Wicked Shadows (Steele Security Book 5)

by A. D. Justice

  “It was the first question that popped up in my mind,” she giggled.

  “Fuck, I’ve missed you so much.”

  “Can I see your scars?”

  One corner of his mouth lifted slightly, then he grabbed the hem of his shirt and began pulling it up. She sat up on the bed behind him and helped. She expected to see raised lines of red, angry skin from the bullet holes and surgeries, but the wounds barely had a pink tinge. The outer edges already matched his normal skin tone. She ran her fingers over the barely visible scars.

  “I can’t believe the wounds are completely healing without leaving a scar,” she marveled.

  “The agency called in the best doctors. I was lucky to be in LA and have immediate access to the best plastic surgeons in the world.”

  She continued her examination of his wounds, letting her hands roam freely over his back and side. When she reached his lower back, she stopped and examined the raised white skin. There were two larger letters on top—DD—and three smaller letters curved underneath it—KSD. “What is this?”

  “Nothing you need to worry about, darlin’.”

  “Devon, no more secrets. Please.”

  He raked his hand down his face and exhaled slowly. “It’s not a secret, Elle. You can see what it says. Devil’s Dominion. Kill, Steal, and Destroy. The same wording as on their patches. They branded me as part of the initiation.”

  Elle dropped her chin to her chest, closed her eyes, and quieted the frantic thoughts running through her mind. The ordeal was over, and the memories couldn’t hurt her. She inhaled deeply, a peaceful calm enveloping her as specific memories returned to her and reality dawned.

  I prayed he’d return to me, and he’s here.

  “You’re my girl—forever.”

  “I love you and only you, all my life.”

  He was undercover to save me.

  He risked his life multiple times for me.

  “That’s not all they did to you, is it?”

  “During initiation? No. But I’m okay, Elle. You don’t need to worry about me. I’m a big boy. I can take care of myself.”

  She crawled over him, careful of his healing wounds, and lay facing him. “You can, there’s no doubt about that. But you don’t have to do it alone, in the darkness of the wicked shadows anymore. You’ve protected me so I can walk freely in the light. Now it’s time for us to walk together.”

  “Every day, Elle, for the rest of your life. Just try to get rid of me. I’m your shadow now.”

  He slid his hand to the back of her neck and pulled her face to his. When their lips touched, the intense yearning consumed them, burning with a new intensity. The year apart hadn’t extinguished the flames of their desire. The gentle peck quickly became a passionate embrace. Hands desperate to touch. Skin demanding to be caressed. Bodies hungry for more of anything and everything they could get.

  Gentle hands slid her shirt off, revealing the smooth, creamy skin beneath. Deft fingers unhooked her bra before he rolled her to her back. His lips trailed down her jaw, to her neck, over the hollow space at her collarbone, continuing until he reached her bare breast. The warmth of his mouth covered the hardened tip of her nipple, sending electricity zinging along every nerve ending in her body. The sensation shot directly between her legs, igniting the craving for what only he could give her.

  Devon took his time, ignoring her no-so-subtle cues to rush him. He’d thought about this moment so often, planning every move he’d make in his mind. He ravished her body in his designed sequence with no conscious effort. Every second was committed to memory. Every sound she made. The scent of her skin. The weight of her breast in his hand. The aroma of her arousal that grew with his ministrations. The sharp intake of breath when he slid lower down her body. The way her fingers gripped his hair when his tongue laved her abdomen. Her enthusiasm and eagerness to remove the rest of their clothes.

  He shifted lower, anchoring his body between her legs, spreading them to make enough room to carry out his mission. He changed positions gingerly, ignoring the lingering pains and focusing on the incredible pleasure that awaited him. He lowered his head, lightly brushed his face against her sex, and inhaled her unique bouquet before covering her clit with his lips. He looped his tongue around it, his forcefulness increasing with each circle.

