Ignoring his burning shoulder, Alastair leaped down the stairs.

Darcy had fallen off the fucking mezzanine. His heart was lodged in his throat. Fear pounded through him, leaving his mouth dry.

“Burke.”

Declan was standing in the shadows at the base of the stairs. Alastair shouldered past him. He had to get to Darcy.

Suddenly, the lights clicked on.

All around, guests rose, blinking and clutching each other.

But his gaze was drawn to Darcy.

The air rushed out of him, leaving him lightheaded. She stood there in her beautiful dress. A little rumpled, but perfectly fine.

She wasn’t lying on the ground, broken, like he’d imagined in his head. Like the Silk Road fucker just behind her.

Her gaze moved to his torn shirt and shoulder. “Are you okay? That asshole shot you!”

“Just a graze.”

She released a breath and smiled. “You should have seen my landing.” She pointed to the banner that was lying on the ground, and he realized she must have used it to break her fall.

“Alastair.” Thom appeared out of the crowd, gun drawn.

Alastair ignored him and strode toward Darcy. Fuck. Fuck. As he got closer, her eyes widened.

He pulled her into his arms, swept her back, and slammed his mouth down on hers.

She was frozen for a beat, then her hands clutched his shoulders and she kissed him back.

More than desire pounded through him. His need was stronger than just sex or attraction. He didn’t know how long he kissed her, absorbing the warmth and life of her, but then he heard the sound of someone clearing their throat.

Reluctantly, he raised his head. He looked at her flushed face and swollen lips before lifting his gaze. He saw not just one, but two angry brothers pinning him with furious stares.

Great. But Alastair didn’t give a fuck. Darcy was alive. That was all he cared about.

The Wards were standing behind their sons. Oliver’s face was impassive, but Persephone was grinning.

“Well, this party has been way more interesting than I anticipated,” the treasure hunter said.

Agents and security guards swarmed around. Nearby, Thom was yelling out orders as they rounded up the last of the Silk Road attackers. Others were helping the guests and shepherding in the paramedics and police.

Alastair tucked Darcy close to his side. “Thom, sitrep?”

“Thankfully, no casualties,” his partner said. “A few injuries.”

“Diamonds?”

“Someone grabbed them off him.” Darcy nodded at the dead man on the floor without looking at him. “It was the weirdest thing, but he…wanted to jump.”

Alastair couldn’t care less about the man who’d pulled her over the edge. “Did you see the person who took the diamonds?”

“I didn’t get a clear look, but he had blond hair. He ran.” She held up her mini-tablet. “The trackers are active.”

“Let’s take this to the security room,” Alastair suggested.

Dec stepped in front of him. “We’re going to have a discussion.” The man’s eyes slid to his sister then back to Alastair. Beside Dec, Cal crossed his arms over his chest.

“Hello?” Darcy said. “Stolen priceless diamonds and black-market bad guys to sort out.” She shot her brothers a glare, then turned to Alastair. “I’m sorry about the diamonds, Alastair.”

“Don’t be. This was the plan.”

She stiffened, her head tilting slowly. “Excuse me?”

“I want the Collector. To do that, I need him out in the open.”

Dec nodded. “And the only way to do that was to let them take the diamonds.”

Darcy pressed her hands to her hips. “You wanted Silk Road to steal the diamonds?”

Alastair nodded. “And take them to the Collector.”

She moved, pressing her hands to his chest and shoving him. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she yelled.

“I couldn’t risk any leaks—”

She hissed. “I’ve been working on this project for days! You really thought I’d blab about this?”

He grabbed her wrists gently. “No. I didn’t tell anyone.”

“Including me,” a scowling Thom added.

Darcy wagged a finger at Alastair. “You and I are going to discuss this habit of keeping secrets.”

“All right, let’s get to the security room,” Thom said.

“In a second.” Alastair pulled Darcy closer. “First, I want Darcy to get checked out by the paramedics.”

Her gaze fell to his shoulder. “I’m not the one who’s bleeding.”

“Flesh wound. You fell over a balcony.” He managed to keep his voice relatively calm. “You’ll get checked out.”

