“Hey,” she teased, “I thought this was my turn to run the show.”

  “Too late,” he said thickly. “I can’t wait. I need you now.” He tugged her forward until she rested on top of him. “I swear I’ve been waiting for you forever.”

  Sliding his hands up to clasp her head gently, he pulled her down for a kiss.

  And what a kiss it was. Fireworks and liquid heat fought for supremacy, lighting up nerve endings while melting her insides. Lord, he was a hell of a kisser. And she had to admit, an odd sense of homecoming was attached to this moment. As if she’d been waiting for him too. And didn’t that train of thought take her down a direction she had not considered. He was here, and so was she. That was good enough for both of them right now. And she wanted him. She’d never been a one-night-stand type person and didn’t plan on being one now.

  Besides, he was her husband. And they’d yet to have a wedding night.

  “Do you have a bedroom?” she murmured when she could.

  “Of course.” He reached up to clasp her head and tugged her down for more drugging kisses. She twisted sinuously against him, dragging her breasts from one side to the other, then flexing her hips and pressing her pelvis hard against him. He moaned, sliding his hands down to grab her hips and ground his pelvis up against her.

  “You know that we could try out your bed one time.”

  He smiled beneath her lips before moving to trail kisses down her throat. “Next time.”

  She tilted her head back, letting her long blond hair fall down around them. “That’s what you said last time.”

  He laughed and flipped her over to lie beneath him. She stared up at him in wide-eyed surprise when he came down on top of her, just where she wanted him.

  She spread her legs, making a place for him. He settled in deeper. She arched beneath him, offering her breasts. He bent his head, tugging first the one, then the other, into his mouth and suckling. He stoked the fires until she twisted beneath him, crying out, “Liev, now.”

  “Not yet.”

  “Now.” She wrapped her legs around his thighs and gripped him tightly. Then she wiggled beneath him.

  He roared, lifted his hips, slid his hands down to hold her hips steady, and plunged deep.

  She gasped at the invasion. At the fullness. At the rightness. Again. A tiny corner of her mind worried that it was dangerous to think that way, but the rest of her reveled in it. All her life she’d been trying to find her place. Trying to find her home in the world. Apparently she’d just been behind the times.

  Liev lifted his hips, pulling back and back and …

  She dug her nails into the smooth rounded muscles of his buttocks to stop him from slipping away from her completely.

  He drove inside.

  She wrapped her legs around him as he set up a rhythm that she was desperate to match and more frantic to increase. He picked up speed. Throwing her head back, she held on for the ride.

  Inside, her blood heated as her body raced to the finish line.

  She twisted her head, crying out as tiny explosions went off, but she wasn’t quite there. He lowered his head and claimed her lips, his tongue slipping inside as he drove in one last time. His body stiffened above her, and he threw his head back, a long and low groan sliding out from deep in the back of his throat.

  Then she wasn’t aware of anything more as her own body exploded.

  Nice. Actually a hell of a lot more than nice. Liev lay listening to the strong, steady beat of her heart. The pod started humming around them. The lid was still up. He wondered if it had the ability to take over and help even when it hadn’t been closed. Then to his amazement, it dropped into place and set up healing rays all around them. He’d never heard of them being able to open and close on their own, but it didn’t really surprise him. It was, in fact, very helpful.

  Especially right now, when he couldn’t possibly move.

  “Wow.” She sighed happily, her breathing only slightly calmer. “You are soo good at that.”

  He grinned, loving the lighthearted intimacy with her. He tugged her up close and closed his eyes. How had Milo known that this was what he needed? That he missed loving someone. Being part of a special twosome.

  His kid brother was many things. Intuitive was the one thing he wasn’t.

  As Lani nestled closer, her leg sliding over his, he could feel her body settle into the gentle rhythm of sleep. That she could trust him after all that had happened made him feel good. He knew she’d had little choice over these major changes in her life, but he hadn’t forced her into this step. And, although he needed her legally bound to him to keep her safe, she hadn’t seemed to have a problem with that.

