Takedown: An Enemies to Lovers Dark Romance

by Lana Hartley

  Leo

  I'm going over Elena's case in my office. There’s stack of paperwork because I’ve been researching every angle. It's all I've been able to think about and I’m just combing the documents, trying to find a handle on the thing.

  If this case wasn’t my obsession, I’d be taking a more methodical approach. More effective. Instead I keep spinning my wheels over everything because I’m practically hot around the collar, my blood boiling whenever I think about Elena in danger. I’m going to solve this case. Find this fucking stalker. One thing's for sure, when I find the guy, I'm going to beat him to a pulp myself. This will never happen to her again. My protective instincts are always on. I know I have to close this case, and I have to do it soon before something else happens. I wish I could be by her side every second, like some sort of personal bodyguard. I’d do it and it’d make me feel better too. Not to mention, I don’t want to be anywhere but near her. I’m like some lovesick girl, but you can forgive that, right? You know how I feel about Elena.

  Whenever I think about her my cock begins to harden, and I just can't get enough of her. My single-minded need to catch this stalker is only interrupted by how much I want to wrap my arms around Elena. I want to put my mouth on every part of her perfect goddamn body. I want all the misery she’s endured to melt away. I want to be her protector and her refuge.

  Elena has me completely taken with her, and it's something I'm not used to. I fuck ‘em and forget ‘em normally but with Elena…that will never be enough. I don’t want to just fuck her, I want to possess her and make her mine.

  I have fucked so many women, but none like Elena. None of the women I’ve fucked have ever been so sexy to me, so goddamn mesmerizing that just the thought of her naked body makes me want to pull my cock out in the middle of a police station. I find myself reaching for my keys to drive to her, reaching for my phone to text her. This is some high level obsessive shit. I cringe thinking that her stalker must think they have similar rights to her…but I want to protect her from that asshat. And I’m not delusional to think that Elena wants me, too.

  It's not just how sexy Elena is that makes me want her so much though; there's something sweet and authentic about her that I love. Yeah, I used that word. That’s how you know shit is real. I can hear Bobbi laughing about how obsessed I am. Bobbi knows a thing or two about being caught up on a girl, and she knows the difference between the lust and the love situation.

  Shaking those thoughts from my head, I drop all the papers in my hands, frustrated from seeing all the same shit over and over again and having nothing new to say. I want to see her again but the how is not just because I want to drool at her on sight. I wish I had some sort of evidence to present to her. I want to prove to her how capable I am and not just be a creep showing up for no reason.

  I better find a lead soon. As soon as I find this guy I'm gonna beat him to a pulp, and then I'm gonna take Elena and fuck her so hard that she will never think to look at another man. She is the only girl I want now. Plus, I saw the way she was looking at me before, and there's something there. I could see it inherently in her eyes and posturing. Yes, she wants me too. If we don’t work out and become something real, the truth is I'll be devastated. I've never had my eye on the prize like this before. I hope she returns the affection, but I can't be sure. God, if she wants me back for more than just this raw attraction we have, then it's on. I will take her and never look back. I will get this thing between us wrapped up and locked down...well, not like goddamn Barry. I clench my fists for a second thinking about how that prick could marry her and then make it his fucking holy mission to keep her miserable and shame her for everything about her. The 1950s would be so proud, but I want to slam him and this stalker through a damn wall.

  Elena could be a girl I fall in love with, and that's a huge statement coming from me. The fact that I even admitted this to myself is big. I mean, I know I can tell you, but fuck doing that means I’m saying it to myself and it has my eyes wide open and holding my breathe. Damn, how did I get here? How do I get free of this purgatory where I feel so strongly for her and I just can’t reach out and have her? I should resist any major moves on her…I mean she’s still divorcing fucking Barry and she has a stalker. Just…fuck.

  You know what? I know that I have to go see her… now. I'll make up some excuse and just drop by on Elena. She needs to know that I’m thinking about her, I tell myself…but really you and I both know I’m just being totally fucking selfish. Well, I’m not going for the best of humanity award here. Elena’s the only prize I want. For her to let me know that she’s thinking about me.

