Unbreakable Bond by Rita Herron

windows and door to the inside, her breath hitching when the door squeaked open. It was so dark, the only thing she could make out was the outline of a man’s big body. Then the lights suddenly flickered on, and she recognized Slade.
    He looked big and feral, his face chiseled into a hard mask. She flung open the car door, jumped out and hurried toward him.
    He jammed his gun inside his jacket pocket and gripped her by the arms. “It’s clear. The main breaker had been flipped. That’s why the lights went out.”
    She nodded numbly, and allowed him to guide her into the kitchen, then into the den. Her gaze flew to the rocking chair and the doll wrapped in the baby blanket.
    The lullaby CD was still playing, taunting her.
    Slade clenched his jaw, then walked over and switched off the CD. “I’m going to send it to the lab although I doubt we’ll get anything. Whoever did this probably wore gloves, but I’m still going to dust for prints.”
    Nina stared up at him, her heart racing. “Then you believe me? That I didn’t put that creepy doll in the rocker or make up the intruder?”
    His gaze met hers, emotions flickering in his brown eyes. Eyes that could dissect a person in seconds, eyes that could look cold and intimidating. Eyes that said he’d seen too much death and violence in his life.
    She thought he wasn’t going to answer, then he cleared his throat. “Yes, Nina, I believe you.”
    His gruffly spoken words made her heart twinge, and suddenly tears filled her eyes. She’d been alone so long, had faced scorn and animosity and pity. She knew how to handle those.
    She didn’t know how to handle having someone believe in her again.
    â€œGod, Nina…” A groan ripped from his throat, then he pulled her in his arms and pressed her head to his chest.
    Nina collapsed against him, savoring the feel of his strong arms embracing her. His heart thudded beneath her ear, his chest rose and fell with a labored breath and he gently stroked her hair. His touch felt so intimate that she clung to him, a flutter of arousal tickling her stomach.
    Her breathing became raspy, her breasts tingled and she had the insane urge to press a kiss to his chest.
    But that would be foolish. Just because he was being nice didn’t mean he was attracted to her, or that he wanted her. He was simply being human, compassionate.
    And she couldn’t allow herself to lean on him or become dependent. She’d learned long ago that men couldn’t be counted on or trusted.
    Â 
    S LADE’S PULSE RACED . He shouldn’t have pulled Nina up against him. It had been too damn long since he’d held a woman. Since he’d been with one.
    Since he’d even wanted to.
    But Nina had been trembling and afraid, and he’d seen the relief in her eyes that finally someone believed her story, and he couldn’t resist.
    Oh, hell… It was more than that.
    She’d fought against all odds to find out what happened to her baby girl. How could he not admire her dedication and determination?
    And now…one touch wasn’t enough. Nina felt so small and sweet and precious in his arms that his body hardened, need ripping through him.
    He traced his hand down her hair, then along her cheek. Her skin felt so soft that he wanted to put his lips where his fingers had just touched.
    She tensed slightly as if to pull away, and he tilted her chin up with his thumb.
    â€œI promise you I’ll find out who’s doing this,” he said in a deep voice.
    She nodded, her lower lip quivering. He traced his finger over her mouth, and her breath hitched, desire flaring in her eyes. “Slade…”
    Her raspy sigh was his undoing.
    He groaned, then lowered his head, angled his mouth and closed his lips over hers.

Chapter Nine
    Slade traced his tongue along the seam of Nina’s lips, urging her to open for him, and she complied. Her fingers tiptoed up his arm,