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Evan
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I would never live it down that Avery had kicked my ass, but I didn’t care. When I’d realized it was her in the ring, I’d tried to go easy on her, but I quickly learned she was relentless. That choke hold had almost caused me to pass out. When she’d had me pinned, and I’d tried to break free, she had tightened those legs of hers around me. Instantly, my hard-on had pressed against my shorts. Her body didn’t look overly muscular or strong, but she was powerful. Just remembering our limbs tangling together made me horny as hell. Who was I kidding? All those things were true, but it was her freckles that did me in. When I really looked at her, those freckles softened her features, and they’d captivated me from the get-go. I wanted to take off her clothes, so I could count each and every freckle on her body.
I remembered that joke about redheads and freckles: each one was a soul they had stolen. I grinned to myself as I unlocked my car door. She was obviously a complete badass and had stolen a lot of souls. The temporary loss of oxygen was worth getting her to agree to go out with me. Okay, well not specifically me, but in the general vicinity of me, with other people. I frowned. I needed to get her to agree to go out with me, alone.
It’d been at least a year since my last date. Many of the women I’d dated before couldn’t hack my long hours and less than mediocre conversation. I loved to talk about my job, and it seemed murders and crime wasn’t of interest to many women. So what usually happened was, I talked about the newest case I was working on, and they lost interest or heaved up their dinner, so I’d buried myself deeper in my work.
I loved only a few things in life: Mia, my car, and my job. That was it. But Avery, she knew what this job was like: the struggles, the blood and the gore we were faced with on a daily basis. And she enjoyed it, much like me. Any woman who could kick my ass and look at a dead body without flinching might just be worth adding to my list. After all, my list of loves had a little wiggle room.
On my way home to my apartment, I stopped and picked up some flowers for Mrs. Freidmont. I left them on her doorstep because if I knocked on her door, she’d be making me lunch and talking my ear off. She was a nice older woman, but lonely. But I was so exhausted and didn’t think I could handle the interaction.
My dank apartment was depressing. I made a note to get something of color to add to the ambiance. Everything was beige or olive green. It looked like something out of a horror movie. The walls were covered in old wood paneling, sinking the room deeper into dreaded despair. It fit my lifestyle, so I didn’t care. But the thought of bringing Avery over made me nervous and unsettled. She deserved to be in a place better than this.
I texted Mia to check on her.
Me: Hey how’s it going?
Mia: Ugh! Tests suck.
Me: Haha. Study hard. I’m taking a nap. Case had me up all night.
Mia: Miss you bro. Be safe.
Me: I always am. Miss you too.
Settling myself on the couch, I fell asleep even with the sun beaming through my dingy windows. The sound of my cell phone buzzing woke me out of a sound sleep. The sun had set and dark shadows hedged in from the outside, creeping in, threatening to overtake the room.
“Bradley,” I answered, sleep curling through my words.
“Hey. It’s Adams. We have another body.”
“Jesus. Already?” I stood and began undressing from the gym. “He sure works fast.” I didn’t have time for a shower, so as I continued speaking with Adams, I slid into my plain white button-up, black tie and slacks. My go-to outfit. “You’re going to miss the circus.” This was why I hesitated when it came to having to care about anyone but myself. Because I’d miss things, like the circus with my family.
“Yeah.” He mumbled something and I heard Airi’s voice. “Airi and Hana are on their way now. One second.” I heard a door open and close, his car engine revving. “This one. It’s just fucked-up man.” He sighed. I cringed. We had to catch this guy and fast.
“Fuckin’ A. Okay. I’ll have to call Agent Grant and Dr. Harper.” I swiped my car keys from the table and headed out the door.
“Already done.”
“Thanks,” I growled, anger apparent in my voice. I’d wanted to call Avery. I’d wanted to hear her voice.
“You okay, man?” Adams asked, concerned. “You sound pissed off.” It wasn’t like me to be easily angered or annoyed.
“Yeah, fine.” I brushed off the fact that I didn’t get to call her. My veins were pulsing as I walked to the car but subsided as I remembered I’d see her tonight. “Where am I going?” I turned the car on, and the engine roared to life. I didn’t like bringing my car to crime scenes, but if I wanted to still go out after, she—my car—would have to come with me. Don’t worry, baby. I’ll keep you safe, I thought as I patted the console.
“Fisherman’s Wharf boat ramp, on Brenton Bay.”
“All right. Be there in twenty.” I hung up the phone and tossed it into the passenger seat. My focus should have been on this case, on the murders that were happening in my city, but I couldn’t help but think of Avery as I sped off to the newest crime scene. About how much I wanted her.
There was no use in trying to think about anything else. Because as my hard-on pressed against my suit pants, the only cure would be to have her. All of her.
