Free Tightly Wound by Mia Dymond

shrugged. “You should probably take it easy on that shoulder.”
    “Just a scratch. Come on,” he urged.
    Claire hesitated and then with a twinkle in her eye stepped toward him. He lowered his head, focused on the burn in his muscles, when he felt slight pressure low on his back. He looked over his shoulder to see her delectable little heart-shaped ass perched on top of him.
    “Keep going,” she prodded. “I’ll count.”
    He lowered his body to touch his chin to the floor then raised again.
    “One.”
    “That’s one hundred, Claire.”
    “Really? How many more can you do with me on top?”
    He lowered himself to his stomach and then rolled over to his back, positioning her against a whole other pleasure point. “You don’t weigh anything.”
    “Good answer.”
    He tucked a wayward piece of hair behind her ear and waited. Claire was in unfamiliar territory, almost as if she were behind enemy lines without a weapon. He not only felt her frustration, he shared her torment.
    “Something’s not right, Shadow. This guy is extremely hard to read. He knows a lot about me too.”
    “Those are fighting words, baby.”
    “Sorry, but it’s true. He knows I’m psychic and he’s scared.”
    “Good.”
    “At the same time, I feel respect from him. I’m just in the way.”
    “In the way of what?”
    She released a soft sigh and flattened her breasts against his stomach. His pectorals tingled as her brunette waves slid across the surface to caress his sides. “I have no idea.”
    “Don’t push.” Instantly, his fingers burrowed in her hair, winding the strands in a circular motion. “What about Brooks?”
    “He’s the one who put me here, Shadow.”
    “Exactly.”
    “You still don’t trust him, do you?”
    “No.”
    “He’s one of the good guys.”
    Shadow didn’t agree or disagree, careful to block his opinion of the detective. Some things were just better left alone. Until he had more proof. “What time is it?”
    “One thirty last time I checked.”
    The sound of heavy footsteps caused Claire to glance to see her brother enter the room. That, and the incredible arousal he broadcast loud and clear.
    Brett handed her his cell phone. “Holly wants to talk to you.”
    Claire took the phone and shifted. Shadow grunted. “Hi, Holly.”
    “Geez, I had to threaten him with bodily harm before he gave up the phone! How are you?”
    “I’m good.”
    “Tell the truth.”
    “I am. I’m safe here and Brett and Shadow keep me entertained.”
    “Brett? Or Shadow?”
    She moved her gaze downward to the man beneath her. Entertained? Absolutely. “Shadow.”
    “Cameron’s here. Should I put you on speaker?”
    She quickly averted her gaze. “Um no, not right now.”
    Holly giggled. “He’s there, isn’t he?”
    “Yes. Always.”
    “Cameron wants to say hi.”
    “Okay, put her on.”
    Claire grinned while she waited. This would be fun. Emotion finally assaulted her. Impatience. Fear. Desperation. Extreme joy.
    Obviously, Cameron held the phone.
    “Claire, I’m dying here! Please tell me you know how much longer I have to carry this school bus.”
    She bit her lip. “How do you feel?”
    “Large,” Cameron drawled. “Take a guess.”
    “Okay, be still and let me concentrate. Ask Holly what color she sees.”
    The sound muffled for a brief moment and then Cameron spoke. “White with diamond sparkles, pink, and bright blue.”
    Claire took a minute to compare Cameron’s colors to the emotion seeping through the phone. “Is the pink around your stomach?”
    “Yes. That’s because the babies are girls, right?”
    Claire paused. Most likely. She just couldn’t tell if the impatience resonated from mother or children. “Probably.”
    She continued her analysis. Blue represented several attributes: empathy, love, sensitivity. The fear and concern definitely flowed from mother. Childbirth was enough to shake even Cameron. Except Holly said bright blue. New opportunity.
    Suddenly she understood.