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  She turned away from him and headed in the direction of the kitchen and he swallowed a sigh of relief, but the view from behind was just as tantalizing and his relief was short-lived. The soft pajama pants outlined the sweet curve of her butt and it was all he could do not to reach for her. The hot pizza box in his hand reminded him there were other things to attend to and he resigned himself to having a hard-on for the duration of the meal.

  Chanel chatted amiably while she went about gathering plates and napkins from the cupboard and he could only assume she was oblivious to his predicament. A small wooden table was wedged against one wall of the modest kitchen and a chair at either end provided enough room for two. She placed the crockery and napkins on the table and then urged him to sit.

  Bryce set the pizza box down and opened the lid. The delicious aroma of freshly baked pizza made his mouth water and for the moment, he was happy to concentrate on satisfying a different kind of hunger.

  They ate in silence amidst soft groans of appreciation. Chanel chewed on a long piece of stringy cheese, working away at it with her lips and her tongue until she finally captured it in her mouth. Her lips glistened and Bryce couldn’t drag his gaze away. She blushed and with a self-conscious swipe of her tongue, removed most of the sheen. Need surged through him, hot and fast and heavy.

  His cock hardened almost painfully. Without thinking, he pushed away from the table and stood. He closed the small distance between them and pulled Chanel up from her seat. She stared at him, her eyes a deep cobalt, tumultuous as the ocean on a dark and stormy night.

  He bent his head and grazed her lips with his, tasting the spicy warmth of the pizza on her tongue. He kissed her again, more urgently this time and was gratified by her response. She moaned quietly and pressed against him. Her arms crept up around his neck.

  “Wait,” she gasped and hurriedly wiped her greasy hands on a napkin. “I don’t want to stain your jacket. It looks like it cost a bomb.”

  “I don’t give a damn about the jacket,” he muttered, kissing her again. “All I want is you.”

  “I want you, too,” she whispered and smiled up at him.

  His breath caught at the invitation in her eyes and another thrill of desire coursed through him. With his hand against her back, he pressed her to him, needing to feel her close. She moved until there was nothing between them but their clothes.

  He kissed her face, her lips, her eyes. He nuzzled in the sensitive spot behind her ears. She moaned deep in her throat and a surge of masculine pride rushed through him. His cock felt near to bursting and his breath came hard and fast.

  She was equally affected. Her face was flushed and her eyes glittered like she was in the throes of a fever. He picked her up and carried her into the living room and put her down on the sofa.

  “Wait, what about Tanya? What if she walks in?”

  “She’s staying with her father tonight.”

  Chanel frowned. “You’re sure?”

  “I’m sure.”

  At that, she relaxed against the cushions and reached for him. He gladly joined her on the couch. They sank into the soft leather and groaned their mutual need. Chanel tugged at his tie, got it loose and tossed it to the floor. She went to work on the buttons of his shirt and it went the way of his tie. A moment later, he felt her hands at his belt.

  “Hang on a sec, why don’t we get the condom now? That way we won’t have to stop again.”

  She growled her discontent, but nodded and climbed off the couch and left the room. She returned shortly afterwards with a fistful. He raised an eyebrow in silent query and she smiled.

  “Who knows? It might be a long night. A girl can remain hopeful, can’t she?”

  He grinned and swatted her on the ass. “Cheeky woman. Now, get over here and finish what you started.”

  She pushed him down on the couch until he was lying on his back, but instead of following him, she knelt beside him on the carpet. Her fingers worked the buckle of his belt and slid it out of the loops of his pants. The button popped open and down went his zipper. She reached inside his underwear and caressed him. He growled in satisfaction.

  She took hold of the waist band of his suit pants. “Lift your hips.”

  He did as she ordered and she slid his pants and underwear down. He kicked at them, until they disappeared and sighed when she tightened her hold on his cock. Once again, she stroked him, her fingers soft and cool on his heated skin. When she bent her head and took him in her mouth, he couldn’t hold back a gasp.

