Shifted Temptations (20 page)

Jordan sighed out a long harsh breath. He was irritated, I got that, but I knew he needed to get something off his chest. Being best frien
ds with him for so long, I knew these things.

“I needed to
find where the drugs were being stored. One of the houses that popped up on our radar belonged to Layla Katz.”

“Layla? She’s involved in this?
”

“Alexander has involved everyone.”

I rubbed my face with both hands, something else to be pissed at my father about. Layla was a sweet girl. She was wild, I thought with a smile as I remember some the antics we used to get into. I had always liked her. She was a good friend and knew how to have a good time. The thought of her caught up in the shit going down twisted my stomach.

“What happened?”

“I made the decision and chose Layla’s house. I figured I could talk to her, maybe persuade her into telling me what was going on. I wanted to help her.”

Jordan walked over to his desk and sat down. He stared blankly at the computer screen. I glanced down at his hands. They were curled into fist
s. Something horrible must have happened or maybe he saw something. I wasn’t sure, but I waited patiently.

“But I just used h
er instead.”

I could tell from the way his voice cracked that he
was extremely upset, but I was still confused.

“What do you mean?”

“She looked good, pretty much the same as I remembered her. Well, she was a little more wary, tired maybe, but she was really welcoming.” He raised his eyebrows and snorted. “Really welcoming.”

I was beginning to understand. Jordan slept with Layla in order to get closer
, to obtain her trust and he felt guilty.

“Jordan, you did what you felt you needed to do. It happens.”

He turned abruptly with a glare. “Would you have done it?”

I opened my mouth to say ‘yes, absolutely,’ but I re
alized I couldn’t. I would have thought about Sam and...

“Is
that what’s going on? You feel guilty? Jordan,” I said shaking my head. “You’re right; I probably would not have slept with Layla, mostly because of Sam. But I don’t think you did anything wrong.”

I shrugged. “
You and Sam had broken up. If it makes you feel better, talk to Sam. Who knows, she might get pissed as hell. I don’t know women that well, but I think Sam is more understanding than that.”

Jordan pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes, clearly frustrated. I couldn’t blame him. I really hoped Sam was the forgiving sort.

“That is not what this is about.”

“Well, what’s going on then?” He sat there silent and my patience
vanished.

“Jordan!” His head jerked up, but he still didn’t say anything.

“I was trying to let you tell me what was wrong on your own time, but I’ve had enough. You are acting like a child. How is this relationship between you, Sam and me going work if you can’t communicate? I’m not going to spend the rest of my life trying figure out what the hell’s wrong with you.”

Jordan’s blue eyes were hard and cold. He might not have appreciated my scolding, but if we were going to live together, share a woman together, for rest of our lives, we had to find a way to talk. Sam was right when she said we
could not hide anymore.

Finally
, Jordan nodded. His icy stare had thawed some. He was ready to talk.

“Layla’s dead.”

Okay, I wasn’t sure what I thought he was going to say, but that definitely was not it. My mouth opened and closed like a fish, yet no words would form. It was my turn to be mute.

“We were talking then things started he
ating up. We became intimate. “Jordan shifted his eyes away. I got it, no details on that one.

“Then they shot her. She was still warm in my arms when a bullet came through the window. I tried covering her, but I wasn’t fast enough.”

Jordan’s head fell into his hands. I hadn’t known what to say. It was obvious he was carrying a shit load of guilt. It was unwarranted, of course. There was nothing Jordan could have done.

A gasp pulled my attention away from my distressed friend.
She had somehow snuck up on us, once again. It was becoming a habit I didn’t like. We were supposed to have great supernatural hearing, but our single-mindedness was hindering our gifts. Jordan and I had better snap out of it before we left. In our job, there was no room for mistakes.

Sam stood in the doorway of our office
, a look of such sorrow crossing her face I felt my own heart break. Had she heard what Jordan had said? Was she upset that he had been intimate with someone else?

I reached out to her; my hand hovered in the air as I began to walk towards her. Sam
hobbled past me on her crutches and into Jordan’s arms, never looking my way.

~ 20 ~

Sam

I woke feeling surprisingly refreshed, yet sore in the most delicious ways. Smiling, I stretched carefully and looked at the clock. It was after six in the evening. My stomach rumbled, reminding me it had been hours since my last meal.

I wondered if Alex or Jordan would mind getting
some take out. I had the worst craving for barbecued pork. Throughout my whole pregnancy, I had wanted the stuff and it had been weeks since my last fix. I hadn’t wanted to bother Alex with my demands so I tried to ignore the cravings, but I didn’t want to hold out any longer.

The apartment was quiet so I decided to get dress and search for the guys. I grab
bed my robe that was laid out neatly at the foot of bed. My smile widen at how thoughtful the men could be. The robe was much easier to get into than my other clothes. And off, I thought with a wicked grin.

Once the sash
was tied, I took hold of my crutches and eased up off the bed carefully. Moving around with them was getting easier, however taking it slow was necessary.

I stop
ped in the bathroom first then headed down the hall towards Jordan and Alex’s office. Their voices carried through the partly open door. The conversation sounded serious so I kept quiet. Thinking it best that I wait for them to finish, I turned to leave when Jordan’s voice rose in anger. I hoped they weren’t arguing.

