He bent down and swept her shorts up from the floor, handing them to her. He zipped up and grabbed his shirt, slipping it over his head before helping her to hop down from the counter. He noticed with a clenching to his gut how her legs shook and he only hoped it was from the passion that they had just shared and not that she was as scared shitless as she looked.
“Shit,” he cursed as he saw the smoke rising from one of the pots on the stove and quickly leaned over and turned the burners off. Katherine slipped into her shorts and slowly walked up beside him, glancing over his shoulder, her perfect mouth set in a thoughtful frown.
“I guess it will have to be sandwiches,” she murmured, and Cole’s lips twitched with a grim smile. He’d be happy never eating again if he could just make love to her instead, he thought. She was all the sustenance that he needed.
“Katherine, we need to talk,” he blurted out finally, wanting nothing more than to get this over with. Her eyes caught his and he could see the panic invade her expression. She gave him a jerky nod and sat down at the table. She had a deep, sinking feeling that she would need to be sitting to hear what he had to say.
Cole pulled up a chair right beside her and took her trembling hands in his strong, steady ones, giving them a gentle squeeze; his thumbs stroking circles on the backs as he tried to reassure her.
“Cole…you’re really scaring me,” she choked out, and he felt his heart rip to shreds. That was the last thing that he wanted to do.
No, what he wanted was to promise her that he would never let this bastard get anywhere near her. That he would care for and protect her at all cost. He didn’t know what the hell this was between them; all he knew was that he would give up his life to keep her safe. The thought of anything happening to her was like a fist to his damn throat. It cut off the air from his lungs with just the thought.
“Baby, Ben may have found a connection between where you have lived and some unsolved murders,” he said softly, slowly, trying to soften his words, even though he knew that there was no way in hell to soften what he had to say. “These women…they bear a striking resemblance to you, and right now it all seems to fit together. We don’t know for certain yet, but I’m not about to take any chances. Not with your safety, Katherine.”
He watched with a tightening in his chest as the blood drained from her face, her lips beginning to tremble as her face turned deathly pale. “Oh, my God,” she gasped. “It’s my fault,” she choked out, her voice nothing more than a hoarse whisper, and he could see the tears swimming in her eyes. With a groan, he pulled her into his arms, damning himself for even telling her before they knew for certain. Nice going, asshole!
“Katherine, we don’t know yet if there even is a definite connection. This is all just speculation right now, and even if there is…this is not your fault! None of this is your fault.”
Katherine pushed him away and stood, her eyes snapping fire. “Isn’t it?” she bit out, beginning to pace his tiny kitchen. “Oh, my God…how many?” she asked, stopping and standing in front of him. The tears were silently rolling down her face now, and he watched her battle hard to regain some semblance of her composure….and it was gut-wrenching. It twisted at his insides like a damned knife.
***
Cole remained silent, his eyes locking with hers. He reached out his hand to take hers but she backed away from him, shaking her head violently. Ouch, he thought with a grimace, and a feeling much like a punch to the chest. That really hurt.
“How many, Cole?” she demanded again, jutting out her chin, and he had to admit that he couldn’t help but to admire this woman. She was so much stronger than he ever could have imagined.
He took a deep breath and let it out slowly, trying to postpone the inevitable. She didn’t need this bullshit. She’d had enough to deal with over the last ten years, and he felt like a complete ass for dumping this on her now. Christ, she deserved some peace of mind, already. But the damage had been done and she deserved to know the truth; no matter how hard it was to tell.
“So far…six,” he said after a moment, and heard her sharp intake of breath. He stood to stand in front of her, curling his fingers around her arms and pulling her against his chest. She let him hold her this time, and for that he was grateful. He needed this contact so damned bad.
“Sweetheart, I’ll need you to tell me the dates that you lived in each city…and your hair color at the time.” He felt her nod against his chest and suddenly her arms were around his waist and holding on to him for dear life, as if he were her lifeline, and a part of him swelled in the knowledge that she trusted him to protect her. “Ah, baby,” he breathed into her hair, hating the way her body trembled against his. He never wanted her to be afraid. “You’re safe. I promise you.”
***
Katherine buried her face against his chest and took a long shuddering breath, gaining strength from just the feel of this man holding her so tightly in his arms. Finally, she swallowed back her tears and tilted her head up, looking into those wonderful eyes of his.
“I might be…” she choked out unsteadily, “but, what about the others? What if he…” She couldn’t even finish the thought; to think that this monster could be killing women because of her, scared her senseless. Six! Oh, my God! Were there more? And, if there were…how many? This animal had been a constant in her life now for over nine years! Who knew how many more there could be! There was just so much blood on her hands.
“We’ll find him,” Cole promised softly, swearing to himself that he would. “The whole department is working on it,” he told her, his hands rubbing the small of her back, trying so hard to soothe her. “I swear to God, Katherine, I’ll find this son of a bitch if it’s the last thing I do.”
Katherine remained silent and let Cole’s embrace comfort her, even though there was a very large part of her that doubted that they would catch this monster. This man had been following her for over nine long years…he knew what he was doing. He was very good at staying in the shadows; at being a phantom. No matter where she went, he always found her. Always.
