Page 22 of Hot Cops

“Everyone except you.”

He frowned. “What’s that mean?”

“It means that until this morning, you’ve never even hinted at being interested in me sexually. Don’t you find that odd?”

He shook his head. “Not really. I knew it was all or nothing with you. I’ve always known that.”

“All or nothing?”

“I would never have been able to have sex with you, Riley, without wanting a committed relationship, without wanting marriage as the end result. Until last night, that never seemed like a possibility.”

“What happened last night?”

He grinned. “You let the mask slip.”

She paused to consider his comment. Had she revealed the reason she’d been so depressed lately? Had she confessed her secret desire to get married? Obviously she had, hence her current dilemma. “I’m never drinking again.”

“You always say that. This too shall pass.”

As they approached their hotel, they paused outside. It was early evening and Riley’s energy level was nearly depleted. It had been a long day. Hell, it had been a long weekend and it was showing no signs of slowing up. “What now?”

“Let’s cruise through the casino again. It’s probably too early for Johnny to be at the bar. I figure we have a fifty-fifty chance he’s a mean drunk.”

“You want to wait until he’s drunkandmean?”

“No,” Aaron said. “I want the other fifty percent. Drunk enough to be helpful and harmless.”

“You do realize our luck in this godforsaken city hasn’t been all that great so far.”

Aaron smiled. “Are you kidding? I’m having the luckiest weekend of my life and I’m about to hit the jackpot.”

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. “How so?”

“After we determine Trev isn’t hanging out by the slot machines, I’m taking you up to the room and making you my wife. Once and for all.”

* * *

Riley pulledher sweater over her head as they entered the hotel room. Aaron had pushed buttons in her she didn’t know she had.

Fuck it.

She was having sex with him and to hell with the consequences. The sound of leather swishing against denim proved Aaron was in a hurry too as his belt hit the floor. He kicked the door shut with his foot as he reached out for her, turning and pushing her against it.

“Haven’t I seen you here before?” She recalled they’d been in the exact same position this morning.

Aaron grinned. “Same place, different ending. Take off your clothes.”

“I’d rather take yours off.” She reached for his T-shirt, pulling it over his head, her heart racing at the sight of his bare chest. She’d seen the man shirtless a thousand times in the past, but for some inexplicable reason, she felt as if she was seeing it clearly for the first time and a strange sense of possessiveness gripped her.

He was hers.

She leaned forward to kiss him, her lips grazing his pecs before cruising over to visit his nipple. She ran her tongue around the tiny bud as Aaron’s hands gripped her waist. She could sense his growing need. Hell, she shared it. She wasn’t an innocent, not even close. But for some reason, this time with Aaron felt as if she would be losing her virginity all over again. She pulled away from his chest to look at him, her breathing ragged.

She was inundated by so many emotions, she was finding it hard to know what to do next. She wanted him. There was no question of that, but while her body was urging her to claim and conquer, her head was warning her to proceed with caution. Overpowering all of that was her heart, screaming at her not to fuck this up. Proclaiming loud and clear she’d finally gotten something right.

Aaron offered her a crooked grin and kissed her forehead. “Never pegged you as a thinker, Riley. Always saw you as more of a doer.” His taunt hit the nail square on the head, just as he’d known it would, and she narrowed her eyes before unhooking her bra and sliding it off.

“I thought I’d better take it slow for you, sugar. Don’t wanna overwhelm you.” She cupped her breasts, toying with the tight nipples with her own fingers. “Think you can keep up?”

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