Tristan thankfully leaves me alone while we eat, but I barely touch my food. My appetite died, knowing Dylan is watching me while another woman paws at him. As much as I try to watch him in return, Tristan scrutinizes me even more while he speaks to other officers at our table, making it impossible. Police officers inundate my life, but Dylan McGrath has torched it beyond recognition.
After they collect our plates, Verna presumably leaves for the restroom, and Dylan visibly relaxes. But when Tristan leans closer to me, Dylan’s eyes widen, and his jaw muscles strain. Tristan says, “You know, I wanted to date you in high school.”
Surprised by that, I swing my attention to Tristan, whose brown eyes march over my face. “I never got that impression.”
He smirks and then reaches up, sweeps a stray hair from my cheek, and skims his finger over my skin. Alarmed, goosebumps form. I pick up my water and take a sip, calming my suddenly frazzled nerves. Over the top of my glass, I see Grant at Dylan’s table, bending to talk in his ear furthest from Verna, and I notice them looking at me. Dylan’s expression is angry, and he stares at me as he responds to whatever Grant said to him. Tristan says, “I did. You were fucking hot.”
Returning my attention to Tristan, I ask, “Why didn’t you ask me out, then?” I really don’t need an answer, but I’m curious all the same.
His smile slips, and he shrugs. “Peer pressure about dating…” I inwardly sigh, not needing to fill in the blanks.
“Oh.” In the den of cops, the walls close in on me more. Glancing across the room, Grant hovers next to Dylan, but Dylan’s eyes don’t leave me, regardless of Verna speaking to him.
A gray-haired man takes the mic and announces the awards will begin. Thank God. I watch several familiar but still unknown officers accept awards, make mundane speeches, and then mindlessly clap for them. When they call Lynn to receive her award, she smiles, and my smile and applause are genuine. Stepping to the mic, she says, “Thank you, all. I don’t need an award to do my job or say that I’ve done it well. This city is my home, and the people within it are my family. I gladly accept the role I play in the community. No strings attached. There have been trials and tribulations, but I’ve learned much and taught others. Though I don’t need this to do my job well, it’s nice to be recognized. I’d like to thank my husband, Gerald, for his support, but dedicate this award to my special girl, Natalia Welch, who has taught me more than she realizes. Thank you.”
Lynn then quickly leaves the mic while I’m speechless. Tristan puts his arm around my shoulders and pulls me toward his chest. Caught off guard, I go without a fight but then quickly disengage myself to resume my applause. The happy tears in my eyes burn, but I blink through them to not leave myself vulnerable like that again with Tristan.
I watch Lynn return to her seat as people scrutinize me amid murmurings of who I am. Tristan whispers, “I have champagne at my apartment. Join me, and we’ll make a night of it.”
As I cringe, I peer at Dylan, who shifts in his chair, glaring at Tristan while Verna polishes her tits against Dylan’s bicep. Shaking my head, I again say, “I’m sorry, but I’ll have to pass. I work all day tomorrow.”
“C’mon, you can’t leave me to my own devices. Let’s finish what I wanted to start in tenth grade.”
The man who had begun the awards returns to the mic and asks everyone to stay for dessert. God, I can’t do that, either. “I need to go home. Thank you for inviting me here.”
“You’re leaving? Now?”
I nod and search the room for Lynn and notice admirers crowding her table. I’ll congratulate her later by text and then in person at the diner tomorrow. “Yes. I apologize but thank you for everything.”
Tristan pouts, “I had plans for us.”
“Maybe another time.” Why in the fuck did I say that? I don’t want more dates with him.
As I stand to put on my jacket, I see Dylan straighten, keenly watching me as Verna drags her nails up and down his arm while inching closer to his cheek. I can’t witness any more of it, but I hope he stays out of her bed.
Another police officer stops at our table to speak to Tristan, and I bid a quick farewell to the table before leaving the room. Once I’m in the lobby, I sigh in relief, happy to breathe again. But as I go for the door, someone hooks my waist from behind and pushes me into the nearby hallway. Shaking from the assault, I look up as Dylan pins me to the wall with a raring kiss, which I automatically reciprocate. He stops kissing me to urgently whisper, “Are you leaving?” I nod against his forehead. “We need to be together tonight.”
