9. Tyson

9

TYSON

I pace the office trailer, checking my phone for the hundredth time. No messages from Sofia. My jaw clenches as I toss the device onto my desk.

“Fuck this.” I slam my fist against the wall, leaving a dent in the thin metal.

The door creaks open, and Lars steps in. “Boss, Phoenix found them.”

My mood shifts instantly. “Where?”

“Dark web. Bunch of ex-military trying to flip our product.” Lars hands me his tablet. “They had the skills to lift it but no connections to move it.”

“How likely is it we can take them down?” I ask.

Lars shrugs. “We’d have the element of surprise and Phoenix can give us eyes inside their den. We should get it back piece of cake and be able to supply Frank if you still want to.”

I scan through Phoenix’s report, a cruel smile spreading across my face. “Get Gage, Remy, Nash and Colt. Time to pay these fuckers a visit. ”

Two hours later, we’re standing in an abandoned warehouse, surrounded by bodies. Blood pools beneath my boots as I retrieve our stolen twenty kilos from their van and load it into the trunk of my Mustang. The idiots thought they could steal from us and get away with it.

“Clean this up,” I order, watching Nash and Colt drag the first body toward their truck. “Make sure nothing traces back.”

Lars wipes his blade on one of the dead men’s shirts. “What about the product?” He nods toward it.

“You and Gage can load it while Nash, Colt and Remy deal with the bodies.” I check my phone again. Still nothing from Sofia. “I’ve got somewhere to be.”

“Leave it to us.” Lars wipes his hands on a cloth. “We’ll get it sorted. See you back at the carnival.”

I nod, already heading for my car. My phone burns a hole in my pocket—still no response from Sofia. The memory of her curves pressed against me makes my blood run hot. I’m done waiting for a reply.

Aften punching the address Phoenix sent me for Sofia into my GPS, I turn the key and the engine roars to life. Downtown Dawsbury is fancy as fuck, starkly contrasting the warehouse district I’m leaving behind.

My fingers drum against the steering wheel at each red light. The need to see her claws at my chest. To hell with waiting for her to text back.

I park across from a sleek modern house with floor-to-ceiling windows. Her little red Mustang sits in the curved driveway—her car—the same one she drove away from the carnival in.

Killing the engine, I sit in the growing darkness. The house glows from within, and through the windows, I catch glimpses of movement. My baby girl is in there, probably trying to forget about our kiss.

But I won’t let her forget. Not when she sets my world on fire with just a look.

I slip through her back door, picking the lock with practiced ease. The house is quiet except for water running upstairs. My boots make no sound on the hardwood as I follow the sound.

Steam billows from the master bathroom. I catch glimpses of creamy curves through the glass door as Sofia showers, completely unaware of my presence. My cock strains against my jeans at the sight.

I open the door and lean against the doorframe, crossing my arms. “Quite a show you’re putting on, baby girl.”

Her scream pierces the air as she spins around, nearly slipping. Those gorgeous green eyes go wide. “What the fuck! Get out, or I’m calling the cops!”

“Go ahead.” I prowl closer to the shower. “But we both know you don’t want that.”

“Stay back!” She opens the door and fumbles for her phone on the counter, but I snatch it first.

“Looking for this?” I dangle it just out of reach.

Her chest heaves, water running down her curves. Despite her fear, I notice how her nipples harden under my gaze. “You’re insane. You can’t break into people’s houses!”

I press my palm against the glass, watching her press against the opposite wall. “I can do whatever I want, especially when you’ve ignored my messages. ”

“Because I’m engaged! And you’re breaking and entering!”

I watch as panic flashes across her face. She frantically grabs at the shower door, water dripping down her curves as she tries to shield herself from my gaze with her arms.

“Don’t.” But she’s already darting past me, snatching a towel from the rack.

My fists clench as she wraps the fluffy fabric around her body, hiding every inch of those luscious curves I’ve been dreaming about.

“Stop covering yourself.” The words come out as a growl, deep and primal. “Your body is fucking stunning.”

Her eyes snap to mine, and her lips part in surprise. A blush spreads across her cheeks and down her neck, disappearing beneath the towel. She clutches the fabric tighter, but I catch the slight tremor in her hands.

“I...” She swallows hard. “I’m not... I mean, I’m not exactly model material.”

The self-consciousness in her voice makes my blood boil. Someone’s been in her head, making her doubt herself and think she needs to hide.

