Fade to Black Page 15

  Rory hesitated for a moment. She understood what he was implying, but she didn’t want to stop. If she solved the case tomorrow, and she disappeared from Peytonville at the end of the day, she didn’t want to live with the regret of never taking this step with Zach.

  He reluctantly sat up and began to reach for his pants. “I think I’m going to need a very cold shower.”

  “No.” She caught hold of his arm. “You don’t.”

  “But Rory, I don’t have any.”

  “I’ve got us covered.” Rory was amused at the look of relief on his face. “Just because I haven’t done anything doesn’t mean I’m not prepared.” She tugged him back to the bed. “Now where were we?”

  Placing his hand on her shoulder he eased her down on her back. “My turn.” Scooting lower on the bed, his fingers roamed over her belly, her inner thighs, and finally, he gently parted her legs — exposing her completely to him.

  Rory tensed as his fingers brushed against skin no one else had ever touched before.

  “Relax. This won’t hurt.” He touched her outer folds, and his fingers skimmed across the moisture signaling how ready one part of her was for this moment. Cautiously, he separated her inner folds as he looked back up into her face. He circled her clit and her toes curled in response.

  Rory fought back a wave of fear as his fingertips inched closer to the point of no return. As he watched her for any hint of unease, he pulled his hand away as she bit down on her inner cheek. This was Zach. She trusted him … she loved him. She was ready. “Keep going.” She widened her legs farther apart and placed his hand back where it had been. “I want this. I want to feel you inside me.”

  At her encouragement, he circled her vagina once more before gently dipping a finger inside. “God, you’re tight.” He pushed with gentle pressure as she tried to relax. “Just breathe.” He ran his thumb over her clit as his index finger entered her farther and he worked to prepare her. Slowly, he slid his finger in and out of her most private place as he moved his thumb in unison over the sensitive skin of her clit. As she thrust against him, he pulled his hand away and rolled on top of her.

  As he slid inside her, she winced at the sharp, stab of pain.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “No.” She circled her hip at the new sensation of fullness between her legs. “It’s not too bad.” After the initial stinging passed, the pressure felt very, very good.

  “You’re sure?” A vein in his temple throbbed as he fought the urge to move. He entwined her fingers with his on either side of her head.

  “Mmm hmm.” She nodded and her movements encouraged him on. Slowly, hesitantly, he rocked his hips back and forth — each time he worked his way in deeper as he was careful to press against her most sensitive area. His lips crashed against hers as his breathing came in shallow pants.

  A wave of warmth built in the pit of Rory’s stomach as the anticipation built. Faster. Harder. She tugged her hand from his grip and dragged her fingernails across his bum — a primal urge overtaking her. “Oh yes.” She tipped her head back and moaned as the friction between their sweat-soaked bodies increased. All at once, a shudder rocked her to her very core as her muscles contracted rhythmically.

  Zach grunted as a warm flood was released between her legs. His movements slowed before they stilled completely as he stayed within her. Sated, he collapsed against her chest.

  Rory took a deep breath as a second wave of pleasure washed over her. She stared into his face, unprepared for the amount of tenderness in his expression. He placed a gentle kiss on her lips before rolling onto his back and cupping her against his chest.

  • • •

  Rory hadn’t even realized she’d fallen asleep, but the gentle patter of the rain combined with the energy spent during their coupling earlier in the night had proven to be too much for her. Beside her, Zach snored softly as she rose up on her elbow and focused on the clock.

  “Oh crap!”

  Zach woke with a start, his eyes widening in surprise. “That’s not the general response I expect in the mornings.”

  “It’s not morning.” Rory shook her head as she sat up, tugging the sheet across her breasts. “But I’m still in trouble.”

  Zach squinted at the clock. “It’s one A.M.”

  “I know. I missed curfew. I’m going to have to sleep in my car.” She began to roll out of the bed but Zach’s hand closed on her wrist.

  “No you don’t.” He held the blankets open. “You’re staying here tonight.”

