Rushing to the cabinet, she kept her attention off Heath and on Whitaker as she dug out a stack of hand towels.

Cannon finished checking over the lawyer. No other weapons, but he took his cell phone and that note from Mindi. It wasn’t signed, but surely they could match her writing.

Heath whispered, “Yvette?”

Face carved of stone, she kept her back to him.

“I’m sorry, baby. For everything.”

Cannon saw her bottom lip start to quiver, and he stood to put his arm around her. To Heath, he said, “If you actually have it in you to care, leave her alone.”

Heath closed his eyes, gave one short nod—and passed out.

Whitaker made a gurgling sound...that didn’t last. Cannon was pretty sure the bastard had just died.

“Here.” Armie shoved the gun into Cannon’s hand, snatched up one of the dish towels and started off in a hobbling gait.

“What are you doing?”

He paused, head dropped forward, then grunted a laugh. “One of those flying bullets grazed my ass. No, it’s not bad, and yes, it hurts like hell. So if you’ll excuse me?”

Yvette whipped around. “Armie!”

“No, doll. I was joking about showing you mine just because I saw yours.”

She squawked again, now for a different reason. “Armie.”

Laughing, he told Cannon, “I’d seal the deal on that if I was you.” Then he limped on down the hall and slammed the bathroom door.

Seconds later, the police, the ambulance and Lieutenant Margaret Peterson-Riske all showed up.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

A WEEK LATER, in the middle of the day, with sunshine streaming in through the open bedroom windows, Yvette went to her knees in front of Cannon. Not for the first time.

And he’d ensure it wasn’t the last.

So many things he’d thought would level her—the death of Whitaker, the upcoming trial for Heath who, luckily, remained behind bars. Mindi’s arrest as she’d tried to leave the state.

Her grandfather’s letter—which she’d read at least a dozen times.

But she was far more resilient than he’d ever imagined. And so damned sexy, he wasn’t sure how much more he could take. With the threats behind them, she seemed determined to enjoy her newfound sexuality to the fullest.

With him.

That she proved insatiable only made him love her more.

“I hope,” she said around nibbles to his hip bone, “you’re thinking of me, and only me.”

“You, and everything about you.” He tunneled his fingers into her long hair, then forced himself to only hold her head loosely, without urging her mouth where he needed it most. This was her turn to do what she wanted, how she wanted.

As long as she only wanted it with him.

With every day that passed, she’d grown bolder in bed—and out of it. Knowing how much Yvette enjoyed sex with him made him feel far more like a stud than kicking ass in the SBC ever had.

“Every time,” she whispered, trailing her open hands over his thighs, her open mouth over his abs, “I see this amazing body of yours, I want you.”

Since she said that while naked, on her knees in front of him, he couldn’t drum up a reply. Hell, it was all he could do to stay standing.

She cupped his balls in one hand, teased her nose over his c**k and made a purring sound of pleasure. “It’s not just your body, though.”

He’d never survive this. “Babe...”

“Shh.” She looked up at him, her green eyes big and soft and hungry. “I want you to know that it’s you, Cannon. Not just the well-known fighter, not just the great body. It’s everything about you. I hear you and I want you. I think of you and I want you. Will it ever end?”

“No.” He tightened his fingers in her silky hair, then had to lock his knees to keep from coercing her. A deep breath wouldn’t help. He knew that, but tried it anyway. “I told you we’re good together.”

Her small hand held him snugly. “Mmm,” she said by way of acknowledgment—and licked him, from the base of his shaft up to the head.

He shuddered, waiting on pins and needles—and he felt her hot mouth close over him.

He should have been lying down, he realized as he flattened one hand on the wall to brace himself. Gaze smoldering, he watched her work over him, her mouth, her hands...he even felt her ni**les on his thighs.

Lost, he put his head back and fought off release. He wanted to be inside her, and he wanted her with him when he came.

For as long as he could, he enjoyed her attentions—until he knew he wouldn’t last a second more.

“Enough.” Using her hair like a leash, he eased her away. “That’s enough, honey. No more.”

She sank back to sit on her heels, licked her lips and gave him a dreamy smile. “Did I do something wrong?”

Scooping her up, Cannon dropped with her sideways on the bed. “When we’re naked and you’re touching me, nothing you do is wrong, I promise.” He kissed her, slipping a hand between her legs, gratified to find her already wet and hot. “You liked doing that to me?”

“I could eat you up,” she murmured, and proceeded to nibble on his bottom lip, his chin.

God, she was hot. “Turnabout is fair play.” Kissing his way down her body, paying special attention to all her most sensitive places, he moved off the bed and pulled her to the edge of the mattress. “Put your feet on my shoulders.”