by Terry Towers
By the time he’d made it to the other side of the car to open the door for her, she was already out and slamming it shut behind her.
Falling into step beside him they made their way together into the 'Highway Grill' that boasted that their sirloin tips were world famous. Lincoln somehow doubted that the 'Highway Grill' was a worldwide attraction, but decided as he opened the front door and ushered Angel in that he'd take their word for it and give them a try. A little heavy for lunch he supposed, but they had a long drive ahead of them and he had no idea when they'd be stopping next.
Once their orders were placed, his for the sirloin tips and hers for spaghetti, she sat back and eyed him. He could see just by looking at her expression that she was mulling something over, something he was sure he'd say no to or be called an asshole for.
Finally it came, "So I was thinking..."
Ah, fuck. Taking a sip from his glass of water he nodded. "Alright. I'll bite. About what?"
"You said earlier that you are from Denver."
He nodded his confirmation.
"So you tracked me all the way to Portland, across the country."
Slipping out of his jacket and setting it on the seat next to him he nodded. "Yeah, so."
"Well, wouldn't you call that detective work?"
Laughing, Lincoln shook his head. "Nah, I've been doing this for over ten years, and to be honest, you weren't hard to find."
"Okay, well. Just humour me. You saw my file, and so you know the case, right?"
"Angel, we've been through this, I'm not getting-"
"This is my life Lincoln. My life." Her face brightened as she leaned over the table. "I'll make you a deal."
Raising a curious brow, he leaned over the table as well. "Alright. What kind of deal?"
"If you help me. Just throw ideas around with me, and give the case some serious thought, I promise not to attempt to escape. I'll go to Denver willingly."
Leaning a little closer to her, only a few inches separating them, he shook his head, "Not good enough."
Frowning she narrowed her eyes at him and continued considering, "Alright. What do you want?"
He sat back in the chair, crossed his arms over his chest and let a sly grin touch his lips. Truth was, he didn't want anything from her, but she didn't have to know that. "I'll give it some thought and get back to you."
"Until then..."
"Until then, I'll help you as long as it doesn't interfere with our schedule."
"Deal." She stuck out her hand for him to shake, giving him a wide smile which lit up her face. It was the first genuine smile that he'd seen from her since she’d been caught by him.
Taking her hand he knew he was going to regret it, but he couldn't refuse; partly because she had gotten under his skin, and partly because something didn't add up with her case. The more he got to know her the more certain he was that it hadn't been her. Which led him to the big question, if not her then who, and more importantly, how could he hand her over to the police when he got to Denver knowing in his gut that she wasn't guilty?
Fuck! He growled to himself. Fuck and double fuck!
****
Buffalo, New York - Day 2
"We calling it a day already?" Angelique inquired from the passenger seat as they pulled off the highway taking the Buffalo, NY exit.
"Well, we had a late start."
He glanced over at her accusingly and she could feel the colour creeping up into her cheeks at his accusation. Instead of replying she turned her face away, not wanting him to see the effect he had on her, pretending to be interested in the passing buildings instead.
"We have to make a quick stop before the stores close and I have no idea when things shut down around here."
With a curious expression on her face she turned back to him. "Where are we stopping?"
He didn't answer, but less than two minutes later she found them pulling into the Wal-Mart parking lot and as he turned the car off, he began what was becoming his usual speech to her.
"Okay, I'm going to trust you. Now-"
"If I try to run, the deal is off. You'll hunt me down."
He nodded and a smirk touched his lips, seemingly pleased that his speeches were being taken to heart.
"Then you'll pull out that big shiny gun of yours and punish me like the bad, bad girl I am."
"Exactly..." His smug smirk faded and his brows furrowed as her last sentence sunk in. "Wait, what?" Shaking his head, he huffed and got out of the car, slamming the door behind him.
Laughing, Angelique got out and followed him into the store. "How come you're like that?"
The glass doors slid open and they stepped through them, Lincoln leading the way to the electronics department. She'd been searching her brain for close to seven hours as they drove from Chicopee, Ma to Buffalo, NY coming up empty with any new ideas as to how she could prove herself innocent, so she decided to partake in her newest favourite pastime - riling Lincoln up.
"Like what?" Lincoln glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, but kept moving.
"So uptight. When was the last time you had fun?"
"Well the past couple of days with you have been a fucking hoot. Can't get much more fun than this."
Giving him a swat on the shoulder she chose to ignore his insult. "Seriously, Link."
"Lincoln." he corrected, stopping in front of the laptops and surveying the various types.
"Well, seriously Lincoln, when?"
"I don't see how that is any concern of yours, Angelique." he replied hotly as he grabbed a laptop computer and began to lead her to the pharmacy.
"Angel."
"Angel," he corrected himself stopping in front of the aspirin aisle.
"I have an idea."
Grabbing a large bottle of aspirin from the shelf he turned to face her, a brow raised. "Does it involve gagging you, handcuffing you to a bed and getting some sleep?" He shook the bottle of aspirin under her nose; "After taking some of these because of a headache caused by someone? Not going to say who. But you know her."
