Vote Then Read: Volume III

by Aleatha Romig

  Like yesterday, I’m dressed in my uniform. I promised Gage I’d come in early and help with extra paperwork, but I didn’t want to miss seeing her.

  “Fuck off,” she replies, fighting a smile.

  Another one of those black skirts I love hugs her hourglass curves and stops at her knees, and though it’s not revealing, it’s sexy. Her white button-down blouse is thin, and evidence of her hard nipples shows through.

  “I was down for it last night and will be later this evening. Care to make a date for it?”

  She hands me her coffee tumbler and tugs her jacket over her shoulders. “Last night was a mistake, and I’d appreciate us acting like it never happened.”

  “A mistake I’d love to make again.” I inch closer. “I’ll relive it repeatedly. My brain will never forget the sound and sight of you coming for me.”

  Flustered, she snatches her coffee back. “I’m being serious.”

  “Let me remind you that, every time I’ve touched you, you’ve enjoyed it. Keep attempting to persuade yourself otherwise, but we both know you love my hands on you.”

  She blushes. “You’re right. I enjoy you touching me. The problem is, I’ve never enjoyed the consequences.”

  We’re side by side as we step off her porch and walk to her car.

  “I see you still hate me for that.”

  “I will always hate you for that.”

  “Hate is an expensive grievance to carry in life. It shortens your life span, triggers depression, interrupts sleep—”

  “I’ve hated you for years, so what harm is a little more?” she interrupts.

  “Do you know what does lengthen your life span? Orgasms—”

  She interrupts me again. “This is the part of the morning where I instruct you to fuck off.”

  “You already said it.”

  “Then, fuck off again.”

  “Wow, Chloe, way to make a man feel used,” I say when we reach her car.

  Instead of getting in, she rests against it, grips her coffee, and stares at me, not interested in ending our conversation.

  “I seriously hate you more than the Grinch hates Christmas.”

  “You need to work on your insult game. That was the worst I’ve ever heard.” I smile. “All joking aside, have dinner with me again tonight.”

  She smiles back, surprising me. “Fine, I’ll do dinner with you tonight at my house, but keep your hands to yourself. Got it? This is because I don’t make deals with people and not keep them.”

  I hold my hands up. “These bad boys will stay to themselves—unless you beg me for them. Deal?”

  “Yeah,” she draws out, “not happening.”

  I open the car door for her and help her in like the upstanding gentleman I most certainly am not, and she slides in.

  I wiggle my fingers. “We’ll see. Next time, you might ask for another body part of mine.”

  She swats at my hand holding the car door open. “You’re seriously a child.”

  “You know that’s not true.” I wink and turn around at the sound of Gage pulling into my driveway. “I need to get to work now and make the world a better place. You can reward me for it later.”

  Fucking with Chloe Fieldgain is fun.

  I wonder what fucking her will be like.

  Gage exchanges a glance with me when I’m inside the car. “I see your neighbor has yet to murder you. First, you’re having breakfast with her, and now, you’re walking her to her car in the morning. What’s up with that?”

  “Good morning to you, too,” I answer, grabbing the coffee he brought for me from the cupholder. “Jealous I didn’t have breakfast with you or walk you to your car?”

  “Hardly. I’ll let you keep those favors for girls you tormented in high school.”

  “I didn’t torment her. We had a rivalry.”

  He snorts. “Some rivalry. You wanted to bang her. She wanted to kill you.”

  I shrug. “Something along those lines, yes.”

  “She forgive you?”

  “I’m working on it.”

  “You’re wasting your time. She’s despised you for over a decade. A fucking decade.”

  “How do you know she still hates me? Until recently, you were MIA from this place for years.”

  He grabs his coffee and takes a drink. “Hmm … I didn’t notice, dipshit.”

  “Don’t take it as an insult. I’m damn happy you’re back. Focus on our current conversation.”

  “I was updated on all Blue Beech–related drama,” he grumbles, not impressed.

