“I’m usually a terrible bed partner.” I didn’t know what to say, but apparently, this was the wrong thing. His glittery eyes turn hard, and his hold grows uncomfortably tight.
“That’s what Jewls tells me. I steal all the pillows, twist in the bed, and usually kick until she’s forced to move,” I try to explain.
His hold loosens, and the glimmer returns as he shifts slightly. Signals fire off in my brain and I’m not sure what to say next. Dealing with a bunch of executives and macho-man cops is much easier than facing Achilles right now.
“What time is it?”
“Early,” he responds without looking at his watch.
I wrangle my hand free and reach for my phone, only to be stopped—again. “Your phone is off.”
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t want it bothering us.”
“Was it bothering you?”
“You passed out watching that fucking awful show. The phone kept dinging with messages. I assured Jewls you were safe and staying here. I confirmed with Erik that we’d meet for breakfast at ten-thirty, and then I intercepted the goddamned Uber and canceled, but only after the security cameras showed him driving up the street.” His entire mood changes when he mentions the Uber.
“Oh shit, I probably lost my account.”
“Highly doubtful since I gave him a hundred dollars to erase the pick-up.”
“You did what? A hundred dollars? That’s crazy. Why didn’t you wake me up?”
“The only way I was waking you up was to take you to bed, but you seemed comfortable.”
“Were you… comfortable, I mean?”
“Best night’s sleep of my life.”
My breath catches in my throat, and I lock eyes with him. The sincerity of his words sinks in, and like yesterday by the pool, the air takes on a new energy between us. A rush of courage shoots through me, and I make a split-second decision before losing my nerve. My hands press down on his chest, helping propel me the few inches so our faces are close. I say a silent prayer, close my eyes, and gently place my mouth to his.
Slowly, I kiss along his lips, brushing back and forth several times before my tongue darts out to trace across the seam. His chest vibrates with a low throaty rumble, and in a flash, I’m on my side, his fingers threaded through my hair and his mouth covering mine. His tongue slides inside, giving me no choice but to release all control. My thigh goes around his, using all my strength to pull him flush so our bodies are tangled together. He groans his approval, deepening the kiss as his tongue explores with an urgency that makes my body ignite. Blood scorches through my veins, and I lose myself, pouring everything I have back into him.
One of my hands slips free from between us, and I slide it around his neck, clutching his scalp. There’s another sound from deep in his chest as his tongue curls around mine, and at the same time his hand begins caressing the back of my head.
My skin tingles, my heart thunders, and my lungs burn, screaming for oxygen. I arch into him, separating our mouths enough to suck in a breath, and then crush my lips back to his. The memory I’ve held on to for all these years all but disappears. What we shared back then is nothing compared to this moment. The heat from his skin seeps into mine, and I grind my hips into his, feeling his length pulsing against my thigh. A rush of empowerment comes over me, and I moan into his mouth while rocking into him.
He tears his mouth from mine, dropping his face into my neck. “Fuck me.” His warm breath floats over my skin.
I fight to regain my breathing, holding tight and trying to tamper the panic threatening to erupt. “Please don’t walk away from me again.” There’s no stopping the words from spilling out.
“Three fucking years… three years I’ve thought of this. Every single goddamned second was worth the wait.” He lifts his face to mine, and I lose my breath all over. “There’s no fucking way I’m ever walking away.” His eyes have transformed into a glowing shade of caramel. My panic vanishes, and a new kind of heat rushes through me. Passion, intensity, lust, hunger—it shines from him and bleeds directly into my soul.
There are many things to say, to talk about, tons of questions I want answered. But none of it matters right now because, without him saying it, what we just shared changed the course of our relationship forever.
“Totally worth the wait,” I agree, running my thumb along his jaw. “Let’s not go another three years.”
His eyes gleam with amusement and he lowers himself back down. “Never,” he says before crashing his mouth back to mine.
7
Ace
“I don’t want to hear shit from you.” I slam my locker and come face to face with Talon, who’s grinning like a sly cat.
“I said nothing.”
“Keep it that way.”
He falls into step beside me, whistling all the way down the hall. The sound grates on my nerves and I stop, twisting to face him.
“Go ahead, get it off your chest.”
“What exactly do you think I have to say?”
“You’re gloating like a motherfucker, and it’s pissing me off.”
“After what I witnessed this morning, I was betting on a whole day without the broody, pissed off, Achilles.” He intentionally rasps my name in a feathery, breathy tone.
“Your impersonation is shit.”
“She had the advantage of her tongue lodged down your throat and her body fused to yours.” Hilarity fills his face, and he wiggles his eyebrows suggestively.
“What are you, fourteen? Were you spying?”
“Nope, went to get water and couldn’t miss the sounds coming from the living room at five in the morning. I had to investigate and make sure you hadn’t rolled over on her and she was struggling for life.” He waves his hands in the air and makes a gasping sound to emphasize his point.
He looks like a fucking idiot, and I catch myself grinning. “She wasn’t suffocating.”
“I got that. She seemed to breathe fine when you let her up for air.”
“You enjoying yourself?” I cross my arms and give him a stony glare.
