Chapter 4

W hatever Jo had been expecting, this wasn’t it.

Kenan was a player, a ladies man, good with kids and made mama’s smile. Hell, blush even. She expected his home to reflect that. Leather furniture, partially naked women posters, kind of the bachelor pad she had seen during her times with other single men.

I should have known that this man wouldn’t be like everyone else.

Every wall she built in order to keep him out, he showed her a side she didn’t want to see. Because seeing them made her want to get closer to him. Allow him to do all the things he was promising.

The next morning, he woke with her in his arms. He didn’t rush to get up but instead rolled toward her and watched her as she continued to sleep. They’d been up until the early morning hours as their hunger for each other had been insatiable. Even now, watching her, his cock woke to the occasion and was ready to pick up where he left off.

They’d traveled yesterday evening to get here. When he’d reached his home in the trees, he’d paid close attention to her and was thrilled to hear that excited hitch in her voice and the anticipation in her eyes before she moved up the ladder to his aerie.

Allowing himself a bit more time to just stare at this incredible woman, he finally realized he had to wake her if he was going to have her where he wanted by the time the sun would break through the canopy.

“Wake up, Jo.” He kissed her, slipping his tongue deep into her mouth.

Immediately, she arched into him, her own purr winding around him in answering turn. His cock throbbed but he ignored its demand and ended the kiss, gripping her chin.

“We have to get moving.”

As she rolled from his large bed, he stared without shame as she moved her naked body over to where her clothes had been dropped the night before.

“Where are we going?”

“Waterfall.”

He fisted himself as she rolled her tight tank top down, hiding her copper skin and full breasts. She looked over her shoulder at him as she tugged up the cargo pants she would be wearing today.

Watching her swipe her tongue along her lips as she stared at him jerking on his cock pushed more blood there.

“If we have to get going, don’t you think you should stop teasing me?”

On his feet in a flash, he strode toward her, still stroking himself. “No teasing, baby.”

She dropped to her knees and opened her mouth. Without pausing, he gripped a fistful of her hair and pushed his dick deep, loving the way her throat expanded to take him.

Jo sucked and bobbed on him, her hands teasing his sac and touching him when her mouth retreated.

“About to come, baby.”

She tugged on his balls as she pulled harder on him with the suction of her mouth. He lost it, coming in her mouth with a loud roar, hand gripping harder in her hair. She never took her eyes off him as she took it all.

He hauled her up to his mouth the moment she released his dick and slammed his mouth over hers. They may not make it to the waterfall for his morning plans after all.

Cupping her in the most private of placed, he smiled against her lips at the feel of her wetness, proving her desire for him and what they were doing. Not to mention, what was to come.

He’d been correct, they didn’t make it to the waterfall that morning. Nor the subsequent morning. In fact, they barely made it out of his house. Hell, the bed.

And that was a life he could handle every single day.

“I mean, I got to watch a mother fucking iridescent cloud of butterflies dancing on the mist beneath a waterfall. Zip lining. Swimming in underground caves.” She wrapped her arms around herself. “Never thought that I would have so much fun in my life. One moment you’re alone and then you turn around to find some huge ass iguana flicking its tongue at you as it lies on this tree limb.”

Dianna Levitt sat on the sofa next to her, her stunning braids all wrapped up in a bun and placed on top of her head. She currently sipped from the wine glass in her hand as Jo continued with her story of the time Kenan had showed her in Belize.

“Sounds like it was good for you to listen to Emily and follow your heart.”

“For a blissful week, yes. Don’t get me wrong, the entire vacation was incredible, that last week though, with him. Surpassed everything. But no matter what he says, I know what will eventually happen. It may not be for years but his eye will wander and my heart will be broken.”

Dianna finished the wine and hopped up before she strode to the kitchen and dug in the cupboards for a bottle of something far harder than the wine they’d been sipping on.

“I’m going to take it that you ran on him again.” Dianna’s voice was free of inflection and judgement as she poured two very healthy shots into glasses. “That’s why you’re back here now instead of down there shagging your way across South America.”

Accepting the glass offered, she took a drink of the scotch and blinked as it burned all the way down.

“I left him a note, thanking him for everything. Then I came home. I have a job here. One, I might point out starts back next week.”

“I’m not judging, Jo. You will need to do what you ultimately feel is the best thing for you.”

“You don’t think I’m being a baby?”

