Rescuing Baylee (Nightshade #3)

Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

It seemed very weird walking into her silent apartment later that day.

Austin PD had officially given them the all-clear to return home. Multiple sources had reported that Hector’s death was the culmination of a power grab gone wrong. It had started with his brother Chino going to war with another local gang for territory. Chino’s woman had been killed, and Chino had lashed out in a very public way.

When Chino’s brother tried to avenge his death, he’d made even more of a spectacle, and it had been nipped in the bud.

Landon had messaged a CI that had contacted him early in the investigation, and ‘Haze’ had confirmed that they had been given a hands-off order.

They thought it was the Mexican Mafia that had taken care of business and calmed things down. Even though they were a smaller group, they were strong and cunning, always looking for a way to advance their territory.

Baylee let Siggy out of his cat carrier and filled his bowl with food. He would probably hide for a while.

Wandering through her own space, she carried the backpack through the hallway. Stopping, she loaded the washer with dirty clothes, but didn’t start it yet. It wasn’t a full load.

When she’d asked Landon about attending the funeral of the nurse and doctor that had been killed, he’d shrugged and nodded. “If they’ve removed the hit, I think you’re safe enough. Let me get cleaned up and I’ll take you. The viewing hours are three to seven, right? I’ll be back about five, and I’ll drive you over.”

That gave her a couple of hours to get ready.

Baylee wandered through the rest of her space. Landon had already checked it, but she just wanted to make sure herself. Everything looked in its place. No one had been in here, that she could tell. She set her .380 on the bedside table and headed into the bathroom for her shower.

When she was done, she sank down onto the side of her bed, groaning at the feel of her own mattress. She hadn’t slept well at all since she’d been gone. Maybe she would lay down just for a few minutes.

Baylee woke to someone pounding on her door. She looked down at herself. She hadn’t even pulled panties on before she’d laid down. Glancing at the clock, she cringed. She certainly hadn’t meant to sleep for three hours.

Landon pounded on her door again. “Coming,” she called, cinching the towel around her and jogging down the hall. He was probably a little freaked out that she hadn’t answered.

Baylee pulled the door open, looking up into Landon’s concerned face. “Sorry, sorry… I sat on my bed after the shower and realized how tired I was. Give me just a few minutes.”

Landon stepped in, closed the door, and leaned against it, smiling slightly. He was wearing a gray suit jacket over slacks, and his dark hair was combed tight to his head. The stubble that had been on his jaw was gone, and he smelled like an expensive department store. Baylee grew warm as she realized how tiny the towel actually was. She hadn’t even hesitated to let him in, though. That spoke to how much she trusted him, she supposed.

“You take your time, darlin’. I’m enjoying the show.”

Laughing lightly and blushing hard, Baylee turned to head back down the hallway. But she realized she went a lot slower. And maybe her hips swayed a little. And she didn’t mind him watching.

After she closed the bedroom door, she leaned against it for a minute to catch her breath. Landon Hunter made her pulse race and her body flush, and she really wanted to take time with him. Now that they were out of the crazy situation, maybe he would take some time with her.

They arrived at the funeral home a little later than she wanted, but it was better than not arriving at all. The parking lot was packed, and there was a cop directing traffic through the mess. Baylee hadn’t known Elise Walker well, but it was important for her to be here to pay her respects. Dr. Grant’s service was at the same time, across town, so she’d decided to attend his graveside service tomorrow. She wondered if Catalina had had a service. And not for the first time, she wondered where the baby had gone.

They walked into the funeral home and stood in line to talk to the family. Baylee acknowledged a few people and talked to Dr. Mendez as she was leaving. But she didn’t really want to be social, here. It was time to honor a dedicated nurse’s life.

It took them an hour and a half to get through the line and back out to the car. Landon’s hand rested on her back most of the way, and she appreciated his support. They were quiet as they headed home.

“You’re not feeling guilty about her death, are you?” he asked, his voice rumbly. He accelerated smoothly through the Austin evening.

Baylee glanced at him. “No, not really. I know it was Chino Vega’s fault she died.”

“Okay. Just making sure. You had nothing to do with it. I’m glad you see that.”

