Untainted: (Crime Romance: The Photographer Trilogy #3) by Sarah Robinson Page B

looked up to gauge his reaction.
    “We can wait, there is no rush.” He told her, but his face looked slightly sad.
    “It’s just that I want all of this to be over with. The funerals, the trial. I don’t want to start our new life together with so much old pain.” She explained, hoping he would understand.
    “No pain on the wedding day, check. We probably shouldn’t invite my mother then.” He teased and Kate just laughed.
    “Do you ever take anything seriously?” She said standing up and stretching her legs, still giggling.
    “Life’s too short for serious.” He stood up behind her and nuzzled her neck, wrapping his arms around her front.
    “Is that right? What else is life too short for?” She grinned, leaning into him and loving the fluttering feeling in her belly with each kiss that landed against her skin.
    “Clothes.” His voice was husky and he pushed the waistline of her pants down until they dropped to the floor, then lifted her shirt up over her head.
    The duo scampered to the bedroom leaving a trail of clothes and Derrick’s sling for his shoulder on the ground behind them. Crawling onto the bed, he slid his body over hers, kissing every inch on the way up until he found her mouth.
    Their lips crushed together hungrily and her legs clenched onto either side of his hips, pulling him closer to her.
    She could feel his excitement pressed between them as she gently scratched her nails down his bare back, loving the feeling of his warm skin. He caressed her neck with his lips, savoring every taste.
    “Please, Derrick, I can’t wait any longer.” Her voice was breathy.
    “I don’t want to miss a single moment of you, Kate. Every inch of you, every taste, I have to have it all. Right now. I didn’t know if I ever would be able to kiss you again.” He responded in a husky tone, slipping inside of her as she gasped.
    “I’m not going anywhere ever again.” She whispered into his ear as they began moving rhythmically together.
    “I’m the one who should be telling you that.” A hint of remorse tugged at him and her eyes softened as she lay kisses down his jaw line until she reached his lips.
    “Love means never having to say I’m sorry.” She giggled, teasing him.
    “I like that.” He kissed her again, smiling against her lips.
    That was her absolute favorite thing, feeling him smiling when they kissed. It was more than just lust or desire, and it was more than love.
    It was happily in love, head over heels in love. It was fairytale love, and ever since they met Derrick had been slowly transforming into her perfect Prince Charming.
     
     

CHAPTER THIRTEEN
     
     
     
    “You can’t say that, Derrick. There can be no mention of the rape or any other knowledge you might have about the case other than exactly what you saw and experienced in the stable.” The district attorney paced back and forth in front of the witness stand in the empty court room where they were preparing for trial.
    “Why not? There’s no question that he is the Photographer.” He argued, crossing his arms over his chest from where he sat on the witness stand.
    “You and I know that, the police know that, hell, everyone might know that. But it’s inadmissible in court because you didn’t see it. You can’t testify to something you don’t know firsthand. Plus he isn’t being charged with any of the rapes. The defense will say that any mention of that would make the jury prejudiced toward him.” He explained.
    “So?”
    “We’re trying to avoid a mistrial here, Derrick.”
    “Are you okay with this, Kate?” Derrick looked over to where she was leaning against the prosecutors table watching.
    “We don’t have another choice, Derrick. It’s better than him going free. Please just listen to him.” Kate sighed, feeling his frustration.
    “Fine. I’ll start over. I entered the stable, found Kate and Annie. Kate was in restraints and Annie was unconscious. Frank was attempting to assault Kate so things