by Lynn Carmer
“Well, hello, you two! We were starting to get worried. How was the twilight picnic? I hope you liked the food. I didn’t have time to throw together much.” Mrs. Hills, Rusty’s wife, came out of nowhere, directly in their path.
“It was awesome, Mrs. Hills.” Sebastian stopped short. “Thank you again for your generosity.”
“Put me down,” Ai whispered.
Sebastian placed her right in front of him, to block his raging boner. He had the worst luck in the world when it came to women. Or Ai, specifically.
“It was wonderful. Thank you,” Ai said.
“You’re so welcome. Join us, please. The fireworks won’t last much longer. Use the blanket I included in the basket. Sit. Right here.” The plump woman’s welcoming personality reminded him of his mother’s.
“Ai?” How to talk her into agreeing? She might get overwhelmed all over again, but he couldn’t be rude.
“It’s okay. Nighttime always makes it better. I don’t think I’ll freak out this time.”
Sebastian looked at the large crowd, all seated and exclaiming over the flashes of light. The colors shone in Ai’s glossy hair, and he fisted his hand to stop himself from touching the silken lushness. “Thanks.”
Ai unfolded the blanket behind Rusty and his wife, close enough not to be rude, but affording them a tiny bit of space.
“Hun, there’s fresh baked cornbread in the cooler. Feel free to take a couple of pieces.” She watched them closely as they sat down, her face falling when they didn’t immediately take a piece.
“I love cornbread,” Ai exclaimed seconds before he did. She’d obviously noticed the woman’s distress and tried to make her feel better. Yet another confirmation—she’s a softie. A little psychotic but never cruel.
“Wonderful.” The woman settled back into her husband’s arms.
He searched for a neutral subject. Something that would calm him the hell down and get his mind off all the delicious parts of her he planned to devour. “Can you believe the Quads have kept the school open for so long?” He placed his arm behind Ai, and leaned back, tilting his head to appreciate the violent display of lights.
“Nope. Caelen is relentless. The old place was almost dead, but now it seems pretty viable.” She nibbled on her cornbread. “This is really good!” She offered him a bite, and he took it from her hand. With his mouth. She froze for a second and swiped his lips with her thumb.
“Did you go to any of the classes?” Why was he torturing himself with this question? The mission was to get his raging hard on to go down while watching the fireworks, not drive himself even crazier.
“Mm hmm.” She chewed her desert, a small smile flirting over her lips.
He bit back a groan and waited, fascinated with how the glow of nearby tiki torches made her skin look like a living flame. Golden light that drew him like a moth to flame.
Her demeanor changed and it put him on alert. Reading people, moods, trusting his instincts made him a good cop. And right now, he knew something shifted between them. The air charged as if something important was about to happen.
“I’ve gone to all four of the classes. Every single one.”
He choked on a piece cornbread.
The Quads had inherited the school from Ms. Belle. The problem was, no one went to school for etiquette and manners, anymore. The Quads had to come up with a creative way to keep the doors open. They’d decided on adult classes. Each sister taught her own naughty class.
“Brynn’s was good, but it wasn’t my favorite. Her class was on Sex Toys. I learned some stuff from her, but it’s a category I’m pretty familiar with.”
“Toys? You know about those?”
“Oh yeah,” Her lips tilted up and her cheeks flushed a deep red.
He remembered what she’d said about masturbating more than three times in one day. Caught in a trance, his chest expanded as he forced air through his frozen lungs. He leaned in, transfixed by her knowing grin. “Which class was your favorite?”
“Let’s see…” she looked up at the fireworks for a while. “They were all so good, but I think Caelen’s was my favorite. Maybe because she went first. Or maybe it’s because her topic is one of my favorite things in the whole world.” She polished off her dessert and dusted off her hands. “Do you know what that class was about?”
He shook his head. It felt like he moved in slow motion. Caelen had instructed her class before he’d ever met the Quads.
“That’s too bad.” The silence sat between them. She looked at the fireworks, not in the least hurried to share the information he was dying to hear.
