Hearts of Blue

  My gut churned again, this time for a very different reason. I wanted to think she was lying, but she had no reason to, and her story didn’t sound made up. In fact, the longer I contemplated it, the more it sounded exactly like something my dad would do.

  “Go on, tell me I’m lying,” said Jennings, folding her arms across her chest defensively.

  “I believe you,” I whispered, and her eyes flared in shock. A moment passed between us, and I didn’t know what to say. In the end, I went with a simple, “I’m sorry that happened to you. And I’m sorry my dad is spineless coward.”

  Because he was. And even though Jennings was no ray of sunshine, no woman deserved to be treated like he’d treated her. She lifted her chin, and we shared a moment of eye contact. Finally, she nodded her acceptance of my apology, and I turned and left her office.

  ***

  By the time I got home from work that evening, I felt emotionally drained. I couldn’t stop thinking about Jennings and my dad, could barely get my head around it, really. He’d cheated on my mum with her, and then did something so abhorrent as to abandon her when she needed him most. At long last, her treatment of me all these years made sense. Hell, if I was Jennings, I’d hate me, too.

  The flat was empty when I went inside, and I remembered that Alexis had an afternoon modelling job to go to. Dropping my keys on the coffee table, I pushed open the door to my bedroom and got a fright to see a man sitting at the end of my bed. Jumping back, my hand went to my baton, which, since I was still in full uniform, was resting in its holster. It took a second for my pulse to slow down.

  “You almost gave me a heart attack,” I breathed. “How did you get in here?”

  Lee’s eyes traced over me tenderly. “Alexis let me in about a half an hour ago.” He paused and ran a hand over his short-cropped hair, seeming a little out of sorts. “I’ve been thinking about you all day. Last night my bed felt empty without you in it.”

  I could tell he was perplexed by his feelings, and truthfully, after our emotional conversation the previous night, I felt the same. His words made something inside me soften, and I let him pull me over to sit next to him on the bed. I’d left his house yesterday afternoon, after a night (and a morning) of life-altering sex, the kind of sex that made you realise you were being shafted with all the sex you’d had before it.

  “I’ve had a strange day,” I said as he gently pulled the pins from my hair and ran his fingers through its length. “A really strange day, actually.”

  His hands stilled for a second. “Strange how?”

  “You remember my boss I was telling you about?”

  Lee nodded. “The one who has it in you for you, yeah.”

  “Well, we had something of a heart-to-heart, or as close to a heart-to-heart as we could have. I know why she hates me now. She and my dad had an affair years ago, and it ended badly.”

  Lee’s hands resumed their movement, this time massaging the back of my neck as he made a thoughtful face. “Didn’t see that one coming.”

  “Me neither. Like I said, weird day.”

  His breath met my skin as he asked, “You want me to make it less weird?”

  His voice was pure sex. I shivered, closed my eyes, and silently nodded as his fingers went to my shirt to undo the buttons. I sat back and allowed him to undress me, never once opening my eyes. When his lips brushed lightly over mine, my mouth fell open. I could almost sense his grin when his tongue slid along my lower lip and then dipped inside. My head tilted back, and I moaned when his lips travelled along my jaw and to the crook of my neck, where he began planting kisses that got me instantly wet.

  He was already learning what I liked.

  Somewhere between now and the night we’d spent together, I’d made the unconscious decision to let this happen, to let myself have Lee in whatever way I could. Maybe it was because of the sweet things he’d said, the way he understood me better than anyone else. Or maybe it was all down to the rush of being with him when I knew I shouldn’t. I convinced myself that if no one ever found out, nothing bad could come of it.

  I wore only my black bra and matching knickers when Lee pushed me to the top of my bed. He climbed over me, still fully clothed, eyes roaming my face as he spread my hair across the pillow, a halo of red. My chest rose and fell with my breathing, and my breasts rubbed against the fabric of his top, desperately needing him to remove my bra.

