Lawful Domination [Uniform Fetish 2] (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) (2 page)

“What do you think? Public intoxication?” the second cop asked Officer Myers.

“I’m not drunk. Not even a little bit.” It had to be past six now. Her heart raced, her entire future flashing before her eyes, and it wasn’t pretty. She had to get out of this mess fast. If this had been any other day, she’d have savored the opportunity to seduce these gorgeous men. Stephanie was desperate for a date, a hot fling to remember. Either of these men would have done nicely.
Why couldn’t they have stopped me any other day?

“Get the kit, Dom,” said the second.

Her muscles were rigid as anxiety settled in. She was so close to reaching her destination, but she had to comply with the law.

It was time for her last-ditch effort. “Do you know Tammy Palmer? She’s dating some of the men at Station 23.”

“Blow on the mouthpiece,” said Myers, not humoring her.

Were they even listening? “Well, she’s my best friend, you know.”

“Blow, please.”

She looked side to side. Fortunately, the street was quiet because she was embarrassed, being treated like some common criminal. Stephanie had no police record. She’d once gotten off the subway and run all the way out to the main street to return some guy’s wallet that slipped out of his pocket. Committing crimes was not in her nature. It was probably one of the reasons she started working for the local newspaper. Truth, free speech, and justice were important to her.

With little choice in the matter, she leaned forward and wrapped her lips around the plastic mouthpiece. She took a deep breath in from her nose and blew hard. When the machine beeped, Myers pulled it away and began to assess the screen. She knew the results before being told because she didn’t drink. Ever.

“Well, looks like she’s clean,” he said.

“I’ve been telling you that for the last fifteen minutes,” she said. “Can I please go?”

The strength of the sun was diminishing, reminding her of the late hour.

“We take the safety of our streets very seriously.” He glanced at her license. “Ms. Vasquez.” The way he said her name was like melting chocolate, private and sensual. Was he purposely saying her name slowly, punctuating every syllable, or was it her wishful thinking?

“I’m sorry?”

He shook his head. “From what we’ve learned over the years, law breakers aren’t reformed by getting a slap on the wrist. When you put them in the back of a squad car or hit them hard in the wallet—that’s when they pay notice.”

“I’m not a law breaker. I just didn’t see the one-way sign.” She waved her hand in the air as she spoke. Normally, she’d never be so forward with police officers, tempting fate, but the gala was her chance of a lifetime.

“Maybe we should make an exception this once,” said Dom. She wondered if that was slang for his first or last name. Whatever it was, it suited him perfectly. She could image him in a dominant role. He stood there on the sidelines, booted feet braced, arms crossed.

She waited for Officer Myers’s response.
Please say yes.

He stared at her with unblinking focus, emanating raw authority. She couldn’t help but let her eyes wander to his gun holster, baton, and the fit of his uniform below the belt. It felt like five lifetimes passed before he finally spoke. “I suppose we could let you off with a warning. Next time we won’t be so generous.”

“There won’t be a next time,” she assured. Until he officially let her walk, she couldn’t help but hold her breath.

He handed back her identification. “The flow of traffic is that way.” He pointed up the way she’d come. They both split up, walking back to the police car parked behind her. She stood there for another few seconds, watching them, wishing one of them had given her their number.

Stephanie got back in her car and pulled into the nearest driveway to turn around. As she passed their parked squad car, they both watched her. Fantasies danced in her head…until she glanced at the clock. It was 6:14 p.m., and she was late for her first field assignment. She hoped they were running late or wouldn’t notice her slip in. As much as she worried about getting to the event, she was more excited about asking Tammy about her two cops when she got home.

* * * *

Grayson Myers looked up the name on his computer. Stephanie Vasquez. The woman was twenty-six and drop-dead gorgeous. She had long, dark hair and legs that went on forever. And no criminal record.

“She’s the one, isn’t she?” asked Dom. Apparently, his partner, Dominic Weston, hadn’t forgotten her face, either.

“I recognized her the moment I saw her.”

