Surviving Brooklyn (Brooklyn Series Book 1) (6 page)

“Brooklyn, rather than encroach on your privacy, I am going to put everything out there,” my boss said. “Your apartment is compromised. You cannot stay here. The killer has named a target and it is people who look like you because for some reason he wants to play a game with you. I think you have a more than professional relationship with Detective Stone, but I don’t want to know if it is true. I want you to think about this before you step down. I came to all these conclusions in the ten minutes or so I have been here. The outside world is watching you. The killer is watching you. Do you want him to see you running from him, or do you want him to see that you can fight back?”

I took a deep breath. I never thought about what people saw when they looked at me. I am quick to judge a person by what they are wearing, how they look, what their disposition is like, and even how they interact with others. It is a nasty little habit I picked up when I started dating. It has kept me safe, but there was no way to know what others concluded about me.

My brain started spinning. Would he attack Mark because of the way we appeared? Is his interest in me romantic? Would he hurt Kate? Is he already close to me? What has he seen?

My stomach ached and my heart raced. I felt Mark’s hand leave the small of my back and wrap around my waist. Mark and Taylor were talking to each other and Kate was peeking into my apartment to see the people scurry through my things. Everything sounded muffled behind the loud beats of my heart that were overtaking my eardrums.

I tightened my stance to ensure my standing position as my heart raced and my head felt weightless. As my breaths shortened, I felt weak and dizzy. I tried to calm myself down, but my body refused to allow it. Everything turned to a hazy gray when I heard people shouting my name. Then silence, and everything went dark.

Chapter 6

I heard soft voices whispering around me. My heart rate slowed. My breaths were even and regulated. I moved my arms to discover I had a blanket on top of me. Opening one eyelid, I saw that I was inside my hotel room.

The light was on in the dining room, which was right outside the bedroom. I saw Doctor Garie, the coroner, talking to Abbott and Costello, my security team. They were speaking so quietly I could not make out what they were saying.

I was exhausted, unsure of how I wound up in the hotel room. I would rather sleep than get answers. I rolled on my side and into a familiar male chest. I snuggled up against him and wrapped the blanket around me tightly.

Mark was under the blanket facing me. He wrapped his arm around me and tugged me close. His lips pressed against my forehead, and I immediately felt as though everything would turn out all right. No matter what we faced, at the end of the day we could depend on each other.

I always believed I would lose Mark to Mary. I thought he would marry her, and then I would never be able to stand seeing them happy together. I thought he would eventually find a new best friend, leaving me behind.

“How do you feel?” Mark whispered. With both arms around me, he held me close. My head rested on his shoulder and faced his chest. I breathed in his manly scent. It was an intoxicating aroma that made my mouth water.

“I am good as long as you’re here,” I murmured. The entire week dissipated and became a distant memory while he cradled me in his arms. I knew he did not feel the same way about me, but his presence was comforting.

“You scared me,” Mark said, pulling back so I had to look at him. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”

“Detective Stone,” a voice called out from behind closed doors. “Is she awake, yet? Would you like me to check her over?” the voice said. I knew it was Dr. Garie, but I ignored his words and made no move to speak to anyone.

“No, please get some rest yourself. Have Abbott and Costello take a break, and let the guards outside know she is fine with me. Everyone needs to rest and we will start digging through what we have with fresh eyes in the morning.” Mark’s chest vibrated with the authority in his tone. I heard the double doors shut and a few moments later I heard the men leaving.

Silence descended, and I was no longer tired. I didn’t want to talk or move, I just wanted to stay next to Mark. I lined my body up with his and wiggled here and there to get the position I wanted.

“You have to stop grinding against me.”

I froze and waited for him to say something else. When he didn’t, I went back to trying to get comfortable. I draped my leg across the top of his and brought his thigh in between my legs.

“Mark,” I whispered as I leaned up to see his face. He was looking down at me while his head rested on the pillow. I had a sudden urge to confess my feelings all over again, but it wouldn’t help either of us. I did, however, need him to know that he couldn’t be a hero for me.

“If something happened to you because of me—”

Mark stopped my words by flipping me onto my back and climbing on top of me. I inhaled sharply and tried to finish my sentence, but he leaned down and placed his mouth against mine. Those soft velvety lips had me yearning for the one thing I couldn’t have.

Suddenly it all came to light. I pushed Mark back and sat up. I climbed out of the bed, discovering I was in my pajamas. That was a conversation I would be having when my brain slowed down.

