In Zach's Arms (Once a Marine, Always a Marine Book 1) Page 8

  And she wouldn’t let it be any longer. She’d lived too long as a victim and she’d been just waiting to be put in that role again. Expected it. That’s why she was so stubborn and resistant. Amazing how one little word suddenly made so much sense. Explained so much about her. She shook her head to clear it.

  “Tell me about the third break-in, Detective.”

  His expression said he wasn’t surprised by her knowledge. “The landlady.”

  Elizabeth shrugged. “She cares about me.”

  “I can understand why.” Then he looked away out the window. “I wanted to find a way to break it to you gently.”

  “That my burglar is sick and twisted? I figured that one out already.” She stared at the half-eaten croissant, knowing she’d never finish it with the change in conversation. “What is the motivation for breaking in to clean up?”

  “I don’t know. It’s almost like he’s atoning for the first two. Making it up to you somehow.”

  “Okay, that freaks me out even more.”

  “I wish I could tell you something concrete. This is just a feeling.”

  They finished their drinks in awkward silence after that. She could tell he wanted to ask more questions about Zach, but decided against it. When he abruptly stood, she followed him outside and to his undercover cruiser.

  As she watched Wolfe drive away, two things caught her attention. One was the man who sat in the booth next to her seemed to be watching her. The other was someone who shouldn’t have been in Flagstaff, because he never left his apartment.

  Mr. McCreedy.

  Elizabeth backed up and off the sidewalk, pressing her back to the building. She was partially hidden in the shadow of the overhang and a sign that was advertising the real estate office next door.

  What was he doing here?

  McCreedy was dressed in dark clothing and kept looking over his shoulder as he walked. He was maybe two hundred yards away and across the street. She wouldn’t have noticed him at all, if it hadn’t been for that ratty leather jacket he always wore. It was bomber style and covered in patches from his travels. The one that caught her attention was a bright red patch with a black widow spider on it. She couldn’t remember where it was supposed to be from, but it always creeped her out.

  The chocolate croissant that tasted so good earlier felt like a brick in her stomach. A brick that might make its way back up. God, she hated the instant fear. It could be a coincidence that he was here in Flagstaff. Zach didn’t believe in coincidences. Maybe she shouldn’t either.

  She lost sight of him while she remained frozen in the shadows. And when she was able to make her legs move again, he was gone. The man in the café was gone as well. It suddenly seemed like an hour had passed when, in reality, it had been maybe a minute.

  Zach.

  She needed Zach to make her world right. The man she loved with her entire being. He was her soul mate and it had only taken her most of her life to realize it. She was going to tell him, but not just yet. Right now, she needed his arms around her and she needed to be out from under the sword that was hanging over her head.

  Then she’d say yes. Yes to moving in and yes to marrying him.

  After a long engagement and when she was sure she wouldn’t hyperventilate at the thought of walking down the aisle and tying her life to his.

  She wouldn’t be a victim any longer.

  Chapter 11

  Zach found her frozen outside, before she could let the panic take over completely.

  “What’s wrong?”

  Elizabeth came out of her stupor and threw herself into his arms. The warmth of his body seeped into her and he picked her up and carried her inside.

  “What’s wrong, baby? Did Wolfe say something or do something to you?”

  Jesse brought over a jacket and wrapped it around her shoulders when Zach set her on their leather couch in the office. “Can I get you something darlin’?”

  She shook her head no, refusing to let go of Zach. “It was my neighbor, Mr. McCreedy. I saw him out on the street, just as the Detective was leaving.”

  She saw Jesse and Zach give each other a look.

  “It’s just a coincidence, right? I mean, how could he know I was here?”

  “I’m going to go check it out,” Zach said.

  “No,” Jesse said putting a hand on Zach’s shoulder to keep him sitting next to Elizabeth. “I’ve got this. You stay and make sure she’s protected. Tell me what he looks like and what he was wearing.”

