“Cute guys?” She cocked a brow, feigning interest. Not that she cared. The only cute guy she wondered about now avoided her like the plague.
“Oh yeah, definitely. Lots of corporate types come here for drinks. Or they watch football, baseball, whatever’s playing on the big screen. It’s a lot of fun.” Theresa cocked her head, watching her. “So tell me. Do you have a boyfriend?”
Janelle shook her head. “Oh, no. I’m single.”
“Dating anyone?”
“No, not at all.” A flush heated Janelle’s cheeks and she hoped Theresa didn’t notice. How could she explain Nate to her? She couldn’t tell Theresa how they met.
“Mmm, hmm. I remember that guy who came to see you a couple of weeks ago, the detective. He was hot. What about him?”
Bud the bartender appeared with their drinks, interrupting them. She was thankful he kept Theresa talking for a few minutes with flirtatious banter, making Theresa giggle.
She didn’t want to get into the details over why a cop came to talk to her. The truth would make Theresa’s head spin. She’d probably ask a million questions. None Janelle would want to answer.
“So? Why did he come and talk to you?” Theresa turned her attention to Janelle after Bud walked away. She sipped from her glass and smacked her lips together. “God, that’s good.”
Great. Theresa didn’t forget, unfortunately. “Um, there was a string of robberies in my apartment complex and he was investigating the case. I guess a neighbor told him I might’ve seen someone. A suspect.”
Good lord, she hadn’t lied like that in ages. She hated that she was fibbing to her new friend, but she couldn’t reveal the truth.
A lie was much, much easier.
“Wow, really?” Theresa’s light brown eyes nearly bugged out of her head. “So you saw some guy breaking into an apartment or what? Has yours been broken into?”
“Luckily no. I really didn’t see anything. I think my neighbor got me confused with someone else or—something.” Janelle winced. What a lame story.
“Ah, bummer. Well, actually it was probably best you didn’t see anything. I would never want to be a witness to a crime. I think that would bring too much trouble into my life. I hate drama.”
Oh, God did Janelle ever hate drama.
“True.” Janelle took another sip, enjoying the sweet, powerful liquid as it slid down her throat and warmed her stomach. This was nice, having a drink with her new friend, talking about silly stuff, flirting with the bartender who kept checking up on them. No one else from work showed up, but that gave her a chance to get to know Theresa better.
They ended up sharing a plate of nachos and gossiping about work. Theresa told Janelle about breaking up with her boyfriend and how hard it had been on her, how she was looking for someone new. Theresa also invited her to have brunch on Sunday, which Janelle took her up on.
It was the nicest night she’d had in a long time. She felt almost...normal.
“I need to get up early tomorrow. I’m going to my parents’ house for a birthday party for my nephew and they live two hours away,” Theresa told her as they left the restaurant and walked out into the cool night.
“Oh well, drive safe.” Janelle smiled, though she felt wistful. She wished she had a nice big family to go hang out with and celebrate a nephew’s birthday party.
“I will. I’ll fill you in with all the details on Sunday. My mother drives me nuts. My entire family drives me nuts, but doesn’t everyone’s?” Theresa embraced Janelle quickly, surprising her. “I’m so glad you came tonight. I’ll call you tomorrow after I get home and we can set up a time to meet.”
“That sounds perfect.” Janelle watched Theresa walk to her car, a thread of jealousy coursing through her veins.
Theresa didn’t know how good she had it. A nice normal life. She had a job to complain about, a boyfriend who broke her heart and a mother who drove her nuts, probably because she cared too much.
Janelle would give everything to have a glimmer of that.
With a sigh, she headed for her car, her heels clicking loudly on the asphalt of the vast parking lot. She caught sight of the familiar navy blue car. It sat up ahead, not too far from her Toyota.
Normally her anonymous guard parked far enough that he wasn’t obvious, but close enough she always saw him.
