Brothers in Blue: The Complete Trilogy: Brothers in Blue Boxed Set - Books 1-3

by Jeanne St. James

  Instead Toby let out an “oomph” as Max accidentally ran into him.

  “Oh, sorry, Toby. Are you okay?”

  Toby appeared a bit miffed, but looked up at the larger man and begrudgingly said, “Yes, sir.”

  “Do you mind if I skate with my date?”

  “No, go ahead, Officer Bryson. As long as Amanda doesn’t mind.”

  Wimp.

  Max reached out, snagged her hand, and pulled her away. “Nah, she doesn’t mind.”

  As soon as they were a few feet away, Max asked, “Making friends?”

  “Yes.”

  “He’s a bit young.”

  “And your point is?”

  “I’d think after last night you’d prefer a man over a little boy.”

  Amanda made sure he saw the eye roll. “Sure, if I knew one.” Amanda looked around. “Where’s Greg?”

  “I gave him some quarters. He’s in the arcade.”

  “Oh.” They did another circle around the rink as the disco ball bounced colorful reflections off walls and floor. “We better go check on him.”

  “He’s fine. Dunn’s here with his baby sister. They’re keeping him busy.”

  They skated a couple more loops in silence. His warm fingers interlocked with hers. It wouldn’t have been a big deal, except that the thumb he kept rubbing over the back of her hand was sending shivers up her spine.

  MAX SKATED TO a stop in a dark corner and faced her, staring deep into her eyes.

  He was crazy. One hundred percent certifiably crazy.

  She was the cause.

  He had become a jealous asshole. He lowered himself to nothing more than a caveman anytime another man spoke to, touched, or even looked cross-eyed at Amanda.

  This wasn’t him. He had never in his life been so possessive of a female. He was a catch. He knew that; his mother told him so. He was deeply respected in this town. He was a good cop. He was financially stable and he was decent looking. He could have his choice of any single woman in this town. Well, just about.

  But, he didn’t want just any woman.

  He wanted Amanda.

  He brushed her wild hair away from her face. He ran a thumb over her plump bottom lip.

  She was driving him nuts. His testosterone was in overdrive. Her pink tongue slipped out to taste his thumb, causing his groin to tighten.

  His voice was uneven as he said, “I know that this is only our first official date, but can I get a kiss?”

  Her eyes widened, then narrowed as she studied his face. “I don’t know. I don’t want you to think I’m easy.”

  He chuckled. “Too late.”

  Instead of complying, she rolled backward, leaving a gap between them. She planted her hands on her hips. “Hmm. I guess I will have to play hard to get now.”

  Amanda inched backward every time Max inched forward. “I know how to play hard. You want to see hard?”

  The lights went up, and the song changed to an old disco tune. Amanda skated away, flinging her hair back as she gave him a look over her shoulder. The look held the promise of what was to come. Her lips tilted up at the corners, and she winked at him. Max pushed off the wall, rolling after her.

  When he caught up with her on the other side of the rink, Max put his hands over her hips and rolled up tight behind her. Amanda pushed her ass against him, swinging her hips to the beat of Donna Summer’s “Love to Love You, Baby.”

  She circled her arms behind his neck, pushing her breasts out as she started to sing the lyrics. Amanda turned in his arms, her hands still looped around his neck, and she made a face like she was climaxing as she sang the last “Uh, love to love you, baby.”

  Holy fuck. They needed to go right now. Like right now. Though her singing sucked, his cock was so hard. It was twisted all up in his pants. And this skating rink was the last place he was going to adjust his raging hard-on.

  “We need to get the hell out of here now. Let’s go get Greg.”

  “Was it something I said?” she asked, her face now the look of innocence.

  “Uh-huh. And I expect to hear the same thing a little later.” Just don’t sing it.

  They collected Greg, turned in their skates, and were home within twenty minutes.

  Max waited down in the living room while Amanda got Greg into his pj’s and turned on the TV in his room. He could hear the low sound of the TV show but nothing else. And he waited. And waited.

