Freya stared out at the lights of downtown Seattle. She almost had them all memorized by now. For however long she lived, this view would be burned into her brain.

Footsteps drew her attention to the reflection of the man over her shoulder.

Jaxon.

Her chest tightened at the thought of his name. When they touched, when they kissed, it all made sense. That simmering desire she’d harbored for him for...months. A year. The two of them, together, was just a matter of time. But something was different now. At least on his side. He could say that he wanted her all he liked, but she didn’t see it reflected in his eyes unless they touched.

She wasn’t asking for love. She didn’t believe in love. But lust? Desire? Those were things she understood. They were natural. Right. And he was resisting the attraction between them for some reason.

He stopped just inside the bedroom door.

What was she going to do with him?

Part of her wanted to strangle him for being so damn stubborn. The other part of her wanted to hold him tight. The rest of her wanted to be completely and totally selfish. So much of what had happened to her these last few weeks had been bad. The stuff of nightmares. Was it wrong she wanted to wrap herself in the little bit of good she saw in him?

Jaxon took a couple of steps further into the room and stopped.

She wanted more from him, but she didn’t want to have to fight for it. Not now.

Freya shoved her feelings down deep and turned around.

At least one of them should get some sleep, and he looked almost dead.

She sidestepped him on her way to the bed but didn’t put enough distance between them. Jaxon caught her around the waist, pulling her toward him. His hand cupped her cheek. She stared up at him, holding her breath for a moment.

All it took was a touch.

His touch, to be exact.

Her body warmed from the inside out. Her nipples tightened. It became harder to breathe. Something like this should be explored.

He didn’t say anything. His brows drew down, and though he didn’t speak, she could almost read his thoughts on his face. He wasn’t immune to the chemistry between them. It affected him, too. She could feel the evidence of it against her hip.

If things had been different, she wondered how that first date might have played out. Her bet was on sweaty sheets and a whole lot of pleasure.

She knew what she wanted. Did he?

“Freya, I still want to explore this.” His gaze dropped to her lips.

“But only on your timetable, right?” She was getting awfully tired of other people setting the rules.

“No.”

She jolted at that word.

Was he serious?

No, now was not the best time to do anything of the sort, but if now was all they had, she didn’t want regrets. She wanted to know what he tasted like, what he felt like. Wouldn’t that be better than dying without having lived? She felt life in his arms.

He dipped his head, his lips brushing across hers. She sucked in a breath and leaned closer. This time he didn’t tease her. He didn’t pull away. He bent, deepening the kiss. His tongue thrust into her mouth and his hands molded her body to his. There was an urgency that hadn’t been there before that echoed what was inside of her.

If they only had now, she wanted him.

She gripped his shoulders and lifted up on tip toe, greedy for more.

Jaxon walked her back a couple of steps until her calves hit the mattress. He gathered her to him and bent her backward, lowering them both to the bed without ever breaking the kiss.

That was talent. She smiled against his mouth, her toes curling with delight.

Freya had suspected that Jaxon would be a different kind of lover.

“Tell me what you want,” he whispered against her mouth.

“You.”

“That’s a dangerous request.” He chuckled, his hand sliding up her side, fingers caressing the curve of her breast.

“I don’t care.” She arched her back, skin tingling. These were the moments she loved, when lust became a drug.

“You should.”

“How’s this?” She slid her hands down to his hips and tugged. He rocked against her, the hard length of his erection impossible to miss.

“Hm.” One corner of his lips hitched up.

God, he was sexy adorable. If that was a thing. When he smiled like that, she knew he was up to something. Jaxon had a mischievous, playful side that life hadn’t killed. She glimpsed it from time to time, but right now, it was all hers.

She lifted her head, aiming for his mouth, but her lips caressed his forehead instead.

He kissed her neck. Her chest. Every place their skin touched tingled. She closed her eyes and surrendered to the heady euphoria of it, of having this man kissing her, making love to her body.

His hands lifted the hem of her tank-top, pushing it and the built-in bra up to her collar bone. He sat up, the cool air skating over her skin. He covered her breasts with his hands, but it didn’t ease the ache.

“Put your hands here. I want to see how you touch yourself.” He grasped her wrists and placed her palms over her breasts.

Whatever she’d said—or done—to change Jaxon’s mind, hopefully she remembered how to do it again. Later. Once wasn’t going to be enough with him. Right now, she was most interested in what he was doing with his shirt.

