Page 40 of Tesio
Jamie
The worst part aboutblocking people’s numbers is not knowing if they keep trying to reach you. It’s this pathetic part of me that wants to know, while knowing I’m better off making a clean break from him. If only my fucking brain and pussy would forget the parts of him that I’d seen that night we were alone. He’d been as much of an asshole at that time, but somehow that wise ass intensity had just enhanced the whole experience. Like it didn’t matter what filth and depravity came from his mouth, becausehe delivered. Even if every other moment I’d spent around him had been appalling and disappointing.
I’d gone for a walk to try and distract myself from thoughts of Grease, so imagine how frustrating it was to have to wait at a crossing as seven bikes from his MC roared past. I even caughta glimpse of him, and I think he saw me, his head flicking in my direction, before he put his focus back on the road instead. For a moment I even let myself imagine what it’d be like to be on the back of that bike, holding on to him for dear life. Wrapped around that firm muscular body, as he controlled the beast that held both of our lives in its grasp. I’d never been on a motorbike, but suddenly I could see the appeal.
The walk didn’t help to put him out of my mind, especially now that I kept imagining I could hear the return of that roaring beast behind me. So many times I glanced behind me, expecting to see him approaching, ready to drag me onto that thing and ride off into the sunset. Ugh he’d really fucked with my brain, hadn’t he?
I found myself unblocking his number when I returned home, but maybe the damage was already done, because he didn’t message or try calling me again. As days passed, I found myself checking it too often, like a girl with a crush, but I was starting to think he really was done with me at last.
Isaw him againbriefly on Halloween night, where there had clearly been some crazy, dangerous party at their compound, and definitely some criminal activity. I stared in shock at the damage, and carnage all around us, as much as they tried to hide it all.
He blew me off when he saw me, but he’d looked injured, exhausted, and oddly vulnerable, even as he tried to pull his usual banter with me. I actually felt concerned about his wellbeing, but I couldn’t show it without getting in too deep with him again. For some reason, I left, despite the other officers with me, who thought, for once, that we should investigate further.
Whatever had happened at that party was going to remain a secret, even though there had been a fire, and one of their buildings was a smoking wreck, and there were so many ‘walking wounded’ that I should have pushed things. Why didn’t I? Why did I give them a pass, givehima pass, when I should have investigated further? I knew that we’d cross paths again at some point, because I wasn’t done with his club, but this visit tonight hadn’t been one I could prepare for. And seeing him always knocked me off my stride. I threatened to return in the morning, but I already knew what we’d find. Nothing.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Several days passed, afterthat Halloween debacle of a visit, and yet more radio silence from Grease. I eventually forced myself to put my mind on my coworkers, since I’d let them drag me to the pub for the first time ever as a group. How badly wrong could it go? Would I get a few drinks in me, and declare to the whole group that I was having sexy feelings for a criminal? I really fucking hoped not.
The pub was actuallymore of a bar, but without the class, and maybe that was what we needed. There was music, there was a dancefloor, and there was alcohol. For the first time ever, I allowed myself to just enjoy myself. To sink into the atmosphere, and interact with the people around me. I received a few ‘you’re not as uptight as I thought’ type comments, mostly from the older guys in our group, but Iignored those, and danced with the other women, because that’s what I came here for.
It was rare to have a whole night off, without an early start the next morning, so of course I enjoyed a few beers, and some shots, and danced my ass off, and when I felt large warm hands sliding over my shoulders, as I boogied to something fast and bassy, I froze, because why do men always think that’s okay? I don’t know this asshole, and I don’t want his fucking hands on me. Before I could turn to yell at him, I heard a growl and a curse behind me, and those hands disappeared fast. I spun on my heel, almost tipping sideways from the sudden shift in momentum, but a strong grip on my arm caught me just in time.
“The fuck?”
“You wanna apologise to the lady for putting your fucking hands on her?” I heard the man holding onto me growling at the offender, and that’s when I recognised that growl, that cologne, and my body practically shuddered with need.Grease.
“You’re the one hanging onto her like a fucking keeper. Why don’t you back off? I was here first.” Oh, the other guy was a fool, because he didn’t realise who he was messing with, and no, I didn’t mean Grease. I shook my arm free of his firm grip, and stepped ahead of him, my chin lifted and my glare firmly on the blonde guy who’d touched me.
“I’m a police officer. Want me to explain to you what consent means, and what assault is?”
“I’d rather fucking show him,” Grease growled out, right in my ear, and I spun to glare at him next, dismissing the first guy in a flash. Hey, I even didn’t nearly fall over this time.
“And you? You can back the fuck off too. How dare you get involved, and think you have to protect me. Me! I’m a fucking police officer, dammit. I have self defence training and… and… I could have ripped off his fucking balls, and handed them to him!” I think that got away from me a bit, but Grease’s slow grintook some of the fire out of me, because he wasn’t laughing at me. He was nodding as he did it, and that validation is what kepthisballs attached for him.
“Oh, I’m all too aware of how tough you are, little pain. I just didn’t like his hands on you.”
Asshole. I rested my hands on my hips, and ignored the way his eyes dipped down to look at me, like downthere.
“You don’t get to decide whose hands are on me. For all you knew, maybe he was my boyfriend! You don’t have any right to make any fucking judgements about me, or any men in my life!”
He leaned closer, his fingers resting against my cheek, as his thumb lifted my chin.
“You don’t have a boyfriend, baby, but you haveme. I’m not about to share you with any other assholes, so why don’t you just wind it in, and come with me.”
I swallowed hard, for some reason not moving from his light grip on my face. Why wasn’t I moving?
“Is there a problem here?” One of the women I’d been dancing with, another PC, stepped in, and I realised this was so much worse than me arguing with some rando on the dancefloor. This was me caught in an intimate moment with a criminal, the kind of man who fucking exudes just how much of a bad guy he is. There was no way she’d think this was anything other than me being confronted by the kind of guy I’d normally arrest. In fact, let’s be honest here… the one man I’ve arrested more times than any other. I tugged my face from his hold, and backed up a step.
“Nope. All good. This ‘gentleman’ was just leaving.”
Grease snorted, mocking my finger quotes as he responded.
“This ‘gentleman’ hasn’t quite finished his ‘conversation’ with the ‘lady’ here.”
“Argh, you’re such a prick! Leave me alone before I find another reason to arrest you!” I stormed away from him, and the dancefloor, and headed for the table we’d been seated at, whereAlex and two of the other officers were chatting, or at least had been until they saw the altercation on the dancefloor.
“Do you need assistance, Jay?”
