Lure of Obsession (The Muse Chronicles Book 1) (17 page)

And then the trail was gone.

“Dammit.”

He turned to go back to the crime scene, formulating a way to let them know the murder weapon was a garrote without mentioning a vision.

M
el shoved Nate’s
clothes over in the closet and managed to squeeze hers in beside them. His scent was everywhere, intoxicating her. Suddenly, finding a place to put her things away had become more intimate than she’d intended.

With that finished, she wandered into the little kitchen. If she was going to be here for a few days, they’d need food in the fridge. She opened the door, her gaze immediately dropping to the bottom shelf. The gummy worms were gone.

She smiled imagining her big strong Guardian munching on them while he worked. Shaking her head, she went about making a mental grocery list. It was easier to note the items he did have rather than figuring out what she needed to buy. She started opening kitchen drawers in search of a pen and paper. Instead, she found a drawing—a little girl with a big man drawn in felt-tip marker.

In spite of being stick people, the man had green eyes and a badge on his belt. At the bottom someone had scrawled “Thank you!” followed by hearts and happy faces.

She flipped it over, but there were no markings or dates. Nate told her he never had a relationship, but could he have a daughter? One wild night with an accidental conception? From the stick people, she couldn’t tell if there was a resemblance.

There had to be some other explanation. He would’ve told her if he had a daughter.

Or at least she thought he would… But when? Before or after they had sex?

Other than being a police detective with an abusive, alcoholic father, she didn’t know much about the man she was now sharing a closet with.

She put the picture back in the drawer and kept looking for paper. She finally found one, as well as colored pens and Post-it notes. Good enough. Once she had her list of essentials, she glanced at the clock. It was after one in the morning. She had to be up for school in a few hours. She left the list on the counter and fired off a quick text to Nate.

Early day for me so I’m going to get some sleep. Will you be back soon?

As soon as she hit “Send,” regret swelled. Why had she asked when he’d get back? This wasn’t supposed to be a relationship. This was her hiding and him protecting; possibly with bedroom benefits on the side.

Before she could build her angst into a full-blown panic, he texted back.

Sorry it’s so late. I’ll be there in an hour max.

Two sentences, but she managed to read enough subtext into them to make her head spin. Was he sorry she was still awake, sorry she was at his place, or sorry he ever met her? She set her phone aside and headed to the bedroom to change. When she came back to the sofa, she was in one of Nate’s T-shirts. At this point she figured she’d just wait up for him. But her body seemed to have a different plan.

Nate’s front door
was locked. Good. Mel was being safe. The second he opened the door, an unusual swell of emotion overcame him. He smiled, closing the door quietly behind him, as he saw she was passed out on the sofa, curled up in one of his shirts.

Seeing her calmed him, and in the same moment, it watered the seed of worry germinating inside his heart. He didn’t want to like having her here. It wasn’t Mel. She was amazing. But the idea that he might get used to the company, to that warm feeling of finding her sound asleep in his T-shirt? It was a dangerous path. It led to caring and depending, and ended in pain.

He went back to his room and turned on the closet light. His clothes were moved and hers added. His pulse sputtered. It was stupid to let it bother him. She had to put her clothes someplace. And he was the one who’d insisted on keeping her safe.

And dangerously close.

He forced himself to move. Obsessing over her moving in was going to drive him out of his mind. On the shelves at the back of the closet, he took down a blanket, turned out the light, and brought it out to cover her.

She hummed and opened drowsy eyes. “You made it back.”

He sat on the edge of the couch beside her. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

She leaned up and rested her head on his shoulder. “Sorry I texted you. I guess I was worried or something.”

He lifted her chin. “I work crappy hours.”

“I wasn’t trying to make it seem like…”

“Like you cared?”

She chuckled. “I do care, but I didn’t want to suffocate you with it. You don’t owe me anything.”

He kissed her forehead. “This is hard for me, too.”

“Any leads?”

He shook his head, unwilling to let the frustration creep back in. He turned and scooped her into his arms, lifting her up as he stood. Mel gasped, then wrapped her arms around his neck. “Not interested in talking about work?”

He claimed her lips, savoring the taste of her as he carried her into his bedroom. Laying her on the bed, he settled over her. “Work fell off my radar the second I walked in the door.”

The corner of her mouth lifted into a crooked smile. “Me in your shirt works for you.”

“
You
work for me.” He kissed her again, hard this time.

Her lips parted, his tongue swirling with hers. Usually a rough night of work meant a long night of push-ups and sit-ups in the hope that exhaustion would lead to sleep. Mel’s fingers tightened in his hair, her other hand sliding down his back.

She beat the hell out of exercising.

His voice became a growly whisper. “I need to get out of these clothes.”

He stood up and started to unbutton his shirt when the lamp clicked on. He frowned. “Something wrong?”

“Nope.” Mel stared up at him, the T-shirt barely covering her. His erection pulsed, and she wet her lips. “Just wanted to watch.”

