He took it and kissed it. “I promise.”
Her heart skipped a beat when he leaned down and turned her hand over. He placed a tender kiss on the pad of her thumb.
That little zing of pleasure snaked down her spine again, settling between her legs.
“I’m glad we got that settled,” she murmured.
“So am I.”
He slipped the blanket from her shoulders. Sliding his hands up her nightshirt, he squeezed her bare ass with his fingers. “Nice. No panties.”
“Thong.”
He scowled.
“I wear thongs, not panties.”
“I’m glad you’re wearing neither right now.”
He got down on his knees and lifted the front of her shirt. “Hold this,” he told her.
She grabbed the ends of the shirt in her hands.
Ben went to work on her clit. He licked and sucked until her legs shook.
She could barely stand.
He rose to his feet and stripped the shirt from her body. Placing his hands beneath her bottom, he lifted her. Carlee wrapped her legs around his waist.
He moved to the wall, resting her back flush against it while he fumbled with his zipper and fly.
“Let me.” She grinned.
She loosened his pants and freed his cock.
He pushed into her.
He didn’t stop pumping until she opened her mouth.
“Ben!” she cried when her orgasm consumed her.
His mouth slammed down on hers, swallowing her cry.
Carlee’s clit pulsed and throbbed.
“Again,” she whispered.
“You’re insatiable, little warrior.”
“I told you I had lots of layers.”
That made him laugh.
Ben slid his hands under her bottom. She kept her legs wrapped around his waist while he walked over to the chair on the other side of the room.
He sat down and positioned her over his cock.
Carlee rode him again.
Ben gave her bottom a few taps with his open palm.
That sent her over the edge.
She threw her head back and moaned. Ben leaned forward and sucked her nipples.
She came again, but this time, she collapsed against him.
Ben tipped her chin with his hand and kissed her lips.
“I like this layer, Carlee,” he whispered. “I like it a lot.”
She smiled against his chest. “So do I.”
Chapter Seventeen
Carlee spent her time during the day sketching. Her family spent big bucks to put her up in the city in that apartment—sending her to the finest art school. Bending to Ida’s will, Carlee wanted to keep that life, thinking that’s where her dream of becoming an artist lay.
She was wrong.
Tucked away in the little cottage, Carlee spent more time sketching than she ever had in her entire life. She learned more than all the fancy art classes she took.
She had thirty sketches in all—most of Ben and Dan. But she also had sketches of things from her past—like the reservation.
There were sketches of a tall, elderly proud Indian—Running Bear. Carlee remembered him from the few times she’d seen him when she snuck into the reservation. She wondered how old he was now and if he was still one of the chiefs.
She rose from her chair and stretched her arms high above her head.
It was time to take a break.
She left her bedroom and walked to the kitchen.
Dan was sitting at the kitchen table, reading the paper, sipping a cup of coffee.
“I thought you’d be sleeping,” she stated. Turning on the cold water, she filled the teakettle.
“I wanted to talk to you.”
She placed the teakettle on the stove and glanced his way. His expression serious, he stared back at her.
Her heart skipped a beat.
“About what?”
She took a seat at the table.
“Ben and I have to go to a tribal council meeting tonight.”
She chewed her lower lip. “Okay…”
“Which means there will be someone else here to watch over you.”
Carlee sucked in a breath. “Who?”
“Two other detectives.” His next words came out rushed. “You’ll meet them of course, before Ben and I leave.”
“Leave,” she repeated, her voice flat.
“I meant, before we go to the meeting.”
A few minutes of silence intruded.
Carlee asked, “Are you and Ben coming back?”
“Of course,” he answered, but his eyes didn’t meet hers.
Carlee tried to ignore her racing heartbeat.
“What is the meeting about?”
“The Montauks are looking for financing from the United States Government, so this is a meeting to discuss that.”
“I see,” she murmured.
He reached over and took her hand. His felt cool.
“You know what I always wondered?” she said to him.
