Chapter Fifty

Mallory

A multitude of emotions war within me as I pull into the parking lot at the police station. Burgers, fries, and milkshakes sit on the passenger seat next to me. There’s a grocery bag on the floor behind my seat filled with electrolyte drinks, bottled water, instant coffee, assorted nuts, chocolates, dried fruits, and cereal. It's a bit presumptuous of me to think he will have time to stick around and make trail mix with me, but if he can’t, it’s something I can throw together myself and leave as a snack for him.

I spot Nox’s truck at the other end of the lot, he’s here. I rest my forehead against the steering wheel as I gather the confidence to interrupt his day. I watch from the corner of my eye as condensation gathers around our beverages and slides down the side, soaking into the already flimsy cardboard drink tray. I opt to leave the food in the car until I find out if I can pull him away from the job for a few minutes. Shaking out my worries, I rise from the car, not bothering to lock it behind me. I’m in the police lot after all.

The entrance door squeaks on its hinges as I pull it open, drawing the attention of the lady behind the welcome desk. “Good afternoon, dear, what can I do for ya?” Her southern twang pulls me back to the night I called the cops on Ghost. What did Nox say her name was? Claire? Clara?

“Hello, I’m looking for Officer Graves, is he in?” I ask. She quirks an eyebrow at me then her gaze turns assessing.

“Which one are you lookin' for?”

“Excuse me?”

“Which Officer Graves? The old one or the young one?” she clarifies.

“Oh, sorry. The young one, Lennox Graves.” She nods, picking up the receiver of a corded phone that appears to be from a hundred years ago and presses a button. Just one, which I find odd. Don’t you have to dial a full phone number on a phone?

“Can you come to the front, please?” she asks the person on the other end of the line. There’s a pause and then she says, “Because I said so.” She then abruptly hangs up the phone without waiting for a response from the other person, who I assume is Nox. Turning back to me she smiles from ear to ear, “He will be right out, dear.”

“If now isn’t a good time, I can always come back later. I don’t want to get him in trouble or bother him if he’s busy.” I worry my bottom lip between my teeth and tangle my fingers in front of me. This was such a stupid idea.

“Don’t you go anywhere, Miss, he will be along in a minute.” She turns to the computer and proceeds to carry on with whatever she was doing before I arrived. The click-clacking of her nails on the keyboard filling the awkward silence as I sit and wait.

“Mallory?”

I turn at the sound of my name caressed by the deep baritone of Nox's voice. Electricity zips through my body as butterflies swarm in my stomach. He’s in a black t-shirt that hugs him like a second skin, dark ink coating both his arms spreading all the way down to his fingers. He’s too far away to make out details, but I’m still fucking salivating over him. He's uncovered before me for the first time and I love what I see. His hand will make such a pretty necklace. Where the fuck did that come from? I’m sure my eyes have glazed over with lust due to the indecent thoughts stirring in my mind. He momentarily disappears from view and when he returns he has his jacket and gloves on. Why, though? Does he think I won’t like his tattoos because I have none? Maybe they are offensive?

I rise from my seat as h e weaves around the desks, making his way over to me. He storms up to me and crashes his mouth onto mine , arousal shooting through me like lightning.

“I’ll give y’all a minute alone but then I need to come back and work,” the lady behind the computer says.

“Thank you, Carla,” he rumbles. That’s her fucking name, I knew I was close.

“Would I be right to presume you’re taking your break now, Officer Graves?” Mrs. Willows quips, slinking out from behind the desk.

“Absolutely.” The word rolls off his tongue and slides down my spine, leaving chills in its wake. His fingers interlock with mine as he gently pulls me from the horny fog I’ve found myself in and leads me outside.

Graves

My cock throbs painfully as she bends at the waist to grab some things from the back seat of her car. The breeze kisses across the back of her thighs causing this sinful little skirt to shift and expose more of her porcelain flesh to my hungry gaze. The very thin hold I have on my restraint threatens to snap as I ghost my gloved fingers across her skin. I hear her sharp gasp and watch mesmerized as goosebumps erupt from my touch. The front of my thighs push against the backs of hers as I close in on her, pushing her into the back seat of her Civic and crawling in on top of her.

“Nox.” Her voice is an erotic whisper and it unleashes the beast within me. I flip her over and take her in.

Hovering my lips above hers, I whisper, “Did you wear this scrap of fabric just for me?”

“Yes.”

“Were you trying to be impossible to say no to?”

“Mhmm.” Her voice hums through me as she peppers light kisses along the column of my neck. What am I doing? I can’t make out with her in the back seat of her car in the precinct parking lot. My captain would have a clear view of her writhing on my fingers if he took a glance out his window. Then I smell it...the overwhelming scent of fast food, my stomach gurgles loudly. She stops her feather light torture and tries to suppress a snicker.

“When’s the last time you ate?” Concern is woven through the harmony of her voice and my heart swells.

“I had a muffin while on the road this morning.”

