Desire Me (Her Best Friend's Father Book 4)
Page 28
"I heard a rumor that Oscar Fuentes is looking to put a hit out on a girl," he murmurs eventually.
"You're kidding me."
"If the rumors are true, he's willing to pay close to half a million to anyone who brings her in alive. Half that if they kill her."
"You think it's Faith?"
He nods reluctantly.
"Fuck," I mumble, frowning. "What the fuck does he want with her?"
"Don't know, but I'm thinking Hernandez is going to need Kincaid's help to figure that out," Finn says, tapping his stack of folders on my desk. "Because you and I both know Fuentes doesn't do anything for shits and giggles. If he wants her back that badly, he has a reason."
He's not wrong about that.
"I'll give O a heads up," I promise, picking up my pen again.
"He's also put a hit out on Selena Ortega and the kid," he murmurs. "He wants her dead and the kid brought in alive."
"What the fuck?" I mutter, narrowing my eyes. "Has he lost his mind?"
Finn shrugs. "I don't know what his problem is, but I'm sending Luke to meet with Selena and Carter. I figured the news would be better delivered in person."
"When is he leaving?"
"Later this week. He's got a few more leads to check out here first."
I nod, relieved that Luke is going to talk to Carter and Selena. He'll help protect Selena until Octavio deals with Fuentes. "I'll make sure we're back before he leaves," I tell Finn.
"You taking her to Santa Cruz?" he asks.
"Yeah. We're driving up tonight." I smile, eager as fuck to finish up here so I can go get my girl and get out of town for a couple days. We have to be back on Thursday for her next appointment, and then Talia and Trent will be here this weekend. I'm looking forward to a couple days alone with her before then.
"See you when you get back into town."
"Keep your shit out of my box!" I call out as he ducks out of my office.
His laughter floats back to me.
"Fucker," I mutter beneath my breath, grinning.
"We need to talk," I tell Octavio when he pulls into his driveway not long after I do. I've been biding my time, hoping to catch him before he goes inside to get Faith.
"If it's about January, I already know," he rumbles, quickly closing the distance between us. His dark eyes meet mine. "As soon as I hear anything back from the Crime Lab on the gun, I'll let you know. It shouldn't be much longer, but I expect him to be cleared."
"It's not about that, but I appreciate the heads up," I murmur.
Octavio nods, his gaze turning toward the house. He looks stressed out, tense. I don't envy him right now. Between the Kincaid situation and the Faith situation, he's got the weight of the world on his shoulders. It's not fucking easy being responsible for everything. God knows, I did it long enough.
"Finn heard a rumor today," I tell him, not beating around the bush or trying to sugarcoat it. "Fuentes is offering half a million dollars for the capture of a female."
"Faith," he says, more statement than actual question.
"Yeah, that's what we're thinking," I murmur.
Something dark and deadly drifts through his expression, but he doesn't move a muscle. He stands stock still for a long moment, and then he exhales a breath and nods. He doesn't say anything, but he doesn't have to. I've known him for a long fucking time…long enough to know there's not a chance in hell he's going to let them have her.
"Whatever you need," I tell him, holding his gaze.
He nods again. "Does she know?"
"No. Do you want her to know?"
"The last thing I want is for her to know," he says immediately and then grimaces, "but she's lacked control of her own life for long enough. I'll talk to her."
I clasp him on the shoulder and squeeze. "You know my team has your back on this, O. Whatever you need to keep her safe, all you have to do is ask."
"I appreciate that," he murmurs.
"I'm taking Mila to Santa Cruz for a couple days. Will you be straight here?"
"Yeah, man. We'll be fine."
"I'll ask Knox to stick around until we're back," I promise.
"Thanks, Roman."
The front door opens before I can answer, Mila and Faith stepping outside. They both wave, their expressions light and happy, as if they don't have a care in the world. The sight of Mila with that smile on her face sends my heart slamming against my ribcage. She's so goddamn beautiful. My dick hardens, all the blood in my body rushing toward it.
