24

Ilaugh at Niki's bewildered look. Her eyes are wild while she scans my face. I can't help the ease that washes through me at seeing her wearing the black band around her neck.

"What is everything?"

I paid for the remainder of her shift. At least three men had requested a private room with her. No way was I going to allow some drunk, affluent-wannabe fucker to paw his hard-on while drooling over my woman. Not tonight. I couldn't explain why, but I needed her in my arms.

They wouldn't be able to contain themselves, and I would've had to rip them apart for thinking they could touch her. I almost didn't make it and I was close to asking Jason to shut the place down. The black collar will help chill me the fuck out a bit. I hope.

It had been a long and difficult night, and I craved her closeness more than ever. I loop a finger through one of the rings dangling down the middle of her top and tug her toward me as I walk backward to the couch.

I sit her on my lap and draw circles below her breasts. "I know your father left you a plot of land which you converted into a farm. Your mother's best friend, her husband, and two kids reside there."

She stops breathing, and I stare into her big, expressive brown eyes. I slowly trail my hand down her ribcage, past the ruffles of her skirt, and underneath the layers.

"I know that you own three trucks, each under a different alias. And," I move my thumb between her legs and push past the elastic of her underwear, "I know you're currently housing two very sought after fugitives."

I lean in and suck on her top lip, then nibble on it. She tastes of citrus, tequila and me. I rub up and down between the lips below her waist and her thighs spread slightly, allowing me better entrance.

Niki licks her lips. "And what do you plan to do with this information, rookie?"

I shrug. "Nothing." I shove two fingers into her tight, wet cunt. "For now."

"Well, you've come a long way, for someone who knew absolutely nothing."

I rub the tips of my fingers against the wall of her insides. She's perfectly warm, soft, and wet. Her head tips back and a moan, raw and pure, escapes her. I shove my fingers deeper and gently flick her clit with my thumb. I bring my free hand to her neck and squeeze. Her pupils ripple out and threaten to paint the entirety of her mahogany irises.

"That won't ever happen again, little fox. From now on, I'll know every fucking thing."

Niki's expression darkens, and her lips pull back to a mischievous grin. "Squeeze harder, rookie."

Fuck. I comply, and my dick is rock hard the moment she gasps. Her eyes glaze over and her lips part–not to take more air in, but as a seductive invitation to do with her what I please. But I want her to take control, to do as she wants with me–to give her what she needs–full fucking reign.

I move her up and lower my pants, then position her over my now throbbing dick. Without caution, I drop her, and she yells out her pleasure.

"A warning would've been nice," she complains.

I clutch her neck, careful to only apply pressure on the sides, allowing her windpipe to suck in just enough air to remain alert. When she tips her head back, I know she's there. Niki enters that place in her mind where darkness resides and her fantasies beg to be freed.

"Cállate, and fucking take it."

My fox smiles wickedly, and her insides grip me before she begins to move up and down. Her spine bends back, tempting me to focus on her breasts, and I do. I take one nipple between my teeth and nibble. When her breath hitches, I suck hard and knead the other in my palm. I fucking love her tits–they're perfect. She's perfect.

Niki draws her hips up and doesn't come back down, but instead, she moves her waist in a circle. I groan; she's fucking toying with me. I want to pound into her, but I let her play. She needs this, and I enjoy watching her bring herself higher.

She lowers herself but then comes back up, and when I groan my complaint, she fucking laughs.

"Watch it, fox, or I'll overpower you and fuck you until everyone hears you scream my name."

She sucks in a breath, then finally pumps my dick with purpose, grinding whenever the tip hits the deepest parts of her. I'm fucking weakened by her movements, her scent, and the sounds she makes. I'm too close and I lose the last of my control when she whispers my name against my lips.

I grip her waist forcefully and ram my hips up, lodging myself deeper until her muscles contract around me and she's trembling in my arms. I come seconds after, grunting my release, and I sink my teeth into her shoulder to stop me from yelling three words I'm sure would frighten her.

"I still don't know who you are."

