East Bound

by Nana Malone

  "If you could just stop for a moment, I can get in there to help her."

  All of a sudden Nyla's com went silent. My heart squeezed and started a full gallop. "Fuck."

  Amelia's voice was quiet and tense. "What do you need me to do?"

  "How about you help me remove this sill? I put this alarm blocker in the last time I was here in case we needed it as an egress. I didn't realize we'd be back."

  She helped me remove it. We unscrewed the sills frantically, and I was moving as quickly as I could even while my hands were shaking. The nip in the air didn't help. Good old England, forever rainy and not so much heat.

  We worked silently together, moving as quickly as we could to avoid being seen because there would be no explanation for what the hell I was doing there. Amelia could maybe pull off that she was there as Nyla's partner, but she had a point. What exactly was I going to give as an excuse if they saw me in there? But still, I couldn't leave her in there.

  Not with him. Not like that. Just as I deactivated the alarm, a voice rang out behind us.

  "What in the world do you think you're doing?"

  I whirled around at the sound of Nyla's voice. Amelia tackled her with a hug. "Jesus Christ, are you okay?"

  "Yeah, I'm fine. Garreth Jameson is a handsy arsehole, but I'm fine. I repeat. What in the world are you two doing?"

  I stepped forward and bracketed her face in my palms. Gently, I searched for any sign that he’d hurt her. "Are you okay?"

  “You know me, I’m really good at evading.” Her voice was choked and gravelly as I pulled her in. Just hearing her in distress, I'd stopped thinking. I'd stopped breathing. I was never fucking going to feel anything like that ever again.

  "Yeah. Jameson is a pain in the arse. Like I said, handsy as fuck, but I handled him and let myself out through the terrace. What are you two doing?"

  Amelia and I looked at each other. I was the one who said, "Rescuing you?"

  Amelia laughed. "I told him you didn't need rescuing."

  My jaw dropped. "Horseshit. You were out of the van faster than I was."

  She waved her hand dismissively. "Hush, no one believes that."

  Nyla laughed. "Oh my God, are you two friends now? This is awkward if you are."

  I shook my head. "No, we're not friends. We just share a mutual concern for your safety."

  Nyla laughed. "I'm so glad you're getting along now. My bestie and... what are you again?"

  "The love of your life. Anyone else want to get out of here before we get caught?"

  Nyla nodded. "Yeah, and fucking hell do we have a lot to talk about."

  Nyla

  There was something off about East. Since returning to the penthouse, he hadn't let me out of his sight. Even as he made love to me, there'd been something desperate, as if he'd been attempting to permanently mark me or was looking for affirmation of some kind.

  And afterward, as he held me, it was in the way he wound himself around me like he meant to guard my whole body with his, and he wouldn’t hold my gaze, as if he was guarding his emotions. At that point I'd been too tired, too sated and sleepy to dwell on it. I figured we'd talk in the morning.

  While I drifted off into a dreamland of chasing bad guys and uncovering secrets, I was confused when my dreams took a turn into me chasing a thief, determined to bring him to justice. And when the thief dropped his mask, God, he was beautiful. He had dark hair, green eyes, and a jaw to make Henry Cavill jealous.

  And in my dreams, East was very, very sexy. Instead of running like he should when I told him to freeze, he sauntered toward me, with the devil's own grin and sin in his eyes. And then right before me, he kneeled, lifting my skirt, his eyes challenging me the whole time as if daring me to make him stop. Or daring him to continue.

  I did neither. And inch by inch, up slid my dress. Then he backed me up to a desk. We were in some kind of office building? Who knew, it was a dream, and I held onto it tightly. Because God, this was getting good.

  He exposed my garters, and then he nipped at the inside of my thigh. I tried to close my thighs, but he wedged his shoulder between them and then commanded, "Wider."

  A shiver ran up my spine, and before I knew it I was sitting on the edge of a desk, thighs spread, skirt up, and this thief, this bad guy, was kneeling between my thighs, staring between the junction of my legs like I was his favorite snack and he had skipped every meal for the last three weeks. And then he pulled my knickers aside, and with a long stroke from my pucker to my clit, he licked, moaning and then taking a deep inhale.