She’s going to make me ask. Gladly. “What was it?” he asked in a gruff rush.
“Mouth hugs.”
“What?”
“Blowies? Skinning the Flute? Any of those sound familiar?”
“Do you mean…” he cleared his throat, “blowjobs?”
“Oh yeah. I’d say I’m a professional at this point. All thanks to Caelen’s class.” She sighed, a flash of longing on her face. “There’s just one problem.”
“There is?” His raging hard on got worse. Yet, he still asked. Would ask a million times.
She covered her face with her hands. “I can’t say it.”
“Now you’re acting shy? After everything you’ve said to me tonight?” He actually laughed out loud until Mrs. Hill glanced over her shoulder, a reminder they were not alone.
“I started thinking about you and what it might be like. In real life. So then…yeah. It’s not easy to say.”
“You’re not quitting on me, are you?” he whispered, delighted to see yet another side to her. This woman had serious layers. It’d take a lifetime to figure her out.
“I’m no chump,” she mumbled through her fingers, “It’s just, I have no one to practice them on.”
He sat up straight. “You looking for volunteers?” Say yes, say yes, say…
“Not really.” She brushed her hair out of her eyes.
Well hell…
“Until tonight.”
As if one, they both looked down at his crotch. Holy hell, this woman. Shy one minute and so direct the next, it made his head spin. Both heads. “Dead. I’m dead,” he whispered.
“Do we have to keep talking about it? I like action.”
“I have to talk about it because I can’t do anything about it. Yet.” He pointed at Rusty and Mrs. Hill. “It’s torture, Ai.” He cupped the back of her neck. “Come home with me?”
“No, I can’t.” She leaned into his palm.
“Why?” The word was dredged from the deepest part of his soul. If he didn’t have this woman, now, tonight, soon, he would implode.
“You’ve met the people staying in my house. They need constant supervision.”
He stared at her lips, uncaring if Rusty and his wife heard. “Take me there.” He leaned in and whispered in a low voice, “I’ll show you everything I’m worth.”
Again, she shivered. So sensitive. She pulled back, and speared him with her midnight gaze, as if taking his measure.
He wanted to pump up his chest, caveman style, and demand she give in.
“You think you’re worth it?”
“I know I am. Let me prove it.”
“Let’s get the hell out of here.”
Chapter 13
‡
Ai felt restless, excited and so damn horny she might melt on the seat of his truck. They hadn’t spoken much since the blowjob convo. Once again, communication was not her jam, so she focused on action, and what she wanted to do, to Sebastian.
Where to begin? Maybe she’d dive into the Soft Serve technique until he got nice and hard, but looking at the tent poking through his jeans, she might launch straight into the good stuff. The Twist and Twirl? Her favorite. The one where she swirls her tongue—
“What are you thinking about? I can hear your brain churning.”
She bit her lip. Busted. “Just planning.”
“Planning what?” The smoldering
looks he’d shot her way while driving her home, made her head spin. His arm rested along the back of the seat, his hand occasionally playing with her hair. He defeated her fears with his persistence and confidence.
Maybe Dacey was right, and she wasn’t jinxed, after all.
“You’ll find out soon enough.” She pointed toward a small side street that faced her garage. “Pull in here. We can go in through the back again.”
Loud moans and an erratic beat assaulted her ears as she exited the car. It sounded like the human version of a cat in heat.
“Get behind me.” Sebastian stepped forward and held an arm out as he listened at the gate.
“Let me by.” Ai saw red. She had heard this sound once before, and it pissed her off royally. She had warned them if they caused another noise ordinance violation, she was going to get fined.
“No. Get behind me.” He blocked her path. Sebastian, in full-on cop mode, would have been so sexy any other time. Ai peeked around him, confronted by her worst fears.
Apparently, Naked Interpretive Dance was addictive because somehow, it had morphed into Naked Midnight Bongos. In her backyard.
“Idiots.” Ai ducked around Sebastian, her fists balled as she spied Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dummy howling and pounding like maniacs.
