CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

"Noah Anders, if you get hurt by this psycho, I'm going to be pissed off," said Tru. He gripped her thick waist, thrusting her body into his own hard one. One hand slid up her back, gripping her hair and forcing her neck back to stare up at him.

"I would never piss off my beautiful wife. I desire you too much to make you angry with me," he said, kissing down her throat. She hummed, moaning at his touch.

"Wh-what are you doing?" she whispered.

"I am going to make love to my wife. Sweet, slow, beautiful love to the woman who has always been my perfect soulmate. The one who knows what my body needs. I remember every second of my life with you. Every moment."

"M-me too," she gasped as his hard cock ground into her body.

"When we were in Louisiana, before you and I became a couple. Travis asked me what it was about you that I knew was special. I remember every word I said to him. I said, ‘She is tall. I need a tall woman. Her hair is the most beautiful shade of brown with these subtle hints of red and blonde that are barely noticeable. Her eyes are the richest hue of chocolate, but there are these tiny flecks of gold in them. She has curves, but not unnatural curves that women purchase. You can tell that she enjoys food and is not afraid to choose more than a salad. But it is her spirit, her resilience, that makes her truly beautiful. She survived the death of her brother. She took over the care of her nephew, and she survived the death of him. Beyond that, she has also survived whatever Brian Chauvin did to her.'"

"You knew even then that Brian had hurt me," she said, staring into his eyes.

"I knew that he was responsible for some of your pain. I just wanted to wipe that pain from your memory." He kissed down one shoulder, slipping her blouse off and unhooking her bra.

"And, and you have," she said breathlessly.

"I love you, Tru. I never thought I was capable of such love. Then you blessed me with a son of my own. How could one man be so lucky?"

"Lucky? I'm the one that was lucky, Noah. You didn't give up on me. You saved me from myself and everyone else. I owe you the life that I have, that we have."

He lifted his wife, carrying her to their bedroom. Pulling her jeans off, then her panties, he was thrilled to look down at her naked form. The soft swell of her belly, the fleshy thighs that comforted his body at night. When he stripped, he placed his rock-hard body between those thighs and, with agonizing control, slid inside his wife.

"You make me a better man," he groaned, rocking his hips forward.

"You are already the best man I know," she gasped. "Noah. Noah, I need more of you."

"You shall have all of me."

The man was insatiable. Hours of lovemaking with such skill he could have taught a class on it. Generous, always ensuring that she was first, he thanked his wife over and over again. When they were finally sated, she rolled onto her side, resting her head in her hand.

"Not that I didn't appreciate this magnificent afternoon delight, but what's wrong? I sense there's something bothering you."

"You always know me better than anyone."

"Is it this case?" she asked.

"Yes. Something beyond the obvious is wrong, and I can feel it."

"Is there a ghost involved, a spirit?" she asked.

"I do not think so. I am not sensing someone trying to speak with me or come toward me. It is more of a feeling of confusion. I think I am trying to make sense of something that cannot be made logical."

"Then don't try. Do what you do best. Protect Mary. Observe the room. Find the killer. That's what you all do, and this will be no exception."

"I love you, Tru. More than I ever thought would be possible for a man like me. Thank you for loving me back."

"Noah, that was the easiest thing I've ever done in my life."

Dressed, showered, and ready for dinner, they joined the others in the main dining hall at Belle Fleur. Seeing Sterling, Noah knew that he might be able to help with something.

"Excuse me," he said, nodding to Tru, Rush, and Caroline. He walked toward a table with Teddy and a few others. Sterling was talking to the men, laughing as he should.

"Hello, Noah," said Teddy.

"Teddy, nice to see you. Sterling, if I take photos of the kids in the class that Mary will be covering, do you think you might recognize them if you had seen them before?" Sterling raised his brows, looking at the table of men.

"Probably. I have a great memory for faces. Not so much names, but I would be able to tell you if I'd met them before."

"That is what I am hoping. I think perhaps you might have seen one of these people, or maybe more, at some point. I will come back with photos when I can."

"Not a problem," smiled Sterling. Teddy and Chopper looked at their new friend, smiling. "He is an intimidating man, isn't he?"

"He's a friendly fella," said Chopper. "Big as the day is long, but he's friendly. For the most part." Sterling nodded, smirking at the men.

"Yeah, it's the other part that worries me."