THE DEFENDER (13 page)

“I don’t want to listen. I want to fight. For my brother. I brought this to my family and I can’t fix it. The guilt and anger and hurt are killing me and I hate myself—
hate,
Russell—and I have to tell my parents. My dad has been locked in an off-site client meeting all morning and I’m not telling my mother until my dad can be with her. At this moment, there is nothing I can do to fix this. It’s my fault and I need someone—you—to remind me I’m good at something. To tell me I’m not a failure. You and I, together, will not be a failure. I know it.”

Huh. This was a first. On many levels. The first being Killer Cupcake having a meltdown. The second being a defense attorney throwing herself at him. And him liking it.

She slid her arms around him and—yep, she was going to lay another one on him. He sucked in a breath and waited for that second when her lips would hit his and his body would ignite all over again.

Bam. She kissed him.
Hang on, hang on, hang on.
He hesitated. At least until she crushed herself against him, wanting him to pick up the pace. Control. That was what he needed here.

What
she
needed now wasn’t fast, hard sex. She needed slow and quiet. Yep. That was what she needed. Whether she knew it or not.

Maybe he’d give her both. He squeezed her arms and broke the kiss.

She stepped back. “What’s the problem?”

Where should he start? He had a list.

“First, I have a technical agent on the way here to rig your phone. Second, we’re not rushing through this. You’re all keyed up, and that’s probably a crummy reason for us to go back on our agreement to steer clear of a physical relationship.”

The lines between her brows deepened. “Russell Voight, sometimes I want to hate you, but most times I’m just thankful.”

“For what?”

“For you. As crazy as you make me, I love when you’re around.”

Well, damn. Not what he’d expected. He stepped forward, grabbed her hand and, one by one, skimmed her fingers, working the tension from them as he went. When he’d flattened the last finger, he dipped his head, kissed her palm.
Don’t do this.

Her sharp inhalation shattered his concentration and he glanced up in time for her to ease forward and wrap her arms around his waist. He ran his hand over her head, twirled the long blond strands over his fingers, and her shoulders shook. Crying.

“Oh, baby, I’m sorry.”

“My parents will never forgive me. I’ll never forgive me.”

She squeezed him tighter and deep sobs ripped into her. Killer Cupcake unglued. But she looked up at him, those lush lips right there, and jerk that he was, he knew what he wanted. What they both wanted.

He did the only thing he could. He bent low, scooped her up and headed to her bedroom. Her face transformed into wide-eyed shock that beat the hell out of seeing her in tears. “You’re all mine.”

She wiggled around, smacked him on the chest. “Russell!”

There we go.

“Russell! You are
not
manhandling me in my own home.”

“Yeah, I am. You need it.” He grinned. “You need a lot of things. And I plan on giving them to you.”

She kicked her legs and almost blasted him in the crotch. “Hey, now. Don’t damage the equipment before you’ve used it.”

She gasped. “Pig!”

Damn, he loved rattling her. Making her forget the nightmare currently known as her life.

Once in her bedroom he tossed—yep, tossed—her on the bed and waited half a second for the yelling.
One, two, three.

No yelling.

“You’re quiet,” he said, slipping off his tie and unbuttoning his collar.

More than a little heavy on the eye contact, she sat up and tore the cami over her head and Russ stood, like some fumbling high schooler, paralyzed by the sight of her.
Do something, man.
For months he’d been fantasizing about Penny Hennings naked and now all he wanted was to slow her down. Let him savor each piece of clothing coming off so he could seal it into his subconscious.

He set one knee on the bed and grabbed her hands. “Go slower for me, okay?”

A sexy grin quirked one side of her mouth, a look he’d seen on her before and recognized. The look of assuming control. Yes, he’d just given Killer Cupcake all the power. She’d eat him alive.

“Russell?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m thinking about all the things I want you to do to me.”

Well, hell.
He threw his head back, tried not to think about his raging erection straining against his pants and her hands at the button of his waistband.

“Still want me to go slow?” she cracked.

And, if for no other reason than to drive her—and maybe himself—insane, he stepped back. “I do. I’ve been thinking about this a long time. I want it to last.”

Still on the bed, she got to her knees, gripped his shirt and kissed him. Slow and gentle, just as he’d said he wanted, and something in his brain fired. Pent-up frustration—
need
—tore into him. She’d mess him up in a million different ways. His career, his emotions, all of it would be hers.