  Her hips bucked under his grip as the intensity grew. He flicked her sensitive nub with his tongue, her moans spurring him to take what belonged to him. At that moment, her ultimate pleasure was what he wanted most. To hear his name fall from her lips in the culmination of her gratification. He licked up her slit, lapping up the proof of her desire, until he reached her swollen core. His teeth grazed across her clit when he pulled it into his mouth, sucking harder on it before teasing her entrance with his finger, gliding up and down until her essence coated his fingertip.

  Hungry for more, he slid his finger inside her wet channel, easy at first then with more vigor when her body naturally adapted to accept the carnal invasion. She lifted her hips higher, giving him full access and wordlessly asking for more. Her fingers dug into his shoulders, her nails biting into his skin while her inner muscles contracted around his finger. His lips, his tongue, his teeth, his hands—they all claimed her, wanted to own her, needed to possess her.

  When his name rang out through the room, carried on the sweetest music he’d ever heard, he made a decision he’d never thought possible. He surrendered, willingly. Deliberately. Purposely. He acknowledged his feelings ran deeper than the usual declaration of love. Only she awakened the part of him that wanted a normal life. Only she matched him in every way, complemented his flaws with her perfection, and propelled him to forsake everything he’d worked toward in exchange for a new life goal.

  “Devon.” Her voice was breathy, still reeling from her carnal high. “Let me help you out of your clothes. You’ve spent enough energy. It’s time for you to lie on your back and enjoy the view for a while.”

  His cock twitched from the visual her offer inspired. After he stood, she scooted to the edge of the bed and began removing his jeans. She unconsciously licked her lips when her eyes landed on the bulge in his boxer briefs. She looked up at him from under her lashes, emboldened by how desire had darkened his eyes to almost black, and smiled seductively.

  “I thought you were always commando.”

  “Now that I’m out of the hospital and never leaving your side, you’ll be lucky to get me in pants again, much less briefs. You can keep these as a souvenir—the last pair I’ll ever wear.”

  She kept her gaze locked on his while she slid them down his legs. His cock sprang free and stood at attention against his abdomen. Her soft hand flowed up his shaft, gripping tightly as she teased and tormented him in the most delicious manner. Her fingers clutched the hem of his shirt and carefully pulled it over his head. With his clothes shed and his body bared, she motioned for him to take his place on the bed.

  Propped up on pillows, he watched with hooded eyes as she placed open-mouthed kisses across his chest. Her tongue darted out, leaving a wet trail of affection on his skin. Across his ripped abdominal muscles, she licked and tasted every ridge and dip. Her fingers glided over his body until they touched the tip of his cock. The bead of moisture drew her attention downward, and she hungrily took him into her mouth, as far as she could until he hit the back of her throat. She relaxed the muscles, taking him deeper, and he groaned in ecstasy.

  While working her mouth and hand in tandem up and down him, she focused on giving him as much pleasure as he’d given her. When she went down, she held the tip at the back of her throat and intentionally mimicked swallowing, forcing her neck muscles to contract around his head like a soft, velvety clamp. His hands gripped her hair, and he called her name with a throaty grunt. Sensing he was close to the edge, she pumped and sucked until the overload of pleasure left him no choice but to abandon his control and succumb to his release.

  He tugged on her arm and guided her to lie next to him, securely tucked into
his side, wrapped in his arms, and enveloped by his love. The roller coaster of emotions she’d lived on came to a crashing halt after she relaxed, melting into him. The tears she was sure had dried came back with a renewed vengeance. She couldn’t hold them back. The hot, salty tracks covered her face and soaked his chest. He lifted his hand to her face, cradled her wet cheek in his palm, and gently raised her head to look at him.

  “Talk to me, darlin’. Don’t try to hold it all in.”

  She smiled through her tears, a bright, happy smile that lit up her whole face. “For the first time in a long time, I am so happy.” She emphasized each word, amazement prevalent in her voice. “You’re here with me—alive, on the mend, but otherwise healthy—and you proposed to me.”

