Page 90 of Beyond the Badge: Nox

Once again, he heard her saying that, like him, it had been a while since she’d had sex with anyone.

At one time, they had worn the same shoes. Only Liyah had hers resoled, while his still had gaping holes. He knew he needed to repair his so he could get back to walking comfortably. But he avoided handing them over to be fixed because he was afraid that, by the time he got them back, he’d forget how they used to feel.

When they had been comfortable and fit perfectly.

He closed his eyes and breathed.

But when he did so, a replay of what happened in Liyah’s bedroom against her French doors once again played on the back of his eyelids.

He knew fucking her would be dangerous.

He was right.

When his phone vibrated on the desk, he opened his eyes and saw his alarm going off.

If he was going to go tonight, he would need to head out now so he could grab something to eat on the way.

Ifhe was going to go.

If.

He shook his head and frowned.

ChapterTwenty

He waiteduntil the meeting had already started before quietly slipping through the door and finding the nearest empty seat.

Unfortunately, that seat was next to Liyah.

The person talking only hesitated for a second, then continued as Nox rounded the circle to the other side and slid into the hot seat.

He cleared his throat and ignored the woman burning a hole into the side of his face simply by using her eyeballs.

Yanking the brim of his hat lower, he spread his knees, set his boots flat on the floor and slid down until he slouched in the metal folding chair. Then he crossed his arms over his chest and half-listened to whatever story the guy across from him was rattling on about.

Memories.

That was what—What was his name? Jack, maybe—was droning on about.

The same as what most members of the group talked about every week.

Memories that made them sad and cry, or happy and smile.

Unlike Nox’s memory of last Friday night.

Of touching Liyah, tasting her skin, tasting her arousal on his fingers, breathing in her scent.

Of sliding in and out of her.

Of coming hard.

Goddamn it.The last thing he needed was a damn hard-on in the middle of a grief group.

He was a fucking mess.

He slid his eyes to the right and snuck a glance.

Yep, she was still staring at him and totally not paying attention to Jack talking about his honeymoon trip to Maui that happened twenty years ago.

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