Button by button he revealed the smooth, chiseled muscle underneath. Dark tattoos swirled over his chest and down his arms. She’d seen them in pictures, but never in person. She’d never found ink interesting before. Most of the guys she knew used it for attention. Jaxon, on the other hand, wore his. He was what captured her interest, not the colors of his skin or the pictures drawn on him.

Jaxon was different. And not just because he didn’t look the same as everyone else, it was an inner strength. Something beautiful. That was why she’d been drawn to him. He wasn’t just a hot guy at the club, he was...more. He’d walked through difficult times, worn the scars like badges of honor, and come out stronger, better for it.

She caressed her nipples, enjoying the way his cheeks sank in, his whole focus on her.

He didn’t get rid of the pants, which was mildly disappointing. They still had a few hours. She wouldn’t mind losing all sense of time and place for a while.

Jaxon bent over her, kissing her stomach, the flare of her hip. His hands stroked her sides and stomach. She loved the feel of his skin against hers. There was no hesitation in the way he touched her.

He hooked his fingers in her shorts and panties. She bit her lip and smiled, the swarm of butterflies in her stomach taking wing.

His breath on her abdomen and then lips on her mound made it hard to breathe. He kissed her everywhere, every bit of skin he exposed. His earlier hesitance hadn’t prepared her for this. She sucked in a breath when he caressed her labia, the touch gentle.

Holy. Shit.

She gasped and lifted her hips off the bed.

Clearly Jaxon didn’t need a road map to where a clitoris was—or what it was good for.

His fingers slid across her damp skin while his tongue and lips became more intimately acquainted with her.

“Oh...” She closed her eyes and cupped her breasts. In her imagination, it was his hands and not hers.

He thrust his fingers into her, stretching her. Freya flattened her hands on the bed, her eyes widening. She groaned and fisted the sheets, losing herself to the feel of a man inside of her. His fingers curled within her. His lips wrapped around the sensitive bundle of nerves, his tongue stroking her.

Freya clawed at his shoulders, but there was nothing to hold onto, except smooth, sleek muscle.

His thumb slid over her clit and something warmer, far more personal thrust into her. His tongue? Whatever it was, she wanted more of it.

“Oh—god.” She gulped down air.

Her spine came up off the mattress and she groaned.

Ripples of pleasure swept through her as Jaxon continued to stroke her body, in no hurry at all to be done. Her stomach muscles tightened more, ramping up the intensity of the orgasm. She dug her nails into Jaxon’s shoulders, muttering words that made no sense. She tightened her thighs around him, the euphoria so fierce it flirted with the edge of pain.

Jaxon’s ministrations eased, bringing her down from the high of it all by degrees.

She lay back against the mattress, gasping for air, her body humming. She should be spent, done for, but she wasn’t. No, Freya wanted to do that again. As soon as she caught her breath.

Jaxon planted his hands on the mattress and pushed up to his feet.

She peered up at him through her lashes. Her head was still buzzing, hardly a thought between her ears besides, again? Soon?

Freya might not believe in love, but the beautiful things two bodies did together? That she could appreciate.

Jaxon’s gaze locked with hers. She swallowed and pressed her thighs together. Even in the semi-darkness, she could see the hunger in his eyes. That he, too, wasn’t done yet.

He stood there, one knee between her legs, watching her. What was he waiting for?

Freya pushed up so she sat on the edge of the bed. She leaned forward, kissing his chest and grasped the waistband of his pants.

She palmed his erection with one hand and released the catch on his belt with the other, all while he watched. The man had some crazy self-discipline. She refused to believe that he didn’t feel half of what she did. He had to. It was burning her up from the inside.

Jaxon grasped her by the wrists and gently pushed her hands away. He took a step back, out of her grasp.

She huffed her frustration. Words were still too complicated.

Again, with the no? Was he serious?

She grasped the side of the bed and slid her feet under her.

Freya was going to give him a piece of her mind.

Jaxon’s pants and boxers hit the floor.

She froze.

Oh, sweet mercy...

The man was built like a god. Something to be worshiped.

She watched the bunch and flex of his muscles as he knelt and rummaged in his clothes.

He pulled something out of his pocket. A condom? It crinkled in his grasp. She held her breath, hoping that’s what it was, as he tore it open.

If he handed her a lollipop she’d cry.

He grasped his cock. She almost pumped her fist for joy. The unmistakable sound of latex stretching over skin had goose bumps breaking out on her arms and legs.

