Part 11 (1/2)

I told her that things had changed, that you werent a client, that youre my woman. Securing the house was something I did for you, because you still called this dump your place.

I felt my eyes go big. Everything he said made sense.

I dont know what the f.u.c.k is up with Nene, but after Osi reported what was on the tape, shes no longer in my employ.

You fired her? I couldnt help it, I smiled a little.

I thought that you were having a good time with your girl, Zoe, and I was happy for you. But it got late, and I asked Nene if youd called, although I knew youd call my cell. She told me that youd stopped in but had left. Something about her story didnt feel right. Rick and Osi came in when I was questioning her, and Rick went ballistic. He swore something was up.

I continued watching him as he told me his side of the story.

Nice move by the way, ditching your cell and your purse. We had trackers on both. It took us a bit to figure that one out. He flashed a little smile at my smarts. Didnt expect you to know to do that. We wont underestimate you again. The look he gave me made me feel certain that there wouldnt be another again.

I couldnt cover my smile at that.

Jenn was working the phones, and Zoe told me Nene had been a b.i.t.c.h from the start, unprovoked. The pieces started coming together. Rick and I hit the streets while Osi questioned Nene. It didnt take him long to get her to crack.

I didnt want to think what Osi did to get Nene to crack. He was tall and of slighter build than Forde and Rick. His chocolate skin was covered in tats. He favored skulls, dragons, and vipers. Id tried to study them on the day hed had babysitting duty. I was more than a little afraid of him. He looked at me with eyes that held no emotion. Hed spoken little and had spent most of the day tracking me anytime I moved. It was unnerving to say the least. I spent the majority of that time glued to the corner of the sectional.

You need to learn this about me. I wont lie to you, Lay. I said those things to you, made promises, because I meant them. His eyes had gone almost black in the waning light.

Forde, I dont think thisthis thing, is going to work out between us, I said, trying to get through to him.

He moved so fast, that before I could react, his mouth was on mine, kissing me. It wasnt a nice kiss. It was hard and angry. His hand went to the back of my head, and his fingers dug into my hair, hard. I tried to keep his tongue out of my mouth. He used one hand to press on the hinges of my jaw.

I had to open, or he was going to drill those fingers through my skin.

I got p.i.s.sed”mad that I was falling for him, and that it could make me hurt so much. Id promised myself Id never be stupid in love again. I went up on my knees beside him and grabbed a handful of his hair. I took over the kiss for a moment. I s.h.i.+fted my head so I had more access to his mouth, because I wanted to be the one taking for once.

He let me take over for a bit, and then he pulled me onto his thighs, so that I was straddling him. By this time, our hands were all over one another, and I was making noises deep in my throat.

When he gripped a fistful of my hair and repositioned my head, it stung. I liked it. Id never been manhandled like this before, and I wanted more.

We looked into each others eyes. The house was now dark, but there was moonlight coming through the new windows; the drapes were gone.

That wasnt a lie. You have to know that, Lay. His grip didnt loosen.

You cant be sure so soon. I told him as I tried to climb off of his lap.

Dont, he said, biting out the order. I love you. You have to feel it, in here, he touched my chest where my heart was pounding, and here. He moved lower and palmed my mound.

A small moan escaped. Forde, I breathed.

Love you, Lay. He kissed me again.

I surrendered to him. G.o.d, the man knew how to kiss. I showed him my appreciation by s.h.i.+fting closer to him. Rubbing my mound against his c.o.c.k and my b.o.o.bs against his chest, I was so hungry for his touch.

Id never acted like this before. I liked s.e.x, but Id never initiated it. Usually, it took me a little bit of time to get into it. Not so with Forde. I felt like my body was on fire, and the only way to quench it was for him to be inside of me.

I was kissing his neck when the worlds greatest idea popped into my head. Theres a bed upstairs.

I heard his chuckle. I pulled back so that I could see his face.

You want my c.o.c.k bad. He looked like he was feeling victorious.

I started to climb off of him. If you arent that interested I made it to my feet, and I put my hand on my hip. You can go.

Lay, Im so hard I hurt.

Of course, I had to look, and that made me think about a naked Forde inside of me. I made a frustrated sound.

He stood. Lets go to my place. Beds bigger. He moved closer to me.

What, you dont want to do it in a twin-size bed? Even I laughed at that thought.

No He didnt get to finish his thought.

I heard gla.s.s breaking, something hit the wooden floor, then a whoosh sound. I whipped around and stared.

Forde went into action hero mode. He grabbed my arm and gave it a yank to break my stupor. Layla, weve got to move before this place goes up in flames.

I looked at the fire that was now surrounding the object that had come through the window. I asked stupidly, Whats happening?

The other new window broke, and now, I could smell the gasoline. My nose immediately started to burn. Somebody was trying to burn the house down.

Forde yanked harder on my good arm. Babe, come on. Dont let go of my hand, but if I tell you to run, you go. Hear me?

I watched Forde pull a gun from the holster he wore at the small of his back. But”

s.h.i.+ts getting real. I dont know whats outside. You do what I say.

He didnt wait for my answer. We started moving, hugging the wall toward the back of the house. Its incredible how fast the house was filling with smoke. My eyes were watering from the burn, and I kept blinking trying to clear them. It was getting hard to breathe.

At the back door, Forde moved my hand to his waistband at the back of his cargo pants while he unlocked the deadbolt. When we get out, stay with me. He took my hand again and threw open the door.

We paused at the side of the door. It took everything I had not to push through, out into the clean air. My lungs were burning. It hurt to breathe.

Come on. I dont know if he actually said the words or if I imagined them. I held onto his hand tightly as we ran across the meager backyard area and into the alley. Forde turned left and kept to the shadows. Two houses down, we cut through the side yard and paused, leaning against their front porch. I bent over at the waist. It felt like I couldnt get enough air into my lungs. My ribs rebelled, but I didnt care.

I felt his hand run up and down my spine. Easy breaths. Try to take easy breaths.

I was shaking all over and freaking out, still choking on every deep inhale of air. Wed almost been burned alive.

Forde spoke into his cell. Yeah, somebody just firebombed Laylas rental. Send fire and an ambulance. She needs some oxygen.

I straightened and leaned against his side.

He pulled me in closer as he finished his call.

That wasfire. Oh my G.o.d, we couldve been burned up in there. I wasnt making sense. I was terrified, and yet, I felt safe in his arms.