Veil of Justice, Shadows of Justice Book 3 (20 page)

He trapped her small palms against him, right
over his heart. The gesture, the meaning she attached to it, sent
her turbulent emotions into another tailspin. Desire to connect,
emotionally and physically, vaporized any remnant of fear.

"Kiss me," she demanded, eager to obliterate
anything other than right here and now.

He obliged and she reveled at lips, teeth and
hands roaming across her face, throat and lower as he leaned back,
dragging her on top of him.

She felt his arousal, belatedly realizing
she'd felt the same thing when he subdued her in the forest
earlier. Temper sparked and faded abruptly as cool air skimmed over
her bare chest. When had he removed her shirt? It didn't matter,
nothing outside this room, this moment mattered. Except the heat of
his mouth on her breast. She jerked, but his big, warm hands held
firm at her waist, pressing her hips to his erection.

Testing, she rolled her hips against him.
Pleased by his deep growl, she did it again. He tugged harder on
her breast and flicked her nipple with his tongue. She retaliated,
dipping her mouth to his ear, outlining the shape.

She gloried in the sudden knowledge that
where wouldn't be any losers in this sensual battle. The very
notion drove her to test the theory; to push them both as far as
their combined imaginations would go.

Making love with a telekinetic had to be more
intense, more fascinating than making love with a normal man,
though she didn't have the experience to prove it.

"And won't," he growled.

She ignored his possessiveness in favor of
relishing the
pop
of the button on her jeans and the way he
peeled them off her legs with his mind while his hands circled and
cupped her bottom. She sat back, straddling his hips and worked his
own jeans open, gasping at the sight of his arousal springing
forward into her eager hands.

She stroked and he groaned, his mouth
crushing hers. Curiosity urged her to take everything he wanted to
share. He felt hot, hard, and heavy and she savored it, the promise
of it. "Show me what to do," she begged. She knew the basic
mechanics, but couldn't help but wonder how they'd fit
together.

"
Perfectly
," Nathan whispered.

She shivered, feeling the word brushing
against her skin, shimmering in her mind. The sensation, intense
and intimate, became even more so as he cupped her breasts and
thumbed her nipples. She'd never felt more beautiful, more feminine
than she did in this moment, with his eyes on hers. It was a type
of worship she wanted – needed – to share by lavishing him with the
same adoration.

His hair was silk under her fingertips, the
shell of his ear a work of art. His jaw was firm under the shadow
of whiskers and his pulse beat hard and fast as her palm molded his
throat down to his shoulder.

Somehow, feeling his heart rate match her own
put everything into perspective, made her brave. She sat back,
smiling at his protest, and reached down between them. Cupping him,
she learned what pleased him best until he was panting and she was
embarrassingly wet and ready. Her body needed more.

"
I know
."

In her head, his voice was the softest caress
while his mouth and hands worked in a magical tandem. She threw
marriage and consequences to the wind. She wasn't sure there would
even be time for consequences, but whatever was ahead of her, she
wanted to know this, with him. In sensory overload, her hands
fluttered over his body, her legs tangling with his, searching for
satisfaction.

"
Relax
."

She burst into laughter at the absurdity. His
every touch, every brush of skin against skin, wound her tighter
until she writhed against him, seeking something she couldn't name.
His fingers found her aching center and he slid down, settling
between her thighs, exploring her most intimately. She should've
been embarrassed. Instead his name was a prayerful sigh and when he
set his mouth to her she came apart with a cry, clutching his
shoulders.

Nathan watched her with no small measure of
pride as she drifted back from the shattering climax. He could feel
her pleasure inside his mind as well as under his hands and body –
a heady, addicting feeling. She was boneless in his arms as he drew
her down with him to the floor.

"
Cali
," he murmured her name, stroking
her back as her body draped over his. Eventually the soothing touch
became a seductive invitation.

She answered with a siren's smile, peeping at
him through her hair as her hot mouth and curious hands explored
his chest. She drifted lower, but he knew he couldn't take it. He
wanted inside her, to feel as connected by body as he did by
mind.