  Instead, he took both of my hands in his and raised them above my head, then bent his mouth to mine and kissed me so fiercely I felt it all the way down to my toes. He settled his weight between my legs and began to move his hips gently back and forth, his hardness meeting my softness. I gasped into his mouth right before something cold met my wrists and I heard a recognisable click.

  Abruptly, I dragged my mouth from his and tried to lower my hands, only to find he’d handcuffed me to the bedpost. My heart pounded rapidly, my adrenaline kicking in.

  “Lee!” I hissed. “Did you take those from my uniform?”

  He smirked, still on top of me, and pressed his erection between my legs once more. “Spur-of-the-moment decision, couldn’t help myself,” he murmured, kissing me again. “Just go with it.”

  “Give me the key, now,” I demanded between kisses, trying not to melt under his assault.

  “Hush, you’ll like this,” he assured me, chuckling huskily as his mouth descended. He lifted my body slightly to unsnap my bra, and then he was caressing my breasts, running his lips tantalisingly over the peaks of my nipples and making me squirm in place. I wanted to protest more, tell him I’d kick his arse if he didn’t release me within the next three seconds, but I couldn’t, because the truth was that Lee was right. I did like it. In fact, I liked it a little too much. Especially when he sucked my breast into his mouth and his hand slipped inside my underwear, his fingers finding me instantly.

  He groaned, his tongue flicking around my nipple, and broke away long enough to growl, “So wet.”

  It was both agonising and tantalising not being able to touch him. All I could do was lie there and let him do what he wanted to me. My pores tightened in anticipation.

  “Take something off,” I pleaded, frustrated that he still hadn’t removed a single article of clothing.

  He chuckled, and his mouth left me when he rose to pull his T-shirt off over his head. I allowed my eyes to trace the contours of his body, enjoying how his hips tapered at the waist of his jeans. His gaze trailed over me as his hands lowered to undo his fly, pulling a condom from his pocket before shoving off his jeans. With his mouth he tore the wrapper, then threw it onto the bed as he positioned his head between my legs.

  “You,” he began, kissing my inner thigh, “are the sexiest woman I’ve ever seen.”

  My back arched against the mattress when he pressed his lips to my folds, his tongue peeking out and giving a soft lick. His eyes were on my breasts, which were pushed high into the air with my position as he licked. I pulled my hands against the cuffs, my wrists knocking into the bed frame in my effort to struggle free.

  “You’ve got to — ” I gasped, stopping mid-sentence when he slid his tongue down and then inside me. “God, you’ve got to make me come.”

  He chuckled, not coming up for air, and continued to eat me out until I was just on the cusp of orgasm. Then his mouth left me, and I huffed out a breath of dissatisfaction. Grabbing the condom from where he’d thrown it on the bed, he rose up to his knees and rolled it down his stiff length. Barely a second later, he was thrusting inside me hard and fast, his hands circling my waist, eyes roaming my body as I lay there completely at his mercy.

  He fucked me with abandon, his hips jutting in and out in a frenzy of lust. My vision grew hazy, and I could barely find my voice to speak.

  “Mine,” Lee grunted, his fingertips digging into my flesh. “This is mine.”

  “Yes,” I breathed, my voice more air than sound as his eyes shone with a fierce victory.

  “God, look at you. You’re so beautiful when y
ou let go, Karla.”

  “I need to touch you,” I whimpered.

  Lee smiled a beautifully handsome smile. “Not yet.”

  “Lee,” I moaned needily. “Please.”

  His eyes captured mine as his movements sped up. After having his mouth on me, I was so ready to shatter, and every thrust of cock felt incredible. The keys must have been left in the cuffs, because he reached up and released them, taking one hand and lowering it between our bodies. “Don’t touch me, touch yourself. I want to see you,” Lee said, bringing my fingers to my clit as he continued to move. Coaxing me to draw lazy circles over my flesh, his eyes blazed with arousal. The knowledge that touching myself did that to him was a huge turn-on.