As she walked closer, she realized she’d have to pass the blue car, which meant she’d catch a glimpse of him. Finally. She was curious. Of course, it couldn’t always be the same guy who tailed her but she wanted to see one of them at least once.
Turning her head slightly, not wanting to appear too obvious, she glanced in the direction of the windshield to find Nate sitting behind the steering wheel, watching her with an intensity that nearly scorched her where she stood.
She stopped in her tracks, stunned. Was he the one who’d been following her since day one? No way, it couldn’t be. He was too busy conducting his investigation, trying to find Ginger, trying to nab Billy.
Her feet started to move of their own volition and she headed for the driver’s side of the car. He threw open the door and climbed out, waiting for her, a hint of a smile curving those appealing lips.
Her knees quaked at the sight of him, her nipples chafed against her bra. Nate appeared and she reacted, just like that.
She wondered if he had a clue of the power he wielded over her body.
“So you’re the one keeping tabs on me?”
Nate shrugged. “Not all the time but lately, yeah.”
“Why? Aren’t you busy? Trying to catch all the bad guys?”
“The investigation’s been...stalled. Diaz’s operating somewhere else, the club’s clean. And your sister is still hiding out.” His expression was grim, his voice low and he sounded disappointed.
“I still haven’t heard from her,” she offered, wishing she could tell him something different.
“So is everything okay?” He clutched the top of the car door and breathed deep. “Have fun in there?”
She was surprised by his question. “Yes, I did.”
“Meet anyone?” Clenching his jaw, his lips thinned and his eyes glowed bright with a strange light.
Was that jealousy she saw reflected in their dark depths?
“Not really.” She met him at the door, pressing her hands on the top edge of it much as he did.
“What the hell kind of answer is that?”
Oh yes, he was most definitely jealous. His big body was tense, his face a glowering mask as he watched her. A thrill shivered through her veins.
His reaction showed he might actually care.
“Well, I met the bartender, but he only has eyes for my friend. And I talked to our waitress, who was a real sweetheart.”
He visibly relaxed, though his jaw was still tight. “Oh.”
Her eyebrows rose and she crossed her arms in front of her chest. “That’s all you have to say? ‘Oh’?”
“Look, I have no right to interrogate you about your social life. It’s none of my business. Have you tried to get a hold of Ginger?”
Janelle shook her head at his quick change of subject. All business, that was her detective. Relaxing her defensive stance, she gripped the door frame again, tempted to place her hand over Nate’s. “I told you I’d let you know the minute she called.”
“Good.” Nate nodded once, then climbed back into the car. “You ready?”
She stood there, still hanging onto the door, feeling like a damn fool. Why wouldn’t he make the first move and tell her how he felt? She knew he wanted her as badly as she wanted him.
Why did they step around each other so cautiously when all they really wanted to do was throw themselves at each other?
“You’re following me back to my place?” She watched him wrap those long fingers around the steering wheel after he started the car, remembering how they felt on her skin.
She wanted to feel them again, trailing all over her body, pushing inside of her. Tonight.
“Of
course. It’s my job.” He flicked his chin in the direction of her parked car. “Let’s go.”
Janelle turned away with a huff, irritated he was virtually ignoring her, ignoring the sparks flaring between them.
A smile teased her lips as she walked toward her car and she put an extra swing in her hips, hoping like hell he was watching and sweating over it. An idea bloomed inside her, one that would likely knock his socks off if he responded the way she wanted.
She really, really hoped it worked.
* * * *
Nate lied to Janelle. This was the first night he’d watched her, though he’d led her to believe he’d been doing it for a while.
She was right, he’d been busy. He’d worked his ass off trying to find the elusive Ginger and plotting with Greg to come up with a way to nail Diaz.
Staying late at the precinct every night, coming home to collapse in bed and pass out until morning. He was visited every night by Janelle in his dreams though, the both of them naked in his bed. Licking and sucking her pretty pink nipples into his mouth. Stroking her intimately, his fingers deep inside her, making her cry out with his every touch. Her plump lips wrapped around his dick, giving him the blow job to end all blow jobs.
