by Lily Harlem
He raised both arms to the ceiling and clicked his neck from left to right. His underarm hair was damp, and I noticed a small tattoo on the inside of his right arm—a black rose with a thorny stem.
“Show me what you’ve got,” I said.
He grinned and I wanted to slap it from his face.
“And no going easy on me because I’m a girl.”
“You’re not a girl…you’re all woman.”
I tutted. “Just the same, no going easy.”
“If you insist.”
“I insist.”
Oh, I’d have him. Cocky son of a bitch.
I squatted low, then stood and lunged towards him, hands at the ready. Grabbing him around the waist, I threw my weight into spinning him.
He staggered.
But my grip slipped from his hot torso and I smacked into the ropes. Quickly I bounced off and went at him again. This time I got my hands through his legs, clasped the backs of his thighs and kept on hurtling forward.
He gripped my waist but couldn’t counterbalance me—the advantage of being smaller than him and low—and he flew backward. After two steps I felt him going down.
The base of the ring shuddered as we crashed into it.
I landed on top of him, my cheek on his shorts, the outline of his cock on my face.
He was quick to respond, wrapping his legs and arms around me, twisting and flipping me beneath him.
I knew I had to stay mobile and slippery and wriggled to the left, catching him in the crotch with my knee. It was an accident, but I made the most of his pause to groan and shoved at his left side with my heels.
He was after me again, determination on his face.
I blocked his two attempts at grabbing my waist by rolling out of reach. My brain was a cacophony of moves. Fast thinking meant survival.
Or in this case the upper hand and proving a point.
“Fuck,” he muttered when I jumped up and skipped past his head.
“Can’t catch me.” I laughed and jogged on the spot.
“Wanna bet.” He spun on his back, terrapin-style, and wound his legs with mine.
I went down, landing hard on my butt. “Motherfucker!”
He grimaced as I twisted my shins with his and arched away from him. Now our legs were coiled together as we both battled to force the other to rotate.
Unfortunately this was a battle of brawn, not brain.
He flipped me over and was on top of me, his belly on the bare patch of skin on my lower back, between my top and shorts, and his legs in line with mine.
I huffed out a breath and scowled.
His breath was hot in my ear.
“You know I’d fucking headbutt you right now, Sean.”
“You would?”
“Yeah, but your nose is too damn pretty to break.”
“So’s yours.” Suddenly he was off me and on his feet. “There you go, let’s say you’d thrown your head back and shook the hold.”
I jumped up. I was sweating, my heart thumping. I didn’t like to be given a free card, but he had saved himself a broken nose and perhaps a few missing teeth.
I stalked around him, feline-like.
He bounced on the spot, watching me.
I’ll have you.
His skin shone and a red patch had bloomed on his back where I’d first got him and he’d slapped the ring.
I knew I had to do it again, but he’d be expecting it. I couldn’t do the same move twice.
I slipped from his line of vision, just for a split second, and while he turned his head I grabbed his right wrist and swept his feet out from under him.
He didn’t go down.
But he did stagger.
I shoved again, twisting his arm up behind his body.
Now he did fall, but the way he landed on his knees made me wonder if he’d given up his balance too easily.
“Don’t fucking give me a break,” I said, then hurtled my full weight at his back.
He tipped forward, landing with a slap on his front, his face mashing onto the base of the ring.
Now it was my turn to get over him. I straddled his hips and leaned into his back.
He groaned and screwed up his eyes as I yanked his arm up between his scapulas.
“And what would you do now?” I asked by his ear. “And don’t say headbutt, we’ve done that move…hypothetically.”
“Jesus Christ,” he muttered, then groaned, “You want me in work tomorrow or in the hospital?”
I breathed deep, inhaling his hot scent, and squeezed my thighs around his hips. “Yeah, I want you in tomorrow. We’ve got a job to do. Now tell me, what’s your next move and I’ll decide if you get a free pass out of this one, though of course you could always tap out.”
“I’m not tapping out.” He gritted his teeth.
“So tell me.”
“My next move…” He jerked, trying and failing to get out of my hold. “Is I’d fucking fuck you.”
Chapter Ten
“What?” I slackened my grip. Had I heard him right?
He took full advantage and in a second was on his back staring up at me, his eyes flashing and his cheeks flushed.
I was still straddling his hips. Wedged up against my pussy, through our clothing, was one big, thick erection.
In an instant the dynamics had changed. The end goal a completely different one to what we’d started out with.
“You heard me,” he said, gripping my upper arms. “Don’t pretend you didn’t.”
“Yeah, I heard you.” Damn it. Why was a throb of arousal rushing through me? Why wasn’t I getting the hell off him? “Getting beaten up by a woman turns you on, does it? Gets you hard. There’s a name for that.”
He grinned, one of his self-assured grins that just made him better looking and disarmed me further. “I’m hard all right.”
I didn’t say anything. The fact hardly needed confirming.
“And I’m hard because you’re fucking hot, Freya, and it’s been a while since I was in this close contact with a woman who’s hardly wearing anything.”
“I don’t believe you. I bet you have your pick of women.”
