The Eyewitness Page 20

  “Not exactly. We have solid leads on Joe’s case, and the man who hired Larson doesn’t know his man is on a cold slab in the morgue. And if you won’t agree to protective custody, which I know is a pipe dream, McNeil’s brother agreed to keep the detail on you, your mom, and Tessa until we learn more.”

  She met Alec’s stare. “What about Alice Gates? Does she know her husband tried to kill us?”

  “The U.S. Marshals have Alice and her daughters in protective custody. I don’t know where they are being held.”

  “Look, Alec, this is . . . ” She swallowed the sob burning the back of her throat and forced herself to stand. “I should have listened to everyone and stayed out of it. The cost was too high.”

  He closed the space between them in two steps and gripped her shoulders. “Stop it now, Emersyn. None of this is your fault.”

  She ran a finger over the bandage near his heart. “This sure as hell feels like my fault.” She stepped out of his reach. “It’s all too raw. Maybe a break will help me find my normal.”

  “Does that break include us?”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Damn it to hell. Em was going to walk.

  Alec clenched his jaw, but he stood completely still. “Just wait one damn second. You can’t just leave like this. We—”

  “There is no we, remember? It took me a little time, but I got the message.”

  Two feet from the doorway. That didn’t give him much room. And shit, she was modeling her demeanor after his. Statue Em. He hated the look.

  He held the cylinder out to her. “I painted The Dance for you. It’s all that’s left.”

  “I can’t accept it.”

  “Why?”

  “Does it really matter?”

  He inched forward until he was almost touching her. How in the hell would he ever get this woman out of his system? “Em, it matters. Answer my question.”

  She exhaled, her eyes downcast. “It’s the same reason I don’t enjoy window shopping with my mom and Tessa. They go into stores and try on amazing outfits that they could never afford or have any place to wear. What’s the point?”

  “What does this have to do with a damn dress?”

  “It’s not about a dress. That painting will become a constant reminder of what I can’t have. Isn’t that why you threw the rest in the trash?”

  She made it through the doorway.

  “I love you, Emersyn.”

  She stopped cold, her back to him. “You what?”

  “You. Heard. Me!”

  She faced him, and there was a slight shine in her eyes he hadn’t seen in a long time. “Try it again. This time without the roar.”

  If he glared at her, she would double over and laugh herself sick. He took in a calming breath and let it out. Voice low, controlled. “I’m in love with you, Emersyn.”

  The clock on his nightstand ticked away. Time was supposed to stop. This was a momentous moment. His best bet was to not move and feign confidence.

  “Okay, I guess you can use ‘Emersyn’ with those three words.”

  “I can’t lose you,” he whispered as he leaned in and brushed a wave of hair off her forehead. “And the paintings—they were unreal, and they held me back from you.”

  “And you need me.” She took a step back, putting her spine against the wall. “Damn it, it took you long enough.”

  “You want to punch me too?”

  “No. Maybe.”

  Hollow threat. Her fist was trapped between her thigh and his crouch. Good place for it. He had to remember the position.

  Alec gently cupped her neck with both hands. Leaning in, his lips brushed over her bottom lip. “I had it all worked out in my head, what I wanted to say to you. But you showed up here, and I can’t get a logical sentence out of my mouth.” She started to reply, and he kissed her quiet. “If you would just stay still like this, I may get it all out.” He eased closer, and she trembled. But damn, he was no better off.

  “Joe wasn’t fooled by my silent treatment. He said I felt too much, and he was right. I wasn’t taught how to handle emotions like anger, hurt, and hate. As for love, I’m so damn lost, I can’t think. You’re the first, and I don’t know what to do.”

  “I’m the first what?”

  “You’re the only person I have ever loved. Well, there was Joe, but this is so different, overwhelming.” He took in a shaky breath. “I painted instead, and it became my crutch.” His lips touched her forehead. “God, Em, everything has changed.”

  Her eyes watered, a tear spilling down her cheek.

  “You can’t do that. I-I swear I’ll lose it,” Alec stuttered.

