by Jayne Blue
I followed her down the hall and onto the main floor. He stood at the end of the bar, tall and straight. His shiny new badge gleamed on his black uniform. Heat shot straight down to my toes. Smiling, I walked up to him.
“Looking good, Officer Reddick.” I slid my hands up his chest and went up on my tiptoes. “You sure it’s wise for you to be seen in a place like this in uniform?”
Jase smiled and leaned down to kiss me. “Oh, just trying to keep the peace, ma’am. Making sure you’ve got your liquor license and aren’t serving any underage patrons.”
“Mmm. We’re shipshape.”
Jase slid his arms around my waist and pulled me close. Boomer ushered out the last of the customers and all of the wait staff and bartenders managed to find a way to scurry out of view. Well trained indeed.
“How did it go tonight?”
“Perfectly. I was worried. A lot. And it could just be a fluke. The novelty is going to wear off at some point. Then we’ll really see if this place is still viable.”
“It is,” he said. “It will be. I have faith.”
“Thanks for coming. I know I told you to stay away tonight, but I’m glad you didn’t listen.”
“I’ll always come for you, Devin. Don’t you know that by now?”
My heart sang and my throat went dry. He did. He had. Everything I felt for Jase was still so new. But it felt so right.
“You ready to get out of here?”
“Almost,” I said. “I just have to shut a few things down.”
“You need some help with that?”
“Always. Boomer’s got plenty of muscle but doesn’t like to lift heavy things. I need to change one of the lines.”
Jase gave me a salute. “Lead the way.”
We headed down the hall toward the basement steps. I went first. Jase made it halfway down before the door closed behind him.
“Oh shit, Jase! I still haven’t fixed that latch.”
“I know,” he said, his eyes shining bright.
Heat shot through me and a slow smile spread across my face. “So you locked us down here on purpose?”
He shrugged. “I’ve got everything under control.”
“I’ll just bet you do. Got a cell phone this time?”
He shook his head. Reaching up, he tapped the radio on his shoulder. “I suppose I could call for backup if things get too hot.”
“Mmm.” I went two steps up and slid my hands across his chest. Jase leaned down and kissed me, slow and sweet. Then he wrapped his arms around my waist and lifted me as if I weighed nothing.
“I love you,” he whispered through fevered kisses.
“I love you too,” I said as he ran his tongue down the column of my throat and slid my leggings down past my waist. I worked the buttons of his shirt and then tried to unfasten his pants. His belt got in the way; the rough leather scraped my skin where he carried his nightstick and weapon. He reached down to help me, peeling off the heavy belt and slinging it over the stair railing.
He straightened, exasperated. “God. Give me a second to get all this shit off.”
I reached up and ran my hands along his chest, fingering the badge. “Mmm. Maybe don’t take all of it off.”
He raised an inquisitive brow and moisture pooled between my legs.
“Well,” I said, stripping off my shirt and kicking off my boots. I leaned back on the step, stark naked and ready for him. “It’s just, I think I love a man in uniform.”
Jase’s wicked laughter sent molten heat through me, settling to an urgent throb in my sensitive core. I wanted him. I burned for him. I spread my legs in offering.
“Yes, ma’am. I live to serve.”
I squealed as he came at me. With one swift, strong movement, he angled my hips just right and drove himself inside me. His full length filled me as he thrust home. I wrapped my legs around his hips and pulled him close.
“I love you,” I whispered against his neck as I held on for this ride. “I love you.”
He moaned and shifted, whispering my name as he plunged into me over and over. I rose to meet him and felt the building pressure from deep inside. He twitched and jerked and I knew he couldn’t hold on another second longer. Neither could I.
Jase was my everything. He loved me and I loved him back. Officer Reddick fucked me hard and well that night, giving me all of himself. I gave myself in return.
My heart soared with the knowledge of Jase’s truth and mine. He loved me. I loved him. And it was good and right. My man would never leave. My heart was safe and so was my body.
“Come on, baby,” he said as he helped me put myself back together. “Let me take you home.”
