by T. R. Cupak
Some of my dreams include Kade in his uniform because I’ll be damned if that man doesn’t look sexy as hell when he’s dressed for work. Those dreams are my most vivid ones, and they always start with him pulling me over for speeding on a windy back road. Kade approaches my window and tells me to step out of my car, and for some reason, I’m always wearing a lacy nightie and fuck-me heels when I exit the vehicle. The second I’m clear of the driver’s side door, he grabs me and spins me around, so I’m facing my car. Kade presses his rock-hard body against mine, pinning me between two different forms of steel. He tells me to take a step backward and place both hands onto the roof of the car, and I oblige.
Kade slowly runs his hands between my breasts, and then softly caresses each one before his hands continue their descent down my stomach, stopping at my waist. He breathes me in, and I can feel the heat of his breath on the back of my neck as he gently exhales. The sensation causes me to shift my weight because that slight bit of air combined with the touch of his hands wakes up my lady bits. His hands slide over to my hips, gripping them tightly as Kade presses his erection against my backside. My knees weaken, but I trust Kade, and I know he will keep me grounded.
The slow pace he takes is torture, but I’m at his mercy. Kade takes a step back and glides his hands down to my bare ankles. He tells me to turn around, and I do as he commands. He runs his hands back up my legs. When he reaches my thighs, he moves his hands to the inner part of my thigh, stopping right before he reaches my soaking wet panties. I cry out in frustration in my dream, and I swear I can hear myself whining while I’m still asleep, but I don’t wake up—yet.
Kade turns me around to face him and stands to his full height. His dark eyes are mesmerizing, holding mine captive. That’s when I think he’s going to kiss me, but instead, a wicked grin spreads across his face before he spins me back around, pulls my arms behind my back, and slaps his handcuffs on my wrists, tightening them enough to where it’s painful but pleasurable at the same time. He walks me to the front of his police cruiser and bends me over the hood, lifting my nightie until my bare ass is on display.
“Tell me you want me, Britney.” Kade’s voice is deep and seductive.
“I want you, Kade. I want you inside of me, please,” I beg.
“Spread your legs,” he barks out the order, and I promptly obey his command.
My reward is the faint sound of him unzipping his pants and the weight of his cock resting on my ass cheeks. His hand slides between my legs, running his fingers along the thin barrier that blocks his path into my dripping wet pussy.
“So hot. So wet. I’m going to fuck you until you can’t stand on your own two feet. Do you understand?” I damn near had an orgasm just from his promise to fuck me.
“Yes, Officer.”
“Good.” He rips my thong from my body, allowing him unobstructed access to the entrance of my heated honey pot. Kade grips the handcuffs with one hand, pulling back just enough to bite into my delicate skin, warranting a moan from my lips. He then uses his free hand to guide his steel rod down the crack of my ass until he reaches my slick folds. Just as he pushes forward, that’s when I wake up from my wet dream every goddamn time.
“What were you daydreaming about?” Sydnee asks, her all-knowing smirk taunting me from where she sits across the table. Holy crap. I was so deep in a trance-like state because of my daydream that I didn’t even notice her arrival.
“Nothing.” I take a drink from my coffee cup, hoping she’ll drop it. She doesn’t.
“You’re such a liar. I bet there will be a wet spot when you get up,” she teases. I feel my cheeks get hot, indicating they’re bright red, which gives my best friend the confirmation she was seeking that my dazed expression is because of Kade.
“Shut up,” is all I’ve got for a comeback. Sydnee’s “little miss know-it-all” smirk pisses me off, but I let it go. I haven’t seen her in what feels like weeks, and she is a sight for sore eyes.
“I went looking for you in Kade’s room, and he said you left to get coffee and food. Here.” Sydnee places one of my insulated lunch totes on the table. “I told you I would bring real food,” she reminds me.
“Thanks. I’m supposed to eat my food in Kade’s room. He doesn’t trust me.”
