Midnight Lies: The Wildefire Series Read Free

when he’d tried to run.
     Though the perp had gotten the worst of it whenhe had tried to fight her, she still had some aches she needed to work out.
    “Still sore?”
    Nothing got by this man. She’d once told him that if he ever wanted to leave medicine,
     he’d make a great cop. “Just a little. A hot shower will help.”
    “I’ll give you a massage tonight.”
    A shiver of anticipation swept through her. “All over?”
    He lowered his mouth over hers and spoke against her lips. “Every soft, silky inch
     of you will know my touch.”
    Groaning her anticipation, Samantha wrapped her arms around his broad shoulders and
     pulled him closer. His mouth moved over hers for several long, satisfying seconds.
     She uttered a small sound of disappointment when he pulled away from her and stood.
    “Gotta go.”
    Samantha propped herself up on her elbows. “Something wrong at Charlene’s house?”
    “No.”
    She wasn’t put off by his abrupt answer. She just hated that his day was starting
     off on such a sour note. Considering the things she’d heard about Charlene, Quinn’s
     relationship with his ex-wife was understandably strained. They’d been divorced for
     three years now, but Charlene had a tendency to call her former husband often. Samantha
     had no worries that Quinn would be tempted to go back to her. He might not have much
     to say about her, but if one read between the lines, his opinion of Charlene was just
     below that of his regard for slugs.
    Hoping to erase the grimness from his face, she said, “I’ll be working until at least
     nine tonight. Want to meet for a late dinner somewhere?”
    As a new homicide detective, Samantha often had unpredictable hours. Fortunately Quinn’s
     hospital schedulewas just as grueling and time-consuming, so he understood about her crazy hours and
     limited time.
    He leaned over and pressed a tender kiss to her forehead. “You’ll be too tired to
     go out. Come over to my place and I’ll make dinner.”
    Another reason she had fallen in love with Quinn Braddock. He loved to spoil and take
     care of her. Smiling her gratitude, she reached up and caressed his clean-shaven jaw.
     “I’ll bring the wine.”
    He lowered his head again, moving his lips softly, confidently over hers. Samantha
     pressed upward, wanting a deeper taste. When he pulled away, her lips pouted her disappointment.
    “Be careful. You’re half a second away from having this sheet stripped away and me
     inside you.”
    A familiar delicious throb began. “Have time for a quickie?”
    “You know we never can settle for a quickie.” He glanced at her bedside clock. “Besides,
     even a quickie wouldn’t work. Aren’t you testifying again today?”
    He was right on both counts. After their first night together, they had learned that
     their quickies could last for hours. She wasn’t the most knowledgeable when it came
     to sex, but Quinn’s expertise made up for her lack of experience. She couldn’t imagine
     a man pleasing her more, inside or outside the bedroom.
    Sighing her regret, she made a promise. “Let’s plan for an extended quickie tonight.”
    “You’re on.”
    Samantha watched in admiration as he went across her bedroom to pick up the car keys
     he’d left on the dresser. She loved the way he walked. For such a tall, broad-shouldered,
     muscular man, he moved with amazing agility and grace. She could only imagine that
     all of his patients, at least the female ones, fell instantly in love with him.
    When he turned back, her expression must have revealed her thoughts, because he grinned
     and said, “Stop looking at my ass and get dressed. Telling the judge what delayed
     you probably won’t win you any points.”
    So true. This was her second day of testimony, and if there was anything clear about
     the trial, it was that the judge disliked cops—and female ones in particular.
    Before she could respond, he headed to the door, that austere, grim expression back
     in