Falling for the ice quee.., p.19
Falling For the Ice Queen, page 19
“Eliza…” Memphis’s fingers brushed over the base of her back. There was a warning edge to his low voice.
She was way past the point of heeding anyone’s warnings. She’d listened to warnings for years. She’d stayed quiet for years. The result?
Six other women who hadn’t come home. And, if Memphis was right, another woman would soon go missing. Someone else who would vanish on the anniversary of Eliza’s abduction and never be seen again.
There can’t be anyone else. She couldn’t carry another woman’s pain. “A lot has changed in the time since my abduction.” Eliza stared straight ahead. She kept her voice clear and cool. “My memories have crystalized—”
“Does this have anything to do with the search the police are conducting outside of Houston?” A shout from the back of the crowd. “We heard they were using dogs to hunt for bodies.”
She swallowed. “I remembered where I was taken. I remembered how I got away.”
More shouts. But there were indistinct, sounding more like a rumble to her ears.
Her chin lifted a little more. “And I remember the person who took me.”
The shouts grew louder.
“What does he look like?” A yell that rose above all the others. “Who is he?”
“The police will be releasing that information soon. This man isn’t just tied to me. He’s taken other women. He took them and didn’t care about their pain.” She stared straight ahead. Her eyes felt grainy. “I care.”
She paid no attention to the questions that erupted. Just kept looking forward. She stared into that camera because when he saw this footage, she wanted the perp to think she was staring straight at him. “I remember you. I’ll now make sure that you never forget me. But then again, you never could, could you? How about you take those sunflowers and you shove them up your—”
A roar from the reporters.
“Okay, that’s good. You got his attention.” Memphis pulled her behind him. “That’s all for now! The authorities will be releasing more information tomorrow morning!”
“Who are you?” Someone wanted to know.
“I’m her boyfriend. I’m also the one telling you all—clear a fucking path.” He spread out his hands. “Because we are coming through.”
And he led her through the reporters. She ignored their never-ending questions. Ignored it when someone reached out to touch her. Memphis curled one hand around hers, and he pulled her forward through the throng.
She caught sight of Saint. Standing by a black Mercedes. He opened the rear door.
She slid inside. Memphis followed behind. A few minutes later, Saint was getting them the hell out of there.
“So…” Memphis drew out the word. “You understand how a partnership works, yes?”
Eliza looked back. The reporters were still filming them.
“You tell your partner when you have some crazy plan in mind.” His voice was mild enough, but she could feel the beat of rage beneath his surface. “Like say when you intend to go in front of a camera and taunt a killer. When you want to wrap yourself up with a bow and become a present for the fucker.” Not so mild. The rage had broken through his control.
Her head whipped toward him. “I didn’t use a bow.”
“Sure as hell seemed like it.” He leaned toward her. “You want him to come after you. If he thinks you remember, you believe he’ll come.”
Yes. “I can’t let him take anyone else.”
“Baby…” His fingers lifted. Brushed along her jaw. “Tell me when you came up with this plan.”
“You won’t like the answer.”
“Tell me anyway.”
In the front seat, Saint remained dead silent.
A low sigh escaped from her. “I came up with this plan…the minute you told me that he’d taken six other women. When I realized what he would do on the anniversary, I knew I couldn’t let that happen. He can’t take anyone else.”
His touch remained feather-light on her skin. “So you think you’ll get him to take you instead?”
She couldn’t let fear control her. Wouldn’t.
His mouth moved toward her ear, and Memphis whispered, “Over my dead body. He will never fucking take you from me.”
Chapter Seventeen
Eliza slipped out of the vehicle and rushed toward her building. Memphis lunged after her—
Saint grabbed him by the arm. “I think you should calm down.”
He gaped at the guy. “You were there! You saw what she did. Eliza basically begged the bastard to come for her! If he thinks she remembers, he will do everything he can to stop her from talking!”
Saint peered toward her building. The security guard at the front had just opened the door for Eliza. “You had to know this was going to happen. The only reason she was safe all this time was because she didn’t remember. You knew that. You also had to know that by coming here, by taking her to all those scenes and trying to stir up the memories, you’d be putting her in danger.”
“Watch it.” He liked Saint, but that goodwill would only go so far. “And let go of my arm. I need to be with Eliza.”
“She’s right inside the building. Staring at us through the glass. You have eyes on her.”
He wanted his hands on her. He needed to be able to touch her. If he wasn’t close enough to touch her…
What if he takes her from me?
“You knew that if her memories came back, she’d be a target. Don’t try to fool me, man. I know how you operate. You came to this town thinking that you’d use her to get the perp.”
Everyone seemed to think he was using Eliza. Everyone…including Eliza.
“But she just stepped up the process with the reporters. She took control. She said she knew him—”
“She’s lying.” Saint should get that. “She doesn’t remember shit about him, and because I think he drugged her, Eliza probably never will. He could come straight up to her—could smile and offer her his hand—and she wouldn’t know it.” His fear. “He’s close to her. He’s always been close and now—”
“You like her.”
