Dead World 1, page 20
“Yes, of course. Let me just get the results of the tests that I ran. I’ll be right back.”
Red watched Jim head toward his office. The second he disappeared inside she began to pace. She glanced around the dissecting lab at the various tables that now sparkled from the cleaning. The bodies were long gone.
She was about to turn back, when she spotted a corner of white tarp sticking out of one of the chilled storage spaces. Red stopped pacing. Jim must’ve missed something, or someone, when he was cleaning up.
She frowned. That was odd. Jim had told her that all bodies must be disposed of quickly in order to recycle the parts. So why was there one in the freezer?
Maybe it wasn’t even a body. Perhaps it was an animal that Jim had brought back to dissect or maybe he’d just left the tarp lying on an empty tray and accidentally closed it in the door.
Curiosity got the better of her. Investigating gave Red’s mind something to do while she waited. She glanced toward the office but saw no sign of Jim.
She listened for footsteps. Nothing. The sound of the air filtration system droned in the background. She glanced at the corner of tarp sticking out of the freezer door once more.
“Screw it.” Red walked across the room to the freezing unit. She looked over her shoulder one last time, then opened the door. There was a body lying under the tarp. Red lifted a corner and looked. The gruesome figure of a woman stared up at her.
Flashes of Lisa Solomon’s shredded body spilled into her mind. The similarities were too close to ignore. Whatever had killed Lisa and Moira Collins had also eaten this woman.
She took a couple of deep breaths, then pulled the tray out to examine the body. The woman had been dead a while—quite a while.
Red was no dissecting lab director, but she’d seen enough death to recognize its stages. This woman clearly pre-dated Moira and Lisa. A chill slithered along her spine as the implications sank in.
Morgan had lied from the very beginning. He knew something was killing women. Had known all along.
Red dropped the tarp and clutched her stomach as pain that rivaled the attack ripped through her. Damn him. She’d trusted him with her life.
Her mouth began to water. Red battled the urge to vomit. Jesse’s battered face flashed before her eyes. Was that why she’d looked so scared when Morgan and Kane entered her room? Did she think that one of them was behind the killings?
Red pulled out the crumpled piece of paper in her pocket and stared at it. Why would Jesse scribble nonsense on the page? She turned the synth-paper on its side and looked again. “Oh god,” she gasped and slapped a hand over her mouth. It looked like an “H.”
Her body shook with impotent rage. She’d come so close to sleeping with Morgan last night. What if he truly was the enemy, the killer she’d been searching for all along?
Footsteps echoed in the hall. Red rushed across the room to stand near the door. Jim was obviously involved in the cover-up. She’d trusted these people and she didn’t trust anyone. This incident drove home her reason why. How could Morgan do this to her?
Jim walked into the room holding synth-documents in his hand. He was so preoccupied with them that he nearly walked into the door. He glanced up at the last second and side-stepped, then stopped in front of her.
His brow furrowed. “Are you okay? You look a little green.”
“I’m fine,” she bit out.
“Did you touch anything at Moira’s crime scene?” he asked absently, flicking through the pages.
The question temporarily deflated Red’s anger. “No, why?”
“I’m sure it’s a mistake in my testing. I’m going to run the shirt again.”
Red brushed the loose strands of her hair away from her face. “What are the results?”
“It’s nothing,” he said.
Red grasped his arm. “Please tell me what you found.”
Jim’s face flushed. “Moira’s DNA is a positive match for the blood on your shirt.”
How had her blood gotten on the shirt? “How’s that possible?”
He fidgeted and his gaze darted around the room, as if he were searching for means of escape. “I’m not sure. Like I said, the tests must be off.”
Red’s stomach dropped to her knees. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath. Jim was lying. She knew it. And it wasn’t just paranoia over discovering the woman’s body.
Had she killed Moira during the night with her bare hands? What if she’d killed the other women too? Was it even possible?
