Dex had saved my life again.

I couldn’t bring myself to continue to be a bitch when he’d just pumped the water from my lungs so I allowed myself to relax, at least for the night.

To be fair, I really had been super tired.

I mean, yeah, I guess I never really paid much attention to the warnings about falling asleep in a bathtub but I would from now on.

Dex, ever full of surprises that man, was pretty good on the grill.

“Why do you eat those disgusting prepackaged meals when you can do this?” I asked, savoring a mouthful of grilled chicken that practically melted in my mouth. “Good God, this is delicious.”

He smiled, accepting the gushing compliment with only a hint of bashfulness, which I found incredibly hot. “Well, when you’re a life-long bachelor, you have to learn a few things or you’ll starve.”

I wasn’t much of a chef in the kitchen but I knew how to make a few staples. Most times I just ate fresh fruits and vegetables.

Actually, I was a terrible eater. I tried to eat healthy — I prided myself on avoiding processed foods and soda — but I was not so great about eating regularly.

Sometimes I ate chocolate and a can of mixed nuts all day because I was too busy to find something better.

Not that I had a great role model. My mom hadn’t really cared about such mundane matters as her daughter’s health and well-being.

“Caroline Burke,” I murmured, mostly to myself. “The name means nothing to me. Where do I come from, if not New York?”

“That’s what we’ll find out.”

“How many safe houses do you have?” I asked, curious. “One in every state?”

He shook his head and wiped his mouth. “Not quite but enough. Real estate is a good investment.”

“Yeah, if you’re planning to rent it out, not rig it to blow if it’s been compromised,” I reminded him wryly. “You just blew up your last house and there’s no coming back from that decision.”

He shrugged. “It hadn’t cost me much.”

“Are you rich?” I asked point-blank. He had to be, right? I assumed murder was a big money game.

“I won’t starve anytime soon.”

“Are we talking Rockefeller or Survivor winner after taxes type of money?”

“I’ve never watched Survivor so...”

“The winner gets a million but after taxes I assume it’s probably half of that.”

“Is there somewhere in between?” he joked.

I laughed, enjoying how the skin crinkled around the corners of his eyes when he relaxed enough to actually smile.

“Okay, so you’re padded well for retirement,” I assumed and he nodded. “Next question...how does a killer retire? I mean, doesn’t the very nature of the profession put you at risk if you try to get out of the game? I’ve seen quite a few movies where that’s been the case.”

“Real life is rarely like the movies.”

“I know that,” I sniffed, feeling naive. “But still...it’s not like a regular retirement where you get a pension and a gold watch for your service.”

“True.”

“So...back to my original question, how do you retire?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t retired yet.”

“Do you want to retire anytime soon?”

“Not really.”

It was an honest answer. Not sure if I’d been hoping for something different. Maybe something along the lines of, “Since meeting you, I’ve decided to give up my evil ways and become a family man” but I certainly hadn’t wanted to hear that he had no plans to give it up in the near future.

“Don’t you worry about karma kicking you in the ass at some point?”

“I don’t believe in karma.”

“Well, you should.”

“And why is that?”

Because there had to be something that had the power to make him realize the error of his ways. Yeah, couldn’t say that and expect him to remain straight-faced. I floundered. “I don’t know. Because you shouldn’t enjoy killing people for money?”

“Who said I enjoyed it?”

I looked up. “You don’t?”

“I doubt the farmer enjoys slaughtering the cow but the job has to be done so people can eat. Some people are more suited to doing the dirty work than others.”

“People are not cows and that statement makes me want to become a vegetarian.” He glanced pointedly at my near-empty plate and I had to admit, giving up meat might be a stretch. “All I’m saying is, what you do is cruel and I hardly think it’s a necessary evil to sustain the human race.”

All brevity faded from his expression and I knew I’d pushed too hard. He rose and cleared his and my spot, going to the sink to start washing the dishes.

Way to go, Bree. I seemed to have a knack for sticking my foot squarely in my mouth.

“I’m sorry,” I said, joining him at the sink. “I shouldn’t judge. I just can’t quite help myself. I don’t understand how you could willingly kill people for money.”

“Like I said, some people can stomach a job others couldn’t.”

“Are they all bad people?” I asked, hoping for something I could grab onto. “I mean, like, are you killing people who have done terrible things to other people and are being punished for their crimes?”

“I’m not a vigilante,” he said. “Don’t make me into a hero that I’m not.”

Frustrated, I said, “Can you please tell me something nice about yourself so I can, at least, sleep beside you tonight and not worry myself to death over the fact that I’m potentially sleeping next to a psychopath?”

Dex cast a sidewise glance toward me that caused shivers to dance down my spine. “Baby girl, I’ve never pretended to be a good man but I can promise you this, no harm will ever come to you by my hand. Do you understand?”

All the spit dried in my mouth at his declaration.

It was the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to me.

Even if it was fucked-up as all hell.

“Promise?” I breathed, my mouth opening ever so slightly as my tongue darted to wet my bottom lip.

Dex gripped my chin lightly with damp fingers. “And hope to die,” he murmured before sealing his mouth to mine in a searing kiss that made me forget all the reasons why I said I wasn’t going to sleep with him again.

I melted quickly as he held me tight, his tongue dancing on mine, teasing, demanding.

