by Geri Krotow
“Mitch.” She breathed his name into his mouth and he kissed her more deeply, loving the feel of her teeth, her tongue against his. He kissed her throat, sucked on her skin, his hand under her shirt, on her breast, teasing her nipple.
“Oh, my goodness, Mitch, don’t stop.” She eagerly shucked her top and bra, exposing her breasts to the warm air.
“You are so freaking beautiful, Nika.” Her breasts were perfect in the firelight, her nipples erect and begging for his mouth. When he sucked on her, Nika’s moans grew in intensity as her fingers ran through his hair. She arched her pelvis against his, rubbing his erection.
“You need to get undressed, Mitch.”
“I do.” He stood and let her hands unbutton his jeans, pull down his fly, tug at the waist. As he stepped out of his jeans and pulled off his underwear, he watched her expression. The heat in her eyes when she looked at him took him too close to the breaking point.
Not yet. He wanted to savor this first time with Nika.
“Your bedroom, Nika. Now.”
She laughed, a rich, husky melody. As she stood she held out her hand and he took it. “Come on, Mitch. Let’s go.”
*
Nika wasn’t a nun and she’d had men over before. But since Ron it had always been with the certainty that the relationship wouldn’t last. She wouldn’t let it. And frankly no one had ever kept her interest as long as Mitch.
He had her interest now.
They entered her darkened bedroom, where she’d left a soft LED candle on next to her bed. It flickered and made the room glow with the dark blue of the glass votive.
“Nika.” The way he said her name was like an endearment. As if what he felt for her was more than this, this one night of lovemaking.
His hands came around her from behind and drew her up against his erection. As it pressed into her bottom she arched her neck back, leaning her head on his shoulder while he squeezed her breast with one hand and dipped lower, along her belly, to between her legs, with his other hand. When his fingers entered her she twisted and turned, needing satisfaction that only his deliciously bold touch would give her.
He kissed her and moved his fingers until she was on the verge of her climax. She gasped at the white-hot sensations and he pushed her back onto the bed as her knees buckled.
“Perfect timing. I don’t think I could stand one more second.” She put her hands on his head, drawing him to her.
“Less talk, Nika.” Mitch poised above her, his forearms on either side of her head, his erection teasing her moist center.
“Mitch.”
“Nika.” He thrust inside her in one slick motion and Nika exploded as he filled her, stretched her to a point of sheer ecstasy. He continued to thrust as she absorbed the climax and her body readied itself for more. With Mitch there would always be more, she knew. This wasn’t just another one-night hookup for her.
“Don’t stop, Mitch.” She encouraged his expert lovemaking, arching her pelvis as close as she could to him, meeting him and relishing the slam of their bodies together. His biceps and shoulders tightened under her fingers, his skin slick, and as he came in an explosion of release he called out her name.
They lay next to each other until sleep came, but not before Nika acknowledged that she’d never been so fully made love to before—and that she’d never allowed a man to take her so completely. Mitch was reaching her more deeply than her past lovers, and it had nothing to do with her G-spot. This was about her heart.
Chapter 18
Mitch woke to the soft sound of Nika’s breathing. She lay on her side, spooned perfectly against him. The low roar of the winds hadn’t stopped and he briefly wondered if he’d be able to leave her house at all on Sunday. It occurred to him that he didn’t care if he ever left Nika’s house.
He breathed in the scent of her hair, its long brunette strands curled between them. His training urged him to get up and check the weather conditions, check his phone for any messages from Claudia or TH headquarters. But his heart? His heart was...content.
He sat up with a start, the sudden movement waking Nika. “What?” She sprang into a sitting position as quickly as he had. “What’s wrong?”
His laugh erupted into the quiet room. “Nothing’s wrong. Nothing at all.”
Nika ran her fingers through her hair. Hair that was beyond any grooming thanks to the two additional lovemaking sessions they’d enjoyed since coming to bed last night. “Then why did you wake us up like this?”
“I didn’t wake us up. It’s the wind.” Scaredy cat. Yeah, he was afraid, all right. Afraid of acknowledging what his feelings for Nika meant. What they could lead to...or not.