  “There was also a guy in the café that seemed like he was watching me,” she said. Zach and Jesse exchange a look and wondered what that meant.

  “I’ll check that out too,” Jesse said.

  Once he got the descriptions, he was gone. And when he came back, McCreedy had taken off. No one in the stores remembered seeing him. He wasn’t staying in any of the hotels or bed and breakfasts in town either. Jesse stayed in town to do some more investigating while Zach took her back to the cabin.

  It was late; she was tired and edgy and she knew Zach was pissed. A hot shower and bed was her plan.

  Elizabeth was under the hot spray of the shower when Zach joined her. It startled her for a moment as the cold air hit and raised goose bumps.

  “I’m sorry about all this, Zach.”

  His warm and naked chest touched her back as his arms wound around her body.

  “It was stupid and reckless to just stand out on the street with no one around. I should’ve gone directly inside where it was safer.”

  He never said a word as he turned her in his arms and pressed his lips to hers. He consumed her then, with just his body touching hers and his lips devouring her mouth; she went up in flames.

  Her silent warrior. Still mad and taking it out on her by making her burn with desire. If this was her punishment, then she would gladly take it.

  “Talk to me,” she whispered.

  “No.”

  “Damn it, Zach.”

  His teeth teased her lips, nipping and biting until she opened on a sigh. His tongue thrust in and tangled with hers. Using his body, he pressed her up against the wall, angling the shower head so that the hot water hit them both.

  And then he went to work on her body. Plumping and plucking her nipples until they were hard and standing at attention, waiting for more. He wasn’t gentle and she didn’t want him to be. She wanted to be taken. Anything could happen and, if they only had these few days together, then she wanted all of him. Everything he could give.

  “Oh God, that feels good,” she moaned.

  His warm mouth feasted on her breast while one hand moved lower, caressing her hips and cupping her bottom. He pulled her pelvis forward into his sex as he rubbed himself against her.

  Her body shuddered at the contact.

  She pulled his hair to try to force his mouth up to hers, but he was having none of it. Instead he dropped to his knees and moved one of her legs over his shoulder. The spray of the water hit her chest and forced her eyes closed, just as she felt his tongue.

  His tongue went to work and her knees buckled. Strong hands held her pressed against the shower wall as Zach plundered her with his mouth. Sucking and kissing and pulling noises out of her that didn’t even sound human.

  When she cried out and convulsed, he lapped up every drop of her orgasm.

  And he still never said a word. He dipped his tongue into her bellybutton before paying homage to her nipples once more. He took her lips and swallowed her sigh.

  Nothing was as sweet as his tongue with her flavor.

  Gripping her legs in each hand, Zach lifted her body and wrapped her legs around his waist. The tip of his shaft was poised at her entrance. Slowly, so slowly, he brought her down until she was impaled. Stretched and full, the throbbing started over again.

  “Zach,” she whispered, tonguing the shell of his ear. That’s all she could say, just his name.

  And when he moved, he pulled almost all the way out of her and surged back in. Her back slapped t
he tile as pleasure streaked up from her core. Zach moved like a machine, thrusting in and out of her in steady strokes designed to drive her out of mind. She couldn’t move, pinned as she was between his big wet body and the wall.

  All she could do was take everything he was. Accept who he was.

  Elizabeth held on as he pounded into her. Her thighs quivered as she held on. She raked her nails up his back and bit the side of his neck before kissing the same spot.

  “You make me burn,” she whispered into his ear.

  Zach pulled back and looked deeply into her eyes, his face taut with desire. Keeping her lower body pinned with his, he laced his palms with hers and held her hands above her head.

  And then he went completely wild.

  Zach had planned on making love to Beth until all her fear was gone. Maybe silence and his body would finally get through to her stubborn brain. Talking wasn’t doing anything for him. But he got lost in her body like he always did.