“I don’t need to take on any more guilt than I already have,” she murmured.

“I get it.” He paused. “Wasn’t that your boss you were talking to?”

“Yes, it was. She still wants me to work out my week off, so I’ll go back in a few days. It’s crazy to think how fast time has gone by. A lot has happened in a week.”

“It really has. Do you have any reservations about going back?”

She shook her head, glancing at him. “I think I’ll be fine. The ED isn’t my normal assignment. I’m usually a few floors up. I’ll be happy to get back to my kids. We have a few long-term patients that I miss.”

Smiling, she tilted her head to him. “We have this one little girl that is absolutely the sweetest. Tory has a blood disease, so she’s in and out a lot. And we have another little girl that was in a car crash several weeks ago. Multiple broken bones, along with head trauma. She can’t even speak yet, but she responds to us.”

Landon cocked a smile at her. “Sounds like you really love your job.”

“I do,” she said softly. “I tend to get really attached to them though. Which can be heartbreaking sometimes. They don’t all make it.”

Baylee was surprised when Landon reached out and gripped her hand, resting it on her thigh. It was an unexpected, thoughtful thing to do, and her throat tightened with emotion.

When one of her patients died, sometimes she would call Olivia and they would talk about it. Olivia had her own demons to deal with, though, and Baylee didn’t always feel like she had the right to add to them. And since she’d gotten together with Connor, and had the new baby, Baylee hadn’t always felt like she could take time from their relationship. They’d been together a year, now, and they were doing so good. Baylee loved Connor and felt like he was the perfect match for her friend.

Rex was in an amazing relationship, too. Lauren was also a cop, which she thought was kind of ironic. They were getting married at Lauren’s farm in a few weeks.

Baylee was very thankful that Liv and Rex had found love, but she was a little envious. It was hard being the fifth wheel when they all managed to get together.

Seems like they’d all fallen for first responders.

Leave it to her to be the last and the most difficult. Then she realized what she’d thought. Had she started to fall for Landon Hunter?

She was kind of amazed that he was still here. She’d expected some kind of withdrawal after she told him about being raped, but he’d only shown her support. And she didn’t think he had any ulterior motives.

And the way he looked at her…

She looked down at his hand, held in her own. His fingers were long and strong, and there was a dusting of dark hair peeking from beneath his shirt cuff. She wanted those fingers to stroke her skin and mould her body. She wanted those fingers to cup her face as he kissed her again. It had been a long time since she’d felt a connection to someone this strong, and she was scared how out of control she felt when she was around him.

In a way, she was disappointed not to be stuck in that terrible brown house with him. Maybe if they’d been there a little longer, things would have progressed more.

No, it wouldn’t have worked in a forced situation. They both needed air to breathe, and space to retreat, and the ability to make decisions freely. So, he needed to know that she wanted him.

The thought of going to bed with Landon Hunter was exciting to her. Did she have the gumption to tell him that?

They drove back to the apartment building, his hand holding hers the entire way. When they got out of the car, he escorted her inside. There was a cool breeze blowing, which was nice, but it made his scent swirl around her. They walked upstairs, and Baylee was suddenly worried that he was going to see her inside and disappear. “Did you maybe want to grab some dinner?” she asked, a little breathless.

A smile spread across his mouth. “I would love to. I didn’t know if you’d be up for it, or not.”

“There’s this great little Chinese place that delivers…”

“The Red Dragon?” he asked, and she grinned, nodding. “I love that place. Sold!”

Baylee closed the door behind him as he stepped in and secured all the locks. Then she turned to lean against the door and look at him. She had the wild thought that maybe she was holding him inside, and it was almost enough to make her giggle.

Landon grinned at the look on her face and tilted his head. “What are you thinking?”

She shrugged lightly. “I just had the thought that you’re trapped now, in my lair.”

He snorted, glancing down at Siggy, who had stalked up to look at them. “With your protective dragon…” He reached out to stroke her hair. She’d left it down, and it curled slightly in the heat. “And you look like a princess with all this hair. I know it was a somber day, but I thought you looked beautiful.”

