Rebecca Zanetti - Forgotten Sins

“You’re thinking too hard,” Shane rumbled in her ear, running a hand down her arm. Goose bumps rose in reaction.

“I’m a thinker, Shane.” Yet another thing he didn’t remember about her.

He nodded. “No kidding. I have to ask… I shouldn’t because we’ve been separated, but I need to know.”

“Know what?”

“Did you sleep with Marsh?”

The question should’ve surprised her. But she remembered Shane’s possessiveness well. He’d need to know the truth.

Of course she hadn’t slept with anyone else while still married to him. “No, I haven’t slept with Tom.” Shane had been the one and only for her.

His body relaxed behind her. “That pleases me.”

She sighed. Pleasing him wasn’t high on her list. “How fantastic.”

He chuckled. “So. Tell me what I don’t remember about you.”

What? Oh man. She hated pillow talk. She sucked at verbal intimacy. Being naked with Shane made her vulnerable enough, and now he wanted her to expose herself more with admitting to her odd life? Nobody had ever taught her how to share, how to trust. Not really.

She sighed. “You already know I grew up in foster care—moved around a lot.” Rain pinged the window outside. “My childhood was all right. Most people were fairly nice, but nobody was mine.”

His sigh stirred her hair. “Until me.”

“Until you. Then you left.” Pain caught her breath in her chest. How could his disappearance possibly still hurt?

Soft lips pressed a kiss against the top of her head. “I’m sorry.”

Too much emotion for her. She couldn’t handle any more. “Earlier in my office. We didn’t use a condom.”

He stilled. “Huh.” One arm slid around her waist to tug her farther into his warmth. An erection settled against her butt. “I didn’t think of the possibility of, er, ah…”

“No kidding.” Heat pooled in her core. She fought to control her breathing, to keep her diaphragm relaxed. “Though I’m on the pill—for menstrual cramps.”

“Oh. I guess that’s okay. But about kids, we are married.”

“We’re about to get divorced.” He didn’t remember himself.

“No.” He licked up her ear to bite the shell.

She shivered in response. “Yes.”

“Nope.” His palm spread out across her bare midriff. “I may have screwed up, and we’ll find out why, but I won’t hurt you again. You’re mine, angel. The only thing in life that matters.” A tremor of desperation filtered through his tone.

His fingers brushed the underside of her breast. She shoved a groan down. “I’m the only thing you remember right now. The rest will come back.” Then she wouldn’t matter anymore. Something else would take him away again, and he’d leave her shattered. Rebuilding had almost killed her last time. She couldn’t do it again.

“I love you, angel. It’s the one thing I remember without a doubt.” The Southern drawl wound around her heart. “I’m not letting you go.”

“Please, Shane.” She couldn’t take the promise. No more. “This is just sex.”

He chuckled in her ear. Then he flipped her onto her back, his body pinning hers. Tension corded his muscles. “That sounds like an offer.”

Her heart caught in her chest. A humming set up in her blood. Warning flushed through her along with desire. “That wasn’t an offer.”

He settled his erection at the apex of her legs. “My mistake.” The rough hair on his thighs tickled her skin. He dropped his head to run heated kisses along the cord of her neck, one hand sliding to clasp her ass and squeeze, his grip implacable. “Are you sure you aren’t offering?”

Stubborn pride fought with basic need. A desperate need only the man above her could fulfill. “No.”

“No to sex? Or no, you’re not sure about the offer?” His drawl deepened. He plucked a nipple, the bite of pain sending raw need to her clit. The palm at her butt lifted her, rubbing her against him.

Her breath caught in her throat. She lifted her gaze to find him focusing on her eyes. Not her body, but her eyes. Watching her. Gauging her reactions. Learning her secrets, delving deeper inside her, allowing her to hide nothing.

At the knowledge, something uncoiled inside her. Something dark, something daring.

His fingers continued to play, tugging her nipples over and around—until she wanted to beg. So many sensations at once kept her on the edge. The hard body over hers, his pulsing erection, his demanding fingers—and that knowing gaze. As if she were completely bare to him.

Her core ached with a need too great to fight. She tangled both hands in his dark hair. She tugged his mouth to hers, licking his bottom lip with her tongue. His eyes glowed silver through the darkness, so much hunger in them she felt devoured. He tweaked the other nipple, and his hand snaked up to tangle in her hair and tug back. “Say the words, Josie.”

He’d ensnared her, rendering her immobile. If she could move, she’d toss him on his back and take him. Hard and fast. She was afraid she’d give him whatever words he demanded. “This is just sex.”

“That’s not what I want to hear.” His hand kneaded her butt, his fingers leaving marks. His marks. “You mentioned an offer. Make it.”

“I hate this about you,” she hissed, even as her body slid against his. So much feeling. So much of an ache.

His grin lacked kindness. “Not true. You love this. You need this.” The hand in her hair gripped tighter, an erotic pain spreading along her scalp. “I’m not letting you hide. I’m not letting you go.”

His eyes held too much knowledge. Did he remember, or was she so easy to read? Her heart hurt even while her body moved against his. “Shane—”

“This is your place, little one. Take it.” His mouth wandered over hers, kissing the corners of her mouth, the center of her lips, angling her to dive deep. So deep. His tongue slid against the roof of her mouth while he held her still. Held her where he wanted her.

He lifted his head. “Make the offer.”

Damn him. She bit her lip, knowing she was fighting the inevitable. “Fine.”

“Not good enough.” His mouth enclosed the soft flesh where her neck met her shoulder. She moaned deep in her throat, waiting until his head lifted for his gray gaze to pin her.

