Chapter 30
Lily
Standing in my house for the second time, as it’s filled with cops investigating a crime, wasn’t something I could have predicted.
Well, really, the third, if you count the attempted break-in, but that was much more subdued than this fiasco.
“Excuse me? Ma’am?”
I turn to find one of the younger cops standing behind with an expectant expression.
“Yes?”
“You did say you didn’t think anything was taken, correct?”
I suppress my sigh. Both Chris and I have explained to them multiple times that we don’t think they broke in to steal anything.
But that concept seems to be a difficult one for them.
They also seemed confused about them breaking in during the day, and while I agree it’s not the smartest move, they were probably banking on me being at work.
Instead, I force a smile. “That is correct.”
“We’ll take it from here,” a voice calls out from across the room, and my muscles immediately tense.
Barrington and Wilcox stalk across the room, their gazes locked on me. Honestly, I’m surprised it took them as long as it did to show up. I wish Chris were with me, but he wandered off to take a phone call.
“Detectives,” I greet. I didn’t intend for it, but my tone is flat and cold.
The uniformed cop leaves us with a nod.
Barrington looks around at the destruction. “Damn, they sure did a number on this house.”
I wrap my arms around my waist, trying to keep my emotions from showing. “Yes, they did.”
Wilcox purposefully doesn’t look around the room and stares right at me. “Wonder what they were looking for.”
Not allowing him to intimidate me, I lock eyes with him. “When you catch them, you can ask. But I assume it was something relating to Blake.”
His eyebrows lift. “Oh yeah? You think so?”
I tilt my head to the side. “Detective, I think you know what kind of man my husband was. From what I understand, even worse than I thought, if what his business partner says is true. And there is, I’m sure, plenty that I’m not aware of.”
Barrington and Wilcox exchange a blank look. I’m sure whatever they’re silently communicating about me is less than flattering.
Before any of us can say anything else, Chris walks in from the hallway. His eyes narrow as he stomps toward us.
“So glad you two could show up. Are you ready to admit that there might actually be people other than Lily who could’ve killed Blake?” Chris snaps. “Whoever broke in was clearly looking for something. And that something has to do with that piece of shit, Blake.”
My eyes widen at Chris’s burst of anger. He had told me he was going to try to figure out some way to get their attention off me, but I could tell last night it was weighing on him. He seemed stressed and distracted. It seems today is no different.
I shift my eyes to Barrington and Wilcox to see how they’re taking it and am surprised to find two very different expressions. Wilcox looks mildly amused, and Barrington looks frustrated.
Wilcox lays a hand on his partner’s shoulder, presumably to calm him down, and asks, “Do we know it has to do with Blake, though?”
It’s my turn to try to dispel anger as I grab Chris’s forearm as he goes to take a menacing step forward. His bunched muscles feel like stone under my palm.
“Chris,” I warn under my breath, not wanting him to get in trouble with them for losing his cool.
He looks back at me. “No, Lily. I’m so sick of this shit. They refuse to acknowledge any other possible scenarios.”
It’s Barrington’s turn to take a step forward. “How the fuck would you know anything about this investigation? Maybe that pompous asshole Martinez is feeding you information. Is that it?”
“You called?” Carlos chirps.
All eyes shift across the room, where Carlos stands grinning, appearing not to care that he was just insulted.
Chris shoves his hands into the pockets of his slacks as his friend approaches. “He hasn’t, but thanks for confirming that my suspicions were correct.”
Barrington whips around and glares at Chris. “I didn’t confirm shit. I was just saying you need to stop accusing us of not doing our goddamn jobs.”
Chris shrugs. “If the subpar performance fits...”
People use the expression that someone is so mad their head is about to explode, and rarely do they actually see someone who epitomizes it. But right now, looking at Barrington, I worry I should take cover.
Carlos steps between us and the detectives. With the protective stance, I reach over and run my hand down Chris’s back, his muscles no less tense than they were a few minutes before. Not wanting to draw any attention to us, I let my hand drop.
I tune out Carlos and Barrington going back and forth. A sudden wave of exhaustion overtakes my body.
Chris takes a step toward me. “Lily, are you okay?”
I blow out a breath. “Sorry, yeah. I just… I’m tired, I think.”
Frowning, Chris places his hand on my upper back and interrupts the argument occurring in front of us.
“Gentlemen, this has been a barrel of laughs. Truly sad to miss the ending to whatever the fuck this is. But Lily is ready to get out of here. Carlos, can you make sure the cops lock up when they leave?”
With a soft press, he moves me forward.
When we’re a few feet past the detectives, Barrington asks, “And where will she be? In case we need to question her more?”
“You have my number, Barrington. Use it if you need to question my client,” Chris snaps over his shoulder.
As we step out of my house, I can’t help but be reminded of the first day we met and him leading me out of the police station.
It feels like forever ago, with how much has happened since then.
Makes me wonder what could possibly happen next.
The hot water runs over my body, and I sigh out a breath of relief. This is much better than being in my ransacked home with grown men arguing. I roll my shoulders and neck as the shower door opens behind me. A smile pulls at my lips. I’m glad I don’t have to be alone right now.
Two strong hands grip my butt cheeks as Chris massages each globe. “This ass, baby. I love all of you, but your ass is definitely my second favorite part.”
Butterflies make my stomach feel weird in the best way. Blake never complimented me like that. Or really at all. Sometimes I wondered if he even found me attractive or if I was just convenient.
I turn my head so I can see him over my shoulder. “Your second favorite? What’s your first?”
Chris’s arms slip around my waist as he steps into me, so my back is to his front and I can stay under the warm water. One of his hands slides up my stomach and cups my breast.
“These tits. They are magnificent. If I could be smothered by them, I would die, not just happy, but ecstatic.”
I laugh, but arousal makes it come out strained.
Chris gathers my hair over one shoulder, giving him access to nibble his way over my shoulder to the base of my neck. When his teeth graze my skin, an involuntary moan leaves my mouth. He nibbles up my neck to right below my ear. With another moan, I press my ass into his quickly hardening cock.
He shifts his hips forward, meeting my thrust as his hand on my waist moves to my stomach to press me harder against him. His lips tickle my ear when he whispers, “Hands on the wall, baby.”
A whimper escapes me as I do as he says.
He taps the inside of my thighs. “Spread these. Show me what I dream about day and night.”
My breaths are coming in pants as I carefully step out. Not that I should be surprised, but the way my body responds to Chris before he even touches me is something I never thought I’d ever have.
“Lily, you’re a literal dream.” He leans forward and says close to my ear, “I know this is the least romantic time to say this, but I have to tell you.”
His fingers find my clit, and he starts slow circles around my sensitive nub.
“Tell me what?” I pant, pushing my hips back into him.
“I love you, Lily. I don’t care about anything besides us. I need you. I need you by my side.”
The emotions in his voice rip a sob from my chest.
“You can’t mean that,” I counter. As much as I’ve wanted to hear that, it’s hard for me to believe.
He leans into me, moving me forward, and I hiss when my nipples hit the cold tile.
“Baby, I hate to break it to you, but it’s true. I fucking love you.”
Tears mix with the water as I look over my shoulder at the man I love, and who apparently loves me back. “I love you, too, Chris. So much. No matter what happens, know I will always love you.”
He grips the front of my neck and gently pulls me back so he can capture my lips. Our kiss is frantic, but fueled by love and desperation, and it slips around my heart, helping me feel the love he professed.
While I may not know what will go wrong next in my life, I can’t help but be thankful this one thing feels oh-so right.