Until You (The Redemption, #1)(42)

“Yep. A funny one.”

He darts his tongue out to wet his lower lip, and again, my brain—and other parts of my body—go into overdrive.

“We responded to a call in an upper-class, suburban neighborhood. A lady called, frantic. She swore her neighbor was being assaulted. Murdered is what she told the 911 operator. She said she heard some yelling, some weird noises, then her male neighbor screaming for help. She was too scared to try the doors and go in, afraid the perp might still be there.”

“I’m afraid to ask what you found.”

“We roll up, breach the door, and”—he starts chuckling—“we’ll just say that the owners of the house had been having some fun. She was tied up to the four corners of the bed. Consensual, nothing criminal there, but apparently, mid-stroke, the husband’s back went out. He was laid out on top of her and couldn’t move in all his latex-clad glory.”

“Oh. My. God.”

“Yep.” He chuckles like he still can’t believe it even now. “Needless to say, we let the paramedics handle the . . . dismount, so to speak. And we waited for a female officer to untie the wife.”

I’m blushing for the couple.

I’m also noticing the firmness of his thighs and how they frame the arm of the couch.

“I would die.”

He quirks an eyebrow, eyes locked on mine as a crooked smile ghosts his lips. “It’s just sex, right? Everybody does it.”

His words hang in the air between us, my tongue suddenly heavy.

“Where are the girls?”

Classic, awkward Tennyson is back.

“Phoebe, one of the friends they made the other day when I took them to the park, called. Or texted rather, because who calls anyone these days?” He rolls his eyes dramatically just like the girls do, and I laugh. “I met her mom—I actually remember her from the last time I was here when I was ten. They invited the girls to go to the movies with them.”

“That was nice of them.”

“It was. I hemmed and hawed over it, called Uncle Ian to make sure the family was okay and that he knew them, and then figured what did it hurt? Besides, with the rumor mill in this town, if the girls misbehaved or something bad happened, I’m sure I’d hear about it before they got home.”

“Ever the police officer checking backgrounds,” I tease and then wonder if he’s done the same of mine. I wouldn’t put it past him. It’s not like he’s going to find anything interesting.

“What can I say? It’s a habit.”

“Wait. Does that mean you get time to yourself?”

“Four glorious hours.” His eyes dart down to my breasts and then back up to mine as I take a few steps toward him.

“Four, huh?”

“Four.” He nods.

I can think of a lot of things that can be done in four hours. Things that would erase this terrible day from my head. Things that would occupy my body so I didn’t have a chance to think.

And by the look on Crew’s face, his thoughts align with mine.

“Crew.” I step in between his knees. With my height and his position, we’re almost eye to eye.

“Hmm?”

“Thank you for today.” I place my hands on his thighs. Feel them tense.

He angles his head to the side and studies me. “I think we covered the thank yous already.”

I lean in and love the hitch of his breath as I bring my lips to his ear and say, “It’s been a rough day. Distract me.”

I take the initiative this time. Desperate to feel. Needing to shut out the noise. Wanting him in a way I haven’t wanted anyone since I started this life as Tennyson West.

Our lips meet. Slow at first. Searching. Feeling each other out as his hands slide around and span the width of my back. They feel so big there, so commanding, when his kiss is quite the opposite. It’s tenderness laced with a simmering hunger. Desire edged with a restrained desperation.

I like the feel of his chest beneath my palms. The coarseness of his stubble as my hands run against his jaw and over his shoulders so I can thread my fingers through his hair. The intoxicating groan that begins in the back of his throat as our tongues meet and our bodies melt against one another’s.

His hands slide up my back until one is in my hair, tugging my head back so our kiss breaks. “I’m going to hate myself for saying this.” Another brush of his lips against mine. The kiss so potent that my entire body leans into him, against him, wanting more from him. He scrunches his face up briefly before sighing. “I feel . . . today was a rough day. I didn’t come here for this. I don’t want you to think I’m taking advantage of you because of it. That I’m the type of guy who would—”

“You are not taking advantage of me, Crew.”

“Tennyson . . .” My name is a strained string of syllables. “How can I be sure?”

I reach out and run my hand over his cock, his whole body tensing at the contact. “Because I’m going to be the one taking advantage here.” I run my tongue over his bottom lip.

“You are?”

“Uh-huh. I’m going to use this, use you, to make me forget my day.” I meet his eyes and love seeing them darken with the lust his hardened cock reacts to. “Are you going to keep me waiting?”