Like clockwork, he’d wake up with an intense headache and a raging hard on. No matter how much he jerked off in the shower, he never felt satisfied.
Seeing her walk out of the building just after five o’clock had made his hopes rise, amongst other things. She looked beautiful, wearing a pale green dress that emphasized her curves, the skirt swirling about her long legs.
Disappointment tampered his hopes when she went to a restaurant and popular bar with her friend. The two women sat inside for hours, talking and drinking.
He knew because he’d snuck in to see. Spying on her made him feel like a complete ass and he slunk out of there before she caught him.
So he’d sat in the car quietly seething, jealousy bubbling in his gut. He didn’t like the thought of Janelle with another man. At all. He wanted to be the man who brought her pleasure, made her laugh, made her think.
The relief that had filled him at her admission had been overwhelming. He assumed she and her friend had gone to the bar to flirt with guys. All Janelle really wanted to do was hang out.
Now he followed her back to her place. Where he’d sit in the parking lot and imagine her getting ready for bed. What was her normal routine? Would she take a shower? What did she wear? PJs? A nightgown? Perhaps she wore nothing at all...
Sweat popped out on his forehead and he shook his head. This night was going to be his worst nightmare. Knowing she was safe in her apartment, sleeping peacefully in a warm cozy bed.
Would it startle her if he let himself in and snuck inside? Or would she welcome him with open arms?
She’d be warm and sleepy and soft. He imagined searching her soft skin with his hands and tongue as she encouraged him with sweet little sighs and whimpers. Bury his face between her legs and taste her sweetness, making her gasp, making her moan. Fill her with his cock until she cried out in ecstasy as she came. Hold her close as their heartbeats mingled and they slowly fell asleep.
Shit. He didn’t normally think like this and it was slowly starting to eat him up inside. He needed to stop.
He couldn’t stop.
Pulling into the last available parking spot facing her apartment building, Nate killed the engine and sat frozen in his seat. His cock throbbed inside his jeans and he cursed under his breath, pissed.
The last thing he needed was to get worked up over a woman who wasn’t interested. He needed to concentrate. Sit out the next ten hours until the guy who covered the day shift showed up and he could get the hell out of there.
It was going to be hellish torture. He didn’t know if he would be able to stand it.
Janelle walked by his car minutes later, didn’t bother looking his way. She fairly sauntered, her hips swinging, the skirt of her dress swishing around her legs. Those legs had been wrapped around his waist when she’d anchored her lush body to his. As he’d thrust deep inside her that one magical night.
Nate closed his eyes, breathing deep, desperate to gain some sort of control.
She moved with a seductive grace up the stairs that led to her door, glancing over her shoulder once, so quick he barely noticed it. It was dark outside, but there was enough light to see the hint of a smile curving her luscious lips before she started to unlock the front door.
The little vixen was doing it on purpose. Putting on a show and trying to make him miserable.
It worked.
Janelle disappeared inside and he breathed a sigh of relief. He should’ve never asked for this duty, had known it was a mistake as soon as he volunteered to cover the spot left vacant tonight by the patrol officer who had a medical emergency. He’d done it to be a nice guy, to help cover when his boss was in a fix.
Shit, who was he kidding? He’d jumped at the chance to be near Janelle again.
A light flickered on and the apartment blinds were cracked open, allowing him a glimpse inside. Leaning forward he peered up at the window, watching as she moved about inside the room. She approached the window, tugging on the string that zipped the blinds up and his eyes widened.
Janelle stood in the window for a moment, staring directly at his car and then her hand was at her chest, her fingers moving over the front of her dress.
Undoing every little button that rested there, she revealed inches of golden skin with each flick of her fingers, letting the fabric fall open. She wore a pale colored lace bra and it cupped her plump breasts invitingly, making his hands itch to do the same.
