“Thank you.”
He smiled. The first genuine smile she ever remembered seeing on his face. It suited him.
“I thought we could sit and catch our breath before we go and mingle.”
“Good idea.” She’d pictured him off shaking hands as soon as they arrived. It was a relief to be able to just watch the room for a while. Not all of the faces were familiar, but there was more than a sprinkling of the top brass. It was an ideal opportunity to network and raise her profile, but all she could think about was what might be happening back at the bank.
***
“What the fuck?”
Jordan caught up with Bill. He was turning a slow circle in the middle of the safety deposit room. Every single slot in every single wall was empty – Loretta had been busy. “Where is everything?”
“That’s what I want to know.” Bill whirled to face him. The balaclava hid his facial expression, but his eyes were two burning stones of anger. “Your girlfriend stiffed us.”
“What’s that?” Jordan pointed to the far corner of the room.
“What?” He followed the direction of Jordan’s finger.
Jordan lifted his gun and cracked him hard on the back of his head. He went down with a thud, but he was still moving so Jordan gave him another whack. Bill sighed like he was sinking into a warm bath, then went still.
“We ready?” Danny asked.
“Yeah. Let’s get well clear before we call the cops.” Loretta would have the boxes somewhere safe. It was done.
***
Loretta laughed at the area manager’s impression of their chairman until tears rolled down her face. Sean handed her a clean tissue and she dabbed at her cheeks.
“If you’ll excuse us, I think Ms Johnson needs a top-up.” He guided Loretta away with a practised arm.
“I had no idea he was so funny.”
“See, I told you you were missing out by not coming to these things. I can tell he likes you. And everyone knows how hard you work.”
How would everyone know? Unless he’d been telling them. But that didn’t sound like the sort of thing Sean Thomas would do.
They shared a smile that suddenly made her feel uncomfortable. An awkward silence rose up between them.
“So, do you want to dance?”
She looked down at Sean’s outstretched hand and tried to work out which parallel universe she’d wandered into – accomplice to a bank robbery and out on a date with her evil boss. Who was turning out to be not quite so evil after all.
“Come on, you can work off some of that chocolate soufflé.”
She took his hand and went with him out onto the dance floor. There was a real band playing instrumental versions of songs from the charts.
“I don’t know how to do this sort of dancing,” she said as he drew her into his arms.
“Just follow my lead.”
Sean could dance? He looked into her eyes and she looked away, embarrassed. He’d been a perfect gentleman all evening. Even now, he wasn’t holding her too close or trying anything on. They glided across the floor, keeping the steps simple.
“You’re good.”
“You’d have known that if you’d come out with me before.” He flashed her a wicked smile that was a lot more like the old Sean, but it just made her laugh.
Maybe he was right.
The music segued into Beyoncé’s latest and they carried on dancing.
Now she’d relaxed into his company, there was something she needed to get off her chest. “You know what you said the other day? About being too nice?”
“Not really, but go on.”
“You said being nice doesn’t get you what you want.”
“I’ve learned that the hard way.” A faraway look came into his eyes and she got the feeling he was remembering something unpleasant.
“But I don’t agree. I mean, after the robbery and everything, I thought you might have had a point.”
“Well, they haven’t caught anyone yet, have they?”
“No. But do you really think they’ve got what they wanted? Don’t you think it’ll come back to bite them some other way?”
“You mean karma?”
She nodded. Bill was certainly going to pay for what he’d done. And Jordan wasn’t having the best time at the moment. She liked to think fate had kept him out of prison because he ultimately wanted to go straight.
“No. I don’t. I bet they’re sitting on a Spanish beach somewhere and they’ll never get caught.”
“Okay then, what about tonight? We wouldn’t be getting on this well if you weren’t being nice.”
He shrugged. They danced in silence for a while.
“Can I ask you something?”
“Yes.” Sean swept her round to the right. “But I might not answer.”
“I hope you don’t get offended...”
“But...?”
“Why aren’t you like this at work? You’re always so aggressive at the bank.”
“That’s work.”
“So? You don’t have to be so... unpleasant.”
“You can talk. Tonight must be the most you’ve ever said to me in one go.”
She opened her mouth to deny it, but then she started to think. They hadn’t really ever had a proper conversation at the bank. All their interactions consisted of him giving her mountains of work to do or harassing her to come out with him, and her failing to walk the line between polite and stand-offish. “We should start again. Pretend this is the first time we’ve met.”
He pulled her to a stop. Other couples danced around them. “Allow me to introduce myself.” He held out his hand. “Sean Thomas.”
She shook his hand. “Loretta Johnson.”
“Pleased to meet you.”
“Pleased to meet you.” She dared to hope that their fresh start wouldn’t evaporate over the rest of the weekend. Working for this Sean would be a lot more pleasant than life with his previous incarnation.
He pulled her back into his arms and they began to dance again. “Loretta?”
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry we got off on the wrong foot. I really like you.”
“I’m sorry too.” It was a shame they’d wasted so much time misunderstanding each other.
