Just a flicker of a gaze the guy gave me, then, “Yeah.”
“Who?”
Suddenly, it occurred to Mr. Square Head that I wasn’t just some curious guy, that I was going to cause trouble for him and he rounded on me, assuming his full six-foot height, or something like that. I was six-two myself and squared up, I towered over him.
“He sent you, didn’t he?” I asked.
And that was it, the guy swung a boxing glove of a fist my way. I ducked, jabbed my own punch into his exposed ribs. He staggered back then came on full force, more battering rams for punches. I evaded most, although one caught me in the side. Before I could go down, I landed my own punch to the side of his face, then a kick to his shins. That got him good. He grunted as he staggered.
Next thing I knew I heard another grunt coming from him, the unmistakable sound of another hit. Thing was, I was flat on my ass and getting back up. Rising to my feet, I saw the source: Blair.
“I thought I told you to…” she said to me.
But she was unable to finish her sentence. Now the big beefy man was back, although he was no match for the two of us. Letting loose a volley of closing kicks, we drove him away. I was pissed that he was getting away before we could find out who sent him.
But right then, all my concern was for Blair. Turning to her, I resisted the urge to grab her, to touch her, to make sure she was alright.
“You all good?” I asked.
Blair nodded, although the ice pale shade of her face suggested different really.
“So that guy…” I said.
I didn’t finish the sentence. It went without saying that he was definitely not here just ‘waiting for a friend’. I glanced up a couple stories then my gaze met Blair’s. “That yours?”
She nodded. I frowned. “And tonight…”
Blair’s gaze slipped in the direction the man had disappeared to. “He’s gone now.”
This I couldn’t stand. “Oh no you don’t,” I said. “We both know that guy could be back as soon as I turn on my car.” Blair kicked at a stray clod of grass.
“Come back with me,” I said suddenly, surprising myself. “Either that, or I stay over here.”
She didn’t answer straight away but I could tell she was considering it.
“Come on,” I urged her. “Up to you.”
She nodded, then said, “Fine. Your place. Just let me pack my things.”
Ten or so minutes later we were in my car and on the way back to my place. Although I wasn’t as sure that this was a good thing. Jeremy was right, I realized. As I sat beside Blair and drove us back, I could feel it. That confident put together Blair was one thing, and hard to resist as it was. But seeing Blair as vulnerable and nervous as this, it was hard not to wrap my arms around her and hold her on the spot.
Although I already had plans to look up that guy in the police database tomorrow at work, that didn’t do jack shit for us now. I wanted Blair safe, and getting her back to our place seemed the best way to do that.
--
Back at the house a few minutes later, one look at Blair and I knew that this had been a bad idea. Her clothes were baggy, but not baggy enough to obscure her shape, and I could feel my erection prickling uneasily in my jeans
Great move, Peter – invite over the one girl you can’t under any circumstances fuck.
“Just gonna make a call,” I told her, going to the bathroom as dog Jeremy leapt about Blair joyously and she scratched his happy shaggy head. There, I called up Noah and Jeremy, who were apparently at some bar, but basically jumped up ready to leave as soon as I told them what had happened with Blair and that sketchy man outside her apartment.
“We’ll be there,” Noah said seconds before I was listening to dial tone.
I went over to the sink. Turned on the tap. Throwing water on my face didn’t help. It made me uneasy, being in here while she was out there. Especially with that dangerous guy on the loose. Who knows, he could’ve even somehow followed us here.
Just a few minutes, I told myself as I exited the bathroom to join Blair, just a few minutes – maybe ten – and the others would be there too. Although I wasn’t one hundred percent sure that was actually a good thing.
Back in the main part of the house, Blair was seated on a couch. I went over, lingering awkwardly behind her.
“Don’t feel like you have to babysit me.” Her smile was apologetic. “I really appreciate you letting me stay here, but I don’t want to put you out or take over your whole night.”
“It’s fine,” I told her, pausing. I wanted to admit that I liked spending time with her but couldn’t.
Blair’s gaze was perceptibly on the multicolored arm of the couch, although I could still feel it, somehow, pointed my way. “You know. Don’t you?”
I gazed at the back of her head. It was facing straight ahead now, proud, unashamed. Dog Jeremy had returned, and she was petting him.
“Yes,” I said.
She turned to eye me. “You must think I’m an idiot.”
“No,” I said. “I know neither of you meant for it to happen.”
Her lips were a displeased bow. “Doesn’t matter. Still did. Most times I’m sure people don’t mean for screwed-up things to happen. They just do.”
I could only nod, mutely. If there was one unfortunate thing that being a cop taught you, it was that the world was full of people with good intentions and bad actions. Often times, it was the ones who had intended for the best things to happen, who ended up doing the most horrific things – the young guy who just wanted to please his momma at whatever the cost, the lady who had too many hungry mouths to feed, the sister who was just getting what was owed to her.
I didn’t let myself look at Blair long. If I looked at her and she saw me looking, then I’d have to say something. And the only thing I could think of saying, right now, was that I was impressed by how she wasn’t asking for sympathy, for advice.
“Asking for a new partner wouldn’t help, would it?”