“Ha! I don’t trust you either. Let’s go back up. Or do you need a minute before you can walk?” My friend is full of jokes this morning, and if it weren’t at my expense, it would probably improve my mood. But her teasing me keeps me in a foul mood, for now.
Standing, I grab the bag and head back toward the double doors that lead inside. Sydnee is walking next to me, and I can see her sideways glances, checking my facial expression to gauge my teetering temper.
“What did you bring me to eat?” I ask once we’re on the elevator.
“I brought you yogurt, a banana, and a PB and J.”
“I could have gotten that downstairs, dork.”
“I know. But the cafeteria workers won’t make your sandwich with the crust cut off as I made it.” Her smile is infectious, and I can’t help but smile back. “There’s that gorgeous smile.”
“Thanks, Syd. And thanks again for the flasks.”
“You’re welcome. I’m only staying for a few minutes. I have to head to work and get the event staff’s schedules finalized for an upcoming wedding at one winery and a golden anniversary party at another, but I will come back with lunch. Do you want Mexican or Italian?”
“Surprise me. You know what I like.”
“Will do.”
The elevator dings, letting us know we have arrived at our desired floor. When the doors open, I see Kade slowly walking back toward his room using his IV stand as a walking aid and his young, hot female physical therapist for additional support.
“Brit, don’t get all worked up. She’s just doing her job,” Sydnee comments when she notices the displeased look on my face. I understand that she’s trying to diffuse my already heated temper, but this is just another shitty thing to add to my growing pile of shit.
“I’m sure she’d rather just be doing him,” I snap back at her.
“Hey. Look at me.” Reluctantly, I turn my attention to Sydnee. “I hate having to remind you, but he’s not your boyfriend. You need to calm down.”
She’s right. She’s always right when it comes to Kade.
“Come on.” I grab her hand and head toward Kade.
“You good? Do you want to go back downstairs for a bit?”
“I’m fine. You’re here.”
Kade disappears into his room with his physical therapist, and we follow a few steps behind them. He turns to sit on the bed, and his eyes light up when he sees me, which makes my heart skip a beat, even though it shouldn’t.
“There you are. I was beginning to think you took off.”
“I needed some fresh air.”
“Understood.”
“Hi. I’m Talia. I’ll be Kade’s morning physical therapist.” She takes two steps in our direction, holding out her petite hand.
“I’m Sydnee.” She steps up and grabs the woman’s hand to shake it. “This is Britney.”
“So, you’re the girlfriend.” Talia smiles at me and extends her hand in my direction, but I don’t move because her words trip me up. Girlfriend?
“Yes, Britney is my girlfriend,” Kade adds to the already confusing conversation. Am I still downstairs daydreaming? Since when am I Kade’s girlfriend? I want to ask Sydnee to pinch me to make sure I’m conscious, but I don’t want to come off like a weirdo.
Thankfully, Sydnee looks just as confused as I am, which solidifies that I am awake, and I heard both Talia and Kade correctly.
“Um, yeah. I’m the girlfriend,” I finally answer unconvincingly.
“Aaron and Kade have nothing but sweet things to say about you.”
“Thank you?” My appreciation of her kindness comes out more like a question since I have quite a few bobbing around in my brain.
Talia turns her attention back
to her patient. “Franklin will be in around six for some more laps.”
“Great. Thanks,” Kade responds.
“I’m off to visit my next patient. I’ll see you ladies tomorrow.” Talia smiles as she leaves Kade’s room.
Sydnee is quick to close the door before we both bombard Kade with questions. We toss out question after question in rapid-fire, while he just sits on the edge of his bed, smiling.
“Are you both done playing twenty questions? Are you ready to hear the answers?”
“Shot or not, you’re still an ass,” Sydnee retorts. Kade chuckles, pissing her off and fueling her temper.
“Seriously, what was that all about?” I interrupt before these two piss each other off even more.
“Will you help me get settled first? You seemed to have scared off my physical therapist before she could show me the best way to get back in bed with the least amount of pain.”
Now I feel like an asshole.
