Luminous

by Corrina Lawson

  No, given what happened last time he drank, not long enough.

  “That and Pepsi is all you have to drink?”

  He grinned. “I’m not allowed to drink the hard stuff. It’s not safe.”

  “Not safe? What, do you turn into Mr. Hyde or something?”

  “Well, the last time I drank whiskey, I woke up with my car hanging off the edge of an old parking garage rooftop. Got out just before it tipped over the edge of the roof.” He frowned. “I still miss that car.” The department clunker was hardly a replacement.

  She walked into the kitchen, pushed past him and took out her own soda. As she swallowed, the shirt fell around her in all sorts of interesting ways. His imagination filled all that in nicely.

  Annoyed that he couldn’t stop thinking about how sexy she was, he grabbed the shirt and pulled the lapels together. “Button that up.”

  She laughed. “Why? You can’t see anything.”

  “I know what’s there. I carried you last night.”

  She leaned against the counter. “Oh, c’mon. You’re not saying you’re attracted to the freak.”

  He took the drink from her hand. “If you think you’re a freak, then you’ll always be a freak. I think of you as Noir with the angel light. My partner.” He paused. “My partner who should keep her shirt closed.”

  “I don’t believe you.” She slipped her arms slowly out of each sleeve, teasing him, and then tossed the shirt on the floor. “You can’t possibly want this, Al.”

  She was topless. He could feel a flush coming on, and he was too damn old to blush. His memory of that body pressed naked against his last night supplied a complete picture.

  And they say men always need a visual.

  “Yeah, well, believe me or not, that’s your choice.”

  “How could you possibly want me?” she asked. “You can’t see—”

  “I’ve seen all I need to see.” He reached out and touched her face, pleased that he’d guessed right about where it was. He cupped her cheek in his hand. It was warm, just like last night. And just like last night, he was on the verge of kissing her. His little finger rested on her neck. He felt her pulse racing. Idiot. He shouldn’t do this. He dropped his hand. “But you’re under my protection. I can’t.”

  “That’s bullshit,” she said. “Now you’re making excuses.”

  Al had a feeling that if he could see her face, her gaze would be fixed in a scowl. He bet she had a beautiful scowl too.

  “What you really are saying is that you don’t want to touch me because it would be—” Her voice broke. “Because it would be creepy.”

  He took her by the waist and pulled her against him. Her naked breasts pressed against his shirt. “I have no problem wanting you.”

  “But you can’t see me.”

  “You keep saying that.” Pulling her close had been a mistake, especially with her half-naked. His resolve was weakening fast, about at the same rate that his penis was hardening.

  “I see enough. I know that in just twenty-four hours, you’ve been a better partner than any I’ve had in my fifteen years on the force. You backed me up in the ER, and you didn’t make a big deal about it. Not to mention there’s the whole wanting-to-stop-Jack-from-hurting-people thing, even though you can’t remember what your life was like before.”

  She took a deep breath. She must have noticed his erection pressing against her. It seemed important to her that he did want her. Now she had indisputable evidence.

  “You…” She put her hands on his shoulders. He clenched his teeth and wondered how to get out of this without making her feel like a freak.

  “You must be really hard up to want me.” She stepped back.

  “I’d think it was the other way around.”

  “What?”

  “In the whole scheme of things, I’m no prize, Noir. I’m a cranky son of a bitch.”

  “You’re honest,” she said, her voice low. She came closer again and pressed herself against him. Her fingers wandered along his shoulders. “You’re strong.”

  “I’m tactless is what I am. And I haven’t been strong enough to clean up this city.”

  “I spent years with people who treated me like I didn’t exist. One day with you, Al, and I’m alive again. Like I just woke up from a dream.”

  “I’m no one’s idea of a fantasy.” He tried hard not to move. He knew he shouldn’t be doing this.

  “Make me feel alive, Al.”

