by Anthology
Brian caught her shoulder and quickly pulled his hand back when she spun around, reaching up to fling his arm away. He held his hands up in surrender. “We’d be asking these same questions no matter who reported the crime, or who the suspect was. It’s not that we don’t trust you, but without evidence or a confession, we can only take him in for questioning, which we’ll do regardless.”
Sighing heavily, she marched to the dining room and opened her laptop. “I have evidence that he broke in.” She brought up a video of the front door, already paused where her brother did break in the door and storm inside.
“Why didn’t you start with this?” Marissa asked in irritation.
Brian moved in front of Kylie and stared her down. “We’re cops. There’s an obvious crime here. We want to get to the bottom of it.”
Sighing, she looked him in the eye. “Didn’t think it would matter. I know how tight you two were.”
“For the love of God. That was ages ago. High school, to be exact.”
“Right. Sure.”
Brian’s brow arched and he changed the subject. “Why do you have it on video?”
“Had a problem with someone stealing packages while I was at work.” Her cheeks pinked, but she held Brian’s gaze. “Whoever was stealing my shit must have noticed the camera because the thefts stopped.”
“Can you give us an official statement? We’ll deal with the crime scene quickly, and then we’ll get out of your hair.”
CHAPTER 2
By the next day, Kylie felt a little better. Brian had proved he wasn’t on Kent’s side. In fact, he insisted they stay to help her install the door. Somewhere along the way, the old crush resurfaced and burned into a heavy attraction.
Trying not to think about Brian, Kylie dropped onto the couch and glared at her ringing phone.
Groaning, she pressed talk. “Hi, Mom.”
“You called the cops on your brother! What on earth were you thinking?”
Anger flashed through her. “That he broke into my house, which is a crime. That he stole some of my jewelry, another crime. That he left a bag of drugs in my home, which could get me in a ton of trouble. He fucked up, not me.”
“You know that boy would never do anything to hurt you. He’s misguided and confused. If you had let him crash at your place, he wouldn’t have had to hide anything there.”
“Except he was probably hiding from his supplier or a loan shark. He’s in too much trouble, and I want no part of his criminal activities. So yes, I called the cops. Figure if they took the drugs away, I wouldn’t be the one to take the fall when someone figured it out.”
“Drugs? What did he leave?”
“An entire duffle bag full of crack.”
“Highly unlikely he’d have something like that.”
Kylie shot off the couch to pace the living room, trying to think of a response. Then the other line dinged. “You know what, Mom? Kent is an adult, and he needs to learn some responsibility. Goodbye.” She hung up and switched lines. “Hello?”
Brian’s deep, rumbling voice came across. “Bad news, Kylie. Kent’s running. Your mother seems to be helping him. I don’t trust the asshole not to come back and try to get your help. Someone will keep an eye on your place tonight and every night until we get to the bottom of this. Might be safest if you went to someone’s house.”
She sighed heavily. “Thanks, but that’s not happening. My mother thinks I should have let Kent hide out in my home. Besides, my best friend is off on her honeymoon. I’ll keep the doors locked.”
“Are you hungry? I could bring you some food. If you’d like.”
A slow smile spread on her lips. “Why are you being so nice to me, Brian?”
A heavy sigh floated over the line. “I’m worried about you. Your brother…his roommate seems to think he’s made a bigger mess than ever. He’s desperate. You’ve never been in trouble, you don’t associate with his friends, so you seem safe. Only he’d put you in trouble by being there.”
“I’ll be okay.”
“If I remember right, you like pizza, and I’m at the pizza shop. Tell me what you want on the pie. I’ll come by. We’ll eat. I’ll tell you what I know. And maybe you’ll believe me this time when I tell you I’m on your side.”
Guilt wafted in. She didn’t miss the hurt in his voice.
In hindsight, she’d been the judgmental twit. Not him.
“As long as you include Italian sausage I’ll be happy with anything else on the pizza.”
“See you soon.” Before she could respond, the phone clicked off and she sat staring at it. Brian had been her first crush. She’d been ten when he graduated from high school. She was too young, and he had thought of her as a pain in the ass.
But now, she was twenty-five. Sure, he was thirty-three, but maybe he could overlook the age gap.
She straightened up the living room, then went back to her bedroom to shove the clothes into her closet. She didn’t have time to put everything away the day before. The cops had been there all evening. She went to bed late and had to get up early for work.
Tonight was a different story. Brian pointed out that whoever Kent was associating with might target her. After a whole day of worrying, she didn’t like the idea of staying home alone, even with cops outside.
Now, she was beginning to think Brian’s suggestion to stay with someone had merit. Maybe he would take her home or stay with her. Either way, she might feel better.
Kylie made a stop at the mirror and freshened up her light makeup. Smiling at herself, she tried to push away all thought.
Doubt wouldn’t leave. He probably still saw her as a kid.
The bell rang, and she hurried to open the door. Her eyes caught on the way his T-shirt stretched across his hard chest. She dropped her gaze, taking in the worn denim before bouncing her head back up to look him in the eye. “Thank you. Come in.”
