Guarding Raine Part 66

needed to talk to both of you."

Mac lanced at Ratne and observed the way she swiftly swallowed and imperceptibly straightened.

He nodded, pressed the b.u.t.ton on the control he'd placed in the van

that would release the ate's mechanism and drove up to the house.

He kept a tight hold on Raine's hand as they walked into the house.

"Detective,"

Raine greeted the man as they entered the room.

"Miss Michaels."

Ramirez rose as they entered.

He was dressed today in a tan double-breasted suit that made him look

more like a game show host than a cop.

' "I'm glad I didn't miss you. I've got some good news for youtoday.""Well, good. We could use some of that, couldn't we?"She looked at Mac.His face was set in the expressionless mask that had been so common when they'd first met, She turned to Ramirez.

"We were able to match a set of prints on the last letter you received."

He waited a heartbeat before adding, "They belong to Brian Burnett."

She wasn't aware that Mac had moved until she felt his hands on her

shoulders.

He drew her against his chest, as if offering her his strength.

She blinked, a little stunned.

"He was arrested last night. We've got him in jail here now. You

won't have to worry about being threatened anymore, Miss Michaels."

Numbly, Raine shook her head.

"I knew it was a possibility after what you said the last time, but I

just don't understand why. Why now, after all these years?"

"Apparently he saw some articles about you in the paper or some magazine."

The man added almost apologetically, "He's carrying quite a grudge

against you. Blames you for his time in jail."The man shrugged."Go figure. Anyway, he saw his chance and did a little digging, I suppose.

Came up with your address and decided to start terrorizing you. You

can't figure how these guys' minds work, ma'am. Just be glad we got him when we did."

"What about when she was run off the road?"

Mac demanded.

His body was tense behind hers, but his fingers on her shouldersremained gentle. "Who set fire to the porch and tried to trash the gallery? It wasn't Burnett. The private investigator Simon Michaels had watching him canvouch that Burnett never left L.A."

The detective shrugged. "You told me yourself that Burnett had lots of unsavory friends whocould have perpetrated those incidents at his command. After doingtime he must have smartened up enough to want to establish an alibi forhimself."

"Has he" -- Raine cleared her throat.

Her words had come out hoa.r.s.e.

"Has he admitted to all this?"

The man shook his head.

"He's still proclaiming his innocence. To hear him tell it, he's a

model citizen these days. It's going to be tough' to maintain that,though, with his prints all over that letter."

He rose to his feet."Anyway, I wanted to let you know as soon as possible. You've beenthrough enough these last few weeks. I didn't want to leave you insuspense any longer."

She managed a smile."Thank you, Detective. I appreciate everything you've done.""TII let myself out," he told her. " You have a good show at that gallery, okay?

" Raine thanked him again, and he left. She sagged against Mac's chest, and he moved his hands from her shoulders to clasp them around

her waist. " I can't believe it's over," she murmured. " And to have him involved in this.

How in G.o.d's name could he have twisted it all around so that the rape

was my fault?

He hugged her fiercely, his head lowering to lay against hers. " Who knows what goes on in a sicko's mind?

It's over now.

He'll never hurt you again.

" The words were meant to calm himself, as well. The rage that hadbuoyed in him at the detective's words was murderous. He'd dearly loveto have ten minutes with Burnett and save the county the expense of atrial and a lengthy incarceration. Sensing the churning emotions thatraged through him, Raine said questioningly, " Macauley?

" She turned in his arms and looked into his face. " Are you allright?

" He shook his head at wonderment at her question. " I think that's supposed to be my line.

" She put her arms around him and hugged him tightly. " I'm okay.

I really am, I just cant believe this is over.

" " It is over," he whispered into her hair, and the words taunted himwith another meaning. The reign of terror was at end, and so was herneed for protection. It was over. Relief warred with the now familiar despair. This would likely be the last time he felt her delicatecurves pressed up against him, and the thought filled him with anotherkind of rage. He'd been haunted by flashbacks since he'd left themilitary, but he suspected they were nothing compared to the torturousnights he had ahead of him. Tantalizing memories of her would wis.p.a.cross his mind like delicate ghosts, memories of the way she moved orlaughed. He'd remember the first time he'd taken her, and seen hereyes widen at the sight of his body over hers, He felt his pulse turnthick and heavy. His mouth sought hers and was almost rough in itsneed, desperate in its seeking. She returned his kiss without hesitation, with that sensual generosity that was so much a part ofher. She painted his bottom lip with her tongue, then took it betweenher teeth to worry it gently. But gentleness wasn't what he wantedfrom her, and it wasn't in him to return. He sank to his knees and took her with him. Never mica sing her mouth, he removed her clothesand discarded them. He backed her against the sofa and bent her overthe cus.h.i.+on so her b.r.e.a.s.t.s jutted upward to his mouth.

He ravished them both in turn, using his tongue to paint eroticpictures on her nipples. She moved beneath his lips, writhing andcrying out at the sensations. He tightened his hold on her, emotionsluicing through him, and wished this moment could last forever.