  He felt her warm breath on his neck. He cupped her face in his hand again and kissed her.

  He’d probably be damned someday for this, but that was someday. This was now, and her lips were open and inviting and soft and…

  This couldn’t be right.

  He tightened his grip around her waist and held her at arm’s length. “Dammit, I’m a rumpled, cynical cop. If you were normal, you wouldn’t take a second look at me.”

  “I wouldn’t have, especially not with you wearing that awful overcoat that hides you.” She closed the space between them once more and ran her hands over his chest. “Good thing you’re not wearing it now.”

  She kissed him this time. He closed his eyes, and he was able to see her clearly in his mind’s eye. He stroked her neck. She moaned, a sound that traveled from her mouth into his.

  He broke the kiss. Dammit. She had come to him for help. She didn’t even remember who she really was. Her memory was damaged. He could be taking advantage of her. Lousy time to have a conscience, Al.

  “Didn’t like what you felt?” she asked.

  He heard the hurt in her voice. If he pulled away, she’d believe it was because she was a “freak”. She wouldn’t believe the truth. “No, I just wanted to even us up.” He unknotted his tie and handed it to her. “Put this over my eyes.”

  “So you don’t get freaked out at what you’re touching?”

  He winced. He hadn’t expected her to take it that way. No one ever accused him of being a sweet talker. “No, the blindfold is so I can concentrate only on touching you. My hands will see everything that needs to be seen. That’s where I want my focus to be.”

  And it would put her in charge. She’d control the encounter, not him. If she wanted to walk away, she could. This way, he wasn’t taking advantage. This was entirely her choice.

  He didn’t think she wanted to walk away, though.

  “Lean your head down a minute,” she said softly.

  He swallowed and did as she asked. He felt her fingers in his hair as she put the tie over his eyes and knotted it in the back. For once, he was glad he spent real money when buying a tie. The silk felt better against his face than scratchy polyester would have.

  When she was done, she took his hands in hers and set them on her face.

  “Look at me now, Al.”

  His hands roamed gently over her face. He was seeing her as a blind man would. He felt every contour of her cheekbones, traced her lips with his thumb, tickled her earlobe with his forefinger. Never had anything felt so alive under his touch. She trembled. He hoped that was in a good way.

  Her nose was small and sharp. He traced her eye sockets and felt the brush of the fine hair of her eyebrows. His hands slid to the sides of her neck. Her pulse was hammering against her skin. He let his mouth rest against her cheek.

  He took a deep breath. “You smell good.”

  “Thanks.”

  He entangled his hand in her hair. It was soft and fine. He imagined it was wavy, unruly to match her nature. Dark brown or black, he thought. “It barely reaches your shoulders,” he whispered.

  “It’s too hard to take care of long,” she said. Her voice was thick.

  “Mm…” He kissed her again.

  She started unbuckling his belt.

  “Easy.” He caught her hands. “This is my first time in a while. I sure as hell don’t want to do it on the kitchen floor.”

  “Follow me.”

  Those were two of the sexiest words he’d ever heard. He thought they were going to the bedroom b
ut she led him to the living room and pushed him down into the armchair.

  “How much time did you say we had?” She unbuttoned his shirt.

  His hands gripped the armrests. “Um, about two hours.”

  She spread open his shirt. “That’ll have to be enough.”

  Chapter Seven

  Noir pulled off Al’s shirt then let her hands slide up his chest as she pushed his T-shirt up to his shoulders. He fumbled for a second and then pulled the T-shirt over his head.

  “You let me blindfold you. Now follow my lead.” She stroked his bare chest. Solid muscle. He had curly wisps of dark chest hair. Far less than a carpet but enough to play with.

  She couldn’t believe he wanted her to touch him. Yet his erection proved that he did.

  It’d been a while. That’s what he’d said about his sex life. That must explain this. Men were supposed to want anything with a pulse, and at least she qualified on those grounds.

  So what? They both wanted this.

