Unconditional

by Tyler, Q. B.

  “Nothing makes me feel as safe as being near you.” She twists her mouth as if she’s about to cry and I run my knuckles down her sweet face.

  “I’ll come back, alright? The second I leave the station.” Her eyes light up and she’s in my arms instantly. “But try and get some sleep while I’m gone. Maybe take a warm bath?”

  “I’d rather wait for you to take one with me.” She rubs against me and flutters her eyes at me.

  “You’re going to get us in trouble,” I tell her. As enticing as a bath with Maddie is, and regardless that the idea sends a spark to my dick, I know I have to go into the station. I’m livid that someone messed with her, and even more so that this person is still out there. Antagonizing a young girl on a dark highway is shit I do not stand for.

  Not. In. My. Town.

  I press my lips to hers, sliding my tongue through her mouth followed by a kiss on her nose before ushering her up the stairs.

  “You’ll be back?” she whispers.

  I nod, before heading towards the door. She blows me a kiss and as soon as I’m out the door my phone vibrates with a text

  Maddie: Be safe. Come back to me. I love you.

  I’m on the warpath the second I set foot in the station, barking orders at anyone I come into contact with that they need to get their ass out there and find who fucked with my girl. It isn’t until I’ve been there an hour and called to check on Maddie at least three times when I decide I need something to calm my nerves.

  “You’re smoking again?” A billow of smoke leaves from between my lips as I pull it away and flick the ash into the street outside the station. Aria’s concerned eyes come into view through the smoke, and she tries to pull it away from me but I take a step out of her reach.

  “It’s been a rough night.” I grit out and she frowns and looks down at the ground before meeting my eyes. This is the most we’ve spoken in two weeks and I can actually say I’ve missed her.

  “What happened?”

  I prop my foot up against the building behind me. “Some asshole fucked with Maddie, tried to run her off the fucking road.”

  She gasps and immediately reaches for her phone. “What? Where?”

  “On fifty-eight. They were tailgating her, hard. I met her just after the first bend and it spooked them. They sped off. She was shaking by the time I got to her.”

  “Kids? Drunk? High?”

  “I don’t know, but you can bet your ass I have everyone in there on it.”

  “Cal…it was probably just some assholes on a dare or just being stupid.”

  “So? They could have hurt someone.”

  “You mean Maddie.”

  “Okay fine, yes I mean Maddie. They could have hurt Maddie. That should mean something to you too, Aria.” I flick my cigarette into the street and shoot her an angry glare before heading back inside.

  She stops me as I reach for the door. “Fuck you, Cal. How dare you insinuate that I don’t care? I’m just saying you acting like a raving lunatic over something that is literally a needle in a haystack is not using our resources properly. Do you even know what the car looked like? Could she ID the guy? Can you? What do you have them looking for? You said you spooked them, right? Then they are probably done with their harassment for the night. Where’s Maddie now?” I don’t respond as I throw the door open and storm through the entrance. “So, Margie’s. Then she’s safe. She’s fine. And my guess is you probably have the place guarded like Fort Knox.”

  I turn around, and just as I prepare myself to reprimand her for her insubordination, for the first time in a week, I notice her. Under the lighting of the police station, I see the redness in her eyes, the bags that lie beneath them, and the absence of eye makeup that she usually wears. She looks like she’s lost about ten pounds and her hair is pulled up into a top knot, her telltale sign that she hasn’t washed it. I cross my arms in front of my chest. “What’s going on with you?”

  I can see the war behind her eyes of whether she wants to unleash whatever is going on before she inevitably lets her shoulders sag. “Your brother moved out.”

  People are moving all around us, but all I notice is the heartbroken look all over my sister in law’s face. “Let’s go to my office.”

  I shut the door behind her and lean against my desk. “What happened?”

  She shrugs and looks around as if the answers are written on the walls of my office. “Life?” She bites her bottom lip as the tears slip down her cheeks but she wipes them instantly. “He wants to move.”