"Her hands made a mockery of that wish, roaming frantically over hischest and back, urging him to abandon the control he needed sodesperately to reach for. Dragging his mouth away from her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, hestrung a trail of kisses up her neck and fastened on her mouth again.The kiss was hot, deep and wild. He held nothing back, couldn't, evenif he'd thought of it, He was shaking, but so was she. He used his one remaining grasp on sanity to reach for his jeans. He managed toextract the foil packet from his pocket and sheathe himself. Then he reached for her and pulled her beneath him. Raine made a soft,desperate sound and draw up her knees, urging him forward with handsthat were frantic. He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth as heburied himself within her. Deep. And tight. So very tight. His hands went to her hips and he lifted her to receive his thrust. The sensory bombardment was almost too much to bear, and he clenched hisjaw. It was more than s.e.x, it was a connection between them that wasas heady as it was inexplicable. Their fusion filled the emptiness inhis soul and erased the specters from his mind. He wanted to savor the completeness, and he braced himself on his forearms, attempting tofight the mind-shattering sensation. He bracketed her face in his hands and covered her mouth with his in a slow, searching kiss. But she wasn't going to let him wait for the first, fierce, electrifyingrush to ease. Hands clutching his shoulders, she lifted her hips,rocking her pelvis hard against his. Mac roughly locked one handbeneath her bottom, sliding the other under her head to keep her mouthsealed to his. His breathing trapped in his heaving chest, he liftedher hips higher, then rolled his hips against hers. Raine uttered a wild cry, and he drank it, wis.h.i.+ng he could draw all of her in and keepher there inside him. When she countered his thrust, a haze blurredall his thoughts, and only one need remained. He wanted to erase the horror from her mind, drive away the memory of the man who'd made herlife a h.e.l.l once again.

Trying to hang on, he dragged his mouth away and gritted his teeth a.s.she moved convulsively beneath him. He surged into her again, tryingto maximize her pleasure, drawing it out until he felt her movementsturn more erratic and frantic. She cried out softly, and her innerconvulsions pulled at him.

Giving in to the pa.s.sion, his face contorted, and he gave one lastthrust before emptying into her. Their breathing remained choppy forlong minutes.

Eddies of pleasure were still chasing down his spine when reasonreturned to taunt him. His time with Raine had come to an end. He was unable to deny it. The know led e pounded inside his skull. The last time. The last time. The last time. It was over. Chapter 16 Rainemingled with the guests at the gallery with a smile that felt strainedand plastic. There was enough of a crowd to satisfy even Andre, andindeed, he seemed in his element. Far from the almost frantic wreck he'd been just yesterday, today he appeared the smooth, genial host.She wished for just a fraction of his poise. She wished, above all,that this night was already behind her. Her parents wouldn't be heretonight. They'd left almost immediately after she'd told them ofBurnett's arrest for the cruise her father had been planning. She didn't mind. The knowledge that her mother was experiencing some raregood health was far more comforting than their presence here tonightwould have been. Her brothers would come later in the week, on a nightthat was a little less hectic for her. She hadn't seen Macauley allday, although she'd been aware of the constant stream of people in thehouse. Trey had been holed up in the office with him, and so had some of the other men. She'd looked out the window once that afternoon, andseen men loading the van. She'd known they were carrying his thingsout of her house, and she'd dropped the curtain as a wave of pain hadswept over her.

The visual reminder of his withdrawal from her life was too much to bear.

When Harold had called and offered to send a limo for her, she'd gonein search of Macauley. She didn't know what she had been hoping for,but she didn't get the chance to talk to him. She ended up tellingTrey of the plan, and he'd agreed to pa.s.s the information on to Mac.She'd dressed and left the house that evening without ever running intohim once.

She wondered, for what seemed the hundredth time, if he was in that biga hurry to get away from her. She dreaded reaching home . againtonight, to find it empty of him and of his belongings. " The showinglooks like a success.

" At the diffident voice behind her, Raine whirled around. " Greg!

" she exclaimed delightedly. She took his hand impulsively andsqueezed it.

" I'm so glad you came~" The man blushed to his receding hairline.Pus.h.i.+ng his gla.s.ses up his nose with his free hand, he said, " Well, Iappreciated your calling and inviting me specially.

" He took a deep breath and looked at the floor. " Look, Raine, thelast time I saw you I acted kind of like a jerk, and.

Well, I guess I need to apologize.

" " No," she informed him, " you don't.

You've put up with me when I've acted worse, remember?

You've never lost patience with me no matter how long it took me tounderstand tax options.

" He laughed nervously. " But seriously, I wanted to tell you that ourfriends.h.i.+p is important to me.

I'd hate to have anything happen to ruin it.

" " Nothing will," she a.s.sured him. " What are you two doing chattingwhile Raine is supposed to be the queen of this ball?

" Sarah strolled up and scolded them. " She's supposed to beschmoozing all these deep-pocketed guests into buying up every one ofher paintings.

That's what I would do.

" " I'm afraid Andre is going to have to be in charge of thatdepartment,"

Raine told her ruefully. " I flunked schmoozing 'in school.

" Her gaze went past her two friends and caught a familiar sullen face.

" Sarah, is that Joe? " It had been a couple of years since she'd seen Sarah's brother, butshe thought she recognized the young man who disappeared into the crowdas she spoke. Sarah nodded without turning. " He insisted on comingwith me.

He's learning to appreciate culture.

Maybe there's hope for him, after all.

" " Well, if you ladies will excuse me, I'm going to take a look at the

paintings.