13. Lila

13

LILA

"Let's get inside," Mike whispered in my ear, draping his arm over my rigid shoulders and turning me away from my car. "I'm going to call Jude and figure out what to do. It's okay, I've got you."

He grabbed my hand and led me to the side entrance. When I kept missing the locks with my shaking hands, Mike gently pulled my keys out of my hand to unlock the door and held it open for me to step inside.

"You know, I was really starting to like it here." My voice quivered as I sucked in a shaky breath. "Even if I knew it was just a matter of time."

"Stop talking like you have to leave. You don't," Mike said behind me as I swept my gaze over the little apartment I'd settled into.

"This could be anything. Some of the kids around here act like assholes sometimes. We've had issues before with vandalism, and it's always during the summer. I know it's hard for your mind not to go there, but just stay with me." He took my face in his hands. "Okay?"

I gave him a weak nod and sat on my couch, running my hand along the soft velvet material as I heard Mike speak to Jude. I let my head drop into my hands when I heard him bring up Ted.

Claudia had probably told Jude at least a little about what had happened with Ted when I'd first moved here, but having Jude, Mike, or anyone actually see something happening made me want to melt into the floor and disappear.

I'd gotten too complacent. Too content here to keep my guard up. I'd convinced myself Ted didn't know I was here and I was fine.

The only fear I'd had over the past few days had been over telling Mike how I felt about him, but how could I do that if I couldn't stay?

I opened my eyes and found Mike crouching in front of me.

"Jude said they brought in a few kids for graffiti and scratching up some cars tonight."

He put his hands on my thighs and squeezed.

"But considering…just to be on the safe side, we're going to dust it for prints in the morning. It's not supposed to rain tonight, so they should keep. If it's Ted, we can file a report and bring him in."

I nodded. "This isn't how I thought tonight was going to go."

"Hey, don't say that." He gave me a crooked smile. "This doesn't have to change?—"

"Mike, stop." I held up my hands and shook my head. "I can't believe I thought this was over. That maybe he moved on so I could move on. Now, I'm bringing this all up here to all of you, and I can't?—"

"No, you're not. He's not going to terrorize you up here like he did in Philly. Nothing is going to happen to you because I will make damn sure he never comes near you. Look at me, sweetheart," he crooned and took my face in his hands again. "You said you thought I was a good cop, right?"

"Of course you are. That has nothing to do with it. He threatened a friend I've had for a decade for just having dinner with me. If he ever hurt you…" I trailed off, a sob scratching at the back of my throat.

"He won't. If he's stupid enough to start shit up here, he's going to be in for a very rude awakening. I need you to trust me. You're safe here. You're safe with me. Once we dust for prints, I'll take your car to Aaron's in the morning, and you won't have to see that again."

"We have to tell your father. He may not want me working for him, or near you or Keely?—"

"He'll be worried about you and will keep an eye out around the office, which is a good thing. The more people who know, the safer you'll be."

"And the more people I'll put at risk." I let myself get lost in the deep blue of his eyes one more time as the disappointment seeped in. "You should go. Distance yourself."

"If you think for one second I'm leaving you alone tonight, you're crazy."

"No, you're crazy. And you're wonderful, and I've loved every second I've spent with you, but you don't need my baggage."

"I need you ," Mike said, grabbing my shoulders. "I'm crazy about you . From the day we met and every goddamn moment since. Everyone sees it. My family, my friends, my parents—hell, even my baby sister. Because I can't hide it, and I won't."

He snaked his hand around the nape of my neck, his eyes stormy and dark instead of their usual crystal blue. "Not anymore."

Before I knew it, his mouth was on mine. I froze at first, still shaken over what had just happened and what it might mean. But it felt too good not to give in.

All the reasons I'd had for resisting had doubled tonight, but I couldn't stop. Passion exploded between us as I slumped against him, my lips parting on a moan as comfort and bone-deep relief flowed through me. I grabbed the back of his head, clutching him like a lifeline.

Just as I'd done the first moment we met.

He slipped the hair tie from around my ponytail and speared his hand into my hair, weaving a fistful around his fingers, pulling harder as the kiss became deeper and desperate.

My hands were all over his body as he lifted me off the couch, setting me on his lap and guiding my legs apart until I was straddling him. I clutched the back of his head, our lips still moving as he fisted the hem of my dress, gliding it up my thighs until it bunched at my waist.

The fear, both of dealing with Ted again and of losing Mike, had me feral and frantic to get lost in the thrill and safety of his hard body and taste of his kisses.

The right thing to do would've been to stop this, but I couldn't let Mike go. Not tonight and possibly not ever.