I opened the door and went to the box of case files. Mark followed me, with an intense gaze on his face that I couldn’t remember ever seeing before. I started opening files and tossing them into a chaotic mess on the table. Red, blue, yellow, green. The folders made a rainbow as the pile grew higher, and then there was the one powder blue file. It matched the color of the forget-me-not flowers that were left at the crime scene.

I opened it to reveal the threats the previous Assistant District Attorney had received.

I hadn’t had time to read all of them, but I remembered one in which he mentioned wanting the one thing he couldn’t have. The pages had the same handwriting as the note in my apartment. I sorted through them to find the one I needed. Then I handed it to Mark.

No one will give me what I want. You won’t walk away, continuing to play the game you were not invited to. If you continue to play, I will make you part of the game.

There is one thing I want and she is like a sunset over Brooklyn. Her hair is dark as night and eyes as blue as the ocean. Bring her to play and you may live to see another day.

Mark read it and then dropped the page on the ground, staring at me. He looked angry. I took a few steps back until I was against the window that overlooked a view of Times Square. He continued to bear down on me as though I was his prey.

“Mark,” I whispered as my nerves ran amuck. Butterflies had taken root in my stomach. My palms grew sweaty, my thighs moistened and my mouth became dry.

“Shh,” Mark whispered, as his finger covered my lips. Then he replaced it with his mouth. I stood motionless as he kissed me. Unaware of what was happening, but wanting so much more. My heart was breaking even as I fell deeper in love with Mark.

I opened to him, and he pressed his body against mine, inhaling the moan that left my lips. All five of my senses were being overloaded by him. I could no longer hear anything but the rapid beating of my heart. I tasted coffee and whipped cream on his tongue as I inhaled his manly sandalwood scent. I looked into his eyes when he pulled away. My body burned with the need to touch him everywhere.

“Tell me no,” Mark whispered as he dropped to his knees. I watched in fascination while he untied the bow on my drawstring shorts. I shivered as I watched him pull down my shorts, exposing a pair of black lace underwear.

I was already panting and clinging to the glass and he had barely touched me. He placed a kiss on my stomach just above my underwear and I thought my body was on fire. I watched eagerly as he feathered kisses all around my underwear. He even pried my legs apart to kiss the inside of my thigh. I let out a groan as moisture flooded my thighs behind each kiss.

“Tell me to stop,” he said, even as he tugged on my underwear. I refused to say a word or even whimper as he lowered them ever so slowly. I bit my lip to keep my sounds at a minimum. Despite my desire, I guarded my heart.

As my underwear reached the floor, he lifted my right leg and placed it over his shoulder. I nearly lost my balance as he did the same to the left. Then he stood up with my legs draped over his shoulders and my body six feet up in the air. My back to the open window facing Times Square, and my pussy facing a very hungry Mark.

I had nowhere to go and nothing to grab onto except for him. I grabbed my breasts instead of pushing him into me. As ready as I was to come, I would surely suffocate him. I watched his face below me, facing my entrance, and felt the blood rush to my clit as it throbbed with each breath he exhaled.

“Last chance. Tell me you don’t want me.” Mark looked up, waiting for my words.

“I love you, Mark,” I murmured breathlessly, and then I pushed his head into my crotch. I heard a light laugh, but the sound didn’t last long as I felt that first brush of his tongue. I twisted my hands in his silky hair and moaned with pleasure.

I released his hair and pulled my tank top down to expose my breasts. I tugged on the nipples as Mark rode me higher and higher up the cliff. My racing heart had finally drowned out my moans. I needed this release more than my next breath.

“Please.” I gasped between moans. His pace quickened and suddenly I felt it coming on strong. I tightened my stomach and my thighs. Wanting to scratch and claw up the glass window, I was forced to endure every unrelenting lick and thrust. I bit my lip and pinched my breasts as I screamed through the beginning of my orgasm. Electricity pulsated as the waves crashed over me. As he continued, his onslaught of my clit heat ravaged my body. Sweat dripped from my brow as I was steamrolled beneath the agonizing pleasure he bestowed upon me.

I struggled to catch my breath as he lowered me. I was grateful he kept a hold on me because I didn’t think I could stand. My legs trembled. He slanted his head and placed his mouth over mine. I tasted myself on him and it only stirred the pulse behind my clit once more.

