Captured Innocence (CSA Case Files) (20 page)

“Love you,” Lauren murmured, sneaking another glance at the razor. 

“You, too.  Now go burn up those sheets,” Sue ordered.  “All this talk of hot sex is going to make Dave a happy man.  If you do start living the YOLO life, maybe I’ll finally get you down to Florida.  Hey, call me after the storm lifts and we’ll compare notes.  Ta-ta!”

Lauren was still smiling as she
disconnected the call. Shaking her head, she set her phone down beside the shaving gel.  Technically, her sister was right.  Why
not
enjoy what she was being offered?  What had made her suddenly fearful of continuing and why was she hesitating now?  Was it that the more time they spent together, the more she was falling for him?  Those emotions that he’d generated this morning had been intense and she knew that had something to do with it. 

Picking up the can of shaving gel, Lauren could feel her
heart rate accelerate at doing something so illicit.  She’d always had curls down below but had kept them trimmed in a neat, tidy line.  If she didn’t remove her hair, would Connor spank her immediately?  Knowing that she’d accumulated one already had her anticipating what it would feel like to have the palm of his hand land on her ass.  Would it sting?  A shiver ran down her lower spine and into her crevice.

Lauren started with her right leg, pressing the top of the can and producing a line of turquoise gel that she ran up to her knee.  The color reminded her of Connor’s eyes and she suddenly wanted to rush through this and see what his reaction would be once he saw her newly shaved body.  Using her hands, she smoothed the cream around and quickly got to work.

Minutes later, she was ready to shave her pussy, but wasn’t sure exactly how to go about it.  Going through her options, Lauren hopped out of the hot bath water and sat herself on the edge of the tub, keeping her feet in the water.  Lifting one foot, she placed it on the opposite side and spread her legs wide.  Her pussy produced a spasm at the position and Lauren felt the blood start to pool in her clit.  How was she going to do this without nicking anything important?

Again, Lauren picked up the can and pressed the top, producing a big
swirl of cream in the middle of her palm.  She rubbed the gel all over her pussy and the coolness had her sucking in her breath.  Her clit now throbbed, wanting to be touched and given another orgasm.  Really?  Since when had she turned into such a nymphomaniac? 

Lauren picked up her razor and swiped the first row of hair away. 
The feel of the sharp blade coming so close to her clit raised the hairs on the back of her neck.  She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, wondering how she was going to get through this without touching herself.  This simple act was downright erotic and Connor damn right knew that it would get her hot and needy before their next scene. 

Dipping the razor into the water and washing away the tiny curls, Lauren bit her lip and got to work.  Connor was waiting on her
, and for once she wasn’t focused on her phobia.  She wanted more of what he’d given her this morning.  YOLO.

Chapter Twenty-One

“What are we doing out here?” Lauren said, her teeth chattering with every word.  The gloves she wore weren’t doing a damn thing to keep her fingers warm.  At least the scarf and her hat, which she had on low over her forehead, were keeping the wind from stinging her cheeks.  “It probably would have been wise to shave down below
after
this bright idea of yours to go trekking in the snow.  Every little piece of hair helps, you know.”

Connor laughed but still continued forward. 
His military jacket was zipped up and he had a skullcap on, which only managed to emphasize his cheekbones.  His cheeks were already red and they still had a couple blocks before making it to the park.  She was grateful that the snow had lightened somewhat and knew that the grace period wouldn’t last for long.  The worst of the storm had yet to hit.

“Things were becoming too intense and I thought a walk to the park might cool us down.”  Connor looked her way.  His blue eyes were back to studying her intently.  “I want to make sure that you’re not going to regret this come Monday morning.”

“
This
meaning allowing you to show me facets of the lifestyle?” Lauren asked, meeting his gaze head on.  “Isn’t that what you offered me?”

“Yeah, I did,” Connor murmured, looking away from her. 

They fell into silence as they walked the rest of the way, giving Lauren time to contemplate what he was saying.  It wasn’t her that he was giving time to, but himself.  Something her sister said resurfaced, and now it was making sense.  Did Connor feel that by taking things a step further than just a vanilla relationship that she would become too attached to him?  Or was it the other way around?  Maybe it was a good thing he was giving them time to chill…and not just in the literal sense.

The park came into view and Lauren was surprised to see quite a lot of people milling about.  Some were couples, walking hand
in hand through the snow.  Others were parents, watching their children have snowball fights and build snowmen.  There were even a few people with their dogs on leashes, allowing them to play in the snow.

“Come on, let’s show these kids how it’s done,” Connor said, releasing her hand.  He leaned down and started to make a snowball.  “You make the body and I’ll start on the base.”

“I haven’t made a snowman in years,” Lauren said, laughing and allowing the afternoon to be what Connor intended — a fun-filled time.  A boy around the age of twelve had heard what Connor said and shouted for his friends to come help.  “Connor, I think we have competition.”

“Then what are you waiting for,
Red?” Connor asked, exerting what must be some pent-up energy.  He’d already expanded the snow in his hand to a basketball.  “You’ll be sweating in no time and those chattering teeth will stop.  I wouldn’t want to be the cause of you getting a chipped tooth.”

“Such a gentleman,” Lauren said, laughing. 
She saw the boys and girls going to work, side by side.  This was starting to be fun.  “Okay, Marine.  Let’s see you do your best.”

For over an hour, she an
d Connor worked on building their snowman.  Seeing him interact with the boys and girls was eye-opening, because she would have bet her inventory of gemstones that he would have won the battle hands down.  As it was, once the bodies were made, Connor and the kids made a pact.  Whoever decorated their snowman with whatever could be found and finished first, won.  It was a fair fight up until the end.