He brought her in closer. The kiss he landed took her completely by surprise. It was soft and gentle. Not at all what she’d been expecting. She kissed him back before she had time to realise what she was doing.
Her lips lingered over his for a second or two, then she thought of Jordan and pulled away. She shouldn’t be kissing Sean. She shouldn’t be kissing anybody.
“I’m sorry, Sean. I should go.”
“No. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that.”
She moved away. “It’s okay. It’s not your fault.” Everything was so jumbled. She’d been giving him mixed signals. “I need to go home.”
“I’ll take you.”
“No.” She put up her hands. “You stay. You’ve been drinking anyway. I’ll get a taxi.” Hurrying away before he could say anything more, she got her coat from the cloakroom and ran outside.
There was a whole queue of taxis waiting. She climbed into the first one and told the driver where to go. Then she pulled out her phone. Jordan’s number was at the top of her call history. She didn’t want to be on her own.
And after the stunt she’d pulled at the bank, he was bound to want to talk.
***
This was the part of the plan he’d been the most worried about. Jordan took out his phone and dialled Ursino’s number.
“Hello?”
“Things didn’t go to plan.”
There was a thick silence on the other end of the line. “Was the package recovered?”
“Yes. But our mutual friend is out of the picture.”
“I’ll deal with it. Stay quiet. Stay clean.” The line went dead.
So that was it. One more job and he should be home free. So why did he feel like he’d taken his eye off the ball?
>
He started up the Subaru and drove away from the kerb. He wouldn’t be able to sleep if he didn’t at least talk to Loretta and find out where she’d put the take.
CHAPTER 15
Jordan answered his phone. “Loretta, where are you?”
“I’m on my way home. How did it go?”
Was it bad that he was happy to hear concern in her voice? “It all went smoothly. We can talk about it when you get back – I’m waiting on your doorstep.”
“Okay, I’ll be about fifteen minutes.”
It was one of the longest fifteen minutes of his life. At least the weather was fine. The huge white moon threw plenty of light over Loretta’s roses.
He hoped what was in the deposit boxes was worth as much as he’d planned for. Then he’d only have to do one more big job. But what? He was still trying to think of the best place to hit when Loretta’s taxi pulled up.
She paid the driver and stepped out onto the pavement.
Jordan’s lungs stopped working. He’d seen her dressed up on the night of their date, but this was a whole new level of glamour. The blue dress set her mid-brown skin off perfectly, and the silver heels made her walk in a completely different way. Regal. That was the word he was reaching for.
“You look amazing.”
She looked down at herself as if she’d forgotten what she was wearing. “Oh. Thanks.” She stepped out of her shoes and gathered them up in one hand. “Are you okay?” As she went to open the front door, he noticed she was keeping her distance.
“Yeah, fine. I thought it was best if I didn’t hang around for the cops.”
“Yeah.” She walked inside.
He went in after her. “Where did you put the stuff?”
“Hmm?”
“From the boxes. Where did you put it?” They walked into the sitting room and she all but collapsed into an armchair.
“Sit down.” The way she said it made him nervous.
He took a seat at the end of the sofa nearest to her. “What is it?”
“The safety deposit boxes are still at the bank. I just moved them to another room.”
“You did what?” He made himself say it quietly so that he didn’t shout.
“I couldn’t let you take those people’s things. Obviously you don’t give a damn, but I want to make manager one day. Your bullshit could ruin me.”
“Jesus Christ!” He jumped back onto his feet. “He’s going to kill me and you’re talking about getting promoted.” He started to pace. Was she really this crazy? “He’s going to torture me until I wished I was dead, and then he’s going to kill me.”
“Stop it!” She thumped the arm of her chair. “There’s another way. There’s a poker game. Tomorrow night. I asked him. I can use the money I won.”
His heart pounded so hard he could feel it in his throat. “That’s insane. You got lucky at the junior table and now you want to take on the big boys. Forget it.” He’d have to leave. Once Ursino found out what had happened, it would be too late.
“You don’t get to tell me what to do.” Her lips trembled.
He couldn’t take it. “Loretta.” Rushing over, he kneeled down in front of her and took both her hands. “You can’t walk into one of those poker games. They’ll eat you alive.”
She set her jaw. “I’ve got to try.”
“Please, don’t.”
“I can’t let you get killed. I couldn’t live with myself.” Their eyes met and he saw just how much she cared. A lot more than he wanted her to.
“And what about me? How would I bear it if something happened to you?” He stroked her cheek. So soft. So beautiful. It was physically painful to know that she wanted him so much when there was no future for them. He didn’t want her to suffer because of him.
She leaned in and kissed him. All of her concern, all of her fear for him poured into that kiss and shook him to his core. “I didn’t know,” he whispered. He’d never believed a woman like her could have cared about him.
She kissed him again and he stood up, pulling her with him, wrapping his arms around her. He needed the comfort. He needed her. He kissed her harder, drawing her body close to his. They would have one perfect night before everything went to hell.
He lifted her off her feet and carried her out to the stairs.
