Stark Raving Mad (Chicago's Finest Book 2)

by Vanessa Knight

  She wanted him. She didn’t have to marry the guy. Her body screamed in agreement as her fingers explored his abs, moving slowly—ever so slowly—lower. Her thighs burned. Yes, she wanted this.

  She lifted her chin and looked into Joe’s darkened eyes. Fire and hesitation burned beneath his lashes. Yeah, she could understand that feeling.

  Her hand gripped him through his jeans. If that didn’t take away the hesitation, nothing would. And she’d be taking a cold shower. No thanks. She needed to make this work. She wanted him.

  She leaned in and rested her mouth on his. Reluctant soft lips met hers. He didn’t move, remained firm as her hand coaxed and her mouth offered a chaste kiss. Dammit. Tears threatened her eyes. He didn’t want her. She started to move away but a hand reached out and rested on the back of her neck, guiding her closer, bringing her in. Hesitation gone.

  His lips opened with a groan as he let her in. His tongue glided along her lip, slipping inside hungrily and desperately. His hands wrapped around her ass as he pulled her on top. Her legs spread as she straddled him, rocking back and forth, heat pooling as she felt his growing interest just outside her core.

  Her body screamed. So close. So close. He was right here. She wanted him inside, now. “Take me.”

  He lifted her shirt over her head, exposing her soft pink bra. His mouth left her lips and rested on the lacy material. Wet heat wrapped around the puckered nipple. Body humming. Nerves singing. Her hips rolled, desperate for release, desperate for him.

  He lifted her and guided her to the couch. He removed her jeans and licked his lips as she wiggled. His eyes flashed as he hooked his fingers in her matching lacy underwear, sliding it down her body, inchbyinch, slowly brushing past her hips, her thighs, her calves, her ankles, her toes. He tossed the material to the side.

  Cool air circled her exposed flesh. His mouth curved back over her swollen nipple before it slid down her stomach in a trail of hot, mind-numbing kisses. Lower. God, please lower. Her hips pleaded in silent thrusts as he leaned back, removing his weight from her body. Removing his warmth. Removing him.

  No. Her body vibrated, as she watched him. Waiting.

  He raised the hem of his shirt, and planks of ripped muscles twisted as he yanked off the cotton and tossed it aside. His hands skimmed his hips as he worked the button and fly on his jeans. The denim dropped. Dear Lord, he wasn’t wearing any underwear. Her mouth watered. Hell, other parts of her watered as well.

  “Sorry, I took off the boxers this morning. There’s just something about wearing underwear two days in a row…”

  She wrapped her hand around his arm and brought him closer. Who cared about his underwear? Although that was pretty hot. Like she needed any more heat right now.

  “One sec.” He lifted up and reached for his jeans, tugging his wallet from a pocket to find a square packet. After a rip and crinkle, he slid on the condom.

  “That was longer than a sec.” She crooked her finger at him.

  He leaned in. “Sorry. Should I move faster?” He laid down, his body on top of hers. She could feel every inch, every plane. “Yes. No. I want you, now.”

  His lips found hers again. Hard, demanding. Owning her, her body. She wrapped her arms around him. “Take me.”

  He angled down and slid inside. He filled her. Stretched her. Back and forth, hammering harder and harder. His mouth devoured her. Lips. Tongue. Teeth. She couldn’t get enough.

  The taste of him. The feel. He was everywhere. He was everything. Her body bucked as it rocketed higher and higher. He rode her deeper as his lips claimed hers.

  Deep thrusts mixed with hungry kisses and her mind stopped. Lights swirled in her vision as she barreled over the edge and sank into euphoric contentment. Joe’s cries followed seconds later as his body tensed and pulsed.

  Holy crap. She could get used to that.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Joe laid on the couch next to Brook, a smile glued to his lips. He could stay like this all day. On the couch, naked, with Brook curled into his chest. Warm. Soft. Too bad they were baring it all in the living room of someone else’s house.

  “Shay could be home any minute. We should probably…”

  “Yeah, we should.” She smiled and inched herself closer to him. He didn’t want to move either. His arms wrapped her tighter to him. She felt so damn good, all silky skin and all his.

