“I’m going to the ladies’ room,” Kelly said, standing up. “He’s at the bar alone so I’ll ask directions.” She popped one button on her blouse, revealing a very nice cleavage and then adjusted her badge on her belt before winking at him. Kane offered a forced smile.
“Good luck, partner.” Kane watched her back as she strolled up to the bar, feeling slightly sick at the wide grin Moore gave her the moment he caught sight of her.
｡･:*:･ﾟ★,｡･:*:･ﾟ☆
Luca rolled over in bed and stared at the clock, shocked that it was just after eleven in the morning when he finally opened his eyes. For a few blissful seconds he stretched, wondering what day it was. He knew he didn’t have to work because he hadn’t set his alarm. When he finally thought about what he’d been doing the night before, everything came back to him in an embarrassing rush of emotions. He sat straight up in bed, remembering the feeling of being swept into the detective’s embrace and practically having the breath squeezed from his lungs by his powerful arms. One minute he’d been talking to Slade Ruiz, and the next minute, he’d been confronted by a very angry Kane Delancey who’d literally dragged him out of Barcelona right in front of his friends. He’d no doubt never hear the end of it from the gaping group of men.
It had been a really weird day. He’d spent most of it looking at mug books and then been angrily confronted by the detective and blown off in front of Kelly. He’d been having a great time at Barcelona but the night had ended abruptly after he’d mentioned his activities to the gorgeous man he’d been dancing with. Slade Ruiz had literally backed up and disappeared through the crowd the moment Luca had mentioned being at the police station going through mug books. That had been so weird.
Once Kane Delancey made an appearance at the gay bar—which in and of itself deserved an explanation—things had gone downhill from there. The man had actually accused Luca of being a hustler. As if! Sure, there had been plenty of times in the past when guys had mistaken him for a rent boy. Maybe the way he dressed when he was out with friends, in skinny jeans and tight shirts, was some sort of typical uniform for a prostitute, but Luca couldn’t imagine taking money for sex. It wasn’t like Luca was virginal, far from it. But he was at least discriminating in the guys he let fuck him. No way was he going to allow some sleazy john to paw him for money. He couldn’t imagine it.
Most of all, the reaction he’d seen in Delancey’s expression when he’d thought Luca was one of Slade’s “boys” had bothered him more than anything. He’d seen disappointment and anger but most of all, he’d recognized—just for a split second—fear. Kane had thought that Luca was in danger and like the alpha male that he was, had stepped in to tell him firsthand what his experience had been with the pimp. It was hard to believe he even cared about him but he’d seen it, felt it in the way he’d held him. Luca knew he’d probably exaggerated Slade’s crimes to scare him but at the same time, Delancey had recognized how his words had affected him. Luca had loved being in Delancey’s arms, even if it had all begun a huge misunderstanding. By the time Delancey had let him go and shoved him into a cab, Luca was very confused.
One thing he did know—Kane Delancey wasn’t 100 percent straight. Bi, maybe, but not straight.
He got out of bed and walked into the bathroom to shower. He didn’t think he had anything planned for the day. As he rinsed off, he suddenly remembered that there was something he had to do. He had promised to drop off the list of stolen diamonds which would require going to the store and pulling the information from their secure server before making the trip down to the police station. Luca was pretty sure Detective Ryan was going to want him to resume his seat in the small cramped office to go through more mug books and sit with a sketch artist as well. Oh. Great. Joy.
He got to Auerbach’s Jewelers by noon and printed the list of jewelry they usually kept in the diamond cases. The remaining jewelry which had been carefully picked out from the case filled with broken glass by one of the security guys, was sitting in the office safe in a small box. It was depressing as hell to note that a hell of a lot of their most beautiful pieces were missing.
Most heartbreaking was the loss of a huge estate collection of antique jewelry. It hurt his heart to think that the platinum pendant with a nearly flawless 2-carat square cut emerald set with mine-cut diamonds had vanished along with the thieves. That piece alone was over a hundred years old and priceless. Everything else had been carefully locked in the safe under the wrap desk so that the workers could come in and do their thing. The sawing and hammering were loud and Luca had a headache by the time he made out his missing inventory list and exited the back office, locking everything up.