  “But … ”

  “You’re already too late to get in the dorm.” He sat up and pressed his chest against her back. “It’s still raining. The roads get bad around here.” He kissed the nape of her neck. “And I can think of a few ways to help you fall back to sleep.” He reached around her and palmed her breast.

  She couldn’t resist. “Just one night.”

  • • •

  “Can you tell me what happened?” Rory lay nestled in the crook of Zach’s arm as he lightly brushed his index finger over the scar around her wrist. The moonlight drifting through the window cast just enough light on his face so that she could see the concern in his eyes.

  “I was wondering when you’d ask about them.” She paused. “You noticed them the night you busted the party, didn’t you?”

  Zach nodded.

  “I didn’t try to kill myself I that’s what you’re wondering.” She forced a laugh, and she realized she was trying to cover her tension with humor. Her therapist was very fond of pointing out that aspect of her personality. She rolled onto her side and placed her arm across Zach’s bare chest. As if he sensed her distress, he wrapped his arms around her. “I had an assignment that ended badly.”

  He pulled a blanket up over her shoulder and ran his hand absently over her ribs. “If you don’t want to tell me — ”

  “No.” She continued. “I just haven’t told the story before … well, not to anyone but my shrink.” Rory swallowed hesitantly. She was masking with humor again. “I was on an assignment last year. I didn’t get out of the party before the police moved in to make a bust. My handler was afraid the dealer would get away. The dealer decided having a hostage would be a way to get out of the house. I was the closest one standing to him.”

  “It worked. He knew the area better than the other cops did. The car blended in with the other traffic. He drove out of town, but he left me in the trunk.” A shiver ran up her spine as she thought about the hours she spent in the darkness. “Took me twelve hours to get my hands free.”

  “And you still work undercover?”

  She shrugged. “I owe it to Quinn.”

  “My god, you’re amazing.” He bent his head down and kissed her forehead.

  Chapter Twelve

  November

  “You’re so tense.” Justin reached behind Rory and corrected her stance. He massaged her bicep with one hand and placed the other across her stomach. “Relax.”

  Zach didn’t feel relaxed. There was nothing wrong with Rory’s stance. That’s why she was beating him so soundly. Out of the six students sharing a lane, Rory’s score was almost twenty points higher than any of the other players.

  “See, much better.” Static shot through the microphone as Justin’s thumb trailed across the edge of Rory’s chest.

  Sneaky. Her wire was in her bra. He’d always wondered how she’d been able to wear it even during dress rehearsals. The static meant Justin’s hand was exactly where it didn’t belong. Only one person was allowed to get that close to Rory — a fact that proved to be more difficult for Zach each time Rory went on an outing with a suspect.

  “Easy boy.” Christian jabbed Zach in the side as he stared at his partner sitting behind the wheel. “They’re just bowling.”

  “She’s your sister. Doesn’t it bother you where his
hands are?”

  “I think I’m more concerned about how much it bothers you.” Christian smirked knowingly at Zach. “Last night, when she returned my call, she was using your phone.”

  “We were going over the case. It’s easier for her not to be at the dorm.”

  “And that’s why she was laughing?”

  Zach thought for a minute. She’d definitely been giggling, but that was long after she’d ended the phone call with her brother. “Oh, that was when Otis was licking the whipped cream off her leg.”

  Christian grimaced. “That was more information than I needed to know.”

  “She spilled her hot chocolate.” Zach shook his head in annoyance. As if they’d be doing anything like that while she was on the phone with her brother. But it did give him a good idea for tonight — providing the bowling game wrapped up in time. Not wanting to draw Allie’s suspicions, he’d kept his word. She’d only spent one night in his bed, but they’d learned to work around the restraints of her curfew. “Your sister’s a klutz.”

  “I’ll be sure to tell her you said that.” He turned his attention to the screen as Rory’s voice became louder. “Look who’s here.” Nodding to the screen, Christian waited for Zach’s reaction.

