Building Empires (MidKnight Blue Book 1)

by Sherryl Hancock

  Randy was so relieved at his words, that she gave herself wholly to the kiss, wrapping her arms around his neck. They’d kissed a lot over the course of their time together, but suddenly this was different. Randy felt it immediately but it didn’t scare her at all. In fact she welcomed the change.

  Joe’s hands slid through her hair, and caressed her back, his lips moving over hers so expertly she was trembling within minutes. When he pulled back and looked down at her, she could see he was very affected by the kiss too. His eyes searched hers, but he said nothing. Randy was surprised when he pulled her close to him and hugged her. She was silent for a few minutes. She could hear his heartbeat, it started out fast, but it slowed after a minute. She wasn’t sure why he’d stopped. She glanced up at him and saw his eyes were closed.

  “Joe?” she queried softly.

  “Hmmm?” he murmured, looking down at her.

  Randy hesitated, she didn’t know how to ask what she’d just been thinking.

  “Why did you stop?” she finally asked.

  Joe was silent for a long moment, his look tender. “I guess, because I know you haven’t been with many men,” he said softly. “I didn’t want to push you.”

  Randy smiled softly. “Do you have any idea how amazing you are?”

  Joe looked cynical. “Amazing how?”

  “Most men wouldn’t care about not pushing.”

  “Most men weren’t raised by a mother that insisted they respect women above and beyond everything else in the entire world,” he said wryly.

  “Oh,” Randy said, smiling.

  “Mmmhmm,” he replied, seeing the mischief in her eyes suddenly.

  It was Randy who leaned in to initiate the kiss this time. She slid her hands up his chest, then up into his hair, making him groan against her lips. They kissed on the couch for a long while, then Joe stood, pulling her gently to her feet. He led her into his bedroom; he was damned if they were going to make love for the first time on the living room couch. Standing next to the windows that overlooked the ocean, with lightning still splitting the night sky, Joe took her into his arms again, and kissed her deeply. Randy didn’t notice anything but him, her fear of the storm overridden by the desire she felt. After a few minutes of kissing, Joe moved his hands to her chest, gently caressing her breasts, and Randy gasped at the fire it started in her. Joe took everything slowly, kissing her and caressing her until she could barely stand it anymore.

  Eventually, he started to slowly remove her clothes, shedding his at the same time. Continuing to kiss her, he moved them to the bed. Randy was almost frantic by that time. When he finally entered her body, she tensed against the surprisingly sharp pain it caused. She’d been so caught up in him, it took her off guard. Suddenly he realized that it wasn’t that she hadn’t been with many men, it was that she hadn’t been with any, at least not sexually.

  He didn’t move. He looked down at her to find her eyes were screwed shut. She was clearly in pain.

  “Randy,” he said softly. “Baby, look at me.”

  She opened her eyes, slowly. He could see the pain that he was causing her reflected in her beautiful eyes.

  “Randy,” he said gently, “baby, you have to relax, okay? Do you trust me?” he asked. She nodded slowly, her eyes never leaving his. “Then relax baby, it’ll hurt you more if you don’t. I don’t want to hurt you.” His voice was soft and sweet and Randy couldn’t help but relax. She did trust him.

  Once she relaxed, he started to kiss her again. He didn’t move, he just kissed her and caressed her until her body was on fire again, and she didn’t even realize he was moving in her body then. The pain was gone and all she could feel was the sensual closeness of him. She reveled in the feelings and sensations flowing within her body. When their passion reached its height, she cried out. Her voice hoarse as she said, “I love you, Joe, I love you.”

  A few minutes later, she lay in his arms, both of them breathing heavily.

  “What was that you said?” he asked, his eyes deceptively casual.

  Randy looked up at him, biting her lip. She hadn’t meant to say that, and now she was worried that he’d be mad.

  “I, uh said, uh …” she stammered.

  “You said …” Joe said, turning on his side so he could look at her.

  “I said … that I love you,” she said very quietly.

