Witness Protection (The Witness Series) (10 page)

“He will stuff up, there will be a trail somewhere,
we
just have to find it. Meanwhile, keep an eye out for a man who looks like this.”

He hands me a photo and I yelp, oh sweet
Jesus
.

“Why didn’t you show me this before?” I whisper.

“You recognize him?” Ryder asks.

“Those eyes, that is
him, that
is the murderer.”

I stare down at the grey
eyed
man.
Bald, clean shaven, young
looking and handsome.
He looks
so…normal. They always do though, don’t they?

“Are you sure?” Nate asks.

“Those are
the eyes I saw
, without fail.”

“He could have changed his appearance, but keep an eye out all the same. We have upped security around the building and we will have police
monitoring
the place. He won’t get near you.”

I nod weakly. “Thanks.”

“Any more info bud?”
Nate asks.

“No, that’s it.”

“Are you sure you are good here with her today?”

“Wait what?” I gape.

Both cops turn and smile at me.

“We got to do some work, a few hours at most. James Clancy will stay with you.”

“It’s James.” James Clancy mutters.

Ryder winks at him and Nate laughs.

“So you are having me babysat?” I snap.

“Aw, now stop that behavior. It is a few hours.”

“Baby sat.” I pout.

“I was thinking we could go to the pool.” James Clancy pipes up.

My eyes beam.
“Really?
We can go swimming?”

“Sure, not so bad now eh?”

I grin and clap my hands. “Oh James Clancy, we are going to have fun!”

“Look out
buddy,
your day just got a whole lot more interesting.” Nate grins, tapping James Clancy on the back.

“I will keep her under control.”

I laugh and spin, heading back to my room. “I am getting dressed.”

“Yeah, I gotta take a shower then I will be ready to go.” Ryder says, following me.

Nate gives us a look, but says nothing.

“I will be out here with some food, when you two are finished getting ready.”

I duck into my room and Ryder follows, luckily for me my room is down the hall.

“Finally.”
He murmurs, pulling me in and pressing a long, hot kiss to my lips.

“I missed you last night.”

“So you said.” He grins, pulling off his shirt.

“What are you doing?”

“Having a shower.”

“Ummm, in my room?”

“With you.”

“Wait, what? No.”

He laughs, and tugs at my shirt. “You have a beautiful
body under there, and I need to touch it. Don’t argue
,
my hand is trembling for your pretty ass.”

Can’t argue that.
“I don’t know
,
I am not like the tall
,
gorgeous blondes you date.”

He laughs and slides my shirt over my head, then lets his eyes travel over my body.

“No, you are
n’t. You are tiny, like a pixie
and you have a hot body.”

“It is all small and pathetic.” I frown.

“No, it is delicate and beautiful.”

“I don’t have double D’s.”

He grins again.
“No, perhaps not.
Those little mounds are beautiful all the same, why
do you think you aren’t gorgeous?
”

“I have a round face, so Nate says. I have tiny little legs and a tiny little
body,
my boobs are half a hand full. I am just not up to standards.”

“Want to know how I see you?”

“Not really.” I huff.

“You have a beautiful face, it is this little oval shape and you remind me of a doll. You have gorgeous brown eyes and thick luscious hair. Big full lips
that are
far nicer than most I have kissed. You have a gorgeous body, flat and curvy at the same time. Not an ounce of fat. You are tiny, and I love it because I am not. I want to wrap my arms around you and protect you. I think you are stunning because you are different, and that is something.”

I blush and fumble with my fingers. “You do?”

“Oh yeah, now strip and let me see what I have missed out on.”

I do so, slowly, his eyes are on me the entire time. When I stand naked before him, my heart is pounding. What is he thinking? Is he turned on, turned off?

“Shit,” He growls. “Well shit.”

“You don’t like it, I am sorry.” I cover my breasts but his hand lashes out to tug them down.

“I say shit because, fuck you are beautiful…more beautiful than I imagined.”

“Don’t lie to make me feel better.”

He drops his clothes quickly and I gape down at his erection which is standing proudly. It occurs to me then how much that thing will hurt, boy, will it hurt.

“Does that look like a lie?”

“I…oh…I…”

He steps forward and I step back, still in mild shock.

“I won’t bite baby.”

“That…is big.”

“Thanks.” He grins and I shoot a glare his way.

“We aren’t going to…”

“Fuck?
No, but you are going to touch me, and I am going to touch you.”

I blush again and feel my tongue snake out and slide around my lips.

“Now get in that shower, we don’t have long.”

Ryder lifts me and places me in the shower, then steps in. He pulls my body close to his and I tremble all ove
r.
God
, his skin is soft and so
warm
,
his body is toned and sleek. He reminds me of a panther, a dangerous, beautiful creation. He lowers his mouth and claims me in a deep, hot kiss. Our tongues combine and our moans melt together.

One hand is pressed on the tiles above my head and the other slides down my body, over my breasts and down my hips. He circles my bottom and presses me closer, then slides his hands around the front. Oh. Yes. When his fingers slide into my sex, I moan. The hot water has every nerve ending alive and I am extra sensitive. He tweaks the hard little nub and then edges my legs further apart.