  “She said he’d be there.” Zach stretched as he watched Gabriel take a seat in between two of the girls in the group. The graduate student held a basket of hot wings in one hand and leaned over to place his beer on the table with the other. One of the girls snuck a piece of celery, but Gabriel didn’t seem to mind.

  “Do you think this guy will ever make his move?”

  Zach shrugged. “If he doesn’t, it has to be because he’s not the dealer. Rory’s done everything except hand him cash and ask for drugs.”

  “She thinks he’s onto her.”

  “I don’t know if he’s that smart.” Zach turned the volume on the radio up as Gabriel wrapped an arm around the top of the bench and casually let it rest on the shoulder of the sophomore sitting next to him. “Of course he’d pick the youngest one there.”

  It was Rory’s turn again just as the lights turned off and the black lights came on. Disco music began to play as strobe lights blinked along with the beat. Rory rolled a gutter ball.

  “That’s going to tick her off.” Christian crossed his legs as he fumbled with the brightness control on the receiver.

  “Won’t help. We won’t be able to see anything till the lights turn back on.”

  “How long will that be?”

  Zach scratched his head as he thought. “Three or four songs. Not too long.” Rory’s ball glowed as she approached the lane for her second turn. Once again, her ball rolled to the side and finished its trip in the gutter.

  “Damn. Two gutters in a row.” Maggie leaned out from beneath Gabriel’s arm and commented as Rory took her seat. Rory still wasn’t sure how Maggie had earned an invitation on their outing, but she’d quickly discovered a number of the younger female students appeared where they thought Gabriel might turn up.

  “I guess I’m bad luck for you.” Gabriel scooted down to give Rory room on the bench. He picked up his beer and took a long drink. Zach didn’t want to know how the bowling alley made their beer glow under the black light.

  “I guess so.” Rory stood back up and reached for her purse. “Gabriel, why don’t you finish out my game?” Zach heard the jingle of her car keys. “I think I’m going to call it a night.”

  “Are you sure?” Justin asked.

  “Yeah. I’m not feeling great. I’m going to call it a night.”

  “See you tomorrow.” Maggie waved as she took a hot wing from Gabriel’s platter.

  • • •

  Rory’s car door had barely closed when her phone began to vibrate in her purse. “Hey.” She waited to see which of the guys in the blue Oldsmobile was calling.

  “Everything ok?” Christian sounded more than a little concerned. Now that Zach knew they were related, he wasn’t afraid to play the worried older brother card.

  Rory started her car and began to back out of the parking space. She’d had a headache since her last class, and the medicine she’d taken hadn’t helped at all. When the lights went out, and the strobe lights started, her stomach threatened to revolt. “The lights just triggered the start of a migraine, I think.” Rory unscrewed the lid of a water bottle she’d started the night before after play rehearsal. It wasn’t exactly fresh, but it was better than vomiting all over the floorboard of the car. “I’ll be ok. I’m just going back to my dorm to sleep it off.”

  “Need someone to drive you?” Zach’s voice surprised her. Christian had the call on speakerphone.

  “No, I’ll be ok.” As a break in traffic opened up on the busy road, she inched into the street. “The strobe lights always give me a headache. In the morning, I’ll be good as new.”

  “Want us to follow you in?”

  “Zach, I can drive. Really, don’t y’all have a football game or something to watch?”

  “It’s basketball season, Rory, there’s always a game on.” Christian answered.

  “Well, then, have fun on your night off. Isn’t tonight poker night? Go have fun with that baseball guy.” Rory hung up the phone and turned onto the bridge running over Carter Lake. She rolled her eyes as she watched a late model Oldsmobile following at a distance. “At least you’re not being obvious about it.” She took another drink from the bottle and laughed to herself as she realized they were going to follow her back to the dorm whether she wanted an escort or not.

  • • •

  Rory braced one hand against the bathroom sink as she rubbed her forehead with the other.

  Two.

  Pink.

  Lines.