“Loretta—”
“Shh. Not now.” She kissed him quiet and he laid her down on the bed. “Make love to me.”
He leaned over her, looking deep into her eyes. She’d chosen the words carefully – he had to know what this meant to her. She’d tried so hard to keep him out of her heart, but he’d crept in anyway. Spending the night together now was a promise between them. An agreement that they would do their best for each other.
He nodded that he understood, then kissed her down onto the bed. His hand slid over the bodice of her dress and up to the bare skin of her throat. She felt the raw power of him, wondered if he’d hurt people with those hands. Taking him by the wrist, she raised his fingers to her lips.
Anything that had gone before was nothing to do with her. He wanted out of that life. Together, they’d find a way to make it happen.
He rubbed his thumb over her bottom lip and slipped it into her mouth, cupping her crotch through the dress with his other hand. She sucked on him, closing her eyes and clamping her thighs around him.
As he moved his hand over her mound, she pushed back against him. Her breathing deepened, filling her nose with his masculine scent. This was how it was supposed to be between a man and a woman.
He took his thumb from her mouth, writing a wet trail down her chest to her cleavage as he lay on top of her. He kissed her over and over again, leaving her dizzy and wanting. Her hands went to his belt. He gathered up her skirt and pulled down her panties.
She was trying to open his buckle when his cold fingers delved into the wet warmth of her sex. She let go, struck senseless by his intimate touch.
“Come for me,” he told her, stroking her clit with his thumb.
She writhed underneath him. There was nothing that she wanted to do more.
He worked his fingers inside her, making her gasp. “That’s it. I want to hear you.” He squeezed her breast through her clothes and she cried out.
No one had ever spoken to her like that. He was setting her on fire.
He pumped his hand in and out of her, making sure to rub against her clit. She arched her back up off the mattress, grabbing up handfuls of the bedclothes. Pushing deeper inside her, he wiggled his fingers and her hand flew up to grasp him by the shoulder.
“Come for me.”
She opened her eyes and looked into his. They were overflowing with passion. He wanted her so much it made her wetter than ever. Her sex fluttered around him, her orgasm already approaching.
“Wait,” she whispered. “I want you inside me.” He was taking her close to the edge, but she wanted to feel his whole body.
He pulled out of her with an audible slurp. She missed his fingers immediately. Without breaking eye contact, he kneeled up on the bed and pulled off his t-shirt.
She reached for his flat stomach, tracing the line of hair that rose up out of his jeans towards his navel. He was beautiful. His chest was a portrait of well-defined muscle that stayed just the right side of toned. The depth of attraction she felt for him was frightening.
But then, most of what he’d brought into her life was scary on at least one level. She’d come to view him as a challenge to her whole way of existence. Whether that was a good or a bad thing was a decision she hadn’t made yet.
Jordan took her hand and bent to kiss her fingertips, then undid his belt and unbuttoned his jeans. His hardened manhood sprang up in his underwear. She wanted to touch it, but what would he think of her if she did?
“Have you got a condom?”
He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a little blue square. “Put it on me.”
She hesitated. Yet another thing she’d never done before. She took the condom from him and
tore open the packet. As she fumbled with it, making sure she didn’t have it inside out, he took off the rest of his clothes. He got back on the bed, kneeling with a leg either side of her.
Holding the condom by the tip, she propped herself up on her elbows. His erection burned hot in her palm. Growing in confidence, she twisted her hand over him and brought the condom to the end of his cock.
She eased the sheath down over his shaft and looked up to meet his eye. Had she done a good job? He put his hand on hers, stroking over his length. Pleasure shuddered across his face. She squeezed him briefly and his eyes flickered shut.
There was such power in holding him like that. Jordan Bernardino the dangerous bank robber was literally in her hands. It felt good.
With a sigh, he got down on top of her and guided his member between her legs. She was more than wet enough to take him inside – he slipped in with hardly any resistance.
He paused for a moment, filling her up while he freed her breast from the dress. Then he took her nipple in his mouth and started to thrust.
She closed her eyes again, clutching at his buttocks, urging him deeper with every stroke.
“Come for me, Loretta.” His voice was barely loud enough to hear.
That along with the tension in his body told her he was well on his way. The slow build at her centre jumped up a notch and she raised her hips to meet his movement. He was hitting her in just the right spot.
Everything slowed down as she fought for each breath.
“That’s it. Come for me.” He brought his mouth back down to her breast.
When his teeth bit into her flesh and his cock hit her deep one more time, she sank her nails into him and cried her release. He thrust his way through her climax. Sweat sprang up all over her in an instant. She clung to him, her sex spasming as if it wanted to keep hold of his manhood forever.
Then he gave a grunt that turned into a long moan and stopped moving. He collapsed on top of her, pressing kisses against her throat. Still, her orgasm ran on. Her body made little jerks that jostled him. He shifted his weight over to the side, but she held him in place. She didn’t want it to end.
After a long few minutes gazing at the ceiling and listening to him breathe, Loretta fell asleep.
Black Girls and Bad Boys: Stealing Loretta Page 10