Mate Undercovers

So… Your Place or Mine?

Abby’s POV

“Kiera, can I have another one of these please?” I ask, holding up the empty beer bottle in her direction.

“Sure… anything for one of New York’s finest.” she answers, opening a bottle and setting it down in front of me.

I cover my mouth and yawn before rubbing my fingers over my aching forehead.

“Not that I don’t love your company, Abby, but you look like a f*****g zombie tonight. Why don’t you head home and get some sleep? It’s almost closing time anyway.” Kiera states with concern, wiping down the bar area around me.

“I’m waiting for some news on Mick. I’ll go home once I know what going on, promise Kiera.”

“Good because Jane has already text me to ask if you are still here.”

“God, if she asks again tell her I’ve gone home or she’ll come down here in her pyjamas.”

“Yeah, that’s exactly what I was thinking.” Kiera laughs in return.

Just then, Cal gets up from his table behind me and walks over to rest his arm on the bar.

“Abs, I’ve just heard from Mick. He’s going to be fine. The doctor said he should be up and about again in no time.”

I let out a breath in relief.

“Good. Thanks for letting me know.”

He nods his head carefully before clearing his throat and looking to Kiera expectantly.

“Sorry… I’ll give you two a minute.” she says awkwardly, turning away to clean some glasses on the shelf.

Cal lifts his hand to his mouth wiping his lips quickly.

“Just spit it out, Cal.”

“Fine, I just wanted to apologise if I was an ass today. I realise I shouldn’t have stepped on your toes when it came to Sven and I shouldn’t have blamed you for losing Yuri either. The truth is, we wouldn’t have even known he was there in the first place if it wasn’t for you.”

I nod my head in silent acceptance.

“Did you get anything from Yuri’s men that we arrested?”

He shakes his head in reply.

“No, they aren’t saying a word and they have lawyered up. We won’t get anything from them.”

“Not entirely surprising.” I answer taking a swig of my drink.

“Yeah… listen, Abs, whilst I’m here… I just wanted to talk about you and Sadie.”

“Sadie?” I ask in confusion. “What about her?”

“I just don’t think it’s the best idea for you two to be friends. I’m not saying you can’t talk at all in the office, but-“

“Wait, wait. Stop right there, Cal.” I interrupt angrily. “She’s your wife. She’s the one who seeks me out. Who asks me to go to lunch or who offers me help every five seconds of the day. It’s really nothing to do with me. All I’m doing is being polite. If you’d rather we didn’t speak then you should talk to her about it.”

“Maybe I will.” he replies. “Look, I don’t want to argue. We have to work together after all. I just want to keep it professional-“

“Then you have nothing to worry about.” I interject, throwing him a warning look to let him know I’m done with this conversation.

He nods his head and looks down at the drink in my hand.

“I’ll walk you home.”

“I’m not leaving just yet and I can get myself home, thanks.”

At that moment, Kiera walks over and places a shot of tequila down in front of me.

Both Cal and I look up at her in confusion.

“Don’t look at me like that… it’s from the guy at the end of the bar.” Kiera smirks, nodding her head towards him in amusement.

I lean back to look around Cal’s body and almost fall off of my damn chair as I take in the guy she’s talking about.

Funnily enough, the first thing I notice about him isn’t his dark brown hair which sits perfectly messily on top of his head. Nor is it the sexy spattering of stubble that covers his chiselled jawline. Or the way his black T-shirt hugs the contours of his biceps, showing off the sleeve of intricate tattoos that snake their way up his arm. In actual fact, the first thing I notice, is the almost knowing smirk that is etched across his ruggedly handsome face.

He lifts his hand to wave it at me casually and I can’t help but smile in return.

“You aren’t going to drink that? Are you?” Cal asks, twisting around to look at the guy in disbelief.

“I haven’t decided yet, but one thing is for sure. It’s none of your damn business.” I say triumphantly causing him to give up and walk away in defeat.

“That man is fine…” Kiera mutters under her breath, leaning her elbow on the bar to look back at the hot guy with me.

For a second I don’t even register what she is saying, it’s like I’m caught in some sort of strange trance and no matter what is going on around me, I’m stuck in this one place. Staring at this complete stranger without restraint.

He stares back at me in return, smiling cheekily as he lifts a shot to his lips to down it quickly. He proceeds to lift the empty glass towards me and nods his head towards the full shot glass sitting in front of me. It’s then that I break from my trance and give my head a subtle shake before I look back towards an amused Kiera.