  “And that’s why you’re fighting?” I ask. “I assume you mean move out of state? He wants to move and you want to stay?”

  “No. He wants to move without me. He wants a divorce.”

  I know Henry and I aren’t speaking, but I can’t imagine that he’d leave the state without telling me. I briefly wonder if he’s mentioned this to our mother, but decide that he couldn’t have because Margie would be beside herself at the idea of not having both of her boys in the same state.

  “Why?”

  “He doesn’t want to be married…anymore. He said we’ve been trying to keep things together for years but neither of us are happy. We’ve been fighting a lot…and then…this stuff with Maddie…”

  “Don’t put that on us, you both seemed to be on the same side about that.”

  She looks down and then up at me. “I’m giving her space but I want to be in Maddie’s life…regardless of your place in it.” She sits down on the small couch in the corner as if she’s crumpling under the weight of the world just as a tear slips down her cheek. She twists her mouth to try and stop the flow but they continue.

  “Okay?”

  “Henry doesn’t.”

  How could he just turn his back on her? On me? “He cares about Maddie, I know he does.”

  “I’m sure one day he’ll come around, but…” She pauses and her gaze drops to the ground. “He’s said some pretty ugly things about it. I know I didn’t take the news well, but in my defense, I was hurt—I am hurt. Hurt that she lied to me. Hurt that she felt like she couldn’t confide in me.” She shakes her head, finally meeting my gaze. “But Henry…he’s angry, almost vengeful.” I frown at her choice of words. I knew he’s angry, but I had hoped that he would come around sooner rather than later.

  “After Christmas,” Aria continues, “I gave a lot of thought to all of this, and ultimately it’s Maddie’s life and,” she shrugs, “I can’t control her any more than I can control Henry. The two most important people in my life want nothing to do with me.”

  “That’s not fair, Aria. You turned on Maddie first. You think she doesn’t want you on her side? In her corner? She loves you so much and she’s hurting over this too.”

  “How is she?” she asks, the tears making her green eyes more piercing than usual.

  “Good…she got into Harvard.” I smile with pride and the one on Aria’s is just as big.

  “Holy hell!” She giggles through her tears.

  “That’s our girl.” I stop. “We did a good job I think.”

  “She’s a great girl.” Aria smiles and I nod. “You’ll…take care of her.” She blinks rapidly and the insinuation is loud and clear.

  “Of course. Always.”

  She nods and stands up slowly. “Tell Maddie…I miss her and I’m always on her side.”

  I was never an affectionate person with the exception of Maddie, so I know Aria is surprised when I pull her into a hug, wrapping my arms around her. “You’re family Aria, alright? No matter what happens between you and Henry, you’re family. I’m still on your home team.”

  She pulls away and wipes at her eyes. “Thanks, Cal.”

  The night turns into morning quickly, and before I realize it, the sun is rising and I still haven’t seen Maddie. And I see she has also noticed.

  “You never came,” she says into the phone. Her voice is sullen and I can just see the pout forming on her lips.

  “I never left the station. I had a lot of things to t
ake care of once I got here.”

  “Evidently, I was not one of them.”

  “Maddie…”

  “I told you I needed you. Here. With me.”

  “I know, baby, I…”

  “Just forget it, I have to get ready for school.”

  “Are you okay to drive?”

  “I’m fine, Cal. I’ll see you whenever, I guess.” I can’t help my eyes from rolling at her guilt trip. I know she’s upset, but she also knows that I’ll see her before day’s end.

  “Today, Madeline.”

  “Sure, Cal.” I know she wants to hang up on me, but she doesn’t, yet. I wait for the inevitable words to leave her lips. “I love you.”

  I smile into the phone. “I love you.”

  “Who do you love?” The door closes from behind me and I spin in my chair to see my best friend, Ryan, biting into an apple with a cup of coffee in his other hand.

  “I’ll talk to you later.” I hang up the phone and stare at my best friend who is currently dressed like he just came from the gym. “Can’t you knock?”

