Chapter 34
Wren
I’ve asked Grim to trust me.
Well, at the same time, I’m trusting him. I’m trusting the things he’s told me. I’m trusting that look I’ve seen in his eyes when he looks at me sometimes.
I’m trusting that he will do as I say and keep very still and quiet.
I turn on the radio, and an upbeat song is playing. I turn it down but leave the music in the background, hoping the Security Forces guy won’t hear Grim.
My fingers work quickly, unbuttoning the top few buttons of the housekeeper’s uniform; I even pull it open a little.
Then I adjust my breasts, pushing them up and together so that the girls are on maximum display without being too obvious.
Okay, that isn’t true. I’m being plenty obvious. I only hope he doesn’t smell a rat.
Then I undo my hair, letting it fall around my shoulders. I run my hand through it, trying to look flustered and sexy at the same time. I lick my lips and take a breath.
The Security Forces officer approaches carefully.
I pull my shoulders back and lean forward a little, so that he gets an eyeful of cleavage. I smile brightly.
“Hello, officer.”
Please look… Please look.
It’s clear from his stature that he’s a shifter, so not one of the men from the Mainland.
That’s good. I’m so glad. I think I’ll have a better chance with a shifter.
He barely looks at my face before his gaze drops to my breasts, where it stays locked.
His eyes actually flare for a moment before he schools his expression.
Yes!
This is good.
“Hi, ma’am,” he says, eyes still glued to my chest. “Didn’t you see me…um…back there?” He’s quite young. Maybe early twenties. This is getting better by the second.
“I’m so, so sorry, officer.” I giggle, and it sounds breathy and a little nervous. Which isn’t hard to fake since I am nervous. “No, I’m sorry. I’m late for work. My eyes were glued on the road ahead.” Just like his eyes are glued on my chest right now.
He looks up at my face, then back down to my breasts. Up again, then down. He really can’t stop looking at them.
My heart is racing, but I force myself to keep smiling.
“Do you have some form of identification?” he asks, his eyes now trained on my chest.
“I was rushing when I left home and left my purse on the counter,” I explain, letting my voice shake just a little. “Hence, making the U-turn. I needed to get back home to fetch it.”
That makes him look up. His brows draw together. “Oh yeah! You do know that it is illegal to make a U-turn like that?”
He forgot about my U-turn. This is wonderful. It might just work.
I make a face, pouting a little. “I know, but it needed to be quick. I’m going to get into so much trouble with my boss.
I’m so late as it is.” I make sure to inject worry into my voice.
“I was sure to look both ways. I was careful. I’m sorry.
I know it was wrong.” I implore him with my eyes, keeping my shoulders back.
It does the trick because he looks back down, practically drooling.
“You’re probably going to have to pat me down and put me in cuffs,” I say. His eyes glaze over, and he swallows thickly. “I mean, I made that U-turn, and I can’t give you my driver’s license. That’s two offenses.” I let my eyes go wide with fear. “I’m so sorry.”
I pout and bite down on my lower lip, looking up at him through my lashes.
I’m pretty sure he’ll see right through this.
But his eyes are still on my chest.
They move to my mouth when I do the pouty, bitey thing.
He laughs, and the sound is warm and friendly. “That won’t be necessary, Miss…?” He lifts his brows in question.
“You can call me Katie. It’s Katie Lakestead.” I have no idea where I got that from, but it sounds believable. “I work up the road at a nursing home. Tall Palms, you might know it.” I make the name up. I hope he doesn’t realize that it’s a lie.
“Oh, yeah?” He grins at me, putting on the charm. His eyes drop to my chest again. “What do you do for a living?”
“I’m a nurse,” I tell him. Shit! I meant to say cleaning lady. This is not a nurse’s outfit.
Crap!
“So you’re good at taking care of people?” He winks at me.
He doesn’t notice or care what I’m wearing. He can’t see past my breasts.
This is working. It’s actually working. If I’d known that my boobs had superpowers, I would’ve used them before now.
“Oh, most definitely.” I bite my lip again, making sure he sees.
“I’ll tell you what, Katie,” he says, leaning against the car door. His body language is relaxed now. Completely non-threatening.
“Yes?” I make sure to sound all breathy.
“Maybe if you go out with me, I will forget this ever happened.”
I giggle and touch his arm lightly. “I would love that. You’re so big and strong. What’s your name, officer?”
“I’m Strike.” He takes out his cellphone. “Can I get your number? There’s a new place that opened near here. I would love to take you there.”
“You’re talking about The Fire Pit?”
“That’s the place. Have you been?” His face falls.
