Chapter Thirty-Two

Fallon knew Ian was hurt by something she'd said. Or hadn't. She watched his face as he sat there. His chiseled face was set in a frustrated line. More than the information she'd just shared with him caused it. His eyes were a hard slate color; she could see the anger and hurt in them. There was a tic along the left side of his jaw. Tension radiated off him. His exposed forearms flexed as he watched her.

"Fallon?" he asked. "What do you need me to get for you?"

"Nothing yet. I have to go over this with my brothers. I'll let you know the moment we figure this out."

Rage flashed in his eyes, so fast she almost missed it. When he spoke, his words were cold. "I won't condone vigilante justice in my city. If that is your plan, I will arrest each and every one of the Maddox clan."

"If my plan had been along those lines, I wouldn't have told you." She narrowed her eyes. "What is your problem?"

His gaze narrowed. "I don't have one. I'm just letting you know where I stand on this."

Liar!

"Fine. Duly noted." Fallon stood and began gathering the items she'd brought. As she reached for the few before Ian, he clamped a hand around her wrist. A brow arched. "What?"

"This is evidence of a crime."

"Yes it is. Your point?"

"I'm keeping them." His gaze was as hard as the hull of a battleship.

Like hell you are! Fallon put her other hand on the table and leaned toward him. "No. You. Aren't." The tic in his jaw grew more pronounced. "What is your problem, Detective?"

"You," he said. Ian stood, retaining his hold on her. "Why is it so hard for you to say how you feel?"

"You're having a tantrum because I don't talk about my feelings?" She was flabbergasted.

"A tantrum? No Fallon, this would be a tantrum." Ian dropped her hand, grabbed the table, and heaved it to the side, sending everything on it to the floor with a loud crash. She stared at him in shock. His eyes were alive with flames and burned her as he held her gaze. "I'm not a goddamn robot, feelings are important!" he yelled.

"I never said you were a robot. What do you want me to say?" Fallon felt way out of her depth. "What is it you want me to say?"

He stepped toward her, ignoring the items on the floor. "I want you to tell me how you feel. Tell me something that would let me know it wasn't just about a damn job with you."

The raw agony of his words tore at her. Her skin prickled as she held his gaze. She swallowed and licked her lips. Tell him! Her mind screamed. The winds outside the house increased along with her tension.

"Why?" she demanded. "What possible bearing could my personal feelings have on anything right now?"

"Tell me," he begged.

"It doesn't matter." Her chest heaved as he moved closer and her fingers clutched tighter around the photos she held in one hand.

"It matters, Fallon."

The possibility of a lack of a future with him flooded her with pain. She battled with her emotions as he stared into her soul. In his eyes, she witnessed his desperate need to hear those words from her mouth. That sight opened the gate she'd kept closed around her feelings. "I came to you because I love you," she expelled on a ragged breath. "I've fallen in love with you, Ian Cavanaugh." Despite the fact that we have no future together.

She was in his arms in half a second, the disturbing photos dropped forgotten to the floor. He rained kisses all over her face before claiming her mouth. His tongue thrust in and out of her mouth as his hands worked on lowering her pants. Fallon felt his impatience and undid his slacks. She bit his invading tongue and purred as he lifted her off the ground. Flexing against him, Fallon took as much as she could before she jerked back and ripped off her shirt.

"Ian," she begged.

"Yes, baby." He pulled on her pants and she dropped one leg and maneuvered her pant leg down. With a low roar, Ian snapped her panties and slid home into her wet pussy with one smooth stroke. She whimpered as he thrust her back against the wall, wrapped one hand in her hair, and angled her head where he wanted. His hips plunged his large erection deep within her. In and out. Over and over. Never giving her a break. Her pelvis arched against him as she took all he gave and asked for more. Ian's mouth plundered hers.

Her skin burned as she met him thrust for thrust. One of her hands tangled in his thick hair, her other curled around the arm by her ear. Fire spread through her entire body as Ian took her closer and closer to the plane of euphoria she longed for. Each propulsion rubbed his hard chest against her tight, silk covered nipples, sending more bliss through her. Ian moved his head and buried it in the side of her neck. His teeth nipped, his tongue laved, and his stubble abraded her skin.

"Uh, uh, uh," she panted as he continued to drive into her. Biting her lower lip, Fallon came with a rush. "Ian!" she screamed as her hips bucked against him. Internal muscles clamped down and she felt him move twice more before he unloaded deep in her womb as a roar left him. He pressed her further into the wall; his pounding heart matched the speed of hers.

Without a word, Ian walked their joined bodies back to his bedroom. Fallon gave herself over to the mastery of his touch. I may not be able to have him forever, but I'll have what I can now.

She woke a while later and found herself anchored tight against Ian. His deep, even breaths soothed her frayed nerves. She glanced across the room to take in the glowing digital numbers. Three in the morning.

Fallon got out of bed and pulled on the button-down shirt Ian had been wearing earlier in the night. It smelled like him and she snuggled into the soft material as it settled across her skin. She headed out to the kitchen, closing the bedroom door on her way. Turning on the light, Fallon looked at the mess. With the memory of Ian throwing the table, a shiver skated along her spine. Such a raw demonstration of power. Seriously, that man looked so fucking hot when he did that. Rolling her eyes at herself, Fallon reached for the table and righted it. Then she picked up the remainder of their dishes, evidence, and food. When the floor was free of littered, she found some cleaning supplies and got to work, washing the floor.