  He groaned. She unbuckled his belt. She didn’t care why he was doing this. It felt good when he touched her. It made her feel normal, it made her feel desirable, it made her feel alive in a way she hadn’t in years. She was a real person again. Because Al had treated her like one.

  She wasn’t going to waste this chance.

  She discarded his shoes, socks and pants. That left only his underwear. Not tighty whities as she’d guessed but blue boxer briefs. She wondered what he did for kicks. Cops, she’d found while stumbling around trying to find her way in Charlton City, were sometimes into weird shit. What did Al like?

  Well, her, apparently.

  Did he know how people refused to touch her once they saw what she was? Did he know how special he was that he didn’t mind? It wasn’t just simple lust. He had never flinched from her touch. Maybe this was more than enjoying the rare chance to touch someone. After all, Leslie had touched her and she hadn’t reacted this way.

  Maybe what was really turning her on was touching Al.

  Bodies didn’t lie. Al was definitely hard for her. He was attractive when he made half an effort. If it had been a long time, she bet it was because he was picky, not that he couldn’t get any. When he’d carried her last night, he’d been so careful not to touch her inappropriately. Overcompensating because he had wanted to touch her?

  She stroked him through the boxers. His grip on the chair tightened. He sucked in a breath, exposing some nice abs.

  She removed the boxers and put her mouth on the long, hard length of him. He buried his hands in her hair. “This is why your hair should be longer,” he whispered.

  She flicked the tip of her tongue over his penis. He smelled a little sweaty, a little musky but clean and male. His chest rose and fell in a deep sigh as she took him entirely into her mouth.

  “Doesn’t seem quite fair. I’m not doing that much for you,” he said.

  Shut up, Al, she thought. Sucking on him, touching him, had aroused her as nothing she could ever remember. Impatient, she let go of his penis and straddled him. His erection pressed against the crotch of her sweatpants. Her hands curled into fists. Her body trembled even from that small contact. Good thing she’d discarded the shirt in the kitchen. It saved time. “Touch me, Al.”

  He reached out for her, letting his fingers first trace her shoulders and then lower. His hands stopped when they found her breasts. She closed her eyes and sighed as he stroked her nipples with his thumbs. It felt so good that it was almost painful. Her back arched.

  She was reborn, alive for the first time she could remember. Al pulled her close and found her nipple with his mouth. She nearly yelped as he traced it with his tongue, teasing her with soft, quick touches. His face was rough with afternoon stubble against the side of her breast. This was Al, and he was perfect.

  She stood up for a second and tossed off the sweatpants.

  “Going somewhere?” Al asked.

  “Never.” She straddled him again and his erection brushed between her legs. She rubbed against it, teasing herself.

  “Hell,” Al muttered.

  She thought that meant she should keep going. She smiled. He was hers now.

  She was so lost in what she was doing that it was a shock when his fingers caressed her between the legs. His mouth enveloped her breasts again.

  “Ahhh…” She threw back her head and let out a long moan. “I’ll get on you in just a second—”

  He kissed the base of her throat. “Not yet. Let me.”

  His fingers found her clitoris. She shuddered and dug her hands into his shoulders as he stroked her. She bit her tongue to keep from crying out.

  “No one’s here, Noir. Get as noisy as you like.”

  His permission released the scream she’d been fighting. She rocked against his hand, moving up and down to get that sweet sensation to grow.

  “Now.” He shifted his hands to her hips. She took him inside, all that hardness touching areas that she didn’t think anyone had ever reached. She threw her head back and started riding. He kept tight hold of her hips, helping her move up and down, guiding her.

  All she felt was Al inside her and the grip of his hands on her hips. All she heard was their mingled moans. She forgot he couldn’t see her, forgot she was invisible, forgot she was a freak.

  The climax started small and then spread to every part of her body. She grabbed Al’s shoulders and clung to him, no longer in control. He pulled her against his chest and she felt him come with her. It was perfect.