Baylee felt the blush creep up her cheeks, but she lifted her chin. “Thank you for saying that.”

When Landon lowered his head to her, she could have moved away, but she really didn’t want to. Instead, she reached up to touch his freshly shaved jaw, running her fingers over the texture of his skin. And she leaned up to meet his kiss.

As soon as his lips touched hers, Baylee felt like she was falling. She held onto Landon, knowing he would never let her stumble. His strong arms wrapped around her, and he pulled her close as he kissed her. His hands clutched at her, and it set off a chain reaction inside her. His fingers squeezed and her body responded.

She’d known that this coming, this connection. It had been building for a long time. Even when she’d thought he was aggravated with her as they passed in the hallway, there had been an awareness there. And the closer they’d gotten over the past few days had only cemented that connection.

Landon tilted his head and made this sound in his throat that set something in her body quivering. She wanted to hear that sound again.

Drawing back enough to look up at him, she took a deep breath for courage. “I know you were here for the case, but I’m hoping you’ll stay for me, at least a little longer. I really like you, Landon, and I think we could be good together.”

He gave her a rakish smile. “I know we’d be good together, but I’m willing to take it slowly. You’re worth waiting for.”

Baylee made a bit of a face. ”And what if I don’t want to wait?”

Immediately, the tension between them ratcheted up. There was a quiver in his shoulders as he cupped her face to kiss her again. “Tell me clearly, Baylee, so there’s no confusion.” There was a rasp to his voice that hadn’t been there before.

She drew back and looked him in the eyes. “Take me to bed, Landon Hunter, and make love to me.”

The words were barely out of her mouth before he was swinging her up into his arms. Baylee squealed, because it wasn’t a sensation she’d felt before. She was a solid girl, and it showed how very strong Landon was that he could do this. He strode down the hallway with her in his arms, angled through the doorway and set her very carefully to the mattress. Then he moved around to the opposite side of the bed and laid down, facing her, completely clothed. The room was semi- dark, but she could see the shine of his eyes in the light from the bathroom.

“We’re still going to take it slow,” he rumbled, “because with the way I feel right now, I could do something to spook you, and I wouldn’t mean to. I’ve wanted you for a long time, Baylee Mitchell.”

She smiled softly at him. “I’ve wanted you for a long time, too. And just to be clear, I’ve been in relationships with men before, and I enjoy sex. But the trust has to be there first. I trust you, Landon. More than I’ve ever trusted anyone.”

They moved toward each other, and they met in a culmination of need. Now that they’d committed to being together, the restraint had all been torn away. Baylee started unbuttoning Landon’s shirt while he ripped off the tie and tossed it aside.

Sitting up, Baylee stripped off her blouse. She reached for the clasp of her bra, but Landon shook his head. “No, don’t take that off, yet. I want to do that,” he said, grinning.

Baylee laughed and reclined back against the pillows, stretching her arms above her head. Landon rolled off the bed, shucking his dress pants and shirt. Baylee stared as his broad body was exposed. Her heart skipped a beat as he turned to look at her. Landon Hunter had an incredible body. His abs were tight, and there was a dark trail of hair running from his chest to his waistband. Her eyes lingered there, on the bulge beneath the cotton. Oh, goodness…

“You are so incredibly beautiful,” he said softly, shaking his head. Then he crawled across the bed to her.

Baylee wasn’t sure about beautiful part, but she wouldn’t disagree right now. She’d been thinking the same thing about him.

Landon leaned on his elbow beside her, one hand reaching out to smooth up her stomach. His fingers teased at the edge of her no-nonsense bra, but they didn’t breach the barrier.

Leaning down, he began to press teasing little kisses to her skin, along the edges of the bra cups. Baylee could feel how hard her nipples were, and yet, he avoided them, instead working around the cups. She wriggled, wrapping her arm around his shoulders as he leaned into her.

Then he snagged a finger into the bra cup, and swept it back and forth, just barely brushing at her areola. Baylee gasped, her fingernails digging into his shoulder as he leaned down and pressed the gentlest of kisses to the tip of her nipple. Then he leaned across and did the same to the other one.