  “Oh, that feels so good. Keeping doing that.”

  She ran her tongue up and down his shaft and swiped it across his slick head. She dipped it into the slit that was oh so sensitive and brought forth another groan of need. He tangled his fingers in her hair and held her head in place and prayed for it to never end. She continued to suck him hard until he was almost ready to explode.

  “I’m going to come if you keep that up any longer…”

  She lifted her head for a few seconds and stared at him, her eyes dark with desire. “So, come,” she murmured and then returned to her unbearable torture.

  Once again, she took all of him in her mouth, deeper than he’d ever been. She sucked and stroked and tightened her hand in a rhythm that increased in pace. Having her permission to find his release, he bucked hard against her mouth. His fingers tightened in her hair until it was probably hurting, though she didn’t protest.

  “Oh, God, oh, babe. I’m gonna come.”

  With her hand still pumping his shaft, she released him from her mouth. Hot fluid spurted out and landed on his stomach. He groaned and reached down to cover her hand with his and make the most of the final moments of his climax. With a deep sigh of satisfaction, he closed his eyes for a moment and relaxed against the cushions.

  “Now, it’s my turn.”

  He opened his eyes and smiled. “You bet.”

  * * *

  The words fell out of Chanel’s mouth and she couldn’t believe she’d said them. When had she become so bold? She was hardly experienced in the bedroom. And yet, with Bryce, the passion seemed to come so naturally. She wanted to know every intimate part of him. She wanted to please him. She’d made him come with her hands and her mouth and the knowledge filled her with a glow of satisfaction. She’d only given oral sex a few times in her life and had basically relied on instinct. She couldn’t help but feel pleased with the result.

  Bryce sat up and reached out and cupped her cheek in his palm. His skin was slightly rough against the softness of hers. She leaned into his hand and he stroked a thumb across her lips.

  “You’re so damn beautiful. How did I get so lucky?”

  She pressed a kiss against his palm in answer and he growled low in his throat.

  “Lie down,” he commanded softly.

  Desire surged through her at the determination in his eyes and with it a rush of heightened excitement. She wiggled down on the other end of the couch. Bryce leaned forward and slipped his hands beneath her T-shirt. His fingers splayed across her stomach and then stroked up and around the sides. He reached her breasts, bare beneath her shirt, and skimmed over her nipples. They hardened under his touch.

  “Do you like it when I touch you?” he asked, his voice husky.

  “Yes,” she whispered and fought back a blush.

  “Good, because I’m going to do a whole lot more of it.”

  Her insides quivered at the promise in his eyes and heat tingled deep in her core. He bunched up her T-shirt and then lifted it over her head, baring her breasts to his gaze. A moment later, his lips found them and his tongue stroked across her hardened nipples. Over and over and over again, he caressed her, until she was mindless with need.

  While he laved one, his other hand squeezed and shaped her other breast and playfully pinched her sensitive nipple. Then his mouth fused itself to her breast and sucked greedily. She twisted and writhed beneath him and was surprised to feel his cock pressing hard and needy against her thigh. She melted at
the thought of him once again deep inside her.

  While he switched his focus to her other breast, his free hand stole under the waistband of her pajamas. It moved lower and lower still until his fingers slid in and out of her folds. She was slick and burning for his attention and squirmed beneath his palm. When two of his fingers slid inside her, she gasped with relief.

  “Do you want me?” he rasped and worked his fingers in and out.

  “Yes.”

  “How much?”

  “I’m going to explode from the inside out if you don’t take me.”

  “Do you want me to fuck you?”

  His crudity sent another wave of white-hot desire rushing through her. She surged against his fingers.

  “Yes.”

  “Good. But it will have to wait. I have other things to attend to.”

  He withdrew his fingers and she groaned aloud from disappointment. “Bryce, please…”

  He kissed her hard on the mouth to quieten her. “Be patient. It’ll be worth it. You’ll see.”

