9. Chapter Nine
By the time Grace and Brody got out of the bayou, they were too tired to make the trip back to New Orleans. Instead, Brody diverted to Lafayette and the Bayou Cabins. They still had one cabin left, all they needed for the night. Grace sat on the queen-sized bed, the night air blowing through the cabin with the sound of night creatures and insects. The hot shower had left her drained, and she felt numb. She smiled a little at Brody as he stepped from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, another in his hand as he towel-dried his hair. “I feel like we are spinning in circles trying to figure out who our murderer is,” she finally admitted as he sat down on the other side of the bed.
“Well, at least we know it’s not a member of this secret order,” he pointed out.
“According to them, it’s not,” she snorted. She fell back on the pillows, one arm tossed above her head. “We need a break in this case, or it’s going to wind up another cold case file in the basement of the New Orleans Sheriff’s Department.”
Brody turned the light off, settling in next to her. “Be careful what you wish for, Grace,” he admonished gently. “Look, we’ve got the cold case files. We can go through them tomorrow and see if they shed any light on the current case.” He propped up his head and gazed down at her. “You were amazing tonight, the way you handled those challenges and the Crescent Order.”
Grace rolled her head to look at him. “I was amazing? You’re the one who figured out all the Ancient Greek and stuff. I would’ve been screwed.” She rolled onto her side to match his position. She ran her finger over his chest, stopping to trace a scar she didn’t remember him having. “How did you get this?”
Brody looked down at the scar. It was a bullet wound, one that almost killed him. “I was on a case in Dakar about five years ago. Let’s say it got intense, and this got me sent home.” He took her hand in his, kissing the tips of her fingers. He kissed her palm and slowly worked his way up her arm. “No, I can’t talk about it. Because if I did, I’d have to kill you when I was done,” he quipped as he found her lips. He pressed her back onto the bed, stroking her hair from her face. “Listen to me. We’re gonna find this killer. We’re gonna bring him to justice, and we’re gonna solve this case.”
Grace met his gaze. His body was a warm weight atop hers, and she exhaled slowly. “Okay.”
“Tomorrow, we’ll go back to my place, order a couple of pizzas and a six-pack of beer, put on the tunes, and go through those cold case files.”
Grace laughed as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “What? Are we back in high school studying for finals?” she asked. She let her lips trace the line of his jaw.
“Hey, it worked for us back then. It’ll work for us now,” he replied, chuckling with her. They fell into a comfortable silence before he kissed her again. It was a long, slow kiss filled with unspoken words and emotions. He laced the fingers of his left hand with her right and leaned back, breaking the kiss. Slowly, he ran his fingers from her cheek down her neck to her chest, circling the nipple of her left breast before cupping it and stroking his thumb over her nipple. He let his hand drift lower, his eyes meeting Grace’s as his fingers found the soft curls at the juncture of her thighs. He delved deeper, finding her sensitive pearl and slowly teasing it.
Grace gasped softly before moaning at the feel of his fingers on her flesh. Brody was in no hurry, and he took his time teasing her. She parted her legs in invitation and wasn’t disappointed when he slipped his fingers inside her. She closed her eyes, letting herself feel as his fingers worked, building the fire within her. She moaned again, burying her face in the pillow to keep their neighbors from hearing her. After all, they had the door open to let in the cool nighttime air. When the orgasm washed over her, she bucked against his hand. Brody didn’t stop. He kept teasing her until she was wet with her juices and ready for him.
God knew he was ready for her. His cock was rock hard, and it was all he could do not to take her sooner. He wanted to make love to her this time, to show her that she meant the world to him without saying it. Yes, he loved her and would tell her repeatedly, but right now, he wanted no words. He settled between her legs and eased into her welcoming body, kissing her as he did. He had to pause momentarily to keep from losing control too soon. He took her other hand and laced his fingers with hers, setting a slow and steady rhythm meant to drive them both over the abyss of pleasure.
Every thought about the case, every worry that the murderer would strike again, flew out of Grace’s head as Brody made love to her. Her body fit hers like a glove, tight in all the right places while still being soft and supple. She could only focus on the here and now, the way he moved, how his lips caressed her face and cheeks and neck, how his hips slid over hers in the perfect dance. She had forgotten what it was like to be with him, knowing they worked so perfectly together as they had never been apart for ten years. She felt her release quickly growing, and she buried her face in his neck. It was the most perfect moment, and they were the perfect mix. They always had been.
Brody felt Grace’s body tighten around him and let out a low rumble of satisfaction. As much as he wanted to speed up, he kept the pace he started with until his own release washed over him, spilling in her. He rested his forehead against hers, breathing in her scent until his body and heart calmed. “I love you, Grace. I always have. I always will.” He kissed her again before rolling off her and onto his back. He pulled her to him, her head cradled on his arm.
“I love you too, Brody. I never stopped loving you,” she admitted, nestling closer to him. She laid her hand on his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath her palm. It was steady and soothing, and she let it lull her to sleep.