We fell over, Mike rolling on top of me as he roamed his hands all over my body, grabbing my ass as he pressed his hard cock against my core, rocking against me with enough friction to draw a whimper out of me.

"I knew we'd be this good together," he said as he dragged openmouthed kisses down my neck. "I'm fucking yours, Lila. Every inch of me is yours. So, you can't leave," he said before he came back to my mouth, his tongue swirling with mine as both of us chased what felt like an unquenchable thirst.

I was his too. I both reveled in and dreaded what that could mean. Maybe this was a kid's prank, but even if it turned out to be nothing, it was a reminder that until Ted was either confirmed to be obsessed with someone else or far enough away from me, I was still at risk—and a possible danger to anyone with me.

I'd thought falling for someone would mean that I'd beaten what Ted had done and tried to do to me, but it only made it that much worse.

"It's selfish to want you," I said as Mike ran his lips down my throat. "But I don't know how to stop."

"I don't want you to stop," Mike said, his eyes full of all the lust and want I'd been afraid to let myself feel.

"It's not selfish when you already have me." He pressed his forehead against mine, his breaths coming quick as he inched his hands down my arms.

"So…" He brushed his lips against my cheek. "…fucking…" I let out a moan when he dragged them across my chin. "…beautiful," he whispered and came back to my mouth, this kiss slow as his tongue glided against mine.

I rolled on top of him, smiling at his disheveled hair and hooded eyes, peering up at me with so much love and desire I didn't know whether to tear his clothes off or weep.

I slipped my hand under his T-shirt and glided it up his torso. His laugh vibrated against my lips as I painted kisses across his chest.

"Sweetheart, please," he said as his head fell back, his hand in my hair while I buried my head into his neck, smiling as Mike shuddered against me when I swirled my tongue over a sensitive spot.

"You're fucking beautiful too," I whispered, holding his gaze as he peeled his shirt over his head and threw it behind him.

I ran my hand over the soft dusting of hair on his chest and down the smooth ripples of his stomach.

"Foolish but so beautiful."

"I'm not foolish," Mike said with a hazy grin. "Like I said, I'm just crazy about you." He cupped the nape of my neck. "Now that I have you, neither of us is going anywhere. Give me that mouth."

He slanted his mouth over mine, breaking the kiss when he stood, pulling me up to stand and lifting me by my waist. I wrapped my legs around him, both for purchase and to get as close as possible as he carried me into the bedroom.

I whimpered into his mouth as he set me down in front of the bed, our mouths still fused together as he drifted his hand up my back, pulling down the zipper of my dress with a low whir until it dropped and pooled at my feet. I fell back on the bed, his eyes holding mine as he dragged my panties down my legs.

He hovered over me, planting his hands on either side of me as he raked his gaze up and down my body.

"Jesus, you're even more gorgeous than I thought you'd be."

He glided his hand up my leg and along the inside of my thigh. My legs were still shaking but not from shock. Pure need radiated from every cell of my body, and if Mike didn't touch me in the next five seconds, I'd combust.

I drifted my hand along Mike's trembling jaw.

"What's wrong? Did you change your mi?—"

"Fuck no," he grunted out. "I want you so much. I don't know if I can be gentle."

I smiled, bucking my hips off the bed to press my body flush to his. "Who said I wanted you to be?"

"I don't want to scare you."

"You'd never scare me. You're my safe place. Give me all of you, and don't hold back."

I yelped when Mike grabbed my hips and lifted them off the bed, kissing up my leg as he swirled a finger over my rock-hard and swollen clit.

"Remember what you asked for," he rasped and covered me with that full, beautiful mouth.

He sucked, licked, and explored every soaked inch of me, groaning as he slid his tongue deep inside and fucked me with his mouth, digging his fingers deeper into my thighs with every thrust.

My body was lost in sensation as I thrashed my legs back and forth. Not gentle was fine with me. More than fine. I reveled in making him so crazy with need.

I wasn't scared. I was in heaven. Mike was everywhere, his mouth and hands all over me, and it was too much and not enough all at once.

"So goddamn sweet," Mike murmured as he swirled his tongue around my clit and slid two fingers inside, twisting them as he pumped in and out, harder and faster. I didn't know if I was about to come or skyrocket off the bed.

"Mike," I screeched out, sitting up to grab the back of his head as I bucked my hips against his face, digging my heels into his back as my body went rigid from the waist down.

"Yeah, that's it, sweetheart. Ride my face. Let me taste that pretty pussy coming all over my tongue."

I never thought Mike would have such a filthy mouth or that it would make me come so hard that my knees would give out.