Hadn’t she always felt him eventually, she silently wondered with a shiver running up her spine. No matter where she had moved or who she had become? It had always been only a matter of time before she would get that all too familiar feeling again and be forced to move to another city; just like a frightened rabbit. And now, just the thought that he had been leaving a trail of bodies… Katherine choked back a sob and Cole pulled her closer, his arms so damn strong.
“Katherine,” he whispered into her ear, his breath so very warm and gentle. Oh, Lord. I could really fall for this man, she thought with a hitching of her breath. This man had come into her life and made her feel alive for the very first time. He had made her feel almost normal. “Do you know how to fire a weapon?” he asked, and she felt her body seize up as she nodded slowly.
“My…my mom made us take lessons,” she stammered, her voice low and husky. It was as if it had been stolen from her very lungs. “When the police couldn’t help, she said that we needed to learn. That we needed to be able to protect ourselves…but, she never got a gun. She had planned to, but…” But she had been butchered while I hid in a closet like the coward that I am, she thought with another shiver, unable to voice the words to Cole. She couldn’t bear to have him look at her in disappointment. To know her dirty little secret. That she was a coward.
“Tomorrow I’m going to give you a refresher course,” Cole murmured tenderly. He damn well wanted her armed. He wanted her familiar with firing a weapon. He wanted her not to hesitate. To be comfortable enough to use it if need be.
“They… frighten me,” she admitted so softly that he could barely hear her.
“I’ll be right there with you, Baby,” he reassured her softly. “There’s nothing to be afraid of.”
***
Katherine nodded against his chest once again and she took another long, steadying breath. She straightened her back and stepped away from him, silently w
ondering if she would be able to shoot the son of a bitch if she got the chance.
She caught Cole’s gaze; so intense, so strong…so damn perfect, and thought–yes, I could. I could kill that monster in a heartbeat if I had to. I want to have a life. I want to be normal….and I’m willing to fight for that chance. I’ll do whatever it takes.
“All right,” she agreed finally, her chin lifting ever so slightly, and she saw him visibly relax.
“That’s, my girl,” he replied, thinking to himself that he could really love this woman.
Chapter 8
“Okay, Baby,” Cole husked in her ear that next afternoon, his solid frame pressed up tightly against her back and his hand sliding over hers. His other arm snaked around her waist and Katherine suddenly found it extremely hard to concentrate on what they were doing with him holding her like he was. “Just aim and squeeze…nice and slow.”
Katherine gave herself a firm mental shake and closed her eyes, doing as he had asked. The gun recoiled with a mighty boom and most likely would have sent her sailing on her ass if Cole’s muscular body hadn’t been stationed like an anchor so firmly behind her.
She slowly opened her eyes and looked at the target that he had pinned to the tree, noticing the hole in it with a hint of pride. It was a little off center, but it was there.
Cole nuzzled her neck, his lips nibbling at her pulse, and a delightful shiver ran up her spine. “Good, Baby. Now…let’s try it again; only this time, with your eyes open.”
She noted just a hint of humor in his voice and couldn’t help the small grin that twitched at her lips. She knew that he was taking this all seriously, and wanted her to be able to defend herself…but she hated guns. She always had, and this was just her way of humoring him. Although, a small part of her felt comforted in the fact that she was learning to handle firing a weapon. On some level, she knew that it was a good idea. I’m doing this to have a life…her mind whispered to her.
“Okay,” she murmured, straightening her spine, her mouth settling itself into a stubborn line. “Let’s do this.” And with that, she aimed and squeezed, making sure to keep her eyes open and on the target this time.
“Beautiful,” Cole breathed against her temple. She had hit the target just above the heart. “Sweetheart, you’re a natural.”
Katherine leaned her head back against his strong, firm shoulder, basking in the feel of his arm around her-holding on to her so tight. She turned her head and looked up into his eyes…so perfect. Good Lord! A girl could get lost and never return in eyes like that, she thought with a tingling across her body.
“Are we done?” she asked softly.
Cole chuckled, kissing the tip of her nose. “Think you can handle it alone?” he asked with a quirking of his brow that just about stopped her heart right there in her chest. She mentally shook herself again and nodded; thinking to herself that this man was just too damn distracting.
Cole took a step back, breaking their contact, and Katherine instantly felt the urge to protest. Damn it! She was becoming much too dependent on him. His strength and gentle, caring way was tattooing itself on her. Heart, body, and soul!
She faced the target and took aim, concentrating with everything that she had. Nice and slow, Cole’s words whispered across her mind as she squeezed the trigger, fighting off the urge to slam her eyes shut once again.
She saw that she had hit her mark, the hole right through the head, and her chest puffed up with pride. She turned around and beamed at Cole, her eyes shining with her excitement.
“I did it!”
