Redemption Rains (12 page)

Elizabeth held Devin, cradling his
head against her breast; she ran her fingers through his hair. It
was surprising how his weight lying on top of her was so
comforting. She smiled as she remembered the look of astonishment
on his face when she uttered that question so sweetly. He had well
and truly lost control and it was because of her. She felt a giggle
escape.

Devin turned his head to look at her.
His face flushed and his eyes still full of passion.

“I hope that you are not giggling at
my performance princess?” the look of wounded pride was impaired by
the impish grin on his face. She met his look with one of her own
haughty ones, adding a bit of southern drawl for good
measure.

“Why detective, I would never be so
vulgar as to laugh at a man’s endowments while he was still in the
bed,” she could not keep the giggle in as Devin rose up and stared
at her in disbelief followed by the most beautiful smile Elizabeth
had ever seen. He looked younger and more relaxed when he smiled
and it melted her heart to think that she had never seen him do
that until this moment.

Chapter 9

Elizabeth woke to a loud knock at the
door. She was wrapped in Devin’s arms, her back pressed against his
body.

“Devin, did you hear that?” she
whispered.

“Yes,” He squeezed her tightly burying
his face in her hair. He felt her stiffen with fear as the knock
sounded again, only louder.

“Who do you think it could be?” she
squeaked. Rolling over she looked at him with huge worried eyes.
When Devin smiled down at her, Elizabeth felt her heart flip flop.
He cupped her face and placed soft kisses across her nose and
cheeks ending up at her mouth, parting her lips in slow, sensual
exploration. Elizabeth felt her insides melt. It was amazing how
one touch from this man could arouse her passion. They had made
love several times that afternoon, only ending when exhaustion took
over and then he had cradled her in his arms with such care that
Elizabeth was sure that he had to feel something for her; something
more than pure lust.

When another loud knock reverberated
through the quiet room, Devin raised his lips and swore quietly as
he left the bed. She watched him pull on his jeans, not bothering
to button them up before he walked to the door.

“Who is it?” Devin barked the
question. He was really very upset about being pulled out bed and
this pleased Elizabeth immensely.

“I know she’s in there Kane so let me
in.”

That was Samuel’s voice. Oh no, what
had she done? She had completely forgotten about her phone
conversation with him. And now he was standing outside their door,
fixing to come in. She scrambled from the bed pulling the sheet as
she went. She couldn’t let him find her like this. It would be too
embarrassing. She wrapped the sheet around her body and started
running to the bathroom without tripping.

“Who the hell is this?” Devin’s voice
was hard, and when Elizabeth heard him speak, she froze.

“I’m Samuel Lindsey, Elizabeth’s
stepbrother.”

Devin looked at Elizabeth, pinning her
to the spot with those hard blue eyes. Before she could do or say
anything, Devin turned the knob and swung open the door.

“By all means, Lindsey, do come in,”
Devin stood back for Samuel to pass. Elizabeth stood frozen to the
spot, with only the sheet to cover her.

“I don’t appreciate being made to wait
out there like that,” Samuel scowled as he walked in. He was
wearing the ever-present dark suit and tie, with his hair combed
perfectly. Elizabeth caught herself comparing the two men standing
so close to each other.

Samuel was tall and golden with his
blonde hair and perfect tan, but Devin dwarfed him by a good 5
inches. Samuel’s stance was tense and he gave the air of cold
snobbery with his perfect nose tilted up.

“I have been knocking for a good five
minutes. What were you doing that I had to beat the door down to
get an answer?” Samuel directed his question to Devin, not yet
spotting Elizabeth. She tried to take advantage of this and make
her escape, but Devin’s voice stilled her.

“I’ll let Elizabeth fill you in,”
Devin looked at Elizabeth, his face devoid of any emotion, his eyes
guarded by heavy lids.