  I shuddered and said, "Oh, my God."

  Then he wound a hand in my knickers, drew back, and stared up at me, eyes once again challenging. I furrowed my brow and tried to meet his gaze at the same time that I tried to close my legs, but I was unsuccessful at both. And then with a grin, he tore my panties clean off.

  Wow. Dream East was strong.

  He dove back into his feast, licking, sucking, stroking. He slipped first one finger inside me, then another, his mouth closing around my clit and sucking.

  My legs started to shake, and I choked out his name. "East. Oh, my God, East."

  Dream East pulled back and grinned. "Ah, so you're awake."

  I frowned. "What?"

  Dream East continued to laugh. "Hmm, maybe you're not awake. Maybe this is all a dream."

  My eyes drifted open, and I realized it wasn't a dream after all. East was between my legs. Happy as a clam, mouth over my clit, licking. Fingers inside me, stroking my G-spot. I threw my head back. "Oh, my God. I thought I was dreaming."

  He chuckled low as he went back to work. "Oh, no. This is real. All real."

  "Oh my God."

  "Yes, you can call me God, Jesus, mostly I prefer my name though, East."

  I choked out a laugh. "You are impossible. Honestly, does anyone have an ego bigger than yours?"

  "And by ego, you mean..."

  I giggled.

  "Oh, someone's in a giggling mood. That's brilliant." He dove back in, giving me no quarter. There was no rest for the wicked. East Hale had plans for me, and he intended to make me scream.

  A lot. And God, I couldn't help it. I slid my hand into his hair and tugged, trying to angle him just how I liked.

  Then he did something unexpected. His tongue slid down my slick entrance, penetrating me gently. I lifted my hips, wanting more of him.

  And then his tongue kept going.

  His big hands held onto my arse, and he tucked in, his fingers bruising my skin.

  I gasped. "East."

  "Yeah, Nyla."

  And he went right back to work. His thumb stroked over my clit, back and forth, back and forth, and my legs started to shake. "East, oh my God."

  He laughed. "You can relax, Ny. I'm just trying to make you feel good."

  "Oh my God. I—"

  Usually, I was proud of my eloquence. I could find words for any situation. But in this one, where East Hale was determined to do every dirty, naughty thing to me, I had no words for that, all I had were my gasps and groans and Oh, my God and please yes and more there. That's all I had.

  He was unrelenting, as if there was a lesson for me to learn in this particular form of exquisite punishment.

  "East, please, I... Oh, my God."

  He chuckled. "Now that I have you right where I want you, I need you to make me a promise."

  My head thrashed on the pillow. "Anything. Whatever you want. You can have it."

  "Wow, aren't you amenable."

  "Yes, I am. What do you want?"

  He laughed. "I would very much like you to not scare me anymore."

  I frowned. "Why would I scare you?"

  "You vanished on the Jameson estate tonight."

  My brow furrowed. “I didn’t vanish."

  "Your coms went down, and we couldn't find you. I was scared. I didn't like it. I need you to not do it again." He went back to his feast.

  “I-I’ll try.”

  He stopped stroking my clit. "Prom
ise me now."

  "Oh, my God. You're the worst. This is torture."

  "Yes, I seem to recall that you've done this to me before."

  "That was different. I was mad at you."

  "And I'm not mad at you?"

  I lifted my head and met his gaze. No, that wasn't anger, that was... worry?

  "No, you're not mad. You're worried."

  "Amelia too."

  "Yeah, I know that. Also, I told you two that I can manage it. You have to trust me."

  "I do. But I was scared. So promise. No foolish risks, you hear me?"

  I nodded. At that moment, I would’ve promised just about anything. "No risks. No foolish risks."

  He sighed then. Putting his thumb back where I needed it.

  "Is that a promise?"

  I nodded wildly. "Yes, fine. No foolish risks. Now, would you just let me come?"

  He dove back in, and my head spun.

