Rebel Rook: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World)
Page 33
“Dylan, he told you the truth when I didn’t.” Talia clasps her hands and tentatively moves closer to me, putting me on alert as I watch her.
“What do you mean? You cheated with him because you were mad and wanted revenge on a cop.”
“I lied.”
“About cheating or wanting revenge?”
“Both. Yes, I was going to sleep with Tristan.”
“Uh, okay. So, you didn’t cheat but wish you had? Thanks for coming all the way to tell me that shit.”
“No. He threatened to go to Lynn about us.”
“You and him?”
She shakes her head. “You and me. He said he caught us at the banquet. On camera.”
“Oh, shit.”
“To avoid embarrassing you, your family, or Lynn, Tristan said he’d stay quiet if I slept with him on the regular. I agreed to do it, but I wouldn’t cheat on you. I told you I cheated, so you wouldn’t try to work it out with me, as fucked up as that sounds.”
“Say what? You broke up with me to save my damn job?”
She nods. “To choose you, I had to break us. I’m sorry.”
“Tristan extorted you for sex?” I again ask to clarify.
“He tried, yes. But then you punched him. After I found out you quit and left California, I told Lynn everything because I had nothing left to lose. I didn’t care if it disappointed her anymore. I shouldn’t have cared. You were what I didn’t know I needed.”
I drop my gaze from her. “Then what?”
“Lynn said she’d have him fired. I went to see Tristan, making him believe we still had a deal. He wanted me to have a threesome with Verna and him.”
“Holy shit. Did you?”
“Hell, no. Did you fertilize her garden like you suggested?”
“Fucking seriously?”
“Good. I went into his room, grabbed his gun, held him gunpoint at point-blank range, and threatened to blow his head off.”
“You what?”
“I hadn’t picked up my own gun in years, but I wanted to set things right with you and didn’t care what I had to do. I made him call you to confess and apologize. You never heard it.”
“What the hell? You own a firearm?” I’m shocked at first, but then I laugh. “Of course, Taggart would’ve made sure you knew how to handle one. I guess I focused on how much they scared you. I wanted to put you at ease. Damn. I bet you’re a better shot than me.”
“Maybe. I sure scared the shit out of Tristan, though.” She smiles, which amplifies mine. “For two seconds, I almost pulled the trigger. I blamed him for losing you when I should have just told Lynn about us. She wouldn’t have held it against you if she knew you loved me.” Her broken sigh yanks on my pounding heart. “Breaking up with you killed me, Dylan.”
“I died alongside you.”
“I meant it when I said I’d take a thousand bullets for you. His threatening your career was a bullet. I dove in front of you.”
“Why didn’t you talk to me?”
“Because I thought you would’ve put a bullet in him first.”
“I took the fucking high road and almost knocked out his teeth. But not because of my job.”
“I know you love your job. It’s who you are. I see that. It’s why I did all of this.”
“You…I’m speechless. I want to scream at you for agreeing to any of it, but then I want to…” I shift against the wall as I search for what I want to say. “Why are you here in Richmond? You could’ve just called me.”
“Making it right in Joy Springs wasn’t enough for me. Lynn knew about us.”
“Are you fucking kidding me? After everything we did to avoid her knowing, she already knew? How in the hell did that happen? Tristan told her anyway?”
“No. You did. She said it was the way you looked at me. She said you have a dirty, dirty mind, Officer McGrath.”
“Yeah, but I swear I was careful.”
“Lynn said you screamed it loud and clear.”
“And she’s okay with it?”
“She bought me the plane ticket.”
“Why did she let me leave California if she knew?”
“She said you wouldn’t talk about me when you quit, and she didn’t know how involved we were. Anyway, here I am, in person, to atone for the hell I put you through. I did it to protect your family’s reputation and your life, even if I’m not in it.”
From here, I see tears threatening, so I walk over to Talia and lift her chin to look into her watery eyes. “I would never have wanted you to do that at the cost of our relationship.”
“But your livelihood—”
“I can always find another department. I can’t find another you, Talia. Damn it. I’m not in California anymore.”
