Revelation: A Contemporary Erotic Romance (Iris Series) (21 page)

“Hi.  Joe Mitchell,” he said putting out his hand when he reached Michael.

“Michael Callahan.  Nice to meet you,” Mike said, returning his smile.  Geesh.  Had Mike just shaken her boss’s hand with the one that had been –?

“Ah. 
Detective
Callahan?  It’s so nice to finally meet Big Papa Pookie Bear.  In three days, you’ve become a legend around these parts.”

Emily groaned, while Mike chuckled, “That’s me.” He nodded with a twinkle in his eye.

“So we have you to thank for the entertainment the other day?”

“Yeah.  Hope it didn’t cause too much of a disruption,” he said looking at Emily with humor
in his eyes. 

“It was a much needed break to the beginning a very long week, trust me.  It’s too bad you didn’t get a chance to see it.”

“Actually, I did.”

“What?!” Emily yelped, her head snapping to looking at him.

“You didn’t think I’d go through with a masterpiece like that and not witness it, did you?”

“You were here?”  She began looking at the office as if trying to remember everyone who had assembled there.  “Where were you?”

“Right over there,” he said, pointing to the back corner of the office near the elevators.

She let go of a loud exhalation.  Heat slammed into her knowing he had been so close, but at the same time she was annoyed to no end.  “You were here the whole time?  How did you get up here with security?”

He smiled.  “I’m a cop, Counselor.  Not to mention the fact that Terrence hooked me up that morning when I called to set the whole thing up.”

“Terrence knew?!”

Joe laughed.  “Uh, oh.  This is not going to end well.”

“And I let that weasel leave early tonight,” she mumbled.

Mike smirked and licked his lips, then turned to Joe.  “Ethan White tells me you two went to law school together.”

The night was just full of surprises.  Emily looked at him in shock then quickly schooled her features.  Apparently that was part of what he and her uncle had talked about at the barbeque.

“Yeah, Ethan and I go way back.  It was a lucky day for us at Mitchell, Horton and Rose when we got Emily.  I’m forever grateful that he told us about her.”  Joe looked at her and smiled.  “I don’t wanna keep you two.  Can I just grab you for a sec to sign this paper?”

“Of course.”  She turned to Mike and said, “I’ll be right back.”

“Nice to meet you, Michael.  Hope to see you again,” Joe said.

“You absolutely will,” he said, looking only at Emily.  “Nice to meet you, too.” 

When they got to Joe’s office, he grabbed a paper on his desk and handed her a pen.  As she signed, he spoke. 

“Thanks, Em.  And, I’d say don’t hurt him too badly over Tuesday’s little fun, but I have a feeling he can hold his own with you,” he chuckled.  When she was done signing she looked up at Joe with a half-smile.

“What is it with everyone?  I must have quite the reputation.”

Joe laughed.  “It’s no secret you can do some damage.  Ethan tells me every time I talk to him.”

“Yeah, yeah.  Don’t worry.  The detective is safe.  For now,” she said, giving Joe a look.  “And when was the last time you talked to Uncle Ethan?”

“Yesterday,” he said, a smile hovering on his lips.

Emily continued to glare at him.  “Any chance you mentioned Tuesday’s little fun to him?”

“Of course,” he said, his eyes laughing.

“Thanks a lot, boss,” she groaned.  “I can’t believe I haven’t gotten a phone call yet.”

He chuckled.  “Hey, what can I say?  I’m here to help.” He leaned back against his desk and folded his arms, then smiled.  “Enjoy your weekend.”

“Thanks, Joe,” she smiled back, shaking her head.  “See you Monday.”

“Yup.”

When she reached Mike, she’d noticed for the first time that he had a small backpack with him, probably holding papers from his court visit.  He looked great in his suit.  He could wear anything and look good.

“You didn’t bring your bike, did you?”

“No, it’s at my place.  I took a cab.  You ready to eat?”

