question?”
“Not out of the question, but I wouldn’t allow you to wander around the facilities,” I said. “If you had someone in mind, I would allow it.”
Ben smiled, gently. “I don’t have a specific person in mind and you’re probably right about none of them knowing anything.”
“If you need to talk to someone, I’ll arrange it, but for obvious reasons we don’t let men into the general facility.”
Ben gave me a puzzled expression. “I don’t understand.”
“Most of these women have been physically, emotionally, and spiritually depleted by men. Usually, it started long before the drugs and prostitution. Often it started in their childhood with some type of sexual abuse.”
“I see,” he said, contemplating. “These women associate men with hurt.” Ben stared at me. I shifted and busied myself with paperwork. “You don’t. Do you?” He asked.
“I don’t what?” I asked.
“Associate men with hurt?”
I thought for a moment. Like many of the residents, my father wasn’t a strong male in my life. His philandering ways influenced my dating, but I didn’t fear men or commitment. “No,” I finally replied.
“That didn’t sound very convincing ,” Ben said.
“I have my issues, like everyone,” My daddy left me; my mom’s dead, but still haunts me; and a lover that’s psychic and sees me with someone else…just your average issues. “but I’m not like my residents.”
“No, you sure aren’t.” Ben said , softly. His big amber eyes undressed me.
“Excuse me?” I asked. Was he hitting me?
“You’re different.” He said, shaking his head. “I mean that’s why you’re in this position and helping them. You’re different…more caring than most.”
I stared at him. The conversation took an odd turn. Ben nervously repositioned himself in the small chair. I found Detective Ben King amiable. I liked him. He wasn’t Jimmy, but like Jimmy, Ben had an exotic tone about him. Today his eyes seemed like that of a tiger, hungry and wild.
“I guess that’s all I have to ask,” Ben said.
He stood to leave. “Let me walk you out.” I couldn’t trust that he would walk out of my office and leave. I watched detective shows On T.V. the cop did whatever to get the answers he needed. As I maneuvered around my desk, my heel caught on a worn piece of carpet. I pitched forward, arms flailing, and ungraciously landed in Ben’s arms.
For a split second, Ben buried his face into my hair. “Mmm,” he said, so faint that I could have imagined it.
“Ahem!” A throat clearing sound came from behind. Ben and I jumped as if caught in the midst of a passionate embrace. I turned to face the person. It was Jimmy. He leaned on the door frame watching. I saw a hint of dimples. I flushed.
Jimmy looked magnificent. He wore a pair of navy Italian cut slacks with a lighter blue polo. His hair hung loose. The shirt fit tight across his chest and around his biceps. I beamed at Jimmy. Jimmy wordlessly gave me a nod, and then looked between me and the detective. I smiled. Again, Jimmy looked at me and then at the detective. He attempted to tell me something. What? I thought, but then I realized. I never moved from Ben. I remained froze in his arms. Ben pulled me closer on guard. His muscles twitched. Pressed against Ben’s chest, I felt his entire body against mine. I could feel a bulge between us. Holy crap!
I quickly , but not easily, broke from Ben’s embrace. “Jimmy, this is Detective Ben King. He’s investigating that homicide I told you about.”
“Jimmy Kim.” Jimmy introduced and extended his hand. “I’m Cassie’s boyfriend
“Not out of the question, but I wouldn’t allow you to wander around the facilities,” I said. “If you had someone in mind, I would allow it.”
Ben smiled, gently. “I don’t have a specific person in mind and you’re probably right about none of them knowing anything.”
“If you need to talk to someone, I’ll arrange it, but for obvious reasons we don’t let men into the general facility.”
Ben gave me a puzzled expression. “I don’t understand.”
“Most of these women have been physically, emotionally, and spiritually depleted by men. Usually, it started long before the drugs and prostitution. Often it started in their childhood with some type of sexual abuse.”
“I see,” he said, contemplating. “These women associate men with hurt.” Ben stared at me. I shifted and busied myself with paperwork. “You don’t. Do you?” He asked.
“I don’t what?” I asked.
“Associate men with hurt?”
I thought for a moment. Like many of the residents, my father wasn’t a strong male in my life. His philandering ways influenced my dating, but I didn’t fear men or commitment. “No,” I finally replied.
“That didn’t sound very convincing ,” Ben said.
“I have my issues, like everyone,” My daddy left me; my mom’s dead, but still haunts me; and a lover that’s psychic and sees me with someone else…just your average issues. “but I’m not like my residents.”
“No, you sure aren’t.” Ben said , softly. His big amber eyes undressed me.
“Excuse me?” I asked. Was he hitting me?
“You’re different.” He said, shaking his head. “I mean that’s why you’re in this position and helping them. You’re different…more caring than most.”
I stared at him. The conversation took an odd turn. Ben nervously repositioned himself in the small chair. I found Detective Ben King amiable. I liked him. He wasn’t Jimmy, but like Jimmy, Ben had an exotic tone about him. Today his eyes seemed like that of a tiger, hungry and wild.
“I guess that’s all I have to ask,” Ben said.
He stood to leave. “Let me walk you out.” I couldn’t trust that he would walk out of my office and leave. I watched detective shows On T.V. the cop did whatever to get the answers he needed. As I maneuvered around my desk, my heel caught on a worn piece of carpet. I pitched forward, arms flailing, and ungraciously landed in Ben’s arms.
For a split second, Ben buried his face into my hair. “Mmm,” he said, so faint that I could have imagined it.
“Ahem!” A throat clearing sound came from behind. Ben and I jumped as if caught in the midst of a passionate embrace. I turned to face the person. It was Jimmy. He leaned on the door frame watching. I saw a hint of dimples. I flushed.
Jimmy looked magnificent. He wore a pair of navy Italian cut slacks with a lighter blue polo. His hair hung loose. The shirt fit tight across his chest and around his biceps. I beamed at Jimmy. Jimmy wordlessly gave me a nod, and then looked between me and the detective. I smiled. Again, Jimmy looked at me and then at the detective. He attempted to tell me something. What? I thought, but then I realized. I never moved from Ben. I remained froze in his arms. Ben pulled me closer on guard. His muscles twitched. Pressed against Ben’s chest, I felt his entire body against mine. I could feel a bulge between us. Holy crap!
I quickly , but not easily, broke from Ben’s embrace. “Jimmy, this is Detective Ben King. He’s investigating that homicide I told you about.”
“Jimmy Kim.” Jimmy introduced and extended his hand. “I’m Cassie’s boyfriend
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