by Karen Deen
I tilt her head so I can stare straight into her eyes.
“Promise me, Lilly, you won’t use online apps for dates. Promise me you will never take such a dangerous risk. I can’t bear to think of you out there with some random guy, so vulnerable to getting hurt. Promise me.” Her hand is still stroking me, trying to soothe me.
“I know it’s a lot to ask of you when you’re not mine, but I care about you and want you treated right. No matter where you meet a guy, if you decide to go on a date, please use me as your safe person. Text me his name, a picture is even better and the details of where you’re going. Promise me you will do that.” I can’t help but feel like there is a knife stabbing in my chest thinking of her dating anyone but me. Reality is, though, I can’t offer what she’ll need so I have to accept she will date other men. None of them will ever be good enough for her, but at least if I have a name and picture, I can run them through our database before she even leaves home. Not that she’ll agree to that but what she doesn’t know, won’t hurt her.
“Kane, you need to relax. Don’t worry about me. I can protect myself.” Her eyes plead with me to believe her. “I know how to give a good swift knee in the balls.”
“For fuck’s sake, this isn’t a joke. Women are being abducted, raped and killed every single day, while going on blind internet dates. I don’t want you becoming one of those statistics. Do you hear me?”
I’m sorry I’m scaring her, but I need her to understand the severity of this.
“I’m sorry, Kane, I know it’s serious. I wasn’t making a joke. I was just trying to calm you down. It’s okay, I’m always careful but if it makes you feel better, if there is ever a time I’m worried, I’ll let you know.” There’s a puzzled look on her face when she realized she’s agreeing to call me before she goes on a date. I can’t work out why. She drops her head back down to my chest. Her eyes have lost a little of their sparkle.
“Lil, what’s wrong?” There’s silence for a moment then her voice is a quiet whisper. It’s like everything I’ve said has sunk in.
“Do you really think she’s already dead? Is there any hope?” She makes no attempt to look up at me which is good. I take a deep breath before I answer her the unfortunate truth.
“There is always hope, beautiful. We never give up hope. It’s just each day the percentages of finding her alive get lower. But I never give up trying in any case. That’s why I do this job. To try to make a difference. Some days I just feel I’m getting nowhere, and I’m just treading water. Today is one of those days.” My arms wrap just a little tighter around her. We lay for a while just embracing the silence. There’s something about Lilly that is so calming to me. It makes no sense because from the outside you would say she is the least calm woman I know. Yet here in my arms she is so settled.
“Kane?” Her quiet voice breaks the silence.
“Yeah, baby?”
“Can I ask you a personal question?”
I smooth her hair as I run my hand over her head and down her back. “Even if I say no, I’ve got a feeling you’ll ask it anyway, so ask away.”
Her quiet chuckle tells me I’m right. “Why don’t you do relationships? The real reason, not what you tell other people.”
Shit, no one has asked me that before. I talk bullshit to people about how I like playing the field, but no one has ever pushed for the real reason behind that. There is something about Lilly that I know I can’t lie to her.
“Wow, nothing like getting straight to the point. What makes you so sure what I tell people is not the real answer?”
Lilly lifts her head and rests her chin on my chest, looking at me with prying eyes.
“Stop trying to deflect again. Answer the question.” Her smile makes a part of me soften for this little fiery lady.
“Lilly, my job is dangerous. Every day of my life I deal with the scum of the earth. That’s a choice I made a very long time ago. I put myself in danger and take risks. I can’t ask someone to deal with the consequences of my actions. I don’t want a wife or children to have to worry every day when I walk out my front door if I’m going to come home again that night. It’s just not fair to ask that of someone else.”
I can see her processing what she’s heard and getting her answer ready. Her face tells me she is about to sprout a counter argument. I’m not sure I should be surprised that Lilly will have an opinion on this. Pretty sure she’ll have an opinion on everything in life.
