Where We Belong

by J. Daniels

  I palm my phone again, studying the screen and waiting for Ben’s reply.

  It never comes.

  Maybe he’s busy?

  After tossing my phone back onto my pile of clothes, I glance at the tag, then do a quick calculation of the two outfits together while tapping my finger on my lip.

  When was the credit card paid? Two, three weeks ago? I should be able to charge both, right?

  “Mia?”

  My head snaps to the right. I stare at the closed door concealing me, the bottom stopping at the floor. I’m completely hidden.

  He’s here.

  My stomach flips wildly.

  “Ben?” I whisper. Twisting the knob, I pull the door open an inch.

  His dark blue uniform is the first thing I see, stretching wondrously across his broad chest and shoulders, then his neck, his Adam’s apple bobbing thickly.

  Why that makes me wet, I have no idea.

  My gaze moves over the sharp angle of his jaw, dusted in light stubble, and as I lift my head and our eyes lock, the last thing I see is the hunger sparking there, his irises practically vibrating with need before he pushes the door open and pins me against the mirror.

  “The boys,” he growls, slamming the door shut, ducking his head and nipping at my jaw, his large hands grabbing my hips and squeezing. His chest heaving, pressing hurriedly against mine, pushing me higher and higher up the mirror until my feet come off the floor.

  My head rolls back with a gasp. “Tessa has them. They went to get ice cream.”

  “Jesus. That picture, Mia. I’ve never driven so fast in my fucking life.”

  He roughly kisses me, burning my jaw with his stubble but I hardly care.

  I slide my tongue into his mouth and grip his biceps, digging my nails into his hard muscle.

  We kiss and kiss and kiss, until my head is spinning, until I can’t see or feel or taste anything besides Ben.

  Only Ben.

  “I need you. Fucking need this. I can’t breathe,” he says.

  I moan and fall limp into his arms.

  He’s here. It still isn’t sinking in that Ben’s touching me, that his hands are roaming down my back and pulling up the material of my lingerie, grabbing my ass, the hard line of his cock pressing against my stomach while he licks and sucks my neck, while he hitches my legs around his waist and drops his hand between us, working at his belt.

  He’s here. He should be at work. He should be out patrolling with Luke. And instead he’s initiating public sex . . .

  This never happens.

  “Whoa, wait.” I push against his chest, just enough to make him lean back and look at me. “You want to do this now? Here? Someone could hear us.”

  “Baby,” he rasps, staring into my eyes. “Yeah. Here. Right fucking now. You can be quiet. And no one can see shit from out there. I couldn’t see you before you opened the door.”

  “What about Luke?”

  “What the fuck about him? He’s in the car, where his ass needs to stay until I’m done.”

  “But . . .”

  But? Why am I protesting this? SHUP UP, MIA!

  “Damn it, Mia,” Ben growls. “If I don’t get inside you, my balls are going to fall off. I’m dying here.”

  Grinning, threading my fingers through his short hair and tilting my head up to kiss his jaw, I tighten the muscles in my legs and draw him closer.

  “What are you waiting for then? Get that monster out.”

  His entire body shakes, a shudder rolling through him. “God, I fucking love you.”

  I smile wider, pressing my lips against his mouth and sucking at his lip.

  Fumbling between us while supporting my weight, Ben frees his cock, leaving his pants up, his shirt on, everything in place except his belt, the button on his slacks, and the zipper.

  Like my fantasy, I think, squirming and clawing at him, begging for it, my voice quiet and urgent.

  He cups my pussy and slips two fingers inside.

  “Ben,” I whimper as he stretches me. “Please . . . please, I need it.”

  “You need what?”

  “Your cock.”

  He grins that beautiful, heart-stopping grin, the one that altered the course of my life that night in the bar three years ago. The only one he ever gives me.

  “Yeah, you do,” he growls, slipping his fingers out of me and holding the base of his cock, leaning forward and pushing the tip inside. “You fucking need it. Need my cock fucking this sweet pussy, don’t you, Angel?”

  I close my eyes, feeling him, feeling nothing but him.

  “Yes,” I whisper.