He fumbled with the next button and shook his head. “I’m better with the light off.”

“You know how you like seeing me in your shirt?” She pulled it off and dropped it over the edge of the bed. “Now you can see me without it.”

He drank in her naked body, his fingers suddenly making fast work of his buttons. He hesitated before taking it off completely. “You’re so sexy.”

Her eyes sparkled. “So are you.”

She’d already seen his scars and accepted him. He had nothing left to hide. But his heart still raced as he opened his shirt and took it off. Her lips parted slightly in answer. Seeing the desire on her face, her body… Damn, it made him even hotter.

He brought his hands to his slacks and unbuckled his belt. She swallowed, her breath catching. He came closer to the bed, running his hand up her leg. “I’ve never wanted anyone this bad before.”

“Good.” Her fingertips slid up the length of his zipper, squeezing his erection until he ached for her touch. She sat up and unfastened the button. Looking up at him from under her thick lashes, she reached for his zipper. “I want you, too.”

She eased his zipper down and tugged his pants over his hips until he was finally free. He stared down at her as she took him into her mouth. The sight of her lips sliding down his shaft nearly did him in. He ground his teeth, struggling to keep control, to make it last. Tangling his fingers in her hair, he rocked into her mouth slowly.

Her fingernails slid up the back of his legs, teasing his ass, encouraging him as she sucked gently. He growled her name. Every muscle in his body tensed. Too close. He didn’t want it to be over yet. “No more. I’m about to lose it.”

She kissed her way up his bare chest, her wet lips teasing his nipple until she stood before him. He claimed her mouth and bent his knees. Catching her waist in one arm, he straightened, lifting her off the floor. She wrapped her legs around him as he slid his hands along her thighs.

His erection brushed her opening, hot and wet. She rocked her hips, and he sank into her. He groaned into the kiss, his pulse hammering in his ears. If it were humanly possible, he’d never stop making love to her. Never.

Mel couldn’t catch
her breath. She broke the kiss, her lips trailing down his neck. In the mirrored closet door, their reflection made her heart race. His muscles were taut, defined, and all hers—at least for right now.

She tingled all over as she nibbled at his ear. “You’re so sexy,” she whispered.

He turned to kiss her lips and caught their reflection in the mirror. She followed his gaze. He paused, and for a second, she worried everything might be ruined. She clenched her inner muscles and slowly writhed, taking him even deeper. He dropped his head back, thrusting his hips, as his grip on her thighs tightened.

She pulled her attention from the mirror to Nate’s face. Sweat glistened on his forehead, and desire burned in his eyes. He kissed her, then growled against her lips, “Come with me.”

His hands were busy holding her up, so she brought one hand between them, rubbing with each thrust. He slammed into her harder and faster, and her entire body tightened. She cried out against his shoulder as he erupted deep inside her.

“Mel…” His arms trembled as he walked her to the bed, but his hold on her never faltered. He laid her on the bed, keeping her close so their bodies remained connected. He kissed her shoulder and whispered, “I…” He lifted his head with a crooked smile that made her heart flutter. “No words.”

She nodded slowly. “I know what you mean.”

He cupped her cheek. “I like being able to see you.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat, running her hands up his muscular biceps to his shoulders. “Seeing you…turned me on, too.” She shook her head, her lips curving. “You are beyond hot.”

He chuckled, rolling his eyes. “I don’t know about…” His voice trailed off, his expression sobering. He met her eyes. “Oh shit. I got so caught up…”

Mel blinked. “Condom.” She cringed. “Crap.”

“Yeah.” He slid free from her and sat up. “I’m sorry. Dammit. I’ve never forgotten before.” He looked over at her. “What do we do?”

Her big, strong police detective was asking
her
what to do. She sat up, sliding her arms around his waist from behind him. “We make sure we don’t screw up again. It usually takes more than one time to get pregnant.” Who was she trying to convince, him or herself? She started doing the mental calculations in her head and breathed a sigh of relief. “I don’t think I’d be ovulating yet anyway.”

His body tensed up, and a fit of inappropriate giggles hit her. He tried to look back over his shoulder, but she dodged his stare, making the laughter even worse.

“I’m sorry. I guess talking ovulation isn’t great pillow talk.”

He heaved a sigh and chuckled. “Not a word I use often around here.”

“Now I want to get a puppy and name her Ovulation.”

He turned around and pinned her on the bed, catching her hands in his. A playful grin she’d never seen before lit up his face. “No puppies.”

She mustered her best innocent smile. “Maybe a kitten? We could call her Ovie for short.”

He laughed, kissing her long and slow. Her entire body warmed. When he pulled back, his eyes searched hers. For what, she couldn’t even venture a guess.

Finally, he whispered, “I’m going to keep you safe.”

“I know.”

But would he still be there when the threat was gone? She pushed the thought from her mind and got under the covers.
One day at a time.
He held her close, and she drifted off to the steady beat of her Guardian’s heart.