Cop's Passion Read online

  Maddy cried out, his name a ragged almost-scream as she joined him, her sheath gripping his shaft hard, her thighs clamped against his sides as she pushed up into him.

  His heart beat thundering in his ears, carnal pleasure overtaking him, of only one thing was Mike certain and that was that he’d never felt so bloody complete in his whole life.

  And then everything splintered apart as their combined climax shook him to his core then thrust him outward to ride the rapturous orgasm.

  ~*~

  Floating down through the soft layers of the after-glow, Maddy smiled dreamily as she felt Mike nestle closer against her. His body was big, hard, and she loved the sensation of him above her, surrounding her, protective and warm. She felt him nuzzle her neck before he dropped a light kiss on her damp skin.

  In response she slowly stroked her hand down his back, feeling him shift slightly in response before he nestled just a little closer, something she’d thought impossible to do until he proved her wrong.

  Still floating in the golden aftermath, she dimly registered the phone and then the cutting in of the answering machine.

  “Maddy, this is Mum.”

  She opened her eyes a little. Her mother?

  “Now don’t be silly, darling. You know Belinda didn’t mean to upset you today. She means well.”

  Maddy opened her eyes fully, all pleasant drifting torn away.

  “She’s just concerned about you and wants to see you happy.”

  Sensing her sudden stiffening, Mike lifted his head to gaze down at her. “Maddy?”

  Not wanting him to hear whatever might be said next, Maddy struggled to get up. “Let me up. Quick.”

  “What’s wrong?” His position seemed to change even though he didn’t shift from her, but she felt the tension in him, the hardening of the muscles in his body as he glanced around the room.

  “Mike, please.” She couldn’t bear it, she’d die of absolute humiliation if he heard anything about-

  “Come on, honey,” her mother continued. “Belinda didn’t mean to imply that you’re, well, a bigger than average girl.”

  In the act of finally pushing up, Mike stopped to frown down at her.

  Oh God, she was going to die. Maddy shoved against his shoulders. “Let me up!”

  “I’m sure her friend understands that you’re just sensitive about your weight.” The bloody words kept coming over loud and clear from the answering machine. “But honey, being a big girl doesn’t mean you can’t date and get to know a nice man. Really.”

  Now Mike’s gaze was intent on her face as he listened to the blunt words. If dying of humiliation was really possible, Maddy would be a corpse right now. Unfortunately, life didn’t work like that and she could only avoid his gaze and shove against him again while trying to get up. “Damn it, Mike, let me the hell up!”

  The bloody Neanderthal didn’t move an inch. He just continued to study her face before sliding his gaze down over her throat and shoulders and back up again.

  “Oh, Darren’s here,” her mother continued blithely. “He says to tell you ‘hi’ and he knows of a good weight loss clinic that could - oh Darren!” Her mother finally realised what she’d been relaying. “Anyway, Maddy, honey, don’t be silly and sulk. Call me back.” The answering machine clicking off stopped the muffled male laughter that sounded behind her mother’s parting words.

  Well, this was just dandy. Cheeks burning, Maddy avoided Mike’s steady regard. “Let me up.”

  What a surprise, the big boofhead didn’t move an inch. One big hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb playing over the rosiness. “What was that all about?”

  Cripes, did he really want her to spell it out for him? Maddy glared up at him. “Nothing. Now, do you mind…?”

  “Actually, yes, I do.”

  “Tough. Now get off me.”

  Bracing his elbows one each side of her, he continued to gaze down at her.

  In the quietness of her lounge room, their combined breathing was an intimate whisper. She was extremely aware of him the longer they gazed into each other’s eyes. The heat of his big body resting atop hers, their closeness, their…oh, God, he was still inside her!

  The awareness hit her suddenly, causing her breath to hitch. He was inside her. Mike was inside her!

  “Oh my God,” she whispered. “What have we done?”

  Chapter Four

  There was a flicker in his eyes, a bemused expression that fleetingly crossed his hard, handsome features, and now she was so humiliated she just wanted one thing, and that was to be alone.

