The Badge Bunnies series: Ride-Along (2 page)

“Come back here with my purse, you scoundrel!”

Laci dragged her gaze away from Jase and Grant to see an elderly woman tottering down the sidewalk after them, arms flailing. Laci quickly hurried over to gently put her hands on the woman’s shoulders.

“It’s okay,” she said soothingly. “The police officers will catch him.”

The older woman worried her lower lip. “I hope so. I have a lottery ticket.” She gave Laci a tremulous smile. “It’s a winner, I’m sure of it.”

Laci smiled back. The hundreds of other people in the city who were carrying around lottery tickets probably also thought the same thing. She didn’t mention that, though. Who knew? Maybe the woman was right.

Down the street, Jase and Grant disappeared around the corner. They were back less than five minutes later, pushing a cuffed man in front of them. As they got closer, Laci couldn't help but notice neither cop was sweating, or even breathing hard for that matter. The purse snatcher, on the other hand, was gulping air like a drowning man and sweating profusely. He didn’t look the least bit sorry he’d stolen the poor woman’s purse, either.

She took the bag when Jase held it out, clutching it to her as if it were precious. “Oh, thank you so much, Officer.”

His mouth curved. “Just doing my job, ma’am.”

She pinned the thief with a glare, then doddered forward and hit him with her purse. Repeatedly.

“You should be ashamed of yourself, young man! Stealing from an old woman!”

She punctuated every other word with a smack, and probably would have kept on going if Jase hadn’t stepped in and gently, but firmly, turned her around and led her away from the man in the opposite direction.

“Why don’t we go over here so you can tell me what happened?” he suggested.

The older woman looked as if she would have preferred to keep hitting the purse snatcher with the bag he’d stolen from her—Laci didn’t blame her—but she allowed Jase to guide her over to a nearby bench.

While Jase took her statement, Grant called for a back-up vehicle to take the suspect in. With Laci riding in the back seat, they clearly couldn't do it. She divided her time between the two cops, taking notes as she listened in on their conversations. As the older woman explained how she’d been walking down her street on the way back from the bodega when that “scoundrel” had snatched her purse right off her arm, the thief insisted it was her fault.

“She lured me in by swinging that yellow purse of hers!” He glanced at Grant. “That’s entrapment, right?”

Grant’s eyes narrowed. “No. It’s a crime. And if that lottery ticket of hers turns out to be a winner, that makes it a felony crime, and you’re going to be in jail for a long time.”

The thief opened his mouth to argue, but a hard look from Grant silenced him. Laci caught her bottom lip between her teeth. God, she loved an authoritative guy.

The second cruiser arrived a few minutes later to take the purse snatcher into custody. The man tried to plead his case to the female police officer as she led him to the car, but she didn’t buy the entrapment defense any more than Grant had.

“Tell it to your lawyer,” was all she said.

“Do you need us to give you a ride home?” Jase asked the older woman.

“No, dear. I just live a few blocks down. Thank you anyway,” she said. “And thank you again for getting my purse back.”

Laci couldn’t help but smile as both cops downplayed what they’d done, saying they were just doing their jobs. But after the older woman started down the sidewalk and they got in the car, she realized just how dangerous chasing the purse snatcher had been. They guy could have had a gun. Going after him had been extremely brave.

And hot.

Chapter Two

When she said as much to Jase and Grant—about it being brave, not hot—they shrugged it off just as nonchalantly.

“I don’t know about that,” she insisted. “What you do still seems dangerous.”

“It is. But it’s our job.” Grant glanced at her in the mirror. “Besides, it comes with a few perks that do a lot to balance out the equation.”

Like bonuses and extra vacation days? The men exchanged conspiratorial smiles that made Laci think those weren’t the kinds of perks they were talking about. There was a juicy story bubbling here, she just knew it.

“Okay guys, what kinds of perks are we talking about?”

Jase was having a hard time keeping a straight face. “Oh, nothing.”

“Bull!” She leaned forward. “Come on, what's the scoop here?”

Jase half turned in his seat to look at her. “Sorry, Laci, but it’s something we're not at liberty to discuss. It's kind of a departmental secret.”