“I know, and I’ve been miserable without you. I don’t want to be there. That’s why I sold my house.”
“Say what? Why’d you do that? It was your mother’s.”
“Because it’d be a grueling commute.” She shrugs as I stop breathing. “Russ called a friend, who called a friend, who knew about a job here in Richmond, assisting with the business side of a dance studio. I came into town yesterday for an interview, and they gave me the job on the spot. It’s a start. Before coming to see you, I rented an apartment—only until I can buy a house, but I can’t move into it for another two weeks.”
I close my eyes and shake my head, utterly stunned. When I open them, I’m incredulous, like this is a dream or nightmare. “Wait. You’re moving here?”
“Yeah. I’ll fly back to California tomorrow and stay with Lynn until we close on the house. Movers will deliver my things when I’m ready. You may never forgive me for breaking your heart, but from the first day you walked into Dinah’s, and I noticed your smile from across the room before you sat down, I’ve been yours. Not a single one of our differences will change that.”
As my eyes blur, I say, “I should be fucking furious and never trust you again, but I believe you’d put your own life on the line to save mine. That’s the person you are. I was stupid to think you’d betray me for nothing when I wanted to be your everything.”
“You are. Every single thing. I love you, Dylan, and I’ve never said or felt that way about any man but you. I may not be yours, but you’re my first and only love.”
I whisper, “Talia,” and bend to kiss her before I can stop myself.
Between kisses, she repeats, “I love you,” as she sweeps her hands up and down my tank top. On an upstroke, she drags it up with one hand and, with the other, trails her fingers over my chest and abdomen. Catching fire, I grab her hand and push it down to the front of my shorts. Talia clutches my growing hard-on, and I moan. Tilting her head away from our kiss, Talia’s fingers grope me, but her expression is uncertain. “You still want me?”
“I never stopped.” I grab her face and feverishly kiss her, setting us both on fire. As her hand moves faster over my dick, I find enough willpower to leave her lips to tug her to the hallway and into my room. It’s a twin bed, but it’ll have to do.
Though we’re alone, I close the door. Talia yanks me back to her, shoving my shorts to the floor. Grinning, I catch her lips with mine as I work on the fly of her khaki shorts while she removes her sandals. It’s a feat, but we work fast, and when both of us are half-naked, Talia moves to the bed, but I go for her T-shirt, saying, “No way. Nothing between us.” As soon as I remove her shirt, I pull mine over my head as she works on her bra. It’s hot in my room, but the ceiling fan whirls overhead, and the half-opened window lets air circulate, even with the blinds closed.
Talia then eagerly lies on the bed, and I follow, hovering over her as I kiss her neck and palm her tit. Talia moans, “Dylan,” as she clutches handfuls of my hair. Reaching between us, I finger her impatient pussy.
Moving to her ear, I whisper, “I missed you so much, baby. I know it too. You’re the one.”
She softly giggles. “You don’t have to sweet-talk me. I know what you want.”
I lift my he
ad to look down at her face while she still holds onto my hair. “What?” Then I kiss her.
“This.” Talia teases my dick by raising her hips and gliding over me. “You didn’t come the last time we had sex.”
I groan. “Yes, but not just that. I don’t want to be without you again.” Talia wriggles beneath me, trying to get closer.
“Me neither.”
“I want to share our lives. Be with you every day.”
Her smile returns. “I got it. And yes.”
“You know what I’m saying, then?”
“You want to move into my apartment with me.”
“I mean, yeah, definitely, but that’s not it…exactly.”
“Oh? You don’t want to?”
She kisses my neck, and as she moves to my throat, I say, “I do. You’re here, and I never want to let you go again. I just don’t know how—”
Talia whispers, “Dylan, stop talking. I’m dying here.” Her hands go to my jaw as she kisses me. “Make love to me.”
I lean down to kiss her eager lips but then realize something horrendous. I lift my head, “Shit. I hope to God you have a condom. Mine are somewhere downtown in a storage unit.”