  “Get off me,” she repeated, a mild thread of panic running through her.

  “Maddy, it’s all right-”

  “Get off. Get off off off!” She shoved against his chest and started to struggle.

  “Maddy-”

  “Mike!”

  Jaw tight, he pulled back, both of them freezing for a split second at the sensation of his shaft pulling free from her sheath, and they stared at each other before Maddy, completely overcome, opened her mouth to beg him to get off.

  She didn’t get the chance. Mike swung off her lithely, pushing to his feet, his hands reaching down to pull his boxers and shorts up his muscled thighs while she scrambled to her own feet beside him. Yanking her dress down from around her waist, she smoothed the length against her legs with trembling hands.

  Chaz chose that moment to come prancing happily through the doorway with - oh, may mortification completely kill her right now - the tag of her lacy, torn panties in his mouth with the rest dragging behind him. Nattering happily to her, he jumped onto the back of the sofa, still with the damning piece of lacy article in his mouth, and widened his blue eyes proudly.

  Expression inscrutable, Mike walked over to Chaz and took the panties in one hand. Chaz relinquished it happily after Mike gave him a rough scratch behind his ears.

  Crossing back to stand before her, Mike silently held out his hand and even her plus-sized knickers looked almost fragile in his big clasp.

  Swallowing, she took them quickly and put them behind her back, balling them up in one fist.

  He was still standing before her, but she couldn’t meet his eyes.

  “Maddy,” he said, his deep rumble seeming to almost fill the silent room.

  “I want you to go.” Her voice trembled.

  “We need to talk.”

  She shook her head.

  “Look at me.” When she didn’t obey, he added in that rumble, “Please.”

  It took all her grit to lift her gaze to just his strong jaw line. “Please, Mike, just go.”

  “Not until I know that I didn’t hurt you.”

  Startled, she looked directly up into his eyes. Why on earth would he ask such a question?

  “Maddy.” He started to lift his hand.

  A horn hooted out the front, a merry musical note that wasn’t heard on most modern cars nowadays, and it was with a mixture of feelings that Maddy recognized it.

  Mike frowned towards the window as the musical note sounded again, followed by a car door slamming.

  Relieved, Maddy hurried out of the lounge room and down the passage, more than conscious of Mike following behind her. Throwing open the front door, she was met by her best friend running up the stairs with a bunch of bags in her hands.

  “Mads!” she screamed in delight, and dropping the bags to the veranda floor, she launched herself into Maddy’s arms.

  Maddy was thrown back by her friend in full launch mode against her. Big hands steadied her from behind before withdrawing, and Maddy hugged her best friend without danger of ending up on the floor, which had happened several times in the past.

  “Mads!” Cindy bubbled with joy. “I had the best time in Italy and I’ve bought you scads of presents and photos and - hello.” Stepping back, Cindy looked up over Maddy’s shoulder, her questioning gaze going from Maddy to Mike.

  “This is Mike,” Maddy said, keeping her attention deliberately focussed on her friend. “He
’s my neighbour.”

  Beaming, Cindy held out her small hand. “Hello, Mike. I’m Cindy.”

  “Cindy.” Mike shook her hand carefully before releasing it.

  Bending down, Maddy started to gather up the dropped bags as an excuse not to look at him. “He was just leaving.” And then she was horrified to find that she still gripped her panties in one hand.

  “Oh, I’m sorry, did I interrupt something?” Cindy smiled brightly, completely oblivious to the undercurrents that Maddy certainly felt washing between herself and Mike.

  “No, of course not,” Maddy said quickly, just as Mike rumbled, “Just a little business that isn’t finished yet.”

  That made Maddy look up just in time to see him drop down to one knee and gather the remainder of the bags up. He glanced at her hand gripping her panties then up to her horrified expression, and without pause he swiftly plucked the lacy garment from her hand, pocketed it and then taking her elbow in one hand, he easily lifted her to a standing position as he straightened, placing the handles of the bags in her now empty hand once they were both upright.

