WARNING: This chapter contains content that is rated M for Mature.

Chapter 26

Meliodas and I had stayed quiet the entire ride back to the bar.

The rush of adrenaline never once leaving me as we sped down the highway. I was still on high alert. Expecting the man and his goons to come chase us down at any moment.

Luckily, we didn't run into another soul on the road all the way back.

It was well after three in the morning by the time we parked the car and walked through the bar's doors. Both of us planting our backs against the door frame to steady us. Both staring unseeing and equally unbelieving of everything that had transpired.

Hesitantly, I peaked at him, he following suit, looked to me -

And we both burst into a fit of laughter.

It took a few minutes before either of us could form a full sentence. We would begin but the fear induced giggles would overtake us again and again until we couldn't breathe.

"I can't believe we just did that…" I panted.

"You're telling me." He blinked a couple of times, "I almost got shot." He said, as if it had just occurred to him.

I nodded, but couldn't form any thoughts in my own shock.

Eventually, Meliodas turned to look at me again, "Hey," he asked, waiting for me to look up at him, "Want a beer?"

I stared at him incredulously before the laughter escaped me once more. That was his answer for everything it seemed.

But after everything that had happened, even I was looking forward to a pint. I nodded in my chuckle, following him to the bar and finding my place in the closest bar stool at the end.

He poured us both a glass before coming back around to stand next to me, leaning on the bar and taking a long sip before speaking again, "That was way too close for comfort."

"Yeah… what the hell was all that?"

"Exactly what you thought. You were right." He chuckled, as if tickled by the idea, "I'm glad we went with your gut… annnd," He drawled, "Sorry for doubting you. Occupational hazard."

Yet another victory. I let a small grin take over my expression before I found another question spilling from me - something that had been eating at me, "So? Was it them? Did you know that guy? He seemed pretty talkative."

Meliodas shook his head, "No…" He answered without looking at me, "He was just a thug. A hired hand for the Commandments."

"A hired thug who knew your name." I quizzed, only to receive a dismissive shrug.

"Unfortunately, my reputation precedes me. A lot of thugs know who I am. And I haven't exactly been inconspicuous about who I am when it comes to the Commandments. Helps my reputation."

That was fair. The goon who'd tried attacking us at the Mayor's gala had known his name too, as well as the supposed reputation he seemed to have. "Fair enough," I took another sip of my drink, finding it did little to relieve the built up adrenaline.

Meliodas began chuckling again, "I can't get over the stunt you pulled. Laser pointers… fucking laser pointers. And then I thought he was on to us, you," He laughed again, " You called in reinforcements?"

I couldn't help the grin on my face, "I called in a tip. Of a shooting at the warehouse."

The blond's brow's shot up and I rolled my eyes, "Don't worry. I restricted the number before calling. No one can trace it back to Arthur or You."

The man simply shook his head as he watched me, "Fucking genius." He repeated, taking a moment to soak in everything, "You saved my ass back there."

His tone matched the sheer surprise he'd shown when Arthur had given me all the credit back at the docks.

And for some reason, that appreciation made me unusually shy as I tucked my hair behind my ear, hoping the heat I felt in my cheeks wasn't nearly as obvious to him as it was to me, "I couldn't just stand by and let you get shot, could I?"

Why was I feeling so fluttery all of a sudden?

I could feel him watching me and that made me even more aware of the heat flaring in my face. And of the proximity of him to my chair. It made me anxious in a away I couldn't really explain. I wanted to hide away but I also didn't want to leave.

"Elizabeth?"

I didn't even hesitate to turn to him, completely taken by the sudden shift in tone and the unusual sincerity of my name in his voice.

Faster than I could blink, Meliodas had leaned in and planted his lips on mine, muffling my soft gasp of surprise.

Soft - surprisingly soft... that's all I registered before he pulled away; but not far enough as my body was suddenly aware of the heat of his near mine.

My eyes fluttered open - having closed at some point against my will, and I watched him as he gazed back at me - his emeralds a much darker hue, "S-sorry," He stuttered, as if just coming to realize what he'd done, "I… That was… to thank you. For uh… saving me - again." He clarified, clearing his throat, but his tone was husky and unsure.