  “And miss out on who you’re clearly having phone sex with?” Jesus Christ, this is not what I need right now. I’ve been calling this asshole all night, and now he shows up.

  “I told someone I loved them, and I’m having phone sex now?”

  “That wasn’t an I love you. That was an I love plowing you from behind, send me a picture later.” He points at my phone. “Now, who was it?”

  “A woman. Why are you here?”

  “Well, you rang the alarm last night over Maddie, and this is me responding to said alarm. What woman?” He takes another obnoxious bite of his apple.

  “Five hours later, thanks.”

  “I was coming off of a ninety hour week, and you said Maddie was fine and at your mother’s. It could wait. You had half the force on the street last night. You didn’t need me.”

  “My best friend and the detective? No, I didn’t need you.” The sarcasm drips from every word.

  “You’re evading the question? And…it’s making me more intrigued. Tell me about this girl.”

  “Ryan, it’s no one.”

  “And now you’re hiding something.”

  I grab my phone and keys from my desk. I was already planning to leave for the day to go home and get some sleep before Maddie got out of school and now that Ryan is suddenly very curious about my new love life it’s time to go before my face gives it all away.

  He follows me out of the office and the station and I’m not in the mood for this interrogation when he calls my name. “Grayson.”

  I turn to face him when I’m just a few steps away from my jeep. “What?”

  “I didn’t become a Detective at twenty-six because I let things get by me, you know.”

  The implication is there, I’m sure of it. But what I’m not sure of is how he feels about it.

  “And I didn’t become the Chief of Police by not taking chances. What’s your point?”

  He shakes his head and looks away from me, staring into the distance before turning his gaze back to me. “You know what you’re doing?”

  “No.”

  He nods his head. “That’s honest. Do you love her?”

  I let out a breath, preparing to lay my feelings for Maddie out for yet another person. “Yeah.” I nod.

  “Damn.” He crosses his arms. “What about Henry?”

  “You know about Henry?” I ask, suddenly confused that he became the focus of this conversation.

  He shrugs. “Well, I can only assume he’ll be pissed when he finds out.”

  “He already knows, and he’s definitely angry, and apparently taking it out on Aria.” I rub my forehead as I think about how heartbroken she looked when she left last night. I sent her home after about an hour and told her to try and get some rest because it looked like she hadn’t slept in a week.

  “Well, with reason, I mean she’s half to blame.”

  I rub my chin, my eyes narrowing slowly. “What? How do you figure?”

  “Well, you two are having an affair,” he says matter of factly.

  My eyes widen and the word escapes me in a shout. “WHAT?” I take a step back, suddenly confused. “I’m not sleeping with Aria. Why would you think that?”

  He tilts his head to the side. “I mean…with Maddie moving out, and you and Aria clearly avoiding each other like the plague at work, and everyone knows she’s been having issues, I just…Wait a minute, why else would Henry be pissed?” I stare at my best friend for a moment, wondering how I’m going to blurt out the truth and more importantly how he’ll take it, when his realization beats me to the punch. “Holy shit.”

  “Ryan…”

  “Grayson.” He points a finger at me. “Tell me that you are not sleeping with Maddie.”

  “I’m not sleeping with her, Ryan. I’m in love with her.”

  He puts his hands over his face and bends over dramatically before standing up straight and putting a fist to his mouth his eyes wide with terror. “Are you out of your fucking mind?”

  “I don’t know. Probably.” I shake my head. “But I’m tired and tense and I need to talk to her, so now is really not the time to read me the riot act.”

  “How long?!” I start walking towards my car and he follows closely behind.

  “Not as long as you think.”

  “Was she at least legal?”

  “Yes, Ryan. Okay? This hasn’t been going on for long okay? She’s been in love with me for…a while, and I’m just catching up. Now let it fucking go.”

  “Let it go? Cal…”

  “I know, okay? I know, no one is going to think it’s okay.”

  “How can you think it’s okay? You raised her. You got into her mind and her heart…of course, she thinks she’s in love with you.”

