Roulette

by C. D. Bradley

  He spun her around putting her back up against the wall. “You have no idea,” he growled. The hot water poured over her drenching every scrap of fabric. His hands cupped her neck and chin and tilted her mouth to his. He closed in on her with the fury of a desperate man. “I’ve waited all day to taste you again.” He separated her feet with his and pushed her legs apart.

  His kiss stole her breath and transported her into a state of bliss she couldn’t explain. There was a sort of sweet sensual familiarity to his touch like the intimacy of an old lover who knows just what to do. He laced his fingers in hers and raised her hands above her head and pinned them there.

  “Do not move,” he commanded. “You are one dirty girl, Olivia Hastings.” He grabbed her body wash and squirted it on her, clothes and all. “I’m going to wash away everything before me. I want to be the first man to kiss you, to hold you. You are mine. You were always mine.”

  The strong tropical smell of flowers and coconut filled the shower and rose on the steam. He massaged her into a lather of sultry bubbles; her neck, her breasts, her abdomen and tilted the water to rinse away her past. Olivia was only too willing to comply. She closed her eyes and angled her face up into the spray of the water. He was on her again kissing delicately and then hungrily at the buffet of her mouth. She let herself go in his control and just enjoyed every second of his lips on her wanton body. He kissed down her neck and chest until he reached the tank top.

  “This has to go,” he said unforgivingly and ripped it off over her head. “You are here again and I am drunk on the perfection of your magnificent body. I will tolerate nothing between us.”

  Olivia gasped at the sudden exposure and then the hot sensation of his mouth on her breast. Her breathing heaved with pleasure. Every part of her body reacted to the thrill of his tongue and the pressure of his mouth.

  He raked his fingers down her abdomen to the waist of her jeans and dropped to his knees before her. “I worship every exquisite move you make. Olivia, when you walk in a room you exude elegance like a fine perfume,” he said quietly in that clear sultry voice that had the power to reach into your very soul. He unbuttoned her jeans slowly and let the zipper down.

  Olivia braced herself against the shower wall. The sensuality of the moment had her clit throbbing and burning to be touched. Her body ached for him and he was only inches away.

  “But now . . .” His voice took on the low growl of an evil Norse god. “I will possess you, taste you, claim you as mine . . . Do you understand?” The last words he whispered but they echoed in the shower and sent an uncontrollable ripple of pleasure exploding through her. She was desperate for him to take her. The need was so intense it was painful. He pulled her jeans free and took her panties between his teeth. He laughed wickedly and his hot breath invigorated her sex.

  “Fuck, Dominic! I can’t take it anymore. I need you to fuck me. Goddamn!” She pleaded, and unable to restrain and keep her hands back another second Olivia wrapped her arms around his neck digging her nails into the back of his head.

  He removed her panties and buried his face between her legs. Olivia let out a moan that shook the mirror. The pure fucking bliss tore through her.

  “Not yet, my love.” He picked her up and pinned against the shower wall sinking fully into her as they collapsed into the tile. He groaned like a lion claiming his prize. Olivia almost screamed the sensation was unfucking believable. He filled and stretched her so that her body felt it would willingly rip apart and be remade again. She held tight to him as he moved in and out finding the perfect rhythm of the unspoken music that played between them each time they met.

  “You . . . are . . . maddening . . . and . . . I . . . love . . . it.” He grunted as he thrust into her. His fingers held tight to the flesh of her ass pulling her deeper with each collision of their wet bodies. Olivia felt the delicious warm tingle building from her toes and moving up her legs like an erotic wave swelling as it reached her sex in an explosion that could shake Chernobyl. Olivia began to spasm around him and she felt him tense, gripping her with the power to move mountains. In one final motion he let go and crashed into her with all that he was as a man. The sound that erupted from his lips tore fucking space. They collapsed like sand onto the shower floor, sated in a timeless embrace.

