Cynthia gulped down the bottle of water and fanned herself. The air conditioner in the SUV had yet to cool down the heat on her skin. Sweat dripped down her spine, sucked into the waistband of her khakis. She yanked on the front of her T-shirt, blowing air into her breasts.
“I can help you out with that, if you need,” Brock offered, his gaze caressing her breasts.
She laughed. “What, are you taking lessons from Ramirez on what not to say to women?”
He chuckled with a shake of his head, his eyes on the road. “Point for you.”
They reached the warehouse in no time. Cyn glanced around the deserted building. Her only thoughts that if Luis was in there, Roxy might be too.
Brock ran. He entered through the side of the building, forcing a door open and peering into the darkened corners. The sun had started to go down.
“Come on.” He hurried down an aisle of empty shelving, his footsteps resounding on the concrete.
She followed closely behind Brock, nerves growing tense with each turn they took. Then he stopped, slowly making his way to a corner so dark she squinted to try to make anything out.
“What is it?” she asked, her voice trembling with concern.
“Luis,” Brock answered, lowering to reach into the corner.
Metal snapped, and then he was lifting the teen boy in his arms.
“Oh my God!”
Dark-red patches of blood coated Luis’s body. His torn T-shirt had gone from what she assumed was gray, to burgundy and clung to him. Bruises and cuts marred his face and arms. There was dirt and blood matting his dark hair to the side of his face. She couldn’t tell if he had any active wounds or if it was from before.
“He’s not bleeding anymore, but he’s got severe trauma. He needs a hospital.” Brock rushed out of the warehouse and put the kid in the back of the SUV, his limp body draped on the seat.
“Who do you think did this?” Cyn asked, now wondering if her cousin had suffered a similar fate.
Brock growled. His fingers jammed the key into the ignition, care all but forgotten. “I don’t know, but I bet Josh Landley knows.”
They rushed Luis to the local hospital, weaving through the light traffic to get the boy some help. Once he was in the hands of the emergency doctors, Cynthia turned to Brock. “That boy was left to die.”
Brock stared in her eyes and pulled her in for a hug, tight to his chest. “I know, darlin’. He won’t die.”
They waited until a doctor came out to speak to them.
“How’s he doing?” Brock asked.
Cyn heard the concern in his voice. The kid had been beaten severely. With anger and probably with the hope he wouldn’t be found alive. Outrage over someone hurting that boy pressed at her already enraged mind. What if Roxy had been killed? Would anyone know? So far Josh Landley had given information on Luis, but that didn’t mean he knew where her cousin was. If he had, Brock would’ve gotten the information.
Such a young girl. Missing. Life could be so unfair.
“He’s got head trauma. We’ve given him pain medication. He probably won’t wake up until tomorrow, though.” The doctor shook his head and shoved his hands in his scrubs. “He’s lucky. If you two hadn’t found him, I’m not sure how badly things would have gotten. Head injuries can be deadly if left untreated.”
“Thank you, doctor.” Cynthia shook his hand and gave him her card. “Please call me if he wakes. We need to know who did this to him.”
The doctor nodded, shoving her card into his pocket, his hands lingered in them. “I’ll have the staff watching him, and we’ll call you if anything changes.”
They returned to the SUV with purpose. “We need to speak to the police. And to Josh Landley.”
Brock’s eyes glowed with his beast, the lines of his face tight. Feral “We’re going to find your cousin, love,” he assured her. “You can count on it.”
When they reached the Landley house, they noticed Josh’s car was missing. “Shit.”
It was useless. None of the Landleys were home. The housekeeper didn’t know where they were either.
Brock drove them to the local police station. A young deputy stood behind a counter. He played with his cell phone, his gaze snapping up to attention at the sound of their footsteps.
“You’re back,” he said, staring at Brock with curious brown eyes.
“I am. We need to speak to the sheriff.” Brock’s tone demanded immediate attention to an urgent situation.
The deputy’s eyes bugged out. “What’s wrong?”
“We found Luis Gomez bound and beaten in an abandoned warehouse.” Cyn fumed. “He should do something about it.” She watched the boy turn to her, anxiety filling his eyes. “Or I will.”
“Ma’am, the Sheriff isn’t here right now—”
“So call him!”
The deputy shook his head. “I can’t. His radio is off. He doesn’t take calls after six pm. He says it’s his family time.”
“Well then.” Cyn turned to Brock. “Let’s go pay him a visit.”
Brock grinned. “I like how you think.”
“Wait,” the deputy called out when they turned to the main entrance. “You can’t just go to his house. He’ll have you arrested. He doesn’t let anyone in his house.”