Mark ripped my tank top off and I stood completely naked before him. The glass at my back was soothing as my skin flamed while he looked over my body. Then he turned me to face the glass. I could see all the lights in Times Square, and the people walking down below. We were so high up that they looked tiny.

I heard the clasp of a belt and went to turn around and help him when he grabbed my hands and placed them palm down against the glass. Then he whispered in my ear.

“Don’t move or tell me to go away.”

I said nothing and waited. I felt his breath on my neck and his body against my back as I heard the foil package opening behind me. The sound of him removing his jeans caused me to startle, and his hands rubbed on my back to soothe me.

I spread my legs, and Mark trailed his finger down, probing inside my entrance.

“You are so ready for me, Brook,” he said with a grunt of appreciation.

“Always,” I replied as his large head probed my entrance.

As he slid his cock inside me, I gasped and held my breath. I was swollen from my orgasm and it made everything tighter. I felt as though he commanded my body with his long hard shaft, and I was his for the taking. He was so long that I felt at any second I would be lifted off my feet by his manhood. As he reached the hilt, he lifted my left leg and held it at the knee. Then did the same with the other. I was spread open, facing the glass with my knees up as my feet hung in the air.

I had never felt anyone so deep inside me before. There was a bite of pain and a mountain of pleasure. I could feel my walls constrict around him in a melody that matched my heartbeat. I placed my forehead on the cool glass and slowly began breathing again.

Mark pulled in and out of me as if he was leading an orchestra. Everything was done in a rhythm that took him where he wanted to go. From this position, the head of his cock was grazing that rough patch inside me that made my body scream out for more.

“Look at the people down there,” Mark murmured as he kissed my neck. I turned my head to give him more room. “Imagine they all see us. They all see that you are here with me. They see that it is
my
cock you crave and it will be
my
name you scream. No one else can have you if you are here with me.”

I was so close to climaxing again, but his words broke my heart. I wanted this so badly that I couldn’t see it for what it was. He was marking his territory by being inside me. It wasn’t about love or anything even close to that. I felt like the tree a dog would piss on. It would go around and around, marking the spot, but at the end of the day no one loved the tree. The dog just wanted to make it clear he was the alpha.

I don’t know how, but I could feel my impending orgasm as a tear rolled down my cheek. My heart was all in and thankfully Mark couldn’t see that. As he sped up his rhythm, I closed my eyes and memorized every sound and breath he took. I reveled in every grunt and groan. I would dream about the sounds heard when my moans clashed with his as we both found ecstasy with each other.

I screamed as the orgasm tore through my body and shattered my heart. Pleasure and pain wracked my entire being. I slapped the glass and tightened down on him. He continued to drive into me, riding me down from my orgasm. Mark pumped into me two more times and grit his teeth as he came. He lowered his head onto my shoulder and released my legs slowly as he caught his breath.

When he pulled out, I immediately missed him. I wanted to pull him back inside me. I wanted him to put a band-aid over my aching heart to make it all better, but I was a grown woman and this was not how life worked. When he backed up, I took a quick swipe at my tears and turned to face him. I could see in the mirror across from me my skin had flushed crimson from its normal alabaster color.

I forbid myself a glance at his manhood. I knew it was wrapped in a condom, but curiosity had always been one of my vices. My heart called out that we’d made love, while my brain told me I was stupid and reminded me he was not as invested as I was. This was a friendship that had gone too far tonight.

I grabbed my clothes and headed for the shower. I couldn’t even bring myself to look Mark in the eye in case he saw how shattered I was.

I turned on the shower and climbed inside before it was even warm. The tears fell down my cheeks and into the drain. It wasn’t a moment later that the shower door was being opened and a naked Mark walked inside. I moved so he could get under the water as well, but he didn’t step forward.

“Brooklyn,” Mark said.

I placed my head in the water so he couldn’t see my face. It was bad enough I had confessed how I felt and even gave myself to him and all I got in return was a couple of devastating orgasms and a broken heart.

I couldn’t think of anything to say, but it didn’t matter. The problem of sleeping with your best friend is they know what is beneath the surface. Mark enveloped me into his arms and I cried on him until the water ran cold.

Then he turned off the shower and placed a towel around me. He led me out of the shower where he donned a white robe, and carried me in my towel to the bed. He laid me down and covered me up, then crawled in beside me. I curled into him and prayed for sleep, but it wouldn’t come soon enough.