Again? Oh… right… the guy at the party.

I nodded softly, "Of… of course." I'm not sure if I was agreeing with him or accepting this strange form of gratitude. My brain was having a real hard time finding a reason to want to move away - or make any decisions at all, for that matter.

He continued searching me before his adam's apple bobbed with a heavy swallow, "We should uh - we should stop this. I-I should… step away." He chuckled dryly, but his expression didn't change. It was like he was trying to convince himself of something.

"Right." I agreed without even really understanding what 'this' was, but I could feel a heavy fog in my head keeping the rest of me rooted to my chair.

Why was he so close? And… why didn't I care? Why didn't I care that I found his woodsy smell so intoxicating? Or that I found the light green speckles in his eyes mesmerizing? Why was my stomach doing flips?

"Cause this is... a really - bad idea." He continued, as if more arguing with himself than with me. His words said one thing, but his deep breathy voice and the way his eyes seemed to dance over my features said something completely different.

The things I would have given to be able to see what was going through his head that would make him look so... tempted...

I swallowed hard, my mouth like a desert despite the beer I'd been drinking, "The worst." I confirmed - and yet, I didn't believe the words coming out of my own mouth.

We stayed like that a moment - a few heartbeats that seemed to stretch out for forever.

I'm not sure when the switch flipped.

Maybe it was the sudden devilish up-turn of his lips before they collided with mine once more, or perhaps it was the fire in my core taking control - but neither of us could hold back any longer.

It was a frenzy of breathless kisses and hands grabbing greedily at the other. A flurry of movements that took us from the bar, stumbling up the stairs, and to his room - I think it was his room… did that matter? I found that I didn't particularly care.

I wasn't thinking straight. My adrenaline-shot, lust-fogged mind told me this was a lapse in judgement. My pounding heart said it was divine intervention. My body said fuck thinking straight.

I found myself allowing the blonde to drag me up roughly against the door the moment it closed and breathlessly plunging back into a kiss that had me reeling. I felt his rough hands trace up my sides; cupping the back of my head, the small of my back, pulling me close.

I wasn't the kind of person who thought about sex often - preferring to focus on my career rather than relationships. That physical connection wasn't something I craved like others seemed to. It was a nice perk - a rare indulgence.

But I never needed lips devouring my own. I never needed the sensation of tongues gliding over one another. I certainly never needed the sensual shot of electricity up my spine as Meliodas pressed himself against me, his hand slipping from my back to my rear - clawing greedily at it; like he'd die if he didn't have contact with my skin soon.

I had never needed any of that before, but I certainly needed it now.

In those desperate moments, I learned a lot about Meliodas. Like how remarkably talented his fingers were. Somehow, despite our urgency, he became more skilled in the heat of passion, deftly removing my jacket - dropping it unceremoniously to the floor, unclipping and dropping my holster, undoing buttons to my blouse without sending them flying, smoothing rough fingertips over every inch of bared skin. All the while, entertaining my lips with deep kisses and nips.

It was good that the bed had been close. The floor would have been a poor choice considering the hardwood, but I couldn't take my mind - or hands, or mouth, for that matter - away from Meliodas long enough to move anywhere but where he led me.

Now, half naked, stretched out on his bed, the blonde leaned over me; shirt undone, belt and pants unbuttoned, revealing where the lines of his hips led. Breathless and slick with want, those emeralds bore into me and I thought I might drown in the lust they stirred within my core.

I didn't recognize my own voice. It had been some time since I'd heard it dripping with pleasure - though I'd never heard myself quite like this. It was animalistic, gasps tearing from my throat, desperate panting breaths. Meliodas' hands massaged my tender flesh, scraped my stomach with his nails, sliding his fingers down my thighs, all the while taking pieces of clothing from me as he went.

He traveled the length of me slowly, appreciatively, allowing me to draw my own nails down his chest. His voice strange and addicting when tempered with lust: deeper, rougher, punctuated in needy growls.

