by Aliyah Burke
“I wanted you to trust me.”
“And I wanted to feel important.” She slammed her hand on the desk. “Tell me something. Were the situations reversed and you’d been planning on being gone for a week, you come home early and walk in the house. I’m there but as we’re talking…up walks, oh say, Davidson from the back wearing nothing but a towel around his waist. Are you seriously telling me you’d be like ‘oh, hey, sorry to interrupt your talk, I just came home early, carry on,’ because I don’t think you would have.”
The fuck he would. He would have ripped him apart from limb to limb.
“That’s what I thought,” she continued, shaking her head. “Yet, I was supposed to buy that from you. Come off your fucking double standard, Carter.”
Carter shot up from his chair and was around the desk to pull her from the seat as well. Holding her upper arms in his grip, he stared down at her. “I never touched that woman. I was pissed you didn’t believe me, so I got the papers thinking you would back down. I never imagined you would sign them.”
“You really thought serving those to me would get me to be like, okay I see it now, you didn’t really sleep with her? What the hell is wrong with you? To me, all that showed was you had and you wanted more of whatever the bitch had to offer.”
He shook his head, flexing his hold on her. “It wasn’t supposed to be that way. I didn’t want what she had, never did. Still don’t. All I want is you, Gina.”
“You have one hell of a way of showing it.”
“Fuck!” He released her and raked a hand through his hair. “You make me crazy woman. In everything else, I’m put together and focused. You’re like a cyclone destroying my organization. I think I have you figured out and you shift in the blink of an eye. But it’s not just wind and projectiles you have near you, you’re also dangerously hot and you burn me with your flames.”
She blinked at him. “I’m sorry, did I mishear or are you actually comparing me to a fire devil?”
“I am. That’s what you are to me. Fire, passion, uncontrollable, yet so beautiful you’re willing to risk it all to figure it out. Fuck me, Gina. I messed up what we had. I know this. I hate myself for it. Cameron and my parents hate me for it. I want another chance. Please. Let me prove to you I am worthy of being your husband once more.”
Her mouth popped open with shock as he slid his hand along the side of her face.
“You want to be married again?” She moved a finger between them. “To me?”
“Yes.” Carter put his forehead to hers. “I’ve never stopped loving you, Gina. Always loved you.”
“Oh, God,” Gina muttered.
Is that good or bad?
Chapter Seven
“Mr. Liaci is on his way up to see you, Ms. Moyer.”
Carter had been showing up at work, bringing her flowers, chocolates, and other gifts.
Gina’s hand wobbled on the receiver as she replaced the item. She’d been in a state of shock since he’d announced he loved her a week ago. It reminded her of when they’d been courting prior to marriage the first time. Part of her thought it was nice and sweet. Then there was the suspicious half of her that wasn’t sure of anything other than how he would just hurt her once more and she honestly didn’t know if she had it in her to pick up the pieces once more.
A knock on the doorframe yanked her from her musings.
“Got a minute?”
She blinked as she took in Davidson’s face. “Yes, sure. Come on in.”
“Weren’t expecting me I see. I’ll try to be gone by the time the boy toy gets here.”
“He’s not a boy toy.”
“What are we calling him then? Man candy? Man toy? Sexsation object?”
She snorted. “Is that even a word?”
“You get my drift.” He approached and placed a file on her desk. “Boss wants you on this one. Looks like there is a connection between all of these across the city. The other investigators never necessarily put them together. Some slightly different MO’s and nothing in common, other than they burned.”
The file sat heavy on her desk and she received a chill the moment she touched it. She inhaled sharply then let a breath out. “Why me?”
“The Marshall gets that you read this differently and it seems you can almost talk to these scenes.”
“Don’t say that aloud, makes me sound weird.”
“Hate to break it to you, Moyer. You are weird. But in a good way and I love you for it.”
“Am I interrupting?” Carter asked.
She and Davidson glanced to the door.
“No, I was just leaving.” Davidson gave him a sharp nod, then moved closer. “Marshal wants a breakdown asap, Gina. I think he’s getting some pressure from those higher than him. Liaci.” Davidson nodded his head curtly at Carter then left.
She licked her lips and pinched the bridge of her nose. “What can I do for you?” The urge to delve into the file ran high and strong but she didn’t even open it yet. At this moment, a man loomed in front of her who took up way more than his fair share of her attention than he had right to.
He didn’t take a chair across from her, no, he couldn’t possibly do that and keep things professional. Carter walked to her side and rubbed the back of his fingers along the side of her face. “Have dinner with me.”
Dinner would lead to sex and that would lead to more thoughts of how she was messing up her life yet again. “I’m sorry. The fire marshal just dumped this file in my lap. I have to review it, so I can get him my thoughts in the morning.”
“You have to eat, don’t you?”
Gina ignored his strong thigh beside her as he perched on the corner of her desk. Biting the inside of her cheek to remind herself to not give in, she took shallow short breaths. I’ll be good so long as I don’t breathe in his scent, except for the knowledge that I can already smell it, and feel his heat. Fuck, I’m so screwed. “I’ll get something later.”
