Hey guys, here's Chapter 40! I hope you enjoy it. Sorry this took so long, real life got in the way, then I wasn't feeling well for awhile. As always, this is a world without STI's, and everyone involved in sexual activity is at least eighteen years old.
-Witty
~Steven~
My thumbs tap on the steering wheel as I listen to music while sitting at a red light. I may be a rich guy, but no one can tell by my car. It's a standard four door sedan. Nothing fancy, just something reliable and practical. It gets me from one place to another, this is all I need.
It's Friday, and I'm stuck in traffic as I drive to a local restaurant for lunch. Yeah, Stacey is sad that I'm missing our usual lunch, but she understands. At least, I think she does. After all, she and I are having dinner tonight with our girlfriends.
I sigh as I think about everything going on with Stacey and Lexi. I love both girls, but Lexi is the one I truly want to be with. Stacey is still hurt by this, but at least she is official with April now. For her part, April is still angry at me for hurting Stacey. Lexi? Lexi still has her own hang ups. Hopefully, the four of us can reach an understanding and be friends.
A loud honk jerks me back to reality. Shit, the light's green! I take my foot off the brake and lightly press down on the gas. Looking in the rear view mirror, I see the guy in the car behind me waving his middle finger. I let out a breath as I roll my eyes and shake my head.
Several minutes later, I'm pulling into the parking lot of the locally owned bar and grill. Nothing fancy, but it's a nice place that I eat at occasionally. Good food, great prices, nice atmosphere. Only downside is that it is always crowded.
Once I'm inside, I get a table for two and am shown to it by the hostess. When I sit down, I pull out my phone and text that I am here. The waitress arrives and sets down some bread on the table. Then I order two sodas as I wait, one of them diet. While waiting, I send a few texts; to Nicole, to Lexi, to my daughter. I even send a message to Stacey, telling her I hope she enjoys her own lunch.
"Steven! Hi!" a cute, female voice calls out, drawing my attention away from my phone.
"Hey, Sarah." I reply with a charming smile as I stand up and open my arms for a hug.
"Thanks for meeting me." Sarah says as she hugs me tight.
"It's my pleasure." I respond while squeezing her petite frame against me.
The hug breaks, and I pull out Sarah's chair while gesturing politely for her to sit down. She smiles at me and takes a seat. She's looking lovely today with her light brown hair in a short ponytail, revealing the entirety of her kind face. Sarah is wearing a brown jacket, which is concealing her gun and badge. I'm in one of my usual business suits.
"You look very handsome today." Sarah comments before taking a sip of her diet soda, her eyes never leaving mine as she cutely holds the straw to her lips.
"And you're a vision, as always." I nod as I give her another winning smile.
"Nah, I look like a cop." Sarah tells me.
"You do not look like a cop!" I laugh. "With your baby face, you cold pass for a high school student."
"You're full of shit." Sarah rolls her eyes playfully. "I'm almost thirty!"
"And I'm forty." I snort. "You're flirting with an old man!"
"You call this flirting?" Sarah wonders as I feel her run her foot against my calf.
"You did ask me out." I shrug.
"I did not!" Sarah giggles. "I just asked if you'd meet me for lunch!"
"On a date." I point out.
"I never used that word." Sarah insists.
"Why not?" I inquire with a raised eyebrow. "You said I was handsome."
"You are handsome." Sarah agrees with a sharp nod. "You're also being a brat!"
"Me? No way!" I exclaim in mock offense as I place my hand over my heart. "I'm just a guy on a date with a beautiful, young woman."
Sarah responds by sticking out her tongue at me before taking another sip of her drink. Before I can follow up, the waitress arrives to take our orders. I ask for a cheeseburger and fries, while Sarah requests a chicken salad. The waitress makes her exit and we resume our conversation.
"So, why'd you ask me out?" I inquire, continuing to tease the detective.
"Oh, just let it go!" Sarah laughs. "I didn't ask you out, I just wanted to have lunch with my friend."
"Your friend with benefits." I point out.
"Mm, they're great benefits, too." she licks her upper lip. "Still, this isn't a date."
"I know, I'm just teasing you." I smile.
"I appreciate it." Sarah states, her smile faltering. "I need it."
"Rough week?" I inquire as I cut a piece of bread in half. I butter both pieces before handing one to Sarah.
"You could say that." she answers carefully before taking a bite of bread.
"Do you wanna talk about it?" I offer.
"Maybe." Sarah whispers as she looks down at her bread.
"Sarah," I begin as I reach out and touch her arm reassuringly, "I take the 'friend' part of 'friends with benefits' very seriously. I'm your friend."
"I appreciate that." she replies. "I don't have a lot of friends. The job keeps me so busy."
"Well, thank you for taking the time to meet me for lunch." I smirk.
"You're welcome." Sarah responds.
The table falls silent. We spend a few minutes polishing off our bread and sipping on our drinks. I don't know Sarah very well yet, but I already care a lot about her. I'm happy to give her the time she needs, and I'm here when she's ready to talk.
"I handle a lot of certain types of cases." Sarah eventually says.
"What does that mean?" I frown in confusion.