  She looked down, too embarrassed to look in his eyes, which she assumed would be angry. She didn’t see him smile.

  “So … is it true?” he asked then evenly.

  “What?” she said, her voice showing her confusion.

  “Well, when a woman … well … When she’s in the throes of passion, sometimes she says things that aren’t necessarily the truth, but she gets caught up in the moment, you know.”

  He was giving her an out, and Randy couldn’t decide if she should take it or not. She still wasn’t looking at him. His finger under her chin changed that, she had to look at him then. She could read nothing in his purposely blank look.

  “Is it true, Randy?” he asked, now sounding like a father.

  She looked at him for a long moment, knowing that she couldn’t lie to him, but the thought of him not wanting to see her again, or something worse, made it the hardest single word she had ever had to utter.

  “Yes,” she said with tears in her eyes.

  “Oh, baby,” Joe said then, pulling her to him, feeling bad that he had toyed with her.

  He pulled back then, holding her by the shoulders. “Why are you crying?” he asked, smiling at her.

  “I don’t know,” she said miserably. “I guess, because I know that you probably don’t want to deal with a lovestruck secretary now, and I’ve ruined everything …” She laid her forehead against his chest.

  “Ruined everything, ey?” he asked, humor in his voice now. Randy looked up at him surprised.

  “Didn’t I?” she asked.

  “Randy, I wanted to know if what you said was true, because I didn’t want to be the only one,” he said then, looking at her seriously.

  “Only one?” Randy repeated, dumbly.

  “Yeah, the only one in love,” he said. He watched closely as she tried to process what he’d said.

  It took her a few long moments before it sank in but when it did, her eyes widened, and new tears flooded her cheeks.

  “God, what’s wrong now?” he said, smiling wider.

  She shook her head, her eyes not leaving his. It took her a few moments to find her voice again. “I just don’t believe this. I’ve got to be dreaming.”

  “Well, if you are, we’re both having it,” he said. Then he looked into her eyes. “I love you, Randy.”

  She started to shake her head, but his lips quickly stilled her. He kissed her for a long few minutes, holding her body against his, cradling her face gently with his hands.

  When their lips parted, Randy looked up at him in wonder. “But when? I mean …”

  “I don’t know,” he said, smiling down at her and shaking his head. “I just know that when you’re not here I can’t stop thinking about you. And now,” he said, touching her cheek and looking into her eyes, “you’ve given me something you can’t give to anyone else.”

  Randy pressed her lips together looking circumspect. “I should have told you.”

  Joe nodded. “Yes,” he agreed, “but it’s too late now anyway.”

  “True,” she said with the beginnings of a smile on her lips.

  “First woman who’s managed to trick me on that level,” he said, narrowing his eyes at her comically.

  “Really?” she said, looking pleased with herself.

  “You’re evil,” he told her, catching her look.

  “No,” she said, shaking her head. “I wanted to make love with the first man I’ve ever been in love with.”

  “And?” he said, wanting to hear the rest.

  “And, I was afraid if I told you I was a virgin you wouldn’t want me,” she said timidly.

  “Why?” h
e asked, touching her under the chin to make her look at him.

  She shrugged. “I just figured you were used to women with actual experience.”

  Joe nodded, his look contemplative. “Are you under the impression this was some kind of hardship for me?”

  “I …” she began. Then she shrugged, not knowing what to say.

  “Randy, I’ve wanted you since the first moment I met you,” he said, touching her cheek to emphasize his words. “I’ve just been waiting until you were ready.”

  Her eyes widened at his first statement, then narrowed slightly at the second. “So I was ready,” she said, with a slight grin.

  “I guess,” he said, grinning too.

  Randy was still shocked that he’d said he loved her, but then things were all new to her that night. She fell asleep in his arms wondering if she would wake up in the morning and find that it was indeed a dream.

  Chapter 8

  The next morning Joe took her home, fortunately after Darrell had left for the morning, to change and get ready for work. As they drove to work, Joe’s cell phone rang.

