The Green-Eyed Doll (17 page)

“Take what you want.”

“I want inside you,” he murmured. “Look at me.” He pushed. She opened and expanded around him. “Feel me buried deep in your body. God, you’re wonderful.”

Slowly, smoldering green eyes looked down to where their bodies joined. Her gaze slid back up, and locked onto his. A weird skip of his heart was pushed from his thoughts.

“No," she said on a gasp. "We're wonderful.”

He thrust deeper inside her clutching body. Her mouth formed a silent
oh,
and they began to move in sync. Harder and faster, together, they sped toward ecstasy. Catherine’s red hair fell wildly across the bed, and her legs came up to lock around his waist. She met his thrusts with her own.

Crashing waves swamped him, tossing him into the rushing, pulsing darkness. His breath caught. He didn’t breathe. Couldn’t breathe. She cried out his name, and with one final surge, her body clutched and spasmed around him. The sensation was too great, and with a groan of satisfaction, he convulsed inside her.

Doing his best not to crush her under his weight, he collapsed and rested for a moment to catch his breath before rolling to the side, disposing of the condom. He turned back, sated and happy as she snuggled into his open arms. Her chest vibrated against him.
She giggled?

“Are you laughing?”

“Like I won the lottery, you were wonderful.”

“No.” He shook his head. “We were wonderful. You’re a giving, sensuous, sexual woman. Never doubt yourself again.”

His muscles tightened and instantly blood rushed south when she nuzzled his neck then ran her cheek across the scratchy stubble on his chin. That she had this much power over him surprised him.

“You feel good.” She stroked her hand over his hip, leaving a trail of fire.

“You feel better.”

Matt rolled over on his back and rubbed the fingers and thumb of his right hand together. That tingling sensation seemed to have spread throughout his body. She propped up on one elbow and studied his growing erection. Wrapping her fingers around him, she slid her hand up and down. He expanded with her touch. With eyes full of adventure, she gazed up at him.

“Mind if I explore?”

“Hardly. There are no rules. What we do together, Cat, is up to you. Hold nothing back.”

“Tell me why you do this.” She mimicked his fingers and thumb movements.

“Happened the first time my hands touched you. A shock or tingle started at my fingertips and worked up my arm. It’s a hell-of-a-lot stronger now.”

“I like that reason.”

His heart rate shot through the roof when she pushed his arms up over his head, kissed his cheeks, and then worked her way downward. Her lips roved, her tongue tasted with small flicks, traveling across his muscles and tendons as if she were discovering the different textures of his body. What she was really doing was driving him insane with desire.

“You’ve already broken one rule,” she whispered.

“Which one is that?” He slid up on the pillows, clasped his hands behind his head, and studied her while she circled his nipple with her finger. Smiled as it rose to a small hard bud. It was like she was on a mission of discovery, a kitten with a new ball of twine. He wasn’t about to stop her.

“No one has ever been allowed to call me Cat.”

“Then I’ll only use the nickname in our most private moments. Agreed?” His back went rigid when she licked his nipple. The more she teased and explored the harder he got. Her adventures were killing him, and the tauter his muscles got, the bolder she became. He had to pull his mind back, or he’d lose control.

She straddled him. At last, his aching erection lay beneath her. Slowly, she rocked back and forth against him until Matt hissed through his teeth. “The heat coming off you...”

He fumbled in search of a new condom then handed it to her, silently asking her to slide the protection over him. Her trembling hands touched a place deep inside his heart. The dark, hungry expression on her face when she handed the empty foil package back was pure passion. He gripped her hips and lifted. Filled her, stretched her, impaled her. Then he lay still, wanting her to feel the sensation of fullness, wanting her to take charge, to feel the power of her own sexuality.

“Don’t stop.”

Her words were heavy, a thick, creamy syrup. His fingers gripped her backside. “You’re in complete control. Try your rocking motion again.”

She moved forward, eyes widened, her gaze locked on his.

“Now slide back,” he whispered, mesmerized by her beautiful face. “Yes. Just like that.”

He used his hands and hips to guide her while she rode him, hard and fast. The friction and pressure were instant and blinding. Her head tilted back, red hair swirled in abandonment. She arched into him, tipping her hips to take him deeper, gripping, pulling him closer to the edge. He battled for control.

