Page 32 of Breakaway

Steak, baked potatoes, and salad isn’t what I’d call heavy duty cooking. But it was delicious and filling. Turk ordered enough food to last a week, as well as three quarts of ice cream and the supplies for the cake, of which he’s already had two slices.

“How do you stay in shape if you eat all this sweet stuff?” I ask.

“There’s a gym in the basement of this building. I usually work out either at night or in the morning. If it’s been a tough day, both. Clark and I usually run on the weekends or spar. I trained for hockey for years and it’s a habit I’ve never stopped.” He looks up at me. “When this is straightened out, we can work out together. The gaze he runs over me is filled with expectations of another kind of exercise.

“Tomorrow we can push the furniture to the side and do a workout up here.” His mischievous smile takes my breath away.

“Hmm, we do need to keep our stamina up.” I can’t believe this is me. Sexual innuendos? What has he done to me? I can’t even believe someone as hot and smart as him is into me. “Wait, your job. You have to go to work. I’m messing this up for you.”

He comes up behind where I’m wrapping up the leftover cake. Putting his hands on my hips he nuzzles my neck. “You are not messing anything up. You are perfect. My case load is light this week and no scheduled surgeries. My partner is handling it. He is totally capable of doing patient intake and assessment. He owes me. I covered for him when his wife had their baby.”

Two hours later he whispers near my ear. “Come on, babe. Time for bed. You’re exhausted.”

I rub my eyes and glance at the TV. “Did I fall asleep? Wha-what time is it?”

“Nine. You’ve been running on fumes for a long time. You need some quality sleep.”

“Any news?”

“Based on what you told Dad and the ‘diaries’, the DA has identified Slack as a person of interest in several homicides. They have not located him yet, but they’re still examining all his known businesses and properties.”

“Can you get me the list of the places they’ve considered? I can see if I know of others. Tell them to look under my mom’s maiden name, Price. My stepdad sometimes used her name. I know Slack has other properties too, but I’m not sure how many or where. There’s a deli near Goodell St. where he makes book.”

He lifts me from the couch and carries me bridal style to the bathroom. “Get ready for bed. I’ll let Dad know.” He slowly trails his gaze over me. “I left you a softer T-shirt on the counter.”

His eyes say I don’t need it. I study my reflection in the mirror. Do I dare? Can I really trust? Am I brave enough to take something for myself?

It’s Tatum’s brother for god’s sake. What would she think? Closing my eyes, I groan. I know exactly what she’d say.Get out of your damn head and go for it!

I’m snuggled on my side under the blankets when he walks in and goes to the bathroom. The T-shirt is under the pillow in case I chicken out. He leaves a small light on and pulls the door mostly closed. Pausing at the side of the bed in just a pair of boxers, he places a handgun, his phone and a remote security monitor on the bedside table and clears his throat. “I’ve checked all the doors three times and the security four. I can sleep on top the covers if you’d like, but for my own peace of mind I want to be in here with you.”

“Get under the covers, Turk.”

He lies on his side facing me. Reaching out he strokes my cheek. “I swear, I’ll protect you.”

“Turk, you’ve already done more for me than anyone.” I lay my palm on his shoulder and press him to his back then roll on top of him.

He does a quick inhale, then smiles. “You’re naked.”

“Hmm. Why aren’t you?”

“I can remedy that in about one second.” He rolls us to the side, shoves the boxers past his knees, kicks them the rest of the way off, then rolls to his back pulling me over him again. “Now that’s better.”

“Much,” I agree. Sitting on his strong thighs, I spread my palms over his bulging pecs. “My turn to explore.”

My personal experiences are limited to the three I told Turk about, but I’ve been exposed visually to a lot. At home where my stepfather and Slack would take women anywhere and howeverthey chose, in the house or at the clubs they both operated. To them it was all about the power, the ultimate control.

Today, I learned from Turk that making love is an expression of tenderness and caring. Two different worlds.

Turk slides his palms behind his head and grins. “I’m all yours. Do as you please.”

As an athlete I know the work that goes into having a body as toned as his. And damn, he’s toned. Bulging biceps and thighs, washboard abs and that beautiful V. Leaning forward I lick the heart of his half-chest sleeve then lower to tease his nipple. His sharp inhale and the reflexive thrust of his hips tells me I’m on the right course. Sucking gently, I let my teeth gently graze his tender flesh.

“Fuck that feels good. You feel so good laying on top of me. We fit perfectly.”

Straddling his hips, I scoot farther down his body. Leaning on one forearm I skim his engorged cock with the palm of my hand. Damn, the man is impressive everywhere. Velvet soft, hard like a pipe, his body and his personality.

I slide my fingertip over the bead of precum and bring it to my lips, sucking his essence into my mouth.

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