Friends and Lovers (18 page)

Lauren gave him a squeeze. “I suppose you’re right.”

“But you know what you
can
do, for both of us?”

“What’s that?”

“Don’t go on Thursday,” he whispered in her ear.

Lauren groaned. “Wes, I need to go.”

“You don’t.”

“I do.” She tried to wriggle free, but he wouldn’t allow it.

“No,” he insisted.

“Would you stop?” she asked impatiently.

“At least come back to the gym with me.”

“We’ve been over this.”

Wes drew back with a grin. “But I haven’t won yet.”

She poked him in the stomach. “And you won’t.”

“I’ll back off if you prove you can handle yourself.”

“That’s all?”

“That’s all.”

She expelled a heavy sigh. “I suppose.”

“Tonight?”

“If it’ll get you off my case—fine.”

Lauren’s answer lacked enthusiasm, but at least Wes had the commitment he was looking for. It was a start.

* * * *

The gym was dark when they got there, but Wes had his own key. He let them in, locked the door behind them, and flipped a switch. A single florescent fixture flickered on way up high, providing just enough light to navigate by.

“Instead of boxing tonight I thought we’d practice some self-defense moves since I can’t seem to get you to drop by my class.”

“Because I already took a class,” she said for the umpteenth time.

“Then you’ll have no trouble showing me what you know.”

Lauren went back to the putrid green dressing room and changed into shorts and a tank, then cut through the large musty main gym. The entire space was dark now. Whatever light escaped through the connecting door to the smaller gym was sucked up into the high rafters and neutralized. Lauren screwed up her face at the smell of stale sweat mingled with years of accumulated dust. Circling around the boxing ring she headed right for the only light in the place and took a peek inside the door. There was no sign of Wes.

She took a tentative step into the room. “Wes?”

A hard arm clamped around her so suddenly Lauren screamed. Her feet left the floor, and a heavy hand covered her mouth, cutting off the sound. Mute and immobilized, she fought to squirm free, but when that failed, she shifted to inflicting damage on the arm instead. Unfortunately her arms were pinned in such a way that she couldn’t even bend her elbows. She was just short of outright panic when she was thrown down on the mat and pinned.

“That was pathetic, Lauren,” Wes said with a scowl.

She tried to free her hands, get him off of her, but couldn’t.

“You’re coming to class or you’re taking private lessons—you decide.”

She glared at him and tried to buck him off using her hips but he was serious weight. It was useless. “Get off of me.”

“Fight back.”

“I’m trying, damn it.”

“I thought you said you knew this stuff.”

“I thought I did.”

“And now you’ve lost your purse. Shit, you’ve probably been raped. Maybe you’re bleeding down some dark alley while your attacker drives off in your car with your pin number written on his hand. That’s if you’re lucky. He’ll probably just kill you rather than risk letting you live to identify him.”

“If you’re trying to scare me, it’s working. So give me a clue.”

“Hell no. Your life is on the line, Lauren. Do you care enough to fight back?”

Throwing her knee out to the side, Lauren brought the inside of her foot up and smacked Wes in the back of the head with it.

He laughed at her. “Is that all you’ve got?”

“Screw you!” She was getting seriously pissed off now.

“Take me down.”

“Oh, you’re going down,” she grumbled testily.

She wanted to punch the smirk right off his gorgeous face. Twisting and writhing, she fought to free her hands but his grip was like iron.

“You’re going to pay for this,” she snarled.

“I’ll make it easier for you.”

He transferred her right hand to his left, and holding both of her wrists tight, he used his free hand to stroke down the center of her chest, the heat of his hand taunting her.

To Lauren’s annoyance her nipples bloomed, ripe for the picking. Wes smiled and raised his eyebrows. “Something on your mind?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?”

Ignoring her irritated taunt he circled first one then the other with his index finger, lightly tracing the faint impressions of her areolas.

All the fight went out of Lauren and Wes relaxed. His face was just as serious only now in a different way as he covered her breast with his hand and squeezed gently. She moaned with pleasure and arched into his palm.

Wes found the bottom of her shirt and hauled it up, exposing her bra. With a flick of his fingers the front clasp gave way and now it was Wes’s turn to groan. He shifted back to take a nipple into his mouth.