Her eyes flashed. “Try that again, Agent Burke.”

He leaned closer. “Darcy, will you please get checked out by the paramedics, since those Silk Road bastards hit a pressure point on your neck and you lost consciousness. Then one of them pulled you off the mezzanine, and took a fucking decade off my life.”

All around, people were watching their conversation. Dec and Cal’s expressions had darkened even more.

“Darcy, honey.” Her father’s tone was completely unruffled, like this happened all the time. “Please get checked out.”

“Get checked, darling,” Persephone added. “Your hot guy did ask very nicely.”

“He did pretty well.” Darcy tossed her head, her glossy hair swinging. “Fine.”

Alastair smiled at her. Finally, he’d gotten his way.

* * *

They were all crammed into the Dashwood security room, staring at the big screens on the wall.

The paramedics had given Darcy a clean bill of health, and she’d then demanded they clean the flesh wound on Alastair’s shoulder and check where he’d been attacked with the knife. Thankfully, while the knife had slashed his shirt, it hadn’t reached his skin.

The panicked museum director was standing nearby, looking ill. Thom had re-acquired Alastair’s phone and Glock, and Darcy’s tablet from the now-arrested Silk Road thugs.

“The diamonds have stopped moving,” Thom said.

Darcy leaned forward. Alastair was right behind her—big and protective.

“The Adana Tower,” Alastair said.

Thom whistled. “Fancy. Exclusive residences for the rich and the ultrarich.”

“What floor?” Alastair asked.

“Penthouse.”

“Owner?”

Darcy tapped on her tablet, running a search. “Corporation called Elettaria, Inc.”

“I haven’t seen that one among Silk Road’s long list of dummy companies. Track it down, and confirm it’s them. I want a name.” Alastair speared Thom with a look. “Get a judge out of bed. We need a search warrant.”

His partner nodded. “It’ll take time. It’s midnight. By the time we get them up and put everything together—”

“Just do it.”

“I doubt we’ll have anything before morning, you know grumpy judges don’t lose too much sleep over stolen relics.”

“Silk Road is made up of murderers and thieves.”

“I’m on it,” Thom said.

Darcy frowned, staring at the image of the Adana Tower. She wanted to get in there now. The Collector was in there and they all knew it.

“I want all entrances and exits to the tower monitored,” Alastair ordered. “And get a team into a neighboring building. I want full surveillance set up.”

Thom nodded again.

“My team will work with your people on site,” Dec said.

Alastair nodded, scowling at the screen. “Darcy, make sure the teams have access to the diamond trackers.”

She nodded. “Done. What now?”

“Now you get some sleep,” he answered.

She made a scoffing sound. “There is no way I could sleep.”

“You want to help bring them down, you need some rest.” He looked around. “Everybody does. I want a fresh team on the night watch, and everyone else rested so once we get the warrant, we’re ready to go in.”

As people shuffled out, Darcy crossed her arms over her chest. “You’re resting too, right?”

“I need to check with the onsite team—”

She lifted her chin. “Then I’m coming, too. I’ll rest when you rest.”

His eyes flared and he looked at the ceiling. Then he met her gaze. “Please.”

“This is one of those times where this is an order, Alastair.”

She could tell he was gritting his teeth. His gaze ran over her, and then his face softened a little. “Deal.”

Huh, she’d won for once. But watching him, heat flared to life inside her. She got the feeling he wasn’t thinking about actually resting.

Darcy said good night to her family, hugging her parents and sisters-in-law. Her bossy brothers got scowls.

Alastair was quiet on the drive back to his place, except to take several calls updating him on the teams setting up at the Adana Tower. Once they were inside his condo, she sauntered across the living room, more than ready to kick off her heels.

He flicked a lamp on. “Darcy.”

One word, but that tone shivered through her, setting every nerve alight. She turned.

His intense green gaze was on her, sliding down her body. She shivered. His eyes were filled with heat and hunger.

“You put yourself in danger tonight.” His voice was low.

Goose bumps broke out on her skin. “And someone shot you and tried to cut you up with a knife.”

