I looked at her, confused. “You thought about what?”
“You, naked, undressing me, fucking me, you name it. I used to get myself off while thinking about you.”
“Kobe, that’s so fucking hot.”
“You ever think about me?”
I lowered my mouth to her pussy and lapped between her folds.
“God, Easton. Yes.”
I hummed as I moved my mouth and latched onto her clit.
“Easton, fuck. God. Yes.”
I sucked harder as I unfasten my jeans and kicked them off. Once free of my confinement, I ran my hands up her thighs, slowly, feeling the tiny goose bumps rise along her pale skin.
“I got a condom, I picked some up,” I told her between long licks of her pussy.
“Why? I’m on the pill. We’ve already crossed the line.”
“God, Kobe, you’re going to kill me.”
“Oh, but what a way to go, right?” she teased.
I slid a finger inside her. “You’re so fucking wet.”
“I want you. I’ve always wanted you,” Kobe panted. She arched beneath me and pulled her feet in to push her pussy up and closer to my mouth. “Did you hear me? I want you.”
I groaned as I sucked even harder.
“Easton, stop. I don’t want to come this way. I want you inside me.”
She was going to kill me, right here. After going so long without sex to having this gorgeous woman in front of me, I was going to have a heart attack.
Lifting my head, I wiped my mouth on the back of my hand before crawling over her and lining my dick up to her warm opening.
“Have you dreamed about me?” Her eyes glistened, and I saw that she needed to know this.
“Kobe, I used to leave your house and feel so guilty because I wanted you so bad. I’ve imagined what your body would feel like for so many years. But I couldn’t do anything.”
“That’s all I needed to know.” Kobe leaned forward and wrapped one hand around my hard shaft and guided it into her.
Kobe
I paced back and forth across the brightly lit kitchen. I loved the way the sun streamed down through the kitchen window and sent rainbows across the white tile countertop and glinted off the high-end knife block on the counter.
Ridley had style, and I felt a little envious of her drive to make her place a home. When the time came for me to have my own place again, I’d definitely put more effort into it. I tapped my phone against my palm.
“Okay, Kobe, get your head out of the clouds,” I said to myself and thought of what I would say to Captain Getty.
I needed a wire, but I wasn’t sure how difficult it would be to convince him to give me one. Ideally, all I would need to do was say please, but I wasn’t sure if it was that easy. Deciding that calling was better than waiting around, I dialed his number.
I closed my eyes as I waited for the phone to ring. Getty was a little slow to answer.
“Everything all right?” I was shocked that he had answered that way, not realizing that he had my number.
“Captain,” I said, “this is Kobe Brogan.”
“I know. Is everything all right?”
“Yes.”
“What can I do for you today, Kobe?” he asked, I could hear the tension in his voice was almost palpable.
“I wanted to ask you for a wire.”
“A wire?” he echoed as I bit my lip. It was my nervous habit until the pain jump-started my brain and reminded me of the speech I rehearsed in my head all morning.
“Yes, I want a wire or a secret camera, something, anything. Last night, well, things went bad and I want to get out of this but I can’t until I get justice.” I felt guilty for letting my stress show now when I had been way more composed for Easton. I wondered if a part of me still questioned which side Easton was on.
“You want to tell me what happened?”
“No, you can’t do anything, you need proof, remember. I want a wire so that I can get proof you can use. I want to get justice for my brother and get on with my life.”
“Okay. You want a wire. You got it,” he said, and I sighed in relief. “Thank you, Captain. I’ve moved out of my old apartment and in with a friend. They’ve got someone following me.”
“Not shocking,” he said, and I could hear him tapping something on the other end, probably a pencil or pen, against the desk in the background. “Meet me at McDonald’s in Winter Park, it’s far enough outside Coyote territory that you should be okay.”
“Great,” I said as I relaxed. “What time?”
“Meet me there in an hour,” Captain Getty said then hung up the phone without saying goodbye.
