Chapter 37
TOM
It’s early when I manage to slip out of bed, Kat’s naked body covered with every sheet and blanket I could find because apparently, she runs cold and likes to hibernate.
Her words not mine.
In the dark, I find a pair of sweatpants and pull them on before silently moving across the room and out into the hall. I already regret leaving her. A shitstorm is undoubtedly waiting for me from the team, but I’m not ready for that.
Not yet.
No, I have something else I have to deal with first. Something that kept me up long after Kat fell asleep in my arms.
Downstairs, I bypass the kitchen and head for my office. The sun is barely peeking over the horizon, and I debate for only a second before dropping into my desk chair and picking up the phone.
I dial the number from memory, my fingers pressing the buttons without thinking, and wait as it rings.
“Are you trying to get my wife to divorce me?” Cullen hisses, the rustling of something followed by the opening and closing of a door. It’s muffled but recognizable as he adds, “I actually like this one.”
I chuckle despite myself because there’s no like when it comes to Gwen. Cullen fell ass over tea kettle for that woman, and aside from his daughter, that woman is the best thing that’s ever happened to him.
“Sorry to call so early.”
“Not like you to call unless it’s important.”
“I crossed a line with Kat.”
“All right…” he hedges and I sigh, dragging my hand down my face.
“I…felt something for her early on. Ignored it,” I tell him, swallowing roughly as visions of us on the couch flood my memory. “And then yesterday she was almost run off the road by our perp. I was with Grimm interviewing a suspect and she snuck out while Jace was in the kitchen.”
Cullen lets out a low whistle. “She all right?”
“She is. Jace called as soon as he realized and we were able to get to her in time, but the perp took off so she and I had to relocate.”
“Am I to assume that’s when the line crossing happened?”
“Yes.”
“Well, technically you don’t work for me,” he says, amusement in his tone. “So as your friend, I’m happy to know the man behind the job still has all his working parts.”
“I’m not even going to respond to that.”
“You know you shouldn’t have slept with her,” he says, putting it together without me having to say the words out loud. “But Tom, I’ve known you a long time. I’ve never seen you make an impulsive decision about anything.”
“I got emotional when I saw her in that car, the side all smashed to hell and—”
“And you reacted,” he answers. “It’s normal, healthy even.”
“But she’s still my client.”
“And now you’re extra motivated to keep her safe.” I grunt and he chuffs out a laugh. “Did you just do it to let off some steam or is it more?”
“It’s more,” I respond without thinking, the silence between us solidifying his point.
Kat Harrington isn’t a fling. The idea of another man touching her has me clenching my fist even though I haven’t even talked to her about any of this.
Which is what I should probably do now.
“How’s Jace?”
“I told Grimm and Ozzy to take him for a few rounds. We’ll see how he manages but I think he’ll be fine.”
“And you will be too,” he says, his not-so-subtle redirect making me smile.
“Thanks.”
“I’m happy for you, Tom, and looking forward to meeting her.”
“Probably need to get her up to speed first.”
“You do that. I’m going to go and apologize to my wife for being up before the birds.”
“Thank you. Truly.”
“Life’s too short not to spend it with the people you love.”
It’s true. I just hope she feels the same.
KAT
I’d been disappointed to wake up alone, but that feeling is quickly extinguished when he appears in the doorway a short while later, an unreadable expression on his face. I want to question him, but something about the way he looks stops me.
Instead, I watch as he crosses the room slowly, sliding under the covers and between my legs. He’d been rough and possessive last night, my body deliciously sore at the hands of the gorgeous man licking and sucking at my clit.
He’s gentle now, lazily teasing me.
Savoring.
I like that he can be both wicked and sweet in turn, like he knows exactly what I need, exactly how to pleasure me.
No one has ever taken the time to figure it out, and I’m equal parts sad and relieved that I didn’t settle because this—whatever it is—has been so worth it.
That point is punctuated as my orgasm washes over me, this one deliciously decadent, unhurried, as pleasure travels through my body.
It’s a hell of a way to wake up and even better as he climbs up over me, the promise of being filled so completely sending shockwaves through my system.
But instead of pushing inside me, he moves over onto his side and urges me to do the same, the euphoria of moments before replaced with a sense of foreboding.
Is he really going to let me down easy after starting my morning with his head between my legs?
I really freaking hope not.
Because I’ll cry. It was that good.
“I wasn’t completely honest yesterday,” Tom says, brushing a piece of hair back from my face as my stomach sinks.
“What do you mean?” The question is surprisingly blasé as I blink at him, trying my best to keep my expression neutral.
He smirks, pulling me closer until my body is flush against his, his arm propping his head up as we lie facing each other.
“Stop that,” he teases, leaning down to kiss my forehead, the spikes in my heart rate making it feel like I’m on some kind of roller coaster.
“It’s kind of hard not to,” I tell him honestly and he exhales a heavy breath, his lips still pressed to my skin.
“Yesterday, when I went to your office,” he starts slowly, pulling back to meet my gaze, “I wanted to tell you that things would be different once your case was closed. That this—you and me—would be okay to pursue.”
My mouth opens and closes as I stare at him. “I’m sorry, what?”
“I know.” His palm is splayed against the small of my back, his thumb maddeningly brushing back and forth over my skin. “I know it didn’t come out that way.”
“At all.” I punctuate the words. “You picked a fight with me, Tom.”
“We can agree to disagree on that point,” he muses before going serious again.
“I’ve never had this happen, Kat. I was serious when I told you I’ve never even been tempted.
My entire personal and professional life has been tied to a job and I’m damn good at what I do.
I thought I could compartmentalize that until your case was over. ”
“But?” I ask hopefully.
“But hearing your voice when you were in the car…” He swallows hard. “It changed something inside me, Kat—something on a cellular level. I haven’t known fear in a long time. I don’t get scared and I don’t panic. But yesterday…”
Oh my heart.
This man.
My heart has completely hurled itself off the roller coaster and is now just free-falling into the abyss that is Tom Oakden.
It shouldn’t have been a surprise that the messiest, most beautiful love story I’d ever write would be my own.
“I’m so sorry I left.”
“I’m sorry I made you feel like you had to,” he retorts before adding, “but for fuck’s sake don’t do that again.”
I giggle and hook my leg over his, pressing my core against his hardening cock. “I won’t.”
“Promise me,” he pleads, his fingertips tracing over the bruise from the seat belt with a featherlight caress. “I can’t—”
“I promise,” I tell him, cupping his jaw and kissing him slowly, the tension ebbing out of him as he rolls onto his back, bringing me on top of him. “What happens now?”
“Right now, I’m going to enjoy watching you ride me.”
“And the rest?”
“The rest can wait, Kitten. All that matters right now is you.”