  Like me, Gage couldn’t give two shits about gossip.

  “The big-mouthed future baby mama? I told you she was trouble.”

  “Shut up before I throw you out of this car.”

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah, so you tell me daily,” I joke. “Chloe has no reason to hate me now. We’re mature adults.”

  He gawks at me. “Holy shit, you’re banging her, aren’t you?”

  “If only,” I mutter.

  He narrows his eyes and studies me. “Correction: you haven’t screwed her, but something happened between you two, considering she didn’t have a gun to your balls seconds ago.” He lowers his voice. “I hate to bring this up, but do you think … dating her will cause tension with your father?”

  “I don’t give a fuck what he thinks.”

  The mood turns somber. “You and your dad still not speaking?”

  “When necessary … for my mom.” Not that I have an issue with that. The less I talk to my dad, the better my day goes.

  “Maybe your relationship will get better over time—you know, like your and Chloe’s.”

  “My relationship with him gets worse with time, and unlike Chloe, I don’t want to be around him.”

  “I understand, man. So, you’re into her, huh? I knew you crushed on her in high school, even after she told you to get fucked, but I thought you had grown out of it. You’re like a kid on the playground again. How many valentines are you putting in her basket this year?”

  “Piss off.”

  “My best friend is infatuated with a chick who hates him.”

  I smile before answering the phone. “Hello, world’s best mother.”

  “Hi, honey,” she says on the other line. “Can you pick up a few things for me at the store before coming over tonight?”

  I stop walking on my journey to my desk at the station. “Tonight?”

  “Yes, for your sister’s birthday dinner.”

  I frown and pull my phone away to check my Calendar app. “Her birthday isn’t for another three days.”

  “She has plans with Devin, so we’re doing it tonight.”

  Devin the Douchebag.

  My younger sister lives for dating the wrong dudes. They’re not even the bad boys, more along the lines of fuck boys who wear sweaters with cardigans over their shoulders—which is surprising. She’s the wild child out of the bunch.

  “I’ll be there. Send me a list of what you want me to pick up. Seven?”

  “Yes, seven. I’ll see you then.”

  I need to tell Chloe about our change of plans. I open the database and find her phone number—perk of being in law enforcement.

  If texting doesn’t work, I can persuade her better in person; I wouldn’t mind stopping by her office for a quick visit.

  7

  Chloe

  I grab my phone from my desk when it beeps with a text.

  Unknown: Hey, gorgeous.

  I hit reply.

  Me: Who is this?

  I’m certain I know the answer to my question.

  Unknown: Your favorite neighbor.

  Me: Mrs. Davis?

  Unknown: Let me elaborate. The neighbor who made you come last night.

  Me: Mr. Davis?

  The Davises are my eighty-year-old neighbors.

  Unknown: Hmm … seems you need to be reminded of who your orgasms belong to. A do-over is in the works.

  I sigh. I’d love for a do-over, but I’m not sure if sleepin
g with him would get in the way of my job. Not to mention, what it would do to my heart. I vowed to never let Kyle in my heart, and here I am, practically handing it over to him on a platter, ready for him to shatter it.

  Me: What do you want, Kyle?

  Kyle: This is a reminder of our dinner plans tonight.

  Me: I don’t need a reminder. I’ve been dreading it since this morning.

  Kyle: Aw. I’m looking forward to it, too. I’ll pick you up at 6:30.

  Whoa. Whoa. Whoa.

  Me: Pick me up? You’re coming to my house, remember?

  Kyle: Change of plans, sweetheart.

  Me: I’m not going to your house or anywhere in public with you.

  Kyle: What about my parents’?

  Me: HELL TO THE NO!

  I wait for his response but nothing.

  Melanie groaning drags my attention from the phone to her as she staggers into my office with her hands filled with file folders.

  “Hey, here are the documents you asked for,” she says.

  I stand to gather some from her hands and settle them down on my desk while she does the same with hers. “Thank you.”

