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Shep
THE NEXT MORNING, I had a nine o’ clock meeting with my accountant, whose office was near Sylvan Park. I was running ten minutes behind and in such a rush, I almost missed Andrew Clarke. He was sitting in his car, which was parked on the street outside my house.
Clarke climbed out as I approached.
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I asked.
“Cool your jets, cookie, I just want to talk,” Clarke replied.
“Look, Evangeline isn’t here, I don’t know who the fuck you are, and I don’t want to, so why don’t you get the fuck outta here before I call the cops.”
Clarke pulled out a gold star badge and held it up. “That’s who I am. You get it now? I am the fucking cops.”
“You’re a long way from Kentucky aren’t you, Sheriff?” I asked.
“She didn’t tell you, did she?”
I crossed my arms. “What? That you’re an asshole? No, she told me that, but I’m pretty sure I could have figured that out myself.”
“She didn’t tell you that I’m law enforcement.”
“Honestly, before the other night at the restaurant, I had no idea you existed. Damn, I was so much happier back then.”
“I’m here to warn you. Stay away from Evangeline Monroe.”
“Why? Because you think she belongs to you?”
“No. You need to stay away for your own well-being.”
“Oh, I’m pretty sure I can look after myself. Plus, anything I can’t tend to on my own, Evangeline is perfectly capable to taking care of for me.”
“Aren’t you curious as to why a Sheriff is keeping tabs on your girlfriend?”
“I don’t know. The wi-fi in your building is too weak to watch internet porn?”
“I’d be very careful with that smart mouth of yours, Shepard.”
I took a step towards him. “Get this straight, Johnny Law. You’re out of your jurisdicktion, and way too close to my house for you to tell me what I will and will not do.”
“Alright, alright, tough guy,” Clarke said, backing up. “Just do yourself a favor and ask Evangeline about her old friend Reggie. Ask her if she’s run into him lately.” He chuckled. “I mean, she ran into someone to get that shiner, right?”
“I have someplace I’ve gotta be.” I jabbed a finger toward him. “You better not fucking be here, or anywhere else near me when I get back.”
“Careful, Chef. That sounded a little like a threat.”
“Then let me make myself clearer. If I see your face again, I’m going to punch it. How’s that for a threat?”
“Don’t forget to ask her.”
I turned and walked to my truck, leaving Clarke where he belonged, by the curb, with all the other trash.
* * *
Evangeline
I opened the hotel door and Shep stormed inside.
“Who the fuck is Reggie?” he asked.
“What are you talking about?”
“Your friendly acquaintance was waiting for me outside my house this morning.”
“What? Clarke was at your house? Why?”
“To warn me away from you.”
“You’re kidding. What did he say?”
“He told me to ask you about Reggie and how you really got that black eye.”
“I told you that I ran into a—”
“A door, yeah, you told me that. So, what is this about some guy named Reggie?”
“I have no idea. Clarke is crazy. You saw him the other night. He’s always wound up.”
“Not too crazy to be a cop though, right? A Sheriff none-the-less.”
“Shep, I—”
“Why didn’t you tell me? Why did you lie and tell me Clarke was an old friend?” he demanded.
“There are some chapters of my life that aren’t exactly closed. Clarke is part of one of those.”
“So, why not just tell me that?”
“Because I’m ashamed of some of the things I’ve had to do in order to survive. And because you’re the best thing that’s happened to me in a really long time, maybe ever, and I don’t want to drag you into my messy past.”
“Messy I can do. Hell, I’ll get downright filthy with you, but I can’t have you withhold anything important as whatever it is you’re going through with this cop. He’s bad fucking news. I can feel it.”
“I can handle him, you just have to trust me,” I said.
“And you promise you don’t know anything about a guy named Reggie?”
I shook my head and lied right to his face. It was the first time in my life that telling a lie felt bad. A deep, dull ache in center of my chest burned as I deceived the man I loved.
He sighed. “Why do I feel like you’re not telling me something.”
“Because Clarke wound you up,” I said. “He’s a master of doing that. But let me wind you up another way.”
“What did you have in mind?”
“Get naked and I’ll show you.”
He didn’t hesitate, stripping out of everything and standing before me like a Greek god.
I did the same but left my panties.
I settled a palm in the middle of his chest and spread my fingers. His golden brown skin was smoother than I expected, the light dusting of chest hair soft to the touch as I slid my fingers through it. “You are exquisite.”
“Thank you,” he said with a chuckle.
I ran my finger over a raised scar on his side and met his eyes. “Can I ask what happened here?”
“Got hit by a falling beam in a house fire. Tore through my suit. Nasty cut. Three busted ribs, a punctured lung, and twenty-seven stitches.”
I moved my hands over his pecs, noticing his nipples pebbling, and I leaned in and kissed his chest. He smelled amazing. Like soap and musk. It was heady.
“Is this okay?” I asked.
“Yeah,” he said, but it came out a little strangled.
I looked up at him. “Are you sure, because you sound like you’re chewing glass.”
“I’m good, baby, keep going.”
I continued my exploration, moving to his back, running my fingers over a few more scars across that he explained came from work-related injuries. I kissed each one, and then made my way back to stand in front of him again. “You might be the best looking human I’ve ever seen,” I declared.
Shep chuckled, shaking his head. “You haven’t seen a lot of people I take it.”
I wrinkled my nose and settled my hands on my hips. “If this is going to work, Shepard Waller, you’re going to have to obey me in all things including accepting my compliments when I tell you how handsome you are, got it?”
“My apologies, Ms. Monroe,” he said, the sexy smirk back on his face. “Obey you in all things... check. What would you like me to do now, madam?”
