“Those men in the hotel. That was Tito and me.”
She leaned back on her arms, putting distance between us. “You guys carved those men up?”
“Yes.”
“They needed you, why?”
“That was a two-man job, and Tucker’s not so keen on getting bloody.”
Moriah stared, eyes unfocused at my chest. “But you are.”
“It’s who I am.”
“And the girl at the hospital, that was Tucker?”
“She’d OD’d. Her captors shot her up, trying to keep her compliant. He got her to the emergency room in the nick of time.”
“This is a lot of information to take in.”
“I know.”
“So that explains the tight security at the mansion. The privacy. The false documents Tito produced.”
I nodded.
Painful seconds passed. Moriah gnawed on her lower lip, then met my eyes again. “If you hadn’t found me, what would’ve happened to Mim?”
“Those are questions best aimed at Tucker or Leticia. I don’t have all the details.”
“This is…” She pushed me away and hopped off the counter. “Wow. I um…” She stepped away. Stopped. Turned to face me. “Thank you for telling me.” She shoved hair away from her face, stared at the floor, then huffed, backing away. “And thanks for staying with Mim today. But. Um. I need a bath. And I need time to think. And I think you should not stay here tonight.
# # #
Warm candlelight cast dancing shadows across the white tiles, licking Moriah’s skin with sultry radiance. She lay with her head back, knees up, eyes closed, bubbles to her chin.
I watched from the doorway, unsteady, unsure, unable to tear my eyes from that peaceful, freckled face, or the way those lips moved as she sang along to the music coming from the portable speaker, something about feeling a rush, having a crush, and hoping it’s not too much.
The room smelled like fresh cookies, and my insides warmed at the overload of stimuli. I should’ve respected her wishes. Gave her time alone. I’d tried. Made it out the door. Down the hallway. Had my finger on the elevator call button before an icy freeze washed over me, halting my retreat.
I had nowhere to go. Nowhere I belonged. Sure, I had a permanent suite at the mansion, but I was nothing but a tick in that vast space, desperately searching for somewhere warm and fleshy to land, somewhere to burrow deep and draw sustenance.
Moriah was my place. My somewhere to be. My flesh and blood home.
I toed off my boots outside the door. Caught her attention when I ditched my jeans, T-shirt, and boxers on the bathroom floor. Those hungry eyes scanned every inch of my skin in silent appraisal.
I squatted, dropping a kiss on that lush mouth, expecting a fight, so fucking thankful when instead, she moaned into my mouth, her knees falling to the sides.
I released her lips, holding her wanton gaze, skimmed a palm down her belly, then worked that bundle of nerves between her legs, challenging her to complain, or push me away.
Instead, my gorgeous woman dropped her head back on the ledge, and she rode my hand, curling those hips into my fingers, heavy lidded gaze on mine, silently begging, more, more, more. Water splashed. She panted. Too soon, she slapped a hand around my neck, her body arching while she came undone, curling into me, burying her face in my arm, whispering, “Oh, God. Oh, God. Oh, God.”
For a long moment she held me, breaths heavy, and I pushed my finger between her folds, a slow tease, letting her know we were not finished.
A new song played over the speaker, slower than the last, haunting almost, a man singing to his lover. Moriah slid deeper into the bubbles.
I stepped into the lukewarm water. Wasn’t pretty, settling into the tub, even though the thing was wide enough to hold three people, but I managed. I’d never felt less a man sinking into a mountain of bubbles, but I’d never been more thankful to be a man when Moriah slid her foot up and down the length of my aching cock.
She smirked. “You didn’t leave.”
“No.” I sank lower, bracing her small hips with my feet, and studied her mischievous expression. “You mad at me?”
Fuck. That smile.
She made me wait before saying, “I look mad?” then added her other foot to the rub and tug, gnawing on her bottom lip.
God, her feet were soft. And she knew how to use them, working me to diamond hard and ready to blow. I swallowed a moan.
“What song were you listening to just now, when you came all over my hand?”
Her lips parted, a soft breath escaping. “‘Crush.’”
