“Lorenzo is quite the snake, isn’t he? Slithering underground and hiding until he thinks the danger has passed.” Benny walked beside me toward the car.

“He knows he’s dead. It’s only a matter of time. Every hit man within a hundred-mile radius will be after Lorenzo now.”

“Are you sure going to Carrie’s at this time of night is such a good idea? She’s more likely to shoot us than Lorenzo is.”

I had to laugh at that comment. Not because Benny was wrong, but because he was right on the mark. Carrie wasn’t the innocent little angel the rest of the family thought she was. Our father acted as though she were fragile and would break in two. He put her up on a pedestal and kept her away from anything that could harm her. Or, I should say, he tried to—she wouldn’t have it, though. On the surface, she let him believe he had all the control. In reality, she was a force to be reckoned with, and word had spread about those who learned that lesson the hard way.

“My sister better not shoot me. That would absolutely ruin my night.”

I had plans to spend quality time with Jillian. I hadn’t seen her in five days, and I’d reached my limit of waiting. The few texts we’d exchanged weren’t nearly enough to satisfy the need for her burning deep inside me. She resisted my attempts to get her to sext with me. She flat out denied my request to send naked pictures of herself. When I suggested we chat by video, so I could watch her satisfy herself, she said she’d turn her phone off if I even tried it.

She was slipping away from me. Minute by minute. Hour by hour. Day by day. I was losing her.

Even more so than when we spent three months apart.

I had to convince her we were good together, that we were meant to be together.

Outside Carrie’s house, I slipped through the yard, around the house, and stopped outside Jillian’s window. With my luck of late, Carrie’s alarm system would already be armed, sounding the bells and whistles the second I tapped on the window.

“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” My eyes were blinded by a bright flashlight, held by my sister. “Do you know how close you just came to having your head blown off?”

“I’m here to see Jillian.”

“Does my front door not work?” She dropped the light from my eyes, leaving huge black spots dancing in my vision. I could make out the silhouette of her bent arm with her hand on her hip and her head cocked to the side. It didn’t take any imagination to know she wore an annoyed expression on her face.

“Carrie,” I started, my voice lowered and my tone sincere. “I can’t lose her. Not again.”

“I’m not sure that decision is up to you, big brother. But I won’t stand in the way of your attempts to win her over. If she says you have to leave, don’t you dare argue with her, though. She’s a guest in my home, and you won’t make her feel unsafe here.”

“I wouldn’t do that. One major fuck-up is more than enough. All I want now is to show her how much I love her.”

“You really do love her. Don’t you, Damon?”

I nodded. “I do. More than you can imagine.”

“All right. I’ll try to put a good word in for you now and then when the opportunity arises. Don’t hurt her again, or you’ll deal with me long before Mama or Daddy can reach you. She’s pregnant with my niece or nephew, and I plan on being the favorite aunt for a very long time.”

I smiled, appreciating how protective my sister was of Jillian. “She’s pregnant with my daughter or son, Carrie. I plan on being the best father and husband for the rest of my life.”

With my vision cleared after the earlier blinding from her flashlight, I saw her face soften. “Go win back your baby mama, Romeo. Just try not to scare the shit out of her by crawling through her window unannounced.”

“Does that mean I can follow you through the front door unannounced?”

“Come on,” she called over her shoulder and shook her head.

I hustled to cover the ground between us and walked through the front door. She pointed down the hall toward one of the guest bedrooms then left me to work out my new plan on my own. To earn Jillian’s trust again, I thought the straightforward approach would be the best.

I didn’t just happen to be in the neighborhood…an hour away from my apartment.

I didn’t have an obscure reason for visiting my sister.

I didn’t have anything of hers I needed to drop off.

The simple truth was I missed her, and I wanted to see her again.

When I reached her closed door, I rapped on it lightly with my knuckles a couple of times. Then I heard her sweet voice call out.

“Come on in.”

With the door slowly swinging open, I leaned against the frame and waited for her to come into my line of sight. She sat on the bed in a spaghetti strap camisole top and pajama shorts. She was propped up on pillows against the headboard and held a New Mother magazine in her hands. Surprise lit her face for a moment since she was clearly expecting Carrie to be on the other side of the door rather than me. Then a small smirk replaced the shock, and I knew she’d expected me to show up sooner or later.

“Hello, doll.”

“Hi, Damon. Let me guess—you were in the neighborhood and thought you’d drop by to say hello.”

I shook my head, keeping our gazes locked. “Nope. I’ve missed you and wanted to see you. So I drove all the way out here solely for you.”

She tilted her head to the side, surprised at my honesty—and maybe also a little pleased with it. “Really? Did you have any other plans once you saw me?”

“Not really. Although now that I’m here, I could easily come up with one or two things. You just say the word. Give me a nod. A wink. Fuck, I’d even take an eye twitch right about now.”