The thoughts beckoned to the hysteria waiting at the edges of her mind. Fear threatened to crush her, but Red knocked it aside, focusing instead on her building anger toward Morgan.
“Let me know what you find, when you check again.”
She rushed past Jim, nearly toppling him. Red had to get to Morgan. She needed to hear an explanation for the lies. If he’d lied about this, what else had he lied about? Had he been lying to her this morning when he pretended to care?
Red took off running. She paid no heed to the dizziness threatening to overwhelm her or the strain she put on her muscles. She needed to know the truth and with all that had transpired in the past few days, she was itching for a fight.
She sprinted to the sheriff’s station, ignoring the startled glances she received as she ran down the sidewalk. More than one person looked behind her to ensure no one was giving chase. Red didn’t care what they thought. The only thing that mattered was finding Morgan.
She mentally kicked herself for kissing him. How could she be so naïve? He’d played her from the start. The mere fact that she’d been attracted to him should’ve been all the warning she needed. Somehow being in Nuria had made her soft.
Well, no longer, the bitch was back. Morgan wouldn’t know what hit him. Red’s lungs heaved as she rounded the block. The sheriff’s office lay ahead. She didn’t break stride as she thundered over the threshold.
“Where is he?” she gasped, pressing her hand against the stitch in her side.
Maggie’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong?” She looked past Red as if she were searching for the hounds of hell.
Red marched forward and threw the door to Morgan’s office open. She strode inside, but he wasn’t there. This was beginning to be a habit with him.
She spun around. “Where is he?”
Maggie backed away from her. “He had to run home for a couple of minutes. He forgot something. Said to tell you he’d be right back.”
“Is my vehicle around back?” she asked. Red was in no mood to wait. Morgan’s house would be a far better place to confront him.
“Yes,” Maggie said. “Do you want to tell me what happened so that I can notify the sheriff?”
“No!” Red strode toward the door. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll fill him in when I get there. All I need from you are directions to his home.”
Maggie gave her what she asked for, then tapped the comlink in her ear. Morgan would know she was on her way in a matter of seconds.
Red didn’t care because he had no idea what she’d found at the dissecting lab and neither did Jim Thornton.
26
The drive took a little longer than she’d remembered. She was so focused on her anger that Red didn’t pay attention to the car trailing in the distance behind her. The second she reached Morgan’s house, Red jumped out of her vehicle and raced inside.
“Hey,” Morgan said, in way of greeting. “Maggie called and said that you were upset. What happened?”
Red punched Morgan in the face twice, catching him off guard. His head snapped back, but he made no effort to stop her attack. “You lying son-of-a-bitch. I can’t believe that I bought into your pile of dung.”
Morgan licked the trickle of blood off his lip. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about the body in the freezer at the dissecting lab,” Red bellowed. “You’ve known all along that women were being murdered. I bet you could hardly contain your laughter. The joke is on IPTT, right?”
Morgan’s cheeks colored.
“What else have you been concealing? How many more bodies are there?”
Morgan’s gaze narrowed. “Calm down.”
“I don’t want to calm down.” Red glanced at the bed and noted the fresh linens and candles nearby, but was too far gone to consider their meaning. “I can’t believe that I almost slept with you.”
Morgan jerked back as if he’d been slapped. “As I recall, you did sleep with me.”
Red growled in frustration. “You know what I mean.”
Morgan walked over and shut the front door. He made a show of locking it, before advancing on her. “Before you got here, I received an interesting call from Jim Thornton. Seems like I’m not the only one keeping secrets.”
Red gaped. She wasn’t keeping secrets. Well, maybe a few, but that was different. She hadn’t remained silent to deceive anyone. “That has nothing to do with this.”
“It could have everything to do with this situation and you know it,” he ground out.
“Are you accusing me of something, sheriff?” Red stepped closer. “If so, you’d better be ready to arrest me.” She held her hands out in front of her with her wrists together in preparation for the energy binds.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Morgan snarled. “I base my findings on facts, not assumptions...unlike some tactical team members I know.”
