“I’m sorry,” he called out.
“I don’t care,” Verity replied, not sure if he would hear her or not. She crossed the road as the pedestrian light went green and walked down the road. “I’m sorry, Casey. I’m so sorry. I didn’t even want to do it. You deserve a better husband. I want to tell you but I can’t,” she said out loud. Verity cried and put her hand to her face. She walked straight into someone and looked up to see that it was a uniformed Police Officer.
“Are you alright, Ma’am?” he asked.
Verity nodded, “Sorry, I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“You look upset, do you need some assistance?”
Verity shook her head, “Not exactly. There are only two men I really want to see and they don’t want to see me.”
“I probably can help with man trouble,” he said.
“Do all Police Officer’s know each other?” she asked, watching the dimples of the young Police Officer deepen as he smiled in response to her question.
“Are you looking for one in particular?” he asked, adjusting his hat.
“If you know the detective, Adrian, and you see him, can you tell him Verity said ‘hi’? That’s all, nothing complicated or scary, just ‘hi Adrian’.”
“You mean the blonde one about this tall?”
Verity nodded, “Yeah, and he has a beautiful smile. And a great sense of humour. And he’s really strong and sexy. And he’s lots of incredible stuff really. He’s too good to be true.” More tears ran down Verity’s face as she smiled.
“I do know the Officer to whom you refer, and I will definitely pass it on, Ma’am.”
“Thank you,” Verity replied, “You’re a good looking man. I have to tell people how I feel now in case I don’t see them again. I was doing that and then I stopped. I suck. You’re really young, so don’t rush off into a relationship. You can do better than a woman who just thinks you’re pretty. Make sure she knows what you want and how you feel, and don’t let her push you around.”
The Officer laughed, “Thank you, Verity. Have a good day.”
Verity nodded, “I’ll try. I should at least finish my coffee. I wonder if it’s still on the table.” She turned around and walked back in the direction she had come from. She crossed the road at the lights and went back into the café. She walked to the counter and, before she opened her mouth, the waiter stepped beside her.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think you were coming back so I tipped it out. Sit down and I’ll make you a fresh one and bring your change.”
“Thank you,” Verity replied.
“I’m sorry your Dad’s a jerk,” he said, handing her a serviette.
Verity put her hand to her mouth to cover her smile and nodded. The waiter thought Ryan was her dad. “Me too.” She wiped her eyes on the serviette and sat down at a different table to wait for her coffee. After a few minutes, the waiter brought her coffee and she watched Jason Arturo walk by. “Jason.”
He turned around and looked at her and continued to the counter. He appeared to make an order and then came back and sat down at her table. “Hi.”
“Jason, I asked you for a transfer. I also gave you my resignation letter and you haven’t even talked to me about it. I can’t work in Delaware Street anymore.”
“Is that why you’re crying?”
“Yes, I can’t stay here. I’ll be leaving the organisation today.”
“No, no, don’t do that. I don’t want to lose you. They do need someone over in Baker Street. They’re expanding downtown operations and bringing in some new blood. They want someone experienced in our systems. It’ll be a higher grade, and the position will be for at least six months. They might keep you on after that, I don’t know, I can’t guarantee that, but if you want it then you could start next Monday. I was going to go over as a manager, and have someone act up as me, but I think you should go. I’ll convince them an assistant manager will be better. You’ll be an assistant manager, is that good?”
Verity nodded, “Thank you, Jason.”
He cleared his throat, “Do you find me attractive at all?”
“All people are attractive to some degree,” Verity said, and picked up her coffee.
“I’ve been with a woman for fifteen years and I think she’s the only person who finds me attractive.”
Verity wasn’t sure why Jason was suddenly opening up to her, but decided to answer him candidly. “I’m sure there are other people who find you attractive, but I think your issue as a manager, and as a person, is that you’re lazy and you’re always expecting a better offer. If this woman loves you and has been with you for fifteen years, that’s special. It’s a long time to be with someone, to know everything about them, and still want to know more. A lot of people get bored after a few months.”
