He pulled her along the path and stepped out from in front of her when they arrived at the riverbank. He wanted to share this place with her, proud of the property he’d bought and paid for.
“Oh, God.” She gasped, dropping his hand and stepping gingerly over the river rock. “It’s beautiful tonight.”
The river, a good fifty feet across, went from shallow at the shore to over your head in the middle. The current, perfect during the summer, raged wildly in the winter when the rains came. He’d spent hours each day the first few years after purchasing the place making sure the brush and trees formed a hidden oasis.
He set the container down on a large boulder and stripped off his shirt. Toeing his shoes off, he kicked them over where he’d thrown his shirt. He caught Tori’s eye. She stood, staring at his chest, then at his hands undoing the buttons of his Levi’s. “Better strip or you’re going in with your clothes on,” he told her.
She jumped, her hands making quick work of removing her tank top. Her cheeks flushed. He kicked off his pants and stalked toward her. He all but ripped her shorts down her legs, taking her panties off too. She had no idea how the pink tinge on her cheeks got his blood boiling.
“Babe … ” He pulled her tight against him. He hardened at the feel of her smooth, soft skin against him. “You’ve got two options.”
“What?”
“I jump in the river to cool off, and I’m talking cool off completely.” He glanced down, letting her know one part of him did not want to cool off.
“What’s the other option?” she asked, and damned if she didn’t say it softly, making his balls ache.
“Or you turn around and brace your hands on that boulder behind you.” He shuddered despite the warm evening when her nipples peaked into hard nubs, tempting him.
She slowly pivoted, keeping her eyes on him, until she stood with her back to him, her head turned to look over her shoulder. He stopped breathing. He’d never seen such a beautiful picture than his woman looking over her shoulder at him, her gaze eating him up, promising him the world as she bent over.
Her firm, round ass pointed in his direction. Ignoring the rocks biting into the soles of his feet, he moved toward her. He ran his hands over the curves of her hips and into the indentions of her waist.
“Sweet,” he murmured.
“Honey?”
“You’re killing me, babe.” He trailed his fingers down her outer leg, around to find her heat.
Her hips bucked. No other woman had ever given herself to him unconditionally, with no hidden agenda, and with her own desperate greed. It was intoxicating, and made him feel powerful.
“Rain?” She glanced at him.
Her eyes sparkled more brightly in the reflection of the sun off the water. He grunted in masculine approval. Excitement spiraled through him. His woman, his river, his life. Nothing would stop him from enjoying her.
“Brace yourself.” He used his foot to widen her legs.
“Rain. We — ”
He peered down, ogling her round ass. “Damn me … ”
“Rain. Listen to me.”
He slid his finger the length of her wetness. “Listening.”
“We don’t have a condom.”
He held still, closing his eyes. “Shit.”
“Honey?”
“Give me a second, babe.” He groaned, aching, and close enough to her, he could imagine her warmth sucking him dry.
How could he forget a condom? What an idiot. He’d carried one in his wallet since Tori moved in, never wanting to put a stop to having her when he wanted, or when she wanted him. After he’d showered and changed before dinner, he’d left his wallet on the dresser in the bedroom. It’d take him three minutes if he ran barefooted over the rocks, up the bank, across the lawn, and through the house. Another three minutes to return to Tori.
“Rain … I take shots for birth control. I’m good until next month.” She lowered her voice. “I’m safe.”
His body surged. “Me, too.”
“Can we do it without anything between us?” She dropped her head and let her hair hang down, covering her face. “Please?”
“Fuck.” He held her hips and slowly thrust himself into her. “Damn, that’s good.”
She moaned. Underneath his hands, her legs trembled. He leaned over her back, cupping the weight of her breasts as he kept up the slow rhythm, luxuriating in having nothing between them.
Her fingers sprawled on the smooth, flat surface of the rock. He nuzzled her neck. “Good?”
“Yes.” The sound was harsh through her clenched teeth.
“I’ve got you.” He lowered one of his hands, wrapping his arm around her hip, his finger zoning in on her sweet spot. He rolled, stroked, rubbed. She moved underneath him, and he picked up his pace.
He closed his eyes against the sun aimed at him above the tree line. He rocked, making her take his thickness, filling her.