Angelique tugged at the lapel of his leather jacket, while giving him the sweetest smile she could muster. "Nope, but trust me it'll do us both a world of good."
****
Why he had allowed her to talk him into this was a complete mystery to him. He cursed himself for making himself such a mark to her, as he parked the car in front of the nightclub to which she had been given directions.
"Ummm, Angelique." he scanned the patrons, mostly younger people in their early twenties. The women wore skimpy clothing, not leaving much to the imagination, not that he was complaining on that account. "Were you aware this was a rave club?"
"So?" She glanced out at the sea of people flooding into the club.
Lincoln chuckled. "You know you have to be one of the most unusual people I've ever met."
A smile touched her lips that followed through to her eyes. "Well... thank you, Link."
"That wasn't a compliment."
"Ass." Frowning, she gave him a swat on the arm, glanced over at the club and then back at him. "You know, perhaps with a few drinks you might become half-way tolerable to be around."
He watched her as she considered something. With her, what she was thinking could be anyone's guess. He wondered if that was what he seemed to be drawn to: her energy, her feisty spirit. Maybe it was those big blue eyes that sparkled with enthusiasm. Her quick wit and even that silver-tongue of hers that both infuriated, and at times amused him, they all lured him in. Not for five years, not since Rebecca, had he felt so vulnerable and so out of control around a woman and he wasn't enjoying the feeling one bit.
Lincoln watched her as she shed her jacket, leaving her wearing a short black skirt and a black tank top. She then pulled his handcuffs from his jacket pocket slapped one onto her wrist, grabbed his wrist and slapped the other one on him, linking them together.
"Hey! What do you think you're doing?"
"There. Now you have no excuse not to have some
fun. Now I can't get away." She glanced over at the crowd of people, many donned in techno-Goth attire. "And considering the clientele, I doubt anyone will take a second look at the cuffs."
With a sigh, he reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out the key to the cuffs and unlocked his wrist.
"You trust me without the cuffs?"
He looked up from his wrist to see her smiling over at him and shook his head. "Nope, not for a second, but I don't want you crawling over my leather seats to get out." Without another word he proceeded to get out of the car leaving her fuming in the passenger seat. He hurried to her side of the car and opened the door for her, ushering her out. As expected her blue eyes narrowed at him as she stood and he slapped the free cuff back on his wrist. At least he wouldn't have to worry about her going anywhere.
Chapter 6
Angelique wasn't buying his macho, 'I don't give a damn' attitude for a moment. She'd seen the softer side of him a number of times now. It was rare, but it shone through on the odd slips when he let his guard down. The reporter in her needed to know what it was that was making him that way so secretly she was hoping that a few drinks might loosen him up enough to open up - even just a little bit - to her.
As expected, the music was deafening as they walked through the front door. The DJ was blaring a fast tempo techno beat to which a sea of patrons were dancing in various stages of drunkenness. The light show was spectacular; dozens of beams of red, purple and blue moved and circled through the crowd. The very back wall contained a large screen on which flashed psychedelic images in tune with the music and smoke lined the floor coming up to their knees.
Despite being a little older than most of the men in the club, as soon as they walked through the door, she noticed women checking Lincoln out and instinctively she took his hand in hers. He seemed oblivious to the others women's eyes on him. He looked uncomfortable, but in his dark blue jeans and black t-shirt that hugged his muscular chest he actually blended in pretty well.
Lincoln stopped dead in his tracks, and pointed across the room as he leaned into her, his lips nearly touching her ear and his warm breath sending goosebumps up and down her arms. "It's only ten pm and people are already fucking against the walls, Angel."
Angelique's eyes followed his finger to the place he was pointing. Sure enough, towards the back of the club against the wall the man had his partner naked from the waist up and was fucking her fast and furiously. It didn't surprise her, she'd already noticed a couple of booths where that was going on; she hadn't wanted to draw his attention to it, at least not until she had a few beers in him.
Turning to face him, she pressed herself up against him, ran her index finger down his chest and grinned. "You got a problem with people fucking in public, Link?"
Even with the dark lighting of the club she could see his face redden slightly.
Slipping her hand from his chest lower she began to rub the front of his jeans. His cock responded immediately, growing rapidly under her touch. A rush of desire flowed through her and moisture gathered between her legs. She suddenly regretted her decision to convince him to go to the club since watching the young couple at the back of the club, brought back memories of that morning with him and how amazingly good his dick felt inside of her and how much she wanted to feel him again.
Gathering his composure he met her gaze, the growing hunger evident in his steel grey eyes. "No, but if you wanted to fuck me again then you didn't need me to bring you here to do it."
She was tempted to suggest leaving. Tell him he was right and head back to the motel double-time, but she needed a night out and she suspected he needed a little fun as well. So she decided to leave that activity for a little later.
Trying to appear casual despite her body screaming out its need for him, she shrugged and gave him a wink. "Patience, Link. Patience." Giving his hand a little squeeze she led him over to the closest and least busy bar in the club. "I'll just have a beer," she told Lincoln as they stood waiting for the bartender to serve them.