  He gave himself over to her, body and soul, showing her his love with every stroke, every thrust. He wouldn’t speak, so he took her luscious mouth and tasted her sweetness.

  Her sex gripped him like a hot glove as he surged in and out of her and when he felt her inner walls contracting around him, he stroked her harder.

  And she melted around him.

  His Beth came apart so beautifully in his arms that he could have happily died right at that moment. He let her arms fall around his neck as he moved her body lower on the wall, thrusting into her as deeply as he could. Once, twice and finally a third thrust and he erupted in his own orgasm, spurting into her over and over.

  The force of his climax triggered another one for his woman and she tensed up and milked him, squeezing him as she came a third time.

  He loved it. Loved her. And her independent spirit. A spirit he could only protect, not crush just because it would keep her safe.

  Damn.

  Letting her slide down his body, Zach washed her thoroughly as well as himself. Beth let him dry her and tuck them both into bed before she said anything.

  “I’m sorry, Zach.”

  He sighed. “I know, baby. I’m sorry too.”

  She sat up, dragging the sheet with her and stared at him with her large chocolate-brown eyes. “What are you sorry about? I’m the moron who doesn’t listen.”

  Reaching up, he brushed her hair to the side and tucked the rogue strands behind her ear. She was everything that was beautiful in his world. His light, his smile, his heart. If anything happened to her, he would die. But he couldn’t keep her in a cage or behind glass, because then she would die. Or leave him.

  And that, he couldn’t stand.

  “I just realized that I can’t squelch any part of your nature. I shouldn’t demand that you stay shut away. I know how much you need your freedom, how much it scares you to be trapped in a situation you can’t control.”

  Tears threatened to waterlog them both as she looked at him. She blinked to keep them from falling. Then she smiled and leaned over to kiss him.

  “No one has ever understood me the way you do.”

  “You just have to remind me now and then that I’m being a controlling asshole.”

  She laughed and stretched out beside him, curling her warm naked body into his side. Stroking her fingers up and down his chest, she was quiet for a while. Those light touches were driving him crazy, and, coupled with the feel of her soft breasts rising and falling with her breathing, his sated body roared back to life.

  “How about we compromise?” she finally said, breaking the silence.

  “Hmmm,” he murmured, already distracted.

  “You stay with me and I will follow your rules. No leaving the property or going anywhere without you. And I won’t even complain about your overbearing protectiveness.”

  Zach didn’t have to think at all about it. The meeting in town earlier was the last one for a while and he’d already told Jesse that he would be holed up in the cabin until Beth was safe.

  “Deal.”

  And when her hand moved lower under the blanket, he stopped thinking at all.

  Chapter 12

  Elizabeth forced herself to relax. Small half-moon grooves covered her palms due to her nails digging in. Through the window of Zach’s truck, she could see him standing with three of the local police officers and Detective Wolfe. They were talking outside of the manager’s office at a little bed and breakfast place in Sedona.

  Mr. McCreedy was in one of those rooms.

  A little less than an hour outside of Flagstaff, Sedona was host to millions of tourists per year. It was a great place to blend in, but Jesse Calhoun was part bloodhound. No one hid from him for very long.

  And since Zach had agreed to her deal, Elizabeth had demanded to come along for the ride. Jesse was outside the window of the truck, standing guard. No one was coming near her without having to go through him.

  Rolling down the window, she asked, “What’s happening?”

  Jesse shrugged. “Since I can’t hear anything, my guess is they’re trying to decide how to play this. They didn’t have time for a warrant, so the bastard is going to have to invite them into his room so they can look around.”

  “So what happens if he won’t let them in?”

  “Then Zach and I stake out his place until he leaves. Then, we break in and nose around.”

  Elizabeth could feel her eyebrows rise up into her hairline. “But that’s illegal.”

  Jesse looked her in the eye. “If this is the sick son of a bitch that broke into your apartment three times and continues to terrorize you, then we’re going to make him pay. One way or another.”