Jason thanked the waiter for his coffee and Verity for her candour. “Do you want a cake?”
“No, I’d prefer to just not show up for the rest of the week starting now. I’m not friends with any of those people despite how long I’ve been here. They don’t talk to me unless they want to use my brain and they also make up things about me. I’ll celebrate in my own way. I don’t even want to go back today. I can’t take much more of my life at the moment.”
“I know you don’t fit in there, I don’t either. I didn’t mean a going away cake, I meant now. Let me buy you a piece of cake. You look like you haven’t eaten in a week,” Jason said, getting up from the table.
Verity looked in the direction that Jason had gone and wondered why he suddenly cared. He always treated her like crap as far as she was concerned, getting her to do a lot of things that were his responsibility and stealing her ideas. Maybe he actually cared. Verity had to remember to live in the moment, and she could only go on what she saw. Today she saw a man who cared, and that was good to see.
Chapter 35
Verity was relieved about not having to go back to the Delaware Street office. She could be celebrating, but she had no one to celebrate with and bars were potentially dangerous places when you were alone. She needed to return some books to the library, and wondered if that was an odd thing to be doing on a Friday night. The library end of town wasn’t much further, and she could check out the location of the Baker Street office while she was there. She had passed by a number of bars and restaurants and some people seemed to be intoxicated already. She stopped at an alley to allow a taxi to make a U-turn and a hand came onto the back of her neck.
“Hello, Vee Kay.”
Verity’s heart raced out of control, “Brad, let me go.”
“I just want to have a chat to you in the alley.”
“No, Brad, let me go or I scream,” Verity replied.
Brad turned her head and pushed her up the alley. “Let’s go.”
“Brad, let me go, you’re hurting me.”
He pushed her against the wall, “I don’t give a damn if I’m hurting you. You’re a trouble making slut, Vee Kay, and you always will be. I served time because of you, and you owe me. I want a blow job, now.” He grabbed her ponytail, twisted it around his hand, and pulled her to her knees.
“If you put that in my mouth then I’ll bite it, Brad, I swear to God.”
Brad slapped her across the face, “Dirty bitch. Fine, it’s going up your arse.” He pushed her down to her hands and knees and put her pony tail across her mouth between her teeth. He pulled her head towards her shoulder using her hair and pulled her cardigan over her head from the back. He tied it in a knot at the back of her neck and knelt down behind her. She was trying to breathe through the weave of her cardigan and not to panic. He unzipped his pants and lifted her skirt then pulled her head back using the knot in her cardigan. Verity wrapped her legs around Brad’s legs and leant over sideways, making them both end up on the ground.
“What the hell is going on?”
“Fuck off, it’s a free alley,” Brad replied.
Verity turned her head as Brad’s legs moved from hers. She got to her knees, stood up and tried to get her c
ardigan off her face. She pulled the whole thing off her head and arms, and spat out her hair. She saw that Adrian had Brad against the wall and she felt elated. She was thrilled to see him and even more thrilled to see that he had Brad by the throat.
“Is there a problem, Ma’am?” he asked.
“Yes, he was going to force me to perform fellatio. When I told him I’d bite him if he stuck it in my mouth, he decided to tie my hair and cardigan around my face and try for anal sex instead,” Verity said, trying to unknot her cardigan in her hands.
“She’s lying. I’m her boyfriend,” Brad said.
“Really?” Adrian asked Verity, “Do you know this person?”
“This is Brad Matthews. He’s a key-stealing, rapist, arsehole,” Verity said.
“I think you should slap his face,” Adrian said.
“Agreed,” Verity said. She walked over and slapped Brad hard across the face, “That’s for slapping me.”
Adrian smiled and let Brad go, “Get lost, Brad, before I break something of yours.”
“Think you’re a bigger man than me?” Brad asked, “Want me to whip my dick out and show you want a real man looks like, pussy?”
Adrian looked at Verity, “Is he for real?”