My stab at self-deprecating humor at least earned a genuine laugh from Jillian. With a smile that brightened her face in place, she stared at me thoughtfully for several heartbeats. “Who is this handsome devil standing in front of me, and where is my cocky devil hiding?”

“Your cocky devil is pushing against the teeth of my zipper, waiting for you to find your way back to him. Your handsome devil is the same man he’s always been—all yours, doll.”

Her face flushed, the pink tinge giving way to full-out red, but she didn’t look away. There was a new boldness behind her stare. A new confidence I hadn’t seen before. It was sexy as hell on her.

“You have me at a disadvantage, Damon.”

“How’s that?”

“You know your dirty mouth has always turned me on. But it seems my pregnancy hormones have amplified my libido…especially where you and your mouth are concerned.”

If the flames soaring through my veins escaped, the entire fucking room would incinerate.

“I’ve told you, and shown you, many times—my mouth is more than willing to do whatever your body needs. My tongue is all yours, and it fucking loves how you taste. My cock is as hard as steel right now, ready to relieve your body of every orgasm it has pent-up inside. Twitch your eye in my direction, doll. That’s all it’ll take.”

The ball was in her court, and the decision was entirely hers to make.

“I’m not saying yes, but you have no idea how much I want your tongue between my legs right now.”

I stepped into the room and closed the door behind me.

“Believe me, doll. If it’s even a fraction of how much I want my tongue between your legs right now, it’s a hell of a fucking lot.”

“Only your tongue? You don’t want anything else?”

“I want what you want. If that’s all you’re game for tonight, it won’t hurt my feelings at all.”

“But what about you? I’d feel like I left you hanging.”

“I’ll be fine, doll. Don’t worry about me. Just let me take care of your needs. As long as you’re satisfied, I’ll be satisfied.”

She laid the magazine on the bedside table, the heat flashed in her eyes, and her tongue darted out, wetting her lips. She wanted me, no doubt, but she wouldn’t get me or my tongue until she spoke the words. In no way was I a patient man, except when it came to meeting her needs. For that, I’d wait all fucking night.

With my back against the door, I crossed my arms over my chest and waited. Her brows furrowed in confusion for a second, a hint of doubt appeared in her eyes, then understanding took over. I lifted one brow slightly, letting her decide how she’d answer the question on her own.

“Damon, I need you to come over here and give me a tongue lashing.” She stood, pulled her camisole tank top over her head and let it drop to the floor at her feet. Then she slid the shorts down her legs, never averting her gaze from mine.

I crossed the room in two strides, my dick pushing so hard against my zipper I was sure it left an imprint of the metal teeth. She stood before me again in her au naturel beauty, a sight I hadn’t been able to fully appreciate in way too fucking long. She wanted a tongue-lashing. My tongue was ready to worship every inch of her.

I watched without breathing as she lifted my hand and placed it on her breast. When our eyes met again, she whispered to me. “Touch me, Damon. I’ve missed you. So much more than I even realized.”

If she wanted my touch, I was more than happy to oblige her. I lifted my other hand to her exposed breast, covering it before massaging them both. Vigorously. Every pass of my fingers across her skin became more forceful out of sheer desire. The rougher I became, the more she leaned into me, asking for more My thumb and forefinger circled one of her nipples before squeezing with a slight twist. A seductive moan as her back arched, pushing her breast farther into my hand, had me nearly busting out of my pants.

I dipped my head and covered the other nipple with my mouth, pulling it between my teeth while teasing it with my tongue. The taste of her skin was intoxicating and addictive. Every hit created an intense need for my next fix. Working my way up her body, I licked and sucked on the soft skin of her neck. Her muscles relaxed under my touch, her body melding into mine when I wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

With a mind of its own and knowing exactly what to do, my other hand slid down her body, my fingers grazing the supple skin of her side and stomach before reaching her heated core. I skimmed my fingertip along her slit, barely touching her but setting off fireworks inside her just the same. She curled her fingers into my shirt, her nails scraping against my skin through the fabric as she gripped tightly. She widened her stance, a not so subtle hint that she wanted more.

“Tell me what you want, Jillian. I want to hear you say the words.” My lips hovered over the shell of her ear. The low murmurs sent goose bumps across her skin, and her nails dug deeper into my skin.

“I want your fingers inside me, Damon. Don’t stop.” Her ragged breaths and hooded eyes were sexy as fuck, but hearing her admit what she wanted thoroughly lit my fuse.

“I thought you’d never ask.”

With one swift thrust, I buried two fingers deep inside her pussy. Her wetness coated my hand and nearly brought me to my knees. She never could hide her reactions to me, how much she wanted me, and knowing that only made me want her more. The thought of dropping to my knees held a definite appeal.

She watched me slide down her body. As I knelt in front of her, we kept our eyes locked. The anticipation of what was to come and the thrill of keeping a heated promise spurred me on. Her bottom lip was pulled between her teeth, her lips were slightly parted, and her eyes burned with desire.

