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  “I’m on my way home, actually.” I looked at my watch. It was already after ten. “Shouldn’t you be in a hotel room, working?” I asked her.

  “My date is late,” she said, waving down the barman.

  Date! Ha!

  “Maybe he smartened up. You know, you’re going to run out of men in this town soon.”

  “There are still some who resist my charms. But not for long, hopefully.” Her hand slid along my thigh and up to my zipper. Since I was sitting around the corner of the bar, we were in the perfect spot for Laurie to work her tricks – an obscured view, so no one could she what she was up to. I removed her hand. “You know I’m with Millie.”

  “The boring girl. Gin and tonic, please,” she ordered.

  I laughed. “Millie’s anything but boring.”

  “That’s because you haven’t had a real woman, Dave. I could change that.”

  “Thanks, but no thanks.”

  “You can close your eyes and think about her if you want. I don’t mind.”

  Why the fuck did my cock respond to that? It was because I did think about Millie. But we had a very healthy sex life. In fact, if she were here right now, I’d be brave enough to take her into the back hallway and have her against one of the walls. Just the thought made me hard, and I shouldn’t have been thinking about being inside of her right now, when Laurie seemed to be making a move.

  “See, I knew I could turn you on.” Her gaze concentrated on the bulge in my pants. “Have I ever told you that men in uniform are my favorite? They’re strong and have stamina like no one else.”

  For fuck’s sake, would I never be able to control those urges when I thought about Millie? “This is not for you.”

  Laurie took a sip of her drink before leaning in closer, “Well, I don’t see anyone else around here.”

  I wasn’t about to explain myself to her. She twisted to the side, removed her scarf, and set it over the back of the chair. My gaze flew to her well-endowed chest. Her breasts were ready to spill out of that dress, and while she might have thought my sudden attention on her bosom was because of interest, she was wrong. My attention was on the blue gem strung on a silver chain that rested right between her breasts. It had been two years since I’d seen it last; two long years of regret that I’d dropped it at Savage’s house. I thought it had perished in the fire.

  “Where did you get that?” I asked.

  “It was a gift.”

  “That’s Millie’s.”

  She covered the pendant with her hand as if she’d just realized that I was right.

  “You got it from Savage, didn’t you? In exchange for sex.”

  “I didn’t.”

  “He stole it from Millie on her prom night.”

  I didn’t know how he got it back – maybe picked my pocket as I carried him out of the burning house, or retrieved it from the ashes later – but it was certainly Millie’s.

  “Look, I don’t know where you get your ideas from, but this is mine, not Millie’s.” She took the scarf off the chair and stood up. I grasped her wrist, pulling her ass back to the seat.

  “You know very well that it’s hers because you tried to get it from her even before the prom. And when you found out that Savage had it, you offered your services to him, didn’t you? In exchange for the pendant you were so obsessed with.”

  “So what? It’s mine now.”

  “How much do you want for it?”

  “You don’t have enough money to get this back. Unless…”

  Unless what?

  She had that pure look of lust only a whore would know how to wear all over her. Her breasts swelled up and her nipples poked through her dress. She licked her lips seductively.

  “Are you fucking kidding me right now?”

  “Do I look like I’m joking? If there’s one thing I don’t joke about, it’s sex.”

  “Forget it.”

  “Then forget this, Officer.” She downed the rest of her drink and leaned into my ear with a whisper, “But if you change your mind, I’ll be in the bathroom.”

  Seriously?

  I watched her walk away. Was this the only way I could get the pendant from her? What if I just took it? No – she’d accuse me of stealing, and I was a police officer. I couldn’t face the kind of scrutiny and gossip that would bring. But I couldn’t do nothing, either. Besides, I was a police officer and Laurie was a whore, making our reputations for telling the truth a lot different.

  This was all fucking Savage’s fault. I looked down the hall at the back of the establishment where Laurie had disappeared.

