by Laurie Roma
It had been decided that she and Dante would reside at her place until Paul Wei showed up, since they would be surrounded by help if needed. Jessup Carter had decided to stay in town and had taken over the empty apartment across from hers. He’d made contact with the US Marshals’ office and had to stall when they wanted to send agents out. Zoe had been missing since the night Ashley had been killed in Portland, and she was wanted for questioning. Jessup had pulled rank, speaking to one of his old colleagues that he trusted to make them back off. His friend had offered to send agents out to help with the trap, but Jessup had respectfully declined.
Dante and the others hadn’t been as polite when they were told of the agents wanting to come join them. They knew and trusted their people, and bringing in outsiders would only complicate matters. Or more to the point, Dante had said the Marshals would only fuck shit up and get in the way. Trying to be more diplomatic, Sheriff Wyatt had also expressed a concern that they wouldn’t be sure if any of the agents had been bought by the Wei family.
In the end, they could only trust the people they knew.
When Dante had insisted that Zoe take Tuesday off as scheduled, she knew that he was hoping that Paul Wei would show up at the bar while she wasn’t there. Besides Brix downstairs, Sam next door, and Jessup across the hall, there was also a few police officers hanging around outside her apartment building. It wasn’t an ideal situation, but Zoe felt safe enough, even if she did feel caged in.
Dante had been gone all day, and Zoe knew he was planning on staying at the bar until closing. Like it had been during the spring break rush, it was all hands on deck at The Fox Hole, but no one complained about the extra hours. Malcolm had even started working behind the bar again, and Zoe had laughed in delight when she saw how much Dante’s father enjoyed interacting with the customers. She did feel bad about all the extra work the staff was being given when she had the day off, but she knew there was no point in arguing.
Over the last few days, it was becoming increasingly difficult to hide what was going on from her other friends who hadn’t be told about her situation. Kali, Becca, Evie, Francesca and even Madeline had tried to make plans with her, but Zoe had put them off. Dante, Dare, Hammer and the other men had been adamant that the women were to be left out of what was going on, but Zoe had a feeling that her friends knew more than their men realized.
She had even had to come up with an excuse not to attend Evie and Dare’s barbeque that Sunday. Evie had called her later that evening, and from their careful conversation, Zoe could tell that her friend knew something was wrong. She didn’t ask, though. Evie was more circumspect than that, but she did say that if Zoe needed anything, she only had to call.
If Dante could have gotten away with it, Zoe knew he would have locked her away until all this was over. He’d even said as much. But the simple truth was, Dante knew she had to have a part in seeing this through for herself, as well as for Ashley. She had run—alone and scared—but she had survived. And she would get through this, too, Zoe reminded herself.
But first she had to get rid of some of her tension or she felt like she’d lose her mind.
Making a quick decision, she headed into the bedroom. She hadn’t been sleeping well the last few nights, and part of that was because she and Dante hadn’t been intimate since the trap had been sprung. No, they’d been intimate, she corrected. He still kissed her and held her close at night, but they hadn’t had any hot, steamy sex since the night before the anniversary party.
It was a secret that she hadn’t even told Dante yet, but over the last few years, she had gotten into the habit of masturbating before she went to bed every night. It helped her sleep and relaxed her. Since she’d gotten together with Dante, she hadn’t had to worry about her little quirk. But right now she was feeling so stressed that she needed something to take the edge off, and Dante wouldn’t be home for several more hours.
It felt naughty thinking about using one of her vibrators on herself now. Perhaps she would tell Dante about it when he got home. Maybe it would get him so hot, he would stop this self-enforced celibacy he seemed so determined to keep up until he knew she was safe. Zoe was grinning as she sat down on the bed and opened the bottom drawer of her nightstand.
Her smile instantly disappeared when she looked down.
The drawer was completely empty, except for one single item. Gone where her two vibrators, the USB power cords, and even the cleaning spray she used on her toys, and in their place sat a small smiley face pin.