  He slides in so slowly, barely moving.

  A little more . . . my legs shake. A little more . . .

  “Hey! That guy’s stealing stuff! Hey, stop him!”

  My eyes snap open.

  Ben freezes, barely inside of me, every muscle in his body tensing while his hot breath bathes my face, bursting across my skin in sharp pants.

  “Hey!” Someone else yells. “Hey, wasn’t there a cop in here? I saw him! Where did he go? Hey, help! This guy is stealing stuff! Help!”

  “Fuck!” Ben yells, his voice echoing off the walls as he puts me on my feet and tucks his erection away.

  Growling, his entire body radiating an anger unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, the veins in his forehead threatening to burst and his teeth clenched so tight he’s hissing his breaths now, he grabs my face and kisses me hard before wrenching the door open and storming out of the dressing area.

  “Mother fuck!”

  Grabbing my shirt, I cover myself with it and follow behind, staying shielded by the wall and looking out into the store.

  “Richardson! You piece of shit! Come here!” Ben rounds on a big bald guy hunched over a table and tucking handfuls of women’s panties into the neck of his shirt.

  Gross.

  “You are fucking dead!”

  I stare, wide-eyed as Ben pulls the guy up, nearly lifting him off the ground before he slams him against the wall and cuffs him.

  I’ve never witnessed Ben arresting anyone before, or really doing any type of police work.

  Sweet mercy.

  This is foreplay right here. The best kind of foreplay.

  The authority in his voice, the way he’s showing his power over this creep, cuffing him with one hand while keeping him pinned to the wall.

  I might have to start doing ride-alongs.

  “The fuck, Kelly?” The guy yells, struggling against Ben’s hold and craning his neck to see behind him. “What the fuck are you doing in a women’s lingerie store?”

  Ben leans in closer. “What the fuck are you doing stealing panties, you sick fuck?”

  Grinning, the guy limply shrugs. “You found my fetish. No shame in my game.”

  “Ew. Get him out of here.”

  “Yeah, that’s sick. The cop is crazy hot though. I mean . . . damn.”

  “Seriously. I might steal something while he’s in here.”

  I smile at the small group of women standing by the registers. I’m used to the general public gawking at Ben.

  I gawk too. Allll the time.

  Ben yanks the guy back, pulling him off the wall and moving toward the entrance. “Didn’t you see the squad car outside? Are you that fucking stupid you’ll try and rob a place with a cop parked in front of it?”

  “Figured you were in the donut shop on the corner.”

  My mouth falls open.

  So stereotypical.

  “Yeah? Well, fuck you. I only go there on Fridays.”

  Shaking my head, I press my fingers to my lips and smile against them.

  Ben gets to the door, looking back at me over his shoulder. “Buy them both,” he yells, that dimpled grin on his face, and I know he means the outfit I’m wearing and the glimpse of the one he got in the text.

  The small group of women all jerk their heads in my direction, gaping at me.

  I look from them proudly back to Ben, waving and smiling big
, watching as he hauls the creepy panty-thief out of the store. My eyes lowering and lingering on his firm ass.

  And I gawk. I mean . . . damn.

  Ben

  “WHAT THE HELL? NO BACHELOR party? How can you not have a bachelor party? It’s tradition, man.”

  I swallow my mouthful of beer as CJ returns to the table, carrying a long neck for himself and handing one off to Luke. After taking a swig, CJ spins the vacant chair next to me around and sits in it, leaning his elbows on the high back and staring expectantly across the table.

  “It’s your last night of freedom,” he adds, persistent with his argument. “You’re just going to pass that up?”

  Reed shrugs off the question, sliding his hand around the bottle in front of him. “What the fuck do I care about having a bachelor party? The only woman I want grinding in my lap is that sexy as hell waitress over there.”

  Leaning back in his chair, Reed strains his neck and looks across the room at Beth as she carries two plates out from the kitchen and walks them over to a booth along the wall.

  “Goddamn,” he groans. “I get to marry that.”

  As if hearing or sensing the attention she’s getting, Beth looks up at that exact moment and smiles at Reed.