“Who told you that bullshit?” I take a step closer, watching her breath catch. “Because they’re fucking blind.”

Her eyes flash with anger, cutting through her fear. Good. I love it when she shows her fire.

“Don’t change the subject!” she snaps, backing away from me. “You broke into my fucking house. You’re acting like a complete psycho! ”

My lips curl into a smile as I stalk toward her. “Am I? And here I thought you liked it when I act like a psycho.”

Her back hits the wall. I cage her in with my arms, breathing in the sweet scent of her shower gel.

“What are you talking about?” Her voice wavers, but her chin lifts defiantly.

I lean closer, my breath fanning across her neck. “You looked so fucking beautiful touching yourself after I sent that picture and dirty messages. The way your back arched off those silk sheets...”

Her eyes go wide. “What? How did you?—”

“Your iMac camera gave me quite the show. The sounds you made...” I grip the wall harder, my cock throbbing at the memory. “Those little whimpers when you came...”

The color drains from her face before fury ignites in those green eyes. She shoves hard against my chest, breaking free from where I’ve caged her.

“Get the fuck out.” Her voice is steel, that fire I love blazing in her eyes. “Now.”

“Come on, baby girl?—”

“Don’t call me that.” She grabs her phone from where I put it, finger hovering over the emergency button. “Get out of my house before I call the cops. I’m not playing games.”

Even wrapped in just a towel, she radiates pure strength. Her jaw is set, eyes flashing with determination. No trace of the trembling girl from moments ago remains .

“Last warning,” she says, voice deadly calm. “Get. Out.”

“You think you’re so tough, but you’re not.”

She takes another step back, clutching her phone. My blood pumps hot, desire ripping through me as I respond to her challenge.

I lunge forward, grabbing her wrist and twirling her so her back hits my chest. She drops the phone, which falls to the ground with a clatter. She struggles, but I tighten my grip around her wrists, holding them captive behind her back.

“Tough enough to bring the mighty Tyson to his knees, aren’t you?” I growl, my lips hovering dangerously close to her ear. “Admit it. You want this as much as I do.”

“No, I—” She bites her lip, eyes widening at the raw hunger in my voice.

“Don’t lie.” I slide my free hand down to her throat and angle her so she’s looking at me in the mirror over the sink, applying just enough pressure to feel her pulse against my palm. Her breath catches, eyes fluttering shut as a soft whimper escapes her lips. “You like it when I get a little forceful.”

“No, I?—”

“You love it.” My thumb strokes over her pulse, feeling her heartbeat quicken. I tighten my grip, cutting off her air. “A part of you wishes I’d take you here against this wall, show you what a real man can do.”

She trembles, a soft moan escaping her lips. My entire body tenses, my grip tightening as I silently beg her to ask for it. To beg me to take her right here, right now.

“I...” Her eyes flicker open, chest heaving as she searches my gaze in the mirror. “I hate that I do.”

Hearing her admit it makes my body coil even tighter. I ease my grip just enough so she can breathe, knowing I’ll lose her if I push too far.

“But you do.” My lips brush against her earlobe. “Admit it.”

She opens her mouth to protest, but I twirl her to face me and cut her off with my mouth on hers, stealing her breath and her willpower. A muffled whimper escapes her throat as my tongue tangles with hers, a plea for more.

I want to devour her, brand her as mine. Mark every inch of her perfect skin and keep her with me forever.

But that’s not our reality.

I reluctantly release her, her body sliding away. She sags against the wall, eyes dazed as she pants, watching me warily.

“See?” I grin. “You just needed a little persuasion.”

She swallows hard, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. “This changes nothing. My answer is still no.”

My smile fades. “Why? You feel it, too. I know you do.”

She lifts her chin, determination sparking in her eyes. “Because some things are worth resisting, no matter how tempting.”

Her words strike me like a blow to the gut. Worth resisting. Am I so easy to turn down?

I straighten. “Guess I’ll have to try harder, then. ”

Her eyes widen, breath catching. “Are you threatening me?”

“Never.” I turn, heading for the back door. “I’d never force you, Sofia. But I will convince you. Someday, you’ll beg me to finish what we started.”

“In your dreams.” But the breathlessness in her voice tells me she’s not as unaffected as she pretends.

I grin, opening the door. “Sweet dreams, baby girl.”

And with that, I leave, the memory of our kiss and her trembling body seared into my mind. My girl might be putting up a fight, but I live for the chase. And I always get what I want.