"I want to make love to you, Kate."

She wound her arms around his neck and pressed herself against him. Unable to find the words, she used her lips and mouth and tongue and covered his face with kisses.

Heat centered in her core and she moved against him, needing to get closer. The clothes she'd been admiring only moments before were now a hindrance and she groaned her frustration against his mouth.

"Easy there, sweetheart. We don't have to rush it. This time, I'm going to make it perfect."

She didn't care about perfect. All she wanted was to feel his warm skin against hers, the comfort, the security, the strength he gave her just by being with her. But she pulled away as the rest of his words registered.

"What about your investigation? Won't they be wondering where you are?"

He shook his head. "They know how disappointed and frustrated I am. They're all feeling much the same way. They'll understand if I disappear for an hour or two." He grinned. "They'll think I've gone somewhere to blow off steam."

She looked away, suddenly a.s.sailed by doubts. "Is that what you're doing? Blowing off steam?"

He took hold of her chin and forced her to look at him. "No, sweetheart, that's not what I'm doing. G.o.d help me, I didn't come around here for this, but I can't help it. I can't think straight when I'm around you and I sure as h.e.l.l can't keep my hands off you. I'm more worked up over you than I've ever been for an investigation and it scares the h.e.l.l out of me because I-I've fallen in love with you and I don't have a clue how you feel."

He dropped his arms and stepped away. The uncertainty on his face tore at her heart. She'd never felt so safe, so wanted, so needed by a man-she loved how he made her feel.

From the moment they'd met, he'd felt right. Like an old friend who would always be there. Like a comfortable pair of shoes or her favorite fluffy house coat.

Oh, G.o.d, she couldn't believe she'd just likened the gorgeous man before her to her house coat, but the feelings he generated deep inside her were much the same: He felt like home. Like a real home, filled with love and laughter and acceptance.

And it was the truth. She'd fallen in love with him. Somewhere along the way, through the terror of confronting her past and the turmoil of finding her mother, she'd fallen in love with Riley.

She reached out to touch him, a shaky smile on her lips. His gaze roved over her face and her smile widened.

A tentative smile tugged at his lips, but uncertainty still clouded his eyes.

"Talk to me, Kate. Please, talk to me."

She stepped forward until she stood mere inches away from him. Reaching up, she pulled his head down to hers and kissed him.

It was slow and sweet and perfect. Every ounce of the love she felt for him found its way to his mouth. When at last she pulled away, both of them were breathing fast.

"I love you, Riley. With every fiber of my being. That's how I feel."

The smile erupted into a wide grin. He whooped and hollered and pulled her to him. His arms tightened around her, holding her like he'd never let her go.

Wriggling out of his grasp, she took his hand and tugged him toward the bed. He sat down on the edge, his gaze on hers. Shyness besieged her, but she was determined to show him how much she meant it. Lifting her arms, she stood before him and undid the b.u.t.tons on her blouse, her gaze never straying from his.

Shrugging the shirt off her shoulders, she tossed it to the floor. Her white lace bra quickly followed suit before her courage waned. She stood proudly before him, pleased when his breath caught at the sight of her naked torso. Her nipples reacted to the heat in his gaze and puckered into small, hard nubs.

Leaning forward, she kissed him, her lips soft and teasing, his mouth warm and inviting beneath hers. His arms came up around her and pulled her close. She lost her balance and toppled onto him, relishing the feel of her bare skin against the cotton of his shirt. Seconds later, he rolled her onto her back and pressed her into the mattress.

He stared down at her, his eyelids heavy with desire. With quick movements, he pulled off his jacket, loosened his tie and undid the b.u.t.tons of his shirt. Within minutes, his clothing had joined hers on the floor.

She stroked the well-defined muscles of his chest with her fingers. He gasped and sucked in his belly. A surge of pure feminine power flooded through her. She'd never felt in control of her responses or her actions and the thought that she could have such an effect on him was exhilarating.

Her hands strayed lower, slipping beneath the waistband of his pants to tangle in the soft hair below. With a grimace, he captured her hands in his and held them against his chest.

"This time, it's all about you, sweetheart. If you keep heading in that direction, I might end up disgracing myself. Again." He bent low and brushed his lips across hers. "And I've sworn that's not going to happen."

She smiled and wondered again how she'd stumbled across this man and what she'd done to deserve him. Happiness spread through her. She threaded her arms around his neck and pulled him down hard against her. The feel of his bare skin on hers sent goose b.u.mps along her nerve endings and she shivered with the need that burned deep down inside her.

Raising her head, she tasted the side of his neck with her tongue. He groaned and pulled gently away from her. He moved lower until he'd captured one of her rosy nipples between his lips.

