by Brandy Ayers
Next to her, air hissed out of Bryan’s mouth. He kneeled down to the grass, and picked up a seven-inch purple dildo, the shaft covered in little balls that rotated and vibrated when the right button was pressed, and a little butterfly protruding from the base that would flutter and stimulate the clitoris. It was a best seller. And for good reason.
“Fuuuuuck.” He picked up another toy, this one smaller, meant for anal penetration, and held them both in his hands. “Um, Lexis, there something I should know?”
“This isn’t what it looks like.”
“It looks like you have a bag full of dicks that just exploded on your lawn.” Bryan was obviously making an effort to hold back the laugh that was probably begging to be let out.
“Okay, it is kinda what it looks like. But I swear I’m not some crazy nympho that needs all this stuff to get off. I put on shows. It's one of my jobs. You know, single mom and all. I have to make money where I can. And this brings in a lot of money.”
A deep growl seemed to make the air around them vibrate, and Lexis looked up, expecting to see a dog or wolf or something nearby. But no, just Bryan, looking at her like he could kill something with his bare hands. She glanced down at his fingers wrapped around the dildo to the point she thought he would snap it in half. Which he probably could.
“What kind of shows are you putting on with this stuff?” His voice held a hint of violence and danger that Lexis had never heard from him before. Bryan was usually calm and funny. Dirty, yes, but funny. But this new possessive edge made her stomach flip-flop.
And then she realized what she said to set this reaction off. Her eyes widened, and heat spread across her face. “Oh, god, no! Not that type of show.” The nervous giggle bubbled up from her throat totally unbidden. “I sell them, to women. Like perverted Pampered Chef parties. I do birthday parties, bachelorette parties; last night was a divorce party.”
Bryan’s face relaxed a little. “So you don’t… use these on yourself… for men?”
“No!” The burning in her skin let her know that her face would be bright red with embarrassment. But the more she thought about his reaction, the less funny it was, and the more pissed she got. “I can’t believe you think I would do that just to make money. You thought I was a prostitute or something. Letting guys get their rocks off while I”—she glanced around at the mess before them, picking up The Beast, a giant twelve-inch flesh toned dildo the girth of a coke can—“fuck myself with this thing on a stage for them?”
She waved the dildo around, and it flopped side to side in front of Bryan’s face. The thing was more novelty than anything else. Few women actually wanted something that ginormous inside them, unless it was attached to a man.
Bryan’s face had drained of all color, and his eyes were round as saucers and filled with regret. “I don’t know. I just heard you say you put on a show with this stuff, and the thought of any guy getting to see you like that made me want to punch something. I’m sorry. If I had thought about it for a minute, I would have realized you would never do something like that.”
Lexis grabbed the toys from his hands and shoved them back in the bag, along with the rest of her scattered wares. Despite his apology, her blood still boiled that he would think her capable of something like that. “And even if I did, it would be none of your goddamn business. You have no claim on me. A little flirting at the curb does not give you the right to get pissed, even if I am shoving fake cocks up my cunt seven nights a week for a bunch of lecherous old businessmen.” She stood, holding the stupid fucking defective bag together as best she could, while glaring down at a stunned Bryan. “You have no say over what I do with my body. Fuck off, asshole.”
She turned, ready to stomp away from stupid fucking Officer Bryan Coy and escape into her house, but she didn’t make it very far. Two thick, hard arms circled around her waist and lifted her from the ground, causing the bag to go tumbling down to the ground, once again spilling everywhere.
Now it was Lexis’ turn to growl. “Let go of me, you temperamental jerk.” She kicked and bucked, squirming against his hold on her.
