by Lani Aames
“Oh, Tasha, you’re nicest when you’re naughty.”
Reed slid his hands to her waist and set her on her feet. Her back was to him and her legs straddled his. She looked over her shoulder to find him unfastening his slacks. When his beautiful cock sprang free, she reached for it, but he stopped her.
“I thought we were going to watch ourselves,” she reminded him.
“Later. Right now, I want your pussy, Tasha,” he said in a low, husky voice. “I’m going to fuck you hard. No candy cane this time.”
Heat flashed from her clit through her pussy at his words. Her womb clenched, released and clenched again, anticipating the explosion he would detonate within her. He raised her robe to the small of her back, exposing her rear cheeks, and laid his hot hands on them. Branding her with his touch, his fingers kneaded her flesh in deep, deliberate strokes.
He moved lower and spread her labia. “Oh, Tasha, you’re so wet and hot. I have to taste you first.”
Weakened by his ministrations, Tasha leaned over, resting her arms on the desk, her face only inches from the monitor. She watched the scenes changing one after the other. Something was different…but then he licked her from clit to perineum and back again, and she closed her eyes to enjoy the sensation without being distracted. Her hips undulated, matching his rhythm, and her breathing deepened. Just before Tasha reached paradise, he stopped, and a mournful moan escaped her throat.
“I want to be inside you.”
She heard the rip of a condom package, and a few seconds later his hands were at her hips, pulling her back toward him. She lowered with his guidance, and when the tip of his cock touched her she moaned again. He pulled her down quickly until his length was completely inside her. Breath escaped her lips in a rush. The candy cane had been nice, but this was heaven.
Reed rocked the swivel chair, and Tasha bounced to keep up with his pace. Her clit bumped his balls, and she twisted when she hit to increase her pleasure. When the explosion careened through her, her back bowed and she cried out her release.
At the same time, Reed’s hands tightened on her hips and his body stiffened. His sounds mingled with hers as their bodies wrung every bit of ecstasy from the other.
When the last tremors dissipated, Tasha collapsed in Reed’s lap, leaning back against him. Reed’s hands roamed her body, from the tips of her breasts, across her ribs and stomach, to the patch of curls between her thighs. He stroked her skin with a gentle, lover’s touch as he slowly rocked the chair back and forth.
Tasha sighed, her lids half-closed, her body completely relaxed. She’d never experienced anything like this night with Reed. There had been several men in her life, but none of them had ever treated her to a night of fantasy.
The security monitor continued to change screens, the tempo almost lulling her to sleep again. The four exits. The first four departments—Jewelry, Bed and Bath, Gourmet Foods and Kitchen and Small Appliances. The next four departments—Toys and Games, Auto Maintenance, Santa’s Corner and Women’s Lingerie. Back to the exits.
They’d played in Santa’s Corner then played in Bed and Bath. Now they’d fucked in the security office. Bed and Bath popped up again. The display bed dominated that quarter of the screen. Fun and games with a candy cane and chocolate-covered cherries. Food could be incredibly sexy and not just by eating it.
The bed showed again, and Tasha bolted upright, staring at the screen.
“Something wrong?” Reed asked, but his hands didn’t stop. His fingers delved into her wetness, his thumb brushing her clit and bringing on an aftershock of pleasure that rippled through her. Her hips tilted to rub her clit against his thumb again.
No, she had to concentrate. Something was wrong with the picture on the monitor. The bed. Yes, that was it. They’d left the bed in a mess, but the bed on the screen was still perfectly made up, not even a pillow out of place.
Chapter Four
“Look at the bed.” Tasha tapped the monitor screen.
Reed pulled his fingers free and shifted her to the side so he could see the monitor. He watched as the screens cycled through.
“The bed,” he murmured. “We didn’t clean up before we left and came here to the security office.”
“No, we didn’t,” Tasha agreed. “The bedding should be all jumbled up, the comforter and pillows strewn all over. We should be able to see the table you set up too.”
