“Who would she have protected? Who was that close to the two of you, Callan?” she asked, fighting to keep her voice even, the suspicions concerning the killer’s identity to herself.
“We trusted no one, and those close to us couldn’t have done it. They wouldn’t have done it.” He shrugged. “Whoever it was will show themselves eventually, and when they do, I’ll be waiting.”
The finality of his voice sent a shiver down Merinus’ back. It was cold and hard and filled with menace.
“Callan…”
“Enough questions about Maria. I’ll solve that when the times comes. How are you feeling now?
Merinus sighed roughly.
“Callan, you have to do something soon,” she whispered. “You can’t keep hiding.”
The bright, golden brown depths were filled with sadness, arousal, and regret as he watched her. His lean, tanned face was striking in its sheer maleness. His eyes, despite the dark emotions, were so beautiful they made her heart clench.
“When I can hide no more, then I’ll leave here, Merinus. It’s all I can do.” He shook his head at the futility of her argument.
“We could help you, Callan.” She tried to stem the tears, but they only fell harder as she felt her heart breaking not just for him, but for Sherra and for herself as well.
“No, Beauty.” He grinned at her, though there was no humor in his smile. “No one can save me and we both have to accept that. I’ll ensure your safety, and that of the others, but they know about me. There is no safety for me.”
“But Callan—” He stood from the table, halting her words.
“If you’re finished eating, then I promised Sherra I would bring you to her. They need those samples and I need you soon before I die.”
He pulled her from her chair, his lips going to hers, his tongue swirling into her mouth. Merinus groaned. The kiss was hot, so tempting, his taste alone enough to nearly make her peak.
“I wanted you for lunch,” he whispered as he nibbled her lips. “Right across the table, Merinus, with my head buried between your thighs. Your taste is enough to make me drunk.” His teeth scraped her neck, his hand roaming beneath the dark blue, soft shirt he had loaned her. His hands clenched on her bu**ocks, parting the flesh, his fingers tucking into the crevice as he pulled her closer. Merinus gripped his shoulders, moaning low and deep as his mouth whispered over her skin, moist and hot. Then he was kissing her again, drawing her tongue into his mouth, possessing her, making the heat in her body rise, the need between her thighs pulsate.
“Callan.” Sherra spoke behind him, her voice firm. “We’re waiting on her.”
He raised his head, staring down at Merinus while she shivered in his arms.
“Hurry, Sherra,” he warned the other woman as he let Merinus go slowly, reluctantly. “I’ll wait up here for her.”
“Come on, Merinus. It shouldn’t take us long,” Sherra promised, casting Callan an impatient look. Merinus sighed. “Damn it. Sex wasn’t supposed to be this complicated.” But she followed the other woman anyway, determined to hurry and get it over with, and get back to Callan’s arms.
CHAPTER TWELVE
By the time the tests were completed, Merinus was nearly in pain, the arousal was hitting her so hard again. She could feel the moisture glazing her inner thighs, the heat and need building in her cunt like a volcano preparing to erupt. The pressure was tremendous. But on top of that was another problem. As hours ticked by, Sherra and the doctor both began to wear steadily on her nerves. Or more to the point, the touch of their hands, even protected by the latex gloves, did. It made her literally sick to her stomach, made her skin crawl, made her want to shrink from them as they came near her. She couldn’t fully explain the sensation, even to herself. She knew though, if she had to tolerate one more minute of it, she was going to be sick. And she needed Callan. She was desperate to touch him, to feel the incredible warmth of his skin, his hands stroking over her. She was cold, aching, frightened.
“No more tests,” she informed them as she dressed, buttoning Callan’s shirt with shaking fingers over the throbbing mounds of her br**sts. “I can’t stand it anymore.”
“The tests are necessary, Merinus,” Sherra told her with a sigh.
“Look, I cannot f**king tolerate being touched anymore,” she snapped, almost in tears, her skin still crawling from the sensation of someone’s hands, other than Callan’s on her. “Do you understand me?”
Shock crossed Sherra’s expression, bemusement filled the doctor’s.
“How do you mean, Merinus?” Sherra’s voice stayed soothing, but Merinus heard the confusion in her voice.
“Just what I said.” Merinus fought her tears. “Where’s Callan? He was supposed to come for me.”
She had to find him. Her body was going crazy, rioting. Tiny fingers of sensation were washing over her skin, leaving her shuddering, shaking.
“Callan’s upstairs, just as he promised he would be.” Sherra reached out to touch her, but Merinus jumped back, flinching away from the contact. “Merinus, something else is evidently happening. You have to let us help you.”
“Get away from me.” Merinus shook her head.
“Sherra, get Callan down here,” Doctor Martin had watched the byplay silently, but his voice now became commanding. “Get him down here quickly.”
Merinus gripped the side of the bed. Her legs shook as she fought to stay upright.
“I want to go home,” she panted, suddenly terrified by a thousand different feelings and sensations assaulting her. “Make them take me home, Doctor.”
“I will discuss it with Callan, Merinus,” he promised her softly, but she heard the indulgent tone of his voice. He was merely placating her. Lying to her.
She shook her head, fighting to stay upright.
“Where the f**k is Callan,” she cried out, disoriented now. She was sweating heavily; she could feel the moisture running down her face, between her br**sts. Her heart was beating hard, laboring, her lungs fighting for breath. “What did he do to me?”
Her fists clenched as she felt herself collapsing against the bed.
“Let me help you, Merinus.” The doctor reached for her.
She felt his hands on her arm and jerked back, fire seemed to lance her skin, searing her flesh as she fought to get away. She stumbled over the bed, going to her knees, feeling the scrape of the hard floor as she fought to right herself.