“Umm . . .” She struggled to free herself from his grip and pull the hem of her dress down but she was stuck. “Atlas. Let me up.”
“You don’t have to be proper here,” he said in her ear. “They all know you’re a perv since you’re dating me.”
Ugh. Pig.
Sighing, she let herself relax. Luke and Ophelia giggled on the chair across from them, whispering private jokes to each other. Addison continued bragging behind them. And soon Fox started doling out burgers. It was just a regular cookout with a regular family. Other than their edgy appearance—which was stereotypical if she were honest with herself—none of them seemed to be criminals.
There was some relief in that. But at the same time, was she blind to it because of her feelings for Atlas? And what were her feelings for Atlas anyway? He was hot in bed, sure, but a real relationship was more than a booty call.
He’d agreed earlier—no, demanded—she not see other people, so obviously he had feelings for her. She still felt warm and a little giddy thinking about it. Atlas wanted her as a girlfriend. This commanding but kind, funny, sometimes charming, brutish man wanted her.
Fuck. What would he do when she finally admitted she was a cop? She couldn’t keep it from him much longer. Maybe once she knew for sure he was innocent, and she cleared him officially as a suspect, she could tell him the truth. Would he dump her? No. He’d understand,
wouldn’t he? She was just doing her job. It wasn’t her fault they’d fallen for each other.
This was so fucked up. At least now she knew she hadn’t fallen for the enemy—or so it seemed—now her only worry was that he wouldn’t forgive or accept who she really was.
***
Five cars stolen overnight. The last one taken less than a half hour before.
Joel had called it in to Mila, and she’d stripped off her uniform and changed into the new floral fifties-style dress she’d bought a while back—it gave her cleavage that had even made the saleslady stare.
She sauntered up to Larson Computer Solutions only fifteen minutes after Joel’s call. If Atlas had been involved, he’d still be busy, right? There was no way he could have worked all night yet be at the computer place and not look tired.
The bell over the door jingled as she entered, and Atlas glanced up at her from his phone.
“Well hell,” he said, his mouth curved up on one side in a sexy half smile. “I was just going to text you.”
“Oh, were you now?” she asked, not missing the way he was ogling her.
He didn’t look tired in the slightest—only interested. The heavy metal coming from the speakers matched the gleam in his gaze. His expression didn’t look smitten so much as hungry.
“I like the dress.”
“This old thing?” she dragged her fingertips over her cleavage, and she could practically hear the growl he was too polite to voice.
“Who needs coffee? You should just show up at my house half naked every morning and lure me into the shower.”
“Rough night?”
“Not rough enough.” He smiled then patted his lap. “You should come here.”
“Should I? Maybe I should go, since you’re so tired.”
“I’ll never be that tired.”
She walked around the counter, then hopped up to sit on the edge of it. His gaze moved from her face, to her cleavage, to her calves. One of his hands wrapped around her ankle, and she took a shaky breath. It was hard to stay on task when he was touching her. “Big poker party last night?”
“No.” He pressed her knees apart and slid his hand up her thigh. “Inventory. Around midnight I realized I wanted you, then felt like an idiot for not even knowing where you live. How is your boyfriend supposed to drop by for pussy if he doesn’t even know where you live? You’re not listed on 411.”
“Stalker ex,” she explained, pleased she remembered the cover story for that considering how close his fingers were straying to her pussy. Her nipples had already gone rock hard, and her clit was starting to ache. “So you think you can just drop by for pussy anytime you want, do you?”
He leaned so close she thought he was going to kiss her. “Oh, I know I can.”
She wanted to smack his perfect face then stick her tongue down his throat. How was this even possible? She wasn’t even turned on until she’d laid eyes on him, and now she wanted him to do horrible things to her.
“You wish,” she said with false bravado. Her laugh turned into a gasp as he tugged aside her panties and shoved a thick finger inside her.