Page 42

COULTER

W aking up with Faith in my arms had become a habit I never wanted to kick. The scent of her hair, the warmth of her skin, was even more addictive than fishing. I lifted the sheet and shimmied to back away from her slowly, so as not to disturb her.

Tiptoeing out to my kitchen, I filled my new Moka pot, smiling at the purple orchid on the counter that Faith had given me along with it. She said it made my house feel more homey. But her being there with me was what made my house feel more like home.

Despite trying to be quiet, whisking the milk must’ve woken Faith. She was a sight for sore eyes when she appeared in nothing but her red lace thong panties. “Why are you up so early?” she grumbled, rubbing her eyes. “I thought we were going to sleep in.”

I forced my eyes up from her perfect breasts to meet her grimaced gaze. “You weren’t supposed to get up until I brought you coffee. ”

“But still,” she whined, “the brunch isn’t until eleven, right?”

“Yeah, but we have to drive an hour south to catch the boat out to Paradise Key,” I said, handing her a mug topped with a perfect espumita.

Faith’s face lit up in a grin when she sniffed the aroma. “I can’t wait to see that place. So fancy,” Faith grinned. Like your cafe con leche, mi amor.”

Running my hand over her round butt, I said, “I love it when you speak Spanglish to me, beautiful.”

“I love it when you make me coffee,” she smirked, turning on her heel to head for the couch. “I’m excited to meet Corinne’s family out there today.”

“You two have gotten quite friendly the past couple of weeks, haven’t you?”

“We have,” Faith beamed. “I loved her from the moment I met her, when she put Oscar in his place,” she snickered, tucking her feet underneath her on the sofa. “But I’ve enjoyed getting to know her better with wedding prep. She’s really cool.”

“She is. Trevor is a lucky man.” My arm slinked around her shoulders, nuzzling her into my bare chest. I couldn’t help but to hope that they’d be future-sisters-in-law and planning our wedding sometime soon.

But there was no need to rush things that were going so well.

“He’s not as lucky as I am though,” I said, kissing her temple.

I noticed her smile fade and a worried look flashed in her eyes. “What’s up?”

“Oh, mentioning Oscar just reminded me that I didn’t have a chance to tell you last night since we were at your Dad’s so late…” She paused to take a sip of coffee.

“Tell me what? ”

“Oscar and I got a call from the FBI agent who has Kylie’s killer in custody yesterday. We went to meet him in Florida City.”

A cold chill passed through me. “Good news I hope?” Though I doubted it by the crease between her brows.

“Strange news. Apparently the perpetrator in custody is a hired hitman involved in a big drug operation.”

“A hired hitman targeted Kylie? Why?”

“I keep wracking my brain trying to make sense of it. Maybe she was involved in something that no one knew about?”

“No way was she involved in a major drug ring,” I said without hesitation.

“I don’t think so either. So then I thought…maybe Jake? But that seems even less likely for the squeaky-clean Minnesotan.”

“I don’t know the guy,” I shrugged, “but I think your gut feeling is probably right on that one too.”

Faith had a determined look. “The killer ransacked Doreen’s house and stole her computer. What about her?”

“Doreen tied to a kingpin?” I had to laugh. “Not a chance.”

“The agent called to inform us of a comment the perpetrator made, suggesting that he may be responsible for other deaths in the Keys. We’re going to look into it.”

The hairs on my forearms prickled, standing on guard. “What comment?”

“When they asked him about a body found floating in the Keys, he asked ‘Which one?’ Maybe he was just avoiding the question. I don’t know,” her voice trailed .

“What did he say when they questioned him about it?” I asked.

“He clammed up when they tried to press him on it. But Agent Flannigan felt strongly enough about his connection to other murders in the Keys that he called us to Florida City to tell us in person.”

“That’s crazy. Other murders ?” A single murder was virtually unheard of in our small island town.

“Yeah. So I guess that’s our new project– identifying other potential victims.” Faith sighed, rubbing her temples. “Every time we talk to the FBI agent, I end up with more questions than answers.”

I reached over, placing a hand on her thigh. “The most important thing is that they caught the bad guy, and he’ll never be able to hurt anyone else ever again.”