  “Jesus,” he mutters.

  A laugh rumbles in my chest.

  Christ, he’s fucking whipped like the rest of us. Never thought I’d see the day.

  CJ sets his beer down on the table. He looks between Luke and myself. “Come on. Sin City? Nobody else thinks we should’ve gone to Vegas or something?”

  “To gamble?” I ask, grinning, already knowing the answer. He’s not pushing a bachelor party to hit up any casinos. “That’s probably not a good place for you. No offense, man, but you suck at poker. How many times have I cleaned you out?”

  “Is that relevant? They have live sex shows there. Girl on girl. Who the hell said anything about gambling?”

  “You know you can’t participate in those, right?”

  He cocks his head. “Do you own the fucking Vegas handbook? How do you know? They could ask for a volunteer.”

  “Right.”

  Shaking my head, I dig my phone out of my back pocket when it starts to vibrate with a call. Seeing the unknown number again, I hit ignore and toss it onto the table in front of me.

  Fuck. I’m going to have to deal with this shit soon. She keeps fucking calling.

  CJ turns his attention on Luke. “What about you? Wouldn’t you have gone to something like that?”

  “Have you met my wife? Mouthy redhead?” Luke lifts his bottle for a drink, his eyes widening a bit. “I like my balls where they are.”

  “Pussies,” CJ grumbles. “All three of you.”

  “Man, what-the-fuck-ever. You’re just looking for an easy opportunity to get your dick wet,” Luke says. “Go fucking nuts at the wedding. Women are always horny as shit at those.”

  Reed jerks forward in his seat. “You better not go fucking nuts at the wedding.”

  CJ frowns. “Why not?”

  “Why? You’re paired up with my sister, that’s fucking why. Keep your dick in your pants and stay the hell away from her.”

  “How am I supposed to do that if I’m paired up with her, dumbass?”

  “You know what I mean,” Reed growls. “Don’t make me regret asking you to be a part of this. You walk her down the aisle, you dance with her for that one required song, and that’s it. After that, you don’t know her.”

  “What if she wants to dance with me more than once? I’m just supposed to tell her no? That’s fucked up.”

  “She won’t.”

  “Really?” CJ cocks an eyebrow, looking arrogant. “Hate to break it to you, man, but I’m a phenomenal dancer. Took classes and shit when I was a kid. Slow, fast, I can do it all. Trust me. She’ll want another dance. They always do. And I’m not a dick. I’m going to dance with her if she asks me.”

  Reed narrows his eyes.

  “Especially if she’s hot,” CJ adds, smiling and nodding slowly. “Is she?”

  Gritting his teeth, Reed glares across the table, looking almost as murderous as he did that night in my kitchen when CJ was hitting on Beth in front of him.

  They’ve become close since then. It’s one of the reasons why Reed asked him to be in the wedding. Another was Beth. She’s good friends with CJ now too. Doesn’t matter though. A sister is a sister. My best friend married mine and I still pound on Luke if he says anything even remotely sexual about Tessa in my presence.

  Or if he thinks it.

  I lean forward and slap CJ across the back of the head. “Shut the fuck up before he beats on you.”

  He jerks his head in my direction, rubbing at his scalp. “You know we’re about the same size, right, Kelly?”

  “About.” I grin. “You think you can take me?”

  “I took Jacobs.”

  “Fucker, we all took Jacobs. He was such a little bitch,” Luke laughs, setting his bottle down and smiling big, no doubt remembering that in-service training day and the ass-kicking he gave Jacobs in the ring.

  Out of all of us, Luke despised him the most. Luckily, when Luke surrendered that detective position and got his ass back to Ruxton to fix shit with my sister, Jacobs took the job and left, leaving CJ without a partner.

  CJ doesn’t seem to mind his absence. No one does. Jacobs was a shit cop and a douchebag human being.

  “I kinda miss that asshole,” Luke adds dryly, scratching the back of his buzzed head. “Remember how pissed he’d get when his lunch would go missing from the break room? His wife made the best chicken salad.”