She gasped at the sensation. His mouth, hot and moist, teased the sensitized peak. She pressed against him with wanton need, abandoning all pretense at control.

He turned his attention to her other breast and her heart pounded in response. She moved restlessly beneath him, her fingers clenched around his head, anchoring him against her and against the avalanche of feeling that threatened to swamp her.

"Easy, sweetheart," he murmured, lifting his head to peer into her eyes.

His mouth skipped over the soft skin of her belly and paused at the top of her waistband. Moments later, he slid open the b.u.t.ton on her jeans and lowered the zipper. Her breath caught.

Lifting her bottom off the bed, she let him tug the garment down her hips, leaving her naked but for a sc.r.a.p of white lace. Setting aside her shyness, she watched as he looked his fill.

"You're so beautiful," he breathed. His finger traced the outline of her panties, stopping to dip slightly beneath the elastic. Her stomach quivered from the strain and she yearned for his weight to be back on top of her.

His head lowered and his tongue replaced his finger, gliding across the lace. He buried his face between her legs. The feel of his warm breath on her flesh was unbearable.

Blood pounded in her veins and left her c.l.i.t heavy and aching for more. As if sensing her need, his mouth opened over her sensitized flesh. She almost came off the bed in response.

Embarra.s.sment burned through her. She tightened her legs together and pushed at his head. He looked up and his gaze found hers.

"Let me love you, Kate. I want to love you."

The love and sincerity in his eyes was what convinced her. The tension left her body and she relaxed against the softness of the mattress.

Riley tugged at her panties and slid them down her legs. With an effort, she fought against her instinctive urge to hide.

"Please, don't be scared, sweetheart. No one's going to hurt you, ever again."

His head lowered and his lips moved over her heated flesh, licking and sucking and sliding between the soft folds. She cried out at the exquisite sensations. With the palm of his hand, he pressed against her c.l.i.t, stroking her with increasing pressure.

Kate's hands clenched into fists as sensations overwhelmed her. His fingers slipped inside her and she tensed. With sweet, tender strokes he moved in and out of her, the pressure of his hand never once relenting. Heat and desire blossomed. She pressed up against him, squirming under his touch.

The constant force of his mouth and his palm and his fingers continued and the pressure from deep inside became almost unbearable. She twisted and moaned, seeking relief. Riley lifted his head and looked at her, urging her on.

"That's it, sweetheart, you're nearly there. Relax and let it happen. Let yourself come. I want to see you come."

His words tipped her over the edge. She squeezed her eyes shut and cried out. Her inner muscles clenched and pulsed. Relief washed over her and she jerked against him.

Slowly, she opened her eyes and watched as Riley stood and pulled off his suit pants. His boxers quickly followed. Her gaze was drawn to the long, hard length of him that jutted proudly from his body. The tip of his c.o.c.k glistened with excitement and she longed to taste him as he'd tasted her.

She half sat and reached out for him. He backed away with a smile.

"Oh, no you don't. Not this time. If you touch me, I'm going to explode and I want to be deep inside you with your tight warmth all around me when I do that."

Leaning down, he pulled out a condom from the pocket of his trousers and quickly sheathed himself. He took up a position between her legs. They fell open in welcome.

"I'm sorry, sweetheart, but this is going to be quick. I'm so hard for you, I can't stand it another minute." Plunging inside her, he shuddered and groaned and then began moving.

She reached up and pulled him down hard against her, lifting her hips to meet each fierce thrust. Tension built in his shoulders. His breath was harsh in her ear. She tightened her hold on him, loving the feel of him moving inside her.

He groaned again and his pace increased, faster and harder until he stiffened and stilled and then collapsed against her, his body spent.

Slowly, his breathing returned to normal. They lay face to face on their sides, touching and exploring with fingers gentled by awe and love. Long minutes pa.s.sed.

Riley looked at the clock.

With a sigh, he rolled away and stood, collecting his underwear and trousers and pulling them on. "I have to go."

Kate nodded in understanding, even though she longed for him to stay. "I know. Things to do, places to go, people to see."

"Ladies to kiss." He swooped low and planted a kiss on her lips.

She smiled and watched him continue to dress. "You better not be kissing anyone but me. I don't think I'd like to share."

He growled low in his throat and pressed another hard kiss against her mouth. "That's good, because I definitely don't like to share."

She smiled again and tugged the sheet up higher, tucking it across her b.r.e.a.s.t.s. "Where are you going now?"

He grimaced. "Back to the station. Do a recap. See where we go from here."

"So you didn't find anything to suggest foul play at Darryl's house? No sign that anything was amiss?"

"Nope, everything looked completely normal, just like you'd expect it to look."

