Somewhere in the back of my brain reality called. Velvet vise. How could she feel this good with a condom? The truth slapped me like a wet hand. “Oh, crap,” I gasped. “It broke.” She tightened her legs around me as I drove in again, unable to stop. “Damn it, the…rubber—it broke. I gotta pull out.”

But she wouldn’t let me. She dug her nails into my butt to hold me in place. Satin thighs imprisoned my ribcage, drew me in deeper. She wasn’t about to let me go, and I didn’t have the strength or will to fight her.

Pleasure speared through my cock, from root to tip. With the condom gone, I could feel every silky ridge of her, could feel the frayed piece of rubber bunch with each drag and thrust. The friction felt indescribable. I suckled her nipple, all the while stroking the same spot inside her until she gasped. Somehow I knew that tender pocket was right where she wanted me. Then I felt it—her first spasm. I cut her scream off with a thorough kiss while she came with such sweetness, I couldn’t help but follow.

Convulsions ran the gambit within her body. The hot glove sheathing me fluttered, squeezing my cock like a million tiny fists. That’s all it took. Pleasure rushed my groin as I came hard and hot, flooding into her until she’d milked me dry.

SHANNON

____________________________

I wilted in Trace’s arms, breathless, giddy, and sated. “Oh, God. Now…we’ll need…to take another shower.”

We’d showered together an hour ago when we’d awakened at the crack of dawn. I was sore, but I wanted him again, wanted that closeness. So he made love to me slowly, gently, up against the cool tile as hot water sprayed down on us. Somehow, we’d ended up back in bed again.

“I think I broke…somethin’, that time,” he said, puffing.

I giggled. “I won’t be able to walk…for a week.”

“You ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”

“Is that a threat?”

“Yup.” Chest still pumping, he pulled out and rolled off me. “What do you think…about us gettin’ away from all this? Just for a few days.”

“Huh?”

He rubbed my thigh. “This weekend. Maybe a hotel room in the city. Better still Cholly was telling me about this cabin resort up in the mountains.”

“Perhaps after I clean this mess up.”

“Mess?”

I tried to catch my breath before answering. “The wedding with Darien for one. I’ve signed contracts…need to settle up with vendors. Notify friends, family.”

“How long will that take?”

I gave an exaggerated shrug. “Who knows? I’ve never done this before. It’s bound to be sticky.”

“Yeah, but that shouldn’t take long.” He scrubbed a hand over his wet hair. “You break your contracts and pay the fees.”

“That’s not the only consideration here.”

One of his eyebrows arched high. “What else?”

I rose on an elbow to stare down at him. “My aunt, uncle, and godfather are co-conspirators in a murder cover-up.”

“If that’s not a reason to get away, I don’t know what is. I don’t know about you, but I could use a couple mental health days. For real. Trust me, all this bullshit will be here when we get back.”

Foreboding gnawed deep. “But Mother’s killer is still out there. We’ve got to hire a lawyer. Contact the prosecutor’s office. I expect Uncle Sears to launch a vigorous defense. There’s a massive amount of new information. Mrs. Campbell, Uncle Jackson, what I remembered from Dr. Rosen….”

He levered up, balancing on a forearm. His eyes were like searchlights. “What’s really going on here?”

I felt cornered, flustered. “I’m estranged from my family. Uncle Sears is in the hospital—”

“With a wicked case of indigestion. Least that’s what you said last night.”

“Yes, but it’s what put him there that concerns me. It wasn’t a heart attack, but his stomach problems are stress-related. He’s scared because he knows I’m not backing down. Wait until he and Auntie find out about our visit to the sheriff’s.”

“You didn’t say anything at the hospital?”

“How could I? He and Auntie were at each other’s throats. More than usual. They had to sedate him, it got so bad. And I was upset about the fight with you. Numb about Darien.”

“It was a lot to deal with,” he said in a hushed voice.

“Then Mead shows up and starts pointing fingers at me. Darien arrived just as I was leaving. I ignored him.” I sighed. “When it rains it pours.”

He stared at me with sober eyes. “None of that should stop this trip. Don’t you think we could use the time away to clear our heads? Maybe get a handle on how we should move forward?”

“Yes, but—”

“But what?” I lowered my eyes and he nodded to himself. “Oh, I get it. A romantic weekend with me would set tongues waggin’, wouldn’t it?”

Seconds passed. Finally, the angry silence yanked the truth out of me. “All right! All right!” I scowled. “Look, it’s just the timing, okay? I’m about to cancel my wedding, so if I go running off with you now, I’ll be the one wearing the Scarlet Letter. Nobody will care about the details, they’ll just see Lilith Bradford’s daughter doing what comes natural. My God, Darien’s been carrying on for months behind my back. All the guilt I’ve suffered about us…and what was he doing? Screwing Kate Sims the whole time! Why should I be the one—”

“To look bad?” He cocked a brow. “If you think that’s scary, wait’ll your bridge club pals hear about our screaming match last night. We likely woke the dead. Not to mention, I gave the whole neighborhood a peep show.”

I looked away.

“Forgot about that, didn’t you?” When I didn’t answer, he jiggled my hand. “It’s not that you’re ashamed of us. You just want to make sure you come off smelling like a rose.”

“Why do you have to say it like that?”

“Am I wrong?”

“Yes,” I said with certainty. “I’m not ashamed. Just scared.”

“Then write it in the sky. Slap it on a billboard. Tell them you don’t give a damn what they think. That’ll kill the fear for good.”

I looked into his eyes, marveling at how beautiful he was, and how unworthy I felt. I’d hurt him again. And why? Because old habits died hard. Because it would take much more than words and good intentions to erase a lifetime of fear.

Trace peeled the condom off. He threw his legs over the edge of the bed and snatched his underwear from the floor. After he’d tossed the condom in the trash, he yanked the boxer-briefs over his hips, and stalked toward the door, but swung back around mid-step.

“I may be free and clear of disease, but there are other concerns.” When my face fell, he said, “Once is all it takes. I mean, you’re not on birth control, and, as I recall, I came inside you twice.” He quirked a brow, then flashed two fingers. “Last night when the condom broke, and again in the shower. We both know I didn’t pull out in time.”

As if on cue, a damp reminder seeped between my thighs.

His gaze dropped to my abdomen. “My little soldiers are in there right now, looking for one thing.” At my widened eyes, he said, “Oh, yeah, we may have created a new life. Now wouldn’t that be somethin’? Think of the headline they could run.” He thrust his hands in front of him. His long fingers curved to form a mock marquee: “Bradford Bears Butcher Boy’s Bastard.”

I flinched. He’d hurled the words like knives. “You know I’d be honored to carry your child.”

“Sure you would.” Trace rolled his eyes and snatched a clean pair of boxers from a drawer, then pulled a shirt and Levi’s from his closet. “I need to get to the flower shop before work.” He stalked down the hall and slammed the bathroom door. The house shook.

I threw his robe on and scrambled after him, getting to the bathroom in a flash. I didn’t bother to knock, just burst through the door, only to freeze in my tracks.

Head bent, he’d set one hand against the tiled wall. With the other hand, he gripped his penis while a steady stream of urine splashed into the toilet bowl. He didn’t even spare me a glance, just continued relieving himself.