Justified Touch

The mat was too damn hot. Harley shifted on the foam surface, trying not to flinch as sweat soaked through the back of her uniform shirt. She’d done this scenario a hundred times, resisting subject, control, and cuff—but today, her skin felt too tight. Her mouth too dry. Because today, it was Sergeant Laramie who would be pinning her down. “Alright,” Jr called out from across the gym. “Final drill, resisting suspect, hands-on control. Show ‘em how it’s done, Sarge.” Harley forced her face blank. Don’t give him anything. Sgt. Laramie’s boots thudded across the mat, his approach slow and heavy, like he wanted her to feel it. He crouched beside her, knee planted too close to her hip. His hand grabbed both wrists, not firm, not professional, but possessive. His chest pressed down over her back. His hips followed. Too slow. Too tight, too close for the technique they were supposed to be doing for control. “Stop resisting,” he said out loud to the cadets. Then his voice dipped low, breath curling against her cheek. “You look good down there, darlin’. Makes me think you like it a little rough in bed.” Her pulse spiked. She twisted, but his grip held. Then she felt him pressing into her more from behind, then when Jr turned around, she felt the wetness of his tongue slowly deliberate just across the back of her neck, making her whimper in disgust. She froze. Her brain split clean in two. “I like the sounds you make,” he whispered, “but, you say anything to Jr, I’ll say you were begging for it, darlin’.” Then, as if nothing had happened, he clicked the cuffs behind her back and stood, dragging her up with him. Jr clapped from across the mats. “That’s how you keep control, folks. Textbook.” Harley’s heart was pounding, but she kept her mouth shut. Later That Day – Chief’s Office “He licked me,” she said flatly. The Chief’s fingers laced together across his desk. “And this happened during training?” “Yes.” “And you’re sure it wasn’t part of the drill?” Her jaw tightened. “You think I signed up for tongue contact during defensive tactics?” He sighed. “Look, Harley, I’ll have a word with him. Quietly. But let’s be smart about this. He’s a veteran officer. You’re civilian staff. These things can get messy, quick.” “He assaulted me.” “And I’m telling you, I believe you. But this department has enough eyes on it. You know how these things go.” She stood, body trembling with rage. “No. I know how they don’t go.” She never filed another complaint. Just kept her head down and worked on. Never got an apology. All she got was a new office. Until the day he took her parking spot. Until she met the man who made her freeze all over again, but not from fear this time. From something far more dangerous.