“Anything you say, Officer,” I said, giving him a playful swat on the backside as he refastened his belt and adjusted his weapon. Smiling, Jase took me upstairs and led me out of the darkness and into the light.
The End
A Message from Jayne Blue
Thank you so much for sticking with me for Jase’s story. Jase was one of those secondary characters in a previous book (more on that in a minute if you’re new to my work) who just sat up and demanded attention. I’ve just been waiting for the right woman to come along in my imagination who could handle him. That woman was Devin. She came to me one afternoon while I was sitting in a coffee shop waiting for my daughter to finish her play rehearsal. I watched this sassy, adorable, barista with an undercut and ponytail dress down a rude patron waiting in line. I started jotting down everything about her until she figured out what I was doing and came on over to ask me wtf? This book is dedicated to her for being super cool about all the questions I asked her and not calling the cops when she saw me staring.
Up Next in the Tortured Heroes Series… Detective Mitch Gates’s Story!
The next book in the Tortured Heroes series tells Detective Mitch Gates’s story. This hunky cyber crimes cop has his work cut out for him when a woman from his past comes to him desperate for help when she’s targeted by an identity thief. Detective Gates will find himself up against the most powerful identity theft ring in the world with time running out if he wants to save her life. You can find out more here and get updates on all my new releases. Join my newsletter for a free gift!
Now! If you’d like to know more about Jase before he came to Northpointe, he’s featured in my Great Wolves Motorcycle Club Series. Each book in that series is interconnected but are complete standalones and can be read in any order. Jase first appears in Colt. Colt tells the story of Jase’s identical twin brother and his fight to reclaim his town and the woman he loves. Here’s an extended excerpt.
Excerpt of Colt: Great Wolves Motorcycle Club (Featuring Jase Reddick before Vice)
Colt
For some people, nothing says welcome home like the smell of homemade cookies and apple pie. For me, it’s the wafting stink of oil refineries and shipyards.
Home ...
That’s a hell of a word. In my thirty-three years, I was still trying to figure out if I had one. Every time I thought I’d found a place to settle, something drew me back to this place. Lincolnshire, Ohio. Once a shining port city on the western banks of Lake Erie, now it was home to about a dozen shut-down automotive plants.
Anyone in their right mind had already hightailed it to the suburbs or over the border into Michigan. But here I was, walking into The Shires bar looking for a stiff drink, a plate of their World Famous Coney Dogs and a little bit of peace. I was only going to get one out of three.
I drew a few sideways looks from the patrons along the wall as I walked to the bar. It was the cut they saw, not me. The back of my black leather vest had the Great Wolves, M.C. logo sewn into it, and everyone in this town knew what that meant.
Don’t fuck with me.
I slid onto a bar stool. The bartender turned. His eyes widened then narrowed to near slits when he recognized me. A little of the color drained from his face. Yep. He remembered me all right, even though I hadn’t darkened this particular doorstep in over a de
cade.
“Good to see you, Colt,” he said, his words a little hesitant. He threw a towel over his shoulder and extended a beefy hand to mine. I took it and shook hard. “Catman and the boys were already here last night. Everything okay?”
I widened my eyes and jerked my head back. Catman was the Great Wolves M.C. Lincolnshire chapter president. I was here to see him but it was early yet, just past noon. There was real fear in Rick Malloy’s eyes when he asked the question and I knew I was missing something. But I was on my time right now. Whatever drama he meant could wait. I shrugged and tapped the bar.
“Jim Beam double neat?” Rick asked. Yeah . . . it was early for the hard stuff but it had been a long damn day and what the hell.
I smiled. Yeah. He remembered. I made a gun with my hand and pulled the trigger, shooting Rick a wink. Rick and I grew up together. This was his dad’s place and his granddad’s before that. Which was kind of fucking depressing and comforting all at the same time.
