“Presley, is this where you ask me to sit and beg?” It was my turn to grin. “Part of me thinks you’d love it. Ordering me around, testing how far you can push me.”
And, fuck me, if she wasn’t the only one who was curious. I wasn’t even sure the idea was still a good one, the dirty part of my brain rationalizing if she asked me to get naked that I’d be duty-bound to comply. So much gray area, and yet, there I was, willing to sign on the dotted line.
Her lips pressed into a line, the urge to smile wider, a battle she was losing. “Well, maybe it’s something we could try. Like for a day. And only if you promise on your mother that you will do exactly what I say.”
“Firstly, you’re never going to let me forget that, are you? I said it, one fucking time and I was trying to get my point across. So, you need to leave her out of it,” I warned, seeing the humor in it while not needing the visual of my mom’s disproving face. Best she kept thinking her baby boy was a saint, living in denial that my place on the wall of saints and angels was deserved. I sure as hell wasn’t going to tell her any different and break the woman’s heart. “And secondly, within reason. You want to use me as your own personal science experiment, we’re going to have issues. But, other than that, I’ll agree.”
It was a bad deal.
I knew it, she knew it, even the fucking dumbass lawyer who’d handled my oldest sister’s divorce and fucked it up—she was still paying her ex-husband’s tax bill—would agree it was a huuuuuuge mistake.
But regardless of all that knowledge, the risk, and the chance of epic fallout, I wasn’t saying no.
I put out my hand, the shake the only acceptable physical contact I was able to offer with her brother watching and my turnouts covered in ash and soot. Which was probably for the best anyway, because I was sure the kind of physical contact I wanted to offer wasn’t fit for a public street.
“What do you say, Presley? Trial run?”
The hand that was so deliciously resting on her hip moved and gripped mine, the pressure when she closed it making my balls ache. “Okay, but you can’t get weird on me.”
“Weird how?” I asked, dropping her hand and wondering what she meant. Like when I kissed her in the club the other night, or the night before that when I took her to bed.
“Like sending me messages the next day, pretending you didn’t sleep with me. We’re adults, I’m not going to get amnesia and forget we slept together. Which I might add, was a problem for you and not for me.”
Oh, she had no idea.
None.
“Well, isn’t it lucky we’re going to have all this time to work it out then? And if you thought for a second I’d forget that, then you’re even dumber than your brother.” I leaned forward almost whispering in her ear. “I haven’t forgotten shit. Not about you, and not about that night. And especially not how good my name sounded when you moaned it.” I pulled back, watching as her pupils dilated. I wondered if she was thinking about what we did, about how good I’d made her feel. And if it made her as hot as it did me. “Now, if I don’t get my ass on the engine and get back to the station, I’m going to hear about it for the next week. And I’m sure you have somewhere you need to be too. So I’ll call you later, and we’ll work out how this will go down. I’m off for the next forty-eight, I’ll come by your place after I finish shift tomorrow. Take care.”
Giving her a quick wave, I turned around before I did something stupid.
Like kiss her.
And considering she hadn’t even asked me to do that, that transgression would’ve been all on me.
Wasn’t sure it wasn’t worth the risk.
“Wait?” She grabbed my arm, her hand stopping me from leaving. “Tomorrow morning? You guys finish at like what? Seven, eight? I’m not going to be coherent that early. I’m going to be at Diablo tonight until three.” Her head shook, thinking something as minor as a locked door was going to be a roadblock.
Not. Likely.
Especially not if I had permission.
“Your brother has a spare key, I’ll let myself in. You won’t even know I’m there,” I offered, thinking it was less invasive than just breaking the door down.
Her hand didn’t let go, keeping me from moving. Little did she know, I was in no hurry to go. “Yeah, because that doesn’t sound creepy at all. You’re going to just let yourself into my apartment and wait until I wake up? You going to watch me while I sleep too?”
“Is that what you want?” I asked, having no problem with that scenario. I’d probably enjoy it a lot more than she’d think too. “I tell you what, have a think about it and leave me a note. It will be a test on how good I am at following instructions. And I know how much you love giving them.”
“Leighton, we’ve got to go,” North yelled from down the road. We’d already loitered longer than we needed to and if we didn’t get back soon there’d be all kinds of questions.
“See you in the morning, Presley. Don’t forget that list.” My head tilted to where her hand was, her grasp relaxing.
Her nod lacked her usual confidence, a mumbled, “bye” tossed my way before catching the light which had changed again.
And with her heading on her way, I had no reason not to be on mine, turning back to where North, Evans, Rev, and Tibbs were all assembled, waiting for me.
“Leighton, the other engine already left.” Rev shook his head. “What were you doing?”
Tibbs eyes cut to mine, the expectation all over his face. “She cool?”
“All good, brother.” I clapped him on the shoulder, trying to convince myself as well. “I’ll explain everything when we get back to the station, but she’s agreed. Oh, and another thing, I’m going to need her spare key.”
He didn’t even ask why, a relieved smile breaking out across his face. “I owe you. Now let’s get back before Cap and Chief both blow a gasket. We’ll just tell him the rookie needed to take a piss.”
“Hey!” Evans objected, the evil look spelling out he wasn’t taking the fall. “Cap saw Leighton walk off, you guys aren’t pinning it on me.”
I rolled my eyes, popping open the door to the engine and jumping in. “Let’s just get back. It’s probably going to be a long shift.”
Presley
YOU’D THINK SUNDAY nights would be easy, but not in Manhattan. It was just another night, the club packed to capacity, the hours just as long. Add to that the information Raelle had so helpfully dug up, and it was an interesting night.
Scott Collins had decided to spend more of his daddy’s money. He and a few of his—beautiful but not all that bright—friends had conspired to buy a club in L.A. and turn it into the biggest celebrity haunt on the west coast.
Morons.
The lot of them.
Firstly, none of them—and I’m talking about seven successful actors, some who had a few awards on the mantel—had any kind of industry experience. Unless you counted frequenting clubs and bars, they were all completely oblivious. And if that weren’t enough of a deterrent into dropping a whole bunch of cash into an investment that had a high chance of failure, none of them had any business experience either.