***
Cole’s breath was nearly knocked right out of his body when she turned and smiled at him. Good God! Just when he thought that the woman couldn’t be any more beautiful, she goes and nearly knocks him to his knees. Her entire being glowed with her excitement and Cole was hard-pressed not to just grab her and lower her to the ground right then and there! Christ, he told himself for what had to be the millionth time; she was getting into his head… and his heart. He tried to shake the feeling off. He needed to have his head in the game. He couldn’t make a mistake…not with her. Not when it came to her safety. He’d be damned if he would let anything happen to her.
“Well done, Sweetheart,” he murmured and took the gun from her hand. He shoved it in the back of his jeans and grasped her fingers in his. “Let’s get back to the house; it’ll be getting dark soon.” They began walking, his hand keeping hold of hers.
***
Katherine walked beside Cole, a sense of pride rushing over her. She glanced down at their joined hands. Yes, she thought sadly, looking down at their entwined fingers, this is what I am willing to fight for… Even if he decides to walk away after all of this is over.
***
Katherine was in the kitchen making dinner when she heard Cole talking on the phone in the other room. He sounded agitated. She could hear the anger in his tone, even though she couldn’t make out what he was saying.
A moment of pure, knock you to your knees panic hit her with the force of a hurricane and she felt her body getting weak. Could there have been another murder, she silently wondered, fear gripping at her insides like a vice. Oh, God! Not that. Please…please not that! She couldn’t bear it if another innocent girl was dead because of her!
Katherine gripped onto the sink as she tried to calm her racing heart, her knuckles turning white from the pressure, and she slammed her eyes shut as a wave of nausea hit her full force. Not that, she silently prayed. Please, oh please…anything but that!
She sensed, more than heard Cole enter the kitchen, and when his arms slipped around her waist and he pulled her back against his firm chest, she let out the breath that she had been holding in a ragged rush. Please, no…
“Baby? Jesus; what’s wrong,” he asked, his mouth brushing against her ear. “You’re trembling.”
Katherine shook her head, afraid to ask. She couldn’t handle it if someone else was dead because of her. That would finally break her. That would be the final nail in her coffin.
She opened her eyes and she sucked in a gulp of air. “Has someone been…” she stopped cold, unable to say the word. It frightened her way too much. Please, no more blood on her hands. She just couldn’t bear it.
“Oh, shit, Sweetheart,” Cole whispered, turning her around to face him. He kissed her gently; his lips so soft and reassuring. “No. I was just checking in. Everything is fine. Oh, Jesus. It’s all right.” He held her against him for several long moments, giving her time to relax against him. Finally, when he felt her body relax against his, he looked at her, gracing her with a lopsided grin, his eyes shining. “I am technically back on the clock,” he said, trying to lighten her mood.
Relief washed over her in a quick whoosh and she wrapped her arms around him, burying her face against his neck. He smelled so good; cologne, that tang of soap…and Cole. “I’m sorry,” she whispered against his skin, wanting nothing more at that moment than to kick herself in the ass for overreacting. What in the hell was wrong with her? She was behaving like a frightened child!
***
Cole held on to her tightly, kissing the top of her head. “There’s no need to apologize,” he murmured. “Listen, Sweetheart, I really need to go down to the station and check on a few things,” he said against her hair. “We can grab something to eat and then go.”
“Can’t I stay here?” she asked softly, wanting nothing more than to soak in a nice hot tub. To just lose herself for a little while to a tiny bit of normalcy.
***
Cole watched her as he debated this a moment, a part of him not wanting her more than five feet from him…ever, and the other part knowing that she needed some down time. She didn’t need to be in the station, surrounded by all the crap that they dealt with day in and day out. The guys ogling her like dogs in heat. He felt his body tense slightly at just the thought.
“I just want to take a nice, long bath…” she whispered, trying hard to smile up at him. She could see him
struggling with leaving her alone, but she just couldn’t take going down to the station where she knew that the people there would look at her and stare at her for the freak show that she was. They all had to know who she was by now; and she just couldn’t take their morbid curiosity. Not now.
Cole’s lips whispered against hers, his tongue lightly tracing her glorious mouth. “Hmm, a bath, huh?” he husked. “You might want to wait for that until I get back. I don’t think I’d mind a nice long soak myself. Besides, the thought of soaping you up gets me hard,” he finished with a groan, and Katherine couldn’t help the giggle that burst from her lips. The man was insatiable and could have her hotter than sin in a second, and no matter what was going on around them…he made her feel almost normal.
“Cole!” She reprimanded him half-heartedly, her eyes glowing with that heat that only he could bring. It was just instantaneous with him.
“What?” he questioned with a huff. “I’m just stating a fact, Sweetheart.” To prove his point, he rubbed his growing erection against her hip and she sighed.
Knowing that his decision was made and that she had won this small battle, she deepened their kiss; those ever present flames of need igniting at once like a match to gasoline. “How long do you think you’ll be gone?” she asked against his mouth, not ready to let him go quite yet. Just a bit little more.
“No more than an hour or two,” he replied. “Did you make that list of cities and hair color?” he asked quietly.
Katherine forced herself to step from his embrace and walked over to the table, scooping up a note pad and holding it out to him. “Yes, right here.”
Cole’s face broke out into a full-fledged grin. “You are perfect,” he chuckled.