It was no small effort to distract her, but
eventually he got her positioned. She straddled him, her firm legs
gripping his hips, and leaned forward on her hands. Her hair
flowing like a curtain around them and her eyes were wide open
windows to her innermost desire.

"It's your move," he said, though he'd surely
die if she left him now.

Her eyes locked with his, she slowly fitted
herself over him. With tentative movements, she took him inside
inch by excruciating inch. He fought the primal need to simply
drive himself home. His fingers dug into her hips and would
probably leave marks on her fine skin. He promised to kiss every
bruise if she'd just…

"Oh. My."

He couldn't even form those small words as
she started to rock over him. Then she found her rhythm and he
matched it, taking control when she started to fly apart. He thrust
twice more as her inner muscles gripped and spasmed, then he was
just as lost. Rearing up, he captured her breast, then her mouth,
and simply clung until the tremors passed.

When he could move again, he scooped her up
and carried her to the bedroom. Whipping back the blankets with a
thought, he proceeded to prove the modest bed was plenty big enough
for two.

* * *

Kelly woke to the chiming of her security
monitor. Someone had tripped the sensor. She rolled, but a heavy
arm at her waist caught her before she could complete the maneuver.
She felt her lips curve as Nathan's warm mouth murmured in her ear.
Oh, it was tempting to ignore the sensor warning.

"Good morning," she said, hands caressing his
chest. "Security says we have company."

"It's just a deer."

"Communicating with animals now?" He was
nibbling her earlobe, keeping her pinned under him, but it wasn't
uncomfortable. "I'll be back after I check it out."

Nathan grumbled, but let her up. "Chivalry
didn't die. It was stolen by independent women."

Kelly stopped with her shirt halfway on. "You
can go, but I know the property best."

He rolled to his feet, the view of his
glorious body stealing her breath. He looked stronger today than
yesterday. Everyone said fresh air helped him, but this seemed
extreme. Maybe she was just seeing what she wanted to see. After
all, if he got healthier every day, her every night would be better
than the last.

Selfish, sure, but she didn't think it would
upset him in this case.

"I heard that." He reached for his jeans.
"Guess I won't worry about maidenly regrets."

Kelly tossed him a shirt from his duffle bag
as she left the bedroom. The shirt she'd ripped off him last night
was useless. The memory had her smiling. No, she could hardly fall
back on maidenly regrets when she'd gone after him like a woman
possessed. As soon as she verified it was a deer and not a person
trespassing, she intended to tackle him again.

She lit up the monitor in her small kitchen
and started a pot of coffee – the good stuff Slick Micky had handed
her when they left.

When the camera's feed came onto the monitor,
her heart stopped.

She pushed her hands through her hair and
smoothed her shirt and jeans, cringing at her bare feet. Her
capacity for thought seemed locked on the overused and ineffective,
'oh, crap'.

"What's wrong?" Nathan joined her, sliding
his large, warm hands around her waist.

No, no, no! No time for that. She batted him
away, racing to snatch her bra off the back of the chair. "Get rid
of this please?" She tossed it at Nathan and rushed to pick up the
rest of their scattered clothing, looking around for anything else
that might offend.

The monitor went off again, just as a firm
knock fell on the door.

In her head it was the sound of
judgment
and she felt exposed and ill prepared. She dragged
her feet to the door and opened it to her nephew, Daniel.

NINE

Courage is like love; it must have hope for
nourishment. Napoleon Bonaparte

"Hi," she said, resisting the cowardly urge
to slip outside to talk.

"Hi," he replied. The weak smile shifted to a
frown as his gaze drifted beyond her. "Is this a bad time?"

It was the snide tone, reminiscent of his
father that set her temper on edge and restored her balance. She'd
changed his diapers for crying out loud. He may have the eyes and
chin of her brother, but she was the grown up here and he hadn't
lived long enough to judge her.

"No. Not at all." She opened the door wide,
pasting a broad smile on her face. "How'd you find me? Why aren't
you with the family?"

