Weston (18 page)

B
eer in hand, sexy guy’s arm looped across her shoulders, Rocki stood beside pool table number three at Corner Pocket’s where her life had changed for the better. She held on to the cue stick, leaning against her man. She fought against giggling her pleasure at her propitious turn of events. Tony lost the last game of pool to her, and she was about to clean the table again.

Ecstatic over the win, she’d done her best to keep up the momentum. That included leaning into him tightly and palming his ass with her free hand. He jolted, and she moved in for the kill. She had one more shot, and she needed to win.

“Winner calls,” she whispered, nibbling on his neck.

“Right,” he said.

She stepped away from him, bent over the table, and glanced behind her. “Anything, gorgeous.”

He flashed her one of his killer smiles. “Hell, yeah.”

Then she cleared the table of balls. Winning was her name today, and Tony deserved what she had planned for later when they returned to his house.

“Damn. You played me the night we met, acting like you couldn’t sink even two balls back to back.” Tony whistled. “Remind me to never bet you when we play pool.”

She grinned. Life was about to get interesting.

Darrell no longer wanted her silenced, Marcelli was in prison, and the guys at work would eventually realize she’d had their back the whole time. She vibrated with excitement for the future. Her relationship with Tony could go forward.

She believed him when he said they’d work out any problems together. They made an awesome team, and she had all the confidence in the world that if she tried to lead them in the wrong direction, he’d be the voice of reason in the relationship. Not that she wouldn’t try to push him into her way of thinking. Trying to change Tony’s mind was the fun part.

“You are going to love what I have planned for you,” she said, walking into his embrace.

He squeezed her to his chest. She smiled at the hammering of his heart, which she could feel over the music playing in the background. For a split second, she wondered if things were going
too
well.

Relationships usually never worked for her. Friends went to the wayside because of her career. Boyfriends tired of her need to control the relationship. Yet, Tony fit into her life better than if she’d handpicked him herself.

He took away her need for control and let her be herself. He made her feel like the most precious woman in the world. He allowed her to open up and be vulnerable, which was what she needed in her line of work. She had no desire to be the strong fearless detective at home. No, home was where she wanted to be Tony’s woman and please her man.

She gazed at Janie sitting on Kage’s lap. She’d never had girlfriends who pushed their way into her life and refused to leave the way Janie, Sabrina, and even Charlene had done. They understood her needs without her saying a word. They accepted her without any explanation.

“Honey?” Her mom hurried toward her. “Caleb and Pauline are taking me home before they head to the hotel. Then I’m going to help them find a Realtor tomorrow. They’re thinking about moving back to Bay City. Isn’t that wonderful?”

Rocki looked at Tony. He pointed to her and grinned. She slapped his arm at the reminder of her lie. She did not sell real estate.

“Did you know your parents wanted to move back?” she asked.

Tony shrugged, but seemed to accept the news. “Nothing surprises me when it comes to my parents. They’re retired, and go where they want.”

Rocki left Tony’s arms and entered her mom’s embrace. “That’s wonderful. You seem to really like the Westons.”

Her mom nodded. “I do. We got to know each other in Hawaii and we have something in common.”

“What?” she asked.

“You and Tony.” Her mom kissed her cheek before moving to Tony and raising up on her toes to give him a kiss too. “Take care of my baby.”

“I will,” Tony winked at Rocki.

Caleb stepped forward, shook Tony’s hand, and then hugged her. Not any hug, but a hug that spoke more of the depth of the man. He loved his only son and wanted him happy. She understood and squeezed him back, a lump forming in her throat.

Pauline took Caleb’s place in front of her. “I’m so happy everything worked out for you.”

“Me too.” She hugged Pauline. “Thank you for taking care of my mom. I appreciate you being there for her.”

“No thanks needed. We were glad to help.” Pauline smoothed Rocki’s hair off her shoulder and whispered, “Stick with my boy, sweetie. He’s falling in love with you, you know.”

She pulled back. “What?”

Pauline smoothed Rocki’s cheek with her hand. “He hasn’t said anything to me, but a mother knows.”

