Ethan placed his hand on the smooth skin of her forearm. "You kept your word to her. You shouldn't feel guilty for that. You did what you could."

"No, I didn't," she said, her voice tight. "The last time I talked to her I blew her off. She talked about wanting to get away, how her mom was a mess and her dad expected her to be perfect all the time. I told her she just needed to stick it out, she'd be off to college soon enough, blah, blah, blah." She took a sip of beer and let out a disgusted sigh.

"Good advice."

She shook her head and s.n.a.t.c.hed her arm out from under his hand. "No-lame, parental, smile-and-nod advice. She needed someone to listen to her and I wasn't listening. And now she's gone, and I'm not going to just leave her out there like-"

She cut herself off, shifted her gaze away, and started to get off the couch.

"Like what?"

She sighed and closed her eyes, as though carefully weighing her response. "When I was seventeen, my sister Mich.e.l.le ran away. We found her three months later. She'd been raped and strangled. She was fifteen."

Her tone was even, careful to conceal any hint of emotion. Still, the blunt words. .h.i.t Ethan like a blow. "That must have been awful for you. I'm sorry," he said, his words sounding incredibly lame as they left his mouth.

"After my parents got divorced, she got into all kinds of trouble. You name it, she did it-drugs, s.e.x, everything. I ignored her, kept my head down and focused on being the smart kid who didn't cause any trouble."

He could easily imagine her, dark-haired and somber, trying to keep her world together as everyone around her fell apart. He could relate.

"I'm sure Kara's fine."

"Yeah, that's what they said about Mich.e.l.le. 'She's run away several times, ma'am. She'll come back when she's ready, ma'am.' And we were so tired of dealing with her by then we didn't even bother looking for her."

"Toni, you were just a kid yourself-"

"I was her big sister. I should have looked after her."

He set his beer down and slid his arms around her shoulders. She stiffened slightly but didn't move away. "Kara's not like your sister. She's not-"

"Not a drug-addicted juvenile delinquent? Maybe not yet, but she's not exactly trending in the right direction."

"Yeah, I know, but she's never run away before, and she's only been missing for two days. Even if she's with Toby, she's probably fine." He felt like a broken record, but he wanted to ease the guilt and pain shadowing her eyes.

She looked up at him, her mouth pulled tight with strain, eyes dark and troubled. A heartbeat pa.s.sed. Two. In his efforts to comfort her he'd gotten closer, close enough that her thigh was pressed against his. Close enough to smell the sweet woman-scent of her skin.

His hand slid from her shoulder to her neck. His fingers slid up, tangling in silky black hair as his thumb brushed back and forth over the creamy skin of her throat.

The itchy, tight-skinned feeling was getting worse as every cell went on high alert, every nerve screaming at him to cover her mouth with his own, slide his tongue between those plump, rosy lips, kiss away the sadness and guilt.

Not the time or the place, Taggart. But his body was beyond listening. What the f.u.c.k was wrong with him? He never had a problem shutting down his libido. Sure, his brothers liked to tease him about being overs.e.xed, but truth was he was always in control.

Until now.

Her eyes widened behind the lenses of her gla.s.ses as he leaned forward, but she didn't try to move away or avoid his mouth as it came down and covered hers. His palm spread against her back and he pulled her close like he'd been dying to do since he'd first seen her in Jerry's kitchen.

Her hands came up, curling over his shoulders, resting there, as if she wasn't quite sure what to do.

He figured he'd give her a little hint, and slid his tongue into her mouth for a taste. She was hot and salty-sweet. A shaky breath spilled into his mouth and her lips parted wider, sucking him inside as she leaned in to the kiss, as eager for it as he. For all that she'd been throwing up a brick wall, there was no doubt she was feeling the same insane chemistry he was. Her hands clutched at his back, twisting the fabric of his shirt, and the hungry little sounds she was making in the back of her throat were driving him insane.

What had started as a comforting gesture quickly spun out of control. Any thoughts of work, of the case, flew out the window as the taste and feel and smell of her coursed through his veins. Ethan cupped his hand around the back of her head, holding her in place as his mouth moved greedily over hers. Tongues tangling, lips sucking. Ethan tried to remember the last time he'd gotten hard as a spike from just a kiss, and couldn't.

His free hand slid down the front of her shirt, closing over the soft weight of her breast. Her nipple was bullet hard, pushing eagerly against his palm, and he tasted her startled gasp when he pinched it gently through the stretchy fabric. A gasp turned into a whimper as his fingers plucked and teased the hard tip, until her back was arching away from the couch as she sought closer contact.