Jesús wore dark sunglasses, his skinny legs straddling a long drum. Fortunately, it covered the dangly bits. Not that she wanted to see his hairy chest either, but it was better than the alternative. He was crooning something about, “I want you happy…and naked.”
Nacho, his goateed sidekick, was also playing the bongos, but he’d chosen a sideways approach and way too much about his little Nacho presented itself.
“What the hell are you two doing?”
“Boss Lady, our queen, our reason for singing. I might be a little naked, right now.” He giggled. “Dance while we play. You. Big, bad, Copper. Join in, too.”
“Pass.” Sebastian scowled and crossed his arms.
Nacho looked a little more cautious, and slowly placed the bongo in front of his no-no square.
“I told you about this shit.” Ai tugged her ponytail so tight; her eyebrows almost touched her hairline. “I’m going to get fined for noise violations.”
“It’s okay. We’re celebrating. You can’t get arrested for that!” Jesús announced.
“The hell you can’t.” Sebastian cocked a brow.
“Celebrate what?” Ai put her hands on her hips, already regretting the question.
Sebastian walked over to Ai and placed an arm around her shoulders. “You really are a saint, to put up with this shit.”
Jesús guffawed.
“I am not.” Ai clenched her teeth, not ready to expose her Kryptonite. If he figured out her weakness, she was in trouble.
Jesús stood and cleared his throat.
“Jesus! Jesús.” Ai shaded her eyes against the white glare of his junk.
He bowed with a flourish. “We’re celebrating our Christmas miracle.”
“Oh my God, that’s it. Forget I asked.” The reminder about the holidays made her stomach somersault.
“No, no, no, Doña Zhou. We had to. Your cop broke the curse. He made you smile. I saw it with my own two eyes.” He pointed at the back wall of the house. “So, we made you you’re Christmas gift early. It’s from all of us. We didn’t think you’d come home so fast, eh.”
He and Nacho spread their arms. “Surprise.”
“I hate surprises.” Ai squeezed her eyes shut, not ready to see their newest endeavor. What had they done now? Set the house on fire, sculpted statues of their junk… She didn’t want to know.
“Holy shit,” Sebastian’s arm slipped from around her shoulder. “Ai, look at this. It’s…it’s…”
“I don’t want to.” She slapped a hand over her clenched eyelids. “I’m scared.”
“It’s beautiful.” The deep rumble of his voice sent shivers racing down her spine. He grasped her shoulders and turned her around. “Look.”
She spread her fingers, a smidge. And she saw…a dream. She walked in a daze, barely registering Sebastian’s tall frame next to her. “I can’t believe it.”
It was a magical rendition of her, in a forest, surrounded by soaring trees and millions of cherry blossoms. She looked ethereal and too beautiful to be real.
“This is amazing.” Sebastian’s warm breath ruffled her hair.
She approached the mural admiring the detail and symmetry. It stretched the length of the back wall of the house.
“It’s almost as beautiful as the real version.”
Ai flushed, the compliment burrowing deep, taking root.
“Do you like it?” Jesús asked.
“I love it.” Sebastian answered, a small grin tugging at the sides of his lips.
“Thanks, Copper.” Jesús looked at Ai. “And you?”
“It’s your best work up to date,” She couldn’t meet his gaze, because she wasn’t ready to face this beautiful interpretation of her. “You better have clothes on before I hug you.”
“Shit, I don’t know where I put them.”
Ai heard her front door slam as raised voices floated through the house, and out the French doors.
“Got yet another noise complaint about the hippies living here.” A police officer, decked out in blues, sauntered in.
Beatrice, one of her local artists, rushed in behind him. “I didn’t let him in. I swear.”
Sebastian stared down the cop. “Is that true?” he asked.
The cop introduced himself as Officer Pauls, but here he was referred to as Officer Pendejo. He stopped short. His narrowed gaze challenged Sebastian. “This is police business.” But the smirk slowly slid from his face. “I ask the questions.”