“It’s still snowing?” She got out of bed and padded to the window, peeking through her blinds. The dim votive light illuminated her naked curves and the inevitable erection he’d learned to accept whenever she was near stirred. “There’s at least three feet out there, Mitch. We won’t get out until they plow the street, and with this kind of visibility that won’t be any time soon.”
He looked at his watch: 0430. “Come back to bed, Nika.”
*
Nika took her time in the shower, allowing the water to run in hot streams where Mitch’s fingers, mouth and tongue had been all night. It should frighten her, this unbelievable bond they shared. Instead it puzzled her. How had she allowed it to happen, especially during such a difficult case? A case that was increasing in threat level?
She dried off quickly and made short work of getting dressed before she went into the kitchen. Mitch stood at the counter, holding a fork over the Belgian wafflemaker. He’d already showered and his hair was still damp.
“Good morning.” She grabbed a mug from the cupboard and poured a hefty amount from the full carafe he’d brewed. “Thanks for making breakfast, again.”
“It’s my pleasure.” He grinned. “Really. I don’t know how to cook much more than breakfast. I have omelets for dinner more than I care to admit.”
She sat at the table and watched him. This was getting too familiar, too cozy, too, too comfortable.
“Stop it, Nika.”
She didn’t answer. Mitch took the last of five waffles off the iron and brought the stack of them to the table, where he’d set their places. He warmed up his coffee and then sat across from her. His expression was grave but the slight lift of his mouth at the right corner gave away his mirth.
“It’s not funny, Mitch.”
“Who’s laughing?” He poured maple syrup on his waffle and helped himself to the bowl of fresh fruit.
“I see you found the grapes and melon. And banana.” The guy was a regular gourmet.
“I did. And stop skirting the issue.”
“I’m not skirting anything. We have a potential murderer on the loose. Silver Valley High along with the entire population of our town is at risk from a wacko cult. It’s not the best time for us to be playing honeymooners. You don’t disagree with that?” As soon as she said “honeymooners” she cringed. “I didn’t mean—”
He placed his hand on her mouth.
Her lips pulsed under his fingertips, and she fought the urge to nip at them, suck them back into her mouth.
“No. More. Thinking. At least about last night. We had an amazing time together, and it was because it was more than just sex. I know you’re not going to want to talk about it now, and I suggest we don’t. Let’s refocus on the case and figure out our next steps.”
“I thought that’s what we were doing last night.”
“We were, until other issues came up.” He grinned. “That pun wasn’t intended, but it works.”
She got it. Mitch compartmentalized. It was essential to survival in the military and law enforcement. Personal issues had to be shelved until the mission was finished.
She dug into her waffle and groaned in delight. “Mitch, this is like pure butter. How did you do this with what I have in my pantry?”
“Chef’s secret. More guarded than the Trail Hikers.”
At his jest she swallowed and stared at him. “The Trail Hikers are going to take this case over completely, aren’t they?” Disappointment welled; she’d really wanted SVPD to be at the center of bringing the cult to its knees. Especially in apprehending whoever was stalking the high school. She’d wanted to put the cuffs on the criminal as an SVPD officer, not work in the shadows as a Trail Hiker.
“Eventually the FBI and ATF will come in. They have to. But you’ll be in it, Nika. It’s going to take each and every one of us. And Trail Hikers doesn’t exist, remember? Not on the surface, not under a rock. We’re a shadow agency.”
“Emphasis on ‘shadow.’” She grabbed a slice of bacon from his plate. “Did they teach you to cook like this in the Marine Corps?”
“No, nothing like that. I used to make sure my brothers and sister had a full belly before they went to school each day. I watched cooking shows on PBS long before it was cool to watch them on the Food Network.”
She stood after she finished her waffle and helped him clear the table. “You go relax. You cooked, I’ll clean up.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice. I brought some lab papers to grade. I had a feeling I might get stuck here with the storm.” He looked through her kitchen window at the driving snow. “I had no idea it would last this long.”