  She swiped both hands over her face. “Go on. You were here”—she pressed her lips to his forehead—“in case you forgot.”

  He let out a laugh. “You are such a pain in the ass.”

  “And you love me anyway.” Her finger traced the moist skin under his eye. “But hear this, Pearce, if you say my charging into that damn warehouse changed you somehow, I’m going to punch you, hard.”

  “God no. I begged you not to come, remember?” His body pressed her into the wall. “You’ve given me night sweats for the rest of my life.”

  “Just yesterday, you thanked me for not listening. You can’t have it both ways.”

  “Yeah, this time I can. You can’t ever do anything like that again. I don’t deserve—”

  “Now you don’t finish that sentence, Alec Pearce. You deserve the very best of everything, including love. If I’m the woman—”

  “Of course, you’re my woman. What in the hell do you think we’re talking about? But, Emersyn, you won’t last an hour out of my bed if you rush around trying to save my ass.”

  “I didn’t rush. You needed me, and I was there. You would do the same for me.” Em beamed. “You want me in your bed?”

  “Every damn minute for the rest of my life.”

  “What about that monster side of yourself that you’re so afraid will hurt me? I kind of like the guy and was damn happy to meet him. But, shit, I can’t handle you shoving me away again.”

  “I didn’t kill Gates. That thing inside me came out the instant I woke from whatever drug Larson gave me, but I was in control.” He shook his head. “But when Gates touched you, I lost it. Gates was a dead man. Until I realized you needed him alive. It’s not that you controlled my rage. You gave me the power to control it. And, sweetheart, that realization shocked the hell out of me. I lost my concentration, and Gates flipped me onto my back. You know the rest.” He paused, his eyes swimming as his palm cupped her cheek. “I will always put your needs first. I’ll go back to counseling, or we can do the ‘couples’ thing if you want. Just say you need to be with me, that you love me too.”

  “I do, Alec. I love you like crazy.”

  He lifted her until they were eye level. “I’ve never heard those words before. Two firsts in one day.”

  “If you give us a chance, I’ll make sure you hear them morning, noon, and night.”

  A smile exploded across his face. He couldn’t have stopped it if he’d tried. “Em, how about we go for three firsts?”

  His mouth captured hers, and the kiss instantly turned possessive. A whimper escaped her lips as hot, explosive need slammed into him. One hand anchored her bottom, trapping her between him and the wall as his free hand roamed. Her fingers clutched the back of his neck. Using his shoulders as leverage, she lifted her legs, and he caught them, tucking them behind his waist.

  Damn, wall sex with Emersyn D’Azzo. The thought made his heart race. He broke the kiss, running his lips along her jaw and that tender spot right below her ear. “Do I need to worry about any family waiting for you in my parking lot?”

  Emersyn let out a soft laugh. “No. I came alone.”

  He tilted his head, arching his eyebrow. “If I hadn’t stopped you from leaving, what would you have done without your car?”

  Rose flushed into her cheeks. “Do you really want me to answer that now?”


  A deep laugh escaped his throat. “No, I don’t. This wall is all kinds of fun, but how about we try out my bed, the best feature in the place?”

  “I’m good here.” Her hold tightened.

  He eased back, keeping his hardness tight against her crotch. “Sweet Emersyn, I’m not going anywhere. The first time I show just how much I love you isn’t going to be against a damn wall.”

  • • •

  Cool sheets met Emersyn’s back, and Alec hovered over her, his arms keeping his weight off her. “Too fast?”

  “Hell no.” She sucked in air and yanked on the hem of her T-shirt. “But this is in the way.”

  In one fluid movement, the cotton tee came over her head.

  “Oh, Em,” Alec whispered as his fingers released the front closure of her bra and eased the straps over her shoulders. “I love lace. How did you know?”

  He cupped her breast in his palm, and his lips brushed over her nipple. Fire shot to her core until cold air shocked her out of the daze. One look at his expression explained exactly where Alec had disappeared to.