  She shivered at the finality in his tone. Zach had said basically the same thing, but hearing it from Jesse made it seem more real, for some reason. Maybe it was because she didn’t know him as well. When Zach told her he would protect her by any means, it made sense, but why would Jesse?

  “Why are you doing this? I don’t want you to get hurt.”

  His blue eyes blazed down into hers with an intensity that would have normally scared her right into her grave. But it didn’t. His intensity made her feel safe. It was an odd feeling and one she had only ever gotten around Zach.

  “Why?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  “Because he loves you, that’s why.” He nodded toward Zach, who stood with his arms folded across his chest as he listened to Detective Wolfe.

  “You make him smile and I’ve never seen him smile like he does when he looks at you.”

  “I love him, too.” She whispered it, afraid that saying it out loud might somehow make it less real. Might somehow destroy the trust she was beginning to put into the feeling.

  “You’d better.”

  That harshly spoken statement forced a small smile out of her. “You love him too, don’t you?”

  “Like the brother I never had. We’ve been through Hell together and he’s always got my back, no questions asked. And I’ve got his.”

  Elizabeth reached out and touched his arm. “Thank you for that. For taking care of him, and being his friend. He doesn’t make friends easily. Or trust people.” She shrugged ruefully. “It’s a product of the foster system.”

  “I’ve got your back too, Beth.”

  Emotion clogged her throat that this big man, a deadly warrior in his own stead, was offering to be her friend too. He’d shown her nothing but kindness and now he was standing guard over her. Protecting her back while Zach tried to figure this out.

  “I’ve got yours too, Jesse.”

  He winked and bowed slightly at the waist. “I’m honored, Ma’am.”

  He was making fun, but she didn’t mind. That was his way. Elizabeth had noticed that when she asked him anything personal, his accent would suddenly thicken. Jesse didn’t like to talk about himself or his past.

  She could understand that. Everyone had scars and that was the way he chose to hide his. For herself, it had been isolation. From people, from mem
ories, from life.

  And she was sick of it.

  Zach didn’t like being told no. The Sedona police sergeant in charge of this “knock and talk” seemed competent enough, and he made it clear that he wasn’t about to let a civilian through that door first.

  Glancing back towards his truck, he saw Beth and Jesse talking. No one suspicious hanging around, and yet, he couldn’t shake the feeling that unfriendly eyes were on him. Worse, those eyes were on Beth.

  Detective Wolfe was putting some serious mileage on his police-issued cruiser, going back and forth from Flagstaff to Phoenix. Zach didn’t like the man. He’d seen the way the detective looked at Beth and, while he couldn’t blame him for wanting her, he’d break his damned neck if he stepped out of line.

  The loud bang-bang-bang on the door pulled Zach’s attention.

  “Darwin McCreedy. This is the Sedona Police Department and we’d like a word with you.”

  The door cracked open after a minute or so and a voice answered. “What is the meaning of this?”

  “We have some questions for you, sir. Can we come inside?”

  “I haven’t broken any laws. What’s this about?”

  Zach couldn’t see the man, his view being blocked by three of the officers, but the sound of the voice and inflection didn’t sound right. He had experience in dealing with criminals in the military. Their voices held an edge, a menace that just wasn’t present here. His shoulders relaxed and he stepped back. This wasn’t the guy. Oh, Mr. Darwin McCreedy was hiding something, but he wasn’t the one who was terrorizing Beth.

  Zach would bet his life on it.

  Shooting Jesse a look, he gave a quick shake of his head. Before Jesse could relax, he sent couple of quick hand signals that only his unit used. An unfriendly still had eyes on them and they still needed to be vigilant. He saw his friend take a casual look around. Zach did the same, but whoever watched them was hiding very well. Or hiding in plain sight.

  The officers and Wolfe finally convinced the older man to let them inside. Zach automatically moved with them as they entered. It was spacious and the bay window on the opposite side of the door flooded the place with light.