Games of Zeus 02- Silent Echoes by Aimee Laine

pursued.
    Ian halted before he just took everything he wanted.
    “Now what?” Her eyes sparkled with a mischief Ian recognized.
    “Nothing.” I’m going to hell for doing this now. He brought his lips down upon hers.
    Moving to her neck, he laid a line of kisses along the ridge of muscle, the tension of tendons, as another brush with familiarity coursed through him.
    His hands slid to her waistband.
    Hers yanked at the material tucked into his.
    She arched, giving him access. “You haunt me, Ian, like no one else ever has.”
    “Same to ya, and I gotta know why. Just not right now.” He pressed his lips to hers, stopping any further commentary. His hand snaked back up her shirt to the smooth skin of her abdomen. Hers tangled with his zipper as frantic met desire, and the two raced toward a finish.
    The door handle jiggled a moment before it opened.
    Ian flipped himself from Taylor, missed the edge of the bed, and fell to the floor with a crash.
    Emma stood in the doorway, one eyebrow raised, as Taylor laughed on the bed.
    “Why the hell don’t you knock, Emma?” Ian asked.
    A snide smirk graced her features. “Payback. Besides, it’s not like I haven’t seen it before.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “Sorry, Taylor. I actually thought you were sleeping since it was so silent. Was going to wake you in case you were hungry.” Emma shrugged.
    Ian’s gaze tracked to Taylor’s. “No. No.” His hands waved. “Not her. No.” He paddled them between himself and Emma. “She’s a thorn in my side. Sister material. Lexi’s sister, not mine, but close enough.”
    Emma pushed out her bottom lip. “I’m crushed, Ian. After all the time we spent together—weeks, no months, just you and I … You’d think we’d have come farther. But, hey.” She turned as if to leave, but spun back. “Oh, Taylor? Since you were going there … he likes to sleep in the nude. Watch out.” Emma shot him a figurative bullet and disappeared.
    Heat seeped into Ian’s face.
    “Snacks are on in five!” Her voice carried back to the room.
    Taylor leaned over the side, her face a picture of mirth. “Rain check?”
    Maybe he did have a switch after all.

9
    Taylor munched on chips and cheese, popping a small one or two into her mouth after dipping it in the creamy sauce. Ian sat as far across from her as possible as if, for some reason, he didn’t want anyone else to know about their exploit in the bedroom. She’d take the moment of privacy, but itched to be outside, to soak up the sun’s rays and get her hands in the dirt.
    Leaving her appetizer aside, she moved to the window, imaging herself gazing upon her own lawn. The rose bushes she’d planted would need fertilizer. The mulch needed compacting. Weeds should have been pruned.
    She arced her way from the kitchen doorway back into the living room, from the couch to window and around again.
    A glance to her left and Lexi walked in, her hand on her stomach. “Sorry, I think I ate too much.”
    Taylor dropped back onto the couch and stared out at the bright sun.
    “Did you get any more details from the DA?” Emma grabbed some vegetables and dip from the coffee table.
    Tripp had joined them, too, and taken a plate of finger food. “Unfortunately not. I highly doubt we’ll get anywhere with them for a few more days.”
    “‘Scuse me a sec, gotta pee. Keep going. I’ll catch up.” Lexi stood and disappeared through the back of the house.
    “They didn’t really question me much,” Taylor said. “That kind of surprised me.”
    “You lawyered up,” Ian said.
    “Yeah, but I was there for three days. Wouldn’t they have at least tried?”
    Munching on a carrot, Tripp said, “That’s another thing I’m looking into.”
    “You have a vibe?” Ian asked.
    Tripp nodded, a celery stalk in hand. “I do. Unconfirmed, though. Give me a bit to figure it out before I try to explain.”
    “Okay,” Lexi said at her return. “I have a confession … of sorts.”
    Ian shifted