"I'm the only female detective in the precinct," she explains, "so rape victims, kids, well, I'm the one assigned to talk to them. They usually find it easier to talk to a woman."
"I can understand that." I nod. "I know I'm grateful Kayla and Lexi had you advocating for them."
"It was my pleasure." Sarah gives me a strong smile, despite the tears in her eyes. "Anyway, we got a call from the local elementary school, a kid with bruises."
"I see." I let out a breath, dreading where this is going.
I let Sarah tell her story, tears streaming down her face the entire time. It's heartbreaking, and I almost start crying myself, but I stay strong for Sarah. Her small hand is in mine as she describes the horror. I want to go out and deal with those sorry excuses for parents myself.
"Okay, I have a chicken salad." the waitress announces, causing Sarah to fall silent.
"That's mine." Sarah speaks up, pulling her hand out of mine to wipe away her tears.
"Here you go." the waitress says as she sets the salad down in front of Sarah. "And I have a burger and fries."
"Right here." I state with a smile as I take my plate.
"Can I get you anything else?" the young woman asks.
"I think we're all set, thanks." I reply politely.
"Okay, enjoy!" the waitress exclaims before turning and walking away.
"How can you be in such great shape when you eat crap like that?" Sarah wonders when I take a big bite of my burger.
"I work out every day." I answer with a shrug after swallowing.
"Yeah, so do I, and I eat healthy." she follows up with. "And you're probably still in better shape than I am."
"You're in amazing shape, Sarah." I insist. "And your meal isn't completely healthy. I've heard that diet soda is as bad for, if not worse for you, than regular."
"Okay, fair point." Sarah laughs. "But I only have one once in awhile!"
"And I usually eat very well." I counter. "Sometimes a guy just wants a good burger."
"Fine, fine!" Sarah giggles cutely as she holds up her salad-laden fork. "Thanks for listening, by the way."
"Made me want to go out and find those parents." I admit with a sigh.
"Yeah, the interrogation was tough for me." she lets out a breath before popping her fork into her mouth.
"I can't imagine doing your job." I say with a shake of my head.
"And I can't imagine yours." Sarah replies. "All those boring spreadsheets."
"Those boring spreadsheets result in big numbers in my bank accounts." I retort.
"That's fair." she nods.
Sarah and I keep talking as we eat. She's such a pleasant person to be around, and her mood seems to improve as we chat. Sarah is smiling as she continues to tease me and ask questions about my life. I'm glad I can be a listening ear for my friend, someone she can talk to, someone who can cheer her up just with my presence.
"I've been meaning to ask," I begin at one point, "what happened with David's bail? I thought it would be revoked for sure."
"It was the judge David got." Sarah says darkly. "He's famous for light sentences. David insisted he didn't do anything that day in school and Kelsey wouldn't testify. I'm sorry. I really am. I hate that Kayla has to see that bastard every day."
"I hate it, too." I sigh. "At least there's only a few weeks left until graduation."
"That's true." she nods. "And David can't go to graduation, right?"
"No, he definitely can't." I respond.
We're soon finished eating, and neither of us wants dessert. The waitress brings the bill, and Sarah and I argue about who is paying. Sarah wants to pay for me, I want to pay for her. We compromise and split the bill, leaving a very generous tip.
"You should have let me pay, I invited you!" Sarah giggles as we leave the restaurant, her arm looped through mine.
"And I love treating a beautiful woman to a nice meal." I respond.
"Always so charming." Sarah nudges me with her hip. "And sweet."
"Or maybe I'm just trying to get in your pants." I suggest.
"We both know it's more than that." she whispers as we make it to her car.
Sarah stands in front of me and places a hand on my cheek. With my hands on her hips, I lean in and capture her lips. The detective lets out a happy moan as she passionately kisses me back. I can feel her tongue pushing between my lips and into my mouth.
For several minutes, we continue making out with enthusiasm. I can feel Sarah's gun as I slide my hands around her body to cup her tight ass. Damn, this girl has firm butt cheeks. Sarah's fingers caress my cheek as she rests her other hand on my chest.
"I want you inside me." Sarah husks against my lips.
"I want that, too," I whisper, "but we both have to get back to work."
"Let's get in the back seat." she suggests as she leans up to nibble on my ear. "I'll suck your dick."
"Anyone could see us." I reason as I squeeze her buns.
"I don't care." Sarah replies urgently. "I don't care!"
"Why, Detective McLorn," I say teasingly, "do you have an exhibitionist streak?"
"Maybe." she giggles and shrugs her shoulders. "Or maybe I just love your cock that much."
We continue kissing next to her car. I feel like a horny teenager, not caring who is around, needing Sarah right here, right now. She hits the remote on her car, unlocking it. As she's pulling the back door open, her phone goes off. Sarah breaks the kiss with obvious annoyance.
I look around as Sarah checks her phone. There are people milling about, some going into the restaurant, others leaving it. An older woman rolls her eyes at me as she passes, making me smirk. She doesn't approve. I guess she has a point, making out and groping in public isn't very mature of Sarah and I.
"Fuck, I'm being called in." she hisses.
"Another time?" I suggest with a sigh as I give her bum a playful smack before pulling my hands off of her.
"Yeah," Sarah nods rapidly, "yeah, definitely."