Her question surprised me. I’d figured she and Jeremy would hold onto each other as partners to the bitter end, denying the conflict in working together inherent in what had happened between them.
“I don’t think so,” I said. “Chief Fallows doesn’t like change. And she certainly doesn’t like change without good reason.”
“And our good reason is the very one we can’t tell her,” Blair cut in.
“Bingo,” I said.
Blair pondered me for a minute. “You don’t like me very much, do you? And yet you came to help me, why?”
I concentrated on the button on my sleeve. So that was what she thought. My heartbeat was thudding dully in my chest. It was good, really, that she misconstrued my harshness for that.
Luckily, before I could answer, my brothers barreled in the front door.
“We’re here!” Jeremy announced, beelining for Blair. “You ok?”
She nodded. “I’m fine.”
“Fine enough for a movie?” Noah asked.
“All that drinking and dancing wiped us out,” Jeremy said with an exhausted expression at me.
“You two, dancing?” I said skeptically.
“Ok, so we were drowning our sorrows,” Jeremy said, irritation taking over as he strode over to the kitchen. “You got me, ok?”
I said nothing. One look at the quick look exchanged between my two younger brothers made it clear just what the purpose of the bar visit had been – the Blair situation. Not to mention it had been clear why I wasn’t invited – Jeremy didn’t want my criticism and all that it would demand of him.
The next hour or so we spent watching one of Jeremy’s favorites – Hot Fuzz. We all laughed at the zombies and cops, even Blair, while Dog Jeremy flit about, gobbling down any stray chips. It felt good to see her smile again. Before we knew it, though, while Jeremy took a long-ass time trying to find the chip bag in the monstrosity of mess that was our pantry, Blair was out cold.
“Isn’t that sweet,” Jeremy
said, although there was an edge audible in his voice.
I hardly blamed him. While he was gone, Blair had fallen asleep on my shoulder.
After carrying her to the guest room bed, we watched a bit more of the movie, but weren’t as into it. After all, we’d seen it a good ten or so times by now; had mainly been watching it for her.
“Think she’ll be ok?” Noah asked as we all got up.
“Yes,” I said. “I’m going to look into that guy in the database tomorrow. Maybe one of us can go talk to the guy you arrested, what was his name?”
“Francis,” Jeremy said. “But shouldn’t we make sure the guy was sent by him first?”
I nodded. “No sense in pissing him off if he wasn’t involved and giving him any ideas. Anyway, goodnight you two.”
We gave each other a sort of token pat on the shoulder, then got to bed. I had a good sleep but when I woke up, my mind was racing with all that had happened with Blair.
Needing to take a piss, I rolled out of bed and padded over to the bathroom. When I reached the door, I realized there was someone already in there. As I waited, all I could hear was the sound of running for what seemed like a long time.
I knocked. “Blair?”
The water stopped and the door opened. Blair stood in front of me, water droplets clinging to her face.
“Sorry,” she said. “Couldn’t sleep, then heard a noise and started freaking out…”
She was shaking and my arms went around her automatically. “It’s ok.”
I led her back to her room and got her back in bed. There, I sat on the edge, feeling her gaze on me.
She was silently asking me to stay.
So, I climbed in, not releasing my hold. It was ridiculous, but it felt like nothing could get to her – to either of us – so long as I kept my arms around her.
At some point, our breathing had synced up.
Blair’s voice came out unexpected. “You do like me.”
And her words were so earnest and grateful and still a bit overcome, that I turned to see her face, her lips ready, her eyes alight.
Impossible to say who kissed who first.
19
Blair
His kiss was convincing. He held me and kissed me, and I let it at all happen. More than ‘let’ – I savored it. Peter’s lips were firm and commanding, directing mine how they wanted them. While mine were all too happy to oblige.
Peter was gentler than I would’ve expected. As our kisses grew, his hold flagged. As if understanding this was a different type of hold, one equally powerful. His arms gave mine free reign to explore, to enjoy. The scratchy stubble on his face and his high, proud cheekbones. The perfect curve of his ear. How his head arched back as I bit into his fleshy lobe.
One movement followed the next as irresistibly as a groan. Moving together, our bodies did all the talking, just how I liked it.
Peter didn’t pause, didn’t give me time to pause. In this, there was no pausing, only doing. Enjoying.
And so, Peter kissed his way down my front, down my shirt. He took his time, as my fingers raked into his hair, clasped and grabbed and claimed. His suckling of my nipple over my shirt was moan-inducing, shake-demanding.
That was the first time he paused, smiled.
There was a fire in his eyes I’d never seen before, and that egged me on too.; made me reckless. I gripped his hair tighter as he moved onto the other nipple, teasing it with his teeth and tongue.
All of me was swirling sleepily with a growing wet fluttering below.
One Peter was inevitably nearing. His hands stroked down to follow the trail of his mouth, the line of my waist, my lips.
When they reached their destination, they didn’t move on further. All of me reeled. Peter wasn’t going to…
His lips dove down, kissed right at my belly button, then lower. He was.
Fingers and lips fluttered down together, pulling down the plain cotton panties I’d worn, swirling about the wet.