“So good,” she groaned, a sexy, tortured moan.

Her enjoyment propelled him on. He’d take everything she could give, and he’d give everything she could take. He tightened his grip, and with powerful thrusts drove in and out, taking her to the outer edge with him. Warmth spread throughout him. Inside her body, he’d fallen into a fire of molten lava. The pressure built until he thought he’d shatter into a million pieces.

She cried out his name, and Matt joined her as the undercurrent pulled them into deep water. He pulled her to him, kissed her deeply, and held her close. Her face was still buried in his chest when she spoke.

“I’ve never had this much fun. You may have created a monster.”

His heart did a funny tug when he realized how completely she’d trusted him tonight. Hopefully, she’d learned she could give him control, and he’d always give it back. That she could take charge and completely abandon herself. Tonight, he’d helped her rediscover and recover her sexuality.

“Even when I was a kid, monsters didn’t scare me.”

Chapter Thirteen

Thursday, August 24th, 8:00 a.m.

“Danny Mason is here.” Sue stepped inside the office and lowered her voice. “Said you wanted to see him.”

“Bring him in. I’ll talk to him.” The neighbor must’ve passed the word to Mason.

“Sheriff Ballard.” Sue spoke from the doorway before entering and making introductions.

“Come in, Danny.” Matt shook the man’s hand then waved him to a chair. “Make yourself comfortable.” Mason wore grease-stained, dark blue coveralls, and lace-up work boots. Brown hair pulled back in a long braid made him look like a flash back to the sixties.

“My neighbor said you came by to see me.”

“Ms. Whitley?”

“Yeah. Nice lady.” Mason moved the toothpick from one side of his mouth to the other and continued. “If this is about Julia, I already told Jake everything I know. Which is squat.”

“How well did you know her?” Matt got right to the point. He watched for a reaction, a blink or blanch, but saw none. But then Danny Mason knew what Matt wanted before he walked into the office.

“Why’re you asking?” Danny slumped down in the chair. “Because of my record,” he answered his own question.

“I’m trying to find a killer.”

“Well, good luck. Don’t look at me. I’ve kept my nose clean. Ask Jake. He’ll tell you.”

“Then you won’t mind answering my question. How well did you know Julia?” Matt repeated.

“Well enough to have danced with her a few times.” Mason lifted a shoulder as if uninterested in the conversation. “I mostly play pool with the guys when I go to the Saddleback.”

“Any of them ever show any special interest in Julia?”

“Not that I noticed. Do you shoot pool?”

Matt responded with a nod and let Danny continue.

“Then you know it’s hard to pay attention to anything but the position of the balls on the table. That is, if you want to win.”

“That’s true.”

“You gotta watch your opponent, try to figure out his strategy, make your shots, but leave him nothing.”

“You’re right about that.” Matt remembered past games with Ash Hunter. “I’ve got a friend who’s pretty good.”

“Bring him out to one of Marty’s tournaments. We need the competition.” Mason’s face lit up with interest, his brown eyes glinted with challenge.

“I might do that. You never dated Julia?”

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to get off the subject. No, I didn’t.”

“Who did?”

“None of the crowd I run with. Except JC. If that’s all, I really gotta get back to work.”

“Appreciate you stopping by. You think of anything, give me a call.” Matt stood and shook Danny’s hand.

Matt escorted him out as far as Sue’s desk then handed her his notes on the way back to his office. Hard to get a read on Danny. Maybe the follow up talk with Mel Hamilton would be more productive. Matt kicked back and reread Jake’s interview with Mel. He looked for a word, a sentence, something to key on when he went calling.

****

Thursday, August 24th, 10:00 a.m.

“Catherine, let me help you with that.” JC jogged to the rear of her car and finished loading her office supplies. “Storage boxes? You’re not moving?”

“Picking up some stuff for the funeral home. Thanks. You showed up right in time.”

“Did you get your emission system fixed?” JC closed her trunk and then leaned against her car.

At the bar, he wore dress blue jeans, a western shirt, and showy cowboy boots. Women noticed him right away. Today his shaggy hair hadn’t been combed, T-shirt was stained, jeans were dirty, and he wore torn tennis shoes. He looked older and road weary.