By the time he got to the station with the list in hand, it was late afternoon and only Mike Williams was in the office. Luca breathed a sigh of relief that he didn’t have to see Delancey although he would have loved to sit and talk with Kelly Murphy again. If he could work up the courage, he might even try to pry some details out of her about her partner but that wouldn’t have been very subtle. Besides, until last night, Luca had honestly thought the man hated his guts. He probably did… still… What the hell? He had to stop thinking about the surly man. There were a hell of a lot of fish in the sea. Luca just had to find one.
Luca wondered again at what Delancey had said about Slade. The man had been so amazingly sweet as he’d pulled Luca out onto the dance floor. Surely there weren’t violent and murderous pimps who treated their “boys”—as Kane Delancey had referred to them—like products to be sold to the highest bidder. It seemed to be out of the realm of possibility. Once he’d read a Newsweek article about an Asian gang who’d traded in flesh, a disgusting term Luca still didn’t understand, but he’d never encountered anything like the recruitment Delancey had described in the clubs.
The fact was, before meeting Kane Delancey, Luca’s life had been pretty boring. He’d been raised by a single mom and had made something of himself. He was poised to be transferred to his store’s biggest branch in the fall, something Kane Delancey would know nothing about. Luca had worked hard to earn his GIA certificate. His Gemological Institute of America designation not only got him recognized by his company, but it had taught him a hell of a lot about his craft. He only knew diamonds the way he did because of the opportunity Auerbach’s Jewelers had provided. Which reminded him, he had work to do. He had a responsibility to identify the bastards who’d trashed his store.
He’d finished working with the sketch artist and was examining yet another mug shot book when his phone rang. He zeroed in on a man with neck tattoos, looking to see if they were familiar when he answered absently.
“Yep.”
“Is that the way you answer all your phone calls, Luca?”
Luca stopped and looked over at the closed door, recognizing the voice. He smiled shyly.
“Mr. Auerbach?”
“I told you. My name is Stephen. You have to call me Stephen, Luca.”
Luca grinned wider, loving the low, almost growly voice of the handsome older man who was his boss.
“I don’t think I can do that, Mr. Auerbach. After all, your name is on the lighted sign outside the store and your signature is on my paycheck.”
There was a low chuckle through the phone that Luca felt inexorably pleased with.
“How are you feeling and… don’t be shy. I will know if you are lying, Luca.”
Luca snorted, shaking his head as he turned yet another page of the endless mug books. “I’m feeling fine, sir. I told you, there’s nothing wrong with me.”
“Yes, well, I won’t know about that for sure until I see you. Where are you?”
Luca hesitated only a second. “I’m at the police station, going through mug shot books.”
“Mug books?” Mr. Auerbach sounded flabbergasted and that was surprising since Luca tried to sound completely serious.
“Yes, sir. I think I got a pretty good look at the men who robbed you but I haven’t finished with all of them.”
“Luca, my driver will be at the Brentwood police station in ten minutes. I hope you’ll be done by then.”
“Well, sir. I’ll try to be.”
“We’ll meet you outside.”
“That’s not necessary, sir. Really. I can get home on my own,” Luca insisted.
“I do not intend on taking you home, Luca. I intend on taking you to dinner,” Mr. Auerbach insisted.
“No, sir. I shouldn’t.”
“Too late. We are nearly there. Come downstairs and meet us in the drive.”
There was a click as the phone disconnected. Luca was still staring at the phone when the door to the small room opened and Detective Williams stuck his head inside. He smiled at him.
“Any luck?” He gestured to the piles of mug books heaped on the desk where Luca sat.
Luca glanced over at them and then looked up from where he rested his head in hand. He blew out a breath as he straightened.
“Not at all, Detective. I don’t think I’ve ever looked at so many scumbags in my life, but what do I know?”