  Of course, it was worth it. It was Millie’s, and if I didn’t try to get the only piece of her family back for her, then I was a lousy boyfriend. I tilted the mug and drank the rest of my beer before heading to the back. I pushed the single bathroom door open, walked right up to Laurie, and took her in my arms, lifting her against the wall.

  I crushed into her with all my weight, not expecting her mouth to seize mine. The taste of alcohol flowed from her lips as she bit me. I couldn’t even count the ways in which this felt wrong. I pulled my mouth away from hers, saying, “Is this what you fucking want, Laurie?”

  “Yes,” she breathed. “I want you to fuck me.”

  “Right here?”

  “Yes, right here.” She grabbed my hand and shoved it up her skirt to her wet pussy, pushing my fingers inside of her, along with hers.

  Holy fuck, was she ever fast!

  I’m doing this for Millie. I thought.

  But that only gave me a hard-on and encouraged Laurie to swiftly lower my zipper and unbuckle my pants. They dropped to the ground. She hooked her leg around my hip, lifted her dress, and pressed herself to my boxers. Her other hand dragged the front of her dress down, revealing her breasts. I still couldn’t believe this was happening. When I had walked into this bathroom, I hadn’t planned to get that necklace this way. But the moment she got her claws into me, it seemed like my plan got flushed down the toilet. As she grabbed my cock in her hand and started molesting me through my boxers, still keeping my fingers inside her pussy, I whispered in her ear.

  “What if instead of fucking you, I arrest you for propositioning an officer? Give me the necklace, which rightfully belongs to Millie, and we can call it a night.”

  “Not until you fuck me.”

  I pulled my hand away from between her legs. “Let me make this deal a little bit sweeter.” I leaned closer, pressing myself against her whole body. “Give me that necklace, and for the next year I won’t do everything in my power to arrest you for prostitution.”

  “You won’t be able to. I’m not a prostitute. I just like to date… a lot.”

  “Right, and I’m here because I want to fuck you hard against that wall.” A swoosh resonated behind me but when I turned, no one was there.

  She dropped down to her knees and pulled my boxers right along with her. Her mouth was around my cock before I got a chance to pull her back up. My boner flew out of her mouth with a pop.

  “This is the last time I’ll ask, Laurie. Take it off, now, before I fuck you in ways you really don’t want me to.”

  “I just wanted a taste.” She batted her lashes.

  I reached down and pulled my underwear and pants back up. “Hand it over. Now!”

  She stood in silence for a moment hesitating.

  “Who do you think they’re going to believe?”

  Laurie adjusted her dress and tucked her breasts back in before reaching around her neck. “You stay off my ass, Officer Mayers. I mean it.”

  “You have one year, Laurie. And I suggest you use it to clean up your act.”

  Feeling like an asshole for letting it get that far, I took the pendant and left. I drove around for two hours, thinking about what had just happened, wondering if there had been a better way of getting that necklace, before going home. But knowing the persistent bitch, she would never have given that necklace up if I’d let her leave that bar with it. To spite me, she’d have s
old it first thing in the morning for less than I would have paid her. And while I wished I hadn’t had to stoop so low, there was no way to turn back the clock. At least I had Millie’s pendant. Hopefully, it was worth it.

  When I got home, Millie was already in bed. I showered and scrubbed myself clean before sliding in bed next to her, wanting her to make me forget about tonight. I spooned her from behind. She shifted away, wiggling her behind, but that only made me harder for her. Wrapping my hand over her stomach, I slipped it under her shirt and up to her breast, squeezing it lightly.

  “I missed you, baby.”

  She responded a little, but kept herself turned away from me. It was already late, and I knew that she had to work in the morning, but I needed her now. I had to forget about tonight. Rolling her nipple between my fingers, I kissed her shoulder and the back of her neck. She squirmed a little, but her resistance was waning.

