Watcher (13 page)

Watcher

103

“You’re telling me,” she murmured. The coffee tasted good, hot and stimulating; a positive in an evening that had been more nightmare than reality.

Larkin gave her a sidelong glance. “He made one serious mistake when he decided to attack Jake first. The FBI has been faxing me stuff all day from their profiling department. These guys need to feel powerful It is what fuels their existence. That’s why usually their victims are younger, smaller, and vulnerable physically. Pedophiles, rapists, and serial murders tend to operate under that same urge. He must have been very unhappy when you started your relationship with someone physically superior in size, not to mention a good seven years younger than him. Gleason is actually just average height and probably weighs only a hundred and fifty pounds. Yet he still felt he could win a confrontation.”

She really wanted to block his face—and everything else about him—from her mind. “I suppose that is another advantage to dating someone who is twenty-five,” she said dryly, embarrassed but resigned to the fact that the man sitting next to her had seen even a little bit of the graphic video.

The detective raised his brows and then laughed, catching her meaning. “I won’t ask what the first one is, and don’t worry, Dr.

Johnson. While the contents of his apartment will be processed, if there are any pictures or videos, I doubt they would have to be used as evidence. I can always testify that video existed. The fact he was stalking you like his first two victims is pretty clear. The attack today certainly supports that.”

“That’s a ray of sunshine on an otherwise pretty dark day.

Thank you, Detective.”

The young man sitting next her gave her a level look. “You have it backwards, Dr. Johnson, this was not a dark day. I’ve seen dark days, and that’s when it turns out all wrong. For you, today, I think the sun just came out and there isn’t a cloud in the sky.”

104

Kate Watterson

Now this was an interesting development.

Jana straightened and grabbed her toothbrush, slowly brushing her teeth, staring in the mirror.

She looked exactly the same. Loose dark hair, blue eyes, same face, same everything.

Well, not exactly.

Jake was still asleep when she emerged from the bathroom and she slid into bed beside him, absorbing his warmth. He slept as always with casual abandon, easily, his lean body relaxed and taking up way more than his half of the bed, long legs sprawled.

He still had the cast on his right hand, but his left arm looked normal except the vivid scars.

It was a miracle he was with her, and she felt a throat-clogging rush of emotion.

Damn, she was lucky.

Tentatively, she ran her hand over the muscled contours of his chest. He felt beautifully solid and male.

She inched closer and draped one of her thighs over his leg.

Almost immediately he stirred, thick lashes lifting a fraction.

“Uhm…good morning.”

“Yes, it is.” She kissed his jaw, lightly licking the dark early morning stubble, and moved a little more on top of him.

That he liked. He said thickly, “I don’t mind waking up like this, don’t get me wrong, but what the hell time is it?”

“Six.” She threaded her fingers into his rumpled hair and nibbled on his lower lip.

Watcher

105

“Six?”

“A.M.”

“Isn’t it bad for a person’s health to have sex at six in the morning?” he asked, but he wasn’t serious, she could tell, because already she could feel the beginning of his swelling erection.

“Speaking of sex…” Was this right way to do it? Because she didn’t know. This was her missing milestone.

His dark eyes were still half-closed, and one hand caressed her back in leisurely strokes. “Yeah, speaking of sex? Were we? I think I was dead asleep.”

“Yes, well, I think
I’m
pregnant. I just did a test. It was positive.”

That certainly got his attention. His dark eyes opened fully and he went very still. “What did you just say?”

“I’ve wondered for the past few weeks,” Jana admitted. “I wasn’t really all that concerned, just …wondered. We don’t use anything, but Brian and I didn’t either. Maybe it was him, not me.

We wanted kids, but we were involved in our careers and when it never happened, we didn’t worry about it.”

“We’re having a baby?” Jake had a stunned look on his face.

Now that was exactly the right thing to say
, she thought in dreamy contentment as she shifted so she was fully on top of him, bare breasts to bare chest, her open thighs aligned over his hips.

“Yes,
we
are having a baby. I’m late, I can tell there are changes in my body, and modern science tells me that it’s all true.”

“That’s amazing.” His good hand went up and he touched her cheek. His sexy signature smile sent a coil of need spiraling through her stomach. “Jana, really?”

“You’re amazing. No, you’re incredible.” She leaned forward and kissed him, just a light, sweet pressure of her lips to his. “Now, if you don’t mind, can we reenact how this happened in the first place?”

“Absolutely,” he promised.

106

Kate Watterson

Lucky for her, the Incredible Quinn was as good as his word.

WATCHER

Sexual Studies 1

THE END

WWW.KATEWATTERSON.COM

AUTHOR’S BIO

Kate Watterson/Emma Wildes/Katherine Smith is the author of numerous erotic novels and short stories. Reading has always been her passion and she finds that vibrant characters with strong personalities have a tendency to draw her straight into the story.

History is her passion, and it reflects in her choice of wickedly dashing heroes and willful heroines. She lives in rural Indiana and is working on her next romance. Please stop by and visit at www.katewatterson.com. She would love to hear from you.

Books by Emma Wildes

THE BLOODSTONE AFFAIR
[Brothers of the Absinthe Club 2]

[
Historical Paranormal
] An infamous ghost hunter travels to the most haunted house in England to rescue the woman of his dreams and encounters an evil secret that refuses to die…

"Masterfully written, the plot is chillingly delicious with some
surprise elements and lots of twists and turns.
5 Hearts
"
—The Romance Studio,
"I was intrigued and fascinated ...eagerly
awaiting each new addition to this thrilling series.
5 Blue

Ribbons
"
—Romance Junkies.

ARABIAN PEARL
[Brothers of the Absinthe Club 1]

[
Historical
] The guest of a foreign prince, Lord Grayson finds an English jewel dropped in his lap when he is gifted a beautiful bedmate. Celia Davenport discovers that perhaps sexual servitude isn't the prison she imagined. A plaything of an Infidel lord, she has a chance of escape if only she pleases him...

"edgy and erotic ...enough heat to warm you on the coldest of
nights.
5 Kisses
"
—Two Lips Reviews,
"very poignant love story
that is remarkably breathtaking.
5 Angels
"
—Fallen Angel Reviews,
"held me enthralled right to the end.
4.5 Blue

Ribbons
"
—Romance Junkies,
"sizzling molten lava sex.
4.5

Stars
"
—Ecataromance.

DANGEROUS BEAUTIES
[Print Collection]

Mortal Melody : Bedding a Traitor

[
Historical
] A war hero and an aristocratic man with a dark gift.

Both are jaded, wary, and think they aren't susceptible to the dangerous beauties that captivate them…
"5

Kisses/Recommended Read"
—
Two Lips Reviews,
"5 Stars"

—
Just Erotic Romance Reviews,
"5 Flags"
—
Euro-Reviews,
"5

Angels"
—
Fallen Angel Reviews.

BEDDING A TRAITOR
[Dangerous Beauties 2]

[
Historical / Light BDSM
] A beautiful widow and a war hero with a tarnished reputation find the ultimate passion in a desperate game of deceit…
"This is not your average historical ...a fresh