“Actually,” she said suddenly, moving toward the elevators, “I haven’t worked out all week.  I was planning on heading to the studio to do some sparring,” she said, referring to the Krav Maga studio housed in a warehouse that she’d joined upon moving to the City.  If she was going to protect her heart from this man, she would have to start creating some distance.  “I’ll just see you tomorrow morning.”  The thought left her slightly depressed.

“Why don’t we work out together?”

“Huh?”  The man just kept surprising her.  Her ex wouldn’t be caught dead near a Krav Maga studio.  “You want to?”

“Em, there is nothing hotter than going to the mat with you,” he said as they entered the elevator.  “It’s the perfect foreplay.”  He nailed her with his gaze.

She had to look away due to the shock and arousal she was experiencing.  “I didn’t think guys liked seeing girls in unfeminine situations like that.”

“Who says it’s unfeminine?”  He asked with curiosity.

“Some people,” she shrugged and looked away.

“Well, whoever he is, he’s a fuckin’ idiot.  A powerhouse of a woman who could lay you flat on your back in seconds, and looks good while doing it?   Are you kidding me?  It’s hot as hell.  I have a boner just thinking about it,” he said, adjusting himself.

She let out a little surprised laugh, feeling giddy inside.  She hesitated then couldn’t resist the temptation.  “Well, okay.  We need to stop and get you clothes –”

He held up his bag as a response.  “Got everything I need right here.”  She raised an eyebrow in question.  He shrugged and just smirked. “I’m nothing if not prepared.”

“I see that you’re ready for any possible scenario.  Done this before, have you?” she asked, trying not to sound annoyed.

He pulled her into his arms, wrapping her tightly in his embrace then dropped his lips to her ear.

“I’ve never worked out with a girl before, if that’s what you mean.”  He stopped and thought a minute.  “That’s not true.  I’ve worked out with Janie once at the self-defense class along with the others, and the female officers at the precinct occasionally.”

She nodded, but continued looking away.  “You don’t owe me an explanation.”

“Look at me.”

She did.

“Why do I feel like there’s something going on here that I’m not understanding?” 

The elevator doors opened at that moment and they walked out, him holding her hand, her trying to disengage it, unsuccessfully. They both said goodbye to security and walked outside.  Before she could go to the curb to look for a cab, he stopped her.

“Hey.”

“What?”

“What just happened?”

She sighed.  She was the one being an idiot.  Her brain was in a jumble between old tapes of conversations with her ex and the knowledge that Mike was always prepared with a change of clothes for a woman at any given time.  She shrugged uncomfortably and said, “My ex didn’t care for my desire to do Krav Maga.  I’m not used to a guy –”

Michael interrupted, looking genuinely perplexed.  “Why?”

She shrugged again.  “I think he felt like it emasculated him or something.” 

“He was an insecure douchebag.  Forget him.  And the reason why I have clothes with me is I knew I was going to stop by and see you and I was hopeful.”  He let his voice drift with the implication.

She didn’t want to like this man.  She really didn’t. 

He pulled her in for a kiss.  “So.  Now that that’s settled, you ready to kick some ass?  Because I might be able to beat you this time.  I’ve been practicing on some bad guys this week.”

She patted his cheek.  “One can always hope, Detective.”

“With you, I’m always hopin’.”

“Well, keep in mind, I’ve still gotta score to settle with you.  Two, actually.  One, for Bernard, and one for standing in the back and watching the whole thing.”

“Wrong.  We’re even with Bernard.”

“No.  Me leaving you cuffed to the bed was retaliation for
you
cuffing me to the bed.  Bernard started a whole other ball rollin’, Detective.”

He chuckled.  “It was one of my best days ever.  Let’s go…Gumdrop Cutie pie.”

……

For the next hour and a half, Mike not only met the owner and instructors at the studio where she practiced, but learned some new moves from one of them.  By the time he’d gotten to her, they’d had a good workout wrestling with each other on the mat. 