His lips slid from her mouth, across her jaw, and down the length of her neck. Her skin was salty with sweat and arousal, the smell of her subtle perfume growing heavier in the sultry air of the summer night. His hand slid down one side of her waist, catching the hem of her T-shirt in his fingers on the way back up. He heard something rip as he tugged her shirt up over her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and he cautioned himself to slow down. But sometime between meeting her yesterday and right this second, the skilled, always-in-control lover Ethan prided himself on being had disappeared.

Taking his place was a l.u.s.t-crazed, out-of-control hedonist who wanted nothing more than to tear off Toni's panties, shove his c.o.c.k in her as deep as he could get, pumping and thrusting until he came so hard he couldn't move. He tugged her shirt up over her head and flung it somewhere over the back of the couch.

He paused for a moment to enjoy the view and nearly came in his pants at the sight that greeted him. Toni was half reclining against the cushions of the couch, clad in tight jeans, and nothing on top but a creamy satin-and-lace bra that barely covered even creamier skin.

He tugged the cups down and covered her left breast in his hand, the plump, succulent flesh looking all the more delicious contrasted against his big, tanned hands. Her nipple was a rosy-pink, tight little bud peeking over his fingers, making his mouth water as he antic.i.p.ated sucking it hard between his lips.

He'd been with more-well-endowed women over the years, but hands down, Toni Crawford had the prettiest t.i.ts he'd ever seen. Creamy white with tight, pink nipples that begged to be sucked. His breath exhaled on a groan as he bent down for a taste, meaning to tease her with his tongue, but instead losing all technique and finesse as he sucked her hard into his mouth. Her fingers twisted into his hair, and the little shock of pain was enough to make his c.o.c.k harden another inch.

He shoved her back onto the couch and used his knees to spread her legs, and even through her jeans he could feel her heat as his stomach pressed against the sweet spot between her thighs. The smell of perfume and aroused woman filled his head. He wanted to move his hands and his mouth lower so he could explore the blossoming heat at her core. But he couldn't get enough of her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. He sucked greedily at one while his hand played with the other, stroking the smooth skin, pinching the tight tip in his fingers.

Toni's breath was coming in short, hot pants, her hips lifting and grinding against him. Ethan adjusted himself until his fly was perfectly aligned with her s.e.x. The heat of her seared through the fabric barrier of his trousers as he began a slow, circling counterrhythm guaranteed to drive them both insane. He closed his eyes, savoring the taste and feel of her nipples against his tongue, the sound of her breathy gasps as he rubbed his c.o.c.k against her, bringing her closer and closer to the edge. Her legs trembled faintly against his, her fingers gripped at the muscles of his a.s.s.

G.o.d, she was hot, purely responsive, with no pretense or calculated moves. He could feel her body stiffening, every sinew going tight in preparation for the impending explosion. When she came, it was going to be so hard, so good. And when she came down off that high he was going to strip off their clothes and start the process all over again.

A shrill noise cut through the sounds of heavy breathing and smacking lips, accompanied by a vibrating sensation next to his b.a.l.l.s. Ethan jumped like a cat and tumbled to the floor, groping at his pants as his s.e.x-fogged brain realized that both the noise and the vibration were coming from his pocket.

He pulled out his BlackBerry, recognizing Kramer's number as Toni pushed herself upright and pulled her bra cups back into place. She stared at him, dazed, as though she wasn't sure where she was or what she was doing.

"Ethan Taggart," he answered the phone, his voice only moderately more raspy than usual. He glanced up at Toni, silently cursing at Kramer's unbelievably s.h.i.tty timing. Her face was flushed pink, her pulse still thrummed in her throat. Her lips were swollen and parted as her breath came out in shaky gasps, and all Ethan wanted to do was throw the G.o.dd.a.m.n phone across the room and relieve the s.e.xual frustration coursing through both their bodies.

But duty called. "Got your message," Kramer said curtly. "You're sure she's in Vegas?"

Ethan stood up and turned his back on Toni, to give her a chance to compose herself and also because the sight of her, clothes half off and primed for one of the biggest female o.r.g.a.s.ms of the century, was playing way too much havoc with his concentration. "It's the best lead we have so far. I was about to follow up with the detective a.s.signed to Kara's case when you called." It was only a partial lie. But he didn't think Jerry would appreciate the truth that Ethan was going to get back on the case only after he'd f.u.c.ked Toni every which way he could think of.

Which was messed up. Ethan had never let s.e.x interfere with work and he wasn't about to start now. As much as his aching c.o.c.k would argue differently, Kramer's call was a blessing. He didn't want to do Toni in some fast, furtive f.u.c.k on her couch. He wanted the time and the room to explore her at his leisure and find out what she liked. There would be time enough after they brought Kara home to explore chemistry that snapped, crackled, and popped every time he was in the same room with her.

