resist the explosion of his release as he continued to thrust through it. And only when the warmth oozed along his cock did he realize his mistake.
He hadnât worn a condom.
âJesus Christ,â he croaked. âAnna.â
âMmm?â She kissed his neck.
âI didnât use protection. Iâm so sorry.â Shame engulfed him as she froze, drew back, and stared into his eyes.
âIâI didnât think of it, either.â She swallowed hard. âYouâre clean, right?â
âYes! Iâm totally healthy. You?â
âYes. I have papers to prove it.â
âMe too. But I trust you.â That was true, he realized. In every respect.
Too bad he had to finish his investigation.
âI trust you, too,â Anna said quietly.
You shouldnât, about some things.
But he couldnât confess. Not yet. Taking her in his arms, he carried her to his bed. Snuggled her against his chest, his heart brimming with his love for her. âComfortable?â he asked as he settled her with her head resting on his shoulder.
âVery. You make a good pillow.â
He loved her warmth against his side. She felt so right there, he never wanted her to leave. âI aim to please.â
âThat you do.â She toyed with the light sprinkling of his chest hair, gave him a kiss above his nipple. âThank you for everything these past few days. I donât remember when Iâve had so much fun with someone I care about. And Sterling is such a doll, I canât imagine what I ever did without him.â
âHeâs a cutie,â he said with a smile, thinking about the kitten. And her ecstatic reaction to the ball of fluff. âIâm glad you like him.â
âI adore him. Iâm kind of crazy about the man who gave him to me, too.â
âSame here,â he said quietly. âIâm crazy about his owner.â
âOh! I should get home.â Her voice was worried. âHeâs been alone too long, the poor baby.â
âWhy donât I go get him, bring him here for tonight? Then you can stay here all warm and cozy.â
âAnd naked.â
âThat, too.â
âOkay, if itâs not too much trouble.â
âNot at all. Iâll just need your key.â
She yawned. âIn my purse, side pocket.â
That had almost been too easy. She trusted him with the key to her place, to go in alone. A guilty woman would never have offered him or anyone unrestricted access to her home. More proof of what he already knew, but he had to follow the case to the conclusion.
Please, let us survive whatâs to come.
4
Annaâs mother arrived Friday, a force of nature all on her own.
Refusing Annaâs offer to pick her up at the airport, sheâd hailed a cab. Anna let her mother in and was immediately wrapped in a strong hug.
âIâve missed you, baby! Let me look at you!â Pulling back, she studied her daughter critically. âHave you lost weight, Anna Marie? Are you eating?â
She couldnât help but laugh. âI own a five-star restaurant. Of course Iâm eating. But I have to watch it or Iâd be as big as a house.â
âHmph. More meat on the bones is always healthier, my grandmother always said.â
âThatâs not what you told me before, when you were always on me about my figure.â
âWhen you were
twelve
, honey. I donât think I harped more than any other parent does at a preteen who snacks too much.â
Her mother was right. âWell, your lectures paid off. Iâll be sure to eat plenty of good things tonight. Here, let me put your suitcase in the guest room.â
Taking the handle, she rolled the luggage down the hall and put it in the room across from her own. When she returned, her mother was running her hand over the sofa, the tables. Anna expected her to make a critical remark to join the one about the lack of pounds on her
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