Acquisition, page 15
I should be relieved. The whole situation was insane, but the truth was I wanted him. I had from the first kiss.
I cleared my throat, stalling for time. "And if I'm not asking for gentle?”
Ever so slowly, he removed his arm, turning to face me. His gaze was intent and his voice low when he asked, "What are you saying, Daphne? Are you asking me to fuck you?"
I talked about being brave all the time, but I was hiding from my life. Sometimes afraid to take what I wanted. I knew it was now or never. "Yes, I want you to fuck me. And I'm on the pill."
I could barely believe those words had come out of my mouth, but it had been a long time since I had felt so alive.
"Then let me give you what you need," he said, his voice dark and hypnotic. His hands grabbed my hips, and I felt the warmth of his breath as he leaned forward to press his lips against mine. His tongue slid in possessively, stealing my breath. I moaned as he deepened the kiss.
"You will feel every thrust and every touch," he murmured. "I won't stop until you scream my name."
He kissed me again, deep this time. His mouth, tongue, and teeth an onslaught to my senses. One hand wrestled with my tank until he finally gripped it down the middle and tugged, the sound of ripping fabric filling the room.
He palmed one breast, moaning into my mouth as his thumb and forefinger found my nipple. With each tug, I arched my back, begging him to take more.
His other hand tangled in my hair, and I opened my thighs wider as he pressed up against me.
His mouth left mine and trailed slowly down my neck and chest, stopping to suck and pull at my nipples. His hand left my breast and traveled down, resting at the top of my thigh before slipping downward.
His fingers brushed against my clit, and I gasped at the sensation. His tongue lashed against my nipple as he teased me, and I shuddered, moaning his name. And then he stopped, pulling away with a smirk.
"You like this, don't you? Your tits are so bloody sensitive. I bet you can come just from me teasing them, can't you?"
How did I even explain that I'd only ever been like this for him. "N-no. Just for you."
"Say it again, hell cat," he breathed, honey dripping from his words.
I pinched my eyes shut, and I said it. "Just for you."
He growled, the sound sending a thrill of pleasure through my body. "Eyes open."
I blinked, meeting his gaze, the intensity of it searing me to my soul. He used his knee to nudge my thighs further apart, and when I was splayed before him, he dropped his forehead to mine. "Be sure, Daphne."
I swallowed hard and lifted my hips, seeking his heat.
"Fuck me," he whispered, taking my hands into one of his and securing them above my head firmly.
He rocked his hips, the tip of his cock grazing my entrance. "You feel so damn good." I gasped, my body arching at the sensation as he pushed the tip inside me.
Christ, he was thick. So big.
I squeezed my eyes shut and he halted.
"Eyes open," he commanded, the intensity in his voice causing my eyes to snap open. Our gazes met, and he thrust hard, taking me entirely. I moaned as he filled me, deepening the connection between us. His hands grasped my hips, kneading and demanding, pushing and pulling me against him as his hips moved
I mewled, my legs shaking as he delved deeper, inch after inch. And then he was fully seated inside me, and I was panting.
His eyes were silver in the moonlight, glittering with intensity, and then he moved. Long, slow thrusts that filled me up, stealing my breath. I dug my nails into his back as I wrapped my legs around him, desperate to hold on.
He started slow, his thrusts measured and gentle at first, but when I squeezed him with my inner walls, he shoved a hand into my curls, tugging my head back. "Naughty thing. No trying to make me come too quick."
Then he increased his pace, and soon our hips were slapping together in a frenzied rhythm. With each thrust, he sucked my lower lip, then nipped at my jawline or my neck before coming back around to claim my mouth.
He whispered dirty things against my lips as his hips pumped faster and faster. "Come for me, baby. Take my cock like a good girl."
I gasped. I knew he was close, and I wanted to make it good for him. I tightened my grip on him and pushed my hips, grinding against him. His movements became even more frenzied, and I heard the low rumble of pleasure he was trying desperately to contain.
My body was on fire, and I was oh so close, each thrust pushing me to the peak of pleasure. It felt so good, and I wanted it to never end.
"Say my name," he commanded, and I screamed it as I tumbled over the edge. My inner walls clenched around him as I shuddered, my body racked with pleasure. He was close, his movements becoming erratic as his orgasm grew. His grip on my hips tightened, and he murmured my name as he drove deep.
And then with one more thrust, his body went rigid as he came, filling me with jets of his hot cum. He shuddered and collapsed on top of me, our mutual panting filling the room.
He rolled us both over before kissing me softly and easing out of me. I hissed at the friction, and he frowned. "I'll be right back, kitten."
I dragged the sheets around my naked body, too exhausted to think about any ramifications right now. I'd save that for the morning, but right now, I was too sated to worry.
When Drake returned, he had two washcloths. "Drop the sheet, kitten."
I hesitated, but he didn't bother to wait for me to catch on, tugging at linens. "There is no universe in which we don't do that again. And next time, I'll take more time, so I'm going to see every inch of you. No point in covering up."
Narrowing my gaze, I loosened the sheet. "We'll be doing this again?"
His eyes darkened when they met mine. "Yes. Because not only are you mine to protect, you're mine now."
