"Tell me this, which one is the real you? The one who held me close while we danced, speaking the truth? Or the one who got arrogant the second I mentioned your job? Because I can tell you which one I don't like very much right now."
He looks like he wants to say more—to answer my question—but instead, he straightens his back and walks away from me, returning to the wall where he can keep watch.
Dropping back into the chair I was sitting in, I stay for what feels like hours, just staring and stewing. People walk over and thank me for the work I do for the charity. Some tell me about their donations, and I respond with how grateful I am. I truly am, even if right now I want nothing more than to get the hell out of here.
Rider’s eyes are on me. I can feel them. Not like they were when I first came in. They are heated now and, if he were standing in front of me, I wonder if I’d find a fire burning in his eyes. Wonder if it would be from anger or lust. I saw both within those depths.
Guests start to leave and, when the room is about half full, I decide to follow suit. Rider walks me to the limo but then insists on following me home to ensure I get there safely. No matter how much I protest, he doesn't budge. Nothing happened on the drive over here or during the event. Why does he think something will now?
I glance back through the tinted window of the limo and find his SUV directly behind us. I'm irritated about the way he spoke to me. I hated the arrogant tone of his words, though I can't deny the part of me that's happy he's back there, following me to my place, like a protective knight.
The limo driver pulls up, and I use the remote in my purse to open the gates to my home. I live just outside the city. It's quiet here but close enough that I can be downtown in no time. My home is a large, two-story, brick Colonial. Lights line the drive to the garage and front door. Rider is still behind us, his headlights bouncing into the limo when he goes over a slight dip at the bottom of the driveway.
The driver stops and I get out, not giving anyone time to open the door for me. I thank the driver and tip him but ignore Rider as I walk away.
As soon as the limo starts to pull away, Rider is there behind me as I unlock the front door. The heat of his body hits mine, warming me in ways I'm not sure I want to deal with.
With the turn of the handle, I open the door and step inside, spinning before he can enter. "Thank you for watching over me tonight. You can go now," I dismiss him.
"Not yet. I want you to know which man you were with." So my question got to him. Good. "I’m arrogant. I'm not going to deny that." He leans one arm on the doorframe, pulling his jacket taut against his muscular arm, revealing the gun he has holstered to his side. "I'm damn good at what I do, and yes, I’m arrogant when it comes to that. However, I'm also the man you talked to on the dance floor. The one who told you the truth. I was dead serious when I said that. Do you know how fucking beautiful you are? How perfect? Any guy would have been damn lucky to dance with you."
His words undo the tension inside of me. I don't think—only react. Stepping forward, I press my lips to his. He doesn't kiss me back right away, and I wonder if I made a huge mistake. I'm about to pull away when his arm snakes around my back and pulls me flush to him. My hands immediately go to his shoulders to push his jacket off as he steps into my home and kicks the door shut behind him, engaging the lock. He releases me long enough to shed the jacket and carefully remove his guns.
"Does anyone else live with you?" he asks.
"What? No."
"There's not a maid or a chef who lives here?" The fuck?
"For your information, I'm quite capable of taking care of myself."
His eyes blaze. "I'm not asking to be a dick, Alicia. I want to make sure if I put my guns down on your table here, no one will touch them."
My cheeks flush. "Oh, sorry. No one else is here." Could I be a bigger idiot? I wouldn't be surprised if he turned around and got the hell out of here.
With his guns on the table, I start to tremble under the intensity of his gaze. He steps to me with raw power, and I'm doing everything I can to not let my legs give out.
This man was so put together at the event. So strong and sure of himself. So professional. But in here, it's like a switch has flipped, and he's showing me his other side. The one who looks like he’s about to devour me on the spot.
I want that.
So much.
His hand comes around me again while the other one finds the zipper of my dress at my back. With slow precision, he unzips it as his tongue sweeps into my mouth.
I begin undoing the buttons of his crisp, white shirt, revealing the toned body underneath. As my fingers explore every ridge of his stomach, he backs me down the hall and into the kitchen. My dress is abandoned somewhere near the door. I'm left in nothing but a black lace bra and matching panties.
He lifts me onto the counter with ease, and I instinctively part my legs for him. The bottom of his shirt is still tucked into his pants, hanging down over his ass, almost completely off. I waste no time ridding him of it as he kicks off his pants and boxer briefs. He slips one finger down my stomach and over the sheer fabric of my panties. I shudder at the touch.
I moan as his lips find my nipple, and he sucks me into his mouth. Every part of me is coming alive. I never do this. Not anymore. Not in a long while. No more one-night stands. No more random men in my home. But he isn't just some man. He's a detective and one who spent the night watching over me, showing me there are still honest men out there. Or at least, I hope. What if he said all that to get to this point with me? Even as the words tumble through my mind, I know they aren’t true. Rider is different. I let go of all my prior reasons for not letting people into my home and allow myself to be present with him right now.
His hands slip into my panties, tugging them down as I lift my ass from the cold granite of the counter. Then he's pushing me back gently and kissing a path from my stomach to where I want him most.
RIDER
God, this woman. What is it about her? I want to devour her and learn her every curve. I want to sink myself deep into her and claim her as mine. What the hell is happening to me?
