With her usual companion, Cassie Lorenzo, they danced to the music.
When he read Cassie’s file, he found out she worked as a waiter on the casino floor like Heaven. However, unlike her, Cassie always stuck close to the high rollers’ room. He suspected she was on the prowl for a rich husband.
After their first meeting, he’d read Heaven’s file as well. A few months ago, she worked as a PI before she joined the casino team. He believed her story about wanting to become a lawyer. Since he’d found her in the boss’s office, his gut told him she had an alternative motive for working at the casino. He needed to figure out what it was before she caused more trouble.
If there was a reason for her to come after the boss, he’d have to stop her before she got herself killed. Until he figured it out, to ensure her safety, he would watch her. And her teasing him, taunting him, exciting him was a bonus he appreciated.
Tonight, Heaven wore a shiny, red blouse and a short black skirt. The lights bounced off the clingy blouse outlining her nipples. His mouth watered. The skirt flipped around her thighs, making his dick twitch. Her flaming hair flew around her head, igniting a fiery blaze in his loins. The men on the screen were unable to take their eyes off her.
The hackles on the back of his neck rose as jealousy filled his soul.
She moved with the grace of a trained dancer. He memorized her every move, pretending she danced for him, only him.
His cell rang, and he glanced at the screen. His time for observing the sumptuous Heaven was over. The boss summoned him.
****
After another long shift, all Heaven wanted to do was go home, not dance in the club again tonight. Since she’d told Cassie about the meeting with Darius, her friend was determined to get her out with other men and away from the giant in charge of security. Heaven knew he watched her, and that thrilled her.
He never gazed in her direction when he passed by her, but an unmistakable electrifying current buzzed around her when he did. She hoped she caused the same sexual energy in him, because he made her horny in a way she’d never been before.
On the dance floor, Heaven ran her fingers across her breasts and pressed the mounds together for her secret watcher who spied on her. She undid another button on her blouse to reveal her black, barely-there bra. Would this titillate him?
She fantasized about him in his office, observing her, his cock straining against his pants. His fingers pulling down the zipper, so he could caress his engorged dick while imagining her fingers sliding up and down, her thumb rubbing the slit until pre-cum seeped freely.
She ran her fingers down her skirt as she let the music free her, imagining Darius’s big hands roaming over her hips, his thick fingers wrapping around the hem of her skirt, pulling it up higher and higher, exposing her.
A guy playfully bumped into her and smiled.
She concentrated on the pounding beat of the music. Closing her eyes, the idea of Darius leaning back in his chair, rubbing his big cock as he watched her made her smile.
After a long dance mix, the man leaned into her. “Why don’t we get a drink?”
Heaven was parched. A cola would be good. “Sure.”
She followed him toward the bar and ordered a cola. She paid for her own drink, not wanting the stranger to have any expectations. He didn’t spark her imagination the way Darius did.
They clinked their glasses together and drank. He rested his palms on the bar beside her fingers. She pulled away. Darius was the only man she wanted tonight, or any night.
She chugged her soda so she could get back to dancing. Her watcher waited for her return to the dance floor.
Heaven placed the glass back on the bar. The music grew louder. The guy’s smiled stretched. His eyes bulged. His lips moved. His voice sounded far away. She couldn’t seem to move and darkness surrounded her.
****
Darius sat in the chair across from his boss waiting for him to get off the phone. The boss’s demand of hurry up and wait grew tiresome. Darius glanced at his watch while the boss chewed out the person on the other end of the phone. This was taking too long.
Suddenly, his boss slammed the phone closed. “Do you have any idea what the hell is going on?”
“Enlighten me.”
With his wide neck and bulging eyes, Del, the casino manager, resembled a toad as he threw his hands in the air. “The DA is trying to build a case against me.” He slammed his first on the solid wooden desk. “Me!”
Darius nodded, struggling to keep a straight face. “Can he?”
The boss jumped up. The chair crashed against the credenza. “You’re shitting me.” He pounded on the desk again. “You work for me, remember?”
“I know who I work for.” Darius took a breath and slowly exhaled, just to piss him off. “I’m asking you if he can build a case against you.”
“He can’t prove squat.”
“Good to know.” Standing, Darius continued, “We can control things if he can’t prove anything.”
“You make sure he can’t.”
Darius nodded as he walked out of the office. He didn’t have time for the boss’s paranoia. If the DA could prove anything, he would. If that happened, it wouldn’t affect Darius. He would not break the law for anyone. It was against the rules. He was a watcher.
He took the private elevator to the lobby. One of his men dashed toward him and handed him a tablet. “You wanna see this.”
On the screen, a man helped a drunk woman, dressed in a scarlet blouse and black skirt, out of the dance club. When the mane of red fell away from her face, Darius realized Heaven was out cold. Quickly, he drew out his phone and punched in the number on speed dial. “Vector 259, stop the man helping the redheaded woman out the door.”
Slipping his cell into his pocket, he rushed toward the exit. And Heaven.
****
When Heaven stirred, a hundred knives jabbed her brain as her stomach did a barrel roll that would make any pilot envious. What the hell happened? She remembered dancing in the club, hoping to attract Darius, and—she didn’t remember a thing after that.
