Page 87 of Distress Signal

“You got here so fast.”

“I willalwayscome for you,” I reminded her. “I need to keep you safe, belle. Please, just…please.”

Our eyes held then, the moment stretching, time around us warping to a standstill. Fuck, I wanted to kiss her so badly but now was absolutely not the time.

Still, the thought must’ve been on her mind too, because her tongue darted out to trace her bottom lip, almost as if trying to direct me where she wanted me.

There would come a day—in the near fucking future—when I’d take her up on that offer, when I’d give into the pull once again.

But today was not it.

I shook my head at the same time Reagan blinked, pulling us out of the moment.

“Can I help?” I asked.

She nodded. “There are some boxes of things in the guestroom. Would you bring them out to the car? I can drive everything over.”

Before she could walk away from me, I captured her wrist and hauled her in for a hug, needing to feel her warmth and vitality against me, to reassure myself she was okay. I pressed a kiss to her temple and walked away.

Reagan Lindsey was badass. Strong, independent, didn’t take shit from anyone. The fact that she let me in, was letting me care for her the best way I knew how, was a goddamn miracle.

I was making my third trip outside when two sheriff’s department vehicles pulled up, four of Lane’s deputies getting out.

“Where’s the boss?” Johns asked.

“Here,” Lane said, stepping out of the house before I could speak. “Did you bring what I asked?”

One of the other deputies ducked into the back of the SUV and came out with a large crime scene camera and a briefcase-looking toolbox that likely had CSI equipment inside.

“Good,” my brother nodded. “Master bath. You’ll have to turn the shower on. I want the entire house swept and dusted for prints, but start there.”

The deputies shared looks of confusion at the mention of the shower but wisely didn’t press the issue as they disappeared inside. They’d figure it out soon enough.

My own task completed and not liking the idea of Reagan alone with those guys, I followed them.

“You done?” I asked when I entered the master.

She pulled the zipper closed on the suitcase she was wrestling with, the other one already shut, and said, “Yep.”

“Do you need us for anything else?” I asked Lane when he appeared.

He shook his head. “I know where to find you if I do.”

With a nod, I collected both of Reagan’s suitcases, carrying them instead of wheeling them simply to see the way her eyes glazed over with lust at the flexion of my biceps.

“Like what you see, belle?”

Her eyes snapped to mine. “I’dliketo see a lot more of it.”

Blood rushed right to my cock, and I was grateful for the stiff denim keeping it in check behind my zipper.

“All you have to do is ask, baby.”

Reagan smirked but didn’t say anything, merely lifted the canvas bag off the floor by her feet and followed me out the door.

A half hour later, her belongings were safely unloaded in one of my guest rooms.

I didn’t tell her how badly I wanted her inmybed.