Page 30 of Barefoot Chaos
He saw my smile, leaned in, and brushed his lips over mine right as my doorbell rang.
11
Kai
Three hundred sixty-five days per year. At least ten years I've been practicing. That means I've meditated almost four thousand times in my life. Each of those meditations found absolutely necessary to harness the control necessary to pull myself off Hessa and stop before things went too far.
The woman was a siren, calling me to her dangerous shore, blinding me to everything but her and her voice. Her little moans as I kissed her. Her luscious curves that felt like heaven under my hands.
Now that she'd initiated and I knew she wanted me, all I saw was a green light. I knew she was in, which meant I could break out the full-court press and make her mine. But first, I had to stay focused and save her job. Then I could have a free conscious as I put Operation Make Hessa Mine into action.
But first, we had to deal with whoever was at her door. Lost in the feel of her body underneath mine, I forgot I'd invited Jack to swing by if he had information on the online dares.
Hessa had her hand on the doorknob, about to open it, when I glanced down and saw the state of her tank top. I slammed a hand on the door, making sure it stayed shut while I reached out and pulled the top up higher over her left breast. I liked seeing what I'd done to her clothes, and I certainly liked seeing a portion of a pink nipple peeking out to say hello, but there wasn't a chance in hell I'd let Jack get the same greeting.
Hessa's face turned bright red right before she swatted my hand away and fixed her shirt herself. I smirked, knowing she hated to feel out of control or needing anyone else to help her. She'd have to get used to it, at least from me. I wasn't going anywhere. That kiss sealed the deal for me.
Jack walked in, taking one look at Hessa's red face, askew glasses, and my smirk, before shaking his head at me. He knew exactly what was going on before he rang the doorbell. Which was fine by me. Maybe not so much by Hessa, who silently whacked my arm as we walked behind Jack to the living room. Her face was a remarkable combination of haughty and mortified. My prim and proper Ms. Woodland was back in action. I stifled a laugh, not wanting to completely piss her off.
Hessa and I sat on the couch, the same one where we'd been intimate just moments before, the cushions still warm from our bodies. Jack sat on the chair opposite us and was inordinately busy getting some papers out of a file folder on his lap. Hessa crossed her arms over her chest and slid her glasses onto her face, slipping into her teacher facade with each passing moment. I figured it was just as well. We needed to clear her of any wrongdoing, then I could strip away the pretenses and get her on her back underneath me.
Jack slid a few sheets across the coffee table. "Do recognize any of these dares as being ones in your Care Dare program?"
Hessa leaned forward and took the offered papers. Her brow furrowed as her eyes moved down the page quickly. "No. Absolutely not. These are crazy!" She slammed the papers down on the table and proclaimed her innocence. "I promise you, these would never be dares I approved as part of our program."
Jack took the papers back, slid them into his folder, and nodded. "I was pretty sure you'd say that. Based on the dares your students have done in the past, I figured these wouldn't be approved."
Hessa let out a relieved breath. I reached over and grabbed her hand, hoping we were one step closer to having evidence to take to her principal.
"These are some dares or challenges that my computer guy has picked up floating around the inter webs in the last two weeks. They match up with some of the dares that Kai brought to my attention, and with some other incidences that a few other officers have dealt with in the southern California area. It seems to be limited to local residences, so that's a good thing. Should be easier to trace the origin on the dares." Jack pulled a stapled pile of papers out of his folder and pushed it across the table to Hessa.
"What's this?" Hessa asked when she picked it up and flipped through the first few pages.
"That is what you take your principal. Kai told me what happened with your student in the hospital today. You'll want to make sure your principal, and your school district lawyers, have those papers. I've officially opened a case, looking for whomever is organizing this online dare game. It's clear this isn't associated with your Care Dare program, which is also stated in those papers. Lastly, you'll see a highlighted entry toward the back which shows a dare going out to a GMartnz user name two days ago. The dare was to jump a motorcycle over a parked car. We're pretty sure that matches up with what happened to your student, Gabe Martinez."
Hessa gasped, flipping through to the page he referenced. "So he was dared. But not because of my program." She jumped up and went around the table. Her arms flew around Jack's neck, squeezing him in a hug he didn't seem to mind being in. Her breasts were practically in his face. I was about to jump up and break up the lovefest when Jack swiveled his head to me through the boob buffet and winked. What a bastard.
"Wow, it's getting late. It's a shame you have to go, Jack." I was breaking this up. Now.
Hessa pulled back and almost bumped right into me, not realizing I'd moved behind her, a half second away from prying her off the handsome detective. She squeaked when I put my arm around her waist, hand on her stomach, and pulled her into me.
Jack, the asshole, got up slowly, cocky smirk in place. "It's been a pleasure, Hessa. I'll be sure to swing by with more news as it comes in."
"I'm sure an email will suffice, Detective Ramirez." My clipped words were only making his smirk grow into a full-out grin. A guy could only be expected to take so much, right?
"Don't be rude, Kai." Hessa was smiling at Jack like he was the best thing she'd seen all night. "In fact, I was going to offer myself up."
"What??" Jack and I both yelped at the same time.
She looked confused at our outburst. "You know, like maybe to lure the guy out of hiding?"
Jack burst out laughing, which only added to Hessa's confusion.
"Oh, you're talking about the case?" I clarified, a tsunami of jealousy slinking into the background.
"Um, yeah, of course I'm talking about the case. Are you guys all right?"
Jack slapped me on the back, still doubled over with laughter. I just shook my head at him. I wasn't ready to simmer down and join in the fun just yet. Seeing my straight face, he straightened up and bit back his laughter. He gave me a slight nod, like bro-code for 'Got it. I'm done teasing you'.
