Serving Pride Read online

  His eyes almost crossed when she started bouncing on his lap, her breasts in his face, her hair flowing around him, smelling of honeysuckle and the ocean.

  He closed his eyes on a wave of desire, but it only caused him to feel what she was doing to him even more. Her soft skin surrounded him, engulfed him, possessed him. His fingers dug into her hips as he pushed her faster, harder. He heard her moan on her explosion and opened his eyes to watch her throw her head back during her climax.

  More, he had to have more. Flipping positions, he knelt in front of her on the soft cushions and held her knees up to her chest as he pounded faster. She flung her arms over her head and held onto the side of the couch, closing her eyes tightly. Her hair was fanned out, looking like a ring of fire around her delicate face. Bending down, he took her mouth as he felt himself explode.

  So the old saying was true. Even if the place were on fire, there was no way he could move from this spot. First off, he doubted he could see to get to the door. So far, everything was still white. His hearing had yet to return and his legs were still shaking. He’d never experienced anything quite like it. Her fingers ran up and down his back lightly, which happened to be the only thing he could feel at the moment.

  He wanted to tell her how he felt, but in his vegetative state, he doubted he could put two words together.

  With his face buried in her chest, he could feel it rise and fall. He could even hear the slight hum of her voice, but in his state, trying to figure out what the words were was just too much.

  “Mmm, can’t hear you. Wait until I get my senses back.” He snuggled into her chest further.

  He listened to her laugh and marveled at the sound and feel of it. Listening to her laugh made him think about her smile. She was the kind of woman who had a quick, flash smile. You know, the kind that when she smiles, you felt like you’ve just been given a quick peek at heaven. Its brightness usually had you thinking about it for the rest of the day.

  He was so lost in his thoughts, that when she slapped his rear, he jumped, and she laughed some more.

  “What? I’m up.” He sat up and looked at her. She was still sprawled on his couch, but her eyes were full of laughter, something he enjoyed very much.

  “I said, I had better get going. It’s getting late.”

  He frowned, “Can’t you just stay here? My bed’s big enough.”

  She smiled at him. “I better not. My mother is expecting me back. Besides, I have to wait for the phone call from Tammy. She told me I’d know something by tomorrow. You could swing by for dinner, if you’re free.”

  He frowned. “I have to work until midnight.” He didn’t like the fact that he couldn’t find time to be with her. He wanted her to be there when he got home every night. He wanted to see her every morning. He watched her putting on her clothes and wished she didn’t have to go.

  “What’s the frown for?” She waited until he sat next to her after slipping on his jeans.

  “Time. It seems like we just don’t have enough of it. I’m booked all weekend. I’ve got to train the new guys still and certify them, then I have a few personal matters I’ve got to deal with. I won’t be free until Thursday next week, maybe even Friday.” He pulled her closer, almost into his lap. “I want to be with you more. To be near you. Maybe we can meet for lunch?”

  “What day?” She smiled as his hands ran over her shoulder and neck.

  “Every day?”

  She laughed and he frowned even more. When she noticed his face, she cleared her throat. “That sounds wonderful. If I get this job at the clinic, I don’t know if I’ll be able to get away every day, but I could try.” He leaned over and kissed her again.

  That next week was a busy one for him. He had to certify his new employees, he had a week’s worth of paperwork that had piled up somehow, and he had to meet with his campaign manager for next year’s election. People assured him he would win, and not just because he was the only qualified candidate. People actually believed in him and trusted him.

  On top of all that, everyone wanted to talk to him about his break-in. People were concerned that someone had moved into town and was burglarizing people. The next town meeting was scheduled for just under a week and he planned on addressing any questions or issues they had then, but that didn’t stop them from calling and interrupting his day.

  Amelia called him the next day and told him she’d gotten the job at the veterinary clinic and would start that next week. He’d wanted to celebrate with her, but he was too booked. He promised her a rain check on the celebration.

  Almost a week later, Iian Jordan was finally released from the hospital, so naturally everyone gathered at their place for the town’s standard welcome home get-together.

  He was excited; he’d called Amelia and they were going to attend the event together. It was their first official act as a couple. He had to say, it felt nice walking into a place full of his townspeople and seeing everyone smile at them and tell them how perfect they were for each other.

