Fatal Series 01 - Fatal Affair

that housed John’s extensive stash of Spiderman collectibles.
    Nick smiled. “He was obsessed.”
    She picked up a carved placard from the desk that bore Spider-Man’s signature saying, With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility. Studying it for a long moment, she glanced at Nick. “Did he believe this?”
    “Very much so. Despite his sometimes lackadaisical approach to his job, he took his responsibilities as seriously as he was able to.”
    “But not as seriously as you would have.”
    “Let’s just say if our roles had been reversed, I would’ve done a lot of things differently.”
    “Have you ever wanted to be the one in the corner office?”
    “God no,” he said with a guffaw. “I work much better as the guy behind the guy.” He seemed to sober when he remembered he had lost his guy when John died.
    “With his parents’ okay, I’d like to have a team go through here more methodically tomorrow.” She stretched and got up. “I’m running out of gas after twenty hours.”
    “I’m guessing you’ll want to talk to his parents about that photo,” Nick said, “so why don’t we crash here and go see them in the morning?”
    Her eyes darted up to meet his. “I’m not sleeping with you.”
    “I’m not asking you to,” he said with a sexy smile. “There’s a guestroom I use when I’m here. I’ll take John’s room.”
    Sam ran it around in her mind as she finished her hot chocolate. Technically, the cabin wasn’t a crime scene, so she didn’t have an issue there. She was exhausted, he didn’t look much better, and she could knock a few things off her to-do list in the morning if she stayed in Leesburg, including another discussion with Terry O’Connor if he was available.
    “All right,” she said, even though she would’ve preferred separate hotel rooms, but hotels were in short supply in that corner of the county. She got up to follow Nick down the hallway to the bedrooms.
    “Bathroom’s in there,” he pointed. In the guestroom, he rooted through an antique chest of drawers and pulled out a large T-shirt. “One of mine if you want something to sleep in. There’re extra toothbrushes and anything else you might need in the bathroom closet.”
    “Thanks,” she said, embarrassed and shy all of a sudden—two emotions she rarely experienced.
    He slid a hand around her neck to draw her in close to him. For a long, breathless moment he just looked at her before he kissed her forehead. “I’ll see you in the morning. Holler if you need anything.”
    Devastated by the simple kiss, she watched him cross the hall, her heart pounding and her hands damp. She hated being off balance and out of kilter, which of course was why he had done it. Feeling defiant, she used the bathroom and then left the shirt he had given her on the bed as she stripped out of her clothes and slid naked between the cool sheets.
    Less than a minute later, she was out cold.

    “Sam. Honey, wake up. You’re dreaming.”
    Sam could hear him but couldn’t seem to force her eyes open.
    “Babe.”
    Her eyes fluttered open to find Nick sitting on the bed.
    When he brushed the hair back from her face, she realized she was sweating and her heart was racing.
    “Are you okay?” he asked.
    “Mmm, sorry.” It occurred to her that she must’ve been loud if she had woken him. She glanced at him, noticing he wore only a pair of sweats, and let her eyes take a slow journey over his muscular chest.
    “It was a doozy, huh? The dream?”
    “I don’t know. I never remember the details, just the fear.” She rubbed a weary hand over her cheek and wished for a glass of water. “Did I…um…say anything?”
    He replaced the hand she had on her face with his own. “You kept saying, ‘Cease fire, hold your fire.’”
    “Shit,” she said with a deep sigh.
    He stretched out next to her on top of the comforter and settled her head on his shoulder. “It was a traumatic thing, Sam, but it wasn’t your fault.”
    Steeped in the masculine scent of citrus and spice, she closed her eyes against the rush of emotion and absorbed the comfort he offered. Just for a minute. His chest hair brushed against her face, making her want him so fiercely. “If only I could forgive myself as easily as you’ve forgiven me.”
    He brought her closer to him.
    “Um, Nick?”
    “Hmm?”
    “I’m kind of naked under here.”
    “Yeah, I noticed.”
    As all the reasons this was a bad idea came crashing down on her, she attempted to