The Departed

why is it okay to do it in here?”
    “Oh, that’s easy. I’m not sleeping with the mayor. I am sleeping with you. Once I’ve had sex with you, that pretty much makes you fair game.” She wiggled around and came to her knees, pressing her lips to his mouth. “You’re fair game now, Jones.”
    She went to pull away, satisfied that she’d done enough to ease the tension in him for now. And hers as well. Her own was a monster in her gut, clawing and tearing to get free, brutal.
    But she’d barely made it a few inches before Taylor snaked an arm around her waist. “Fair game?” His gaze bored into hers. “I’m fair game? Does that mean you are, too?”
    She didn’t even have time to get the words out before his mouth was on hers. Hard and hungry. So damn hungry. She was breathless by the time he pulled away, breathless and about ready to tear his clothes off and throw him in the backseat.
    But when she slid a hand down the front of his shirt, he pulled away. Two seconds later, he was out of the car and she groaned, slamming her head back against the padded headrest. “Jerk.”
    Sighing, she climbed out of the car and joined him where he waited near the hood. “You ever have sex in the back of that thing?”
    “No.” His gaze dropped to her mouth and then he looked at the car, a thoughtful look on his face. “I’m not entirely sure I want to, either.”
    “I’ll change your mind.” She started toward the house. “Now, come on. I want this over with.”
    “Why? So you can try to talk me into having sex in my car?”
    She shot him a look over her shoulder. “If I decide we’re going to have sex in your car, Jones, I promise you…you’ll thank me afterward.”
    * * *
     
    OH, he was absolutely certain of that. A few quick strides had him by her side and he caught her hand, tugging her to a slower pace. “Don’t be in such a hurry.” Stroking his thumb along her wrist, he kept his expression relaxed even as he felt her tension skyrocketing. “If you look anxious or like you have a mission, that’s going to tip Moore off.”
    “Moore…the kid or the mayor?”
    “Both. But I’m more concerned about the mayor. I can probably talk him into showing us around the house, or you can—if I remember him right, he was an arrogant prick in school and he’ll be happy to show off whatever he has.” He paused and glanced down at her. “But don’t look like you’re on a mission, or it’s not going to happen. He wasn’t an idiot when I knew him—he’s not likely to be one now.”
    “Too bad.” Dez blew out a breath. “Idiots are annoying but they are easier to manage. You can manipulate the hell out of them.”
    True. There wouldn’t be any manipulating with Joshua. He mounted the broad brick steps, taking note of the small details—the security system, the solid oak door, and a series of complicated, although ornate, locks. The mayor took his family’s security seriously.
    He pushed the doorbell, still stroking his thumb back and forth over Dez’s wrist, trying not to think. He’d devoted too much time to doing that. Couldn’t think. Not now. Not until this was done—
    Anna… an image of her flashed through his mind and the rage hit him, surging through him like a tidal wave. Rage and pain and grief—all this time. Fuck —
    Cool hands touched his face. Soft lips pressed to his. “Taylor.”
    Distantly, he heard the door open, but he couldn’t think. Couldn’t do anything but try not to break under the fury and the pain. Forcing himself to stare at Dez, and only her, he wondered if he could do this. Could he? Could he manage it? Could he make it?
    “You can,” she whispered against his lips, and he wondered if he’d said the words out loud. “Just breathe. Just focus. Think about me right now. Think about this. We’ll help her, I swear.”
    Pressing his brow to hers, Taylor gripped her waist and waited for the grief to level off, waited until he could breathe through the rage.
    He heard somebody clearing his throat and slowly he lifted his head, found himself staring into an amused pair of dark blue eyes. They were familiar, he realized—Brendan’s eyes. But not so cold and lifeless. Arrogant as hell, but not cold, not evil.
    Easing away from Dez, he reached for the control that had gotten him through the worst shit imaginable. It let him push aside everything else and meet Joshua Moore’s eyes with a smile. “Hello, Mr. Mayor.”
    Joshua responded with a hearty