“Cool your shit, I’m giving you a hard time. I glimpsed at what was happening and went back to bed. But tell me the truth, do I need to buy a new sofa? I’d hate to think of laying where your bare ass was pound—”
“Don’t be a dick.” I shove him on the shoulder and start back down the hall toward the parking bay.
His laugh echoes in the hallway, and it doesn’t take long until he’s by my side again. “Man, I’m fucking happy as hell you finally pulled your head out of your pretentious ass. You know I love Harley, but you had this coming. Whatever Major said to you must have worked.”
I jerk my chin, not responding. Them showing up yesterday was the first clue that Major opened his mouth.
“Tell me, how was brunch with the boyfriends.”
“It was fine. Erik, Kelvin, and Harley covered a lot of ideas.”
“You didn’t scare them off?”
“I made my point.”
“Yo!” a sharp voice booms behind us.
I look over my shoulder and spot Hal Hanks strolling our way. Hal’s been my field-training officer most of the time. Unlike some veterans on the force, he seems to enjoy this part of the job. He’s a pretty laid-back guy and easy to get along with, but he’s also not someone you want to piss off.
“You’re with me tonight,” he informs us when he’s closer.
“I’m with Crews,” Talon corrects him.
“He got called out on something. I got the hassle of both of your asses. Let’s get to brief and then we roll out.”
“Roll out where?”
“It’s your lucky night. Tonight’s extra security at the stadium.”
“Shit,” I say under my breath. I’ve worked one football game, and it was a pain in my ass.
“Sunday night football, seventy-thousand fans, and high-intensity rivals. Not to mention the entire day tailgating. This should be fun.” Talon is thinking the same
thing.
“After the shift, I’ll splurge on mani-pedis for you pansies.” Hal cracks a smile, enjoying his own joke.
We follow him back to the bullpen, where the room’s packed with other officers. I’m surprised to see Ford and Major heading our way. Hal takes charge, covering the night’s protocol while we stay on the outer edge of the group.
“We got the call for extra help tonight,” Ford explains.
“Hell of a night to accept overtime,” I mutter.
When Hal’s done, the group breaks up, and Talon and I follow him to the parking lot. We pile into an SUV and drive toward the stadium.
Out of the corner of my eye, I catch Hal glancing my way.
“What’s up?”
“I’m trying to put my finger on it. Something’s different.”
“Nothing different here.”
“Oh, there’s definitely something going on. Your intensity is… less intense.”
“Not sure that makes any sense.”
“You’re cooler than usual.”
“He’s cool, all right,” Talon throws back. “I’d guess it was the cold shower he had to take.”
Hal doesn’t comment, but his mouth splits in a wide grin. “Nice perfume.”
Talon barks out a laugh, and I whip my head to him. “Shut the hell up.”
He shakes his head and continues to laugh.
“Didn’t think the Casanovas had to take cold showers,” Hal states.
“Are you shitting me?” I roll my eyes “Don’t tell me you believe any of that.”
“Not a word.”
“I’d like to know who made that shit up.”
“Don’t get too worked up about it. Anyone with sense knows it’s bullshit. I’ve been on this job for over twenty years and learned early on how to read people. You four caused quite a stir.”
“Want to elaborate?”
“Four badass Marines rocket through the application process, kick ass in the academy, and set their sights on SWAT before their badges have time to get dirty? People stood up and took notice. Half of your peers want to be you, the other half want to knock you down a few notches. As for the women, it’s not lost on anyone that you all could have your pick.”
“I left high school behind a long time ago.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
Something he says stands out, and Talon’s expression tells me he heard the same thing. “How’d you know about SWAT?”
“Officially or unofficially?”
“Both.”
“Unofficially—told you, I’ve been around a while. Your names were pinging around the station a long time before you graduated. I got the vibe the first time I set eyes on you. Officially, Boyd told me.”
“He wasn’t pleased.”
“Nope, but can you blame him? You waltzed right into his office and told him your days under him are numbered and you were applying out as soon as your required tenure was up. Ballsy, bold, arrogant. You caught him off-guard, and he reacted. He also realized he was most likely losing four good cops. A lot of men try to walk the path you’re traveling, but not a lot make it. That’s why Boyd wants your plans kept under wraps. He’s not interested in the headaches that come with the tension when egos get torched.”
“Is that gonna cause a problem with us?”
His carefree mood shifts, his eyes turning steely as he pins me down. “Do you think I would have requested your sorry ass if it would cause a problem?”
I lean further into my seat, unsure of how to respond.
“Except for the days I’m off, you are with me for a reason. The same with the others.” He gestures his head to Talon. “We know talent when we see it, and training you to be a good cop will only transfer to other skills. There’s no way you renegades were getting a half-interested veteran that would take you down the lazy route. Like I said, I pegged you before you even walked into the station on your first day.
“And since we’re sharing, here’s another tidbit. I’ve seen your file… the real file. I know what you four did in the Marines, seen your missions, and understand your specialties.”
Now I’m truly curious. My application to the academy and resume are pretty generic. They skim the surface of what we needed to be accepted. Our real files have almost everything except the confidential details.
“Why? How?”