He ground against her. “You’re beautiful.”
Short gasps came from her as his answer. His own breath came fast and harsh. She took and gave, coming alive underneath the curve of his body. He felt the pressure building inside him, and knew he was going to blow. He stiffened his fingers, his stroke becoming firmer, more direct.
Her fingers curled on the rock. His thrusts grew frantic as she squeezed his hardness. When she convulsed around him, he held on to her waist and plunged into her, letting himself soar. His legs shook, and he locked his knees, holding them both in position as they gathered their breath.
Then he pulled out of her and helped her into the water. At chest level, he hugged her to his chest and dunked them both. He came up laughing as she blinked the water from her eyes.
She smiled, droplets running down her face. “That was hot.”
“Burned me.” He grinned, taking her with him as he swam farther out into the water. “After that workout, the water feels better than good.”
“Don’t go too far.” She doggy paddled. “I’m not the best swimmer.”
“We’ll fix that. I can’t have you living here without being able to swim across the river.” He pointed to the other side. “About fifty feet up-creek, there’s a pretty pasture. Perfect for camping.”
“Camping?” She laughed. “I can’t picture you pitching a tent and sleeping on the ground when you have a mansion close by.”
“Don’t need a tent.” He went below the surface, swam, and popped up in front of her. “We could sleep on the ground and watch the stars.”
“I’d like that.” Her eyes softened. “Just you and me and a super-sized can of bug spray.”
He flicked a mosquito off her shoulder. “Damn, they’re bad, huh?”
“You have a couple buzzing around you, too.” She splashed the water.
“Let’s get out of the water and go back inside before we’re covered in bites.” He held out his hand. “I guess we’ll have to eat dessert in the kitchen.”
She stood dripping wet on the bank, eyeing her clothes. He grimaced as he pulled his jeans over his wet legs. “Better put your clothes on, too. The mosquitoes are worse on the path through the woods.”
Once they were both dressed, he led her back the way they came. Refreshed and cooler, no longer full from dinner, he’d worked up an appetite and looked forward to her surprise treat.
“Are you hungry, too?” She let him pull her up the slope and into the yard.
“Yeah.” He tugged her closer as they walked across the backyard. “I hope you — ”
Bam. Bam. Bam.
Glass shattered. Tori screamed.
He threw his arm around her and half ran, half dragged her to safety under the upstairs deck and pushed her against the siding of the house.
“Stay here. Don’t move.” He pressed her shoulders to the siding.
Tori stared straight ahead, her mouth open, but her screams had stopped. He cussed under his breath, knowing the gunshots had sent her into the past. He ordered her not to move again, and hoped somehow he’d gotten through to her, and she’d follow his orders.
Then he ran up the stairs to the sliding door to find out what the hell was going on, and who was trying to kill them.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
The gunshots continued. Tori covered her ears and sank to her butt, squeezing her eyes closed.
Mom! Mom!
The words she screamed burned her throat, stopping before she could produce any sound. If only she could figure out how to open her mouth and tell Dad to stop, she’d be good and promise to listen to his lessons. She’d quit talking to the kids at school and never ask to play at their house.
Strange voices came to her in the distance. She rolled herself into a ball. It’d all go away now. The blood, the gun blasts, the screams.
Men coming to help always made the loud noises go away. She’d be okay. She only had to wait for her heart to stop racing and the blood coming out of her to slow down. That’s what Dad told her. Trouble spread through their blood. She’d try harder.
“Tori.” A gruff voice yelled at her.
Hands pulled her into a sitting position. Hope filled her, but she couldn’t open her eyes. She couldn’t go through witnessing all the death around her. Her dad’s face was there, then the noise took it away, and there was only blood. There were even wet drops on the underside of the table.
Red dots. She stared at them. They looked like the tears she used to catch on her finger to see how long the liquid bubble would last before it popped and ran off her finger. But these red tears hung from the bottom of the table. Little bubbles, and if she held still, they wouldn’t fall on her, and she’d be safe.
“Tori. Look at me.”
She peeked, took in Rain’s bare chest, his concerned eyes, his tight mouth, and launched herself at him. She buried her face in his neck and felt him lift her up into his arms.
“I got you,” he murmured.
