Behind the Secrets (Behind the Lives #4)

by Marita A. Hansen

  “Where’d you meet your friends?” he asked.

  “A few from school, the rest from work.”

  “Where do you work?”

  “At an art gallery.” She wrinkled her nose. “I’m not into art, Beth got me the job.”

  Saul’s mind went to Josie’s cousin again, Beth’s stunning face filling his mind. He grabbed another shot and tipped it back, wanting to drown out her image.

  Josie placed a hand on his as he lowered the glass. “Take it easy, big boy, it’s not a race. We’ve got all night. You’re not meant to drink them all at once.”

  His eyes moved to her hand, then to her face, seeing Beth instead of her. He blinked, Josie coming back into focus.

  “Are you all right?” she asked, her face now concerned.

  “I’m fine,” he said, picking up someone’s beer.

  She grabbed his hand. “You naughty man, that’s not yours, its Clara’s.” She extracted the glass from his hand and put it back on the table. “I think you’ve had enough for the night, Mr. Lush. If you keep goin’ this way, you’ll be lying on the pub floor, not in my bed, so let’s go.”

  He blinked, again seeing Beth. Without thinking, he grabbed her face and kissed her passionately. She returned it, reacting the way he’d fantasized, making him happy. After a minute, she pulled back, causing his mood to plummet, Josie smiling at him instead of her cousin.

  She reached out, wiping his lower lip. “You’ve got a bit of my lippy on you.” Retracting her hand, she threaded her fingers through his. “Let’s go, I want your lips on more than my mouth, big boy.” She glanced back at her friends, yelling, “Catcha later,” then tugged him through the crowded pub.

  Saul allowed her to lead the way, his mind hazy, her big boy comments no longer bothering him. He followed her out of the pub, getting yanked to his car.

  She held out her hand. “Keys.”

  He handed them over and got into the front passenger seat, closing his eyes as Josie leaned over him, clicking his seatbelt on.

  “Why did you come out with me, Saul? Cos I don’t get men like you. I get the type in the restroom, the horrible ones who think women are only good for the bedroom and kitchen. You’re too perfect for me.”

  He opened his eyes and looked up at her, her red-brown hair bright under the street lamp’s light. “I’m not perfect,” he said. “I’m worse than those men.”

  “Don’t be silly, you’re a thousand times better than those jerks.” She closed the door and got behind the wheel.

  Saul closed his eyes again, knowing she was wrong.

  ***

  Saul stumbled through the front door of Josie’s home. She steered him down the hallway, laughing as he almost tripped over a rug.

  “I thought you said you could hold your liquor, big boy,” she said, righting him.

  He placed a hand on her shoulder, thinking she was as tiny as a sprite, her head not even coming up to his shoulders.

  She slipped an arm around his waist, once again steering him down the hallway. They entered a small room, with clothes strewn around it. He picked up a bra off the lampshade and placed it on his head, laughing, feeling happy once more.

  Shaking her head, Josie closed the bedroom door. “It’s not that funny, though you do look adorable like that.”

  He threw the bra at her and planted his arse on the bed, flopping back onto the mattress. A sudden tiredness swamped his mind. For a second he wondered why he felt so tired, then remembered all the shots Josie had bought him, along with the beers he’d drunk earlier, Josie plying him with copious amounts of alcohol ... and he’d let her, just wanting to have one night where he could forget about everything. Things were starting to pile up on him, one thing after another going wrong ... Beth ... Ant ... coming home to an empty house ... his life in general. Not only that, he hadn’t liked returning to the police station after being undercover for so long, the transition harder than he’d expected. It made him feel dirty, like he didn’t deserve to be part of the police force anymore, what he’d done undercover polluting his soul.

  Josie slapped his cheek as his eyes closed. “Don’t you dare pass out on me.”

  Saul kept them closed, too sleepy to care.

  “Saul. Saul.” Josie pushed his chest. “Wake up.” She grunted. “Goddammit. I’m such a dumbarse. I shouldn’t have bought you so many drinks.” She ran a hand down his face. “It’s just ... you’re so damn fine, I wanted to at least have a chance with you.” A soft kiss brushed his lips. “I haven’t wanted someone this much since that bastard Dante, and that turned out shit. That lying arsehole made me think he wanted me, then totally humiliated me. He told me I have a fat arse. I don’t have a fat arse. My arse is peachy, not fat.”