Brock laughed, his eyes glinted of his beast. “He can try. In fact, I hope he does.”
Sheriff Kemp and his family lived near the Landleys. Their home had a pretty picket fence, a bed of pink tulips and a fountain in the center of their front yard along with a really wide driveway. Brock put the SUV in park when Amy Kemp rolled into the driveway next to them in her convertible.
“Cynthia?” She frowned, her lips pursed into a pout as she glanced back and forth between Cyn and Brock. “Can I help you?”
Cyn blinked. Amy had definitely been out having fun. She wore a skimpy mini dress that showed off her legs. The bust was low enough to show a generous amount of her breasts.
“Hi, Amy. Sorry to come all the way to your home, but we need to speak to Sheriff Kemp.”
“I’m sorry you came all the way out here so late.” Amy’s voice lowered to a seductive tone, her gaze stuck on Brock. “My husband is out with some friends and won’t be back until later. In fact, this is our solo night.” She grinned at Brock. “We do whatever we want and stay out as long as we want.”
Cyn was two seconds from smacking the other woman into some decency, followed by kicking her ass into common sense. Two seconds. “Thanks, Amy. And you wouldn’t know where we can find him?”
She shook her head. “No, he does his thing.” She licked her lips. “And I do mine.”
Well, that was informative in ways she didn’t need it to be. “Okay then. Sorry to have disturbed you, Amy.”
Brock got into the SUV, waving at Amy. “Thanks for your time.”
“Just call if you need anything else.” Amy winked.
“Let’s go before I slap some respect into that woman,” Cyn growled.
“We should go to your place. You look exhausted.” Brock backed up past Amy’s convertible. A U-turn and they were on the road.
“Yeah.” She sighed. “I’m getting hungry too.”
He gave her one of those ‘I’m going to fuck you until your brain is fried’ smiles she loved. “I’ll cook while you shower. Sound good?”
Sounded like he was gunning for her to change her mind about staying with him. Unfortunately for them, her reasons were a lot stronger than any amount of romance he showed. Stronger than her guilt. She loved him. That was the main reason she did what she did.
She toweled dry, enjoying the smell of whatever Brock was making. He’d always been good in the kitchen. They’d taken turns cooking in the past.
She tied a robe around her waist and headed for the kitchen. “Something smells really good,” she moaned, walked up behind him and peeked into the covered pots.
She wasn’t prepared for him to turn, haul her into his arms, and lock their lips together. He flipped them around, until her ass hit the clean counter.
“You smell so good,” he groaned into their kiss, his voice so rough it shot sparks of need straight to her pussy.
“James,” she moaned and scraped her nails over the back of his head. “The food…”
“Can wait. It won’t burn. It’s off and ready to be eaten,” he muttered, brushing his lips down to her jaw. He nipped at her neck and licked his way down to the gap in her robe. “Just like you.”
She inhaled a shaky breath and watched him tug open the knot at her waist, until he could look at her naked body and slid a hand down to her pussy. “This is what I feel like having for dinner.”
Her clit throbbed. Her whole body ached with need. “Don’t let me be the one who stops you from getting what you want.”
His eyes crinkled, and a wolfish grin spread over his lips. He lifted her with an ease she’d never get used to, sitting her on the edge of the counter, thighs draped over his shoulders. She leaned into the wall at her back. Her breaths rushed in and out of her chest, burning her lungs on their journey.
She gripped the counter under her ass, moaning at the first swipe of his tongue on her pussy. “Oh, God!”
“That’s it, love. Drench my face with your juices.”
Christ. He rumbled, the vibrations traveling up her channel to curl around her belly. She rocked her hips. Hard. A desperate need to feel him closer shaking her to the core. She wiggled her body, searching for more of his tongue.
“Jesus. That feels amazing,” she panted. The balls of her feet dug into his back and urged him closer between her legs. As if that were possible. His entire face rubbed on her folds.
He didn’t just lick her pussy. He devoured her with his lips and tongue. Up and down. Then he surged a finger into her, curving it and fucking her with it. He sucked on her clit at the same time, thrusting her to the edge. She moaned. Her hold on the counter all but forgotten. She moved restless hands into his hair to dig at his scalp. She bit her lip and tried to tamp down the urge to beg. To order him to hurry it up and make her come.
The finger in her pussy quickened. Her breaths struggled in and out of her burning lungs. Sparks fired in her blood. They created a sizzle that overtook every cell, every pore.
His tongue flicked on her clit faster. Harder. In a combination of sucks and licks, he yanked her control from out of her hands and hurled her to the shattering depths of her climax.
“Oh, God. Oh. My. James!”