The pin had been something that all the employees at the bar had worn when they’d closed down to host a party for young Shane Diaz and his big brother Nate after they’d testified against the man who had hurt them. She usually kept the pin in a basket with other random items in her living room, but there is was, smiling up at her from the bottom of her damn goodie drawer.
That rat bastard. Dante had stolen her toys!
Zoe felt a wave of fury wash through her as she picked up the smiley face pin. She wanted to heave the damn thing against the wall, but gripped it so tight in her hand it almost cut her skin, instead. She kicked the drawer closed with her foot, then stormed back to the living room to find her phone. Any other time, she would have found the situation hilarious, but for some reason, right now it made her so angry that she started to shake.
Stomping over to the coffee table, she picked up her phone and called Dante. She ground her teeth together as it rang, and by the time he finally answered, she was ready for war.
“Hey, angel. Is everything okay?”
Was everything okay? Hell, no, everything was not okay. “No, it’s not, you son of a bitch.”
There was a long pause before he said, “I sense a little hostility in your voice.”
She bet he did. Zoe took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. “What the hell did you do with my toys?”
When he spoke again, she could hear him smiling, and it made her want to snarl. “Now, why would you be looking for those, Zoe?”
Mimicking his sugary sweet tone, she said, “Perhaps it’s because my man hasn’t been taking care of business, and I need them.”
“Sugar, all you had to do was ask and I’d be happy to take care of that for you.”
His freaking Texas drawl was out in force now, and hearing it made her wet. It pissed her off that he could make her so hot when she was so angry at him. Wanting to turn the tables on him, she came up with a plan. “I’m not going to ask if you aren’t interested enough to touch me on your own. Besides, I can take care of myself,” she said smugly. “And I don’t even need those toys to do it.”
“Now, wait a damn minute—”
“All I need are my hands, Dante. I can make myself come with just two little fingers—”
“Don’t you do it,” Dante growled out. “If you want to—”
“Don’t you say it,” she warned harshly. “I swear to God, if someone hears you, I’ll kill you.”
“Fucking hell.”
She heard the muffled sound of his voice when he spoke to someone as he covered the phone. A few seconds later, the background noise was quieter when he got back on the line. “If you want to come, you come to me, angel. You don’t need those damn toys.”
The harsh command should have sparked her temper, but it only made her lust burn hotter. “But you haven’t been giving me what I need lately, and I want it, Dante. I want it real bad.”
His breathing grew heavy. “What exactly do you want, Zoe? Tell me. Tell me and I’ll give it to you, baby.”
This was something new. She’d never had phone sex before, but she was game. The sound of his deep voice made her shiver, and she stroked her own hand down her neck to cup her breast, wishing it were him touching her. Zoe was going to play with him. Drive him a little nuts, and when he got home later, she would jump his bones.
Seduction was pretty foreign to her, but she was willing to give it a try.
Zoe looked down at the tank top and yoga pants she wore in disgus
t. Yeah, she was going to have to do something about her outfit before he got home. She’d be ready for him later in one of the little nighties she hadn’t worn for him yet, since he usually got her naked so fast, she never had time. And they slept naked, so there wasn’t any reason to put something on.
But damn it, they were engaged. They should be acting like it.
“I want to feel you touching me. I want you to kiss me the way you do when you lose control…like you can’t get enough of me. It feels so good to have you holding me, but I want more. I want you to show me exactly how much you need me. Then I want to feel you so deep inside me that it feels like we’re sharing everything—body, heart and soul.”
“Fuck, Zoe. You’re driving me crazy.”
He was panting now, and it thrilled her to imagine him touching himself while she was talking to him. When her knees buckled, she sat down on the couch and slipped her free hand under the waistline of the yoga pants she was wearing. She was wet and slick from wanting him, and when her fingertips brushed over her clit, her body jerked.