Red hauled her fist back and swung again. This time Morgan was ready and caught it easily. His amber eyes flared. Whether in warning or in promise, she didn’t know.
“I let you hit me twice. That was enough foreplay.” He flashed her an unholy smile, then pulled her into his body. Morgan’s hard shaft pressed into her stomach. He rolled his hips and it grew even longer.
“Let me go,” she snarled. “I’m not done hitting you yet.”
“Fuck now, fight later,” he growled, then his lips came down on hers.
There was no time to protest. Not that Red could think of anything to say. Her thoughts scattered as he devoured her mouth. There was nothing gentle about this kiss.
Morgan didn’t try to hide his hunger for her. He just continued to take until a matching flame ignited inside of her. Red struggled half-heartedly, but her body was already surrendering.
“Stop fighting me. I don’t want to lose control,” Morgan pleaded, deepening the kiss.
“Never.”
His lips were insistent, demanding her submission. He fed upon her mouth, drinking from her like a man dying of thirst.
“Gina, your heart rate is going up dangerously high,” Rita came out of standby mode and chimed.
The sensations were too much. He was too much. She pulled back determine to stop him, but Morgan leaned forward and nipped her bottom lip, distracting her once more.
“Damn you.” Red hissed at the sting of pleasure-pain, then grabbed his shirt and closed the gap between them.
Red needed to feel his hot skin beneath her fingertips. She blindly searched for the buttons on his shirt. Before she could get it open, his thumbs brushed her nipples, sending heat searing through her body. Red gasped. Morgan swallowed the sound.
His hands seemed to be everywhere at once, scoring her skin while stroking her need. Morgan didn’t give her time to think or breathe as he mounted his assault on her senses. The anger simmering between them only fueled their passion.
Red reached beneath his shirt, feeling the crisp hairs that trailed deliciously into his pants. She followed the velvet path down until he flinched. She smiled against his lips. Apparently, the sheriff was ticklish.
Morgan’s hands snaked out, manacling her wrists before she could stroke him again. “I won’t last long if you touch me right now.” He reached for her navcom and hit the release switch. “You won’t need this. I don’t want Rita telling me what your body’s reactions are. I want to find out for myself.” Morgan dropped the navcom onto a nearby table.
“Gina, I can’t help you, when you remove me,” Rita said.
“It’s okay,” she gasped. “Go to sleep. I’ll check in later.”
Red tried to touch him again, but found herself backed into the wall. Morgan raised her arms over her head. “Stay.” He nipped her shoulder.
Flames devoured her and Red’s body moistened in anticipation. He didn’t make her wait long. Morgan stripped her pants and boots off, then picked her up with one hand.
The man was stronger than he looked. He held her close, while the fingers of his free hand found her swollen flesh and began to circle it, teasing her until Red was fully prepared to beg.
Morgan’s thumb pressed down on the aching bundle of nerves. Red’s head dropped back against the wall and her hips jerked. She cried out as an orgasm tore through her lightning fast.
Her mind was still whirling, when she heard Morgan shuffling clothes. A second later, he lifted her higher and positioned himself at her entrance.
He growled what sounded like “mine” under his breath, then slipped an inch inside her. Red mewed. He was so thick, so hot, and so intoxicatingly hard. Morgan’s hips rocked, and he sank even further. His breathing deepened and sweat dotted his forehead.
“You’re everything I dreamed about and more,” he choked out.
Red knew all he had to do was drop her and she’d be impaled, but he didn’t. Morgan was taking his time, savoring the moment. Her heart pitter-pattered at the thought. Damn him for lying. And damn him for making her care.
Morgan couldn’t think of anything but the warm, wet place he was sinking into. Not her anger, not his deception, nothing but the woman he’d wanted since day one. Gina felt better than any nocturnal musings he could create.