“That’s going to be our song.”
“We have a song?”
“We have a song.”
“Dane.” She sat straighter, tucked her toes under my ass, swiped bubbles off her chin. “That’s a couple’s thing.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” I reached between my legs and snatched her foot, pulling it to my chest. “Don’t make me say it again.”
She couldn’t hide her grin. “Will you keep working with Tito?”
“They’ve hired me full-time at the mansion. My official title is groundskeeper.” I rubbed the soft spot on her ankle, applying extra pressure where I knew she’d feel the pleasure between her legs.
“But that’s not all you’ll be.”
“No. That gonna be an issue?”
With a sigh, Moriah reclaimed her foot and sat up straight, placing her hands on my knees, hitting me with a hard glare. “I get the feeling it won’t matter. You’re gonna do what you gotta do, right?”
“There are more Mims out there, gorgeous. Little girls, helpless and hurting. I don’t think I could turn Moretti down even if you held a gun to my head.”
“You see, that’s the thing I’m struggling with most. Everything I’ve been taught tells me that what you’re doing is wrong. It’s a police issue. Let them handle those sick bastards.” She paused. Swallowed. Licked her lips.
“But?”
The pink glow on her face darkened, her fingers digging harder into my skin. “I don’t know.”
“Say it, baby.”
She dropped her gaze, drawing a circle over my knee with her fingernail. “It turns me on, knowing you’re out there, breaking the law.”
“You got a thing for bad boys?”
“Apparently so.”
“Well, you’ve struck gold, gorgeous.”
I dragged my naked girl up the length of me and settled her against my chest. Not satisfied, I urged her knees up, and grabbed my cock, guiding it home. Without further prompting, she shifted her hips, opening for me, taking me to the hilt in one slow, torturous slide.
“God damn, we’re a perfect fit,” I mumbled into her hair, fighting a full body shiver.
Moriah planted her hands on my chest and sat up, arching her back, shoving her tits in my face, and I was a goner.
“That’s it, ride me baby.” I flicked a tongue over her taut, pink tit.
Her whimper set me on fire. When her lips met mine, and she coiled her arms around my neck, I gripped her hips. I took control. And I showed her exactly how bad I could be.
Even covered in bubbles.
Moriah
“Did she like the bubbles?” I asked, moving the purple bottle and giant pink wand aside.
“Oh, Lordy. She had a blast. Had to hose off her and Rocky afterward. They were a mess.” Lettie shook her head, laughing.
It was so good to see her smiling.
“How are you holding up?”
Lettie gestured for me to sit. “Won’t lie. It’s been rough, especially the evenings. Dane and Mim have been a Godsend, though. I haven’t had to worry about anything around the house. And Mim’s smile. Lord.” Slapping a hand to her chest, she looked up, then shook her head. “How can you be sad with those bright eyes beaming up at you?” She sighed, her shoulders dropping. “I miss my James, though, so much.”
I collapsed on a stool at the kitchen island. “I feel like I haven’t had time to mourn my mom o
r my sister with everything that’s happened. I’m afraid it’s going to hit me all at once. Knock me for a loop, ya know?”
“Well.” Lettie grabbed my hand with a motherly squeeze. “When that happens, you call me. We’ll carry each other through the rough patches. How does that sound?”
“Sounds like a deal.”
The house seemed eerily quiet and empty. I looked around the vast, spotless kitchen. “Where are they now?”
Lettie turned to open the fridge. “They went for a long drive today. Came back about an hour ago but haven’t come inside.” She pulled a large dish off the shelf and set it between us. “They might be in the barn. They’ve been spending a lot of time out there the past week.”
“Hmm.”
“Why don’t you go find them. I’ll get this casserole in the oven. Should be ready in about an hour.”
“You sure? I can help with dinner.”
“Salad is already made. All that’s left to do is set the timer. Go ahead.” She shooed me off. “Make sure they’re not getting into any trouble out there.”
I started the long trek across the lawn, my heels sinking into the soft grass. Halfway there, I kicked off my shoes, the lawn a cool balm to my aching feet.