“More like a country-wide cop secret,” Grant added. “If it got out, some people might take it the wrong way.”

Like that little tidbit wasn’t going to make her more curious. She made a show of closing the small notebook she held and tucking her pen in the spiral. “Okay. Completely off the record, then. You have my word that none of this conversation will ever show up in any article I write.”

The two cops exchanged looks again, clearly debating whether to divulge this big secret of theirs. Finally Grant nodded. Jase still hesitated, but then turned back to her.

“Badge Bunnies.”

“Badge Bunnies?” Laci repeated. She had a sneaking suspicion what they were, but she wasn’t completely sure. “What’s a badge bunny?”

“Women who like to hang out with police officers,” Jase said.

Her first intuition had been right. “You mean, like cop groupies?”

“Kinda,” Grant said. “We like to call them badge bunnies, though, because they’re cute and cuddly and like to bounce around a lot.”

She could only imagine the kind of bouncing he was talking about. Sophomoric, yes, but hilarious, too.

She laughed. “Let me get this straight. You two get lots of action from women who like to hook up with you purely because you wear a police uniform?”

Jase gave her a hurt look. “I like to think our charming personalities and devastating good looks might also have something to do with it.”

Laci had to admit their looks alone would have probably been enough for most women—her included—but she wasn't going to mention that to Jase and Grant. The two hunky cops obviously already knew how attractive they were. But that didn't mean she couldn't have a little fun with them.

She sat back, notebook on her lap. “So, how exactly do you identify a badge bunny? Do they simply come up to you and tell you they’re card-carrying members of the bunny sorority, or do they give you some kind of secret sign—like making bunny ears with their fingers?”

Grant chuckled. “It's much more subtle than that. Usually, they’ll come up and start asking standard questions about the police profession. You know, what made us become police officers and what kind of training we’ve had.”

“From there, they move on to more personal questions,” Jase explained. “Like what our wife or girlfriend thinks of us being a cop.”

Laci felt her cheeks color. She’d asked those same questions. Did that mean they thought she was a badge bunny too?

Of course not. She was a reporter asking questions and they knew it—she hoped. There was no way they could know she had a thing for cops. Or that she completely understood how a woman might be turned on by the thought of bagging either one of them. Could they?

“I’m assuming you’re both speaking from personal experience when it comes to badge bunnies. Care to share any stories?” She gave them an innocent smile. “Nothing you tell me will end up in my article. Promise.”

The same couldn’t be said for her fantasies.

Grant and Jase looked at each other again, a little unsure. Grant shifted in his seat, repositioning his hand on the steering wheel.

“We only brought up the badge bunnies thing because we knew it’d amuse you,” he said. “We don't want you thinking either of us are out there sleeping with women left and right. That's just not how we treat women.”

That hadn’t even crossed her mind. “I know that. I would never put you two in the category of players out bagging women so you can cut notches in your headboard. I find the idea of women coming on to you guys because you wear a uniform to be fascinating, and I'd like to hear some of your stories. I’m sure you have some good ones.”

Her interest sounded casual, even to her own ears. Of course, the real reason she wanted to know about their experiences wasn't casual in the least—the image of them getting busy with a badge bunny was arousing as hell. Her pulse raced at the idea of them filling in some of the naughtier details.

Jase turned to give her an appraising look, his eyes smoldering. Could he see through her flimsy rationale for wanting to hear the two men talk about their sex lives?

“None of this goes beyond your ears?” he asked.

“Cross my heart,” she said.

Jase turned back to face front, eyeing the shops and people that passed by on their right. Laci thought for a moment he wasn't going to say anything, but then he spoke.

“The first time a woman came onto me while I was in uniform, I thought she was just trying to get out of the speeding ticket I was writing up for her. I was new to the force and hadn’t heard of badge bunnies back then. But she still wanted to meet me for drinks after work even though I gave her the ticket. I admit I was a little confused—I mean, I just gave her a ticket. She was attractive, though. So, I gave up trying to figure out her motives and agreed to meet her at a nearby bar after my shift. When I mentioned I might be late since I had to drive across town to change, she told to come in uniform. In fact, she insisted on it.”

