Page 45 of Dark ’N’ Deadly

His rubbed his forehead with his fingers, as if trying to erase the awful memory of what had happened.

“We were never able to prove it,” he continued, “but all the chatter on the street pointed to Gant. He wanted to take out every agent who was a team leader on those warrants. As soon as I got released from the hospital, I followed the sonofabitch everywhere.” He laughed bitterly. “The ATF was worried I’d get my ass killed, so they force-transferred me to Massachusetts.”

Now, she understood why he’d asked her and Jesse if they knew Gant. Eric wanted revenge, and he’d never stopped thinking about it.

“The only good thing that came of it”—he indicated to where his dog stood at the top of the stairs, wagging his tail, waiting patiently for Eric to feed him breakfast—“was Tiger. To sweeten the transfer, they gave me the choice of any unit I wanted. I chose the K-9 unit, and it was the best decision I ever made. I can’t imagine working with another partner.”

The love and respect he had for Tiger was as obvious as the regard he’d had for his dead friends.

“Did the ATF also force-transfer you from Massachusetts to New Jersey?” she asked.

“No.” He lifted a hand to her face and began rubbing his thumb gently back and forth across her cheekbone, sending exquisite tingles to her skin. “That wasn’t the reason I left.”

Their gazes met and held. The intensity in his beautiful light blue eyes held her captive. Gone was the pain she’d glimpsed moments ago. In its place was something else. Something that made her pulse race.

“Then why did you leave m—” She’d almost said me. Because the moment Andi had given her the news that Eric had picked up and left without so much as a goodbye… To say she’d been hurt was a gross understatement. She’d been dumped by a guy before, but the pain she’d experienced at Eric’s leaving was sharp and deep, leaving a gaping hole in her world, which was ridiculous, since nothing had ever happened between them. “Massachusetts?” she added quickly.

His gaze dipped to her mouth, his thumb still working its magic on her now-hot, tingling skin. “Partly because I needed a change. Not being able to go after Gant was making me restless.”

She swallowed. “And the other part?”

“Because of this.” Slipping his fingers through her hair, he tugged her closer, tilting her face, and kissed her.

…

He had abso-fucking-lutely no business kissing her again, but he couldn’t stop. Not when he was a lit fuse that no amount of freezing cold water could put out. Not when she felt so good with her slim arms wrapped around his waist and digging her fingers into his back in a way that set every one of his nerve endings on fire.

Holy hell, she tastes good. No, better than good. Like, amazing, freaking good.

Her lips were warm and soft. Sweeter than honey. When he deepened the kiss, she uttered a feminine moan that sent blood surging to his groin, and oh, man. This was what he’d been missing out on. What he’d denied himself.

When he’d admitted his reasons for leaving Springfield, he’d given it to her straight. Gant had been only part of the reason he’d bolted. The other reason was her.

He hadn’t been able to explain it to himself then and he couldn’t fully now, but there was one thing he understood clear as a crystal ball.

Being near her—touching her, kissing her—scares the shit out of me. Because, dammit, I want more. I want it all.

He was terrified of a mere slip of a woman. Even as he thought the words, he kissed her deeper, lowering one hand to cup her shapely buttocks, and the other to curve around her supple breast and rub his thumb over her hardened nipple. As he skimmed his other hand up her side, warmth from her body seeped through the thin cotton nightie.

If he could even call it that.

The second he’d stepped into the hall, he’d done his best not to stare at the way her small, perfect breasts jutted against the thin cotton or how shapely her thighs and calves were. She felt so good in his arms, like she belonged there, and one thought pounded relentlessly in his brain: more.

He wanted to carry her into his bedroom and make love to her all day. Wanted to sink deep inside her tight, wet heat again and again and again…

Tearing his mouth from hers, he pressed kisses on the creamy curve of her neck, using his tongue and lips to gently suck her warm, delicate skin into his mouth. He imagined licking and sucking on other beautiful parts of her body.

More blood blasted to his groin, and the pressure behind his zipper verged on unbearable. Holy, fuck. He’d never wanted someone so much in his entire life.

“Eric,” she gasped, slipping her hands beneath his shirtsleeves to claw at his biceps.

Her nails dug into his flesh. Sparks shot up his neck and out the top of his head. He was harder than a rock and ready to explode.

Groaning, he took her mouth again in a kiss so deep he could taste her yearning, along with his own. The craving built inside him like a geyser about to gush from the earth’s crust. She was so willing and pliant in his arms, as hot for him as he was for her.

I could have her. Just once, to get her out of his system. If that wasn’t enough, he could have a brief fling with her for the time she was there, then call it good. I can’t do that to her. It was wrong on so many levels because she deserved better than being any man’s temporary squeeze. He hadn’t taken advantage of her in Springfield, and he couldn’t do it now.

Drawing on strength he didn’t know he possessed, he lifted his head and set her away from him. His heart raced and he drew in ragged breaths. The look in her eyes nearly destroyed him.