“Oh, shut up.” I order her, picking up the shot and shuffling off of the bar stool.

“Good luck!” she calls out to me from behind.

“Yeah, yeah just don’t tell Jane…” I answer taking a few more steps towards the mystery man.

As I get closer, I can practically hear my own heart pounding in my ears and my throat begins to get a little dry.

Shit, am I nervous?

I don’t generally get nervous around men. I don’t mean that in a cocky kind of way, it’s just due to the fact that I work in a field with predominantly male colleagues.

“Hey.” I say casually, sitting the shot glass down and sliding it across the bar towards him. “I appreciate the gesture, but I don’t tend to accept drinks from strangers.” I state matter of factly, leaning my arm on the bar.

He smirks at me again, looking me up and down and nodding his head slowly before picking up the drink to toss it back himself.

I can’t help but watch as his Adam’s apple bobs up and down and my eyes automatically trail down to his strong shoulders as he places the empty glass back down on the bar.

“It’s fine. It wasn’t really about the drink.” he says, his deep yet playful voice matching his appearance perfectly in every way.

“No? Then what was it about?” I ask tilting my head to the side as I examine him.

He grins a little before leaning forward towards my ear, his breath sends a delicious tingle down my spine.

“I thought you needed an out.” he states, nodding his head over my shoulder.

I turn to see Cal and a couple of his buddies looking my way as they get up to leave the bar. “Was I wrong?” the stranger asks in amusement.

I look back at him and shake my head.

“No. You weren’t… what can I say? I appreciate your service. Can I hire you full time?”

His eyebrows rise slightly and he bites on his bottom lip ever so subtly before sucking in a breath.

“Now there’s an offer no man can refuse…”

I smile at him in reply, lifting my hand to flip my hair over my shoulder.

Am I flirting shamelessly now?

Fuck it, I guess I am.

“Ex-boyfriend?”

I shake my head and laugh lightly.

“Ex-husband actually.”

“Damn, that’s rough… so what the hell is wrong with the guy?”

I furrow my brows in confusion.

“Well, I mean look at you.” he smiles, eying me up and down once again. “If he divorced a woman like you, he’s got to have a screw loose somewhere.”

I chuckle in return.

“Who said he divorced me? Maybe it was the other way around.”

“Was it?”

I nod my head in reply.

“Then good for you.” he states, winking at me sexily before holding his hand up to Kiera at the other end of the bar.

She walks towards us both dutifully, a big stupid smile etched across her face.

“What can I get you?”

“Another beer and….” he answers, looking to me and raising his eyebrow questioningly.

I take a second to think over his offer and he shrugs his shoulders before smiling that same sexy smile again.

“Come on, what have you got to lose?”

I take a seat down on the stool next to him and he grins widely.

“Make that two beers.” he says to Kiera who proceeds to fulfil his order, placing the drinks down in front of us.

“So… do you have a name?” I ask, taking a sip from my bottle.

“Ben.” he answers plainly. “And you?”

“Abby.” I reply, putting out my hand to shake his.

He examines it for a moment before looking up into my eyes.

“I don’t know if I should.” he states with a shrug.

I pull my hand back and raise my eyebrow.

“Excuse me? You don’t know if you should shake my hand?”

He takes a swig of his beer.

“I mean, it depends… if I touch you, will I have a group of cops following me home tonight?” he questions playfully, nodding towards the doorway where Calvin and the others are still hanging around throwing nosey glances in our direction.

“How did you know we’re cops?” I ask curiously.

He leans in closer to me.

“I don’t know… you just have that… look.” he states, clearly amused by the unimpressed expression on my face as a result of his comment.

“That look?”

He shrugs casually.

“Or it could be the Glock strapped to that pretty little waist of yours…”

I can’t help but smile as he lifts his drink to his lips again.

“Or maybe you just heard Kiera say that we're cops.”

“Or maybe I just heard the bartender say you were cops.” he concedes as we both laugh together in tandem.

Just then, Cal appears beside me and looks between Ben and I suspiciously.

“Abs, we are heading home now. Are you coming?” he asks.

“Nah… I think I’ll stay. Thanks anyway.” I reply as Ben smirks in return.

Cal turns to look at him and I can tell right away that he is trying to exert his authority over him. He used to do the same damn thing when we were married.

