Fear For Me: A Novel of the Bayou Butcher (For Me 2)

“Jon Walker is also attractive—he used the same luring technique with many of his victims. It’s a technique I believe he learned from his partner.”

Anthony slanted a fast glance at Lauren. Her body was stiff, and she looked so pale. “Are you okay?” he murmured.

“I don’t think I’ll be okay for a very long time,” she whispered. “All of those women. He took them all.”

“I’ll be adding to the second killer’s profile soon. When I do, I’ll give an update to all the officers working this case.” Cadence reached for files on the table near her. “These men are extremely dangerous. Now that they are back together again, they will keep killing. They won’t stop until we stop them.”

The meeting ended after that. The cops filed out, Cadence and Kyle huddled over their files, and Lauren—

Her fingers wrapped around Anthony’s arm. “I need to get out of here.”

He knew desperation when he heard it.

“Please, take me away from here.”

Anthony nodded and immediately steered her toward the door. They pushed through the bull pen, heading fast for the exit.

“DA Chandler!”

It was Kyle McKenzie. The guy was rushing after them, his gaze on Lauren.

Beside Anthony, Lauren stiffened.

Anthony’s jaw locked. “She’s had enough for today, got it? I’m taking her out of here so—”

“I know how you feel, Lauren.”

Lauren. Not DA Chandler.

The guy’s voice held way too much intensity.

Not just intensity, Anthony realized as he studied the agent with a critical eye. Pain.

Slowly, Lauren turned to face the agent. “I don’t think you do.”

Kyle nodded. “Fifteen years ago, my sister vanished.”

Lauren trembled, then she held herself still. Far too still.

Anthony stood close to them. Kyle’s voice was low as he said, “There’s not a single night that passes for me—not a single one—when I don’t wonder where she is. When I don’t wonder what happened to her.” His gaze hardened. “And when I don’t want to make the bastard who took her pay.” Fury flashed in his eyes, battling with the echo of pain.

“I’m sorry.” Lauren’s voice was whisper soft. “I didn’t know.”

“I’ve never been able to bring my sister home. I never got any justice for her.” He inclined his head toward Lauren. “But I’ll do my damnedest to see that you get justice for Jenny.”

A tear tracked down Lauren’s cheek.

Anthony pulled her closer to him.

Kyle’s gaze rose to his face. “You take good care of her.”

Always.

“And we will stop that SOB out there.”

Yes, they would.

As they hurried from the station, Anthony realized if Lauren asked, he’d do any damn thing she wanted. Even kill—in an instant—if that helped to ease the pain that seemed to break her apart.

CHAPTER TEN

The second the hotel room door closed behind Anthony, Lauren turned and wrapped her arms around him. She was desperate. She needed him. Needed the way he could make her feel. Only him.

“Lauren, why—”

She rose onto her toes. Her mouth pressed against his.

His hands came around her and he tried to gently push her back.

She wasn’t in the mood for gentle.

Jenny’s killer. All of those women…all of them…

“Baby, you’re hurt,” he growled the words as he eased away from her. “I can’t—”

“I can. The doctor said I’m fine.” Mostly true, but right then, she didn’t care about some aches and pains. Lauren felt as if she were breaking apart on the inside. On the outside, her skin was chilled. An ice that threatened to consume her.

She needed Anthony. Needed the wild rush of pleasure he’d always been able to give her.

She had to forget everything, in order to be able to live without breaking. “I need you.”

His gaze darkened. “Baby, you know I’m always desperate for you.” Then he was kissing her, but not with the fierce intensity she wanted. He was trying to be careful.

Fuck careful.

Her hand rose between them. She unbuttoned her shirt. Let the soft silk part so he could see the edge of her bra. He might think he was going to take it easy with her, but she remembered everything about him. Including all the ways to make him lose control.

Her tongue met his. Her br**sts pressed against his chest. He was aroused, growing more so by the moment, and she wanted him in her. Wanted the drive to oblivion that would let her pretend—if only for a fleeting moment—that everything in her world wasn’t a nightmare.

She sucked his tongue. He growled. Good. She wanted better.

Lauren stepped back. Shed the rest of her clothes. He watched her with eyes that burned.

She was his obsession. He’d said that. She wanted to see just how obsessed he could get.

His eyes were on her br**sts. In the next second, his hands were, too. Caressing. Stroking. Then he was lifting her into his arms—still being so freaking careful—and carrying her to the bed.

His mouth was on her breast. Licking. Kissing. Laving her nipple and making the hard knot of lust within her grow even tighter. Her legs were parted, and his fingers went straight to her core. No hesitant touch from him. Just a deep thrust of his index finger into her even as his thumb pushed on the center of her need.

“You have to want me…more.” He whispered the words as he turned his focus to her other breast. “So f**king perfect…”

She wasn’t perfect. Far from it. She was barely holding on.

His finger withdrew, then thrust again. Helplessly, her hips arched against him when he pushed a second finger into the heat between her legs.

“Easy.” His head lifted. “You have to take care—”

Her eyes flashed open. She hadn’t even realized she’d shut them. “No! I don’t want easy. I want—” She broke off, lost.

“What do you want, Lauren?”

“Make me forget.” It was a broken whisper. “Please.”

A muscle flexed along his jaw. “I’ll do better than that.” His hands found her wrists, and he held them against the pillows. “But you can’t move. Not an inch. You stay right there.”

He was still being careful—

Anthony positioned himself between her thighs. Then his mouth was on her. His lips, his tongue…he was sampling her, exploring her secrets, and she wanted to move so badly. Wanted to arch into his mouth.