Read Black Ice for Free Online Page B

thighs, and was surprised by the desire that flooded through her.
    Â 
    Brett looked at his watch. It was fifteen minutes since he'd seen Daniel Brand leave the woman's car and walk to the beach. Fifteen minutes in which he'd driven back to Daniel's house and used the key he'd been given to let himself in.
    He glanced around the living room, then moved swiftly to the kitchen. He opened the pantry door, quickly scanned the shelves, then selected a plastic bottle and unscrewed the lid. From the shopping bag he'd carried in, he took another plastic bottle, and added half the contents to the one from the pantry, taking care to replace it in exactly the same position.
    It only took him a few seconds to find Daniel's bedroom.
    A minute later he was slipping out the front door and walking casually down the street.
    Â 
    Although the gallery was full of people, no-one was buying. When Kirri told Jenny she would be going out for lunch, Jenny suggested she take a couple of hours off.
    'You need a break, Kirri.' Jenny's expression showed her concern. 'You've been working your butt off since you came down here.' Then her expression changed, and a grin crinkled the freckles on her nose. 'This wouldn't have something to do with that hunky looking guy you chased after to the hospital yesterday, would it?'
    'We're having lunch, that's all.'
    'Good on ya, cuz. You've been living like a monk for too long now -'
    'That's a nun, Jenny.' Kirri interrupted her young cousin good naturedly.
    'No matter. Take all the time you need. I'll be here on my own when you go back to Cairns for the wedding, so I'd better get used to it.'
    Jenny was right, Kirri realised. She gave the young woman an affectionate hug. 'Then how about I leave you to it now. Daniel didn't look too good when he left here, so I'll just get something from the delicatessen and cook lunch for him. He mightn't feel up to eating in a noisy restaurant.'
    Â 
    When Daniel returned, Kirri was pleased to see his colour had improved.
    'Do you like chicken?' she asked, and at his puzzled look, explained that she had purchased some honey and soy chicken wings to cook for lunch.
    'I'm happy to pay for lunch, Kirri,' he frowned. 'I can afford it.'
    Kirri hesitated, afraid she had offended him. 'I just thought you might not feel like eating anywhere noisy. You looked like you needed some rest.'
    'You could be right,' he said, then smiled. 'Thank you.'
    Â 
    Again that feeling of easy familiarity settled on Kirri as they worked together in the kitchen. She'd bought a small packet of fragrant rice and a bag of mixed Chinese vegetables as well, and soon the succulent aroma of the frying chicken blended with the sweetness of jasmine and oriental spice.
    Daniel had set the table on the verandah, and a light breeze took the edge off the midday heat and rustled the leaves in the eucalyptus trees. To Kirri's surprise, she was quite hungry, and ate more than she normally would during the day. Cooking for herself hadn't been a priority since she'd left Cairns. Jenny's mother had invited her home for dinner occasionally, but most nights Kirri either threw a stir fry together or grabbed a sandwich and fruit as she painted.
    As Daniel ate, his thoughts were not on the food. He'd either walked on the beach or sat in the shade and looked at the waves rolling in as he'd waited for twelve o'clock. A kaleidoscope of emotions had raced through him, until his head ached with the futility of it all. Now he sat back and watched as Kirri finished eating. Watched the way she bit the flesh from the bone, delicately, but with obvious enjoyment. She'd used her teeth on him like that once, and like now, her touch was delicate, savouring. He felt himself harden at the memory.
    Just then, a tiny vibration, like a soundless humming, began in his throat. The humming increased, spread to the membranes of his mouth and nose. Then they began to swell. The air wheezed in and out of his lungs. With shock he recognised the