Neither of us planned such a long stay and we certainly didn’t count on having your apartment destroyed all because of me.” She began to gather up her papers in a frenzied state as she continued. “I’m going to go back to New York until my birthday. My uncle won’t follow me there. Now that the fire department has declared the fire arson and not an accident, he must know the police are keeping an eye on him. He’d be a fool to go after me now.”
Ty wasn’t letting her go anywhere, but first he needed to calm her down. “Stop for a minute and listen.” He sat down beside her, then placed a hand over hers, stilling her movements.
Slowly, she raised her eyes to meet his.
“First, the police have our statements but they have no proof your uncle is involved with anything. We’re watching him, but they’re only in the background if something happens again.
It’s not the same thing as round-the-clock police surveillance. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
She nodded. “That you don’t think I’m safe back home alone.”
“Correct. Second, we’re in this together. We always have been. Have I given you any reason to think you need to go it alone now?”
“No, but—”
He silenced her by leaning over and placing his lips on hers. He lingered there, savoring the minty taste of toothpaste and Lilly, his body reacting to her nearness, the desire for her building by the minute.
“No buts,” he said, as he pulled back. “Now what did I interrupt when I came in?” he asked, wanting to change the subject.
“Work. Everything’s running smoothly but I was just going over some changes in scheduling for next week and making sure it clicked with the amount of girls I have on hand.” She stacked the papers and put them on the nightstand. “I have other news,” she said, the light returning to her eyes.
“And what would that be?” he asked, glad for any subject that didn’t include her going back to New York .
“I called Molly this morning. We had a long talk and she revealed a few interesting things. First, you and Hunter were right. Anna Marie could have been feeding info rmation to her brother Paul. Probably not as a way to intentionally derail us, though. But it is possible that her brother used her love of gossip to further his own ends. We just don’t know what those are.” She pounded her fist against the mattress in frustration.
Ty thought for a moment. “It could be as a favor to Dumont . There’s really no other reason for Paul Dunne to want to get Hunter out of the way.”
“So all roads lead to Uncle Marc.” Lilly’s sadness filled the room.
“Had you been holding out hope that he’d changed?” Ty asked.
Lilly shrugged, feeling like an embarrassed child caught wishing for a unicorn on her birthday. “I know it’s impossible, it just hurts so much to think someone who is related to me wants me dead. ”
“I know.” He held out his arms and she crawled right in, snuggling against him. She needed his understanding.
Except suddenly understanding wasn’t enough. Just being close wasn’t enough. Lilly turned to Ty. “Move to the center of the bed.”
He blinked. “Okay…..” He pushed himself to the middle of the bed and slid back against the headboard, shoving the dog out of his spot in the process.
Digger rose, stretched, and jumped off the bed, resettling herself on the floor.
“Now what?” Ty asked. His stare bore into hers, the electricity suddenly crackling in the air around them.
She grinned, unable to help herself. “Take your clothes off.”
He laughed. “We always seem to be in the position of someone wearing too many articles of clothing.”
“I wouldn’t think me asking you to get naked would be a hardship.” She crawled over and began to unbutton the collared shirt he’d chosen for his meeting with the new client.
“It isn’t.” While she worked on the buttons one by one, he reached for the sash of her robe, freeing the knot.
She parted his shirt. He pushed the collar of her robe aside. She bared his sexy chest. He slid the robe down her arms and she shook it off, leaving herself completely bare to his heated gaze.
He sucked in a sharp breath and immediately unbuttoned his pants. She hooked her fingers into the waistband and slid his pants and briefs down and off his legs.
“Now we’re even,” she said.
“Not even close.” He glanced down at his erection and she followed his gaze, her own desire growing at the sight of his.
Because she felt safe with Ty, she also felt daring. “So what are you going to do about it?” she asked him, her words more of a come and get me dare than a question.
“Lie down and I’ll show you.”
Her pulse raced and a heavy thick dampness grew between her thighs. She inched toward the middle of the bed and reclined on her back.
He shook his head. “Flip over.” His voice held a gruff edge.
Her excitement heightened, she did as he asked, stretching out facedown on the bed, her trust in him complete.
He straddled her with his thighs, and leaned forward, then pushed her hair off her neck and kissed her tingling skin.
“Mmm.” She loved the feeling of his lips on her flesh.
He continued to slide his moist mouth over her back while massaging her shoulders with his hands. She shut her eyes and allowed him to take complete control of her body and she wasn’t disappointed. His tongue slid over her skin and cool air caused her to tingle with growing awareness.
As he stretched over her, his member pushed deliciously against her backside and his body pressed hers into the bed beneath her. The effect was an erotic thrust of her pelvis into the mattress, causing a sudden rush of sensation to pulse through her, a throbbing awareness and a need for so much more.
He must have felt the arch of her back and sensed her need because suddenly he eased downwards and slipped his hand beneath her until one finger found her slick opening. She rolled her hips into the mattress, capturing his finger just as it slipped inside of her.
A low groan escaped the back of her throat but now that she had a part of him filling her, she was beyond caring. He began a slow, steady thrust with his hand, each gentle movement bringing her higher and closer to the orgasm that was just out of reach. Finally, everything around her exploded in bright light as she went up and over, into the most spectacular climax she’d ever had
—short of having Ty inside her.
As she came back to earth, she became more aware of her surroundings. She rolled over and faced him. “Wow?”