He grinned wolfishly at me, pulling back to shrug off his shirt and pants - and I was left to admire him. The curvature of a man who knew the discipline and routine of the military. Lean and muscled and sexy in every sense of the word and lacking in no way. How had I never noticed?

I found out quickly that he was far more adept at teasing me where words were not concerned; driving me wild with every touch, every lick, every time he pressed against my most sensitive parts. It was… intense. Maddening. Every movement, every stroke - I wrapped my legs around him, pulling our bodies tight.

Slick flesh rocked and slid together. Skin, and hair, all growing more wet and hotter as we moved. Finding new depths with each desperate thrust.

It still wasn't enough. I would buck my hips to meet him, earning me lusty pants of my name. It was hot. It was so hot I couldn't breathe, couldn't think, nothing but the hard rocking motion between us and the growing need for release in my core.

I probably screamed. I know I screamed. Was this room soundproof? I didn't know, nor did I care. Part of me hoped the others were still gone. But right now, there was nothing but the heat, the cries escaping my throat, and the sheer rush of release and pleasure.

I breathed.

I felt feverish, and soaked, and exhausted. Years of tension falling away from me, leaving me light as a feather. I almost wanted to cry.

Opening my eyes, I found Meliodas in much the same condition. The only difference was the tender way he watched me unravel beneath him. When I'd come back to earth, he leaned into me gently, and I kissed him back - the sensation sweet and soft in comparison to the carnal dance we'd done.

I don't remember drifting to sleep. But when the golden rays of morning came through the window to wake me, I felt more rested than I had in the longest time. I woke to Meliodas laying propped up and watching me, grinning the moment our eyes met.

"Morning Princess. Sleep well?" he asked me slyly and my mood could not be ruined. I smiled impishly as I snuggled into the comforter.

"It was alright." I teased, finding a small flash of pride in the crooked look he gave me in response. "It would have been better if I had gotten cleaned up before falling asleep, though," I admitted. I felt sticky.

The blonde hummed, "I do have a shower, you know. You could hop in with me. I was just thinking I could use one too. Can't promise we'd get very clean though." His fingers had started to trace up and down my exposed arm - immediately sparking that want deep within me with his invitation.

How could I possibly say no?

We spent more time in the shower than we should have. The water ran cold long before we were done.

I was starting to wonder if I'd ever get tired. We just kept going, taking our passion from the cold water to the bathroom sink - driven by an unquenchable lust.

It was only after I was wrapped in a towel that I even started to contemplate leaving. My mind and body still blissfully buzzed from my time with Meliodas. I left him in the bathroom as I lazily began to braid my wet hair off to the side. The few hair products i had were back in my room.

I sighed heavily as I realized that I would have to leave eventually. That our night and morning of passion were over and we had to get back to the real world. Back to my case.

Meliodas watched me with a small smile as I began to gather my things.

"Sure you can't stay a little longer… just like that?" His head was tilted back against the bathroom door frame he propped up against as he watched me in my borrowed towel. It was the first time I truly felt like someone was admiring me. Quirks and all. And it was clear by the dark tint his emeralds gave off that he would gladly go another couple of rounds if given the chance.

And as much as I wanted to stay - to indulge in him further, it wouldn't be long now before someone came looking for one or both of us.

I smiled over my shoulder, unable to resist the urge to take him in in all his towel-wrapped glory, "Maybe next time," I promised, using his own words from our first encounter against him as I turned back to the door and opened it without much thought.

Maybe I should have had Meliodas check to make sure the coast was clear. Maybe I should have just taken him up on his offer. Hindsight is always 20/20 isn't it?

Standing like a wall in front of me, hand raised and poised to knock was the white-haired bar cook. His scrutiny felt like fire as he scanned me. "You've got to be kidding me…" He mumbled more to himself than to me.

I opened my mouth to explain, but that boat had already sailed. I was in a towel for crying out loud.

"Taking the walk of shame, huh?" He crossed his arms, but even his presence couldn't kill the mood I was in.

I found that spark of retaliation in the form of a little smirk, "I don't have any shame." I responded confidently, only to have both him and Meliodas behind me chuckle.

"You don't say," Ban looked me over once more.

