Chapter 15
We pull up to The Raven’s Nest ready to drop Reef back to his car, and I get the weirdest feeling like I’m not ready to say goodbye yet.
But I know it’s time; I can’t go home with him tonight no matter how badly I want to.
When we hop out of the car, I see Romeo leaning up against the building, one knee bent up, a smoke in hand.
He’s watching me keenly with a dark possessiveness he has no right to hold.
I do my best to ignore him and take Reef’s hand as we walk to his Jeep.
“Thank you for a nice dinner.”
He presses me into his car, and with a hand moving into my hair, he strokes it off my face.
“Can we do it again sometime soon?” he asks, hopeful.
“I’d like that.” I smile up at him, knowing I really would.
It was nice to have a distraction from all the craziness of this week.
Even if fucking Romeo tried to ruin it with his childish threats.
“Give me your phone,” he asks, holding out a hand for it.
I unlock my phone and hand it to him.
He enters in a number then gives me a strange look.
“My number is already in here.” He grins, way too pleased about it.
“You gave me your number today, remember? Said I can call you anytime of the day or night. ”
His smile broadens, I think impressed I already saved it.
“And you can.” He fiddles around with my phone, then his phone rings in his pocket.
“Now I can call you as well.”
“That was a little tricky, Detective.” I smirk, not all that pissed about it.
So what if he has my number.
He hands the phone back to me, his hand staying with mine.
He tugs me a little closer to him, one hand resting just above my ass.
“I need it to call you for that next date.” Over his shoulder I see Romeo watching us in a way that makes my heart race a little faster.
I glance back toward the car, and sure enough, Onyx is watching my every move as well.
I can’t have a normal date.
They make it impossible.
My eyes drop to Reef’s lips, knowing exactly what I want and wondering if he’s going to kiss me.
Then they quickly flick back up to his eyes.
“Make it soon.”
His eyes scan over my face in a way that makes my heart race like crazy, the air crackling around us as his hand trails down my arm.
Then he dips his head and presses his lips to mine.
My hands roam over his shoulders and lace behind his neck, pulling him closer to me.
My body lights up instantly, desperate to have his hands everywhere, his lips everywhere.
But then as quickly as he kissed me, he pulls back from me, and I’m left disappointed.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” he says with a cheeky smile before glancing over his shoulder.
He’s acutely aware of our audience.
He knew Romeo was there watching us.
Now fucking Romeo is cock-blocking me as well.
“Okay,” I whisper, really wanting to ask him to come home with me.
But I know this is for the best, no matter how desperate I am to see where this could go.
He pulls back from me and gets in his car, taking one last glance in Romeo’s direction .
I throw Romeo a death glare as I walk back toward my car.
He and his fucking creepy threat tonight can go fuck themselves.
I’m not shaking in my boots at being compared to my so-called father, just because I dared to have one date with a cop.
I know I’m nothing like him.
I will deal with Romeo’s childishness tomorrow.
I hop in the front passenger side of my car, with Onyx still in the driver’s seat.
Reef offers a friendly wave as he drives off into the night.
“Hang back, then I want you to follow him,” I tell Onyx.
Onyx nods, his lips twisting up at the side.
He loves it when we go on a little adventure together.
While we follow along behind Reef discreetly, I dial Malachi’s number.
“Hey, Bro, can you do me a solid?”
“What’s up, Sloane?”
I smile down the line.
“I had a nice meal with Detective Reef Wilder tonight.”
“Good for you. I’m surprised Jagger approved that.” I hear the chuckle in his voice.
“So am I. I need you to find everything you can on him. And I mean everything. I’ll have his address for you shortly, but I want it all, everything back to whatever the fuck his mother was wearing when she conceived him.”
“Right. Give me a couple of days, I will see what I can do,” he says a little more seriously.
“Are we concerned or inquisitive because we have a crush on the detective, Sloane?” he asks, a little more concern in his tone.
“Both,” I answer honestly.
“I have been fucked over once this week already. I would like to be prepared with this one.”