“Spread your legs.” He demands hoarsely.

I do as he asks, and I can feel his erection jutting out heavily against my belly. He slides his finger around and around, then slowly inserts it. I moan and grip his arms, as slowly he presses a second in. When he begins moving them in and out, my body coils so tightly I want to explode. The pleasure is too much.

“Touch me
.” He growls.

I hesitate,
then
slowly reach out to take his thick erection in my hands. He growls when my fingers curl around him.

“Your hands are so fucking tiny, but so good, so good.”

I move slowly, sliding my hand up and down his shaft,
then
slowly twirling my fingers around the head. He is throbbing in my palm and hard as stone. I slide up and down, squeezing a little as I do. His fingers move faster and faster until we are both moaning and clenching. I find it hard to
concentrate
as I stroke him and he strokes me, but the pleasure continues to build.

“Ryder.” I breathe.

“Come.
”

I grit my teeth, fighting back the urge to do as he says. He growls and thrusts his fingers harder and faster.

“
God
dammit, come.”

I am panting and his lips are all over me, his erection filling my hand, his fingers filling my sex. I can’t t
hink, but I can feel. I explode
with a ragged scream and he follows quickly behind. I feel his hot release trickle down my hand and I relish in the sounds of his deep
grunting. The water washes away any
trace of him, and we stand panting for a long moment.

“You.
Are.
Driving.
Me. Crazy.”
He growls into my hair.

“Ditto.”

He smiles and kisses me again. “You have soft, perfect little hands.”

He takes my hand and splays it over his. My tiny fingers barely reach the middle of his long ones, but our hands look nice together. His are so big, so manly and mine are so tiny and delicate. He curls his fingers around mine, then brings them to his mouth and kisses each of my
fingertips
.

“You behave for James
Clancy,
don’t give the man a heart attack.”

“So a bikini is out?” I giggle.

He gives me a look. “Far out, you better have a one piece or I am making you wear one of my shirts.”

“Bully.”

“
What will it be baby, tell me you have something
un
revealing to wear.”

“Are you slightly over controlling, Nate wouldn’t care if I wore a bikini.”

“Nate’s gay!”

“Fine, you brute
.
I will wear a one piece with shorts.”

“Good girl, now
let’s
go before they get sus.”

“Oh, I think they already are.”

We dress and make our way back out to join Nate and James Clancy. When they set eyes on us, both narrow.

“What were you two doing, wrestling?”

Ryder laughs and walks into the lounge to pick up his vest, gun and badge. I stand there blushing.

“I…what?”
I stammer.

“You are rosy cheeked.” James Clancy observes.

“Hot shower.”
I mutter.

“Hot alright.” He mutters back.

“James Clancy, what are you implying?” Ryder asks.

“Stop calling me that, and I am implying nothing but I will warn you, her protection is first and foremost and I don’t need drama causing an argument and causing her to become unprotected.”

“It wouldn’t matter what happened, her protection is our first and foremost too.” Nate says, giving me a smile.

“Very well.”

“Alright, grab the breakfast on the run. We gotta roll.” Nate says to Ryder, who nods.

“You ready to swim?” James Clancy asks me.

“Yep, just have to get changed.”

“Very well.”

“See you in a few James, cheers.” Ryder says, patting the old cop on the shoulder.

“Yeah yeah, you better bring back beer.”

Ryder snorts and winks at me.
“Deal.”

“See you Ari.” Nate grins.

“B
ehave
.” Ryder says to me, stroking his palm. I feel my cheeks swell with heat.

The
two men leave and I eat my breakfast and chat to James Clancy
. Half an hour later, when the pool finally opens, James Clancy and I walk down. I am so looking forward to the cool water, the
outdoor
breeze. I am just dropping my towel when a high pitched scre
am
echoes
through the complex. James Clancy pulls out his gun and grips my arm, shoving me behind him.

“What is it?” I ask.

The scream
echoes
again, and we run towards the sound. One scream turns into many and we follow the sound around the back of the complex to the old dumpsters and there, hanging on a tree, is a young, dead girl. I scream, and James shoves me behind him again.

“Don’t look, get low.”

“MOVE OFF, I AM A POLICE
OFFICER!” He yells to the crowd
.

I am on my knees trying hard not to lose breakfast. My heart is thudding, sweat is coursing down my forehead in thick beads. I can’t breathe, he has been this close. He left that body, in our complex.

“Ari,
call Ryder and Nate, call them,
” James Clancy says gently. “I have called other back
up,
we need to clear this area.”

I hear women sobbing around me, people gagging, others throwing up. Some are just standing there, bug
eyed
and gaping. I glance up, stupid I know, but I do. I see her, upside down and covered in blood. She is naked, and her body is beaten and
bruised
. Her throat is open and gushing and all her blood as travel
led out and over her face. It is
stuck in her hair, but there is no missing she is blonde. I look away and wail loudly, so close, too much.

“Mam, get that woman’s phone and call either a Nate or Ryder, please.” James Clancy asks a woman
standing beside me
.