He entered her, hard and deep.
She lost her breath.
Jake blew out his then thrust repeatedly, rocking her forward, making her hair swing. To keep her close, he cradled her breasts and played with her clit.
Jesus, holy mother, damn. Climax slammed into her.
Still breathing heavily, he pulled out.
Crap. He couldn’t be denying himself. She couldn’t stand that.
Lightly, he traced her anus then probed.
A shudder tore through her.
Jake halted. “Have you ever done this?”
“No. But I want to with you. Please.” At this point, she wasn’t past begging.
He used her moisture to lubricate her tight ring then pressed his crown against it, entering carefully and slowly.
To ease the intense pressure, she relaxed, encouraging him to know her most intimate spot.
His crown slipped in. He sighed.
She grew light-headed and gripped the sofa arm.
Rather than pound away, he pumped leisurely, taking his time to tunnel deep, inviting pleasure.
His strokes on her clit were magical. Delight feathered from her cunt to her thighs and stomach then doubled back and settled in her pussy.
She broke. He did, too.
They drifted down together.
…
Somehow they ended up in Krista’s bedroom, though Jake didn’t recall the journey or taking his cuffs off her. During their play in here, he’d used the other three condoms he’d put in his wallet and cursed himself for not having restocked his stash.
She slept. A first.
He couldn’t, watching her instead. Her shiny hair spilled over the pillow. Her fingers curled, her knuckles resting against his thigh.
She breathed slowly, her face untroubled, cheeks flushed.
Maybe she dreamed about him punishing then mounting her.
Playing that game had been better than Jake had imagined, and he wanted far more.
Idiot.
He was letting his dick lead him down the wrong path again, which was nuts. Instead of explaining that they couldn’t see each other any longer, he’d allowed his lust to eat away the full night, her at his side.
Already it was morning, and he couldn’t fight the truth or the inevitable any longer.
He rolled off the mattress.
“Hey.” She propped herself on one elbow and shoved her hair back. “Where are you going?”
“Home…sorry.” Not allowing further explanation, he grabbed his clothes and dressed in the living room.
She padded after him. “Sorry for what? Leaving? Why? Are you late for your shift?”
He managed a smile he didn’t feel. It made his stomach roll. “I will be if I don’t hurry.”
“Oh.” She scratched her shoulder. “I have to go in this afternoon. I won’t be through until midnight or later. I can see you tomorrow evening, though.”
He pulled on his duty belt and wanted to speak, to tell her how he felt, how screwed up he was, but couldn’t find the right words.
“Jake?”
“I really have to go. Have a good day.” Unable to help himself, he kissed her one last time then fled. The ultimate coward.
Or a man careening toward something he didn’t understand and feared.
…
Krista stared at the front door, not certain what had happened or what Jake’s abrupt departure meant.
She rushed across the living room but stopped before hurrying outside in the nude. Of course, if it made him return to arrest her for public indecency, it might be worth it.
Damn. She sat on the sofa arm, dissecting their spectacular night and bizarre morning. Everything had been fine until he woke up.
Her phone lay on the end table, enticing her to call him.
No. She couldn’t. Damn, she wouldn’t.
Whatever was going through his mind was something he had to settle for himself. She couldn’t force him, nor did she want to.
She dropped onto the cushions, covered her face, and wanted yesterday back.
Chapter Nine
No matter how hard Jake tried to return to the way he’d been, he suffered through his shift, distracted and frustrated.
He even got on Manny’s nerves, and the man was a saint, never shouting at his kids, always placid.
God almighty, stop this. Get a fucking grip.
The next day proved no better for Jake, his thoughts tangled, emotions raw. He was lonely but scared to contact Krista. After work he went to a sports bar and watched a game he couldn’t concentrate on, his mind drifting. Once his next shift ended, he practically bought out a home improvement store then forced himself to do repairs at his place. For nearly a week he played handyman, starting one project then abandoning it for another.
Krista’s image and remembered scent kept haunting him.
Not once did she phone or text.
Maybe things were over between them.
His chest ached. He couldn’t manage a full breath.
Unable to endure his feelings any longer, he waited only until today’s shift ended then stepped into Patrick’s office. “Can we have a word?”
Patrick frowned at his paperwork. “No. I’m busy.”
“Let me rephrase that. We need to have a word.” He closed the door.
Patrick glared.
Jake didn’t give a shit. Nothing was worse than the turmoil he’d endured these past days. “Krista and I have been seeing each other. I don’t intend to stop. Give me the crappiest assignments, banish me to the night shift for-fucking-ever, it won’t change anything. I have no intention of giving her up no matter what you think, say, or threaten. Our lives belong to us.”
Patrick’s face went from red to maroon. “Have you lost your damn mind? She’s my sister.”
“I’m aware of that, but she’s also an adult who can date whoever she wants.”
“Not when it comes to you or any officer here.” Patrick stood so quickly, his chair hit the wall. “How dare you come on to her.”
Good God. “It happened. I didn’t plot it. A pipe broke in my house, she came to fix it, we met, and—”
“I don’t give a goddamn how it happened.”