  Without opening his eyes, Saul mumbled, “It’s not fat, it’s perfect.”

  “You really think so?”

  “Yes, it’s amazingly fuckable.”

  She giggled. “Then prove it.”

  Saul remained still, too drunk to prove anything.

  “Looks like I hafta get this party started, then.” Josie unzipped his pants. “But first I needa get you hard again.”

  She pulled out his cock and wrapped her lips around it. Despite his drunken haze, Saul groaned, his shaft waking up. He opened his eyes and looked down his body, seeing Josie running her full lips up and down his cock. Wanting her to deep-throat him, he placed a hand on her head and pushed it further down his shaft.

  She choked and pulled back, letting his cock flop out of her mouth. “Saul! Don’t do that, you’re too big.”

  Smiling at her, he reached out and cupped her full breasts, giving them a squeeze.

  A wide grin replaced her cross expression, her hazel eyes now sparkling. “Oh, Mr. Policeman, what big hands you have.”

  She jumped off the bed and yanked her top off, quickly stripping down to nothing. Climbing on top of him, she grabbed his hands and placed them back on her tits, the only big thing about her, the woman tiny in comparison to him. His mind went to what one of the guys had said in the restroom, how he’d called Josie a pocket fuck. Instead of the comment riling him again, he laughed, the alcohol damping down his normal thoughts.

  “What are you laughing at?” she asked, now looking worried.

  He wanted to say you, but even in his drunken state, something told him not to. “Nothing,” he said, giving her breasts another squeeze. “You have gorgeous tits.”

  Her smile returned, almost blinding him. She leaned down and super-glued her lips to his. He placed a hand at the back of her head and returned the kiss, enjoying the contact. For too long, life had been hollow. Even though he had his friends, he had nobody to come home to, his empty house a reminder of the love he’d lost. A sudden sadness took hold of him, the memory of his wife causing him pain. It was why he always chose the bitches – because he didn’t want to be happy with anyone like he had been with her, the thought of loving another woman feeling like a betrayal.

  Josie pulled back from the kiss, shocking him out of his thoughts. He blinked rapidly, thinking he must be hallucinating. Instead of Josie staring down at him, it was his wife. Mariella was sitting on top of him, only her thick brown hair shielding her naked breasts. Stunned, he lifted his hands and cupped her face, drinking in her lovely features. She had almond-shaped eyes and a rich caramel complexion, her Samoan heritage purer than his.

  His hands began to shake. “Is it really you?”

  Mariella frowned at him. “What do ya mean?”

  He dropped his hands to her shoulders, running his fingers down her arms. “I missed you so much.”

  “Um ... are you all right, Saul?”

  “I’m all right as long as you don’t leave me again.”

  “I haven’t left you to start with, silly, but I’m more than happy to stay with you.”

  “Good, because I’m not letting you out of my sight again.” He grabbed her around the waist and rolled her onto her back, making her squeal. He started kissing her, ecstatic to be wit
h Mariella again, Josie all but forgotten. He nudged Mariella’s legs apart and took hold of his cock, wanting to be inside of his wife, needing to feel her love and warmth again.

  She jerked her head to the side, breaking the kiss, but instead of his wife he saw Josie, Mariella gone in a flash. “Use a condom!” Josie snapped.

  He remained still, the sudden change mind-fucking him. She reached out and opened the bedside drawer, rooting inside for a condom. She pulled one out and thrust the golden packet in his face. “Put it on.” He didn’t move, his mind still unable to process what was happening. She mumbled something under her breath, then ripped the wrapper open with her teeth and started rolling the condom over his cock. “Dammit, it’s too small.” A smile lit up her face. “Nah, it’s only your knob that needs covering. It’ll be all right.” She grabbed his cock and placed it at her entrance. Moving her hips forward, she penetrated herself with it, groaning, “Sooo goood.” She grabbed his arse and pulled him towards her, making him fall on top of her.

  “Saul!” she squealed.

