Today is Halloween, but 2020 has been scary enough. Here’s a little treat from Cold Blooded Lover, Book 4 in the Don’t Call Me Hero series. I promise I’m still working on Book 5!

Cold Blooded Lover

Chapter Fifteen

You guys still coming tonight?

My phone chirped with a new text message from my friend, Brent.

You bet, I responded. Just waiting for Julia to get home from work.

Hurry up! came his typed reply. This beer isn’t going to drink itself!

I followed up Brent’s text with one of my own: Have you left work yet? Where are you?

I stared at my phone, but received no response from Julia.

Since returning from Duluth, Julia’s workdays had been getting longer and her time with me was getting shorter. We both had stressful careers, and it was easy to let those jobs completely take over our time. It was one of the reasons I was really looking forward to Brent’s Halloween party, not just for the opportunity to see my friends, many of whom I hadn’t seen in a while, but to also spend some quality time with Julia.

My knee bounced anxiously as I watched the hands of Julia’s grandfather clock continue to move.

I heard a key in the front lock, followed by the apartment door opening. Julia’s heels clicked on the marble tile in the entryway.

“I’m home,” she called out. “I just got your text. I met late with a client and then traffic was murder. And I had to go to two stores before I could find any candy,” she complained. “Who sells out of candy on Halloween night?”

Julia appeared in the archway of the living room where I continued to sit on the couch. Her work bag hung from one shoulder, and her hands were filled with plastic convenience store bags.

“Did you forget about tonight?” I asked.

Julia paused in the hallway. She blinked and shook her head. “Am I forgetting a month-a-versary or something?”

To be honest, I had no idea when we considered the start of our relationship. The first time we’d met? The first time we’d had sex? Our first official date? The pacing and chronological order of our relationship ‘firsts’ had been anything but orthodox.

“No, Brent’s party, remember?”

“Oh. That,” she said, her tone flat. “I’m not going.”

I hopped up from the couch and followed her down the hallway towards the back of the apartment. “What? But it’s tradition!” I protested.

Julia frowned at my reaction. “I hadn’t realized it was as serious as that. I was really looking forward to relaxing and handing out candy here. I never got trick-or-treaters in Embarrass,” she seemed to pout. “I lived too far out of town.”

“Plus, their parents were probably scared of you,” I quipped.

She curled her lip, but offered no words in self-defense, most likely because I was right.

My colleague on the Embarrass police force, David Addams, had once referred to Julia as a pitbull, and Grace Kelly Donovan had dubbed her the Ice Queen. Julia’s sharp edges had softened some since moving away from her hometown to the Twin Cities, but she still exuded a confidence and class that could come across as haughty or unapproachable.

“We live in an apartment complex, babe; you’re not gonna get trick-or-treaters here. Please come with me?” I wasn’t too proud to beg.

“I’ve had a full day of work, Cassidy,” Julia sighed with annoyance. “I have so much catching up to do because of Duluth. I don’t have the energy to pull double-duty tonight.”

“I had a full day of work, too,” I pouted. I knew I was whining, but I’d really been looking forward to going to the party with her.

“Yes, but you’ve got youth on your side,” she claimed. “Go. Have fun. Hang out with your similarly young friends.”

A frown tugged at both corners of my mouth. “You’re not that much older.”

In truth, I had no idea how many years separated us. I knew she was older than me, but I didn’t know by how much. Every time I brought up the topic of our ages, she deflected or ignored my question.

“Please apologize to Brent for me.”

My entire body sagged in disappointment. “You’re really not coming?”

“You could stay home with me?” she proposed. “We could order Chinese and handout candy together. Maybe watch a scary movie later?”

A twinge of regret settled in my gut. She was proposing the perfect night in, but I’d been looking forward to this party ever since I’d decided on a costume.

“I already RSVP’d,” I begged off. “It would be rude not to make an appearance when Brent is expecting us.”

She arched a quizzical eyebrow. “When did you become the etiquette queen?”

“I guess some of your good habits are rubbing off on me,” I huffed.

Childishly, I left the room before she could respond. I grabbed my police academy duffle bag from the bottom of the closet in the guest bedroom and shoved my costume inside. I made a big show of storming into the bathroom and loudly shut myself inside, even though I had no idea if Julia was even watching.

The blonde woman in the mirror glared back at me. “Stupid,” I mumbled to myself.

I didn’t really know what I was doing with my hair, but I tossed it over one shoulder and contained it in a loose braid.

I exited the bathroom and strode purposefully toward the front door. “Don’t wait up,” I called from the foyer. “I’ll probably be out late.”

Julia chose to ignore my bratty tone. There was no way she couldn’t have heard it. Her steps were more careful than mine as she walked toward the front door with a glass of red wine in one hand. “What happened to your costume?” she asked.

