His eyes didn’t stray from me as he spoke on the phone.
I thought I could hear a man on the other line, and it didn’t sound like he was speaking any language I understood.
“When did you last see him?” Allister was quiet for a while before a spark of frustration lit in his eyes. “I’ll be there tomorrow.” He hung up.
Silence swept into the room.
This was over.
Disappointment . . . and something heavier flooded me.
But then he dropped to his haunches in front of me, ran a hand across my cheek, and kissed me. Shock and warmth erupted in my chest. I moaned, wrapped my arms around his shoulders, and climbed onto him until I sat on his thighs. He tasted so good, so addictive. And I savored every lick and dip, every press of our lips. He kissed me without any reservation, like he had a right to, like I was his.
The kiss became different than any I’d ever experienced. More gentle . . . more momentous, and I didn’t like that. I reached for his belt, but he stopped me with a vise grip on my wrist.
“Allister,” I begged.
“I just had my tongue inside you,” he said, annoyed. “You can start calling me by my first name.”
I opened my mouth. Closed it.
His eyes darkened as he took in my expression. “You forgot my name.”
When I didn’t deny it, he shook his head and then dropped me on my ass on the bed. Oh, God, what was it? I’d been tipsy when I’d asked him a while ago, and it hadn’t helped that I only ever referred to him as Allister or Officer.
“I have to go away for a while,” he said, slipping his suit jacket on. “You can stay here tonight, or I’ll take you home.”
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Do your goddamn homework before getting in someone’s bed, Gianna.”
I narrowed my eyes. “You know the name of every woman you sleep with?”
“Yes.”
I sighed, suddenly feeling very naked. And tired. I didn’t want to go to my apartment, not tonight. Magdalena only came by a few times a week, and it was lonely there.
“I’d like to stay here,” I murmured.
He stopped in front of me. “We’ll talk about this when I get back.”
“This?”
“Us.”
Oh. A myriad of confusing feelings rushed me at once, so I decided to avoid all of them.
“Do you have a decent cereal selection?”
He ran a thumb across my cheek. “You won’t forget me.” It was an order, but a tiny amount of vulnerability showed through. It warmed my chest. My hair was a mess, the hair tie slipping halfway down my ponytail. He pulled it from the messy locks and then put it in his pocket.
“How could someone ever forget your face?” I said.
For some reason, he thought that was funny. A smile touched the corner of his lips, and it was so sexy I stood up and kissed him. He made a noise of disapproval in the back of his throat, but he let me have that kiss. Soft, wet, and sweet.
He slipped a business card into my hand. “Call this number if you need anything.”
“Sure thing, Officer.”