“Lexis, shut up and stay still for a goddamn minute. I knew you were full of sass, but this little temper of yours surprises me.” Keeping one arm firmly around her waist, Bryan snaked the other up over her chest, cupped her face in his hand and turned it so that her cheek rested against his lips. “I want it to be my business, Lexis. I want you to be my business. I don’t want any other man touching this body, or seeing you touch yourself. I want that, you, for myself. You’re right; I have no say over what you do with your body. But I keep hoping you’ll let me do all the things I’ve been dreaming about. Just give me a chance. I can’t promise I won’t sometimes be a possessive jerk with you, because you affect me in a way no other woman has. But I swear, I’ll treat you right. Just give me a shot. Please, say yes. Go out with me.”
The fight seeped out of Lexis’ limbs, and she slumped against his chest. Maybe she had overreacted a little. And maybe she’d been stringing Bryan along for too long. The man had the power to hurt her, though, and that scared her. “Are you just trying to get in my pants? Because if that is all this—”
“It’s not. Maybe at first it was, but after talking with you, seeing you with your son, it’s more than that now.” The pleading in his voice made Lexis’ chest ache.
“I know we flirt and tease, Bryan, but please don’t do this if you don’t mean it. I can’t handle a broken heart right now.”
Bryan nuzzled his face into the curve of her neck and shoulder, giving her quick, chaste kisses along the sensitive skin there. “I mean it, Lex. You’re all I think about. Just let me prove to you that I’m a good man. That I can be your good man.” His warm breath skated over her skin as he whispered his intentions. The sincerity in his words, mixed with the scent of coffee, mint, and his soap, weakened her walls.
“Okay.” It had been six years since Ashton’s father walked out on them, the day after she got her positive pregnancy test. Six years of no dating, holding every man at bay, doing nothing but caring for her son and her parents. Lexis wanted something for herself, damn it. She wanted sexy-as-sin Officer Coy to herself. “I’ll go out with you.”
Bryan tightened his arms around her waist, and his hard length pressed between her ass cheeks. “Finally.” The curve of his smile ghosted against her skin, and Lexis’ pulse kicked up a notch.
“If you don’t mind, I need to go inside and get my son ready for school.” The last thing she wanted was for Bryan’s arms to let her go. But as much as she would love to spend the rest of the day giving in to this man in every way, she had a five-year-old to get dressed and out the door.
“I suppose I need to get to the station, too. But first I’m going to need your phone number, so I can call you later tonight to schedule a date that will knock your socks off.” He still hadn’t let her go, instead running his nose up and down the column of her neck.
“You have some stiff competition to impress me, Officer Coy.” His body went still behind her, and the slow, seductive trail of his nose against her skin halted. “My dates before Ashton consisted of dive bars and fast food joints. Since Ashton, it has been all bounce houses and yet more fast food.”
The chest pressed against her back rumbled with laughter, and the tension from Bryan’s body gradually relaxed. “Damn, so I have to come up with something better than bounce houses? I’ve got my work cut out for me.” He laid a soft kiss against her pulse, and she could’ve sworn she felt the slightest flick of his tongue against her skin. “Don’t worry, I’m going to treat you like the queen you are. After this date, you’ll never be able to say no to me again.”
His words equally warmed and scared the shit out of her.
Chapter Three
Bryan
Still reeling over seeing all those sex toys spilled across Lexis’ lawn, Bryan begged his cock to stand down as he walked into the station. But the images racing through his head, of all the ways he could use some
of those toys on his woman’s luscious body, just wouldn’t quit. He’d never been one to use accessories with the women he’d slept with in the past. But to be honest, he’d never been with one long enough to really care to put that much work into. But the thought of filling Lex’s pussy with his cock while he pushed that little plug into her back door made his cock want to come out and play immediately.
He tried to divert his thoughts to something less sexual. Like the overriding joy he’d felt when she finally agreed to go on a date with him. He’d been working for months trying to get her guard down. The woman was more than willing to flirt with him, and their curbside morning chats had become his favorite part of the day. But he needed to show her that this was more than just a challenge to get into her pants.
Though he definitely planned on doing that as well.
But not on the first date. No. He’d show her that he could be a gentleman. Wine and dine her. Maybe take her to a fancy restaurant in the city, then a walk along the river. Then he’d bring her home, finally get a taste of her mouth and he’d leave her safe at her door. Then he’d go home and jerk off just like he’d been doing for the past six months.