“All we need is a nose,” Matthew, the leader of the other team
said.  He was a cute blonde boy with brown eyes and a smattering of freckles.  Lauren caught him a few times looking over at a girl his age who kept smiling his way.  He was smitten.  “Everyone, look around for a stick!”

Lauren noticed that Connor had slowed down in his search of items.  They found pieces of mulch buried underneath the snow for the eyes.  Using rocks for the mouth and the buttons down the body, they also needed a nose. 
Everyone turned to the closest tree and made a beeline for the branches.  Lauren could hear the parents’ laughter as Connor made a dive for a perfect stick but came up short.  She knew he did it on purpose, but Matthew was too busy screaming for joy that he’d found the nose. 

Lauren leaned down, picking up a stick and waving it at Connor.  She knew that he’d want to at least give a show of effort in his attempt.  It wouldn’t do for the kids to think they won because they’d allowed it.  Connor gave a Semper Fi
shout and bolted after Matthew, who was now running as fast as his little feet could carry him.

Matthew ran toward his snowman, holding his stick like a javelin.  He looked behind him, seeing Connor three steps behind.  He stabbed the stick into the snow, seconds before Connor did.  A round of cheers went around the children and their parents, Connor falling in the snow and holding his chest.  Before she knew
it, he’d grabbed her ankle and cushioned her fall.

“That was fun,” Connor murmured, nudging his cold nose against her neck until she was laughing.  “We’ll have to come out tomorrow.”

“And get our asses kicked again?” Lauren asked, seeing Matthew walking toward them.  She maneuvered herself off of Connor until she was sitting next to him.  “You make a mean snowman, Mr. Matthew.”

“Will you guys be out tomorrow?” Matthew
wiped snow from his eye.

“
And miss another battle?” Connor replied, hoisting himself up on his elbow.  “We wouldn’t miss it, buddy.”

“Cool,” Matthew exclaimed and
then ran off, yelling to his friends that the war continued.

“That was nice of you,” Lauren said softly, leaning back on her elbows as well.  The two snowmen stood side by side. 
It
had
been nice to get out of the apartment for a bit.  Connor had been right; although sneaking a look at him, it had done nothing to appease her attraction to him.  In fact, if anything, their time at the park had made him all the more likeable.  “You’re a sweet man.”

“
Sweet?”  Connor’s mouth twitched.  “I don’t think I’ve ever been called that.  As for being nice…I manage it every now and then.  This was fun.  We exerted some energy and you’ll be hungry for dinner.”

Lauren could have mentioned that there were other ways to exert energy, but figured she’d
maintain some sort of discipline.  They still had today and tomorrow before reality returned.  Instead, she focused on two things.

“
I know you let Matthew win.  And what
are
you making for dinner?”

“It’s a surprise,” Connor said, snagging her jacket sleeve and pulling her back over top of him.  “Do you like Cuban food?”

“I like most food,” Lauren said, noticing the snow had started to come down a little harder.  The second wave of the storm was hitting.  Flakes were starting to land on his red cheeks.  “I like it even better when someone else cooks.”

“That’s good.  Because you’ll be busy.  As for why I let
Matthew win…the boy has passion and a competitive nature.  He worked like hell, right alongside of us.  The other ones only gave a half-hearted effort, but him —well, let’s just say he reminded me of me.”

Lauren’s mind was being pulled into two different directions.  What was she going to be doing while he cooked?  And had he even checked to see what she had in the freezer and refrigerator?  It wasn’t like she cooked Cuban food every day.  But it was his comment that Matthew reminded him of himself that grabbed her attention the most.

“Why does Matthew remind you of yourself?”

“Did you notice that he was by himself out here?”  Connor nodded toward an apartment building across the road.  “He lives there.
Not the greatest apartment complex. I saw him coming out when we were still a block away.  One of the mothers asked how his father was doing, but there was no mention of a mother.  The look on his face...let’s just say I remember feeling that way.  He needed to prove himself and I gave him a helping hand.”

Lauren was afraid to speak or move for fear that he would stop talking.  He’d shared stories about his time in the military as well as his shenanigans with Jax, but never much about his childhood.  Connor was still looking across the street to where Matthew had gone.

“Do you feel the need to prove yourself?” Lauren whispered, hoping that she hadn’t made a mistake.

“I did,” Connor confessed, a faraway look on his face.  “But not anymore.  Kind of like my father when he immigrated here.  Once he
’d accomplished what he’d wanted, he took pride in his work and cultivated it into a living.  I did the same.”

“Do you look like him?” Lauren asked, wondering i
f she were stepping into a minefield by the roundabout way she’d asked about his mother.  “I find it hard to believe he has blue eyes.”

“My mother was a Jersey girl, through and through,” Connor replied, his blue eyes focusing again and coming to rest on her face. 
His voice didn’t give much away, but his statement confirmed her belief that his mother was American.  “I don’t even remember what she looks like.  Have no desire to either.”

Some bitterness
leaked through his voice and she could hear the white lie within his words.  Connor did remember what she looked like, but Lauren assumed this was his way to state that his mother held no importance in his life. 

“
I still have my father, so I can only imagine what it’s like not to have your parents around anymore.  For that I’m sorry, Red.”

Lauren smiled
tenderly, having come to terms with the loss of her parents a long time ago.  She still missed them immensely, but it gave her and her sister comfort to know that wherever they were, they were together.  Connor had his father and she knew from the tenor in his voice that he loved the man very much. 

Snow had made the bottom of her jeans wet and the cold against her skin sent a shiver up her spine.
  The storm had picked up and now the wind was starting to gust.  Being so observant, Connor didn’t miss her slight shudder. 

“Let’s get you home.”  Connor claimed her lips once more and she relished the heat he radiated.  Pulling away, he slid out from underneath her and helped her stand up.  “We don’t want you catching pneumonia. 
I have big plans for you, Red.”