I hate that guy. Pretending to be alerted by neighbors, he showed up a few times a month. He was like an antibiotic-resistant rash, impossible to shake. Older, in decent shape for a guy in his fifties, he would have been handsome if it weren’t for his greedy eyes.
He stalked the newest artists, hitting on women he perceived as loose. He’d pursued Ai, and when she’d laughed in his face, he’d threatened to hall them all in. And he would have the grounds to do it. Sierra Madre ordinances didn’t allow for people camping out in backyards. Most of the time, her artists were confined to her home or the treehouse, but sometimes more showed. And on those nights, she didn’t have the heart to kick them out. One lucky break separated her from them.
“Barging into my house, Officer Pendejo. Again? I’m pretty sure that’s totally illegal.” Ai felt Sebastian’s body tense. Had she grown so sensitive to him in so short a time?
“I know what that word means.” He hooked his thumbs in his belt. “I’m getting a little tired of your mouth.”
“I’m sure, Officer…” Sebastian prowled over and read his badge, “Pauls has an explanation for how he got in.”
“Who the hell are you?” The cop got in Sebastian’s face, puffing his chest up like a rooster.
“Sebastian Jacobs,” His voice was ice cold. “But you can call me Sergeant.”
“Sergeant. What division?” he huffed, but took a step back.
“Northeast. LAPD.”
“Jacobs doesn’t sound familiar.” He pursed his lips. “I know a few guys over there.”
“That right?” Now Sebastian stepped forward and Pendejo stepped back. “How’d you get in?”
“One of those flighty artists. I don’t know their names.” He perused the area, a notepad in hand. “I got a noise complaint and had to check it out. Naked bongos? What? You guys think you’re Matthew McConaughey?” he guffawed.
Ai rolled her eyes, keeping one eye on the slimy cop. Her real focus remained on Sebastian. His frosty regard was so damn sexy, her knees felt weak. After all the dirty talk and sucking face, he topped things off with a badass display of power.
So. Damn. Hot.
“No problem. I’ll just go inside and find out exactly who let you in.” Sebastian narrowed his gaze on the off
icer. “Unless you have a warrant?”
“No need.” He wiped his brow. “Now that you’re here, I’m sure you’ll keep an eye on things.” He shoved the notepad in his pocket. “You said you were Jacobs, right? Be interesting to know if any of my friends know you.”
“Not really.” Sebastian maintained eye contact until Pendejo was forced to back down and exit through the front door. Every one of his muscles looked tight. His mouth thinned, and he shook his head.
Ai walked over and rubbed his arm. “You okay?”
“Yeah, I can’t stand that type of cop.” His head snapped to hers. “Has he done this before? Showed up unannounced?”
Jesús crowded in. Still, startlingly naked. “Hell yeah, he has. Been all over Ai and the other ladies. He’s messed up in the head, that one.”
“That true?” he asked Ai, pinning her with his police stare down.
She didn’t like it as much when it was directed at her.
“You have to report that.”
“He’s an asshole. I ignore him. We’ve got it taken care of.” Ai didn’t usually play things down, or make excuses, but Sebastian looked ready to detonate. She didn’t want to get him in trouble, and tangling with that weasel would cause problems. Problems that could jinx him—all because of her.
“Ai, listen to me.” He grabbed her hands. She shivered. “Promise me you’ll call me the next time he shows.”
“It’s not nec—”
“Promise me!” The soft brush of his thumb was a sharp contrast to his tone.
She bristled, not used to anyone telling her what to do. Even if it came from a good place, damn it.
“Don’t worry, jefe. We’ll call. Ai doesn’t like to get involved, but I will rat his ass out, like, pronto. Don’t you worry. We’ll keep an eye on him.” Jesús nodded.
“I know you guys aren’t talking about me like I’m not here.”
“Yeah, ese. We’re here pretty much all the time, so you can count on us.” Nacho lit up another joint, completely ignoring Ai.
“Let me give you my number. You have a cell?” Sebastian whipped out his phone.
Ai watched, open mouthed, as they exchanged numbers. “This is not happening.”
