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She opened her mouth on his throat, inhaling deeply.
He rubbed his cheek gently over her hair.
“After that, I was a wreck. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t study. I lost my scholarship.”
“Did you go to the police?” His voice was deep.
She gave a humorless laugh.“His father was the most powerful attorney in Florida. Who do you think they would believe, his son or me?” She shook her head.“I had to leave school and go home. My mother… I told her everything. I thought she’d help me put the pieces back together.” A bitter smile curved her lips.
He waited.
“She kicked me out. Told me that I was ruined, that no one would ever want me. She said I must have done something to make Bart do this. Called me a…whore.”
Adam’s entire body turned to granite.
“What did you do?”
“I called a friend. She’d moved to Vegas. She paid for my flight and took me in. She’d told me she was a showgirl, but it was a lie. She worked for Eleet. You know the rest.”
For a long time, the only sounds were those of the frogs and crickets.
Eve lay there, feeling like a heavy weight had finally been lifted.
Now, Adam knew. And, yes, he was still here.
She felt his jaw tighten, his teeth grinding.“I want to kill him, bring him back to life, and do it again.”
Of course he did, her warrior.“It could have been a lot worse. I could have gotten into alcohol or drugs. Instead, I decided to take back the power. It’s crazy, but this job put me in charge and helped me regain my self-esteem. And—” She kissed his Adam’s apple.“It did lead me to you.”
She felt him clenching his teeth rhythmically, his body perfectly still but every muscle tense. An almost imperceptible tremor racked him, and she felt it as acutely as if it were a seism.
She slipped her arm along his side and let her fingers slide over his waist. She couldn’t seem to get close enough.
Adam began to rock her slowly. His solid chest rose and fell under her palms. His heart pounded, steady and strong, against her ear.
She felt his lips graze her temple.“I’m right here.” His voice was gravelly.“Get some sleep.”
It was a long, long time before she did.
Adam
Ian: Documents drawn.
Adam: Good. Any news from the detective?
Ian: He gave up searching stateside. He thinks she may be livingabroad.
Adam: Interesting. Keep me posted. There’s something else I want you to look into.
Ian: OK
Adam: See what you can dig up on a guy named Bart Danner. His dad is some big-shot lawyer in Florida.
Ian: I will get right on it
Adam knew Ian wanted more information, but that was all he would ever get. His brother figured it out quickly because no questions followed.
Ian: BTW, Jannie wants to deliver your babies.