I would never, in a million lifetimes, forget the feel of being at Dex’s mercy.

How sensual his touch.

How carnal his desire.

How utterly consuming.

This was why people throughout history tanked careers, ruined lives, took risks just to immerse themselves in this kind of primal joy.

Dex created more than sparks of lust — he ignited forest fires.

And there was no fighting a blaze that hot, that hungry.

How could I be expected to win against a man who knew every play, every move designed to defeat any defense I might’ve had?

The simple answer — I couldn’t.

My own body betrayed me as I panted, kicking off my jeans, shimmying out of my panties.

My pelvis ached with the need to feel Dex inside me.

Within seconds, Dex’s cock was out, hard and rigid, and I was bent over the counter.

But as I anticipated that breach, that delicious invasion...I was shocked by Dex parting my cheeks, rubbing at my starfish.

I yelped in protest, embarrassed, but Dex had that feral look in his eyes that both terrified and turned me on.

“I want to taste every part of you,” he said, his finger sliding between my folds, slicking my tender skin with my own juices.

Dex knew just how to work me, to get me to agree to anything. I was a twisting, yowling cat in heat in minutes, begging him to do whatever he wanted with me.

He parted me again and this time, his tongue circled and teased the inner ring of my behind and I nearly buckled.

His tongue penetrated my ass as his fingers gripped both cheeks, squeezing as if he couldn’t get enough.

The pleasure outweighed the embarrassed heat climbing my neck. As with all things sexual, Dex knew exactly how to keep me on my toes, almost willingly spreading myself further to feel his tongue burrowing more deeply inside me.

The wild sensations teasing my nerve endings made my clit ache with the need for release but Dex wasn’t finished with me yet.

I begged.

I cried.

I gasped, clutching at the countertop as he fingered my ass, pushing a digit further in, testing how tight I was.

Bending over me, his body covering mine, he whispered in my ear, “I promise you, one of these days I will stick a pretty little plug in your ass and then fuck you until you cry, baby girl.”

I shuddered. Yesssss....it was hedonistic and dirty and wildly arousing. “Yes, please,” I managed to cry as he withdrew his finger. “Oh God, just fuck me, Dex.”

Dex’s strained chuckle told me volumes.

He played a good game but deep inside, I was under his skin.

I managed to glance over my shoulder, meeting his hot gaze. “Fuck me, Dex,” I begged prettily and he nearly lost it right there.

He fumbled trying to get his cock inside me, the only concession to his raging need.

I closed my eyes with pleasure as he spread me apart, sinking his cock deep inside.

I was already too close to release. I could feel it building quickly.

Dex was like a wild man, possessed.

He gripped my hips hard as he fucked me, harsh and brutal.

God, how I loved it!

There was something so raw about the way Dex couldn’t control himself with me.

It was the one time I caught a glimpse into the true Dex — the one he hid from everyone, including himself.

When he was buried balls deep inside me, he was simply Dex, the man.

Not Dex, the killer.

“Yesss, Dex,” I cried, losing myself, stiffening as my orgasm threatened to cause a black-out. “God, yesssss....”

I choked on another cry as I came, every muscle clenching in unison as time lost all sense of reason. Wondrous pleasure cascaded all around me as I dimly became aware of Dex shouting his release seconds later.

Breathing hard, we both remained in that position — me bent over the counter, Dex bent over me — for a long moment until I realized with a moan, we’d fucking forgot to use a condom again.

“Oh no, Dex!” I said, shifting to move him off of me but he wasn’t budging. Instead, when he rose, he took me with him. I was still impaled on his cock but I was standing flush against his hard chest.

“I wanted to cum inside you,” he whispered against the shell of my ear.

I startled but couldn’t deny the warmth tingling in my belly. “Why?”

“Because you belong to me, baby girl. Time to stop dancing around the inevitable.”

Dex slowly withdrew and spun me around. He reached down to cup my damp mound. “This right here is mine,” he told me, his gaze hard and soft at the same time. “And I’m marking what belongs to me.”

God, that was messed up.

And fucking hot.

At first all I could do was nod.

I mean, who wouldn’t turn into a simpering idiot if a mega sexy guy just told you that you belonged to him?

In my current frame of mind I’d willingly sign on any dotted line to be his sex slave for the rest of my life.

But eventually, some sense jogged my brain and I managed to quip saucily, “Well, if I get pregnant, you’re paying child support. I can promise you that!”

And then, because that was the extent of my bravado, I grabbed my clothes and practically ran to the bedroom, knowing full well he would follow but I needed a minute to catch my breath.

Once was an oops.

Twice was a flagrant disregard for consequence.

Was Dex trying to knock me up?

And if so...why didn’t that freak me out more than it did?

Questions, questions...

And no time for answers.

Just as I knew he would, Dex followed.

Already priming for round two.

I fell onto the bed and he was on me before I managed to take a breath.

“Jesus Dex,” I groaned as he sucked my tender clit, already ready to cum. “What are you doing to me?”

“Anything and everything,” he answered against my skin, his tongue flicking and circling like the predator I knew he was.

I succumbed instantly, losing myself and the will to fight in one breath.

Whatever Dex wanted, I would give him.

Goodbye, dignity.

Sayonara, good sense.

See ya, logic and reason.

Hello, motherhood?