The barn door sat open, and Dane’s voice carried from the far corner. “No, that’s a socket wrench. I need the torque wrench. Remember which one that is?” Metal clanged. “Yeah. That’s it.” A deep chuckle warmed my belly. “Now come here. You gotta crank it this way, nice and tight.” A grunt. “There ya go. That’s my girl.”
I peeked around the side of a beat-up Ford to find Dane perched on a short stool, Mim standing at his side. Both staring at a motorcycle. Not your average motorcycle, though. A kid-sized bike that stood no taller than a few feet.
My heart leapt to my throat. “What’s going on out here?”
Dane looked up, shit-eating grin on his face. Behind him, sat another dirt bike I hadn’t seen before.
Mim rubbed a dirty hand across her face, leaving a black streak. I’d never seen her smile so wide.
“She’s a natural, gorgeous.” He patted Mim’s shoulder. “We picked these babies up at an estate sale last week. They run okay. But Mim is learning how to make them run better.”
My sweet, little, dirty angel waved a wrench at me.
“You let her ride that?”
He reached behind him and retrieved a small helmet, black and shiny. “Like I said. She’s a natural. Never seen anything quite like it.” He shimmied the helmet onto her head, fiddled for a minute, then said, “Show your aunt. Stay off the grass, though. We don’t want Lettie coming after us for messing up her lawn.”
Mim threw a leg over the little bike like a pro. Only then did I notice the tall boots she wore.
“This can’t be safe.”
“She’s fine.” Dane pushed her out of the barn and onto the driveway behind the house.
Reluctantly, I followed.
He stood, the back of the bike balanced between his thighs. Mim held the handlebars, then kicked twice on a small lever. The engine buzzed to life. Then, off she went, with a slight wobble, before straightening and tearing down the driveway.
“See?” Hands to hips, he watched, and I swear, he stood ten feet taller.
“She can’t… We can’t let her… Oh no, this is terrifying.”
A heavy arm wrapped around my shoulder. “She’s so happy right now. Just let her have this.”
“Dane. It’s dangerous. How could you do this?”
“I know it seems scary, babe. But when I sat her on my bike the first time, she turned into another kid. Her face came alive. After I took her for her first ride, I couldn’t tear her off the seat. She sat there for hours, watching me work. I figured the only way to get my Harley back was to give her a bike of her own. And look at her. That little firecracker was born to ride.”
“I don’t like this.”
Dane grunted. Crossing his arms, he settled into a wide stance. “She feels powerful right now. She’s in control. What better gift can we give her than that?”
And shit. How could I argue? Dane was right. And whether he knew it or not, he was parenting. He was fathering.
“Who are you?” I mumbled under my breath, so deeply in love with the man at my side.
“I get off on making that kid smile. She’s my crack.”
Mim made her way up and down the dirt driveway twice before Dane called her back, helped her off the bike and out of her helmet. My little angel ran to my side and threw her arms around my legs, her eyes wet with happy tears.
“You were so good on the bike, Mim. So good. That was fun, huh?”
She nodded, resting her chin on my hip, starry gaze on me.
“Okay. Okay. So, you’re a biker chick. We can work with that.” I pointed to Dane. “We’ll have to lay down some rules, of course.” What rules? I had no clue. But eventually they’d come to me. Good thing Rossi Enterprises offered top-notch health insurance.
“Mim. Go inside. Clean up. Dinner’s almost ready.”
She tore away from me and sprinted toward the house.
The second she disappeared behind the door, I jumped into Dane’s arms, hooked my ankles around his hips, and kissed him hard. “We have time for a quickie?”
Dane spun, slammed me against the truck and cupped my ass, grinding against me. “Can’t fuck you in here, gorgeous. Not unless you want Tito to watch.” He nodded toward the ceiling.
I followed his gaze to the camera perched in the corner.
“Well. That’s unfortunate.” I cinched my legs tighter around his hips. “I missed you today.”
“Yeah?”
