But my dick didn’t want to listen. The bastard wanted in Vivian right now. And if it had its way, it wouldn’t ever leave the tight, warmth sheath of her body.
I opened my eyes and returned to the kitchen island, which was a large rectangle that separated my kitchen from the living room. The countertop was dark-stained maple butcher block. Maybe not the most practical option, but I loved the satiny finish. My hand remained wrapped around my now-cool coffee mug because I’d been too busy fantasizing to drink the brew.
But there was a question in there Vivian and I needed to address: I liked to be in charge. Absolutely in charge. Would she like that? Hell, I might not like that with her…. No, who was I kidding? I absolutely wanted to be aggressive, assertive, and fuck her to her very limit. Then do it again. “Shit.”
Belladonna raised her head, giving me her full attention.
“Nothing to worry about, Bella baby. Just that your dad’s a sick bastard. Want to go see Mom and Vivi?” Belladonna thumped her tail. “Maybe if I kiss her again like I did last night…” A wave of lust scorched its way through my veins. “Okay, I can’t keep kissing Vivi like that if I’m not going to get a release. I haven’t been this desperate to get off since I was fourteen and figured out how to orgasm.”
I rose from my bar stool and dumped out my coffee. After putting the cup in the dishwasher, I grabbed Belladonna’s leash. She ran up to me, excited at the prospect of a walk. “Let’s go see Vivian,” I said.
As I collected my keys, my phone rang. A hollow feeling settled in my stomach when I noted the Michigan area code. “Hello?”
“Lennon Cruz?”
“Yes, speaking.”
“This is Detective Ahmed. I’m calling about your assault last September.”
In an instant I was back there, on the ground, getting kicked, stabbed—a phantom hand fisted my throat, strangling me. I managed to lean against the wall before my knees went weak.
I squeezed my eyes tightly shut. “Any news?” My voice was raspy, but at least I could speak.
He sighed. “No. But don’t think we’re giving up. We aren’t. Especially now that there’s been another attack, very similar to yours.”
My heart thrummed. “What happened.”
“This couple didn’t survive.”
A swallowed heavily, trying to keep my coffee in my stomach.
“I can tell you a little more…if you’d like to know,” Detective Ahmed said.
“Yeah. Anything. I think Vivi will want the details, too.”
“She’s my next call,” Detective Ahmed said. “You two still talk?”
“She just moved out here.”
“Oh, good.” The relief in his voice was palpable. “Vivian seemed adrift and concerned by herself. I’m glad you talked her into the move. Being near a support network will help her get past the attack.”
I realized Vivian and I hadn’t really discussed how she felt about what had happened. That made me an epic dick. Because we’d been through it together—and because I’d abandoned her for months—I needed to make sure we now worked together to heal.
Detective Ahmed gave me a few gory details, some of which lined up to my memories of that evening.
“Sounds like they’re escalating,” I said, heaviness growing in my gut.
“Yes, it does. Which means they’re getting cockier. We’ll get them, Mr. Cruz.”
“I hope so. No one should be exposed to that kind of evil.”
“Agreed. I’ll be in touch if anything changes.”
“Thanks. And I’ll be there with Vivian in about twenty minutes,” I told him.
“Good. I think she’ll appreciate your concern.”
When I arrived at my mom’s house, she handed me a cup of coffee the moment I entered the kitchen. That told me I looked even worse than I’d thought.
