Read Savage Echoes (The Nickie Savage Series, Short Story Prequel) for Free Online Page A

to go home. That makes about a dozen times in a twenty-four hour period you didn't listen to me."
    His smile, as slight as it was, seared through her skin and dove into her heart. How did she get involved with such a man? With CSI and the ME still working behind her, she blinked, trying to keep her composure.
    "The captain says I need to get some rest." She tried for her most seductive grin.
    * * *
    The ten-minute drive seemed to take hours. Tension linked the cars like invisible electricity. The tires squealed around each corner. Nickie fumbled with her keys as they jogged up her walk. Why did she have so many damned keys? She barely had time to flip the light switch before long fingers gripped her waist and pulled. She jerked into his hard, lanky body that pressed into her from head to toe.
    Frantically, she squirmed in his possessive arms, rotating until she faced him. Close and personal. Hands groped and legs twined. Everything she'd done, the memories that taunted her, they left her mind and her body and were replaced with the growing love they had for each other.
    His lips were addicting and joined the last part of their bodies that hadn't been assaulting her senses. He kissed her as if it were their last time, digging his fingers into her hair, gripping the side of her face.
    She tore at the damned clothes that stood between her and the feel of his flesh. She yearned to see the tattoos on his forearm and chest, trace the lines of fire with her tongue. Lifting her arms, she invited him in.
    He stopped, clasped hands with her above and pressed their foreheads together. Shaking his back and forth, he whispered, "Every time I close my eyes, I see Bradley with a knife to your neck."
    It wasn't a question, and she had no answer. He didn't open his eyes but slid his fingers down to the backs of her thighs, digging them into her legs. He lifted, wrapping her legs around his waist. Heat pressed against heat. She felt that he was as ready for her as she was for him, and it sent shivers to her toes.
    They made their way to the bedroom like drunks. Rarely did they make it to a bed. The feel of him pressing against her buzzed over her entire body and landed straight in her core.
    Her head flew against a pillow as her back arched in need.
    Her hands grabbed and clutched and helped Duncan forget about the knife, if only for now. Nickie was all woman and was all his. Candy-apple red lace? She killed him every time. He couldn't finish with their clothes fast enough. He had to see if the bottoms matched the top. Candy-apple red and sheer. They rolled and tore until it was the only thing between them. He didn't ever want anything between them.
    She tasted smart and sophisticated. He was lost with no desire to find his way back again. Limbs twined in a desperate need until there was no way to tell which was up or what was where.
    The way she arched into him. The catlike sounds that escaped her throat.
    "I love you," he mumbled against her lips, circling the red lace with his thumbs.
    Her answer was indecipherable, and his lips curved. He replaced his thumbs with his mouth. Her powerful legs wrapped around him, her nails found purchase in his shoulders. He trailed his hands around the generous swell over the lace, across her fit stomach until he reached her center. She writhed beneath his touch. Forcing his own composure, she lost control... of her legs, of her lungs, of her body.
    Patiently, gently, he let her come down and take one deep breath before pushing her up again.
    "Duncan." She said his name as her head flew back. He braced her with his body and she flew higher. "Now," she yelled.
    Willpower be damned. He lowered over her, felt her legs and every part of her tighten around him. It was like getting the breath knocked out of him. This woman. They moved together like they were meant to be. His Nickie.
    She choked, "I love you," as everything seemed to quicken. He had to look at her, see her. He lifted until their eyes met. She went