Williams laughed. “Come on, kid. Let me get you some coffee.”
“Actually, my boss is picking me up in a few minutes, otherwise I’d take you up on that offer.”
“Good. You need to decompress, Luca. Thank you for the sketches and looking through mug books and thank you even more for the list. If any of the diamonds show up, we’ll be a step ahead of them. This will help a great deal.”
Luca smiled broadly as he followed the detective to the elevators. “Honestly, I wish I could have been of more help, but no one stood out from those photos.”
“It’s okay, Luca. Thank you.” Detective Williams shook Luca’s hand and pressed the elevator button for him. When the elevator arrived, Luca wasn’t surprised when Kane Delancey stepped out. The man worked there after all. He’d expected to see him at some point but since the detective hadn’t been in that afternoon, Luca thought he’d be making a clean getaway. No such luck. The detective smiled broadly when he saw Detective Williams and Luca was floored. The man had dimples under the dark scruff on his sculpted jaw. When he smiled, his pale blue eyes actually twinkled. He looked really happy… until he turned and spotted Luca. Gone in an instant was the expression of joy, replaced with one of complete anger—once again.
What. The. Hell.
What had Luca ever done to make this man despise him the way he did? As the cold mask of emotions ran all over Delancey’s face, Luca dragged his gaze away from the tall man and looked at Williams. The other detective was watching Kane Delancey’s expression with surprise. He’d seen it too—the transformation of the detective’s face from happiness to hatred, just that fast.
Luca cleared his throat. “Well, I need to go.” He smiled at Detective Williams, nodded at Detective Delancey, and brushed by him. He was brought up short when the man reached out and grabbed the back of his leather coat. Luca spun out of his hold and turned to face the detective.
“What do you want?” Luca whined.
“I need to talk to you,” the detective rumbled. He stepped onto the elevator and Luca hesitated. “Well, get in here,” he barked.
“Sheesh. What an asshole,” Luca mumbled under his breath. He was pretty sure he heard Mike Williams let out a muffled chuckle from behind him as he stepped into the elevator beside Detective Delancey. When he turned, Williams was standing there grinning like an idiot. Luca couldn’t help but smile back and he gave him a wiggly finger wave as the doors shut, closing him in with Delancey where he would surely die.
Chapter Eight
As the elevator doors closed, Luca backed up against the side of the elevator. He didn’t know what the hell the detective wanted to talk to him about but he figured whatever it was, could wait until later. That was… until he saw the predatory look on Delancey’s face as he slammed the elevator’s stop button in between floors and advanced on him. Luca braced himself for whatever rage Delancey wanted to direct toward him this time but those thoughts disappeared in a heartbeat as he craned his neck upward in order to meet the detective’s gaze. The detective was so angry and Luca was fed up with it. Delancey had absolutely no reason to be such a dick to him every time he saw him and honestly, everyone else he’d met who were connected with this robbery had been so kind and…
Luca was suddenly jolted back to reality as Delancey reached out and grabbed both sides of his open jacket. He yanked him against his body then proceeded to back him up against the wall. Luca’s mouth opened with a startled gasp as the detective’s powerful body pinned him in place, trapping him.
“What are you…?”
“Shut up.” Delancey growled and then suddenly slammed his mouth down on Luca’s. His kiss wasn’t gentle. It was demanding and punishing at the same time, taking possession of Luca’s senses in a way he’d never experienced in his life. Luca’s head spun, shocked to his very bones by the press of Delancey’s hard body against his own. He hadn’t realized how huge the man was until he was this close yet the urge to panic was absent. Instead, Luca’s head was suddenly reeling with desire. He lifted both arms, twining them around the detective’s neck and began to kiss him back, opening his mouth as Delancey’s tongue began to plunder him.
A deep animal groan rose up from Kane’s chest and Luca felt the vibration shudder right through him. Delancey kissed him hot and hard and it was clear that there was anger in the exchange that defied logic. His taste was a heady thing and Luca realized he needed the kiss more than anything he’d ever needed in his entire life. The fact was, he’d waited his whole life to be kissed by a man like this. The beauty and size of a guy like Slade Ruiz had nothing on Kane Delancey.