  He kissed her as if trying to weld them more closely together. Their hips ground together, and they held each other until the sensations faded, until her conscious thought returned.

  “And you said I didn’t find you attractive,” he said.

  “I was handy and I have a pulse.”

  “You’ve got something, that’s for sure. Whatever it is, I’ll take more, please.”

  Chapter Eight

  It was full dark by the time they left his apartment. Al did not put the tie back on. For some reason, it felt wrong to wear it again, considering what part it had just played in his newly awakened sex life. That was probably weird or somehow repressed. But not any stranger than his life had become.

  Strange was good.

  He had had offers in the last year, but they all seemed to come with complications. Women who wanted him around more than he could promise or who saw him as a protector, not a partner. Neither was very appealing.

  He liked simple. Of course, being with Noir completely went against that inclination. An invisible woman who didn’t even remember her own name.

  He didn’t care. He wanted everything she had to give. Partner, hell. She was his lover and he didn’t think he would ever want another.

  She followed him down the steps, wrapped in her cloak and wearing her black mesh mask and hat.

  And absolutely nothing underneath. He thought about arguing, but she was right. She could be a good scout if they needed one tonight. She’d earned the right to do this. He understood. She’d been through hell and had to work her own way back out.

  Besides, she’d be safer invisible. She still had a slight limp.

  They got in the car. “You’ll follow my lead.”

  “I did good with the lead just now.” She relaxed back in the seat.

  “Yeah, you did. But like that, we’ll do this together. Just trust that I know my job, all right? And if something goes wrong, I expect you to back me up.”

  “Right.”

  He couldn’t tell if that was agreement or sarcasm. “The last time you didn’t listen, you were shot and our target escaped. Remember, we’ve got at least one life at stake. You want to be my partner, learn to think with your head.”

  She sighed. “All right. But I’m not staying in the car.”

  “I never thought you would.”

  She stripped during the drive to the warehouse. He tried to keep his mind on the job ahead, but he kept thinking about how she had felt, naked, moving against him. This
was why the department warned against screwing your partner. Bullshit. The department should be a lot more worried about corruption than what officers did when off shift.

  When he went through the Mickey D’s drive-through to get coffee before they parked, the cashier gave him an odd look when handing him two cups instead of one. What, no one bought coffee for others in this neighborhood? He answered his own question. This was Charlton City. No one bought anything for anyone else, unless it was a bribe.

  As he cut off his headlights, Al wondered why the hell he did this job. It wasn’t the pay. It sure as hell wasn’t the supposed “brotherhood” of cops. He’d hoped for that once, but his stubbornness in staying clean of bribes had left him a loner on the force. No one was sure they could trust someone who wasn’t on the take.

  He looked to his right and saw the coffee cup seemingly moving in midair. That was why he did this. For Noir. For those like her who’d been abused. For the victims in the bank.

  No one else would, so he would represent them as best he could.

  He parked under an overhang set diagonally to the warehouse he thought contained their enemy and settled back. The full moon supplied plenty of light for his purposes, and his eyes adjusted easily.

  The parking lot around the warehouse was cracked and worn from years of neglect. The documents he’d found in his research said the place was once used to make hubcaps but the factory had been vacant for a decade. Grass and weeds had grown up through the gaps in the blacktop.

  Except one area was suspiciously free of tall weeds. The gap in the growth was just the size of a tractor-trailer. He could picture it in his mind’s eye, the truck backing up to a loading dock, squashing the plants under its massive tires.

  Close, but not exactly confirmation. He needed more. If he was right, someone who had the money to bribe people at Dixon Supplies, Inc. would have money to pay guards to patrol the site. He guessed the roof and concentrated his gaze higher.

  Noir set the empty cup down. “Al?”

  “Impatient already?” he asked. “I’m watching so we don’t go in blind. Then we talk about the next step.”