“What the—” Reed didn’t finish. He pushed Tasha up as he stood. After examining the equipment, he straightened. A puzzled frown creased his face. “I didn’t notice before, but there’s a DVD player here, and it shouldn’t be. Guess what? It’s running.”
Tasha shook her head. “I don’t get it.”
“This system digitally records everything to the hard drive, then it’s burned to a DVD and stored short-term. If nothing happens that night, there’s really no reason to even view the recording or keep it for any length of time.” He pointed to the bottom shelf and the row of jewel cases. “We only store the past two months of disks.”
Tasha looked at the equipment, but she still didn’t understand. “Why would the thief bring in a player? The computer has that capability, doesn’t it?”
“Yes, that’s how the DVDs are burned from the hard drive. It has an internal player-recorder. But…” He thought a moment. “Stu knows which computer lights should be on. If he saw the DVD player on the computer lit up, he would report it as a malfunction. He knows very little about the other equipment, and he’d never notice a small external DVD player hidden in the back.”
Tasha’s eyes widened. “Smart thief.”
“Yeah, someone went to a lot of trouble to cover his—or her—tracks.” Reed bent over the equipment again, pointing as he talked. “The DVD player is hooked up between the cameras and the monitor. At some point, the DVD player was switched on and overrode the camera feeds. What we’re seeing was probably recorded earlier this week.”
“You’re right.” Tasha pointed to the screen. “Santa’s Corner is still intact with the tree and the fake snow drift full of merchandise.”
Reed tapped in a key sequence. The cycle stopped on the screen with Santa’s Corner.
“Most of the display was moved into the big window this afternoon…or yesterday afternoon now since it’s well after midnight.” He looked at Tasha and grinned. “The chair and a few of the candy cane poles were left so the children who came late yesterday would still get to see Santa.”
Tasha smiled back. “I’m sure they appreciated it. I know I appreciated being able to sit in Santa’s lap.”
“So did Santa.” Reed kissed her—a warm, solid kiss—then turned his attention back to the equipment. He moved the coax cables, connecting the computer directly to the cameras again. He sat at the desk and keyed until the screen blinked. This time, the cycle of screens showed the departments exactly as they were. The bed was covered in a disarray of linen and pillows with the table nearby, and most of the Santa display had disappeared.
Tasha chewed her lip. She was losing her heart to this man, but now wasn’t the time to revel in the newfound emotion. They had to figure out what was happening. She focused her attention on the monitor.
“So if someone broke into the store, Stu wouldn’t know it. He’s watching an old recording where nothing happens.” She shook her head. “Who would have access to the equipment to be able to do something like that?”
“And the knowledge. Stu has access to the equipment but doesn’t have the know-how. Paul and I had to teach him how to operate the computer as well as how to use the system.” He let out a rush of air. “Rob and I have both.”
“You obviously didn’t do it. And Rob wouldn’t do it— You’re not thinking Rob did it, are you?”
He shook his head emphatically. “No, I certainly don’t suspect Rob. I trust him implicitly, and I’m confident he feels the same about me. There are only five years between us. It was just enough for us to avoid any rivalry and hard feelings when we were teenagers, but we�
�re close enough in age to still have things in common and be friends.”
“I’m glad. I don’t have any brothers or sisters, but I’ve always thought it’s great that you and Rob get along so well. I trust Rob, too. He’s been my best friend since grade school. So, who else?”
“Paul Greene, our security consultant. Security was the main source of tension between Uncle Roger and me. He believed in running Sinclair’s the old-fashioned way. I could go along with most of it. After all, the store had been run that way since the early seventies when Dad and Uncle Roger established it. But I thought we should upgrade to a modern, state-of-the-art security system.”
“And your uncle didn’t agree.”
“He hated computers. Said they were going to be the end of civilization as we know it. In a way, he was right. Computers have changed everything.” Reed sighed and leaned back in the chair. “He thought I was trying to completely take over running the store, but I wasn’t. I only wanted what was best for Sinclair’s. I thought installing a computerized security system would bring us all peace of mind.”