And he didn’t mind.

For once with her it wouldn’t be about control or winning or losing. For once, they’d both get what they wanted.

He reached around and unhooked her bra, slid the straps down her shoulders, and she backed away, letting him see her. Just as he’d asked. Killer Cupcake giving him what he wanted.

“You’re beautiful. Maybe a little mouthy, but I like mouthy women.”

That teasing smile quirked again. “Russell, shut up and kiss me.”

Damn.
Could be love.

Kiss her he did. Long and slow while he explored every inch of her, living out his fantasy of soft skin under his fingers. He unzipped her skirt and slid it down.
Slow
,
slow, slow.
She lowered herself to the bed and let him take the skirt the rest of the way off, his fingers moving down the soft curve of her thigh. Dang, she was tiny.

Delicate.

Something he’d never imagined from Killer Cupcake.

And then he gave up on slow and was on top of her, devouring her. Lips, cheeks, neck, breasts, all of it, there for him to feast on after all these months. She dug her fingers into his hair, gripped hard, and an inferno whipped at his skin.

He wanted her.

Now.

Chapter Thirteen

Penny inhaled a hard breath while Russ’s mouth magically reached all the places she’d imagined. Finally. They’d fought it long enough.
You’re using him.
She opened her eyes, stared at the ceiling. No. Not using him. Needing him. Needing him to distract her from her failures. To love her.

She slammed her eyes closed again, willed her brain to stop.
Please.
Just a couple of minutes of peace. That was all she wanted.

In a flurry, she pushed Russ away, rolled him to his back and straddled him. Too many clothes. With fast but fumbling fingers, she unbuttoned his shirt only to find a T-shirt.

“Russell, you’re such a pain. Get rid of these shirts.”

He laughed, then sat up, but held her with one hand so she didn’t go anywhere. She pushed the dress shirt off his shoulders and pulled his T-shirt off. Underneath, just as she’d pictured, was all hard muscle and cut angles. She kissed his bare shoulder and he groaned.

“I love how you feel,” she said.

He tossed her off. “I’ve got to get these pants off.”

“Yes, you do.” She stretched out on her bed, keeping her gaze on his and grinning like a fool. Why not? She rather enjoyed this playful side. She didn’t allow it to happen often, but Russ brought it out in her and she’d be forever grateful for that. She patted the spot next to her. “Come and get me.”

“Pffft.”

Penny cracked up, but the size of his erection silenced her. “Wow.”

“Now who’s laughing?”

Never one to shy away from a challenge, she hooked one foot around his leg. “I’m waiting.”

She didn’t need to wait long. Well, maybe the condom took a minute longer than she appreciated, but, well, safe sex and all that. Finally, he hovered over her, propped on his elbows, his fingers gently moving over her face and into her hair.

So tender. Something she’d never imagined between them. She glided one leg along his, their bodies so perfectly aligned—melded—and the skin-to-skin friction shot into her lower belly, the heat settling there, making her want more. Of what, she wasn’t sure. Sex. Him. Both.

Yes, both. She wrapped her hand around the back of his head. “We’ll go slower next time.”

If he’d planned on arguing, he’d abandoned it when she wrapped her legs around his hips, waiting, anticipating that amazing first moment when he would enter her. Slowly, he shifted and she brought her legs higher and—
yes
—he inched his way, bit by little bit, and she gasped.

A low groan came from Russ and she pumped her hips, letting Mr. Go Slow know he’d better pick up the pace. Ooh, she wanted to kill him. Just smack him one for torturing her. But that slow slide, the feel of this man inside her, sent shivers along her skin.

Finally. A man she could love. A man who accepted her zany, pushy personality. And liked her anyway.

“It’s so perfect,” she said.

He smiled down at her, kissed her, and she held on, wanting only more. More. More. More. Forever.

He shifted again and her body seized. She closed her eyes, breathed in and waited.

She rocked her hips harder and he moved faster. Now.
Please.
Her core tightened as layer upon layer of tension built and spread and paralyzed her.
More.
She squeezed her eyes closed, envisioned that moment of release. So close. So close. Russ shifted and—
whoosh
—the release came, all bright lights and soaring happiness. She focused on the perfection of it,
savored
it, wanting never to forget the euphoria of her and Russ together. She’d known it would be this way.
Knew it.

