Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121728 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Chapter Twenty-One
The headlights of a vehicle sliced across the large picture window and cut through the living room. Decker, in the midst of writing up his daily report, checked the time on his laptop, then glanced up to see Sloane reaching for the remote to turn off the TV.
“That’s Crew. He’s here for our little discussion.”
She placed the remote on the coffee table and twisted toward him. “Do you want me to make myself scarce?”
“Do you mind?”
She shrugged one shoulder. “It’s your house. I’ll go head into the bedroom and read for a little bit.”
When she stood, he grabbed her hand to stop her from walking away. They stared at each other for a few seconds before he said, “I’ll be in as soon as we’re done.”
She smiled knowingly after one side of his mouth hitched up. “Okay. I can let him in on my way.”
He pinned his lips together as he watched her head toward the front door. Of course her sweet ass caught his attention, just like it had his brothers.
For the most part, his brothers had good taste.
They just couldn’t taste Sloane.
He drew his tongue across his lips and even though he could no longer taste her there, he certainly remembered.
And he couldn’t wait to wear her soft thighs as earmuffs again.
Val had been put to bed about an hour earlier. Thank fuck his girl slept solidly. Because of that, he had no reason to take Crew out to the garage for privacy during his “debriefing.” While Val was aware he was a police officer, he wanted to shield her from all the bad shit as long as he could.
Sloane’s eyes hit his for a second as she waited for Crew, before they swung back to the front door. As soon as a shadow appeared on the other side of the frosted glass, she opened it and put a finger to her lips. “She’s sleeping.”
Crew nodded as he stepped inside and shrugged off his heavy leather jacket. “How are you?”
“I’m good. Thank you for asking. You?”
“I’d be better if—”
Even from where Decker sat, he could see Crew’s eyes narrow as he lost focus of what he was saying to focus on Sloane’s neck.
The fucking hickey.
Christ. Fuck. Shit. He was never going to hear the end of that. He might have to dig out some of Val’s old diaper cream to soothe his chapped ass.
He put the laptop aside and rose to his feet to wait for the task force leader.
After Sloane’s eyes flicked from Crew to Decker and back, she quickly said, “Well, goodnight, Crew.”
He tipped his salt-and-pepper head to the side. “You’re not saying goodnight to Big Deck?” One side of his mouth curled up.
“We exchanged our goodnights before I let you in.”
Nice job, Sloane.
But after seeing Decker’s mark on her throat, Crew wouldn’t fall for that line of bullshit. He was damn sure Crew already suspected, anyway, after the rash of texts the other night. He might as well come clean. Especially since he needed to give Crew the low-down on Sadie and ask for a favor.
“Looks that way,” came Crew’s low, but smart-ass, grumble. “Goodnight. Sleep tight. Don’t let the undercover prospect bite.”
Even though the corners of her eyes crinkled, Sloane managed to pin her lips together and keep her expression blank. She gave Crew a single nod before turning and disappearing down the hallway that led to the main bedroom.
Crew remained where he was for a few moments more, his eyes turned in the direction she disappeared before his attention swung back to Decker.
Here we go…
“Don’t say shit,” Decker warned as the man approached, wearing his signature cocky grin.
The man looked about to burst at the seams. “So, you just want me to self-combust, then?”
“Wouldn’t be a loss,” Decker answered truthfully.
“Okay, I’ll ignore what I saw.” He snorted. “And if you believe that bullshit… Goddamn, Deck, a fucking hickey? What are you, like fourteen?” He whacked Decker on the back, then threw himself on one end of the sectional sofa.
“Don’t be a hater,” he grumbled, settling his ass back on the couch, too, but leaving a big gap between them.
“Yeah, I might be a little jealous you gave her a hickey when you’ve never given me one. I feel ignored.” He tipped his head to the side and pointed at a spot on his neck. “Want to plant one right there so we can go steady?”
“Only if you suck my cock first.”
“I’m getting too old to get down on my knees.”
Decker grabbed one of the decorative pillows from the couch and whipped it at him. “This will cushion your old, creaky knees. Should I unzip?”
“All right. Let’s get serious. But first,” he shot Decker a shit-eating grin and jabbed his index finger into the air, “I have to say, I might be a little bent that you landed someone like her.”