  Maybe he should leave. Maybe she had been playing with him back at the skating rink just to get under his skin. He felt like a desperate fool standing here waiting. He turned but stopped when he heard her feet padding down the steps.

  He did a double take since she came down wearing a frumpy, bulky robe.

  “Why—”

  “Shh.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the garage. “Just come with me.”

  He raised his eyebrows but tagged along as she pulled him through the garage door and shut it behind him. It had a double key deadbolt, and she turned the key, locking them in.

  “What—”

  “Shh.” She led him to the back of the Buick and opened the rear passenger-side door. “Get in.”

  “But—”

  “Shh. Get in.”

  He released her hand and slid into the backseat. She slid in after him and shut the door.

  She turned to him, and their faces were inches apart. “Now…”

  “Now…”

  “Now we both shut up, since talking isn’t our strongpoint, and you finish what you started in this car on Christmas night.”

  Even in the dim light, he could see her naughty grin. Damn. She continually surprised him.

  Naughty, naughty girl. He loved it.

  He fought back a smile and asked, “Do you remember what I was doing to you?”

  “Shh. No talking. Don’t screw this up.”

  “Just screw you?”

  He reached out and cupped her face, tilted her head, pulled her a little closer. He leaned in and kissed her, sucking in her lower lip. His tongue tangled with hers, and her hands grabbed his biceps. His muscles tightened and he pulled back, just enough to pull his long-sleeve T-shirt over his head.

  He caught her reaction. She wanted him. Knowing that, seeing that, made his cock rock hard, his balls tight. He wanted her just as much. No. More.

  “Amanda—”

  She shut him up by pressing her lips to his again, making him swallow his words.

  That’s right. No talking. Just action. She was a bossy little thing.

  He moved until he was sucking on her earlobe, flicking her earring with his tongue. Then nipped her tender skin. He moved down her neck, nipping at her collarbone, pushing away the collar of the robe. Feeling for the belt, he released it. He couldn’t wait to see what she was wearing.

  She slid the robe off her shoulders and showed him exactly what she wasn’t wearing. She was 100 percent, bona fide naked under that thing. All skin and flesh and those glorious breasts.

  They were perfect. Hard nipples surrounded by soft flesh. He cupped both of them, circling his thumbs over her areolae. Once, twice. She arched her back and closed her eyes. He took one nipple into his mouth and sucked deeply. When a moan escaped her, his cock tried to do a dance in his jeans, but they were too tight. A prison. He needed to get out of them and quick.

  He popped the snap on his jeans, but before he could go farther, her hands pushed his away, so he went back to “appreciating” her breasts. Stroking, pinching, twisting her nipples as she worked his zipper down.

  “Take them off.” Her words came breathlessly and he looked at her. Her eyes were hooded and unfocused, her mouth slightly open. “Hurry.”

  He pulled away, lifted his hips, and shoved his jeans down as quickly as he could. He kicked off his shoes and socks before removing the jeans completely. His cock was free. And throbbing. He wanted to stroke it, but Amanda beat him to it. Her hand encased him and she squeezed gently, her thumb wiping a drop of precum off the head.

&nbs
p; Holy shit. Holy shit! He felt like an inexperienced eighteen-year-old. Like he could blow any second.

  There was no way in hell he was going to allow that to happen. No way.

  But this was what she did to him. And he needed to stay in control so she wouldn’t regret this decision.

  “I’m so hard.”

  Amanda leaned over, her lips just brushing the head. She looked up at him briefly, a wicked smile on her face.

  What a freaking vixen.

  She took him into her warm, wet mouth. And he cried out. His breathing quickened and he tried to swallow. Her tongue swirled along the edge of the crown of his cock. Teasing. Then she took his length in her mouth, stroking him again and again.

  He wanted to pleasure her. Touch her. Kiss her. But he was frozen fast. He couldn’t move. She had to stop. Like soon. Like…like now!

  With a groan, he shifted away from her, breaking her contact.

  Another shift and he was using his chest to push her back along the seat. Grabbing her knees, he spread her as wide as the car allowed. He dived in, his mouth on her wet heat.