“Me, either. It’s always a toss-up, central PA weather.” She stacked dishes and filled the sink with sudsy water.
The warm, grounded feeling she had in her chest was peace. Being with Mitch allowed her to let go of the anxieties of her job and enjoy the moment.
There was no one she’d rather be stranded with.
*
The storm dumped three feet of snow on Silver Valley and it took two days to dig out. Mitch left early on Monday, as soon as the major roads were clear. One of Nika’s neighbors had cleared their small subdivision with a snowblower. On Wednesday, Silver Valley had a full school day, during which Nika convinced Rachel to go with her to SVPD after school. Rachel was still vulnerable after their phone conversation the other night and Nika was relieved she didn’t need to force the issue.
What concerned Nika most was revealing to Rachel that she was an undercover officer. Apprehension made her late lunch churn in her stomach, as if she’d had spicy chili instead of the leafy green salad from the cafeteria’s impressive salad bar.
Rachel met her in the parking lot after agreeing in chemistry class that she’d go to SVPD headquarters with Nika to file a report about what they’d observed while at the New Thought gathering.
“Thanks for agreeing to go with me to the police, Rachel.”
“No problem. I wish I thought I could help more. I don’t have anything to tell them. What will the cops do, anyway? The people living out in the trailer park are all adults, with their kids. No one is being held against his or her will.”
Nika listened to Rachel’s complaints as she drove to the station. She considered it a small miracle that Rachel had allowed her to even bring her. She’d been very defensive about being able to take care of herself since her mother had gone to stay with the Wise cronies. Nika doubted Belinda would ever leave the campground of her own volition.
“You know more than you think you do. They just want to get your take on things. No one’s going to make you leave your home, Rachel.”
Nika adjusted her rearview mirror and wished she saw the reflection of Mitch’s truck in it. He’d agreed to meet her, Rachel, Claudia and Colt at SVPD but she knew that a number of things could delay him.
She pulled into the gravel parking lot, as familiar as her own driveway, and parked the car. She looked at Rachel. “I know you haven’t known me that long, Rachel, but you need to know that you can trust me. I’m more than just another high school friend.” That was all she trusted herself to say before she got out of the car. She used her ID badge to buzz them into the station and Rachel’s eyes widened.
“Wait—you’re not—no freaking way!” Horror, shock, confusion raced across her expression before a grim comprehension settled over her features. “It figures. You wouldn’t have wanted to be my friend otherwise.”
“That’s not true, and we’ll settle this later. Right now, please come with me, Rachel. Silver Valley needs you.”
Rachel stared at her. “You’re not pulling me in here to narc on my mother, are you?”
“No. This is to protect you, and the other kids at school.”
It seemed like hours but Rachel finally nodded, the early winter wind whipping her hair around. “Okay, I’ll go in. But if I feel like it’s getting too nuts, I’m getting a lawyer.”
“That’s fair.” Nika slid her ID through the card reader again and the door clicked open.
*
Mitch sat waiting in the conference room with Chief Todd, Claudia and Bryce. He didn’t think they’d get any new information from Rachel. Nika had been at the girl’s side for the past couple of weeks. Save for Belinda Boyle’s link to the cult, and the invaluable information Nika had gleaned from the cult’s propaganda literature, he thought they’d eked out what they were going to get.
Nika appeared in the doorway first and, when her eyes sought his, satisfaction curled deep in his gut. She needed him, needed his strength. And it felt damned good. He prayed he wouldn’t let her down. The case still had a long way to go, the path fraught with danger.
“Good afternoon, everyone. This is Rachel Boyle.” Nika moved into the room and Rachel came in behind her, a look of stunned anger on her face.
“Hi, Rachel. I’m Claudia Michaels, the SVPD social media and systems specialist.” Claudia’s smile was warm as she welcomed Rachel with a nod. Colt followed, as did Bryce.
“You know me, Rachel.”
“Hi, Mr. Everlock. Are you a cop, too?” Rachel’s eyes were sharp, the lines around her lips white with stress.