Reef’s car pulls into a driveway, and we park up across the street behind a sedan.
Onyx shuts off the headlights, helping us to hide in the shadows .
“I’m texting you his address now. Do your thing.”
“Anything for you, little sis.”
“You know you’re my favorite.” I smirk down the line.
“I know. Talk soon.” He disconnects the call.
Onyx and I watch from the shadows as Reef gets out of his Jeep and moves into a two-story brick house.
Even though it’s a little older, probably built in the eighties, it sits on a delightful street in the decent part of town.
He flicks on a couple of lights, illuminating what looks like the living space.
I text my brother the address, hoping he can get started on his search as soon as possible.
I need to know what I’m up against, if this charming man has any skeletons in his closet.
Or if he really is too good to be true.
“Are we going to sit and watch him all night or have you got what you came for?”
“I’m not sure.” I chew my bottom lip, still watching the house.
Something has me rooted to the spot, unable to go home without him.
It’s the strangest feeling.
Onyx rests his hand on my thigh, and I glance back to him.
“Trouble, this is a little crazy.”
“I know. I just… why did he just randomly show up at my club the other day, then this morning, him hunting through the club with that warrant. I just feel like I’m missing something, and it worries me.”
“Because you have a thing for him?” Onyx asks a little more seriously.
My guilty eyes meet his.
I can’t lie to him. “Maybe.”
A text pops into my phone.
And I glance at Onyx, my eyes wide.
I check the screen and see the name Detective Hot Stuff light it up.
I stifle a laugh because right now he’s the last person I need texting me.
But it’s funny as shit, he changed his name in my phone to my nickname from earlier.
DETECTIVE HOT STUFF: If you wanted to come home with me, all you had to do was ask.
“Whoops. Don’t think we were as discreet as we thought.” I snicker, not giving two shits that he found me.
“What did you expect, Sloane, he’s a cop. He probably left a tracker in your car or some shit like that.”
I hadn’t considered that.
But the whole time the two of us were in here together, I was watching him, so I don’t think it’s a possibility.
I glance back over to his place, wondering how I reply.
I see him standing in the open window looking out into the night, his phone in his hand.
Has he really seen us or is it just a lucky guess?
SLOANE: I have no idea what you’re talking about, Detective Hot Stuff.
DETECTIVE HOT STUFF: Keep lying to me, wildcat, and I will come out there, throw you over my shoulder, and drag you back here with me.
Then I can finish the night how I really wanted to.
I hear an angry growl come from Onyx, and I know he’s seen the message as well.
Oh shit, a pool of moisture coats my panties.
That sounds like way too much fun.
I’m a little surprised the detective has it in him.
But I knew he wanted more when he kissed me.
I wouldn’t have picked him to be one for dirty texting, or maybe I should take that as more of a threat.
My eyes rise to meet Onyx, and I see the flare of heat in his dark gaze.
He’s not just angry, he’s turned on imagining what Reef wants to do to me.
“Time to go home,” I tell Onyx, my voice coming out all breathy.
It doesn’t matter how badly I want Reef to make good on his threat to carry me into his place and do whatever dirty things he has in mind.
I know it’s a bad idea on so many levels.
And right now, I have another beast to tame.
SLOANE: Another time maybe, hot stuff.
I offer a wave as we drive past, not all that bothered he worked out I was here.
He should know I will do everything I can to protect myself and what I have built.
That means knowing everything there is to know about him, and since he didn’t want to share, I’m quite happy to investigate.
The drive back to my apartment is deathly silent.
Every traffic light, I see Onyx looking over me like he wants to say something, or eat me alive, but he keeps his lips shut.
The tension is so damn thick I could carve it.
Since I woke in his arms this morning, so much has happened, and it’s making things damn awkward between us.
He wants me, and I can’t forget it.
I don’t know why I do it, but I glance down at his package and see he is sporting a hard-on.
Fuck, he’s just as turned on right now as I am.
My hand finds his thigh, and I run my fingers up and over his jeans, hearing him hiss out a breath as I get higher.