  “That was you?” CJ’s brow lifts to his hairline. He snorts, his hand falling heavy on the table. “Man, do you know how many times I was stuck listening to him bitch in the car about that? He was already annoying as shit.”

  “Why did you all hate him?” Reed asks, looking between us.

  “‘Cause he was a dick. Plain and fucking simple.”

  I nod in agreement with CJ, taking another swig of my beer.

  Luke rubs at his jaw, his eyes losing focus as if he’s remembering something. “Caught him checking out Tessa’s ass one time a few years ago.”

  I slowly sit forward. The fuck? “What?”

  What the hell? I didn’t know about this.

  He lifts his gaze. “Yeah. It was right after she and I first met and she stopped by the precinct to visit you. But I think she was really just there wearing those damn cut-offs trying to bait me.”

  I glare at him.

  “With conversation,” he quickly adds, blinking away.

  “Conversation?” Reed breathes a laugh, looking skeptically at Luke. “Yeah, right. I know what cut-offs you’re talking about. I watched her hack up a pair of old jeans to make them. She wasn’t there to talk, man.”

  I cut Reed a look.

  I’m not sure what’s pissing me off more, the fact that he probably watched my sister try those damn ass-hugging shorts on since the two of them are so fucking close, or the fact that he’s right.

  My sister sure as hell wasn’t there to talk, to me or Luke.

  I remember her stopping in that day. I remember wondering what the hell she was doing stopping in, since she never came by the precinct before. After giving me no more than two words, greeting me with a ‘sup bro?’, she immediately narrowed in on Luke and the two of them disappeared together.

  That fucker came back inside twenty minutes later wearing the biggest, shit-eating grin on his face and begging me for Tessa’s number, telling me she was sorry she couldn’t stay and chat.

  Yeah. I’m sure she was devastated.

  Reed’s face drops all trace of humor when he absorbs my reaction. Clearing his throat, he lifts his beer and chugs half of it.

  I look around the table.

  I should line these idiots up and knock them out one at a time. Then I should go find Jacobs and bury him.

  After mentioning it was Luke eating his sandwiches all those years. Be f
ucking awesome seeing him react to that news.

  “Hey, guys.” Beth walks up to the table and places her hand on Reed’s shoulder, smiling at each of us before looking down at him. “Hey you.”

  “Sweetheart,” he replies, reaching for her. “Come here.”

  She shakes her head. “Can’t. My shift isn’t over.”

  “I’ll handle that. Where’s Danny? I’ll threaten to start calling him Dad again.” Reed starts to get up.

  “Reed,” she laughs, pushing against his arm until he lowers back into his seat. She bends down and drops her head next to his.

  They share a moment, whispering with each other, Reed cupping her face and kissing her, looking more than ready to marry his girl.

  It’s good to see. I’m happy for them. Really fucking happy for Reed.

  Doesn’t mean I won’t give him shit about it while I can. What are friends for?

  “You ready to marry this idiot?” I ask, my voice lifting as I stand and slip my phone away.

  Reed narrows his eyes. I ignore it, smiling at Beth.

  “It’s not too late to back out.”

  She slides into Reed’s lap and wraps her arms around him, holding him possessively.

  “I was born ready,” she declares, tilting her chin up, owning those words and saying them loud enough I’m sure a few tables around us hear her.

  An emotion passes over Reed’s face, something I know I feel a thousand times a day when I think about Mia. He looks relieved, like he’s finally able to take a breath after going so long without it, his eyes going soft before he slowly closes them.

  Dropping his head, he buries his face in Beth’s neck and pins her against him.

  I take that as my cue, as do the other guys, who stand, leaving their beers on the table and reaching for their wallets.

  I want to get home to Mia anyway. It’s been three hours since I left her in that dressing room looking like straight-up sin, begging and needing what I was offering her. I’m dying to see her.

  Hold her.

  Taste her.

  Touch her.

  Fuck her.

  My groin throbs.

  Fuck. Get home before you get hard.

  After tossing out some cash to cover a tip, I walk out of McGill’s Pub with CJ and Luke, the two of them talking shit about Jacobs as I glance at the phone vibrating in my hand.