“Fine. I offer sex.” Please. Let it be enough. God. Leave her something.

“Not enough.”

She pushed against him. Getting nowhere. “What the hell do you want?”

His eyebrow rose. Perfect control. She wanted to make him lose that. “Everything, Josie. You already knew the answer.”

She had. She’d known exactly what he would demand the second she let him take her in the office. Could she risk her heart again? Ride the wave until it ended. Her body craved. Her heart needed. What if? What if their relationship worked out this time?

“Trust me. Please.” His eyes darkened to a hue not even close to gray.

Some things were inevitable. She faced her greatest hope and her possible downfall. She knew herself. For Shane and Shane only, she’d jump. Such a terrible risk to take, and the only one with a reward that would be worth it. She’d never stood a chance against him. “Okay. Take it all.” He would anyway. He’d always held her heart. Why pretend otherwise?

Triumph lifted his chin. His lips met hers in a kiss so full of emotion, tears sprang to her eyes. Slowly, so slowly, he entered her, his body fusing with hers. Taking hers. Protecting hers.

She fastened her thighs against his hips, her hands digging into his arms. He started to plunge faster, thrusting with perfect control. Not a chance, buddy. She grabbed his butt, yanking toward her while rearing up and nipping his chest. Leaving her mark.

He paused, mid-thrust.

Her teeth released, and her head hit the pillow.

A vein pulsed in his neck. Crimson spread across his high cheekbones. Those dangerous eyes darkened to midnight as they pierced her. His biceps undulated like the muscles of a stallion wanting to run, and his cock swelled inside her.

Her breath caught. She’d never seen him so on edge. Then, knowing full well what she was doing, she allowed a challenging smile to curve her lips.

His control snapped.

Hard fingers dug into her hip as he thrust hard and to the hilt. Fire lanced inside her, sparking each nerve. She cried out, arching into him, her eyes widening on his.

His nostrils flared. His breath panted out. He slid out and slammed back in, his eyes glittering, his hand in her hair. Keeping her in place. The headboard smashed against the wall.

Hard and fast he thrust, taking them both higher and hotter than ever he’d permitted himself to go with her, taking him beyond his keen rein. An unbelievable ball of heat uncoiled fiercely within her. This was more than sex—more than man and woman. He was all male, taking a female. Her heart hammered with the knowledge, and she clasped her ankles at his back.

Close, she was so close. Her eyes shut. Electricity zapped through her. With a sharp cry, she broke, ripping through the waves.

He pounded harder, faster, finally grinding against her and murmuring her name in that deep Southern drawl as he came.

She relaxed back into the bed, her mind spinning. He’d lost control. The darkness hid her trembling lips. Maybe things could be different this time. Though, as her heartbeat slowed and reality returned, she had to wonder. Was that a good thing?

If her personal life wasn’t a big enough mess, her professional life was blown to bits the next morning. A tornado had ripped through her office. Josie sucked in air, her head pounding. “How did this happen?” Shredded papers covered the floor. File folders had been torn, spreadsheets ripped in two. Cabinets teetered empty and overturned. Anything breakable… broken. She bent down to finger the shards of a ceramic vase she’d made during one outing with Vicki. Of course, Vicki had gone to the art studio to flirt with the owner, but Josie had enjoyed creating the vase and then painting the dramatic colors all over the sides.

She avoided the desk. What she’d let Shane do to her on that desk—

“I don’t know. The police were here for hours earlier to process everything and look for prints.” Shelia bent to pick up a pile of papers. “They said we can clean up now.”

Josie glanced behind Vicki. The rest of the tenth floor didn’t look any better. Whoever had torn through the CPA firm’s space had done so with a vengeance. “Thanks for calling me.” She’d been at Trenton Industries going through their files all morning.

Johnston stalked down the hall, his normally pleasant face set in hard lines. “Anything missing?”

Josie shrugged. “No clue yet.”

He shook his head, a muscle ticking in his massive jaw. “We have financial records for some of the largest corporations in the country. If any of that information went public—”

“But those are locked away, aren’t they?” Josie frowned. This appeared to be vandalism.

Her boss breathed out. “They got into everything. The vault, the computers… they even took three laptops.” He tilted his head at someone behind her. “Detective.”

Oh, come on. It couldn’t be. Josie pivoted, plastering a smile on her face. “Detective Malloy. How nice to see you.”

The detective raised a bushy eyebrow. “Mrs. Dean.” He gestured toward the small conference room. “You’re the only one I haven’t spoken with yet. Shall we?”

Josie straightened her peach-colored silk suit and followed Malloy into the room. Thank goodness her husband was a master at breaking and entering. He’d retrieved more clothes for her earlier that morning from her home. Maybe it was time to go back home.

Malloy shut the door, waiting until Josie settled into a plush leather chair before he did the same. “Do you know if anything is missing yet?” He flipped open his tattered notebook on the gleaming dark mahogany table.

“No.” Josie studied the cop. He had to be, what? Mid-forties? Today he’d worn another wrinkled brown suit, his tie a striped pink. “I like your tie.”

He glanced up, a faint tinge of color sliding across his pale skin. “Thanks. It was a gift.” Dark circles bagged under his eyes, and Josie fought guilt. The guy was sleep-deprived from chasing Shane. He wouldn’t find Shane.

“Well, the colors are very nice.” She clasped her hands on the table. “So, um, you investigate every crime that comes up?”

“Nope. Just anything related to you right now.” Malloy’s smile lacked charm.

Well, wasn’t that just terrific? “This has nothing to do with Shane.”