“I want to,” she admitted. “I want to drive you crazy for me. I miss my caveman.”
“Get ready, angel. Because you’re about to get him.”
Zoe stilled. “What?”
She pulled her hands from her pants and popped to her feet, hurrying over to the balcony door as she heard one of the police officers outside give a shout. Her eyes widened when she saw Dante heading down the sidewalk at a fast run. He held the phone to his ear, waving at the police officer with his other hand as he sprinted past him.
“Hey, Dante! Is something wrong?”
“No! Fine. Everything’s fucking fine!”
Zoe gasped. “What are you doing?”
“What the hell does it look like I’m doing? Unlock the damn door, angel. I’m coming up.”
Despite the distance, she could see his ice-blue eyes blazing at her. He disconnected the phone, shoving it into his back pocket as he yanked his keys out with his other hand. It would only take him a few seconds to unlock the main entrance, then he would be there with her.
Zoe threw her phone down on the couch and ran to the front door. She pulled it open and looked out into the hallway just as Dante made it to the top of the stairs. Their gazes locked, then he stalked toward her. He was breathing hard, but so was she. There was a current in the air, an electrical current that ran from her to him, and back again.
Dante jerked her to him, slamming his mouth down on hers in a brutal kiss. His tongue swept inside, claiming hers. Her arms wrapped around him as he lifted her, carrying her back into the apartment. With one swift kick, the door slammed shut. He drank down her moan of pleasure as her back hit the door. Without looking, he clicked the lock in place, then jerked the gun from the holster on his belt that he had concealed under the back of his t-shirt. He slapped the weapon onto the credenza next to the doorway before he shifted his hold on her and pulled her legs up around his waist.
“Do you know how difficult it is to run with a fucking hard-on?”
Zoe let out a breathless laugh as she reached down between her parted thighs so she could reach him. She wanted to touch him. No, needed to. When her hand stroked over the ridged length of his erection, she purred, “Poor baby. Want me to kiss it better?”
“Fucking hell. You really are trying to kill me.”
His mouth fused to hers again as his hands clamped down on her ass. She got busy unzipping his jeans to free his hard cock. He groaned when she squeezed him, and he pressed into her palm as she began to stroke him, moving her hand up and down his thick shaft.
Dante’s big body shuddered as her hand worked its magic on him. When they were frantic for air, he pulled his mouth from hers. Jerking her arms up, he wrapped them around his neck so she was anchored to him. His lips trailed down her neck, teeth scraping against her sensitive skin until she was writhing against him.
“Oh, God. Dante…”
“You wanted me out of control,” he growled. “Now, you’ve got it. Hold onto me, baby. Fucking hold on.”
She let out a gasp when he reached down and ripped the seam of her yoga pants apart, baring her core to him. A heartbeat later, he drove deep, his thick cock parting her tender folds until he was buried inside her hot pussy. She clamped down around him so tight he could barely move, but he pulled back, then forged his way deep inside her wet heat again.
Dante felt her nails digging into his shoulders as he began to pound himself into her. He couldn’t stop, couldn’t think. He could only feel the pleasure of her body welcoming him deep. It was as if a switch had been turned off inside him, and he was now operating on pure need alone.
“Yes, yes,” she chanted. “Oh, God. Fill me, Dante. Give me everything.”
She didn’t even need to ask.
He would give her everything he had, and more.
Bracing his feet apart, he slammed into her over and over again. Her back banged against the closed door as she continued to moan out encouragement. Faster, harder. The words were like a driving mantra inside his head. He was beyond speech, beyond control. A tiny part of him worried that his hold on her was too tight, that he’d leave bruises on her ass, but he couldn’t let go. Dante could only push them closer to the release they both needed.
“Come for me, angel. Come and take me with you.”
“Not yet, not yet…”
He knew he wouldn’t last long, so he changed the angle of his thrusts, pounding against her G-spot so her body jerked as if she were a live wire in his arms. He watched her throw back her head, body arched as she let out a wild scream when she came. She stiffened, her legs squeezing him even as her pussy clamped down on his cock, milking his seed from him in violent bursts.