Rick slid my bourbon across the bar to me, and I downed it quick. Then two more after that. My head started to feel good and numb. I was just about to put in an order for those Coney Dogs when light fingers skittered across my back. They belonged to one hot piece of ass. She slid on the stool next to me flashing a smile past siren-red lips and with ample cleavage straining at the top of her black halter top.
“You’re with the M.C.,” she said, using a breathy voice she had to be faking. “I haven’t seen you before.”
Yeah. She was one of those. This cut came with a lot of baggage, but one perk was the draw of biker bangers just like her. She had bleach blonde hair teased a little too high. She wore a black leather skirt and red heels. She held up a finger, and Rick slid some fruity drink in front of her.
“Take it easy, Bridget,” he said. She shot him a withering stare.
“It’s all right, Ricky,” I said, knowing he hated being called that. “Put her drink on my bill. Bridget and I were just starting to get to know each other.”
“What’s your name, baby?” Bridget said. She slid her hand up my thigh. She wasted no time and tapped the crotch of my jeans. Another smile lit her face at what she found there.
I make no apologies. It had been a long, hard ride out from the west coast and this girl was pretty, stacked, and looking for a good time. After hours with nothing to saddle but my ride, Bridget here was looking smoother than the bourbon.
We had some conversation. I don’t remember what. Bridget said her place was just around the corner, and she didn’t have to twist my arm to get me to go with her. But Bridget was more charged up than I thought. Three steps out the back door and she was already pulling my arm, turning me to face her, and rubbing her tits all over me. Fuck. She smelled good. She felt even better. We didn’t make it past the alley next to The Shires before I had her up against the brick wall. Broad fucking daylight. Oh yeah, this girl liked the wild side all right. I looked around; we were alone.
She linked her hands above her head and rubbed herself against me harder as I slid that tight leather skirt past her thighs and the tube top down. Her perfect Cs popped out and said hello. I tweaked one pert little nipple then licked it and blew on it, getting it pebbled just right. She arched her back and moaned a little, letting me know she wanted more where that came from. Then I slid a hand down between her luscious thighs. Shit. Bridget went commando that night.
She oohed and aahed against my ear as I teased her slick cleft with my thumb. She was hot, wet and practically dripping for me. I grew rock hard and pressed myself against her. She wriggled a little, spreading her legs until my hard-on rubbed straight against her clit. With the other hand, I reached into my back pocket and pulled out a condom. I ripped it open with my teeth as Bridget nibbled at my ear.
“I’m covered, baby,” she whispered. “It’s okay.”
Like hell, I thought. I took a step back and went for my fly. My jeans strained against my cock, and I was looking forward to freeing it. Bridget’s eyes were hooded as she waited for me. Her chest rose and fell with her heavy breaths as she stroked herself. Her smooth skin flushed rosy red as she got herself primed for me.
Then her eyes went wide, and a shadow fell over her face. She stood stock still and looked back at me. I started to pivot when a strong hand clamped on my shoulder pulling me back. I dropped the condom, drew my fist back then froze. Bridget screamed once.
“There’s two of you!” she cried out. “Holy shit.” Her screams turned into a frantic giggle.
I squinted my eyes against the glare of the sun. I looked into two blazing dark eyes that were a match to my own. The same jaw, the same thick black brows. The same cleft in his chin. The only thing different was the hair. His was cropped short and close to his ears. Mine was longer, touching my collar.
“I thought Rick was lying,” he said in a voice almost identical to my own. “I said, no way Colt would show his fucking face back here after all this time.”
“Good to see you too, Jase,” I said, having dual urges to hug him and slug him.
Bridget stepped between us and put a hand on my chest and a hand on Jase’s. Her fingers played across the M.C. patch over my left pec and the shiny cop badge over Jase’s.
“Twins? Oh wow! What’s say the three of us turn this into a real party,” she purred and licked her lips, swiveling her head from Jase to me and back again.
Jase grabbed her wrist and gently but firmly peeled Bridget off the two of us. “Go on home,” he said. “And trust me, sweetie, I just saved you from maybe the worst decision of your life.”