The only problem was every time her body collided with his, she thought of sex.  She knew he was thinking the same thing.  The evidence was obvious.  Toward the end of their workout, he leaned over and whispered, “I don’t know how much longer I’m gonna be able to hide this thing,” he said directing her attention to his significant erection. 

“Oh, is that considered hidden?” she asked, barely containing her laughter.

He gave her a look.  “I’m going to the locker room.  I’ll meet you at the door in 15 minutes.”  He sprinted away from her.

She laughed, also running to the locker room to take a quick shower, but didn’t wash her
hair.  Her body was thrumming with anticipation when she saw him waiting at the door when she got there.

True to his nature, he began touching her as soon as she was near him, putting his arm around her waist and kissing the tip of her nose.

She wished she hadn’t started liking it so much.

“So, where do you wanna eat?  What’s your favorite food?” he asked as they walked out to the street.

She took herself by surprise and leaned into him, winding her arms around his neck.  How had he so effortlessly turned her into this woman who craved his touch, hanging all over him in public?  As soon as the realization hit her, she began to pull away. 

He’s only here for fun, Em.  Nothing more.

Without hesitating, he stopped walking and wrapped her tight in his arms lifting her slightly, smiling, not allowing her to leave.

“I like when you touch me without me making the first move,” he whispered.

She felt a flutter in her stomach.  “Detective Callahan,” she whispered.

“Yes, Miss White?” he murmured, his eyes jumping between her gaze and her mouth.

“That’s my favorite food as of late.  ‘Detective Callahan’.”  She nipped at his chin.

“Oh, my,” he said, his eyes glittering.  He swallowed and said, “Maybe we should just get take out.”

“That’s just what I was thinking,” she whispered while taking nips at his mouth.

He pressed more firmly into her.  “Your place or mine.”

“Mine,” she breathed in between kisses.  She had an overwhelming desire to have him in her bed. 

“What are we waiting for?”

They took a cab to her place, quietly looking at each other, touching hands, legs, stroking hair.  When they arrived in front of her apartment building, they got out and she paid the cab driver then led Mike past the doorman and to the elevator up to the 7
th
floor.

She unlocked her door and let him in, closing the door behind him.

He walked toward the living room, peeking into the small kitchen and taking a general look-see around the place.  His vision stopped at the coffee table, where she could only assume he was looking at her new ‘sunflower’ bowl sitting on top of it.  He turned back to her with an enigmatic smile then said, “This is cute.”

“Thanks,” she said, dropping her bag at the front door next to his.

“So.”  He continued looking at her. 

She walked slowly toward him then stood in front of him, looking up into his eyes.  She was only in flip flops, so she had quite a distance to lean back in order to make eye contact.  “So.”

They both reached for each other at the same time as their lips and bodies collided into each other, devouring and enjoying the feel of the other against them.

He lifted her easily and wrapped her legs around him.  “I like this position,” he murmured while kissing her.  “I like how flexible you are.  I like that I’m your new favorite food.  And I definitely like the fact that you’re still talking to me.”

She kissed his neck then tsked, “Big bad detective was that scared?”

He chuckled then said, “I just didn’t know how you were feeling since I hadn’t heard from you.  Plus, you scare the shit outta me on a
good
day.”

She smiled as they continued kissing then when she came up for air she said with a shrug, “I didn’t realize a call was expected of me.  I’ve never been one to make a booty call.”  Obviously, she thought.  She didn’t want to look him in the eye. 

“Good.  But just to clarify, if you wanted to make a booty call, you could call me.  Any time of day.  For a booty call,” he said with a kiss.  “Or to argue.”  He kissed her again.  “To get something to eat.”  He kissed her again.  “To have another foreplay session at the studio.”  Another kiss.  “Or just to talk.  Whatever.”  He ended his list by kissing her senseless.