Red Zone (26 page)

“No. It was rented from our north side location.”

Hansen nodded. 

“Do you happen to know if they have surveillance video?” 

This time the man spoke up again. “We all do,” he said, pointing to a camera poised in the corner at the rear of the room. 

“How long do you keep the videos?”

“We keep them on site for a week, and then they’re mailed to corporate. I don’t know how long they keep them.”

“Is it possible you could give the other office a call and let them know I’m on my way there?” He directed his question to the woman, since she seemed to be more helpful and less antagonistic than the man. “It would help if they could have the tapes pulled by the time I arrive.”

“Yes, of course,” she said, picking up the phone. 

Fifteen minutes later, he was on his way. The manager of the north side location had been notified of his impending arrival. Hopefully, once Hansen saw the tapes, he would recognize this Mark Fuller, and he could pay him a visit, get some answers. Maybe, just maybe, they’d be able to wrap up this case, and he’d be able to return home in time to celebrate his wife’s birthday. He missed her, as he always did when he was away. Talking to her every night only did so much when what he really wanted to do was have her in his arms.

Rebecca could no longer feel the bones in her body. The man was completely insatiable. He’d rarely stopped touching her all day. Even when they weren’t having sex, some part of him was in contact with some part of her. 

The need for food had roused them out of bed a couple of times, but even then, he’d made it a sensual experience. He’d slipped one of his T-shirts over her head and led her downstairs. Together they’d cooked a simple meal of eggs, bacon, and some fruit. She’d sat beside him on the stool at the kitchen island, but that hadn’t been satisfactory for him. Gage had pulled her stool as close as possible, and then lifted her legs over his so she was practically sitting on his lap. He’d then proceeded to feed her. Rebecca felt like she was in a dream. Did people really do this? Was this real?

Eventually, they’d made it back upstairs, where he’d continued to touch her until she could no longer stand it. She’d thrown him on his back and reached into his drawer for a condom. There was only so much a girl could take. 

After that round, he had suggested they watch a movie. She’d been all prepared to get out of his bed and go down to the basement where his entertainment center was, but he had stopped her, saying he had no plans to spend any more time than he had to today out of his bed. They had curled up against his pillows, eating popcorn and watching something on pay-per-view. 

When the movie was over, she’d put her foot down when he’d started to go downstairs to get them food. She felt like she wasn’t pulling her own weight in this . . . 
whatever
this was, between them. It was beginning to feel more like a relationship than a fling, and she didn’t want to think too much about that yet.

When she came back in the room, he had his laptop open. He looked up at her, smiling. “Hey.”

“Hey,” she said, walking toward him with the tray of food. 

She climbed on the bed, setting the tray on the nightstand. 

“What are you doing?”

“Need to study up for this week’s game,” he said, motioning toward the screen.

He was watching video of a football game. 

Rebecca started to lean over to get a better look, but then stopped herself.
Fling, remember.
She sat back and picked up the tray, setting it across her lap. 

“You had some leftover chicken, so I made us stir-fry.” 

He leaned over to give her a kiss. “Thank you.”

Gage took the bowl she offered and went back to his video. She picked up her bowl and began eating her food, trying not to be in the way. 

Five minutes passed before he glanced up at her again. Setting his bowl on the stand beside him, he took the bowl out of her hand and laid it alongside his. 

“Hey!”

His only response was to place a hard kiss on her lips and take the tray from her lap and set it on the floor. Then he pulled her against his side, picked up both their bowls, handing her one, and went back to his video as he resumed eating. 

“There. That’s better.”

She wasn’t sure how to react, but Gage didn’t give her much time to process everything before he started talking to her about what was on the screen. Over the next two hours, she watched his face light up as he talked about football stats and player history. She couldn’t help getting caught up in his excitement. 

By the time they turned off the lights, Rebecca was exhausted. She was also sore. Never in her life had she had a sex marathon, and that was exactly what the past twenty-four hours felt like. She wasn’t complaining, though. The day was turning out to be one of the best of her life, and she hated to admit it, but the great sex wasn’t the only thing standing out in her memory. 

Gage pulled her against him, tucking her into his side and resting her head on his shoulder. “Good night, beautiful.”

She cuddled closer. 

“Goodnight, Gage.”

His alarm woke her the next morning, and she sat straight up in bed, startled. Once she realized where the noise was coming from, she allowed the tension to leave her body. She turned around just in time to see Gage reach over to turn off the alarm. Even with such a simple movement, she could see the power in his muscles. She’d gotten to know his body well. She knew the power those muscles contained. She’d felt it. 

He noticed her staring. 

“See something you like?” He smirked.

She blushed. “Maybe.”

“Maybe?” he asked, lunging for her. 

She tried to escape, but he caught her. He started tickling her, and she couldn’t contain her laughter. 

“Stop,” she begged.

“Admit you like looking at my body.” He was smiling from ear to ear. 

She shook her head, trying to deny it, but the effect was lost given her hysteria. 

He continued his assault. 

“Fine. Fine! Yes! I like . . . your body.”

He stopped. 

“See. That wasn’t so difficult.”

“If you say so,” she said, still breathing hard. Part of her wanted to turn the tables on him, but honestly, she hadn’t laughed so much in years. It felt good.

Gage leaned down to give her a soft kiss. 

“Why is it so hard for you to admit you have desires just like the rest of us?”

Rebecca felt the unease creeping back. She didn’t want to talk about this. 

She closed her eyes and felt his weight leave her. Why was he bringing this up? She didn’t want Gage feeling sorry for her. That wasn’t what their relationship was about. 