  Her green eyes study me in interest. “Damn, you look hot this morning. You’re sporting a special glow. Did you finally bang Kyle?” She winks and places one hand in a circular motion before putting her finger through it.

  I came in early, so she lost her chance to interrogate me this morning.

  “God, why do I like and employ you?”

  “Because I’m awesome … and my stalking skills are legit.”

  She leaves when my phone rings, and I pick it up, expecting it to be Kyle, but it’s someone I’d rather not talk to more than him. I roll my eyes before accepting the call.

  “Hey, I need you to babysit,” Claudia says as soon as I answer. “I’ll drop the kids off at five.”

  “I have plans.”

  “Seriously? I need you, Chloe. I need to work to make money to take care of my family like you’ve lectured me about.”

  I scoff. “Quit lying. Your boss sent me your schedule.”

  “That motherfucker,” she hisses. “Fine, I have a date.”

  “So do I,” I lie. I have to hang out with Kyle.

  “With who?”

  My tone turns sharp. “None of your business. Maybe you should spend time with your kids for a change.”

  “Oh, here she goes again, Ms. I’m Better Than You.”

  “Never said that.”

  “Fuck you! I won’t ask for your help again.”

  The line goes dead.

  Doubt it will happen.

  “Hello, dearest neighbor.”

  My heart races, and I jump up from my chair. I was so preoccupied with my work that I didn’t hear my office door open.

  “Melanie! You’re fired!” I yell when I recover.

  “Melanie is going out for lunch and has seen nothing,” she yells from the reception area. “You kids have fun! I’ll be back in one hour, so make it quick.”

  I cross my arms and settle down in my chair. “What are you doing here? We’ve been seeing each other more than necessary, and I’m not a fan.”

  Kyle smirks, shuts the door, and stands at the head of my desk. Earlier, his demeanor was carefree. Now, he looks determined with his eyes on me.

  “You’re not a fan of having lunch with someone?” he asks.

  I gulp but hold myself together. Why does him looming over me like this make me nervous? “I prefer to eat solo, like I did throughout high school.”

  He shrugs off my response. “Good thing we’re not in high school anymore.”

  “I’m not hungry for your food or your games, Kyle. I have work to do.”

  “So selfish,” he says, casually strolling around my desk. “What if I’m hungry?”

  I tense up but keep my voice level. “Go feed yourself then. I’m not your mom who will bake chicken whenever you ask. Go find yourself a nice Martha Stewart to hang out with because it will not be me.”

  “Now, why would I want a woman who cooks when I can have that smart-ass mouth of yours? Keep throwing the attitude at me. It makes me want you more.”

  I gulp. “The feeling is not mutual.”

  I hold in a gasp when he grabs the chair and turns me to face him.

  “What time do you want me to pick you up? Dinner is at seven, but we can spend time together beforehand if you’d like. Maybe a quickie in my backseat?”

  “Never o’clock.”

  “Come on, Chloe. You loved my mother’s food along with some other perks I won’t specify in your workplace. Don’t you want more of that?”

  What’s disturbing is, I do want more, and him standing in front of me with his crotch practically in my face isn’t helping the matter.

  “What is wrong with you?” I ask, irritated. “You want me to go to the house of the man who proposed moving city lines, so the neighborhood I grew up in wouldn’t be in it? He called us scums of the sewer.”

  “My father won’t be there. He doesn’t show up to family functions.”

  “Still not happening.”

  Heat spreads through my chest when he drops to his knees and glances up at me with a grin. My skin flushes when he grabs the hem of my skirt, and a chill hits me when he yanks it up. He’s keeping a slight distance between us—most likely in case I kick him in the face.

  “What do you think you’re doing?” I hiss. My stomach tightens, and instead of kicking him in the face, I want it between my legs.

  I’m frozen in place when his hands splay across my bare thighs, leading my breathing to rise while I await his next move.