Tony walked his parents and her mom outside. She stood in the same spot, staring at the door. That was the second person who’d claimed to know what Tony was feeling toward her. With the excitement in their life and the trial, she’d ignored the fact that Tony hadn’t mentioned love in the equation. Neither had she.

Her whole body squealed in the most wonderful way and she looked around the room, spotted Sabrina, and rushed over to her. She had to tell someone, anyone, to make the moment real. Laughing, she threw herself on Sabrina and forced her to jump up and down with her.

Relief swept through her. “I’m falling in love with Tony.”

“Girlfriend, we already knew that.” Sabrina planted her hands on her shoulders, stopping the movement. “You’re supposed to tell Tony that, not me.”

“I will.” She inhaled a big breath. “Tonight.”

Lance stood from the nearby table, knocking his chair over in the process. “What the hell?”

Rocki turned and found Tony walking toward her with the cutest old lady she’d ever seen. She glanced back at Lance. “Who’s that?”

The elderly woman took Lance’s attention and he moved in front of Rocki. “Granny McCray, what are you doing here?”

Granny McCray?

No more than five feet tall, curly short gray hair, stooped, and wielding a metal cane, Granny hobbled up to Lance and poked him hard in the belly. “You’re needed at home.”

Lance looked toward the ceiling. “What now, Granny?”

“Don’t give me any lip, boy.” Granny’s cane flew out in the other direction, almost hitting Tony. “
She
needs your help.”

Rocki followed the direction of the cane. A gorgeous woman with long straight black hair stepped out from behind Tony. Rocki whispered, “Wow.”

Along with a perfect tight body and kick-ass outfit, the woman sent a glare straight to Lance that screamed she was looking for trouble. Rocki skirted the stare-down between Lance and the woman, and moved to Tony’s side.

Tony grabbed her hand. “Let’s get out of here while we can.”

“Maybe we should stay and see what’s wrong,” she said.

“Hell, no. I lost a bet playing pool and I’m willing to pay.” He laughed as he pushed the door open and strolled outside.

Fifteen minutes later at Tony’s house, in the bedroom, Rocki hung on to Tony. She had no time to put her plan into action. He’d gone all business on her in the driveway, half dragging her inside and holding her while he quickly put Brute out for his nighttime potty business.

Hot, hard, aggressive, Tony held up his part of the bargain. He slid his hand underneath her hair and cupped her head as he crashed against the wall, cushioning her to his chest. She melted as his hand covered her lower back, holding her tight. Heat rolled off his body, warming hers.

“Damn.” He kissed her again. “Sweetheart, I want you.” He palmed her ass. “Now.”

“Yes.” She wiggled away from him and dragged him to his bedroom.

He picked her up and fell onto the bed with her in his arms, holding her against him. Touching, kissing, stripping his clothes off, she flailed beside him in her rush. “Hurry.”

“I’m trying, sweetheart.” He ripped out the laces on his boots, pulled them off before he pushed his jeans down and kicked his legs, sending his pants to the floor.

She nibbled across his chest, over the taunt muscles. Her nails dug into his shoulders. Tony laughed as she peered into his face, realizing she’d created a wild man. He’d gone from laughing in the car to pushing the pedal to the metal and breaking all kinds of speeding laws to get her home.

Her heart burst with wonderful feelings, and she wanted to tell him everything. “Tony, I—”

“I know. Me too, sweetheart.” Once again, his hand went to her hair. He pushed his fingers through the strands, then dropped his head and touched his lips to her mouth.

She felt his lips on her cheek, her neck, and her hand weaved around his ribs, his waist, drawing him closer. She absorbed every hard angle and plane. The muscles in his back flexed beneath her fingertips. His erection pressed against her.

He sucked on her earlobe, the sound of his breath rasping in her ear. Her eyelids drifted shut. Her heart was at stake here. She could no more leave him than quit the force. He was a part of her now.

His hands moved in front of her, sliding between their bodies. The warmth of his fingers seeped into her skin, and she shivered in delight.

His thumbs brushed her nipples and he whispered, “You’re my dream girl.”

Okay, she liked that. She smiled.