I close my eyes, wanting that so much, but say, “I can’t.”
Glancing toward the lobby to check for anyone, Dylan then whispers, “I’m taking her home. She won’t be with me.”
“Dylan.”
“I’m desperate for you. I know you feel the same way.” His hand falls to my hip, and he squeezes as he pulls me against his groin. “I won’t show up at your place if you don’t want me to, but shit. You’re not wearing damn underwear.”
Hearing voices growing louder, I slide out of his grasp and merge with the sudden crowd emerging from the banquet room. I need to disappear before I change my mind and let him fuck me right here, balls out and ass in the air, to rid the inconsolable ache.
Chapter 17
Grant breaks from the exodus, seeing me in the hallway. Reaching me, he says, “Verna is looking for you.”
“I’m sure she is. Where’s Emerson?”
“Still talking to Rispolli’s wife. Where’s Natalia?”
“She left.” I can’t hide the disappointment.
“Dylan, you’re playing a dangerous game.”
“It’s not a game. I want her, Grant.”
“Taggart will cut off your dick if she catches you. And with the way you were watching Natalia all night—in front of your date, no less—you’re playing with fire. Taggert could ruin your law enforcement career if she finds out. I’m not telling you this because I think you’re a kid who can’t manage his life. I’m warning you because we’re family.”
“I get it, and I’m aware of what I have to lose. I’ll be careful.”
Grant sighs. “I believe you.” He grips my shoulder with a smile. “I hope the sex is worth it, but make sure Natalia knows the risk.”
“She knows. That’s part of why she doesn’t want to be with me.”
“Where’d you go?” a shrill voice behind Grant pierces the low din of people in the lobby, saying their goodbyes.
I sigh as Grant rolls his eyes. “Goodnight and good luck, McGrath,” he mutters as Verna shoves her way past others to reach me.
“I was talking to my cousin.”
Verna latches on to my arm and presses her tits against me, a move she has done countless times tonight. Her hard nipples etch my chest, making my skin crawl.
In the car, as I leave the parking lot, Verna cranks up the urgency. Her hand goes to my thigh, but she doesn’t grab my dick like earlier. Instead, she scratches her fingernails into the inseam of my pants. Above the music playing, she says, “Stay for a drink, at least.”
“I can’t drink and drive.” Thank fuck.
“We don’t have to drink.”
“Okay…Makes sense.”
“I have feelings for you,” she says, gripping my thigh tighter until she’s pinching me. I pry her fingers off my leg, flinging her hand away.
“We’ve known each other for five minutes. I still don’t have feelings for my barber here, yet.”
“But I’ll make it so worth your while.” Her hand returns to my thigh, where she brazenly moves closer to my balls. Verna loudly licks her lips next to my ear. “I swallow, Officer McGrath.”
I again toss her hand off my leg. “You think that turns me on?”
“Don’t you want a blow job?” I’d rather a vacuum cleaner suck me off.
“Not tonight.” Not ever.
Verna sits back, and I hope she’s finished assaulting me. Glancing away from the road, I watch as Verna grabs h
er tit through her dress and moans. “I know you want to put it in me. Do you have your handcuffs? You can use them on me and do whatever you want.”
I laugh. “Believe me, you really don’t want to know what I’m thinking.” Pulling alongside the curb in front of her building, I say, “Thanks for going to the banquet.”
“You need a stress reliever. Both of us are so damn horny.” Not for you.
“Again, no. Just friends, Verna.” Not even.
“Friends bang.”
Again, I laugh. This can’t be happening. “Yeah, no. Not my style.”
“There’s always a first.”
Exasperated, I nod to the door. “Goodnight, Verna.”
“Please? Or we can masturbate, and you can squirt near my vagina.”
“Out.”
Opening the door, Verna huffs, “Well, you just missed out on diddling me tonight.”
“Diddling? I don’t even think the Muppets call it that.” As I laugh, Verna exits the car, not bothering to close the passenger door. “Son of a bitch,” I mutter and get out to shut it, but I’m glad she’s gone.