Laci liked the woman’s style. She’d set eyes on Jase and immediately decided she wanted him. Laci didn’t think she could ever be that bold, though.

“When I got to the bar, Beth tells me they don't have her brand of alcohol and asks if we could head back to her place instead.”

“I guess you got the message she wasn't interested in drinks,” Laci said.

His mouth quirked. “Yeah, I kind of noticed that. I obviously wasn't complaining. Though I was curious. I'd never been picked up like that before.”

“What happened when you got back to her place?”

Laci berated herself even as she said the words. To say this line of questioning was unprofessional was an understatement. But she couldn't control herself. She had to hear more.

“Well, I think it's pretty obvious what happened. We had sex.” Jase gave her that appraising look again. “But I'm guessing you're looking for details.”

Thank God she wasn't the kind of person who blushed easily or she would have been scarlet. “Sorry. Curiosity is an occupational hazard for reporters. I understand if you're too shy to talk about it.”

Okay, so she was daring Jase. But she wanted him to talk, and she had the feeling his ego wouldn't let him back down from a challenge.

Apparently, Grant must have thought the same thing. He glanced at his partner, mouth quirking.

“The minute we walked in the door, she pushed me up against it and kissed the hell out of me.” Jase said the words as casually as if he were talking about the weather.  “The next thing I knew she was on her knees in front of me unzipping my pants.”

Laci saw Grant glance at her in the rearview mirror. He was probably wondering if that was a little too much information. It wasn’t. In fact, she was waiting with bated breath to see just how far Jase would go with his story.

Jase’s mouth edged up. “I started unbuttoning my shirt, but she stopped me, telling me she wanted me to leave my uniform on.” His shoulders lifted in a shrug. “If she was that into the uniform, I was fine with it. As far as kinks go, it’s pretty tame.”

Well, that provoked all kinds of wicked thoughts. What kind of kinks was Jase  used to?

Jase looked out the side window again, checking out the alleys as they passed. “Beth hauled me right out and started going down on me.” He paused, clearly savoring the memory. “Her mouth was incredible. I don't think I've been with a woman who was so enthusiastic about giving a blowjob.” He glanced over his shoulder at Laci. “You don't mind if I say blowjob, do you? I don't want to offend you.”

Laci shook her head, heat pooling between her thighs. “Of course not. I did ask. It’s not like I’ve never heard the word before.”

Grant’s mouth twitched in the mirror. When she’d first asked for details about the badge bunnies they’d hooked up with, she’d felt a little guilty for manipulating them, but now she got the feeling they might be the ones manipulating her.

“So, this Beth woman gave a killer blowjob, huh?” She could use big-girl words, too.

“That she did. Between the way she flicked the head of my cock with her velvety tongue and massaged me with her hand, I thought I was going to explode. And when she took me deep?” Jase shook his head. “It was tough holding back, I’ll tell you that. And that was in the space of a few minutes.”

Laci frowned. Zero to sixty in three minutes? Not good. But she was willing to give him the benefit of the doubt.

“You didn’t come, did you?” She hoped not. She was just getting into the story.

He gave her a broad smile. “Hell, no. I felt it was my duty to maintain the high regard Beth obviously had for the men in blue. I couldn't disappoint her. Besides, I wanted to come inside her. Although, I admit I was a little concerned about that. I mean, if her mouth had gotten me that hot, I figured I’d probably come unglued when I slid into her pussy.”

Laci hadn’t realized she’d gasped until Grant threw her a sharp look in the rearview mirror.

“I think that might have been too much information, Jase,” he said.

Laci blinked. “No!” She tucked her long, blond hair behind her ear and smiled. “I mean, of course not. I'm a reporter, remember? I hear much more graphic stuff than that in a weather report.” Okay, maybe not. “So, how’d you keep from coming?”

Good recovery, she congratulated herself.

Up front, both cops visibly relaxed in their seats. Wow. They’d honestly thought they might have gone too far. Not surprising, she supposed. They could probably get in serious  trouble for telling her about their sexcapades. Well, they didn’t have to worry. She certainly wasn’t going to tell anyone. Heck, she could get in just as much hot water for asking them to tell her about the aforementioned sexcapades.