Chapter 17 #3
“Well now, you look happy.” Jackson collected their empty glasses.
“Actually, I think I am,” she replied. “I’ve had a really good evening. Thank you, Jackson.”
“Oh, think nothing of it, though I have a feelin’ twas not I that put that smile on your face.” He glanced in the direction of the restrooms.
“Still, you stood up for me and made me feel welcome, and I didn’t realize how much I needed that.”
“Well then, Olivia, love, it’s glad I am to have been of help.”
“Anyway, we’re gonna get going, I’ve already called an cab. Could you bring the bill?”
“There’s no bill. This one’s on the house.” He winked.
Olivia frowned. “You seem to be making a habit of feeding me for free.”
‘Twice is hardly a habit, darlin’, and I insist.”
“You can’t do that.”
“I certainly can since it’s my business.” Jackson stacked their empty plates.
“You won’t have much of a business left if you keep giving away free meals.”
“Don’t you worry about me, love. I do just fine,” he threw over his shoulder as he headed back toward the kitchen.
The smile faded from her face as someone else took the opportunity to stop beside her table. Her back stiffened and her expression shut down, turning cold and unwelcoming.
“Chief,” she said stiffly.
Chief Walcott glanced down at her from under the brim of his hat. His face was carefully neutral, but underneath she could detect traces of disdain. His eyes narrowed as he rested his hand casually on his gun belt.
“Ms. West.”
Olivia sighed. “What am I supposed to have done now?”
“Where were you this afternoon?” he asked bluntly.
“That’s none of your business.”
“I’m making it my business.”
He leaned closer and placed one hand on the table in front of her and the other on the back of the booth to effectively cage her in. “Now, where were you?”
“And I said, it’s none of your business.” She bit off each word. “I’m not scared of you, Chief, so quit trying to bully me.”
“Keep speaking to me like that, Ms. West, and I will arrest you,” he warned.
“On what grounds?”
His jaw tightened.
“Impeding an investigation.”
“Good luck making that stick.” She laughed humorlessly. “Listen very carefully, Chief. Leave me alone or I will take up my lawyer’s suggestion to sue both you and your department, and that’s not an idle threat.”
“Go ahead,” he sneered. “I’m more than willing to take my chances if it means making you pay for what you’ve done.”
“Don’t you mean making me pay for what you think my father did?” her voice dropped to a harsh hiss.
“Just what is it you think you know?” he bit out through clenched teeth.
“Nothing.”
“Let me make myself clear. I know you are working with your father, and as far as I’m concerned, you will both pay, whatever it takes.”
“So, the ends justify the means?” she scoffed. “That’s your reasoning? You don’t deserve to wear that badge.”
“I will ask you one last time before we take this discussion down to the police station.” His eyes flashed. “Where were you this afternoon?”
“She was with me.”
The chief straightened and turned stiffly toward Theo, his eyes cold and narrow.
“And what we did,” Theo continued, “is none of your business.”
Chief Walcott’s jaw clenched as he glared at Theo.
Jackson wandered over. “Is there a problem here, gentlemen?”
“No.” Theo folded his arms across his chest as he looked down at the chief. “There’s no problem, is there?”
Olivia couldn’t help it, but part of her curled with lust at the sight of Theo towering over the chief with a threatening expression.
Chief Walcott took one last look at the three of them and stormed out of the pub.
“Your cab’s waiting outside,” Jackson told them.
Olivia slid out of the booth, limping slightly as she got her balance, and put her arms around Jackson. “Thank you, Jackson,” she murmured in his ear.
“No problem.” He hugged her back and held out his hand to Theo. “Nice to meet you, Theo.”
Theo nodded sharply. They started toward the door, but halfway there, Olivia yelped in surprise as Theo scooped her off her feet.
“You were taking too long.” His mouth curved.
Shelley opened the door for them, laughing lightly as she watched them step out into the cold night air.
Theo dropped Olivia gently to her feet on the curb beside the car, mindful of her injured ankle, and opened the door for her. Her gaze tracked over his shoulder as she placed one hand on the open door.
“He’s watching us.”
Theo didn’t need her to elaborate. He turned, his eyes dark and dangerous, and glared at the chief.
He didn’t like the man, and he still didn’t know how he felt about the knowledge that the chief had been involved intimately with another man.
It was a sin, something that was against nature, but Olivia didn’t seem to have a problem with it, and once again, he found himself confused by the strange world he’d found himself in.
The chief stared back, his eyes narrowing angrily as he watched them.
“You want a ride or not?” the cab driver asked.
“Sorry.” Olivia climbed in and slid across the seat, making room for Theo.
Theo was quiet on the way home, seemingly brooding about something.
He barely said a word when they arrived back at the house.
After hanging their jackets on the coat stand by the door Olivia limped into the library and dropped down on the sofa.
Bending over, she took her sneakers and socks off and then wriggled her toes in obvious relief.
The hearth burst happily into flames at Olivia’s presence, as it usually did. Theo stopped in front of the mantle and stared down into the flames.
“What is between you and Jackson?” Theo asked after a few moments of silence.
“Is that what’s bothering you?” Olivia asked.
He said nothing but simply turned his dark eyes on her. Olivia hauled herself off the sofa, shuffling closer until she stood toe-to-toe with him.