  It was her turn to cry out as he sucked her clit, flicked her with his tongue. She tasted so good. He slid two fingers into her, and he could feel her clamping down, squeezing, while lifting her hips. He kept licking and sucking her tender spot as she rode his fingers in a frantic rhythm. Her head dropped back, her body bowing. She screamed, “I’m coming!”

  More wet heat as she throbbed around his fingers. Before she could catch her breath, he shifted one last time, sliding into her. She was tight but wet. So wet. Her body welcomed him, matching him stroke for stroke. The tilt of her hips met the tilt of his perfectly. They fit perfectly.

  Max gritted his teeth, not wanting to lose it. He wanted this to continue as long as he could. He pulled out of her, and she released a small whimper.

  He sat up and pulled her with him, her legs straddling him. He looked into her face and saw the raw desire there. A drip of sweat landed on her breast, and he captured it between his lips.

  He held her hips tightly, so she couldn’t lower herself. Not yet. She struggled against him.

  He suckled her nipples, first one and the other, keeping her suspended above him. A flush ran up her chest as she struggled. He nipped both nipples one more time before releasing his hold on her hips. She slid down and settled onto him. Her forehead dropped to his chest, her breathing heavy and uneven against his skin.

  He was so deep. Her riding him buried his cock base to tip. He was afraid to move. He was right on the edge.

  She circled her hips just a little.

  She was playing with fire.

  With her on top, she had all the power. But he didn’t care. He slapped her ass and she began to move. Riding him hard.

  She had complete control, her rhythm, her movements. Her release.

  He could feel she was close, her pussy tightening around him. She released small sounds that drove him nuts. Made him want to thrust up hard. Again and again until he came.

  He closed his eyes and tried to slow his breathing. Sweat trickled down his face. He was so done. So, so done. His cock was so hard that it almost hurt. His balls were tight, so ready to release.

  Amanda tensed and screamed. Her pussy pulsated around him, and that was all it took. He let go and screamed with her, one last push deep inside her.

  They both collapsed within each other’s arms. The only sound was their shaky, harsh breathing.

  He caught his breath enough to say, “Amanda…”

  Amanda had her eyes closed and was collapsed against him, still in his lap. She put one finger up to his lips.

  “Don’t. Don’t fuck this up.”

  Teddy looked up from the brush he was cleaning as Amanda entered the salon. “Hey, girlfriend, go ahead and put that luscious rump of yours in the chair.”

  She went over to the nearest station and plopped herself into the black vinyl seat. She spun it around to look at herself in the mirror. She looked the same, didn’t she?

  Teddy came up behind her and automatically snapped the plastic cape around her neck. Amanda’s gaze met his in the glass.

  “You’re too quiet.” Teddy’s teeth gnawed on his bottom lip. She could see the wheels turning in his head.

  Oh shit.

  “Okay, spill the beans. What’s up with you?”

  “Nothing.” She attempted to distract him with, “Just take the ends off.”

  Teddy spun the chair around, stopping it abruptly with his foot when they were face-to-face. Her neck snapped from the force.

  “Uh-uh. There will be no taking any ends off until I hear some dirt.”

  “There’s nothing.” She emphasized the last word.

  “Hmph. Girl, there is something…”

  “What are you, the newest detective for the Manning Grove PD?” Her voice trailed off as she realized that she’d just given him a clue.

  His lips formed a big O, and his eyes widened. “You didn’t.”

  Amanda grimaced at his high-pitched screech.

  “Oh no, you didn’t!” He spun her around again and reclined the chair back in one swoop, then began to wash her hair. “I want to hear every detail.”

  “No.”

  “Please?”

  “No.”

  “It was that Bryson buck, wasn’t it?”

  Amanda wanted to ignore him, but she couldn’t. Her head was in a sink and Teddy’s face hovered six inches above her, staring her down. It was a bloody inquisition.

  Teddy rinsed her hair, sighing dreamily. “It was! Mmm. Mmm. Mmm.” He yanked her up and rubbed her head with a towel. “Max ‘I’m So Hot I Sizzle When I Walk’ Bryson?”