Jake took a deep breath. Someone had to. “Understood. But we’re still going to see each other.”
Patrick spoke through his teeth. “Not if I can help it.”
This is nuts. “Sarge, you can’t stop us. Krista does what she wants.”
He looked like he wanted to scream. “When you make her cry—”
“I will, because I’m human and as fucked up as any other guy, but it won’t be intentional. And I’ll do my level best to make her happy. Please understand.”
Jake figured Patrick wouldn’t, so he left and raced to Krista’s condo, needing to tell her how he felt. Hoping she wanted him as badly.
If she didn’t, then he’d just screwed himself royally at work.
Somehow it didn’t matter. This was something he had to do.
Her car wasn’t out front. Crap. He sped to Here 4 U and gave a fist pump at seeing her vehicle in the lot. Once inside the office, he gripped the counter. “Is Krista Kallagar here or out on a job?”
The young woman glanced at her computer screen. “She should be back in a few minutes.”
“Do you mind if I wait in the employee break room?” He wanted this to be a surprise, like her smut museum had been for him.
The counter girl stared at his uniform. “You’re not going to arrest her, are you?”
Only if Krista wanted him to play bad cop with her even badder girl again. “We’re dating.”
Her face brightened. “Oh. Sure.” She gestured. “Down the hall, past the lockers.”
“Thanks.”
Male voices drifted into the hall.
Someone laughed. “Dumb bitch doesn’t even know when she’s not welcomed in a job.”
“Tell me about it. She must be sitting on her brains. They sure aren’t evident if she
’s stupid enough to stay where she’s not—”
The guy speaking stilled at Jake in the doorway. Behind him, Krista’s name was printed on a locker. A poster was taped there declaring it was still a man’s world. A jock strap hung from the handle. Her locker was the only one that had been defaced.
White-hot rage flooded Jake, making him tremble.
“Hey, Officer.” The guy who spoke sported a Marine tattoo on his forearm. “Is something the matter?”
“It is.” Jake stepped inside. “What’s your name?”
“What?”
“You heard me.” Jake spoke to the other man. “I’ll need your name, too.”
They both stepped back.
Mr. Marine spoke first. “Why?”
“For my incident report on you and him.”
“Your what?” He frowned. “We didn’t do anything.”
Jake pointed at the crap they’d put on Krista’s locker. “Looks like sexual harassment to me. Maybe even physical assault.”
“What?” Mr. Marine backed away. “Hey, I never touched that bitch, not once.”
Jake got in his face. “What did you call her?”
He’d asked quietly, fury bristling beneath his words. Being a head taller than the man and in better shape didn’t hurt, either.
“I, ah, nothing.” He flashed a smile. “We were just joking around. Right, Rich?”
Rich had paled considerably. “Yeah. What Hank says is what happened.”
“I don’t give a fuck what you call your juvenile behavior. It ends. Right. This. Second.” Jake crowded them both. “If either of you ever bother Ms. Kallagar in the least, even looking at her funny, I’ll make sure your wives find out. And then I’ll bury you beneath so much legal shit, you’ll never dig yourselves out. Got it?”
They nodded.
Jake pivoted.
Krista stared at him.
Fuck. He hadn’t wanted to surprise her like this.
He took her arm and pulled her down the hall. “Before you say anything, let me explain.” He led her into the break room. Thankfully, it was empty. He closed the door and leaned against it, giving her no chance to escape. “I shouldn’t have said what I did out there. I know you can take care of yourself. But when I heard and saw what those bastards have been putting you through, it made me so damn mad, I—”
“Thanks.”
“—wanted to tear them—what?”
She cradled his cheek. “Thanks. That was sweet.”
“You mean it? You’re not mad?”
“Hell, no.” She shrugged. “But shooting them would have been better.”
He laughed and pulled her into his arms. “God, you’re something. Don’t ever change.”
“I wasn’t planning to.” She hugged him as hard as he did her. “What’s this about? Did you come here to talk to those goons?”
“God, no. It just happened. I’m here for you. I couldn’t stay away any longer.”
She stopped stroking his back. “Were you trying?”
“I was stupid. Let’s leave it at that. But I’m better now. I told Patrick about us.”
“What?” She loosened her grip and eased back. “Why?”
He cupped her face. “I didn’t want him finding out on his own. I told him I don’t give a goddamn what he thinks about us being together. If he wants to ruin my career, fine, have at it.”
She gasped. “Oh my God. Did he fire you?”
“He’s not crazy. The union would fight him.”
“But he’ll make your life hell.” She gripped his arms. “He’ll fuck up your promotions and pension and—”
“Let him try. I don’t care. I want to date you and build on what we already have. See where it takes us.” He kissed her deeper than he ever had, far longer, too, unwilling and unable to let go.
When he finally finished, she slumped against him. “I want that, too.”
The best words in the English language. “You’re sure?”
“Yeah. From the beginning. I was waiting for you to catch up.”
His face burned. He’d been such an ass, but no more. “You know what this means, right?”
She lifted her face to look at him, delight and contentment in her eyes. “We’re going to be exclusive.”
“Fucking A. But that’s not what I’m talking about.”