“Oh, yeah.” I sucked his bottom lip between my teeth, gave it a nip. “Had to take an extra-long break, take care of myself in the ladies’ room.”
“You sadistic little tease,” he half-moaned, half-whispered.
“What can I say, you bring out the bad in me.”
# # #
The sun’s rays beat viciously on my head, warning me to find cover, but I sat on the park bench regardless, enjoying the squeals of children playing in the sand, the colorful array of swimsuits and flotation devices on the shore, the water-skiers in the distance, and the vast, blue sky.
I loved working so close to the city beach. The bustling park had become my favorite place to take my lunch breaks.
“Mind if I join you?”
The rough voice made me jump. I turned to find Dane’s friend from the diner standing next to me, wearing a leather vest full of colorful patches, and a scowl that made me shiver, despite the heat.
Before I could answer, the large man made himself comfortable next to me, forcing me to scoot to the end of the bench. “Moriah, right?”
“Yes.” Out of habit, I offered my hand. “Hammer, was it?”
“That’s me.” His grip was strong, and he held me longer than comfortable.
I reclaimed my hand. My body coiled, the compulsion to flee coursing through me. I forced calm into my voice and asked, “Are you in town to see Dane?”
He shook his head, gaze aimed across the lake. “Here on business. Come to the beach every time I pass through.”
“Dane know you’re here?”
“Nah.”
“Hungry?” I grabbed the other half of my turkey and Swiss and passed it over.
He snatched the bread from my fingers. Took a bite. “Thanks.” He caught sight of two bicycle cops and waited for them to pass before asking, “So, you’re the kid’s aunt?”
Nodding, I said, “Her name’s Mim.”
“Mim.” He laughed, taking another bite of sandwich. “Mickey and Mim. That’s funny.”
Ice filled my veins. “You knew Mickey?”
He gave me a quick glance, then watched two teenagers in bikinis come out of the water. “Yeah. Met her in rehab.” He shoved the last bite into his mouth, chewed, swallowed. “She was trying. Real hard. Wanted to get clean, do right by her kid.”
My throat closed tight.
“You were in rehab together?”
“Coupla times.” He licked his lips, gaze still focused on the sun-kissed, barely dressed, underaged girls.
“Were you and Mick…um…close?”
His attention shot my way again. “Why do you ask? She ever talk about me?”
“Oh. No.” I paused for a breath, the force of his glare knocking the wind clean out of my lungs. I should’ve heeded the warning bells, cut and run, but the desire to know more about Mickey kept my butt firmly planted. “My sister disappeared years ago. I didn’t know anything about her, until Mim was found.”
My answer seemed to appease the man at my side, his shoulders slumping. “I didn’t know Mick real well. What I do remember is that she wore this necklace—a heavy, steel chain. Not sure what was hanging off the thing, a heart, or a key, maybe.” He huffed. Shook his head. “Played with that thing all the damn time. Rubbed it between her thumb and forefinger like it was a lucky charm or something.”
The bulky man stretched his arms across the back of the park bench, his left hand brushing my shoulder before hooking on the wood behind me. A good six inches separated us, but personal space was obviously not his concern.
“You know anything about that necklace?” he asked, although his question sounded more like a threat.
“No.”
“Hmm.” His bloodshot eyes narrowed, focused on my lips, then dropped to my chest. “You and Dane fucking?”
“What?”
“You heard me,” he said to my boobs.
I shoved my book into my handbag.
Hammer’s calloused hand curled around my neck, weighing me down. “Take it easy.” He scooted closer, bridging that small gap between us, the scent of nicotine making my eyes water, my stomach churn. “Answer my question.”
“That’s none of your business.”
Those fingers tightened in warning. “Dane’s a Slayer. Everything he does is my business. That fucker ain’t answering my calls. I figure the only reason he ain’t answering is ’cause he’s balls deep in some sweet pussy. Got his brain scrambled.” He leaned closer still, burying his nose in my neck and taking a deep inhale. “I think you know where I can find him.”
“I don’t,” came my breathless reply.
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