She opened her eyes.
Even though the closed drapes darkened the room, she could see the outline of an ornate mirror on the wall across from the bed. She’d never been in a room this opulent before.
Soft breathing caressed her ear.
Then she sensed the muscular arm—one she didn’t recognize—draped across her waist. The scent was unmistakable. Darius Turner lay in the bed, spooning with her.
What the hell?
Heaven tried to clear her foggy brain. She’d been dancing. Then she ordered a soda. In the back of her mind, she remembered a strange man’s face. It didn’t make any sense. She hadn’t hooked up with him. That much she knew. So how did she end up in his bed? Was it a dream come true or her worst nightmare?
Darius snuggled against her, and heat rushed to her clit. He shifted his fingers down her stomach as he nestled his face against her ear.
She stilled, fighting the urge to press back into him. Before she gave in to lust, she had to figure out how she ended up sleeping with Darius beside her.
His dick pulsed against her ass, making her tummy flutter. His masculine aroma triggered a need deep inside her, and her resolve dissolved.
Wiggling against him, she enjoyed the heat that pooled between her legs.
He drew her closer. “Mmm.” His dick twitched, and Heaven bit her lip as her clit tightened.
Was he dreaming about her, or was this just an intensely erotic dream about another woman?
His hand slowly crept up her stomach to embrace her breast. His thumb grazed her hardened nipple. Need spiked to her core, and a moan escaped her lips.
He jolted awake. “Oh…” His low, sleep-drenched voice sent quivers down her spine. “Heaven?” he said her name with surprise. He drew his arm back and let out a sigh. “Sorry.”
Was he apologizing for having a man’s appetite or for caressing her? How did she let herself
get into this mess? How would she get out of here and keep a shred of respect?
Rubbing his eyes, he said, “Guess I fell asleep.” The rumble of his voice vibrated in her chest.
“You’re not the first man to apologize to me in bed.” When Heaven heard the bitterness in her voice, regret filled her chest.
Darius rolled away from her. “If I meant to climb into bed with you, there would be no need to apologize.”
“Talk is cheap.” When Heaven rolled to face him, nausea overcame her. She grabbed her spinning head. “Damn.”
He leaned over and lightly brushed a strand of her hair from her face. He hesitated for a moment, as if he wanted to caress her face, then his hand fell back to his side. His sweet scent surrounded and comforted her. “Take it easy. You’ve had quite a night.”
She must have if she ended up sleeping in his bed. “What did you do?”
His lips pinched tight as irritation flashed in his eyes. His biceps bulged in the tee he wore so well. “Saved you.”
He sounded so concerned she just about believed he cared about her. Just about—but not quite.
His gaze left her face and landed on her taut nipples covered by red lace. She clutched the covers around her chin.
“Saved me?” If only the banging in her head would stop, she’d be able to focus. “From what?”
Rising to one elbow, Darius occupied the space above her, so close she struggled to breath. Would he kiss her? Lightly at first, then passionately?
“You and your friend, Cassie, were dancing in the club.” He rolled away from her and sat at the side of the bed. “Quite the show you put on. The guy you danced with spiked your drink. My men observed him leading you out of the building.” He rose. When he stretched, the gray T-shirt outlined his muscular back to perfection. Rolling his head from side to side, he said, “They intervened.” He walked over to the coffeemaker and thumped the button. “I brought you up here.”
The way her head pounded, she believed him. She’d wanted to get his attention, except this wasn’t the impression she wanted him to have of her. If she was going to keep a shred of respect, she had to get out of here immediately.
She tried to sit up. The room spun so fast she closed her eyes as she clutched the covers closer to her chest. “Here is?”
“My suite.”
His suite. His bed. Damn. Not the low profile the DA demanded. “You live in the hotel?”
Darius lifted the cup and sipped the dark liquid. “I have a suite here. When things get hectic, I can catch a few hours of sleep.”
Slowly turning her head, she tried to focus on the goliath of a man standing in front of her. The tight-fitting, gray tee revealed his muscular chest. The matching sweats outlined his thick cock.
“Heaven, my eyes are up here.”
Her cheeks flamed to the same color as her hair. Men found blushing sexy. She hated resembling a schoolgirl. “Yeah. Isn’t that where they’re supposed to be?” She lifted the sheet. She wore only her bra and panties. “Besides, you undressed me.”
“A female security officer handled it.”
He stared at her, and her power returned. Even the giant couldn’t resist her charms.
“You”—he pointed at her chest—“and the girls caused quite a fuss.” He sipped his coffee as he gazed at her. “Made my night hectic.”
She cupped her breasts, pressed them together, and smiled. “We caused things to get chaotic last night?”
A slow, suggestive smile formed on his generous lips. “A little.”
Her nipples puckered. She wanted those lips thrilling every inch of her body. Get your brain back to business. If the DA found out she was in Darius’s bed, she’d be out of the job and out of her apartment. “I don’t remember seeing you at the club.”
His eyes darkened. “I wasn’t at the club.” He glanced at the clock by the bed. “But I have to get back to work now.”
He placed his mug beside the coffeemaker and disappeared down the hall.