But on the second date, all bets would be off.
Just the little taste of her skin that morning had been enough to whet his appetite. But he was in no way satisfied yet. And wouldn’t be until he had the taste of her cunt on his tongue as he pounded away inside her.
“Coy, why are grinning like a damn idiot? That woman you’re stalking finally speak to you?” Damn, Wright had been on his case for weeks about his pursuit of Lexis. All the guys were, really, but especially Officer Trent Wright. Just ’cause the guy was happily married with a kid on the way, he thought he could talk shit about Coy’s failure to get Lexis to agree to a date.
“Shut it, Wright.” Bryan looked around at his fellow brothers in blue, all of whom were currently snickering at him. Well, they could all eat crow. “As a matter of fact, I finally got a yes this morning. I’ll be taking Lexis out on a date she’ll never forget.” Bryan couldn’t contain the pride he felt as he informed his coworkers of his romantic victory. The guys gathered around, slapping him on his back and congratulating him.
Bryan’s “crush,” as they had all been referring to it, was common knowledge around the station. It was hard to miss when Bryan parked outside her house damn near every morning, making sure drivers knew that neighborhood was being cracked down on for speeders.
True, he hadn’t given out a ticket in a few months, because the message had been spread around, and most everyone had stopped using those side roads as a shortcut between the highway and the other side of town. And he’d been sitting there on his own time for months also, but it was well worth it to make sure Lexis knew that she and Ashton were safe and that he had their backs.
“So when is this big date, loverboy.?” Wright shouted above the congratulations.
“We haven’t set a time yet, but it’ll be real soon, guarantee it.” It would be damn hard to wipe the grin off his face before the morning assignment meeting.
Wright’s laughter brought Bryan’s happy thoughts to a sudden stop. “You idiot, you’ve been hounding this poor girl for a date for months, and when she finally says yes, you don’t have the good sense to get it on the books? How do you know she didn’t just say yes to get you off her back?”
Bryan scoffed at Wright’s suggestion, but the little seed of doubt planted itself in his chest. He tried to ignore it, but it pulsed there like a second little heartbeat. Could Lexis have just been trying to get him to back off?
“Alright kids, enough screwing around. Let’s get this meeting started.” Sergeant McCracken strode out of his office and barely paused in the bullpen before making his way to the conference room where the assignment meetings were held.
The guys continued to chuckle and slap Bryan on the back, as they all shuffled into the room. He tried to smile back and show his confidence in his burgeoning relationship with Lex, but no matter how hard he tried, it just wouldn’t happen.
***
Bryan stared down at his phone, willing the damn thing to vibrate, to let him know Lex had answered his text. He’d messaged Lexis nearly twenty minutes ago, asking if that Saturday would be good for their date. She had yet to text back, and a sinking feeling settled into his gut. His focus was so intent on the device, that he nearly jumped out of his skin when it did actually rumble to life. His heart pounding, he swiped open the screen, only to find the waiting text was from Wright, not Lexis.
Wright, who sat next to him, a grin on his face so infuriating, it made Bryan’s blood pressure rise by ten points.
“Why the fuck are you texting me, asshole?” Bryan struggled to control the aggravation in his voice.
“Well, my friend, I didn’t want to startle you with how hard you were trying to mind-meld with your phone, so I figured this was the safest way.” Wright laughed at his own lame joke. “Now, are we gonna go in and question these pharmacists, or are you going to keep staring at that phone while your little crush doesn’t text you back?”
“Fuck you.” Bryan opened his car door more aggressively than strictly necessary, and shut it with equal vigor.
The slamming of the passenger side door signaled that Wright wasn’t far behind, as they strode across the drugstore parking lot.
“So what do you say, want to do a little good cop, bad cop?” Wright rubbed his hands together in eager anticipation.
