“Like what?”
“Like you’re in love.” He swept his arm around her waist, the softness of his palm landing on the curve of her back. “Are you in love, Kayla?”
“Before today, I would’ve said you were insane for asking me that.”
He bent lower, face so close her eyes crossed when she looked at him. “Now?”
“And now I don’t care about labeling things or explanations. I want you to take me on an adventure every time we’re together.”
“I can’t promise that every day will be like this.”
“See you don’t get it.” She smiled, stroking his warm cheek. “No matter what we do or say, with you it’s always an adventure.”
“That’s what you want?” He knelt between her legs on one knee. “Adventure?”
“Right now…” She held his shoulders, his muscles flexing underneath her touch. “I want you.” She grabbed his neck, capturing his mouth in hers. “Mm.” She moved away, bumping his nose. “You can have me right here if you want me.”
He chuckled, breathless. “Wow.” He touched his mouth and looked at the stain of her lipstick on his finger. “Sounds like something out of a movie.”
She shrugged. “It just came out.”
“You want me to take you, you mean?” His mouth quivered as he stuck his hand back up her dress, fondling her cunt through her beige, cotton panties. “Take you where? Where you wanna go, Kayla?”
“Anywhere as long as it’s with you.” She kissed him again; his eyes remained open. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” He panted, looking at the cement patio. “It’s just—”
“Just what?” She got woozy as if she’d taken too much medicine. “Don’t you want me?” She touched the buttons of his short-sleeve shirt. “Did I do something wrong?”
“We had our moment the other night and afterwards you ignored me for two days.” He batted his eyes. “If we make love tonight, you’ll ignore me for a week?”
“No.”
“How do I know that?” He curled his fingers into a relaxed fist. “What are we doing, Kayla?”
“You tell me.” She grinned from his sudden shift in mood. “You invited me here, remember?”
“I did.” He chewed his bottom lip. “But, I’m not sure if I should’ve.”
“Excuse me?” Her voice cracked from embarrassment. “Are you rejecting me, Tate?”
“I’m rejecting being rejected.”
“That makes little sense.”
He rubbed his hair, messing his curls. “God knows I want you, but I don’t want to be your escape, Kayla. I don’t want you to enjoy me while you’re in town and then go back to Florida like I never existed.”
“Where is this coming from?” She tilted her head. “You had no problem finger-fucking me the last time.”
“I don’t want you to forget me.” He grabbed her wrist, staring her dead in the face. “I want this to be more than a temporary adventure.”
She tried to free her hand. “Are you saying you want us to be a couple?”
“What’s wrong with that?” He swept his hand under her hair.
“It’s too soon.”
“I see.” He squinted. “Not too soon to fuck but too soon for a commitment.”
She laughed. “Are you insane? Tate, we don’t know enough about each other.”
He clutched her thighs. “I want to be with you.”
“Oh, God.” She shook her head. “There is a difference between an attraction and becoming a couple. That’s a huge step and we’re strangers.”
“We’re not strangers. I fell for you through Kirby. I’ve wanted you all this time.”
“Tate—”
“This is real, Kayla.” He tapped his chest. “It might sound weird to you but it’s what I’ve dealt with for a long time. That’s why it’s fate that brought you here. You didn’t come down here just for Kirby. You came down here for me. To be with me.”
“You only know what Kirby told you about me, and I hadn’t seen him in ten years.”
He let her go, frowning.
“Wait.” She touched his face. “Don’t get the wrong idea.”
“I feel like I’m not worthy to be more. Like I’m only good enough for you to have fun with.”
Her eyes filled with tears. “I’m scared you’re gonna hurt me.”
“What?” He kissed her, caressing her shin. “Baby, I don’t intend on hurting you.”
“Reginald did.” She wiped a tear. “That’s the guy who cheated on me. I gave him everything, Tate. I’d never given a man that much of me before and he hurt me in a way I can’t explain. I like being with you, but right now I’m comfortable like this.” She massaged his strong shoulders. “Scratching the physical itch is easier.”
“What about the emotional itch? How long, can you fight that?”
“I hope long enough to make it off this island. I don’t wanna fall in love with you.”
“I think you already have.” He grabbed the back of her neck and pushed her lips on his.
“Tate…”
He pulled her to the pavement.
“Tate.”
“Shut up.” He lifted her dress, placed lazy kisses on her stomach and then lowered his head between her legs.
“Tate.” She pushed at his shoulders as he shoved his head between her thighs. “Okay, I get it.”
“Get what?” he mumbled between kissing her thighs. “Isn’t this what you want?” He pulled at her panties. “Sex with no strings?”
“No, this isn’t what I want.” She pushed him away and fixed her panties. “What’s wrong with you?”
He glared at her, huffing and puffing. “I promise I won’t hurt you.”
She sighed, laying her head to the pavement. “You can’t promise that.”
“Give me a chance.” He swept her into a passionate kiss and slipped off her panties. “Trust me.” He kissed her knee; a continuous tingle erupted in the pit of her stomach.
Before she took her next breath, Tate’s thick tongue penetrated her tender folds. “Oh.” Kayla gyrated with her arms out, gripping air. “Yes.”