The first connection of mouth to clit was pure magic. A groan clawed out of me.
He was perfect.
His finger sinking into me and his mouth moving on me, brought me pure liquid ecstasy.
He lapped at me, onto my trembling thighs, ripping out more groans from me, his scratchy stubble alternating with his lapping soft mouth to drive me insane with pleasure.
And, amidst it all, that pulsing finger. In and out and further and more. Until I was twisting and groaning, and his mouth was back on my clit. His tongue was swirling round and round, sending my legs thrashing, me thrashing.
Now, I was on the edge and groaning with it.
Not just good – fan-fucking-tastic!
My release ripped out of me, through me, and I was tremoring, in his arms, shaking, crying out. Peter was kissing me, holding me, as everything faded away to darkness.
--
The next morning, a knock of the door threw me upright.
It was Noah, looking apologetic. “We’re starving and wondered if we should go to Pancake House. But if you’re too tired….”
I mustered myself up, grateful that I was covered by the duvet. “Pancake House would be amazing. I’ll get ready now.”
We exchanged smiles.
Was I supposed to say something now? But Noah, the awkwardness of our situation showing on his face, thankfully left.
I sighed, although I couldn’t help but smile. Although Noah wasn’t as vocal as Jeremy, I could sense his affection for me every time we were together. He never seemed eager to let the conversation die, always lingering nearby. This time, though, I was worried that he had lingered for another reason. Bits and pieces of last night with Peter were coming back to me now. I wasn’t sure what to make of them, except that he definitely did like me. The way he’d gone down on me – so gently and skillfully – left no doubt about that, not to mention how tenderly he’d comforted me.
Problem was, I thought it was Jeremy I was into, and now I was buzzing with just the thought of Peter? Way to complicate things for an already complicated situation.
I forced myself out of bed, slinging my hair into a messy pony. The sooner I got going and got some food in my stomach, the better things would go for me.
Outside, the guys were all ready, with no indication whether Peter had told them what had went down. Clearly at some point last night, he had left me in bed, but there was no way of knowing if the others had spotted him or overheard us at any point before that.
“Uh, Blair?” Peter was staring at my chest.
I realized with a jolt, that I had mis-buttoned my blouse; leaving a hole that provided anyone with a straight viewing access to my lacy bra.
“Whoops,” I said. “Guess I’m tired.”
I went to the bathroom, my cheeks burning with the realization that they’d all been looking at my chest. I needed to get on task, stop obsessing over these brothers.
But how was I supposed to when they were every direction I turned; when they clogged my thoughts so insatiably?
A few minutes later, at Pancake House, when we reached the booth, we realized the problem immediately. While it was thankfully set off from most of the other guests, there was only room for two people to sit beside me. Jeremy, of course, called dibs, while the other two kept arguing about who would be the gentleman and allow the other to sit beside me.
“Peter, sit beside me,” I said finally, looking away so I wouldn’t have to see Noah’s invariably disappointed expression. I felt bad, but after the night Peter had given me, that was the least he deserved.
“Popular girl,” the waitress said with a wink, before setting the menus down at our table and leaving.
“You have no idea,” Jeremy said drily.
And just like that, I knew he knew.
“You’re not mad?” I said, realizing it as I scanned his face.
“Depends,” he said, scanning mine back. “You gonna date Peter instead of me?”
“We haven’t talked about that,” I said quietly
. “About any of this, really.”
“Maybe it’s time that we do, then,” Peter said.
I gaped at him. Even after last night, Peter was the last one I’d thought who would’ve been induced to carrying on a relationship with a colleague. Although he hadn’t said that, to be fair.
“We all want the best for you,” Noah said.
“Hang on.” I frowned. “You’ve all been talking about this without me?”
“No,” Noah said. “Just knew we were all thinking it.”
“And we were.” Jeremy patted his brother supportively before turning a concerned look my way. “Last thing I want to do is mess up your career. I know how much it means to you.”
“Ok….” I said.
“But I’m going to be honest,” Jeremy continued. “I’d be lying to myself if I said that I’m going to be able to be good around you 24/7. At work, sure. But I’m really attracted you, and I like you. And I don’t know what to do.”
“Me too,” Noah said.
Peter flattened his menu in front of him. “And me.”
“So, what do we do then?” I asked. A glance at the menu provided me with no relief – the ten-high stack of pancakes looked dizzying.
“Keep it a secret and toe the line at work, and see where things lead?” Jeremy suggested.
I couldn’t match his hopeful smile. He made it sound so easy.
“But what about us?” I lowered my voice, looking between Jeremy and Noah. “Doesn’t it bother you about Peter and me?”
Jeremy considered this. “For a second, yeah. And if you chose him over me, definitely. But I…” His brow furrowed. “I like you. And if being with him makes you happy too, then I’m ok with it.”
“Ok,” was all I could think to say to that.
Right then, it felt like we were in some alternate universe where things like this actually seemed plausible.
“And you?” I said, turning to Peter.
He could only shrug. “Still don’t think it’s the best idea, but Jeremy summed it up about right. I like you, and I can’t go back to the way things were. If that’s a risk, then so be it.”
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