His hands trailed up her arms, his lips on her neck. A sigh escaped along with some of her agitation. How could this man produce so much varying emotion in her?

Gage climbed back on top of her, straddling her just above her waist. He lifted her arms above her head, holding her wrists together, first with two hands, then one. 

She forgot all about her arms as he slides lower and he continued to work magic with his lips on her neck. Too late, she realized something was being wrapped around her wrists. She opened her eyes, looking above her. He’d tied a scarf to her wrists and attached it to the bedframe. She pulled, but the binding didn’t give. 

Rebecca felt herself start to panic. “Let me loose.”

“Take a deep breath, Rebecca. I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Then why?”

“Well, I want you to stop thinking so much and just let go,” he said, kissing her right behind her ear, his hands moving slowly back down her arms and shoulders. 

She didn’t like how her body reacted, like it didn’t care he’d tied her to his bed. 

“And you think tying me to the bed is the way to accomplish that?”

He laughed. 

She was not amused. 

“Yes.”

“I don’t agree with you.”

“I’m not surprised,” he said, smiling.

She tugged again at the scarf. 

“Rebecca, stop.” 

She looked up at him, eyes wide. 

He sighed. 

“I want to have a conversation with you, and well . . . I’m not all that sure you won’t try to run, and I don’t trust that you won’t use one of those fancy moves on me, so . . .”

“So you thought you’d tie me up?” she asked, her voice rising.

“It seemed like a good idea.” He shrugged, going back to what he was doing. Gage moved his assault lower, down her collarbone to her breasts. He’d become very well acquainted with them recently.

“Let me loose.” She tried to put some force behind her words, but they lacked any semblance of authority. His lips were completely distracting her.

“Not until we talk.”

“Fine. Talk.”

Rebecca was trying to stay calm, not letting the panic take over, and to concentrate on what his mouth and hands were doing. 

“I promise, I’m not going to hurt you.”

She clenched her fists, digging her nails into her palms. Gage hurting her was quickly becoming the last thing on her mind.

“I want you to tell me about your family,” he whispered against her skin.

“What?” She glanced down at him in disbelief, momentarily pulled out of her pleasure-filled haze.

He didn’t look up, just continued to lick and nip at her flesh. 

“I want to know about your childhood, how you grew up.”

She moaned and closed her eyes as he took one of her breasts into his mouth. 

Her back arched up off the mattress, silently pleading with him for more.

Rebecca didn’t like talking about her parents. There weren’t many pleasant memories there. It was just easier to forget. 

Gage released his hold on her breast and crawled up her body until he was face-to-face with her. He brushed his fingers along her jaw, her cheek, her temple. “Tell me. Please,” he whispered against her lips.

He was torturing her, and he knew it. 

She took a deep breath, trying to center herself. If she stuck just to the facts, maybe she would be okay. 

As she began to talk, Gage returned his lips to her neck, his hands took hold lower. She had to think and really concentrate on her words.

“My father was into all sorts of illegal . . . things. He wasn’t . . . picky about it. Cars, drugs . . . petty theft . . . you name it.” She needed to focus. “Claimed he did it to put food on the table.” She took a deep breath. Unfortunately, it didn’t help as Gage shifted above her, bringing their bodies closer together. “He was . . . in . . . and out of jail . . . a few times. That was back before they had the . . . three strikes rule.” His hand grazed over her stomach and dipped down between her thighs, and she gasped. “When he was behind bars . . . our mother would . . . pine for him. She’d go see him every weekend and spend her weeknights getting drunk.”

“You had to take care of your sister,” he whispered in her ear, sending shivers down her spine.

It wasn’t a question, but she answered him anyway, wishing so badly she could touch him. “Yes.”

“I’m sorry. I understand now why you’re so protective of her.”

There were no more words for a while as he continued to caress her with lips, tongue, and hand. More than anything, she wanted to touch him, to give back what he was giving to her. “May I have my arms back now?” she asked, almost pleading.

He shook his head. “Nope. Not yet.”

“What . . . else?” She gasped as his hand slipped between her legs again.

“Why did you take this job? Why be my bodyguard?” he asked, his teeth grazing her neck, sending a shot of electricity down to where his fingers were lingering, teasing.

She tensed.

He paused his hand’s ministrations and leaned up to whisper in her ear. “Stop thinking, beautiful, and just tell me.” He kissed a trail down her neck to her collarbone. “Please,” he begged as he slid one finger inside.

Moaning at the pleasant intrusion, she closed her eyes and tried to form the words she needed. The ones that would get him to release her without her having to reveal too much. “I was on a case . . . and it went badly.” Her back arched off the bed, and a strangled moan left her lips as he continued to do the most devilish things to her with his hand. “They put me on admin . . . administrative leave. I was going . . . stir crazy. Hansen . . . Hansen asked for my help.”

She felt him smile against her neck before he leaned up onto his elbow and used his free hand to release her. 

Rebecca placed her hands on either side of his face, forcing him to look at her. She was breathing hard, but she needed to get the words out. “If you ever do that again . . . I will lay you flat out on the floor.”

He smiled. 

“Maybe I’d like you to.”

“Maybe you need to be thinking of ways to make me forget your little transgression.” 

Gage chuckled and rubbed his nose against hers. “I think I already am. I have one more question, though.”

“What?” Thinking was becoming progressively more difficult.

“Your parents. Do you or Megan have any contact with them now?” She dropped her hands to her side and closed her eyes. “Hey. Look at me.”

Rebecca opened her eyes. His face was full of concern, and she felt the anger begin to churn in her belly. It was the last thing she wanted to feel.