Tate tickled her throbbing clit while tonguing her twat.
“Ooh.” Kayla jerked, wrapping her legs over his shoulders. “Don’t stop.” She sunk her fingers into his silk curls. “Ah.”
Tate clamped his lip on her labia, flicking her walls with his tongue.
Kayla closed her eyes, elbows burning from the friction of the cement. “Yes, yes, yes.” She leaned back, grinding her wet snatch against his head.
He pried her thighs further apart and latched his mouth onto the bud of her clit.
“Right there,” Kayla squealed. “Like that. God, yes!” She exploded, the tingle shooting to the base of her feet. “Fuck.” She grabbed her head, shivering until the orgasm passed. “Oh.”
Tate climbed on top of her and kissed her, wetting her mouth with her own juices.
“Mm.” Kayla licked his lips between kisses, another tingle brewing in her pelvis as she tasted herself on his lips.
“You taste so good.” He sucked her bottom lip. “Think of how good this could be if emotions were involved.” He kissed her breasts through her dress. “You’re so beautiful.” He spread her legs wider, fumbling with his pants. “I wanna be inside you.”
She moaned, hungry for his dick.
As Tate pulled his pants down, a faint doorbell rang.
He snatched his lips from Kayla’s mouth. “Was that my doorbell?”
It rang again.
“Yeah.” Kayla took a deep breath.
“Fuck it.” He French-kissed her, lowering his pants to his ankles. “They’ll go away—”
“Tate?” a female voice called out from the front of the house.
Kayla recognized the Australian accent.
Jewel sashayed through the fence in a tight, spandex dress, carrying a bottle of wine.
“What the fuck?” Tate got off Kayla, wiping his mouth.
Je
wel smiled, her hair swept into an elegant French roll. “My.” She lowered the bottle with a sneaky grin. “Isn’t this interesting?” She waved. “Nice to see you again, Kayla.”
Tate stood, doing a double take. “You two have met?”
“Oh yes.” Jewel rocked from side to side. “At the festival.”
Kayla stood, straightening her dress. “Am I missing something here?”
“You mean between Tate and I?” Jewel shrugged. “Tate, is she missing something?”
He exhaled through his nostrils. “Kayla, Jewel is my ex-girlfriend. The one I mentioned.”
“I see.” Kayla scoffed, glaring at Jewel. “That’s interesting.”
“He mentioned me?” Jewel grinned. “I’m flattered.”
“Don’t be.” Kayla faked a smile, giving Jewel a thorough once over. “What he said wasn’t anything you should get happy about.”
“What the fuck are you doing, Jewel?” Tate asked.
She pushed the wine in Tate’s face. “Did you forget our romantic evening?”
“Are you nuts?” He pushed the bottle out his face and turned to Kayla. “Don’t listen to any of this shit. She’s crazy.”
“Really?” Kayla squinted.
“She won’t leave me alone.” Tate snatched the wine and threw it onto the pavement, breaking the bottle. “That’s it, Jewel. I’m not taking this shit anymore.” He yanked out his phone. “You won’t listen then let’s see if you listen to the police.”
“Don’t bother putting on a show for your new girlfriend, Tate.”
“Don’t listen to her, Kayla.” He dialed. “She’s trying to twist things. That’s what she does.”
Jewel held her waist, chin in the air. “He invited me over here or else why would I come dressed like this and with wine?”
“She’s lying.” Tate swatted the phone in Jewel’s direction. “I didn’t invite her over. You have to believe me, Kayla.”
“Either she’s telling the truth, or she’s sick in the head.”
“She’s sick in the head.”
“Don’t flatter yourself, darling.” Jewel batted her long lashes. “Kayla, you’re a smart woman. What does this look like to you?”
“She followed us, Kayla. She concocted this thing to make you think I’m with her, but I’m not.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Jewel said. “Like I have time to do that.”
“Kayla, please.” Tate reached for her hand. “She’s lying.”
“Don’t touch me.” She moved away from him.
“Kayla.”
“I’m going back to the hotel.”
He grabbed her. “No, listen.”
“Let go of me, Tate.”
He did. “Kayla, please. She’s lying. She’s stalking me.”
“In your dreams.” Jewel patted her hair. “Do I look like I need to stalk someone, Kayla?”
“I think you’re both playing games, and I can’t believe anything that comes out your mouth.” She got her panties off the ground.
“Where are you going?” Tate pulled her back. “I’ll take you back to the hotel.”
She broke free and stomped toward the fence. “I’ll call a cab and wait in the front for it.”
“Kayla, don’t do this.”
She exited through the gate and made her way to the front porch.
CHAPTER 11
“ Fucking bitch.” Tate shoved Jewel after Kayla left the backyard. “It’s over!” Spit flew out his mouth. “These games, the harassment, all of it.”
“What are you gonna do?” She pushed on her breasts, the slyest grin covering her lips. “Kill me like you did Kirby?”
He wobbled. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“You heard me.” She wiggled her hips. “You killed Kirby, didn’t you? At least that’s what it looks like.”
“You ever tire of playing these games?”