Talia closes her eyes. “Damn it.” Her eyes then fly open, and she squirms more underneath me. “We’re this close. I don’t care.”
“We can’t keep tempting fate.”
“I just had my period. We’ve been apart for a month. I thought we’d never be here again. So, fuck it and me. I want your damn cock.”
I smirk as I lightly touch her nipple and hump her thigh, asking, “Do you want me to split you open?” When she objects to my teasing, I kiss her and push apart her legs more as she digs her nails into my back. I groan, “Fuck,” and she grabs my ass, pulling me closer as she lifts her hips. My dick grazes her inviting pussy. Unable to restrain myself any longer, I thrust it into her.
“We fit. Oh, God,” she moans, putting her hands on my shoulders. With her legs clinging to me, she says, “You feel so good. I missed this with you.”
“Me too. I want to be the only one you fuck.” We take it slow, like we don’t want this to end too soon.
“You are. My true love is a cop.” She smiles but then gasps as our hips move faster.
“You’re the only one for me. I’m so in love with you.” Hovering above her beautiful body joined with mine, it sparks me, and I fuck her faster. Breathless, as I watch her tits bounce and her pussy getting me off, I groan, “I’m close, baby. Where do you want me to come?”
“Inside me.”
I half-joke. “That’s a good way for me to knock you up.”
“I want you to.” Shocked to hell, I can’t help but slow as I watch the sudden fear of my reaction grace her face. Talia stops moving altogether and rushes to add, “Maybe not today, tomorrow, or next month.” Her eyes flicker away from mine as I consider that in the middle of possibly making a baby. “I mean, I don’t know how you feel about that. I wouldn’t want to tie you down if you’re not… Our kid would be Black, Hispanic, white, and probably wouldn’t have your blond hair or blue eyes, if that’s what you’re looking for. Having sex with me is one thing, but having a family with me is something totally—”
I kiss Talia to stop her rambling, committing to deep thrusts that force her legs open more until I groan, “Talia.” We both gasp for air as we ride it out together. When my dick stops jerking, though panting, I grin. “That’s my official statement.”
Against my throat, Talia whispers, “You’re so goddamn sexy.” Her hands clutch my biceps as her whole body stiffens beneath me. “Shit. Fuck me harder, baby.” With more effort, I rock my hips into her, and since I’m still hard, Talia soon screeches, “Dylan!”
I watch her falling apart, loving how I did something right. When Talia finally opens her eyes, still appearing dazed, I laugh. “You okay?”
She nods as she looks to my chest. “Uh, yeah. You?”
“Never better.” I kiss Talia’s neck down to her collarbone before I carefully sit up and extricate myself from her, not having a lot of room on the bed.
Talia’s somewhat hesitant before sitting up with me. She looks around the room and mumbles, “I need to head to the hotel. I meet with the staff at the studio tomorrow. I have to get my things together. If you want to call me, unblock my number. Please tell Jordan it was nice meeting her.”
I angle my head to catch her attention, asking, “What are you doing? I’m not kicking you out of my bed or something.”
“Nothing. I have things I need to do.”
Talia bends to pick up her bra, and when she is again upright, I lean over to sweep the hair from her cheek. “Why are you suddenly weird about this?”
“I’m not.” Talia concentrates way too hard, putting on her bra. She then moves to the edge of the bed to reach for her shirt on the floor.
“Why didn’t you tell me that’s what you wanted?”
“My shirt?” she asks as she speedily puts it back on and then stands to put on her underwear and shorts.
“You know what I’m talking about.”
She shrugs as she pulls up her shorts. “It’s no big deal.”
“You just told me you want a baby with me. That was the truth. I know it was.”
Talia looks at me, more fearful than she was two minutes ago. “No.” She shakes her head but immediately amends, “I mean, yes, that’s the truth, but…” Talia sighs as I watch her. She then quietly says, “I want to have your babies, Dylan. God, I want that so much. I’m not pressuring you or anything. We haven’t been together for long. There is still so much we don’t know about each other. You might change your mind.” Picking up her purse, she checks her phone to avoid me again.
