"No, thank you, I think I had more than enough at dinner." She walked away and headed for her bath leaving me there with way too much on my mind. I wanted to go hunt the fucker down and beat him to within an inch of his life for scaring her, but I couldn't leave her alone. Tomorrow while she was at work I'll go dig his ass up from whatever hole he was in and put the fear of hell in him, coward.
I paced my room like a caged animal until I got a better idea. "Jace I need you to go over to Traci's place, that asshole was in there tonight."
"How do you know he was in there?"
"He left her laptop on her bed opened to pictures he took of her while she was asleep."
"I'll call it in, let me speak to Traci."
"Why?"
"I need her permission to go in."
"I just gave you permission."
"Er Wyatt, you don't live there and you're not her spouse."
"But you know and I know that she's mine, what more do you need?"
"It doesn't work that way, we have laws."
"What kinda fuck stupid law is that, a man can't protect his own woman?"
"Tell it to the judge when some shyster defense attorney questions how long you and the young lady have been together. Trust me they'll dig into all of that. Things like this you have to dot every I and cross every t."
"Fine, I hope your asshole laws are just as fucked up when I break this fuck's neck."
"I can't hear you, how many times must I tell you as an officer of the law I can't hear certain things."
"Not my problem bro, you need to see a doctor about your hearing problems."
"Let me talk to Traci you ass."
"I can't she's in the tub."
"This is the twenty-first century, you have a cordless take it in there."
"I don't want you talking to her while she's in the tub bro uh-uh."
"Bro, your cave us showing take the damn phone to her so I can get started on this thing."
I fumed but did as he asked. "Traci I'm coming in, don't freak just hide under the bubbles." I tried to avert my eyes when I got in there, hardest thing I ever did because all I wanted to do was look. "Jace wants to talk to you."
I passed her the phone while she looked at me with bewilderment. I followed along on her end of the conversation, which was going just fine until she started laughing. What the fuck? "What's so funny?" She looked up at me with a twinkle in her eye.
"Yes he is." She broke into even louder laughter than before "You'll have to come get it I don't think he'll let me."
"Come get what, what won't I let you? Give me that." I snatched the phone and gave her the look before tearing into Jace the damn thief. "What were you saying to her to make her laugh?"
"Can't tell you bro it's privileged information."
"I'll privilege my foot in your ass you fuck, what do you need to come get, the laptop?"
"Yeah, did you touch it, never mind we can eliminate your prints. I have to tell you though, I doubt this guy was dumb enough to leave anything of himself behind. These assholes are getting more and more sophisticated with their shit."
"Damn, I have to leave in the next few weeks you telling me you're not gonna have this hump in a cage before then?"
"It doesn't work that way Wyatt, just let me call it in and I'll come grab the laptop. Guess I'm not getting that day off like I dreamed of."
"She has a job in town go make her tax dollars work you lazy fuck."
"Love you too bro see you in a few. I wouldn't mind if you heated up some of Marie's stuffing for me to take with."
"Geez I gotta feed you now too?" I hung up on his greedy ass.
I checked on her one more time before heading downstairs with her laptop in the biggest plastic bag I could find. In the kitchen I made him a plate because I knew the greedy fuck. I packed the shit up and waited out front for him so that he wouldn't wake up ma.
Lisa was over at a friend's for the night and Chad was probably with his girl who was too afraid of ma to come to Thanksgiving dinner. Lucky thing she knew he was just hitting the skins or they were rubbing each other's itch, because if ma doesn't like you, you're pretty much out.
It's not like ma's a snob, but this particular female has been married three times and she's ten years older than my brother. He knows she's not the one, he just likes the thrill of banging an older woman, or so he says, freak.
Jace pulled up twenty minutes later to grab the stuff and I headed back up to her. She was still in the bathtub but I wasn't going anywhere near that door so I sat on the bed and waited as I went over the last few days. My life had changed literally in the twinkling of an eye.
Just as with everything else in my life it seems love had come easy. With the fighting, it hadn't been something I'd been looking for it just fell into my lap; I was a natural. With her it was the same, one look and I was a goner and it was not just my dick talking, my heart was making its preference known.
She finally came out of the bathroom looking dewy fresh and young as fuck. I looked from her to the bed and back trying to figure out how the fuck I was gonna keep my hands off her all night. "You remembered your pajamas or you need a shirt?"
"I brought them." They better not be one of those skimpy dos or she's fucked, literally. When she dropped the robe I almost swallowed my tongue. Just as I feared, she was wearing lace shorts and a matching tank.
"Shit I'll be right back." I jumped off the bed like my ass was on fire.
"Where're you going?"
"I have to go pound something and since it can't be you I'm heading down to the gym." She blushed and bit her lip, I groaned. She was saying something, I don't know what, because I was making tracks. Technically this was our second night together. I wonder how long it would take before she wouldn't feel like a slut for letting me have her.
Downstairs in the home gym, I pounded the shit out of the bag and hit the weights, anything to make myself tired before going back to her. A quick shower later, and I felt in control again. She was up and wide-awake when I got back, but at least she was under the covers.
"Why aren't you asleep baby, don't you have to go in tomorrow?"
"Yeah bright and early but I'm wide awake. I'm wondering what this whole situation is going to do to my job and everything else now that the police are involved. The only people who knew that Carl was being a nuisance are my friends, I never told anyone else, not even my dad because it would've just made him worry."
She seemed genuinely worried about it but I didn't get it. Why should she be worried about her job, she wasn't the one committing a crime and I said as much. "Why should you be worried? You haven't done anything wrong."
"I know but my boss is very straitlaced, any kind of schism and he'd freak and I really need this internship. He's the best trial judge in the state, there's a backlist to get the position and he chose me."
"If you ask me he's lucky to have you. What's his name?"
"Lucas Bradley."
"Old man Bradley, leave him to me, ma will have him crying in his milk if he does you wrong."
"You know him?"
"I think he's Chad's Godfather or some crap the old reprobate." It could be that he wears a different face when he's at the office and in court, but once the robe comes off it's a different story. Him and grandpa can tie one on with the best of them.
"I wouldn't worry too much about it babe just get some sleep." I needed her to go to bed so I could resist all temptation. Her hair was a waterfall of color falling over her shoulders as she sat up in bed with her bright green eyes. I'd been dumb enough to light the fireplace, which only added to the ambience and gave me ideas.
She patted the mattress next to her when I took too long to climb in and I swallowed hard before making my way over there. I could do this; I can lie next to the woman I'd fallen for like a ton of bricks and not violate her. All I had to do was remind myself of why she was here and that seemed to do the trick … for all of five seconds.
We both got settled on our side of the bed. I could tell she was stiff as a board and I guess the situation was now becoming clear to her. She was in bed with a man she'd only just met. As much as I hated the hump for making this necessary, I couldn't deny the fact that I was glad as fuck that she was right here where she belonged.
I laid there trying to think up ways to keep her here forever while she fidgeted around. Finally I couldn't deal with it any more so I turned and pulled her into my arms. "Sleep." She remained stiff for all of two minutes before calming. Two minutes later her soft sigh and easy breathing told me she was asleep. Fucking female.