Samuel turned to look at her. She
squirmed under his scrutiny as he took in the rumpled bed sheet
covering her naked body. She saw shock in his eyes, but for a
moment she also thought she had glimpsed disgust before he turned
to glare at Devin. He took in the mussed hair, bare chest, and
undone jeans. She watched as Samuel raised his hands, forming fists
as if he would strike out at Devin. Elizabeth took a step forward
in fear, noticing the dark look Devin was wearing and the way his
body tensed.

“No, Samuel.” She cried trying to draw
his attention. “It’s not what you think.” Her voice shook on the
lie and she saw Devin’s face grow darker as he continued to glare
at Samuel.

“Well exactly what is it Elizabeth?”
Samuel’s question made her cringe. He reminded her of her mother,
berating her like a child, and she felt like she was eleven
again.

“I was sleeping, that’s
all.”

“And what was the good detective doing
during your nap?”

“He was sleeping also,” she
squeaked.

Samuel ran cold eyes over her body.
She was most positive this time when she spotted the look of
disgust in his face.

“Really, Lizzy, you expect me to
believe that you were just sleeping?” his mouth turned down in
disgust. He was really being hateful about the whole thing she
thought. It made her feel dirty when he looked at her with those
eyes. He flicked his hand in her direction.

“And when did you start sleeping in
the nude? Don’t lie to me Lizzy; I know what a prude you are.”
Elizabeth felt the blood rush to her face. He not only used the
hated nickname but had also insulted her further by calling her a
prude.

“Samuel, please don’t,” she begged him
to stop. Between his words and Devin’s glare Elizabeth knew that
she would crumble under them both.

“Don’t what Lizzy?” he walked toward
her slowly, sneering at her. “Don’t state the obvious? You standing
there in that sheet and him,” Samuel threw a look over his shoulder
at Devin. “Answering the door dressed like...like that.” His voice
dripped sarcasm. “You let the good detective bang you.” Elizabeth
flinched at his terminology. “I’m really disappointed in you
Lizzy.” Samuel shook his head and shoved his hands in his
pockets.

“It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours
since you called, begging me to come and save you from this brute.
I was so worried about you Elizabeth, and came right away.” His
concern was a little forced but still had the same effect on her as
always.

“Oh, Samuel, you don’t understand,”
Elizabeth felt the tears of shame fall down her face. She wanted to
tell him that she loved Devin, but how could she when Devin stood
there glaring at both of them with such hatred, not even speaking
up to defend her.

“It’s okay Lizzy,” Samuel walked
toward her and wrapped her shaking body in his arms. “I forgive
you,” his forgiveness rang false in her ears. She looked over
Samuel’s shoulder at Devin. He was leaning against the wall with
his hands shoved in his front pockets. She searched his face now,
devoid of all emotion. Her heart cracked as she looked into those
dead eyes. There was no twitch in his jaw. His disinterest in her
was real. He had got what he wanted and now he was not going to
step up and say anything. Ice formed around her heart, numbing her
from the inside out. She knew this would happen. She knew that
Devin did not love her and he would walk away. Elizabeth steeled
her heart against him as she decided her fate.

“Do you Samuel?” her voice sounded
forced.

“Of course I do silly goose,” Samuel’s
reply was tinged with impatience and he stepped away from her and
dropped his hands. “Now, if you will get dressed, we can leave this
place at once.”

“She’s not going anywhere Lindsey,”
Devin looked at both of them very calmly.

“Yes she is,” Samuel turned to face
Devin. “I have already approved our travel plans with the FBI and
updated your captain. Elizabeth and I are flying out tonight.” He
looked at his watch and then at her. “You had better hurry dear if
we are going to make our flight.” The endearment sounded forced and
not at all endearing to Elizabeth. Suddenly she was filled with a
fear.

“I’m sorry Samuel, but I don’t
understand. Where are we flying too?”

“I am taking you to the islands,” he
looked at her as if she were stupid, which at that moment she did
feel a little ignorant.