Like her? Like her? He didn’t take his gaze off Eliza as Memphis snarled, “Stop being an asshole.”
“You like her, and you’re worried about her, and you need to calm down. Because I have never seen you this on edge. Normally, you’re calm. You’re relaxed. You don’t care.”
He needed to get to Eliza. He needed—
“Correction, you care only about a chosen few. The ones who slip past your guard. Like me, the brother you never wanted but still decided to save.”
His gaze whipped to Saint. “You’re a fucking annoyance most days.”
“You cleared my name. Without you, I’d be rotting in a prison, serving time for murders I didn’t commit.”
“You were innocent. I just—dammit, I just…I got some friends to help me prove it.”
“You and your Ice Breakers. You got Delilah and you got Tony, and you got to the truth. You helped me when you did not need to do it…”
“I’m going to Eliza.” He jerked free.
“You didn’t intend to be her hero, did you?”
He stalked to the building. “I’m not a hero.”
“You can’t use a person when you’re in love with her.”
He spun around. “I need you watching Eliza’s back.”
“I like her, too. Despite the fact that she tased me. Or maybe even because of it. I appreciate a woman who can fight hard and dirty.” His gaze drifted to Eliza’s building. “Honestly, you’re lucky you saw her first. But I figure you deserve a little happiness, so that’s why I’m giving you my warning…use care with her. I get that you’re scared—”
“You don’t get a fucking thing.”
“But you have to get your control.”
It was far too late for that.
Saint inclined his head. “I’ll be close.” He headed back for the car.
Memphis whirled and rushed for Eliza. The security guard hurried out of his way because they’d already had more than a few talks. Memphis had wanted the security beefed up in that place, and he’d given orders left and right. With Eliza’s big reveal to the press, even more precautions would need to be taken.
For now, he wanted to get Eliza inside her penthouse. The princess needed to be secured in her tower.
He snagged her wrist as soon as he got near her side, and it finally became a little easier to breathe. When he touched her, when he had her at his side, she seemed safe.
I have to keep her safe.
They walked onto the elevator. He jabbed the button for the top floor. The doors slid closed.
“You seem…mad.”
That prim little voice. That extra bit of care she had…
He swung toward her. “Mad doesn’t even come close.” And he couldn’t hold on any longer. Saint thought that Memphis could still have control? Oh, hell, no. He was way past that point. He dragged Eliza closer, and his mouth took hers.
Fierce.
Desperate.
Consuming.
His tongue thrust past her parted lips, and he drank in her sweet taste. He drank her in. Took and took. His hands flew over her body as he urged her closer. Her curves pressed against him, her precious warmth. Her scent wrapped around him, and all he wanted to do was sink into her. To seal her to him. If he could bind Eliza completely to him, then maybe…just maybe…
I never have to lose her.
He pushed her back, kept his body flush with hers, and caged her against the wall of the elevator. He couldn’t stop kissing her. Was freaking addicted to her mouth. Her lips. Her tongue. The way she gave that little moan in the back of her throat that told him she was as hungry and aroused as he was.
And to think she’d once told him that she couldn’t let go, that she couldn’t get lost in a lover…
Baby, you will be lost in me.
As lost as he was in her.
The elevator dinged. He heard the doors start to open. Hating it, Memphis lifted his head. Her lips were red, slightly swollen, so absolutely tempting.
Get her in the penthouse. Get her safe.
He took a step back.
“So…you’re mad…and horny?” Eliza walked past him with ballerina grace. Spine straight. Steps sliding and poised.
His eyes narrowed at her word choice. “Yep, pretty much covers it.” Actually, it didn’t. Because Saint had been right. He was afraid.
Can’t let anything happen to her.
And he was such a sonofabitch. Because originally…
I thought I could use her.
The part that burned the most was that Memphis realized…Eliza had known that truth all along. She’d known and she’d still let him get close to her. She’d known, and she’d still trusted him.
She’d known, and she was still willing to rush back into a fire in order to try and save me.
Might as well just go ahead and call it…he was done. Owned. Wrapped up completely in her. For him, there would never be anyone else.
Eliza held his heart.
She paused just outside of the elevator doors. “You think you’re going to fuck me?”
Dammit. The way she said fuck in that prim voice…
Eliza smiled at him.
She knows what she is doing to me. She’s trying to push me to the edge.
Trying to push him because she was afraid, too. The fear lingered in the darkness of her eyes. She wanted to fuck him. Wanted the insane avalanche of release that came when they were together because she was running on adrenaline and fear and need. Just like he was.
He bounded out of the elevator after her. “I don’t think it…” Automatically, he searched the hallway. Urged her inside her place. When the door shut behind them, when he set the locks, he turned and put his shoulders against the wooden door. “I know it.”
The curtains were drawn. No one could see in. He’d made sure on the second night at her place that there were no cameras or recording devices inside. A quick but thorough check he hadn’t even told her about—he’d done it while she was in the shower. That long, never-ending shower of hers.
She shifted from foot to foot in front of him. Her only sign of nerves. He should probably try talking. Explaining some shit to her…
Eliza pulled off her shirt. Tossed it aside. Kicked away her sandals. Shoved down her jeans. Stood before him in a black bra and panties.