Distracted, he made it easy for Lauren to wiggle one hand free. It was less easy to keep her own mind focused since her body was humming like a harp, but somehow she managed it. She teased her fingers down his shoulder and ruffled the soft hair at the nape of his neck.

Wes shifted to the next nipple, releasing her other wrist in order to support himself while he massaged her with his newly freed hand. Lauren’s eyes narrowed, and with a feline smile, she combed through his hair, lulling him into a comfort he shouldn’t take for granted.

Without warning she yanked his head back and cut him across the throat with the sharp edge of her locked hand. Wes rolled to his side and coughed, trying to draw air. He was staring at her in disbelief as she leaped to her feet and took a defensive stance.

“What the hell was that for?”

“You challenged me to get free, I found a way.”

His eyes locked on her jiggling breasts and he grinned. “Works for me. Nice breasts, by the way.”

“Are you serious?”

“Well, I like them.”

“But aren’t you mad?”

“No. You used what you needed to. I respect that. Fight dirty when you have to. You distracted me, it worked. No fault in that.”

“You’re amazing.”

He gave her a cocky smile. “Word gets around.”

She snorted, not even remotely prepared when his leg kicked out and swept her feet right out from under her. Lauren crashed to the mat and they were right back where they’d started only now he was kissing her for real and her hands were free to roam where they willed.

Wes scooped up Lauren’s breasts and pressed them together, nuzzling and nipping both. “Beautiful,” he said with a reverent sigh.

No longer interested in hurting Wes, all Lauren wanted to do was touch him, anywhere and everywhere she could reach.

“If you’re going to stop me, you better do it now,” Wes warned.

Lauren flashed a naughty smile and pushed his head down to her jutting nipple. “Not when I’ve got you right where I want you.” Her eyes fell closed as his warm mouth sealed over her. “Mmm, yes.”

* * * *

Wes was in a great mood Tuesday night. As promised Lauren came to his class and he was proud of how much progress she made in a single lesson. She was a gutsy woman, but her kind nature still concerned him. He was afraid it could override her instinct to act if necessary. More training would certainly help, but that was merely one battle, the war still raged on other fronts and they had more skirmishes dead ahead.

They stopped at the supermarket for a few things on their way home.

Wes compared two packages of deli ham for a second before tossing one into their shopping cart and putting the other back.

“Grab smoked turkey breast too,” Lauren said, pointing. “No, that one.”

It followed the ham into the cart. “What’s next?” Wes asked.

“Dish soap. We’re just about out.”

“Didn’t you say you wanted different bread this time?”

Lauren raised her eyebrows in mock surprise. “You mean I can have something other than white?”

“Just grab what you want. I don’t give a rip.”

“Pumpernickel?” She grinned, testing him.

“No, I guess I do give a rip. Not pumpernickel.”

Lauren laughed and headed over to the dairy section.

Wes put a carton of milk in the basket and turned back with a serious expression. “I can’t get out of my shift on Thursday.”

“I didn’t know you were trying.”

“I don’t want you to go to Will’s hearing by yourself.”

“It’s already planned.”

She tried to push past him but Wes stepped in front of the cart and put his hands on either side, blocking her. “Lauren, I really don’t feel comfortable about this.”

“You’re just being paranoid.”

“And you’re not sleeping. As unlikely as it is that he’ll be paroled this week, he’s going to get out eventually. Accept it. Don’t go in there and give him a reason to look you up when he’s released. You, better than anyone, know what he’s capable of.”

She rubbed her arms as if suddenly chilled and looked at Wes with a helpless expression. “But they have to know.”

“They do know, but get a letter on file. It’ll help. Just don’t show up there and make it personal between the two of you.”

“But it is personal,” she mumbled.

“I heard that.”

“Wes, I get what you’re saying. I do, and I think it’s sweet, but you’re exaggerating the risk.”

“Humor me.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Wes was determined to keep Lauren out of harm’s way even if it meant cuffing her to the bed until the hearing was over. He hoped it didn’t come to that. It would be infinitely preferable if she gave in to persuasion instead.