He raised a brow. “What?”
“What does the word ‘Montauk’ mean?”
He swallowed. Hard. “It means, ‘uncertain’.”
She released his hand. It suddenly felt…frigid.
“Carlee, you have nothing to worry about. The two detectives who’ll be here are very capable of keeping you safe.”
“It’s not that, it’s just…” She chewed her lower lip again.
She refused to let old insecurities surface. He told her they were coming back.
“I understand.” She jumped when the teakettle whistled.
Dan rose to his feet. “I’ll do it.” He fixed her a cup of her favorite green tea and placed it in front of her.
She looked up at him. “Do you and Ben really want to go to this meeting?”
“It’s more like, we have to.”
She nodded.
“We’ll see you tomorrow morning.” He bent to place a kiss on top of her head.
Carlee sipped her tea, watching his broad back and nice ass. He walked out of the kitchen.
She took another sip of her tea. This time, it tasted like crap. She got up, dumped the contents of her mug down the kitchen sink drain and set the cup down in the sink. The handle broke off. When she picked up the pieces, she cut her thumb.
“Ow!” She put it to her lips.
Tears flowed from her eyes.
She looked down at the cut.
It wasn’t that big…
But then again, when you cut an appendage as important as your thumb, it always bled a lot.
…always.
Humans couldn’t function without a thumb. She remembered a doctor saying that to her many years ago, when she broke hers. She wore a cast for weeks.
She looked down at the cut.
It still bled.
Like her heart.
* * * *
That evening, Ben and Dan took seats in the back of the Montauk’s meeting hall. The room was crowded with attendees. Ben and Dan recognized most of the Indians—many they hadn’t seen in years.
Like Ed Light Foot’s crowd.
Ben leaned over and whispered to Dan, “They’re still a fucking trouble-making bunch.”
Dan leaned back, looking over Ben’s shoulder. “And it seems like they’re looking for it tonight.” He narrowed his eyes, taking in the tattoos blazoned on Ed’s arms.
“They’ll get away with it…” Ben whispered out of the corner of his mouth. “Because Ed is Running Bear’s nephew.” He shook his head. “Same old story.”
“Yeah, well, I hear he’s still got it out for us. Ever since we arrested him last year.”
“Ed and his gang are nothing but a shit-load of trouble.” Ben frowned, his scowl deepening when he saw that Ed noticed him watching. “They robbed that liquor store last year. Hurt that clerk. I’m just glad they got it all on tape.”
“Speaking of tapes,” Dan stated. “McGee called. He says they were finally able to vie
w the tape from Carlee’s store.”
“And?” Ben raised a brow. “What did it show?”
“Precious little.” Dan said on a whisper. “It was so damned dark, it was hard to see much of anything.”
“Fuck,” Ben said under his breath.
A woman turned around, a finger over her slips. “Shhhhhhhhh!”
Ben and Dan settled back in their seats, but Ben gave Ed Light Foot another look.
Running Bear spoke, “As I stated earlier, we’ve already begun the process of applying for financial help from the government. It is important that we all stick together as a tribe and show unity.”
“The same old crap.” Dan shook his head. He glanced at Ben. “And why do I think he’s speaking directly to us?”
“It has come to the council’s attention that there are some of us who don’t feel they have to abide by the council’s wishes.”
Running Bear’s eyes met Dan’s.
Dan elbowed Ben. “See what I mean?”
The woman turned around and glared. “Will you shut up already?”
“Sorry,” Dan grumbled.
“There are those among us who choose to flaunt a lifestyle that, shall we say, makes us all look bad.”
Ben shifted in his seat. People began to murmur, a low hum of voices filled the hall.
“You two!” Running Bear rose to his feet and pointed to the back of the room. “Ben Strong and Dan Swift. Are you so far above the rest of us that you feel you can embarrass our entire community?”
“What the hell?” Ben looked at Dan.
Dan rose to his feet. “Explain yourself Running Bear.”