Faith whispers something to her, which makes her throw her head back and laugh. The sweet sound rolls over me as they link arms and start toward us.
"Jesus," Octavio mutters beneath his breath and then swallows hard when Faith draws to a stop in front of him, tilting her head back to look up at him. Her expression is soft and open, no hint of her former wariness to be found.
I send up a quick prayer that Octavio is able to keep her safe. It'd kill him to lose her now.
Mila comes right to me, not stopping until her belly presses against my groin and my arms are around her. "Hi, handsome," she whispers, smiling up at me. "I wondered what was taking you so long."
"Just talking to O." I dip my head, brushing a kiss across her forehead. Out of one eye, I watch as Octavio reaches out for Faith's hand, pulling her closer to him. "Let me know," I murmur to him.
He meets my gaze over her head and jerks his chin in a nod before leading Faith toward his house.
Mila and I stay where we're at, watching until they climb the steps to his front door and disappear inside. Once they do, I sweep Mila up into my arms, making her squeal like she always does when I carry her around. Her arms go around my neck, her sweet laughter ringing out around us.
"If my surprise is you naked, I'm so going to enjoy it," she whispers, her green eyes shining with happiness as I carry her into the house, kicking the door closed behind us.
"Oh yeah?" I ask, heading straight for the bedroom, which makes her laugh again.
"Definitely," she hums.
I grin down at her, happier than I think I've ever been in my life.
"Jesus Christ," I breathe, reaching down to adjust myself as Mila emerges from the water, her white bikini clinging to her curvy body as water drips down her golden skin. The little triangles of her bikini barely cover her hard nipples, and the bottom is nothing more than a scrap of fabric, her plump pussy lips visible. Her hair is a wild riot around her face, her green eyes shining with happiness as she waddles toward me across the warm sand, smiling. With the sun beating down on her, she looks like a Greek sea nymph, beautiful and alluring.
"The water's cold!" she says, laughing up at me.
"Come here. I'll warm you up." I reach out a hand and pull her up against my body, wrapping my arms around her. Her skin is chilled, goosebumps running up and down her arms. Her belly nudges against my cock, which immediately turns to steel.
She notices. A mischievous grin dances at her lips as she rubs up against me.
"You're playing with fire," I warn her, my hands tightening on her shoulders.
"Good," she says, raking her nails down my chest and abs. Challenge blazes in her eyes. Her tongue swipes across her bottom lip like she's trying to taste me. "I hope it burns."
"Fuck," I groan, tipping my head back when one cool hand delves into my swim trunks to wrap around my length. She squeezes me in her fist, working her hand up and down. A second later, her other hand delves inside, pushing my trunks down. A growl of pleasure breaks from my lips when she cups my balls in her hand, tugging gently. "Jesus fucking Christ, Mila."
"Make love to me, Roman," she whispers, her voice little more than a silky purr. "I need you."
"Here?" I tip my head forward to meet her gaze. Her eyes are dark, her cheeks flushed. "Now?"
She nods, holding my gaze.
Fuck. I should tell her no. It's the middle of the afternoon, and anyone could step outside and see…but I don't tell her that. Of course I don't.
I grab her
around the waist, pulling her down to the blanket spread across the warm sand. Her soft laugh turns into a moan as I tug at the strings of her bikini top, unraveling the bow. Her dusky nipples are hard and dark, begging for attention.
"Jesus, baby," I growl, pulling a nipple into my mouth and biting down. My hand slides down the swell of her belly and then into her bikini bottoms. She's wet already, her folds warm and sticky against my fingertips. Her heat sears my palm, burning so much hotter than the rest of her chilled skin.