Kate frowned. "I wonder if I'd notice anything out of place? I mean, I haven't been there for ten years, but..."

Riley frowned and moved closer, sitting on the side of the bed and taking her hands in his. "Really? Do you really want to go back in there?"

"Do you think it could make a difference?"

He shrugged. "I don't know. But at this stage, I'm willing to try anything." He framed her face with his hands. "But only if you're up to it. I can't imagine what it would be like for you to go into his house again."

Kate stared at him drawing strength from the love in his eyes. "With you beside me, I'm willing to try."

Leaning forward, he kissed her softly, deeply, on the mouth. "Christ, I love you so much."

"I love you, too," she whispered.

CHAPTER 29.

Kate looked across at Riley and drew courage from the warmth in his eyes and the encouragement in his smile. She looked through the window of the squad car to the house on Baxter Road. It appeared much as it had before. The only exception was that two marked police cars were parked in the driveway. A couple of uniformed officers stood in the garden and Chase Barrington waited for her and Riley near the front steps.

Riley glanced toward her. "Ready?"

Kate sucked in a deep breath, filling her lungs. The awareness of her breathing helped her focus her mind on the task in front of her. With gritted teeth and a lifetime of determination, she gave Riley a brief nod. He opened the car door.

Holding her elbow, he guided her up the path. His face was set in a grim line. His eyes were dark with concern.

He looked at her again. "You don't have to do this."

Kate offered him a tight smile. "I know. But it might be the difference between finding out what's really happened to my mother and not. If there's any chance the answer lies in this house, I have to take it."

His eyes filled with admiration and love. He bent and pressed a quick kiss on her lips and whispered, "You're the bravest woman I know."

She started in surprise. They were in full view of the other officers. Riley didn't seem to care. Warmth spread through her from her belly up into her chest and then it blossomed into her cheeks. But it was a happy kind of warmth and she squeezed his hand in grat.i.tude.

Chase met them at the bottom of the steps that led to the front door, his face somber. "It's very good of you to do this, Kate. We really appreciate it."

She acknowledged him with a nod and swallowed against the rapid onslaught of nerves. She was right outside the front door, ready to enter for the first time in more than a decade. Her legs started to tremble and all of a sudden she felt sick.

Riley must have seen something in her face. He pulled her to the side, his brow furrowing with concern.

"Kate, are you all right? You're as white as a sheet. Maybe this isn't such a good idea?"

Drawing in a few quick, deep breaths, Kate made an effort to restore her equilibrium. She rested her forehead against the cool fabric of Riley's jacket and clung to his familiar scent. His arms came around her and drew her in close.

"It's okay, sweetheart, you don't have to do this. Let's forget about it. I'll take you back to your motel. We'll figure something out. Chase and I will just go back through the place again, see if there's anything we missed."

There was nothing Kate wanted more than to turn around and run away as fast as she could, back to the sanctuary of her motel room. But that wouldn't solve anything. Not the questions about her mother and certainly not her fierce determination to face her demons once and for all.

She lifted her head and offered him a weak smile. "Thanks. I really appreciate it. But I have to do this. Just give me a minute. I'll be fine. I have to do this."

She sounded like she was trying to convince herself as much as him, but it was the best she could do. The last thing she wanted was to step inside Darryl's house again, but she had to. There was no choice. It was as simple as that.

With another deep fortifying breath, she stepped out of the comfort of Riley's arms and marched back to the doorstep. Chase looked over her head to Riley who stood not far behind her and after a moment's hesitation, he slowly opened the door.

It was the smell of the place that hit her first. The unfamiliar, acrid burn of bleach in her nostrils distracted her enough to get her through the entryway and into the open-plan kitchen and living room.

She looked around her. The place was as spotless as she remembered. It was only the smell that was foreign. A decade ago, it had smelled of lemon and citrus and roses, not the caustic smell of cleaning fluid.

Her mother's desk was still against the wall beneath the big front window. Kate remembered when Rosemary would open the curtains wide and enjoy the view from her wheelchair. A writing pad and a couple of fountain pens littering the desk were all that remained on the desk. The will that Riley had said he'd seen there was nowhere in sight.

Steeling herself, she walked across the living room and stopped outside her mother's bedroom. The door was open and she could see the bed, neatly made up, in the corner.

Riley came up behind her and touched her elbow. She took comfort from his presence and, with another deep breath, she stepped across the threshold.

Like the kitchen and living room, the bedroom was spotless. Perfume bottles and tubes of hand cream were lined up neatly on her mother's dresser. A book sat on the nightstand. She moved closer and read the t.i.tle: My Reckless Surrender. From the look of the picture on its cover, it was a romance novel, complete with a half-naked woman in a pa.s.sionate clench with a man that looked too good to be true.