She was so blessedly tight and soft beneath his hands that it took effort not to thrust for all he was worth. Somehow he managed to leash the beast, or at least he’d thought he had until Gina’s inner muscles squeezed him.
Morgan closed his eyes as he rode a wave of desire. She was like a molten fist, encircling his rigid flesh. “If you do that again, I can’t be held responsible.”
She laughed softly. “Do what?” Gina’s body squeezed him again. “This?”
Morgan let out a pained groan. He’d planned to draw their first joining out. He’d intended to worship her body the way she deserved and feast upon the wetness between her thighs, but the evil temptress obviously had other plans.
With one hand, he reached between their bodies and stroked her, taking care to rake the sensitive nerves gently with his nails. Gina bucked against him.
“Like that, do you?” He sure did. Morgan smiled and did it again, then slowly sank into her, burying himself to the hilt. His legs shook with the effort to remain standing. Gina wasn’t heavy, but his blood had been diverted somewhere else. Somewhere infinitely more important at the moment.
Gina moaned as he pulled out, then reversed direction. Morgan strummed her swollen flesh until her nails sank into his arms. She thrashed against him, needing to get away and at the same time trying to get closer. The wolf wasn’t about to let her go.
Morgan thrust hard, driving her back against the wall. Now that he had her, there was no escape. He rode her without mercy, guiding her body unerringly toward the precipice.
With a flick of his wrist, he pushed her over the edge. Gina came apart in his arms. Her body fluttered frantically as she tumbled toward oblivion.
His beast surged to the forefront and Morgan lost all sense of his surroundings. Like a man possessed, he plundered her, taking everything Gina offered and demanding more.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and hung on, as their flesh slapped together. Her body gripped him, pulling him deeper. Morgan kissed his way over her cheek, then nibbled on her ear. The salt of her skin teased his tongue, while her lush, rich scent spurred him on.
She grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head closer, while her other hand clutched his ass. Her sharp nails left tiny darts of pleasure imbedded in Morgan’s fevered skin.
The move inflamed his beast and it demanded he take the ultimate step. The one that would bind both their lives together forever.
Morgan jerked his head back and carried her to the bed. He pulled Gina onto her knees, leaving her open for his penetration. He could make love to her for hours. She made him insatiable. And he liked it. Liked it so much that Morgan never wanted it to end.
He kissed his way down her back. She was healing fast. The bruises from the attack were barely visible. Morgan continued his carnal exploration, pausing to nip the globes of her bottom before nudging her legs wider.
A musky, feminine fragrance engulfed him as he dipped his head between her thighs and pressed his tongue into her wetness. She shuddered. He loved making her do that.
Morgan swallowed to keep from drooling. So far he had found five different places on her body that produced quivers. He was determined to find more.
He dipped his tongue in again. Her spicy taste exploded in his mouth. Morgan lapped at her entrance until she dripped in readiness. He didn’t realize he was growling until Gina started to giggle.
“You enjoying yourself back there?” She glanced over her shoulder.
He grinned. “More than you’ll ever know.” A swipe of his tongue followed the question. This time he plunged in, exploring her depths more thoroughly.
Gina’s knees shook, threatening to give out.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” He hoisted her up. “I haven’t nearly gotten my fill yet. You taste incredible. I could feast on you for days.” He cocked his head. “Hmm, that doesn’t sound like a half-bad idea.”
Gina’s eyes narrowed. “We still have to talk,” she reminded him. “I haven’t forgotten.”
“I mustn’t be doing my job very well if you’re still able to form coherent thoughts. I’ll have to try harder.” Morgan nibbled the backs of her thighs until he reached her knees.
Gina flinched. “I had no idea that biting could be so erotic,” she said as he reversed direction.
“Oh, darlin’, you have no idea.” Morgan positioned his shaft at her ripe entrance. His lips trailed along her throat, kissing, licking, and exploring her. His mouth lingered over the crook of her neck.
