Emily (Dreamcatchers Romantic Suspense Series Book 1) Page 16

  Everything snapped into sharp focus. God, that would explain so many things, including the creepy flower delivery. The killer had been watching Lily, watching as she approached her. Emily’s hand flew to her face. Had Lily’s attention to Emily that day been what put Lily in the killer’s crosshairs? Emily shook her head violently. No, she refused to go there anymore. This wasn’t her fault. The blame lay squarely on the asshole in her dreams. If Reece had given her anything, he had made her believe that. And now it was well overdue for the killer to be put down. With renewed determination Emily continued around the room, taking more pictures of the scene, before finally doing what she had in the dream. She walked to what seemed to be a ceremonial place in the center of the room. Her eyes drifted closed, bracing herself for what she knew she’d find. When Emily forced her eyes open and looked in front of her, there it was. Her eyes met her own as she stared at the enlarged photograph of herself. He’d caught her looking different to her usual self, the photograph had been taken looking upwards at her and she was smiling, looking almost regal, the image shot from below.

  Shot.

  Emily shuddered at the thought. She never thought she’d ever appreciate that this guy had a thing for knives. She lifted her phone and snapped her own photo just as a shadow moved across her. Whirling around, Emily dashed to a corner as a loud bang broke the silence of the room. Tufts of carpet and thin shards of concrete flew up and then showered the floor. Shit! That was a gunshot!

  So much for the knives.

  What was the term Reece had used? Devolving? Whatever the hell that meant, this guy had definitely moved up in the world. Had she been standing there a second longer she would have been kissed by a bullet.

  “Hello, Emily,” a voice called to her from across the darkness. “You shouldn’t be here. Not yet. This is sacred ground.”

  Emily didn’t answer. She dropped to her knees and started crawling steadily toward the door. She could only pray the bastard had moved further into the room by the time she got there.

  “Don’t be afraid of the gun, Emily. I’m not going to kill you. That would be, shall we say, unwise. For now, I’m just making sure you can’t leave me again.”

  What the hell? She heard the boots moving toward her, and that was her cue. No way was she waiting around to see if he had anything more to say when it was just as likely his next move was going to be shooting a bullet through her. So what if he wasn’t trying to kill her? Getting shot at all didn’t exactly sound like a picnic. Oh god, what if his aim was off?

  Emily stood and bolted for the door, throwing herself through the gap the killer had left open. Pulling herself to her feet, she skittered around the corner into the hall and kept running. The sounds of curses fell from the man behind her and she heard another bang! As a bullet whizzed past her ankle, so close she heard a faint buzzing sound as it flew past.

  Whatever you do Em, do not stop!

  Another bullet embedded itself in the concrete wall behind her as she pounded down the basement stairs and out the back door. She was breathing heavily as she pushed out into the cold night air.

  Nearly there, Emily. Keep moving. Find somewhere where there are people about.

  Was this guy crazy enough to mow down a crowd just to get to her? She could only pray he wouldn’t follow her that far. The sounds of heavy boots behind her as she rushed into the wet night gave her feet speed. She had no breath left to scream when she turned another corner on the building’s exterior and ran into someone, nearly sending them both sprawling to the pavement. The feet behind her slowed and then retreated as the man in front of her grabbed at her arms to stop them both crashing to the ground. Emily fought his hold and tried to pull herself away, but the man only embraced her harder. She pushed her hands against his chest, but when she looked up the sight before her made her both ecstatic and enraged at the same time.

  “What the hell is wrong with you?” Reece shouted at her while still pushing her behind him and scoping out the area. His hand was shaking even as it smoothed over her hair. “Shit. I heard gun shots. I thought you were hurt, or worse.”

  Emily couldn’t find the words to respond. Was Reece really standing in front of her—holding her—or had her mind conjured up a vision of a man already long dead? After squeezing her once more, Reece released her from his arms, only to start running his hands over her body, his eyes darting from her face to where he was touching.

