by S. J. Bishop
The waiter hesitated before asking, "Do you want something else?"
What I wanted was to go home and to go to bed. I had things to figure out, and I wasn't gonna get anywhere sitting here with Jax and Gavin and their accusatory looks. Another waiter walked past with a drink tray. I spied a vodka martini with two olives sitting nestled amongst a plethora of fuzzy navels and gin tonics. He handed the martini off to the girl who'd ordered it. She took a sip, and I could almost feel it running down her throat. Vodka martinis had always been a favorite of mine.
When I turned back to our waiter, Jax and Gavin were both staring at me.
"Could you give us a minute?" Gavin asked. The waiter nodded and went away.
Oh God, here it comes.
"What's going on with you?" Gavin asked for the umpteenth time.
"Nothing. My house was broken into. I haven't been sleeping. I feel like..." I tried to think of some way to explain everything but couldn't come up with a single thing other than the truth, and there was no way in hell I was telling them that.
Luckily, my phone rang. I jumped on it, grateful for the interruption. I didn't recognize the number.
"Hello?" I asked.
"Caden?"
I felt my face lighten instantly. "Raina?"
I'd mentioned her to Jax and Gavin in the past but didn't think they'd put two and two together since they knew I hadn't spoken to her in years. I hadn't told them that she was the cop investigating my burglary.
"Yeah, hey, how are you?"
"Great, how are you?"
"I'm fine, thanks. Um, listen, I was wondering if it was too late to take you up on your offer?"
I blinked. "You mean for dinner?"
"Yeah."
"Hell no, it's not too late. When do you wanna get together?"
"Is now a good time?"
"Right now?"
"Yeah." I could feel the grin spreading across my face.
"Now is perfect. You wanna meet me at my place? I'll cook for you. I just need an hour to get home."
Raina laughed. "You cook?"
"I do a lot of things you don't know about." Jax raised his eyebrows at me and hid a smile.
"Okay, your place. One hour."
We hung up, and I turned to the guys.
"Sorry, gotta go," I said.
Jax started teasing me in a sing-song voice. "Caden got a boootyy caaall."
"That wasn't a booty call," I eye rolled him.
"It's almost ten. You're meeting this girl in one hour for dinner? I call bullshit."
I checked the time. Jax was right.
"Hey, any girl who can make you grin like that is alright by me," Gavin said. "Have fun."
"I will."
9
Raina
"You made spaghetti." I plastered a smile on my face. It was after ten, and Jax was actually cooking, just like he'd promised. Food was the furthest thing from my mind right now.
"Told you I could cook," Caden said. "Take a seat. Did I mention how great you look?"
"Thanks."
He pulled out a chair for me, the perfect gentleman. How could he be treating me like this when I was wearing my six-inch Stilettos and a mini skirt short enough to show the rounded edges of my ass? My tits were practically spilling out of my shirt, and all he could say was, "You look great"?
"How was work?" he asked as he dished up our plates.
"Fine, I guess. You?"
He shrugged. "Had practice in the afternoon. You know how it goes."
"Sure," I said; I had no idea what football practice was like. He passed me a plate, and I had to admit, it looked delicious.
I'd imagined that his dining room would be the size of a cafeteria, given how big his house was. And I was right, but we weren't sitting in the dining room. We were nestled in a cozy little corner of his kitchen at a tiny round table. There was just enough room for our plates. Our elbows kept bumping, and when I reached for the parmesan, our hands touched.
"We're still working on your case," I told him.
"That's fine." He made a dismissive motion with his hand.
It was strange; he seemed like he didn't give a shit someone had broken into his home. I remembered when we'd shown up that night, he'd started to make an excuse about how the whole thing was a misunderstanding. He'd only let us in after he'd realized it was me standing there. I'd let it go at the time because I had been flustered seeing him after all these years, but now it began to nudge at the back of my brain.
"You still haven't found anything that was stolen?" I asked.
