Things We Hide from the Light (Knockemout, #2)

by Lucy Score

And not the fun kind,”

“I can’t wiggle out and hold on to her. You’re gonna have to pull me out.”

“Just so you know, I’m picking the option that will do the least amount of damage to your lower back.” “Just grab a handful and pull.”

“Jesus, Nash, I’m giving you consent to haul me out of this drainage pipe by my ass. Get to it!”

“Well, I’ll just be on my way to tell everyone I see how Chief Morgan starts his Saturday morning.” “I’ll arrest you for being a pain in the ass,” I warned him. “Looks like you would know, Chief,”

“You think you could let me go? I’m starting to get ideas that might make our new friend here blush.”

“Congratulations, Daddy. It’s a girl,” Lina said. She slid her phone out of its sleeve and snapped a picture of me. “Stop,” I ordered gruffly. “Don’t worry. I cropped it at the waist so no one will see what kind of weaponry you’re packing,”

The smelly mongrel chose that moment to lick my face from jaw to eyeball.

Not exactly the way I’d seen my morning going. I thought a long run would clear my head, not end up “doggy style” with Nash Morgan.

There was a box of files that I definitely did not need Nash to see on my table. “Yeah, sure,” he said after a beat.

That zing of awareness every time we touched. That wasn’t supposed to be there. I didn’t like spontaneous physical touch. I was always hyperaware of it. But with Nash it felt…different.

“It’s…uh…usually not this cluttered. I’ve been busy lately,” he said, sounding embarrassed. I was now one million percent positive that those wounds of his went deeper than he was letting on.

Sweet and gentlemanly. Definitely not my type. But I had to admit, I liked seeing him riled.

And he was smiling. Like full-on hot-guy smile.

I let out a laugh. Both man and dog turned to look at me.

“Come here, little hairy mermaid.”

You’ve got a lickable face.”

“You found her. You get naming rights.” “She had a collar. She’s probably already got a name.”

“Maybe she deserves a new one. A new name for a fresh start.”

“Think we’ve got ourselves a winner,” Nash agreed.

I was here to do a job, not complicate things by getting cozy with an unfairly hot neighbor.

Literally anyone else.”

But the bigger, louder part of me knew I wasn’t prepared to lead a team. I’d proven that resoundingly. And there was another smaller, barely audible part that was getting tired of shitty motels and endless hours of surveillance. The one that carried the mantle of guilt and frustration for an op gone wrong. The one that might be losing her edge.

I could barely take care of myself. How in the hell was I supposed to take care of a dog?

she’d been living in a drain pipe.

“Okay, weirdo. Let’s go. I’ll save you from the big bad broom.”

It was a fun and productive cycle.

“Christ.” How many gray T-shirts did I need?

Until I’d decided to just embrace that cold, dark emptiness. To wallow in it. To see how long I could survive in its murky depths.

If I could squeeze in a shower and a shave, it would be enough.

My body was healing, at least on the outside. But it was my mind I worried about. Losing one’s mind and embracing a downward spiral unfortunately ran in the family.

I hadn’t gotten hard since getting myself shot. Not until this morning…with her. My cock thickened as arousal kindled in me.

Desire had me by the throat and balls. It was dragging me out of the dark and into the fire. Toward her. I couldn’t help myself. I needed more.

My hand in her hair guiding her as she got on her knees for me and made me human again. Her surrender would make me feel powerful, strong, alive. I’d feel guilty about the fantasy later, I promised myself. Just a few strokes to make sure that I was still whole, that everything still worked. A few strokes and I’d turn the water to cold.

This was wrong. But it felt so fucking good and I needed good.

But that dark desire was better than the void.

“Fuck yes, angel.”

While she needed me to make her come. “Nash.” I could almost hear her breathe my name as it built between us. As her sweet pussy got tighter and tighter around me.

There was something about her that reminded me of the nice, cool girls in high school. I’d once been a member of that exclusive club.

Sloane crossed her arms, feigning irritation. “Excuse me, Mr. McCord. I thought I was your Sunday morning flirtation.”

I’m gonna go downstairs and flirt with a queen or two.”

Small-town romance hot enough to make you blush?”

Technically that part wasn’t a lie. Exactly.

Note to self: Avoid men who make you stupid.

“One weekend five or so years ago and you think you know my taste in books?”

Nice mustache, by the way,” I teased. He smoothed his finger and thumb over it. “Wanna take it for a spin later?”

“Angel and I are close,” Nash drawled without looking away from me. Angel? I was the Angel from Nash’s shower fantasy?

“She always was a sucker for law enforcement,”

But it wasn’t nearly as sexy when the fight was actually a jurisdictional pissing match and I was just a pawn.

I got in, the sooner I could get out and go home and be bitchy alone.