On the Ropes 2: Insidious Obsession (13 page)

She leaned forward and brushed a soft kiss along his collarbone. “If I were a tease, that would mean I have no intention of finishing what I started.” She nipped at his jaw. “And I intend to finish this task.” She moved her head to the side and sank her teeth into his earlobe.

He groaned and shifted underneath her, nudging her. “Damn it, woman, I need to be inside of you now.”

She lifted her head so she could see him, then reached between them and guided him into her before sliding down and engulfing him in one smooth motion.

His entire body tensed, and his fingers dug into her flesh. “Oh God,” he groaned. “Baby, you feel so good.”

“So do you,” she replied, breathless. Nothing in the world felt as good as him filling her. He completed her in a way she never realized was incomplete until she met him.

She slid her body up, creating a delicious friction between her legs that had them both groaning in pleasure. Then with her palms resting on his chest, she slowly inched her hips down until he was fully within her again.

“Harder,” he rasped as he thrust his hips.

She leaned forward, gripping his shoulders, and lifted her hips, then lowered them, starting a slow and powerful ride of pleasure. Her body trembled as passion boiled just beneath the surface. His hands slid up her body until he wrapped his arms around her, holding her in place. His eyes widened, and he stared up at her. “I love you, baby.”

In an instant, tears welled. His words seeped through her veins, warming her at her core. Never had anyone ever spoken those words to her. “I love you too,” she whispered as the first tear fell.

He lifted a hand and brushed the dampness on her cheek away with his thumb. “I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

“They’re tears of joy,” she replied, then took his mouth in a kiss she hoped conveyed to him everything she felt.

Connected on the most intimate of levels, she rode him, speeding up until the sound of their flesh slapping filled the room. She panted, and he groaned when a sudden frenzied need ravaged them. She watched the strain on his face as he struggled to hold off his release. “Come for me,” she whispered.

He gave one last hard thrust up; then his body began to jerk, and he groaned. The sensation of him filling her sent Amber tumbling off the precipice with him, and she cried out while her body pulsed around him.

Chapter Twenty

Lexi grabbed a towel and draped it around her neck while she walked toward the locker room. “So things with you and Cole are going well?”

Amber wiped her brow, then flung her towel over her shoulder. “Why do you ask?”

Lexi grinned. “I thought I heard you and Cole together the other morning.”

Heat flooded Amber’s face. She’d tried her best to keep quiet. “Y-you did?”

Lexi let out a laugh. “No, but now I know for sure that you slept with Cole.”

Amber couldn’t hide her grin. “That was rotten.”

“But effective,” Lexi countered. “I’m sorry, but I just had to know why things seem to be different between you two. Now I do.”

Amber arched a brow. “Different how?”

Lexi shrugged. “I don’t know exactly. I guess it’s just the way he looks at you and stuff. Like you’re the only thing in the world that matters.”

Amber’s grin widened. “You mean the same way Logan looks at you?”

“Yeah, I suppose it’s that.” Lexi giggled; then her expression turned serious. “He loves you, Amber. You can see it in his eyes.”

She slid a sideways glance at Lexi. “I love him too. God.” She sighed. “I never intended on falling in love with him or anyone else for that matter, but damn it, I couldn’t help myself.”

“Funny how love just kinda sneaks up on you and sucks you in before you even realize it’s happening,” Lexi replied.

Amber nodded. “You know what’s even funnier?”

“What?” Lexi pulled on the door leading to their locker room.

“If it hadn’t been for Mark putting me with you, I’m not sure Cole would have taken such an interest in me, and I wouldn’t have what I do now.”

“Which is?” Lexi arched a brow.

“Love and friendship.” A knock on the door prevented Amber from continuing her statement.

“Anybody in here?” the female voice asked as the door opened.

“Yeah, Kiera,” Lexi replied. “Come on in.”

Kiera Diamond stuck her head around the open door and peeked in at them. “Hey, Lexi?”

“Yeah?”

“Mark wants to see you in his office, now.”

Lexi pursed her lips and frowned. “Okay. We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Kiera shook her head. “Just you, Lexi. He didn’t ask for Amber.”

Lexi looked at Amber, concern on her face.

