“I’m always in control. For once, I’d like the woman to take charge. To dominate me.”
“Hmm,” she said while stroking his skin. “I wouldn’t have expected that from you.”
“Maybe we’re talking too much.” He retreated into the bathroom to remove the condom, and returned a moment later.
After he crawled back into bed, she said, “I’m guessing that in a scene, the people involved discuss it beforehand, so there’re no surprises. Maybe we should do that next time.”
“All I heard was there’s gonna be a next time.”
She smiled. “Busted.” Her smile fell away. “I want you to know, I’m assuming you have a few sex partners at The Dungeon. That’s your business, but I don’t want to hear—”
“Only you. I’ve been celibate for over four months.”
She shot him a little smile. “But you own a kink club. What’s up with that?”
“A club member stalked me. I got a restraining order and blocked her from coming back, but that was it for me.”
She stroked his penis. “Welcome back, my friend.”
He smiled. “Are all your fantasies dark?”
“No.”
“When did they start?”
“In college,” she explained. “They don’t make sense, especially since I’m ahomicide detective. A lot of my victims are powerless over their assailants.” She shrugged a shoulder. “But a sexual fantasy is very different from an act of violence. I choose mine. They don’t.”
“I like that you speak your mind.”
“Thank you.”
They fell silent for a moment.
“Earlier, in the elevator, you told me you admired me because I’m fearless,” he murmured. “Truth is, I’m not. Two things scare the hell out of me.”
She waited.
“Your demon cat.”
She smiled. “And?”
“Never finding my mother’s killer.”
“Oh, wow. What happened to her?”
“Another time.” He kissed her forehead. “Thanks for letting me crash here.”
She fell asleep in minutes, but he lay awake thinking about the woman in his arms. A year and a half ago, she’d turned his life upside down. Was this something that could work, long term, or just a convenience thing?
He woke with the cat camped out between his feet while Emerson lay sprawled over his chest, her hair tickling his chin. He loved waking with her in his arms.
As soon as he moved, Pima started purring.
Emerson leaned up and kissed him. “Still here, huh?”
“I’m trapped, remember? House alarm?”
“Lucky me.”