Verity nodded, “Sadly, yes. He lacks insight into his inadequacies as a man. Even though he served time, and he’s apparently a husband and father, he still has no clue.”
“Here, take a look at it,” Brad said, reaching into his open zip and exposing himself.
Adrian turned back and looked at Brad, “Put that little thing away. No one wants to see it. Not me, not her, no one.”
“You’re just jealous, pussy,” Brad said, “Want to try me? I know how to fight. If I win, I can fuck her up the arse and you can fuck off.”
“And if I win?” Adrian asked, folding his arms.
“Doesn’t matter because it won’t happen,” Brad said.
“Uh huh, I’ll tell you what, Brad, you can hit me first,” Adrian said, unfolding his arms.
“You won’t get up from it, loser,” Brad said, “My dick is as good as up her arse.” He punched Adrian in the abdomen.
“Was that it?” Adrian asked, unmoved.
“You have pretty tough abs, but how do you take a punch to the face?” Brad asked. He swung at Adrian’s face but Adrian blocked and punched Brad in the abdomen. Brad doubled over in pain.
“Want another one?” Adrian asked.
Brad nodded, stood up and swung at Adrian’s face again. Adrian blocked again and hit Brad in the abdomen again.
“How about a third one?” Adrian asked.
Brad stayed bent over and shook his head then punched Adrian in the abdomen as he stood up straight. “Gotcha, your turn.”
Adrian smiled, “Okay.” He punched Brad across the face from the left and then the right, grabbed him by the arm, turned him around and pressed him against the wall. “Guess what, Brad? You’re under arrest for assaulting a Police Officer in the line of duty,” Adrian said, putting cuffs on him.
“You’re an undercover cop? Fuck!”
“Assaulting a woman and assaulting a Police Officer, not good, Brad,” Adrian said.
“I forgot there was an AVO, I’m sorry. I’ll apologise, just let me go with a warning.”
Adrian looked at Verity, “There’s an AVO?”
“He punched me in the back a few months ago in front of Senior Constable Roberts,” Verity replied, folding her arms.
“Breaching an AVO too, well, well, you’re not having a very good night, are you? Never mind. Friday night is cancelled, Brad. You’ll be spending the night in a cell, but just so you don’t forget your night in the city, here’s one more for good measure.” Adrian punched Brad hard in the kidney area. There was more he could have done, more he wanted to do, but he had laws to obey.
“Thank you so much, Officer,” Verity said, smiling at Adrian. He winked at her and led Brad away. Verity followed them to the street unable to lose her smile. He looked good, really good, and he knew how to make a girl feel safe.
“Daniels, can you take care of this idiot? Keep him in the four by two overnight for assault and breaching an AVO. I’ll fill out the paperwork in the morning,” Adrian said.
“No problem,” a uniformed Officer said and took Brad to a Police car parked nearby.
Verity put her cardigan on and stood near the wall with her hands behind her back.
Adrian folded his arms and waited until the Police car had driven away before he turned to look at her. “I see you remembered some training.”
“His groin was going to get my foot next, even though I couldn’t see where I was supposed to aim. You look very handsome as always. Off to find a bit of Friday night tail?”
Adrian stood in front of her, took her face in his hands and kissed her on the lips. “Do you want to come to my place? I can kick you out by midnight in case you’re going to turn into a pumpkin.”
“Are you offering me a one-night stand?” Verity asked.
“Not even a night, just a few hours.”
“I was going to go to the library, but sure why not,” Verity replied.
Adrian took her hand in his and Verity felt happy. She had missed him, and holding hands with him felt really right. They walked along in silence, occasionally looking at each other and smiling.
Adrian opened the door to his apartment and guided her in. He turned around and locked the door then pulled her to him. They kissed frantically, pulling at each other’s clothes. Adrian pushed his shoes off and picked Verity up high onto his waist. He kissed her chest and nibbled at her breasts through her clothes. Verity moaned and put her head back. He carried her to his bedroom and put her on the bed. Verity stripped her underpants off and watched Adrian taking off his suit. She sat up and took her dress off over her head and removed her bra. She moved to him to help him take off his clothes. When he was done he pushed her back and dived on her. Verity wrapped her arms and legs around him and sighed loudly as he entered her.