Her legs locked and her pussy squeezed at his fingers. Pleasure unwound inside her, shooting like wildfire down her veins. Her hoarse scream echoed around the kitchen, until the only sound to be heard were her moans and harsh breathing.
She glanced down into his golden black eyes, his face wet with her climax. With a quick tug on his T-shirt, she pulled him to his feet and leaned forward. Her lips met his in a blazing kiss. A kiss of need, of passions neither could fight.
She tasted herself on his mouth. It was decadent. Sexy. An instant reminder of what he’d done to her with his lips. Arousal bloomed inside her all over again. She drew his T-shirt up and over his chest. Then she ran her hands all over his chest and down to his abs. Those abs had given her enough wet dreams she knew them by memory. She bit her nails into his abs, scoring him with a bit of pain.
His groan pushed her further. She continued her downward travel and shoved a hand into his jeans. His cock, hard and hot poked at her palm. She held him in her grasp, squeezing just enough to get that growl she wanted.
“Cyn,” he moaned and licked her neck, his voice rough. So rough it was hard to make out her name, but she knew what he wanted. The same thing she wanted. The counter was just the right height for him to fuck her.
She jerked him in her hand. With just enough force to drag a hard shudder from him.
“Fuck me, James.” She leaned away and stared into his pure black eyes. “Drive into me so hard, so deep, you’ll be branded inside me forever.”
“That’s the best fucking thing you’ve said all night, love.”
His pants come off quick, and his cock pressed at her entrance. They glanced at each other as he plunged into her in one smooth glide, her pussy muscles stretching to fit snugly around him.
Then he propelled back, and pressed deeper. Her breath caught in her throat. There was no time to grab a gulp of air. There were his lips on hers. His tongue driving in and retreating at the same pace his cock did. There was clinging to his slick body and hope they didn’t destroy the house with all the shaking it did. James’s power was leaking. She couldn’t find it in her to do more than enjoy it. She’d done that. Drove him out of control. A secret pleasure filled her of the knowledge she could make such a strong, powerful being lose control of his powers.
He stopped, his gaze meeting hers. The full-on black of his eyes so beautiful she gasped. “You don’t just make me lose control,” he rumbled. So deep she felt it in her pussy. “You make my body burn with the need to feel your pussy contracting around my cock.”
He lifted his hands from holding her thighs wide open, to her breasts, pulling and tweaking at her nipples, the slight burning for the pain an absolute pleasure. His lips tore from hers. He lowered his head to suck one of her erect nipples into his mouth.
“Oh, lord,” she whimpered and shoved her breast further into his mouth.
An overload of sensations took place. His lips on her breast, his other hand drifted between her legs, rubbing over her clit. Faster. His thrusts increased in speed as did his flicks. When she thought it couldn’t get better, he bit down on her nipple.
“Oh. My. God!”
Her pussy squeezed at his driving cock. Her body shuddered time after time with the intensity of her orgasm. She choked out a scream as her pussy clenched on his dick. His moves turned faster. A growl sounded from inside him. Growing louder by the second. His thrusts increased in speed. So fast it felt as if he were on fire inside her. Her body continued to contract around him. Then it was his turn to fall. He held stiff, his cock pulsing and filling her with his cum.
It took long moments of heavy breathing and her hugging him close before either could move. When he pulled out of her, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. A soft whisper of a kiss that only reminded her how much she loved him.
“Time for real food.” He winked.
“Is there any way I can convince you to bring this to bed?”
“Darlin’, if you promise to stay naked I’ll be yours to command.” He smiled wickedly.
“I think we can work something out,” she said, curling her hands around his neck to pull him close. She couldn’t deny how much she loved holding on to him. He was her heart. Insecurity tried to cool the heat from their lovemaking, but she willed it away. She needed to enjoy whatever time they had together. One thing was for sure, it wouldn’t last.
Brock watched Cyn refill her coffee mug. Her emotions were all over the place. He hated that she felt so distressed over them, but he wasn’t letting up. She was his. He’d mated her. Marked her. There was no turning back. She mumbled to herself about not getting attached to him again. He would’ve found it amusing if she didn’t seem so serious about it.
“Are you okay?”
Her gaze jerked up to meet his. Her eyes spoke volumes to him. They were that rich amber, liquid gold. The vulnerability he saw in them wasn’t new. He’d seen that before. Right before she’d decided to leave him.
“Yes, I’m good.” She sat down at the kitchen table, put her mug in front of her along with her cousin’s diary and pursed her lips. “I’ve been thinking about this.”
She flicked the diary open and leafed through the pages. Her hand shook slightly.