“Sit down,” Ben hissed. “Don’t make it worse.” He grabbed hold of Dan’s sleeve.
Dan shook him off. “I want to know what you mean when you make that accusation, Running Bear.”
“All right. If you choose to shame yourselves more, I will spell it out for you.” He aimed his finger first at Dan, then Ben. Leaning heavily on his cane, he said. “You’re flaunting a lifestyle the council cannot abide!”
The crowd erupted. All eyes locked on Dan and Ben.
Dan flushed. “That’s not true!”
“Isn’t it?” Running Bear took a step forward. “We’ve heard evidence to the contrary.”
“Evidence?” Ben rose to his feet. “What are we—on trial?”
“Your actions are certainly on trial. Tonight, we decide if you’ll remain part of the Montauks.”
Ben remained standing. “What we do with our personal lives is no one’s business.”
“Not when it shames us as a tribe.” One of the other council members spoke.
The color drained from Dan’s face. He whispered to Ben. “How do they even know this?” He shook his head. “It’s all supposed to be our damned cover.”
Running Bear rapped his cane on the floor. “It makes us look like irresponsible, immoral Indians. It gives everyone a bad name.”
Again, the room erupted.
“That’s right, Running Bear!” someone shouted.
“We need that money.” Another person stood. “We can’t afford to let them screw it up.”
“I’m not staying here and listening to one more minute of this shit,” Dan growled. He walked out, with Ben right behind him.
“Stay here and act like men, defend your actions, prove us wrong!” Running Bear called out. “If you leave now, we will have no choice but to eject you from the tribe.”
“You do that.” Dan said over his shoulder. “You go right ahead and do that.”
Once outside, Ben grabbed hold of him. “Stop.”
“Of all the goddamn, fucking…I can’t believe this!” Dan’s body shook. He started to pace.
“Hey look…it’s the gay boys.” Ed Light Foot approached.
His gang stood on either side of him.
Ed took a step toward Ben. “Which one of you is the woman?” He laughed; so did the rest of his gang. He glanced over at Dan. “Must be you.” He spat out a long brown line of saliva. It landed on Ben’s boot. “You like screwin’ him?” Ed asked, tilting his head toward Dan.
Ben chose to ignore him. He started to walk by, but Ed grabbed his arm. “Then again, I heard you two have a nice little arrangement with that Carlee Davis, too.” He laughed derisively. “Nice little setup you got going there.”
Ben schooled his features, keeping his voice low. He peeled Ed’s arm off his sleeve. “Shut your mouth. And get out of my way.”
“Ya got yourself some nice threesome.”
Dan walked over. That’s when Ed pulled his knife.
In one swift move, Ben kicked out Ed’s left leg. Dan jumped on him, trying to wrestle the knife from Ed’s hand, but he was bigger than Dan. Ed aimed the blade of the knife at Dan’s chest. Ben jumped in, twisting Ed’s arm.
“Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!” He yelled. “You broke my fuckin’ arm!”
The knife clattered to the ground.
Ben rolled Ed over, clamping his hands together in a pair of handcuffs behind his back.
He hauled him to his feet.
One of Ed’s gang members reached over to pick up the knife. Dan saw, and stamped his booted foot over the man’s hand. “I wouldn’t if I were you.” The man squirmed under Dan’s foot. Dan leaned over and grabbed the knife, careful to pick it up by the very end of the handle. He wrenched the young man to his feet.
Running Bear and a crowd of people came outside. “What is going on here?” His voice thundered. He rapped his cane on the steps of the hall. He looked over at Dan and Ben.
“You two!” He shook his head, his long gray braids trailing down his back. “I should have known.”
Dan dragged the young man over to Running Bear. “Is this what you’re teaching these kids?” Dan’s voice shook. “That it’s okay to carry knives and threaten people?”
Running Bear looked over at Ed Light Foot. He struggled against the handcuffs Ben put on him.
Running Bear’s face twisted in disgust. “I’m in no way responsible for this.”