  “Fuck,” Lee swore, watching me, his gaze wandering from my fingers and up to my face. I felt my own wetness coat my hand, and the sensation of having his cock inside me while I brought myself to orgasm was unbelievable. I shook around him, moaning loudly when I came. Lee kissed me, swallowing my sounds as he sought his own release. His tongue swept across mine, over and over, until I felt his movements slow down. I opened my eyes, watching him come, his brows drawn together tight. He looked so masculine, so perfect. His body dropped to mine, his arms going around me and pulling me close.

  When we fell asleep, he was still inside me.

  Fourteen

  The next day when I took my lunch break, I decided to visit a nearby deli to grab a sandwich. When I’d woken up that morning, Lee was gone, a note on my bedside dresser from him saying he’d be back that night. My heart did a flip-flop, knowing that at the end of the day I’d get to see him again, get to lose myself in his body. It was a new sensation for me, because I’d never felt like this during any of my previous relationships, had never craved a man in a way that made me feel quite so…crazed.

  My mind kept wandering as I replayed his words when we had sex, or remembered his smell or the feel of him. I was basically walking around in a continuous state of arousal, and it felt a little bit obscene.

  Almost as though my thoughts had summoned him, I glanced across the street from the deli, and there he was. Lee stood speaking with two other men I recognised from his garage, which was just around the corner. I was in uniform¸ so I knew approaching him wasn’t an option, especially so close to the station. Not being discovered was key to this secret relationship we were conducting.

  I chanced one last quick glance in his direction, and it was right at that moment that he looked up and saw me. His eyes flared, and I looked away swiftly. Hurrying inside the deli, I busied myself placing an order and tried to encourage my heart rate to slow down.

  My skin prickled and I felt myself flush, suddenly recognising what was wrong with me. I was excited. Just knowing he was close sent my pulse racing. It was so wrong. When I emerged he was gone, and a sudden bout of disappointment hit me. Pulling my phone from my pocket, I was doubly disappointed to find he hadn’t sent me any messages or tried to call.

  Continuing on my way back to the station, I let my thoughts wander to the day ahead and the paperwork I had to complete, when suddenly I was pulled around a corner and into an alleyway. The brown paper bag I was carrying fell to the ground as Lee crushed his mouth to mine in a kiss that sent adrenaline flooding my system. His arms pulled me in, but my uniform had too many layers and I couldn’t get quite close enough.

  His hands came up to slid inside my shirt collar, gently cupping my neck as his tongue made me dizzy. When we finally broke apart, I was practically gasping for air, my cheeks heating and my chest rising and falling rapidly.

  “I woke up this morning still inside you,” Lee whispered, his words making my tummy flutter. “Have you any idea how hard it was for me to leave?”

  As he pressed his forehead to mine, his minty breath washed across my cheeks. He never broke eye contact when he moved one hand from my neck up to my lips, his thumb slipping inside my mouth. I moaned quietly, my head tilting back as I flicked my tongue over it and he slid it all the way in.

  “Tonight,” said Lee, still whispering, “I’m gonna get you down on your knees and slide my hard cock into this pretty little mouth.” His shockingly dirty words turned me on, and I gasped quietly. He hummed low in his throat, his eyes fixed on his thumb as I felt the press of his erection against my hip. A second later his phone started ringing, and he growled in irritation.

  “Fuck,” he swore, lowering his hand.

  “I should be getting back to work,” I said, glancing around for my dropped lunch. It sat on the ground, relatively undamaged. I picked it up and straightened myself out. Lee grabbed my wrist, pulling me back to him and laying another intense kiss on me.

  “Later,” he promised when he broke away, breathless. I nodded, trying to calm my nerves, and then he was gone. Swallowing harshly, I waited a few seconds before walking around the corner and heading back in the direction of the station. I’d only made it a few steps when I saw another uniform coming my way. I almost stumbled over my own feet as Steve walked toward me, a smug gleam in his eye. For a moment I wondered if he’d seen something, but then again, he always looked smug. There didn’t necessarily have to be a reason.

  “Ah, picked up some lunch for me, did you, Karla? How kind,” he said, and I narrowed my gaze.

  “Funny.”

  Steve studied me, his thin eyebrows drawing together. “What’s got your knickers in a twist?”