“No, but I heard it’s great.”
He brightens up. “I’ll take you. I heard the chicken burgers are great. Made from big, juicy breasts.” Right on cue, he looks down.
“I’d better give you my number, then.”
My stomach clenches as I rattle off a made-up number, praying he doesn’t ask me to repeat it.
He types it in, then repeats it back to me.
“Yep, that’s me,” I tell him, giggling again. He seems to like it when I giggle.
Strike’s eyes drift back down to my cleavage yet again. He is unreal.
“Can I escort you to work? Make sure you get there safely, Katie?”
“You really are sweet, Strike.” I lean forward just a touch, giving him another good look. I even fiddle with the button that’s straining right between my breasts.
His eyes glaze over again. He’s almost too easy.
I’m worried that if he glances back, he might see Grim.
“I would absolutely take you up on the offer of an escort, but I know how busy you are and how important your job is. I’m sure you have far more important things you need to do. I can manage, and then we’ll hook up later.” I wink at him.
He nods, finally lifting his gaze to mine. “That sounds really good. I need to catch that rogue shifter. You need to be careful out here, Katie.”
“You’ll get him,” I tell Strike, then I smile at him. “A strong, capable officer like you? I have no doubt.”
“I’ll call you a little later,” he says. His eyes drop one more time to my breasts for a beat or two. He actually licks his lips. “Bye, Katie.”
“Bye, Strike.”
He walks back to his vehicle, turning to look at me with a goofy smile on his face. Then he climbs in and drives away.
The moment his vehicle disappears around the corner, I heave out the biggest sigh of my life.
My body is shaking from the adrenaline coursing through my veins.
We wait a full minute; neither of us moves. Then Grim climbs back into the passenger seat.
He looks pissed. No. Worse than pissed. He looks absolutely furious. His jaw is set, his eyes are blazing. His whole body seems to bristle with tension.
When his gaze drops to the tops of my breasts, still on display, his expression becomes almost feral. His eyes darken up a whole lot.
It was a close call.
He must be pumped full of adrenaline, too.
“Let me check the map,” I mutter, almost to myself. I need to double-check those checkpoint locations. I have to be very quick. I just need to get us out of here. I buckle up and start driving.
“Where are you going?” Grim growls.
“We need to get ourselves out of here just in case the Security Forces guy comes back. He’ll get suspicious if I’m still sitting here.
” I keep my voice steady despite my racing heart.
“We also can’t go back that way because he might be there.
I have to look like I’m going home to fetch my purse, remember?
I’m going to find somewhere to park so that we can plan our route home. ”
He grunts, buckling up. I glance his way, and he still looks angry. His jaw is so tight I’m worried he might crack a tooth.
About a minute later, he turns to me. “You’re not going to go out with him, are you?”
Say what?
Surely he knows it was just an act?
“No, of course not.” I keep my eyes on the road.
“It sounded to me like you were attracted to him. You’re so big and strong,” he mimics my voice, making it high and breathy.
Is he for real?
“I’m not attracted to him and, no, I’m not going to go out with him.” I shake my head in disbelief. “That was all an act.”
“Good. Because he was an asshole.” Grim’s voice is rough. “He couldn’t keep his eyes off your tits. Such a prick!”
“How would you know?” I glance at him. “You were under a blanket.”
“I fucking know. I have eyes. Your breasts are amazing. That dickhead—”
I choke out a laugh, the tension breaking just a little.
“What is it?” he asks as I pull into a quiet alley between two abandoned warehouses. No one should see us or bother us while we figure out a route home.
I park and turn off the engine, turning to him.
“And all that giggling,” he continues, his voice tight. “Was it really necessary?”
“Yes, it was necessary. I told you, it was all an act.” I can’t help it. I laugh again, shaking my head. “You’re jealous. I can’t believe it. You’re actually seriously jealous.”
I expect him to deny it, but he doesn’t.
“Damn straight I’m jealous,” Grim growls, and the sound goes straight through me. “It took everything in me to keep from reaching over and taking his eyes out. From tearing off an arm and beating him with it. Do you have any idea how fucking angry I am right now?”
“I do,” I whisper, and it comes out breathless.
And this time I mean it.
Grim is pumped. His muscles are straining against his T-shirt, making it stretch tight across his chest. His eyes are stormy. He reeks of danger. I have no doubt that he could do everything he just said.
He sniffs the air, and his eyes widen slightly. “You’re wet for me right now.”
“We almost got caught,” I say, but we both know that’s not the only reason.
My hands shake as I undo my seatbelt.