long they were walking until she realized the sun had gone down, and it was becoming harder to see. The trail curved away from the street leading out of the park at that point, with trees all around. The walkers who had been ahead and behind them had long gone.
"Shouldn't we get going?"
Connor grinned. “Why? Getting scared? Don't worry, baby, I'll protect you.” He tugged her tight against his chest while his mouth descended on hers. For a long while, they stood kissing, A'isha savoring the velvety smoothness to his warm mouth, and the tingles of awareness shooting through her body.
She could have stayed right there, oblivious to the world forever, but the dull thunk followed by Connor dropping unconscious to the ground ripped her back to the reality of her assistant's murder.
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Chapter Eight
"She's missing, damn it! I've already explained it to you!” Connor winced as he stuck the bag of ice on his head. Whoever had caused the painful lump and grabbed A'isha would pay with their lives.
"Well, explain it again, detective, until I get it,” his boss, the chief bellowed. “Because I'm having trouble understanding how you were out on a date with the primary suspect in this murder case.” He slapped the file on Connor's desk. “And while you're doing that, you can talk about this.” Another folder followed the first. Connor's heart sank. He could guess what was inside.
He flipped open the file to find the pictures of he and A'isha in the throws of passion. Apparently, he hadn't moved fast enough for whoever sent him the warning. He had been out all night long searching for evidence of where A'isha had been taken. He'd initiated an APB to keep a look out for her. With no sleep, he wanted to rip someone's head off. The chief's was not the one to aim for.
"You were cleared of that other incident, Connor, but not to my satisfaction. Far as I know, you came on to that woman and changed your mind later. Then she couldn't take no for an answer. Had to take it further. What's your excuse this time? Ms. Greene attacked you? Made you go down on her like you're doing in this picture?"
He held up the photo. Connor snatched it away before anyone else could see it. “It's not like that.” He was the biggest fool in existence. A'isha had warned him, had even accused him of thinking with his dick. Maybe he was. He couldn't phantom her with anyone other than him, had dreams of taking her again. Shit!
"Chief, I didn't intend for this to happen. A'isha and I just...” Nothing sounded right. It would be lame to say they clicked. He ran a hand over his neck. “I screwed up—"
"You damn right you screwed up! Fucked up, too! Give me your badge and weapon."
"What? No, chief, please. I can fix this."
"No, you can't.” The chief shook his head, the man Connor had admired for all of the fifteen years he had been on the force for his dedication, and even for his adherence to keeping a strong healthy body despite sitting behind a desk. “I can't brush this under the table, Connor. IA is involved now. They were called in the second these photos surfaced. You're suspended until further notice."
"They were called in?” Connor stood, un-strapping his gun from the holster. He couldn't believe his chief didn't back him, but he wasn't going to argue any longer. “Okay, but she didn't do this, chief. There's someone else out there. We didn't take these damn photos and send them to you, that's for sure."
"Be that as it may, Carl will lead this investigation from here on out. You go home and think about how you're going to keep your dick in your pants long enough to get your job back. If you do. If IA decides you were obstructing this investigation because she was giving it up to you, you'll be brought on charges, and you will never work as a cop again."
He was screwed. If IA spoke to John, there was no way he wouldn't spill his guts, exaggerating to bring Connor down, even if he risked A'isha's freedom along