He slid his right hand up to my neck and circled the back of it. He raised his head. “Life’s been a bit shit for a while. To tell you the truth, I haven’t been in the mood.”
“Is that why you’re here, in Miami?”
“Yeah.” He swallowed and his eyes narrowed. “But can we talk about it another time?”
“Now’s as good as any.”
“No, it’s not.” He pulled me to him. “Because now I am in the mood.”
“Sean, I—”
“Is Jonathan going to shoot me in the butt if I do this?” he asked, his breath warming my face.
“Do what?”
“You know what, boss.”
I wanted to kiss him. Damn, I wanted his cock too. Sean had driven me crazy today in so many ways, and now I was crazy with lust. “No, he won’t shoot you in the butt or anywhere else. Jealousy isn’t his style.”
“Ricardo?”
Again I was puzzled. We tried to be so careful. Why would Sean bring the subject of Ricardo up? “No, but how do you—?”
“I’m not stupid, I know the look a guy in love gives his woman.”
His mouth was over mine, his tongue probing. I returned the kiss, desire flooding my veins and combining with the adrenaline, the thrill of a fight and my frustration.
“You really think you can fuck your commanding officer?” I said breathlessly as I ground against his cock.
He moaned. “How about you fuck me if that makes you feel better.”
“I might just do that.” I kissed him again and shoved my hand downward, over his slick abs and to the waistband of his shorts. I slipped beneath them and took hold of his hot, hard cock.
Damn, he’s seriously hung.
“Ah, yeah.” He tightened his hold on the back of my neck. “Do it, Freya, fuck me.”
“I will.” My mi
nd had been made up. I was going to claim Sean as I had my other men. And I would fuck him hard, right here, right now, hell to the consequences.
I worked his cock root to tip, my fingers only just reaching around it.
He tipped his head back, teeth clenched and eyes closed.
“You ready for it?” I asked.
“Yes. But…”
“I’ve got contraception covered if that’s what you want to know. And I take it you just had a medical, same as me?”
“Yeah. All clean. Oh God, yeah, keep doing that…”
“No. I want to come too.” I released him, then lifted up and shoved at my shorts. They were off in a second and I was back over him.
He clasped my thighs and stared at my pussy as I fed him towards my entrance. Despite his size I wasn’t in the mood for slow and sensual and as soon as he was there I sat deep, taking him in to the hilt, his way smoothed by my arousal.
He cried out, his fingers digging into my thighs. “Ah. That’s good.”
“You handling it?” I asked. Fuck. I was stretched so wide it kind of hurt, in a good way.
“More,” he panted. “More. Do it.”
I gave it, grinding my hips and filling myself up with him. I made sure he hit all my hot spots and my clit rubbed against his hard body.
He was kissing me again, hot and breathlessly.
I ran my hand into his hair and gripped it, gave it a hard tug. I wanted him to really feel me fucking him.
He gasped as his head stretched to the left.
I gave it another yank, right at the roots.
He winced and closed his eyes.
I didn’t let up my furious pace, fucking him with every gyration of my hips and keeping him buried deep. With my other hand I cupped his chin. “Look at me.”
He opened his eyes, his pupils wide and dancing with excitement.
“You’re mine,” I said. “And I’m yours. That’s how it is with SWAT We’re together.”
“Yes. Fuck, yes.”
“And you do as I say.”
He nodded. “Yes.”
“You want to come?”
“Yes, I’m going to. Jesus…”
I knew I was giving it to him good and he was loving being fucked by a woman who wasn’t afraid to show strength and control. Whatever the hell he’d been through, I’d make him feel better again. I’d make him conform to the team rules. I’d make him mine in every way. I needed to keep my loose cannon wrapped up for a while, so he and everyone else were safe. And I’d keep him wrapped up in me.
“Is it there yet?” I squeezed his chin harder and spoke onto his parted lips. “Is it there? Mine is. Oh fuck, yes, my orgasm is here…” I adored being on top like this and it had been some time since I had. Full control of my climax was bliss.
And it was within reach.
I upped the pace, his cock so damn solid and dense, and then teetered on the brink of absolute ecstasy. I didn’t let up my rapid movements. I wanted him to come with me.
And he did. He bucked his hips and grabbed my waist. He dragged me onto him and cried out as he released.
“Yes, yes, yes,” I shouted, my pleasure extending. “Fuck, yes.”
He caught my mouth and kissed me. I kissed him back, moaning through each clash of our teeth and grope of our tongues.
Again he surged upward, nudging my cervix and making me groan all over again. My pussy clasped around him and my clit sent more fingers of bliss shimmering over my skin.
“Ah, damn it,” I moaned, finally slowing.
“Damn it?” He was breathing hard, his chest rising and falling rapidly against mine. “You regret it already?”
“No.” I grinned. “And I won’t tomorrow either. You’re good to fuck, Sean.” I paused for breath. “I feel better than when I walked in here.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” He dropped his head back with a whump.
I released his chin and hair, my fingers aching from gripping him so tightly. I wondered if he’d have finger mark bruises on his jaw line tomorrow. “Much as I’d like to snuggle,” I said, lifting off his cock and standing. My legs were a little shaky. “Best we don’t when anyone could walk in here.”