  “I told you, I’m hungry,” he mutters. He shoves my skirt until it’s scrunched around my waist, and he settles himself closer. His mouth is so close to my core that I feel his breath against it. He groans. “And no panties. I love it when you leave my snack unwrapped.”

  I hold in a breath when he tilts his head forward to flick his tongue up my slit.

  “Oh my God,” I moan.

  “Spread them wider,” he demands before sucking on my clit.

  He grips my waist to lift me enough to adjust my skirt, settling it underneath my ass and against my back, until I’m exposed for him.

  “Good girl,” he praises.

  His attention sets on my core before he buries his face there. I throw my head back when he dips his tongue inside me.

  “How do you like me tasting your pussy?”

  I answer by rocking my hips forward to meet his tongue and can tell he approves of my response when he slides a finger inside me, causing me to lose a breath.

  He caresses me a few times with that single finger before dragging it out and glancing up at me. “Tell me, sweet Chloe, if I reward you with my mouth, will you come with me tonight?”

  “Reward me?” I raise a brow. “You came into my office. It seems like I’m doing you a favor, Officer.”

  He chuckles, his finger running along the seam of my opening but not pushing inside, teasing me. “Oh, trust me; you’re definitely doing me a favor by letting me lick this pussy. But I’m not asking for anything sexual in return. Like last night, I’ll deal with my blue balls. All I’m asking for is your company tonight.”

  “My company, so you won’t end up with blue balls again?”

  “Blue balls and I will become great friends the more I hang out with you.” His head lowers again to suck on my slit while his finger continues to torture me. “Say you’ll come with me tonight, Chloe.” His mouth moves to my thigh, raining it with light kisses while refusing me what I want.

  “It’s not a good idea,” I stutter. I reach down and wrap my fingers around his neck, sinking my fingernails into his skin, attempting to push his face closer.

  Instead of giving in, he retreats more.

  Well, that sure backfired on me.

  “But you think me giving you an orgasm is a good idea?”

  “Obviously.” I snort. “Why else would I allow your face in my lap?”


  “Then, say you’ll come with me, and I’ll give you an orgasm.”

  I dig my nails harder into his skin. “Not fair. You can’t extort me to go to dinner with you by orgasm.”

  “I can convince you to do anything I want with my fingers.” He pushes his finger inside me again. “With my tongue.” He licks the inside of my thigh. “And with my cock when the time comes. I can do whatever I want, Chloe. It’s the first thing you need to accept in our relationship.”

  “We don’t have a relationship.” I cannot believe we’re having this conversation with his head between my legs. What is really going on?

  “I’m about to eat your pussy. Do you not have a relationship with other people who stick their tongue in your pussy?”

  “Please,” I whisper. No! What am I doing? I do not beg Kyle for anything.

  “You want me to finish what I started? Then, say you’ll come to dinner at my parents’ tonight.”

  “Fine.”

  I grip his neck, and this time, he allows me to pull him in closer.

  I might hate the man, but I love his mouth between my legs. His mouth goes straight to my opening, his tongue diving in and out, before he slips two fingers … then three into me. He rotates them to the side when he knows I’m about to come. The pad of his thumb goes straight to my clit, massaging it. He’s everywhere, touching me in all the right places. Seconds later, I cover my mouth when I come apart.

  He waits until I stop shaking before placing a single kiss to my clit while I collapse in my chair. He stands, and I fight to control my breathing. He wipes his mouth with the back of his hand. When my arms are no longer shaking, I hastily pull down my skirt in embarrassment, like he didn’t just have his face buried between my thighs.

  He watches me pull myself together as if I were his favorite show. I catch my breath as he licks his lips.

  “Thank you for lunch. I enjoyed it.”

  My gaze drops down his body, and I notice the bulge between his legs. This time, I lick my lips as my mouth salivates for him.

  He drops a kiss onto my forehead, his crotch nearly shoved in my face. “See you tonight.” The erection in my view leaves when he turns away.

  I grab his hand to stop him. “Wait.”

  He stares at me with interest.