Page 120 of Family Affair

Cade nodded in agreement. “That’s the problem with his testimony. He gave a lot of confused info, mixed up dates, contradicted himself several times, that sort of thing.”

“I’m sure the detectives realize this Virgil isn’t reliable. I mean, they may be obnoxious but they aren’t idiots!”

“Coco, he’s their effing eyewitness. You can build a case with a lot less than that. Damn right they ignore the fact that Virgil’s borderline senile. Hell, if he says he saw me turn into a bat and suck Ward’s blood, that’s what they’re gonna believe.”

“I provided an alibi for you, which they saw on that tape. What else do they need?”

“Yes, but the timing can be disputed. We were in the vicinity of Ward’s house right as the murder occurred. Andbecauseof the tape, they think you’re lying to cover for me.” His eyes got serious and as usual his direct look sent little shivers up and down her spine as pleasure and discomfort combined. “And now Virgil played into their hands by alleging you also visited Ward.”

“That’s preposterous. They are investigators. They can’t just believe something without proof.”

“For crying out loud, Coco, catch up! They need a scapegoat to justify their paychecks, and we’re it.” Realizing that his voice rang out too loudly, he toned it down, “Sorry, didn’t mean to wake up your mother.”

“My mother is out of town.”

The moment the words flew out of her mouth she wished she could take them back.

The air changed between them, heating up, charging with the awareness that the house was dark around them, and that they were alone, secluded from the rest of the world.

He looked down quickly, but not before she saw heat flare in his eyes. She could feel her pulse hammering at her neck.

“What can we do?” She sounded out of breath.

“Pay Virgil a visit, for starters.”

On the contrary, his voice sounded like it always did, low and raspy. She must have imagined the sudden heat of his gaze.

It hurt, this burn of desire heating up her body from the inside out. She felt a cacophony of physical symptoms, the tightness of her stomach, the dryness of her mouth, the slight vertigo she experienced when she chanced a look at his crotch.

I can’t want him so. It’s too much!

And when he looked back, his eyes were calm and deep and compelling, a big and beautiful predator using the power of his gaze to lure his prey.

She was the prey.

Helpless, breathing fast, Coco took a step forward. He hadn’t moved, hadn’t said anything. He simply watched her.

She took another step toward him, and kept walking until she stood between his splayed thighs. His smell reached her nostrils and she inhaled deep, getting a good dose of it in her lungs.

Her head started buzzing, and she swayed, reaching out to steady herself by gripping his thick neck.

In response, he wrapped one large hand around the back of hers. One pull – and they were kissing, licking, nipping at each other, changing angles, his tongue in her mouth, the scrape of his beard on her chin rough and wonderful. He tugged her closer and she molded to his body, and finally, finally she was home.

She dragged her breasts across his chest and pressed her lower body to his belly. The thick robe muted the sensations, but couldn’t conceal his arousal: he was hard and ready for her, right here, right now.

He spread his legs wider and gripped her butt, pulling her in, sucking on her lower lip and licking into her again, going deep, sliding his tongue along the roof of her mouth.

She mewled, and the sound was echoed by a phone ringing… ringing close…

He pulled back and it took Coco a few seconds to realize that he fumbled for his phone and answered it. “Yeah.”

Now his voice was rough, gravelly. He was still gripping her bottom with one hand.

Coco rested her head on his shoulder, nose pressed to the side of his neck. A tinny male voice of the caller reached her from his phone, but not the words.

“Yeah. Yeah. Do they, now…” Cade inhaled deeply. “Can it wait till tomorrow? … Fuck, yeah, it’s late…” He slanted a glance at her face tucked under his chin, and she knew that their smooching was over. She lifted her head.

“Yeah, I know where it’s at. Man, it’s a dive…. Okay, I’ll be there.” He disconnected abruptly.