But he doesn’t stop me.
I stop myself before I take it where I really want to.
I like teasing him, but I’m also acutely aware of how many times he has already rejected me.
When we get back to my apartment, Onyx helps me out of the car, and his hand lingers in mine as he walks me up like he does every night.
Tonight it’s different though, the tension between us thick and all-consuming, and even though he hasn’t said as much, I know seeing me kiss Reef has him all hot and bothered.
I know he said today everything would be normal between us, but it’s not.
Everything has changed, and I’m not sure how to handle it.
My body craves him like crazy, my nipples pebbled so hard in my lacy bra it almost hurts.
Or maybe that’s just the ache of my body begging for him to touch me.
We arrive at the door, and I turn into him.
“Do you want to come in?” I ask, not sure what to do.
He often comes in, he and Jagger might play a video game while I get ready for bed or just sit and have a quiet drink.
He likes hanging out here with us.
He’s been part of the family for so long, it just feels natural.
Sometimes if Jagger isn’t home, he sits and watches movies with me till I fall asleep, stroking my hair so tenderly it’s hard to believe the big dude has that kind of softness in him, but I have seen it, and when I wake in the morning, I’m all tucked into bed and he’s gone.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” he snips back, throwing me off guard a little as he steps back from me.
I feel the loss of his warmth instantly as he lets go of my hand.
“So much for stuff staying the same between us,” I snap back at him.
I see his eyes darken as he cracks his neck.
“I just had to watch you go on a fucking date with a cop. Excuse me for not being okay with it.”
“Jealousy doesn’t look good on you, Onyx.” I stare back at him, making sure to meet his heated eyes.
He’s not jealous, he’s hot for me.
“If you want me, all you have to do is say the word and I’m yours.” My breath hitches as I say it, knowing I’m walking a fine line.
One he obliterated when he told me he wanted me as well.
I can’t unhear it, and as much as I have been trying to pretend it didn’t happen, I know it did, and now I’m craving him more than ever.
I run my tongue over my bottom lip, teasing him.
Then as if his resolve snaps, he pounces, pinning me against the door, his hands to both sides of my head.
He cages me in, his nostrils flaring as his eyes lock on mine.
Time stands still. I suck in a ragged breath, my heart pounding like mad in my chest.
“You are nothing but trouble,” he says, as if he’s still trying to resist this crazy pull we have to each other.
Then his lips crush mine as he devours me in a hurried kiss.
My breath is stolen, but I don’t give a fuck.
All I need is him.
My hands tangle into his shirt, and I pull him in closer.
Fucking finally.
He lifts me, pressing my back into the door, and I wrap my legs around his thick waist. As our kiss deepens, he thrusts his tongue inside my mouth possessively, and fuck, it’s everything I dreamed it would be and more.
I grind my hips against him, seeking more friction, needing to be naked with him.
Eventually I pull back from him, both of our breathing ragged and out of control.
“Come inside with me,” I plead, needing him more than I have ever needed anything in my life.
His head drops and he inhales, like he is taking in my scent.
“You know I can’t, trouble.”
I place a hand to his solid chest, shoving at him.
“No, fuck that. No more excuses. Carry me inside and screw me like we both know you want to,” I demand, too far gone in my lust-filled haze for him to refuse me this time.
“Trouble,” he growls in warning, and I know he’s trying to control himself.
But what is the point?
We both know what we want, each other, so why fight it?
I run a hand down the side of his face, over his stubbly jaw, finishing on his full lips.
On instinct, he sucks my finger into his mouth, sending a fresh wave of arousal to my pussy.
“Jagger’s not home, I already checked. ”
His eyes flare, and I know he’s considering it.
His rock-hard cock pressed into my center is also a pretty fucking good indication.
I blink back at him.
“Please, Onyx, I need you.”
A gleam of desire flashes in his eyes, and I know I have him.
“One night, Sloane. We get this out of our system, then we go back to normal.”
“One night it is,” I agree.
“Where are your fucking keys?”