She ran her hands over every inch of him she could reach. “You’re o-okay?”
“I’m fine.” He carried her up the stairs and into the living room.
He didn’t put her down or leave her, but sat down on the couch, tucking her on his lap, and covered them both with a blanket. Her body shook, and she became aware of her wet clothes and hair.
They’d been swimming. They’d made love. Then they heard gunshots. She tilted her head back, and met Rain’s gaze. “What happened?”
Rain’s jaw muscle ticked. “Someone shot at the front of the house and busted the windows on each side of the door.”
“Why?” She gazed around the room.
“That’s what I’m trying to find out, babe.”
The sirens outside shut off. Torque, Slade, Ronny, Pete, and Jedman stood over by the island in the kitchen. Each one of them watched her and Rain. She shivered. More broken glass crinkled against the tile floor.
Edge strode into the room, carrying Rain’s boots. “Cops are here, boss.”
Rain’s arms tightened on her. “Send them in — I’m not getting up.”
“Honey?” She shifted on his lap.
He growled. “Not letting you go, so don’t even think I’m leaving.”
Two blue-uniformed police officers walked into the living room and headed straight toward the couch. The older one, around fifty she guessed, with a bulging middle making him hitch his belt when he stopped right in front of her, frowned. “What the hell happened here, Rain?”
He ignored the question and squeezed Tori’s arm. “This is Officer Bob Corbin. The other one is Deputy Keith Stellor.” He raised his gaze to the men. “This is Tori Baldwin.”
“Ms. … sorry about meeting you in this kind of situation.” Officer Corbin lowered his chin.
Deputy Stellor removed a notepad. “Ms. Baldwin.”
She nodded. “Can I get you anything?”
Rain kissed the side of her forehead. “They’re not here to visit, babe.”
“Oh.” She glanced between all the men filling their house. “Sorry.”
“We were walking across the backyard from taking a dip in the river. Next thing we heard were five or six gunshots, and they were damn close. I left Tori outside against the house, came inside, and found the front door filled with bullet holes. I called my men.” Rain’s body stiffened. “Then I called 911.”
“See anyone?” Deputy Stellor asked.
He shook his head. “No. Neither did Torque and Ronnie, who were at the end of the road when they got my call.”
Officer Corbin sat on the coffee table and removed his hat. “Off record, Rain, do you have an idea who would want to do a drive-by?”
Rain’s gaze fixed on Corbin. “I suspect it’s the same person who set fire to Tori’s cabin she stayed in behind Cactus Cove and also taped a letter informing her to stay away from me to the back door at the bar. Now, you can spend the next week questioning everyone in town, but you and I both know that would be a stupid mistake.”
“Are you going to tell me the name of the person who you believe is responsible?” Corbin shook his head. “Dammit, Rain. If this is a personal vendetta … ”
“It became personal when Crystal played me, and in turn Sanchez started trouble.”
Corbin studied Tori, and then looked at Rain. “Crystal’s in town, you know … ”
“Yeah, she already sought us out, and broke into my house.” He sighed. “I’ve laid down the rules with her twice. I don’t think we’ll get any more trouble out of her — she got the message.”
“Um, Rain?” Tori turned sideways. “Crystal talked with me two weeks ago.”
“What?” He frowned. “Where?”
“At the store when I was getting ready to get in the truck and come home.” She laid the palm of her hand on his chest; his heart raced. “She wanted to talk … ” She shook her head. “No, she told me she just came from being with you.”
“Being?”
“Yeah, she made it a point to sound like she had something going on with you.” She pressed down on him when he moved to stand up. “Honey. It’s okay. I told her off, and then … I sort of told her I was going to run her over with the truck.”
“Jesus,” he mumbled.
“I didn’t. I just made sure she thought I would.” She looked at Officer Corbin. “I really wouldn’t hurt anyone.” She inhaled deeply and turned back to Rain. “You should’ve seen her running across the parking lot out of my way when I revved the engine.”
The men in the room stifled their laughter. Rain glared. She licked her lips, not understanding why everyone thought Crystal was a threat. “She can’t hurt me, Rain. The only thing she was doing was lying about you so I’d doubt our relationship. I know you’d never do anything behind my back with her.”