When the storm was over, he held them both in place, braced against the front door of her apartment. He thought he might be crushing her, but Dante’s legs felt so weak, he was afraid he’d fall if he tried to move just yet. “What the serious hell was that?”
“Amazing?”
He snorted, content to keep his head buried in the crook of her neck where he could just breathe in her scent. “You okay? I didn’t hurt you, did I?”
“Hmm…” Zoe loosened the hold she had on his waist with her legs and wiggled her toes. She flexed her hands next. “Everything seems to be working still.”
“Good. Give me a second and then I’ll move us.”
“Take your time.”
She sighed, but they both froze when they heard the door across the hall open, then slam shut.
A throat cleared loudly, then Jessup Carter’s voice boomed out. “Fox, you and I are going to have words later. For God’s sake, man, did you really have to do that business against the front door where everyone can hear? You have a damn bedroom…use it.”
“Oh my God!” Zoe said in a horrified whisper, then she repeated the oath.
“Yes, sir!”
She slapped her hand over Dante’s mouth and hissed, “What are you doing? Don’t answer him! Shit, shit, shit!”
Turning his head, Dante said, “It’s not like he didn’t know we were here, sugar. Oww, stop squirming! Zoe, don’t move like that…Christ!”
“I’m going to the bar…I need a damn drink,” Jessup muttered.
Dante’s laughter was muffled against her hand as she moved it to cover his mouth again. They listened to Jessup stomp down the hallway, and when he was gone, Dante pulled her hand away. “You really are adorable when you get embarrassed.”
“Oh, go fuck yourself.”
He chuckled. “I’d rather fuck you. I think I just proved that.”
Zoe pushed and wiggled until she was free, then she ran to the bedroom. Jerking the cover off the bed, she wrapped herself in it. She turned in time to see Dante had hitched up his jeans, but he’d left the front undone. He carried his weapon into the room, setting it down on the nightstand before hopping on one foot to pull one of his shoes off. He was working on the other when he asked, “Zoe, why are you hiding? It’s
not like he can see you.”
“Shut up,” she snapped as she threw herself on the bed, still wrapped in the cover. “Oh my God…he heard us! This is…I said…then we…” she groaned. “I can never look him in the eye again. Nope. Can’t do it.”
Dante laughed again as he pulled off his shirt and shucked off his jeans. When he was naked, he threw himself on the bed next to her. Pulling the cover down so he could peek at her face, he grinned. “I’m sure Jessup is aware we have sex.”
“He can know, but I don’t want him to know know, you know? Stop laughing, damn you!”
“I have absolutely no clue what you just said. You started all this with your sex call.”
“It wasn’t a sex call! I called you to ask where my damn toys are! If you don’t stop laughing, I’m going to have to kill you. That’s it, you maniac, I’m going to hurt you.”
Dante caught her and easily held her in place when she tried to shove him off the bed. “Calm down, wild woman.”
She struggled halfheartedly against his hold, then threw the cover over him so they were both trapped underneath the bedspread together. He leaned in and kissed the tip of her nose. “You feeling better now that no one can see us?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know. Dear God, he heard us!”
“I love you, Zoe.”
“You’re just saying that right now to distract me.”
“Yeah, but it doesn’t mean it’s not true.”
She scooted forward until her head was fitted underneath his. His strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her closer, and he leg hooked around hers. “You stole my toys.”
“I did,” he admitted, not sounding the least bit repentant. “It might be odd of me, but I don’t want my woman using toys to get off when you can have me instead.”
“You were at work, though.”
“And I think I just proved what happens when you call me and say you need me.”
She pulled back enough to stare up at him incredulously. “You’re saying anytime I want you, all I have to do is call and you’ll come running? Like what? Text you with a smiley face?”