Cavalier (Crimson Elite 1)

“Your call states you saw two men beating up on one. Can you describe what these men looked like?”

My head starts shaking. “I didn’t see their faces, it was too dark.”

“But you could tell it was two men? How do you know it wasn’t a woman?”

“Even without seeing their faces, I could tell they were men. One was speaking to the man on the ground, he was telling him how he was going to tear him limb from limb to make a point.”

The officer’s eyebrows raise as he writes it all down and continues his questioning. After a few more questions, he’s finished.

“Did you get everything you need?” Creed asks, his hand still on my shoulder.

The officer stands, nodding, then passes me his card. “Call me if you remember anything else.” His eyes find Creed. “And I didn’t catch your name?”

“She’ll call if she does.”

He walks to the door, opening it for him to leave. The officer leaves and Creed shuts the door and looks to me. “You still choose to walk home by yourself.”

I shrug my shoulders. “I know it’s stupid, but if I let one thing define me, I’d be fucked. Plus, I don’t really have a lot of choice.”

“I’m going to kiss you now. Then I’m going to walk out the door before I bend you over your fucking small-ass kitchen table and fuck you until you can’t walk.” His voice is husky, hunger evident in his eyes.

My legs shut and clamp together hard. He walks over to me with determination, each step my heart takes one loud beat. Nothing I can do will stop him. I’m not even sure if I want to stop him, to be honest. He reaches me and his fingers run through my hair with a slight tug, and he pulls back so I have to look up at him.

It’s passion, pure fucking passion, the minute his lips touch mine. The world rushes away and all I can feel is him, all I can smell is the mint on his breath as he steals mine. It’s like he takes away my world and replaces it with his. Everything is black and all I can see and feel is him.

“Elicea.” He says my name with determination like he pulls each syllable from my breath, stealing it for himself with each kiss. The kiss I know no one could ever replace. Because even when his lips leave mine, and his breath no longer licks my own, I still can’t open my eyes.

Who kisses someone like that?

Creed does.

And he just walked out my door.9CreedThat kiss fucked me so good that everything within me lit on fire as the warmth spread over me just from touching her damn lips. I would hate to see what her fucking body does to me. Fuck! I tried to withstand touching her. I tried real fucking hard. But I had to taste her, had to see if what she’s making me feel is even real. And I just confirmed it with that single fucking kiss—a kiss that stole my fucking breath then lit me on fire.

Fuck.

D is waiting for me as I walk through the doors. The lights are on, but everyone else has gone. He has a drink in front of him and some paperwork.

“You walked her home. I take it you didn’t fire her?”

I take the seat next to him, pouring myself a drink, drinking it all in one hit, then pouring another. “I gave her more hours, actually.”

He grimaces, taking the glass from my hand. “Of course, you did,” he mumbles. “I can see the appeal. I get it. I can even see the way you are with her.” He pauses, leans on the counter as he looks at me. “But do you really think it’s smart to mix business with pleasure?”

“I’ll fire her.”

D laughs, shaking his head. “I went through her file, she has no money. My bet is she needs this job. I would also bet if you asked her to choose right now, she’d choose this job.”

Leaning back, my hands go behind my head as I stare up at the ceiling. He’s right, she does need the job, I see the desperation in her eyes.

“I kissed her,” I say, sitting up straight and pouring myself another drink.

D simply stares at me.

“And it was the best fucking kiss of my life.” I shake my head, tipping back the drink.

“Never thought I’d see the day,” D says while standing. Grabbing his files, he taps my shoulder. “You should probably let Falcon know to back off, because to him it’s all a game. And you know how much he likes to play games.” He walks off leaving me to contemplate my actions.“I thought I heard you come in last night.” Mom leans down and kisses my cheek, taps my shoulder before she walks to the stove. My mother didn’t have me young. Actually, I was a surprise to her. She had me when she was in her forties, and now she’s well into her sixties. I couldn’t ask for a better parent, one that loves me no matter what. And trust me, throughout my life there’s been a lot of ‘no matter whats.’