Really.” She turned to Tory. “Can I get clean now?”

Her eyes steady on Rica, Tory asked, “Do I need to collect sexual forensic evidence?”

“No. He never touched me.”

“Then I think Carter owes you a shower.”

v

Reese watched dispassionately as the two medics zipped up the black body bag and lifted it onto the stretcher for transport to the clinic.

When the room had cleared, she picked up Tory’s equipment bag while Tory disposed of her gloves and washed her hands in the bathroom.

“All set?” Reese asked when Tory emerged.

• 244 •

RetuRning tides

Tory took one last look around the room, then studied the shattered window. “That was quite a shot.”

Reese looked over her shoulder to the house next door. Lights blazed in most of the windows now. She had sent officers to speak to the neighbors and assure everyone that there was no danger, but with three patrol cars and two ambulances outside in the street, the entire neighborhood was awake. From her vantage point on the opposite deck, she’d been pretty certain of what was happening in this room, although her view was obstructed most of the time. And there hadn’t been any question in her mind when Rica had bolted upright and the suspect, after catching his balance, had swung his pistol in her direction. Reese had had a millisecond to determine that Rica was not in her line of fire and that Rica was in imminent danger. She’d shot him in the head because she couldn’t risk a body shot that might not have completely and instantaneously disabled him. Head shots weren’t usually recommended, because the target was so much smaller than a center mass shot, but she had to stop him in his tracks before his nervous system could telegraph a signal to his finger to pull the trigger.

She couldn’t risk him shooting Rica, so she aimed for the medulla at the back of his head.

“Short-range shot,” Reese said. “Every Marine is a marksman.”

“And thank God for that,” Tory murmured, brushing her hand over Reese’s chest. “Are you all right?”

Reese sighed and took in the room and the remains of a near tragedy. “About taking out the suspect? Yes. But I’m not happy he got to her. I think I should’ve seen this coming.”

“Of course you should have,” Tory said with an edge. “Because you’re clairvoyant in addition to being indestructible and…”

“Hey,” Reese said gently. “Everybody’s fine.”

Tory slid her arms around Reese’s waist. “When I saw you leave the house with that rifle, I knew it was going to be bad. I was frightened.”

“I’m sorry.”

“No. No apologies.” Tory leaned back and smiled wryly. “And I’m sorry for nagging you. Get some sleep, and in the morning you and the rest of your team can go over all of this. If you missed something, you’ll find it. But Rica’s all right, and that’s what matters.”

“Thanks.” Reese kissed her. “Let’s go home.”

• 245 •

• 246 •

RetuRning tides

chapteR twenty-nine

Allie’s phone vibrated on the table next to the bed, and she stretched carefully for it with her good right arm, trying not to wake Ash. KT had finally given her permission to go home around midnight, stating she was satisfied that Allie’s wound wasn’t going to require surgery. Allie had taken the prescribed pain pill, and the minute she and Ash had climbed into bed, she’d cuddled up in Ash’s arms and checked out. In the soft light of early morning, Ash still looked exhausted, her face drawn and pale with dark circles under her eyes.

Allie figured she probably looked as bad, but she didn’t feel too terrible.

Her arm hurt like anything, but mostly, she was happy. She had a lot to be happy about. She’d helped catch a perp yesterday, and best of all, she’d just woken up next to Ash.

The text message was from Bri, and it was a whopper. She hurriedly sent a response and eased to the edge of the bed. Before she could try standing up, an arm snaked around her waist. Then she felt a soft kiss in the center of her back.

“Going somewhere?” Ash skated her hand higher, cradling Allie’s breast in her palm.

Allie leaned back against Ash, closing her eyes and enjoying the play of Ash’s fingers over her nipple. “You know just how to get me going, don’t you?”

“Don’t know what you mean.” Ash sat up and put a leg on either side of Allie’s body, pulling Allie back against her chest. She kissed the side of her neck and nuzzled her ear. “Who were you texting?

Girlfriend?”

• 247 •

RAdCLY fFe

Allie leaned her head away and gave Ash a look. “You were sweet for twelve whole hours. Are you going to be a dick again now?”

“Probably.” Ash nipped at Allie’s earlobe.

“That was Bri. They got the guy that knifed the FBI agents. He broke in and assaulted Rica at her house.”

Ash stiffened. “Is Rica all right?”

“Yes, but I want to go to the station and find out what’s going on.”

“Are you sure? How’s your arm?”

