Chapter 44
forty-four
The sound of my alarm makes me groan as I roll over to silence it.
Reyna is still asleep beside me, hair fanned out across her pillow, lips slightly parted. I resist the urge to wake her with kisses, knowing she needs the rest after how thoroughly I wrecked her.
Carefully, I slip out of bed and get dressed. After scribbling a quick note, I place it on the nightstand under her phone and press a kiss to her forehead before heading out.
Just as I’m pulling in to the parking lot, my phone buzzes with a text.
brEX
We need to talk. See you in 30.
I sigh, knowing this conversation is inevitable. Whatever happens between me and Reyna affects him too.
Nodding my head at the guys eating breakfast in the kitchen, I head straight for my office.
Dropping into my chair, I boot up my computer and get to work. I’m almost done going through my emails when I hear the sound of heavy footsteps right before the door flies open.
Brex storms in, mouth set in a scowl. “What the hell is your deal?”
What is it with my best friend storming into my office lately?
“The fuck are you talking about?” I lean back in my chair, crossing my arms. “Shut the door.”
“I’m talking about you and Reyna.” Brex shuts the door. “I really like her, and I know you do too.” He plants his hands on my desk, leaning in. “You want to tell me why you’re still letting the idea of her get all twisted up in your head?”
I have to fight every urge I’ve got in me to keep my face neutral.
“Beats the hell outta me. I was with her first, remember. Or did you forget?”
“What I remember is you keeping her all to yourself.” His jaw tightens.
“Look, I know there’s something there between you two, and you’re using the fact that you’re Captain as an excuse to keep her at arm’s length, but I’m not her superior—not under normal circumstances, anyway—and I want to shoot my shot.
You’re my best friend, and I respect you and the feelings you insist on denying.
Which is why I’m telling you, it’s gonna happen. With... or without you.”
When it comes to Reyna, I should be jealous and territorial as fuck. But this is Brex. He’s one of my best friends, and I trust him. So messing with him is the highlight of my day. My life even.
So I dig in.
“As I recall, you got a taste of her in Portland.”
“Yeah, and it wasn’t nearly enough. Now I want more.” He turns away, pacing the room.
I have to work at keeping a grin from splitting across my face. “Fine.”
“Cool, because she’s more than willing. And I’m all in when it comes to her and—” He stops pacing mid-step, spinning around to look at me in surprise. “Wait. What did you just say?”
I’m not as good as Brex when it comes to scheming, so I drop the act.
“I said...” I grin manically, tossing the pen down on my desk. “...I’m all in.”
Brex’s whole body goes still, hands dropping to his sides as he stares at me like I just told him I’m joining a cult.
“Are you being serious right now? Don’t go fucking around with me about this.”
“I’m not. I’ve thought about it and...” I scrub a palm over my face. “Ever since I saw her again, I can’t stop thinking about her, okay? It’s even worse than before. Happy now?”
Tension draining out of his shoulders, he drops into the chair across from my desk, running both hands through his hair in relief.
“Thank fuck.” The words come out on a shaky exhale. “Because I was about thirty seconds from clocking you.”
I snort, shaking my head. “You and what army?”
“The army of one that is my fist, asshole.” But he’s grinning, that stupid, dimpled grin. “So what’s the plan? Because, I gotta tell you, man, I’ve been losing my mind. Couldn’t sleep for shit after she sent me that text.”
Ah, shit. Here it comes.
I lean back in my chair, steepling my fingers beneath my chin. “About that...”
Brex’s grin falters. “What?”
“Reyna might have been... following my instructions.”
Confusion flickers across his face before understanding dawns, and his expression morphs from confused to pissed.
“You motherfucker.” He launches out of the chair, pointing a finger at me. “You asked her to lie? All so you could make me think you were being a dick again?”
“I was getting you back for the shit you pulled last night.” I can’t help the smirk that spreads across my face.
“You spent the whole night flaunting her in front of me while I had to talk up not only the mayor and his wife, but half the department while trying not to pop a woody, dickhead. You had it coming.”
“You son of a—” Brex drops back into the chair, barking out a laugh. “You’re such a prick. I was actually worried about her. About both of you.”
“Consider it payback.” I shrug. “And for the record, she’s still at home. Sleeping.” I chuckle, wagging my eyebrows. “After I made her come at least a dozen times.”
His eyes darken as they narrow in on me. “Gonna rub it in my face, huh?”
“Yep,” I reply, popping the ‘p,’ enjoying this way more than I probably should. “But here’s the deal. I’m not just telling you I’m all in for shits and giggles. I mean it. I want her. And I know you do too. So we need to figure this shit out.”
Brex studies me for a long moment, brown eyes searching mine, looking for a sign I could still be bullshitting him.
“Alright,” he finally says, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “So when are we sitting her down to talk it out?”
“Soon.” I blow out a breath, spinning my chair to face the window.
“She’s into it, you know,” Brex says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
“I know.” And I do. I saw it in her eyes when she was sandwiched between us at the club last year.
The way her breath hitches when Brex whispers something filthy in her ear when he knows I’m watching.
The way she went pliant and boneless last night when I had my hand around her throat and asked her how she’d feel about having two cocks—one in her ass and the other in her pussy.
She came instantly. “But we still need to talk about it. Make sure we’re all on the same page. ”
“Agreed.” Brex drums his fingers on the armrest. “Are we going to do it at her place, or one of ours?”
“Hers. With us living right next door, the last thing I need is one of the guys to see her coming out of our building. Not yet, at least.”
Brex nods. “Fair point.”
The reality of what we’re actually doing starts to settle in my chest. It’s not just about wanting her—it comes down to logistics too. My goddamn career.
“Look, I need to figure out how to handle this with Chief Harrison.” The words taste like ash in my mouth. “I’m her direct superior. If word gets out before we can figure our shit out, notify HR? It could blow back in all of our faces.”
Brex’s expression sobers. “Do you think he’ll have an issue with it?”
“Not sure.” I ponder, scrubbing a hand over my jaw. “There’s nothing in the rules about fraternization, but that doesn’t mean he won’t have an opinion. And if he does, I need to be the one to tell him before he hears it from someone else.”
“Shit.” Brex slumps back in his chair. “You really think he’d care that much?”
“Harrison’s old school. He might not give a damn, or he could lose his shit. Either way, I’d rather do what I can to control the narrative. He’s on vacation for the next week, so I can’t talk to him until after he gets back.”
“So, what are you thinking?”
I tip my head back against my chair and stare at the ceiling for a second, turning it over in my mind. “I might have to switch her shift. At least for a little while. Put her on B-shift with Justin and the night crew so we’re not overlapping.”
Brex’s eyebrows shoot up. “You’d do that? She’s already on a separate shift from yours. We wouldn’t be able to see her as much.”
“I don’t want to, but yeah. I trust Justin to keep an eye on her. And if it keeps this from becoming a thing, I will.” I meet his eyes. “And we need to keep the PDA to a minimum. Both of us. No more of that shit you pulled at the gala.”
He has the decency to look somewhat sheepish. “Are you going to move her right away, or…?”
“No. I’ll talk to the chief first. Hopefully, it’ll be a non-issue.”