"They got settled and sent me back to school.
School sent me home because I'm depressed." He jerked his chin at
Nathan. "Who's this?"

Kelly didn't know the boy had so much pent up
testosterone. He looked eager to fight, but for her or their cause?
"This is Nathan. He's helping me find some things.

"Nathan, please meet my nephew, Daniel."

Nathan extended his hand, but Daniel sneered
at him. "Any of those 'things' include finding the bastards who
took out my dad?" He looked at Kelly. "You know, your brother."

Nathan stood hands on hips, glowering over
Daniel who'd landed on his butt in front of the door. "You will
treat her with respect. Never use that tone with her again. No
exceptions."

Stunned by the impressive display from
Nathan, Kelly wasn't sure how to intervene. The boy was grieving,
but he'd crossed a line.

Daniel scowled belligerently up at them.
Nathan telekinetically thumped the boy's head none too gently
against the door. "Ow. Ah, yes. Yes, sir."

"Apologize to your aunt. The woman has done
everything in her power to protect and restore your family."

"I-I'm sorry, Aunt Calisto." He bowed his
dark head and his shoulders slumped. When he finally looked up his
eyes were shining with tears. "I can't keep doing nothing." He
tried to move and couldn't. "What's he doing to me?" he asked.

Kelly elbowed Nathan and reached out a hand
to help Daniel up. "He's telekinetic."

"Whoa. That's cool."

She guided Daniel to the slightly more
comfortable chair. "And overprotective."

"Why?"

Nathan grunted, moving to the kitchen to pour
coffee. "Some day you'll get it kid." He returned with a steaming
cup of black for Kelly.

"Thanks." She sipped, calming herself before
turning back to Daniel. "How did you find me here?" She thought
she'd covered her tracks.

If he could find her, who else knew about
this place?

"My computer lets me know when people look
for…" he shot Nathan a wary glance.

"Go ahead," she urged.

"For stuff about us," he hedged. "There have
been a bunch of queries lately."

Petra, she and Nathan thought in unison.

"It was a matter of looking in places that
would appeal to you," he finished with a shrug, but she wasn't
convinced.

"He's lying," Nathan said aloud what they
were both thinking.

Daniel glared at Nathan. "Fine. I hacked
Grandma's computer." He shrugged again, this time with casual
pride. "Wasn't hard."

She rolled her eyes and got up to pace. There
wasn't enough room in the small house for her to think, especially
with Nathan and Daniel growling at each other. She got a water
bottle from the fridge and tossed it to her nephew, then topped off
her coffee, but she didn't drink it. She was busy berating herself
for keeping her mother in the loop.

It took her a few minutes to realize Nathan
and Daniel were talking way too quietly.

"Hungry?" she called, knowing the answer
would be yes, but they surprised her with a unanimous 'no'. She
walked up behind Nathan and both mouths snapped close. "Okay. One
of you better tell me what's up right now."

They both wore the 'much too innocent'
expression. She stared them down.

"Daniel was just filling me in on stuff."

"Stuff?" She lasered a hard look on
Daniel.

Nathan stood, forcing her to take a step
back. He grinned down at her. "Stuff, Calisto, the all encompassing
word."

He couldn't believe she hated her birth name.
He intended to grill her about it later. After last night he knew
every detail about her body, and thought he'd known every part of
her mind. Now he wondered.

He felt her mental nudge, and respected it,
but gave her a blatant look, letting his intention show. She'd
brought him out of a place horrific beyond imagining, he wouldn't
be the only one exposed. "
Can I call you Cali
?" he asked
telepathically.

It seemed like an eternity before she
reacted. The short nod wasn't a ringing endorsement, but it was a
start.

"Whatever you're up to, Aunt Cali, I want
in," Daniel declared.

Nathan stepped out of the way, sensing a
serious argument brewing. He didn't think what waited for them was
any place for a kid, even a big, intelligent kid like Daniel, but
it wasn't his call.

"Let's talk outside," she said to the boy.
"It's a beautiful morning."