Ridge City Recruits: The Full Seven-Book Collection

by Mazzy King

  His eyes gleam and he leans closer toward me. “Oh, yeah? Such as?”

  “I dunno.” I shrug as though I’m frustrated. “I just thought there’d be less bureaucratic bullshit, you know?”

  Ron nods rapidly.

  “Less emphasis on the command staff throwing their weight around or bragging about their exploits. Let us new guys have a chance to shine.”

  “I know what you mean,” he says vehemently. “They’re so up their own asses. As if they’re the only ones who could ever be the hero. Macho fucks.”

  Aha. I detect some true rage in his voice. Could this be a lead to follow up on?

  “Take my number,” he insists. “We should link up sometime, outside this environment, if you know what I mean. I’ve been around these guys my whole life. I can give you the real scoop, if you ever want to know.”

  “Sure,” I say cautiously, and hand him my phone to input his number, hoping I’m not making a mistake. But the alarm in my gut is too loud to ignore.

  Ron hands my phone back. “Now you text me so I have your number.”

  Shit. I really didn’t want to exchange numbers, but I’m stuck. I send him a text with my name. He stares at his phone like a hawk, then when my text pops up, he nods.

  “Well, I guess I should get to work. I’m on swing shift tonight.”

  “Have a good one.” I wave to him, then head toward my car. My mind spins. I’m not sure what made me do that, but Ron is certainly someone worth checking into.

  I’m halfway home when my phone vibrates. I jump, half expecting it to be him, but it’s a text from Elodie.

  Elodie: Ordering takeout tonight if you want to stop by. It’s been a couple weeks. We should catch up.

  Ah, shit. We’ve texted a little over the past two weeks, but we haven’t really talked since the kiss in our office. Haven’t seen each other. And I’m not sure now’s the best time for it, but…I miss her. I miss her face, her voice, her presence.

  Her lips.

  Before I can talk myself out of it, I reply.

  Almost home. Need a shower, then I’ll be over.

  5

  Elodie

  Khalil knocks on my apartment door a couple minutes after the Postmates driver left. I’ve barely set out the food I ordered—Japanese—before he arrives, so I hurry to let him in.

  He gives me an eager but slightly tentative smile as he steps inside. “Hey, El. Thanks for the invite.”

  “Of course,” I say slowly, stepping back to let him in. He smells delicious—the fresh scent of his body wash combines with his warm, vanilla-and-spice cologne to create a heady combination. Even though he’s wearing a typical lowkey Khalil outfit—jeans and a plain gray V-neck—he still looks good enough to eat. “It’s been a while since we—since we talked.”

  Talked. Right.

  “I miss my friend,” I add quickly.

  He reaches out, lightly stroking his thumb along my chin. “I missed you too.”

  His directness makes me lightheaded, but I smile and gesture toward the couch. We open bottles of Sapporo and dig into sushi, fried rice, and miso soup as we watch a new show on Netflix. It feels like old times, but better.

  It feels like I could do this forever.

  I resist the urge to cuddle up to his side and distract myself with cleaning up. I toss out the trash, put the empty bottles into the recycling bin, and wash my hands at the sink, trying to think of how to bring up what’s been on my mind lately—him.

  That kiss.

  I head back into the living room, and Khalil stands up as I walk over to the couch. I blink up at him in surprise.

  “Are you leaving?”

  He shakes his head. “No, I…”

  “You what?”

  Khalil reaches for my hand. “I can’t stop thinking about what happened between us, El. In the office.”

  He didn’t need to clarify that. I swallow. “You have?”

  “I can’t stop thinking about it.”

  “Me either,” I whisper.

  He pulls me closer until our chests touch.

  “El,” he murmurs.

  “Yes?”

  “Would it be a terrible idea if…”

  I bite my lip, following his gaze as it fastens on my lips. “If what?”

  In reply, he cups my face and leans in, tilting his head so there’s no question whatsoever about his terrible idea. My breath catches as he brushes his lips to mine gently once, then again. His fingers slip under my T-shirt, grazing my skin. His mouth is soft, insistent, and a moment later, his tongue glides through my parted lips.