“Let’s just say I have an allegiance to the SWAT teams, and I wanted to make sure you four have what it takes.”
“Didn’t know your job description was so detailed.”
“Never underestimate, learn that quick.”
I think about what he’s said and the reality hits. “You were SWAT?”
“Was,” he confirms.
“What happened?”
“Walked into a hostile situation, took one look at the woman crouching behind the desk, scared out of her mind. I fell hard. At that moment, I let my guard down and got shot. It was a superficial wound, but when I got out of the hospital, I found her. She became my everything. The next hostile situation, I came home and she had a panic attack. The fear in her eyes was enough for me. I couldn’t do it to her. So, I asked to transfer back.”
“You did that for a woman?” Talon asks in disbelief.
“Not just any woman. Fifteen years and not once have I regretted the decision.”
“Police officers aren’t exactly out of danger,” I add.
“No, but I use my skills in different ways now. I take on rookie asses, teach them the right way to execute the law, and close my cases. Then I go home to the one woman on this earth I can’t live without and three kids that mean just as much. I live easy.”
“Oh, shit,” Talon mutters, his words hitting me in the gut.
“Like I said, I don’t regret it, but I know what it takes. And from what I can see, you guys have it.”
“We have it,” I confirm, glancing at Talon to find him staring at me. “We have it,” I repeat for emphasis.
“So, if people make up shit about you to make themselves feel better, let them have that. Don’t let it get to you.”
I don’t care what people say or believe. The only reason it even slightly bothered me was because of Harley.
“In this case, I think Ace needs to be thankful. It worked out in his favor,” Talon throws in.
“Think I got that with the scent of perfume lingering through the truck and the twinkle in his eye.”
I jerk my head and look at him like he’s crazy. “Have you lost your mind? I don’t have a fucking twinkle in my eye. I don’t even know what the hell that means.”
“Look in the mirror, it’s hard to miss.”
“Ace!” Talon shouts my name, and I wind in time to hear the click of his phone. “Good one.” He smiles at the screen. “Totally see the twinkle.”
“Erase that.”
“Never! This is going down in history, and I have proof. Achilles Kingston with a twinkle in his eye. The guys in MARSOC won’t believe this.”
“You’re a shithead.”
He flashes a cocky grin, types something quickly, then puts his phone back in his shirt pocket. “Been accused of worse.”
“You boys done?” Hal cuts in, and I realize we’re parked in the personnel lot at the stadium.
“Yeah.” I shoot Talon one more glare and get out of the truck.
“Try to steer clear of any messes. I’d much rather smell Ace’s perfume on the way back than alcohol-induced vomit.”
Hal’s warning is unnecessary, and Talon mutters, ‘That shit is gross,’ as we walk in.
The woman sitting behind the desk doesn’t glance up when I approach. She’s scribbling something furiously into a notepad and talking under her breath. I wait patiently for her to finish the conversation with herself and notice the textbook.
“Looks like statistics.”
Her head pops up, she lets out a small squeak, and her pencil goes flying my way. I immediately recognize her as the woman walking out of the yoga studio with Harley on Satu
rday.
“Didn’t mean to startle you.” I pick up the pencil and hand it back.
“I… um… didn’t hear anyone. You… are…” Heat crawls up her skin, and she takes a deep breath, then starts over. “Let’s try this again. Yes, it is statistics, which has become the bane of my existence lately.”
“I’ve only met one person in my life that enjoys it. And I’m not sure he’s right in the head most of the time.”
“I’d definitely question their sanity.”
“I do, every day of my life.”
She stuffs the notepad into the book and smiles at me perceptively. “You here to see Harley?”
“I am.”
“Let me give her a shout.” She presses a button and puts the receiver to her ear. “Harley, you have a package in reception.” There’s a pause, and her eyes light up as she keeps looking at me. “I suppose I could open it up and see what’s inside, but I hate to ruin the pretty packaging. Come get this one.”
I return her smile and shake my head when she hangs up. This woman definitely knows something about me and my relationship with Harley.
“It’s been one hell of a Monday, but I bet you can turn her mood around.”
A few minutes later, Harley appears and stops dead when she spots me. I scan her over and force myself to swallow the possessive growl at the sight. The woman standing in front of me is a fucking vision. My eyes rake down the black dress that cuts off mid-thigh and land on the bright red shoes with a pencil-thin heel. When they travel back up to her face, she’s smiling widely.
“You have a thing for surprise visits.”
I smile back and decide that I don’t give a shit where we are. I make it to her in two strides, pulling her into my arms and brushing my lips across her. She has no choice but to fall against me, gripping my arms for support.
“I wanted to see you,” I say lowly.
“What about Wednesday night?”
“Fuck of a long time to wait.”
There’s a dreamy sigh behind us, and Harley giggles, turning to the woman. “Ginger, did you meet Achilles? Or, Ace, to his friends.”
“Not officially.”
I slide my arm around Harley’s waist, tucking her close, and tip my chin in greeting. Ginger’s eyes jump from Harley to me and back a few times, her expression confirming my earlier thoughts. She knows exactly who I am, and it’s not because of Saturday morning. “Nice to finally meet you, Ace.”
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