She grinned and lay back on the mattress, surrendering the last of her thoughts to this moment between them. He didn’t talk a big game, he acted. A girl could get used to that.

Jaxon hooked his arm under her right knee, bringing it up almost to her chest. It left her open, vulnerable. He leaned over her, staring into her eyes as he fit his cock against her pussy. She slid her hands up to his shoulders.

He bent his arms, his weight alone doing the work. He slid into her. She sucked down air and gripped his arms. He bent his head, kissing her cheek. At the same moment, he thrust, sinking farther into her body.

Freya groaned, her vision going fuzzy around the edges.

Holy shit. Maybe round two wasn’t such a great idea.

Jaxon hooked his arms under her shoulders, imprisoning her body with his. His hips flexed, withdrawing and thrusting. She gasped and held tight to him.

The mattress squeaked and the headboard thumped against the wall. Jaxon whispered words she couldn’t hear.

She planted her other foot on the bed and lifted, moving with him. Each thrust pushed her hips back to the mattress. She felt the him soul-deep, like an invasion of her very person.

Jaxon placed his hand at the base of her throat and pushed up, applying the barest amount of pressure. She covered his hand with hers and stared up at him. His eyes seemed to flash in the darkness, the need written in the deep lines of his face.

He thrust so hard she scooted several inches across the mattress. She cried out, feeling the joining of their bodies down to her toes. He pulled her back to him, treating her like his personal play thing.

Jaxon pressed her down into the mattress and thrust again and again, staring deep into her soul. Freya’s body went tight, the orgasm so sharp she screamed his name. Jaxon leaned down, sealing his lips over hers, muting her voice.

He rocked into her, the long groan of his orgasm lost in the rush of blood past her ears.

Holy shit.

She clutched him close to her chest, burying her face against him, doing her best to blink back tears.

She hadn’t had sex like that in...never.

Jaxon wrapped his arms around her and rolled them further onto the bed, their limbs tangling.

He cleared his throat as though to speak.

“Sh.” She laid her finger across his lips. “This is perfect.”

She couldn’t handle words right now, not after feeling that deep.

Jaxon downed the cup of coffee, doing his best to chase the grit from his eyes.

Six hours of sleep wasn’t cutting it. Probably because he’d woken up horny and alone at his apartment.

“You hear me?” Zach peered sideways at him.

“Yeah.” Jaxon cleared his throat. “You were saying, condos on the waterfront? Some number you traced from Donny’s phone?”

“Like five minutes ago. You sure you’re okay?”

“Long day, not enough sleep. Sorry.”

“Hey.” Shelby slid onto the stool next to Jaxon, Kade not far behind her. “Start without us?”

Their little quartet now took up a corner of the big, communal table. Jaxon checked his watch. Ian and Ryan were supposed to stop by, though for all he knew plans had changed.

“I’ve narrowed down the list of condos that have waterfront views. The biggest problem I’m going to run into is, rented or owned? Even then, how will we be able to know if there’s an alias, or what?” Zach scrubbed a hand over his stubble.

“One thing at a time,” Shelby said.

“Hopefully we get some better information from the phone, right?” Jaxon asked.

“Right.” Zach nodded.

“Hey.” Owen approached from the side entrance. He rapped his knuckles on the table and slid onto a stool. His badge was notably gone, and his partner was nowhere to be seen. It had to be Owen’s day off.

“Hey,” Jaxon said slowly.

“I’m here to help, I promise.” Owen held up his hands.

“What about Donny?” Jaxon drummed his fingers on the table top. If the wrong people saw or spoke with Donny, it would be Jaxon’s hide on the line.

“He’s going to get out in an hour or so unless you can give me something to hold him with.” Owen spread his hands. “I couldn’t find so much as an unpaid parking ticket in his name to hold him with.”

“No. Shit.” Jaxon grimaced.

“I did come bearing gifts.” Owen slid a piece of paper out of his pocket. “I took the name Zach got me for that rapper Michelle was dating and got a current address and phone number.”

“That’s great.” Shelby snatched the paper up.

“It’s—what? Late afternoon in Miami?” Jaxon pulled out his phone.

“I’ll call,” Shelby said. “Look, I know you’re all twisted up about this, but this guy isn’t going to tell you anything if he thinks you might be Michelle’s new hook-up.”

“What about Rusty? The FBI saying anything?” Jaxon still had a little hope the FBI might help them.

