His eyes searched mine. “Tessa, how can you not know how much I love you? I’ve wanted to tell you multiple times, but you never let me get a word in. There’s no one else for me. Explode a hundred pumpkins if you have to, make mistakes. Just make them with me.”
“You might regret it.”
“Never.” He brushed my mouth with another kiss.
“I’ll remember you said that, Detective.”
“Derrick,” he growled.
“Huh?”
“New rule. When we’re alone together, you call me Derrick.”
I grinned. “Finally, a rule I intend to follow.” Going up on my toes, I wound my arms around his neck and dragged his mouth to mine.
Derrick groaned low in his throat, hands circling my waist. Delicious friction exploded my nerve endings as he locked me firmly against the solid planes of his chest. The scent of his skin filled my senses, drugging me faster than any poison. His tongue touched mine when I opened for him, and heat surged in my belly, moving lower.
I matched his groan with one of my own, desire swirling within my body. He backed us up until my legs bumped the bed, his ruined jacket dropping to the floor when I slid my fingers under the heavy fabric to push it over his shoulders. He was never wearing that one again. I kicked it away. His shirt came next, and the air burned in my lungs as my palms swept the hard ridges of his abdomen.
Dropping an urgent kiss along my jawline, he spoke hoarse in my ear, “Are you sure?”
“Yes. Don’t you dare deny a dying girl.”
He laughed and nipped the sensitive skin of my neck, teeth skimming my earlobe. “You’re not dying.”
“I fainted. That has to—”
“It counts for something.” Hands at my waist, he lifted me and eased me back onto the mattress. My shift bunched around my hips, and I arched my back so his fingers could skate across my ribcage, light as mist. Pleasure tightened my stomach when his thumb brushed my nipple. He did it again, a slow circle that made sparks tingle at my fingertips. The current raced over my heated skin, transferring to his.
Derrick’s breathing stopped, his eyes darkening at the sensation. Okay, so I wasn’t bad atallmagic. A possessive growl vibrated his chest, and he ground his hips into mine, teasing my mouth with a hungry kiss. Need pooled in my veins, thick and sluggish, in total contrast to the bruising pound of my heart.Merciful spellbooks…He was wicked.His mouth slanted to take me deeper.
“You’re so beautiful,” he murmured as he sunk his hands into my hair. His kiss turned achingly tender, breaking my heart and mending it back together.
Acceptance softened my edges, rinsing away years of regret and failed spells.
My shift landed next to Derrick’s destroyed jacket. The rest of his clothes followed, the action separating us for too long.Wretched clothes.I searched for his mouth, melting when his tongue stroked mine. He entered me in a slow thrust that made the first round of sparks seem like a mere flicker. My fingers splayed over his back, sending little jolts into his skin.
Arms like iron, Derrick’s whole body tightened, and he wrapped me in an embrace as he found a breathless rhythm. Pleasure spiraled in my core then broke on a wave. He caught my quick inhale with his mouth, following me over the edge. My name was a reverent rasp from his lips.
Holy enchanted moonstones…
Time passed slowly. I snuggled into the crook of his arm, savoring the simple satisfaction of lying next to him. Somehow, minutes burned into an hour, and my eyes grew heavy with sleep.
I was absentmindedly gliding my fingernails over his abdomen when Derrick captured my hand and brought my palm to his mouth. I giggled and tried to tug it away.
“That tickles.”
“Yeah? So did your fingernails.”
I rolled onto my side and propped my head up on my hand. “What happens tomorrow, Derrick?”
He smiled. “I really like the new rule.”
“It’s my current favorite, though I have a newfound appreciation for rule number one—always stay by your side.”
“The rule is actually don’t investigate alone, but your version is better.” He sighed. “Tomorrow, we interview Helen to find out her role in the murder.”
“I don’t think she was working alone. She may have been partly responsible for Jane and Ella’s deaths, but I doubt she knew Sophie.”
