Picture Perfect (Butler Island) (23 page)

Her lips were so cold. He told
himself that the kiss was merely a way to increase her body temperature—nothing
more. But as soon as her tongue collided against his, it was
his
temperature that rose—as well as other parts of his anatomy. He could almost
taste her fear, her anguish and with every soft sweep of his tongue, the
potency dissipated.

As much as he wanted her, as much as
he wanted to steer her mind away from the monstrous memories that haunted
her—he couldn’t—not like this. He couldn’t ignore his conscience. He repeatedly
heard Ty’s voice in his head, warning him to “keep his dick in his pants.”

With every ounce of willpower he had,
he covered her hands with his, peeling them away from his face, disconnecting
their mating mouths.

“What’s wrong?” she asked
breathlessly. “Don’t you want me?”

Grant eyed the angelic figure before
him. Was she serious? Did she not see the hard bulge pressing against the fly
of his navy cargos? “God, yes—”

“Then what’s the problem?”

“I don’t want to hurt you and
this”—he  said as he gestured to her naked body— “is not why I wanted you to
stay with me tonight.”

“So why
did
you want me to
stay?”

“I needed to know you were safe. I
couldn’t live with myself if something happened to you again and…
I really
missed you…”

Olivia pinned him with her emerald
gaze. Yes, it made her feel vulnerable, but she refused to dwell on it.
Swallowing hard, she spoke the words envisioned in her mind. “I want to feel
you, Grant—
I need to feel you.”

Reaching for his hand, she placed it
on her breast and sighed as his thumb caressed her pebbled nipple. “Save me”,
she uttered, just above a whisper. “Make me forget everything except how good
you make me feel…
Please…”

She was literally begging him to
touch her. He’d tried to do the noble thing by ending their kiss—

But she was begging him…

His determination fractured; he gave in.

His lips skimmed the delicate skin on
her neck while his hands fondled her round breasts. She arched her back as he
trailed kisses along her throat, down her chest. Her silk-like skin was
perfumed with vanilla from her recent shower and like eating an ice cream cone,
he licked the curve of her breast, savoring the flavor of her sweet damp skin
on his tongue.

Continuing down her lovely figure, he
came upon her broken rib. It was still bruised from her attack, her skin
stained with a terrifying memory. Gently, he brushed his fingertips over the
discoloration and then pressed a soft kiss against her battle wound; wishing
his touch could mend her broken body and the emotional scars that would linger
long after she healed.

His tenderness caused goosebumps to
spread across her skin.

“You cold?” he uttered against her
belly.

“No. Not anymore…” Her frozen body
began to thaw the moment he’d put his mouth on her skin, melting her worries,
her pain, and her fears like an ice sculpture in the sweltering dessert sun.

God, how he wanted to fill her with
ecstasy; wanted to feel her moist heat clamp down on him. But he’d not only
promised Ty he’d be on his best behavior, he’d also vowed to himself. He’d
broken that pledge the moment he’d tasted her fragrant skin. He wanted to feast
on her—pleasure her in the most intimate way—and he convinced himself once she’d
experienced it, he’d stop.

“Lie back”, he demanded in a soft,
gravelly tone. Once she’d complied, he tugged on the back of her legs until her
firm bottom teetered on the edge of the bed. Still kneeling in front of her,
his shoulders pressed her knees apart, giving him a heavenly view. “God, look
at you”, he croaked.

He trailed kisses down the inside of
her thigh, slowly inching toward her divine center. “I’ve wanted to do this
since that first day on the beach”, he mumbled against her leg. Unable to resist
any longer, he put his mouth on her, savoring her sweet essence.

Her hips bucked the moment his mouth
came down on her and in an effort to keep her still, he braced his forearm
against them to keep her in place. “Mmmm…You taste so good, Livvy.”

She’d never felt
anything so erotic, so momentous.
So. Damn. Good
.

Her body was ablaze, heat
accelerating over her—through her—like a fire storm. He devoured her until
rationale was gone. Her body was possessed by a hidden sensual being, a distant
part of herself that’d been buried deep within her. This man uncovered the
hidden treasure…
Grant.

“Grant!”
 She cried.

He couldn’t get enough of her—never
wanted to stop. He wanted more—needed more! Removing his arm from her hips, he
slid his fingers underneath her firm bottom and lifted her closer.

She was panting his name, writhing in
mindless pleasure, desperately balancing on the edge of climax.

“Come for me”, he commanded hoarsely.
Suddenly, he felt her fingers grip his hair; watched as her body twisted. He heard
the sexiest carnal cry escape her and feasted on her pleasure as though it was
his last meal.

Gently placing her bottom back onto
the bed, he stood, bracing his hands on either side of her. He hovered for
close to minute, simply watching—relishing.

When her breathing began to return to
normal, she opened her eyes, allowing him a glimpse into her fragile soul. She
wanted him—all of him—everything he was willing to give. And tonight—for one
night—she would give him everything she had in return.

Her eyes never swaying from his gaze,
she reached down and caressed him. The barrier of his cargo’s hindering her
effort, she dislodged the button and lowered the zipper.

“What’re you doing?” he asked
hoarsely.

Olivia tore one of her hands away and
brought her finger to her lips. “Shhh.” She returned her attention back to
freeing his bulging length from confinement.

“This is probably not a good idea”,
he said as he braced himself above her.

“Why, Grant?” she whispered.