"Stolen? Nope. Not a thing."
"Did you ever remember the combination to your safe?"
"Oh. No. Hey, how's your dad? Is he still married to that actress?"
He was changing the subject. I reminded myself that I wasn't here tonight as a cop.
"They're divorced. He's on wife number four right now. No, five."
Caden's eyes bulged out of his head.
"Listen, I don't want to talk about my dad."
"Oh, okay, sure." He hesitated. "You want some dessert?"
"Depends on what you've got in mind." I batted my lashes at him as I leaned over the table and wiped some sauce off his plate with my finger. My cleavage hung straight in his sight line. I licked my finger seductively and leaned back in my chair, crossing my legs.
Caden's brow was sweating, but he still hadn't made a move. He looked good. Real good. His skin was shiny and golden. His blue eyes drilled into me every time he looked my way. Moisture crept up between my legs. I hadn't been with that many men in my life. A few in L.A., and then Jesse.
I could tell he wanted me. Why wasn't he doing something about it?
I stood up to set my plate on the counter and knocked a napkin off the table. When I bent over to pick it up, I made sure to wiggle my ass in Caden's face.
"Uh, Raina? I'm getting some mixed signals."
"Mixed?" I shouted. "There's nothing mixed about it! I'm throwing myself at you, and you're acting like I'm invisible."
"You are definitely not invisible. But you said you had a boyfriend and—"
"Is that what this is about? I caught him with another girl. He's been screwing her for weeks."
His face broke into a smile, lightening his face. "So, you want to use me for revenge sex?"
I bit my bottom lip.
"Well..."
"Why didn't you just say so?"
He pushed his chair back and scooped me into his arms so that my feet weren't touching the floor. His lips were fire as he pushed them against me. His tongue slid over my teeth, sending delicious ripples of pleasure up and down my spine. I wrapped my arms around his neck and held him tighter to me. There wasn't an inch of space between us. I could feel his heart thudding in his chest. Or was that my heart?
"Next time," Caden said when he came up for air, "don't beat around the bush. Just tell me you want me to fuck the shit out of you."
"Promise."
10
Caden
Raina was a wildcat. She purred as I tossed her on the bed and climbed on top of her. Her hands moved swiftly, pulling my clothes off before I could even push her skirt up. She bit my neck lightly as I reached two fingers up under her skirt, searching for that soft, wet sponge. When I found it, she let out a loud groan and kissed my chest.
Her body was sweating as I pulled her shirt over her head. She wasn't wearing a bra. Her tits spilled out, luscious mountain peaks that came to a perfect pink point. I squeezed her already-hard nipples, teasing them with my tongue when my fingers were needed elsewhere.
"Oh God," she cried as I peeled her panties off and buried my face in her pussy. She was hot and beyond ready for me, but I decided to make her wait.
My tongue teased her clit, sending her into a frenzy. I kissed the inside of her soft, creamy thighs before moving my mouth back to her hole. My tongue slipped inside her, and she let out a wail. Her knees were shaking. She tasted like honey.
"Fuck me," Caden," she cried.
"Not yet."
I felt her disappointment as her chest heaved against mine. Her skin glistened in the moonlight that was shining into my bedroom, like the top of a lake at midnight. I pushed my cock up and over her pussy, letting her feel just how hard she was making me. Ever since she’d walked into my house wearing those six-inch heels, my cock had been steadily throbbing. I was gonna have to cum soon or risk a mean case of blue balls.
I moved my cock up between her tits. It felt like I was sliding along the water. Her skin was silky and wet, just like the rest of her. She grabbed my cock with both hands, pulling me into her mouth. I felt the back of her tonsils as I rocked my hips forward. Her mouth was hot, and her tongue slid up and down my shaft, tasting me until I thought my head would explode.
I pulled out of her and moved my hips down so that they were even with hers. She spread her legs wide for me, and I didn't waste any more time. I pounded into her. Her pussy was like a sauna as I sank in.