“What do you mean “you’re taking me to
the Islands”?” Elizabeth knew that he was referring to her favorite
vacation place, a little group of islands off of Mexico in the
Gulf. Edward Lindsey had a very close friend who owned one of the
islands and allowed him and his family free rein of the place.
Elizabeth loved it because of the seclusion, allowing her to wear
what she wanted while she lay on the beach and swam in the ocean.
But she thought that Samuel was mistaken and voiced her
concern.

“We can’t leave the country Samuel, I
have to testify. And what will we do for protection? Do you not
realize that there are men out there who want to see me
dead?”

Samuel looked at her in a calculating
way that sent chills up and down her spine and then his gaze was
veiled as he lowered his lashes.

“I am aware of the trouble you have
gotten yourself in Lizzy, and I have everything under control. You
and I are going to fly to the islands and when they are ready for
you to testify, Captain Dye will contact us. As to your question of
who will protect us, I take offence.” At which he looked at her
with a pained expression. “Do you not think that I can take care of
you Elizabeth?”

Caught off guard, she rushed to
reassure him as she had always done since she was a child and he
would look at her that way. As if she had let him down in her
opinion of him.

“Samuel, you know that I didn’t mean
it that way,” she was confused by this person standing in front of
her. He was acting strange. In all their times together he had
never referred to her as Lizzy, he knew she hated that. He was also
very jumpy, as if he was anxious to be gone. She looked at his
face, noticing the pallor under his tan, the tight lines around his
mouth and the dark circles under his eyes. There was something
definitely wrong here but she could not put her finger on
it.

“Please, Elizabeth,” he glanced toward
Devin. “We need to hurry.”

She looked at Devin for reassurance
but only received a disdainful stare before he turned his head
away.

“Are you sure that this is all right
Samuel?”

He lost patience with her then and it
reflected in his voice.

“Are you doubting me?” he raised an
eyebrow at her. “I don’t have time for your childish
misapprehensions’ Elizabeth. I don’t want to miss the plane.” He
wrapped his arm around her bare shoulders, turning her toward that
bathroom. In a sudden change of temper he gave her a slight squeeze
and placed a cool kiss on her neck, an uncommon show of affection.
“Now go and get dressed and I will discuss the details with
Detective Kane.”

She was shocked by his kiss. Instead
of feeling that familiar warm tingle she received when Devin
touched her anywhere, Elizabeth only felt coldness. She looked at
Samuel and realized that she had made the biggest mistake in her
life. Wasn’t it true what they say about watch what you pray for,
you might get it? Well her prayers for Samuel to love her had been
answered, but it was not what she wanted now. Turning one last
pleading look at Devin, Elizabeth felt her throat constrict and
fill with tears. He refused to meet her eyes, walking toward the
bed and picking up his discarded shirt.

“Run along,” Samuel’s voice spurned
her on into the bathroom.

Closing the door behind her she leaned
back against the cool wood, sucking oxygen into her lungs. She
would not cry. She would not cry over that man. She had what she
wanted, Samuel. And she would be happy. Turning toward the sink
Elizabeth caught sight of her reflection into the mirror. Was that
her? She was shocked at the woman staring back at her. Brown curls
framed her pale face. Blue eyes sparkled with unshed tears and her
lips were swollen and bruised from Devin’s lovemaking. Her neck was
marked with tiny red scratches caused by Devin’s days’ worth of
whiskers. She had the look of a woman who had been well and truly
ravished.

No wonder Samuel was behaving so. He
must be shocked at her and trying to cover it for her benefit. At
that moment she was thankful for his friendship and love. She was
better off with Samuel; he was soft and gentle with her and would
treat her like a princess. She whipped her head up to look in the
mirror, cursing at herself for using that term. Would she ever be
able to stop this burning that spread through her when she thought
of Devin? Not wanting to answer that question, fearful of the
answer, Elizabeth turned on the shower and stepped in washing the
last remnants of Devin from her body and her mind.