By Your Rules (New York City Fixers Book 1)

by Ally Decker

  "You okay?" He tightened his grip on her fingers, and it reminded her that they had been holding hands for a long time now. "You drifted off in the middle of a sentence."

  "Ugh, sorry."

  "It's fine. But I am curious how the story with the naked guy and the koala bear ended," he said with an amused smile, and Claire chuckled. She almost missed those patrol days for a moment.

  She finished that story and launched into another one, and before they knew it, they had walked through half of Manhattan. The moment she realized that, she started feeling it in her legs, and she sat down on the closest bench, pulling Nate with her.

  "Okay, I'm all walked out," she admitted, leaning against the back rest.

  Nate stretched out his legs with a sigh. "Oh yeah, me too."

  They sat in a comfortable silence for a few minutes before Claire checked the time. It wasn't even five yet.

  "Okay, it's your call now," she said, glancing at Nate. "What are we doing after we can feel our legs again?"

  "Oh, I feel them just fine now," he muttered with a wince. "I feel every muscle in there. But as in what's next... Are you hungry?"

  Claire tilted her head to the side, considering. "A bit, yeah."

  Nate nodded. "Me too. So we can either grab something to eat, or we can go to my place, and I can cook us something."

  "You cook?"

  "Not terribly well, but I have a few things I know how to make. Most of them involve pasta."

  By their "rules", he was the one to decide now, but she figured he was giving her an option because she was the one who pulled back and drew the boundaries the other night. And she hesitated now, too, but she had to admit watching Nate cook would be nice. Besides, she wanted to see his apartment. He'd already seen her place twice.

  "I like pasta," she finally said and got rewarded with his brilliant smile.

  ***

  Claire didn't mean to stare, but the view from the floor-to-ceiling windows was the first thing a person could see as they walked in. She expected a big apartment and expensive-looking furniture, but she wasn't prepared for the million-dollar view.

  "I had the same reaction when I walked in here for the first time," Nate whispered next to her ear, standing right behind her. He chuckled, and the warm puff of air tickled the skin of her neck. "I'm pretty sure I'd have agreed on a much higher price for that alone, but thankfully, we all let Dean handle the negotiations."

  Dean. The third part of the seemingly inseparable trio and the one Claire hadn’t met yet. Nate told her on their way here that all three of them lived in this building, and she just shook her head. Now, she blinked and turned away from the view slowly. "It's beautiful."

  Nate nodded, his fingers brushing her hair away from her face. "It's even more beautiful now."

  He leaned in and kissed her slowly, and she opened her mouth right away. They had spent half the day with each other without anything more than a few pecks, and Claire realized how much she wanted it now. She slipped her fingers under his T-shirt and ran them over the dip of his spine, but Nate closed his hands on her hips and drew back.

  Claire would have lost her balance if his hands weren't there. She slid her palms to rest on his sides, not ready to stop touching him just yet, and looked up.

  Nate inhaled sharply. "You're just..." He tightened his grip on her hips as he closed his eyes for a moment. "You're making me crazy," he finished when he opened them.

  Warmth spread through Claire, and she nodded. "I know the feeling," she whispered. Normally, she wouldn’t have admitted it, but judging from the smile Nate gave her... Maybe it was worth it.

  "Okay, you need to sit down here," he said, stepping back, and pointed her to a stool next to the kitchen island. "And I’ll be on the other side, cooking."

  She smiled as she watched him walk to the counter. "You don't want any help?"

  He shook his head as he washed his hands under the sink. "Keeping me company is enough. Do you want wine?"

  "Yes, please."

  She watched him prepare food as she sipped her wine. The conversation ran smoothly, but Claire didn't feel like they needed to fill the silences when they happened, either. At some point, she turned on her seat to take in the view one more time and sighed.

  "I don't know how you get anything done here with this view," she admitted, eliciting a chuckle from him.

  "For the longest time, I couldn’t. I learned to use curtains whenever I wanted to work, and it got better, I got used to it. It did take me months, though."

  "I bet it did.”

  She turned to see him smile at her and wondered if this, his soft gaze and warm smile, was something she would ever get used to, too.

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  After they ate, they took their wine glasses and moved to the couch, since Nate could see she still wasn't over the view. He didn't mind. He could watch her while she was staring at the city.

  He should have known he wouldn't be able to resist touching her for long, though. As he watched her, he pictured going down on her as she sat there. He would spread her legs and eat her out as she stared ahead and only sometimes look down at what he was doing, maybe give him a smile for his efforts. He'd suck on her clit then and she wouldn't be able to stop herself from arching back. Maybe she'd grab his hair, maybe she'd shout. Nate wouldn't stop until she came against his lips.

  Or maybe she'd be on his lap, facing the window, as he'd fuck into her slowly, until she’d quicken the pace herself when she grew impatient. He'd run his hands over her stomach and cup her breasts, and he'd come buried inside her after she tensed around him, shivering from her orgasm.

  Or maybe one day he'd fuck her against the window. He'd push her against it, facing away from him, and he'd fuck her hard as she tried to catch hold of the glass as she writhed between him and the window.