  He was an artist with his tongue. Idiot knew it too.

  He kept bringing me to the edge, and then pulling back, and then back to the brink and pulling back again.

  And when I started to let go, to bring nirvana to me, he stopped.

  I lifted my head to complain, but then he sharply pulled me down to him, both hands on either side of my hips, and turned me over easily.

  When I squeaked, he gave me a quick swat on my arse.

  The sting burned. "Hey."

  He gave me another one. A harder tap.

  "East," I gasped.

  "Promise me, never again."

  "Fine. Yes, I promise. I promise."

  One more tap that stung even more.

  But before I could complain, his hands were on my hips, drawing me up to my knees and scooting me back.

  And then his mouth was back on me again. "Oh, sweet Jesus."

  I wasn't sure if I saw bliss, or nirvana, or whatever it was called, but I was in heaven.

  When he slowed, I whimpered. "No, no, no, no. I'm so close."

  "Are you now? I'm pretty sure you'll like this."

  Then he moved behind me, teasing at my entrance with his cock. His hand played up my back, applying gentle force and pushing my face further into the pillow.

  I glanced over my shoulder at him, and a slow smile spread over his face.

  And then he slid home.

  His pace was unrelenting, and I could barely hold on.

  When my hand started to sneak up my thigh to my hip, that earned me another swat on the arse. "Not until I say, love."

  "You want to watch, don't you?"

  "I do. But you scared me, and I'm still trying to remind myself that you're real and you're here and you're not hurt. So not until I say so."

  As he made love to me, he leaned over, nipping my neck and shoulders, all the while keeping me hovering just on the precipice of bliss.

  As his warm body encompassed mine, his hips pumping and thrusting and sliding home, I gasped. He was so deep inside me.

  "East, oh my God, please, I just... Please, please, please let me."

  He spread his hands down my back as he lifted himself to his knees, both hands gripping my hips tightly as he brought me back hard onto him. "Let you what?"

  "Please, please, please let me come, please."

  I would do anything. Say anything. Promise anything. And then something, a finger? His thumb? Teasing my back entrance, slowly circling, stroking, teasing.

  He continued his onslaught. "What would you give me?"

  "Anything. Oh, my God. Anything, please, East. I'm sorry I scared you. God, just let me come."

  "Oh, we're getting there. But I was scared, and I couldn't tell you I was scared, and I didn't like it."

  Thrust, thrust, stroke. His thumb and his dick were working in tandem, making it difficult for me to think at all.

  "This is cruel and unusual, East."

  "Well, I'll try anything to make my point."

  When he slammed home again, I gasped, and I knew I was lost. I could feel it coming. The orgasm that was going to knock me the fuck out.

  He could feel it too, and he delivered another smack to my arse. "Did I say you could go somewhere?"

  "I can't help it."

  He picked up his pace then, and all I could do was hold onto the sheets for the ride. And I could feel him withdraw from each stroke, as if he got bigger. Harder, more like steel as his thumb penetrated me. I gasped, lifting my head and throwing my hair back.

  He wrapped a hand in my hair and tugged. "Fuck, I—” a Low growl tore out of his chest. “You, are in my soul, Nyla. Don't scare me anymore, okay?"

  "Okay. I promise. I promise. I promise. Please." And finally, I flew apart with East's name on my lips. I flew apart and knew I was never going to be the same again.

  With two more deep thrusts, he fell over me, and we lay there for several seconds, panting and shaking. Every muscle in my body felt little shocks like tiny zaps of electricity. Good God, he was going to kill me. That was it. That was how I died. From being dicked to death.

  I laughed, thinking about what my new friends would say.

  They would have such a howl. Nyla Kinkade, dicked to death.

  As I drifted off to sleep and East rolled us to our sides so he wouldn’t crush me, he nuzzled into my neck, and I thought it had a nice ring to it.

  Chapter 24

  Nyla

  “Hello, this is Nyla."

  "Hello, I'm looking to speak to Agent Nyla Kincade."

  The voice sounded vaguely familiar.