  “Teddy!”

  “C’mon. Give a poor, lonely guy a bone.” He giggled at his own words. “Was it good?”

  “It was great,” she conceded.

  “Then why aren’t you happy? Why aren’t you just exploding with joy?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “You have great sex—it had to be; don’t tell me it wasn’t—and you sit there moping?”

  “It’s more complicated than that.”

  Teddy put a hand to his mouth to cover a drama-queen gasp. “Oh my Lord.” Teddy whipped the chair around and leaned down to look her straight in the eyes. “Yep. You’re in love.”

  Amanda paled. Love? No. Lust, maybe. The sex was good. That was it.

  “It’s hardly love, Teddy. Hell, we’ve only been on one official date. And even Greg was along on that.”

  “But you’ve had carnal knowledge of him, right? Don’t tell me you haven’t.”

  Amanda reluctantly nodded her head, her cheeks on fire.

  “Ooooo, so it was hot and furious? I’m so jealous.”

  “But, honestly, I don’t get it. One minute we want to jump each other’s bones and then the next… Sometimes he just confuses me. The problem is that he’s always in my business, and I don’t want that in a man. I had enough of that with my mother.”

  “Honey, he’s a damn cop. He can’t help but be bossy and controlling. You know that saying, there’s a fine line between love and hate.”

  That line was like a tightrope that Max and she were walking. One little bobble and—

  “So did you have fun the other night at Crazy Pete’s? Were you disappointed? You know, we ought to start up a big flaming gay bar with lots of great music and dancing and lights… Ooooh, the thought. We’d see how many of the locals come out of the closet. You could bartend and I’d—”

  Teddy continued to chitchat, his lips moving a mile a minute. Amanda had no idea what he was saying.

  Chapter Eleven

  Amanda awoke and stretched. It was Thursday, one of the days Greg didn’t go to day care. She thought of the pancake mix she had purchased the other day along with the fresh strawberries. It was going to be her first attempt at making pancakes. The microwavable ones didn’t count.

  She dragged a brush through her long hair, tugging at knots with her fingers.
After five minutes, she relented and tossed the brush back onto the dresser. She’d get her hair back in order once she washed it later. She straightened out her pink-striped pajama bottoms and made sure her little white tank top covered all the important stuff before heading down the hallway to Greg’s room.

  His door was ajar. A sick feeling in the pit of her stomach hit her. She pushed it open wider. “Greg?”

  She groaned as she ran down the stairs. Chaos ran up to meet her halfway. At least the dog was here. That was a good sign.

  “Where’s he at, Chaos?” The dog barked in response. Amanda let out a curse. What did she expect, the dog to act like Lassie and lead her to Greg?

  Hell yes, she did.

  “C’mon, Chaos. Where’s he at?”

  The dog barked and rushed down the steps beside her. At the bottom he circled twice, let out a shrill bark, and scampered to the front door.

  She jammed the heel of her hand into her forehead. He was gone. Again.

  “He went out the front door?” she asked the dog. Chaos barked once more and spun.

  Shit! She was having a freaking conversation with a dog!

  Amanda ran into the family room, snatched up the phone, and dialed 911.

  “9-1-1. What’s your emergency?”

  “My brother! He’s missing!”

  “Okay, ma’am. Calm down. Your brother is missing?”

  Didn’t she just say that? “Yes!”

  “How long has he been missing for?”

  “I don’t know. An hour?”

  A silent pause. “How old is he?”

  “Twenty-two.”

  Another slight pause. “Ma’am, he is an adult. Call us back after—”

  “But he’s…he’s…not right!” Amanda slammed the phone down. “Damn it!”

  She bit her lip, drawing blood. She tried to think, but her head was spinning.

  This was not supposed to be happening. They were supposed to be eating a nice breakfast of pancakes and syrup.

  She grabbed the car keys off the hook.

  She’d have to find Greg herself.

  “Let’s go, boy!”

  Red, white, and blue lights flashed behind her, illuminating the inside of the car like a bad disco.