Chapter Two
Slade
A soft giggle from my left wakes me from a deep slumber, causing me to groan in response. “Slade.” Her high-pitched voice grates on my nerves, which doesn’t help the pain I’m experiencing. The thumping in my head feels as if someone’s hammering at my fucking brain. Fingernails trail down my chest, and I know she’s tracing the ink on my pecs.
Slowly, she makes her way over the dips of my abs, moving south, but before she gets to the prize, I grip her wrist, tugging her off me.
“Time to go, sweetheart,” I grunt, pushing off the bed, grumbling in agony. Jesus, this is one killer of a hangover. I don’t remember much from last night, but I do recall white alcohol, the Satan of them all. Fucking tequila.
“You promised to make me breakfast.” Her sickly sweet voice comes from behind me. When I finally turn to the woman in my bed, I find a blonde bimbo, her fake tits peeking at me like a teenager. Jesus. How old is she?
“Not today, sweetheart. Get your ass out of my bed.” I don’t waste another moment looking at her. Sauntering into the kitchen, I turn the kettle on and grab my mug. Spooning in a heaped scoop of coffee, I wait for the water to boil.
I hear her shuffling around behind me, but I don’t pay any attention to the woman I fucked last night. The blonde who I can’t get out of my fucking house soon enough.
Grabbing a bottle of chilled water from the fridge, I swallow two painkillers, hoping they’ll take effect sooner rather than later. I have work to do today and doing it with a hangover is not my idea of fun.
“Will I see you again?” she asks from the hallway.
“Goodbye, blondie. Don’t let the door hit your ass on the way out.”
“You’re such an asshole, Slade Maddox!”
I can’t help chuckling at her outburst. Yeah, don’t I know that, sweetheart. As soon as the door shuts I breathe I sigh of relief. The kettle turns off, and I fill my mug. The promise of caffeine my savior as I sip the hot liquid.
When I step back into my bedroom, there’s clothes all over the floor. The first thing I check is the trash can. Another sigh leaves my lungs when I see a condom in the waste. Thank fuck for small mercies. At least I remembered to do one thing right last night.
* * *
“Maddox.” I turn to find my partner, Kyle, sitting in the drive when I make my way up to the station. I’ve been working with the LAPD for almost ten years. Making detective was what I always wanted, and when they finally gave me the badge, I felt as if I’d made it. Like I’m finally doing something good in this city.
“What’s up, Pritchard.” I nod, as he heads toward his car. He’s dressed in a pair of dark jeans, a light blue shirt, and his hair is a mess. He looks like he’s not had any sleep in weeks. Come to think of it, he probably hasn’t. His wife just left him and he’s still finding his singledom difficult to handle.
“I’m heading out to grab coffee. Want one?”
“Yeah, get me two, make them large, it’s going to be a long shift.” He nods then, turning and heading out to the car.
My own white shirt is already sticking to my skin, with the heat wave that’s hitting the city. As soon as I walk into the air-conditioned building, I find a few cops milling around, and head straight for my office. It’s nothing to write home about, but it’s my personal space.
Flopping into my chair, I pull out my phone and hit dial on my best friend’s number.
“What’s up, Slade?” He answers on the second ring.
“I need a touch up done, can I come in after work?” I ask as my door opens and Kyle strolls in with four large paper cups of coffee. He sets them down on my desk, placing two of them beside my computer.
“Yeah, what time?”
“Five-thirty?”
He’s quiet for a while. I hear pages shuffling and then he responds. “Sounds good. I won’t be here, but Ryn can do it after her back piece. She’ll probably only finish up around that time. She’s fully fledged now and her work is meticulous.” I recall the pretty little blonde.
“I’d like to have her do anything she wants to me,” I answer confidently, only to get a sigh from Jagger in response. He knows me all too well. Yeah, I like women. Yes, I love pussy, and there’s not a damn thing anyone can do about it.
“Just don’t try your shit with her. She’s someone I care for, also, she’s incredibly sweet, not one of those bar bunnies that seem to love the fact that you can cuff them to your bed.”
“I’ll have you know—”
“Slade, I’m serious,” he cuts in, breaking my train of thought, but causing me to nod in agreement. I’ll do anything for him. We’re like brothers and if he says Ryn is off limits, then I’ll stay away.
“Fine. Just put me down for a touch up, but if she jumps me then it will be out of my hands. I mean, I’m irresistible you know.”
“Fuck off, Slade.” He chuckles, hanging up before I can say any more about the beauty that I’m about to taunt tonight. She’s quiet, shy even, but there’s something incredibly sexy about her standoffish way. I do love a challenge.
“You going out for drinks tonight?” Kyle asks, his expression hopeful, but I shake my head.
“No, tonight I have a date with a hot, tattooed blonde, and I have a feeling I’ll be drinking her instead of any alcohol.”
“Do you ever quit? I mean, just last night you had a couple of chicks all over you. Don’t you think there’ll come a day when one woman will knock you off your feet and get you to put a ring on her finger?”
“I’m not stupid, man. Weddings, marriage, all that shit isn’t for me,” I tell him, gulping the coffee that’s now lukewarm. But instead of wasting it, I swallow it down, needing the caffeine to get me through the day.
“Stupid or not, you’ll one day want a kid, a wife, and that’s when you’ll realize what life really is all about.” When I glance up at my partner, I notice the sadness in his eyes. He’s still heartbroken over the wife who decided her boss was a better option than a detective. Luckily, they didn’t have kids yet, or that would have been a fuckup of note.
“Yeah, that’s if I ever find the one who makes me want that. Right now, I’m just enjoying being single and playing the field while I can,” I retort, but deep down, I know if ever that opportunity did present itself, I’d definitely give it a good go.
My parents were the perfect role models, still in love after god knows how long. I think they’ve been together since they were sixteen. That’s dedication. And love.
I’ve just never been in love. Never felt an inkling for it. No woman has made me want to go back or call her the next day. And somehow, I doubt anyone ever will.