“Someone dragged you off the fucking second story.” Alastair stalked toward her, shrugging out of his tuxedo jacket. He tossed it aside.

Darcy backed up, excitement skittering through her veins. She hated to admit it, but she was a little nervous, as well. This man was so intense.

The back of her knees hit the couch and she sat down automatically.

Alastair stopped in front of her, leaning over her.

“You don’t risk yourself. Ever.”

Her chest was rising and falling fast. She shifted. She was so turned on. That bossy, arrogant tone drove her insane.

“I’m not good at following orders, remember,” she murmured.

“I do.”

She ran her gaze over him, taking in that hard, rugged face, the torn and blood-stained shirt. God, he was gorgeous. Her eyes reached waist level and she saw the bulge there. Hunger made her ache.

She looked up and saw he was watching her. “Are you going to make me follow your orders?”

He made a harsh sound, and her gaze dropped again. The bulge behind his zipper was growing. He was hard for her.

His green eyes blazed hot. “Darcy.” His voice was deep and thick, filled with dark promise.

She reached for him. She took a second to unbuckle his belt, flick open the button, and lower his zipper. She saw the muscles in his thighs flex under his trousers.

Her pulse was hammering as she pulled his cock free. Oh, God. His cock was beautiful. Thick, long, and hard. She wrapped her fingers around him.

“You like that?” His voice was gritty.

“Yes.” She ran her hands up his hard length.

“You want my cock, Darcy?”

“Yes.”

“Then show me.”

With a moan, she leaned forward and licked the swollen head. The musky taste of him filled her and she moaned again.

He groaned, his hips moving forward.

Darcy opened her mouth and sucked him in. He muttered a curse, his hips bucking. Then he slid a hand in her hair and fed more of his cock into her mouth.

“Fuck. I’ve imagined this so many damn times.”

She looked up, saw his gaze locked on where her mouth was wrapped around him. She moaned again, desire blazing through her. She sucked, loving knowing that she was driving this controlled man crazy.

“Imagined laying you out on your desk,” he continued. “Getting my mouth between your legs.”

She squirmed on the couch, aching between her legs. She hurt for him. She started to push her dress up, needing to ease the pain.

“No.” He pulled out of her mouth. “You don’t get to come yet. You don’t get to have what you want, until you learn to follow orders.”

He pulled her to her feet and leaned down, his lips brushing hers. “You going to do what I say, baby?”

“No.” More excitement filled her veins, like the sweetest drug. Fighting with this man excited her like nothing else.

He leaned down, picked her up, and tossed her over his shoulder. His palm smacked against her ass.

As she gasped, he strode into the bedroom and everything tumbled as he dropped her on the bed. The bedside lamp clicked on and he stood over her—big and imposing. He shrugged his shoulder harness off and dropped it on a chair. Then he started unbuttoning his shirt with slow, methodical movements.

Darcy licked her lips. Each button that loosened, showcasing a widening sliver of bronze skin, made her breath hitch. Then the shirt was open and he slipped it off.

Oh, boy. She drank in the hard chest, the defined abs, and the tiny smattering of dark hair across his pecs. She wanted to lick him—every ridge, every dip, every sleek line of muscle.

“Take the dress off,” he ordered.

That dark voice, filled with authority, shivered over her. “No.”

He leaned over her, gripping her chin with his fingers. His thumb brushed her lips. “So defiant.”

Then his hands slid down. He caught the neckline of her dress and pulled it lower. Her shoulders were already bare and, as the fabric slid downward, the tops of her breasts were on view. The satin caught on the tips of her breasts, and she was excruciatingly conscious that she wasn’t wearing a bra. There’d been no way to wear one in this dress. He gave a sharp tug.

The fabric pooled around her waist, leaving her breasts bare.

His gaze was on her and he made a hungry sound. She felt her nipples pebble.

Alastair placed one knee on the bed, leaned over, and closed his lips around one nipple. He sucked hard, and she cried out.

She pushed up into his mouth, not fighting him now. Oh, Jesus. It was so good.