I hugged my duffle bag closer to my chest. “I’m going to change at the party. I don’t want my Lyft driver to laugh.”

“Is your costume funny?”

“I guess you’ll never know.” I knew I was being unfair, but I was too disappointed at that moment to be civil or polite.

Julia immediately frowned at my words. “This is really that important to you?” Her tone softened from its usual refined edge.

“No,” I lied. “It’s just a stupid party.”

I felt ridiculously emotional. But I also felt betrayed and disappointed. I didn’t want her to know how affected her dismissal had made me, however. Because I felt like a child who hadn’t got their way, I did my best to choke down the truth.

I kissed her cheek hastily, my lips barely making contact with her skin. “Don’t wait up,” I repeated. “I know you’ve had a long day.”

+ + +

I know you’ve had a long day.

My retreating words to Julia replayed themselves over and over again in a loop as I sat in the backseat of my ride share. I’d meant my words to sting and to make her feel guilty. I didn’t know how they’d affected her, but by the time my Lyft driver dropped me off at Brent’s apartment, I didn’t feel like partying anymore.

I pressed a button in the front lobby to be buzzed into the apartment building and walked up the two flights of stairs to Brent’s apartment. Even if I had never been to my friend’s apartment before, I still would have found the location of the party. The rhythmic pulse of deep bass filtered through the front door and into the apartment hallway.

I discovered the front door unlocked and the narrow foyer empty. I still had to put on my costume, so I made a detour to the powder room. I opened my duffle bag and sighed at the icy blue sequined gown inside. I’d been so pleased with my costume—not for the novelty of the idea—but with how unexpected it would be on me. I’d wanted to see Julia’s amused reaction, and after the party was over, I’d looked forward to her making good use of the blue gown’s thigh-high slit.

I carefully removed my civilian clothes and slipped on the long dress, but all of the joy had been sucked out of the evening. I’d wanted to unwind on the holiday with my friends, but I’d wanted Julia to be a part of that as well.

I left the bathroom and wobbled towards the kitchen in thrift-store high heels I had no intention of ever wearing again. I turned the corner and found my closest police officer friends gathered around the granite kitchen island of Brent’s bachelor pad. I made a cursory scan of the open floor plan. The apartment was crowded. I saw a few familiar faces, cops I recognized from the academy or from the Fourth Precinct, but there were even more people I didn’t know. I’d always wondered how Brent had come to know so many people, but I’d never thought to ask.

My cheeks flushed red when I heard my friend’s wolf whistle and laughter at my appearance.

“Amazing costume, Cassidy!” Brent approved.

He was, predictably, dressed like a Nordic Viking. He recycled his costume every year. His broad chest was barely covered with a leather vest. A plastic hat with a giant horn positioned on either side threatened to spill off his head whenever he moved.

“Here. Hold this,” he instructed. He pressed a replica powder horn into my hands. “I’ll get you a beer, Your Highness.”

I peered down at the mystery liquid sloshing around inside of the horn. I didn’t dare take an experimental sip, however. I liked myself too much for that.

I smiled and waved my free hand at the other party attendees whom I knew: my friends Angie, Rich, Adan, and his girlfriend Isabella formed a tight half-circle around me.

“Interesting costume choice,” Rich smirked at me.

I crossed my arms across my chest in a defensive position. With the exception of the aggressive thigh-high slit, the aqua-blue dress wasn’t revealing, but I still felt uncomfortable. I never wore dresses or skirts if I could help it.

“Hey, at least I put in some effort,” I retorted. “What are you supposed to be?”

Rich didn’t appear to be wearing a costume at all. There was nothing special about his blue jeans, and the t-shirt he wore had the word ‘Life’ screen-printed across his chest. I was almost afraid to ask.

“Isn’t it obvious?” He pointed to the center of his chest. “I’m the Life of the Party.”

Rich’s pun produced a groan from me and my other friends. He looked too pleased with himself, however, to be concerned by our reactions.

“Where’s Julia tonight?” he asked. “Trouble in paradise?”

I smiled tightly. “No. The thought of hanging out with you assholes …” I couldn’t finish the cavalier lie. I stopped myself. “She had a long day at work. She apologizes for her absence.”

“That’s too bad,” he clucked. “She makes hanging out with you almost bearable.”

I didn’t suppress my eye roll.

“How’s Grace Kelly?” I asked.

“You would know if you called once in a while.”

My mouth fell open. “Wow. I haven’t gotten a guilt trip like that since I last saw my mom, Rich.”

“Shut it, Rookie,” he scowled. “Maybe I just miss my friend.”

On a normal day, I would have taunted him without mercy for being so honest and vulnerable. Maybe I was premenstrual, but I hugged him instead.

