Vain (The Seven Deadly, #1)(3)

The tears wouldn’t stop and I knew I wouldn’t be able to snort with a snotty nose. I went to her parents’ toilet and tugged at a few squares of toilet paper, blew my nose, then flushed it down. I swiped at the tears on my cheeks and bent over my lines just about the time a policeman came rushing in, catching me right before the act for the second time that night.



“What are you doing? Put your hands on your head,” I heard a man’s deep voice say.

I languidly stood from my unfinished lines and stared into the mirror. Sharing its reflection with me was a young, rather hot cop. Shit. I dropped the rolled-up stationery that smelled like old lady lavender potpourri and lazily put my hands over my head.

“Turn around,” he said, fingering the cuffs on his belt.

I turned around and faced him, his eyes widened at the full sight of me. He stumbled a little, a hitch in his step, as he progressed my way. He brought my right hand down slowly, then my left and swallowed just as Brent had earlier. Gotcha.

“What’s your name?” I whispered, his face mere inches from mine. Beats Antique’s Dope Crunk rang loudly from downstairs. No wonder I hadn’t heard them come in.

“That’s none of your concern,” he said, but the hesitation in his voice told me he thought he’d like it to be.

“I’m Sophie,” I told him as he clicked the first ring around my wrist.

He kept narrowing his eyes at me, but they would drop to my breasts then back up.

“N-nice to meet you, Sophie.”

“Nice to meet you, too...,” I drug out, waiting for his name.

“What are you doing?” he asked me, throwing glances over his shoulder, no doubt worried if more officers would be joining us.

“Nothing. Cross my heart,” I appraised, taking my free hand from his and crossing my heart, which just so happened to be at the crest of my cleavage. His gaze flitted down and he started breathing harder.

“Casey,” he told me.

“Casey,” I said breathily, testing out his name. He fought a drowsy smile, apparently liking the way I said it, and I smiled.

“L-let me have your hand,” he said.

I gave him my unconstrained hand without a fuss. He took it and restrained it with the other.

“All tied up now, Casey,” I whispered, raising my fisted hands just as he closed his eyes, almost drifting forward a bit.

“Come with me,” he said, pulling me from the counter. His eyes glanced down at my lines and he shook his head. “What makes you do that shit?”

“Because it feels good,” I told him, turning his direction and seductively running my tongue along my top teeth.

“Don’t even,” he said, “or I’ll get you on propositioning an officer as well as possession.”

“Suit yourself,” I told him, shrugging my shoulders. “It might have been nice,” I leaned forward and sang in his ear.

“I’m sure,” he said. I could see the surprise on his face at his unexpected and candid response. I decided to run with it.

“I bet if you handcuffed me to the closet bar just beyond those doors, I’d be quiet as a mouse until you came back for me,” I said, letting the double meaning sink in.

“Stop,” he said. The breath he’d been holding whistled from his nose.

“How old are you, Casey?” I asked, leaning into him.

“Twen-twenty-two,” he stuttered.

“Huh, I just happen to be into twenty-two-year-olds. They’re currently my thing,” I lied.

His eyes came right to mine and held there.

“Really?” he asked, skeptical, yet inadvertently leaned into me. The grim line that had held his face before turned into a slight grin. Seal the deal, Sophie.

“Mmmhmm,” I said. I pushed farther into his chest, my breasts mashed against his armor plate.

I tentatively kissed the pulse at his neck, knowing full well that if he really wanted to, he could definitely get me on propositioning.

I just couldn’t go to jail. Not again. I’d already been once for possession when Jerrick died, and the judge told me if I showed back up in his courtroom, I’d be toast. This was worth the risk.

“Jesus,” he murmured.

I threaded my fingers through the belt loop at his waist and brought him closer to me. He fiercely took my face in his and kissed me like he was dying. What an amateur, I thought. Thank God I got a dumb one. His hands grappled all over my face as he had no grace whatsoever. If the guy wasn’t so sexy, I don’t think I could have put up the charade as long as I did.

“Officer Fratelli!” we heard come from downstairs and he broke the kiss. “Fratelli!”

“I’m-I’m up here,” Casey said, flustered. He adjusted himself and wiped his mouth.

“Uncuff me,” I said, almost panicked.

“I can’t,” he said.

“Yes, you can, Casey. Do it and I’ll repay you exponentially.”

He groaned but looked at me apologetically. “When you get out, come find me,” he said quietly as the other officer entered the room.

“The rest of the upstairs is secure,” Casey said as if he hadn’t just kissed my face off. “She was the only straggler.”

“Fine,” the older officer said. I thought he was going to leave but instead came through and examined the bathroom around us. “What the hell is this?” he asked Casey.