"I don't want to leave it to the police or anyone else. You go to Vegas. You get her back."

Ethan stifled a sigh and took a look at his watch. It was already after ten. If he moved fast, he could be in Vegas by one a.m. "I'll call you when I get there," he said and hung up.

Toni hurried by, T-shirt clutched to her chest. He heard a door close behind him and water running as he willed his c.o.c.k back into a semirelaxed state. What a f.u.c.ked-up night. Two minutes ago, he was on his way to spending several hot, sweaty hours with a woman he wasn't even sure liked him, and now he was flying to Vegas.

The fan hummed, stirring the hot air of the apartment. Ethan could detect the faint aroma of s.e.x breezing by on its way out the window. Desire twisted in his belly, and despite all of his rationalizations, he wondered if he could possibly talk Toni into a quickie up against the wall before he had to go.

She emerged from the bathroom, shirt tucked tightly into her jeans, hair brushed into a sleek curtain. And judging from the grim set of her mouth and her tightly folded arms, h.e.l.l would freeze over before she indulged in his up against-the-wall fantasy.

The wall was back in place, every brick cemented tight as she brushed past him to go to the kitchen.

"That was Jerry," he said. "He wants me to go to Vegas tonight."

Her head whipped around. "You're going tonight?"

"As soon as I get the plane ready."

Her eyes widened behind her gla.s.ses. "You have a plane."

He nodded. "My father keeps it for business travel." Not entirely true, but he wasn't about to tell Toni that his father leased a jet so he could follow up leads about Ethan's missing mother. Toni might have been ready to spill her deep, dark secrets, but he wasn't up for revealing his.

Toni looked like she wanted to ask something but Ethan stared pointedly at his watch. "I have to get going."

She went over to her desk and started shutting down her laptop. "Give me five minutes to get my stuff together." She flipped her laptop closed, shoved it into a backpack, and carried the bag down the hall to her bedroom.

Drawers were open, and she was shoving clothes into her bag. His mouth went dry as his gaze caught on a sc.r.a.p of pink lace dangling from a drawer. "You don't need to go with me." Seriously, five more minutes in close proximity to Toni and her Victoria's Secret stash and he couldn't be held responsible for anything he did. He grabbed her wrist to stay her hand as she reached for a brush. "I'll call you as soon as I find anything out."

She s.n.a.t.c.hed her wrist from his grasp. "Are you kidding me?"

He looked at her determined face, knew she wouldn't back down. Thinking about what she'd revealed about her sister, he couldn't blame her. And he couldn't do that to her-ditch her here, leave her to twist while he went after Kara alone.

"Fine. But bring something more appropriate for going out than what you've got on."

She looked down at her T-shirt, dark jeans, and black Converse All Star sneakers. "What's wrong with what I've got on?"

"Toby's at one of the hottest hotels in Vegas. They won't let you into any of the clubs looking like that."

She rolled her eyes but rummaged through her closet, emerging with a fistful of silvery fabric and a pair of shiny shoes, both of which she stuffed into her backpack. "What about you, Ace? You're pretty cute, but I doubt you're what the bouncers are looking for."

He gave her a tight grin. "We'll stop by my place on the way to the airport. Looks like we're going to Vegas, baby."

Toni took a deep breath and sank deeper into the b.u.t.tery-soft leather of the copilot's chair of the twin-engine private jet. Frustrated desire still simmered in her core, and every nerve ending was on high alert as Ethan checked the instruments and communicated with the flight tower. Her skin was hot and too sensitive for the fabric of her shirt. Her satin bra felt like sandpaper against her nipples. And the idea of his piloting the plane was so ridiculously s.e.xy, it made her squirm in her seat as she tried to keep her mind off the scorching feel of his lips and hands running over her naked skin.

If only they'd been able to finish what they started. No, bad idea, don't even go there, she told herself harshly. Kara was missing, possibly in danger, and she was so busy l.u.s.ting after Ethan she could barely keep her brain in gear. What was wrong with her? In the time she'd broken up with John, she'd met plenty of guys she could have been attracted to if she'd allowed herself. But she didn't have time for a guy, a relationship, any of that bulls.h.i.t. She needed to keep herself focused, first on finding Kara, then on getting herself moved back to Seattle and forgetting this entire unfortunate detour her life had taken after her mom died.

But Ethan had been so sweet, comforting her, a look in his blue eyes that said he understood what she was talking about when she'd told him about Mich.e.l.le. His strong arms and big hands had felt so good, she'd just wanted to sink into him and stay wrapped up against his chest for a couple of weeks.

Ugh. So did every woman with a pulse. Like the bearer of the dark pink lipstick that had found its way onto Ethan's ear.