I burrowed my head into the pillow, my body now a limp noodle against my sheets after seizing with so much tension a half hour ago.

Mike stood by the edge of the bed, a wicked grin on his soaked lips as he unbuckled his jeans.

"You're gorgeous when you come," he said, fishing out his wallet before letting his jeans pool at his ankles, followed by his boxers.

I rolled up to sit as I took in Mike's naked body, trailing my eyes down every hard muscle and ridge until they settled on his cock, long and hard and huge enough to make my legs squeeze together on instinct. My core was still sensitive but already tingling for more as he climbed back on top of me.

"Is this okay?" he asked, sifting a foil packet between his fingers.

"Is that even a question?" I said, still breathless.

"Of course it's a question. I'd never push you."

I sat up and unhooked my bra, holding Mike's hooded eyes as I let it drop off my shoulders. I snatched the condom from his hand and tore it open.

"You're not pushing me," I said, smiling when he jerked against my fingers as I rolled it on. "I said give me all of you, didn't I?"

"You did," he said, grinning as he flipped us over.

"Ride me." He coasted his hands down my chest and cupped my breasts. "I want to watch you take me and see your face when I make you come again."

He grabbed the back of my neck and kissed me, hungry and slow as I scooted down, taking him in my hands as I guided him inside.

"That's it, sweetheart," he murmured against my lips as we started to move, rocking back and forth as I dug my nails into his back.

"So good. I've wanted you for so long," He jutted his hips off the bed, the deep angle and new friction already setting off sparks in the lower half of my body.

"I've got you, baby. I won't let anyone hurt you," he murmured against my lips as we picked up the pace. Mike's promise brought out a new desperation in both of us as he dug his fingers into my hips, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, my only words in reply pleas of faster and deeper.

"Fuck, I feel you." He dropped his head to my chest, sucking a nipple into his mouth as we moved faster, the fullness a mix of white-hot pleasure and sharp pain, but I never wanted to stop. I grabbed on to the headboard so I could thrust harder.

"There's my girl." He slipped a hand between us and circled my clit. "So fucking hot and wet. You love this, don't you?"

"Yes," I squeaked out, no air in my lungs to form any words as Mike played my body perfectly.

"Be a good girl and come for me. Shit, just like that."

My orgasm hit me hard as I clutched the headboard with both hands, riding out the tremors ricocheting down my legs when Mike flipped us over again, my body still shaking.

"Such a good fucking girl," he grunted out, plowing into me as he snaked a hand under my back, bringing me closer as he pulsed inside me.

We both collapsed against the mattress with a loud squeak. He drew me into his side as I pressed my hand against his sweaty chest, trying to suck in enough air to calm my racing pulse.

"You have a mouth on you, Officer Russo," I mumbled into the pillow.

He laughed, his chest rumbling against my palm.

"You did say not to hold back," he said, bringing his knuckle under my chin to draw me in for a soft, sweet kiss.

"Tell me what's on your mind," he said, running the tip of his finger up and down my back.

"A lot." I peered up at him. "But I'll confess something to you." I propped my elbow on his chest.

"What's that?" He squinted at me as he settled onto his side.

"Before I saw that…" I trailed off, flicking my eyes toward the window, where my damaged car was parked. "I was dreading how I'd screw everything up if I told you how I felt about you and you didn't feel the same way."

He reared back, the corner of his mouth tipping up. "And you really thought there was a chance I didn't?"

"I was afraid I'd lose you if I was wrong. I mean, I bought three hundred dollars' worth of extra furniture to give me enough time to figure out what to say."

"Is that right?" He traced his finger down my cheek. "That's kind of adorable."

"Very adorable, I'm sure." I buried my head into Mike's neck. "I guess now we just wait."

"No, we don't. And no one is going to push you out of town because you're a risk."

I sat up, pulling the sheet over my bare chest. "I was so happy when we left your father's house tonight. And now, people will see what happened to my car and talk?—"

"In this case, nosy and suspicious are good. People know who belongs here and who doesn't." He peeled my hand away from the sheet and kissed the top of my wrist. "And whatever happens, we're in it together. Okay?"

I cupped his cheek, running my thumb across the bristles of stubble on his chin. "I'm sorry you have to deal with any of this."

"What do you mean by this ?" He slipped his finger under the edge of the sheet and dragged it down. "Because this is the best night of my life."

He ran his lips down my throat and over my chest, sucking a nipple into his mouth. I arched my back, reveling in the wet warmth of his tongue and the scratch of his stubble against my skin.

I wanted to believe that Mike was my prize for being brave enough to start a new life.

Not something I'd lose when a ghost from my past came back to destroy my present.