“That wasn’t bothering you a few seconds ago.” He looked up at me, blinking at the harsh overhead light.
“A few seconds ago I was only thinking of one thing.”
“Me.” He grinned.
“Your huge cock, actually.” I laughed and pulled on my shorts. I then held my hand out to him. “Come on, big boy.”
He ignored my hand and jumped up. He tucked himself away then gripped the ropes, still breathing hard.
I rested my hand between his shoulders. “You okay?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You gonna tell me why you haven’t been in the mood?” I paused to breathe. “Why life has been so shit?”
He glanced over his shoulder at me, then ducked and slipped through the ropes. He landed softly on the floor.
I stayed where I was while he wiped his face on his towel then took a slug of water.
When he remained silent I frowned. “I thought we were bonding here.”
“Is that what it’s called these days?”
“Come on.” I climbed out of the ring and reached for my own water. “I care.”
He rubbed his jaw and made a show of clicking it from side to side.
“Ah, don’t be a baby, you can handle a bit of rough.”
He chuckled and I was glad of the sound.
“So tell me.” I stepped close and this time I cupped his chin very gently. “A problem shared and all that.”
“This one can’t be halved, if that’s what you’re going to say.”
“I can listen. Been told I’m good at that.”
He sighed. “I lost my mother, recently, in a car smash.”
“Shit. I’m sorry.”
He raked his hand through his hair, flashing his tattoo again, and closed his eyes. “It was a cop car that hit hers. I knew the guys driving it. It was an accident, or so the verdict ruled.”
“That’s bad. I’m really sorry.” Fuck, that must have been hard to go through.
“Which is why I couldn’t stay in Boston. I couldn’t keep seeing their faces. I put in for a transfer.”
“And Balko came with you?”
“Yeah. We’ve always been buddies, had each other’s backs. His family went back to Slovakia a few years ago, so he had no ties to Boston. He said he wanted a change, but really I knew he wanted to look out for me in a new place.”
“Wow, good friend.”
“He is.”
I ran my hand from his chin, down his neck and over his shoulder. His skin was warm and a little damp and perfectly smooth. I traced the shape of his biceps and forearms and took his hand in mine. “I hope you’ll be happy here with us. Well, as happy as you can be on a SWAT team and getting shot at by bad guys every day.”
He half smiled. “It all happened two years ago. I should be ready to move on.”
“But as you said that is recent to lose a loved one.”
“In my head, yeah, but I know she’d want me to be happy. She was a single mom, loved me with everything she was.”
“The way you loved her.”
He nodded and squeezed the bridge of his nose.
“What was her name?”
“Rose.”
“Ahh, the tat.”
He shrugged. “Yeah. Rose and thorns. They come together because love hurts, huh? No matter who it is you love.”
“Not always.” I paused. “Can you promise me one thing?”
“Sure.”
I went on my toes and brushed my lips with his. “Don’t go trying to join her in Heaven too soon. She won’t be pleased to see you if it’s before your time. She’d clip your ear, I bet.”
He half smiled. “She would. And I’ll do my best not to head upward for a while yet.”
“Good man.” I stepped away. “I’m going to hit the
road.”
“You are?”
“Yeah.” He was so big and sexy standing there, I was sure women would have been throwing themselves at him while he’d been grieving. It sounded like he not only hadn’t noticed, but also hadn’t cared. I, however, saw something else in him now, vulnerability mixed with determination.
He wanted to be okay.
He wanted to move on, and fit in.
“Come back to my place if you want.” I shrugged as though it was no big deal, even though it was. I wanted to get to know Sean better, dig into the recesses of his mind so when push came to shove I could predict his moves.
Not only that, something told me I’d have room in my bed and my heart for him. Ricardo and Jonathan took up a lot of space, but a heart always has the capacity for more. It was one of the many things I’d learned about love.
Chapter Eleven
I didn’t hide the fact that I was arriving at work with Sean the next morning. Officers rode in together all the time.
But Jonathan and Ricardo were in the lot. Both dressed in black, pistols strapped at the ready to their thighs and vests loaded up. To them, this was something unusual.
Jonathan looked between me and Sean, his thumbs hooked into the pockets of his combats. “You switched car pool partners.”
“Yes.” I studied his eyes. “You okay with that?”
“If you’re happy.”
“I am.”
He nodded then turned away.
I could tell by the relaxed hold of his shoulders, the way he walked, that he had no problem with me spending time with Sean. Knowing how Jonathan’s mind worked, he was probably glad I was taking some control of our loose cannon.
“Ricardo?” I said, falling into line with him as he strode across the lot. Sean was on my opposite side and unusually silent. “Is it a problem?”
“He’s one of the team.” Ricardo shrugged stiffly.
“He is now.” There was hidden meaning in my words and Ricardo would pick up on them. Sean was now one of my lovers and stood in line with Ricardo and Jonathan.
Ricardo gave Sean a sideways glance, his eyes narrowed and his mouth a thin line. “You need to know your place, Mendez.”
“I do,” Sean said.