“One hour,” I repeated. I turned on my heel and started across the area rug, and into the living room where Ridley sat, coffee in hand, sketchbook in her lap as she created a piece for a client she had later that evening.
“Hey, Ridley.” I sat beside her. Careful not to shake the seat and mess up her sketch.
“Yeah?” she asked, not glancing up from the intrinsic floral design. “What do you think?” She stopped drawing so she could turn the page toward me. The drawing was stunning.
“So beautiful,” I said, and she nodded toward the vase by the window.
“That’s my inspiration. The woman I’m doing this for absolutely loves orchids.”
“What’s not to like?” I suddenly felt a little anxious.
“What’s on your mind?”
“I’m going to get a wire. I’m meeting someone from Orange County Sheriff’s Office, but I’m worried about being followed. Any suggestions?”
“We both leave at the same time, but you drive my Jeep and I’ll take your car. We both have long dark hair. We’ll wear sunglasses and no one will be the wiser at least for a while. By the time anyone is able to catch on, you’ll be long gone.
“You’re a genius.”
“I know,” Ridley said and returned to her drawing. “When do you need to leave?”
“In about twenty minutes.”
“Okay, no problem, I’m almost done anyway.”
I climbed into Ridley’s Jeep Wrangler and immediately turned the AC to full blast, this was so refreshing. Running one hand over the smooth dashboard, softly making a small promise to myself that I would get a better car and spend some of my money from the house after this was all done.
On my way to the McDonald’s, I kept checking the rearview mirror, but I didn’t notice anyone suspicious. When I pulled into the parking lot, I was pretty sure I hadn’t been followed, but I scanned the parking lot anyway. There were lots of cars, which was ideal given that we wanted to blend in, but no one was lingering or paying me any attention. Even though we were unlikely to be spotted, I turned off the Jeep and stepped out into the bright sunshine as the light breeze lifted my hair from my shoulders, and filled my lungs with the smell of fried foods and grease.
It was a good day, I was finally making some real progress in this case. I picked up a piece of trash that blew across the parking lot in front of me and grinned up at the sky. Not a cloud in sight. Maybe I was just being sentimental, but I like to think that it was Jared’s way of saying he was here, and he was proud of me.
Captain Getty stood on the sidewalk at the back corner of McDonald’s. His hands motioning with his words, his brow furrowed, and though I couldn’t hear him yet, his lips moved at such a speed that expressed excitement. I couldn’t see the face of the man he was speaking to, only the large broad shoulders and the thick waves of dark brown hair. The man whose back was to me seemed familiar, maybe it was his stance. For some reason, my heart quickened and approved of the way the man’s biceps flexed as he adjusted his stance.
“Get her out of this,” the man said.
“You know her, you know that there is no dissuading that girl of anything, she is like a dog with a bone.”
The man chuckled, and my steps faltered. “You’re telling me. I confided in you but trust that you won’t tell her. I want to be the one who d
oes that, it is important to me.”
I froze a couple of feet away as it dawned on me that I was the person they were talking about. I pressed my back against the wall, just barely out of the line of sight, and leaned forward just enough to get a closer and better view.
“I won’t say a word, but if you don’t want her to learn who you are then you need to get going, I’m supposed to meet her in fifteen minutes.”
I glanced at my watch, realizing that I was really early. I must have sped the entire way.
“Listen, Easton—” At the sound of his name, a chill racked over me. “I appreciate you telling me that you were hanging out with Kobe and keeping her safe. I won’t tell anyone, but seriously consider telling her,” Captain Getty said.
“I will, just not yet. I want this to be all over before I tell her. If Dante or anyone found out that I was undercover—”
There it was, the words I’d been waiting for, Easton was an undercover cop.
Captain Getty looked around Easton for a second. “She’ll be here any minute. I’m giving her a wire, so hopefully this will help close this case quickly.”
“Thanks,” Easton said as he finally turned his body to scan the parking lot, narrowing his dark eyes that I knew so well.