I could feel Rich’s arms and shoulders stiffen. “Easy there. I’ve got a girlfriend. You do, too.”

I pulled back and swatted at his chest. “Shut it, you goon.”

Brent eventually returned with a bottle of recognizable beer, thankfully, and not some mystery mead he’d whipped up special for the party. I exchanged his Viking horn for an IPA.

“How’s Cold Case treating you?” he asked.

I took a grateful preliminary sip. “I’m starting to get the hang of it, I think.”

“That’s great,” he approved. “Working on anything interesting?”

A strong arm flung around my shoulder. “Party foul! No talking about work!” My friend Angie pulled me close. Her breath smelled like alcohol.

Angie had teased her hair out to a small, puffy halo around her head. She wore a long leather jacket, bell bottom pants, a midriff, and big golden hoop earrings.

“Pam Grier as Foxy Brown?” I guessed.

“You know it, girl.”

Angie pulled a snub nose .38 special out of her leather trench coat and posed. I assumed the gun was fake, but with cops—who knows.

Over the next hour or so I made small-talk with strangers whose names I promptly forgot the moment they introduced themselves. I got my picture taken numerous times since I was the only Disney royalty at the party. My friends danced and drank and laughed at juvenile pranks, but I felt like an outsider.

As much as I wanted to be in the moment, my thoughts continually strayed to the woman I’d left behind. I periodically checked my phone for messages from her, but either Brent’s apartment building blocked all incoming messages or Julia hadn’t bothered to text me. Even though she’d been the one to bail on our plans, I couldn’t help feeling guilty about how I’d stormed out of the apartment.

I had just gotten to the bottom of my second longneck beer bottle and had a decision to make. I could grab another beer and be on the road to getting good and drunk, or I could call up a ride share car and head home early. Rich and Angie were engaged in a heated conversation if her wild gesticulations were any indication. Brent was chatting up a pretty woman dressed as Little Red Riding Hood, and Adan and Isabella looked cozy together on a couch in the living room.

I grabbed my duffle bag which contained the clothes I’d worn to the party and quietly exited Brent’s apartment without saying any goodbyes. My friends would only make me feel guilty for bailing on the party so early.

+ + +

I didn’t quite know what I’d find when I returned to the apartment. I entered quietly in case Julia had decided to go to bed early. The front of the apartment was silent and dark. I didn’t need the lights on to maneuver around, so I didn’t bother turning on any overhead lights.

I didn’t call out to find out where she was. My heels clicked on hardwood floors until I made it to the master bedroom. My shoes sunk into the carpeting as I hovered in the doorway.

Julia’s normally meticulously arranged wardrobe was strewn haphazardly across the bed and had collected in piles on the floor. Empty hangers littered the ground like land mines. Julia herself was half-dressed in only a bra and black dress pants.

I announced my presence with a question: “What happened in here?”

Julia’s attention snapped from the closet to the doorway. Her dark eyes looked wild and unfocused. Her ribcage heaved as if she’d been exercising. I saw her take in my unorthodox outfit before she launched into her explanation.

“I never got a costume. I had no intention of ever going to that party with you, so I never bothered to even come up with a costume idea. I was selfish and stupid, and I thought you’d just do what I wanted and would skip your party to stay home with me.”

I held up my hands. “Hey-hey … calm down. It’s okay. It was just one dumb party.”

“That’s not the point,” Julia resisted. “I’m manipulative, Cassidy. I only think of myself and not how my actions impact others. I act as though I expect you to bend and give in to all of my petulant demands.”

I teetered in my glittery high heels. “We all have our flaws. Do you see me complaining? I do what I want. Like tonight—I still went to Brent’s party.”

“Then why are you home so early?” she posed.

She had me there. I dropped my eyes to the floor. “It wasn’t any fun without you.”

“See?!” Julia exclaimed as if I’d proven her exact point. “I ruined tonight with my selfishness.”

“But I don’t want to force you to do stuff you don’t want to do,” I said, shaking my head. “I wasn’t going to drag you to Brent’s party tonight like some cave man.”

“You shouldn’t have to drag me anywhere. I need to learn how to compromise better.”

“We’re still new to this.” I couldn’t help defending her from herself. “We’ll figure it out.”

Julia hung her head. “Do you still want me to go to that party with you?”

I waved away the suggestion. “It’s not a big deal; it was kind of dying down by the time I left. I guess we’re all getting old.”

“Are you hungry? Did you eat?” she asked. “I could still order Chinese?”

My mood brightened at the prospect of food. “I wouldn’t say no to that. Do I get to pick the scary movie, too?”

Julia initially curled her lip, but, remembering herself, her mouth quirked into a smile. “Nothing gore porn, okay? My stomach can’t handle it.”

I thrust my fist in the air in victory.