“Rusty and the FBI are two separate things right now.” Shelby grimaced. “The FBI still don’t have shit. Rusty...his access has been completely revoked, pending review.”

“Damn.” That was not what Jaxon wanted to hear.

“He’ll be fine,” Kade said.

Shelby’s mouth twisted up. She didn’t seem quite so certain as she jabbed in the digits for Michelle’s last known boyfriend.

Erik slid a plate of fries onto the table. Deep creases marred his brow.

“Hey, where’s Liv at today?” Jaxon wanted to pick Liv’s brain a little. She’d tended bars and pubs all over Europe and had a wealth of knowledge that wasn’t exactly common place. Maybe she knew more than she’d volunteered before, or perhaps he just needed to ask the right question to jog her memory.

“She needed a few days off.” Erik shrugged and glanced away.

“Everything okay?” Kade asked.

“I guess. She didn’t offer any reason why.” Erik dragged his hand across his jaw. “I’m sure it’s nothing.”

“It’s going through to voicemail.” Shelby sighed and turned away.

Jaxon stared at the light gleaming off the table top. There were too many plates spinning, and too much at stake. They had to rescue Freya, but they couldn’t before they found Michelle, and to do either Jaxon had to pretend he was okay beating people to death and working at a brothel.

Was Freya okay today? Had she gotten enough sleep? Would Yuri come to hassle her while he wasn’t there? And what about the man, Charles? They couldn’t run a background check on him without more information. So far all they knew was his first name. He might as well be a ghost.

Jaxon’s phone lit up and he groaned.

What did Thomas want now?

Jaxon frowned and picked up the phone. He slid off the stool and walked a few feet away before answering.

“Yeah?” He glanced over his shoulder at the others, their conversation trailing off in favor of watching him.

“Hey. You got a minute?” Thomas’ voice was strained and the sound of the club thumped in the background.

“Sure. What do you need?”

“I need you to make a house call. I’ll text you Keith’s address. Swing by and see if he’s home. Second day he’s a no show.”

“I’m on it.”

Jaxon ended the call, took a few steps back to the table and swiped his keys off the edge.

“Something up?” Owen asked.

“Yeah, one of the guys at the club hasn’t shown up for work in two days. I’m going to go make a wellness visit.”

“I’ll go with you,” Owen said.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea?”

“You’ve already made me part of this. I can’t let you go by yourself. Zach has to keep working on leads. Kade and Shelby are familiar to Yuri.” Owen stood. “Let’s take my car. Just in case.

“You’re sure about this?” Jaxon couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. “This whole thing could blow up in our faces.”

“I can’t let you go alone. None of us would. You’re lucky the others aren’t here, or it’d be all of us going.” Owen slid into his jacket. “Let Ian and Ryan know what we’re doing, and we’ll touch base later.”

Jaxon followed Owen out of Trinity Hall and to the curb where Owen’s Charger was parked. Thomas had already sent the address over, so all Jaxon had to do was start the GPS once they were in the car.

“I’m just going to say this, so we’re both on the same page, but there’s a chance Donny and this guy we’re going to check on were working together.” Owen cranked the wheel and merged into traffic.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m afraid of.” Jaxon sighed. “Still, if they are, it’s not like they will want to run back to Yuri and tell them I didn’t do my job. Donny would want to get out of his reach, first.”

“How does this all end?” Owen asked.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, are you guys going to run in there like vigilantes again? Kade could have died.” Owen glanced at Jaxon, his blue eyes piercing deep.

“I hope not, man, but I don’t know.”

“Yeah, well, I’m not going to keep quiet about this for long.”

“I don’t expect you to. Honestly, if we find Michelle or not, I’m probably taking Freya out of there tonight or something. I can’t leave her in that place.” Jaxon feared for Freya every second they were apart. She’d become his obsession.

What would have happened if he weren’t there last night? What would that creep have done to her then? What if Charles came before Jaxon started work?

He wouldn’t be able to live with himself if she were hurt.

“How have you been lately?” Owen asked.

“Me?”

“Yeah.”

“Fine.”

“Just making conversation.” Owen shrugged.

Jaxon shifted in his seat. With his history, he’d expected Owen to keep an eye on him, give him the rough treatment, heap on the suspicion, and yet...Owen hadn’t. He’d even stood up for Jaxon more than a few times.

“I don’t know if I ever said it, but thanks for what you said. Back then. On that morning show.” Jaxon stared at the dashboard.