“Agreed. Sorry, babe. Enough talk about work. Let’s focus on this private-island brunch we’re heading to.”

“That’s my girl.” I squeezed her thigh, eager to leave the past behind us and look forward toward our future.

Faith blew across the top of the warm mug between her hands. “I could get used to this.”

“You’d better because I don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.” Or ever.

“That’s good,” she said as she set her mug on the end table, her eyes lighting up with mischief. “Because I’m not going anywhere, mister.”

Her fingertips snaked into my chest hair as she kissed a trail down my abs. Before I knew what was happening, she pulled my boxers down and slipped my half-chubby into her mouth .

“Whoa whoa whoa,” I stammered, trying to pull her back up to my chest despite my cock growing in her mouth. “We don’t have time for this.”

She looked up, locking my gaze and didn’t let up until I was rock hard. Gripping my shaft, her lips slid off my cock. “They call it a quickie for a reason.”

“We’re not very good at quickies,” I said, gasping as she took my dick deep into her throat. Most of our sex had been marathon sessions. We’d become more insatiable with every passing day, as if the more we explored one another, the more we wanted to know.

“Well, there’s only one way to improve our quickie performance,” she said, climbing up to straddle me. “Practice makes perfect.”

Her hand moved between her legs to shift her tiny red lace panties to the side before she slid herself onto my hardness.

“You’re fucking perfect,” I groaned, cupping her breasts in my palms as she rode my cock.

Faith leaned over to kiss me, and somehow our teeth didn’t collide while she moved harder and faster. When I felt the tingle rising from the base of my cock, I realized she was accomplishing her goal faster than I’d anticipated.

“Hang on now,” I protested as adamantly as I could, slipping my hand between her legs. My thumb found the spot I’d spent hours studying. “Don’t make me come before you do.”

“It’s okay, babe,” she said in a breathy groan. “It’s a quickie. You can get me later.”

I stared her deep in the eyes while my thumb flicked over her hardened nub.

“I’ll get you now, and later,” I said, safely back from the brink of climax while I focused on her pleasure.

“And over and over, every chance I get.” My rubbing her clit so fervently made her slow down enough to enjoy it.

A grin tugged at the corners of my mouth.

“Nothing turns me on more than pleasing you.”

“Then I’m the lucky one,” she groaned, rolling her bottom lip between her teeth.

“I’m the luckiest man alive,” I said, honing in on her pulsing clit. “I love you, babe, more than I’ve ever loved anyone.”

Her eyes widened in shock at hearing the words that we’d never said. “I love you, too. So fucking much it hurts.”

“I promise that’s the only way I’ll ever hurt you,” I said, rubbing her faster.

When she started to moan, I reached up to twist her nipple.

Her eyes drifted closed, so I twisted harder and said, “Look at me.” She blinked at me, half-dazed with desire, still lifting and lowering herself on my length while I flicked her clit feverishly.

“Look at me while you come on that cock, beautiful.”

“Oh fuck, Coulter.” Her head fell back.

My pinch tightened on her nipple, my hips bucking under her. “Look at me.”

The desperation in her eyes while the orgasm overtook her made my dick throb with an intensity that only Faith had ever achieved. I gritted my teeth and held back until her moans started to wane.

Moving quickly to grab her ass, I lifted her off me just in time.

My dick slapped down to spew onto my stomach.

Faith’s hips wiggled to lower onto me, the slight roughness of the lace on one side contrasting with the silky feel of her pussy rolling over my shaft, while the waves of ecstasy moved through me.

Faith collapsed onto my chest in a heap, panting in my ear. “See, we can do quickies.”

“You proved your point, Detective.”

After catching her breath, Faith peeled herself off my chest. “I suppose we’d better shower,” she said, eyeing the messy remnants slathered on both our bellies now.

“Definitely, but don’t even think about a round two in there,” I said as she swung her tanned and toned leg over me and popped to her feet. “We’ve got to hurry,” I added, trotting behind her.

“Alright. But later…” Faith called back over her shoulder, with a naughty look in her blue eyes..

“Later,” I said, softly slapping her firm butt while she bent over to turn on the faucet, “I’ll take my time and make sure you get at least a couple more of those big O’s.”