  He twisted slightly so he could look down on her ash-blonde head. Who’d have thought she’d find a way into his heart?

  He almost winced at the thought. He hadn’t thought to find a partner anytime soon. He’d looked for one years ago and gave up when all the relationships seemed superficial and dull. He’d made what he thought were a lot of friends back as a young adult, but the friendships hadn’t lasted, and the girlfriends had disappeared even faster.

  He’d always been looking for something … more.

  Dropping a kiss on Lani’s head, he realized he might have just found it.

  Chapter 13

  Lani woke up, cozy and comfortable with the sound of surf breaking close to her head. Her eyes popped open to find Liev’s decorating system still in place. She loved it. And she would so enjoy being part of his world with these types of perks. She pushed the pod open and sat up.

  And laughed.

  The sand was gone. Instead a long deck stretched from her pod out into what appeared to be water. She couldn’t imagine it being real water, but Charming had apparently used the fake sand just fine, so who knew?

  She tilted her head back to see blue sky and sunlight shining high above her head. This decorating stuff was incredible. She not only could see the surroundings but she could feel a gentle breeze and even smell the heavy blooms of the tropical flowers. She spread her arms and flopped backward in delight. “I love it here!”

  “Ha. I wondered when you’d get around to saying that.”

  She laughed and rolled over to see Charming, walking gingerly along the deck, as if the water would reach up and grab him. He did so hate water. “You won’t get wet, you know.”

  He glared at her. “What was wrong with the sand here? It was perfect.”

  “Ah, except I don’t want the pod room to be your litter box. If I have to adapt, so do you.”

  “What can I say?” He hopped lightly onto her pod bed. “It was done in a weak moment. A nostalgic moment.”

  She shook her head. “As much as I can understand that …”

  “It’s done, so forget about it.” He head-butted her. “Think about loving me for a bit.”

  She stroked his beautiful fur. “As if I don’t love you.”

  “Maybe, but it seems like you are loving Liev a little more.”

  “Not more than you!” She gasped in horror. “Never.”

  “Aha! So you do love him.” He half fell, half sprawled on her.

  She barely noticed his body landing on hers. Her mind was spinning with his words. And that L word. Did she love Liev? How could she? She didn’t even know him. But she’d already acknowledged that she knew him better than her major asshole ex—and she’d loved him, or so she had thought.

  Damn.

  “Stop thinking so loud. You’re disturbing my beauty sleep,” Charming grumbled. “With all your activities, you might want to grab some shut-eye as well.”

  “Hey.”

  “If you’re going to be kidnapped, you’ll want to look your best. Just sayin’.”

  She bolted upright. “Why did you have to say that?” she wailed. “How am I supposed to rest now?”

  “Seeing as how you forgot that you have bad guys chasing after you, I thought a reminder would be appropriate.”

  “Did you and Milo figure things out while I was resting?”

  “Resting?” He turned his head and narrowed his gaze. “Is that what you call it?”

  And damn if she didn’t flush. “Hey, be nice.”

  He snorted and stretched out, showing his belly. She sighed and reached over to give him a little more love. “I wish I knew what was going on.”

  “Milo found out a bunch of stuff. Go check with him. And, while you’re at it, we must have missed a mealtime in there somewhere.”

  “You wish.”

  “Hey, you satisfied your hunger. Now help satisfy one of mine.”

  Considering he’d been fixed before she ever got him, it seemed a reasonable request. Besides, she could feel her stomach starting to grumble too. “I’ll see.” She searched the island hut for her clothes, amazed to find them at odd places but fitting into the scenery, as if she truly were here. Once dressed, she stopped at the doorway for a final look and smiled. “Charming, this island look is perfect for us.”

  “Only if you bring back the sand.”