  This … had to be a mistake. Seriously. She picked up the cream-colored stick as if it were a venomous snake and cautiously tilted it beneath the fluorescent light above the weathered bathroom mirror. Squinting, she examined it more closely. Maybe she was reading it wrong or it was just defective.

  Expired. That had to be right. That’s why this particular test was cheaper than the other brands on the family planning aisle at the corner convenience store. She’d fought back a laugh at how prominently the pregnancy tests had been displayed just above the condoms. The message to the customer couldn’t have been clearer — buy those so you wouldn’t need one of these.

  She’d picked up the test just to humor herself. Nine days late wasn’t too bad. She was under a lot of between the case and being in the show. Ever since she’d had strep throat last month, she’d felt a little off. That was definitely the problem. Picking up the box, she turned it in her hand until she saw the date stamped on the side — next Christmas.

  Unfolding the map-sized instruction sheet, she checked the “easy to read” pictures one more time. A single pink line for negative. Two lines and you’d soon need to register at Babies ‘R Us.

  She couldn’t understand how this had happened. Even before she and Zach had become more than partners, she’d faithfully taken a little white or pink pill every morning when she brushed her teeth. Well, when she was sick last month, she hadn’t been exactly paying attention. She’d ended up with three pills left over at the end of the month. But still, this couldn’t be happening. She thudded her head against the mirror for needed emphasis.

  “Well, that’s gotta suck.” Allie ran a sympathetic hand along Rory’s back. She reached behind her and pressed the lock button on the bathroom doorknob before she leaned against the doorframe. “I’m guessing this wasn’t planned.”

  “Hardly.”

  Allie leaned her head to one side and shrugged dismissively. “Stranger things have happened around here in the quest for the MRS degree. Trust me, there’s not an easier way to get a guy to put a ring on it.”

  “Not planned.” Rory slid to the ground before her kne
es gave out beneath her.

  Allie screwed up her face and nodded to herself. “You were sick last month. You had strep throat right after I did, didn’t you? You were on autopilot back then. Skip a couple of doses?” Rory nodded as her eyes began to sting. “Didn’t anyone ever tell you to use a backup if that happens?”

  “A back up?” How did Allie know Rory had a back-up officer with her on dates?

  “Condoms or just no sex. What did you think I was talking about? For a smart girl, you really can be pretty dense sometimes, but I’ll give you a pass today. You look like you need it.” She walked to Rory’s shower caddy and dug out a pink polka-dotted washcloth. For an instant, her brow furrowed and she glanced at Rory with a curious expression on her face. “Where … ” Loud knocks shook the bathroom door. “Occupied!” Allie called through the crack in the door. “And you might want to find a different bathroom. I’m not feeling very good.” She retched into the air for added emphasis. Cranking the handle of the antique faucet, she ran a stream of cold water over the cloth.

  “You should be in drama.”

  “It’s a gift. Comes in handy with five older brothers.” Allie shrugged her shoulders and placed the cloth on Rory’s forehead. “Why don’t you skip classes today?”

  “I can’t.” Rory knew she wouldn’t have to resort to stage makeup today to convince her professors she was under the weather. Her bloodshot eyes would surely catch Dr. Maxwell’s attention today. He’d been observing her closely since her arrest earlier in the month. Since her eyes felt as if someone sprinkled sand in her contacts, she definitely not going to need acting lessons to fake feeling ill today.

  Allie gave her a skeptical look. “Well, at least take it easy, okay? And don’t throw that stuff in this trash. Mom goes through the trash. The rest of us don’t want to play the “who’s pregnant this time” game with her this month.”

  “I won’t.” Making no attempt to move, Rory brought her knees to her chest and leaned her head against her palms.

  “I know you’re kind of on your own.” Allie twirled a blonde curl around her index finger. “I mean, I’ve never heard you talking with your parents on the phone. If you need something, text me, okay. I feel bad about leaving you like this, but I have a test in chemistry this morning.”