“No, and now the air conditioner is on the fritz.” Catherine opened her car door. Standing around in front of the office supply wasn’t an option. Without rain or a hint of a breeze, the heat literally slammed her in the face when she stepped outside.

“I know a guy who works at a garage. Get you a good deal when you decide to get your car fixed. I can help you out with a ride to work. If you want.”

“I might take you up on that.” She wiped the sweat forming off her forehead. “Why’re you out in this heat?”

He pulled a traffic ticket from his back pocket. “Speeding. Our new sheriff is out to get me.”

“You don’t believe that. Do you?” Defending any male was a new experience, especially one in law enforcement, but taking up for Matt came easy.

“He thinks I killed Julia.” His words tumbled out, desperate sounding. His hazel eyes clouded over with grief. “Didn’t come right out and accuse me, but he sent Jake out to Marty’s. Pumped her with all kinds of questions.”

“JC.” Catherine placed her hand on his arm. If she understood anything, it was how being falsely accused of something could hurt. “Marty knows you wouldn’t hurt anyone.”

“You don’t think I could.” He raised his head and managed a weak smile. “Do you?” His sad eyes made her wonder if he had any friends he could count on. The kind who stood by him.

“Of course not. And I’m sure Matt...Sheriff Ballard...will clear things up.” She wanted to give him hope but couldn’t find the right words. She cut their visit short. Susan was waiting for the supplies.

Catherine drove away thinking about the cost of car repairs. For the last month, she’d spent only the bare minimum, slowly building her stash of moving money. Her heart sank. Moving money. Her insides pitched and rolled. What if Matt got curious about her past? With a push of the button, he had access to her entire life. If he looked, she’d leave Butte Crest sooner than she’d planned. She’d known all along that day would come. The more she learned about Matt’s belief in trust and truth, the more she believed the time to share her secret with him had come and gone. Maybe it would be best if she left before he got too nosy.

Leaving Matt behind would be hard. Her heart grew heavy at the thought.

He’d stayed over Monday night after they’d made love. She’d cried out when stars exploded behind her eyes, gathered those stars in her heart when he came, pulsing and throbbing inside her. Hearts pounding, bodies glistening with sweat, they’d collapsed in each other’s embrace. He’d snuggled her into his arms, covered them with a sheet, and she’d slept with her head next to his solid chest. She woke the next morning to strong hands caressing her.

Sex with Matt had been beyond all her wildest dreams. She’d never known such cataclysmic orgasms. He’d put her needs first, nurtured her, and helped reawaken her sexuality.

Chill bumps ran over her body, a phenomenon in the middle of such a record heat wave. She allowed herself a satisfied smile. A lot had been accomplished in one night with Matt. For one thing, she’d grown to love the nickname Cat.

She smiled, as usual, when The Final Touch Funeral Home sign came into view.
Enough with the daydreams.
Matt was not looking for a wife, and she wasn’t looking for a permanent home. Time to snap out of the sex-induced haze and control her emotions. They weren’t star-crossed lovers destined to meet and fulfill each other’s dreams. She and Matt were two adults who enjoyed spending time with each other. Exactly as Marty described.

Susan answered the buzzer at the rear door and helped unload the supplies. “I’ll give you a key if you want to park back here all the time. Your car will be in the afternoon shade.”

Catherine considered the offer and weighed the heat against walking through the back of the funeral home twice a day. Today was her first time to get close to the embalming room. “I don’t know. Mr. Abbott doesn’t come in my area, and I stay out of his.”

“Puleese.” Susan’s disdain made for an interesting pronunciation of the word. “Steve stopped coming up front because of you.”

“Me? What did I do?”

“He’d walk in the room, and you’d run like he was some flesh-eating zombie. The man’s already a loner. Since you’ve been here he’s gotten worse.”

“You gotta admit he’s creepy.” Catherine stacked the last box on the two-wheeled cart. “Was I that obvious?

“Yes. Steve is like family. He and my husband worked together for years.”

“In that case, I apologize. I’ll park back here and try harder to get to know Steve.”

The front door buzzer rang, putting an end to the conversation. Susan always locked up when no one was at the receptionist’s desk.