I block out those thoughts and focus on her in front of me, and the way she tastes on my tongue. It only fuels my hunger for her.
Her back arches off the counter, but I hold her down with one arm as my tongue licks over her clit and my finger slides into her slick heat. She's so fucking wet for me. So fucking responsive with her moans and whimpers. I can't wait any longer. I need to be inside her.
Alicia cries out when my lips leave her, but it's only for a moment. I'm digging a condom out of the pocket of my slacks where they sit on the floor. I never in a million years thought I'd end up back here with her tonight, although, I did have plans on stopping at one of the bars and seeing who would leave with me once the event was done. No need for that now. Alicia is so much better than any woman I would have found there.
With the condom on, I grip her thighs, pulling her to the edge of the counter, and line her up perfectly. But before I enter her, I meet her eyes. "Tell me you want this. Tell me you want me." I need to hear it. Need the words as much as I need her.
"Yes," she pants. "Please."
I slide into her achingly slow. She’s tight around me, and it feels amazing. When she’s fully wrapped around me, my dick pulses as I try and stop the need to ram forcefully into her. I’m already so fucking close. This woman drives me wild. I want her to come first, though. I want to feel her grip me as her orgasm crashes through her.
With the pace steady, I thrust into her over and over. Her body writhes on the counter, her hands pinching her nipples. Fuck, she’s a sight. Finding her clit, I rub a thumb over her, eliciting cries from those plump lips of hers.
With every pump of my hips, every gasping moan of hers, I'm driving closer and closer to the edge. I pick up the pace and, within seconds, she's screaming out in release, her body trembling.
Once I've worked her down, I let my mind fill with only one
goal, and my dick does my thinking for me. I slam into her a few times before my body tenses, and I'm spilling everything I have into the condom.
My arms are braced on either side of her as I catch my breath. She props herself up on her elbows and watches as I slowly withdraw, take the condom off, and toss it into the nearby garbage. I walk back to her, my steps languid, all the tension worked from me.
She sits up and grips my hand, pulling me to her, kissing me hard on the lips. A moan works its way up my throat as my hips press against her of their own will, and my dick stirs once more. I've never been this quick to recover. Ever. Then again, I've never wanted a repeat like I do right now. I bet I could fuck her for hours and never feel like I've gotten my fill.
"Stay," she murmurs against my lips.
Pulling back, I look into her eyes. The strong, confident woman who was at the door when we arrived is gone. In her place is someone who is openly vulnerable. And that just makes me want her even more; makes me want to pleasure her all night and show her just how gorgeous she truly is.
I nod and bring her legs around my body, easily taking her into my arms. "Which way to the bedroom?"
"Upstairs. First door on the left."
Alicia is light as a feather as I carry her up the stairs, my dick caught between us, loving the friction our bodies make as I take each step. Her lips kiss a path down my neck as precum leaks from me.
Inside her room, I bring us to the master bath and place her on the counter. I want her in the shower, then in the bed. I have zero plans of sleeping tonight.
I spend all night between her legs. All night discovering every part of her and bringing her to orgasm more times than I could count. Thankfully, it's Sunday, and I don't have to work. But I do need to get out of here.
Alicia sleeps soundly as I gather my bearings. As quietly as possible, I tiptoe from her bedroom and downstairs where I find our clothes scattered about. I use the bathroom quickly and get dressed before grabbing my guns and heading outside, grateful we were too wrapped up in each other for her to set the alarm on the house.
Once inside my SUV, I wind down the driveway and the gates begin to open. Thank fuck it has a sensor on it, and I don't have to wait for her to let me out. It also would have been helpful if I had thought of this before I slunk out of her home like an asshole.
I really do feel like a dick. I did all night. Like I was using her for sex. I wasn't, though. While the sex was amazing, there was something else…something more. Some primal attraction and need clawing at me, telling me to make her mine. That scared the living hell out of me. I had to get out of there so I could wrap my head around what the fuck happened.
I scrub a hand over my face as I drive home. I never should have followed her. If I hadn’t, none of this would have happened. I would have done my job and gone to the bar to find someone else to sate me. But would they have? The way Alicia did?
At home, I jump in the shower and try to rid my mind of the blonde beauty who I spent the night with. Only it's of no use. No matter what I do, or try to think about, nothing works, and my dick is as hard as steel.
Wrapping my soaped hand around it, I grip my length and begin stroking myself while visions of Alicia swim through my mind.
On her back on the kitchen counter.
The taste of her on my tongue.
The noises she made.
The way her nails raked over my skin.
My hand moves faster and faster, applying the perfect amount of pressure until everything in my body tightens as white-hot jets leave me and, with them, all of my energy. Fuck, how could I still be wound up after last night? I'm surprised there's anything left in me.
I towel off and collapse into bed, needing sleep, with my phone placed on the nightstand. I never know when the chief will need me, so I always have it nearby. Well, except when I was at Alicia's. I left it downstairs, which is very out of character for me. I take my job seriously, and to just toss my phone aside, so tuned in to a woman, is not normal behavior for me.