“Part of me admires you for being so selfless in caring for others and not wanting to hurt anyone. But I also think you’re being selfish. You’re making a decision for your future partner without even getting to a point that they have the chance to choose. There may be a woman out there who is totally prepared to put up with the fear she feels every day just to be able to spend the good hours of your life with you. The point is, you will never know because you will never give a relationship a chance to find out.”
Man, this woman never holds back. She always shoots from both barrels.
“No one wants to worry that the man they love is going to a job every day where he could die. That’s why half the force is either single, divorced or going crazy trying to balance their two lives.”
By now she’s sitting upright next to me. I can see she’s winding up now.
“But that’s where you’re wrong. Tonight, you came home, all stressed and distracted. Your cases are weighing you down. Yet looking at you now, lying back here in your bed, fully fucked, a sexy woman—aka me—sitting next to you. Your stress has left your body and you’re smiling and enjoying your night.” I love it when she has this cheeky little personality.
“See, there are a few things wrong with that statement. I mean, the woman in my bed, I suppose she’s all right looking.” She whacks my arm and fake gasps holding her heart. “The other thing you got wrong is that I’m fully fucked. That is not even close to being true. There is so much more fucking to be had tonight. We haven’t even begun to take away my stress. In fact, I think I feel really stressed again right this minute. Maybe you can help relieve me?” I can’t help laughing and reaching out and grabbing Lilly. Pushing her down on the bed. I pin her down and start to tickle her. The conversation was getting too serious and I can’t do serious. I needed to break the moment.
“Stop, Kane stop.” I give in and let her catch her breath.
“Don’t think I don’t realize you managed to change the subject again. No wonder you make a good cop.”
She’s still catching her breath when I can’t resist taking her ability to talk away. Leaning down, I take her mouth and kiss it like my life depends on it. The more she starts talking about relationships, the more my head is thinking ridiculous thoughts. Ones I can’t afford. In the attempt to turn them off, I’m taking this siren and heating her back up again. It’s time for less work talk and more playing.
The harder I kiss her, the more her body softens underneath me and gives into my demands. It’s like her body knows how to read me and what I need from her.
“I think there has been too much talking from those red little lips of yours. It’s time for you to stop talking, Red. I’m in charge. You need to listen now.” My hand is now sliding onto her pussy and starting to rub with a little pressure. Her head is tilting back and mouth dropping open with no sound escaping.
“You like me being in charge, don’t you, Red?” She nods her head as the rubbing gets harder and I slip a finger inside her.
“You’re going to listen to these instructions. I am going to walk into the bathroom and start the shower. I want you to continue to lie here and keep touching yourself. I don’t want to let your arousal slide one little bit while I get things sorted. So, you can keep going. When I call you, I want you to walk into the shower and turn your body to the tiled wall. Hands on the tiles where I can see your body just like you were in New York. Sprawled out naked on that window. You should be nice and wet for me. I won’t be gentle. I’m going to take you from behind and show you what it fe
els like to be fully fucked, Red. Let’s see who outlasts the other. I hope you’re ready for a long night.”
The whole time I talk and massage back and forth over her clit, her body is shivering at my voice. There’s something about her that makes me just want to go all caveman and claim her over and over again.
The moaning and screaming of my name in the bathroom as Lilly and I climax together should have shattered the glass. Sex with Lilly, skin against skin, is addictive. I may never get this again so I want as many turns tonight as I can get, without hurting her, of course.
There’s something that can be said for a wild woman like Lilly. Her energy in the bedroom is crazy. I wasn’t the only one who kept going back for more. Not sure she’ll be able to walk for a few days, which makes me happy in a weird way to know she won’t be keen to go out dating for the next couple of nights anyway.