  Contentment settled over his body as her breath evened. He would love to fall asleep just like this, but the breeze cooling his ass kept reminding him of where they were. He kissed her head and smiled. “Baby, we have to get dressed.”

  “I don’t want to. You’re so warm and out there is so cold.” She pressed her face into his arm and rested her lips on his skin.

  The setting sun threw shadows on the far wall. Night was approaching, which meant Shay’s workday would be over soon, the senior center would be closing, and football practice would be letting out. Shay and her family would be home any moment and the two of them were stark naked.

  “We should get dressed. I’m, ah, not exactly putting my best cheek forward here.” That was bad.

  “Corny. I like it.” She laughed and wrapped her arm around his back. She rested her hand on his ass. “And for the record, I definitely think these are some impressive cheeks.”

  “Maybe instead of covering up, we should relocate.”

  Her hand opened and closed, massaging his back end. Every rub sent awareness straight to his front end. Relocation was sounding pretty good right about now, but they should be getting ready for Shay and her family, maybe thinking about dinner. But instead, all he kept thinking about were those hands trailing up and down his body.

  “We have to stop this.” He sighed. Was she buying any of this? Hell, even he didn’t believe the words coming out of his mouth. His hand brushed the side of her face, and she turned so she could wrap her lips around his finger. Her tongue fondled the pad as he pushed the digit in further. She sucked the pointer in. Sweet, strong suction.

  Relocation. Now. Damn, that was all the convincing he needed.

  * * *

  Joe woke up to a vibrating phone, but he had no desire to roll over and grab it. Brook’s room was dark. How long had they been asleep? He tilted his head back. Brook was tucked in his arms and he didn’t want to wake her.

  Her soft, rhythmic breathing calmed him as the vibrating stopped. His eyes drooped. Another hour of sleep would do him some good. He was exhausted. Hungry and tired.

  He’d worked up an appetite, but he didn’t care about that at this point.

  The phone buzzed again. Dammit. It must be important.

  He slid his arm out from under Brook and left the bed. He picked up the phone and tiptoed out of the room. “Perretti.” “Hey, it’s Hogan. I just wanted to give you a heads up.

  Judge Stanton is missing.”

  “Define ‘missing’.”

  “No one can find him. His wife called in a missing person’s report a couple hours ago. She hasn’t seen him since Thursday. It’s not looking good. You know he was on the Stark case.”

  “Yeah. Another tie to this asshole. What’s the status? Any leads?”

  “You’d be the first to know.” Hogan sighed. “You know he’s going to come after you next.”

  Maybe. Brook seemed to be next in the lunatic’s line of sight, but he had her covered.

  “Maybe we should put a tail on you and that other lawyer. What was her name, Southby?”

  “I have Southby under control. Humphries put Shay and me on it.” “Good. Keep me posted.”

  Joe hung up the phone and stared at the screen. If Judge Stanton was taken, then Stark would be heading for Brook or him next, and he had a feeling Brook was the actual target. He couldn’t let her get hurt. He needed to make sure all hands were on deck.

  Dammit. She wasn’t going to like this, but the man deserved to know. Joe had waited as long as he could. He’d tried to let the man enjoy his vacation, but it was time.

  He hit
speed dial on his phone and listened while the ringback tone buzzed in his ear. What time was it in Hawaii, anyway? It was five in the morning here. What did that make it in Hawaii, twelve? One? Shit.

  He cracked the door and watch Brook’s chest rise and fall.

  How the hell had they slept that long? The phone clicked, and a raspy voice answered the phone.

  “Hey, Adam. I’m sorry to call on your vacation, but we have a problem.”

  * * *

  The next day, Brook followed Shay and Joe as they pushed their way through the bustling police station right before lunch. Cops and perps pinballed around the precinct, some yelling, some talking, and all trying to coexist in the small area.

  “The small conference room is yours the rest of the week,” Shay said over her shoulder.

  “Thanks, Shay.” Brook hiked her laptop case closer as a man wearing mud- encrusted jeans stuck his tongue out, wiggling the appendage in a perverse circle.

  Not that she’d complain. She was out in the real world, getting work done.