“Oh. Only I will fix your plumbing from now on?”
Laughter spilled from him. “That’s a given. But it’s still not what I’m getting at.” He pecked her nose. “At least three times a week—no, make it four—maybe five, we play alpha cop and badass girl. I insist upon it.”
Pure pleasure gleamed in her eyes. “Deal.”
Epilogue
Three months later…
The October afternoon ruled, the weather breezy, temperature in the low eighties, perfect for the annual police picnic, numerous events in full swing. Guys played ball and horseshoes. Kids screeched or bawled because they did or didn’t win prizes at the stands. Women gathered and talked.
Krista lifted one eyebrow at Jake, who’d corralled her into helping him prepare this bash, stating she’d be better at this stuff than a guy.
Yeah, sure. He was close to perfect as far as treating her right but wasn’t there yet, so she’d enlisted her mom for this event. She’d made today possible and didn’t even angle for an invite.
Jake threw a pitch, which the batter missed. The winning side shouted, jumped up and down, then hugged each other like little girls. The losers bitched.
Jake jogged to her side, his chest bare, tat amazing, perspiration glistening on his skin. Totally droolworthy.
She kissed him. “Congrats.”
“For what?”
“Winning the game. Being your usual awesome self.”
Joy lit his features.
His eagerness for her approval touched Krista as nothing else had. He could have chosen any woman, but he’d wanted her as she did him. He’d risked Patrick’s wrath and hadn’t cared, as long as they were together.
Last week, he’d asked her to move in with him, and she’d agreed, the lease up on her condo. She’d warned Patrick to keep his opinions about that to himself and to continue being fair about Jake’s performance on the force. If Patrick even considered doing something cruel, she promised to go to his lieutenant, a meaner mother than him, and tell the woman what a prick he was.
Patrick muttered numerous oaths then shouted it was her funeral and not to come crying to him when things between her and Jake tanked.
Even if they did at some distant point, she needed to take this chance.
Patrick, on the other hand… He stared at her and Jake from the table where he and his wife, Nancy, sat, skepticism in his eyes.
His doubt would never rattle her.
She cradled Jake’s face, loving his bristly cheeks. “You know what?”
“What?”
“When you’re around, I can’t look anywhere else.”
He chuckled. “Why’s that?”
“The usual reasons. You’re tall, dark, and hung.”
His face reddened. He slid his gaze to Manny and the other guys playing horseshoes. “Promise not to say that when my buddies are around.”
“Maybe. What happens if I do?”
“Did you forget I have cuffs?” He swatted her ass.
No one noticed. They were too involved in their own stuff. Even Patrick had looked away to shout at his kids, telling them to stop yelling and running.
Tracy, her niece, fell to the ground and pounded her feet on the grass. Her nephew, Luke, broke into tears.
Krista elbowed Jake. “Did my brother have a meltdown like those two when you told him about us?”
“Nope. He was in charge then, or thought he was. Now, though…” Jake shook his head at the kids’ tantrums. “He has his hands full.”
“Want to give him something else to be pissed about?”
Jake met her gaze, hunger and tenderness in his eyes. The same that filled her. “Gladly.”<
br />
They kissed as if they meant it, which they did, not troubling over who watched.
Seeing no one else…wanting no one except each other.
About the Author
Tina Donahue is an Amazon and international bestselling novelist who writes passionate romance for every taste – ‘heat with heart’ – for traditional publishers and indie. Booklist, Publisher’s Weekly, Romantic Times and numerous online sites have praised her work. She’s won Readers’ Choice Awards, was named a finalist in the EPIC competition, received a Book of the Year award, The Golden Nib Award, awards of merit in the RWA Holt Medallion competitions, and second place in the NEC RWA contests. She’s featured in the Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Before penning romances, she worked at a major Hollywood production company in Story Direction.
On a less serious note: She’s an admitted and unrepentant chocoholic, brakes for Mexican restaurants, and has been known to moan like Meg Ryan in When Harry Met Sally while wolfing down tostadas. She’s flown a single-engine airplane (freaking scary), rewired an old house using an ‘electricity for dummies’ book, and is horribly shy despite the hot romances she writes.
Also by Tina Donahue
WICKED TAKEOVER
WICKED SEDUCTION
WICKED TIMES TWO
WICKED DESIGN
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. References to actual persons, living or dead, is not intended or inferred.
Copyright © 2019 by Tina Donahue. All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Publisher.
Entangled Publishing, LLC
2614 South Timberline Road
Suite 105, PMB 159
Fort Collins, CO 80525
[email protected]
www.entangledpublishing.com
Edited by Alethea Spiridon
Manufactured in the United States of America
First Edition March 2019
ALWAYS READY
KIMBERLY NEE
Chapter One
The memorial service for US Coast Guard Petty Officer First Class Mark McKuen was being held at the Dunraven on Main Street in Sidleburg. Although he’d been born and raised in New Jersey, Steve Pacifico had no idea Sidleburg even existed until he’d met Mark. After all, the tiny town was tucked away in the northwest part of the state, while he’d grown up in Lavallette, a shore town just north of Long Beach Island.
Men In Uniform Anthology Page 7