He couldn’t take it. Her pain dug into his chest and tore at his heart. “Sweetheart, stop.”
She glanced up. The sadness in her eyes was too much for him. It shred him apart with that single look of pain.
“Tell me what’s wrong?”
“This,” she said waving her hand between them. He’d known it was coming. She’d been thinking so hard. Too quiet and too fidgety. “I don’t know if I can do this. We have to work together. I’m your superior. This isn’t going to be good for the team.”
Fuck that. There was no way he’d give her up again. Not for the team. Not for the job. Not for his own life.
“Stop it,” he ordered sternly, his beast just below the skin, wanting to comfort her in her time of need. “You’re stressing yourself out when you have too much on your mind.”
What he really wanted to say was that there was no need to question their relationship. He wasn’t letting go of her, and she wasn’t going anywhere. She’d get used to it. Eventually.
“Focus on your cousin. Let’s find her. Everything else can wait until after.”
She glanced down at the diary in her hand. “I called the hospital but Luis hasn’t woken yet. They promised to call me as soon as he does.”
“We need to talk to the sheriff,” he said and placed his own cup down on the table with a clank. “It’s about time he did something to help look for your cousin. It’s been more than forty-eight hours. They should be searching for her too.”
She nodded, her eyes filled with fear, pain and sadness. “Yes. They should. Let’s split up to cover more ground.” She grabbed her bag and headed for the door, opening it in a rush. “I’ll take the police station, and you go see about Josh.”
He knew what she was doing. Trying to push him away. It wouldn’t work, but he’d let her figure that out herself. They hopped into the SUV. “That’s fine. The station isn’t far from that house, so it’s easy enough.”
“Great.” She snapped her seatbelt and turned to him. “I have a good feeling about today.”
He had the opposite. He could sense danger coming, but couldn’t tell when or where. Power shifted at his palms, until he had to grind his teeth to hold it together. The thought of Cyn in any kind of danger pushed his control to near breaking. He wouldn’t allow anything to happen to her. Cyn’s safety was his sole priority. He didn’t care what happened to him, as long as she was safe.
Soon they were headed in the direction of the station. She’d been quiet. He knew she had a lot on her mind. Mainly, her cousin and their relationship. She could deny it all she wanted, but he knew she wasn’t going anywhere a second time. If she tried to, he’d chase her to the ends of the earth. She’d clearly returned because she wanted to be with him. Even if she didn’t want to admit it.
When they reached the station, she jumped out of the SUV. “Okay, go see about Josh. I’ll go speak to the sheriff and meet you here?”
“If the kid isn’t home I’ll return right away.”
Less than five minutes later he was at the Landley home. Josh’s hot rod was still missing. Brock knocked on the door, and a small blonde woman answered.
“Can I help you?”
“Hello, my name is James Brock.” He showed her his ID. “I’m from the FBI and need to speak to Josh regarding Luis Gomez.”
Theresa Landley frowned, her eyes coolly distant. “Why do you need to speak to my son?”
“Mrs. Landley, Luis Gomez was found beaten, bloody and unconscious in an abandoned warehouse.” He grimaced, watching the woman pale before his eyes. “Your son was the person who told us where to find Luis.”
Theresa’s eyes widened. Her features turned a sick shade of green under the bright sunlight. “I don’t understand...”
“We don’t either, ma’am. It’s why we need to speak to your son,” he urged.
She shook her head, short blonde hair swinging around her shoulders. “I don’t know where he is. He—” She blinked and paused. “I’ll call the sheriff and speak to him about this. I don’t believe my son would do anything to that kid.”
“That would be a good idea, but do you know where we can find Josh?” he asked again.
“No. He left yesterday. Said he was going to go camping or something and hasn’t returned.”
“What about Roxy Santos. Do you know where she could be?”
Theresa’s brows shot downward. “That girl. Why would I care where she is?”
Hate. There was enough of it in Theresa’s tone that the words dripped acid when she spoke.
“She’s been missing for over three days, and we’re trying to find her,” he explained.
“I don’t know anything about her other than I prohibited my son from seeing her.” She curled her hands into fists at her sides. “But he’s weak and refused to do as I said.”
Brock watched her. There wasn’t anything hesitant about Theresa. She genuinely disliked Roxy, but wasn’t lying about knowing where she could be. “Do you have any ideas on anyone who might know where she is?”
“Talk to her crazy mother. They’re just alike. Insane,” she muttered and stepped into her house. “I don’t know where that girl is, and I don’t know where Josh went. If I hear from him, I’ll have him come into the police station and straighten this all out.”
“Thank you.” He didn’t bother handing her a card to call him. He knew she’d just throw it out.