“Do you want me to get Aaron to help? I’m sure he knows how.” I have to ask because I’m afraid I’ll hurt him.
“Nope. You got this.”
“This ought to be fun to watch.”
“Shut up, Syd,” Kade and I say in unison.
Ten minutes and a few curse words later, I finally get Kade comfortable in his bed. He presses his Dilaudid button and relaxes.
“Now, to answer your questions. No, I didn’t tell Talia you were my girlfriend. Aaron did.”
“What? Why?”
“If you want to know, sit down and eat. I will continue as long as you and Syd will let me finish speaking without interruption.”
“Fine.” I take a seat in the reclining chair and open my lunch bag, taking out the yogurt and spoon. I tear back the foil and start eating. I must have been hungry because it feels like this fat-free strawberry yogurt is the best thing I’ve ever eaten.
“Before Talia arrived, Aaron came in and gave me a heads up that he had told Talia I have a girlfriend. Apparently, she’s one of those women who has no problem hitting on attractive patients. He knew Talia would set her sights on me, so he took it upon himself to nip it in the bud. At first, she didn’t believe either of us, because how could a girlfriend leave her wounded man alone? I told her that your brother is here too, and you were visiting him. Eventually, she got the picture.”
“Wow. How does a therapist like her keep her job if she’s so forward?”
“I asked the same question. Aaron told me she’s great at what she does, and since she’s not bad looking, most men don’t care or complain.”
“Bad looking? Come on. We saw her. She’s smokin’ hot,” Sydnee adds her two-cents to the conversation.
“Whatever, Syd. As for you—” Kade’s focus turns to me, and my hand stops midway to my mouth with another spoonful of yogurt—“you’re mine.”
I’ve longed to hear those words for years, and now that I have, I want them to be true. I want this relationship to be real, and not some made-up scenario to ward off an uninhibited physical therapist.
“Will you be my girlfriend?” he asks with playfulness in his tone.
“If I must.” I keep my response neutral even though I’m freaking the hell out.
Though I know our relationship is purely a ruse, I can’t help feeling like it’s more than that. Lately, the conversations I’ve had with Kade have been more intimate and more frequent than before. He has gone out of his way to see me and talk to me. And let’s not forget the kiss or the way our bodies connected when we were dancing together. Each moment we have shared has been leading up to something more than friendship, but this situation isn’t it.
“Well, I need to head to work. I’ll be back with your lunch, Brit. Text me if there are any updates about D.”
“I will. And thanks again for the food.”
“You two lovebirds have a great morning,” Sydnee adds with a laugh as she heads off to work.
Sydnee's career started in hospitality at a nearby five-star resort. It didn't take her long to climb the corporate ladder. She went from checking people in and out, to managing the front desk staff in no time at all, but she wanted to do so much more with her career. When the hotel's event manager was overwhelmed, Sydnee stepped in to assist him. The more she worked with him, the more she fell in love with becoming an event planner.
On a whim, my incredibly intelligent best friend decided to start her own business and become a contract event planner. She started making the rounds from one winery to the next. To her surprise, a few wineries—all of them big-name wineries in our area—were quick to respond. From there, Sydnee’s business boomed.
Of course, my family's winery was her first official client. I called dibs when she was toying with the idea of becoming an event planner. I had been doing that daunting task ever since I’d graduated from college, and even though my events were crowd-pleasers, they didn’t compare to Sydnee's spectacular events. Planning someone's party while wearing two to three other "hats" in the family business was exhausting. With Sydnee under contract, I became happier and less stressed. But more importantly, my parents were pleased. I’ve only ever heard words of praise from her other clients, including her former employer.
I finish the meal that Sydnee was kind enough to bring to me and settle back into the reclining chair. An awkward silence lingers between Kade and me, which is my fault, not his. Being Kade’s girlfriend is my wish come true, but playing the pretend girlfriend is only going to hurt me when he’s out of here in a day or so.
“Hey. Are you okay?” Kade’s voice cuts through the quietness.
