Page 4 of Finding Justice

She did it because she cared about him, too. I don’t begrudge her that. I’m just so overcome with guilt it hurts to admit, "I failed him."

Naomi turns my face to hers and whispers, “That would only be true if you hadn’t tried. I know you did. I saw what he meant to you when we searched, when you got the news.” She stops and kisses one cheek, then moves to do the same to the other, but I shift so she hits my lips instead. It starts out slow and gentle due to the grief inside us, the pain threatening to tear each of us apart if we don’t release it somehow.

I yank her onto my lap and our hands quickly remove the other’s clothes. My lips trail down her neck and collarbone as she exposes them and I growl with need as her hands unclip my badge and she places it on the table beside the couch. Having left my weapon locked up in my glovebox, she next deals with the snap on my jeans and the zipper. It’s difficult to shove them down without her leaving her spot, but we accomplish it. Once we’re naked, I notice how smooth her skin looks, how perfect her curves are. And I tell her so.

“So are you,” she states, laying her hand on my chest. I’m far from it, but the fact she thinks so eases some of the vulnerability buried within me.

Exploring her, I spend time on her nipples, obliging them when they seem to beg for my mouth. Her sounds increase my craving for her. It’s been years since I’ve even thought of a woman romantically, but even then, it was nothing compared to the feelings she evokes from me.

When her palm encircles my dick, my breath stutters from the how good it feels. Too good, actually. I’m about to blow from just that slight touch. "You're driving me crazy, woman."

Her smile is smug as she responds, "That's the idea," as she strokes me. When I know I can't handle her form of torture any longer, I spread her legs so she’s straddling me. The tip of my finger slides through her folds and is immediately soaked by her excitement for me.

"Please, Clive." She begs so pretty, but I’m at my limit. I need her now. Positioning her above me, I help her slide onto me and swear I grow bigger from the sheer pleasure of her walls gripping me.

“How have I lived without you for so long?” I ask, not expecting an answer as I thrust in fully. Her nails dig into my arms as my pace quickens and she pleads for more. I give her all of me as our lovemaking turns into a desperate need for sex, for escape. Though I know this isn’t just that. It's the start of us. “Come for me, Naomi,” I urge when she tightens around me, her orgasm close. Within seconds, she explodes, coming right before I spill inside her. This happened so fast between us, we didn’t take the time to talk about birth control beforehand, but I find that I couldn’t care less if she isn’t on it.

She snuggles against me as our breathing calms and I turn so we’re laying on our sides, no room separating us. No words are exchanged as we both bask in how special this feels. How right.

I can tell when she falls asleep, my own eyes having difficulty staying open themselves. We’ll get some much-needed rest and enjoy this time together.

Tomorrow, though, I will put everything into taking down the person that attributed to Cole’s death. There will be no escaping my wrath as I find justice for him and so many others who’ve lost their lives to this drug.

Chapter 6

Naomi

The smell of Clive permeates the couch, the room, my skin as I wake wrapped in his strong arms. Gently shifting to look at him, I find him still sleeping, exhaustion – emotional and physical – on his face. Reality hits me then, the fact Cole being gone isn’t a nightmare.

Not wanting to disturb him, I carefully untangle our limbs until I’m able to stand. I gather our discarded clothes and fold his before setting them on the coffee table for when he’s ready. After a quick shower, I dress and head to the kitchen to start breakfast. A glance at the clock shows that it’s already seven, which means we only slept for a few hours and could definitely use more. Unfortunately, there’s no time. Discovering who gave Cole the drugs is more important.

As I make scrambled eggs, I can’t help but think of what else I could’ve done to help Cole. Maybe if I’d pushed harder? Through tears I didn’t know I was shedding, I see Clive’s hand turn the burner off a second before he pulls me against him, whispering soothingly in my ear that we’re going to figure it out.

I nod as much as I can while willingly trapped to his chest, his hug conveying warmth and safety. I compose myself, then clear my throat and say, "We're going to need food first." His smile is full of affection and gentleness as he wipes my cheeks. My hands itch to feel the stubble covering his jaw, so I cave to it. Clive seems to enjoy it, but eventually stops me and places a kiss in the center of my palm. The sweetness of it makes butterflies take flight in my stomach.

Surprised, he asks, "You cooked?" Does he think he’s only meant to take care of others and not get it in return?

"Of course," I reply as if it’s a given. Once I’ve finished the eggs, I grab the toast as it pops, then open the fridge to retrieve some fresh fruit. Setting his plate on the table, I indicate for him to sit. He does, eventually, but only stares at the meal. I watch him as I pour us some coffee, worried. “Is something wrong? Are you allergic to any of it?”

"No," he responds with a shake of his head. "I just don't remember the last time I had a home-cooked meal." He obviously sees my shock and reminds me that he grew up at the Youth Center. “It wasn’t as nice as it is now. The director then was cruel. Didn’t care about us, only the money.”

There aren’t words that can change his past, so I focus on his present instead. "How did you become a cop?"

"I was a CI as a teenager and knowing I helped hooked me. I knew this is what I wanted to do when I grew up."

"I bet a lot of boys your age when you were there didn’t turn out as well." He tells me some of them ran away and others are in prison. With our food gone, we clean up after ourselves, standing side by side as we do the dishes. This is not the time to think about it, but part of me wonders where last night will lead. Choosing to ignore that for the moment, I still ask, “What now?” I’m referring to our next step, of course, and Clive takes it that way, but that doesn’t stop him from holding me first. Kissing me with all the passion that existed between us last night.

When we break apart, he informs me, “The station. There’s evidence to go over.”

“You have an idea of who or what is behind this, don’t you?” I don’t know how I know that, but I’m learning to read him.

He nods, though he doesn’t answer my question. “I do, and I’ll go into more detail there.” When we arrive at the precinct, he shows me to his office and offers me a huge file. “Ever heard of Venom?” He wants to know as he sits in his chair. I begin going through the papers, horrified at what I’m seeing. Unable to speak, I shake my head no. He leans forward and fills me in, telling me it’s a designer drug that’s been in Silver Falls for a few months.

"It's popular with kids?"

"With everyone, and it’s very easy to overdose on it."

Not wanting to see any more of the contents, I close it and return it to him. "You think Cole is another victim?"

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