Indebted

by Sharon C. Cooper

  Without breaking contact, he nudged her panties aside and slid his thumb over her slit.

  “Mmm,” he moaned against her mouth. “You’re so wet for me.”

  He felt her smile against his lips before pulling back slightly.

  “I’ve been waiting a long time for…” Her voice hitched and her words trailed off into an erotic moan when he slid a finger into her tightness and then another.

  Damn she’s hot, Laz thought as he moved his fingers in and out of her. Going deeper, faster and harder, loving the erotic sounds she made with each lengthy stroke. He still found it hard to believe that she was there, in his house, on his lap, and making him harder than granite as she swiveled around his digits. It was all like a dream that he never wanted to wake up from.

  He leaned forward and sucked on her long, scented neck when her head lolled back. He accepted the sweet torture of her fingernails clawing his shoulders as she rode his hand faster. With each rotation of her hips, her moves became jerky. Her breathing more labored.

  “Laz,” she whimpered, grinding harder, holding him tighter.

  “I’m right here. Come for me.”

  With those few words, an orgasm ripped from her, jostling her body like trees swaying through a wind storm. She came hard and fast, screaming his name before collapsing against his chest.

  Totally spent, her body trembled with aftershocks, her breaths warm near his ear. Laz kissed the side of her damp head, feeling a possessiveness he couldn’t explain. All he knew was, she was his.

  He moved slightly. Digging through his back pocket, he was glad he hadn’t left his wallet in the bedroom. He pulled out the condom and then dropped the wallet on the floor.

  “Baby, I’m going to need you to stand up for a minute.”

  She shook her head, her hair brushing against his chin. “I—I can’t…move.”

  Laz chuckled. “You’re going to have to because I need you out of your panties. I’m not done with you.”

  “Good to know, but Laz, just give me a min…”

  He wiggled enough to get his jeans started over his hips before she moaned in pleasure. Hell, he’d just work around the little strip of garment if he had to. As if reading his mind, she lifted her head, a lazy grin covering her juicy lips.

  When she stood, Laz could barely focus on discarding his pants and boxer briefs as she guided the little slip of lace down her long shapely legs. His shaft was standing at attention, throbbing for release as he quickly sheathed himself.

  “Come here,” he said after reclaiming his seat.

  *

  Journey knew Laz would look magnificent, but the sight of his thick erection almost made her come before she could feel him inside her. She held onto his hand as he guided her on top of his length, filling her completely.

  “Damn, you feel good,” he murmured, his large hands gripping her hips as she adjusted to his size.

  “Ohhh,” she moaned when his mouth covered one of her nipples and he started moving beneath her. With every swirl of his tongue over her hardened peak, her muscles contracted around his shaft as he buried himself deeper inside her.

  She savored the way he took his time with each breast, giving them equal amounts of attention and loving on them as if he couldn’t get enough of her. Running her fingers through his hair, something she loved doing, Journey held his head close as her impending climax grew near.

  Oh yes, this was what she’d been waiting for, pining for when they’d been trying to keep their distance from each other. And being with him like this was so worth the wait.

  When she lifted slightly, sliding up and down his penis with long, even strokes, rotating her hips to the rhythm he’d set, Laz pulled his mouth from her body and groaned.

  “Aw, yes.” His fingers dug into the bottom of her thighs and he lifted her up and down his length as if she weighed nothing. His strength was impressive, but so was the rest of him.

  With each move, the wood chair creaked under their weight, but Journey barely noticed. His passionate grunts and powerful thrusts, and the feel of him buried to the hilt dominated her attention, pushing her closer to her release and sending a new wave of pleasure pumping through her body.

  “Laz!” she gasped when he hit that sweet spot. She was unable to form any other words, her hands fisting in his hair, holding on tight as he picked up speed, pumping into her.

  Harder. Faster.

  Until she lost total control.

  Her body bucked and bounced on top of him and with another hard thrust, he pushed her over the edge.

  Laz growled, murmuring something she couldn’t decipher just as his release gripped him. The powerful explosion of his orgasm ripped through him hard enough to rock them both.

  They collapsed against each other, their heavy breathing mingling in the quietness of the room.

  “Aww, Journey,” Laz panted, his head against her shoulder still struggling for air. Neither of them said anything for the longest time as they slowly caught their breaths.

  “Are you okay?” Laz gently gripped her face between his hands, his eyes full of concern. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?”

  She shook her head. “No. I’m better than okay.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Hours later and bone tired, Journey lay in Laz’s bed with her eyes barely opened. She knew they’d be explosive together, but what they’d just shared exceeded her wildest fantasy.

  Laz pulled her back on top of him, his penis rigid between her thighs.

  “Again? You’re insatiable, detective.”

  “Only with you. Do you have any idea how long I’ve waited to be with you? Now I can’t get enough.”

  His words reminded her of their conversation in the kitchen. Never in a million years would she have thought him the commitment type. She assumed he was like her, not wanting the complications that often came with committed relationships.