“Oh, Verity, I’ve missed you.” He pushed into her hard and fast, and Verity arched her back, grating her nails across his back. He moved down onto her and kissed her mouth, pushing deep between her legs. Verity moaned into his mouth and he suddenly rolled her over so she was on top. Verity took his hands in hers, rolling her hips like he did to her. Verity squeezed his hands and rode him hard. She looked at his face and he was smiling a half-dazed smile. Verity looked at her breasts bouncing and back at Adrian. She moved harder and faster, and announced she was coming amongst other indecipherable words. Her head flopped towards her chest as she went into a series of involuntary jerks.
“Quick, jump off,” Adrian said.
Verity moved next to him and watched Adrian give himself two swipes before ejaculating half a foot in the air. Verity laughed, “That was awesome to watch.”
“Holy shit, girl, what are you doing to me? I forgot to put on protection,” he panted, “First time ever.”
Verity laughed breathlessly and lied down beside him. He put his arm around her and pulled her close. She rested on his chest and rubbed her fingers in the wet patch just below his belly button. He laughed that it tickled and put his hand on her hand.
“We had yet another passionate quickie without planning it,” Verity said.
“That’s as it should be. I’m glad you agreed to be my Friday night tail. I’ve never heard that expression before, by the way.”
“Adrian, Adrian, Adrian. What have you been doing?”
“I’ve been flat out working,” Adrian replied, “How about you?”
“I’m still attracting douches. You were so sexy dealing with Brad. I’m so happy you were right there for me again.”
“I was just finishing up a shift and happened to be in the right place at the right time.”
“Liar,” Verity said.
Adrian laughed, “Do you think I was following you around?”
“You’re a detective. Why were you doing a drive-by downtown?”
“I like to get out into the community,” Adrian replied, “I have a lot of freedom in my job.”
“You let it slip that you missed me,” Verity said.
“Nah, that was just sex talk.”
Verity smiled and decided to test that theory. She got up off the bed, put her dress on and walked into the bathroom. “Thanks for the sex.”
“What?” Adrian replied.
Verity walked back out of the bathroom and tossed Adrian a wet face washer. “Thanks for coming, I appreciated it. Great stuff. Just what I needed. See you around.” She picked up her underpants and bra and walked out of Adrian’s bedroom smiling. She picked up her handbag and put her bra and underpants in it, then walked to the front door.
“Oi.”
Verity turned around and pursed her lips, “Yes?”
“I did say a couple of hours.”
Verity looked at her watch, “I suppose it is before midnight still, but the sex is done. That’s all you wanted me for. I should leave before it gets awkward. That’s how one-night stands go, so what else is there to do? Unless there was something you wanted to say to me.”
Adrian walked over and got down on his knees in front of her. He wrapped his arms around her and rested his face on her abdomen. “I missed you, Butterfly.”
Verity ran her hand over his short blonde hair and sighed. “You weren’t supposed to miss me.”
“I can’t help it. It’s not even the sex, it’s the laughs and the texts and the crazy things you call me about.”
“I had to delete your number so I wasn’t tempted. I drafted a text a day and hung up just before the call connected a lot of times. I took the option away because I didn’t want to put that pressure on you.”
“I want the pressure, Verity. I want you in my life.”
Verity titled Adrian’s head up. She rubbed his rounded, slightly upturned chin with her thumb and looked into his eyes. “You were my best friend. I know it was a shitty job. I know I’m a pain in the arse. But I can’t help that I love you and appreciate you, or that I want you in my life. I’m a selfish bitch, Adrian, because I know you and I won’t get married to each other, but I want you in my life. Use my number any time you want to, just to hear my voice, just to say hi and hang up, whatever.”
Running Rings Page 27