“It’s past lunch now, did you even stop for lunch?”
“Surprisingly, Carter, I’ve managed to take care of myself for a few years. I eat and I even put myself to bed at night.”
His grin was wicked as he bent closer to her. “If you ever need help with that part, I’m more than willing to offer my services. I’ll even do it for free.”
Her pussy clenched around the imaginary cock within her. God, she needed to get laid. “I’m busy. Thanks for the offer though.”
“It’s open-ended.” He tugged on a lock of her hair. “I will order in for us then.”
“No.”
He paused and tilted his head to the side. “No?”
“No. I can’t have you hanging around here, Carter. I have to get through this file and you can’t be here while I do. You’re just too much of a distraction.”
“Can I take that as a compliment?”
“I would think you would, whether you should or not.” She rubbed the back of her neck.
Carter brushed her hands away and began massaging her shoulders. “You haven’t given me an answer about what I asked before, Gina.”
“Another chance? I can’t say yes or no, Carter. I have to have some time to think about it and right now, my mind is full of the unsolved cases on my desk and the one I was just handed. Hell, I haven’t even looked at it and I’m feeling pressure.” She fought the moan of frustration when he removed his hands.
“I’ll leave you to it then.” He walked out without another word.
Gina wanted to scream in irritation. This man did so much to her and she couldn’t deny he was the love of her life.
“Not the time for that, Moyer,” she admonished herself. “Time to get to work.” And with that, she flipped open the folder on her desk and began reading.
αβ
The time on her wrist informed her it was well past ten when she unlocked the door to her place. Gina walked in and stopped.
Carter sat on her sofa watching television.
Anger unfurled in her gut but it wasn’t a
lone, pleasure also did. “What the fuck are you doing in my place?” She slammed the door and dropped her purse on the table there followed by her keys.
“I brought dinner. It’s warm and in the oven waiting for you. Would you like some wine?” He rose and walked to the kitchen.
“Christ.” Gina made her way to the kitchen and right up to Carter who had just pulled down a wine glass for her. She took it from him and set it aside.
He cocked an eyebrow at her.
She may very well regret this in the morning but for the moment, she needed it. Gina pushed up on her toes and kissed him. She slid her tongue through his lips and dragged it along his.
A low growl rumbled up from his throat and in seconds, his arms were around her, tight as he lifted her and set her on the countertop.
Yes, this is what I needed. Oh, for the love of—yes, this.
aβ
Carter stirred and woke slowly, his body sated and relaxed, he didn’t want to leave the place he was in. The soft weight against him reminded him he was in bed with Gina. The touch of her curves was nothing he would ever forget.
He opened his eyes and looked down. Her blonde hair draped over his arm as she lay against his chest. She had one hand splayed over his chest, her white tipped nails a stark difference against his tanned skin.
Running a palm down her hair, he sighed. I know I fucked up what was between us, Gina. I don’t want to lose you again. The sex between them was as it always had been. Hot. Explosive. Unforgettable.
It hadn’t ever been an issue for them however. Right now, he wanted to enjoy this moment between them. They used to spend their Friday mornings this way, like some did Sunday mornings. Only he always took that day off and allowed people with children to spend the weekend with their families. Days he worked didn’t matter, so long as he had his time with Gina.
He dropped a kiss on her forehead and brought her closer still. There wasn’t ever a time he didn’t want to experience her curves pressed against him.
She shifted against him, her moan, light and soft but unmistakable. Her feet shoved between his legs and he happily draped one leg over her hip, bringing her closer to his cock. His dick in agreement with him on having her so close as it thickened while his blood zoomed south.
Gina mewled in the back of her throat and snuggled closer.
Carter tightened his hold on her, wanting to keep her there as long as he could. He’d spent the past few days trying to figure out if he could discover a way to make up for his behavior when they were married. Nothing had come to him as of this point, but he wanted to find out, because he didn’t have any plans on losing this woman again. For whatever reason, she’d chosen to come back here and he wanted her to stay. In his life.
Her breaths were slow and warm along his chest as she slumbered. She’d been exhausted. Whatever was in that file had gotten to her. And Carter being Carter wanted to fix it for her, but he knew he couldn’t. This wasn’t something he could step in and solve.
Even if he could, his woman wouldn’t appreciate it.
Gina adjusted one more time and he groaned as her hand skimmed over his hard cock. She gripped him and flicked her tongue along his skin.
“You’re up early.”
“Not early any longer, Gina. We’ve been asleep for a while. It’s getting close to noon.”
When she didn’t bolt as he’d thought she would have at the mention of the time, he smiled into her hair.
“That’s what happens when you keep me up all hours of the night.”
Her voice teased him at the same time it stoked the fire she created within him. It sounded deep with a slight rasp and he couldn’t get beyond the pride of him being the cause for her screaming so loud. “Should I apologize? Because I’m damn sure, I heard you crying out for more.”
Her grip tightened on his cock and she nipped his skin before sliding down his torso.
His groan slid free when her tongue swiped over the large head of his cock. Carter sank his hand in her silken hair and bucked his hips, driving deeper into her mouth.