  “I’m wondering if we need to get you to the hospital.” He turned her head slightly. “That’s the second Band-Aid that you’ve soaked through. There’s a small, dull maroon spot coloring the outside of the bandage. I’m starting to wonder if your cut is deeper than I originally thought. Does your head still hurt?”

  Journey thought for a moment. To be honest, she hadn’t really noticed since he’d kept her busy. “Maybe a little, but I’ll be fine.”

  “Okay, but we should keep an eye on it.”

  Journey placed a kiss on his bare chest, appreciating his concern. “So what is it about me that… Why me, Laz? Why do you want to be with me when I’m not your usual type?”

  He rubbed her back with slow, gentle movements, studying her in that way that always got her feminine juices stirring. “What’s my usual type?”

  Journey didn’t know for sure since she had never seen him with a woman, but she had heard about his type. “Tall, shapely with big breasts, long red hair, and white.”

  At five-foot eight, Journey was taller than most women, and her size eight could definitely be considered shapely, but that’s where the similarities stopped. She wore her hair in a short, cropped style most of the time, and fell somewhere between a B and C bra cup on a good day. And the most notable difference—she was black.

  Laz rolled them over onto their sides facing each other, chest to chest, thigh to thigh. One of his long legs draped over hers, holding her firmly in place. “I’m not going to even ask where you got your information from, but don’t forget nice legs. I’m definitely a leg man.”

  Heat rose to her cheeks when he looked at her pointedly. She had caught him on more than one occasion checking out her legs. It was because of his attention that she wore skirts most days.

  Journey touched his face, rubbing her hands over the stubble on his cheek, the contrast of their skin color drawing her attention. She had dated outside of her race before, but never anything serious.

  “But to answer your question, why not you? You’re brilliant, gorgeous, have a great sense of humor, and you can hold your own whenever we dis
agree on a subject. That’s a real turn-on, by the way. As for being black, I don’t care about your race. It’s you, the person, that I fell for. Not just your looks.”

  Journey’s heart sang at his words. Granted, she had tripped all over herself when they first met because of his intriguing eyes, but she also found him fascinating.

  “I was attracted to you immediately, and over the years that I’ve gotten to know you, my feelings for you have intensified,” he continued.

  She touched his lower lip, and he opened his mouth and sucked on her fingertip. Butterflies fluttered inside her belly at the sexy move.

  “So why me, Journey? You’re an amazing woman who turns heads wherever you go. Why consider dating me?”

  “I like you and I love the way I feel when I’m near you.” She didn’t tell him that being near him made her want to take her usual straight and narrow path and add a few twists and turns. She had always been considered a good girl, but Laz made her want to throw out caution and live a little.

  “Also, though I might not agree with everything you do,” she continued, “I love the passion in which you do things. You have this badass vibe and reputation about yourself. Yet, the way you treat me and some of the victims you come in contact with, shows you have heart.”

  “Sounds like you’ve given this some thought.”

  She nodded. “I have. The attraction has been mutual, I just wasn’t sure it was a good idea to act on what I felt for you. So, what do we do now?”

  Laz pulled her even closer, his large hand cupping one of her butt cheeks. “I have a few ideas.”

  She laughed, but then moaned when he started kneading her bottom, causing her to rub against his hard shaft as he planted soft kisses along the length of her neck. Considering the ardent surge of yearning pulsing through her body, if he kept it up, they were going to end up going another round despite the soreness between her thighs.

  “Though I like the way you think, I was actually wondering where do we go from here. What exactly does it mean to be in a relationship with you?”

  Laz pulled back slightly. “Now is a fine time to ask. Shouldn’t you have gotten all the facts before moving forward with me? I’m a little surprised, counselor.”

  “What? I was sitting on your lap when you laid out your conditions. Your huge package between my legs was distracting. I couldn’t focus. So I guess you can say I agreed to your terms under duress.”

  Laz laughed, the hardiness of the tone making her smile. “That’s the defense you’re planning to use? You weren’t under duress when you teased me with your luscious breasts in the bathroom, using them like weapons.”

  “Ha! Is that why you were running? You felt threatened by my boobs?” She wiggled her upper body, her breasts swinging in his face.

  “Don’t. I can’t handle it when you do that,” he groaned and palmed one of them, lowering his mouth over her sensitive nipple. Her body tingled with the contact and her eyes fluttered closed as his tongue licked and swirled around the tip.

  “And I—I can’t think straight when you do that,” she moaned and ran her hands through his hair, pulling slightly. Once she regained some control and had his attention again, she said, “I’m still trying to get an understanding of what it’ll be like to date you. How do you feel about PDA?”

  He lay on his back and stretched his arms out and yawned before fluffing his pillow. “What’s PDA?”

  “Public displays of affection.”

  “You should know me well enough to know that I do whatever the hell I want. If that means kissing you in front of everybody and their mama…” he shrugged, “…I’ll do whatever feels right at the moment.”

  Journey wasn’t sure what to say to that. Tony was the only man she’d ever dated for any real length of time and he wasn’t into PDA, which was all right with her.

  “With that said, though,” Laz continued and ran the back of his fingers down her cheek, “Starting today, I’ll never do anything, whether you’re around me or not, that I think will hinder your job or your reputation.”