“Please, Landon,” she gasped, and she wasn’t sure exactly what she wanted him to do. Maybe that she just wanted him to do more.

Landon responded by licking the tip of her nipple through the cotton of the cup, then lightly nipping at it. His hips shifted against her, grinding his hardness into her.

Then both of his hands were gliding behind her back. Quicker than she expected, he’d unfastened her bra and was slipping it off her shoulders.

“Oh, Baylee,” he breathed, and he immediately took one of her nipples into the hot heat of his mouth.

Baylee groaned, her hands clutching at him as Landon worshipped her breasts. She stroked down his shoulders and the length of his back, her hips shifting with need. His own hips were doing a subtle grind, and she could feel her body loosening, preparing for him.

Landon pulled back, breathing heavily. “I need to slow down a little,” he said, laughing softly. “You’ve got me so on edge.”

“That’s your fault,” she said, smiling up at him.

“I can’t help it. I’ve been dreaming of doing this with you, to you, for so long…”

He took her mouth in a wet, sinking kiss, until he pulled away again.

He seemed to be content to explore her everywhere. Baylee had kicked her shoes off as soon as she’d walked in the door, but she still wore her cotton skirt. Landon ran his hand down around over her hip, and he started inching the skirt hem down with his fingers.

His mouth quirked to the side as he teased her. “This dress is very pretty, but I was wondering how difficult it would be to take it off you. Or maybe just shove it up and let you wrap your legs around me.”

Baylee’s heartbeat picked up at the imagery. “We can still do that,” she said, but he shook his head.

“Nah, maybe next time. Your scrubs are just as sexy. Walking behind you down the hallway, watching your ass, used to make my morning.” He shook his head at her.

Baylee barked out a laugh. “Seriously?”

He nodded. “I was very aware of you before I met you,” he admitted. “And now that I know you, the need is overwhelming, because I know the woman you are.”

Baylee glanced down his body, and it was very apparent he was happy to be there, rubbing on her. He hadn’t taken his boxers off yet, instead choosing to tease her.

Besides the physical, his words touched her heart. All that time, she thought he’d been pissed at her or something.

“You were just as intriguing to me,” she said softly, reaching up to fondle the hair at the back of his neck. She wanted to touch him all over and explore him like he was doing her. She was being a little indulgent, though, letting him explore and tease. She loved to feel fingers on her skin. Maybe because she didn’t let it happen very often. Her lovers were few and far between, and it had been a long time since the last one.

When a person lived alone and had no significant other, they forgot what it was like to be touched. Sometimes, the need to touch another living person was so strong. She’d heard it called skin hunger before, and that was so right. Landon touched her now like he couldn’t get enough of her. And Baylee was loving it. Yes, there was a sensual throb in her core, but his hand was appeasing a different kind of want.

She shivered as the waistband of the skirt tightened.

“Lift your hips,” he said softly, then shifted down the bed. She did as he told her, and the skirt was tossed away. Then his hand was gliding up her ankle and calf. He paused to circle her knee, and she shivered.

Landon chuckled, tickling her lightly there. “I’ve never known a knee pit to be an erogenous zone,” he murmured.

“It is when you haven’t been touched there in a while,” she said breathlessly.

He lingered for a moment before he began pressing kisses up her thighs. “You have an amazing shape, and your skin is so beautiful.”

Baylee reached down, stroking her hand up his thigh. It was bristly with dark hair, so she teased at it with her fingertips. She was truly torn, right then. She wanted him to move higher so that she could touch him, but she was loving that he was taking the time to explore her.

His touch went away for a second, then she felt him stroke his fingers across the waistband of her panties. “Can I pull these off?”

She nodded quickly and lifted her hips for him to pull them away like the skirt.

“Oh, Baylee,” he breathed, and she felt his breath at her hipbone. He pressed kisses across her belly to the other side, and his outside hand swept up her left thigh to hold onto her hip. Baylee hadn’t even realized she was shifting her hips back and forth when he kissed her.

Then his fingers were teasing at the curls between her thighs. For a second, Baylee cringed. She was au natural down there, and she wondered if she should have shaved at some point.