I bit my lip before I could dig myself any deeper, "Well… if you'll excuse me…" I pushed past him and quickly escaped to my room, closing the door behind me, but not before I heard Ban comment, "What the hell you smilin for?"

My face flushed, back meeting the harsh wood of the door as I leaned against it. "Oh god…" Slipped through my lips quietly.

The realization of last nights events were slowly seeping into my skin as my mind was finally clear. The late night mission. Meeting Arthur. The warehouse. The thugs. Meliodas.

Fuck. I… I slept with Meliodas.

A hand ran down my face. I shook my head. This wasn't good. Not at all.

Part of me knew last night was a one time deal. Just an adrenaline rush after a high stakes situation. But the other part of me knew that wasn't quite right. If that had been true then this morning wouldn't have happened. I wouldn't have woken up slowly, content like I did. I should have bolted from the room and pretended like nothing happened. I should regret it.

But I didn't.

And I definitely should.

I just slept with a criminal. A man who was supposed to be helping me with a case. An important case that my entire career currently depended on. The whole thing had suddenly become extremely delicate. One wrong move and everything would fall apart.

Panic was beginning to set in and I had to shake it away.

No, this was fine. No one but Me, Meliodas and now Ban knew. We could keep this under wraps and we could go back to how things were before. Right.

Deciding that was a problem for later, I pushed off the door and headed to my own bathroom. I busied myself with my morning routine and got dressed for the day.

The next hour passed in a blur.

Diane gushed about her date night with King while we readied the bar. Something about how romantic it was and he took her out to the place they first met or something and ended up… somewhere. I hadn't really been paying very much attention, honestly. I tired. It was an easy distraction form my own thoughts. But I couldn't focus.

The burnette noticed my lack of response and pursed her lips, openly pouting that I wasn't paying attention. She attempted to figure out what I ended up doing with my night. To which I simply shrugged with a non committal response. Diane left me alone after that with a dramatic roll of her eyes.

I felt bad about it, but my mind was still so preoccupied with thoughts of my own night.

Thankfully the bar opened not too long after.

I distracted myself with serving customers until a woman covered from head to toe in black, including a hat and sunglasses stepped in. The lavender haired woman seemed on a mission as she strolled straight up to the bar and plopped down in a chair. She didn't even spare a glance my way as she waited impatiently for someone to talk to her. I debated letting one of the Sins handle her. She obviously wasn't in a good mood and after the morning I'd had, I wasn't sure that I could give her the kindness I should.

But seeing as everyone else was busy, I walked up to her anyway.

"Good morning," I greeted generaillicaly, "can I… Jericho?"

My mouth dropped open as I realized just who the woman at the bar was.

Jericho Knight. A criminal defense lawyer and a damn good one at that. She helped keep many innocent and not so innocent people out of jail with her quick thinking and slightly intimidating nature. This wasn't a woman you wanted to mess with.

"What… what are you doing here?" I breathed, unable to process the implications of her showing up at the Boar Hat on a Sunday.

She looked me up and down before scoffing. "What do you think?"

I didn't get a chance to respond before Ban stepped out of the kitchen, drawing her attention. The white haired man grinned crookedly at the pair of us.

"Well hey there, Jerry Curl." He sauntered up to us and leaned over the counter. "Whaddya got for me today?"

Jericho gritted her teeth as she pulled out a large manila envelope and passed it to Ban.

The Sin of Greed let out a low whistle as he tugged it out. "Wouldja look at that!~" Excitement danced in his eyes as they roamed the paper. "Boss! Get over here." He shouted across the room to get the blonde's attention.

"Hey there, Jerri," Meliodas showed up with wide grin.

The woman huffed, clearly hating the numerous nicknames they came up with. Ban passed Meliodas the envelope. He too examined the papers inside, grinning even wider. The bar owner waved someone over, King appearing at his side a moment later. Meliodas wordlessly handed it to the ginger and King nodded, taking it and heading straight for the basement without a word.

"Much appreciated, as always, Jer." Meliodas nodded his head in thanks.

"Whatever." Jericho spat at him.

Meliodas and Ban disappeared as quick as they'd came.