  “I want you,” I whispered. My hand drew down to her panties. There was no time to take them off, so I tugged them to the side, checked her wetness with my fingers, and smiled. While she might have been tired, Millie couldn’t hide her desire from me. I pushed in deep, her warmth encasing me. She moaned and twisted onto her stomach, grasping the pillow tightly. With me inside her, I tore her panties off and motioned my hips in encouragement, prodding and withdrawing slowly. Her ass tilted higher. I braced myself on my arms and plunged into her, burying myself to the hilt, feeling my sack graze against her drenched pussy. Hers was the only one I wanted to be inside of for the rest of my life. I drove forward and back, my rhythm picking up, my momentum becoming more unbearable with each one of her moans as she tightened around me. It was just us, me and Millie. I drew my hand underneath her, touching her clit, but she gently pushed it away. While I didn’t like it when we made love and she didn’t come, I wasn’t sure I could hold off until I could persuade her otherwise. Maybe she was tired. Rising to my knees, I grasped her beautiful ass and traced my finger along her crack down to the beautiful puckered hole. I brought my fingers to my mouth and added saliva before returning to her ass. She was gasping for air, arching her back lower so that her ass would open for me. I massaged her tight opening while pounding into her. She was mine and only mine, and I was hers. Right now, this was the only way I could show her just how much I loved her.

  “Oh, god!” Just as I let one of my fingers slide into her backside, I lost it. I came with an intense force into her pussy. My head spun, but the five-second relief was so worth everything. I slowly lowered my body to Millie’s, completely covering her, before sliding out. My chest rose and fell, and it took a moment for me to catch my breath.

  Millie remained still.

  “Are you all right, baby?”

  “Just tired,” she said into the pillow.

  “Okay, maybe I can make it up to you in the morning, then.” I kissed her shoulder and snuggled in behind her, whispering, “I love you.”

  But Millie was already asleep.

  When I woke up in the morning I searched with my hand for her, but only found an empty pillow. The digital clock had just switched to ten in the morning, which meant that Millie was already at work, and I felt bad that I had missed kissing her goodbye. I called in to work that day and switched shifts with Justin. I needed time to prepare my surprise for Millie. I had the necklace professionally cleaned and set into a square box, the same one I’d made for her eighteenth birthday, and wrapped. I didn’t text her that I’d be home when she returned and waited, ready with dinner and roses.

  Except Millie never showed up. That night was the last one we spent together. It was the last time we lived as a couple, and it would take years before I got her trust again and found out what had happened to make her run.

  Chapter 19

  Millie

  “Hi, George.”

  “Hi, Millie. You know this shelter is for the homeless.”

  “Well, I am.”

  “You’ve got a home.”

  “George…”

  “I’m kidding. Get in here, but don’t let Mrs. Woods see you. She’ll complain.”

  “Thanks!” I smiled at him. “One day I promise I’ll pay you back.”

  “No need, Millie. No need.”

  I went to the back of the kitchen and helped myself to some chicken, corn, and potatoes. The dinner shift was almost over, and George was the only one left there. That’s why I came at this time. The door swung open, and George came through, carrying two empty buckets. I jumped off the counter and helped him carry them.

  “You sure you don’t want to stay at the shelter? I can talk to Mrs. Woods.”

  “No, it’s all right. I don’t want to switch schools again. Besides, last time I stayed there, I lost a jacket.”

  He shook his head. “How does someone like you get overlooked?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, a girl as smart and giving as you should have a good home. If I were younger and didn’t live at a nursing home, I’d take you in, Millie. I mean it.”

  “Thank you, George. But I’ll manage. And some day, I’ll buy myself a nice little house and I’ll find my brother and have my family back.”

  “Your Momma still shooting up? She asked about you the last time she was here.”

  “I think she is, but I don’t have the means to take care of her. It’s hard enough on my own.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Look at me now – I’ve got a roof over my head when it’s pouring outside, food on my plate to fill my stomach, and clothes on my back to keep me warm. I’m not dead.”

  “You’re a ray of sunshine, that’s what you are, Millie Carlton.”

  “Thanks, George. And if I’m a ray of sunshine, then you’re the sun.”