He switched to the other breast, one hand sliding under her and lifting her to his busy mouth. Darcy slid her hands into his hair, tugging hard. Desire was a molten fire in her belly and her panties were saturated.

He nipped at the lower curve of her breast. “Take the dress off.”

“Make me.” She hardly recognized her husky voice.

Alastair pulled back, hands reaching for her ankles. His hands circled her, then his fingers slid upward. Higher. Over her calves, her knees. Higher. Sliding along her thighs, pushing her dress higher.

Their gazes locked and the hunger she saw burning in his eyes, etched on his rugged face, made her chest tight. She couldn’t breathe, she was burning up.

He bunched her dress higher, baring her thighs.

“You going to do what I say?” he growled.

“Why should I?” Her resistance was slipping. She wanted him to touch her more than she wanted anything else.

“Because if you do, then I’ll fuck you so hard you’ll be hoarse from screaming my name as you come.”

Her belly spasmed. Never in a million years would she have guessed that Alastair Burke would be a dirty talker in bed. It turned her on like crazy. She lifted her hips and he smiled, anticipation flaring. He sank his hands in the dress and pulled it down her legs.

She leaned back on the bed, wearing only a tiny pair of black lace panties that revealed more than they covered.

His gaze ran over her. “You are so damn gorgeous, Darcy Aphrodite Ward.”

For the first time in her life, she thought her full name sounded beautiful.

His head lowered, and he pressed a hard kiss to her lips, his tongue sliding against hers. Then she lost his mouth as it moved lower—down her neck, between her breasts, down her belly. His stubble scraped her skin, and she couldn’t stop the shocked little cries that escaped her lips.

Then, he pressed a kiss to her hipbone and she quivered.

“You want my mouth, baby?”

“Yes. Yes.”

“My tongue?”

Another spasm in her belly. “Alastair.”

“Damn, I love hearing my name on your lips.” He gripped her waist and flipped her over, onto her belly.

No. “Alastair, I—”

He gave one cheek a quick slap. “You take what I give you, Darcy. All of it.” Then his hands were caressing her, kneading the skin of her ass.

She let out a small moan.

“I thought I’d lost you tonight. After you went over that railing…”

His voice cut off and she pushed against him. “I’m right here, honey. All yours.”

“Yes, you are.” He gripped her hips, nudging her closer to the headboard. “Grip the slats, Darcy. Hard.”

He lifted her up onto her hands and knees, and with butterflies bursting in her belly, she quickly followed orders. She wrapped her fingers tight around the wooden slats on his headboard.

“Fuck, you’re gorgeous.” His hands slid beneath the lace, stroking her.

She pushed back against him, desperate. His fingers stroking through her damp folds felt so good. “Please.”

His hand twisted and he tore her panties off. “I’m so hard, Darcy, and it’s all your fault.” He stroked her folds again. “Spread your knees.”

She did instantly, with no thought to disobeying. No one had ever wanted her like this. So all-consuming and desperate. No one had ever wanted her like Alastair did.

“Now she follows orders.” He pumped a finger inside her.

Her hands tightened on the headboard. Yes.

“Fucking tight. Just waiting for my cock.”

Alastair’s frank words were winding her higher. She’d never felt desire like this, so hot, so on edge. She might not survive.

He worked a second finger inside her. “This is mine, isn’t it?”

He added another finger, stretching her. She moaned.

“It’s been mine for a while.”

“Alastair.” She pushed back against him. “More. I need—”

“I know what you need.”

Then she felt his hot breath on her thighs. He nudged her legs wider apart and his mouth was on her.

Darcy cried out. Alastair Burke’s mouth was between her legs. His tongue lapped at her and her entire body trembled. God. God.

His tongue was inside her, working her. She tried to stop the sounds escaping from her throat, but then his talented mouth found her clit.

Her cries turned loud and desperate, her body shaking. “Alastair.”

“Come, Darcy,” he growled against her.

Her orgasm hit hard and her vision wavered. Wave after wave of pleasure swamped her, and she didn’t care who heard her cry out Alastair’s name.