“I’m fine,” I lie. Kade doesn’t need to know the crazy going on inside my head.
“Do you feel like taking a walk with me?”
“Are you sure?”
“I wouldn’t have asked if I wasn’t sure.” He has a point. That was a stupid question.
“Okay. Where to?”
“Let’s go see Deacon,” Kade optimistically suggests.
“You mean we can try to see him.” My response is not confident. The annoyed look on Kade’s face is my cue to stop being difficult and just be helpful. “I’m sorry. Let’s get you up so you can sweet talk our way into seeing my brother.”
“That’s a much better response.”
19
KADE
After four failed attempts to help me out of my bed, Britney finally clicks the nurse call button for assistance. I’m not sure why it’s more challenging to get out of bed than it is to get back in it, but no matter where Britney wraps her arms to help, pain shoots through my chest, taking my breath away.
Britney tries once more, but my hospital gown is too loose, causing her arms to slip up and over the bandage covering my wound. My jaw locks as I grind my teeth, fighting through a stabbing sensation that continues to linger while counting the seconds until it passes. Britney is quick to apologize repeatedly, and I can’t catch my breath long enough to tell her to stop.
Thankfully, Nurse Aaron enters not long after calling for him, and I’m up and out of bed in no time at all. I don’t know if it’s because I’m still in ICU, and there are only two of us being cared for, but the nurse response times are impressive. I know my insurance won’t cover the ICU stay if the doctor’s notes state I’m doing well with my recovery, but I’m fortunate to have my trust fund to cover the difference need be. Besides, being in ICU aids in keeping unwanted visitors from bothering me.
If I’m honest, keeping my approved visitor list strictly to my mom, Britney, and Mrs. Winslow has helped keep my sanity. A staff member checked with me before letting Sydnee in earlier, and I knew she was here for Britney, so I didn’t deny her access.
The guys at the station have been calling because they want to visit me. After all, that’s what we do when shit like this happens to one of our own. But I need this time away from the department to prepare for what lies ahead. I’ve only kept in touch with my sergeant through text messages, but nothing more than recovery updates.
I hav
e never had to go through an internal investigation before, but I know people who have, and they say it is long and arduous. A couple of our K9 units have gone through internal investigations to confirm that releasing the dog was warranted, and the dog’s bites were, for the lack of a better word, good. Sometimes things happen in the field that requires police officers to act quickly, and if it goes south like my and Deacon’s fuck up, then they are put on administrative leave while the IA investigation is in progress.
“Are you sure you’re up to walking to the psych ward?” Britney asks while she ties the back of my gown, making sure my bare ass isn’t on display.
“Would you like a secondary gown to ensure you won’t be flashing anyone?” Aaron asks.
“Yes, he would,” Britney answers for me. Aaron pushes a button on a small Bluetooth device, waits for a response to his call, and proceeds to ask for a hospital gown to be brought to my room.
“I can grab a wheelchair,” Aaron offers.
“I’ll be fine as long as Britney doesn’t plan on speed walking or punching me in the chest.”
“Ha. You’re funny. I’m glad to see your sense of humor has returned,” Britney scoffs.
Before I have a chance to respond with a witty comeback, Aaron suggests that we use the wheelchair, stating it may be easier to persuade whoever is on guard to let Britney in with me.
It didn’t take much convincing for Britney to agree with Aaron’s suggestion. I usually would contest being pushed around in a wheelchair, but I know how important it is to see Deacon and to be able to give their parents some good news. This plan is not a guarantee to get in, but we have to try.
“Hey, Brit. Could you check my bag for my wallet? I should bring my driver’s license and police identification card to be on the safe side. They could ask for proof that I’m a cop.”
She goes to the cabinet and starts digging through my gym bag for my wallet. Meanwhile, a staff member enters the room and hands Aaron the extra gown. Aaron proceeds to unhook me from the monitoring devices and moves my IV from the stand by my bed to the one attached to the wheelchair. Before I sit in the wheelchair, he assists me with the second gown.