He skimmed his thumbnail over the hard tip of her breast. She gasped. Jolts of pleasure pinged throughout her body. Desire built, expanded, and demanded more. She stroked him, needing him inside of her.

His breathing grew harsh. She squirmed against him, until he guided her on top of him, and he settled below her. “We’re going too fast, sweetheart. I need to slow down.”

She sucked her bottom lip between her teeth and clamped down. A moan escaped and she wanted to rush and meet him at the finish line before something happened to stop them. “Fast is good.”

He spread his hands on her hips. “Fast is going to kill me.”

She blinked, forcing herself to hear past their ragged breaths, past the soft rustle of her knees rubbing against the comforter as she found it impossible to sit still when his warm body sat between her thighs. Beyond them, silence filled the room.

The air sizzled. He ran his palm up the inside of her leg. She couldn’t speak at the slow torture of him almost touching, but not quite in the area she wanted him to be.

Even as they positioned themselves, he never stopped watching her. He cupped her, rubbed her, and her breathing grew shallow and rapid. He slid his finger along her wetness. She gasped and braced herself on his chest.

“Don’t move,” he whispered.

He trailed his finger forward and rubbed. She squeezed her eyes shut. “Oh. My. G—”

“Look at me, sweetheart.”

She should’ve anticipated that he’d control their night. Even winning the pool game, Tony gave her what she asked for, what she’d won. His callused finger slid inside of her. He understood, and he continued pleasuring her, until she shattered into a million pieces.

He stroked her thighs, letting her recover. She blinked away the moisture gathering in her vision. “Tony,” she murmured.

“I know.” He rolled her over, until he was on top of her, settled between her legs.

He moved slowly at first. She could feel the tension coiled in his shoulders. Inch by inch, he plunged inside until they were fully connected. He hissed. She cupped his face, and arched against him.

She reveled in his shudder. That she brought a man his size, his strength, his determination to a level where he trembled in her arms left her delirious.

“You feel so good.” He moved back and forth, sliding, caressing her from the inside out.

She gave a throaty moan as his thrust sped up. His arms shook with the effort it took to restrain himself. She raised her hips, meeting him halfway as her body rejuvenated below him. She needed more. He deserved more. She locked her ankles behind his hips and wrapped her arms around his neck.

She pulled him down, sinking her mouth against the curve of his neck. “Weston…”

He grunted, thrusting fully inside her.

She held on tight as she came. Her whole body constricted. Waves of pleasure pulsated, taking all her strength. Distantly aware of him letting go of his own release, she dropped down onto the mattress.

He remained inside of her, poised above and looking…immensely pleased with himself.

“I love you,” he whispered, more intensely than ever.

Her whole body warmed and melted over hearing the words for the first time. “I love you too,” she whispered back.

They held each other. Her thoughts went to the excitement of going toward the next step in their relationship. He seemed to be gathering his strength.

Finally, he lifted his head, rolled to the side, taking her with him, and growled in her ear. “You called me Weston.”

She laughed.

He pushed himself to his elbow and stared down at her. Finally it hit him. “Shit, woman. You do it on purpose, don’t you?”

She sucked in her bottom lip and nodded. “You go all badass in a sexy way I find impossible not to love.”

He flopped back on the bed, chuckling. She draped herself across his chest and looked down into his face. “You’re going to drive me crazy, Detective Bangli. Nothing but trouble.”

She smiled, knowing she couldn’t lie. “You haven’t seen anything yet, gorgeous.”

Top-selling romance author Debra Kayn lives with her family at the foot of the Bitterroot Mountains in beautiful Idaho. She enjoys riding motorcycles, playing tennis, fishing, and creating chaos for the men in the garage.

Her love of family ties and laughter makes her a natural to write heartwarming contemporary stories to the delight of her readers. Oh, let’s cut to the chase. She loves to write about real men and the women who love them.

When Debra was nineteen years old, a man kissed her without introducing himself. When they finally came up for air, the first words out of his mouth were
Will you have my babies?
Considering Debra’s weakness for a sexy, badass man who is strong enough to survive her attitude, she said yes. A quick wedding at the House of Amour and four babies later, she’s living her own unbelievable romance book.