The sound of running water meant she had time to leave before he came back into the room. Slowly, she rolled over. The room spun. She fell back onto the bed, hoping she wouldn’t puke.
First, she would get out of here, then she’d find the punk who’d roofied her and beat the shit out of him. After that, she’d get back to dealing with the boss.
Darius walked into the room dressed in a crisp white shirt and gray trousers. The matching jacket was draped over his arm. He looked so good she could eat him up, but obviously, he had other plans.
“Do you always bring drugged women here?”
“Never.”
She tried to move again, and a groan escaped her lips. She cradled her head. “Why didn’t you let me die?”
“Bad for business.” He strode to the bed and sat beside her. “Here, let me help you.” He grabbed her fingers and drew her to meet him. Her head spun as she held on to his solid shoulders for dear life. His fingers gently caressed her head as she rested against his wide chest, feeling safe and secure.
“You should have let me die.”
He softly chuckled. “Still bad for business. We caught the guy. The police have charged him.”
Right now, all she cared about was cuddling against Darius’s warm, hard chest. “Shouldn’t I be in the hospital, having my stomach pumped?”
“After the way you threw up last night, there’s nothing left in your stomach. You’ll have a mean headache for the rest of the day.”
Darius’s fingertips traced across her shoulders. Her pulse quickened. Last night he saved her by bringing her to his place and stayed with her to make sure she didn’t die. A knight in shining armor saving a distressed damsel? Not likely. She suspected protecting the boss and the casino came first.
Pulling away, she made a feeble attempt to flip the covers off. “I have to get to work.”
“I said you wouldn’t be at work today.” He tucked the comforter around her and pulled her toward him, letting her rest her head on his shoulder and stroking her hair. “We’ll give you the day off with pay.”
When she tried to push away again, the room spun. Against her better judgement, Heaven gave in to his warmth and clung to him. “What are you talking about?”
Darius rubbed her back. “We give you the paid day. You don’t charge us with anything.”
Even though she loved the feel of his solid chest and letting him take care of her, she couldn’t fall for him. He protected the boss and the casino, nothing more. “You think I’ll let you off that easy?” She tried to sound in charge, but the way her stomach churned, she knew she wasn’t.
His fingertips stroked her back, coaxing her deeper. “You were at the club. You took a drink from a stranger.” His fingers traveled to her shoulder. “I stopped anything else from happening.”
“Aren’t you the faithful hound?”
He pulled away, as if her words cut his pride. Rising, he straightened his tie. “I’ll get you some juice and aspirin for your pounding head.”
She flopped back on his king-sized bed and debated her king-sized problem. His bed was so comfy, and she wanted him to come back to bed, to spread her legs, and to see her in all her glory. She wanted him to drive his enormous dick inside her. But she could not let that happen. If she wanted to get her job done, she had to leave. She had to get away from his watchful eyes.
He came toward the side of the bed, placed the bottle of pills and a glass of orange juice on the nightstand. Grabbing his jacket, he said, “Try to get some more sleep.”
Heaven’s breath caught. The giant had a soft side most people never saw.
“Stay here and relax for the rest of the day. I won’t be back.” He opened the door, paused for a moment, then closed the door behind him.
Chapter Three
Darius hurried toward the elevator. He didn’t trust his willpower to walk away from Heaven. Thinking of her in his bed made his dick ache. He wanted to turn around, go back to his suite, and fuck her until they both couldn’t walk.
Although involvement with a human was no longer forbidden, it was still frowned upon.
After all, watchers by definition only watched.
At the casino floor, he exited the elevator and observed the people at the slots. Even at this hour of the morning, the place buzzed with excited people. He’d never understand humans, but then again that wasn’t expected from him.
He forced his brain back in the game of work, not pleasure. When he opened the office door, he stopped.
“Hello, cousin.”
Darius hated the term cousin, although all Nephilim used the term to address one another for the sake of the humans. He should have been expecting this visit. He should have handled the whole situation differently.
He closed the door, walked past the dark-haired, dark-skinned man, and sat down at his desk. “Logan, what a nice surprise.”
Logan observed him with the keenness of an eagle looking for prey. “Really?”
Darius grabbed his phone. “I’m ordering coffee.” He forced a smile. “Do you want some?”
Logan nodded.
After placing the order, Darius raised a brow. “What brings you here?”
“I was watching.”
“And?”
“She is mine to watch, not yours.”
“All well and good, however, she is up to something in this casino, which would make her mine to watch.”
Logan nodded as his lips pulled tight. “Still—she’s in your bed.”
“Yes, she is.” Darius wanted to lash out although that wasn’t rational. Logan was only doing his job. Darius would never challenge him to mate with Heaven. “You were watching. You know what happened.”
“Yes.”
“I couldn’t let an unconscious woman be taken from the building.” Darius shrugged. “I’m not saying you didn’t do your job, you couldn’t intervene. I could, so I did.”
Logan scrutinized him.
Darius was a senior watcher. He didn’t have to explain his actions to a lesser watcher, however, he wouldn’t tolerate hard feelings among his kind. “I would never doubt your ability to take care of Heaven.”
“Cousin, we are watchers.”
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