  The bullet scar. “Now it’s your turn. Don’t go back there.”

  “Fuck. I’ve never needed to hurt someone more.”

  “You can’t re-kill the bastard.” The joke made no impact. She touched his cheek. “The redness will go away.”

  “You’re beautiful. No, damn it, beautiful doesn’t even come close.” His fingers wove through her hair. “You take my breath away. As for this”—he paused, and his lips brushed over the wound—“be patient with me. All I could do was watch you hurt. It’s a damn helpless feeling.”

  “It doesn’t hurt anymore. Just love me.”

  “I can do that. Where were we?”

  Emersyn slipped her hand under her breast. “You were about here, and I was thinking of pulling these down,” she said as her free hand pulled at his elastic waistband. Seconds later, nothing separated Emersyn from Alec except her jeans. Her fingers went to the clasp at her waist.

  Alec’s hand covered hers. “I’m getting there, sweetheart. If those come down now, I may just embarrass myself.” He brought her hands around his neck. His lips went back to her nipple, his tongue and bottom teeth burning need into every fiber. She arched her stomach into his core and rocked.

  “Damn! You play dirty.”

  Alec rolled them over onto their sides, and his fingers flipped her pants clasp loose, shoving her pants down to her thighs. She wiggled until she could kick them off the bed.

  “You’re not the only one who has thought about us,” she said with a grin.

  Her lips brushed across his right nipple, up his neck, and she took his mouth.

  Emersyn wanted Alec, now, no hesitation. But every time he moved, a soft groan escaped his throat. He wasn’t even aware he was doing it. So how did she make love to him when her every move caused him pain? She broke the kiss. “Your turn. Tell me how not to hurt you.”

  He eased out of her hold and sat on his knees in the center of the bed. She moved into his lap, wrapping both arms around his neck.

  “You’re not hurting me.”

  “You have third-degree burns. Every time you move a muscle, it stretches the skin around the wounds.”

  “Do you want to stop?”

  “No. We always get to this point, and something tears us apart. I’m not going to let that happen again. Nothing comes between us.”

  A hint of a smile touched his lips. “I like that motto.” He leaned in and kissed her neck then made his way across her shoulder. “That didn’t hurt. Your turn.”

  She let out a soft laugh. “You got it easy. I have it hard. You are one huge bruise.” She brought her lips to his forehead, above his right eye. “Here’s a spot,” she said and touched her lips to his skin. She traced a line with her finger over the side of his face and followed the path with her mouth until she reached his lips. The corner of his right lip had a small cut. She lightly ran her tongue over it. The moan that escaped Alec’s throat had nothing to do with pain. She took her time tasting him, allowing their tongues to get to know each other as her hand roamed over his shoulder, her fingers outlining the contour of his muscles. “So far so good?”

  He swallowed. “You’re being too damn careful with me.”

  “Then show me what you need.”

  “Gladly.” He placed both hands on her flanks and rubbed her over his hardness.

  Fire shot into her groin.

  “Is that hurting anywhere, sweet Emersyn?”

  Words clogged her throat so she shook her head.

  “Do you want me?”

  “God, yes.”

  “That sums up how I feel too, sweetheart. I’m not going anywhere. If I have my way, neither will you for some time. How about we stop being so careful with each other? Not our style.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “Nothing comes between us.”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Three months later . . .

  “Didn’t we agree you would wake me up?” Emersyn stepped out onto the patio and leaned her head against Alec’s back, tucking her arms around his waist. His rich, herbal, sexy-as-hell man scent drove a shock of need right through her. “Have I mentioned that you smell crazy good?”

  Everything about Alec, from his quiet moods to the way he broke a kiss when her mom entered a room, thrilled her to the bone. She didn’t even mind that in public he moved in close, his stance tense and ready to defend her. She’d been looking after herself for years, so while it should’ve bugged the crap out of her, she loved it.

  Emersyn scanned her backyard. New leaves graced the trees, and a soft spring breeze tossed her hair into her eyes. Tightening her hold, she whispered, “You know how to get me to open my eyes. At this moment, we could be behind closed doors, a queen bed begging for action.”