Looking at the clock, the green numbers show four in the morning. I was totally wired when I arrived home from work and knew sleep would be an issue tonight. I had no idea it would be because Lilly would be in my bed and we couldn’t keep our hands off each other. Again, she’s lying curled into me, using my chest as her pillow and her soft breathing tickling my chest. I want to watch her sleep, but my eyelids are heavy, and finally the peaceful sleep I’ve been longing for the last week is taking me under. My body is the most relaxed it has been in weeks.
It’s Lilly. She calms my soul.
She is my enchantress.
Chapter Eleven
Lilly
Waking up with a hand between my legs, lips nibbling on my neck, another hand on my breast and a hard dick pressing into the crack in my backside, is one hell of a way to start a day. Even if every single muscle is still screaming from the marathon sex last night. I could get used to this in the mornings. Well, on the weekend at least. Not sure anyone wants to cope with me on a morning I have to get up for work. That is not a Lilly that anyone wants to share.
“Mmm, morning gorgeous,” Kane whispers as he sucks on my earlobe. I’m like a doll in his arms, totally under his control and happy to play whatever game he’s up for.
“Morning, my big bad wolf. You hungry again?”
His little chuckle against my neck sends shivers all over me. “I’m always going to be hungry when it comes to you, Red. Besides, waking up to this vision, how can I not enjoy a little snack.” Slowly he turns me around to face him. Kissing me like he always does, taking my breath away and sending my body into overdrive. Not sure my body will last another earth-shattering orgasm. Who am I kidding? I’m not turning it down, bring it on, big boy.
“How is it possible that you can be lying here now after you had your early ‘breakfast’ and you’re still sporting a hard cock. Seriously, Kane, are you superman, the man of steel?” The look of being proud of his manliness is so funny.
“You have no idea how true that is, Lilly. It’s just top secret and I can’t confirm or deny any rumors in relation to my superhero status. If I tell you, then I’ll have to fuck you until I kill you.”
“You’re such an idiot, Kane. How do you come up with some of this shit?” I’m giggling at him now as he flexes his muscles, showing me how strong he is and can pass as Superman.
“Oh wow, you hurt my steel heart with your cynicism. One day you’ll need my dick of steel and we will fly in and save the day. Then you’ll eat humble pie.” Rolling my eyes at him, I sit up on the side of the bed, pushing up to head into the bathroom.
“You better plan on bringing that cute ass back here when you’re finished. Not sure we’re done here yet,” I hear him calling out as I close the bathroom door.
Oh. My. God.
This man is so intense.
For the first time in my life, I’m about to say the unthinkable.
I think my pussy is about to close up shop for the day. She is not used to such a thorough workout.
Splashing water on my face, using a bit of toothpaste on my finger and smoothing down my hair, I head back out to where Kane is lying back looking very pleased with himself.
“Well, don’t you look like the cat that ate the canary, looking proud as punch. Anyone might think you conquered some wickedly hot chick that’s like the gold prize in women.” His hand reaches out for mine while he just looks at me with the big Cheshire-cat smile.
Dropping back onto the bed and being pulled into a tight set of arms, I try to work out how to say what I’m thinking. It has been on my mind since last night, I just don’t know how Kane will react. He’s pretty confident he doesn’t want any sort of relationship with anyone. I feel the same, but this sex is too fucking hot to let go of just yet. I’m hoping he’ll agree, otherwise I’m about to make a fool of myself.
“Kane, we need to talk.” I try to sit up but his hold on me is too strong.
“This sounds serious. If we were in a relationship, I would be worried it was about to be the ‘it’s not you it’s me’ speech. Since we aren’t attached… no, I’m still a bit worried where this is going. Okay, lay it on me, Lil.”
After my squirming, he finally lets me go. I sit up, dragging the sheet with me and leaning against the headboard.
“Hang on, let me take a leak first. This looks like it could take a while.”
“You are such a jerk sometimes, you know that?”
He just chuckles as he walks into the bathroom leaving the door open.
“Umm excuse me, what about the door?”
