“Is it bad that I don’t want you to go,” I mumble, still holding onto Black.

It’s two deliciously wicked nights after being locked up with him at the police department. Black has pretty much moved in here and it’s perfect, all but one small detail…

“I don’t think Little Kong has that issue,” Black sighs, looking over at the puppy who is currently sitting on the sofa, snarling–which is what he does most of the time when Black gets around me.

“He’ll come around, you just need to pet him more,” I giggle.

“The last time I pet him I almost lost a finger,” Black grumbles and it makes me giggle more.

“He just doesn’t like anyone else getting close to me,” I try and defend.

“He’s going to have to get used to it,” Black murmurs, diving back in for another kiss.

Our lips softly slide against each other and I’m the first to sneak my tongue into his mouth, tasting him. That’s nothing new, where Black is concerned I’m always greedy for more, and pushing the issue. Black on the other hand likes to tease and torture me, which is evident by the way he takes over the kiss and slows it down.

God, he’s so good that I could do nothing but kiss him constantly for the rest of my life and be satisfied. Until Black, I never knew kisses existed that could transport you from time and space and cause you to just lose yourself, but he manages it and does it without trying.

“I don’t want you to go,” I whimper, when we part to drag air into our lungs.

“I don’t want to either, sweetheart, but I have to. I talked to Luka earlier today though and he’s working on getting me off night shift at least most nights.”

“He is?” I ask, unable to keep the joy out of my voice, so I don’t even try.

“Yeah. I may have to work a stray night here and there, but it won’t be often. You could see for yourself, it’s not like we’re swamped at night.”

“Good thing, since you couldn’t have helped anyone the other night, being locked up. I still want to die when I think about the fact we were having sex in the back with the front door to the department unlocked,” I mumble, laying my forehead against his chest and holding him again.

“That wasn’t ideal, but it was still the best night of my life,” he says and I smile as I look up at him.

“I thought you said last night was,” I say with a smirk.

“Well, I said it while your mouth was wrapped around my cock, so it probably was. We may need to try that again—just to make sure.”

“Horn dog,” I laugh, but I’m already more than ready.

“Around you, I am. I really have to go now, though. Luka took Petal out of town to celebrate their anniversary so I need to be there to oversee things.”

“Would it make a difference if I told you that if you stay a little longer I’ll give you my mouth again?”

“Christ woman,” he groans, kissing me hard and fast and taking my mouth with a hunger that leaves me weak in the knees. When it’s done, I’m wet, my nipples are hard and my lips are bruised.

“That’s probably a no,” I tell him shakily, “But it’s the best no I’ve ever had in my life.”

“It’s a hold that thought until I get home,” he grumbles as we walk to the front door. “What are you doing today?” he asks, opening the door.

“Job hunting since I lost out to the other guy for the job I wanted.” I got word on it yesterday. It made me sad. The competitive person inside of me doesn’t like losing out. I want to excel and exceed in everything I do—especially when it comes to my career. It will happen however; I won’t give up.

“I’m sorry, Addie,” Black says, his finger, brushing under my chin. The street lamp outside outlines his body and his eyes are shining brighter than the stars. He truly is beautiful… inside and out, but the “out” makes my mouth water.

“It’s okay. I’ll find something. I have a few leads.

“Are you still looking to leave Mason?”

“I’ll probably have to, Black. Though hopefully I can find some place relatively close and commute.”

“We’ve got a lot to figure out,” he says, his face pensive.

“We do, but we’ll get it,” I assure him. I only know one thing. I’m not giving Black up if I don’t have to. I really do love him—even if I haven’t told him that yet.

“We will. You, keep the doors locked, please?”

“Will do, Boss,” I joke.

“Good to hear you admit it,” he cracks and I roll my eyes heavenward again.

“Whatever,” I say, shaking my head.

He kisses me again, only this time a small touch on my lips.

“One more thing, Addie,” he calls out as he opens his squad car door.

“What’s that?” I ask, busy thinking that this hunk of a man is really warming my bed at night.

“We weren’t just having sex. We were making love, sweetheart. You need to remember that.”

He gets in his car, waving as he drives off. I have no idea if he realizes that his words just caused my heart rate to kick into overdrive.

I close the door once he drives out of sight, locking it and walking over to the couch, like I’m walking on clouds. I pull Kong up in my lap and sigh happily.

“I’m in love, Kong. I can’t remember ever being this happy.” Kong probably doesn’t understand anything I just said, but he burrows his little head against my hand, begging for petting and I pet him. He’s just as commanding as his former owner… but then again, Black wasn’t ever Kong’s owner. Not this Kong. I need to find his dog… I couldn’t imagine how painful it is to love your dog and not be able to find it or even know what happened to him.

I look up as there’s a knock at the door, then I smile. Black’s forgotten something… or came back for my mouth. I put Kong down on the cushion and scramble over to the door, opening it without thinking. It’s not Black’s face at the door, though. It’s Lynn’s.

“Lynn,” I gasp, feeling guilty because I forgot all about her after she gave me a ride to the garage.

“You got back together with your boyfriend,” she says, her voice sounding more than a little angry.

“What? I… yeah, I did. How did you know?” I ask her and small alarm bells are going off in my head.

“I just saw him leave,” she says and I frown.

Has she been watching my apartment?

“Listen Lynn, it’s nice of you to come and check on me, but it’s late and I have to check into some job offers since I lost the one at Amour Fou,” I tell her, anxious for her to leave. For a minute, I allow myself to grieve at the thought of losing out on that job. I can cook circles around the guy they hired. He got the job because he’s good, but also because he’s a man. There’s a big problem in my profession in that it can be sexist, thinking a man can command the kitchen and other chefs better than a woman. It’s depressing, the big dummies. It’s a stupid name for a restaurant anyway.

I pull my thoughts back over to Lynn. The look on her face makes hairs on the back of my neck stand up. She’s more than angry. I don’t even know her, so this reaction is making me back away from the door, in preparation of slamming it shut.

“He’s turning you into his whore,” she sneers and that’s it.

“He’s my boyfriend and I love him. I don’t know you and you have no right to talk to me like that!”

“I can talk to you anyway I want. I thought you had some brains, that you could see through the way he was using you, but clearly I was wrong. He’ll leave you, you know.” Her words hurt, maybe because somewhere in the back of mind, I’m afraid he will. Before I can respond though she walks off. “You’ll regret this, Addie. You’ll regret it more than you ever dreamed possible,” she warns and then gets in her vehicle.

I don’t wait for her to drive off. I close the door and I lock it, making sure to lock the deadbolt too.

For some weird reason Kong is hiding behind a pillow, his body trembling and he’s growling too, but not as ferociously as he does at Black. Apparently Lynn set off warning bells inside of him too. I walk over and pick him up, cuddling him to me.

“There, there. It’s okay. The crazy lady is gone and we’ll never see her again,” I tell him and he licks he side of my face. “Ew… dog germs,” I laugh, petting the mutt.

Inside I’m praying I’m right and I never see Lynn again.