  OLIVIA WATCHED DOMINIC drive away on his bike. She couldn’t believe herself, sleeping with the FBI agent working on the case. If her office crew found out she would never live this down. Of all the fucking luck. A freaking one-night stand ended up being the one man she connected with in years and he just happened to be called in to help with her big case. Olivia glanced in the rearview mirror before driving. Keep your judgy eyes to yourself, Grace. What would Grace have said? Olivia knew Grace would have said go for it. She was always the wild one. Where Olivia stuck to the rules and avoided dangerous situations, Grace embraced them. Growing up Grace had always been the life of the party. People were just drawn to her. Olivia quietly admired her courage and magnetic personality. If she had to admit it she rode on her sister’s coattails through most of their childhood. Whatever sport or party Grace did she tagged along. Whatever mess or trouble Grace found herself in Olivia cleaned it up and bailed her out.

  Until the end that is. Olivia stopped at the light and wiped a tear out of her eye. She had failed her in the end. She should have been there. The never-ending reel of what ifs began to play for the millionth time in her mind. College was supposed to be the greatest time of their lives. She should have gone to Brown with Grace. They had both been accepted to Brown, but Olivia had her eye on Yale since middle school. When Grace didn’t get in everyone assumed they would just go to Brown, together. Olivia gripped the steering wheel. If she had only gone to school with Grace maybe . . . The familiar ache in her heart and chest came back with a vengeance. The car felt very small and she struggled to breathe. Her selfishness killed her sister and she knew it. Her heart raced in time with her short spastic gasps.

  At the next light Olivia closed her eyes and forced several long slow breaths. Panic attacks, the doctor had called them, a psychosomatic reaction to stress. She told herself again. Consciously Olivia knew that no amount of regret or anxiety would bring her sister back. That knowledge did nothing to make the pain go away. A car behind her blared its horn. The light had turned green. She glanced in the rearview and saw Grace’s dark eyes staring back at her. Fight it, Olivia. You are stronger than this. Slowly Olivia pushed the accelerator and continued on her way. She rolled down the windows for some fresh air. Thankfully the hotel was only one more block up the street.

  She couldn’t have been more relieved to see Piper waiting for her on a little bench under the breezeway. She looked adorable in a purple sundress and matching sandals. Her bohemian necklace and bangles complimented it perfectly. Olivia wondered how she always managed to look so put together. She glanced down at her own printed Athleta anywhere dress and Jambu sandals. Her style was decidedly more casual but that was nothing new. She pulled up and left the car with the valet. Saltine was only a five-minute walk and Olivia needed some fresh air. As soon as she exited the car, Piper bounced over talking a mile a minute.

  “You will never guess who just rode up on a motorcycle!” Piper squealed looking behind her as if she was going to get another look.

  Betcha I can. “Who?” Olivia asked innocently. Please say anyone else. A Hemsworth maybe? Olivia nervously tapped her purse as they walked toward the street.

  “Dominic Kain! Can you believe it. He is still here!” Piper was gushing. “I thought he would have checked out with everyone else today but he is staying for a bit for official business! He’s in the FBI you know. He even posed for a selfie with me want to see!” She started flipping through apps on her phone.

  “Wait you knew he was in the FBI?” Olivia stopped suddenly and Piper crashed into the back of her.

  “Hey, watch it!” Piper giggled. “Of course I know he’s in the FBI. Everyone knows that,” she answered as if it was as common as th
e sky is blue or a stop sign means stop.

  “I didn’t know that! Why didn’t someone tell me that?” Olivia raised her voice without meaning to. She couldn’t believe she hadn’t picked up on that? The light turned green and they crossed the street.

  “You never asked. I’m sure the girls talked about it at dinner. Of course you were a little preoccupied with your phone,” Piper scolded with one eyebrow arched like the teacher she was.

  “Okay, you’ve got me there.” Olivia sighed. For a prosecuting attorney she was pretty blind to the obvious when it came to Dominic. He flustered her in a way she had never experienced before. It was as if in his presence all reason and rational thought jumped out the window. How was she ever going to be able to be productive on the case with him around?

