"Fontana?"
"Hmm?" he nuzzled her ear.
"This isn't some sneaky scheme to stop me from pursuing my investigative reporting on the Guild, is it?"
"Absolutely not."
"You're sure? Because when I see things going on that I don't approve of, I won't keep silent just because I'm married to you and working for the Guild."
"You have my word of honor that giving you the job has nothing whatsoever to do with trying to keep you quiet." He kissed her throat. "I've got something else in mind to achieve that objective."
A shivery thrill swept through her. "Is that so?"
His hands slid down to close around her buttocks. He lifted her up against him so that she was left in no doubt about his state of arousal.
"Probably won't work," he said. "But I figure it's worth a try. A lot of tries, in fact."
"Does this strategy involve sex?"
"How did you guess?"
He carried her back to the bed, settled her down on the tumbled sheets, and lowered himself slowly on top of her. She wrapped one leg around his bare thigh, thrilling to the weight of his body on hers.
He cradled her face between his hands and kissed her long and hungrily. By the time he raised his head, she was breathless and tingling. He had come free of his briefs. She could feel him hard and rigid against her leg. She reached down and stroked him, savoring the broad length of him. The knowledge that he wanted her so fiercely sent a rush of pleasure through all of her senses.
They twisted and coiled in the shadows for a time, growing hot and damp together. Abruptly Fontana pulled free and started to work his way down her body. He left searing kisses on her breasts and belly. By the time he reached his destination, she was shivering with need; so tightly rezzed she thought she would shatter. He eased two big fingers inside her, probing gently.
"I love your scent," he said, his voice low and rough. "I can't get enough of you."
And then his mouth was on her in the most intimate of kisses. The sensation was so overwhelming she cried out and clenched her hands in his hair.
"Yes," she gasped. "Yes, please, there. There."
The sweet tension that had built inside her came undone in a series of pulsing waves.
She gasped and cried out, amazed and astonished all over again that he could do this to her.
When the climax was nearly finished, he moved back up her body and thrust heavily into her. She was exquisitely sensitized. The sensual invasion was the most erotic feeling she had ever experienced. The pressure took her to the delicate point of balance that separated extreme pleasure from pain. Before she could decide which it was that she felt, Fontana's own climax struck. The muscles of his back hardened into sculpted stone beneath her hands.
She heard his harsh, muffled exclamation: satisfaction, triumph, and surrender inextricably entwined.
Together they fell into the sea of night.
Chapter 37
"HELL OF A FIRE," NICK SAID. "BURNED RIGHT DOWN TO the foundation."
"Arson," Fontana said.
"Heard that." Nick's serious expression did not alter by so much as the flicker of an eyelash. "Caused by aliens, according to your wife's paper."
"Never underestimate the investigative reporting in the Curtains'"
They both looked at the charred ruins of the mansion. The only thing still standing was the massive stone fireplace. It projected upward into the fog, defying the destructive force of the fire to the end. Everything else had collapsed into the basement.
The good news, Fontana decided, was that the pile of blackened rubble hid the old staircase that led down into the catacombs.
"Planning to rebuild?" Nick asked, studying the scene.
"Sure. You know what they say about the three rules of real estate."
"Location, location, location."
"There's no better location in Crystal, as far as I'm concerned."
Nick pushed the edges of his jacket out of the way and planted his hands on his hips. "Okay. I'm here. Mind telling me why you called and said you wanted to see me?"
"You told Sierra that I could save Burns."
"I told her you were the company's only chance. Didn't say it would work."
"May be a lost cause already."
"Josh thinks he can turn things around if he gets the cash he needs," Nick said. "But he doesn't want to risk going the usual venture capital route. That would start rumors, he says. The suppliers and creditors and customers would panic. He says things have got to be handled quietly."
"He's right. Even if he did convince a venture capitalist group to invest, he'd have to turn over a controlling interest in the company to the investors."
"He doesn't want to do that for obvious reasons."
Fontana said nothing.
Nick was silent for a moment. "Did you ask me to meet you here so that you could tell me to go home and instruct the rest of the family to get screwed?"
"No. You can tell Josh that I'll have the money transferred to his account tomorrow morning."
Nick exhaled slowly, stunned. "Thanks."
"There's one condition."
"Just one?"
"I want a seat on the board."
Nick winced. "Josh isn't going to be thrilled with that."
"It's the only way I can keep an eye on my money."
"Sounds fair to me," Nick said. "But then, I didn't get the flair for business that you and Josh got from Dad."
"Until recently I didn't think I got anything at all from him."
Nick studied the remains of the mansion for a while.
"Probably doesn't mean much to you," he said finally, "but as far I'm concerned, none of us got a lot from Dad. He was a lousy father and an even lousier husband. All he cared about was Burns & Co."
"I noticed that."
"You still haven't told me why you're going to help Josh save Burns."
Fontana studied the ruins of the mansion. "My wife thinks I should do it. Says it will be good psychic karma."
Disbelief flashed across Nick's face. "Uh, you believe in psychic karma?"
"No."
"So, in other words, you're doing this to please your wife?"
Fontana nodded, "That's pretty much what it comes down to, yes. I'm trying to think of it as a wedding present."
Nick whistled. "It'll be a damned expensive wedding present if you lose your investment."
"What the hell, I can afford to take the loss."
Nick gave him a quizzical look. "Thought your marriage was just an MC."
"For now."
Nick raised his brows. "It's serious?"
"Serious."
They studied the charred remains for a while longer.
"Rebuilding this place is going to be a major project," Nick said eventually.
"I know."
"Got an architect lined up?"
"No," Fontana said. "Haven't had time to think about it."
"I could fit you into my schedule."
Fontana looked at him. "You?"
"I'm an architect."
"I know."
"I've handled large residential projects like this one."
"I know," Fontana said. "Saw one of them profiled in an architectural magazine last year."
"You read architectural magazines?"
"Not usually, no. Saw your name on the cover. I was curious."
"I'll give you the family rate."
"I'll think about it," Fontana said.
Chapter 38
"ALWAYS KNEW I COULD COUNT ON ELVIS," JAKE TANNER said.
They were gathered in the Green Gate Tavern. Simon was behind the bar. Mitch, Jeff, and Andy lounged on their stools. Bottles of beer sat in front of them. Jake was drinking coffee.
Sierra stood at one end of the bar, her arms folded on the polished surface. Elvis, attired in his sparkling white cape, the new pair of tiny sunglasses that Jake had made perched on his head, sat beside her on the counter. There was a cup of coffee and a bowl of pretzels in front of him. He had already drained half the coffee.