  “Are you injured? What the fuck happened tonight?” Apparently satisfied that she wasn’t dying on the spot Reece removed his jacket and lay it over her shoulders, before wrapping his arm around her waist and guiding her around the front of the building and toward his car. Despite the hour, he too was still fully dressed. Emily frowned. There was something different about his clothing. He was dressed more casually than usual for work, no that wasn’t it. He was out of his suit and tie, but he wasn’t in his jeans. His pants seemed stronger, more durable, almost like cargo pants and he wore a tactical vest over a dark shirt. Where on earth had he been today? A bigger question followed that. How the hell did he show up right now after not answering his phone all day? Then she remembered, she’d left him a voice mail. Emily tilted her head to the side. She’d been outside for several minutes and seen no one but Reece. Now the adrenaline was beginning to wear off she remembered her message. Through her almost panic attack on the way, she hadn’t told him about seeing her office in the dream, just that she’d enter in the back.

  “How did you know where I was?”

  Reece stopped still. “What are you talking about?”

  She took a step back and his hand fell from her waist. Emily immediately mourned the loss of his touch, even as her mind raced with freshly renewed fear. Damn it, I’m screwed. I already love him.

  “In my message, I didn’t say where I was going. How did you know where I was?”

  Reece rolled his eyes skyward and huffed. He walked toward her, his eyes still constantly scanning the area. Was he looking for the killer, or something else?

  “Just get in the damn car, Emily.”

  “I’ve been calling you all day, Reece! You didn’t answer once, and then I’m running for my life from what is now a gun-toting maniac—thanks for the heads up on what ‘devolving’ means by the way—and there you are parked right outside waiting for me. What the hell is going on?!”

  A look of incredulity crossed his face, followed quickly by confusion, and then almost resigned frustration.

  “Emily, you can’t seriously be saying what I think you’re saying?”

  “How did you know where I was?” she asked again. Emily remembered the knife stashed in her boot and pulled it out, tightening her grip on the handle. She didn’t know what was going on, but his refusal to answer her question wasn’t helping his case any. She might love the fucker, but if he came any closer right now, she wasn’t sure what she’d do. Kiss him then stab him?

  Shit.

  “This paranoia is going to get you killed,” he said coldly, stepping back several paces from her. “You left a message on Hannah’s phone earlier. When she tried to call you back and you didn’t answer, Hannah called me, almost hysterical that something had happened to you by the way. Stupid me left the operation we’ve been working on all day to catch this asshole and ran right over here. I listened to your voice mail telling me your point of entrance on the way. Forgive me for giving a crap!”

  Well, damn. She’d fucked this one right up.

  “I’m sorry Reece. I had another dream and it lead me right here. I couldn’t get a hold of you or Hannah, and who the hell else am I going to call? Psychic hotline? I wasn’t going to let him get away again.”

  “Just get the car, Emily. Please.”

  “But the killer could still be inside. He’s got a whole room setup, Reece! What if he kills someone else?”

  Reece opened the car door, his knuckles turning white at the force of emotions he was clearly trying to control. “You can’t go running around in the middle of the night p
laying vigilante because of some dream you had. You have to stay safe. You promised me you’d stay safe.”

  Her voice turned small. “I had to Reece. I won’t let him kill anyone else. Not when I can stop it.”

  Reece let go of the car door, pushing himself away forcefully with his hand. He walked briskly over to her again and wrapped his arms around her.

  “He’s in there,” she whispered. “He shot at me, Reece.”

  “We’ll get him, Emily. I promise. But for the love of God please stop chasing after him yourself. I can’t protect you if you do that.”

  Emily returned his embrace, pulling him closer to her, closing her eyes as she rested her head against his chest. Reece let out a deep breath that it seemed he’d been holding the entire conversation and dropped a kiss on her forehead.

  “Now please, get in the car so I can get you out of this rain. I’ll take you home where I can warm you up.”