Once home, I reluctantly go for a shower, reliving the night and jerk off the nagging pain shooting through my dick, but Verna keeps popping into my head, so I make it a quick shower put on boxers.
As I go to the kitchen, a knock at the door stops me. I check the alarm clock sitting on the TV stand in the living room, reminding myself it’s way late for visitors. On high alert, I wonder if it’s Verna with a baseball bat still begging for a fuck. After tonight, I’ll have nightmares for weeks.
I grab my Glock that I carelessly left on the coffee table and hold it against my side as I approach the door. There’s no window next to the door, so I can’t see who’s on the other side, a misstep on my part for the security flaw. Through the peephole, I see nothing.
Slowly opening the door, I see Talia, her hair glowing in the porch light.
Shocked, I stammer, “Hang on,” and close the door to shove my gun into a kitchen drawer.
Returning to the door, I swing it open to see Talia has her arms crossed and looks as if she may bolt. I say, “Hey. I…I can’t believe you’re here. How’d you find out where I live?”
Talia’s brown eyes drag over every inch of my body as I stand in the doorway, but she doesn’t answer me. She’s barely said two words to me tonight, aside from moaning. Eventually, I say, “Come in.”
But Talia doesn’t move or say anything. I sigh. “Why’re you here if you won’t even talk to me? I mean—”
Her whisper interrupts me. “Dylan, kiss me.”
Stepping onto the stoop in my boxers and no shirt, I take her face in my hands and kiss her. However, her response is feverish. Not wanting to get arrested for indecent exposure, I walk her into my apartment, never breaking the kiss. Her hands push against my chest as I pull her, and we stumble into my apartment. Talia slams the door behind her. Standing in the living room, our mouths devour each other. My hands go to her ass, and I push her against my long-suffering dick. When she gasps, I take the break in our kiss to ask, “What is it you want? I mean, do you want to sit, have a drink—”
Her hands go to my jaw, and against my lips, she whispers, “Split me open, Dylan.”
Swallowing, I say, “But you didn’t want me, so many times.”
“God, Dylan. I want you so fucking bad. Tonight, I’m dirty, but I don’t care. I need to show you…”
“Show me what?”
Shaking her head against mine, she says, “Show me your damn bed. Now.”
Reaching behind her to lock the door, I yank her to the hallway, and she eagerly goes with me. Keeping the light off, the room is only lit by the living room light. I turn to her and say, “I have a condom.”
“I brought a box.”
I groan, “Christ,” and jerk her to me. Our mouths fuse in a frantic kiss as I shove her jacket to the floor and hoist her dress to her tits. Smiling over her lips, I run my hands over her bare ass and then drag my fingers over her bare pussy.
Talia sighs, and her voice is shaky. “I need you, Dylan McGrath.”
“Leaving now is no longer an option. We need to fuck.”
She nods against me as her hands go to my boxers, pushing them to the floor. I pull her dress up to her head, where she takes over and tosses it to the floor. Leaning over, I yank open my nightstand drawer and find a condom. Talia takes it from me, and with quick movements, she removes it and begins unrolling it onto me as I stand in front of her. I groan, “Fuck,” as her hands own my junk.
Talia then removes her bra, and I get on the bed, watching her. My dick sways, impatient for me to slide into her. Somewhat hesitant, Talia climbs onto the bed, but I grab her upper arm and pull her closer. I find her hips and urge her to straddle me. Talia does, but she evades my hard-on, and I desperately need her to touch me there.
Putting my hand on her cheek, I lift her away from my lips to whisper, “Talia, I can’t take it anymore. Open your sweet pussy and fuck me.”
Talia moans, and her body trembles against mine. Spreading her legs more, she slowly sinks onto my dick, moaning, “Dylan. Oh, damn.”
When she settles against my groin. I groan, “So good.”
Our slow, deliberate moves end, and with a new fervor, she bounces as I lift my hips. We fuck hard and fast, needing to get our first time out of our system.
As she rides me, she repeatedly whispers, “Fuck me.”
I grab her ass, coaxing her to keep the rhythm and for my dick to rub against her clit. I want to prove this isn’t a waste of her time. Shit. I hope she doesn’t think that.