“I just said the truth. You can’t be guilty of something, just by knowing the people committing the crime.”

“It was more than that...”

“Maybe it was. Maybe it wasn’t. You were—what? Sixteen?”

“Seventeen.”

“You were a kid. Things couldn’t have been easy for you. You made a mistake. You realized it and you made it right. That’s what matters, Jax. You’re a good guy. No, I’m serious.” Owen shook his head. “Working homicide... I see a lot of bad people. Intentional and accidental. You aren’t that way. You shouldn’t have to keep paying for an accident. You still thinking about going back to fighting?”

“Not so much anymore.” Jaxon glanced out of the window. No one knew the truth. Because he’d worried that telling the others, anyone, would just set him up for failure. But now Freya knew. So did Yuri. Shouldn’t his friends?

“I’m going back to school.” Jaxon turned his head, watching Owen’s face.

His jaw went slack, brows rose and he glanced at Jaxon.

“Really?” Owen asked.

“Yeah.” Jaxon grimaced. Awesome. Owen didn’t think he could do it.

“That’s great. When?”

“I’m about to pass the summer semester.”

“When have you been going to class?”

“They’re early in the morning and online.”

“Does Andre know?”

“Not yet. I...didn’t want to say anything yet.” Maybe Jaxon should have told his cousin first, but Owen was here. And Jaxon needed a test run before he told his cousin about what he wanted to do.

“I won’t say a word. That’s really cool. What are you studying, may I ask?”

Jaxon and Owen talked school, his schedule, the hoops Jaxon jumped through to keep himself on track. It was actually nice talking to someone about it. Maybe his plan wasn’t as crazy as it sounded in his head.

By the time they pulled up to Keith’s address, Jaxon had taken a couple of notes based on Owen’s suggestion for scholarships. He’d known they were out there, but hadn’t looked into them yet.

“I thought this was supposed to be an apartment.” Owen stood on the sidewalk and they both stared at a brownstone.

“He couldn’t afford this place on what we make.”

“Maybe there’s an apartment in the basement or upstairs?” Owen glanced at Jaxon’s phone again. “Yeah, see? B. I’m guessing that’s a basement apartment. Let’s check around back for an entrance.”

They circled the condos to the back alley. The mini-yards were sectioned off with tall privacy fences. Each condo had a two-car garage. And a few had sectioned off basement entrances.

Jaxon didn’t dare get his hopes up until they reached the condo Keith lived in. Sure enough, flowers lined a little path to a basement entrance.

“Here, this is it. No cars.” Owen glanced up and down the street.

Jaxon approached the basement door and knelt, peering in through the glass panes.

“Inside’s dark.” Jaxon descended the stairs and cupped his hands around his face. “No lights on inside. I don’t see anyone.”

“Guess your guy’s not at home,” Owen said.

Jaxon turned the doorknob and frowned when it twisted easily. He pushed the door in, listening for voices, movement, anything.

“Shit,” Owen muttered behind him.

“Stay here.”

“Jax—”

“You’re a cop. You have rules. I’m just here to check on a friend.”

If one of them was going to get in trouble, it shouldn’t be Owen.

Jaxon stepped over the threshold and paused. Still nothing. If Keith was inside, he’d likely already heard them talking. Either Keith was bolting, hiding, or he’d jump Jax when he got too close.

The room wasn’t right.

There wasn’t much in the way of personal effects in the space. The living room had a recliner, some cinderblocks set up as an entertainment center. The game systems were gone, as evidenced by the cords sticking out here and there, but the large TV was there.

Keith had priorities.

Either he was hiding out somewhere, or he’d sold them to fund his run.

Jaxon glanced into the kitchen, but it was smaller than his. Nowhere to hide, nothing to see.

He prowled down the hall, pausing to check the closet, bathroom and single bedroom.

They were, for the most part, like the living room.

Nothing personal, besides some bed sheets and a couple towels. No clothes, mementos, crap he’d bring home from wherever he was. Not so much as a receipt or spare change lying around.

Keith was gone, but why? Was he connected to Donny? Or just trying to get out of Dodge while he still could?

“Jax?” Owen called out.

“He’s gone. Place is empty. Might have some luck tracking the game consoles.” Jaxon had heard of several people getting busted that way. He returned to the door, pausing to survey the living room.

He hoped Keith was merely looking out for his own skin. If not, this could come back to bite Jaxon on the ass.