  With that, he stripped off her pajama bottoms and positioned himself between her legs. He bent her knees and spread her thighs wide and then licked her soft, slick folds. She gripped the sides of the couch, too surprised to utter a sound. The feel of him on her sensitive flesh—his mouth, his lips, his tongue. It was like nothing she’d ever felt before. His fingers returned to where they’d been and stroked her in a strong, sure rhythm. Once again, need built up inside her.

  She squirmed and moved against his hand. His tongue was relentless. She clutched at his head, not sure if she wanted to hold him in place or tear him right away. Just when she didn’t think she could bear the torment a moment longer, he pulled his fingers from inside her and eased one into her ass.

  She gasped with shock at the alien feel of it. “Bryce!”

  He lifted his head and looked at her. “Do you like it?”

  “I…I don’t know. I think so. No one’s ever done that to me before.”

  His expression filled with satisfaction. “Good. I’m glad I’m the first. Relax. Trust me, you’re going to enjoy it.”

  She wasn’t too sure about his reassurances, but was soon distracted when he buried his face back between her legs. His tongue kept up the rhythm of his finger and she was soon once again, mindless with desire. Her body was tense. She was hot all over. He increased the pressure of his tongue and his finger moved in and out faster.

  “Oh, Bryce! I’m going to come. Oh, God, please…”

  “Go with it, babe. Let yourself come. You’ve earned it.”

  His words tipped her over the edge and she cried out in exquisite relief. Her muscles clenched around his finger.

  A few moments later, he moved up and joined her on the couch. His cock protruded, thick and hard and nudged at her slick entrance. She didn’t think she could bear any more, but when he sheathed himself and plunged straight into her on a single, long swift stroke, she sighed with satisfaction.

  “Oh, God. You’re so wet. You feel so good. I’m gonna come again,” he murmured.

  She clung to him and rode the waves of his pleasure. It was a long moment before their breathing returned to normal.

  “That was amazing,” she said softly.

  “You were amazing.” He smiled and reached over to tenderly brush a loose strand of hair off her face.

  She blushed and looked away. “Thank you.”

  “How about we move to the bedroom? I’m just about spent.”

  She quirked an eyebrow and grinned. “Only just about? I’ll have to try harder next time.”

  He stood and pulled her up with him and swatted her butt again. “Cheeky girl. I might need to teach you a lesson.”

  She pulled an innocent face. “Who me?”

  He laughed and pulled her close to his side and together, they left the room.

  CHAPTER TWENTY

  Bryce’s phone rang in the middle of a police briefing about the listening device which was to be worn by Tanya Singh. He glanced at the Caller ID and noticed it was Chanel. His heart tripped over. Ever since he’d left her bed earlier that morning, he hadn’t been able to stop thinking about her. He couldn’t wait to see her again.

  But it wouldn’t be happening today. Tanya Singh would be making contact with Doctor Baker that afternoon and all members of the task force were needed. He’d also spoken with his grandmother. She’d told him she was going to be discharged later in the day. He needed to be there to collect her. It was going to be a busy one all round. Letting Chanel’s call go through to voicemail, he swallowed his disappointment and switched his phone to silent.

  He looked around at his boss and the other members of the task force. Everything had been put in place. The tech guys were standing by. All they needed was for Tanya to arrive and get kitted up with the wire.

  “Has anyone prepared a script for the witness?” Holt asked.

  “I have,” Bryce replied and slid a copy across the desk to his boss.

  “Good. Make sure you go over it with her as much as you can. The more familiar she is with it, the more likely she’ll stay on track.”

  “No problem. I asked her to be at the station by midday. She should be here any minute.”

  “Good. Is that all?” Holt looked at the officers gathered around the table of the major incident room and was met with a series of nods.

  “I think so, boss,” Bryce replied. “Let’s hope we get what we need.”

  “You think Baker’s the killer?”