Red watched Jim head toward his office. The second he disappeared inside she began to pace. She glanced around the dissecting lab at the various tables that now sparkled from the cleaning. The bodies were long gone.
She was about to turn back, when she spotted a corner of white tarp sticking out of one of the chilled storage spaces. Red stopped pacing. Jim must’ve missed something, or someone, when he was cleaning up.
She frowned. That was odd. Jim had told her that all bodies must be disposed of quickly in order to recycle the parts. So why was there one in the freezer?
Maybe it wasn’t even a body. Perhaps it was an animal that Jim had brought back to dissect or maybe he’d just left the tarp lying on an empty tray and accidentally closed it in the door.
Curiosity got the better of her. Investigating gave Red’s mind something to do while she waited. She glanced toward the office but saw no sign of Jim.
She listened for footsteps. Nothing. The sound of the air filtration system droned in the background. She glanced at the corner of tarp sticking out of the freezer door once more.
“Screw it.” Red walked across the room to the freezing unit. She looked over her shoulder one last time, then opened the door. There was a body lying under the tarp. Red lifted a corner and looked. The gruesome figure of a woman stared up at her.
Flashes of Lisa Solomon’s shredded body spilled into her mind. The similarities were too close to ignore. Whatever had killed Lisa and Moira Collins had also eaten this woman.
She took a couple of deep breaths, then pulled the tray out to examine the body. The woman had been dead a while—quite a while.
Red was no dissecting lab director, but she’d seen enough death to recognize its stages. This woman clearly pre-dated Moira and Lisa. A chill slithered along her spine as the implications sank in.
Morgan had lied from the very beginning. He knew something was killing women. Had known all along.
Red dropped the tarp and clutched her stomach as pain that rivaled the attack ripped through her. Damn him. She’d trusted him with her life.
Her mouth began to water. Red battled the urge to vomit. Jesse’s battered face flashed before her eyes. Was that why she’d looked so scared when Morgan and Kane entered her room? Did she think that one of them was behind the killings?
Red pulled out the crumpled piece of paper in her pocket and stared at it. Why would Jesse scribble nonsense on the page? She turned the synth-paper on its side and looked again. “Oh god,” she gasped and slapped a hand over her mouth. It looked like an “H.”
Her body shook with impotent rage. She’d come so close to sleeping with Morgan last night. What if he truly was the enemy, the killer she’d been searching for all along?
Footsteps echoed in the hall. Red rushed across the room to stand near the door. Jim was obviously involved in the cover-up. She’d trusted these people and she didn’t trust anyone. This incident drove home her reason why. How could Morgan do this to her?
Jim walked into the room holding synth-documents in his hand. He was so preoccupied with them that he nearly walked into the door. He glanced up at the last second and side-stepped, then stopped in front of her.
His brow furrowed. “Are you okay? You look a little green.”
“I’m fine,” she bit out.
“Did you touch anything at Moira’s crime scene?” he asked absently, flicking through the pages.
The question temporarily deflated Red’s anger. “No, why?”
“I’m sure it’s a mistake in my testing. I’m going to run the shirt again.”
Red brushed the loose strands of her hair away from her face. “What are the results?”
“It’s nothing,” he said.
Red grasped his arm. “Please tell me what you found.”
Jim’s face flushed. “Moira’s DNA is a positive match for the blood on your shirt.”
How had her blood gotten on the shirt? “How’s that possible?”
He fidgeted and his gaze darted around the room, as if he were searching for means of escape. “I’m not sure. Like I said, the tests must be off.”
Red’s stomach dropped to her knees. She couldn’t seem to catch her breath. Jim was lying. She knew it. And it wasn’t just paranoia over discovering the woman’s body.
Had she killed Moira during the night with her bare hands? What if she’d killed the other women too? Was it even possible?
The thoughts beckoned to the hysteria waiting at the edges of her mind. Fear threatened to crush her, but Red knocked it aside, focusing instead on her building anger toward Morgan.