“We’re questioning a bunch of pharmacists, not the cartel. I’m pretty sure we just need to flash our badges, and these eggheads will piss their pants.” The phone vibrated in Bryan’s hand, and he fumbled it for a moment before rescuing it from tumbling onto the pavement. The screen lit up with a notification from Lexis. “Yes!”
Stopping in his tracks, Bryan opened the text message conversation, and the wind quickly left his sails.
Lexis: I can’t this Saturday, I have a bachelorette party that night. Sorry.
Fuck.
Wright had been right. She was blowing him off. A pit formed in Bryan’s stomach, as he realized the woman he’d been drooling over and trying with everything he had to impress, had no interest in him whatsoever. Fuck, that hurt. He’d never felt rejection from a woman before. It sucked.
But he wouldn’t be a pussy about it. She didn’t want him, no big deal. He’d get over it. Eventually. If this was what it felt like to actually have feelings for a woman, he wanted no part of it. He’d stick to the simple, easy buckle bunnies at Blue Line. Though, even as he thought it, the prospect of trolling the bar for easy pickings made his stomach sour.
No. Screw that. He wouldn’t give up so easily. Lexis and he would be dynamite together, no doubt. And he’d keep reaching for her until she shut him down in no uncertain terms. Besides, she didn’t seem like the kind of woman to beat around the bush. If she didn’t want his attention, he was pretty sure she’d just tell him to fuck off.
Mind made up, Bryan decided to put the ball in her court and see how she reacted.
Bryan: No prob, babe. Let me know when is good for you and I’ll make it work.
“Alright, lover boy. Put the phone away. Time to go do our actual job.” Wright slapped him on the back with enough muscle to force Bryan forward a step.
“Okay, okay. Let’s get this over with.”
At the morning assignment meeting, they had learned that the asshole that broke into their office manager Sophie’s house had cut a deal with the DA. Instead of spending the max sentence, he’d only get five years, which pissed everyone off. But he had given up some good information, so it was what it was.
They’d learned that the guys running this drug operation weren’t connected to any previously established criminal organizations. They had no affiliations or agendas. Their only desire: make as much money as possible.
Originally, their intel pointed to the dealers bringing some low-quality heroin in from across the Canadian border, as well as running a small marijuana grow ope
ration. But through a source of McCracken’s, they learned these guys were now also delving into the world of meth production, which was a scary prospect, considering all that could go wrong when cooking meth.
Turned out the low-life who had threatened Sophie’s life had met the top dealer and a few of the cookers, but didn’t know the identity of the masterminds, and was only on a first name basis with the people he did know.
Bryan knew these guys were smart, but no one had realized how sophisticated they truly were until that morning’s meeting. They changed locations for their operations every few weeks. Apparently, they never used the same buy location more than twice. They changed manufacture locations every two months. And the big wigs were rarely seen, though made their presence known through physical intimidation.
Bryan hated that the town he had adopted as his own, after leaving his less than stellar childhood behind, was now becoming subject to these druggie assholes. Two years ago, the worst crimes they had were domestic violence calls and the occasional drunk kid from the nearby college making trouble. But since these guys came on the scene, there had been an increase in theft, breaking and entering, and aggravated assaults. Not to mention the uptick in accidental overdoses. It was only a matter of time before someone ended up dead.
The Sarge had assigned Wright and Bryan to question the local pharmacists, since they’d had a tip that the supplies to cook meth were most likely being sourced by someone with easy access. That left few possibilities, given the quantities they were dealing with.
Wright and Bryan walked through the automatic doors and headed straight to the back of the store, where the pharmacy lined the back wall. Thankfully, there were no customers waiting to be served. Three employees stood behind the counter: a gray-haired man counting out pills and sliding them into a variety of bottles, a woman in her mid-to-late thirties typing on a computer, and a woman in her twenties restocking the shelves of medications.
“Excuse me, folks.” Wright adopted the slightly deeper, more serious tone he used for all police work. “Can we ask you a few questions?”
