I love you, too, Landi.‖

―I know,‖ she said with a smile. ―What‘s not to love?‖

They spent the day shopping and catching up. Dropping Ilanderae

off at the airport, Kacy sped home to change and get ready for her date. As

she was walking through the house toward the garage, her cell phone went

off.

―KT Electric,‖ she said as her body automatically turned and headed

back to her office. ―Evening, Sister,‖ Kacy said as she sat down at her desk.

―The whole thing?‖ Kacy opened her computer files to the St. Lucia

Orphanage. ―Don‘t worry about it; I am looking at the blueprints right now. I

will be there within the hour. See you then.‖

Hanging up, she set her phone down and jogged to her room to

change into jeans and a work shirt. Grabbing her briefcase along with her cell

phone, she headed out into the garage only to climb into her van instead of

her car. As she drove to the orphanage, she called
Fountains
and left a mes-

sage for Ernst. That done, she focused on driving in the rain.

Ernst swore as he got the message.
An emergency, huh?
Pissed off and

frustrated beyond belief, he went back to his apartment in Suffolk. A knock at

the door surprised him and he opened it to see a few of his teammates there.

―What are you three up to?‖ Ernst asked as he stepped back to let

them enter.

Ross answered, ―Came to see if you wanted to come out with us.‖

With a careless shrug, Ernst walked over to his leather couch and sat

down. ―Thanks anyways, guys, but I am not feeling up to it tonight.‖

Osten and Dimitri were anxious to get going, so Ross said he would

stay and talk to their Chief for a while. When it was just the two of them,

Ross sat down across from his senior officer.

―I never really apologized for the incident in Montana, Chief and I

am sorry,‖ Ross said in his southern drawl. A while ago, Ross had taken