  “And you said yes. That means you’ve agreed to be my sex slave for the rest of your life. This is a binding legal agreement with no exit clause. You belong to me and only me for all time.”

  “Like any of that is a surprise to me,” she joked, her giggles filling the air with joy and love. “But the best part is you belong to me for all time.”

  “Yes, I do, darlin’. Always have—always will. I’d walk into hell and slay the devil for you.”

  “I believe you. You already have.”

  Despite her protests that he hadn’t healed enough, he rolled her over onto her back and covered her body with his. His hard cock rested between her legs at the entrance to her wet core. She was ready for him with a single touch. Her body craved his, but she’d been too concerned with his injuries to encourage him. Who was she to deny him when he was so insistent, though? Her body hummed with need, waiting for him to finish what he’d started.

  His arms framed her face, and his expression conveyed his profound love. He sank into her one inch at a time until he was fully seated inside, giving her body a moment to accept and adapt to his size. Her muscles quivered around him, gripping him tightly and urging him to keep moving. With slow, deliberate strokes, he surged into her repeatedly until his sweat mixed with hers during an erotic dance built for two. All their emotions poured out of them as promises of a forever love fell from their lips. The crescendo of their encounter built to an unbelievable high that ended in their mutual climax.

  “You are my world, Elle. The last year has shown me I’m dead without you. You are the breath that sustains me. You bring me to life, make me feel, and give me hope for a normal life. I wouldn’t even be here now it if weren’t for you. Thoughts of seeing you, talking to you, and loving you are what pulled me through the darkest days in the hospital. I couldn’t die with you thinking I’d done anything but protected you with my last breath.”

  “I should’ve known. Maybe a part of me did. None of it made sense to me. I couldn’t reconcile the Devon I knew with the Doorman I met. But I have no doubts now—you’ve always been my Devon.”

  The next morning over breakfast, Elle cast furtive glances toward him. A few times, she started to ask another question but stopped herself before she started. Devon finally set his fork down and rested his elbows on the table.

  “If you don’t ask me whatever it is you want to know, I’m going to hold you down and use my torture techniques to make you talk.” The mischievous gleam in his eyes was back, the signature twinkle a little brighter.

  “Who knew you weren’t really dead?”

  He knew that question would come, and he braced himself for her reaction. “Besides the agency, only my parents and the guys at Steele Security.”

  “They knew, but no one could tell me for a whole month? I could’ve been at the hospital with you. I could’ve helped you, and knowing you were alive would sure as hell have helped me. Do you have any idea how miserable and depressed I’ve been?” The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. “That was really shitty, Devon.”

  “Can I explain?”

  “That would be best.”

  “Easy there, tiger. My condition was touch and go there at first. If I didn’t pull through, there was no reason to put you through that again. My parents were my beneficiaries and had medical power of attorney, so they had to be there to make decisions for my care. The guys have a high enough security clearance to be read in on the plan. While evidence was gathered and charges brought against the gang, my condition had to be kept secret for my safety. When I was coherent enough to make my own decisions, I planned my return to the living and my marriage proposal. Though, I did see it all going very differently in my mind.”

  “Oh, yeah? How?”

  “You know…you falling at my feet, grasping my leg, thanking God for my safe return.” He smiled and winked, instantly defusing her anger over his deception.

  “If you ever fake your death again without telling me first, I’ll kill you.”

  “Fair enough. You’ll be the first to know next time.”

  She threw her wadded-up napkin at him while laughing. She couldn’t be mad if she tried—she was simply too happy and blessed to let anything from the past impact her bright future.

  “Oh, and, darlin’? Can you clear your schedule next week?”

  “What do you have in mind?”

  “There are four other women in Miami I have to go face and take my lashes. I want you to go with me and meet everyone. They’re dying to meet you.”

  “I’d love to meet them, and my schedule happens to be wide open for the foreseeable future.”

