Page 81 of Bad Situation

He pulls out and pushes back in and I have to brace at the same time I crave more. “Being with you makes the rest of the shit fade away. There’re days I need it to disappear like a bad dream.”

“Yes,” I breathe, agreeing with his words and the way he’s possessing me, showing he wants me—needs me—as much as I do him.

I lose his heat at my back as he stands, griping my hips in a vice that it’s sure to leave marks as he thrusts, over and over. His power and strength shoots into me at the same time he comes, holding me tight when he stills, planting himself balls deep.

When his grip loosens, I push on my knees, too exhausted to hold my weight any longer. He follows, keeping our connection and when I’m on my belly, Eli covers me, still clothed.

Him pressing me into my bed where I feel his bulk on—and in—every inch of me is something I’ve never experienced. Right now, I wish I could exercise all my corporate power, snapping my fingers to make the rest of the world disappear. Just when you think there’s no one but your father to step on your toes, the universe comes crashing down, taking you with it.

But not when I’m with Eli.

He presses into me one more time and I note, “It’s not really fair that you’re not naked, too.”

He puts his lips to my temple through my messy hair. “I can make that happen. I’ll go clean the kitchen while you do your thing. Meet me on your sofa but do not get dressed.”

I twist my neck a bit farther to look into his dark eyes that settle a little bit deeper in my soul. “I hope you clean fast.”

“If you’re waiting for me naked, I know I can.”

*****

Eli

The SAC is the Special Agent in Charge of the entire division.

I’m not blind to who I am or how I carry myself at work. I know I skate the line, but it has always served me in the past. And, after the way things have gone since I stepped into the Lone Star State, I’m not about to stop watching my back—or Jen’s for that matter.

As I sit in the SAC’s office, he stares me down like my middle school principal did when I got caught tossing a smoke bomb into the girls’ locker room because Sadie McCall broke up with Ricky Vacito back in the day. I can’t help but find my situation eerily similar. Only I’m not worried about my mom screaming the house down or my dad busting my ass for getting suspended. Though, the smoke bomb was worth every day of suspension. Ricky’s ex-girlfriend told the entire cheerleading squad he was a shit kisser and it doesn’t matter if it was middle school—you always have your friend’s back.

Today, I’m only mildly concerned for my career. I’ve seen people get off doing worse and, to get fired from the federal government, you pretty much have to be a criminal and I’m sure as shit not one of those.

“Fuckin’ OPR is breathing down my neck about two of my agents. I don’t need their attention anywhere near my damn district. First Newman and now you.” The SAC glares at me as he continues barking about shit. This has already taken up five minutes of my life.

I sit back in my chair and prop an ankle on my knee because he’s pretty much harmless. It’s not like I’m twelve, sitting in front of my principal. That guy could make a kid shit his pants because he had a hotline to the police chief of the Chicago PD. That’s how rough my school was and the possibility of juvie was a fate worse than hell.

But this isn’t middle school and I’ve been through a lot since then. This might be a headache for a while, but it’ll pass.

He wipes his forehead and keeps going. “I knew you were gonna be a cowboy. Fuckin’ New York, thinking they can run the show. Just because you’ve gone your way in the past, doesn’t mean that shit flies in the rest of the country. Were you PMSing and have cramps the day in Basic Agent training when they explained the legalities of fraternizing with a federal indictee? You cannot take down kingpins like the MacLachlans and not know that shit, which means you’re doin’ it ‘cause you don’t give a rat’s ass what the rules are. And that’s fuckin’ worse. Dammit!” He flops down into his big leather chair that’s nicer than every other one in the building.

I put my foot to the floor, sit up straight, and hope to hell he’s done. I want to tell him Jen’s innocent, but even I know that doesn’t justify what I’ve done. I’m just going to have to take my OPR case and swallow it like the castor oil my mother made me take because some nun who was older than dirt told her it cured the common cold. “I’d like to explain.”

“There’s no excuse—” he explodes, but my direct supervisor, Larry-the-cheater, who’s also sitting in on the fun, butts in.

“Sir,” Larry starts and throws a look my way that’s guarded with a knight’s armor. He looks back to his superior’s superior and surprises the shit out of me. “I think when all is said and done, this OPR case will go away. I spoke with the Assistant U.S. Attorney this morning. The defense has requested a special hearing.” He clears his throat and shifts as if he’s sitting on a bed of thorns. “With recent developments in the case, it looks like Montgomery could get the dismissal they’re looking for and this will all be a moot point.”

The SAC leans forward on his forearms and narrows his eyes on Larry. “It’s not a moot point when I hear about one of my agents sitting next to a dead body with a federal target in his damn lap. Get your group under-fucking-control. If you can’t run a tight ship, I’ll find someone who can and put you in charge of community outreach where you’ll be shaking enough hands at neighborhood festivals, you’re sure to get the flu. Now, get the hell out of my office. I’ve had enough of your damn shenanigans—I’ve got a meeting with the ATF about real crime.”

He won’t get an argument from me. I stand and move out of his office, but as I’m headed down the hall toward the elevator, Larry is on my heels.

“Pettit,” he seethes.

I press the elevator button before turning to find him invading my space but I don’t invite a conversation. “I’ve got leads on a case I need to follow up on. Can’t cheat the taxpayers out of a hard day’s work.”

He glances around to make sure he has privacy and lowers his voice. “I’ve got your back on this but you need to assure me that whatever you think you know about me stays silent.”

I can’t help but smile. It surprises even me it’s a genuine one, because, fuck me, the man’s funny. He’s also caught between a rock and a hard place and, opposed to my shitty situation, he’s practically impotent. “Larry, I don’t know what to say. That’s almost sweet of you, having my back and all.”

His face hardens. “Bree said you have pictures. I want those files.”

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