My semi hard dick is still buried deep inside her and I squeeze her ass, lift her up, and then adjust her hips and slip out. I smirk when a shiver wracks her body and again when she melts once I sit her on my lap sideways. Once I tuck myself away, I press her closer to me, digging my fingers possessively into her hip, and I clear my throat.

"What do you want to know?" I ask in Spanish.

Her shoulders rise. "Who are you? And I don't mean your job. Where do you come from, your parents, do you have siblings? Your age… normal stuff."

"Normal stuff. Okay." I scan the room as if it's going to provide quick responses for the mundane yet complicated nature of my past. A past I've never really openly discussed with anyone, even my parents. "I was adopted around the time I turned ten. My parents are great and—" I frown, feeling ridiculous and uncomfortable. "They're great people."

Niki searches my face with furrowed brows, and her expressive chocolate eyes shoot beams of quizzical speculation at me. "What about before you were ten?"

I shift uncomfortably and hold her closer so that she doesn't think I'm trying to pry her off of me. If anything, I want to end this conversation and bury myself balls deep inside her. Better yet, I want to fuck that pretty mouth of hers again, so she'll shut up already.

"I was in foster care from about age six."

She stares at me. "And before that?"

I let out a breath and swallow, then move my neck so that it cracks. I hope it relieves some of the tension already building. "I don't remember much."

Niki's eyes glaze over and she tucks her bottom lip in and bites down. I've never seen her like this, so vulnerable and twisted up by unknown sadness and grief. I sigh and tuck a few wild strands of her hair behind her ear, then push my thumb gently down on her chin to free her lip.

"My parents are really great people and I don't have any siblings. I grew up near D.C. and I'm twenty-eight years old, little fox."

"Foster care—"

"Was a nightmare," I interrupt. "As you can imagine."

She gives one solemn nod. "Yea, I avoided it at all costs."

"I know. You still do." I arch a brow. I've remedied that, but now isn't the time. "Anything else?"

"El cerro, my guests, what do you know?"

My brows shoot up, and I breathe back a chuckle. "El cerro is deep in my net, fox. I know enough. Regarding your guests–notenough."

I'll have to secure her airspace, at least for drones belonging to prying eyes that aren't mine. Niki touches my chin and grazes her fingertips up my jawline, past my ear, and cups the back of my head.

Her glare is hostile but not aimed at me. "You'll help me ruin him?"

I grin. "Done."

A knock at the door startles her, and she jumps off me. I stand and smooth my shirt.

"Justice?" Jasmin's worried voice calls, and Niki relaxes.

She rushes over to the door, unlocks it, and Jasmin slithers in. Her eyes scan the room nervously until her gaze locks with mine. Niki closes the door behind her.

"Detective! I… I had no idea you were the one who booked the rest of the night with Justice." She sounds relieved.

"Just Dylan, please."

"I wish I would've known it was you. Here, I thought I'd have to come up with an alibi for her."

So she too figured that no man would be able to keep their hands off my woman. I smile at the thought of the chaos that would've surged, the beating she'd instill upon being touched by another. Niki clears her throat, and I walk up to her, put my jacket over her shoulders, and wrap her in my arms. Her back is pressed against my front and I drop my chin to the top of her head. I have to hunch a bit; she's tiny in my arms.

"They were like vultures tonight. I couldn't hang back," I say.

Jasmin smiles and I get the feeling it's a rare sight. She's the most serious and guarded of the trio. Constantly wary and skeptical. She'd tear a human's eyes out in order to protect her adopted siblings, and I want to thank her for all the silent times she put her very own skin on the line for them.

She nods and reaches to grab Niki's hand. She squeezes it a few times and I watch an unspoken exchange between the pair.

Jasmin points to Niki's collar and waggles her brows. "Nice."

I don't need to look to know that my little fox rolls her eyes and I give her a squeeze.

"Thanks in advance, Detective."

"For?"

Jasmin's hand is on the doorknob, and she turns, an amused grin on her face. "The ride."

She leaves, but I'm sure she heard Niki groan at the same time I let out a booming laugh.