“You’re welcome. I don’t like the idea of you alone while he’s running around.”
Shrugging, she took the pizza and headed for the kitchen. “What would you like to drink?”
“What do you have?” The depth of his voice stoked the embers burning deep inside.
She opened the fridge and nodded inside before turning to lean against the counter.
He watched her for a moment before looking in the fridge. Yeah, there was a spark that could ignite at any moment. He grabbed a bottle of water. “Want one?”
“Sure. There is beer in there, though.”
He chuckled. “Yeah, but this is part business.”
“Not all?”
He rubbed the back of his neck and met her gaze. “That depends on you.”
A thrill ran through her. “How so?”
“First, how well you take what I have to tell you. Second, I need to know what you want from me.”
“You’re interested in me?”
His eyes slid away. “Yeah. We need to talk about Kent and what’s going on with him before we talk about anything else.”
“Let’s get food and sit.” Kylie grabbed a couple pieces and took her plate to the table.
Brian followed, sitting across from her.
“So what’s going on with Kent?”
“He stole from his supplier. Or he couldn’t pay him back. I’m not sure yet. I’ve heard rumors that he may have stolen a supply and is attempting to sell them to pay back his gambling debt.”
“Then why stash the drugs here?”
“Because he assumes no one would find out about you, or think the drugs were here. He’s in enough trouble without endangering you.”
“He is such an asshole,” she sneered.
“Which is why I’m worried about whoever is looking for him. They may come here if they think you have it, or may know where to find him.”
“That’s just perfect.” She took a bite of pizza and stared at the fridge.
“You said the person you’d stay with is out of town. You could stay with me. Or I could stay here. If you want.”<
br />
A smile pulled at her lips. “Why?”
“You’re a beautiful woman who has her head on straight. I like that.”
“Didn’t think you’d notice me.”
“In the last four or five years I have.”
“And you haven’t made a move,” she taunted.
“Wasn’t sure you’d go for me.” He huffed. “With your brother being shady as he is, and me being a cop, I didn’t know what to expect.”
Her lips quirked. “I’m not too young?”
“A few years back, I’d say yes. You put yourself through school, made yourself a career, buying a house. Age becomes a number once you manage to do certain things for yourself. And you’re only eight years younger.”
“Stay the night.”
He nodded, his eyes locked on hers. “I should warn you. If we go there, I take what I want.”
A shiver traveled down her spine. “How so?”
“You’ll experience new heights you never dreamed possible, but I will be in control.”
“If we’re talking pain, I’m not interested.”
He shook his head, one corner of his mouth lifting. “No. I want you to come, a lot, and hard.”
She licked her lips, imagining what Brian might be capable of. “That’s acceptable.”
He took another bite, sitting back in his seat. His deep brown eyes smoldered as he watched her.
A nervous laugh escaped and she shook her head. She hadn’t been flustered before.
“Have any idea where your brother might have gone?”
Right, dinner was about what she knew. Later they could get to the good part. Maybe he could take her mind off all the shit that came with Kent.
CHAPTER 3
Brian waited for an answer. He’d changed the subject from sex back to her brother, probably confusing Kylie. He still had questions, and starting with dessert would mean he wouldn’t get the answers he needed.
He’d never imagined the chemistry had built from the moment he walked in. A spark could ignite, but he did have a job to do. Besides, if the people involved were who he believed, Kylie could be in as much trouble as Kent. Not legally, but the people involved would stop at nothing to get what they wanted.
Kylie took a slow breath and frowned. “I’m not sure where he’d go. My mother called to scold me for not helping him. She’s on his side, of course. Even though he borrowed more than ten thousand dollars from her just last month.”
“How much does he owe you?”
“Over the years? A couple thousand. I stopped giving him money quite a while ago.”
“Smart move.” Brian leaned forward, tapping the table. “And your mother continues to help him?”
“When she can. They probably know he stays at her house when he’s in trouble. Maybe that’s why she thought him being here would be safe. I don’t fucking know. She still believes he’s incapable of doing anything really wrong.”
“He can. I’ve seen it. I’m sorry.”
“Not your fault.” Then an idea occurred to her. “Wait, there was a place he used to tell me about. That if he got in trouble he’d go to Middleton to some little townhome a friend owned. Shit, what was her name?”
“Tracy Hickman?” he asked.
“Yeah, Tracy. That was forever ago. God, didn’t you both have a thing for her back in the day?”
Brian leaned back in the chair with a snort. “Yeah. He stole her from me when I went to college. Makes sense, though. Hadn’t heard from her since. She went the same direction he did.”
“What do you mean?”
“I may not have kept in contact, but I do know she’s been taken in for prostitution and dealing.”
“Eww. That’s just…wow.”
He shrugged. “Desperation makes you do all sorts of crazy shit.”
“Yeah, like break into your sister’s house and destroy everything in your path.” She sighed.
He finished his piece of pizza. “Let me make a call, then you’ll have my full attention.”
Her head cocked. “What call?”