  Pale blue eyes boring right into her with a resolute glitter, he said quietly, “And this business will be finished, you can count on it.” Then he turned, stepped down off the veranda, and strode away up the path. With her panties in his pocket.

  Oh God, she felt…flushed. Maddy could feel the warmth on her elbow as though he still gripped it, and she swallowed against the rush of mixed alarm and forbidden thrill that his words, tone, and eyes had promised.

  Oh no, this business wasn’t finished between them, not if Mike had his way.

  “My oh my.” Cindy sucked in her breath and placed one hand on her chest. “What a deliciously, dangerous hunk.” She giggled, then in typical Cindy fashion, grabbed Maddy’s arm and squealed, “I can’t wait to catch up on everything, Mads! I’ve missed you while I’ve been away!”

  More than happy to be diverted from her turbulent emotions, and exceedingly happy to see her friend again, Maddy started to lead Cindy through the doorway, only to have her delighted friend insist on linking arms with her and ending up with them both tumbling through the doorway in laughter.

  Cindy headed straight for the kitchen, one of her favourite places in the house, and Maddy was secretly glad. She wasn’t sure she could ever look at her sofa again in quite the same way.

  Grabbing the bags from Maddy’s hands, Cindy piled them on the kitchen bench while Maddy discreetly excused herself on the pretence of going to the bathroom but dashed to the bedroom to put on a pair of panties. Cindy chatted gaily about her holiday in Italy while Maddy poured out Diet Coke into glasses and opened a packet of Tim Tams. Taking the food and drinks to the table, she watched her friend talking animatedly.

  Best friends since primary school, Cindy had always been built like an over-blown hour-glass. It didn’t stop her love of clothes and shopping, and she always wore tight-fitting dresses and tops and pants, high heels, and full make-up. Her currently red-dyed hair was fastened in a sloppy top-knot that allowed long, curling strands of hair to trail down her back and over her shoulders. Tanned, busty, hippy, and bursting with life and energy, she worked hard, lived fast, and enjoyed life to its fullest.

  Today she was dressed in flowing, long shorts, a tight tank top, and strapless high heels. Maddy had long gotten over her fear that Cindy would fall arse over tit while prancing around in stilettos, it just never happened.

  As soon as she placed the glasses and biscuits on the table, Cindy took a mouthful of Diet Coke, swallowed fast, and bit into a Tim Tam.

  “Oh gosh,” she moaned, eyes closed, “How I’ve missed good tucker!”

  “I’m sure the cuisines in Italy were palatable,” Maddy said dryly.

  “But nothing beats Tim Tams and Diet Coke,” Cindy replied. At the sound of bags crinkling, she turned to see Chaz’s backside sticking out of a bag as he investigated the contents. “Chaz! Baby!” she squealed, and dived towards the bag to swoop a startled Chaz up into her arms and smother his seal face with kisses.

  Maddy had to choke back a laugh at the panicked look on Chaz’s face, his blue eyes wide as he pushed with all his might against Cindy’s arms.

  “Dookums!” Cindy squeezed him, and Chaz looked like his eyes were going to pop out of his head. “Did you miss Aunty Cindy? Huh? Did you? I got a present for you.” Swinging him under one arm, she dove her other arm into a blue bag and rummaged around, while Chaz frantically tried to grab onto anything in sight. Pulling out a toy, stuffed mouse, she waved it in front of his nose.

  Immediately he stopped struggling, his eyes focussing on it in interest.

  “Here you go.” Cindy tossed it through the kitchen door, releasing Chaz at the same time. She laughed as he rushed out of the kitchen after it. Turning back to Maddy, she explained, “Catnip mouse.”

  “You brought that from Italy?”

  “No. I picked it up at the pet shop on the way here.”

  “Trying to buy his affections, tut-tut.”

  “One day he’ll appreciate my kisses. Besides, I couldn’t not bring him a present, could I?” Beaming, she delved into another bag. “Speaking of which, I got you a few little things.”

  “Cindy, really, you didn’t have to get me anything.” Maddy protested just as she’d protested many times before, and just as many times before, Cindy waved a hand at her.