It was so hard to talk with her hands
on him, so hard to think. “Because I—
God, Livvy”,
he groaned as she
gripped him, stroking him slowly, firmly.

“Please, Grant—I need this, too.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

Staring into his blue bedroom eyes,
she raked her teeth against her bottom lip. He loved it when she did that. She
knew she wasn’t playing fair. He was worried about her injuries; she needed to
convince him otherwise. “The only way you’re gonna hurt me is if you say no.”

Every ounce of will he’d had left had
been shattered. Who was he fooling? He couldn’t resist this woman—not when she
was completely naked beneath him—not when she gnawed on her bottom lip and
looked at him with those angelic green eyes—and certainly not when she was
begging for him to fill her with his love.

“Scoot back toward the headboard”, he
ordered softly before he had second thoughts.

Olivia followed his directions,
resting her head on one of his feathery pillows. She observed as he stripped
his clothing, his sinewy body causing her pulse to flutter. He ambled toward
the nightstand, reaching for protection. And when his rigid sex was sheathed,
he climbed into bed next to her.

“How should we do this?” she asked
curiously.

“Turn away from me, on your side.”

Olivia rolled onto her uninjured side
and shivered when his sex pressed against her bottom.

“Are you sure you want to do this?”
he asked as he spread soft kisses along the back of her shoulder.

“Yes, please.”

Grant lifted her top leg and then
slowly plunged into her slick tight heat.

“God, Livvy, I… I—”

I love you.
More than
anything, he wanted to confess. Wanted her to know how amazing she made him
feel; wanted to hear her say those three words back. But that would probably be
the dumbest move he’d ever make. He couldn’t just blurt it out—that would have
her retreating quicker than a striking viper snake.

Biting his lip, he relished her warm
flesh; savored her sensual sounds. Thrusting into her body was like coming
home.

 
And there was no place like it…

He stood on the deck, peeking around
the edge of the sliding glass door. He ought to be out somewhere, scoping out
his next target, but he couldn’t peel his eyes away. Olivia fascinated
him—always had.

She had more courage, more strength
in her dainty lil’ pinky finger than most guys did at the department. He really
admired that about her.

Before the attack, he thought she was
beautiful.

After the attack…?

Well, let’s just say his fascination
grew.

Silently, he cursed himself. He
couldn’t forget that she was a potential threat to his “part-time gig.” After
he’d left her house that night, he’d ransacked the place looking for equipment,
pictures, film; anything that she’d need to begin photographing again.

He’d found an expensive camera, two
lenses, and several pictures she’d printed of him in the act. Worried that Womack
would return, he’d rushed out of there quickly.

Everything had been great—until she
arrived this morning at the fire station with a small, ancient looking 35mm
camera! He’d tried to warn her: told her she needed to pose instead of
photographing. Apparently she’d disregarded his warning.

He needed to keep his eye on her;
ensure she didn’t regain the courage to come looking for him again. That should
be easy; eyeing her was certainly no hardship.

But this time, he needed a new
approach. He didn’t
want
to hurt her again. Sitting at the hospital
after her attack, he was disgusted with himself. He’d never hit a woman before;
that was pretty low—even for him! He’d only meant to scare her; had hoped that
his presence would’ve petrified her with fear.

Fear can cause a person to do
unimaginable things—he of all people should know. He still owed his bookie two
grand. How he’d managed to dig himself into a hole this deep, he’d never know.
But he was damn well going to dig himself out of it. Three—maybe a half dozen
more fires—was all he’d need in order to pay off his debt.

 And then he’d be free.

But in the mean time, he’d continue
looking over his shoulder; continue setting fires.

 Continue his fascination with Olivia
Everitt…

CHAPTER 19

She was running, desperately trying
to escape. But he was too quick.

“Where do you think you’re going,
Blondie?” He asked.

He was dragging her by her hair;
tears leaked
from her eyes. Every time she
screamed, he only tugged
harder.

He shoved her.

A crushing pain blasted her side and
sucked the air from her lungs like a vacuum.

Glass was
everywhere. Shattered fragments pressed
into her knees and the palms
of her hands, slicing into her.

Blood. Pain.

Suddenly she was lying on the couch.
He was sitting on her stomach, his weight holding her down. She had to fight
back. She was so terrified—but she
had to
fight back! She kicked her legs; flailed her arms.

Victory! Her fist collided against
his temple.

Oh no! He’s angry!

He pinned her arms above her head. An
electrifying sting erupted against her cheek. Tears fled her eyes again.

 “Now that I have your undivided
attention, tell me where your camera is.”

“Fuck you!” she yelled.

Another blow. Warm liquid exploded
from her mouth. She tasted blood on her tongue.

“Maybe some other time”, he whispered.

 
His free hand copped a feel of
one of her breasts. She squirmed. Convulsed.

She had to get away from this
monster!

Grant awoke to the sound of Olivia
screaming. She was having a nightmare.

Her arms were flailing and her body
was writhing as though she were in pain. The terror on her face pulverized his
heart. He gently pressed on her shoulders, trying to calm her. “Livvy, it’s
okay. It’s just me… Grant.”

He wanted to comfort her, assure her
that she was safe. But she was fighting him. One of her flailing arms connected
with his chin.

Olivia opened her eyes. It took her a
few moments before she realized what’d happened. The room was dark, but a dim
beam of moonlight that’d filtered through the sliding glass door illuminated
his face enough for her to see.