Bridget pouted and looked to me. I gave her a jerking gesture with my chin. She pulled her skirt back down, her top back up and thrust up the middle finger on both hands to each of us. I suppose it was the least we deserved.
As soon as she was out of sight, I turned back to my brother. He glared at me through those same dark eyes I saw in the mirror every day. I couldn’t help but smirk as he dropped his left hip. Same fucking move since we were kids. I dodged to the left as he threw a right hook. His punch glanced off my shoulder, and I dropped low, shooting straight for his midsection.
Damn. He was more solid than I remembered. We hit the slick pavement in a tangle of legs, flying punches, and curses. I landed one to his ribs. He landed one to my jaw.
Fuckin’ A.
I changed my mind. For me, nothing says welcome home like the taste of blood filling my mouth.
I landed on top and wedged my forearm under his chin, trying to choke him out. “You done Officer Fuck-Nut?”
Jase got another jab in just under my ribcage. I winced against the pain shooting across my back. Apparently, he wasn’t fucking done. He got a knee up before I could counter, and we were rolling end over end again. I hit my forehead hard on the curb before I pushed him off and scrambled to my feet. Spots swam in front of my eyes, and I felt a hot trickle of blood run down my cheek. I got low, ready for him to come at me or to take him down again.
He stood in front of me, heaving, sweat running down the side of his face. Blood and bile filled my mouth, and I spit it out onto the oil-stained pavement.
“I don’t know where you came from. I don’t know why you came back. But you need to get your sorry ass back on that bike and keep on riding.”
I straightened. Jase was still spitting mad, but he didn’t look like he was going to charge me again. I didn’t drop my fists, but maybe we’d be able to have some form of a real conversation before we tried to break each other’s faces again. The side of Jase’s face was already starting to swell. His knuckles were scraped and bloody.
“I’m not here to start anything. Nothing wrong with wanting a quick drink and an easy piece of ass. Last time I checked, Lincolnshire was crawling with opportunities for both.”
Jase narrowed his eyes and shook his head. His badge. It still threw me. Jase Reddick, my brother. Lou Reddick’s son. In a uniform. Fuck me. Even though the cut above my eye was starting to throb like a son of a bitch, I still wanted to reach ou
t and hug my brother. It had been too long. Way too long.
“What the hell are you crawling with?” he said. “Rick doesn’t need shit like you around here. He’s paid up. You’re not welcome.”
What the hell was he talking about? “Jesus, Jase. I’m not here about Ricky. Walk your shit off. I gotta tell ya. Even though you’re acting like a fucking lunatic, I’m glad to see you.”
Jase shook his head. “Fuck you, Colt. Your club has done enough damage to this town. I’m not going to stand by and watch you be a part of it. Go back west.”
I dropped my fists to my sides. I wished I could tell him he had it all wrong. But I hadn’t seen him in almost ten years. The last time I came back to town I did it to help him bury our parents. My drunk-ass father ran his car into an embankment and killed himself and our mother along with him. Jase had just gone into the police academy. So much had happened since then. And just like I didn’t know everything about Jase for the last ten years, he didn’t know everything about me. The stone-cold look in his eyes told me he thought he knew enough.
“Fine,” I said. My heart sank as I looked into my brother’s eyes. The lines around his eyes gave him a more hardened look. I knew damn well he saw the same in mine. Something flickered behind his and I hoped for a second he had the same urge to drop all of this shit and reach out to me. But his eyes stayed hard and a knife twisted in my gut.
Even though I had nowhere else to go really, maybe coming back to Lincolnshire had been my worst idea yet. Clearly Jase thought so. We had our differences, but I sure as hell didn’t want my being here to hurt him.
“Have it your way. I’m here on business. It’ll take me a few days, and then I’ll head east. Jesus, nobody but you and Ricky even know I’m in town yet.”
Jase shook his head and finally dropped his fists. “You’re still such a fucker. That was a full bar in there. You think the whole town doesn’t know you’re back? If you were trying to be clandestine, it was too late for you to turn back the second you passed the Home of the Shamrocks sign on I-75.”
