Enforce

by Rachel Van Dyken

CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  Cops and Cows. Yay, an orgy. Or not.

  Nixon

  "Nixon." Trace pulled away, her dark brown eyes frightened, unsure. I was an expert at reading people, and she looked scared shitless. "Are you leading me on?"

  Not what I expected her to say. Shocked, I gripped her shoulders, needing to hold on to something so she wouldn't run from me, run from us. "What?"

  "L-leading me on." She looked down at those damn boots. "I mean, are you doing all this so you can just — I don't know — throw me to the wolves later?"

  "You don't trust very easily do you?" I asked, nearly wincing because, no shit, she didn't trust easily. I'd basically threatened her within the first five seconds of meeting her. I wouldn't trust me, and the sick part? She really shouldn't trust me. Not if she knew who she really was. The truth? If she knew her own family's history, she'd be holding a gun to my head, not hugging me.

  She shook her head.

  "I don't blame you." I sighed and pulled her back into my arms where I could keep her close, keep her safe. "And no, I'm not leading you on. I've told you before. I want to protect you. In the beginning, you were just another new kid that I needed to show the ropes to, but now…"

  "Now?" she repeated in a hopeful voice.

  "Now you're the girl who… moos?" I offered with a chuckle.

  She squirmed in my arms.

  "You're…" I stopped our dance and glanced into the dark depths of her eyes. "You're beautiful. In a way, I've been searching my whole life for you."

  Truth. I'd been searching my life for this girl, thinking her dead. My heart had never felt so broken yet complete at the same time.

  "Wow, easy on the corny movie lines." She laughed.

  I didn't join in because it was real. My feelings for her were real. More than she could possibly know.

  "I'm serious," I whispered. "I just wish you would rem—"

  I crushed my mouth against hers to keep from saying anything else that I knew would get me shot at. With a growl, I picked her up and wrapped her legs around my body then laid her down against the blanket.

  I hovered over her, unsure if I should kiss her more or try to restrain myself.

  With a curse, I started to pull away, but in that moment, Trace reached up and wrapped her hands around my neck, bringing her mouth against mine.

  With a sigh I leaned my forehead against hers.

  What the hell was I doing?

  Seriously.

  And did I care?

  My teeth grazed her lower lip as I ran my fingers through her silky brown hair. "You have no idea…" I blew across her wet lips and moved my hands to her neck, pulling her closer. "…how much I want you."

  Her breathing picked up as I crushed my mouth to hers again, tasting every part of her and craving more. I expected her to freak out; instead, she deepened the kiss.

  And I was freaking lost in a mess of my own making.

  A beautiful mess with a girl who loved cows and had the most beautiful brown eyes I'd ever had the pleasure of seeing.

  My tongue pressed against hers, tangling, beckoning her to dive deeper into the void I was lost in.

  Trace matched my every kiss, my every move, like we'd been made for one another.

  Her hands moved to the loops of my jeans. She tugged me closer to her, until there was nothing but friction. My jeans against her tights — the only things that separated us, and they sure as hell weren't going to stop me now. Damn it, but Tex had been right. She was going to be sleeping with the enemy, and I didn't even feel guilty. Because for the first time in forever, I felt — she made me feel — everything. I wasn't afraid of touch.

  I craved it like a drug.

  So when the heat of her thighs burned through my jeans, I held on for dear life, kissing her harder, moving my hands so that I could grip her hips. I settled between her thighs, letting out a moan as she squeezed around my body.

  I cursed as she damn-near bit my lower lip off with her aggression. When her tongue found my lip ring, I just about died on the spot, then flipped her around so that she was straddling my body. Gravity caused her to fall against me in such an erotic way that I swear I saw black.

  I lifted her up and ground her against me.

  Trace's lips caressed mine, softer this time.

  I knew we were at a crossroads. Take it further — or call it a night. My body said to take it further. Everything else said I needed to take things slow…

  But I'd been waiting for her for too long.

  And she wanted it as much as I did.

  I pushed my conscience away, at least what was left of it, and stared at her, willing her to tell me no, needing her to say it for me to actually stop.

  Rather than say no, her mouth quirked into a smile, and she lifted her arms.

  Shit.

  I pulled the jacket from her body and stared at the nearly see-through dress and black lacey bra underneath it, making a mental note to thank my evil twin for most likely helping Trace plan that outfit.

  For a minute, I just stared.

  Why?

  Because I could.

  Because she was mine, damn it.

  I closed my eyes and whispered, "It was always supposed to be like this. Always."

  "Like what?" she asked.

  "Like this." My fingertips skimmed her breasts and moved down across her hips until they finally settled on the small of her back. "Like this," I repeated as my hand touched her face and traced the outline of her lips with my fingertips. "And like this…" My hand moved from her lips to her chest.