“What time was that?”

“5 am.”

“It’s nearly 3, Nox. Get up so you can eat.”

“But-”

“Up. Now. I came here to check up on you, not dry hump in the back of my car,” she scolds.

Her authoritative voice and desire to care for me makes me less inclined to move and much more likely to drop to my knees to worship her. I roll my hips and I see the pleasure swamp her. Her eyes roll back and close. I do it again and she lifts her hips to meet mine.

“Isn’t this so much more fun though, baby?”

“It’s alright,” she says flatly, shrugging, face impassive. She’s got to be fucking kidding. Now she wants to be a brat? I’ve gone too fucking long without her pussy stretched around my cock and I’m likely to go AWOL tonight to get it. I level her with my glare and she starts laughing.

“You should see your face!” she gets out through broken giggles. My brows furrow. “I’m sorry. I was just kidding,” she says lightly. She’s met with my silence as I’m lost in thoughts of how to discreetly get her on the cusp of release and then deny her. Her palm cups my cheek as she pulls me back to reality. A delightful idea blooms, but I need to get her out of here for it to work.

I kiss her sweetly, dragging it on until we’re both breathless. Our tongues war for dominance as I wrap her legs around me. Nestling my cock so close to her, I can feel her heat. She’s moving against me without even realizing it. My radio crackles to life from its sheath on my belt. Fucking finally.

“Take it where I can’t see it.” Captain Graves’s commanding voice echoes through the tight space and Mallory flushes red with embarrassment.

“Yes, sir,” I reply into the mouthpiece attached to my shoulder. I knew Carla wouldn’t be able to keep her mouth shut. I guarantee as soon as the door shut behind us she was in my uncle’s ear about what she just witnessed.

“Oh my God,” she whispers. “Can he see us?”

Mortification swallows her whole as she covers her face with her hands.

“Probably. The window for his office is just over there,” I reply. Looking up, I see my uncle through the glass. I nod to him and he returns the gesture then turns away.

“Shit. Nox. Get off me. He’s going to think I’m a slut for almost having sex with you in the parking lot.” She pushes me back and off of her, sitting up and turning to face the front. Her hand lands on the door handle, desperate to make an escape from the embarassment she's feeling.

“HEY!” I snap. She jumps slightly at the harshness in my voice as her big amber eyes evade my gaze. I firmly grip her chin and turn her face towards mine. “Look at me,” I demand. Reluctantly she does, although she’s dragging it out.

“Talk like that about yourself again and I’ll redden your ass. Got it?” She nods. “Words, Mallory.”

“Yes, I understand,” she replies, slightly above a whisper.

“You are a slut,” I say bluntly.

Her face falls and she breaks our eye contact. My fingers slide from her chin, trace around her neck, then weave into her hair. She’s so crestfallen I don’t think she even notices. That won’t do, I haven’t made my point yet. My hand clenches into a fist as I force her gaze back to mine.

“You’re my slut ."

“What?” Her voice is so muted, I barely hear it. Her eyes shoot back to mine as she hangs on my every word.

“You're my slut…and my sweetheart. My cock tease and my princess." I close the distance between us, my lips whispering against hers as I continue my explanation. "My love and my dirty little whore. You’re mine.” She’s lost for words and it pleases me. With my grip still tight in her hair, I pull her lips to meet mine. She tries to resist but I wrap my other arm around her middle and yank her towards me.

“Don’t deny me what I’ve gone so long without,” I breathe, soaking up the feeling of her warm skin. The fight melts from her body as her arms embrace me and she sinks into our kiss. Her lips move against mine even though I can begin to feel her move away. It’s never enough with her. I want to cling to this moment, to her, to the way her presence makes the rest of the awful world fade away. Nothing exists but her and I, no matter where we are.

“We should go,” she pants, trying to catch her breath.

“Where?”

“Doesn’t matter, as long as we can eat and drink half melted milkshakes there,” she replies.

“There’s milkshakes? You didn’t tell me there were milkshakes!” I jokingly shove her away from me and fly between the front seats to grab for them. “Please lead with the important details next time.”

Mallory’s face is a mix of shock and adoration as she watches me tear into the bags looking for a straw. Pulling one out and holding it up victoriously, she softly laughs. I sneak a look at her and emotion swamps me. Is this what love feels like? It’s the closest I’ve ever been to complete happiness, the only thing that would make this perfect is her acceptance of my other half. Does she feel like this too?

“Which one is mine?” I ask.

“They’re both chocolate,” she answers. I spear the straw through the plastic top and stir it up, mixing the melted and still frozen parts together. I hand the cup to my little siren and her eyes widen. You come first, baby, always.

“Thanks,” she gently replies. I smile in return then pick up the other cup and repeat the process. It’s delicious and I hum in approval.

“Let's take this to-go,” I say.

“Where?”

“I know a spot.” I throw her a wink and it’s like she can’t exit the vehicle fast enough.