  She’d loved spending the entire day with Joe yesterday, but she couldn’t do that all day, every day. She had responsibilities. Clients that needed her attention.

  Paperwork that needed to be filed. And since they seemed to find themselves ending each productive day with him in her arms, she was pretty darn happy.

  “Don’t thank me.” Shay stopped at what appeared to be her desk. “That was all lover-boy, here.”

  “Thanks, Shay.” Joe bumped Shay’s desk as he led Brook across the room to an enclosed office space.

  “So, this is all you, huh?” Brook shut the conference room door and ran a hand along the closed blinds blocking the view of the squad room. She made her way across the room to where Joe stood.

  “I might have talked to Humphries.” He smiled. “I figured you’d get more done in an actual office, as opposed to Shay’s kitchen table.”

  Brook slid a hand through his hair. “I suppose I owe you.” “I suppose you do. What did you have in mind?”

  “Well, I could take you out to dinner tonight.” She hummed. ”A little dessert, and then we could see what happens. You know, do the first thing that pops up.”

  Joe stared at her, eyes hooded. “I could be talked into that.”

  “Talked into?”

  “I wouldn’t need much convincing.” He pressed his lips to hers. Demanding, hot lips and tongues battled for supremacy. It felt so good. So right. Dammit.

  They were at the precinct. The precinct swarming with cops. Cops she had to work with. Cops who’d stop taking her seriously if they caught her necking like a horny teenager. Breath shallow, she pushed back. “Raincheck?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Talk to Shay. I’ll stay at your place tonight.”

  He didn’t say anything. Not that she thought he would, but just a couple of days ago, he was insistent she stay with him. She thought he’d be happy. Especially after yesterday. Instead, he stared.

  Maybe he didn’t want her at his place. Now that things had gotten physical, maybe he didn’t want to move too fast. She drew away from Joe and put the table between them. Maybe she made a mistake expecting anything from him. A lot of maybes, and not one of them good.

  “Never mind, I have too much work to catch up on.” She shuffled papers back and forth, not seeing the words or anything past the tears she wouldn’t let fall. Numb. She needed to be numb. “I’ll stay at Shay’s.”

  “No. I want you to stay with me. I just need to tell you something.” Joe came around the table as the door of the conference room whipped open.

  “Are you okay?” Allison flew into the room and wrapped her arms around Brook.

  “I’m fine.” How did she? Where did she?

  Brook looked up. Joe. Shoulders hunched. Guilt written in every movement of his body.

  “Thanks for calling, Perretti.” Adam reached out and shook Joe’s unresponsive hand.

  Sonofa…

  Brook felt the anger wrap around her throat. Thanks for calling. Asshole. She specifically told him not to call her sister. He’d agreed. She lifted her eyes to him. She was surprised she could even see the guilt written on his face through the daggers she hoped her eyes were throwing.

  “A party, and I wasn’t invited.” Shay walked in and shut the office door.

  “We’re back.” Adam laid a hand on Brook’s shoulder when Allison leaned away. “Thanks for taking in Brook, but we’ll handle it from here.”

  A mixture of “Why?” and “She’s not staying with you,” came from Shay and Joe.

  Joe added, “I’ve seen how many people get in and out of the damn condo. She’s not staying there. It’s the first place Stark will look. Anyway, Brook and I already talked about it, and she’s staying with me.”

  “I have to agree, Byrnes. Stark will look there first,” Shay said.

  “So why would she stay with you?” Adam looked from Brook to Joe. He knew. He knew there was something going on. He had that overprotective-father look, the one that disapproves. Not that he was wrong. He should disapprove.

  Joe was a lying SOB. She disapproved right now, too.

  “There’s nothing linking us, and she’d be safer,” Joe said. Like he had a vote in any of this. Bastard.

  “You were the other cop on the Stark case. How the hell would she be safer with you?”

  The other cop? Which other cop? The SWAT cop. Realization hit her like a sledgehammer. Longer hair, and younger, and a SWAT uniform and… crap. Why hadn’t she seen it? He was the second cop that day in court.