  “Khalil,” I whisper.

  “I want you, Elodie,” he replies in a hushed voice, then pulls me closer. More soft kisses, deep, wet, and the kind that makes my head spin.

  I’m not sure how long we stand like that, devouring each other with slow, deep, wet kisses. It could be a minute. It could be a lifetime.

  He lifts me into the air. My legs open automatically and wrap around his waist, letting me better feel the thick, hard bulge right against my sex. Our kisses become faster, desperate, needy. I shove my hips forward, letting him know how much I need him.

  Khalil breaks our kiss and tilts his forehead against mine. “Tell me what you want, Elodie. Because at this point, there’s no turning back.”

  I cup his face. “I want you, Khalil. I want you.”

  His jaw tightens. “I want you too. I’ve been in love with you since college. I need you to know that. I need you to know this isn’t a one-time thing for me.”

  I kiss him deeply. “I don’t want it to be a one-time thing. I’m in love with you too.”

  He exhales a huge breath. “Then tell me,” he says, his voice lowering to a low, seductive purr, “what you want.” His mouth lands on my neck, and he places wet, suckling kisses there.

  “I want you to do that,” I murmur, “all over my body.”

  He lets out a little growl, pushing his hard cock harder against me. “Where?”

  “My stomach. My back. My breasts.” I angle my mouth against his ear, teasing his lobe. “My pussy.”

  He groans and pulls me away from the wall. “I need to taste you. Now.”

  Khalil carries me into the bedroom and over to the bed, where he sets me on my feet. I slide his T-shirt up, and he helps me pull it over his head. Underneath, he’s even more glorious and chiseled than I ever fantasized. His well-developed pecs are stone topped with satin and a smattering of hair. His abs are like rocks stacked on top of each other, defined and hard.

  “You’re amazing,” I breathe.

  “And you’re exquisite,” he murmurs.

  He carefully pulls my tank top up, over my head. The cool air raises goosebumps on my skin, I’m barely aware as he trails his fingers down my front to unbutton my jeans and wiggle them down off my hips. He lowers himself to a knee to pull them all the way off. His gaze lingers on my body, taking in the delicate pink lace bra and panty set I wear underneath. His warm hands glide over my skin.

  He plants those wet, suckling kisses on each of my inner thighs. “Can I have my dessert now?”

  I giggle softly. “Only if you promise to lick the bowl.”

  Khalil straightens, kissing me just like I asked him to all over my belly and breasts on the way up. His eyes on me, he makes quick work of his belt and jeans. “Take that pretty pink bra off.”

  Obediently, I lower first one bra strap and then the other, slowly, teasingly. He reaches out for me, cupping my breasts and running his thumbs over my tight nipples.

  “My mouth is watering,” he says.

  He reaches down, now just wearing tight boxer briefs, and grips his cock. It looks like quite a handful, and an intense tingle way down low between my thighs is overwhelming.

  “Get on the bed,” he orders me quietly.

  I back onto the bed, leaning back on my elbows. “Like this?”

  He crawls over me, then lowers his mouth to suck and tease my nipples. The rush of pleasure is intense as I tilt m
y head back, letting him ravish me with his mouth.

  Khalil trails kisses down my belly, right over my mound. He runs his tongue all over the lace fabric covering my aching, wet sex. Blessedly, he hooks his fingers into each side of my thong and tugs it down and off.

  “Spread those thighs for me,” he breathes.

  With an impish smile, I slowly part my legs, loving the way his teeth sink into his lower lip.

  He leans forward to kiss and lightly nibble my inner thighs, trailing his fingers over my skin and lightly grazing my pussy, inciting my excitement. I could come with just a few more light, teasing strokes of his fingers, and I will if he doesn’t stop soon.

  “Khalil,” I gasp.

  “Sorry,” he says with a teasing smile. “I’ve always had a bad habit of playing with my food before I eat it…”

  Without further ado, he buries his mouth and tongue in me, and I let out a loud cry.

