“No. No boyfriend, no roommate, nothing. I’m all by myself.”
He smiled. “Okay, then I’m going to take you home. Do you have keys to lock up around here?”
“Um, yeah.” I absently handed him my keys as he led me out the back door.
******************
I remember riding in a car, a newer BMW maybe, with Sweet Home Alabama playing at one point in the background. Now, I was standing in front of my apartment, staring at the beautiful detective. He unlocked the door, twisted the handle, and handed my keys back to me.
“Okay, here you go.” He said. “Safely at home. You’ve had a long day and I’m sure you’re---”
“Detective?” I placed my hand on his forearm, effectively cutting off his speech.
“Vance.” He smiled, showcasing his amazing dimples. “It’s only fair if you insist that I call you Karli.”
“Vance.” I repeated, reveling in how his name rolled off my tongue. “Would you like to come in for a nightcap?” When it seemed like he was hesitating I added, “To be honest, I don’t feel like being alone yet. It would really help me relax if you’d come inside for just a bit.”
“Well, when you put it that way, how could I refuse?”He held the door open and gestured for me to step inside. “Please, after you.”
When we crossed the threshold, I closed the door and flipped the dead bolt. My kitchen/living room combo was right off the foyer so I motioned for him to take a seat on the couch. I went through the cupboards until I found what I was looking for. “I only seem to have Jameson’s. Is that okay with you?”
“That’s perfect.” He replied.
I handed him a highball and excused myself for a moment. As I was walking down the hall I said, “I’m sorry, but if I have to stay in this damn outfit for another minute, I’m going to scream. Make yourself at home!”
As soon as I closed my bedroom door I began searching through my dresser for my favorite Victoria’s Secret boxers with a shelf bra tank. Yes, I found it! Baby pink tank with pink plaid short shorts. I didn’t want to go all femme fetale on him but I was definitely going for flirty. I deserve a little flirty after the day I’ve had. Once I was changed, I pulled my hair up into a ponytail and started back down the hall. Vance didn’t notice me at first because he was catching the basketball highlights on Sportscenter. As he took a sip of whiskey I asked, “Do you have a favorite team? I’m a Lakers girl myself.”
He looked up at me while he was drinking and started choking. “Omigod, are you okay?” I asked as I ran over to the couch preparing to perform the Heimlich.
He lightly tapped his chest with his fist and wheezed, “Swallowed….wrong tube….. I’ll be fine.”
“Oh, okay.” I sat down next to him while taking a sip of my own liquid courage. “So, you never answered my question. Do you have a favorite team?”
“The Bulls.” He replied. “I’m from Chicago originally.”
“How long have you been in Vegas?”
“A long time.” He set his glass down onto the oak coffee table and shifted his bo
dy towards me. He grabbed my hand unexpectedly, sending a little volt of electricity up my arm. “Look Karli, I’m sorry if I came across as a callous bastard earlier tonight. I’ve been doing this job for a really long time. Too long sometimes. I see a lot of gruesome things in my line of work so I’ve become desensitized to the violence of it all. I didn’t mean to discredit any feelings or emotions you may have had back there. You’re entitled to process it as you see fit. I feel like I robbed you of that opportunity. For that, I cannot apologize enough. I truly am sorry.”
Wow, I didn’t see that one coming. “How do you get used to it?” I asked. “I mean, how could you ever get used to seeing that much suffering? I’ve always thought of myself as a strong person; someone who wouldn’t break down in a crisis situation. But this was so brutal and so bloody. I’d be a fool to think that she didn’t fear for her life or experience any pain when that monster attacked her. No one should have to go through something like that.” With the images fresh in my head again, I couldn’t speak anymore so I just wept softly. Vance gathered me into his chest and held me there, trying to console me with soft whispers. When I could finally form words again, I pulled back from him and said, “Oh God, look at me! I’m a blubbering mess! Now I’m the one who should be apologizing!”
He wiped a rogue tear from my cheek and placed his hands on each side of my face. “Shh…..” He whispered. “Cry all you want Karli. Let it out and don’t worry about anything else.” I tried tucking my chin but he lifted it gently with his finger, forcing me to look up at him. “Karli, listen to me. You’re strong. And you’re beautiful.” As he kissed the spot where he’d just caught the tear, he said, “You’re probably the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.” He began peppering my jaw with sweet kisses until he reached my mouth. His lips were hovering right above mine when he added, “And if I don’t kiss you right now, I will probably regret it for the rest of my life.”
Chapter 4
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I blinked, bracing myself as he moved in, preparing for hard, demanding lips. What I got was the exact opposite. Vance was so soft, so very tentative. At first, he pressed both of his lips against mine. He just held himself there for a moment before he pulled back, gently tugging on my bottom lip. He came back in, and then pulled out again, taking my top lip with him this time. He slowly tasted me, exploring me. I was momentarily shocked by how perfectly our lips fit together.
It wasn’t until his third approach that he lightly parted my lips. I paired his tongue with my own, taking the opportunity to suck gently. He let out a deep moan and firmly pressed me into the dark green corduroy couch cushions. With his body now stretched over mine, his kisses became more urgent. He kept our lips together, parting them with shallow thrusts of his tongue that became deeper as our tempo increased. We stayed that way for a while, finding our rhythm; getting lost in the bliss. I could feel his erection against my thigh and it made me want him like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I was on fire. I wanted his hands all over me; I needed his thick length to fill me whole. I had to take control of this situation before I spontaneously combusted.
I reached down and unbuttoned his jeans. Desperate for more, I pressed the heel of my hand against his straining denim. He broke from our kiss to sear me with his gaze, before starting again with renewed purpose. He kissed me impatiently, showering me with affection as I stroked him through his boxers. He made his way down my jaw and to my throat, before pulling the straps of my tank off my shoulders. His five o’clock shadow felt pleasantly rough against my skin. He paused for just a moment to look up at me with hooded eyes before freeing my breasts and licking a delicious path across my chest. He reached down and placed the palm of his hand against my inner knee, slowly tracing a line up to my core. His teasing fingers were just about to discover how much I wanted him when he grazed my nipple with his teeth. The sensory overload made me arch my back sharply and gasp.
“Oh Vance, I need you inside of me! Please!” I cried.
As soon as the words left my lips, he jumped back as if I had shocked him again. He stood up abruptly and began pacing the length of the couch while buttoning his jeans. “Karli, I shouldn’t have done that. I’m sorry.”