"What… what was that about?" I stared at the other woman, determined to get answers from somebody.

"I don't think I need to explain how blackmail works to you, now do I, El?" She at least had the decency not to use my name or mention my occupation. "What do they have on you?"

My mouth hung open slightly at another piece of the puzzle handed to me. Jericho. Not only did they have Merlin on the forensic side of things, they also had Jericho on the more legal and political side. How many of their informants did she help keep out of jail?

And what exactly did the sins have on her to make her comply?

"Nothing." I answered her question honestly. She'd likely be able to tell I was lying if I had tried. She wasn't the best because of her looks. And I was never the best liar to begin with. "What about you?"

She eyed me suspiciously. "Then why are you here?"

I nibbled my lip. I ran into the woman on occasion and she never failed to make me a little anxious. My eyes scanned the room, trying to discern if anyone was listening. I decided to stay vague. "I'm sure you can make an educated guess as to why I'd be here without blackmail being the driving factor." I spoke lowly.

"Huh." She quirked a brow. Her mouth opened as if to say more before she shook her head.

"What do they have on you?" I pushed her again.

Jericho chuckled, a new excited spark in her eye and a smug smile on her face. One I instantly dreaded seeing. What was this woman planning? She pushed away from the bar without another word.

"Wait." I followed her to the door. "You… you won't…"

"Hmm?" She hummed, all nonchalant. "If you're worried about me saying something, don't. We're both here for reasons that I'm sure would be detrimental to our progress if either of us mentioned this to anyone." Her sharp gold eyes bore into mine, heavy with the intent to get her point across.

I swallowed and nodded.

"Good." She nodded once. "See ya, El." She waved over her shoulder and walked out the door.

My eyes stayed locked on the door far longer than they needed to be. Yet another altercation with someone I knew that left my head spinning. Why Jericho? Of all the lawyers out there she had appeared to be one of the better ones in way of morals - not that she hadn't represented some real scumbags in the past. Just what would have her going so far against her code as aiding a well known gang allegedly responsible for distributing XGEN?

Was this why the sins never locked the doors? So their informants could come and go as they pleased?

I sighed heavily, pinching the bridge of my nose.

Meeting Jericho and Arthur barely answered any of my many questions. Instead their appearances only revealed about a hundred more.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be back." Meliodas announced to the room that lead to the secret base. "Just gunna change."

Before he could go far, he shut the door and glanced down at the phone in his hand with a deep frown. Without acknowledging my presence in any way, he bounded quickly up the stairs.

My lips purse at the odd behavior. Without giving much thought, I followed behind him. I stayed relatively quiet but did my best not to look like I was snooping. If anyone asked I'd just say I was going to my room to change. The Sins have all been strangely scattered this morning, anyways. It was unlikely I'd run into anyone in the small trek upstairs.

A door shut just as I rounded the corner. It had to be for Meliodas' room.

Carefully, I walked down the hall, stopping right outside his door. Something churned in my stomach as I thought of the time I'd spent in there only hours ago. I pushed the feeling aside. With an ear pressed against the wood, I could hear his voice.

"I thought I told you not to call me at this number."

"Couldn't be helped." And one I didn't recognize.

"Well?" Meliodas sounded impatient. "What do you want?"

"I heard you made quite the ruckus at a certain charity event this week."

There was a short silence before Meliodas' voice quieted threateningly, "How the hell do you know about that?"

"So it was you. Thought as much."

The blonde growled, "Answer the damn question, Estarossa."

Estarossa? I don't think I've ever heard that name before.

"Word travels fast in the underworld. I've told you that. Luckily for you, no one is attributing it to your little... group."

There was another momentary pause, and I'm left to process the information in the silence. Underworld? I knew Meliodas had plenty of contacts, many of which I knew from my own professional life. I'm not sure why it suddenly surprised me that a man who supposedly ran a gang had contacts in the "criminal underworld".

I didn't get to think on it long before Meliodas spoke up again, "What other whispers have you heard?"

There was a dark chuckle from the man on the line, "Oh how the mighty fall - since when are you so interested in the family business?"