The longer the kiss went on the harder it was for Luca to wrap his mind around the fact that he was being ravished in an elevator by a man who’d claimed to be straight. He knew he had to be dreaming when Delancey suddenly broke the kiss and yanked his head back, glaring at him. His breath was coming out in gasps as his big beautiful chest heaved. Luca stared at him, more in shock than anything else as he reached up and covered his swollen lips with the tips of his fingers.
“What the hell?” The question left his lips on a startled whisper.
Delancey reached out and Luca flinched, expecting who knew what, but was shocked when the man’s large warm fingers slid around the side of his neck leaving the pad of his thumb in position to stroke over his Adam’s apple. Luca swallowed as Kane tipped his head back. The big man threaded his fingers into Luca’s hair and all he could do was stand there, speechless as he gazed up into the liquid pale blue eyes of the man. Kane’s gaze softened for only a moment and then as if someone flipped a switch, the bright light in his eyes went out and he purposely stepped back, letting his hand drop. Luca instantly felt the loss of those kind fingers.
“I’m sorry. I just had to know.” Delancey’s voice rumbled, lower and gravellier than it usually sounded. “I just… shit…” He stopped talking and broke eye contact with Luca, turning away as he lifted the palm of his hand and pressed it against the elevator door. Luca watched Delancey’s back as the detective took several deep breaths. After a minute or so as Luca said nothing, Delancey finally reached over to flip the elevator lock button. The car shuddered and began travelling downward again. The detective still hadn’t turned to look at Luca by the time they reached the lobby.
As the doors whooshed open, Delancey put his hand out to stop them from closing, still turned away from Luca. Luca waited a few seconds and realized that there would be no more talking. Without a word to Kane, he reached up and smoothed both sides of his jacket flat against his chest, lifted his chin, and walked out into the lobby. Trying to keep his dignity as he passed by Kane Delancey’s stiff form was one of the hardest things he’d ever done. Apparently, the gay kissing experiment was over and the detective had nothing more to say. Luca had slept with a lot of men who questioned their own sexuality, but he was quite certain he’d never felt so used in his life.
He swallowed hard and walked
toward the glass doors leading to the parking lot, feeling empty until he spotted the shiny silver Rolls Royce idling at the curb. Clearly Stephen Auerbach had more than one car. This was not the same one Luca and Tracy had driven to the hospital in. His driver, once again dressed sharply in black livery, smiled at him and then reached for the rear door of the car, opening it so that Stephen could step out. He unfolded from the car looking as elegant and polished as he had the first two times Luca had seen him. The man was just stunning. Luca took a deep breath as Stephen smiled widely and he walked toward him, realizing he could feel eyes on his back as well as on his face.
When he reached the car, Stephen’s arms opened and Luca walked right into them, leaning into the man’s warm embrace. He looked up and opened his mouth to say something when Stephen’s mouth came down on his. The man’s kiss felt amazing and suffused with a warmth that starkly contrasted with the almost shocking heat of Kane Delancey’s kisses of five minutes before. Luca was aware that the detective was probably still watching and something made him end Stephen’s kiss much sooner than he would have wanted to. As he pulled away, Stephen smiled down at him. His eyes crinkled at the corners and the flecks of silver in the gray were beautiful, even sexy.
“I’m so glad you agreed to dinner,” Stephen said.
“I’m not sure that this is a good idea, Stephen. I mean, don’t get me wrong, but you are my boss, and I’m afraid we’re crossing a hard line here.”
“Nonsense, Luca. Like I said, it’s just dinner. Come on now.” Luca took the hand he offered and got into the car behind Stephen. He looked back at the double glass doors to the police station as the driver moved to close the car door. Kane Delancey was watching him and his frown was firmly back in place.
Stay with Me (The WITSEC series Book 1) Page 11
