Page 3 of Sentinel's Kiss

“No, I got this.” Sentinel hung up and concentrated on staying two cars behind Ashley.

At a stoplight, he spared a glance at his messages. She hadn’t called him, but then again she hadn’t called Stan either. Ashley had just showed up to catch his reaction to her news. Playing a hunch, Sentinel veered off and drove to the Blue Line, the bar he co-owned with his best friend, Evan “Evil” Villiers.

Evil had stepped down from the killing at the end of the summer because of Lucy, a spitfire attorney whom Evil had been chasing for years. It galled Sentinel that Evil would turn his back on the necessary evil that they did in the name of justice, but he couldn’t argue that his friend had never seemed happier. In fact, he was probably upstairs screwing Lucy’s brains out right now. Evil lived above the bar in a suite of rooms next to their VIP lounge.

“Anybody been in looking for me?” he asked the new bartender, Naomi. She had been recommended by one of his army buddies, and so far she’d been handling the place better than he ever had. He might consider making her manager, if she proved to be as trustworthy as she was gorgeous. He kept his distance out of respect for Warden, whose tongue dragged on the floor whenever he looked at her. But Sentinel was still a man and couldn’t help an admiring glance at her ample cleavage. He blamed it on the little devil tattoo that peeked out at him from the V-neck of her shirt.

“Nope. It’s been quiet,” Naomi said, not caring if he stared. If anything, she leaned over the bar so he could get a better look.

Sentinel glanced away. He was still a little too wrapped up with Ashley and the new information on Sarah’s murder to seriously flirt with his cute employee. “I’ll be upstairs. If a blond chick named Ashley comes in, call me.”

“You got it, boss.” Naomi gave him a thumbs-up.

Even though Sentinel had an apartment a few streets over, this was home. He took the stairs two at a time and walked into the VIP lounge. It stretched along the entire second floor of the bar, with the exception of Evil’s suite and the locked boardroom where the SOBs conducted their secret business.

Even this early in the day, the VIP lounge had a few people playing pool and darts. Some hung out in booths, and as always, there were gorgeous women ready to party. Normally he’d relax with a beer and maybe a blow job in one of the secluded alcoves, but he avoided eye contact with a few of his regulars.

If Ashley showed up, he wanted to get her alone in the boardroom and find out what she knew about his sister’s case. Then after he was done pumping her for information, if they still had that crazy attraction going on, he’d take her back to his place and they could fuck in a bed this time. Or maybe they wouldn’t make it any farther than the couch in the corner. His cock was hard just thinking about how crazy they had been for each other.

He was nursing a beer when his phone buzzed.

Goldilocks is looking for Papa Bear,the text read.

Sentinel snorted. Naomi needed her ass smacked. He made a note to have Warden get on that. Naomi also eye-fucked Warden when she thought no one was looking.

Taking the stairs back down two at a time, Sentinel explained away his sudden nervousness at seeing her again as being the result of the news she had on Sarah’s death. However, unexpected pleasure washed over him at her smile.

“Josh?” She held out her hand. “It’s good to see you again.” Her blue eyes sparkled and her smile had a hint of wickedness to it. She was obviously thinking about their time in the Jeep, and it made him want her even more.

“Ashley, it’s been a long time.” Sentinel thought about kissing her hand, or yanking it so she fell into his arms. But at the last minute, his manners kicked in and he shook her hand like a gentleman. First time for everything.

Tucking her hair behind her ears, she blushed a bit, which sent another jolt of desire through him. He had to get her upstairs before he made a fool out of himself and kissed her in front of the entire bar.

“What can I do for you?” he asked. He had a list, starting with licking her to orgasm and ending with her bouncing on top of him. Ashley’s eyes were dazed and she swayed toward him. It was like no time had passed between them. Part of him wanted to walk her into the nearest wall and pick up where they left off two years ago.

She bit her lip and he wanted to call her out on it. That was his job.

“Can I talk with you about something important?”

He didn’t want to talk. He wanted her naked and wet in his arms.

“In private?” Her voice was husky and low.

Come into my parlor—

“Sure, let’s go into my office.” His fingers tingled when he touched her back to guide her up to the VIP lounge.

“Have fun, Sentinel,” Naomi singsonged to them.

He cut her a glare over his shoulder, but Naomi just laughed. A definite ass smacking was in order.

Ashley’s eyes went wide when all conversation stopped as they walked into the VIP lounge.

“As you were,” he said in a bored voice, but he glared down a few of the women who were going to intercept them before they got to the boardroom. No, this was going to be a private party.

“What is this place?” Ashley asked, hurrying to catch up to him.

He smirked. She had been gawking at a couple kissing hot and heavy in the corner. Does that give you any ideas, baby? Maybe bring back a few memories?

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