“But he didn’t see it that way.” Tasha laid her hand on his knee and squeezed. “And Rob agreed with you.”
“Yes. We didn’t want both of us to alienate Uncle Roger. We agreed that I would push, in case his mind could be changed, and Rob would pretend to go along with him. It was a good thing too. When Uncle Roger and I had that last big argument, he threw me out.” Reed propped his elbow on the arm of the chair and rested his head on his fist. “I was glad Rob was here for him. I didn’t even try to talk my way back in. I got a job at a department store in the city, thinking I could learn the most efficient way to modernize Sinclair’s. And maybe one day, I’d get the chance to explain it all to Uncle Roger so he would understand.”
Reed fell silent.
Tasha perched on the edge of the desk and let him brood. She had heard most of the story from Rob, but she let Reed tell her as much as he wanted.
He drew in a deep breath. “We never expected him to die of a heart attack at fifty-five. Barring accidents, like the car crash that killed our parents when Rob was barely out of high school, the Sinclairs usually live to be in their eighties.”
“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I know you and Rob were close to your uncle.”
“Until the argument, yes, we were. But Uncle Roger could be unreasonable where the store was concerned. Anyway, because Uncle Roger had no children, Rob and I inherited it all. We decided to modernize everything, including the security system…even though we knew Uncle Roger wouldn’t approve.”
She wished she knew the right words to make him feel better. “You have to do what you feel is best for Sinclair’s. Surely, he would approve of that.”
Reed turned his eyes up at her and smiled. “I keep telling myself that. Rob and I both feel we’re betraying his memory every time we get rid of the old and bring in the new. We know it’s working because sales are up and, financially, the store is doing better than it has in two decades.”
“Then you’re doing the right thing.”
“I know.” He nodded. “But it still feels wrong. Maybe one day Rob and I will feel the store is really ours instead of feeling like we’re just taking care of it for Uncle Roger.”
“It takes time to adjust. It’s only been…what? Six months?”
“Almost.” He raised his head and motioned for her to come to him. She sat in his lap once again and nestled in his arms. “I’m sorry. I’m rambling like the ungrateful, pompous ass my uncle called me.”
“No, you’re not.” Tasha reached up and stroked his cheek. “You sound like you haven’t finished grieving for a man who was like a father to you and your brother. You’ll have to come to terms with the fact that you and your uncle weren’t at the best place in your relationship when he died.”
“You’re right about that. I was about ready to do anything I had to do to come back to Sinclair’s, even grovel, when he died. I wish I’d had the chance to tell him how much I respected and loved him.”
“He knows.” She put a comforting arm around him.
He sighed. “I hope so.”
He sounded so sad. Tasha knew it was time to move the conversation back to the security breech. “Who else besides you and Rob would know how to rig the equipment and have access to it?”
“Miss Monroe, my secretary. But she’s in her seventies and has been with the store since the day it opened. She is incredibly computer savvy for someone her age, and she has been talking about retirement. But I can’t imagine her planning and executing a scheme like this. Besides, Uncle Roger’s will left her enough to live comfortably for the rest of her life.”
“Anybody else?”
“Chelsea Lowell, Rob’s secretary.” Reed shook his head. “The girl is an airhead, but Rob likes her. I assume she has some computer knowledge, but her keying skills leave a lot to be desired. I can’t imagine Chelsea plotting to break into Sinclair’s either.”
“You, Rob, Paul, Miss Monroe and Chelsea. That it?”
Reed nodded. “The only ones who have access to the keys to the security office. Only Rob, Paul and I—and to a certain extent Stu—know how to run the system.”
Tasha ticked them off on her fingers. “But Miss Monroe is a computer whiz, so she might be able to figure out how to run the system. You said you can’t see Miss Monroe doing something like this, and frankly, neither can I. Chelsea’s probably been exposed to computers most of her life, but I agree that she’s ditzy—unless she’s a good actress. Stu doesn’t really understand how the equipment works—unless he’s playing dumber than he is too—but he wouldn’t need to bring in the DVD player in the first place. Unless he was using the DVD to throw off suspicion in case someone came in unexpectedly and would notice the extra light on the computer. So those three are possibles. That leaves you, Rob and Paul. It’s not you or Rob, so that narrows it down to—”
“Paul!”