“Are you fucking kidding me?” I said from behind the bush, not caring how ridiculous I must have looked as I pushed through the shrubs, only a few paces away from the two men. “You’re a cop?” I stopped, and his jaw dropped in surprise. “Do you have any idea what it would have meant to me to know that you were a cop?”
“DEA,” Easton clarified.
“Okay then, more than a cop, Drug Enforcement Agency. Jesus Christ, Easton.” I paced back and forth. “Why the hell didn’t you say something?”
“I have a job to do.”
“And what? You don’t trust me? I’ve been watching you, wanting you, and at the same time killing myself with guilt.”
“Guilt? Over what?”
“You. What if, I’m wrong, what if we’re all wrong and you had something to do with…”
“Excuse me,” a woman interrupted us. “If you three are going to hang out in the parking lot then you need to order something.”
Captain Getty flashed his badge, “I’ve got this.”
“Okay, but please keep it down, I could hear this one”—she tossed a thumb in my direction—“the whole walk over to you.”
“Sorry, ma’am,” Captain Getty apologized.
I waited until the uptight woman was out of hearing range. “I’ve been in love with you since I was in high school. Do you know what I’ve been going through? How I have drowned myself in guilt?” My hands shook at my side, and I desperately wanted to knock him onto his arrogant ass or wrap my hands around his throat and strangle him.
“Kobe,” he said as he held up his hands for peace. “You thought that I might be guilty?”
I paused for a second because for a moment he looked hurt but then I remembered all the hurt I’ve been going through.
“Oh don’t Kobe me.” I let out a huff of breath. “What excuse could you possibly have? We’ve slept together, and you couldn’t find the time to squeeze in a ‘Hey, by the way, I’m an undercover cop?’” I couldn’t stand here any longer, I couldn’t take it. I turned on my heels and ran as hard and fast as I could to Ridley’s Jeep.
Not bothering to stop as he called my name, completely forgetting about the wire that I came out here for in the first place. I threw the Jeep in reverse, nearly hitting a minivan as I peeled out of the parking lot and sped all the way back toward Ridley’s.
“So stupid, Jesus fucking Christ,” I said as I slammed my hands on the steering wheel and ran through a red light. “And the way he just stood there?” I growled as I sped down the interstate, blending into traffic seamlessly, slowing enough to pass a cop car before pressing the pedal to the metal and flying home. I parked the Jeep in the driveway and rested my head on the steering wheel. I wasn’t sure if I’d ever made it home that quickly before and just hoped that Ridley wouldn’t receive any tickets in the mail. I would pay them of course, but still, it would suck to explain that. I climbed out of the Jeep, but when I was halfway to the door, I heard the low rumble of a motorcycle, which drew my attention.
“No. Fucking. Way.” I dragged my fingers through my hair and turned just in time to see him dismount. “How’d you get here so fast?” I asked.
“The same way you did,” he said. “Risking life and limb.” I couldn’t smile at him, I was too angry and hurt. “I have something for you.” He closed the distance between us and held up a small silver bracelet.
“You brought me jewelry?” I asked in disbelief, angry and confused.
“Hold on, don’t go all romantic on me,” he said as he held the bracelet up, and the sunlight reflected off it. “It’s from Getty, it’s your wire. You ran away before we had a chance to give it to you.”
“I ran—” I started as he held up a finger silencing me and clipped it on.
“It will record audio and visuals.” I grit my teeth together as I stare down at what might be the most important piece of jewelry that I ever wear in my entire life. “Look, Kobe,” he said as I pulled my hand from his and stuffed them back into the pocket of my jeans. “You and I had the same goal,” he said. “I couldn’t tell you before because it’s literally my job not to let anyone know, and I’m sorry.” My lips parted in surprise. “I never meant to hurt you. That’s a fucking cliche, but it’s the truth, Kobe. I care about you. All we have between us—it’s real,” he said urgently. I felt weak at the admission. “I care about you. Which is why I pushed so hard for you to back off and let me handle this. This is my job, and more than that, Jared was my friend too.” The words hung in the air as the sprinklers started around us. “I need you to back off, for your safety, please?” he said as he took a step forward and grasped my hand in his rough calluses, sending goose bumps up my arm. As my body recalled the way he felt against me only hours before.