  Emily complied, more out of exhaustion this time than anything else. Adrenaline rush over, she was crashing. Hard. That didn’t stop the flutters in her stomach as she thought of all the ways Reece might have in mind to warm her.

  Reece walked around to the other side of the car and got in. He started the engine, but rather than drive off he turned and took Emily’s hands in his.

  “Don’t ever do that again,” he ordered. He kissed her palm then slid the car into gear and pulled away from the curb.

  Emily let her eyes drift closed as her office building left her view and she let the soft crackling sound of Reece’s two-way radio relax her nerves. She was safe again, for now.

  24

  Reece took his time driving her back home, and it was twenty minutes later when he pulled up outside her apartment block. Emily let him open the door for her and he held her hand as they walked up to her apartment. She unlocked the door and stepped inside, but Reece didn’t follow.

  “I can’t stay, sweetheart,” he said, shocking her a little at his use of the term. “Obviously, our intel from last night was wrong, but I still need to follow up with my SSA and file the paperwork.” He draped himself across her door frame, looking anything but like a man who wanted to leave. “After that I’m going to check out your office, make sure whoever scared you there has cleared out.”

  “It was him, Reece. He knew my name. Please tell me you’re not going to go there alone.”

  One corner of his mouth tipped up and an eyebrow raised. “Oh, like you did?”

  “I almost didn’t get away Reece. I wouldn’t have if you hadn’t been there. Please. I can’t lose you either.”

  “And that’s why I have a gun,” Reece replied, tapping the Glock secured on his hip. “Just don’t give me a reason to worry about you again for the next couple of hours, please.” He reached out to touch her, brushing a tendril of hair from her cheek and tucking it behind her ear. “Stay here, and stay safe,” his face turned serious. “I’ll call Chicago P.D. and put a uniform on your door if I have to.”

  Emily stepped closer and brushed a hand across his cheek in return then rested her palms on his chest. Hannah had warned her that Reece would hold back, but when he fell he would fall hard. It was going to take her awhile to get used to this new touchy-feely version. Not that she was complaining. Emily had never before felt the way she did when Reece’s skin was touching hers. Just the brush of his hand left tingles in its wake, and feeling his naked body press against hers? She blushed at the thought. He had made every part of her shiver with bliss before she finally exploded.

  “What’s that look for?” Reece chuckled, his tone then turning serious. “I mean it, Emily. You better not be planning something.”

  She leaned forward, resting her forehead against his, their lips so close they were almost touching. “I’ll be good, I promise. Your touch just made me think of something else entirely. Maybe when you’re done, you can come back and I can show you just how good I can be?” Reece’s eyes widened before he broke out into a loud laugh, and Emily’s cheeks stained darker. She might have let her sassy side out with Cathy, but she’d never felt this free with a man before.

  It’s because he’s the one for you, Em. Stop arguing with yourself.

  Maybe it was time to stop fighting this. Reece made her feel like no other man had, and he was making it obvious he wanted more. Yes, it was time to just let go and see where this took them. God knows she deserved something good in her life right now.

  Reece's eyes softened as he bent down and kissed her gently. “I’d like that, sweet girl. But for now, what I’d really like is for you to shut this door and lock it before I forget where I have to be and lock myself in here with you for the next week.” He kissed her once more, deepening the kiss when she moaned into his mouth. His taste was addictive, and Emily didn’t think she’d ever get enough of it. As his tongue touched and then twisted together with hers, she could feel his erection growing against her belly, and she pulled him closer, brushing herself against him. Now it was Reece’s turn to groan, and Emily could feel the vibrations through his strong chest as he pressed her harder against him.

  “Damn Emily. I have to go or you’re going to be the one that kills me.” He reluctantly broke their kiss and reached in, grasping her door handle and pulling the door toward him. “I’m staying right here until I hear you lock the door behind me.”

