Skin

Lilith didn’t want to think about it.

It was all she thought about.

“All right. Whoever has my sister and Carmen — I want to be the one to punish him!”

“Carmen? I don’t remember that name.”

“She’s just a kid. A high school girl I was mentoring. He took her to control me. He took her when I was here… with you.”

“My God, I’m sorry.” He wrapped his arms around her middle, pulled her to him, her back to his front, nestled his head against hers and murmured in her ear. “It’s not your fault.”

Suddenly she realized he hadn’t questioned her about her sister. Of course he must have assumed she was related to Hannah.

The killer had.

“Are you sure you don’t want to punish all men?” he asked. “Me?”

“No!”

“I might be willing to let you.”

She knew he was teasing now. Some of the intensity drained out of her, and she leaned back into him. “You don’t know what you’d be in for.”

“Maybe I don’t care. Maybe making up for the men who’ve hurt you and disappointed you would be worth the risk. Hasn’t any man ever been willing to do that for you before?”

While she dated occasionally, it was for the sex, nothing long-term.

“I don’t do relationships.” Her tension escalated again, making it difficult to breathe normally.

Michael switched ears, sensually brushing his face against her hair in the process. “Because you’ve never let yourself trust any man before. You can trust me, Lilith.”

“I thought last time you told me not to trust you.”

“That was before you knew me.”

“I don’t know you now.”

“You could if you wanted to. Do you want to? Isn’t that why you’re here?”

He straightened, urged her shoulders back against him. Massaged her neck. She closed her eyes. Allowed his hands to seduce the tension from her.

His hands explored more of her.

Her breathing grew heavier. She didn’t object when he unzipped the back of her dress. Slipped it down over her shoulders. Kissed the side of her neck. Turned her face toward him so he could take her mouth.

His hands moved lower, slid her dress up over her thighs. Disappeared under her skirt. Jerked and pulled.

Tossed what was left of her satin panties.

Unable to resist, she turned in his arms and sought his belt and zipper.

His trousers fell. He wasn’t wearing boxers or briefs. Holding his naked hips, she pressed him back and down onto a stool, following. Lifted her skirts. Straddled him.

The kiss broke with a double moan as they made the connection.

He pulled her tight.

She wrapped her legs around his back.

They rocked together.

Hot and fast sex. Exactly what she needed.

Mindless. Exquisite. Torture.

She draped herself back, over his arm, giving him access to her breasts. He suckled her nipples through the material of her dress, made her cry out with need. Then they cried out together, and, mind vaulting into the void, she dangled backward, back arched, completely open and vulnerable.

Even as she came up out of the abyss, she whispered, “How long can you keep this up?” Every nerve in her body alive with pleasure.

“All night if I have to. First I could use a shower.” He backed off, holding her hand. “C’mon. Shower with me. I can think of places to soap up that you’d like.”

But the sex haze was winding down, and reality stood between them. She might be a little in lust with him, but he was simply a distraction. A stress reliever.

“I’m shy. Go ahead. Maybe after you.”

“I’ll just be a few minutes. You’re not going to leave, are you?” Michael grinned at her as he backed away and headed for the bathroom. “Because I’m going to be really bummed if you leave now.”

No promises. “Take your shower.”

He disappeared into the bathroom. She stared at his equipment. Surely she could figure out how to use it.

Though she could hear the water turn on, she yelled, “Hey, where’s the recording from last time?”

No answer. Obviously, Michael couldn’t hear her over the running water. She took a better look at the equipment. He was using some kind of portable recorder/monitor that used memory cards. She popped out the one in the recorder and found the box holding others. They were in alphabetical order but she didn’t see one marked ‘Lilith.’

She started from the back, flipping them one at a time, reading off the names which included Rusty… Melinda… Mariko… Irene… no Lilith. She flipped the next memory card and froze.

Hannah.

Shocked, she picked up the card and held it as carefully as she might a live snake before putting it in the recorder and hitting Play.

Lilith choked up when Hannah appeared on the monitor.

“I dance because I don’t know anything else,” came her faint voice.

Lilith realized the sound was coming out of a pair of headsets.

“Have you ever tried?”

Michael’s voice. Heart pounding, Lilith grabbed the headsets and held them where she could hear better.

“Last time I got a job as a store clerk. I wanted to eat, so I couldn’t pay my rent. I ended up back on the street.”

Lilith felt as if her heart might break all over again.

“I met someone who was nice to me. Introduced me to Sal. There’s nothing wrong with what I do. It’s not like I’m a hooker!”

“Why did you run?”

“My stepfather hurt me. He said it was because of my sister — hurting me would hurt her. That’s when I understood why she left. I ran so she’d never have to come back for me. She’d be so ashamed.”

Lilith blinked and tears rolled down her cheeks.

“Maybe she would have understood.”

“How could she? Lilith wants to help girls who can’t take care of themselves.”

Lilith stared and quickly hit Pause. She blinked away the tears.

Replayed.

“How could she? Lilith wants to help girls who can’t take care of themselves.”

Replayed.

“Lilith wants to help girls who can’t take care of themselves.”

Froze it.

Stared at the door to Michael’s bedroom.

Lilith’s mind whirled. She had to face the truth. Michael had known all along. She’d been certain he’d guessed the connection, but he’d known. And hadn’t said a thing.

Emotions warred in her.

Anger.

Guilt.

Horror.