“I can’t do that,” I said and looked at my hand and his. “You know I can’t do that.” He lifted my hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss against my fingers before holding my hand to his chest.
“In that case,” he said as he toyed with the bracelet. “Press the side of this button if you are using the restroom, changing clothes, or we’re having sex,” he said, his eyes flickered down to my mouth. “Other than that, Getty is watching.” Then he released my hand, turned away, and mounted his motorcycle.
Kobe
The warm fragrance of coffee brewing filled my lungs as I rolled out of bed, ready to face another day.
Grabbing a pair of cutoffs and a T-shirt, I dressed and stared at myself in the cheval mirror. It wasn’t so much that I was analyzing how I looked as I was examining how I didn’t fit in with my surroundings. Ridley was an artist through and through, not only with her artwork but the way this place was decorated. The room I was staying in, my room, God it felt so good saying my room, had a plush floral chintz comforter with zebra print pillows. They matched in a strange way. The off-white tones of the furniture seemed to meld the stark contrast of the animal print.
I gave my hair a quick brushing before heading downstairs. The low hum of the radio made me smile as Twenty-One Pilots played in the kitchen. One of my favorite things about living with someone was knowing that I wouldn’t have to spend my day alone. I hadn’t realized how much I had missed company, but Ridley was here, filling the void I hadn’t known was so glaringly obvious.
“Hey are you up yet?” Her eager brown eyes appeared in the crack of the door.
“Yes, I’m trying to get my day started.”
“Well, move faster, I made breakfast, and no one likes cold eggs,” Ridley said before she disappeared down the hall, leaving the appealing scent of bacon in her wake.
Breakfast was as good a reason as any to get up before noon on a Saturday.
“Hey,” I said with a sheepish smile as I stepped into the kitchen.
/> “You seemed pretty tired last night.” She placed the sizzling bacon and a large helping of egg onto the two plates on the table.
“I was, I think it’s physical as well as emotional exhaustion at this point. There’s just been so much going on,” I said and closed my eyes, savoring the first bite of eggs. “So good.”
“Thanks, the secret is dill and just a little bit of milk,” she said as she lowered the pan to the table.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” I said and crunched down into the bacon, my bracelet glittered in the morning light.
“That’s pretty,” Ridley said as she gestured to my wrist.
“Oh, thanks, Easton brought it over last night while you were gone,” I said, twisting my wrist so she could see the whole thing.
“Oh I see, he’s bringing you jewelry now?” she asked, amused, and I cringed at the amount of sugar she heaped into her coffee mug.
“Yes, and no. Not the way you think that he would. I don’t think a man’s ever bought me jewelry,” I said, thoughtfully as I reached for the ketchup. “What about you?”
“Me neither, I haven’t dated anyone long enough to give them the opportunity. Most of them just aren’t worth the time,” Ridley explained, and I nodded, knowing how true that was. “Can we go back to your other comment about, not the way I think? I’m confused.”
Fuck, had I said that? Shit. “Well, ummm, I know that Easton definitely is innocent.” Ridley rose one brow and stared at me waiting for me to continue. “He’s like me, he is just trying to find out who killed my brother and bring them to justice.” I twisted the bracelet. “It’s for surveillance, so the cops can keep tabs on everything going on while I am at Sasha’s.”
“Oh.” She gave me a half smile. “He’s a cop or is he working with the cops like you are?”
I paused for a second and then decided to go as vague as possible. “He’s sort of helping the detective like I am.”
Ridley nodded. “Okay, changing topic, what do you plan to do today?”
Kobe, Bad Blood (Blood Roses Book 1) Page 9