She continued to undo each button, shrugging out of the dress when she undid the last button above her waist, letting the top of her dress fall off. Her long blonde hair hung over one shoulder, the ends curling invitingly over her breast and she raised her arms, smoothing her hair back behind her shoulders with both hands.
The movement caused her breasts to thrust forward and she kept her arms up, cocking her head to the side. He squinted into the darkness, desperately trying to make out the color of her bra. His hard on strained urgently against his fly and he shifted, tried to ignore it. Too caught up in the show Janelle was giving him.
Purple. That was it, but much paler. What did they call it? Hell, he was a guy. He didn’t know.
It came to him as her fingers went to the front center of her bra, twisting the clasp that rested there. Lavender. The palest, thinnest lavender lace barely covered her breasts and then it was gone, whisked away with a flick of her fingers.
Rosy pink nipples beckoned him as they stood at attention and he licked his lips, practically tasting them on his tongue. She cupped her breasts, her fingers massaging the supple skin, drawing slow circles around her nipples with her agile thumbs. Eyes sliding closed, her head fell back.
His blood heated to boiling as he imagined his hands cupping her breasts, kneading her baby soft skin. He’d dip his head, draw a pert nipple into his mouth and suck, make her cry out. Using his teeth, he’d nibble, hands searching, sliding down her belly to test the trim nest of dark blonde curls that covered her mound. She would be wet, soaked for him.
So lost in his thoughts, he almost missed Janelle sliding her hand down her torso, her head now dipped down so she could watch herself. Nibbling on that lush lower lip, her arm moved up and then down, and he didn’t need to see to know what she was doing.
Touching herself. And thinking of him while she did so, he knew it.
A cold sweat broke out over his scorching hot skin and he trembled with need. Just the idea of her rubbing her clit, plunging her fingers inside herself, had him ready to go off like a rocket.
Nate couldn’t take it. Hell, what if someone else was watching? And why would he sit in this stupid car and jack off when he could be in her apartment sinking into her tight wet heat in mere minutes?
Exiting the car, he slammed the door and sprinted up the sidewalk, taking the stairs two
at a time. They rattled noisily, surely letting her know he headed in her direction and the moment he knocked on the door, she opened it.
Looking like his every fantasy come to life, greeting him in a pair of lavender lace panties and nothing else.
“You took longer than I expected.” Her voice was husky, her brilliant blue eyes glittering with arousal. Her skin had taken on a rosy flush and her nipples were so hard they appeared almost painful.
Nate crowded her, slamming the door behind him with a kick of his foot. Cradling her face between his hands, he swooped in and kissed her, stealing her breath as well as his own.
“I think I was in shock,” he murmured against her lips when he broke the kiss. “I couldn’t believe what you were doing. Stripping for me, touching yourself. So incredibly sexy. Are you trying to drive me crazy?”
“I was trying to drop you a not-so-subtle hint.” She nibbled on his lower lip, tugging on it with her teeth and he groaned.
“Let me taste.” He grabbed her hand, bringing it to his mouth and the fragrant scent of her arousal filled his nostrils. Slipping her fingers inside his mouth, he sucked, tasting her, lapping at her cream.
Salty sweet and musky, his mouth watered. So eager for the chance to dive between her thighs and really taste. Savor and enjoy.
“See what you make me do?” She watched him licking her fingers, her hand shaking, her eyes zeroed in on his mouth.
“Every night I dream about you,” he said without thinking.
Blinking hard, she smiled at his confession.
A confession he couldn’t believe he revealed.
“I dream about you too,” Janelle admitted, her fingers curling to touch his lips, trace them. “You’re all I think about.”
Nate’s hand moved back to her waist and he crushed her to him, their mouths meeting in a carnal kiss. Their tongues tangled, lips sucking, teeth nibbling as if they couldn’t get enough of each other.
And they couldn’t.
Chapter Eight
Strip Tease Page 11