I pull a piece of hair stuck to Alison’s mouth away from her face. She reeks of vomit enough without her hair stinking of it too. “Shh. Just sleep it off, okay? Don’t talk.”

She sits up on her elbows and her mouth widens as she yawns. She does the exact opposite to what I say and I roll my eyes at the lack of surprise. I should have known she wouldn’t listen. The first time I met Alison Jenkins she was sixteen years old and running her mouth at Roamyn in our precinct, and at twenty-two, it didn’t seem like much had changed.

“I didn’t take any drugs, I swear it. I didn’t drink any alcohol,” she repeats what she told Roamyn earlier, her eyes plead with me to believe her. They’re no longer glassy. They’re clear, just like her tone of voice. My mind ticks over, contemplating she might actually be telling the truth. I sit down on the edge of the bed preparing to hear her out. She continues, “I think my drink was spiked.”

I sigh an exasperated breath, this night becoming longer and more than I expected. “We’ll talk in the morning, for now just rest. Get some sleep ‘cause you’re gonna have one hell of a hangover to conquer tomorrow.” I cover her with the comforter and just as the door nearly shuts completely, Alison pipes up with something I’m not expecting to hear.

“Detective Cole, Lindsey may not realize it yet, but she needs you in her life. She’s talked about you, and tonight, you showed me the man she tried to tell me you are. You get to her like no one else ever has, not that I’ve seen anyway. I promise you, once you’ve got her, you’ll never lose her. Once you’re in her heart, you’re there for good.”

Her mouth speaks the words but her eyes are what convince me she’s telling the truth.

“Sure hope you’re right on that one, kid,” I reply, thinking about Lindsey. It’s getting late and we still have to talk shit out. I need to get back out to her.

“I may be young, and Lord knows I’ve done some monumentally stupid shit, but I know my sister, I’ve always seen the real Lindsey. If you want that too, just don’t give up. She’s stubborn, opinionated, and fiery as hell. But she’s worth every second you’ll hate waiting for her to give in.”

I let her words sink in. She rolls over and light snores erupt from her almost immediately. The way she spoke about Lindsey sends my mind and my heart into the pursuit of happiness.

Sounds from Lindsey’s room send me in that direction as I leave Alison to sleep off the night. Slipping off my shoes at her door, my feet squish into the cream carpet of her bedroom. The smell of her perfume wafts through the air leading me to her bathroom where steam fogs the mirror from the heat pouring out of her shower. My dick stirs taking in the outline of Lindsey’s naked body behind the glass door. My hand shoots south automatically and I squeeze my cock through my pants. Fuck, I’m more than ready to get in and join her. I shove my jacket down and pull my grey tee off over my head. Reaching behind me, I grab the gun out of my waistband and set it on the vanity. Shoving my pants down, I free the hardness waiting for some attention. We’ll talk, we’ll fuck, and the night will end how it damn well should have started.

Lindsey

A chill hits my naked back, goose bumps rise on my skin, and my nipples harden at the cold intrusion interrupting my hot shower.

Mason.

One of his large hands grabs the back of my neck and he squeezes while blowing his hot breath on my shoulder. His hand is never too tight, but never soft. It’s enough to let me know he’s here; he’s got me. It’s a protective touch I’ve found solace in. This is a bad idea. So bad. Letting go, he trails his fingers down, splaying them over my spine to the top of my ass, while nibbling tiny bites and kisses into the crook between my neck and shoulder. The sting of his teeth on my skin shoots straight to my eager pussy. My ribs still ache today as they did the day before, but my face doesn’t hurt and my muscles aren’t sore from my effort to defend myself. Apart from an occasional throb when the painkillers begin wearing off, I feel fine, fine enough I’m ready to let Mason have me however he wants.

My body yearns for his touch, taking control, leaving my head restricted and my heart defenseless. Oddly enough, comfort in that knowledge comes easy and my muscles relax with every assault of his smooth lips worshipping my body.

His wandering hands creep closer to the part of me where I absolutely want him to be, and as his calloused finger hits that magical spot, my eyes roll back into my head while my right hand comes up in front of me, meeting the wall to brace my weight. His fingers begin to move, his strokes long, his pressure perfect. Rough fingertips clasp around my hip and I’m jolted back, Mason’s free hand erasing any distance left between us.

His hard cock is against my back and my head rests into the firmness of his chest. My legs nearly give way, pleasure overriding my ability to stand, talk, or feel anything apart from the tingling desire coursing through my veins. He plays, he teases, back and forth. It’s too much. I want more and I want it now. My fingers drift down my stomach and glide over Mason’s. Applying pressure, I force him to stroke harder. My thighs shake and I close my eyes, an explosion building behind them, ready to detonate into a thousand pieces.

It’s right there, one second away; one more expert touch and for a short time, nothing but bliss will rule my world. There would be no violence, no lies, nothing but Mason and me.

But then it’s gone. I’m ripped away from the edge of paradise, wet, naked, and horny as hell. Without so much as a second to voice the frustration pouring out of me, I’m flipped around, back and arms pushed up against the tiled wall. Mase restricts any movement in my wrists and I narrow my eyes at him, my eyebrows bunching together.

He smirks, amusement dancing across his features. Infuriating asshole. He’s finding it hilarious that he’s left me high and dry and I’d be stupid not to realize why.

I hold my glare, but relent a little. I did kind of deserve it after leaving his bed before he’d woken up. “Okay, there was a reason for stopping and I can guess what it is. But go on, let me have it,” I say in defeat.

“I’m kind of pissed. You left my home without so much as a goodbye. I’m not saying I don’t understand why you did it, but you didn’t just leave me that morning wondering why you left. You left an impressionable young girl who had a good time with you, wondering why our guest would up and leave at the ass crack of dawn. That wasn’t cool of you to do.”

Mason let’s go of my wrists so he can cup my cheeks between his hands. “I get it, Linds. I’m not stupid. I know you probably got scared and thought you’d do what you always do and hide away. But you can’t do that when it’s not just me you’re running away from. I’ve got a daughter. She’s the center of my universe so if we want something between us to work, that means we work with Charlotte too.”

My heart sinks with shame because it never occurred to me Charlotte would ask questions. I was too busy processing what had happened with her father and, in turn, leaving had done more damage than good.

I shake my head in his hands. “Shit. I’m an asshole. I’m so sorry. I just never thought— it never occurred to me…” I trail off, my voice breaking. It isn’t second nature anymore for me to think of someone else’s needs before my own, and while it might be selfish, it’s the truth. Mason is a father. It’s ingrained in him to put her above all else and that’s exactly how it should be. I’d not been accustomed to a situation like his before now.

“It’s all good. Her biggest worry was she couldn’t understand why you wouldn’t have stayed for pancakes for breakfast.”

A chuckle erupts from me and I smile. “She’s so freaking cute.”