Stevie laughed."Your brother doesn't have a soft side. Isn't it all about him and hiscareer?"
"No, at least, notnow. He’s the one who took the video after I told him about the pup and theother dogs at the farm."
"The other dogs?You've been there, haven't you?" He glared at her, his brown eyes dark andstormy.
Rooney swallowed. Thiswas a side of him she hadn't seen, and it scared her. "Yes." Hervoice came out in a small squeak and she spoke again, but stronger. "Icalled in on the way home to tell him what I found when I examined the pup. Itgave me a chance to see for myself what his place was like. Cade took it fromthere."
"Did you not thinkit would have been a better idea to call me?" His face was so close tohers, she could smell the musky sweat breaking out on his skin as his angerwith her mounted. She lifted her hand to push him away but he grabbed herwrist. Anger surfaced and she kicked him in the shins.
When her foot madecontact with his leg, he cursed and his gaze darkened. "Be careful whatyou do here, Rooney. I'd hate to bring you in for assaulting a policeofficer."
The words didn'tregister with her brain. All she could think of was the times when they fought,which were plenty, and the only thing that stopped them was sex. The memoriescame flooding back and Rooney felt the heat pool in between her thighs. Shenoticed the moment he shared the same memory, the smoulder in his eyes and asmall smile tipped the corners of his lips. Many of their fights anddifferences were brushed aside because of the passion that ignited betweenthem. Passion that ultimately led to them to being caught.
She looked at thefullness of his chin, his day old growth of black beard and the softness of hismouth. Without thinking, Rooney reached closer and ran her tongue over thefullness of his bottom lip before taking it in her teeth. His arms gripped hertighter but she brushed them off and wrapped her arms around his neck as shedeepened the kiss.
Eight years of holdingback erupted inside her and there was nothing she could to stay her emotions,even if she had wanted to. When he returned the kiss, his hands gripped herbutt, pulling her closer and she groaned against his mouth. Rooney dug herfingers into his rich black hair, pulling and smoothing the glossy locksalternately as she pushed herself into him, trying to gain access to the bodydenied to her for so long.
Stevie took a step backand lifted her to sit on the counter. She looked down into his eyes and hesmiled. It was all the encouragement Rooney needed. Gripping the front of hisshirt, she ripped it open to admire the smooth curves of his chest. Gone wasthe boyish body she remembered, replaced by muscles gained through a rigidfitness routine. Abandoning resistance, she trailed her fingers down the ridgeof his breastbone and traced the smattering of hair surrounding his nipples.She leaned closer to take one in her mouth.
He groaned in pleasure,letting her nip and tug the small hard nub. When Rooney lifted her head, Stevieraised an eyebrow and she grinned. With shaking hands, he undid the buttons onher shirt, peeling it from her shoulders down to her elbows. He stopped herfrom shrugging it all the way off by holding her hands against the counter top.
Suddenly, she feltexposed and wary. It was still daylight and anyone could come in and catchthem. She opened her mouth to tell him to lock the door when he leaned forwardand traced the outline of her bra with his warm tongue.
"Oh God, don'tstop. Please, don't stop." Rooney arched back to give him unrestrictedaccess to her breasts. When he released her hand to unclasp her bra, sheshrugged off the shirt leaving hers naked and wanton.
The prickle of hisday’s growth rasped deliciously on her breasts as he took a nipple in hismouth, and she gasped as old memories came racing back. Rooney sucked in a deepbreath and pushed him away. I can't do this, I just can't.
Stevie looked at her,his expression one of puzzlement as Rooney grabbed her clothes.
"No, stop. Stepaway." She put her bra on and jumped down off the counter. Rooney watchedhim from under her lashes as she pulled on her shirt doing the buttons up likea shield around her broken heart. This wasn't the way she wanted it to go.There were things they needed to talk about before they fell into old habits.Because once they did, there would be no going back.
Chapter Twenty-four
Rooney walked into thekitchen and put on the kettle. When she had two cups of coffee ready, she came backand placed one in front of him.
He leaned against thebench and watched her. She was nervous now and it worried him. "What'swrong, Rooney? You reached for me just like old times and then you push meaway. I don't get it, what's going on? Is there more to the animal cruelty caseyou’re not telling me?"
"No." Shesighed and bit her lip before meeting his gaze again. "There is somethingyou need to know and I figured we should sort it out before we jump back intothe old routine again." With a shaking hand, she pulled the band from herhair and raked her fingers through the long strands. While she tied it back up,catching the tendrils that had escaped, she sorted out the words in her head.
"When I left, Itook more than I thought with me." Pain gripped her chest as he looked ather. "I didn't find out for a few months. I guess my cycle was all up thecreek with stress and everything. I was pregnant, Stevie."
He glared at her with athunderous mood ready to raise its head, and she held up her hand. "Don'tgo all caveman on me, it won't work. You left me. You fucking left me to myfather who strapped my arse so damned hard I still have the scars. Don't youdare go all 'poor me' over this." The tears poured down her face now andshe