He eased one of the washcloths against my pussy, gently wiping away the sticky mess he'd left, the warmth of the cloth soothing the sting.
"You licked me, so now I'm yours?" I giggled.
"Something like that."
He tossed one of the washcloths onto the night stand.
"What's the other one for?" I asked.
His smile was crooked as he forced my thighs apart once more, placing a cool cloth against my aching core.
"Oh!"
When he eased between my thighs again, I watched him dubiously. "What are you doing?"
"Making sure the last thing you remember about our first time together is pleasure." Then he shifted the washcloth and planted his lips over my clit… and sucked.
29
Drake
I couldn’t wipe the shit-eating grin off my face. I'd left Daphne in the shower and come down to scrounge up some breakfast for her.
But it seemed I wasn’t early enough.
"Judging from all that creaking last night, I assume you two overcame your differences?"
I whipped around from the stove. “Jesus, old man, you have the reflexes of a cat and the feet of a ninja. Also, I don't kiss and tell, Reginald."
He drank his coffee and smirked at me. "And lucky for me, I like long walks."
I smirked and shook my head. "It was unexpected."
He gave me a nonchalant shrug. "Hey, I don't judge. I'm glad you two have come to an understanding."
"Yeah, well, I'm still determined to keep her safe."
He took another slow sip of his tea. "Do you have a more concrete plan for Massimo?"
I flipped the eggs and turned to him. "Daphne and I were talking, I think he’s been after her because of her job primarily. I think she has access to data he needs. The only way to know for sure is to get that ledger. He needs her. I can draw him out, but I want insurance for her first."
He sighed. "So tomorrow is still on then?"
He hated the idea of me going into the field without back up. "Yeah. I want you to keep an eye on Daphne, while I follow my hunch. If I don’t come back in forty-eight hours, execute pinnacle protocol." Pinnacle protocol was a whole background work up complete with false ID’s, bank accounts, etc. I had that contingency for her in case I fucked up and failed.
"I will guard your treasure with my life. You know, there was a time when I was just like you."
"Oh, really? You haven't always been this overbearing, too strict, fatherly type?"
"Lad, there's no being too strict with you. You just looked for trouble all the time."
"Yeah, I was a slippery little cunt, wasn't I?" I chuckled.
"Yes. You are also a damn good son."
The warmth of his statement spread through my chest. I shrugged and gave him a smile. "You're a half-decent father. I’ll give you that."
"Well, Jasmine and I did our best."
I smiled at the memory of Jasmine. She was the first person since my mum died who had thought about giving me a hot breakfast. Uncle Charlie, well, he had fed me, but mostly cold cereals or convenient shit like Pop-Tarts. There was occasionally a fruit or two thrown on the plate. But Jasmine made sure I had warm oats, eggs, sausage, bacon, and lots of fruits. Uncle Charlie had tried his best, but he wasn't one for the warm and fuzzy. He had a great housekeeper, but most of the good times I remembered were in Jasmine and Reginald's house. It always felt like home.
I plated the eggs and checked on the bacon. "I do care about her, you know?"
He chuckled low. "You think I don't know that? Please. You wouldn't have brought her here if you didn't care for her. You wanted her looked after. And after all, this is your home."
I frowned at that. "I could have easily taken her to the condo."
"Yes, and the condo is, um, fine."
I turned to raise my brow. "What does that mean?"
"Lad, that condo is dry. Dry, dry, dry. It might as well be a hotel. Not a picture in sight. It's like no one actually lives there."
"I live there."
"Do you, though? It might as well be a safehouse as far as you're concerned."
"It's just a place to lay my head. It doesn't mean anything."
"And that's exactly it. She would have been safe, but not looked after. Whenever you need looking after, you come here."
"Not true."
He just chuckled. "Boy, when are you going to realize you need family as much as the next person?"
An image flashed in my head of me and Daphne holding hands, Reginald holding a brown cherub that had Daphne’s smile. That was a thing that could happen.
Except you’re going back into the field.
Field agents didn’t get families.
"Fine. I need to get the banking information to get answers. And while taking that ledger, the key to him taking over The Syndicate, it’ll make him well ticked. And emotional people make poor decisions.
He sighed. "Are you sure you want to do this?"
"Regardless of what's going on, I have to make it safe for her. Because in the end, when she's done with me, she needs to be able to go home. She has to walk away from this intact. I would never forgive myself if…" I didn't finish the statement, almost half afraid that I could call it into being. “I'm going to make it safe for her, so she can go home.”
He studied me. "Correct me if I'm wrong, but you want her."
"Yes, I do. But do you think this life is good for her? She needs family. It's written all over her. She deserves family. I can’t give her that."
Reginald shook his head. "You're so close, but you still don't get it, do you?"
"What does that mean?"
"Lad, you both need family. She's just the one smart enough to know it."
"I have family. I have you."
"You do. But you can have so much more."
I shifted on my feet and turned off the stove, taking the bacon off the heat. "I have what I need, and I'm close to getting what I want. Getting back in the field."
"What about what you really want? When you think about yourself five, ten, fifteen years from now, will you still be in the field?"