  Piper pulled up the picture on her phone. “Look at this!” She held it proudly. Olivia swallowed the lump in her throat and smiled at the picture of her friend next to the demi god in a suit that she had reluctantly buttoned back up just an hour before.

  “That’s a great pic,” Olivia said her skin already tingling for his touch.

  “Besides what does it matter?” Piper asked smiling wickedly. “It’s not like you are a serial killer or on the run from the law.”

  “He was assigned to my case this morning,” Olivia answered. “I felt like a complete idiot. Last night I thought he was just some muscle-bound model. Then this morning I find out he is some kind of forensic genius.” Olivia shook her head. She never dreamed she was going to see him again let alone work with him.

  As they approached Saltine, Olivia could already smell the seafood. She loved this place. It had a great atmosphere, and even better calamari.

  “Wow! You get to work with him?” Piper asked, her eyes lighting up like a Christmas tree. She walked through the door Olivia held for her. She looked around the modern space lit by great orb lights. “This place is great, Liv!” The walls were covered in galvanized steel panels and trimmed with dark wood. One wall was crushed white stone and tile. The entire space had an urban industrial feel and centered around an upscale bar.

  As the maître d’ led them to their booth Piper stopped. “Wait . . . last night . . . You mean on the boat?” she asked, the inspector brow returning.

  Olivia waited until they were at their seat to answer. “No. When we came back from our little dancescapade you were passed out cold and I was trying to carry you up to your room. Dominic saw us in the lobby and carried you,” Olivia answered. Oh boy. Here we go.

  “Shut the front door! You mean Dominic Kain carried me upstairs to my room?” Piper was practically bouncing in the seat. “How did I miss that? Please for the love of God tell me you got a picture.”

  “No. I’m sorry, Piper. I was more worried about you being okay.” Olivia cringed. She had to tell Piper what happened with Dominic. They were all adults still she felt like she was betraying her crush somehow. Olivia watched Piper look over the menu. Would she be mad when she found out about Dominic?

  “It’s so exciting that he will be staying in town and working with you! I wish I could stay down for a while. What’s the case about? Why did they have to call in the FBI? Oh this is just like an episode of Bones but sexier.” Piper’s mouth raced as fast as her imagination.

  The waiter arrived and they ordered Green Tea Brambles in copper cups. The Apothecary Bar at Saltine was quickly becoming a Norfolk favorite. Olivia could already taste the Tanqueray London Dry, lemon, green tea syrup, and black currant.

  As soon as the waiter left Olivia answered. “I can’t comment on an active investigation, Piper, I’m sorry.” Olivia sidestepped her friend’s questions. She had to tell Piper what happened with Dominic. She wasn’t even sure why it mattered so much. “About last night, Piper. After we left your room . . . um . . . Dominic came back to my room and stayed the night.”

  “He what?” Piper gasped, her chin nearly hit the floor. “You slept with Dominic?”

  “It was a mistake, Piper. I had no clue he was FBI. Now we are working on the same case and it’s a big cluster,” Olivia blurted in one breath. “I can’t believe I let this happen. You probably think I’m a big slut.”

  Piper was quiet for a moment. “We have been friends forever, I already know you are a big slut,” she said laughing and swatted her with the napkin.

  “Hey! It’s been forever, thank you.” Olivia swatted her back.

  “Of that I have no doubt. I’m just giving you shit. Good for you! Do you even like him?” she asked leaning toward Olivia.

  “That’s the problem. I really do. He’s like no man I have ever known. But now it’s too late. We are working on this case and I can’t let my personal feelings ruin our chances for a conviction,” Olivia answered just as the waiter arrived with their drinks. Olivia picked it up, thankful for the soothing liquid. Perfection.

  “Does your job always have to come first?” Piper sank back into her seat like a child who just found out about the big jolly farce. “Can’t you ever just live a little?”

  “I can’t risk it, Piper. What if I mess up and the murderer goes free? I can’t live with anymore guilt.” Olivia began tapping the copper mug to a nonexistent beat.

  “When are you going to forgive yourself? It’s been ten years since she died. Honey, nothing you can do will bring her back.” Piper offered and reached across the table to pat her hand.