Dianna finished her drink without so much as a wince as the harsh alcohol slipped down her throat. “I think you want me to validate what you did. I can’t do that or tell you that you were in the wrong. I’m your friend, Jo but this had to be a decision you can feel good about looking at yourself in the mirror for. The rest of your life.”

“Fuck. I hate it when you get all smart on me and shit.”

With a wink, her friend shrugged. “I’m always smart and shit. So are you. Believe that.”

The phone at Dianna’s side vibrated and she pulled it free in an instant, her brow furrowing as she stared at the screen. “One sec.” Phone to her ear, she spoke again. “What do you need, Taylor? I’m not on duty.”

Her doorbell rang and she got to her feet, still keeping an eye on her friend. She wasn’t a fan of the thunderous expression filling up her face.

“Yes?” Jo opened the door and sucked in a sharp breath.

Kenan stood there, his causal wear fitting his strong body in ways she couldn’t ever get out of her mind.

“Hello Jo.” His tongue dipped out and skimmed his lower lip. “I forgot to tell you something very important when you were down in Belize with me.”

She looked over her shoulder. “Come on in, Kenan. Dianna’s here.”

He wrapped an arm around her as they both stared at Dianna who walked toward them. The serious expression on her face, vanished slightly as she gave a slight smile to Kenan.

“Hello Kenan.”

“Dianna.” He kissed her cheek. “Everything okay?”

“Work thing. I have to run, Jo. But I’m thinking now that he’s here you probably wouldn’t be wanting me around anyway. Have fun.” Dianna hugged her and kissed her cheek. “Trust your gut.”

Grasping her wrist before Dianna could slip through the door, she asked, “Are you sure you’re okay? What’s going on?”

A flicker of uncertainty flashed before it became masked. “Just a case. You two have fun. And Kenan, you make her cry and I’ll kill you.” She was gone in the next breath.

Kenan pushed the door closed behind her departure. “She meant that, didn’t she?”

“Most definitely.”

His brows furrowed. “Are you sure she’s okay?”

“No, but I have to take her at her word. She never shares work with us.”

He braced her against the door. “I will follow you to the ends of the earth, Jo. I love you. You were made for me. My mate.”

Her heart raced and she licked her lips. “Mate? Like Selene and Emily are for Lando and Femi?”

He didn’t even blink. “Exactly like that.”

“And you knew this in Belize?”

He inched closer, brushing his hard body against hers. “I’ve known this since I met you.”

“You never said.”

Kenan’s lips twitched as he nuzzled her cheek. “When you first arrived in Brazil, you three were all mama bears. I wasn’t about to tell you. All your focus was on Selene and making sure she was safe.” He laced the fingers of her right hand with his. “I wanted to tell you. I wanted to scream it from the skies.”

“All those other women?” Jealousy hit her.

“Flirting. I’ve not been with a woman since I met you. I would never disrespect my mate in such a fashion.” Lips to lips he continued. “ Ever .”

Nerves running rampant, she shifted and he moved back giving her space, no longer touching her. Silence weighed between them until he held out his hand.

“What?”

“Come fly with me.”

Jo placed her hand in his, trusting her gut and the need to be with him when they were separate. She loved him. Why not fly with him?

Different part of Miami

The light at the far of the street flickered, obviously on its last leg. The overwhelming stench of piss and alcohol permeated the air. No dumpsters for anyone to hide behind, no doorways, not much of anything.

The Crown Vic that rolled into the area did so without flashing lights or screaming sirens.

It parked and idled while both front doors opened and two figures stepped from the interior. Each person held a Glock as they made their way to the front of the car.

“Where are they?”

The woman’s voice was low and tense.

The man with her, shrugged and pointed toward the end of the alley.

With a low growl of frustration, the woman took point and walked away from the car, gun ready to fire if needed.

The silence of the area was broken up by the revving of a powerful engine. Whipping around, the woman lifted her gun to fire and got off two shots at the car that ran her down, tossing her up over the hood of the sedan to slam into the windshield, rendering her unconscious.

Brake lights lit up the liquid on the asphalt ever so briefly. The driver got out and rushed to the prone body and checked for a pulse, then lifted her up and dropped her over his shoulder with zero care. The jarring hits had knocked her bun down and a waterfall of microbraids fell around her face as she was carried and deposited in the trunk.

The man was in such a rush to get out of there, he didn’t notice the badge and holder that lay open on the ground. The yellowish light highlighted it as the flickers continued. The rain started and the drops splashed on the plastic holder covering the identification and ran down between the letters of the name there.

Detective Dianna Levitt.