"Ohhhhh!" she cried. I gave it to her again. "Oh GOD!"
I started rocking my hips back and forth, feeling her out. She liked it long and deep. I couldn't believe that I was doing this with her, the girl with pigtails who used to annoy the hell out of us as kids. She sure as fuck wasn't a kid now.
I kissed her mouth as I moved in and out of her. She was a fierce kisser. One minute her mouth was moving soft and slow; the next she was biting my lip. I bit hers back, and she laughed.
"Tell me how much you needed this," I ordered.
"Oh God, yes, I did."
"Tell me you need my cock." I thrust with more force than I had so far, and the tip of my cock got lost in her cave.
"Oh YES! I need your cock!"
I rolled my hips forward and let myself go. Her hole tightened around my cock as I exploded into her. She let out a long, loud groan then fell back against the bed, panting.
"Oh my God," she said.
"You're welcome."
She snuggled against me as I closed my eyes.
I awoke the next morning to find my bed empty. There was a short note: Thanks for the fun. —R. No number. No P.S. asking me to call her later. I had practice in a few hours, but I could have made time for breakfast if she'd wanted. Whatever. I had practice in a few hours anyway. I rolled out of bed, ready for a shower. The painting of the sailboat sat on the wall, laughing at me.
I took it off the nail and threw it across the room.
"Fuck you!" I yelled at it.
The safe stared at me like two red eyes from the shadow. I spun the knob, unlocked it, and pulled out the envelope that had replaced the fifty thousand in cash I normally kept in it for emergencies. I still had no idea how the burglar had gotten in. The safe was supposed to be unbreakable. Certainly indecipherable.
I opened the envelope, then stopped myself. What was the point in reading it again? I'd already read it fifty times. Was the threat going to change? Were the pictures going to be different?
"Fuck you," I whispered and shut the door. I still had no idea what to do.
11
Raina
Work had crawled by at a snail's pace today, which was never good. It was also incredibly rare. Normally, we were swamped with work and I didn't have a second to think, let alone relax. I should have relished in the rarity of a slow day, but it had just given me more time to think.
We were still clueless on the goddamned burglaries. Ever since the night of the break-in at Caden's place, he seemed to have stopped making the rounds. Things had been quiet, which told me that something was wrong. Guys like this didn't stay quiet unless they had something really big in the works.
I hadn't seen Caden since the night we'd spent together almost a month ago. He'd called the station and gotten my number from Katelyn, the newbie receptionist who didn't know shit from Sherlock. He'd told her who he was, and she been instantly swayed by the glamor of talking to a football superstar. She'd given my number up like it was yesterday's bread.
He'd left three voicemails and sent four texts. After that, he seemed to have given up. And why shouldn't he? From what I’d read in the tabloids, he had a girl for every day of the week. I didn't need to be another notch in his belt. I'd fucked him on my terms, not his. It was better if things stayed that way.
But when it was quiet and still like tonight, my mind drifted. I remembered with perfect clarity the feel of his chest as I'd fallen asleep nuzzled against his shoulder. The sound his breath had made when I'd awoken during the night. The strength of his arms as they wrapped around my body. It was at times like these that I thought I'd made a mistake letting him go.
I lay back on my mattress and tried to close my eyes, but they wouldn't stay shut. It was almost midnight, and counting the imaginary sheep that were bouncing around my ceiling had been the most interesting thing about my day. The phone rang, and I jumped for it, happy for the distraction. It had to be the station. No one else would call me this late.
"Parker here."
There was a second of silence, and then a man's voice came through the line, sending ripples of excitement up my spine. "Raina?"
Fuck. Caden.
"Hey," I said.
"Hey. How are you?"
I wondered if he felt as awkward as me.
"Fine. You?"
"Fine." More silence. "Listen, I wanted to know if you might like to get together again. I've called and left a few messages but—"
"Yeah, I know. I got them."
"Oh. I thought maybe you didn't."