Ouch. If she only knew about the Trail Hikers, Mitch was certain she’d run from the station.
“No, Rachel. I’m still a chemistry teacher. I agreed to help with this case because of the threat to the Rainbows.”
“Come on in and have a seat, Rachel.” Bryce stood and pulled out the chair next to him, which Rachel took, her spine erect. Mitch knew she wasn’t “his” kid but still, he was so damned proud of her.
Nika sat in the chair next to Claudia’s, opposite Mitch. Her eyes were on Rachel. “Rachel, since Bryce is the lead detective on this case, I’ll let him ask the questions. But first, we want you to know that your safety has always been paramount. And I want you to know that despite the obvious lying about who I really am, I do trust you and feel as if you’re my friend. You can count on me in all of this.”
Rachel replied to Nika’s comment with a short nod. She was pissed off now but Mitch hoped that once she realized the scope of what they were dealing with she’d forgive Nika. Rachel’s eyes were back on him. “Mr. Everlock, did you know about Nika from the beginning?”
He grinned. “I knew we were getting an undercover officer and I still had to look twice when she showed up in my classroom. She fits into the class, and the senior class as a whole, so well, that it was easy to think she was ten years younger than she is.”
“You’re twenty-eight?” Rachel’s eyes were round.
Nika blushed. “Twenty-nine, actually.”
Claudia put her hand on Rachel’s. Mitch held his breath, waiting for Rachel to snatch it back and say something caustic to his secret boss. Instead Rachel closed her eyes and tears slipped from under her lids. “This is so scary.”
“I know it is, honey, but you’re not alone. Nika is the best friend you could have, even if she’s almost as ancient as me.” Claudia’s comment made Rachel laugh through her tears.
“Rachel, whatever is going on with your mother at the New Thought trailer park, you must understand it has nothing to do with you. Your mom was vulnerable, as are all of the members of the cult.”
“You think my mother’s in a cult? I mean, they are a bunch of nut jobs, but ‘cult’ is a v
ery strong word.” Rachel accepted the tissues Claudia handed her and spoke through her quiet sobs. “I knew in my head that it’s a cult, probably, but it sounds so awful to hear you actually say it, with everyone here. It makes my mother’s craziness too real. So official, you know?”
Rachel’s broken voice made Mitch’s desire to put Wise back behind bars all the more pressing. He looked at Nika. If anyone ever hurt her like Rachel had been hurt, he’d...
You’d what? Like the rock that had sailed through the classroom window, Mitch was sucker punched by the ferocity of emotions he felt toward Nika. He’d accepted that they might have the start of a relationship, but not that he’d say that word aloud to Nika. Not yet.
His gut tightened.
Did they have more? He’d known Nika for only the better part of four weeks. Could you fall in love with someone in such a short time?
“Mitch.” Bryce’s voice cut through his thoughts and, from the exasperated expressions on each of his colleague’s faces, it wasn’t the first time Bryce had tried to get his attention.
“Sorry. I was working something out in my head.”
“Anything you need to leave the room for?” Claudia’s concern was palpable.
Mitch shook his head. “No, no, nothing like that, Claudia.” At Nika’s and Rachel’s stunned expressions, he relented. Why not?
“I’ve had some PTSD symptoms that have lingered since I got back from the war years ago. Claudia has talked to me about them, since she was a Marine, too. But I have to say, since having this cult issue come up, I haven’t once had to talk myself through one iota of anxiety.” No, his concerns had revolved around keeping Nika safe. Shit. His old excuses didn’t hold any longer. He’d fallen for Nika in the way poets described. Completely.
At everyone’s silence, Mitch looked at Nika. Her eyes brimmed with—compassion? Pride? The same emotion he was struggling with?
“Mr. Everlock, is that why you’re the teacher representative for the Rainbows club? Because you know what it’s like to not fit in?”
“No, Rachel. I support the Rainbows because it’s the right thing to do. Also, I have a sister who happens to be gay, so I understand the kind of hell high school can be for anyone who feels different from the crowd.”