“Go.” Amber waved. “I’ll be fine.”

“Are you sure?” Lexi glanced between Kiera and Amber.

“Positive,” Amber replied. “Now go. You don’t want to keep Mark waiting.”

“Okay,” Lexi replied as she moved to the door, “but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

Amber watched Lexi go, then shook her head as she turned back to her bag. Ever since the hotel fire, the team made sure someone was always with her. While this would be the first time since that terrible morning she’d be alone, she wasn’t worried. Too many people lurked about for anyone to try harming her.

* * * *

Mark opened his office door and motioned for Cole and company to enter. “How you guys feeling after your big match the other night?”

“Sore but not bad,” Logan replied.

“I’m still dealing with headaches, but otherwise good,” Jason replied as he eased down onto the couch. “No spinal damage, thank God.”

Mark nodded. “That is good to hear. Just take it easy, okay, because concussions can take some time to get over.”

Cole took a seat next to Jason on the couch in Mark’s office while Logan slid into the empty chair. Mark closed the door and turned back to them. “Who is with Amber right now?”

“Lexi,” Logan replied. “They’re working out.”

“Good.” Mark nodded.

“So what is this about?” Cole asked. Something about Mark’s nervous nature set him on edge. Mark never called anyone into his office just to chat. Which meant something else had happened.

Mark eased down behind his desk and leveled a look at Cole. “I received a phone call from the detective working the hotel fire. They got a break in the case.”

Nervous excitement blasted through Cole’s body, and he leaned forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “Oh yeah? What do they know?” He could only hope that the police found the criminal stalking Amber and they could all put this terrible situation behind them.

“After scouring all the camera footage they caught what appeared to be a man in disguise lighting the door on fire. They then secured footage from other businesses in the area, and it led them to a homeless man that they know.”

Jason frowned. “A homeless guy? How would some homeless dude have known Amber was in that particular room? More important, why would he have lit her door on fire?”

“If he’s homeless, then how would he have come across the materials to start the fire or the disguise he used to get in and out of the building?” Logan asked.

Mark leaned back in his chair. “All good questions. Apparently the answer lies within something more sinister. After interrogating this homeless person, the police have learned that he was paid by someone to set fire to her door.”

Mark reached for a paper on his desk and handed it to Cole. “He said his job was to write this on her door and set it on fire, but he accidentally kicked over the container with the accelerant, and the fire got away from him.”

Cole’s blood boiled as he studied the picture, the word SLUT clearly etched into the door by the flames and propellant. “Who?” he asked as he handed the photo to Jason. “Who is the fucker who paid this guy to torch her door?”

Mark’s look turned somber. “The description the guy gave the detective didn’t match anyone in their area but did match one of our own.”

“Who?” Cole demanded.

Mark pointed a finger at him. “If I tell you, you have to promise not to do anything yet. The detectives are working on securing an arrest warrant, but it’s going to take some time. They’re still gathering evidence and building their case.”

“Who. Is. It?” Cole ground through his teeth. His frustration had reached a boiling point, and if the person was who Cole thought it was, he might just blow a gasket.

Mark sighed. “Based on the description, we believe it may be Sean Sable.”

Cole shot to his feet. “I’ll kill him!”

“Now wait just a damn minute,” Mark growled. He pushed up from his desk and pointed to Cole. “Nobody is going to do anything just yet. Sit your ass down.”

For a moment Cole remained standing; then Jason reached over and grabbed him by the belt. “Sit down before you make things worse.”

Reluctantly, Cole eased back onto the couch.

Ignoring Cole’s apparent fit, Logan asked, “What else do they know?”

Mark returned to his chair. “Apparently, he wasn’t home recuperating like we originally thought. Investigators in both of the cities where the incidents took place, found receipts in Sean’s name. Hotels. Gas. Fast food. He used his credit card in those cities during the times we were there.

“They have an eyewitness who says he was paid to do Sean’s dirty work and hotel receipts that place Sean near the scene of each crime. What other evidence do they need?” Logan asked.

“They’re checking credit card receipts for the purchase of the spray paint and the accelerant, and they’re scouring homeless people that may have been involved with the spray-painting incident.”