“There’s nothing between me and Jackson,” she replied. “He’s a friend, that’s all.” She stepped closer until he could feel the heat of her body against him, his pupils dilated, and his jaw tensed. “This is probably a really bad idea,” she murmured, grazing his exposed forearms with her fingertips.
“Be very careful, Olivia,” he warned, his voice low and hungry. “You’re playing with fire.”
Her eyes flashed gold, the fire roared in the hearth, and every single candle in the room simultaneously burst into flame.
“I thought we’d already established,” she whispered against his mouth, “that I like playing with fire.”
Theo’s control snapped and his mouth descended on hers, demanding and insistent.
His fingers tangled in the heavy mass of her hair.
He couldn’t think, couldn’t breathe. This was all he’d thought of since he’d first kissed her.
The scent and heat of her wrapped around him, and every single thought or protestation in his mind drained away.
If he was going to be damned, then let him be damned for taking what he wanted.
He lifted her up, and she wrapped her legs tightly around his waist. Her fingers tangled in his hair, and they simply devoured each other. He couldn’t get enough of the wild, addictive taste of her.
They dropped down onto the sofa in a tangle of arms and legs and desperate need.
His hands skimmed her ribs beneath her shirt, raising goose bumps against her skin as he grasped the bottom of her shirt and yanked it over her head, discarding it carelessly on the floor.
He broke his mouth away from hers long enough to look down at her lace-covered breasts.
“I like this very much.” He swallowed hard as his fingers traced the edges of the transparent black lace.
“Theo,” she gasped against his mouth, and he took her under again with another deep, drugging kiss.
“We shouldn’t be doing this,” he panted against her lips. His mouth trailed fire across her skin, pressing kisses along the graceful arch of her neck down to her collarbone.
Olivia grabbed his shirt, pausing only long enough to pull it over his head and toss it away. Her lips crashed back against his, her fingers skimming over his hard stomach to trace the line of hair leading down into the waistband of his jeans
“Is this what you want?” he breathed against her lips.
Her gaze met his and his stomach swooped. There was a desire there, a need that clearly matched his own. Her body trembled against him as they lay poised at the edge of madness.
Unable to help himself he stroked along her collarbone, over her shoulder, tracing the curve of her breast above the scandalous lace garment that encased them. He felt his cock throb and closed his eyes momentarily against the powerful wave of lust.
Her skin was so soft and smooth, scorching heat beneath his fingertips. He rested his hand against her breast and felt her heart thundering beneath his palm, it’s frantic beat matching his own.
Somewhere deep beneath the hazy fog of arousal was a voice he hated reminding him this was a sin, but another part of him spoke louder. How could love be a sin? How could what he was feeling for this woman be wrong?
If he was going to be damned for loving her, then so be it.
“Theo?” She lifted her hand and stroked his jaw, and he felt that soft, tender touch right down to his soul. “Where did you go just now?”
He shook his head.
“We don’t have to–” She shifted but he grasped her hands, fingers interlocking. He stretched her arms over the arm of the couch, her back arched and her breasts pressed against his chest.
“Is this what you want?” he repeated the question.
“Yes,” she whispered, those beautiful whiskey-colored eyes locked on him. “The question is what do you want, Theo?”
He drew in a shaky breath and rolled his hips against her, feeling the delicious pressure against his aching cock. “I want you more than my next breath.”
She didn’t say anything more. Her hands skimmed down his torso, grasping the waistband of his jeans and popping the buttons open one at a time. Her direct gaze didn’t waver as she reached in and grasped the silky length of him and gave a slow firm stroke from root to tip.
Theo’s mouth fell open and he let out a low serrated groan. He rocked into her hand and took her mouth again, feeling the slide of her tongue against his. Her thumb circled the sensitive head feeling the moisture gathered there and any semblance of control he had snapped.
Reaching for her jeans he fumbled the zipper open and plunged his hand into her panties and slid his fingers into the damp heat of her. She moaned into his mouth and he swallowed the desperate sound.
They rocked against each other consumed with need. When they couldn’t take it any longer, Theo pulled back and they stripped off their remaining clothes. It was pure bliss having Olivia naked beneath him, warm skin and generous curves.
He slipped between her thighs and sank into her, gasping at the sensation of being surrounded by her.
Neither of them had any patience left, and they set a fast frantic pace.
Grasping hands, rolling hips. He drove deeper into her, harder as she wrapped her long legs around his hips and pulled him in tight, urging him for more.
“Theo.” The cry tore from her lips as her fingers dug into his hot skin.
The tension between them wound so tight. Olivia shattered in his arms, and he had no choice but to follow. His release tore through him, and his vision dimmed as he plunged deep, marking her as his in the most primal way.
For several long, stunned moments, they lay entwined, breathing heavily, their bodies trembling with the intensity of what they had just experienced.
Eventually, Theo rolled away from her and pulled the soft chenille throw from the sofa, then tucked her into his arms and covered her shivering body.
Neither of them spoke, perhaps because neither of them knew what to say.
Olivia lay in his arms, her ear pressed to his chest, listening to his slowing heartbeat.
She stared into the flames of the fire as his breathing evened out into a slower rhythm and he drifted into sleep.
But rest came harder for her, and as the sheer enormity of what she had just experienced came crashing in on her like a wave, her pulse picked up pace, this time in fear.
She was falling so hard and so fast that she was afraid this time...there would be nothing to break her fall.