Page 78 of When He Defends

“I’ll try to spot more cameras on the way. Gonna contact Malik ASAP and see if we can figure out where the feed is being transmitted.” He pulled back. Pressed his hands into the sand and levered up.

Before she could rise, he’d caught her hands, too. He lifted her up. Bent to kiss her again.

Her eyes closed. She kissed him back. The wind rolled in with the waves, and her skirt flew around her. A tear leaked from her right eye. She could feel it, but surely Gray couldn’t see it.

A million stars overhead. And the waning moon. He saw the tiny camera, but you think he can’t see a tear drop?

He let her go. Turned away.

She hurriedly brushed away the tear. Sand must have gotten in her eye.

He didn’t comment so she hoped he hadn’t seen the small movement. They rushed back through the resort area. Heading in a path that made no sense to her, but Gray moved unerringly. Every now and then, he’d pause. Either pull her into an embrace. Get her revved up and tense. Or he’d lean in close as if he were whispering some sort of sweet nothing to her. But in reality…

“There’s another one, top of the dock house, pointed toward the area where they do morning yoga. Damn, would have missed it if I hadn’t already known exactly what the secondary cameras looked like.”

She still missed the camera. Wait, no, there it was. She’d been keeping track each time Gray stopped.

They hurried along and then… “Another,” Gray told her. “Near the maintenance door in the pool area.”

The pool glowed, a bright blue, courtesy of its underwater lights.

His arm settled around her shoulders. He brought her in close, nuzzling her neck. “The bastard watches everyone. He picks out his prey.”

She let her hand rise, and Emerson curled her fingers around his. “What makes him pick certain people?”

His head turned. Again, he was in the shadows, but she was more easily seen. Her lighter skirt. The blouse. “I think it’s the women. Something about them. They were the ones on the paddleboards. They were the ones at the yoga class. He chooses the couples based on the women.”

And Emerson realized why Gray hadn’t said a word when she’d come out in the light skirt and top, even though he’d dressed to blend with the darkness. He wanted her to be seen.

He wanted her to be the killer’s prey.

“Then let’s just hope he chooses me,” she said. Deliberately, she pulled from his embrace. Went into the light cast by the pool. Even did a little twirl near the pool’s edge.

“Emerson?” Anger roughed his voice. But maybe if anyone overheard him, they’d mistake the anger for lust.

She stopped her spin. Stayed near the edge of the pool. Not like she wanted to fall in, though that would certainly create a show for any watcher. Instead, she smiled at her “husband” as he waited in the darkness. “Come and get me.” It sounded like a taunt for Gray. She even crooked her finger at him in sensual invitation.

But…

The taunt was for the killer. Whoever might be watching. Whoever might be looking for new prey.

Come and get me.

She’d catch his attention. One way or another.

Gray growled and burst from the darkness. He went right to her. In a blink, he’d picked her up. Tossed her over his shoulder. The reaction wasnotwhat she’d expected, and Emerson let out a surprised cry.

His hold tightened on her. “Got you.” And with her over his shoulder, he carried her back through the dark and away from the gleaming water in the pool.

Chapter Seventeen

“What the actual fuck, Emerson?” – Gray Stone to his new partner, on any given day

He carriedher over the threshold, with Emerson bouncing slightly over his shoulder. When she squirmed, he gave her a light tap on that phenomenal ass of hers.

Emerson stiffened. “Gray! You didnotjust spank me!”

Had he? Oh, right. He had, and he’d enjoyed the hell out of that too-brief tap.