“Fuck, Jillian, I can’t wait to taste you again.” I leaned closer and flicked my tongue against her clit. Just for a second. Just enough to tease her and build the excitement.

But she had other plans.

Her fingers dug into my scalp, gripping my hair with a new ferocity I’d never seen in her. She jerked my head against her pussy, shameless and eager.

“I said, don’t stop.”

“Yes, you did. Just remember you asked for this.”

In one abrupt move, I turned her back to the bed and hoisted her onto it with my free arm. My fingers still pumped in and out of her as I ground the pad of my thumb into her sensitive clit. Her moans filled the room, my fingers filled her pussy, and then my mouth devoured her clit. Like a starving man, I couldn’t get enough. I tried to start out being easy, circling and sucking on her clit to make her crazy for me.

But I was the one who turned into a madman.

One taste wasn’t enough. Gentle was never our thing. Waiting was for other people who had more time. While continuing the barrage with my fingers, I added a full-fledged assault with my tongue. Up. Down. Inside. Around. Side to side. Every fucking orgasm she possessed was mine, and I was hell-bent to claim them. Every scratch of her nails, every squeeze of her thighs, and every scream that echoed off the walls was worth it. By the time I finished with her, she was reduced to a quivering pile of beautiful skin…with a gorgeous, thoroughly satisfied expression.

“Will that hold you over until next time, doll?”

“Mmm.” As she moved into a full-body stretch, a huge smile split her face in two. “That felt so good, Damon. All my stress just disappeared. Now I’m a useless mess, can’t feel a single bone in my body.”

“Don’t worry, doll. Next time, you’ll feel a bone all right. You’ll feel a very hard bone all night. Don’t you doubt it for a second.”

While she lay sprawled out on the bed, high on our own ecstasy, I covered her body with mine and purposely slid the bulge in my pants across her extra-sensitive clit. Her eyes flew open, and her breath halted as she waited for my next move. So, I dipped my head and captured a sensual kiss.

“Are you ready to come stay with me now? You can have this every night.”

“Aw, Damon, I think it’s so sweet that you’re trying so hard. I thought you understood after the last time we were together, though. I’m only using you for sex. If you’re uncomfortable with that, I completely understand. Just tell me, and I’ll find someone else who’s okay with it.”

“I’m not uncomfortable with it at all. You can still use me for sex while living with me. In fact, you’re welcome to use me for a good fucking every day of the week. But if you’re looking for some strange maybe I should too.”

I knew she was trying to bust my balls. She wasn’t as slick as she liked to think. She expected a very different reaction out of me—like a possessive, caveman, flying off the handle, ranting madman—and under normal circumstances, that was exactly what she would’ve seen out of me. Her crestfallen expression when I turned her own game against her instead was almost comical. But I had to fight fire with fire, make her work as hard to stay away from me as I worked to get to her back. I hated the verbal seesaw, back and forth without any real resolution, but she still wasn’t ready to tap out, and I was nowhere near ready to throw in the towel.

We were two of a kind, whether she’d admit it or not.

“You had three months without me. I’m sure you had your fair share of strange anyway.”

“I don’t usually kiss and tell, doll. But I seem to break a lot of rules for you.” I paused, intentionally, and she perked up, suddenly very interested in what I had to say. “There hasn’t been anyone else for me since the day I met you. You didn’t take my warning to heart. I told you quite a while ago, if you stayed, you and I were in this forever.”

“How can you be such an asshole one minute, and so sweet and romantic the next?”

“I’m just talented that way, I guess. Tell me, would you rather I just give up on you? Leave you alone so you can get on with your life without me?”

“Do you really want to know the answer to that?” A hint of her bluster was in her tone, testing me again.

“Yes, I do. An honest one.”

“I don’t know, Damon. I honestly don’t know what I want anymore. Every time I think I’ve figured it out and made a decision, I get lost inside my head and doubt myself again.”

“Get out of your head and follow your heart. It knows what to do, whether that brings you to me or not.” I lowered my face to hers. “Good night, doll,” I murmured against her lips. Then I poured all my love into my kiss, letting her feel everything I felt.

“Good night, Damon.”

Minutes later, I slid into the car where Benny was waiting. I glanced over at him and raised my eyebrows. “Everything go okay?”

“Yeah. It was just like you said it’d be. Carrie was in a hurry to see who was sneaking around her house, so she didn’t lock her computer before she stepped away from it. I installed the keystroke logger program without a hitch, and I saved it in a system folder she wouldn’t naturally think to look in. And I’ve already confirmed we have remote access into her servers, so we can access any computer she has on her network. The programs are hidden, but we just have to hope she doesn’t run a full system scan and accidentally find them.”

“I don’t think she’ll give them a second glance even if she does find them. Not with the way we named them. They just look like regular system files. I know those two are up to something. Carrie was too adamant for Jillian to stay with her for them not to be. We just have to figure out what.”