“Let me know what you find, when you check again.”
She rushed past Jim, nearly toppling him. Red had to get to Morgan. She needed to hear an explanation for the lies. If he’d lied about this, what else had he lied about? Had he been lying to her this morning when he pretended to care?
Red took off running. She paid no heed to the dizziness threatening to overwhelm her or the strain she put on her muscles. She needed to know the truth and with all that had transpired in the past few days, she was itching for a fight.
She sprinted to the sheriff’s station, ignoring the startled glances she received as she ran down the sidewalk. More than one person looked behind her to ensure no one was giving chase. Red didn’t care what they thought. The only thing that mattered was finding Morgan.
She mentally kicked herself for kissing him. How could she be so naïve? He’d played her from the start. The mere fact that she’d been attracted to him should’ve been all the warning she needed. Somehow being in Nuria had made her soft.
Well, no longer, the bitch was back. Morgan wouldn’t know what hit him. Red’s lungs heaved as she rounded the block. The sheriff’s office lay ahead. She didn’t break stride as she thundered over the threshold.
“Where is he?” she gasped, pressing her hand against the stitch in her side.
Maggie’s eyes widened. “What’s wrong?” She looked past Red as if she were searching for the hounds of hell.
Red marched forward and threw the door to Morgan’s office open. She strode inside, but he wasn’t there. This was beginning to be a habit with him.
She spun around. “Where is he?”
Maggie backed away from her. “He had to run home for a couple of minutes. He forgot something. Said to tell you he’d be right back.”
“Is my vehicle around back?” she asked. Red was in no mood to wait. Morgan’s house would be a far better place to confront him.
“Yes,” Maggie said. “Do you want to tell me what happened so that I can notify the sheriff?”
“No!” Red strode toward the door. “That won’t be necessary. I’ll fill him in when I get there. All I need from you are directions to his home.”
Maggie gave her what she asked for, then tapped the comlink in her ear. Morgan would know she was on her way in a matter of seconds.
Red didn’t care because he had no idea what she’d found at the dissecting lab and neither did Jim Thornton.
26
The drive took a little longer than she’d remembered. She was so focused on her anger that Red didn’t pay attention to the car trailing in the distance behind her. The second she reached Morgan’s house, Red jumped out of her vehicle and raced inside.
“Hey,” Morgan said, in way of greeting. “Maggie called and said that you were upset. What happened?”
Red punched Morgan in the face twice, catching him off guard. His head snapped back, but he made no effort to stop her attack. “You lying son-of-a-bitch. I can’t believe that I bought into your pile of dung.”
Morgan licked the trickle of blood off his lip. “What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about the body in the freezer at the dissecting lab,” Red bellowed. “You’ve known all along that women were being murdered. I bet you could hardly contain your laughter. The joke is on IPTT, right?”
Morgan’s cheeks colored.
“What else have you been concealing? How many more bodies are there?”
Morgan’s gaze narrowed. “Calm down.”
“I don’t want to calm down.” Red glanced at the bed and noted the fresh linens and candles nearby, but was too far gone to consider their meaning. “I can’t believe that I almost slept with you.”
Morgan jerked back as if he’d been slapped. “As I recall, you did sleep with me.”
Red growled in frustration. “You know what I mean.”
Morgan walked over and shut the front door. He made a show of locking it, before advancing on her. “Before you got here, I received an interesting call from Jim Thornton. Seems like I’m not the only one keeping secrets.”
Red gaped. She wasn’t keeping secrets. Well, maybe a few, but that was different. She hadn’t remained silent to deceive anyone. “That has nothing to do with this.”
“It could have everything to do with this situation and you know it,” he ground out.
“Are you accusing me of something, sheriff?” Red stepped closer. “If so, you’d better be ready to arrest me.” She held her hands out in front of her with her wrists together in preparation for the energy binds.
“Don’t be ridiculous.” Morgan snarled. “I base my findings on facts, not assumptions...unlike some tactical team members I know.”