  Iian sat in the corner and looked bored, like he’d rather be anywhere but there. Robert knew that they had hired a tutor to help teach them sign language. He’d planned on learning the basics sometime, if his schedule ever freed up. It was nice seeing everyone together, even if there was a dark cloud over the event, knowing that George Jordan would never return. The town had held a small service the week after the accident, and had placed a simple headstone near his wife’s in the cemetery. Seeing how the family pulled together was nothing short of amazing. He hoped to have something like that someday. His aunt was always there for him, but he envied the closeness of siblings. When he thought about having his own family, he knew he wanted at least two kids.

  When they finally left the gathering almost four hours later, they drove in silence. His mind was preoccupied with thinking about his future.

  “Where are we going?” Amelia asked, turning towards him in the new truck he’d purchased in Edgeview earlier that week.

  He smiled. “I have a surprise for you. Just sit back and enjoy the short trip. Oh, and when I tell you to, close your eyes, no peeking.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest and tried for a pout. “I never peek.”

  “Really?” He couldn’t help but laugh. “Liar.”

  Another two minutes and he told her to close her eyes as he drove the rest of the way up the slanted driveway.

  “Okay, open.” He’d positioned it so his high beams hit the red ribbon he’d tied on the door.

  When she opened her eyes, her brows crinkled and she frowned. “What’s this all about?”

  “I closed on it this morning. It’s mine.”

  She clapped her hands and pulled him into a hug, all the while squealing her congratulations. “Oh, Robert! I can’t believe it. That’s so wonderful. When are you going to move in? I’m so happy for you!” It all came out as one long sentence.

  “Well, come on in. I want you to get a proper look at the place. Last time we were here, well, let’s just say we didn’t get to see much.” She laughed and almost jumped out of his truck.

  “I don’t have much to move in. I guess I need to go shopping for new furniture. I plan on moving my stuff in over the weekend.”

  He opened the door and motioned for her to walk in. She stepped in and stopped when she saw what he’d set up earlier that evening.

  The table and chairs with the tall candles sat in the middle of the empty room. He walked over and flicked the lighter and got the candles glowing, then lit the wood and paper he had setup in the fireplace. Last, he walked over and hit the button on the small radio and had soft music flowing in the empty room.

  “When did you have time to do all this?” She walked into the room and straight to the flowers that sat on the fireplace, burying her face in them and breathing deeply.

  “Just before lunch. I wanted to celebrate your new job in style. I know we ate a lot at the Jordan’s, but I hope you saved room for dessert. I’ll be right back.” He walked t
owards the kitchen as she looked around the room.

  When he stepped back in, she was still standing by the fireplace, watching him.

  “Here, take a seat.” He set the dish down and pulled out her chair. “I hope you like chocolate.” He picked up the plate and set it in front of her.

  They ate cake by candlelight and listened to soft music playing while they enjoyed each others company. Then he pulled out a soft blanket and laid it in front of the fireplace. He kissed her and pulled her down until he could run his hands over every inch of her. Then he ran his mouth over the same trails. She’d worn her green dress; it was one he’d seen before, but he couldn’t get over how sexy she looked in it. It was low cut and the front crossed over itself. It was all tied together with a green belt, so that when he moved one side of the dress down, the other side fell open. Soon he had her breasts exposed for his viewing and tasting. He ran his mouth over every inch he’d exposed and continued downward, pulling her dress away as he went.

  He rolled her stockings down her legs and kissed the path. He’d never tasted anything as good as the inside of her thighs.

  “Robert,” she moaned as he moved closer to the inside of her thigh.

  “You taste so good.” He used his fingers to pull the silk aside and enjoyed the softness of her skin underneath. Then he dipped his head and ran his tongue across her. She bucked under him and he played his hand over her while he lapped at her sweetness. He could drown in her taste, her sweet scent, her softness. She was moaning and making sexy little noises when he traveled back up and entered her slowly.

  They made love for tow hours, before he took her home. He hated that she had to leave and realized as he drove her home that he knew what the next step he wanted to make was. So he could secure his and her future.

  He was so preoccupied by his thoughts, he didn’t see the man standing at the bottom of the dark stairs to his apartment until he spoke.

  “Well, well, if it isn’t little Robby. All grown up, I see.”

  Chapter Eight

  The old saying goes that when you’re mad you see red. Well, Robert could attest to that. Not only did his vision turn red, but he heard a loud buzzing in his head. He had Roy rammed up against the brick wall so fast he could see the instant fear in the older man’s eyes.

  “Roy, what the hell did you do with my mother?”