She’d been at the firefighter’s fundraising ball last month, wearing an ankle-length red dress that clung to every lush curve. The vision was burned into his memory.

“She’s feisty. Why’d you let her walk so fast? We could have had some fun with her,” said Grayson.

“We’re supposed to be at the dealership until ten tonight. We’re already late.”

“Right.” He clicked off the computer screen.

Grayson started to drive. Crowd control duty meant overtime, but he couldn’t stand mingling with all the stuffed shirts. He preferred to work the streets, deal with real people and real issues. At least he’d have his partner, Dominic, with him. They were as close as two men could get without being brothers. After graduating from the police academy at the late age of twenty-seven, they bought a town house together, pooling their resources. They even shared the same woman from time to time. It was his job and best friend that helped him move on from the past and start a new life.

“You should have talked to her at the party,” said Dom.

“I wasn’t sure if she was with one of the station guys. It’s hard to believe a woman like that is single.”

“Well, you heard what Aaron said. She’s Tammy’s best friend, works at the paper, and she’s very single.”

“
Very single
,” he murmured. What he wouldn’t give to experience Stephanie Vasquez. She’d be his prize.

Dom pointed at the building just ahead. The event spotlights reflected off the glass dealership, making the building appear shades of blue. Although they were currently experiencing a heat wave, he had to remember it was mid fall, and the sun set early. The sky already grew dark, making the crowd outside appear endless. They’d have their work cut out for them keeping so many people under control. They may not be rowdy teens, but he knew firsthand how difficult revelers could become after they got a few drinks in them. And tonight was an open bar.

“Go around back,” said Dom.

He navigated the car through the throngs of people gathered in groups along the private drive. The guests didn’t hurry to make a path for their marked cruiser, even when he signaled their presence with his siren.

“It’s gonna be a long night,” he said. “It’s a good thing we rented that cabin. I need to get away for a while.”

Dom checked the magazine on his 9 mm. “Three days of fishing and miles of nothingness. I can deal with that.”

They’d booked a remote cabin for three days of roughing it and mind-numbing relaxation. He just had to get through another seven days, starting with tonight.

After parking the car, they entered through the rear entrance. Grayson did a visual scan of the room as they walked through. He sized up the crowd, the exits, and any potential threats. It was loud, a multitude of conversations and laughter creating an annoying static inside his head. Although it was filled to capacity, there didn’t appear to be any issues. Their presence usually prevented any wayward partygoers from acting up in most cases.

A microphone screeching brought the crowd to a standstill. Everyone turned at once to the main stage where a silky green tarp lay over a vehicle yet to be uncovered. He only knew the basics about the event. Some fancy new environmentally friendly car was about to be unleashed. It was big news because it threatened traditional car manufacturing. Whenever anyone’s bottom line was affected, it created a stir in the media. The dealership had its own private security force to keep tabs on the car. Whatever was under that tarp was extremely valuable to a lot of people.

Two other officers from their unit were assigned on perimeter duty, and several unmarked cars patrolled the area. There weren’t any known threats, but the company was paying the department top dollar for the private security, so the event was given priority.

“I think I’m gonna fall asleep,” said Dom as they walked through the crowd. The announcer was busy giving a history lesson on the development of the car, from concept to manufacturing. The older audience was docile and humorless. It was going to be a very long night.

“It’s only another three hours. You’ll survive,” said Grayson. He wasn’t sure he would himself.

He glanced around the room. The ceilings were high, the walls made completely of glass panes. It was a modern marvel in the heart of the city. The announcer’s voice continued to drone on and on. He wished they’d just unveil the fucking car already. Then at least there would be a shred of excitement in the place.

“Look,” his partner whispered, jabbing him in the ribs with an elbow. He looked in the same direction, searching for whatever seemed so fascinating to Dom all of a sudden. Then he saw her. Stephanie Vasquez. She was a vision in her fitted suit, her long, dark hair smoothed luxuriously down her back. There was no way she saw them with the multitude of people between them. Besides, she was busy taking pictures of the stage and the unveiled car.

“So this was where she was going. Must be something for the
Heartland Tribute
.”