  I was in the midst of scouring files, Denning had me investigating the Grimwald Square incident, which meant he obviously didn't know I was investigating myself. But, while he was essentially looking for me, I was looking for a way to tie Jameson to a shooter, even if it was a professional.

  "Agent Kincade, I see you don't remember me."

  I frowned. "Who is this?"

  "Ryder Stone."

  The name… Why was it familiar? “I’m sorry. Have we met?”

  “You have tea with a woman once, and she immediately forgets everything about you."

  "Ryder Stone!” He was the fence East had introduced me to a few weeks earlier. I leaned back in my chair. “All right then, can you tell me what one of London's most notorious fences wants from me?"

  "I don't want anything from you. Let's just say I've had a change of heart. I'm about to do you a favor."

  I laugh. "Once a grass, always a grass, yeah?"

  "Do you want the help or not?"

  "Oh, I want the help. But I want to know what you expect in return."

  "Let's just call it a favor." "

  “I don't like owing favors."

  "All right then, let's just call it restitution."

  I laughed. "You believe in restitution? I thought you swore up and down when I met you a few weeks ago that you were on the straight and narrow."

  "And I was. But things have changed."

  "Ryder, if you are involved with your old crew again, now would be the time to come clean."

  "I'm not. But you should know that if you keep pressing this issue about the art forgers, you're going to get hurt."

  I sat forward, dropping my voice. "Did someone already try to hurt me, Ryder?"

  There was a beat of silence. "Look, I'm not saying that. But there's a warehouse near the Flint Estate. It's supposed to be a car park. That's what it's zoned for. Proper permits and everything. It's got monthly payments coming from renters to make it look like someone's parking there."

  "Okay, what's the address?" He rattled it off to me. "What am I going to find when I go there? Is this some sort of trap?"

  "No, it’s not a trap. I just don't like having my arm twisted."

  The hairs on my arms stood at attention. "Is someone trying to hurt you? We can protect you." I was putting in my earpiece as I grabbed my jumper.

  "No, I’m okay. But you'll find what you're looking for there."

  "Ryder, why don't you come on down to the station, and we'll get a proper statement,
okay?"

  "Nah, mate. I'm not coming in."

  "Ryder, do yourself a favor. Your partners… If they find out you're giving us the location, that's trouble for you. I can protect you. I can keep you safe."

  "You just get down there. Find what you find and leave me out of it."

  I had no idea what the hell I was going to find at the address, but I wasn't dumb enough to go by myself.

  Yes, you are. Except if you go by yourself and find something, Denning's going to ream you a new asshole.

  Besides, Amelia was my boss. So if there was something to be found, I'd rather she be the one to get the credit. Not Denning.

  I marched swiftly down to her office. She looked up from her computer the moment I banged on her doorjamb. "What bee's flown into your knickers?"

  "Ryder Stone. He's a fence I met when East was helping me on the forgery case. He just called me."

  Amelia cocked her head. "A fence? Jesus."

  "Well, an ex-fence. Except I'm not sure how ex he is. Anyway, the point is he just called me and gave me an address. Told me that I'd find something very fascinating there. Want to take a ride?"

  She lifted her brow. "Nyla? There are procedures and policy."

  "We don't know anything. Right now, we're following a lead. A fishing expedition. Any problems, we’ll call for backup. But please, please, please, dear God, please, don't make me give this to Denning just yet."

  Amelia sighed. "I don't want to be in the middle."

  "Um, I'm sorry, but I got you in the divorce."

  She shook her head. "Yeah, but he's got custody."

  I sighed. "Look, this is on the up and up, okay? I just knew better than to go by myself."

  Amelia sighed. "I suppose that's progress."

  "Well, not exactly. I knew I'd be in a shitload of trouble if I went on my own. And you're my supervisor now, so I don't want to make you look bad."

  She shook her head. "Jesus, Nyla."

  "What? I’m getting better, I swear."

  We were there within twenty minutes.

  And sure enough, the sign outside said it was a car park. But as we went around the back, there were no cars, no attendants, not even a rolling door where people would drive their cars in.