  “Look,” I bark out at him, “I’ve already lost a brother over this shit. I get that people aren’t exactly on board, but I’m not going to sit here and argue with you over it. I love her, I want to be with her, and I would do anything for her. I would never do anything to hurt Maddie. If that’s not enough for you, then that’s too damn bad.” I slam my car door shut and I’m out of the parking lot in seconds.

  My mouth drops open when I make it to the office and see why I’ve been summoned out of third period. The smile creeps onto my face the second I see him through the window of the main office. I had fallen into a troubled, restless sleep last night after tossing and turning for hours. I wanted him there, and then when I woke up this morning having fallen asleep with my hand wrapped firmly around my phone, my heart sank.

  He didn’t come.

  But now he’s here.

  And holy fuck does he look delicious.

  But why is he here?

  I sling my bag over my shoulder and push my way into the office to see Cal leaning against the wall with a warm smile splayed on his face. He’s wearing jeans and a leather jacket, his badge hanging around his neck, looking like some kind of sexy cop prepared to go undercover. “Hi…Cal.” I try to stop my voice from sounding like a woman so clearly lusting after a man, but it’s no use. I can only hope that the office manager doesn’t take notice. I look over at her as she looks at me from above her glasses and she shoos us off. “You’ve been excused for the day Madeline, we’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Cal all but drags me out of the office and towards the front door.

  “You’re here.”

  He stops in his tracks and stares at me as a smile finds his lips. “Of course, I’m here, you needed me, and I need you. I need to make sure you’re…okay after last night.”

  “So, you broke me out of school?” I’m shocked. Cal always stressed the importance of school and the value of getting a good education. Growing up, I was rarely allowed to miss school unless I was really sick, and even then, I’m talking fever and unable to keep down solid foods.

  Who is this man?

  His eyes rake me over from my feet to my eyes and I watch his eyes darken with need
.

  Oh.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t come last night…” He trails off. “Can I make it up to you?”

  I look back towards the school and then at him. Fuck, I want him. Bad. Though we had sex last night it was rushed and frantic and quick and my adrenaline was at an all-time high. It was also the only time we’ve had sex since I moved into Margie’s. I needed more. “My car is here.”

  He looks around the parking lot and shoves his hands in his pockets giving me a wolfish grin before sliding his sunglasses over his eyes. “Wanna meet me at home?”

  “So, let me get this straight, you pulled me out of school at noon…to go have sex? Are you sure you’re not an eighteen year old boy?”

  “Trust me, sweetheart, the things I’m about to do to you are not things an eighteen year old boy can do.”

  We’re barely through the front door before his pants are around his ankles and I’m pressed against the wall, his dick pressing against my sex through my panties under my skirt. “I need to taste your pretty cunt.” He growls in my ear. “It’s wet, isn’t it? You got wet driving home thinking about the mess we’re about to make between your legs, didn’t you?”

  “Cal….” I shut my eyes because his words have made me dizzy and I can’t keep them open. My pussy feels like it’s on fire, and I know the second he breathes near it, I’m going to come all over his face. I rub my sex against his dick, trying my hardest to get closer to him. “Off—off!” I cry out as he pokes me between my legs again. He sets me on shaky legs, and I manage to pull my boots and skirt off in record time.

  “Everything comes off,” he tells me as he pulls his shirt over his head. He’s standing before me completely naked and my mouth falls open like I haven’t seen him naked before. I pull my shirt over my head and unclasp my bra and send my panties down my legs, leaving us both naked and the attraction sizzling between us.

  His arms are so defined, veins protrude with every flex of his arm, making me wetter at the apex of my thighs. The slickness is becoming more intense and I feel it starting to trickle down my thigh. His chest, his abs, the perfectly cut V of his pelvis leading down to his dick turns me into a puddle of want and need. His dick is standing straight up, hard and strong and prepared to rip me in two. This man is so virile and masculine it makes me weak in the knees. On top of the fact that he is so protective of me makes me feel safe and guarded, knowing that he’d rip anyone apart that ever touched me.