  The assholes that beat the shit out of Stark. He was one of them. No wonder he felt an obligation to protect her. His guilt. Guilt after everything they did to that poor man. And no wonder he thought it was Stark. Why wouldn’t it be Stark—he was out of jail and had scores to settle with Joe. This was all about him. His own guilt. His own misguided idea of retaliation.

  “You were there that day.” She pointed at Joe.

  “Yeah.” Joe’s feet shifted back and forth at her words. His eyes focused on the floor. He should be uncomfortable. Him and Timmons. Both bullies who roughed up Stark.

  He’d lied. A lie of omission, but a lie all the same. She should be mad about the whole situation. What a fool she was. But somehow, the fact that he made that phone call pissed her off more. The phone call he’d swore he wouldn’t make.

  “You lied, and you called Adam.”

  “I just…”

  She ignored his lame attempt at explaining. There was nothing to explain. Lying wasn’t acceptable. No matter what the reason.

  “Honey, we needed to know what was going on.” Allison wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Now she was defending Joe. Perfect. “I would go crazy if something happened to you.”

  “We should pick up her stuff tonight,” Adam said.

  “That won’t be necessary, we have this all figured out…”

  “Enough!” Brook stepped away from her sister. “I’m sorry your trip was cut short. There is nothing to be concerned about. Shay has taken very good care of me.”

  Allison nodded. “I’m glad…”

  Brook cut her off. “No, I’m not done. I’m staying with Shay.

  I’m a grown-ass woman and I want to be treated as such.”

  The room was silent. Everyone looked at her as if her head was about to spin and she’d vomit pea soup. Who knew? The way she felt at the moment, she might just projectile vomit her quesadilla lunch.

  “Now, if everyone wouldn’t mind leaving, I want to talk to my sister about her engagement and pretty rings and girl crap. Don’t you all have work to do?”

  Shay beamed as she left the room. Apparently, Brook’s meltdown was entertaining to her. Adam kissed Allison and then dropped a kiss to Brook’s forehead. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

  Joe stood there watching. He obviously wanted to say something. Brook stared at him. Waiting. Waiting for something. Not that it mattered. Abusive asshole. Oh, and she forgot liar, too.


  “You coming, Perretti?” Adam called from the conference room door. Joe nodded and walked out of the room without another word.

  Brook pasted on a smile. “So, let me see the ring.”

  Allison looked at the door and then at Brook. “What was that all about?”

  “What?” Brook asked.

  “Joe?”

  “It was about nothing.” Brook held out her hand. “Now show me that rock. I want to see it up close and personal.”

  Her sister looked more interested in pressingthe Joe issue, so Brook needed something else. Something to get her on happier subjects. “So, how did he propose?”

  We have a winner. Allison’s eyes sparkled as a smile bloomed on her face.

  Allison tilted her left hand toward her sister. “It was so romantic. We took a boat ride to this island. A beautiful picnic was waiting on the beach. I know, I know—cliché— but it was so romantic.”

  “There’s a reason things become cliché. They work.”

  “Oh, it worked. A plate of iced oysters, grapes, bagels and champagne. It was amazing.” Allison’s eyes glazed over with blissful love. “And no one was around for miles. I still have sand in places that shouldn’t have sand.”

  “So, major bling and sandy who-ha. Anything else new?”

  “Nope.” Her sister laughed. “But you and I have plans tomorrow. We’re going out while I’m still on vacation. We need to find bridesmaids’ dresses.”

  “Already? Don’t we have time—months, a year—to figure all that frilly shit out?”

  “Two months. We have two months to get it all done.” “Two months?”

  “I want a June wedding.” Allison yanked a bunch of scribble-covered folded papers from her purse.

  Two months? That was not enough time. “If only there would be another June, further in the future. Say, sometime next year.”

  Allison glared at her sister. “Funny.” She twisted the papers in her fingers.” It’ll be forty years this June that Mom and Dad were married. I thought it would be nice to get married on that day.”

  Brook stared at the table. She never could understand Allison’s acceptance— no, obsession—with their parents. It always amazed her that the two of them grew up in the same house. Allison’s family life seemed so different than Brook’s. Allison loved their parents, was close to them, and could do no wrong.