“Calvin.” he says, putting his hand out towards Ben who takes it and shakes it strongly.

“Thank you for your service, officer.”

Calvin nods his head, continuing his stare down for a few seconds longer.

“You’re welcome…”

Ben nods his head, pulling his hand away first to lift his beer once again.

“What did you say your name was again?” Calvin asks.

“I didn’t.” Ben answers nonchalantly, turning away to smile at me.

“I’ll see you tomorrow.” I say to Calvin firmly, letting him know that it’s time for him to leave.

“Okay, we have a meeting at 10am with the captain remember.” he states, walking away reluctantly to join the others.

Ben watches them over my shoulder as they leave the bar, leaving us near enough alone.

“Are you sure your ex-husband actually wants to be your ex?” he asks, raising an eyebrow at me.

“Oh trust me he does. He just can’t help but try to control every situation.”

“I can see that.” Ben laughs intently. “He wants to be top dog, huh?”

“He thinks he’s an Alpha male.” I shrug. “However… that… he is not.”

“Is that your type then? The Alpha male?” he asks interestedly, shuffling his body a little closer to mine.

I smile in return.

“Not particularly… I think that type is over-rated.”

He smiles and nods his head in agreement.

“Okay, so what is your type?”

“That’s a bit deep for a first conversation, is it not?” I ask, laughing gently.

“I’m just trying to figure something out.” he answers quickly leaning in towards me once again.

“Oh yeah? And what’s that?” I ask biting my lip nervously.

“I’m trying to figure out what my chances are of leaving here with you tonight.” he states boldly.

My mouth drops open a little and I shake my head in amusement.

“I’d say… not likely.”

He smirks again before taking another drink.

“Are you sure? Because you seem like you’ve had one hell of a day and I think f**k it, why don’t we turn it into one hell of a night?”

“You think I’m that kind of woman?” I ask raising my eyebrow. “Not that women can’t do what they want-“

“But you want to do me? Correct?” he asks boldly, throwing me that arresting smile once again.

“Oh you think so?”

“I know so.” he answers, his eyes drifting to my lips.

“Well, I’m sorry to tell you that you are way off the mark.” I grin, unable to stop my own eyes from examining his mouth.

“Then why are you looking at me like that?” he whispers, leaning in closer.

“Like what?”

“Like you want me to f**k you senseless tonight.” he answers with smooth calmness.

I can’t describe the sudden arousal that hits me the second the suggestion leaves his lips. It’s an exhilarating feeling and one that I’ve been lacking for God knows how many years.

“Well…?”

“f**k you? I don’t know a damn thing about you.” I whisper in reply.

He shrugs nonchalantly. “What do you want to know?”

“Maybe you could start by telling me what it is that you do?” I ask, swallowing hard as he rests his hand on my thigh.

“A little of everything.” he answers with a smirk.

I nod my head back in reply.

“Ahh, so that’s not in the least bit suspicious.” I say, looking down at his hand as it glides up my jeans slowly.

Fuck.

I’m getting f*****g wet right now? Seriously. Am I that deprived?

“You know… something tells me that I should stay away from men like you.” I say reaching down to stop his hand in its tracks.

As soon as our skin makes contact I almost groan out loud in satisfaction.

What the f**k is wrong with me?

He looks down at my hand resting on top of his and I see his chest rise and fall.

“Men like me? What do you mean by men like me?” he asks, lifting his other hand to tuck my hair behind my ear.

My breath hitches slightly as his finger tips drift down over the skin of my cheek.

“Dangerous, unpredictable men.” I answer as his palm rests on my face.

“How do you know I’m dangerous and unpredictable?”

“You just have that… look.” I answer with a smile.

“I see. So you should stay away from me?” he asks, moving his lips only a couple of inches away from mine.

“Yep.” I reply breathlessly, my heart beginning to beat faster in my chest.

“Tell me Abby… where would be the fun in that?” he asks, his brown eyes looking deeply into mine.

The invisible barrier between us breaks almost instantly and his lips crash against mine in a lust filled haze. I can’t help but throw my arms around his neck, dragging him in closer to me as his tongue enters my mouth. It’s been mere seconds and I already know that this is the hottest kiss I’ve ever had in my whole life. I’ve always played it safe when it comes to men. Usually going for the safe and predictable types who I deem appropriate to fit in with my professional life. However, something, somewhere deep inside of me tells me that this man is different.

Oh boy, is he different.