“Three days before Kirby was killed you two had one hell of a fight at his place. In all the years I’ve known both of you I’d never seen you get so mad at Kirby.”
“Jesus.” He leaned over, gripping his knees.
“Yeah, I saw the entire thing, Tate.” She tapped her foot. “I remember how mad you were and the rage in your voice.”
He straightened himself and it took every fiber of his being not to smack her in the face.
“In fact, you’re looking at me the same way you did Kirby that night. Like you want to kill me.”
“Get out.” His fists shook at his sides. “Get the fuck out while you can, Jewel.”
“I’m in control.” She patted his cheeks and he flinched. “If the police found out about that fight it wouldn’t be good for you.”
He clenched his teeth. “I did not kill Kirby.”
“I wonder how Kayla would feel…” She crossed her arms, glancing toward the fence. “If she knew about that horrible fight?”
The large vein in his neck pulsated. “What did I ever see in you?”
She swallowed and her smugness faded as if hurt by his comment.
“We loved each other at one point,” he said.
“I still love you, Tate. That’s why I can’t let you go.”
“If you loved me, then you wouldn’t do this.” He exhaled through his nose. “You would leave me alone and let me live my life.”
“I’m not letting you push me out your life like I don’t matter. Here’s the deal. If you don’t want me to go to the police, then you’d better stay away from Kayla.” Her nostrils flared. “You understand me?”
“You won’t tell me what to do and who I can see. Go to the police if you want. You got shit.”
She smirked. “We’ll see.”
Tate followed Jewel out the gate, waited for her to leave, and then joined Kayla on the porch.
She crossed her legs and crooked her body in the opposite direction, avoiding eye contact.
He sat beside her on the two-seater. “Kayla.”
“Save it, please.”
His shoulders shrank. “You’re the only woman I’m interested in right now.”
She bobbed her foot. “Until your next victim comes along?”
“I didn’t mean it like that.”
“I’m glad this happened because it knocked sense into me. It’ll make me stay on track and forget whatever it is we’ve been doing.”
“Can’t we finish what we started?” He chuckled. “This time in my bedroom?”
“The only place I’m going is back to the hotel.” She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “I have enough to deal with.”
“Don’t turn your back on what this could be.” He stroked her shoulder. “I want you and you feel the same—”
“Shove it, Tate.”
He let her go, mumbling.
A cab cruised toward them and stopped in front of the house.
Kayla stood, waving at the driver. “I got to go.”
“Wait.” Tate took her hand. “Can I still help you with Kirby’s murder?”
“You got all this other shit going on.” She pulled his hand from hers. “Focus on that.”
“Nothing is more important than you and what happened to Kirby.”
“Fine.” She dipped her head. “But, we should just be friends.”
He sighed. “Not sure I can.”
“If you wanna continue helping me, then you’d better try.”
She walked off the porch.
KAYLA’S PHONE rang when she got into the cab. She instructed the driver to take her to her hotel, checked the caller ID and then answered, “Inspector Wright?”
“Hello, Miss Atkins,” his laidback voice always made him sound drunk. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
“Is this about Kirby?”
“Yes, but this might surprise you.”
“Believe me…” She watched the moonlight zapping through the palm trees as the cab continued. “Nothing you say will surprise me about my brother anymore.”
“We found out that your brother had an affair with
a man named Liron Francis.”
“Never heard of him.” She scoffed. “Not that I would I guess.”
“Kirby met Liron through Kirby’s job. Liron came in for a loan and they hit it off and dated.”
“So, this guy is a suspect then?”
“He could be but we can’t even question him. He lawyered up right after he heard we wanted to speak to him.”
“Shit. We can’t just let that be the end. This guy might’ve killed my brother. We gotta find out what went on between them.”
“Sorry to dangle a carrot in front of you, but I wanted to keep you up on everything.”
“I appreciate it.” She propped her elbow against the window. “Please, please see if there is anything you can do to talk to this man.”
“All we can do is keep digging for a possible motive. It is suspicious that he got a lawyer so quick, but he has rights and his lawyer will protect them.”
“What does this Liron do?”
“He manages the food store on Angas Drive. Miss Atkins, do not engage with him.”
She grinned. “Whatever you say.”
“I’m serious. If you contact Liron, you could mess up the investigation. Is that what you want?”
“No.”
“Let us handle everything. We’ll keep working on the Liron angle.”
“What about Big D and the Rastafarians?”
“Nothing on either front so far.”
She exhaled. “Okay, thanks for telling me about Liron.”
“You’re welcome. Good night, Miss Atkins.”
“Good night, Inspector.”
She hung up and called Malissa to fill her in on the news.
“DON’T WORRY ABOUT IT, OKAY?” Malissa and Kayla entered the hotel lounge the following afternoon after visiting Liron. “We’ll just concentrate on other leads.”
They ordered orange cocktails and sat on the suede sectional by the window.
Kayla sipped the tangy drink, watching the people outside at the pool. “Maybe I should give up and go back home.”
“You can’t give up.” Malissa sipped from her straw. “Besides, I can’t take another ten years of you feeling guilty about Kirby.”
“Why would Liron refuse to see the police and then act a fool with us when we tried to talk to him? It makes no sense.”
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