  Placing his elbows on either side of her head, he pulled back enough so as not to squash her, groaning as his cock slid out to its knob. Josie angled her hips and lifted her arse up again, pushing his cock back inside of her, the feeling so fucking tight. Wanting more, he closed his eyes and started fucking her, pretending she was Mariella.

  “Yeah, Saul, yeeaaah,” she said, sounding like Beth.

  Saul opened his eyes. Josie was still lying beneath him, looking like she was in ecstasy, her big breasts jiggling about as he fucked her. She started keening, making his cock twitch inside of her. He stared at her face, again seeing similarities between her and Beth. Although she had a different complexion, the line of her nose was the same, along with her high cheekbones.

  “Faster, Saul, faster,” she panted.

  He picked up speed, pumping in and out of her, his need to come enveloping his mind, blanking out his confusion, an empty pleasure taking over. Josie’s keening kicked up a notch, sounding like she was close to coming. It set him off, his cock exploding inside of her, his orgasm hitting him out of the blue. Josie cried out, sounding like she was coming too, then a loud scream drowned it out, jolting Saul, the scream not coming from Josie. He turned his head towards the sound, finding ... Beth standing in the bedroom doorway, staring at him in disbelief and horror.

  12

  Beth

  Beth charged at Saul, knocking him off Josie, horrified at seeing him on top of her cousin.

  “Run, Josie!” she yelled.

  Josie jumped off the bed, but instead of taking off, she shoved Beth away from Saul, making her stumble back. “What the hell are you doin’, you crazy bitch?!” Josie hollered. “Have you gone mad? Get outta my room!”

  Beth blinked, Josie’s defence of Saul taking her by surprise. “But ... he wuz raping you.”

  “He wuz not! If anything, I wuz takin’ advantage of him. He’s totally off his face drunk.”

  Beth’s eyes moved to Saul, who was zipping up his pants. He looked distressed, but she didn’t care how he was feeling. The memory of him ripping her blouse open returned, along with the way he’d stuck his hand down her pants, his fingers entering her body.

  Beth pointed at him. “He sexually assaulted me at Craven’s house. I want him outta here!”

  Saul’s head shot up, both guilt and worry colouring his handsome face. “That was a misunderstanding,” he slurred. “I didn’t realise you didn’t want it.”

  “Liar! I screamed when you did it.”

  “Not at first.”

  “Only cos you covered my mouth!”

  “I pulled back when I realised you didn’t want it.”

  “You still tried to force me. And you ripped my clothes off the next day.”

  “I wasn’t given a choice, it was an order. If I hadn’t done it, someone else would’ve, likely hurting you—”

  “Bullshit! You just wanted to touch me, you pervert!”

  “It wasn’t like that.” He rubbed his face roughly, looking even more distressed. “And the other time, I thought you were attracted to me. The way you acted confused me.”

  “Are you delusional? I didn’t act any way. I bet that’s an excuse you use when women reject you!”

  He grimaced. “No, I’ve never done anything like that before.”

  Beth pointed at the door. “Just get out before I call the cops!”

  “I am a cop.”

  “A dirty cop, who deserves to be in jail for what you did to me. I should report you.”

  He held out his hands. “Please don’t, my job is all I have. I honestly didn’t mean to upset you, I just misread you, and if you report me, you’ll weaken the case against Torres.” He stepped closer.

  Beth backed up fast, not wanting him anywhere near her. “Get out!”

  “I’m so sorry.” He went for the door.

  Josie grabbed his arm. “No, you’re staying. Beth will leave.”

  Beth blinked at her cousin, taken aback by her words.

  Josie glared at her. “Go on, leave.”

  “He assaulted me, yet you tell me to leave?” Beth said.

  “He said it wuz a misunderstanding, and look what you did when you pushed him off me.” Josie reached up, wiping the blood off his scratched neck. “You hurt him.”

  “He did far worse to me!”

  “I never know when you’re tellin’ the truth. You’re a liar, Beth, always have been.”

  “I am not! And you’re just sayin’ that cos you’re hot for him.”

  “No, I’m sayin’ it cos everything that comes outta your mouth are lies, and if you dare report Saul, I’ll tell the police you’re a chronic liar.”