  Yeah, I guess I’ve become so fucking hooked on her that I’m thinking cheesy shit like that. I’m laughing on the inside, and I’m pulling out my phone with that thought.

  I text her to find out where she is while not giving away my true motivations.

  Leo: You there? You okay?

  She replies almost immediately—a good sign.

  Elena: Yes. Hi, Leo. I'm doing good, better than last night.

  Leo: Good, I'm glad to hear it. Where are you now?

  Elena: Oh, I'm at my office getting some work done.

  Leo: Okay, I just wanted to check on you. Stay safe, and call if you need anything, Elena.

  Elena: Thanks :)

  Now that I have a handle on where she is, I'm formulating a plan in my mind to go see her. I want her to know she can trust me and that I've got this thing down. I also just need to see her smiling, gorgeous face before my cock gets so hard that I'll explode.

  I grab my keys and head out for my squad car, letting myself wonder what she looks like today and what she's wearing. She’s at her office so she’ll be in her work clothes, something sharp and sexy that’s all don’t fuck with me, but makes me into some kind of caveman that wants to peel off every layer and taste the sweetness under her clothes. My imagination reels with the fantasy of showing up at her office unannounced, and she’s so excited and turned by my vigilant shield over her that she pulls down my pants and blows me right there in the office. So I haven’t gone far off the cheesy deep end if I’m thinking about her plump lips wrapped around my cock, right?

  Okay, I see the look you’re giving me.

  We established already, yes, I have it bad, damn it!

  And after that I would take her over the desk and she’d be purring, crying out for more of my attention. Man, I never have fantasies like this. Again, I know I'm definitely hooked on this woman. Elena’s got me all wound up in knots for her, and I know that’s fucking everything I could want in a woman. When I thought I wanted to settle down, I must have been right, because Elena is everything that could take me off the market forever. I know she’s got one shitty marriage heading into her past, but damn I want to be her future. I want to offer her a better future.

  As I turn my squad car in the direction of her office, I actually get nervous. Whoa. That’s never happened to me. I don’t know if you’ve noticed but I’m cocky. I had my cock in some waitress’s mouth when we met, after all, and I cared nothing about that whole situation. That was a regular end of day ritual for me. Or beginning. Or middle. I would fit in something random and meaningless whenever I wanted. Women throw themselves at me.

  So now my pulse is racing and I feel a little twinge in my stomach. I am actually confused with myself for a moment.

  But I have to think about this. What am I going to say to her? Where will this thing begin? As I think about her, there's just one thing I don't understand… How did she, this perfect goddess, end up with a dirt bag like my brother, Barry? That'll never make sense to me. She’s way too good for him, and I’m so glad they're getting a divorce.

  I head toward her office and realize I'm being unprofessional by mixing business with pleasure, but I really don't care. For one thing, Elena makes me want to break all the rules—my rules on work, my rules on love, everything. And if I can have her then I really wouldn't care what the rest of my life looks like. I only need her. I ho
pe she sees it that way and doesn't view me as some jerk working on her case when I start hitting on her. I hope she desires me in return and knows my motivations are true. I want to have her and catch the perp who’s ruining her life.

  I also have another intention. I need to ask her some more questions about that bad date that she had. Dario… somebody. Just thinking of her dating another guy makes me fume. I feel so possessive of her already. She's mine and no other guy better lay a finger on her or even think to date her. That guy, Dari-something, sounds like a total loser, and I swear to God if he's the stalker, then he's going down. I will never let up on him even if he gets out of prison. Darius.