Talking was off the table.
He glanced toward the darkened hallway. Judged the distance to her bedroom.
Too far.
He started to reach for her.
Eliza shook her head. Then she eliminated the space between them. Caught the hands that he’d been extending and pushed them back against the door. She rose onto her tiptoes and pushed her lips against his. Hot, open-mouthed kisses. Delicate licks of her tongue. Darts inside his mouth that had his head jerking toward her when she would pull back.
Her hands freed his. Dropped to his waistband. Fumbled then jerked open his belt. Hauled open the snap and pulled down the zipper.
His teeth ground together. He knew what she was going to do—Baby, I will go insane.
She pushed down his jeans. Shoved the boxers with them. Stared at his cock as it bobbed toward her. A bead of moisture slid from the top.
Eliza eased to her knees before him. Sucked in a breath. “I may not be very good at this.”
His hands fisted. “Trust me, you’ll be perfect.”
She leaned forward. Parted her lips. Took him inside.
Better than perfect. Each tentative, careful lick of her tongue sent pleasure blazing through his body. His teeth had clenched, his fists couldn’t get tighter, and he was in hell and heaven combined as she took him in a little more. As she sucked a little deeper. As her tongue swirled over the head of his—
“Done.” His hands flew out and locked around her shoulders. He pushed her back.
Eliza blinked. “I didn’t…was it wrong?”
“Couldn’t get more right.” Growled. “Getting in you, now.”
She rose to her feet.
He ditched his shoes, the jeans, the boxers—grabbed for the condom that he’d put in his wallet, because, yes, he’d wanted to be ready to have sex with her again anytime. He sheathed his dick in that condom in about two seconds flat, then he reached for her.
He tried to be careful with her panties. They were sexy as fuck, and he would have liked to see them on her again but…
They ripped beneath his greedy fingers. Then he was touching her. Stroking her clit. Feeling her slick heat and knowing that nothing on this earth could stop him from having her. Nothing.
He pushed one finger into her. A second. So tight.
She gripped his shoulders and rocked against him. Rode his hand. So sexy…
He pulled his fingers back. Clamped them around her hips and lifted her up. “Legs around me.” A guttural order.
Her silken legs curled around his hips. His cock pushed at her core. He stared into her eyes, watching her as his dick thrust deep into her.
Her eyes widened. Her breath hitched, and her lips parted. Her head tipped back, a soft sigh escaped and—
She clamped so tightly around him.
He lifted her up, then plunged her back down. Again and again.
Her hands curled around his shoulders as she rode him. He had never, ever seen anything more beautiful. He stumbled a few feet with her in his arms. Made it to the dining room table. Sat her on the edge. Drove into her even faster and harder.
One of her hands flew back and slammed into the top of the table.
One of his hands slid between them. Went to work on her clit. Strummed it over and over, just the way he knew that she liked. The way that would make her come for him. Scream for him.
“Memphis!” She was almost there. He could hear it in her voice. Almost…
He slammed deep. Squeezed her clit.
She bucked against him and cried out in pleasure, a yell of fierce release.
His hips pistoned against her. Her inner muscles squeezed him so hard. And he just let go. Erupted into her. A shuddering, mind-blowing, body-bucking release that had pleasure pouring through every cell he had. His shout of release seemed to echo around them.
His hands slapped down on either side of her body. Her sex kept squeezing him, little aftershocks of release that drew out his own pleasure. Nothing—no one—would ever match Eliza.
She’d gone and ruined him for everyone else.
Fuck that lie. You knew she ruined you for everyone else the minute she poured that beer on you. The minute she’d stopped being a pawn in his masterplan. The minute she’d become everything. The minute that had changed his life.
So maybe it was time to share some secrets with her. Secrets that she might not like, but that she deserved to hear anyway.
Her lashes lifted. She met his gaze. Gave him a tremulous smile.
Screw it all. “Eliza, I love you.”
Her smile stretched. Lit her eyes. Her nose did that adorable crinkle—
“But, princess, I have been using you.”
And her smile vanished.
Chapter Eighteen
He slowly withdrew from her. A careful glide.
“I don’t think that’s tactful,” Eliza said as a shiver worked over her body. “Not…gentlemanly.” She tried to push the haze of lust from her mind. “You shouldn’t tell a woman you love her one moment…” And make said woman feel wonderfully, deliriously happy. “Only to follow up by saying you are using her.”
He walked away. Ditched the condom.
She started to jump off the table—
Memphis whirled. “Stay there.”
Stay…mostly naked on the dining room table? Uh, no. She didn’t think so.
“And I never said I was a gentleman,” he added. “That’s not a word I’ve ever used to describe myself.” He turned away.
She jumped off the dining room table. Her knees felt a little jiggly, but they didn’t fall. Her sex did send a pulsing aftershock through her. She paused a moment and sucked in a breath at that lick of pleasure.
Then Memphis was back in front of her. Someone had sure moved fast. He gently pushed a warm cloth between her legs. Tenderly, he—