He watched her, the gentle grace of her movements, the way she’d flick her hair back with a feminine twist of her neck. She was taller than many of the other women in attendance, but she did wear some killer heels. He’d envisioned plenty of wicked scenarios for her and those shoes ever since she stepped out of her car when he pulled her over. He’d make her wear them to bed, have her crawl on her hands and knees while he—

“Grayson!”

He refocused his attention on Dominic, feeling like he’d been awoken from a dream. How long had he zoned out?

“Pay attention. They’re about to do the reveal.”

When he glanced back to where Ms. Vasquez had been standing, she was gone. Like a phantom drifting in and out of his thoughts, she’d disappeared on him. He looked around, trying to spy the brunette over the crowd, but it was impossible with all the commotion. Everyone wanted to get closer to see the much-anticipated vehicle. Cameras were at the ready on the periphery, like predators awaiting their prey.

By the time the green sheet was lifted off the car, he barely got an eyeful before he had to begin patrolling the guests, reminding them to stay back from the stage. The announcer began promoting, the speakers on high. He got the crowd riled with his promise of a better future, no more pollution, no more emissions. They absorbed what he said as if he quoted the Bible. Their blind acceptance made them dangerous, in Grayson’s opinion. A small pyrotechnics display launched near the rear of the stage, adding to the excitement.

“Do you believe that? A car that runs on water?” Dom was more interested in the speech than in helping Grayson calm a potential riot. Apparently, the guests weren’t the only ones sucked in by the lure of a greener future.

“Dom, they’re closing in on the far end of the stage. Clear them out. I’ll take the other end.” The media were the main culprits, and he suspected Ms. Vasquez was one of them. He split away from his partner, clearing the five-foot walkway around the stage.

Nearly an hour of presentation passed as they constantly maintained the perimeter. Grayson was exhausted. That’s when he saw her.

The lights dimmed and the prototype car was driven off stage and out of sight. The mix of shadows and lighting over her pale skin haunted him. For a fraction of a second he swore he saw a ghost, then mentally scolded himself. He made his way to the beauty now looking through her digital photos. She had no clue he was approaching, lost in her own little world.

“I assume you weren’t fired from your job after all.”

She looked up at him. It took a moment before the recognition settled in. “Are you following me?” she teased. “I promise I kept to the speed limit all the way here. I was such a good girl, you’d be proud of me.” Stephanie was different when not wound up tighter than a spinning top. That sense of urgency and bitterness had fizzled away, leaving just the woman. She was calm, an air of flirtation surrounding her. This was how he remembered her from the firefighter’s ball—confident yet approachable. Only he’d done nothing that fateful night, leaving him regretting his inaction a month later.

“We like to follow up. To make sure we didn’t make a bad decision on letting you off the hook.”

She nodded slowly. “I see.” The barely visible start of a smile peeked out. “And where is your other half? Arresting some schoolgirls, maybe? Or raiding the bingo hall?”

“You should be nicer. It was Dom who let you walk. If it were up to me I would have had you strip searched and booked.” He knew he was crossing the line, but he couldn’t help himself. Her lips were full and cherry red. He recalled how they looked wrapped around his breathalyzer. And imagined them around his cock.

“You’d like that, wouldn’t you?”

His body began to respond to her playfulness. Fuck, he wanted her. In the past eight years, he’d never wanted a woman more. Before he could reply, a scream captured his attention. A small crowd gathered by the other end of the stage front as if pulled in by a black hole. More screams and raised voices rang around the large room. His thoughts instantly went to his best friend. He was alone over there. Without a good-bye, he rushed away from Stephanie, pushing through the crowd to reach the source of the problem.

“What happened?” he asked Dom once he reached the epicenter. A small bubble of space had been created around a downed man, and his partner was on his knees beside him.

“I don’t know. Maybe a heart attack? Exhaustion? I’ve radioed for the paramedics already.”

“Does he have a pulse?” The victim was an older man with white hair. He looked to be in his seventies, so he wasn’t overly concerned about foul play.