  “Nothing gives me greater pleasure than shopping for my friends.” Whipping her hand out of the bag, Cindy held up a pink bit of, well, nothing but scraps of lace that Maddy could tell, and tossed it to her. “This is for you.”

  “Wow, thanks.” Maddy fumbled and finally held it up. “A short nightie. See-through. Golly.” She started to laugh, the gift was so Cindy.

  “It matches these.” A pair of scanty pink panties flew through the air to land on Maddy’s head.

  “I think I’d lose it between the crack of my bum cheeks.” Maddy admired it dutifully. “But it’s a nice thing to lose between my bum cheeks, I have to say.”

  “I’ve got one just like it in blue.” Cindy beamed. “We could have a sleepover!”

  “Every dirty man’s wet dream.”

  Disregarding Maddy’s laughter, Cindy delved through the bags and by the time she’d finished, there was a lovely assortment of gifts on the table. Some Maddy laughed at, but there were a couple of truly thoughtful gifts that she’d treasure.

  Getting up, she hugged Cindy. “Thank you, chicken. But truly, your being back is all the gift I need.”

  “Aw.” Cindy hugged her back. “It’s my pleasure.”

  After several seconds, Maddy resumed her seat and Cindy dropped down in the chair opposite her.

  “So tell me all about Italy,” Maddy demanded. “The city, the history, the people, everything.”

  Retrieving her camera from her handbag, Cindy shuffled her chair around so that she sat beside Maddy, and she proceeded to flick through the photos, talking the whole time about each photo, where she’d taken it, and what or who it was about. In between Maddy got up and replenished their glasses of Diet Coke and the Tim Tams.

  As night drew in they sent out for pizza, and while they waited for it to arrive, Maddy took Cindy with her to see the kitten while Maddy fed it.

  To be truthful, she was glad that Cindy was with her, for she knew that Mike wouldn’t approach her while she had company. Call her a coward, but right then she didn’t want to meet him face-to-face. She could swear she felt him watching her, though a sneak peek towards his back windows showed nothing.

  The kitten watched from the doorway of the shed as she refilled the water bowl and placed a dish of tinned kitten food beside it. It didn’t move away but it did give several small meows and stand up, which was promising, and when she and Cindy backed away a little, it warily approached the plate and ate, keeping a close eye on them but not as afraid as it had been in the past.

  “So cute,” Cindy whispered. “Got a home for it yet?”

  “No.�
�

  “What about Big and Dangerous? He looks like he could do with a soft touch.”

  “Trust me, he doesn’t want it.”

  “He hasn’t chased it away.” Curiously, Cindy glanced at the house. “He lets it stay?”

  “Mike lets it stay here and me feed it until I get it a home.”

  “Huh. That’s kind of him.”

  “Yeah, he has that streak.” Maddy watched the kitten, resolutely pushing her troubling thoughts away to mull over later.

  They watched until the kitten disappeared into the shed for the night before heading back to the side gate.

  They had just reached it when Mike’s voice stopped them. “Maddy.”

  She looked around to see him standing near the back corner of the garage, leaning one big shoulder against it as he regarded her.

  Mike nodded politely to Cindy before returning his gaze to Maddy.

  “Yes?” It took all her gumption to look directly into his eyes, and she fought the blush that threatened to bloom at the memory of those piercing eyes looking down at her hotly, burning with passion.

  She pressed her thighs together against a sudden roil of warmth in her loins.

  “Buy a mobile phone,” he said coolly. “And lock your door when you’re home.”

  That was like a bucket of ice water on her heating emotions and she glared at him.

  He arched one brow in that bloody way he had that infuriated her, straightened and walked back around the house.

  “Arsehole,” she snapped before she could stop herself.

  “Whoa,” said Cindy.

  Shaking her head, Maddy opened the gate and headed back home with her friend on her heels.

  “So what’s the story with you and Mike?” Cindy asked as they entered the house.

  “Nothing.” Maddy clicked the lock in place as she’d normally do, except when he’d stormed in earlier, of course, because she just had to give him something else to moan about. “He just thinks he knows what’s good for me.”