Lauren ran herself a bath as soon as they got home. Wes took advantage of the situation and pulled out the file he’d compiled on William H. Stovall, rereading the news stories and records he’d been able to access on Lauren’s former brother-in-law. The man was no good, and Wes knew the type, both as a man and as a cop. All he wanted to do was protect the woman in his life. Why did it have to be so hard?

* * * *

Wednesday morning Chuck looked over the already sweltering roof of their car at his partner and shook his head. “And she’s still going?”

“I haven’t been able to talk her out of it,” Wes said.

“Women,” Chuck grumbled, climbing in and slamming the door. “My wife is the same way. She gets something into her head and she sticks to it like a greyhound on a rabbit. It’s frustrating. There’s no reasoning with her.”

Wes shifted his holster on the seat and slid the key into the ignition.

“Hurry up. It’s a furnace in here.” Chuck’s finger was already on his window button.

The engine turned over, the fan went on, the windows slid down, and they both heaved a sigh of relief.

Wes glanced over at Chuck. “I’d like to head back to Berenson’s Chevrolet and talk to Rudy again. Something isn’t sitting right with me. I think he knows more than he’s admitting. It feels off.”

“You want to put a little scare in him, don’t you?”

Wes grinned. “I don’t think it’s going to take much. Bet he pees his pants when we show up again.”

Chuck laughed. “Yeah, I think he’s ready to cave. Our persistence is wearing him down. I’ve never seen a guy sweat so much. It warms my sweaty cockles.”

“Big time. Oh, and I’m going back to see Sam Streeter this afternoon.”

“At the jewelry store? But we put those guys away.”

“I know.”

Chuck groaned. “Are you shitting me? You’re shitting me, right? Tell me you’re shitting me.”

“Can’t.”

“Don’t you think you’re rushing this just a bit?”

“No.”

“Aw, Christ.”

Wes chuckled at his partner’s reaction and pulled out of the lot. They only made it two blocks before a call came over the radio.

“All units, code three. Armed robbery HOT. Man down at University Liquors on Marshall and Thirtieth. Suspect on foot, Asian male in his twenties, short black hair, black t-shirt, gray hoodie, loose black jeans with a torn left knee, and red canvas sneakers.”

Chuck picked up the radio as Wes navigated a u-turn. “2460 responding.”

“Copy, 2460.”

“Change of plans,” Chuck said to Wes. “Gotta love a Wednesday.”

Chapter 17

The lovers brought take-out over to Ken and Sherry’s on Wednesday night, earning hugs of emotional gratitude from Wes’s sister.

“I’m going stir crazy,” she admitted, leading them back to the kitchen. “I need work or the baby,
something
to keep me focused. This limbo is for the birds.”

Lauren poked inside one of the bags and pulled the containers out, setting them on the counter. “Look at it this way. You just bought the baby another week in the womb.”

“Yeah,” said Sherry grudgingly. “Good point.”

“How’s he doing anyway?” Wes asked, placing his hand over his little nephew.

“Robin’s an impatient little bugger, just like his momma. I hardly sleep anymore. I doze for short little stretches, but that’s about it.”

“Good thing you’re not driving.”

“No kidding. Wes, get some plates down, would you? Ken should be home any minute.”

Wes set a stack on the table then went into the next cabinet for glasses. “What do you have to drink?”

“You know the answer. Get one for Ken too while you’re at it.”

Wes pulled two bottles of beer from the fridge and held up a bottle of white wine in front of Lauren.

“Can I pour you a glass?”
Or two?

So what if he had an ulterior motive? Who wouldn’t after the tense ride over there? Wes was hoping the alcohol would work to relax Lauren. Their argument on the way over had left them both unsettled. He regretted expressing his impatience and frustration with her. Lauren did not respond well to those emotions. She obstinately dug in her heels and now it looked like they were at an impasse.

“Wes, I’m warning you,” said Sherry. “If you uncork the wine, you finish it or take it home with you. The way I’m feeling right now, I can’t be trusted with an open bottle.”

“We’ll take it with us. Lauren?” Wes wagged it in front of her.

“Oh, all right. One glass.”

Ken walked in while Wes was pouring. He leaned down and kissed Sherry then gave her belly a little rub. “Daddy’s home,” he whispered at her navel.