Red hauled her fist back and swung again. This time Morgan was ready and caught it easily. His amber eyes flared. Whether in warning or in promise, she didn’t know.
“I let you hit me twice. That was enough foreplay.” He flashed her an unholy smile, then pulled her into his body. Morgan’s hard shaft pressed into her stomach. He rolled his hips and it grew even longer.
“Let me go,” she snarled. “I’m not done hitting you yet.”
“Fuck now, fight later,” he growled, then his lips came down on hers.
There was no time to protest. Not that Red could think of anything to say. Her thoughts scattered as he devoured her mouth. There was nothing gentle about this kiss.
Morgan didn’t try to hide his hunger for her. He just continued to take until a matching flame ignited inside of her. Red struggled half-heartedly, but her body was already surrendering.
“Stop fighting me. I don’t want to lose control,” Morgan pleaded, deepening the kiss.
“Never.”
His lips were insistent, demanding her submission. He fed upon her mouth, drinking from her like a man dying of thirst.
“Gina, your heart rate is going up dangerously high,” Rita came out of standby mode and chimed.
The sensations were too much. He was too much. She pulled back determine to stop him, but Morgan leaned forward and nipped her bottom lip, distracting her once more.
“Damn you.” Red hissed at the sting of pleasure-pain, then grabbed his shirt and closed the gap between them.
Red needed to feel his hot skin beneath her fingertips. She blindly searched for the buttons on his shirt. Before she could get it open, his thumbs brushed her nipples, sending heat searing through her body. Red gasped. Morgan swallowed the sound.
His hands seemed to be everywhere at once, scoring her skin while stroking her need. Morgan didn’t give her time to think or breathe as he mounted his assault on her senses. The anger simmering between them only fueled their passion.
Red reached beneath his shirt, feeling the crisp hairs that trailed deliciously into his pants. She followed the velvet path down until he flinched. She smiled against his lips. Apparently, the sheriff was ticklish.
Morgan’s hands snaked out, manacling her wrists before she could stroke him again. “I won’t last long if you touch me right now.” He reached for her navcom and hit the release switch. “You won’t need this. I don’t want Rita telling me what your body’s reactions are. I want to find out for myself.” Morgan dropped the navcom onto a nearby table.
“Gina, I can’t help you, when you remove me,” Rita said.
“It’s okay,” she gasped. “Go to sleep. I’ll check in later.”
Red tried to touch him again, but found herself backed into the wall. Morgan raised her arms over her head. “Stay.” He nipped her shoulder.
Flames devoured her and Red’s body moistened in anticipation. He didn’t make her wait long. Morgan stripped her pants and boots off, then picked her up with one hand.
The man was stronger than he looked. He held her close, while the fingers of his free hand found her swollen flesh and began to circle it, teasing her until Red was fully prepared to beg.
Morgan’s thumb pressed down on the aching bundle of nerves. Red’s head dropped back against the wall and her hips jerked. She cried out as an orgasm tore through her lightning fast.
Her mind was still whirling, when she heard Morgan shuffling clothes. A second later, he lifted her higher and positioned himself at her entrance.
He growled what sounded like “mine” under his breath, then slipped an inch inside her. Red mewed. He was so thick, so hot, and so intoxicatingly hard. Morgan’s hips rocked, and he sank even further. His breathing deepened and sweat dotted his forehead.
“You’re everything I dreamed about and more,” he choked out.
Red knew all he had to do was drop her and she’d be impaled, but he didn’t. Morgan was taking his time, savoring the moment. Her heart pitter-pattered at the thought. Damn him for lying. And damn him for making her care.
Morgan couldn’t think of anything but the warm, wet place he was sinking into. Not her anger, not his deception, nothing but the woman he’d wanted since day one. Gina felt better than any nocturnal musings he could create.