His hand reaches up the back of my silk top and rests on my lower back whilst the other holds my face in place, his fingers tangling in the hair around the nape of my neck whilst his thumb caresses my cheek.

Fuck, I could melt right here on the spot from the intensity of it all. I don’t think I’ve ever felt anything that has come close. Not even on my damn wedding night with Cal.

“Wait… stop.” I say, pulling back in a daze as I remind myself that this man is literally a stranger and we are sat here in a public place.

He furrows his brows in concern before clearing his throat and shuffling in his seat.

“Yeah, sorry. I got carried away.” he says, rubbing the back of his neck.

“Me too.” I answer breathlessly, unable to explain what the hell just came over me.

There is silence for a few seconds as we both take a drink and try to process what just happened.

I place the drink down on the bar and look to the side to find him already looking in my direction with a cheeky grin.

“So… your place or mine?” he asks cockily.

A wide smile makes its way to my face.

“Mine.” I answer, looking into his eyes one last time before turning to walk away.

***

“This is a nice building.” Ben states as we arrive outside my apartment block.

“Thanks… I like it.” I reply, reaching into my jacket pocket for my keys.

“I meant to ask… is this the way you always go to work?” he asks, his eyes trailing down to my black high heels. “Can’t imagine it would be much fun chasing a perp in those…”

I laugh in reply as I buzz us inside the door.

“You’d be surprised what I can achieve in these heels…”

He raises his eyebrows at me before throwing me a playful wink.

“Let’s just say I’m now intrigued to find out…”

I grin in reply, considering whether I should tell him the truth as I press the button for the elevator.

“Come on… what’s the story? I can see you want to tell me.” he states, just as the elevator door opens in front of us.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I shrug, walking inside and pressing the button for floor six.

“Yes. You do…”

I smile, watching as he leans against the elevator wall to fold his muscular arms over his chest, his stylish leather jacket pulling against his shoulders deliciously in the process.

“Go on…”

“Okay, fine. So I wasn’t expecting to work tonight. I was actually on a date before I got called in. Happy?” I ask as the doors slide open abruptly.

He scoffs loudly as he follows me down the corridor.

“f**k me… really? He must have been a loser if you decided to ditch him for work.”

“He wasn’t actually. He was a doctor.” I shrug with a smile unlocking my door and flicking on the light switch in the hallway.

“A doctor? Damn… well he must have been ugly then?”

“Nope, he was perfectly handsome. Some might even say modelesque...” I state playfully, watching as his smile twitches just a little.

He takes a step closer.

“Ahh… then he was boring as f**k?”

“I didn’t get the chance to find out.” I answer, my back pressing against the wall.

Ben moves in closer, his chest touching against mine causing my breathing to quicken yet again.

“Then it seems… I owe the poor bastard.” he replies, lifting his hands to slide my coat from my shoulders.

It lands on the ground around my feet.

“Hmm… and why is that?”

“Because I’m here… with you… whilst he sits at home… probably with his cat.”

“I don’t think he has a cat.” I smile as his lips linger next to mine for a few tantalising seconds.

“Boring assholes like that always have a cat.”

“Just because a man is a gentleman…doesn’t make him boring.” I mumble, breathing quickly as he lifts my top up, his hands trailing over the skin teasingly as he moves.

“Is that what you want me to be, Abby? A gentleman?” he asks, leaning down into the crook of my neck and drifting his lips over it gently.

I close my eyes in anticipation.

Every nerve ending in my body has come alive in response to his touch and my insides are screaming out for him to kiss me again like he did back at the bar.

“No…” I whisper in his ear seductively. “I’d rather you just be… exactly… who… you… are.” I reply, landing soft kisses against his stubbled jaw.

I feel his breath quicken in reply and his eyes snap up to meet mine.

“You don’t want to know the real me.” he mutters gutturally under his breath as he tugs my top off over my head.

I throw my head back a little as his hands make their way up to my breasts.

“Why don’t you try me?” I whisper in reply.

Without a moments notice, his lips are on mine once again, eliciting the same wild response from my body that they gained earlier this evening.

“f**k…” I pant furiously between breaths as he pins me to the wall, his hard body pressing into mine as he trails passionate kisses down my neck.

I feel his hardness pressing against me and I cannot fathom the excitement that it brings. Immediately, I feel my panties begin to soak between my legs and it’s all I can do not to shove his hand down there to relieve some of the pressure that it beginning to build so rapidly.