  His tongue slides through my wet flesh with long, expert licks, plunging inside me before trailing it up to stimulate my clit.

  My head falls back, chest heaving as I struggle to catch my breath. “Oh my god. Fuck!”

  I spread my legs farther apart as he works his tongue against me, and my hips roll against his mouth. Then he slides a finger inside me at the same time, then another.

  I can’t take another second, and finally explode in his mouth with a hoarse moan.

  He immediately stands and yanks his boxer briefs down, then pulls me to the edge of the bed by my thighs. With a tight grip on each, he slides inside me.

  “Fuck!” I gasp. “You’re so huge.”

  He slowly starts to fuck me with long, deep strokes. I’ve never felt anything this amazing. My loud cries echo off the walls as my insides coil tight.

  He drapes my legs over his shoulders and leans forward, bearing down on me. I’m helpless against my next climax as it rips through me.

  “Fuck, you feel amazing,” Khalil groans through gritted teeth. “You’re gonna make me come…” With another deep grunt, he pushes in deep and holds himself there. His thick cock pulses inside me as he releases. He lowers his mouth and kisses me deeply for long, leisurely moments.

  “I don’t think I can move,” I murmur.

  “Me either.” Khalil carefully withdraws, lowering my legs, then pulls me into his arms and arranges us on the bed. Before I get too comfortable, I summon all my strength to tidy up in the bathroom first, then stagger back to his waiting arms.

  “Why did we wait so long to do that?” I ask, snuggling against his chest.

  “I have no idea.” He kisses the top of my head, holding me close. “But we shouldn’t have.”

  6

  Khalil

  I jerk awake.

  It takes me a second to remember where I’m at—Elodie’s apartment, in her bed. She still sleeps soundly beside me, undisturbed by whatever pulled me out of my slumber. I only have to wonder a moment before I hear it—the vibration of my phone.

  I reach down over the side of the bed to retrieve it. It’s a quarter to two in the morning. I see a few texts, all from Ron.

  Hey

  You up?

  Want some real hands-on training?

  “What the fuck?” I mutter aloud.

  Elodie murmurs in her sleep and rolls onto her side. I dart a quick look at her, but she’s still fast asleep.

  I start to put my phone back down and curl up beside her, but then that little instinctive tug in my gut tells me to take a moment.

  What the hell could he be talking about?

  Yeah, I write back. Where? When?

  Meet me at the academy, comes the reply. Now.

  Now I know this can’t be good. But still—I have intel to collect, and I have a feeling that tonight, I’m going to get a lot of answers to a lot of questions the police have been asking.

  On the way, I respond.

  I glance over at Elodie as I slide out of bed. She’s motionless. I dress quickly and sigh. I hate leaving her like this, but hopefully, I’ll be able to tell her soon what’s been up. In the meantime, I’m going to have to think of a decent excuse to tell her in the morning.

  Food poisoning, I think as I lean over her. Her breathing is even and deep, and she doesn’t move when I lightly kiss her cheek.

  “I love you,” I whisper into her ear, hoping it reaches her subconscious.

  Then I slip out of her room and out of the apartment.

  “Food poisoning,” I gripe to myself as I start my car. “That’s fucking brilliant, Khalil. Yeah. She’s not too smart for a dumbass excuse like that at all.”

  Yeah, it sucks. I’m going to have to think of something better. But in the meantime, I have a job to do.

  It takes about fifteen minutes to make it out to the academy, which is, of course, dead silent. I park in the lot I usually do when attending classes, then hop out, looking around.

  Me: I’m here dude.

  Ron: Come inside.

  Me: It’s locked????

  Ron: Not for me.

  What in the actual fuck? I jog toward the main building. It’s not like I had a ton of warm fuzzies before I got here, but now, I’m seriously concerned…and a little afraid.

  The front door of the building is unlocked, to my surprise. I step inside. Only a few of the overhead fluorescent lights are on, and all of the classrooms and conference rooms are dark, their doors closed.

  “Ron?” I call out tentatively.

  “Here.”