"Yes."
"Right. Deep cover, fraternizing with the enemy to take them down?"
I didn't like his line of questioning. “I’m good at it.”
“Boy look me in the eye and tell me you don’t feel something for that woman upstairs. I know you.”
I did. And the idea of leaving her was already burning a hole in my chest. And I didn't like that.
"It's better for her if I stay away."
"I'm pretty sure I didn't raise an idiot. I have several distinctions of yours proving that I didn't raise an idiot, but here you are, being an idiot."
"What am I supposed to do, Reginald? If she stays with me, she’ll get hurt."
"It doesn't have to be like that."
"I'm keeping her safe. Right now, the safest place she can be is with me. But when that's resolved, she needs to stay very, very far away."
"Sure, boy, if you say so. But she's a grown woman who can decide that for herself. Don't you go making decisions for her."
Daphne’s footsteps coming down the stairs stopped our conversation. She had a wide smile for Reginald and a shyer one for me. Considering the way I’d made her come repeatedly, the shy smile was unnecessary.
Tread carefully. You don’t get to keep her. What the fuck was that? Keeping her? Having one person in your life you worried about as bad enough. And Reggie could look after himself. I didn’t need that pain and hassle. What the hell was wrong with me?
When this was all over, I was going back into the field.
She was wearing a soft sweater in that beautiful marigold color. She’d paired it with jeans, her hair held up in a high puff, a few curls cascading around her face. "I knew I smelled bacon." She hesitated. "Good morning, Reginald. You're up early."
He nodded. "Good morning, love. It was a lovely morning, so I woke up early and went for a walk down to the forest. I picked some truffles."
She moaned with delight. "Truffles, wow."
"I'm thinking of making some truffle chicken for dinner tonight."
Her stomach grumbled. "Ugh, Reginald, you are talking to my stomach now."
"I love a girl who likes to eat. I didn't make breakfast this morning, but I think you can make do with what he's making."
"Hey, you taught me to cook," I grumbled. For some reason it felt important that Daphne knew I had other skills besides fucking and killing.
But you’re so very good at both.
"Sure, I did. I still have yet to see you make a simple dinner since you've been here."
"Old man, you're constantly busting my balls."
Daphne gave me a shy smile as she went to the cabinets to pull down the plates. "Thanks for breakfast."
I grinned at her while Reginald studiously made himself busy pouring another cup of coffee. I leaned down and brushed my lips over hers. I’d meant it to be quick. Light. But the moment out lips touched, I wanted more.
Her eyes went wide as her gaze darted to Reginald, and then I very purposely pulled her into my hips, looped a thumb through her jeans, and pulled her close.
"I'm not letting you hide." Then I kissed her fully. Tongue and everything. Her body eased against mine immediately. And that craving, that hole in my heart that had been a constant companion for too many years, once again started to fill. It was so easy with her.
Reginald cleared his throat, and I released her slowly.
There was no way he was ever letting me forget this.
Daphne had a soft pink flush on her cheeks. Hard to tell with her coloring, but I knew it was there.
Reginald just gave her shoulder a squeeze and took the plates from her, and she went to get the utensils. And then we sat down and had breakfast like a bloody family.
Goddamn it.
Reginald started asking her questions about her sister's wedding. And that was when my phone rang.
Drake
"What part of keep your head down and don't do anything rash do you not understand?"
Gabe Webb.
He’d been clear when he pulled me out of that hell hole that I was supposed to lay low. I hadn’t exactly listened.
"It's been a long time since someone admonished me like a teenager, Gabe. Please do your best. I probably won't listen any better than I did back then.’
If I was being honest, I should have expected the call.
The man wouldn't have been very good at his job if he'd saved my life a few months ago and then just left me in the ether.
I'd expected him to be watching me. And most of the time I'd been careful. But when Igno didn't react when I took Daphne off the board, I had to step it up.
I needed to force him into an error.
After weeks of research, I had already guessed that he wanted something Daphne had access to. And since she didn't know what it was, things were about to get a little more dangerous.
It would be one thing if she knew what to protect, what to keep hidden. It was quite another that she still didn't know what he was looking for.
Of course, there was also the fact that she was damn beautiful and I wanted her all to myself. That made the situation a powder keg.
The last few days she'd been with me, I'd been digging deep into Baines's files. I had narrowed down the likely targets for Igno to three clients. All of which Daphne worked on. Her boss, Christopher, wasn't as good as she was. He didn't have the technical background.
He'd been hired for business development. So for the most part, he didn't even know how to access the sensitive data, and that made him a useless target. The other transition manager, Adam Bailey, was a possibility. But from my research, as far as I could tell, Igno wasn't interested in Bailey. And frankly, Daphne handled more high-profile clients. They asked for her by name.
She was good at her job. There was no denying that. So her client files were the place to start.
I took a look at the most secretive, high-profile clients with the most creative bank records. The ones with more offshore accounts and hidden shell companies rolled up under them. I'd narrowed the list down to three. That meant I needed to have a looky-loo around the companies and where they kept their primary assets. That would require physical access.
_preview.jpg)