  “You’d betray your own cousin for a man you hardly know?”

  “No, I just don’t believe you. Saul explained himself, yet you keep ranting at him. He’s a cop, not some weak-willed prick like Dante, who you can patronise and walk all over. Not only that, you should be nice to him. After all, he did save your ungrateful arse, along with Corey’s.”

  “He tried to rape me!”

  “Like I said, I don’t believe you.”

  Beth’s eyes moved to Saul. “Tell her.”

  Saul kept quiet.

  “Tell her, you bastard!”

  “It was a misunderstanding.”

  “Liar!” she screamed. “Get out, get out, get out!”

  Saul yanked his arm free from Josie and headed past Beth.

  Still naked, Josie raced after him, the two entering the hallway. “No, Saul, you don’t hafta go, plus you can’t drive home, you’ve had too much to drink.” Josie grabbed his arm as he opened the front door. “Saul, stop it. I believe you. Beth lies all the time.”

  “She’s not lying,” he said, turning to face Josie. “It was just a misunderstanding. I didn’t mean to upset her.”

  “I know you didn’t, and she won’t cause you any trouble at your work.” Josie glanced back at Beth. “Will you, Beth?”

  “I will do what is right, unlike you, who cares more ’bout men than family.”

  “Don’t be a hypocrite,” Josie spat. “You spout on ’bout what Saul did, yet you don’t give a shit what Dante did to me. He led me on, pretending he wanted me. He made me strip in front of him, then totally humiliated and insulted me.”

  “He told me ’bout that. You insulted him first, so he paid you back by making you look like a fool. It’s pathetic how you tripped over yourself to get him when you thought you had a chance.”

  “So, you condone what he did to me?”

  “No, but you fell for his trick, willing to fuck him behind my back. That’s low. You’re so desperate to get a man, you’d do anything. You need to learn to respect yourself, Josie, cos no one will do it for you.”

  Josie waved a hand at Beth’s stomach. “No, what’s low is you tryna keep Dante by gettin’ pregnant. That Kara woman came here and told me everything.”

  “She came here?” Beth said, shocked.

>   “Yes, and she said that Dante is only with you cos you’re pregnant with his baby. That’s why he went to the mental hospital: cos he doesn’t want the baby or you. He wants that Kara woman, and I don’t blame him, she’s gorgeous and you’re not.”

  “You’re horrible.”

  “Then leave.” Her eyes went to Saul as he went to step outside. “No, Saul, she’s goin’, you can stay.”

  He shook his head. “You should take her side, not mine.”

  “But I told you she’s a liar.”

  “She’s still your cousin. I hardly know you, yet you side with me? It’s wrong.”

  “How many times do I hafta say it? She’s. A. Liar! She ruins lives. She took a picture of Dante naked while he wuz passed out drunk and texted it to everyone.”

  “I only did that cos he slept with another woman,” Beth cut in.

  “He wuzn’t even your boyfriend at the time, so you had no right to do it.”

  Beth grimaced, knowing Josie was right. She was just grateful Dante had forgiven her for it.

  Josie continued, “People treated him like a man-whore after that. Yeah, he might be one, but you still shamed him. I don’t want you ruining Saul’s life too, especially with your malicious lies.”

  “I told you she didn’t lie,” Saul reiterated. “I did what she said, I just didn’t realise she didn’t want it. I got carried away because I wanted her.”

  Josie turned to him. “I believe you, so go back to bed.”

  He shook his head. “I shouldn’t have fucked you, I’m sorry, this is all wrong.” He turned and headed out the door.

  “No!” Josie spun around, shooting a vicious glare at Beth. “Look what you’ve done! You know I wanted him. Just get out. Get out!”

  Beth ran for her room, grabbing her suitcase from under her bed. Needing to get away from Josie as fast as possible, she started stuffing her clothes into it, jamming in anything she could get her hands on. Once done, she zipped the suitcase up and headed out of the room, dragging it behind her. Now wearing a dressing gown, Josie followed her to the front door, yelling at Beth that she always ruined everything. Beth walked through the doorway, relieved that Saul wasn’t there, although his car was. She looked across the road, spotting the female officer helping him into the police car.