  The man laughed and Robert could see he was missing half his teeth. The other half were black and almost rotted out of his mouth. He’d seen the footage in Vegas, so he knew Roy had lost weight and gotten older, but nothing could have prepared him for the crazy look in the man’s eyes.

  Instantly he could tell he was high. Most likely crack or heroine, if he had to guess. He was so grossed out by the stench coming off his clothes, he almost lost his hold on his shoulders.

  “I didn’t do nothing to your mama. She left on her own, I swear.” He could tell the man was lying, he could see it in his eyes. “I just came here to check up on you. I heard you was looking for me in Vegas. Big shot cop-boy looking for me.” Robert watched the man’s eyes almost roll to the back of his head as he slurred his words together.

  “That’s it, you’re going in my jail cell until I get straight answers from you.” He started to pull the man up and figured he’d walk him the two blocks to the station if he had to. No way was he letting this man ride in his new truck, knowing he’d probably hurl in it the second he sat down.

  “I ain’t going nowhere with you. I just came to get some money. I figured you owed me after what I did.” He flung his arms and Robert let go of him and watched as he teetered on his feet. Roy reached out and put his hand on the wall to steady himself.

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “I took care of you all that time. You owe me. I looked out for you like you was my own son.”

  Robert wanted to slam his fist into the man’s face, but chose to grab his shirt front and start walking very quickly towards the station. Roy tried to fling his hand away, but Robert was not only in better shape, but sober.

  Robert knew how to handle drunks and people who were high. You either talked them down, or you ignored them. Since Roy wasn’t making any sense, he decided the latter was the best way for him not to kill the man where he stood.

  Roy mumbled the entire two blocks, which took twice as long to walk as usual since Robert was practically dragging the man.

  When he got there, he was too pissed to acknowledge his deputy who sat behind the counter waiting for the call to duty.

  “Who’s that?” Larry said, following him to the back. “We booking him on drunk driving?”

  “No.” Robert didn’t even really acknowledge the kid.

  “What are we booking him on? Do you want me to process him?” The town was small and usually the only people they had in the cell were the local drunks, sobering up for the night. But Larry’s enthusiasm for booking someone new was almost laughable.

  “This is Roy…” He pulled Roy around and looked at him in the face. “What’s your last name?”

  “Mc—McDonald.” Robert raised his eyebrows, showing that he didn’t believe the man.

  “Roy McDonald?” Roy laughed when Robert said it.

  “Eee-iii-eee-iii-oooo.”

  Robert pulled him up on his toes and growled at him. He ground his back teeth, trying to talk himself out of punching the man.

  “What’s your last name?” He shook the man.

  Roy looked at him and Robert saw fear in the man’s eyes again.

  “Kenny, Roy Kenny.”

  “Larry, book and process Roy Kenny.”

  “On what charges?”

  “Public nuisance and public intoxication. I don’t want him to go anywhere until I get back in the morning. Do you hear me?”

  “Yes, sir,” Larry said as Robert dumped the man in the cell, then walked out.

  Amelia walked into the station the next day around lunchtime and saw Robert sitting behind the desk. He didn’t even look up when the bell chimed over the door.

  “Busy?” She leaned against the counter and saw his eyes flash as he looked at her.

  “Yes, but never too busy for you.” He stood up and walked around and kissed her lightly on the lips. “What brings you here?”

  “I heard from Patty that you’ve got a man locked up in here that you think might have something to do with your mother’s disappearance.”

  “Man, word does travel fast around here.”

  She noticed that he looked like he hadn’t slept all night.

  “Why didn’t you call me?”

  He stopped and stared at her for almost a full minute. Then he blinked. “I – I was so caught up in being angry. I didn’t think to call you.”

  She’d felt a little hurt when she’d heard Patty telling someone about what was going on. She’d almost felt betrayed, but now looking at his face, into his eyes, she could see he was so affected by the whole scenario, he hadn’t thought about her.

  “Robert…” She didn’t care anymore, she was willing to take the jump even if she did get burned. “I want to be there for you. I want to be the one you call when you need someone to talk to. I’m tired of trying to sneak time with you at lunch. I know it’s a little crazy, but I’ve known you forever, so it’s not like we just met.”

  He smiled at her and pulled her closer. “Amelia, what are you saying?”

  She pushed him back and almost laughed at his face. “You know what I’m trying to say.”

  He smiled even more. “Well, say it then.” He pulled her back to him and waited.