Sweet as Sin (23 page)

John furrowed his brow. “You stop

matchmaking.”

She mimicked his frown. “You stay out of

police cars.”

He’d meant to make her smile. She returned the gift.

Dressed in only a low-slung pair of shorts, John sat on the deck railing, staring into space. In his stolen tee shirt and her pajama bottoms covered in rubber ducks, Livvy left the heavy door open a crack, in case the boys woke up, and padded on bare feet over to him.

“Out like a light, both of them.”

He nodded but didn’t speak.

“Murphy, you’re drugged, half asleep and

sitting fifteen feet in the air. Get off there.”

“Nah, it’s only like twelve feet.”

“I don’t care, you’re scaring me. Come on.”

She stroked his back and he spun his legs around to step back onto the deck.

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Sleepy-eyed, he looked at her and grinned.

“Your nose is pink.”

“Curse of the redhead—easy to burn.” At the mention of her hair, his hand sank into it and rubbed it between his fingers. “You look really tired.”

He pulled her to a chaise lounge. Stretching out, he held his arms open and she snuggled down beside him. His eyes closed, one hand resting on her hip. The languid way he moved made her brows tighten. “How many of those leftover painkillers did you take?”

“Mmm, three.”

“Murphy! The bottle said one to two as

needed.”

“I needed three. My tooth hurts.”

On one elbow, she looked down into his

relaxed face. “If you fall asleep out here, I’m not waking you up. I’ll leave you out here as mosquito food and have the whole bed to myself.”

He laughed. “My hide’s too tough and you

usually steal the blankets anyway.”

Lapsing into silence, Livvy played with the front of his damp hair. The file Gina had given her, now tucked inside her oversized workbag, had tempted her while John was in the shower. But she’d resisted the urge. Answers could wait until the daylight. Tonight, she was more worried about John than Johnny.

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“Gina’s scared,” she whispered.

“I know.” A frown marred his tranquil face.

“She asked me a weird question tonight. She wanted to know what my earliest memory was.”

John shifted, rolling away from her as much as the lounger would allow. “She’s afraid the boys will end up like her, without a memory of their mom.”

Somewhere deep in the darkness, a cat

meowed loudly, a faint radio played and a few cars buzzed down the street, but Livvy didn’t speak. She fingered his hair, gathering courage.

He’d given her the perfect opening.

“So what was it, Liv? Your memory?”

“Oh, about my mom before Mitch and Greg

were born. Eating ice cream. She told me hers, too.”

Like a window sash, his lids flew open but he didn’t turn to her. “What was hers?”

“In a church with her father preaching.” Livvy coated it, a spoonful of sugar for the medicine she feared might come.

John’s eyes closed and his lips thinned into an ironic twist. “He did enough of that, she should remember it.”

“So what’s your earliest memory, Murphy?”

Surprisingly, he didn’t tense or shy away. He smiled into the night, an easy genuine smile of pleasure.

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“I think I was four or so. I’d had a nightmare or something. Anyway, I woke up and was afraid there was a monster in my closet. I mean terrified, shaking in my Spider-Man pajamas, you know? I couldn’t call out to anyone so I got mad and decided that no monster was going to make me scared in my own room. I got out of bed, threw open the closet door and demanded the monster play Matchbox cars with me.” Livvy laughed with him and threaded her fingers through his. “That was when I met Andros. He was the first.”

“Wow. Nice memory.” Livvy sighed, glad he had some. In the distance, the radio snapped off but the cat continued to meow. Wind sang through the leaves, creating a soothing natural lullaby. As hushed as the night, her question was soft. “Why couldn’t you call out if you were scared? Where was your mom?”

He held his breath for a split second. “Damn, Livvy. You’re too easy to talk to and you hear too much.”

“Is that a bad thing?”

“I don’t know.” John sat, pulling his knees up and crossing his arms on them. Livvy scooted behind him. Her hand ran along his spine as he squinted up into the stars. “My mother worked nights. She was only sixteen when I was born. I never met anyone in her family or heard her talk about them, and she couldn’t afford a sitter, so she 254

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left me alone. She’d tuck me into bed, kiss me goodnight and leave. When I woke up in the morning, she was there.”

