“Too many decisions. Can’t I have both?” I find his lips and kiss him. Slow, because it matches the mood he’s in.
He groans into my mouth. “We can’t always have everything we want.” His cock enters me again and I try to take him all the way in. He pulls back out before I succeed.
I wrap my arms tight around his neck and drag his lips to mine. After I kiss him, I say, “Luke, I just need you to fuck me. No foreplay. No dirty talk. Just your cock, fast and hard.”
He hisses. “Fuck,” he rasps.
A second later, his cock is as deep inside me as it can be and my man gives me what I need.
It doesn’t take me long to fall asleep after we’re done.
Curled up with Luke’s arms around me and his steady breaths against my ear as he sleeps is my happy place.
* * *
“What’s going on in that gorgeous head of yours?” Luke asks as he moves behind me. He wraps his arms around me, settling his hands on my stomach. “You’ve been acting strange all day.”
He’s right. I have been.
This morning has been filled with playtime. Sean and I spent a couple of hours outside playing so Luke could get some sleep after his long shift last night. I know for sure now that I have to see my Jolene investigation through. I couldn’t live with myself if I didn’t and she was indeed innocent. Just one look at her son this morning and I knew this was the path I’d be taking. He at least deserves the chance to have his mother in his life.
My body tenses in Luke’s arms. I place my hand on his. “I’m sorry. I’ve just got some work stuff on my mind.”
He turns me to face him, arms still around me. “You wanna talk about it? Go over it maybe?”
Yes.
No.
Fuck, no.
“I actually think I should probably go so I can work on it at home in the quiet,” I say hesitantly. Sean’s just gone down for a nap and I know Luke was looking forward to some alone time. It’s crazy talk for me to be passing up make-out time, but I don’t think I have it in me today.
He frowns, but he doesn’t argue. “You do whatever you need to, baby,” he says. “But before you go, I need this.” His lips meet mine and he treats me to one of his long, slow kisses—the kind that nearly bring me to my knees each time.
When he lets me go, I fight to catch my breath. “I’ll only be a few hours. I’ll check in on Mrs Harper while I’m there, and I’ll be back before dinner. You owe me pizza.”
His eyes flash with lust and his voice is gravelly when he speaks. “You better go before I change my mind and make you stay.”
Guilt floods me as I leave.
Luke’s watching me back out of his driveway. He thinks I’m going home when in fact I’m about to drive to his old neighbour’s new home.
I’m about to move my investigation to the next level.
* * *
Luke’s old neighbour lives about twenty minutes from him now and I spend the entire drive there psyching myself up to talk to him. Marion’s notes gave me his new address, but there was no phone number and I couldn’t locate it online, so he doesn’t know I’m coming. I’m hopeful he’ll be home and that he’ll agree to talk to me.
As I walk the short distance from his front gate to his door, I smooth my dress. It doesn’t need smoothing, but my hands need something to do. I’m not even sure why I’m full of so many nerves. It’s just an old man for goodness’ sake and I’ve just got a few questions for him. Surely he won’t slam the door in my face.
It’s not him you’re nervous about.
I knock on his door and wait. A good few minutes pass with no answer, so I knock again, this time a little louder.
Another few minutes lapse before the door is slowly pulled open. A hunched-over elderly man squints at me. “What?” he barks.
I jump a little, mostly from my nerves rather than from his tone. “Ah, Mr Beacon?”
“Yes. Who’s asking?” He speaks so loud, which makes me think he’s a little deaf.
I take a deep breath and steady myself. “My name is Callie St James and I’m investigating the Jolene Hardy murder case. Would you have a few minutes to spare so I can ask you some questions?”
He scowls. “I’ve already told the police everything I know. Fat lot of good that did because those wankers didn’t even listen. Shot me down in court was all they did.”
My lips twitch at his language. “I know, and that’s the reason I’d like to talk with you. I’m looking into Jolene’s innocence.”
“Of course she’s innocent,” he barks. His firm belief encourages me to push harder.