  Something about his close attention caused me to grow a little flustered as I answered harshly, “Nothing.” It was a mistake, because if I’d been acting normally I would have thrown some barb back at him. Now he looked suspicious. His gaze wandered over my shoulder, but I knew Lee was long gone. There was no way he could’ve seen anything. At least, I hoped there wasn’t.

  “You’re acting strange,” he said with a thoughtful expression.

  “Time of the month,” I threw back casually, regaining some of my composure. Steve screwed up his mouth in distaste while I strode past him and continued back to the station, all the while my heart pounded in my ears. That call was far too close for comfort.

  I needed to be more careful.

  ***

  My phone woke me early the next morning, and I rolled over to check who was calling. I frowned when I saw Tony’s number, knowing he’d never phone at this hour unless it was something important. My shift didn’t begin until midday, and I’d planned on allowing myself a few extra hours’ sleep.

  Lee’s warm body surrounded mine, his breathing deep as he slept. He’d come over late last night after Alexis had gone to bed, and we’d been up until the early hours, hardly able to keep our hands off one another. I thought it was funny that he’d waited until Alexis was asleep, because my friend was far too savvy not to know something was going on. Plus, it wasn’t like I hadn’t already told her everything, unbeknownst to Lee, of course. My bed smelled like him, and memories of the previous night flooded my senses.

  I sat on the edge of the mattress, staring up at him as he towered over me, his eyes dark with hunger.

  “Take it out,” he murmured quietly, his throat bobbing as he swallowed. I reached forward, undoing the buckle of his belt and pulling down the zipper on his jeans. His erection was already outlined sharply against the fabric, and when I slid my hand inside and caressed him, he was harder than I’d ever felt.

  “Put your mouth on me,” he urged, his voice strained.

  I bent forward and pressed my lips to the side of his cock, then licked up the length of him. The masculine growl that emanated from deep in his chest made my thighs quiver as I lowered my mouth over his head. His hands fisted in my hair, the grip tight with an edge of pain that felt exhilarating. I began to move up and down in a leisurely rhythm. My eyes were closed, but when I opened them and looked up, I’d never seen such raw, animalistic need.

  “Hello,” I said, my voice groggy as I answered the call, trying to clear my mind of thoughts of the night before. Lee’s body shifted slightly, but I couldn’t tell if the ringing had woken him
or if he was still asleep.

  “Karla, is there any chance you could come in early?” Tony asked, an urgency in his voice. “We’ve had some information about that garage you and Steve visited a couple weeks ago, the one owned by the Cross brothers.”

  As soon as the words left his mouth, my body grew still, my thumb instinctively going to the button on the side of my phone and lowering the volume.

  “Information?” I practically whispered.

  “Apparently, it’s being used as a base to chop and store stolen cars until they’re ready to be shipped overseas. We’ve gotten a search warrant issued, but we need all hands on deck. I thought that since you’ve already been inside and know the layout of the place, you’d like to be on the team.”

  Even though I was lying down, I felt like I might pass out. My pulse thrummed as I tried to figure out how to proceed. I still couldn’t tell whether or not Lee was awake, but if he was, could he hear what had just been said? Should I warn him that his garage was about to be searched? My gut sank as a horrible feeling took over. I was torn, didn’t know which side I was supposed to be on anymore.

  “Okay, thanks for calling. I’ll be in as soon as I can,” I said, trying to keep my voice even.

  “See you in a bit,” said Tony before hanging up, completely oblivious to the moral dilemma he’d just put me in.

  Placing the phone back on my nightstand with shaky fingers, I felt my throat begin to tighten. Lee’s breathing was deep and even, so I thought he must have still been sleeping. Turning in his arms, I gripped his shoulder and gently shook him. He made a disgruntled noise at being woken, and it took him a few moments to open his eyes. I stared at him, the decision I had to make twisting me up inside.

  “Snap,” he said, his blue eyes sharpening as he took me in. I let out a shuddering breath, and Lee’s expression sobered. He must’ve sensed something was up, but he didn’t comment on it. Instead, he asked, “What time is it?”