  Alec let out a laugh. “We’ve been over this, Em.” He turned around and took her mouth, a soft but demanding kiss. Fast, hard, so damn potent, and completely satisfying. It was always like that with them. Alec had a knack for giving her what she would never ask.

  “That’s not going to happen here. You should have napped at my place.”

  “My ribs don’t cook themselves. They take time and attention.”

  “You were sleeping.”

  “I had everything under control.” She glanced at her watch. “Now there’s no time to play before dinner. That’s on you, Pearce.” She kissed him hard, stepped out of his hold, and moved over to the patio table. “You did a great job with Grandmother Lucy’s dinette set. I can’t believe it’s the same table and chairs.”

  The faded, rusting yellow had been sanded down, and a new bright navy blue covered the wrought iron. Alec had even found flower-shaped placemats that matched her mother’s plasticware. The table setting looked right out of a home furnishing magazine.

  “Father Anthony begging me to get the eyesore out of his rectory was too much to take. He’s a proud man. I thought it only fair to get it off his hands.”

  “Mom’s going to love this. You pretend to be so tough, but you’re all sweet inside.” And she loved this man more every day, with each wall she knocked down.

  He came up behind her, lifted her onto the table edge, and pressed between her legs. “Our secret. Don’t think for an instant I didn’t want to wake you. You were dead to the world. I pulled the ribs from the oven, and they are slowly doing their magic on the grill. I’ll put the Old Bay sausages on as soon as Grace arrives with the potato salad and baked beans.”

  “Our first summer outdoor feast—meat, meat, and more meat.” Emersyn rubbed her palms over her eyes. “Did Mom call? I didn’t hear the phone.”

  “Working until two in the morning and back at the lab at seven does that to you.”

  “I think Steven enjoys seeing me out in the elements, wet, cold, and miserable.” She let out a heavy breath. “Another sniper hit.”

  “Yeah, I need to talk to you about that.” He pulled his phone out of his back pocket
and pulled up a photo. “Did you get a look at the victim?”

  “Steven had me with him taking photos of the nest.”

  “Do you recognize this guy?”

  Emersyn took his phone. Her heart skipped as she eyed the photo of the dead victim lying on a sidewalk, blood pooling from the back of his head. “Who is he?”

  “This is one of the men who came into your hospital room. Nathan carted him off.”

  Recognition hit her hard. “Why did he kill this guy?”

  Alec’s arms held her a little tighter. “I don’t know, Em. This killing would fit our protection theory. This guy had a rap sheet as long as my arm. Maybe the sniper thought he was a threat to you. It definitely opens up a new outlook on the case.”

  “I’d hoped he disappeared back into his hole. How do you keep from feeling like each kill is your fault because you can’t find the bastard?”

  Alec leaned in and kissed her neck. “Don’t do that to yourself, and I’ll promise not to do the same thing. We had three quiet months. Captain said we’re getting someone to help filter through all of Gates’s cases. At one point, we had no information. Now, there’s too much to process.” He met her gaze. “You do remember Logan’s joining us tonight, right?”

  Emersyn jolted back. “Uh, no. Not tonight. That was for—”

  “Tonight, Em. He’s coming for ribs. Is this going to be a problem?”

  She glanced at her watch again. “Tessa will be here any moment.”

  “No, we talked about this. He was coming tonight because Tessa was driving in tomorrow morning.”

  “Oh, damn. We really have to stop talking in bed, Alec. We muddle each other’s brains.”

  “I’ll call Eric and tell him tonight’s not going to work.”

  “No. That’s rude. He’s your friend, and there’s Angela. I can’t piss off my boss by insulting her brother.”

  “Tessa has class, and maybe things between them aren’t as bad as she led us to believe.”

  “This is the narcissistic pain in her butt you promised her you’d beat to a pulp because he has no respect for what she does.” Emersyn paused. “But this might work. Tessa is very reasonable and levelheaded.”