  Leo

  As I arrive at Elena’s office I make way up the metal staircase to where she works. They let me in, and I can tell I've startled her by showing up. Damn, she looks better than she did when I saw her last. Her eyes are highlighted with the perfect amount of makeup and her smile charms me. She’s wearing red lipstick, and I imagine it making a circle around my dick as she sucks on my rock-hard cock. I wish my fantasy would come true today, but it'll have to wait. Even though I want to pull up that little skirt she's wearing and just fuck her over the desk, I refrain and try to keep things professional. She probably knows why I'm here, though. She probably guesses that I have an ulterior motive.

  "Hi, I know you said you're okay, but I had to see for myself."

  She looks pleasantly surprised to see me.

  "Oh . . . thanks. I’m glad you came by. It actually makes me feel better to have you here."

  She gestures for me to take a seat, and I do. I'm taking in her beautiful body and watching her every move. She looks so good, and it’s throwing me off my game.

  I clear my throat and try to act competent. “I do have a few more questions for you. Is that alright? That's the reason I stopped by.”

  "Okay, sure. I'm actually on my way to lunch. Do you want to join me, and we can talk there?

  "Sure thing." The idea of being around her more excites my cock, and I feel my erection rubbing against my pants. Hopefully she doesn't notice, but I couldn’t care less if she does. She has to know how bad I want her at some point.

  We head out to lunch, and I follow her and eye her ass the entire way out of her office. This lunch is going to be great. I might not be able to contain myself, and I'll have to let my intentions be known. I might just have to fuck her there in the restaurant.

  She leads me down the street to a place she knows and as we walk she tells me something that makes me furious.

  "Leo," she says, a slight tremble to her voice. "Someone’s been calling me…harassing calls. I don't know who they're from. It comes up as a private number."

  "What?” She’s gotta be kidding me, right? More harassment? Fuck. I’ll have to get my guys on this right away. “Elena, I’m going to catch the person who’s doing all this and stop them. Do you understand me?”

  She looks at me with those soulful eyes and says she understands.

  “I’m glad you told me. I’m going to do whatever it takes to protect you.”

  She looks at me almost as though she's gonna cry. "I'm so glad you're here to lean on, Leo.” She sucks in a breath and smiles. “I've felt so alone and scared."

  This crushes my soul. I’m glad she knows she can rely on me, but the fact that she’s scared weighs so heavily on my shoulders. Like it’s my fault. Like I should be protecting her more. Yeah, I know I’m losing my mind over here. But I just can’t let anything happen to Elena.

  "It's okay.” I want to quiet her fears. I wish could just tell her how much I desire her and my true feelings about how I already know that I will never let her go.

  I try to comfort her by placing my arm around her shoulder and wrapping her in a hug. Her slender frame leans into me, and it feels so good. "I’m gonna catch this guy, I promise."

  "I trust you, Leo. I trust you to handle this."

  The way Elena looks at me, well, I feel like a lion wanting to protect and also to shred apart anyone who comes near her. No one goes near her.

  "Let’s head into this lunch and we can talk about this more.”

  “Okay.” She follows me in. I wish I could take her hand and lead the way, but I don’t.

  We go into the restaurant, and it's pretty nice and upscale. I pull her chair out for her like the gentleman I am, and a peek of black lace catches my attention. The frilly lace of her bra hugs her ample breasts, and my dick swells. I imagine squeezing her tits around my hard cock and what that would look like. This is going to be a fascinating lunch.

  “So, you come here often?” I make a joke like it’s our first date. I wish it was and I guess it sort of is, in my mind anyway. I’m trying to break the ice so we can focus on more than just the criminal who’s stalking her. I can tell I’ve already made her more comfortable.

  “Actually,” she laughs, “I come here a lot. It’s only a minute from work.”

  “You gotta get out more,” I smile. In my mind, I’m searching for a way to know more about her dating life, but also to help get this case off the ground. “So, have you been dating much, or is it just this Dario guy?” I get his name wrong on purpose every time.

  “No, he’s been the only one. I’m afraid I’m a little rusty.”

  “Rusty? There’s nothing rusty about you. Trust me.” I flash my million-dollar smile, hoping to reel her in.