“My arm is fine. I want to talk about you being a dick, so don’t change the subject.” Allie tried to sound stern, but the tingling in her nipple was spreading to her clit. Her mind was getting a little fuzzy.

She pushed her hips back into Ash’s crotch, pleased when Ash groaned softly. “I like you being all possessive and stuff.”

“Good,” Ash rumbled, her mouth against Allie’s neck.

“But I don’t like you being stupid jealous.”

Ash brought her other arm around Allie’s body so she could hold both breasts. “Is there a difference?”

“Yes.” Allie sighed, resting her head back against Ash’s shoulder.

“That feels so good.”

“Mmm, to me too.” Ash went back to kissing Allie’s neck, the edge of her jaw, the corner of her mouth. “Don’t move, let me do everything.”

“No argument.” Allie shifted restlessly. She needed more. She needed Ash to stroke her clit. And she really needed to finish her thought before she couldn’t think any more at all. “When you’re possessive, it just means you want me real bad.”

“I want you something fierce.” Ash caressed Allie’s stomach with one hand, sweeping her fingertips over the delta between her thighs but not entering. Allie whimpered and Ash struggled not to push lower, deeper, right away. She wanted to claim Allie as hers. She wanted to be the only one who ever touched her again.

“But when you’re jealous,” Allie gasped, clutching Ash’s wrist and moving her fingers lower, onto her stiff, aching clit. “Then you don’t trust me. I need you to trust…oh, God baby…you’re going to make me come soon.”

“Mmm, I am.”

“Trust me?” Allie moaned and pressed Ash’s fingers harder over

• 248 •

RetuRning tides

the spot that pulsed and beat frantically, moving Ash’s fingertips in quick, firm circles. “Please. Please I need you.”

“I trust you, I do,” Ash whispered. “I love you. I love you, Allie.”

Allie pushed back hard in Ash’s arms, her hips lifting as she came.

She dug her nails into the top of Ash’s hand, keeping Ash right on the spot as her orgasm pounded beneath Ash’s fingertips. After her muscles unlocked, she sank back with a long sigh. “Oh my God. I love when you do that.”

Ash laughed. “I love to do it.”

Allie shifted sideways and rested her cheek against Ash’s shoulder.

“What are we going to do?”

Ash kissed her forehead. “What do you want to do?”

“I asked you first.”

Allie’s tone was playful but Ash heard the challenge in her voice.

She’d been the one to walk away before. Now Allie wanted her to be the one to take the risk. She would. She’d do anything to make Allie feel secure. To have Allie trust her again. “You’re the only woman in my heart, so here’s what I want. I want to be the only woman in your life from now on. For forever.” Ash studied Allie’s face, but got no clue as to how Allie felt about what she was saying. She had no choice but to put it all on the line. “I want to live here with you.”

“What about your job?” Allie asked.

“I already travel for work. I’ll just travel a little farther.”

“And what about when you’re on the road and you get horny?”

Ash was naked and when Allie brushed her fingers over her chest, tracing the curve of her breast with a fingertip, the muscles in her thighs twitched. “I’ll call you and we’ll have phone sex.”

Smiling faintly, Allie raked her nails down the center of Ash’s stomach. “What about when I get horny?”

“You can make yourself come while you think about me touching you.”

Allie lifted her eyes to Ash’s, her expression serious. “That’s it?

You and me? No one else?”

“No one else,” Ash whispered.

Allie settled her head back on Ash’s shoulder and slid her hand lower, between Ash’s legs. “That sounds good to me.”

“To me too.” Ash closed her eyes and rested her cheek against the top of Allie’s head. The unbearable pleasure that was coming soon,

• 249 •

RAdCLY fFe

taking her fast and hard, would be exquisite, and only a fraction of the joy that filled her heart.

v

“You okay?” Bri asked when Allie settled into the chair next to her in Reese’s office. Carter sat on the other side of Bri in plain clothes. She didn’t look like she’d gotten a whole lot of sleep.

“Yeah,” Allie whispered. “It really hurts a lot, though.”

“I bet. Take it easy, all right?”

Allie leaned around Bri to Carter. “Is Rica all right?”

“She’s shaken up, but she’s solid,” Carter replied, not certain who was more shaken up—Rica or her. Rica had finally fallen asleep around dawn, but she hadn’t been able to. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Rica on the floor covered in blood. When she’d left for the station, Rica had seemed calm and steady, a lot steadier than Carter felt. Every now and then a picture of what might have happened if Reese hadn’t taken the shot when she did popped into her head and she got sick to her stomach.