Gina didn’t argue but opened her mouth and let him slip in. She cupped his sac and fondled that while she continued pumping his shaft and sucking the head. She got up on her knees and took more of him in as she bobbed her head.
“Fuck,” he muttered, putting his other hand on the side of her head.
She opened her eyes and peered up at him, that intense emerald blaze in her gaze burning directly through him to singe his soul.
He licked his lips as she continued on, never once taking her gaze from him. Her breasts hung down and he watched as the smooth flesh of her ass came into view each time she took in more of his dick. “Gina, get up here.”
She shook her head and vibrated her refusal along him.
“Bring your pussy up here then, so I can eat.”
Heat flared in her gaze as she moved her body perpendicular to him. But she stopped, not bringing herself up to sit on his face. Instead, she spread her legs and dipped one hand between her firm thighs, plunging into the slit he wanted on his face or around his cock.
Dividing his attention between the expression on her face as she sucked him or the fingers disappearing deep into her pussy, he swore as his balls drew tight. “I’m going to come, Gina.”
She removed her fingers from her core and readjusted herself a bit closer to his cock as she continued drawing on him with alternating pressure.
Christ, it built within him, this need to claim her, roll her over and slam into her from behind. Mark her. Brand her. Ensure that she would still feel him even when he wasn’t balls deep inside her.
Gina grazed the tip of his dick with her teeth as her fingernails did the same to his balls. He tightened his hold in her hair and came, hard. She never once moved her gaze from his as she sucked until he had nothing left. Then she rose up over him and sank onto his cock with a single fluid movement. Hands on his chest, her hair falling forward around his grip and her face, she gave him a smile. Her lips were parted as she watched him from below lidded eyes.
“I like waking up this way.”
She worked her hips on him, gyrating and taking him in deep. Gina captured her lower lip in her teeth as she moved. Her lids fluttered and he nearly lost sight of her green eyes. Somehow, she kept them open and watched him as she rode him.
She ran her hands down over her breasts and along the smooth planes of her stomach as she continued setting the pace that was just about to kill him.
“Gina,” he warned.
Taking his hands from her hair, she put them on her boobs before touching her clit with two fingers. “Shit yeah,” she whimpered.
Her internal muscles rippled around him, gripping him and holding tight. He rolled her nipples in his fingers, tugging until a gasp shot from her lips. Each tug had a reaction on the pussy surrounding his dick. He pinched, she clamped harder.
One hand on his chest for balance and her other teasing her pussy as she rode him.
Damn it, he was in heaven and hell as he wanted to take over but watching her find her own pleasure was sexy as fuck and he didn’t want it to end either.
A low keening cry left her as she came hard.
Carter rolled them over, hooked a leg over his shoulder and began thrusting once more.
Gina reached up and sank one hand in his hair, tugging his head down to her mouth. Their tongues twined as he fucked her…Hard.
αβ
A few hours later and Carter walked her to the door of her place. They’d gone to eat and had taken a nice walk in the park.
“Have you given any more thought to what I’ve asked?” He took her house key from her and unlocked the door.
“Can’t we just keep things as they are, Carter?” She stepped by him but turned back while in the doorway, holding his gaze.
“What we have is good, great. Why keep it like this?”
“Because I’m not ready to go any further.” She rubbed one arm. “I’m learning how to live on my own, Car
ter. I mean, I’ve been on my own since the divorce but being here in this city, one you live in, is going to take some time for me. I don’t want to get back into anything that is gong leave me bleeding and hurt a second time.”
“I’m not going to hurt you, Gina.”
“No offense but you swore to love and protect me the first time. That hurt like fuck.”
Anger and shame burned in his gut. “I’ve already apologized for that.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “Don’t get mad at me, you asked a question and I’m responding in kind. You wanted my reason and I’m giving it to you, if you don’t want the answer, then don’t ask.”
He ground his jaw. “We’re never going to move forward if you can’t let go of the past.”
Her laugh had no humor in it. “You need to check your attitude at the door, Carter Liaci. Stop trying to pretend you were the victim in this. I’m the one who lost it all. I was asked to leave, to go out on my own and survive. Not you. I’m the one who had to find a way to continue to pay for schooling and a roof over my head. But you know what? I did it. And I’m stronger because of what I’ve been through. There were nights I cried myself to sleep, nights I wanted to call you and beg you to let me come back. I didn’t once pick up that phone. I wouldn’t let myself do that.”
Carter’s chest tightened as he reached out to her.
Gina shook her head. “No. you don’t get to dictate when I should be over the fact you, as my husband, wanted to divorce me. This sex thing, it is so nice. Scratches an itch and damn, you know you’re good in bed. It doesn’t mean I’m ready to date and be exclusive with you. It sure as hell doesn’t mean I’m looking to become Gina Liaci once more.”
“Not be exclusive?” Thunder boomed in his head and he tried to sort through it. Jealousy had painted his world an ugly shade of green with hints of red lurking at the edges. “Do you mean to imply you want to date other people?”
She tossed her hair and as it settled around her shoulders, he got to see the woman she’d become, more than just his wife—ex‒wife. Gina had come into her own and had far surpassed anything he expected.