  “Not happening.” She partially closed the door as she walked out. The hallway was still the same. She had to wonder why Liev didn’t decorate the apartment as something more glamorous. Surely it could be a palace on the inside instead of this normal boring old apartment? In the kitchen she found the brothers, heads bent, studying something on the table.

  No. It seemed to be the tabletop. What the heck? She hurried closer. It was another computer of some kind. “What is this?” she asked.

  Milo lifted his head to stare at her, but his gaze appeared unfocused.

  She switched her gaze to his brother. “Liev?”

  “It’s a new tracking system we’ve been working on for military applications.” He grimaced. “Technically you’re not cleared to see this.”

  “Oh, fun. The problem is, I already have.” She sat down beside him on the bench and grinned when it widened to give them more space. “I do love the future, especially the decorating system you have in this place. Although why you haven’t changed all the rest”—she waved her hand outward to encompass the kitchen—“I don’t know.”

  “Milo doesn’t like change. Or rather, we can’t agree on a change that suits us both.”

  Milo turned to stare at him. “I’m not a kid anymore. If you want to redecorate, go for it.”

  “We tried it once. Remember?”

  “Hey, you wanted the place to look like some creepy haunted house, and I wanted it to look like a science fiction flying ship.” He shrugged. “So we did nothing.”

  Her jaw dropped. With difficulty, she managed to pull herself together. “You can do that?”

  “Well, you have to pay for it, but the motto of today’s world is that Everything is available—for a price.”

  “Wow. Okay, things have really changed.” She nodded to the table that wasn’t a table. “Did you guys design this table too?”

  Milo frowned. “Why would I care about designing furniture? That’s so old hat. Anyone can do that.”

  “So this isn’t a real table? You just designed the computer that sits on top of it?”

  “Ah, you mean the fact that it’s part of the table. Today, you can place computers on any kind of hardware.”

  Liev started manipulating his side of the 3-D image again.

  “What are you looking for?” she asked him.

  “The missing lawyer. She’s the key to this mess. If we could talk to her …” Liev trailed off.

  Lani frowned. “Didn’t Charming find her?”

  “Yes, but she’s dropped off the grid again. We tracked her until she just … disappeared.”

  The big screen on the side wall opened up, and Hahn appeared to step through. “Liev, are you receiving calls?”

  Liev pushed back his chair and walked over. “Hahn. What did you find out?”

  “There’s no sign of Gina,” he said nervously. “We’ve tried everywhere and got nothing. Her mother hasn’t heard from her either.” Hahn’s face twisted as he said the last part.

  Lani stood in view of the holoscreen.

  Hahn turned to look at her. “I think the answer lies with your wife, Liev. Maybe if I could ask her some questions.”

  Liev immediately shook his head. “You can give me your questions, and I’ll see about asking her, but Lani’s not the problem. Gina is.”

  Milo nudged Lani off to the side. He lowered his head and whispered, “He can’t see you here. If you stand in that square”—and he motioned to where she’d been on the floor—“he can see you.”

  “Oh, sorry. I didn’t know.” She lowered her voice. “Can he hear us too?”

  “Only if you are in that box.”

  “Wow.” She could imagine the technology being very helpful in many cases, but it sure seemed like an invasion of privacy to her. Or was it? Hahn had asked if Liev was receiving calls. Maybe that was the same as asking permission. “Does Gina live with her mother?”

  Milo shrugged. “No idea.”

  “Maybe we should find out. After all, if she does, and her mom hasn’t heard from her, maybe something bad has happened to Gina. Maybe she didn’t run off. Maybe she was punished for failing to grab me.”

  Milo cocked his head to the side, then reached into his back pocket and pulled out his weird fingerboard computer. After tapping on the silver machine for a few moments, he smiled and said, “She does live with her mother.”

  Liev, distracted by Milo, turned to look at them. “Does that matter?”

  “Depends if she’s in trouble with whoever she was to deliver Lani to. Chances are, failure is unacceptable.”

  Liev’s jaw clenched. “Hahn, have you checked the hospitals for a woman fitting Gina’s description, either dead or alive?”