  Claire turned away from the view to look at him right then, and every fantasy disappeared from his head in an instant as her eyes darkened, and her gaze dropped to his lips, shattering the last of his restraints.

  "Put down your glass," Nate said, his voice low and gritty.

  She did as he told her, not looking away from him. The second her hand was empty, he pushed her down against the cushions and pressed his body to hers. His kiss was demanding, the tongue insistent, as he chased her taste with the desire running hot inside of him. He pushed his hand between the cushions and her head and gripped the nape of her neck.

  She moaned against his lips and bucked under him, and then moaned again when he pushed back, keeping her where she was. Nate sucked on her lower lip, before grazing his teeth over it. He moved a bit to give himself some space, and his free hand found the zipper of her jeans. He opened them quickly, and a few seconds later, his fingers slipped into her panties, pushing against her clit. Her legs parted, and he had more room now, so he slipped his fingers deeper, thumb still rubbing in small circles against her clit as other fingers slid between her folds and came back wet.

  "What do you want?" he asked with his lips pressed against her skin as he kissed her jaw when she breathed harshly against his neck.

  "Your mouth." She dipped her head back, exposing her neck. "I want your mouth."

  Nate smiled against her jaw, and with one last lick over her lips, he moved down her body. He pulled her jeans and underwear off, and for a second he sat back, admiring the view. Claire was beautiful like this, spread on his couch, legs parted, and head thrown back. Her long shirt almost covered her, but not quite.

  He leaned in and pushed the shirt up, dropping a kiss below her navel and scratching his prickly jaw over the skin below her abdomen, making her shiver. His fingers slipped between her folds again and made room for his tongue. He licked over her clit lightly at first, then with more force. When he sucked on it, her hand landed in his hair, but she didn't push him away or forward. She just weaved her fingers into his hair, and Nate wanted more, wanted her to lose it, so he sucked harder as he slid one of his fingers inside her. Everything was wet and hot,
and he couldn't get enough. He stroked the skin right above her opening with his thumb, and she tightened her grip in his hair, pulling him closer. He would grin if his mouth wasn't otherwise occupied.

  He curled his finger inside her right as he flattened his tongue over her clit and moved it up and down in the same quick rhythm. He didn't want to drag it out. He wanted to feel her come against him now.

  A few seconds later, he got his wish. She shivered, and her muscles tightened as she moaned. He glanced up and saw she threw a hand over her mouth to stifle the sound. He groaned in protest, but since his mouth was still against her, she shivered at the added sensation before using her hand in his hair to push him back.

  Claire sat up quickly and brought him closer, licking into his mouth. Nate let her in, let her taste herself, and then pushed her back so she would lie down again. As she settled back on the cushions, she reached down and circled her fingers around his hard cock.

  "Fuck."

  Nate gripped the back of the couch as he fought with himself not to come too soon, but all the buildup, Claire's closeness, and now the sight in front of him coupled with the tight grip around his cock—all of this pushed him over the edge after a few short minutes, and he came over her hand and stomach. He fell forward and caught himself with his hand right next to her head. Claire was grinning at him as he was coming down, and she let go of his cock only to raise her hand to her lips. He groaned as she rubbed her fingertips over her lower lip and then licked it clean.

  Nate leaned in to kiss her, and now it was his turn to taste himself. Taste them. Everything blended together, and as they kissed, he realized that he was stumbling down the path of no return. This, her, this was a one-way street for him, and it was too late to hit the brakes.

  He thought he should be terrified, but in reality, he couldn't help grinning into the kiss.

  ***

  "You're sure you don't want to stay?" Nate asked as he watched her put on her clothes a few hours later. They’d already set up another date for Friday, but he still didn’t want to see her go now.

  Claire shook her head. "I have to be at the station early tomorrow morning."

  "Let me at least drive you home."

  She shot him down with a look that said “I'm an NYPD detective, and I can take care of myself”, so he raised his hands in a gesture of surrender.

  "Fine, fine, have it your way." He leaned in for a kiss. "May I at least ask for you to text me when you get home?"

  She opened her mouth, and he could see on her face she was going to say no, but then she pressed her lips together and looked down at her arms she crossed over her chest.

  "Okay," she finally said, glancing up. "I’ll text you."

  He smiled as he led her to the door. "Thanks."

  They kissed by the entrance, slow and sweet, and Nate didn't want to let her go, but swallowed down any protest when she pulled back. He knew that would just make her retreat even further.

  "See you on Friday, then?" he asked.

  "Yes." She brushed her lips against his one more time. "See you on Friday."

  Claire was out the door a moment later, and Nate closed it slowly before turning back to the empty apartment. There was a mess on and around the coffee table, dishes and glasses, and a rolled-up blanket near the foot of the couch. He considered his options as he straightened his living room. He could call it an early night and go to bed, he could watch a movie, or he could check if Dean was free.

  He went with the third option. He grabbed his cell after he put the dishes in the dishwasher.

  Want to play? he texted Dean. I have leftover carbonara.

  It took fifteen seconds to get a reply, and Nate unlocked the door on his way to the couch. He'd set up the equipment as he waited.