"I'm not. I want to know if any major players are making waves down there."

Silence.

"No one that I'm aware of. Why?"

I heard Meliodas curse under his breath. He'd told me the point of threatening Melascula had been to make the Commandments squirm - did this mean that they were calling his bluff? But that didn't seem right. They'd tried to send us on a wild goose chase with that email Arthur had given us the data on. And he'd told me the guy who'd spoke to him at the warehouse had been a hired hand by the Commandments. We were on the right track. We had to be.

"Was that the point to all of this? Creating waves 'down here' as you say?" the man on the line asked, curiously, as if reading into my own thoughts on the matter.

"That's really none of your concern."

There was a deep chuckle on the line, "I think you know by now that it is."

"Yeah, about that. How is the family business?"

"So you do care afterall."

"No. You've denied it before, so I'm just wondering why the hell-" Meliodas seemed irritated suddenly, but he stopped mid-sentence, "Know what? Nevermind. Forget it." he dismissed.

"No, please, I'd love to know what's gotten you so fired up. Are you perhaps worried about us?"

Us?

But Meliodas wasn't playing into it. "Goodbye, Estarossa. Don't call me on this line again." He deadpanned before I heard the soft chime as he ended the call.

Which meant it was high-time I got out of sight.

I quickly, yet quietly snuck back down the hall to my own room, opening and closing the door behind me without even a click of the doorknob.

I waited there by the door silently until I heard one open and close down the hall and distinct footsteps leading back down the stairs. No hesitation by my room.

A sigh of relief escaped me that I hadn't realized I was holding until I could no longer hear his steps on the stairs.

Arthur, Jericho, and now this mystery man? There really wasn't an end in sight to all the questions I had. There was a picture forming in my mind - a giant puzzle. I was just starting to see the big picture, but I could only speculate as to the details. I was still missing too many pieces.

I shoved my hands in my jacket pockets, content with sulking when my fingers brushed against the small disposable phone still hiding there. I'd forgotten to take it out in light of the antics I'd gotten up to the night before. I was lucky Meliodas hadn't found it.

Having the phone out in my hand now, reminded me that I'd also completely forgotten to call Howzer…

He was going to be pissed.

Glancing down at my watch, I nibbled my lip in conflicted contemplation. I had enough time before we were supposed to get busy that I could call him, but was I so desperate to get a lecture so early in the day?

I sighed. The answer was clear.

I just hoped Howzer was in a forgiving mood.

Dom: *Sits with luv at their computer… just sort of staring at it. Both of them blushing slightly* Whoo boy… that… that escalated quickly.

Luv: *clears throat* Uh yeah… yeah it sure did.

Dom: *Rubs the back of her neck* I mean… I didn't see that coming. At all.

Luv: … it happens… I guess? *shrugs helplessly* I mean can ya blame a girl? *chuckles awkwardly*

Dom: I - I suppose not. I just didn't expect it! *sighs in shock* I guess you never know what someone is capable of when put in a position like that!

Luv: I feel like I should cue up some appropriate background music to go with that statement...

Dom: *Nods sagely* Yes. I'd imagine it would be a very happy tune. Like… "Somewhere Over the Rainbow*

Luv: *busts out laughing* Yes. Yes, that's perfect!

Dom: I mean, what other tune would you put to someone being showered in puppies?

Luv: …. Is that what we're calling it?

Dom: That's what the video is titled, so why not? Wait… what are you talking about?

Luv: Uhhhhhhhhh *clears throat awkwardly* Next Time on Don't Trust Me: Despite best efforts, some things just can't be taken back. Elizabeth has crossed a line she can't uncross, and that puts her entire investigation at risk. The closer she seems to get to the sins, though, the more the truth behind their motives seems to play into the bigger picture. But will Meliodas hear her out, or cast her out of the bar for good?

Dom: *Eyes Luv speculatively* What were you thinking of? Now I'm really curious!

Luv: Puppies! Duh! *begins sliding out of the room and whistles innocently. As soon as she hits the doorway, she bolts*

Dom *Chases after Luv* COME BACK HERE AND TELL ME YOUR SECRETS!