Russ cried out and she looked up, watched him throw his head back, the muscles in his shoulders bunching as he took that same euphoric ride. She ran her fingers along the angles of his face, down his neck and across his shoulder, gently stroking until he collapsed on top of her.

Yes, they were good together. Case closed.

Eventually, Russ rolled off her, wrapped his arm around her waist and brought her into his side. With his free hand, he smacked his forehead. “Hot damn.”

Penny snuggled into his side, curling her leg around his, wanting only to get closer. How was it that they’d just gotten as close as two people could—literally—and still it wasn’t enough?

Maybe it was just him and the way he reminded her not everything was her fault.

“Thank you,” she said.

He glanced down at her, his brows drawn. “Uh—”

Oh, no. He thought she was thanking him for the sex. Which she should probably do, but—ew—how cheesy. And horrific.

Playfully, she shoved him away. “Not for that. Pig.”

“Hey, you’re the one who said thank-you after I just sent you flying.”

“Oh, please.”

Russ grinned at her. “Just saying.”

“If you weren’t so damned arrogant, I’d say something nice, but forget it. I’m not doing it.”

But once again, she snuggled into him, enjoying the banter and the ease between them. Russ had an ego for sure, but he didn’t take every comment as a personal affront or an implied message. He let her be snarky without feeling offended. A lot of men wouldn’t. In her experience, some men couldn’t handle her direct manner and she’d often found herself apologizing for something she’d said.

For being herself.

Not a place a woman should find herself. And somehow, with Russ, she never did.

“Anyway,” she said, “thank you for making me believe not everything is my fault. That’s what I was thanking you for.”

He rolled on top of her, the warm skin of his legs brushing hers, the connection sparking again. He kissed her softly, his lips skimming hers, no fury or urgency. Apparently, Russ liked slow lovemaking. Good to know.

“None of this is your fault,” he said. “We’re dealing with a psycho. There’s no figuring him out. All we can do is wait for the next call and then catch him.”

A knock sounded on her door—seriously?

In a quick move, Russ rolled to his feet. “And that would be our techy guy to go up on your phone line.”

He smacked her on the hip. “Get dressed, babe. I’ll answer the door.”

* * *

R
USS
TUCKED
HIS
SHIRT
in while walking to the door. The knock sounded again, but he stopped, glanced in the mirror hanging next to the door, flattened his hair and adjusted the knot on his tie. Close enough. If he looked too primped, after the day he’d had so far, they’d definitely know something was up.

He checked the peephole and suddenly needed to urinate. Not wanting to waste any more time, he swung the door open.

Gerald Hennings stared a second, his gaze focused but perhaps unsure. A man who hadn’t expected to see another man opening his daughter’s door. Hennings blinked, then did it again, and that fast, Russ was a teenager picking up his date for prom.

Play this cool.
Sure, he’d just gotten to know the man’s daughter in a carnal way that made him want to howl, but he was still an adult. An FBI agent working a case.

“Afternoon, sir.” Russ stepped back. “Penny is in the other room. I thought you were one of the tech guys from my office.”

Penny’s father stepped over the threshold and immediately swung back to Russ. “What’s happened? She sounded upset. Told me to meet her here, and she doesn’t do that in the middle of the day.”

“Yes, sir. We have news for you.”

“Dad?”

Both men angled to the hallway. Penny stood there, all Killer Cupcake in her spiked heels and a fresh suit. Any average Joe would be impressed. But Russ saw the stress in her puffy eyes and sullen face. This pain was too deep, too cutting, too
wrecking
even for Killer Cupcake after a round of mind-blowing sex.

“Honey,” Gerald said, stepping toward her. “What is it?”

Gerald wrapped his arms around her and she held on, gripping his immaculate suit jacket in her fist. That fist—the desperate clutch of it—told the tale. Stiffness filled Russ’s neck. He rolled his head, considered turning away. Giving them a minute of privacy and yet, he couldn’t. Penny was about to destroy her father, and for the life of him, Russ couldn’t fix that.

He cleared his throat. “We should sit.”

Hennings stepped back—one giant step—and squared his shoulders. Physical preparation. The attempt to steel himself for a rough encounter. Russ knew about physical preparation. Nothing would prepare the man for this.