  “Oh, dear.” Hahn’s face twisted up.

  Lani thought maybe it was because of the unpleasant media attention that his firm might receive if that were the case. Then her attitude toward all lawyers was awful since she had worked with Lawrence, the king of all asshole lawyers.

  She sighed and tried to remind herself that Hahn was likely a very nice man. Just because Lawrence and Gina weren’t didn’t mean all lawyers were bad. Good ones had to be out there, right? She just hadn’t met any. Except maybe Hahn. And the verdict was still out with him.

  Milo shouted, “Yes! Found her.”

  Liev turned to face his brother, while Lani tried to see what Milo’s comp said. “She’s in the morgue on Cronan Street.”

  “Morgue.” Lani’s stomach felt queasy again. Gina could have had an accident, but Lani couldn’t quite believe it. She was afraid that these people were playing for keeps, and failure was not an option.

  Liev hated the look of fear on Lani’s face. He pulled up the information Milo gave him and got into the databanks to give him a visual of the body. Sure enough, it was Gina. He showed the headshot to Hahn, watching the shock, the fear, then the lighting-fast calculation wash over his face as he tried to figure out the best way to play this.

  “She must have had an accident. Although why they wouldn’t have notified me, I don’t know. Or her mother.” At the mention of Gina’s mother, Hahn’s face twisted once more. “Her mother will be heartbroken.”

  Liev continued to read the file. “She came in with her tags missing and minimal clothing.” That caused Hahn’s eyebrows to shoot up.

  “And showing signs of torture.”

  Silence.

  Hahn exploded. “What the hell did she get herself involved in?”

  “That’s something I expect your help in finding out.” Liev continued to read the file. “Her body was dumped outside the hospital.”

  Hahn dropped his gaze, but his shoulders shook. Lani didn’t know if he was upset by the news or if he’d had a personal relationship with Gina and was affected on more levels than she’d first assumed. Regardless, finding out one of his employees had been murdered had to be difficult for anyone.

  “Liev, I have to do damage control. Let me know when and if you find out anything else.” Just like that, he blinked off.

  Lani stared at the spot on the wall, wondering how long it would take before she got used to that.

  “So much for his help.” Liev shook his head. “Milo, can you get into the Council files to see if they have any further information?”

  Milo walked over to the countertop and brought up the big 3-D unit and started clicking.

  “Also didn’t we find some of the bad guys’ photos on the facial recognition program?” Lani asked. “Did that help at all?”

  “We’re running their list of known associates, trying to find out where they might be located.”

  “And then what?” Lani asked. “Do you have police you can call on for help?”

  Milo shook his head so fast, his long mohawk looked to be in the middle of a major storm. “No. We’ve crossed the line. We have to handle this ourselves.”

  “And can you?” she asked, studying his face.

  He looked at her, showing his inner wisdom and maturity. “We have to. A lot is at stake here.”

  She didn’t know if he meant her or more but decided some information was better left unknown.

  She felt helpless. They had so much to do. Normally she’d have made tea or coffee or pulled together a simple meal; yet it appeared at the moment that she couldn’t even do the simplest of things.

  She hated that.

  She walked over to where Liev had gotten her water before. She placed her hand where he’d placed his and pushed slightly. Instantly a water fountain slid out from behind the wall. She grinned in delight. Now if only she’d watched how he’d made coffee. How hard could it be? Exploring the things she’d watched him do, she managed to open the cooler and to pull out some cheese for a sandwich. At least it would be a sandwich if she could figure out where the bread had gone. She remembered their first meal with a big chunk of cheese and meat. Back in the cooler, she found something that appeared to be meat. She pulled it out and turned to ask Liev about bread.

  Instead, he stood in front of her with a large loaf in his hands.

  She smiled and snatched it from his hands. “Next time, show me where you got it from.” He tapped the counter in front of her, and a cupboard rose up. She grinned. “I do love all this cool technology.”