Page 86 of Beyond the Badge: Crew

She continued, “As I said, I give back what I receive. For what it’s worth, I’m never going to sit back and allow someone to judge me unfairly.” His mouth opened, but she stopped him with a raised palm. And not for a high-five this time. “Don’t say anything if you’re going to lie. Look, all I’m asking is for you to give me a chance. That’s it. It’s not going to cost you a damn thing.”

“That’s where you’re wrong. It could cost me. It could cost me a lot.”

That list was too damn long.

She could cost him his job. The task force’s investigation if she got into a situation where she was in over her head where they needed to go in and extract her.

Hell, she could cost him his sanity. He already had a woman in his life that drove him crazy.

“Do you want to explain that?”

He sure as fuck did not. “No.”

“No problem. I’ll just come up with some reasons in my own head.”

Great.

She rolled off him and onto her back, tucking her arms beneath her head.

Why the fuck did he miss her weight on him?

He needed to get rid of the used condom and get the fuck out of there.

Why wasn’t he doing that?

Did he really want the answer to that?

Fuck no.

She released a loud, long sigh. “Well, that was sort of fun. I’m glad I showered and brushed my teeth before falling into bed at around four this morning.” She lifted her head and glanced at him. “You’re welcome.”

“I wouldn’t have cared.” Nothing was wrong with a woman who smelled like a woman and not a floral arrangement.

As long as they didn’t smell like bloated roadkill, he was okay with it.

“Oh, yes you would. I couldn’t even stand my own stink. That bar is smoky and full of biker B.O. that clings to everything. I swear I came home smelling like barbecued roadkill.”

Damn, could the woman read his thoughts? If so, he was in trouble.

He turned his head on the pillow and once again said something she wasn’t going to like. “I don’t want you going back there tonight.”

Maybe, since she seemed to be in a more subdued mood after having a few orgasms, she’d actually be more compliant.

“Why? Because having your dick inside me changed everything? I hate to break it to you, but your dick isn’t some magic wand.”

Of course.He was a fool if he thought she’d be more agreeable. “Apparently. Because if it was, you’d actually listen to my orders.”

She sat up with a look of determination and drive on her face. “This is getting old, Crew. I joined this task force to make a difference. I want to do my part. You treating me like I’m breakable is…” She closed her eyes and inhaled.

“Is what?”

“Frustrating,” came out on her exhale.

“It’s for your safety since you’d be without backup in a bar full of bikers who won’t respect you.”

“We had this discussion already. This is my fucking job. Just like it’s yours. Let me do it. Crew, I need a task force leader who will support me, not treat me like I’m helpless.”

“It won’t be me knocking on your father’s door if something happens to you,” he warned.

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