  She looks back at me with an inquisitive expression. “How would you know, Leo? You barely even know me.” She grins like she’s egging me on.

  “I know enough. I used to be your brother-in-law, remember?” I emphasize used to be, and I know that she noticed. “It’s good to hear that you’re not dating.”

  “Why is that?”

  “To keep you safe, of course.” We’re flirting now and my cock is so hard under the table. I realize I’m going to have to have her sooner than I anticipated. One look at that lingerie and I was a goner. I wonder if she knows what she’s in for?

  Elena

  Leo and I are in one of my favorite upscale restaurants down the street from my work. We’ve had the nicest lunch even though Leo has me feeling hot and heavy; it’s probably time to take my leave.

  Staring at him from across the table, I idly imagine where this thing could go. He’s so fucking hot. I never expected to meet a guy like him, much less in the middle of all my stalking troubles. He has come to my aid in so many ways already, and I’m stoked to get to know him on a deeper level.

  “So, you need to keep me informed just in case there are any more phone calls, okay? I’m going to have my guys tap your phones so that we can find out who is harassing you, so expect them to come over.”

  “Alright, Leo, thank you so much.” He’s giving me the final rundown on how to protect myself while he’s not with me.

  I wonder if Leo is the kind of guy that you fuck or the kind of guy that you marry? I mean, I know there are men out there who are only looking for one thing… sex. There are players, and Leo seems like he might be one. I’m not sure. I know he’s taken a protective stance over me, but I’m not sure how he feels. I’m not into having a quickie. But with Leo, I could make one single exception. He makes me want to bend all my rules. He brings out this feisty side of me that I never knew was there.

  He also quiets the part of me that says you had one totally fucked up marriage and now you want to bang the brother-in-law cop who’s trying to protect you. You know, the little voice in my head that’s spelling out S-L-U-T, but I can’t hear that voice over my thoughts about how the muscles in Leo’s arms moves; it’s so sexy. Or how when Leo smiles or looks at me…

  Yeah, I’m a little too distracted by how badly I want him.

  I’m sure he’s not the kind of guy who’s just in it for his own reasons, at least not with me I hope. I imagine him wanting to make me come and actually enjoying that. It’s not like any other guy has cared about my orgasm. Usually it’s just wham, bam, and it’s over. Maybe a little foreplay is tossed in, but it’s not
hing that makes me want to reach my ultimate climax. Leo makes me want to touch myself just looking at him. And with him so close, I kinda want him to touch my instead. If the idea of him is so hot, I wonder how hot the sex with him will be. He’s hot enough to make me forget my own name when he makes me come… I let that thought linger.

  Looking across the table at him, I wonder these things, trying to act nonchalant. I don’t want him to know that I’ve already had him on my mind. I don’t want to give away too much just yet. But it’s really hard to just sit here and not touch him or let my feelings be known, when I’m imagining his hands all over my body. He’s all I’ve been able to think about.

  He stares at me like he already knows what I’m thinking. There’s the beginning of a connection here, where no words need to be spoken and we both just feel it. I hope it can be deeper than just lust, because I’m starting to care for him, and I feel so safe with him, like I can be myself. But it’s just the beginning, and who knows if what I feel is reciprocated or not?

  “So, you know how to check your windows at night, right? And you probably won’t want to be in the garage after dark.” He’s still drilling me.

  “Okay—” I stare at him and tighten my legs because I’m getting so wet. I know, I’m terrible. I want to be safe, and I’m listening. But Leo makes me feel safe…and so aroused. So I figure, why not let the sexy detective take care of my safety and my arousal?

  It feels like we have sexual chemistry, but I want more than that from him, I realize. I want him to hold me in his strong arms and to tell me that everything is going to be all right and that he will be there anytime I need him. I need him to know how I’ve been dreaming of him, but it’s still too early. I can’t reveal my feelings just yet…and I know I shouldn’t act on them. I thought I could have a safe life with Barry. In a totally different way, but I just don’t know that I should be jumping into anything.