Page 40 of Sacrifice the Knight (Checkmate 6)

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Eric

Watching her work before last night, watching her ass sway in her jeans, watching her smile for Ray or nag at Mac—it was all good and fun. It was entertaining, dream-inducing, and enough to make me smile every single day while I sipped my coffee and daydreamed about fucking her. But watching her workafterlast night: heaven. I know what she’s got under that tight top. I know what that denim hugs, and what her hair smells like when I have my face buried against her neck. I know what her pussy tastes like, and best of all, Iknowshe wants me too.

Fucking her was supposed to be a release of energy and tension in the same way working out lets off a little steam, but I’ve never smiled so much after a workout before in my life. It should scare me to my core, but I’m still cruising around in the clouds and can’t find it in my heart to regret last night. Yet.

Twenty minutes after leaving the diner with a belly full of cookies and a silent goodbye with a blushing Katrina, I walk into my office and make my way past Dolly with a grin, past the boardroom occupied by Soph as she speaks with a client who’d like a little cyber payback, and stop in the main office where the rest of my colleagues and friends commune each day when they’re not actively working or doing anything productive.

Angelo sits on a roller chair with his elbows on his knees, his hands steepled, and his pointer fingers pressed to his lips. He’s in thinking mode, while Jay sits at a desk and plays on the computer, snickers like a child, then continues doing whatever he’s doing.

“Morning.” I have a skip to my step, a weird flutter in my stomach, and a grin I just can’t tamp down, no matter how many times I tell myself to cool my shit. She’s just a girl, a fun time, a delicious snack I’d like a little more of.

“Morning.” Jay wears a grin similar to mine, but his eyes stay on his work. “You’re running a little late this morning, Cap.”

“I don’t clock in with you.” I move past and flop down at the desk beside his. I’m both energized and exhausted. Pumped with adrenaline, but dragged down withwhat ifs. I fulfilled a fantasy last night until I could barely stand anymore, tasted Katrina on my tongue just like I’ve dreamed about for the longest time, had my cock wrapped in her amazing warmth, and when I took her home, was rewarded with a kiss at the door that hinted at a second round the very next time we have a moment in private.

But when I got home again, I lay awake in bed until four this morning as my mind fucked me over and images flashed in my head. Katrina. Gemma. Callie. Katrina. Gemma. Callie. And then, just because I wasn’t done hurting myself, a new face was added. Katrina. Gemma. Callie. Mac.

I tried my hardest to push the others out, to live in thenowand enjoy what I finally got with Katrina, but inevitably, I turned over in bed and was faced with framed photographs of Gemma’s smiling face looking back at me. Her smile sent a bolt of guilt slicing through my heart.

The day that photograph was taken was warm, but perfect. It was a cliché spring day; birds sang in the breeze and trees swayed against a perfect blue backdrop. It was date day because Gemma and I went out of our way to make sure marriage wouldn’t kill the way we romanced each other. Every Saturday we were both off work, we dated each other and remembered why we made the promises we did.

It’s all gone now, and instead, I lay in bed thinking about the fact I’d just finished fucking someone else.

I was enjoying someone else.

I was worshipping someone else.

“You get in late last night, Cap?” Jay swivels on his chair, grins and allows mischievousness to shine in his eyes. “You look beat is all I’m saying.”

“Yeah, personal business.” I frown as my memories ruin my good mood. “What have we got today? What jobs are on the list?”

“Kane and Jess just went to their scan.” Spence walks into the office and sets down an arsenal of weapons as he fixes the thigh holster he’s been bitching about for weeks. “Literally just drove off.” He grunts as he fixes the buckle on his leg. “Next time we see them, shit’s gonna be a littlerealerfor them.”

“It’s weird Jessie’s gonna have a baby,” Ang murmurs. “I swear we were just kids the other day.”

“She doesn’t look like a kid to me,” Spence adds with a filthy smirk. “Sexy as sin, and I ain’t afraid to admit it, since Bish ain’t here.”

“Motherfucker. I’m here!” Ang turns in his seat and pins our friend with a glare. “I’m in love with heridenticaltwin sister.”

“Laine’s sexy too,” he adds casually. “I watched you guys down at the range. Kept the footage where it was just her, added it to my spank bank.”

“Spencer!” Ang shoots to his feet and reaches to the back of his jeans. “Kane isn’t the guy you gotta be worried about.”

“Children.” Jay tuts and continues working his computer. “Can you rein your shit in? We’ve got work to do.”

“What work?” I repeat. “What are we working on today?”

“Break-ins,” he mumbles. He tap, tap, taps at his keyboard, reaches for a TV remote tossed haphazardly on my desk, then points it at the flat screen on the wall and brings up twenty squares of footage. “Alesi Auto was broken into last night.” He bites his lip and zooms in on one particular square. Every man in this office gets a high definition view of me carrying Katrina around the side of the building and through the door. “Oh wait.” He cackles. “I think we solved this one already.”

I dive over my desk with a roar until Jay and I crash to the ground and his roller chair pings off the wall. We battle for control of the remote. I’m in it till the death if that’s what it takes to save Katrina’s dignity, but my opponent only laughs, rolls around and hides his ribs as though my jabs tickle, then escapes when Spence pulls me back with a deep chuckle.

“You gotta cool it, Cap. It’s not like we didn’t all get the alert last night.”

“What?” My breath races as I search each set of eyes. “Last night?”

“Katrina was trying to open the slip doors,” Ang chuckles. “The second she tried, alerts went out. I was putting my shoes on to come let her in, seein’ as I knew why she was there.”

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