Dan snorted. “You turn a blind eye to what you don’t want to see, and tell yourself you aren't responsible. How is that working for you?”
Sirens blared in the distance. Soon, two Montauk Police Department squad cars pulled up, along with an ambulance.
Lieutenant McGee arrived soon after.
“We’re fucked,” Dan whispered under his breath.
The uniformed officers got the crowd under control while Ben and Dan searched Ed Light Foot and his gang member. By then, the others had fled.
“They're some real, true friends you got there, Light Foot.” Ben shoved him against the police car. “Where are your buddies now?”
“Fuck you, gay boy.”
Ben growled low. “Shut your mouth.” He tossed him face down on the hood of the police cruiser.
Ed turned and looked at him, his smile nasty. “Maybe I’ll get me a piece of Carlee Davis, too.”
Ben leaned down, his face an inch from Light Foot’s. “You won’t be getting a piece of anything, Ed, they’re going to be getting a piece of you in the county jail.”
He shoved him into the police car. Then he went over to join Dan, who just pushed the other young man into another waiting patrol car. The cars sped away.
McGee stood nearby, speaking with Running Bear. Running Bear turned and walked away, a crowd behind him.
“What in hell happened?” McGee growled. “I give you leave to come to this meeting, and you wind up fighting?”
Ben sighed. “Ed Light Foot started it. Him and his gang.”
McGee ran a hand through his hair. “Meet me at the station. Now.”
Ben and Dan watched him get into his car and drive away.
“Shit!” Dan cursed. “Shit, shit…shit.”
Ben narrowed his eyes. “When we get back to the station, I want to question Ed Light Foot.”
Dan just looked at him.
“I want to know how in hell he knows we’ve got anything to do
with Carlee.”
Chapter Eighteen
“You two better have a goddamned good explanation for all of this.” Lieutenant McGee’s voice thundered through his office. He shut the door and pulled the blinds across his office windows.
“That safe house we’ve got Carlee Davis in isn’t secure anymore.” Ben told him.
McGee shrugged out of his jacket and tossed it on his desk. Rolling up the sleeves of his shirt, he asked. “Well?” He looked at the two of them. “I’m waiting. Am I supposed to guess or are you going to tell me why?”
Dan ran a hand through his hair. “Ed Light Foot started with Ben and me outside the meeting hall.”
McGee didn’t say anything for a few minutes. Finally, he replied. “Ed Light Foot’s garbage.” He aimed a finger at them. “He’s still carrying a grudge against the two of you.”
“Right now…” Ben stated. “Ed Light Foot’s sitting with that piece of shit legal-aide lawyer Running Bear knows. They’re screaming, ‘Indian injustice’ again.”
“Great.” McGee shook his head. “That’s all the department needs.”
“Light Foot had a knife. He pulled it on us tonight. We were only defending ourselves.”
McGee sighed. “Okay, but it’ll be your word against his. I’ll back you.”
Ben nodded. “There’s still the matter of Carlee Davis’ safety.”
“Yeah, go on. I’m listening.” McGee picked up a pencil, tapping it on the desk.
“Tonight, Running Bear made mention of the fact that Ben and I are living a lifestyle that’s ruining the Montauks’ chances of getting financial help.”
McGee shrugged. “So what? You two agreed to that particular cover. That’s not my problem.”
“Yes, but, Ed Light Foot says he knows that we’ve been…” Ben looked away.
McGee scowled. “Come on, come on! I haven’t got all fucking night.”
Ben looked him square in the eye. “That we’ve been…” He sighed. “Fooling around with Carlee Davis.” The last sentence came out in a rush.
Dan stood off to the side, his arms folded across his chest. He stared down at the tips of his boots.
McGee sat back in his chair, steepling his fingers beneath his chin.
He took his cell phone from his jacket pocket and made a call.
“…yeah, that’s right. You and Higgins are to stay with her until further notice. No, that’s all for now.”
Kissed by the Sun Page 12