“Now when are we going to address this outfit of yours?” Julia remarked. Amusement colored her tone. “Where on earth did you get that thing?”

I looked down at the blue sequined dress wrapped around my body. “I ordered it online.”

“I’ve never seen you in a dress before,” she remarked, still smiling. “Although I’m not exactly sure this counts.”

I smoothed my hands down the sequined material. “Do you like it?”

“Not at all.” Julia gave me a predatory leer. “You should probably take it off.”

“Nuh uh,” I clucked. I took a self-preserving step backwards as Julia began to stalk toward me. “You’re not going to distract me from a scary movie and takeout food with sex.”

“Are you sure about that?” Julia slipped one bra strap off of her gently sloping shoulder and then the other so that only the back clasp held her bra together. I involuntarily squeezed my thighs together.

“Are you sure there’s nothing I can do to convince you?” she questioned.

“You don’t play fair,” I scowled. She was manipulating me again, but amazingly I didn’t mind.

Julia stepped closer, one step at a time. Her dark gaze held me frozen in place. Her hand went first to my waist as she slowly walked in a circle around me. I felt a blush grow on my cheeks, a combination of embarrassment and excitement. The costume was ridiculous and so unlike me.

With my hair tied back in a loose braid that draped over one shoulder, the back of my neck was exposed. She pressed her warm lips against the base of my neck. Her fingers toyed with the thin, gauze material that covered my upper back before I felt her take purchase of the dress’s zipper.

“Let it go, darling,” she rasped. “Let it go.”

The fastening let loose, exposing my shoulder blades. As she released more and more of my skin from the dress, she trailed her mouth and tongue down the top of my spine. She took her time with the zipper, causing my anticipation to heighten. My whole body seized with a shiver at the feel of her talented tongue marking a path down the center of my back. I’d discovered that my scar tissue was incredibly sensitive, and Julia took full advantage of that discovery. It was she who had helped me embrace all of my scars, or at least not feel so damned self-conscious about them.

She pulled away suddenly, her mouth no longer on me. I heard her frustrated noise.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“You’re stuck.”

“Stuck?” I echoed.

“Your zipper,” she said. “It won’t go any farther.”

She tugged again at the zipper that traveled down the length of my back. The scooped neckline of the dress tightened around my breasts when she pulled, but the zipper wouldn’t budge.

“I’m sorry, dear,” she clipped. “It would appear that you’re trapped in this outfit for the rest of time.”

I tried to reach the top of the zipper myself, but the mechanism had gotten jammed in the center of my back, just out of my reach. No matter how I contorted my shoulders or twisted my arms, my fingers could only uselessly brush against the metal fasten. A claustrophobic feeling began to rise in my chest.

“Julia!” I complained. “Do something!”

She pressed her palm flat against the exposed skin in the center of my back. The simple touch of her skin on mine instantly calmed me. I heard her chuckle. “Wait here, Princess. I’ll save you.”

She disappeared momentarily from the bedroom towards the front of the apartment. I heard the sounds of drawers or cabinet doors being opened and closed. When she returned, she held a silver pair of scissors.

My eyes widened at the sight. “What are you going to do with those?”

She experimentally snipped the scissors in the air. They even sounded sharp. “Rescue you, of course.”

She returned to the stubborn zipper at the center of my back. “I hope you weren’t planning a repeat performance,” she remarked.

I didn’t have time to ask what she meant before I felt the almost icy touch of metal scissors against my skin. I immediately jerked away, but she held firm to my shoulder.

“Hold very still,” she warned. Her mouth was close enough to my ear to ruffle the hair that had escaped from my loose braid.

The scissors slipped under the fabric of my dress. The cool metal felt like an icicle. The sharp blade began to slice just above my exposed skin.

“Wait!”

I felt the scissors pause. “Don’t you trust me?” she asked.

“I trust you, I do,” I promised. “But if you have to cut off the dress …” I bit down on my lower lip. “Could you …”

Julia and I were experimental when it came to sex. We pushed each other’s limits and tried new things that might make the other person uncomfortable. What I wanted to ask of her, however, brought a blush to my cheeks.

The scissors were removed and Julia spun me around to face her. I felt her knuckle under my chin, and she raised my head so my gaze met hers. She kept her hand there so I couldn’t look away. My request was stuck, just like that damn zipper.

Her warm caramel irises searched my face. I hadn’t intended to make her worry, but she looked concerned. “What is it, darling?”

“The scissors,” I gulped. “Instead of cutting down my back, would you …could you …you know, uh …cut up?”

She dropped her hand from my chin.

I immediately panicked. “That’s a weird question. Never mind. Forget I said anything. What you were doing was fine.”

Her nostrils flared and she spoke very calmly, very quietly. “Get on the bed, Your Highness.”