I feel her pussy tightening which almost makes me come. I grip her hips, slowing her. “Hang on a minute. I’m so fucking close. I know you are too. I want you to come with me.”
Talia stops altogether, and her eyes widen. Before I can ask what’s wrong, she dismounts and moves to the end of the bed. Again, leaving me hanging.
When she doesn’t say she saw a spider or that someone is holding us at gunpoint, I ask, “What just happened?”
Naked and on her knees at the foot of my bed, Talia shakes her head with her hand against her mouth, mumbling, “I can’t.”
Sitting up on my elbows, my swollen dick angrily flails between us. Cautious and trying so fucking hard not to assume this is a repeat, I ask, “You can’t what? Come? It’s okay. I’ll help you afterward.”
Talia swiftly shakes her head. “I can’t do this.”
“We were fucking, and I felt you getting close.” Fear and shame flash across her face. I’m beyond frustrated, and in agony, I ask, “What is it about fucking me? What did I do?”
Tears emerge from her eyes as she looks at the bed. “It’s not you…but then it is, Dylan. I thought I could, but then I think about how I’m taking advantage of a younger man—you’re nearly a boy.”
I drop my head, growling over having this damn argument again and in the middle of getting off. Again. Raising my head, I yell, “I’m not a damn kid! Get that out of your head! I’m a man who has had sex before and was willingly having sex with a beautiful woman I’m attracted to. There’s nothing dirty about it.”
“But it—”
“No. Stop saying it. I feel how much you want me. Us. Stop fighting it, Talia. It’s almost like you want this, but not if you make the first move or are in control.” As I say that, she cries, and I sigh as I watch her. “Shit. That’s it. You don’t want to be the one deciding what you want because you keep telling yourself you don’t want me when that’s all you want.” She doesn’t answer, but when her hands cover her face and her sobs intensify, I know I hit the target.
I scoot closer to her and move one of her hands from her face. “Why is that? Because of your ex?” I hate bringing up that bastard in the middle of fucking his ex. Anger boils as I think of him hurting her.
Holding Talia’s hand, I say, “Well, I need you to want me as much as I want you. This can’t be one-sided.”
She drops her other
hand to wipe her cheeks on the back of it. “My dad and any man I dated. They told me what to do and what I should want. There was no other option because if I argued for what I wanted, they would double down and remind me how much I didn’t matter.”
“But you do.”
“Dylan, I was you at twenty-two, but I dated older men as a favor for my dad.”
The blood boiling in my veins nearly blows every gasket, and with bitterness I can’t hide, I seethe, “A favor?”
She nods. “I didn’t want to, and I thought of them as dirty to want me as a teen.”
I hide my mouth behind my fist, so I don’t lose it and take a road trip with both of my Glocks. “You were just a kid?”
“Seventeen, but almost—”
I shake my head, cutting her off. “There’s no but about that shit.”
She fidgets, and I can’t help sending my gaze to her tits, which calms me somewhat. “But now I’m the older one, and you’re younger. I’m just like—”
“Oh, fuck no. It’s not the same thing. At. All. You are so far from that. You don’t…” I sweep my hand to Talia’s upswept hair and trail my finger over her ear and cheek, stroking her skin as I had to watch Tristan do earlier. “We’re not the same, and you’re not dirty. Don’t think that when I…”
Her hand goes to mine, holding onto it as my fingers gently sweep her cheek, drying her tears. “When you’re getting laid and on the verge of a cumshot? Just say it, Dylan. I ruined sex for you because of my complex about our ages. I’m sorry.” Her eyes shine in the semi-darkened room. “I want…I think…But I can’t.” She sniffs and says, “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I don’t want to lead you on. I want this, but it’s…”
“What we have is beautiful, Talia. You just don’t want to see it.”
“See what? All I see are our differences.”
I frown, saying, “Don’t do that. I’ll never hurt you like they did. I want to be with you in every way, so much.”
In the dim light of the hallway, our eyes meet, and she asks, “Why?”
Letting go of her other hand, I dry her right cheek, and bring her closer to me until her lips skim mine. “Just because. I can’t explain it.”
Rebel Rook: An Everyday Heroes World Novel (The Everyday Heroes World) Page 19