  There were still some good people in this world, and George was proof of that.

  Present time

  I opened my eyes at the sound of something clattering downstairs and shot up on the mattress. Dave lifted his head beside me and propped himself up on his elbow. “Relax, gorgeous.”

  “Oh, my god. What time is it?”

  “Noon.”

  “Mrs. Bowers—”

  “She’s fine. I went downstairs earlier, had breakfast with her, and told her we needed some privacy and would be spending the day up here.”

  “You didn’t!”

  “I think she danced and squealed, and then looked for a jacket as she mumbled that hell was freezing over.”

  “Dave!”

  “What? Come on, she’s wanted this to happen more than anyone.”

  “Not more than you.”

  “Yeah.” He gave me a sexy grin before kissing me. “That would be impossible.”

  I looked toward the steaming cup set on top of one of the boxes. “Is that coffee?”

  “Organic, Colombian blend. And those are croissants.”

  At the mention of food, I felt my stomach rumble. “Mrs. Bowers doesn’t have organic coffee.”

  “She doesn’t, but I brought some with me.”

  As he reached for the cup, I pulled the quilt that was somewhat covering my body over my breasts, and then took the cup from him. He was right. It was my favorite coffee.

  “So, since we’re spending the day here, what are we going to do?”

  “I can think of a few things.” His hand slid underneath the quilt, and his fingers parted my folds. Holy-mother-of-all-the-right-things-in-the-world, his fingers felt amazing. I wanted to argue that I was hungry and needed to wash up, but to deny my body the feel of his touch, well, that would be defying what nature intended — which would be so, so wrong. Dave wasted no time rubbing me, and it took less than a minute for me to come in his hand. I’d forgotten what it was like to have a man around who wanted you all the time. Even better, a man who ignited a fire through my whole body every time he touched me.

  Once my heart rate settled, I had the croissant and rested my head on his chest, welcoming the calming sound of his heartbeat. How could I ever have believed that
we were meant to be apart, when this felt so right?

  “I knew that if there was a place where I could get you back, it was here,” he whispered.

  Yeah, well, I couldn’t argue with that. I stared at the wooden beams above us and the faint outlines of stars painted on the ceiling.

  “This attic means a lot to me,” I said.

  “Me too. We were clumsy our first time.”

  “Who isn’t? But we eventually got better.”

  “And stopped freaking out about all the sounds our bodies made.”

  I chuckled, remembering how too much air had gotten inside my vagina the first time Dave penetrated me, and then was released. I thought my face would burn from embarrassment as I tried to convince him that it wasn’t a fart.

  “Do you still get hard when you think about me?”

  “All the time.”

  I sighed. “No matter what happened, I wouldn’t want my first time to have been with anyone else, Dave.”

  “Baby, you need to tell me what happened. I mean, I know you were in shock when that guy died in your arms. But I had no choice. He was armed.”

  Yes, and I would have died if it weren’t for Dave. Sometimes I wished I had.

  “Dave, please. Not now. Let me just enjoy this for as long as I can.”

  “Baby, but that’s the whole problem. I want to enjoy this until the day I die.”

  “All that sex messed with your brain.”

  “No, it just confirmed how much we belong together.”

  “How can you be so sure?”

  “How can you not be? Remember this?” He pointed to the wooden joist. Of course, I remembered. I had read the promise just over a week ago when we first came to check on Mrs. Bowers.

  Dave leaned into me and whispered, “I promise to get mad. I promise to make mistakes. I promise not to look or act perfect all the time. I promise to argue and to scream. I promise to tell you when you’re not only wrong but also right. I promise to do and say stupid things I cannot explain. I promise to test your patience. I also promise to be real and honest. I promise to hug you whenever I can.” He wrapped his arms around me and brought me to his body before he continued. I couldn’t even believe that he remembered all the words. My throat got tighter and my eyes glistened over. “I promise to stand by your side, to trust you, support you and believe in you. I promise to love you as perfectly as I can, forever.”