Jason pinched the bridge of his nose. “Not to state the obvious here, but Sean has come back to work, which means Amber’s in danger.”

A knock on Mark’s door interrupted them. “Come,” Mark called.

Lexi walked through the door. “Mark, you wanted to see me?”

Mark frowned. “I didn’t call you.”

Lexi glanced from him to Cole and back. “Kiera said you wanted to see me right away.”

Mark shook his head. “I haven’t even spoken to Kiera today.”

“Then why would she tell me that?”

“I don’t know, but we’ll damn well find out.” He picked up his cell. “Emma. Find Kiera Diamond and send her to my office immediately.”

Five minutes later Kiera walked through the door. “Emma said you wanted me?”

Mark nodded. “Did you tell Lexi I wanted to see her?”

Kiera nodded.

“Why?”

“Sean asked me to let Lexi know that you wanted to see her, so I did.”

Cole jerked at the sound of Sean’s name, and his body went rigid. Why did he suddenly have a very bad feeling that Amber was in trouble?

“Sean?” Mark looked from Kiera to Cole to Lexi. “Who is with Amber right now?”

Lexi’s eyes widened in horror. “Nobody. I left Amber alone in our locker room.”

“Son of a bitch!” Cole shot up from his chair and bolted out the door. The walls echoed with footfalls as the others followed. If Sean harmed a hair on her head, he’d kill the bastard.

Chapter Twenty-One

Amber heard the door open, but assuming it was Lexi, she didn’t bother turning around. “That was quick. Guess Mark decided he didn’t need you after all?” When her question met silence, she stopped rooting through her bag and straightened her spine. “Lexi?” She turned, and shock froze her in place. “Sean?”

“Amber.” He leaned against the door, blocking her exit.

“W-what are you doing here?”

“I came to see you.” He reached behind him and flipped the lock, then pushed off the door and stalked toward her. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”

Despite the fear now coursing through her, she managed to notice his absence of a limp or the cane he’d had before. “What happened to your limp?” she asked.

“Oh that.” Sean waved a dismissive hand at her. “Call it a miraculous recovery.”

“You were playing on people’s sympathy,” she replied, shocked that he’d stoop so low. “Cole never really hurt you that badly.”

“Very astute of you.” He reached into his back pocket and a moment later produced a switchblade. “I had hoped the limp combined with my remorse over what I’d done to you would be enough to make people turn on Collins, but no.” He shook his head. “He and his boys are the flavor of the moment, so they’re untouchable. You, however”—he rocked the blade back and forth—“you’re just another Vixen, a slut to be used and tossed away.”

Amber shook her head as she took a step back. Her mind reeled with his words. He was trying to confuse her and turn her against Cole. No way would she let the sick jerk win at his stupid mind game. “That’s not true. Management wouldn’t do that, and neither would Cole.”

Sean narrowed his eyes. “Ah yes, your little bad boy. Do you really think he has true feelings for you when there are so many other, more beautiful women here?” He cocked his head to the side and advanced on her. “All you are to him is a little fuck buddy. I on the other hand would have treated you like a queen.”

“That’s not true,” Amber argued as anger slowly began to boil at Sean’s description of Cole. “He loves me.”

“Is that what he told you?” Sean tsk-tsked. “And you actually believed him?”

Amber took another step until she could go no farther. With her back against the wall, she stared at him, wide-eyed. “I don’t understand what it is you want to accomplish here.”

“You’ll see what I’m planning to accomplish,” Sean sneered. “You know, I tried to get to know you when you first arrived, but instead of reciprocating those feelings, you turned on me.”

“I did not.”

“Yeah, you did.” He waved the knife in the air. “You threatened to press charges against me if I went after Cole.” Anger flared in his eyes. “That motherfucker puts me in the hospital, and you take his side?” He shook his head. “I thought about making Cole pay, but then I realized I could make you both pay if I focused my efforts on you.”

A fresh shot of fear slithered up her spine. “What do you mean?”

He held the knife out. “You’ve been screwing Collins,” Sean spat. “It’s obvious by the way he fawns all over you. Since he has feeling for you, if I kill you, then poor Cole is heartbroken. He’s paid for his transgressions, and so have you.”