“I know. I know. I don’t suppose you can vouch for him on the day she died?”
Maceo shook his head. “I don’t want to think that he would wish you any harm because of something I did, my darling.”
She leaned into his touch, as he cupped her face in his hand, she grabbed it and kissed his palm. “If Alex does have anything to do with it—and I don’t want to believe he does—then he needs help. Will you please tell me anything, and I mean anything, before you do it? I know that’s lot to ask.”
He leaned over and kissed her. “No, it isn’t, Ori. Of course, I will, of course.”
Her eyes were stinging, and as she closed them, tears dropped down her face. He kissed them away. She was still for a moment, then pulled away, stood, and offered him her hand. Maceo, with a confused smile, took it, and she led him to the bed. She turned to him, her face etched with grief and hopelessness.
“Make the world go away, Maceo.” And she pulled him down onto the bed.
They wentto his hotel suite, and Lisander offered her a drink, but Kate slowly shook her head.
“Let’s not pretend we’re here for idle chitchat,” she said with a slow smile. She put her hands on his chest and stood on her toes to kiss him. Lisander swept his arm under her buttocks and lifted her into his arms, his mouth seeking hers hungrily.
They didn’t make it to the bedroom. Clothes were torn off, and they tumbled to the carpet, licking, kissing, sucking, exploring the other’s body as if in a fever. Kate ran her hands over the hard planes of his chest, his ripped abs, his slim hips. His cock felt enormous in her hands, and when he entered her finally, the feeling was like nothing she’d ever experienced. They moved together in perfect unison. He teased her nipples with his mouth as she ran her fingers up and down his spine.
They came together shuddering and laughing, collapsing together on the floor. Lisander pulled her into his arms, kissing her. “Beautiful Kate, it’s been a long time I’ve waited for you.”
Kate snuggled into his chest. “I missed you. I’m sorry things ended with Nikos, but the moment I met you, Lisander Duarte, I knew you were different. God, that sounds so hokey.”
“Hokey works. I like hokey.” She felt his laugh rumble through his chest. She slid her hand down to the groin and felt his cock already hardening.
“Oh, my, my,” she said, and with a growl, Lisander rolled her onto her back.
“Spread those long, lovely legs, my love,” he said, “and wrap them around my back. I’m going to fuck you all night long … ”
Alex had apologized and apologized, but Ori wanted out of that house. She and Maceo flew back to Italy the next day and never had she felt so relieved to be back home. Their apartment seemed like a stranger, but when they returned to a celebratory gallery, Ori knew she was home. Lucia gave her a hug that seemed to go on forever.
“I’ve missed you so much.”
“Me too, honey, me too. But we’re home now. We’re home.”
“That’s not a good face.” Kate walked out of Lisander’s bathroom wearing nothing but his T-shirt. He looked up from his laptop and smiled wearily. She kissed him. “Good morning.”
He slid his hands around her waist, pulling her to him. “Morning.” He sighed as she hugged him back fiercely.
“You okay, dude?”
She felt him nod. “There’s been another one.”
“The website. Another photo?”
He nodded again. She sighed and pulled him over to the couch.
“Is it Ori or Shiloh?”’ She stroked his face and gave him a rallying smile.
He hesitated, then shook his head. “Let’s not talk about it.”
He let her hold him then, there on his couch, the morning sun casting warmth across the whole room.Like Kate does, he thought. Here, now, in her arms, he felt like he would be happy to never move again. To hell with work, to hell with his civic duty, he just wanted to lie in Kate Garcia’s arms and sleep, eat, make love and laugh. He couldn’t remember when he’d last felt joy before Kate inveigled herself into his life. She made him laugh, and for that moment he would forget everything.
“Sometimes it follows you.”
Kate frowned and made him look at her. “What? What do you mean by that?”
He looked up at her, her dark eyes curious, confused, her caramel hair falling around her face. He wanted to tell her about the connection to Ori, the coinciding dates, his fears about Alex’s preoccupation with Ori.
He sat up and gave her a smile. “Nothing. Don’t worry about it, Kate. What time do you have to be at work?”