  Emily held Reece’s gaze until the door closed between them. She rested her head forward on the door and took a deep breath, wishing it was all over and he was back home with her.

  Home. I like that idea. Crap! He’s still standing out in the hall!

  Giggling despite herself, Emily set the deadlock and slid the bolt home on the security chain. Reece’s footsteps echoed away from her door and down the hall, and Emily smiled. If she couldn’t be with Reece right now, then, at least, she could take some time to relax. First, a shower. Emily turned the water on hot and grabbed an expensive shower gel from under the bathroom sink. It had been a gift and she hadn’t used it until now, sticking instead to the apple-scented body wash from the dollar store. As her hand reached for the shapely bottle, Emily realized she’d done that with most of her life. Stuck with what she knew, good old reliable, even if it wasn’t actually all that good. Her relationship with her mother, keeping her distance from friends, it had worked for her, until it hadn’t. Emily stepped into the warm shower, luxuriating in the way the warm water almost caressed her skin. Moistening the shower pouf, she lathered up the gel and then glided the pouf across her skin, closing her eyes and remembering Reece’s touch. Until she’d found him—or rather he hadn’t let her avoid him—her world had been all gray. Sometimes even dark and twisty. Reece had opened her up to feel again. Sure sometimes he was the most incredibly frustrating person on the entire planet! She grinned at the though. But other times he was gentle, loving, sensual. He’d brought the colors back into her world. Plus, oh my god his body.

  The shower pouf brushed over her mound and a tingling arousal broke across her skin. God, the memory of Reece above her, thrusting deeply inside her even as his lips found hers. The tingles broke into shivers, and Emily dropped the pouf in favor of her fingers. Her head dropped back against the shower wall as they slid across her clit, and a small moan escaped her. Her other hand found her breast and she stroked the underside before finding her nipple and tweaking it. Emily imagined that it was Reece’s hands touching her, stroking her. Her fingers stroked through her damp heat and her knees trembled. Emily gasped. There wasn’t going to be any time for a slow build up. The stress of the evening combined with her own mental movie of a naked Reece making love to her had brought her right to the edge. Her lips parted as she slid her middle finger inside her center and pressed her palm against her now throbbing clit. A shudder went through her, igniting every nerve in pleasure. Emily continued to slide her finger through her wet heat, her other hand now rubbing herself in time with her strokes. In her mind she pictured Reece hovering over her, his eyes closed and jaw clenched in pleasure as he found his release
deep inside her. Emily increased the pressure on her clit, and a small sob escaped her as she found her climax, calling out his name as bliss broke over her. Her knees gave way and she sunk to the shower floor, letting the water cascade over her head as waves of pleasure continued to course through her.

  Minutes later, Emily stood and turned off the cooling water. She grabbed the fluffiest towel she owned and gently dried herself, her core still contracting from aftershocks. The soft towel felt rough against her sensitive nipples and she almost groaned again. If that’s what it was like just thinking of Reece, she couldn’t wait for him to be done with whatever he needed to do at work and find his way back to her bed.

  Emily walked into her closet and grabbed her pajamas. She slid her arms into the top, and then with one pant leg pulled half way up she paused. Reece hadn’t said when he’d be able to come back and she wasn’t sure if it would be tonight or not until the morning, but just in case, she was dressing for the occasion. Digging through her drawers and throwing half of the contents on the floor, she finally found what she was looking for. It had been another present from Cathy after she first found out just how long it had been since Emily went on a date. Perhaps it was meant to be encouraging though it had been more like mortifying at the time. Now, Emily loved the way the silky fabric felt against her still sensitive skin. The babydoll gown was made of red satin with red lace cups trimmed with black ribbon. They were sheer but not quite see-through, the perfect combination of sensual and classy. She’d barely tried it on before, much less worn it for a man, but tonight seemed like the perfect time to try it out. Reece’s comments before had made it clear he wanted more and finding her waiting for him in bed wrapped in red satin seemed like the perfect response.