  I whirl around. Ron steps out of the shadows by the door. His eyes are a little bloodshot, but he doesn’t look insane.

  “Hey,” I say cautiously. “I thought you were working tonight.”

  “Got off a couple hours ago. Was too wound up to sleep, so I thought I’d see what you were doing.” He steps toward me. “I was thinking a lot about what we talked about earlier tonight. The bullshit you’ve mentioned seeing.”

  “Yeah?” I say.

  Ron gives me a knowing smile. “I think we’re a lot alike. I think you could appreciate my project.”

  “Your…project?”

  His smile grows. “I’m sure you read the papers.”

  My stomach sinks. Fuck. I know what he’s going to say. I’m not surprised. And yet, at the same time, I’m totally shocked.

  “The fires the media has dubbed ‘arsons,’” he continues, making finger quotes.

  “Those…were you?” There’s a rock in the pit of my stomach, heavy, unpleasant.

  Ron nods, and he looks totally proud. “All my handiwork. It’s to show RCFD who’s really in power. They’re scrambling to find me, and they can’t do it. I know how this shit works, see. And all I’m doing is making them look so fucking stupid!” He laughs.

  A little voice in my head tells me to do the same, to play along and appear sympathetic and approving—to keep him talking and to protect myself. I force a chuckle.

  “Wow,” I say, trying to make myself sound admiring. “You’re really something. You’re like…Batman.”

  I curse myself the second it leaves my mouth, but Ron only seems flattered.

  “I’m sending them a message, Khalil,” he says intensely, stepping toward me. “That for all the times they told me I wasn’t good enough, I’m proving they’re not good at all. They can’t do shit to keep this city safe.” He looks around, smirking. “They won’t be able to do shit about keeping this building safe.”

  “What do you mean?” I ask, hoping I don’t sound as alarmed as I feel. I force another chuckle. “Look, man, if you burn this place down, I’m out of a job. I do get paid to attend the academy, you know.”

  “And that’s exactly why I have to do this,” he insists. “To highlight another issue—how this fucking fire department doesn’t take care of its own. At least three firefighters have been severely injured because of my fires, and what do you think the department has done for them? Jack shit!”

  I immediately think of Elodie’s brother. He’s one of the three Ron is talking about, and a sud
den flash of nausea roils through me.

  “But Ron,” I say slowly, “you just said your fires have hurt others. You’ve hurt people. How can two wrongs make a right?”

  “Their blood is not on my hands,” he says, almost snarling. “Don’t you see, Khalil? They’re collateral damage in a bigger picture. And frankly, they’re martyrs to my cause. They’ve sacrificed themselves to help show the town, the state, the world, how corrupt this place is.”

  He’s officially gone over the cliff.

  Ron looms closer, only a few inches away from me now. “Khalil, from the second I saw you, I knew there was something special about you. I thought then that you might be the one I’ve been looking for—a partner. A Robin to my Batman, if you will.”

  “A partner for what?” I asked, mystified.

  “My mission,” he replies. “Haven’t you been listening?”

  I swallow. “Right. So what’re you doing here?”

  “All the other fires set me up for this moment, and this moment alone,” Ron says. He waves a hand in a circular motion. “This place is the pinnacle of the hypocrisy. And we’re going to burn it down.”

  I take a deep breath. “I can’t let you do that, Ron.” I pull out my phone. “In fact, I’m going to have to insist you stay where you are and keep your hands where I can see them.”

  He barks out an ugly laugh. “Trying to be the hero? You’re not going to win.”

  I shake my head, glancing down to find Detective O’Connor’s number in my recent call log as fast as I can. “No, Ron. You’re—”

  A blur of motion. Ron lunging at me, swinging.

  Something hard slamming into the side of my head, even as I try to duck out of the way.

  And then…nothing.

  7

  Elodie

  I pull up beside Khalil’s car in the parking lot of the fire and police academy training ground, where I followed him after he snuck out of my apartment.

  At first, I planned to just ask him who was calling or texting, but when I felt him start sliding off my bed and quietly getting dressed, I knew he was leaving.