  “I’m not sure, but he knows something about it. He gave the bottle containing ricin to his lover to hide in Chanel Munro’s apartment. Ricin was never mentioned in the press releases. It can’t be a coincidence that he had it. I’m hoping he’ll let something slip about who or where he got it from.”

  “Were there any prints on the bottle?”

  Bryce shook his head. “I heard back from the lab this morning. The only prints on it were Singh’s.”

  “So he wiped it clean before he gave it to her. Not exactly the actions of an innocent man,” Holt said dryly.

  Another surge of unease filled Bryce’s gut. His grandmother was still a patient under Doctor Baker’s care. If there was a real possibility the doctor was the killer… He pushed the thought aside. She was being discharged later that afternoon. Her ulcer had improved enough that she could come home. She’d been treated just fine by everyone at the hospital. He was being paranoid thinking anything different. It came with the job.

  “What about the voice analysis? Do we have anything back on that, yet?”

  Holt’s question interrupted Bryce’s troubled thoughts. “No, sir. The same old story. ‘They have a backlog. They’ll get to it as soon as they can. They’ll call us when they have the results. It could be another day or two.’ You know how it goes.”

  “All right, if there’s nothing else, you can go and find something to eat and prepare for this afternoon. Bryce, I want you to stay with the techies while they hook up Doctor Singh. She’ll be nervous and you can calm her down. Besides, you need to go over the script with her, make sure she understands.”

  “No problem, boss.”

  “Keep me in the loop, Bryce. I want to know how it all goes down.”

  “Of course. Jett and I will be in the tech van outside the hospital. We’ll hear everything that’s said.”

  Holt nodded and strode out of the room, behind the other departing officers. Bryce glanced at his watch and sighed. It was ten after midday. Tanya was late.

  * * *

  Chanel called Bryce’s phone a second time and listened while it dialed out. Once again, it went to voice mail. This time, feeling deflated, she left a message.

  “Hi, Bryce. It’s me…Chanel. I…I just wanted to tell you I’ve had a call from the general manager. They’re reinstating me at the hospital. I’m allowed to return to work this afternoon. I…I just wanted to tell you. I’m so excited to be going back.” She cleared her throat. “Anyway, I’d better get going. Maybe I’ll
see you later tonight?”

  She ended the call and tossed her phone down on the bed, still rumpled from the night before. She thought of how they’d rolled around in the sheets twice more before they’d fallen asleep. She couldn’t believe his stamina. And hers, too, for that matter.

  She sat on the bed and her thigh muscles protested. They hadn’t been worked out like that in a very long time. In fact, they’d never been worked out that much, not even when she attended the gym. Not that she was complaining. Sex with Bryce was out of this world. He was an attentive and imaginative lover and she was more than happy to succumb to his will and apply her own…

  He’d told her about his parents and how they’d been killed when he was eight. He also spoke in more detail about the simple service conducted on behalf of his wife. She was at peace now and he felt he could finally move on with his life. He’d stared at her as he’d said it, his gaze intent.

  She wanted to believe he meant he saw a future for the two of them, but it was all too new, his wife’s death too soon for her to be voicing such hope. Still, Bryce didn’t seem like the “love ’em and leave ’em” kind of guy. He’d remained faithful to his wife. That told her a lot about his character and she was confident they’d work something out.

  She hoped so, anyway, because she was falling for him fast. It might have taken her twenty-seven years to find him, but now that she had, she wanted to hold on to him tight. Her family would love him, once they’d gotten over the fact that he’d had her arrested and thrown into jail. Tom and Clayton and Brandon might take a little more convincing that he was a great guy, but she was sure she could bring them around.

  The thought of having a boyfriend left her giddy with excitement. For too many years, she’d done nothing but work and study and do whatever it took to get ahead. It hadn’t been until she’d met Bryce that she realized sometimes her devotion to her career didn’t count for as much as she hoped.

  With nearly a quarter of the program already over, it wouldn’t be long before she started the next part of her life. Even without Doctor Baker’s direct recommendation, she hoped to be able to apply for her dream job.