She was so blessedly tight and soft beneath his hands that it took effort not to thrust for all he was worth. Somehow he managed to leash the beast, or at least he’d thought he had until Gina’s inner muscles squeezed him.
Morgan closed his eyes as he rode a wave of desire. She was like a molten fist, encircling his rigid flesh. “If you do that again, I can’t be held responsible.”
She laughed softly. “Do what?” Gina’s body squeezed him again. “This?”
Morgan let out a pained groan. He’d planned to draw their first joining out. He’d intended to worship her body the way she deserved and feast upon the wetness between her thighs, but the evil temptress obviously had other plans.
With one hand, he reached between their bodies and stroked her, taking care to rake the sensitive nerves gently with his nails. Gina bucked against him.
“Like that, do you?” He sure did. Morgan smiled and did it again, then slowly sank into her, burying himself to the hilt. His legs shook with the effort to remain standing. Gina wasn’t heavy, but his blood had been diverted somewhere else. Somewhere infinitely more important at the moment.
Gina moaned as he pulled out, then reversed direction. Morgan strummed her swollen flesh until her nails sank into his arms. She thrashed against him, needing to get away and at the same time trying to get closer. The wolf wasn’t about to let her go.
Morgan thrust hard, driving her back against the wall. Now that he had her, there was no escape. He rode her without mercy, guiding her body unerringly toward the precipice.
With a flick of his wrist, he pushed her over the edge. Gina came apart in his arms. Her body fluttered frantically as she tumbled toward oblivion.
His beast surged to the forefront and Morgan lost all sense of his surroundings. Like a man possessed, he plundered her, taking everything Gina offered and demanding more.
She wrapped her legs around his waist and hung on, as their flesh slapped together. Her body gripped him, pulling him deeper. Morgan kissed his way over her cheek, then nibbled on her ear. The salt of her skin teased his tongue, while her lush, rich scent spurred him on.
She grabbed him by the hair and pulled his head closer, while her other hand clutched his ass. Her sharp nails left tiny darts of pleasure imbedded in Morgan’s fevered skin.
The move inflamed his beast and it demanded he take the ultimate step. The one that would bind both their lives together forever.
Morgan jerked his head back and carried her to the bed. He pulled Gina onto her knees, leaving her open for his penetration. He could make love to her for hours. She made him insatiable. And he liked it. Liked it so much that Morgan never wanted it to end.
He kissed his way down her back. She was healing fast. The bruises from the attack were barely visible. Morgan continued his carnal exploration, pausing to nip the globes of her bottom before nudging her legs wider.
A musky, feminine fragrance engulfed him as he dipped his head between her thighs and pressed his tongue into her wetness. She shuddered. He loved making her do that.
Morgan swallowed to keep from drooling. So far he had found five different places on her body that produced quivers. He was determined to find more.
He dipped his tongue in again. Her spicy taste exploded in his mouth. Morgan lapped at her entrance until she dripped in readiness. He didn’t realize he was growling until Gina started to giggle.
“You enjoying yourself back there?” She glanced over her shoulder.
He grinned. “More than you’ll ever know.” A swipe of his tongue followed the question. This time he plunged in, exploring her depths more thoroughly.
Gina’s knees shook, threatening to give out.
“Oh, no, you don’t.” He hoisted her up. “I haven’t nearly gotten my fill yet. You taste incredible. I could feast on you for days.” He cocked his head. “Hmm, that doesn’t sound like a half-bad idea.”
Gina’s eyes narrowed. “We still have to talk,” she reminded him. “I haven’t forgotten.”
“I mustn’t be doing my job very well if you’re still able to form coherent thoughts. I’ll have to try harder.” Morgan nibbled the backs of her thighs until he reached her knees.
Gina flinched. “I had no idea that biting could be so erotic,” she said as he reversed direction.
“Oh, darlin’, you have no idea.” Morgan positioned his shaft at her ripe entrance. His lips trailed along her throat, kissing, licking, and exploring her. His mouth lingered over the crook of her neck.