Hennings hitched up his pants at the thighs and sat on the sofa. Slowly, she parked herself across from him and looked up at Russ. He met her gaze and nodded, trying to offer encouragement. Then he held a finger to his chest, asking her if she’d like him to do it.

Her father swung his gaze between them. “Someone tell me.”

Penny sat tall, swept her now-perfect blond hair—the hair he’d riffled his fingers through not ten minutes ago—over her shoulders and faced her father. “Dad, I’m sorry.”

“For what?”

She shook her head, shut her eyes and her shoulders dipped.
Ah, Penny.
Russ sat on the arm of Penny’s chair, set a hand on her shoulder. “Sir, Penny received a call earlier. I’m sorry to tell you this, but Zac has been kidnapped.”

Gerald Hennings looked like a man who’d been shot. Stunned by an assault so fierce that the body didn’t quite register it. It would take a few seconds to absorb and then the agony, that bone-deep heartbreak, would hit.

“Kidnapped,” he said.

Penny leaned forward, grabbed her father’s hand. “I’m so...”

She sucked in air, dropped her head, and her face contorted. The lines in her skin deepened as she let out the first sob.

Russ squeezed her shoulder and glanced back at Hennings. His body bowed backward and he slumped into the chair, his hand slipping from Penny’s and falling to the sofa. At the loss of contact, Penny’s mouth dropped open.

Ah, dang it. Russ knew exactly where her mind had gone. Always blaming herself.

Gerald let out a gasp mixed with a whimper.

“Dad?”

“Sir,” Russ said. “We’re on it. My office, along with the marshal service. We’ll find him. Whatever it takes.”

Now sobbing, Penny leaped over to sit next to her father and wrapped her arms around him. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.”

“I...I...” He looked up at Russ with watery eyes.

Still, he patted Penny’s shoulder and Russ’s respect for the man went to epic heights. After hearing this news, Hennings had the focus to comfort his daughter while his mind adjusted to the emotional trauma of his child being abducted.

As nutty as they were, the love these people shared was simply amazing. Russ’s relationship with his own parents was strong, but not to this intensity. This unconditional acceptance. Suddenly, Russ wanted to be brought into that fold.

Somehow, in the course of a lifetime, Penny’s oldest brother didn’t appreciate what it took Russ just days to recognize.

He supposed jealousy did that to people. Blinded them, turned them hard and unyielding. Exactly how David was with Penny. Always blaming her for whatever infraction he perceived she’d committed.

“It’s Heath, sir,” Russ said, trying to fill air. “He grabbed him coming out of the courthouse today.”

“Zac’s alive?”

Penny finally sat back, threw her hands over her lips while staring at Russ.

“As far as we know.”

Gerald glanced at Penny, looped his arm around her shoulders. “It’s not your fault. Okay? Don’t let your mind go there. I need you now.”

Penny shot straight and lifted her chin.
Take a note.
The big guy had the magic bullet with his daughter.

“Good girl,” Hennings said. “Does your mother know?”

“No. I wanted to tell you first.”

“Good. I’ll need to tell her. And Emma.”

Emma.
Zac’s girlfriend.

Penny jabbed her fingers into her forehead. “How could I forget Emma?”

“I’ll take care of it,” her father said. He glanced at Russ. “I need details. Then I have to tell my wife.”

“Of course. We have agents en route. I’ll get someone to take you home and he can fill you in on the drive.”

“No. He’s watching. He said no FBI.”

Russ turned back to her, cocked his head. “Penny, this is what we do. They won’t see us.”

Hennings ran his hands over his gelled hair, held them on top of his head for a minute before dropping them. Slowly, as if pulled by a string, he sat tall, reset his shoulders. Now Russ knew where Penny had learned her lessons in control.

“When is Heath making contact again?” Hennings asked.

“I’m not sure. Probably soon,” Penny said. “He wants me to trade Elizabeth for Zac.”

“Dear God.”

“Dad, I wish I could go with you to tell Mom. We should do it together.”

“No. You need to be here. Take the call from Heath. Zac is the priority. Everything we do now is about him. Understand?”

“Yes.”

Russ waved Hennings toward the door. “No one is trading anyone. We’ll find Heath. Every law-enforcement department in this city is looking for him. There’s nowhere to run.”