I toss and turn, unable to sleep, no matter how tired my body is. My mind keeps running, keeps going back to last night and tries to make sense of what came over me. Then realization of what I did dawns on me. I'm a fucking coward. I didn't even leave my number. I left the house like I was a one-night stand with zero intention of seeing her again.
That thought causes an ache in my chest. Truth be told, I want to see her again. I want to drive back to her house and apologize for being a complete dick, but I'm afraid if I do, I'll see disappointment in her eyes for the way I behaved, and I can't handle that right now.
Somehow, and I'm not sure how, I manage to drift off to sleep for a bit. When I wake six hours later, thunder is rumbling in the distance. I throw on clothes and try to watch television, but my mind is spinning all over again. I need to get out of the house.
Grabbing my keys off the counter, I walk out the door. I bought this townhouse a few years ago. It was perfect for what I needed. There was work to be done inside, however. Updating.
My dad worked in construction his whole life before retiring about five years ago. When I bought the place and showed it to him, his eyes lit up. He loves working, but getting older meant he slowed down, so it made sense for him to retire. He loved spending time working on this place. It was a slow go, but I loved spending the time with my dad. He was a little sad when it was done. I make sure to invite him over often and stop by to see him a few nights a week on my way home from work. He's lonely, though he'll never admit it. Tomorrow I have to remember to take the tux to the dry cleaners so I can return it to him.
In my Durango, I drive around in the rain, not sure where I'm going. I stop to get coffee and something to eat. Then I contemplate dropping by the station but decide against it. I don't feel like dealing with paperwork right now.
Before I know what I'm doing, I'm heading for her home like a magnet is pulling me, and I'm helpless to resist. I drive past it once and don't see her outside, however, I'm not sure why she would be. It's raining and bleak out. It’s not like she’d be out there washing her car. Then I finally give in and pull into her driveway, stopping at the closed gates. Is this a mistake? Shit, I can't leave now. I have to press the button to call up to her and see if she'll let me in. See if she'll let me apologize for leaving like I did this morning.
I press the button and wait. Then I hear something through the speaker before her voice cuts in. "Are you fucking serious right now?" Not yelling but not friendly at all.
I rub the back of my neck. Apologizing was never one of my strong points. "Can I come up?"
"No, you can leave." Then the line clicks like she's done with the conversation, but I'm not.
"Please, I want to apologize." The words feel like sandpaper in my mouth. I'm not someone who messes up. And if I do, I man up, but this is different. I want her to know I'm sorry. I need her to understand I freaked and fled. That I’m sincere. Fuck me; I'm so screwed.
"You're still here?"
"What can I say so you'll let me come up there and apologize in person?"
I hear her mumble something but can't make it out, then the gates slide over, allowing me passage.
When I reach the top of the driveway, she's standing at the edge of one of the garage bays with the door open. Her hands are on her hips as her blonde hair blows gently in the breeze.
Shutting off the Durango, I take a second to inhale a deep breath before getting out and walking in the rain to get to her. She doesn't move as I approach; only watches me with fire in her eyes, and I don’t blame her one bit.
When I'm in the garage and sheltered from the weather, I face her. My tongue becomes tied. I really need to get it together. "I'm sorry," I blurt out. For fuck's sake, it's like I'm a teenager and unsure how to talk to a girl. "What I did was wrong. I shouldn't have left like that. I just...freaked."
She cocks an eyebrow. "You freaked?" It's then I notice the tight grey leggings, which mold to her curves, and the white tank top that draw
s my attention to her breasts. My dick stirs to life at the sight of her. Not now. I have groveling to do.
"I'm not the guy who does this. I don't spend the entire night with women. We have fun and part ways mutually. I've never left like that before."
"Am I supposed to find comfort in your words? Because right now, you're just digging a deeper hole."
"You're different, all right?" I practically yell then rein myself in. "There's something about you. I didn't want to stop kissing you, touching you, so I didn't. But then, once you were asleep, my heart started to pound at what this could mean."
She drops her hands by her sides, the anger slowly leaving her. "Keep going."
I step closer but not to the point of touching her. "There has never been a woman I wanted to see again. Never one I cared what they thought of me. Never one I couldn't get out of my head. Fuck, it's like you put some kind of spell on me last night. I'm not sure how to handle any of this." I confess it all. I don't have anything to lose at this point. She's either going to accept what I'm saying and let us keep talking or throw me back out into the rain to never see her again.
ALICIA
I have mixed feelings about what he's saying. It took a lot of balls for him to come here and say what he did, but that doesn't excuse his actions. When I woke up alone, I was pissed. I thought we connected. Thought this could be more than just sex because wow! The sex was amazing. Better than I've ever had, yet it all became tainted when I woke up and he was gone. I thought there was more to us, though. A deeper connection. And I refuse to give my heart to someone who can easily push me aside like he did. Not that I'm giving him my heart, but what if this goes further? What if we become a couple and then he pulls something like this again? I couldn't handle it. So, I need to do what's best for me, no matter how hot he looks standing in front of me, waiting for me to let him in.
"You have to go." My tone is even; firm.
Unreserved: The Vault Page 2