  “Good. I have plans for you every single day. Forever.”

  25

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  “You’re moving around so much better than you were last week.” Elle watched Devon get out of the bed and walk to the bathroom. The light pink scars had faded to his natural skin color even more. Her eyes drifted to the brand seared into his skin. Funny how the memory of what happened doesn’t bother me as much as it did last week, she thought. My scars are fading too.

  “I can feel your eyes on my ass.” He smirked at her over his shoulder. “Don’t be shy. You can look all you want.”

  “Yeah, I know I can. As fine as it is, that’s not actually where my eyes landed this time.”

  “You’re staring at my brand again. Does it bother you that much? Do you want me to have it removed?” He turned to face her, sincerely interested in her reply. Then he shook his head and chuckled when her eyes dropped to his package. “Hey. My eyes are up here.”

  “It’s your fault for going commando and pantless.” She met his amused gaze and continued. “The brand doesn’t bother me. And no, I don’t want you to have it removed because that would mean more surgery and pain for you. A month ago, it may have freaked me out, but I can’t honestly say. It already feels like a lifetime ago. I’m just thankful everything worked out the way it did in the end.”

  “Okay. If you’re sure.”

  “I’m positive.”

  “Now get your fine ass out of bed so we don’t miss our flight to Miami. I’m taking you home to meet the family of Steele.”

  Packed and ready to leave, they climbed into the taxi and Devon gave the address. Elle looked at him, her eyebrows raised in question. “Private airport. I have a little surprise for you.”

  When they reached the small airport, Elle stepped out of the car, and the private Steele Security jet on the tarmac immediately caught her attention. She helped Devon get their bags since he was still under strict orders not to lift anything heavy, and she’d packed her entire wardrobe for the trip.

  “I’ve never been on a private jet before. This is exciting.”

  “You really need to use your star status more effectively. There’s no reason why you shouldn’t have already had a private flight. Unless it means you fly privately with some other guy. In which case, you fly coach.”

  “No one else will ever compare to Devon Kane,” she replied automatically.

  “What?” He stopped walking and waited for an explanation. “You said that so offhandedly, like you’ve said it a thousand times.”

  “I have—at least that many times. Whenever anyone encourage
d me to move on, date someone else, tried to convince me there are other fish in the sea, that was my standard response. You have no reason to worry or be jealous of anyone. No other man has ever compared to you—and no other man ever will.”

  “Just when I think there’s no way I could love you more, you prove me wrong again.” He bent his head and kissed her sweetly. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.” She beamed.

  Devon took his seat while Elle examined every square inch of the private Steele Security jet. “Oh, my God—there’s a bedroom back here!”

  Devon laughed at her excitement, thrilled he was experiencing it with her. Unable to sit still, he joined her at the back of the plane. “There is a bedroom. And it has a bed.” He leaned against the door and watched her, his libido kicking into overdrive.

  “I know that look. You can stop devouring me with your eyes right now, mister. The flight attendant will know exactly what we’re doing back here. No, Devon.” She tried to sound stern, serious. But even she wasn’t that good of an actress.

  “Elle, you worry way too much about what others think. What’s the worst that would happen if she heard us? She’d tell the rag magazines, they’d run an article saying you’re part of the mile-high club, and every man in the world would know it was with me. I don’t see the downside. But the upside is we get to have sex and join the mile-high club.” He closed the door behind him and advanced on her like a tiger stalking its prey.

  Four hours later, they emerged from the bedroom in time to prepare for landing. Devon couldn’t hide his amusement over Elle’s red face every time the flight attendant approached them. “She knows what we were doing back there,” Elle hissed at him. “I’m so embarrassed.”

  The ride from the airport to Noah’s secluded mansion passed quickly. Before she knew it, they’d turned into the driveway and the driver pressed the call button on the state-of-the-art security system. The gate slid open, giving them access to the grounds with no questions asked. Elle watched intently as the estate came into view.