“What, not like you haven’t seen it before, or felt it, or eaten…”
“Okay, that’s enough. Stop it. Just pee and hurry up.” I shake my head at him. It’s funny he feels so comfortable with me to pee in front of me, and normally I would be horrified, but at the moment all I can do is shake my head and laugh at him. Pretty sure nothing he does would shock me.
Propping himself up on the headboard next to me, he pretends to wriggle and fluff pillows making sure he is totally prepared for whatever I’m about to say.
“You know you have totally messed this up for me. I had the whole speech planned out to let you know what a disappointment the sex was last night and now you’ve wrecked my moment.”
“By the number of times you screamed my name and begged for more, I know that statement is a load of shit. The floor is all yours, little lady. What’s so serious we need to talk about?”
My heart is pounding, and I can feel my palms sweating on the sheets I’m clinging to.
“I think you will agree the two nights we’ve spent together have been pretty awesome and I’m not ashamed to admit, the best sex I’ve ever had.” I open my mouth to continue and he grabs my hand, squeezing it.
“Lilly, we made a deal.” He looks nervous at what I’m about to say.
“I know. Let me finish.” I swallow the lump in my throat that feels like it’s going to choke me. “I know neither of us are interested in being tied down in any kind of serious relationship. We both have our reasons. Which yours is silly but hey, you’re a guy and men are stupid,” I try to lighten the moment.
“Careful there, sassy girl.” Kane pokes his finger into my ribs and makes me laugh.
“I was thinking maybe we could just keep doing this. You know, sex in a friendly environment whenever either of us feels the urge. You know, like when you need stress relief and when I need a good hard night of sex in a safe environment, no strings attached.” I knew as soon as I said the word safe it would appeal to his protectiveness.
He just keeps staring at me with no real reaction on his face and not saying a word.
“You know, like a friends-with-benefits scenario. One we keep between us.” My stomach is churning. I’m trying to look like I’m super confident but it’s not the case at all.
Kane sits for a moment silent, not saying a word, not giving me anything. I’m just about to tell him to forget it and we can just move on when he starts to laugh. It gets louder and stronger, making the bed bounce from the movement of his body.
“You want us to be fuck buddies. Is that
what you want, Lilly? To be at my beck and call whenever I want someone to fuck?”
What the hell?
“You make it sound so sleazy and pathetic. You’re such an asshole. Just forget I even said anything. I think it’s time I left.” Before I have time to even move off the bed, Kane is dragging me down the bed and is straddling me, holding my hands above my head.
“You bite so easy. Just calm down, you’re not going anywhere. You just caught me off guard which doesn’t happen often. Let’s talk about this.”
“What’s the point? You think it’s a stupid idea and aren’t interested. We obviously just need to move on.” Trying to wriggle my hips to make him get off is becoming a waste of time.
“You know, the more you keep wriggling your pussy underneath my cock, the less concentration I have for this conversation. All that’ll happen is that I’ll be pinning you to the bed with a different leg. Get the picture?”
I can’t help but laugh. “You are so crass sometimes. Why didn’t you just say I’m going to spear you with my dick, so you stop moving. Isn’t that what you meant?”
“Same thing. I just tried to be more of a gentleman.”
“You have got to be kidding. Save that for the other gullible ladies that visit this bed.” I want to slap myself as soon as the words leave my mouth. Kane’s body language changes, and I feel like I swallowed tabasco sauce and it’s burning all the way down.
“I’m sorry, that was a shit thing to say. One, because I know you aren’t like that, and two, it makes me look like my own idiot because I am one of those supposed gullible women. I’ll just open my mouth, shall I, so I can take the shoe out of it that I rammed down there.”
His hand sweeps my hair off my shoulder and slides up to cup my cheek. The cheek that is now red with embarrassment.
“Lilly, the only person I’m worried about right this moment is the sexy naked one in my bed. Propositioning me to become fuck buddies with her. Now, listen while I talk this time.” I start to open my mouth only to have him place his finger on my lips and silence me.
