Chapter 24 #3
“Maybe I am learning from you.” I’d laid the groundwork for unraveling the riddle, although this one was a little more straightforward than the last. All that had to be done was put the final people in the storyline and place the bait.
Greed was the best lure to use and the web surrounding it should provide a resolution.
With dawn right around the horizon, the lack of any noise was unnerving.
After placing the bags I’d brought from Saige’s apartment on the floor in the foyer, I carried the cat’s things into the kitchen before letting her out.
While I had never been a pet owner, I knew enough to get out her food and water bowl, filling both. Next was the kitty litter station, which I placed in the laundry room.
I grabbed a drink, rolling the glass across my forehead before taking a sip.
A few names lingered in the forefront of my mind, people I had a feeling had been paid well to perform an elaborate ruse.
All while using organizations that could easily become volatile.
The house was locked down, a few lights left on. I headed through the bottom floor, turning off a few lights while searching for her.
My beautiful guest was nowhere to be found.
As soon as I climbed the stairs, a strange sense of coming home hit me. Normally, I felt little if anything other than the need to relax. I rarely spent much time in my own house, namely because I was always working.
And because the weight of being alone was oppressive.
That only dawned on me now. I’d never realized I’d been missing having someone else in the house.
Until my guest.
I moved up the stairs slowly, heading to the guest room. There was no sign she’d even stepped into the room. Another more unsettling feeling washed over me. What if something had happened or she’d managed to find a way to escape?
As soon as I returned to the hall and glanced to the end, I noticed the light was on in my bedroom. A sly smile crossed my face as I headed toward it, pushing the door open with a single finger.
Something brushed my leg almost instantly, which caused me to react as usual with my hand placed on my weapon. Laughing, I shook my head. The cat had decided to join me. She didn’t waste any time, rushing into the room. I knew why.
My guest was lying in the middle of my bed, curled on her side where she’d fallen asleep. The kitty hopped on the bed, immediately purring and rubbing her face.
As I placed the weapon on the nightstand, I kept my eyes on Saige. She opened her eyes with a start, gasping as she pulled the cat against her.
“There you are, kitty. I was worried.” She snuggled with the little furball for a few seconds before shifting her gaze toward me. “You’re safe.”
“I’m safe. Just like I told you I would be.” She watched me as I removed my shoes and sat down on the bed beside her. Just seeing her relaxed, curled up with the cat had a very calming effect on me.
There was continued anger imbedded in my psyche, the kind of rage that would need to be controlled, but with knowing she was safe, I could relax.
For a few hours.
I took another gulp of scotch, her eyes trailing every action.
With her elbow on the bed, she leaned her head on her hand, peering up at me with a smirk on her face.
“What?” I asked while unbuttoning my shirt.
“You’re tired.”
“Oh, you think so, huh?”
“I know so.” When she touched my back, running her fingers up and down, the wild combination of sensations was incredible. “What about Tawny? Do you know what happened? Do you know who killed her?”
“I think you were right, but I don’t know who was responsible.
I’m very sorry.” As I turned slightly, I was forced to witness tears slipping past her lashes.
I could tell by how swollen her eyes were that she’d been crying.
“I’m so sorry, baby. I wish I could have protected her for you.
” With my finger curled, I brushed the edge down her face, collecting several of the tears.
As I brought them to my mouth, she watched me intently while still stroking her cat, her face pinched. Damn, she was so beautiful. “You will find out who did it.”
I licked my finger first, noticing she seemed surprised. “I promise you I will.” The way she nodded once, as if that was an acceptable answer, was close to driving a sharp blade into my heart.
She was so damn beautiful and at that moment, I could think of nothing else but taking care of her.
Keeping her safe.
I was surprised when she shooed the cat away and sat up. Even more so when she stripped off her sweatshirt, tossing it aside. With a shake of her hair, she reached for my glass, our fingers colliding. As soon as they did, she shuddered audibly while I sucked in my breath.
Damn it. I craved the woman even more than before.
How was that possible?
After taking a sip, she returned the glass, lifting a single eyebrow as she did. As soon as I placed the tumbler on the nightstand, she rolled a finger down my arm.
“Make love to me,” she whispered. She pursed her lips as soon as she whispered the words.
“Are you certain you want to?”
With several slow and easy nods, she reached for my shirt, pulling it over my head. I didn’t resist. There was no way I could.
Not when such a beautiful creature was in my bed.
“Oh, yes. I need to feel very much alive.”
Who was I to deny a lady with her wants and needs?