"Caden... that night was fun, but I think it was a one-time thing, alright?"
"Why?"
"Because."
"I know you enjoyed yourself," he said. I could hear the hint of a smirk in his voice.
"Yes, but—"
"Do you want me to beg or something? Because that's not gonna happen."
"I don't want you to beg; I just don't want to see you again."
His breathing changed. He was getting pissed. So was I.
"I could have any girl I want, you know."
"Yeah, I know. I saw you on TV with that blonde at some party two weeks ago."
"Hey, I didn't force you into bed. As I recall, you jumped in pretty goddamn willingly."
"Fuck you, Caden."
"Fuck you, Raina."
I slammed the phone down and pounded my fists into the pillow.
"UUUGHH!" He was infuriating.
The phone rang again.
"Are you kidding me?" I picked it up, my heart still pounding. "What?"
"I'm sorry." Caden's voice had done a complete one-eighty. He sounded stressed but not angry.
I sighed. "Caden..."
"I need your help."
"Help?" It was a funny thing about being a cop. Anytime you heard that word, you immediately went on red alert.
"There's something I need to talk to you about."
"Is it about the break-in?"
He hesitated. "Yes. But I can't tell you over the phone. Can you meet me tomorrow night at my place?"
"I don't know..."
"Strictly professional."
My mind was spinning. "Is seven alright?"
"Sure."
"Okay. I'll see you then."
We hung up, and I tried to settle back into bed, but it wasn't happening. Every time I tried to let my mind go blank, Caden came slipping in.
My phone rang.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me." I grabbed the phone from my nightstand. "What?!"
There was a pause. "Raina?"
"Mac?"
"Yeah. Everything okay."
"Shit, I'm sorry. I thought you were someone else."
He laughed. "Glad I'm not the one on the receiving end of that temper."
"What's up?"
"Our guy struck again."
"When?"
"About an hour ago. Only this time, he wasn't satisfied with jewelry."
"What do you mean?"
"The homeowners came home. Caught him elbow deep in their safe from the s
ound of it. The fucker shot them both dead."
My heart thumped hard once in my chest.
"I'll be right there."
12
Caden
I stared at the vodka as it swirled around the glass. Two giant green olives stared back at me, their pimentos like eyes taunting me to come closer. Assuring me I'd be safe with them.
I set the drink down and stared at the phone in my hand, resisting the urge to call Raina back and ask her to meet me now. Tonight. I had no idea what I was going to tell her tomorrow when she came by my place. Should I cook again? That had certainly worked out well for us last time.
Fuck. Once I told her the truth, she wasn't going to want anything to do with me. But I had to tell someone; it was killing me. Look where I was right now. A fucking bar. With a fucking drink in my hand. I set it down, disgusted with myself, and pushed it to the side.
"Ain't you gonna drink that?" the guy next to me asked. He looked like he needed it worse than me.
"It's all yours," I told him.
The woman bartender winked at me as I stuffed a twenty in her tip jar.
"Thanks," she said. Her name tag read "Maria." She was in her mid-twenties with dark curly hair and lightly tanned skin.
Two guys broke into a shouting match at the back of the bar. One of them grabbed a bottle and threatened to hit the other guy over the head with it. Instinct kicked in, and I took a step toward them to shut it down, but Maria was a pro. She jumped over the counter and ran at the guys, slapping the bottle out of the guy's hand and catching it before it hit the floor.
"You two drunks shut the fuck up!" she screamed. The men were immediately silent. "If you're gonna cause shit like that, then you're gonna leave. I'll throw you out myself if I have to, don't think I won't."
No one in the bar dared to contradict her. She reminded me a little of Raina with her temper, and I smiled as I left the bar.
I'd come close to taking that drink tonight, but I'd still beat it. For now. How much longer? That's why I had to tell Raina. She might hate me afterward, but at least I knew she'd help. She was a cop. It was her job to help. A new thought occurred to me, clouding the light at the end of the tunnel.