  “Yeah, right. Promises, promises.”

  “You have my word, Journey. Everything by the book going forward. No exceptions.”

  Searching his eyes, his gaze didn’t waver. She believed him. Or at least she believed he’d try.

  “Okay, detective, I guess we’re officially dating.”

  Journey raised up and covered his mouth with hers, again falling under the spell that he kept putting on her whenever their lips touched.

  Laz cupped her face between his large hands. He could be so gentle sometimes, making it hard to remember that he could also be just as dangerous.

  “There’s something you should probably know,” he said.

  “Laz, if you tell me that this was all a joke, I’m going to hurt you.”

  He smiled. “I’m serious about everything we’ve discussed, and I’m also very protective, Journey. Especially of those who mean anything to me. The shit I see out on these streets on a daily basis might have me being overbearing, but just know that it’s coming from a good place. You’re important to me and I can’t help but want to look out for you.”

  “Does that mean that you did have something to do with Gabe getting beat up?”

  “I told you before, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  Yeah right.

  “Now can we finally get a few hours of sleep before the sun comes up?” He turned off the lamp on his side of the bed without waiting for a response, bathing the room in darkness except for the soft light coming from the hallway.

  Journey relaxed in the crook of his arm, her head resting beneath his chin as her fingers drew circles on his chest. She found comfort lying next to him, his hand caressing her hip. Had anyone told her that she’d be spending the night with Lazarus Dimas, she would have laughed in their face. And now look at her. They were official.

  Wow. Me and Laz.

  She lifted her head slightly, sensing he had dozed off. No doubt he was tired, but she was too wired to sleep.

  “Laz?”

  “Hmm,” he grunted and started back caressing her hip.

  “Does you wanting to be in a relationship have anything to do with Gwenn Andreou?”

  Laz stiffened against her and Journey suddenly regretted the question. She couldn’t help but be curious about his late girlfriend. The little that she’d found on her was sketchy at best.

  “I’m done with answering questions tonight,” Laz said quietly and moved her hand from his chest. Sitting up, he placed his feet on the floor and stood. “I’m going to take a shower.”

  *

  Laz stood directly under the rainfall showerhead. The warm water cascading over his body like a soothing balm relieved some of his tension.

  Why was it that whenever Gwenn’s name was mentioned, it was like reliving that dark time in his life all over again? He had to figure out how to stop shutting down whenever anyone questioned him about her.

  It was past time to move on. He had taken out his own type of revenge on the people responsible for her murder, and had spent years in therapy. Yet there was still a part of his heart that hadn’t healed.

  Because you won’t let it heal.

  He turned his face up to the water and pushed his wet hair out of his eyes. He shouldn’t have walked away from Journey. If he wanted this relationship to work, he had to be willing to open up to her, the way he expected her to do.

  Laz wiped some of the water from his face when he heard the bathroom door open and close. Moments later, the shower curtain slid back slightly and Journey stood in the narrow opening, standing before him in all her naked glory. He felt like the luckiest man alive. He would never get tired of looking at her, nude or not.

  “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice low, and her eyes unsure. She was such a beautiful contradiction. On one hand, a kick-ass attorney who had put away her share of scumbags, and on the other hand, a soft, vulnerable woman who he had fallen hard for.

  L
az extended his hand and pulled her into the shower. “You have nothing to be sorry about.”

  He turned her away from the shower head, ensuring not to get her hair wet.

  “I know you’re tired and I shouldn’t have intruded in your personal life. I guess I—”

  “You’re a part of my personal life now. You have every right to ask me anything you want. I’m the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have walked away.”

  He lifted her chin with the pad of his index finger and kissed her lips. He hadn’t let a woman get this close to him, emotionally, since Gwenn. It was time.

  “I’ll tell you anything you want to know.”

  “Okay, but since we’re in here. We might as well get cleaned up. Or maybe…” Her words trailed off and she wrapped her arms around his neck, capturing his mouth in a wicked kiss.

  “Aw, baby,” Laz moaned against her mouth, backing her up against the shower wall. Their tongues tangled, exploring the inner recesses of each other’s mouths and he didn’t know how much he could handle before losing total control. The deep, searing kiss, and the caress of her lips against his made him powerless to resist anything she offered. They had resisted each other for so long, but he had a feeling the getting-acquainted stage of the relationship was going to be a blast.

  A sensual charge shot through Laz when her hand slid slowly between their bodies and she gripped his engorged shaft. He groaned. The sound thick with need as she slid her hand languidly up and down, stroking, squeezing, heightening the desire roaring through his veins. When her thumb brushed across the tip of his dick, Laz almost lost it.

  Journey gasped when he lifted her. A small squeal of delight filling the tight space as he cradled her butt in his hands. She held on as her legs went easily around him, and he slid between her slick folds, feeling as if he had finally made it home.

  Waves of ecstasy ricocheted through his body as he drove into her hard and fast, her breasts brushing the fine hairs on his chest with every thrust. That sensation only made him go harder, deeper, as he got lost in her sweet heat. She matched him stroke for stroke and when her body tightened around him, Laz knew his release was close.