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“We won’t,” Burke promised. “Sleep now.”
17
Mid-City, New Orleans, Louisiana
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 26, 11:30 P.M.
KAJ STEPPED OUT of the shower, toweling his wet head. He was exhausted, having been on the go since leaving for the bayou before sunup. Before his shower, he’d called his boss and brought him up to speed with both the newest online threat to Elijah and also the Doyle case and its connection to Corey Gates. Reuben Hogan had expressed worry for Elijah and then complimented him on a job well done. It should have felt good, getting praise from his boss, but all Kaj felt was numb exhaustion.
When Kaj had ended the call, all he’d wanted was to fall into bed, but he’d also desperately needed to get clean. Unfortunately, the shower had woken him up. Or maybe it was what he’d been thinking about in the shower. Who he’d been thinking about.
He’d kissed Val. She’d kissed him back.
He wondered what might have happened had they not had a crowd of people waiting in his house. He knew what he’d wanted to happen, what his body had craved.
Her. Val Sorensen. He’d held her in his arms for a few short minutes that hadn’t been anywhere close to enough. All he could think about was holding her again. Kissing her again.
And... more. He wanted to find out how soft her skin was all over. He wanted to run his hands over her curves. He wanted to bury himself in her body. Wanted to lose himself to heat and need and wild, unbridled desire.
He wanted to hear the sounds she made when she came. She’d throw her head back, her hair spread over his pillow, and she’d be so damn beautiful as she chanted his name as he drove into her over and over and—
He shuddered. God. He was hard again, unbelievable since he’d just jerked off in the shower. He pressed a palm to his cock, feeling like he was twenty years old again. It was probably because it had been so long.
He hadn’t had sex in... Shit. It had been six years. The last time had been a year before Heather died, two years into her illness. She’d rallied and they’d been hoping that she’d get better. That they’d have their happily-ever-after.
That wasn’t to be. He also knew that Heather wouldn’t have wanted him to be alone for so long. You’d like her, Heather. She’s good for Elijah. She’s good for me.
Physically, Val was as different from Heather as day was from night. Heather had been petite with dark brown hair and even darker eyes. Val was as tall as he was and her coloring was Heather’s complete opposite.
Inside, though... They had a lot in common. Heather had been cheerful and giving. Stoic and strong. She’d loved with her whole heart. He’d thought the time they’d shared would be enough to last him for the rest of his life.
And then he’d seen Val at a party. Fate, in the form of Rick Gates, had given Kaj an unexpected gift—time to get to know her. He’d seen her happy with friends, affectionate with his son, compassionate with Jace, and almost frighteningly capable when Corey had deposited Rick on his front lawn. He’d also seen her weary and despondent after a visit with her mother and he’d wanted to shake Britta Kristiansen. Couldn’t she see what she was doing to her daughter?
No, she can’t. Her grief at the loss of her son had blinded her to her treatment of his twin.
He wasn’t sure how he’d function if he lost Elijah, but he hoped he’d have the strength to go on for any other children he might have had. He wasn’t sure if he should allow himself to judge the Kristiansens or not.
He pulled on pajama pants and a T-shirt, positioning his shoes at the edge of his bed so that he could shove his feet into them if the perimeter alarms went off. Then he opened his door, intending to check on Elijah one last time before he climbed into bed.
And stopped in his tracks.
She was singing again. Val was singing that same lullaby to Elijah, her voice sweet and pure and strong. His shoulders lost some of their tension, a smile stretching his face.
He crossed the hall to Elijah’s bedroom door, left ajar. Val was sitting on the edge of his son’s bed, the giant dog up on the mattress. She’d showered, too, her long white-blond hair still damp as it streamed down her back. Elijah had one arm around Czar and the other curled up under his cheek and Val was rubbing his back.
It was a very pretty picture. One he wanted so damn badly. He missed having someone at his side, someone to make him feel not so alone.
“Val?” Elijah murmured when she’d finished the lullaby.
“Yes?” Her back was to Kaj, as was Elijah’s, so neither knew Kaj stood watching.
“Why didn’t you feel safe? You said you didn’t always feel safe and Czar helped you with that. Why?”
Kaj stiffened and Val stilled. She threw a glance over her shoulder, her eyes widening a little when she saw Kaj standing there.
“I can go,” he mouthed, but she shook her head before turning back to Elijah.
“I was... attacked,” Val said, resuming rubbing Elijah’s back. “Ended up with a broken arm and some bruised ribs. I was well trained in self-defense, but sometimes even someone well trained can be overwhelmed if the attacker is strong enough.”