As Lincoln dealt with their order she turned her back to the bar. Resting her elbows behind her on the bar, jutting her breasts out and reclining back, she then scanned the crowd. Everyone in the place seemed to be having such a fun time, their mood was infectious and she found herself starting to feel better. The worries of trials and jail and finding the real killer were swept to the back of her mind for the moment - and it felt good.
"Can I buy you a drink?"
She glanced to her right, to the direction of the male voice. The man was barely twenty, tall and lanky. Cute enough, she supposed, but not really her type.
Giving him a smile, she held her left wrist up, which was fastened to Lincoln's, and wiggled the cuffs at him. "I'm attached." She jerked her head at Lincoln who was just then turning the two beers in hand. "And let me tell you he's into some kinky shit."
The young man grinned and eyed the glowering Lincoln with open admiration. "Cool. Way to be, man." He gave Lincoln a pat on the shoulder and sauntered off without another look back.
Before he had a chance to chastise her, she rolled her eyes at him. "Lighten up. I'm going to make sure you have fun - even if it kills you." Accepting the bottle of beer from him, she took a long drink from it, savouring the burn of the alcohol as it slid down her throat. It was the first time she'd had a drink since Nathan's death, and she doubted more than a couple of beers would have her tipsy, so she decided to nurse the one she had. Grabbing him by the hand again, she led him through the sea of people bumping and grinding against one another, to a semi-secluded corner of the club.
"Can I ask you something?" She turned to him once she’d found them a suitable place to be alone somewhat away from prying eyes.
Taking a drink from his beer, Lincoln turned and rested his shoulder against the wall shifting his gaze from the crowded dance floor and down to her to meet her eyes. "Sure."
She leaned into him to ensure he could hear her and to give her an excuse to touch him. "How much are you getting for me?"
He hesitated for a moment before answering. "Fifteen thousand."
Angelique whistled. "That's a lot."
"They must have known what kind of a pain in my ass you'd be," he teased.
"Have I really been that bad?"
"I've had worse."
They stared at each other for a moment, the tension between them intense; the music, the club, the people around them all seemed to fade into the background. Then she felt something, an inexplicable feeling - a need - to be with him. She'd loved Nathan, adored him, he was a fine man, barely without a fault, but there was something about Lincoln, a feeling so intense that it both aroused and frightened her.
An overwhelming desire to kiss him, to fall into his arms and feel his bare skin against hers, rushed over her, but she restrained herself. The feeling was nothing like that morning; that morning she needed him for comfort, because she hadn't been with a man in a long time and her desires had taken hold.
This was different. And by the look in his eyes and in his expression, he was feeling it too, like they were in this together for a reason. She wanted to blame it on the alcohol, but she hadn't even finished the first beer yet.
The clang of their cuffs broke her trance and she looked down to see him unlock them and attach them to his belt loop, dropping the key into the front pocket of his jeans.
Slowly she raised her wrist to eye level and then placed the palm onto his broad chest. She then raised her eyes to his, questioning him without actually speaking the words.
"I trust you," he explained.
Angelique blinked, not sure how to respond. This was her opportunity, in a crowd this big, at night, she could easily escape. But then what? And did she really want to? She didn't want to go to Denver and certainly didn't want to go to prison, but at the same time she didn't want to leave him. Not yet anyhow. Not before... Before what?
She huffed at herself and her sudden bout of naivety. Having a shot with him? A relationship? Now that
was a hoot all in itself. But staring up into his eyes, seeing her yearning reflected in them, kept her rooted to the spot.
Setting her beer bottle on the ledge behind her, she stepped up to him, pressed her body against his and slipped her hand behind his neck, pulling his lips down to hers. He hesitated for a moment and then surrendered to her, pressing her against the wall with his hard body, his hands on the wall behind her on either side of her head, boxing her in.
She grabbed the front of his t-shirt and pulled him tighter to her, brushing her pelvis against his groin and feeling his cock stir and rapidly grow against her. She moaned, parting her lips and inviting his tongue to duel with hers. His tongue slipped past her lips, and touched hers, sending a shot of desire through her, ending in a pulsating between her legs.
Wrapping a leg around his waist she pulled him in tight against her groin, rubbing against the ridge of his now rock-hard cock. He groaned against her mouth, slipped a hand up the outside of her thigh and under the short skirt she was wearing to cup her bare ass cheek in his hand.
"No panties, huh?" he asked, a brow cocked at her as he pulled back slightly and caught her eye.
She chewed at her bottom lip and shook her head. "None." Taking a deep breath in, she took a chance, grabbed the waistband of his jeans and pulled him closer to her, undoing the button and unzipping them.
"Here?" He looked around them, slightly alarmed, but no one was paying any mind to them. They were invisible without actually being invisible to the others at the club.
She gave him a coy grin and shrugged. "Everyone else is doing it." An increasing number of people in the club were giving in to their urges and seeking to gratify themselves in the arms of their partner, and in some cases partners.
She would never, ever have dreamed of doing something like this before, but something about the thought that she might be locked away for a very long time and the feel of his hard, warm gorgeous body pressing against her, was tapping into the impulsive side of her. Just something about him.