I peeked through the small opening in the door. I could see Jordan to my left, sitting behind his desk. He was glaring daggers at Alex who w
as standing with his back towards the door. His hands sat firmly on his hips as he stared back at Jordan.

“Would you have done it?”

“Is that what’s going on? You feel guilty? Jordan, you’re right; I probably wouldn’t have slept with Layla, mostly because of Sam. But, I don’t think you did anything wrong.”

My head jerk
ed back. Alex was implying that Jordan was sleeping with someone else. My mind reeled with questions. Did he have sex with this woman before we had broken up? Was he still seeing her?

“That i
s not what this is about,” Jordan said.

“Well, what’s going on then?”

There was a thick silence as I held my breath in an effort to stay undetected. I knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, but I needed to know more. My heart was pounding, worried that the future I had begun to hope for was all a farce. If I made my presence known, they would surely stop talking.

I ju
mped when Alex suddenly shouted. “Jordan! I was trying to let you tell me what was wrong on your own time, but I’ve had enough. You are acting like a child. How is this relationship between you, Sam and me going work if you can’t communicate? I’m not going to spend the rest of my life trying figure out what the hell’s wrong with you.”

There was another tense moment of silence, but it didn’t last near as long.

“Layla’s dead.”

Jordan’s voice was hard as stone. I held back the gasp that
wanted to spill from my throat.

“We were talking then things started heating up.
” His voice lowered and I strained to hear. “We became intimate.”

I closed my eyes, wishing I could cover my ears. It hurt to think about him with someone else.

“Then they shot her.”

My eyes flew open
wide as he talked about the woman’s death. His tone had softened and I could hear the sorrow in his voice.

“
She was still warm in my arms when a bullet came through the window. I tried covering her, but I wasn’t fast enough.”

My
heart broke for the pain and guilt he was obviously feeling. The gasp I tried to hold only seconds before broke from my lips as Jordan’s head fell to his hands in despair.

I pushed the door open and limped my way towards him. My wounded heart protested, but it was
not the time to be selfish. I loved Jordan and I hated seeing him in such pain. A friend...a lover had died and he needed soothing.

He was slump
ed over in the chair, breathing deeply into his palms. I placed my hand on his shoulder. When he didn’t react, I tried wiggling my way onto his lap, dropping my crutches to the floor. It was difficult with his elbows on his knees blocking my way, but I managed to wrap my arms around his neck.

He slowly
slid his arms around my middle, helping me perch on his thigh. Pulling me close, he buried his head into my neck.

I murmured softly into his ear, hoping he understood that his friend Layla’s death was not his fault. I admitted that I did not know all
the details or the circumstances, but I knew Jordan. He would never intentionally harm anyone.

“I’m so sorry, Jordan.” I
whispered. “It will be alright, it’s not your fault.”

Jordan lifted his head and looked at me as if he hadn’t even known I was there. I gave him a small smile as I caressed his cheek with
my fingers. His stubble was like sandpaper. I loved the contrast of rough and smooth as my fingers trailed down his neck.

“Sam, what are you doing here?”

“I heard what you said about your friend. I’m so sorry Jordan, for your loss.”

He jerked
back, clearly surprised. “You heard about Layla?”

I focused on his chest, smoothing out the wrinkles on his shirt. I felt guilty about eavesdropping, but at least
now, I knew the truth. Jordan had been in love with the woman and he was morning her death.

Jealousy wanted to rea
r its ugly head, but I was not angry. I never wanted to see him hurting and I didn’t want to jeopardize the fragile relationship we were starting to build.

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t say that. Why would you be sorry?”

“Because, your friend died. It’s
evident that you cared about her very much and I’m sorry for what happen to her.”

I continued to smooth my hand over his chest, not really thinking about what I was doing, until I brush across his nipple. The nub hardened under my palm. I sucked in a breath as something much more firm pushed against my hip.

“I did care for Layla, but...”

Curiosity had me looking up into his deep ocean blue eyes when he paused.

“Didn’t you hear what I said happened?” He asked.

“Yes.”

“I was...intimate with her.”

I looked away, not wanting him to see ho
w much those words really hurt.

“Aren’t you mad?”

I shook my head. “No, I’m not angry. How can I? We weren’t together anymore and I cannot fault you for being with someone you love.” I rested my forehead on his shoulder and sighed.

“I a
m so sorry Jordan. I don’t know how you are keeping it together. If something happened to you or Alex, I’m not sure I would be able to handle it as well as you are.”

Rubbing
my head against his shoulder, I snuggled into his warmth, wrapping my arm around his back. I wanted him to know that I loved him no matter what. I would always be there for him. He didn’t have to grieve alone.

Jordan’s grip was gentle as he lifted my chin
. Reluctantly, I looked up at him. Love shined brightly in his eyes, causing me to catch my breath.

“I did not love Layla. She was a friend, yes, but nothing more.”

“But, you slept together.”

“Yes.”

Oh, I got it, friends with benefits. I guessed it was something like what Alex, Jordan and I use to have. I wondered how long they had been seeing each other. For all I knew he left my bed to go to hers and vice versa.

Jordan shook his head
as if he knew what I was thinking. “We were all friends growing up, Alex, Layla and I. We had...fun together. That is all, and no, I never saw her or anyone else for that matter, while I was with you.”

I breathed
a small sigh of relief. “Well then, I am still sorry for the loss of your friend.”

“
Thank you,” he breathed.