Page 29 of Dirty (Chicago Underground 5)
“It’s the adrenaline rush. After a situation like that, it’s not uncommon for me to stay up half the night.”
“Oh. What do you usually do on those nights?” I had meant watching TV or reading a book but mentally kicked myself, because I had just invited him to tell me about his sex life.
He sounded amused. “That’s a little different. I’d usually finish out my shift, fill out paperwork. If we made an arrest, there’d be processing and questioning. I don’t usually go straight home.”
I tried to match his light tone. “This was your first time doing something illegal, then? How does it feel to be a criminal like me?”
His voice lowered. “It wasn’t my first time doing something criminal.”
“Really?” I sat up a little. “Did you once run a red light? Never say so.”
“Nah. Not without the flashers on.”
“Did you abuse your badge?” I teased. “I can see it now. You pul
l her over. Oh, Officer, I had no idea I was going so fast. Next thing you know, your belt is around your ankles, and she’s out of a speeding ticket.”
“What a flattering portrayal of me,” he said drily.
“Well, I’m out of ideas. I really can’t imagine you breaking the law at all, with the exception of…you know, punching and choking the guy earlier. That was probably illegal.”
“Probably.”
“That was different, though. He was totally baiting you. You had a good reason.”
“All criminals have a good reason.”
I considered that. “I don’t. I did it to get money. That’s hardly a noble cause.”
“You had your reasons. I know you helped Allie.”
“I should be excused, then.” I nodded as if I agreed. “Besides, I didn’t hurt anybody, so that should count for something. What do they call that?”
“A victimless crime.”
“That’s it. Mine was a victimless crime. Except if you talk to the lady who runs the shelter, she’d say I was the victim. Which would make me the victim of my own crime. Isn’t that funny?”
“Fucking hilarious,” he said darkly, turning to leave.
“Wait. I don’t know why I say that stuff.”
He had stopped, facing away. “It’s how you cope, and you don’t have to apologize for it. It’s just… It’s a touchy subject for me.”
Of course it was, because of his sister. And here I was making a joke about it. “I’m sorry. Please stay.”
“You should get some rest.”
“I don’t want to be alone.”
Chapter Fifteen
After a long beat, Luke slid into bed. He didn’t just lie next to me. He wrapped me up in his arms, tucked my body inside his. He was wearing jeans and nothing else, no shirt to shield me from his skin, his maleness. It was more than I was expecting, more than I was prepared for. We were so close, enveloped in each other, and I wasn’t cut out for genuine intimacy. It was suffocating. The backs of my eyelids pricked. I struggled to get away.
He held me tighter. “Shh. I won’t hurt you.”
My laugh was watery. “I think I could stand that better.”
“Yeah,” he said softly. “You probably could. But you can let me hold you.”