  “Joe, it’s me,” came Midnight’s voice.

  “Hey Night, what’s up?” he asked cheerfully.

  “Tried your house last night, but the storm must have knocked the line out,” she said, wondering what had Joe so cheerful first thing in the morning. “Last night when I left the office I picked up a tail.”

  “What?” Joe said, all humor gone from his voice now.

  “It’s okay. I ran across Mike Harlow, you know my old training sergeant. Anyway, he stopped the guy for me. So he didn’t follow me all the way home or anything. I just thought you should know, so you can watch your back too.”

  “Well, what did Mike find out?” Joe asked, concerned. “Who was the guy?”

  “I don’t know yet, I have date with Mike tonight, as a result of his favor, so he’ll tell me then.”

  “You can’t call him now?” Joe asked, impatient to know who this guy was.

  “Joe, calm down, it’s not that big a deal. I just thought you should know.”

  “Night it is a big deal. If you hadn’t noticed the guy, and he’d followed you home … I don’t even want to think about it.”

  Midnight smiled at the protective tone in his voice. Sometimes it was nice to have someone always worried about her.

  “Well, he didn’t so you don’t have to think about it. I’m fine. Okay?” Her voice was softer, she didn’t want to argue with him, and she knew this would be a likely subject for them to argue about.

  “I’ll be there in a while. We’ll talk then, okay?”

  “Okay,” Midnight said.

  They hung up. Joe looked over at Randy; she hadn’t said much this morning. He hoped that she wasn’t going to be shyer around him because of the night before.

  “You okay?” he asked, his eyes glancing over at her.

  She nodded, smiling at him.

  “Just not sure what to do with all this?” he asked gently.

  “Pretty much,” she said, smiling again.

  “It’ll come to ya,” he said, winking at her. She smiled.

  When they got into the office, Randy went to her desk and Joe went to Midnight’s office. He stayed in there a few minutes and then went to his own office. Things were still jumping from the Scorpion house raid, and reports were coming in constantly. Randy was surprised when she looked up and it was almost two o’clock. Midnight came out of her office and walking by her desk. “Let your boss know that I have a meeting with the head honcho, and I’ll be back around five. Okay?”

  “Okay,” Randy said, smiling.

  Midnight was so unpretentious. She was meeting with the chief of police, and she treated it like it was nothing. Randy was still constantly impressed with the leader of FORS.

  About an hour later, Randy was in Joe’s office. She was at his desk trying to find a report, and he was over by the door looking in a stack on the table there. “It’s here somewhere,” Joe said, his voice matter of fact. “It has to be.”

  Randy laughed. “I hope so, I don’t want to have to retype that little sucker.”

  Joe’s phone rang, and Randy automatically picked it up.

  “Sergeant Sinclair’s office.”

  “Joseph Michael Sinclair the Fourth, please,” asked an extremely cultured English-accented voice.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Randy answered automatically, handing the phone to Joe.

  Joe gave her a perplexed look, taking the phone.

  “Sinclair,” he answered. He listened for a few moments, then rolled his eyes. “Alright, I’ll be there in a few.”

  When he hung up, he reached over to pick up his jacket. “Look Taylor is here. I need to head to the airport to pick her up. She’s only about,” he said, glancing at his watch, “six hours early. Can you catch a ride with Rick or something?”

  “Sure, no problem,” Randy said. “Is everything okay?”

  Joe nodded, not saying anything, but Randy noticed as he picked up his jacket that he immediately reached in for a cigarette and she had already learned that he only smoked when he was stressed about something. “You’re still coming tonight, right?” he asked, his tone entreating.

  “Of course,” she said, smiling. “I’ll see you at seven.”

  Leaning over he kissed her quickly on the lips, then he was gone.

  An hour later Midnight came back. She looked around for Joe. “Where’d he go?” she asked Randy.

  “His aunt arrived early,” Randy answered.

  “And the siege begins,” Midnight replied.

  “Siege?”