I stretch to grab her wrist and tow her to me as I sit on the edge of the bed. Talia looks from her phone to me, and her eyes scour my naked body, making me smile. Running my fingers through her wayward post-sex hair, I say, “I know, but I’m eager to discover every single thing about you. Now or later, I want it all with you. Even babies.” When she tries to argue, I cut her off. “I love you, Natalia Welch. I’ve never felt more certain of anything in my life. I’m ready whenever you are, and if it just happened, I’d be happy I left my rubbers in a storage unit. Okay?”
Talia frowns. “But you’re only—”
I irritably roll my eyes. “I’m so fucking over that shit.”
She sighs with a nod. “You’re right. I need to stop that.” Talia’s hand goes to my jaw, and she smiles. “Now wouldn’t be a good time for it to happen. It’s just that I’ve never wanted that before, but when you first talked to me, I wanted you to father my child right then.”
“That would’ve been awkward for anyone in our vicinity. I had been watching you bend over tables. I was definitely up for it.”
Talia giggles as I lean over to pick up my underwear. As I put them on, she asks, “Will you stay with me tonight at the hotel?”
“Yeah. I have to work, but I’ll bring what I need. I’ll meet you there, and then we can go to dinner.”
“A date?”
Grabbing my shorts, I laugh. “A date.” I then shrug. “You need to meet my parents.”
“What? Tonight?”
I nod. “Tonight, after dinner. We’ll stop by their house, but we won’t stay long.”
“Oh. Uh, okay.” Talia checks her phone. “I have a couple of errands to run. Can you meet me at the hotel in two hours? There will be a parking pass for you at the front desk. I’m in Suite 205. Just tell them you’re there to bang your ex-girlfriend before you arrest her.”
“Very funny. I’ll have to remember that.”
Opening my bedroom door, Talia goes across the hall to the bathroom while I check for messages. Nothing that can’t wait. Talia meets me in the living room and tentatively grabs my hand. I pull her closer and looking into her brown eyes, I say, “I’m glad you’re here. Not just in Richmond, but with me.”
“Me too. I was afraid you wouldn’t forgive me.”
She grins. “Okay. I promise. I’ll make it up to you.”
“Absolutely.”
“I’ll stop by a drugstore.”
“We’ll worry about them next time.” I kiss her again before opening the door. “We already blew it today.”
Talia laughs. “Such a rebel.”
“Or a crack shot. We’ll see.”
Talia gives me a look of disbelief that makes me laugh as I follow her outside. On the sidewalk, she stops in front of an unfamiliar car. When she unlocks the doors, I say, “Nice wheels.”
“They were all out of Ferraris.”
“Too bad.”
Talia puts her arms around my waist. Squinting up at me from the sun, her teasing smile is bright. “Thank you for the tour of Richmond, Officer McGrath. I immensely enjoyed it. I think I will love it here.”
“We just started. I have so much more to show you.” I shrug. “Maybe even the actual city.” I bend to kiss her smiling lips before she finally lets go of me and gets in the silver car. I watch Talia leave the complex, and when she turns onto the road, I start to go back inside when I hear a car door slam.
“Who was that?”
I stop at the sound of the voice. Shit.
Pivoting, I see Audrey. Her eyes are red, and her face wet. I shake my head with a contrite frown. “Shit. I’m sorry. I forgot about lunch.”
“I heard you.”
“Heard what?”
“Don’t play stupid, Dylan. Your bed is in that room, isn’t it?”
I look to the open window and then close my eyes. “Damn it. How long were you here?”
“Long enough. Oh, my God. I heard your voice. I know what you sound like when you’re…How could you hurt me like this?”
“I didn’t know you were here!”
“Oh! I’m sorry! I should’ve announced my arrival through the window, but I didn’t want to interrupt your climax!”
I survey the area for witnesses, but there’s only a woman sitting on her stoop on the other side of the complex. I hope she’s engrossed in reading her magazine because I’m about to lose it with Audrey. “Will you keep it down?”