“I’m going to kneel in front of you and suck you off,” I announced. “And you’re not going to interrupt me.
I watched his Adam’s apple bob as he swallowed and gave me a quick nod.
I kissed him first then ran my tongue across his chest, biting his nipples gently, smiling as goosebumps formed on his body, and his fists clenched at his sides. I knelt before him, sliding my tongue along his already hard length, before wrapping my lips around him, drawing him deep.
I sucked, licked, worked his balls with my hand, and jacked his dick with my other hand in conjunction with my mouth, taking him so deep my eyes watered. Shep slid his hands into my hair and gripped my scalp, moving his hips and fucking my face and I couldn’t figure out who got off on this more, but I’d venture a guess it was me.
“I’m gonna come, Lina,” he warned.
I gripped his thighs and pulled him too me, continuing to take him deep, a silent plea to do just that.
Another couple of thrusts and warmth slid down my throat, and I continued to stroke him as I milked him dry.
He stroked my cheek and smiled, once I’d released his cock, continuing to kneel in front of him. “Jesus, Lina, that was incredible.”
I ran my tongue over my top lip. “Tasty to the last drop.”
He helped me to my feet, kissing me gently as he slid his hand under the waistband of my panties and between my legs. “Soaked.”
I gripped his arms with a gasp. “Yeah, that really turned me on.”
He dragged a finger through my wet, then pressed it against my clit. “You need some relief, baby?”
Before I could answer, he slid two fingers inside of me, his thumb pressing against my clit with enough pressure, I could barely breathe.
“Panties off, Lina,” he ordered, pulling his hand away, and I slid them down my hips immediately. “What do you want?”
“I want you to make love to me.”
He slid his hand to my neck and covered my lips with his, kissing me gently. “You want soft, baby?”
“Yeah,” I whispered.
He obliged.
* * *
Two hours later, Shep had jumped into the shower while I ordered room service. I’d flipped on the television while we waited for the food and I turned the volume down low.
“In national news, a statewide manhunt is underway for a suspect in the gruesome killing of a Detroit man. Thirty-six-year-old Reginald White, also known as Reggie White, was found stabbed to death in a motel bathtub early Sunday morning by one of the motel’s staff members. His body had been badly mutilated, and it appears as though he was tortured before he was killed. Investigators have stated that Reginald White was known to employ sex workers and had accounts with several on-line escort services. Police are asking for cooperation from the public with the assistance of identifying the person or person’s responsible for this heinous crime. In local news, the Grand Ol’ Opry celebrated its—”
I turned off the TV, but I was too late. Shep was leaning against the open door of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist and the look on his face broke my heart.
Fear. Panic. Pain.
These were the things I wanted to see in my victim’s eyes.
Not his.
“Holy shit. You killed him,” he said. “Reginald White is the Reggie Clarke was talking about.”
“I can explain this, Shep,” I rushed to say. “But I need you to stay calm right now.”
“You did it, didn’t you? That’s why Clarke’s been hanging around. You’re a suspect, aren’t you?”
“Shep, if you’d just let me—”
“You lied to me,” he said, dressing quickly. “You told me you had no idea who Reggie was. That you had no fucking clue what Clarke was talking about.”
“I misled you. You’re right. But you need to know I had my reasons.”
He dragged his hands down his face. “You fucking lied to me.”
“I had to protect myself.”
“I would have protected you.”
Shep’s words broke my heart.
Tears filled my eyes. “I’m sorry.”
“When the cops figure out what you’ve done, they’re gonna think I helped you.”
“They’re not going to find me.”
“This small-town sheriff did!”
“Clarke is different,” I said.
“Different how? Different from other cops, because I highly doubt that. I mean, do you even know how much he knows about your involvement in Reggie’s death?”
I nodded. “He knows all of it.”
“All of it?” Shep shouted. “You’re telling me that a sheriff knows that you’re responsible for murder and you’re not in cuffs?”
I took Shep’s hands in mine. “Sit down, please.”
“Don’t tell me to sit down or calm down. You fucking killed a man and you’re acting like it’s no big deal.”
“Shep, honey,” I said, cupping his face. “I love you and I really need you to sit down with me and listen to what I have to say.”
Finally, Shep took a deep breath and relented. Taking a seat in the chair next to the bed.
“First of all, I want you to know that you’re not in danger,” I said, sitting on the edge of the mattress. “Not from me or the police. Clarke knows it was me who killed Reggie and that you had nothing to do with it. He hasn’t arrested me because he knows the killing was justified.”
Shep’s face scrunched up in horror. “What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“It means that Reggie was one of the men who victimized me. One of the many perverts and pedophiles whose sins have gone unpunished for too long. Clarke has seen men like him skate through life, hiding behind greedy lawyers and corrupt judges. Like me, Clarke understands that the system will always be tilted in favor of men like Reggie. He has no intention of reporting me to anyone. Believe me.”
“He’s in love with you.”
“If I’ve done my job correctly, yes.”
Shep’s eyes dropped “Jesus, what a fucking fool I’ve been.”
I waved my hands, frantically. “No, no. It’s not the same with you.”
“The hell it isn’t. You’ve played me from the very beginning. What was I to you, an alibi? Someone to help you get rid of a body?” The color drained from Shep’s face, and his expression turned from fear to dread. “Or maybe you’ve done this before and—Jesus. You’ve done this before. Murder.”
I nodded.
“A lot of times,” he rasped.
I nodded again.
“Serial killer.”
I grimaced. “I hate labels, but technically, yes.”
I pulled my robe up over my thigh, revealing my butterflies.
“I wondered about those,” Shep said softly.
“One for every kill,” I disclosed.