“Right.” Tasha scratched her head. “But I can’t see Paul Greene doing it either. His company is the only security consulting firm in three counties. Most of the businesses use him. And I’ve always heard he’s a wealthy man.”
“No, Tasha. Look.”
Reed was pointing at the monitor. When the four doors flashed onscreen, Tasha saw Paul Greene disappearing out of the shot of one of the back doors. From the glimpse she got of him, it looked like he was carrying two suitcases.
Once again, Reed pushed Tasha out of his lap. He scooted the chair up close to the desk, and they watched the monitor until the screens had cycled through a few times.
“There he is,” Tasha said as Reed started keying to halt the loop.
Paul Greene, only a few years older than Reed, was a tall, burly man with crisp red hair and pale, freckled skin. He was dressed in dark clothing and black gloves. He had gone directly to the jewelry department and started loading the more expensive rings, bracelets and necklaces. By the time he’d reached the pricey watches, Reed had dialed 911 and the police were on their way.
Reed snatched up the walkie-talkie. After explaining to Stu, he told the guard to wait for the police at the front door and bring them to the jewelry department.
“You stay here, Tasha. I’m going to make sure Paul doesn’t leave the store.”
“Reed, no. He might be armed.”
“I doubt it.” He got up and headed for the door. “He didn’t expect any problems tonight. He thought he had the system fixed and knew Stu would never notice the extra piece of equipment or that it was wired differently.”
“I wish you’d stay here and wait for the police.” But she put her arms around his neck and kissed him thoroughly. “Be careful. Paul Greene may not seem like a threat, but if you corner him—”
“I know, Tasha. I won’t take any chances. I just want to keep him talking until the police get here.”
Then he was gone, shutting the door behind him.
Tasha sat in the chair and watched Paul clean out the good jewelry. Sin
clair’s carried merchandise in all price ranges to appeal to the widest customer base. Paul knew what he was doing. He ignored the low-quality items.
Suddenly, Paul froze and his head snapped up. His eyes opened wide as he looked at something—or someone—out of camera range. Unfortunately, the system didn’t have sound. If there was a way to turn on the audio, Tasha didn’t know how to do it, and she was afraid to try to figure it out. She didn’t want to inadvertently erase the evidence.
Reed moved into view, and Tasha could see he was talking. Paul listened then his face contorted angrily and he started shouting, his mouth working furiously. Without warning, Paul charged around the display case toward Reed.
Tasha gasped, but Reed was ready. He stepped out of the way so that Paul missed him. When Paul turned around and swung, Reed ducked. As he came up, he plowed his right into Paul’s midsection. The security consultant grabbed his stomach and went down to his knees. Then Reed clipped his chin with a left hook. Paul fell down face first.
Reed looked up at the security camera and gave her the a-okay sign.
A few minutes later, just as Paul started to move, Stu and two police officers crowded into the scene. Tasha watched as they listened to Reed and handcuffed Paul. The cops hauled Paul to his feet and took him away. Reed spoke a few words to Stu then they both disappeared out of view.
Tasha wrapped her robe up tight in case Stu came back to the office, but Reed entered alone.
“I sent Stu back to the break room for a few minutes.”
“Good. You know, what you did to Paul was impressive.”
He shrugged. “I did a little boxing in college. And I’ve had a few fist fights over the years.”
“It’s nice to know you can protect me if I ever need it.”
“You can count on it. Now, give me a few minutes. I want to burn the recording of Paul to DVD.”
“Did he say why he was stealing from the store?”
Reed nodded. “Paul owns a successful business that would have given him a comfortable retirement, but—believe it or not—he’s spent every dime on lottery tickets. He embezzled from his own company, trying to win back what he’d lost. Then he started stealing from the store to fence the goods and buy more lottery tickets.”