“She left you alone at four?”

“Before that. She didn’t have a choice, Livvy.

My mother was a hooker.”

Silenced by shock, Livvy couldn’t think of anything to say. John hung his head. “Gina doesn’t know. I never saw a reason to tell her.

She’s got this picture in her mind of what Mom was like. I didn’t want to destroy it.” Her cheek pressed to his shoulder blade, Livvy wrapped her arms around his waist. His skin was warm and smooth. It vibrated against her ear. “I figure that’s where I got my first name. She didn’t know which one knocked her up, but John covered them all.”

“Don’t.”

He shook his head. “It’s okay. If it bothered me, it stopped a long time ago. I don’t remember ever being mad at her or ashamed or anything like that.

I just knew that she made me peanut butter and jelly pancakes for breakfast and I’d play in the bedroom while she slept for a few hours. It was just me and her until bedtime. It wasn’t a bad life.” John snorted with disgust. “Then she met Alan. He
saved
her from a life of sin.”

When he said no more, Livvy leaned up and propped her chin on his shoulder. “It has been a really, really long day. Are you about ready to go Inez Kelley

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to bed? I have a feeling two little boys are going to be up bright and early in the morning.”

“Livvy, why are you here?”

She went motionless. “Because I want to be.”

Because I love you but am too afraid to tell you
yet.

John turned to face her, the space much too small. She ended up reclined, with him leaning over her. His eyes searched her face. “Why, Livvy?

Why do you want to be here?”

Unconsciously, her fingers went to his temple, to smooth the soft hairs along his hairline. Sparse silver strands caught the moon glow, shimmering like ice. She wondered if he’d get those

distinguished gray winglike markings as he aged.

The thought was deeply intriguing and she longed to be there to watch the transformation. Her other hand went to his shoulder, the skin warm despite the night air. Her fingers seemed ultra pale next to his swarthy tone.

“Are you throwing me out, Murphy?”

“No.”

That was it. One word and no more. But it was the right one. She leaned up to kiss him and he met her halfway. The kiss lasted for several minutes without increasing. It was not the kiss of lust-starved lovers but a kiss that spoke of there being a tomorrow.

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John broke away and propped his head in his hand. “You make me talk about things I never talk about.”

“I don’t make you. I just listen.”

“You’re right. But now it’s my turn to listen.

Tell me a secret about you, Liv. A secret nobody knows.”

“I don’t have any secrets.”
Except I’m head
over heels in love with my neighbor.

“Everybody has a secret.”

“Not me.”
I have a file from your sister that
has every bit of your pain in it. I’m going to read
it and try to find a way to help you to love me, to
love yourself.

“Not a single one?”

He seemed so disappointed she almost made one up. But then a blush stole to her cheeks as she realized she did have one secret if she was brave enough to share it. Even as she thought it, she realized she could never be as brave as he had in sharing bits of his story.

He singsonged above her. “I see a secret. Come on, tell me.”

“It’s embarrassing.” She looked over his head.

Rich and seductive, his voice coaxed her. “It’s easier in the dark. Close your eyes. I’ll close mine.

And whisper it in my ear.”

His tone stroked her like a caress, gave her strength. She nodded and closed her eyes. The Inez Kelley

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brush of his hair on her cheek as he bent to her nearly silenced her, but she’d gone too far to back down. Her lips touched his ear and she whispered as softly as she possibly could.

He gasped and then laughed. “The night we met? Twice?”

“Yes.” Her whisper barely broke the night but his stunned exhale rang loud.

“I’m flattered. So how am I as a fantasy

lover?”

She buried her face in his neck.

He nuzzled her hair and whispered down to her.

“Livvy, that’s the most erotic thing I’ve ever heard. Next time, I want to watch.”

Hot blood soared to her face. “No. I couldn’t—

relax if you were watching.”

“Damn, Livvy. I think you just gave me a new fantasy.”

Chapter Ten

Deep in sleep, Livvy’s dreams turned erotic.