That's the kind of man you're dealing with, Toni. A guy who gets lipstick all over him and is kissing someone else two days later.

She should have pushed him away the second he'd put his arm around her, and definitely when he'd leaned in. But he'd smelled so good and tasted even better. And the way he'd kissed her. So hungry, like he was starving for the taste of her. And his hands, rough but tender as they'd cupped and squeezed her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. Her nipples tightened at the memory.

And, she admitted to herself, feeling lame and weak and girly as she did, it felt so good to feel wanted. Especially by a man who looked the way he did.

It galled her to admit it, but she knew if Kramer hadn't called, she would have been naked, on the couch, on the bed, h.e.l.l, the kitchen table if that's what Ethan wanted, legs spread wide as she eagerly took him inside her body.

Between her legs, her s.e.x fluttered as though mourning for the climaxes that would never be. She crossed her legs, willing her libido out of hyperdrive.

Ethan had no trouble shutting it down, she thought, glaring into his back. She was a mess, but from the moment Kramer called he'd flipped like a switch, all business all the time, as if he hadn't just had his lips on her breast and his hips between her legs, rocking her to heaven on her secondhand couch.

The man was dangerous.

But as she watched him adjust his headset and go through a final instrument check, she wondered if maybe some bed rocking, wall banging, no strings attached might be exactly what she needed. She'd never been one for one-night stands, but her body's enthusiastic response to Ethan told her she'd missed s.e.x a lot more than she'd realized. As long as she kept firmly in mind what s.e.x with Ethan would and would not mean, maybe it wasn't a bad idea to give big stud over there a ride.

"What?" Ethan asked as they started to taxi down the runway. "Why are you staring at me like that?"

She was grateful that the dark hid her flush as she scrambled for a reply. "I was thinking how cool it is that you can fly. I don't think I've ever met a pilot."

"I was pilot in the navy for eight years. Fighter jets."

"You were in the navy?" She couldn't keep the incredulous tone out of her voice. Still, she was impressed. "You don't strike me as a military type."

Somehow, she couldn't see Ethan, with his charming smile and devil-may-care swagger, fitting in with a rigid disciplinary structure. However, she could easily imagine how hot he must have looked in his flight suit.

"I did okay," he said with a smile. "My brothers were, too."

Now that was interesting. Several of her high school cla.s.smates had gone into the military as a way to afford college, but since when did the sons of ber-wealthy businessmen voluntarily join the military?

As though he had read her mind, Ethan said, "We're the fifth generation of Taggart men to serve our country."

"And you were all in the navy?"

"Nope, just me. Derek and Danny both went to West Point and joined the army. Danny eventually went into the special forces, and Derek was a sniper. But I always wanted to fly."

A family of warriors, she thought with a delicious little shiver. Somehow, the idea that Ethan wanted to go fast and fly planes didn't surprise her. "So you wanted to be like Tom Cruise in Top Gun?"

His eyes creased at the corners as he grinned. "Something like that, but taller and not jumping off Oprah's couch."

Toni laughed and slanted him a sly look. "And I bet you enjoyed having a different woman in every port."

"I was on an aircraft carrier in the Persian Gulf for eight months at a pop. I had to find my fun somewhere."

She could only imagine what kind of fun he found. Her mouth went dry as the kiss they both seemed determined to forget blazed through her consciousness. She swallowed hard and steered the subject away from Ethan's undoubtedly vast experience with women around the world.

"So I suppose you big, tough ex-military types focus more on the personal protection side of security in your business."

He nodded. "We do plenty of that. But we keep up on the high-tech stuff. Especially Derek."

"A sniper turned computer genius. Sounds interesting. You said he's your twin?"

"Yeah, fraternal. But I guess we look alike."

She didn't know what made her say what she said next, but he was so s.e.xually confident, and she was so at sea, she wanted to see if she could get under his skin. "Maybe you could fix us up."

Ethan turned his attention away from the instrument panel, and even in the dim light of the plane she could feel the impact of his stare. The small s.p.a.ce was charged with energy and heat.

"I don't think so," he said, in a tone that told her she'd scored a direct hit. He turned back to face the windshield.

He was silent for several minutes. Toni leaned back against the headrest and looked out into the darkness. There was almost no ambient light, only the occasional bright dot of a small town illuminating the desert darkness. Ethan's voice startled her out of her trancelike state.

"So how did a computer genius like you go from having a lucrative job in high tech to working as a PI?"

How did he-? Oh yeah. Her job at SafeTech must have come up on her background check.

Toni shrugged. "Kind of happened by accident. I used to work in network security, and after I moved down here, a friend of a friend wanted me to do some family Internet security."