  “I should have been there,” Olivia said quietly and crinkled her napkin. “I let her down. She’s gone and there’s nothing I can do to bring her back.”

  “It wouldn’t have mattered,” Piper said quietly. “There wasn’t anything you could have done to save her.”

  “If I was with her then—” Olivia started but Piper cut her off.

  “You know better than that.” Piper shook her head. “When you just disappeared, it was like I lost you both.” She took a sip of her drink and looked down at the table.

  “I’m sorry, Piper. The guilt was so bad. “I just couldn’t face you or my parents. At first there was just this big black hole where she used to be. Then the guilt set in.” Olivia fought back tears and took another drink. She forced herself back to the present when the waiter arrived to take their order. “Calamari and the catch of the day with citrus oregano sauce please,” she choked out hoping the waiter wouldn’t notice her red eyes.

  “Everything looks so good!” Piper said suddenly chipper again. “I want the jumbo lump crab cakes with the orange and fennel salad please.” Olivia was amazed at Piper’s ability to just be okay in an instant.

  When the waiter walked away Piper turned back to Olivia. “You didn’t let anyone down. You can’t beat yourself up for following your own dreams. Besides if you hadn’t come to Yale we would have never met. No one faulted you for going to the school you had always dreamed of.” Piper spoke with expertise. Her tone was firm but soothing.

  Olivia wished she could believe her. She would give anything to believe that. But she knew better. She could still hear Grace’s tantrum the day Olivia told her she accepted Yale instead of Brown. They were seventeen. Grace had stormed through the house ranting about how Olivia was abandoning her. “Grace did. You know she hated that I chose Yale over her. She never forgave me.” Olivia knew that was true, she saw it every time she looked in Grace’s eyes.

  “You are being too hard on yourself. This hole you have crawled in is going to kill you,” Piper answered sternly then paused and grinned like a Cheshire cat. “Now tell me about last night. I want every juicy detail.”

  “I’m not going to dish my dirty deeds,” Olivia retorted, eyes wide with amusement.

  “The hell you aren’t. I haven’t seen you in ten years. We have a shit ton of gossip to catch up on so start talking,” Piper demanded.

  “We are going to need more drinks,” Olivia said laughing. It felt so good to have her friend back. She ordered another round and started to tell Piper about her night, when a group walked into the restaurant that caught her eye. Olivia needed to get a closer look.
She had never actually talked to him in person but she had seen him through the one-way glass at the station.

  “I need to go over to the bar for a sec.” Olivia paused mid story.

  “What for? You were just getting to the good part! You are killing me, woman. I don’t like cliffhangers,” Piper pleaded.

  “I just need to change my drink order. Sorry, give me just a sec.” Olivia got up and walked casually past the group of people and went up to the bar. It was definitely him. Jake Ramirez was wasting no time stepping out on the town with a lovely lady under each arm. Olivia wondered if they were prostitutes too. Poor Gwen replaced before she was even cold in the ground. Olivia gritted her teeth. She knew this bastard had something to do with Gwen’s death and she was going to nail his ass to the wall. She stood close enough to listen to at least part of their conversation.

  Though she could only get part of the conversation she guessed that the gray-haired man was the owner of the airline that took customers back and forth to Vegas. Was he involved with the drug trafficking? She had to know more. She ordered drinks and tried to stand with her back to the group. They chattered on but nothing that would help her case. She tried not to be frustrated. The bartender was unfortunately quick with her drinks, which she took as a sign she was getting in over her head. She decided to go back to the table and text Detective Shaver. As she turned Jake scooted his seat back to stand up. Olivia collided with him spilling her drink all down his dress shirt.

  “I am so very sorry.” Olivia gasped as her mojito dripped onto the floor. He looked horrified and furious. The girls at the table cackled with laughter but the gray-haired man said nothing. He sat completely silent staring at Olivia. Both girls wore diamond and ruby sorority pins nestled just above their left breast. Olivia cringed; she hated that fucking sorority.