  There was a knock on the door before it opened, and Dean walked in with two of his fancy beers. "Hey, man, what happened? I thought you'd be otherwise occupied tonight," he told Nate as he sat down on the couch next to him.

  "I was, but I'm not anymore." Nate handed him one of the controllers.

  "Now I feel like a neglected wife you came back home to, you cheating bastard."

  Nate snorted. "Yeah, yeah, you should definitely divorce me."

  "Oh, really?" Dean raised his eyebrows at him. "So you're getting serious with the lady detective?"

  "I didn't mean..." Nate started, but stopped at the sight of his friend's grin. "Fuck you."

  "Nope, we're divorcing, remember?" Dean toasted him with his beer bottle. "Now tell me all about who you’re leaving me for."

  Nate sunk back into the cushions. He should've known better.

  "Just take the controller and let's play."

  Dean shook his head. “Oh no, you promised me carbonara first. And I want that story, so spill it.”

  Nate groaned, getting up from the couch to heat Dean’s food. He should’ve really thought out this whole thing better. A movie wouldn’t ask him any questions.

  ***

  The next few weeks flew by quickly, and Nate was almost afraid to tempt fate with how happy he’d been. He and Claire had been growing closer and spending more time together, and he could tell she was relaxing more and more in his presence. They’d even talked about her family at some point after she’d mentioned her mother dropped in at the precinct to surprise her and take her to lunch. And while Claire hadn’t exactly spilled any family secrets, she hadn’t run away screaming, either, which Nate considered a win.

  He’d made a point of it at work to not be involved in mayor Dowson’s case at all. Usually, the partners met every week to discuss the ongoing cases so they knew at least the basics of them all, and could offer advice and strategize as needed. Shawn and Dean handled Dowson separately, though, and they had no problem doing so.

  If Nate had ever needed yet another proof of how working with his best friends was the best career move he’d ever made, this would be it.

  Meanwhile, it was high time for Claire to meet the two of them and not in the office, so the next time Nate was spending the night at her place, he turned to her when he slid into bed after the shower. She was reading something on her phone but had to feel his gaze on her because she glanced at him.

  “What?”

  “So, I was thinking,” Nate started, propping himself on his elbow. “What would you say to meeting Shawn and Dean sometime soon? Like next weekend, maybe?”

  Claire stared at him for a long moment, but Nate couldn’t read her expression, so he decided to wait, trying not to tense as the silence dragged. If she still didn’t trust him enough to not use her—or let Shawn use her—for the mayor’s campaign... No, he was not going there. They were past this.

  He hoped.

  “I’d love to meet them, but there’s this…” She paused and glanced down at her phone before looking at him again. “I actually wanted to ask you to do something else next weekend, so maybe we could push it back a bit? Mine is…not that moveable, I’m afraid.”

  She turned her phone to show him the screen, and there it was, spelled in large blue letters:

  POLICE COMMISSIONER’S BALL

  It was an announcement about the upcoming party, and when Nate glanced up at Claire, she was staring at him with her eyes shining brightly in the dim light. It brought him back to their first date and looking at her from the other side of the small table. It seemed so long ago now.

  “Would you like to come with me?” she asked, and he nodded right away.

  “Of course I would,” he told her and leaned in to kiss her shoulder. “I would love to.”

  She smiled brightly and dropped the phone down on the cover to pull him up for a proper kiss. “Good,” she whispered against his lips.

  Yeah, Nate thought, licking into her mouth and pulling her even closer. Definitely good.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  When Nate had first suggested taking advantage of the FYU’s company car for the night, Claire had said no, but she ultimately caved when he insisted.

  “I just hope n
obody will see us coming out of the limo.” She leaned into his side as the driver, whom Nate introduced as Matt, took off toward the hotel where the Police Commissioner’s Ball was held this year.

  “It’s hardly a limo.” Nate kissed the side of her head. “Besides, with you in this dress, nobody will care about the car, trust me.” He pulled her closer and nosed at her ear. “I had to keep my hands to myself when I saw you coming out, or the neighborhood would have gotten an eyeful. I wanted to take that dress off of you right then and there.”

  Claire inhaled sharply as her body responded to him in an instant. Damn, what he was doing to her. Even now, if he proposed taking a scenic route throughout Manhattan so he could fuck her in the backseat of the freaking company car, she would say yes. She was half-tempted to suggest it herself.

  Then she remembered there was actually a driver with them in this car, and it cooled her off right away. Even with the partition between the back and the front seat closed, there was no way the driver wouldn’t know what they were doing back here. And Claire was a lot of things, but an exhibitionist was not one of them.

  She took a deep breath and pulled back a bit. His eyes were dark in the dim light, but she recognized that look now. She reached out and ran her fingers over the line of his jaw, guiding him into a kiss.

  “Keep that thought for later,” she murmured against his lips and was rewarded with a quiet growl.

  “Count on it,” he whispered before diving in for another kiss, this one deeper and hotter than the last.

  Claire was out of breath when they reached the hotel, and she was pretty sure anyone who saw her right after exiting the car would know she’d spent the entire ride being devoured by Nate.