  “Taylor hates everything about Joe’s life now. It’s her goal in life to change him back.”

  Randy bit the inside of her cheek nervously, not sure what that evening would hold.

  Midnight headed over to her office, having no idea the angst she’d just caused.

  A little while later a young man walked up to Randy’s desk.

  “I need to see Midnight Chevalier,” he told her, his voice quiet.

  Randy looked up at the younger man. He looked about eighteen. He had blond hair and brown eyes. He looked a little on the rough side; his hair was longish and wild, and he didn’t look like he’d shaven in a few days. He was wearing faded jeans and a ripped t-shirt with a flannel shirt over it. He was the epitome of the “grunge” look. But when he looked at Randy, he smiled a little and she smiled back.

  “Okay,” Randy said nodding, “can I tell her your name?”

  “She won’t know me,” he said, his lips tugging in disappointment.

  “Then, can I maybe tell her what it’s about?”

  “It’s about the leader of the Scorpions,” Tim said.

  Randy stared back at him, re-evaluating him. He knew something about the elusive leader of the Scorpions? Then he was definitely more than he appeared to be.

  Three minutes later, Tim was sitting in Midnight’s office, and already in awe of her.

  He watched her as she sat behind her desk. She was surprised how shy he was, being from a rough group like the Scorpions, but he had already told her that he really was only a member because his brother was, and that he didn’t like the kind of stuff they did. That’s why he had shown up on FORS’s door. He thought it was time they were stopped.

  “Hey,” Midnight said softly. “It’s okay you know, you’re doing the right thing. This gang has already killed a few people and they almost succeeded in taking out one of my people. So don’t feel like you’re betraying good people, you’re not. And you said your brother is already thinking about getting out right?” Her voice was concerned.

  She didn’t want to have to take the kid’s brother down, but she’d have to if he’d committed a felony; if he’d been involved in the killing of the last member they’d interrogated. That made Midnight think this time she needed to be more careful. This time she’d make him a member and that way he’d be safe. Besides the Scorpions wouldn’t know that he’d given them the info on thi
s next house, they’d guess that they’d gotten the information from all the reports run from the last bust. Which was partially true, the address he’d given her was one of the ones turned up in the CLETS DMV runs. But Tim’s information was going to pinpoint that house and give them the extra they needed for the warrant.

  “Yeah, I know,” Tim said, his eyes on Midnight. “Are you really a cop?”

  Midnight smiled at him. He seemed so sweet. She had a feeling he already had a bad case of puppy love. “Yes, I really am,” she said, unclipping her badge from her belt and tossing it to him.

  He caught it and sat looking down at it, as if it were a valuable heirloom. Midnight watched him, and smiled to herself. He reminded her a little bit of Thomas. Of course, every young man in a gang reminded her of Thomas.

  “Hey, Tim,” she said, “we need to get to work on this, so I can get it over to the judge. Come over here and stand behind me as I type it. I want you to tell me if it’s accurate. Okay?” She motioned him over to behind her desk. He did as she asked, trying to act casual. He handed her back her badge and she clipped it back to her belt. After about half an hour, she had the warrant done.

  “Can I go with you?” Tim asked, his eyes wide at the prospect of playing a police officer and helping this blond woman.

  “No, Tim, I think you better sit this one out. Your ex-friends will be there and I really don’t want you to be seen by them. Okay?” Her smile was warm as she looked at him, trying to soften the rejection a little.

  “Okay,” he said, shrugging. “I guess I’ll see you later then?”

  “Well, I probably won’t be back in the office tonight, but, how about you come by tomorrow. We’ll see what we can do about putting you to work on some other stuff okay?” Her smile was on her face again and Tim nodded excitedly. Again, Midnight found it hard to believe that this kid had been a member of the Scorpions, but one never knew.

  “Debenshire,” she called.

  Rick’s head snapped up from his desk. “Yeah?”

  “I need your help.”

  “If you need me, I’m there,” Rick said, his voice holding a double meaning, to which Midnight smiled.