  Her heart was racing.

  "I—" Swallowing down a curse, I tried again. "—I have to kiss you. I have to have you — all of you." I wasn't sure she understood what I was asking her, what I was demanding from her. Not just her body but her soul, her everything. No going back. I'd have to die to give her up.

  Her eyes hooded, and with a nod she reached for me.

  I tugged her down onto the blanket and kissed her neck. She arched against me, her body ready for the taking.

  A siren sounded in the distance.

  I ignored it. Damn cops. What use was having them in your pocket if they bothered the hell out of you when you were trying to kiss?

  "Stay," I mumbled as Trace tensed beneath me. "They won't see us."

  "Okay." She gently pushed my head back and kissed my neck.

  Damn, I let out a growl and chuckled as I pulled her harder against my body. Her thighs clenched around my waist. My hands moved to her dress, slowly inching it up so I could peel it from her body.

  The sirens got closer. And then I heard a car door slam.

  My hands froze as footsteps neared us.

  "Shit." I rolled my eyes and gently pushed Trace away as I stood. Either that cop was going to get a bullet to his body, or I was going to have a nice long chat with the police chief — guns included.

  I pulled Trace to her feet. Her dress fell against her legs just as the cop rounded the corner, his flashlight pointed at my face.

  "This here is private property," the cop stated in an authoritative voice. Apparently he didn't recognize me. Pity for him.

  "I know," I replied coolly.

  "Then what the hell are you kids doing out here?"

  I threw my head back and laughed. Kids? Wow, it was like he was begging for me to call his superior and fire his ass.

  "I know the owner," I said, my smile still in place. "I'm sure he won't mind."

  "Won't mind?" the cop repeated. "Son, do you have any idea who the hell's property this is? I can guarantee you he'll mind! In fact, if he finds out you kids are out here this late at night, even I can't protect you from that son of a—"

  The flashlight fell on my face and stayed there. Ah, so now he looks.

  I squinted and put a hand in front of my eyes and chuckled. "Go on, that son of a… what?"

  "Uh… gun. Son of a gun. Sorry, Mr. Abandonato, I didn't realize…"

  "That's okay." I stuffed my hands into my jea
n pockets. "You didn't realize. Right?"

  "My badge number is—"

  Shit, that's the last thing I needed. For Trace to actually know that the cops worked for me, not the city. "That won't be necessary. I'm not going to report you. You were just doing your job. Though it's a damn shame it had to be at this very moment."

  The officer's eyes flickered to Trace as he lifted the flashlight to her face. "Damn shame, sir."

  She rolled her eyes and moved closer to me.

  "So…" He nodded his head awkwardly. "…I'll just be on my way. Say hi to your old man for me, will ya? He still having trouble with—?"

  "Thank you." I shook the cop's hand and ushered him back to the patrol car. "Have a good night."

  He nodded, face still pale, and got into his car, this time with the sirens off.

  I turned around and grinned. "Well, that didn't go as planned."

  "Oh really?" Trace crossed her arms. "And how was it supposed to go?"

  I crooked my finger. She stumbled into my arms, our mouths met, and my tongue licked her lower lip. "Hmm…" My hands dug into my hair. "…like this…" I smiled when she let out a small moan. "…and a bit like this…" I slid my hands down to her ass and lifted her against me. "…and a lot like this." My tongue swirled into her mouth, dancing against her wetness.

  My phone started buzzing in my pocket.

  Worst timing ever.

  The guys knew not to call me right now, which meant it was bad news, bad enough that they'd risk me shooting them for interrupting the best night of my life.

  "Shit, I um…" I glanced at my cell. It was Chase. "I have to take this. Hold on."

  "Remember that fan we talked about? And shit hitting it?" Chase chuckled into the cell. "Game over."

  "What?" I barked.

  "You planning on meeting with Frank tonight? Because I just got word that two of his armed cars are on their way to your fun little picnic."

  "No. That's impossible. Not until tomorrow." I quieted my voice. "Trace was supposed to meet with him tomorrow. It seemed like he was busy tonight and—"

  "Busy spying on your sorry ass." Chase sighed. "Just get back to campus. It could be nothing but—"

  "Yeah, but." I sighed and cursed into the phone then switched to Italian.

  "You think he would hurt her?"

  "You think he won't?" Chase countered.

  "Lock down. We'll be there in five minutes. Make sure security at the gate knows, and Chase?"

  "Yes, pumpkin?"

  "You were right."

  "About?"

  "Me being a danger to her."

  "Yeah well… being right doesn't feel so hot right now. Stay safe."

  "Will do."