Page 101 of Stella
“I can’t tell you what happens inside the clubhouse, Cale.”
“And I can’t tell you what happens inside the station, Stella.”
She bites her lip. “It’s all stuff you already know; Cash doesn’t trust you, and he’s trying to figure out why all this shit is being sent to you, and not him.”
“Clearly, whoever this is wants me involved. For what, I don’t know yet.” I kiss her chastely. “I’ll run the tub.” Smiling to myself as I take off, I know she did kinda just give me intel. Not that I don’t already know Cash thinks I’m a jerk, but the club must be coming up with a plan. She also didn’t tell me much about her night, just that she was staking out the two clubs downtown with the Nomad Brothers, and I really didn’t like the idea of that. Brew and Haze aren’t exactly saints, and not just becausethey’re part of the MC, but worse. They’re vigilantes who often go off and do their own thing. They’re such an asset to the club that Cash lets them do it. I don’t like unpredictably. It makes me cautious.
I don’t soak very often, but having Stella lying in my arms while we’re both naked isn’t something I’m gonna pass up. It’s late and I have tomorrow off, but I know Stella has to work.
Calli follows us to the bathroom, making herself at home on the floor between the door and the tub. Our loud fucking doesn’t seem to bother her, then again, it’d take a lot to wake her, and she snores like the devil himself.
When I slide under the water, bubbles almost overflowing over the top, my eyes flick to Stella as she finishes undressing, then slides down between my legs, her back to my front.
I’ve never in my life bathed with anyone, hell, I’ve never even taken a shower with a woman before her. Every single first I’m having with her feels like we’re making new memories, and I have to keep reminding myself that this isn’t a thing. Even if it is a thing, it isn’t because there is no way I’m ever gonna be accepted into her world. If I could somehow get past the idea that our worlds just can’t mix, a part of me still yearns for her. When I’m not with her, I worry about her and wonder what she’s doing.
Hearing her running errands for those two dipshits made me want to go and arrest them for absolutely nothing. Not that it would go down well, but holding them for a night in the slammer might make me feel better about them ordering her around.
“Mm, that feels good,” she breathes, sliding back against me. “I’m so tight.”
I chuckle. “You certainly are.”
She hums a laugh. “Is your mind always on my body?”
I smooth my hands down her shoulder and arms, enjoying how soft her skin feels under my touch. “Damn straight.”
“This is kinda romantic,” she says. “I could get used to this,Detective.”
“You should be sleeping, then again, when I was twenty-one I could pull all-nighters too.”
“I have a late start,” she tells me. “Now that the club is on high alert, I’m between Tag’s and the clubhouse, and wherever else they need me.”
“So, they’ve come up with a plan?”
“Maybe.”
I nibble the side of her jaw. “You’re not gonna spill anything?”
She shakes her head. “I took an oath. Anyway, you haven’t given me shit.”
“Because in order to keep you safe, I have to do some investigation, and that takes time.”
“So you have absolutely no clues?”
I sigh. I’m not gonna give her anything, but crumbs won’t hurt because it’s vague anyway, and nondescript. “It’s no secret the department doesn’t like the Rebels, but I think we can rule out an inside job.”
“Surely there are corrupt cops all over the department?”
“That’s true,” I say. “More than I care to admit, but this seems more personal, and I can’t figure it out just yet.”
“We need to look into any ties the two of you have,” Stella says. “Okay, it’s not a secret you don’t like the MC, and most of the cops in this town don’t, except the few that are in Cash’s pocket?—”
“Which isn’t many now, because those cops were moved on to other departments, got promoted or retired.”
“Have you ever been tempted?” she asks, surprising me. “Looking the other way?”
I clear my throat. “I have looked the other way, but only when innocents are implicated and only in minor cases, likewhen children are involved. I’ve never taken a bribe, nor have I withheld evidence or tampered with it,” I say. “And I never would. I will uphold the law to the highest degree. That’s something you need to know if shit goes down with the MC again. I will make arrests, Stell.”
“Would you arrest me?”