“Need to contact the commander at Middleton. He’s a control freak, and it’s their jurisdiction. He’ll let us be there, but he won’t move fast without proof he’s there, which I don’t have.”
“You’re trying at least. I honestly didn’t expect that.”
“I’m not the same kid who hung out with your brother.”
“I’ve noticed.” She licked her lips, trailing her gaze over his body as he stood.
Brian walked to the living room to make the call. Voice mail of course. And as much as he’d love to drive out there and get his ass in gear, that wasn’t the way to catch Kent before he did real damage.
Would Brian put him in jail? Hell yes, he would. Did he want Kylie in the middle of the fallout? Not in the slightest. Too much time and the asshole would be back.
After leaving as much of a detailed message as he could, he walked back to the kitchen. “It will likely be tomorrow morning before he calls me back. He’ll either be smart and have someone pick up Kent tomorrow morning, or call me and have me come out there to work with their team to bring him in. On one hand, I’ll be able to bring him back to Lakeridge faster, but on the other, I’m stuck waiting on them to make the arrest.”
She snorted. “If he’s even there. I do know he used to go there, but I haven’t exactly had the closest relationship to my brother in quite some time.”
“I’m sorry. And it sounds like you don’t have the best relationship with your mother, either.”
“Mom is irresponsible. She’s always been more concerned with her fun. She never pushed either Kent or me. I got where I did because I’m driven. Not because she did a damned thing to encourage me. No, she wanted to be my best friend who partied with me. Something I was never into.”
“That’s where Kent got it from.”
“Yeah. Look, I don’t want to talk about him. I’ve spent the last two evenings worrying about my brother. I don’t want to think about him at all anymore.”
“Don’t blame you. So what do you want to think about?”
“About how you’re going to take my mind off all the shit I’ve dealt with since my brother broke in.”
His lips quirked as he watched her. “And you understand that unless you tell me to stop, I have every intention of pushing you past any limits.”
CHAPTER 4
Kylie’s breath caught in her chest as a shiver of anticipation went down her spine. Stopping? Not a chance in hell. She’d waited too long to have a chance at Brian.
“I’m not scared.” She slid her chair back and started for her room, pulling her shirt over her head.
Heavy footfalls followed her down the hall. Licking her lips, she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Brian spun her toward him, his mouth crashing over hers. He crushed her against his body, slipping his hand down her pants to squeeze her ass.
He groaned low in his throat, sucking on her tongue.
She slid her hands between them, opening his pants, desperate for more.
“Uh-uh.” He pulled her arms away and pushed her onto the bed. Then he opened his shirt and let it fall to the floor as he reached into his pocket.
Tucking the foil packet between his fingers, he opened his pants and shoved them off. And she started drooling as she raked her eyes over hard muscle and the light dusting of blond hair that led to a golden happy trail she wanted to trace as he kicked off his shoes and rid himself of the rest of the clothes.
His cock was a thing of beauty. Brian had always been strong, and now, all she could think of was his virility.
She sucked in a breath. “What about my clothes?”
“By all means, remove them.”
Standing, she took the bra off. Then his hands were on her jeans, taking over again. She didn’t mind. He caressed her body with his gaze, following the path with his hands.
“I’ve been imagining this moment all day long.”
“You have?�
��
He nodded, meeting her gaze. “Hardly slept last night for all the images in my head.”
Kylie dragged her hands up his stomach, exploring the ridges of banded muscle as she stared into his burning brown eyes. “You were always my favorite fantasy.”
“Let’s see if I can blow those out of the water.”
The sound of tearing foil caught her breath. He stepped back again and rolled the condom down his length. She almost did the stupid thing and told him to skip it. He may have haunted her thoughts, but she didn’t really know him. Brian wasn’t anything she imagined.
Words dried up as he lowered her to the bed. She stared up at him as he maneuvered her up the mattress. He sat up, dragging his fingertips down her body, awakening every nerve on his way to her thighs. He scooted back, continuing his tour down to her toes before he dragged his hands up her legs as if he were memorizing her contours.
Then he leaned forward and anticipation built as he pulled her open, licking through her wet channel. He circled her clit with his tongue.
Sensation flooded through her when two fingers filled her. He glanced up her body with a devilish glint in his eyes. A third finger joined the fray as he sucked on her clit.
Kylie lost it. Pleasure exploded in all directions so hard she couldn’t see straight as tiny lights flashed through her vision. Her muscles all constricted and released before starting to quake at the intensity of the orgasm.
* * *
She came undone beautifully. He’d never seen anyone as responsive as Kylie. Such a gorgeous sight.
He crawled up her body, watching her coming down from the high.
When she finally got her eyes open, she opened her mouth but nothing came out. So he guided her legs over his shoulders and moved to enter her.
Her body drew him in. She was so damned tight he took his time, giving her a while to adjust.
He found her end, and she cried out. “Fuck, that’s good,” she whimpered after he’d been still a moment.
He started a slow pace, making sure she stayed with him. When her hands landed on his thighs and her nails dug into his flesh, he increased his pace until the sounds coming from her were primal and full of pleasure.