It’s like he can sense my thoughts. The more desperate I become… the dirtier my imagination gets, the more our kiss deepens and intensifies. He bends down to lift me up behind my thighs and I yelp in surprise as he presses me against the wall again.

I wrap my arms around his neck, moaning when he begins swirling my hardened n****e in his mouth.

“I need to f**k you… right now.” he states, his dark eyes looking up into mine.

I nod my head frantically in agreement, pointing towards the door of my bedroom in the corner. I can barely think straight or form a sentence, I’m so f*****g horny.

We continue to kiss as he carries me towards the bedroom, opening the door to toss me down onto the bed. I lift my hands to my breasts and fondle them teasingly as I wait for him to close the door and approach me again.

I look up into his eyes and bite my lip slowly.

His eyes make their way down my body to my breasts and he watches as my hand drifts down to reach inside my panties. I draw in a sharp breath as my fingers meet my aching clit which is soaking wet.

“Are you wet for me, Abby?” he asks, his eyes filled with lust and desire.

“Why don’t you come and find out?”

He pulls his jacket off and tosses it to the ground. I breathe in his masculine scent as he leans down on top of me and-

“ABBY!? ARE YOU HOME?”

Shit!!

“DAD?” I call out in reply, as Ben lifts his head to look at me in a mixture of confusion and disappointment.

“What the f**k? You live with your parents?” he whispers.

“No… my dad lives with me, but he wasn’t supposed to be home tonight.” I snap back quietly.

I slap his chest to get off of me and he moves to the side, allowing me to hop up onto my feet and grab a top from my dresser. I throw it over my head and quickly bend down to lift his jacket, tossing it to him quickly.

“Put it on. You have to leave!”

“Are you serious?” he asks in amusement. “Are we teenagers?”

I narrow my eyes at him and he scoffs quietly covering his mouth with his hand. “Okay, keep your hair on.” he says, standing up to pull his jacket over his shoulders.

“ABBY! Is there any lasagne left over from last night?”

“Uhh… check the fridge, Dad! Bottom shelf!!” I call back, ushering Ben over towards the window.

“Lasagne? I like lasagne…”

“Shut up!” I hiss. “You have to go down the fire escape.”

“You’re kidding right? This isn’t a romcom and I’m not f*****g Ryan Gosling.”

“Pfft, you can say that again.” I groan, sliding the window up quickly. “But you do have to leave.”

He smiles at me and nods his head in defeat

“Okay fine… well-“

Suddenly, the door opens and I almost jump out of my skin before I look down to see Betsy, my dad’s little dog, shuffle her way into the room as if she owns the place.

“Betsy! Shoo! Out you go!” I say, preparing myself for the ear-piercing, high-pitched bark that usually follows when she greets a stranger for the first time.

To my surprise though, she doesn’t bark at Ben at all. She stops to look at him curiously as he lifts his finger to his lips.

“Good girl, Betsy. We can’t get her into trouble now can we?” he says with a grin.

I would be impressed with his dog whispering skills if I wasn’t so keen to get him out of here before my dad sees him.

“Ben…”

“Okay… I’m going. I have to say… this evening didn’t quite pan out the way I had hoped.” he states, leaning against my desk by the window.

“Hmmm, perhaps some things just aren’t meant to be.” I smile, ushering him out onto the fire escape.

He squeezes his large body through the window frame.

“Aren’t we meant to be? Abby?” he asks playfully, leaning his hand against the window frame to look at me again.

“I think the universe is telling us that we most definitely are not…” I laugh, “Goodnight, Ben, it was nice knowing you.”

“Goodnight.” he winks, standing back as I pull the window down and secure it in place.

I wave at him for the last time before he disappears from sight to make the journey back down to solid ground again.

I take a step back and sit down on the edge of the bed, running my hand through my hair exhaustedly. God only knows what got into me tonight. Making out with a stranger is one thing, but bringing him back to my apartment? It’s just not like me at all.

I throw myself back onto the bed and take a deep breath as I try to calm myself down once again.

Tonight I had fun… chalk it up to exhaustion or plain stupidity, but it stops now. Tomorrow I’ll be back to my old self again and ready for whatever comes my way.

Betsy jumps up onto the bed beside me and licks my cheek affectionately.

“ABBY! I can’t find the lasagne!”

I smile to myself, lifting Betsy up as I leave the bedroom to go help the old man out.