When, she wasn’t sure, but…

Her mind derailed as Landon ran a finger down through her curls and into the wetness beyond. Then he stroked up around her clit, and she lost all sense of everything except that focused point of pleasure. She rocked her left thigh out to give him better access, and he took advantage of it.

“I’m going to shift between your thighs, Baylee,” he told her, his voice so deep and firm.

“Okay,” she panted.

Then he was between her legs, pressing them wide, his tongue replacing his fingers. Baylee cried out, the pleasure so sharp it sent her spinning. She tried to wriggle away from the focused attention, but Landon wedged his arms beneath her thighs to keep her still as he rocked her world. Within seconds, Baylee could feel the building heat of an orgasm, and she gave herself up to the feeling. Landon knew exactly how to pleasure a woman, and she gave him that power over her.

And when the climax hit her, it was so vibrant. Colors exploded beneath her eyelids, and she knew she had to have screamed.

Landon teased at her gently for a few more seconds before pulling away slightly. It took Baylee a moment to catch her breath, and when her eyes fluttered open, she found Landon grinning down at her. “I think you needed that,” he said softly.

“You have no idea,” Baylee breathed.

Her hands were sore, and she realized she had them clenched around the iron headboard. Letting go, she wrapped her arms around Landon’s shoulders. He kissed her, and she could feel his dick resting at the entrance to her body. Naturally, easily, Baylee spread her thighs for him, and he pushed inside.

Baylee’s body was still throbbing from the orgasm, and as she accepted his length, she knew there was more to come. He started to rock into her, and that heat built again.

Landon peppered her with kisses, and his hands seemed to be everywhere. But he was moving so carefully within her, and Baylee knew he was trying to be conscientious of her history. His shoulders shook as he tried to hold himself back.

“Landon, I need you to move harder,” she said, reaching down to grasp his hips in her hands. “Please,” she gasped.

“If it’s too much, let me know,” he rasped as he kissed her neck, and she nodded.

“I will,” she promised.

Immediately, he shoved into her, and she felt him hit bottom. Oh, God, she was so full, now. But it was perfect. He arched into her again, and again, his rhythm picking up speed, until her second orgasm slammed into her. She cried out, her body tightening around him, and she felt the orgasm hit Landon as well. He arched and cried out, his body quaking as he strained over her. Then he collapsed, and his weight on her was so perfect. She pressed kisses to his sweaty jaw and everywhere she could reach, her hands running up and down his back.

“Give me just a second,” he breathed into her neck. “I don’t think I can move.”

Baylee snorted softly and tightened her arms and body around him. “I don’t want you to move,” she whispered.

Landon sagged into her even more, and they floated in a sensual haze. Eventually, he moved, though, pulling his hips away carefully. Baylee watched him. He’d put a condom on at some point, and she hadn’t even been aware. Landon sat at the edge of the bed for a moment before walking into the bathroom to dispose of the prophylactic.

When he returned to the bedroom, he pulled on his boxers before crawling into bed. Baylee took a moment to use the bathroom herself, then walked back in. When he lifted the sheet for her to climb under with him, smiling softly, her heart stuttered. After everything she’d gone through, he’d cared for her like no one ever had, and she knew she was falling in love. Had fallen in love.

“Are you okay?” he asked as he took her into his arms.

She knew what he was asking. “I’m perfect,” she said, and it was true.

There had been no flashbacks or even thoughts of what had happened to her eleven years ago, and she was so appreciative of that. “For a long time,” she whispered, “everything I did reminded me of the rape. Colors, scents, a hint of an accent. It took a lot of intensive therapy for me to even talk about it. And it took me years to even enter into a relationship where I could think about sex. With you, though, there was no hesitation. I thank you for taking the time with me, though.”

He shook his head, his eyes narrowed with tiredness. “I didn’t do it for you. I did it for me. Your body pleases me immensely, and as soon as I get some sleep, I’ll show you again.”

He gave her a rakish grin and pulled her tight. It was a little warm under the sheet, but Baylee didn’t care. Closing her eyes, she let herself appreciate being held so close.