Invisible hands stroked her, teased her, kindled a fire low in her belly. She heard her name drifting on a breeze. Liquid heat poured over her and she sighed. Slowly she rose from the depths of slumber and found her dream was a reality. John coaxed her awake, her body already lush from his caress. Her first conscious breath was taken by his kiss. She let her head roll back as he nipped her neck.

A sharp thought made her grip his shoulder. “I left the door open in case the boys—”

“I shut it. We’ll be quiet.” His voice was the barest whisper.

Each gentle stroke reminded her of that

dreamland breeze. He slid the shirt over her head and took her mouth, drawing out each bit of softness. Every move he made was hushed and deliberate, leisurely and patient.

She knew he’d taken out his contacts and

pulled away from his kiss, her nose touching his.

“Can you see me?”

He nodded. He stroked her cheek, trailing his finger along her pink nose and down her chin.

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This was different than anything that had been between them before. Nothing triggered the thought, just a sure sense of change in the room, like an impression in time. Bewildered, she fingered his lip before it fell to her breast.

“Murphy?”

“Shh. I want to love you, Livvy. Let me love you, please.” Just below a whisper, mouth skimming hers, her name and that coveted word in the same sentence brought tears to her throat.

So close
.

“Since our first time, have I ever denied you?”

His frown deepened. Ears couldn’t hear what his lips formed but the heart could. “Never.”

“I never will.” Her promise closed his eyes and he brought his kiss to her neck.

He loved her perfectly, each caress beyond gentle, beyond sweet. Secret places she’d never known about were discovered and worshipped.

From the top of her feet, the inside of her elbow, the point of her shoulder blade, he did exactly as he promised. He loved her until her body ached.

She had no idea how long he touched her. It seemed to stretch for hours and she never wanted it to end. Tears of emotional and physical overload streamed from her eyes and he kissed them away, the saltiness on his lips the sweetest taste she’d known. The sky lightened, pink tingeing the room. She shattered in his arms and 260

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he drank in her unspoken sobs. Against her throat, her name was a muted cry. He clung to her as if his very life depended on it.

He left her for a brief second. There was a soft creak when John cracked open the bedroom door.

Then he returned to her arms, breath fanning her bangs. Sadness and confusion lined his face and tore at her.

“I wish I knew what was going on in that head of yours.”

He just laid his cheek on her shoulder. His hair feathered through her fingers and she kissed his crown. His muscles relaxed as sleep took hold. A bird began to sing good morning. Pink turned to pale gold and the bird gathered friends who joined the twittering song.

“Murphy?” His name hung on her quivering

lips but he didn’t stir. She murmured his name once more but still, he slept. Emboldened by his silence, Livvy cradled him and opened her heart in a whisper. “I have another secret. I want to hold you like this forever. I love you.”

She never knew his eyes cracked open.

Moans and shrieks threatened to split the castle walls as a painful fever ravaged

Thorn’s thin body. Andros worked tirelessly, searching books and scrolls, grinding and mixing, hoping one more thing would work.

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Vory lay on a small cot in the workshop,

shivering and trembling, hearing Thorn and awaiting the same fate. A knot in Jondi’s chest smothered his heartbeat.

“Here.” Gently, he held a cup of water to her mouth. She sipped less than he wanted but it seemed all the effort she could muster.

“I’m scared,” she whispered.

Trepidation gripped him and he knelt

beside her. “Don’t be. Andros will find the answer. Nordrake won’t win. I won’t let

him. You’re both going to be fine, I

promise.”

Wide violet eyes twinkled at him, the

flush of fever brewing behind them. “I trust you. Somehow, I knew I was supposed to

go into the Dell that day, even though it scared me. I knew I’d find something there, something special. And I found you.”

Vory slipped into a cough-ridden sleep

while Jondi sat beside her. Thorn’s screams tore at his soul and he ached with misery.

Andros had to save them. He couldn’t lose either one of them.

“Can we go to McDonald’s? Can we see a fire truck? Why do dogs bark? Do fish have ears?

Tyler snores. Daddy let me ride in the forklift.

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