"Yes," she hisses, arching her back and crying out my name. Her hand flies to my hair, her fingers gripping me tightly as I play with her gorgeous body, bringing her right to the edge with skilled ease. I know her body as well as my own. I know what makes her writhe, and what makes her moan…I know what makes her whimper and beg for more, and what sends her catapulting over the edge into bliss.
"Roman," she moans, gasping as I work my way down her body, running my lips over every inch of exposed skin. She's so soft everywhere. I can't get enough of how different we are. She's light to my dark, soft to my hard, and yet…we fit together like we belong. She's part of me, half of my soul.
Pleasure hums against the surface of my skin as she runs gentle hands up my chest and then down my back. Her nails rake down my ass, pulling me closer. I smile against her belly, laughing when our daughter kicks. Her little foot presses against my chin for a brief moment as if reminding me that she's in there before she removes it, allowing me to continue my journey down her mama's body.
"I love these," I murmur, pressing kisses into the little stretch marks that have grown along the right side of her belly. They're little pink lines, no more than an inch in length, but they stand in testament to the miracle this woman is to me, in testament to the life growing inside her. I love everything about them.
Mila snorts like she doesn't believe me.
"They tell part of our story," I say against her skin. "When I see them, I think about that. About how this gorgeous body has protected our daughter, keeping her safe and healthy. I think about how the woman wearing them has given me everything I could ever want or need. I think about how fucking much I idolize her." I flick my gaze up to tangle with hers. "I think about everything she's gone through, and how she's fought like a fucking warrior every step of the way. I think about our future, and how I can't wait to see these same little marks in fifty years, standing in testament to the incredible life we lived together. When I see them, I see nothing but love, baby."
"Roman," she whispers.
"Mila," I whisper back.
She gives me a watery smile, brushing my hair back from my forehead.
"They're beautiful, baby. So beautiful." I press another kiss to her belly and then quest lower, sliding her bikini bottoms to the side. Her scent fills my lungs…the unmistakable smell of her. It's peaches, sunshine, and the heady scent of her arousal. There is nothing else on this earth as intoxicating as she is.
"Roman," she whispers, arching upward in impatient entreaty.
I give her what she wants, sliding my tongue through her folds. Like always, her taste hits me hard, traveling straight to my cock. I groan against her center, spreading her legs wide. I make love to her with my mouth, using my lips and tongue to drive her wild. Every drop she spills, I lap up, humming my pleasure. Her soft whimpers meld with the roar of the ocean, singing like an aria in my ears before settling in my heart.
When she's pleading for release, I give it to her, flicking my tongue in relentless rhythm against her clit until her body goes taut beneath me and she cries out my name. I kiss her sweetly, running my hands all over her body as she rides the waves through to the end, and then slowly floats back to earth.
"More," she demands, her eyes fluttering open to meet mine.
"Everything," I promise, kicking free of my swim trunks and then picking her up to straddle me. I lay back on the blanket as she settles into place above me, her knees on each side of my hips. My cock nestles against her folds, pulling a groan from my lips.
She wriggles her hips, sliding forward and backward until my cock is soaked in her juices and I'm the one pleading this time. She doesn't give me what I want, instead torturing me with slow swivel of her hips. My cock throbs, begging for release as it thrums against her clit again and again.
"Stop teasing and ride my cock, Mila," I growl, wrapping my hands around her waist.
She smiles at me like a seductress, her full lips red where she's bitten them, her cheeks flushed. Her breasts sway enticingly, her dark nipples hard little points. Strands of her blonde hair wave wildly around her face.
"You want me?" she asks.
"I always want you."
"Then take me, Roman," she says, leaning forward to position my cock at her entrance.
My hands tighten on her waist, holding her in place until her eyes meet mine again. When they do, I push forward, slowly giving us what we both want. She cries out my name, her eyes never leaving my face as she sinks down on me, taking me all the way to the root.
"Fuck, that's good," I groan as her tight heat wraps around me like a silk glove. No matter how many times I'm in her like this, she's always so fucking tight and wet. I never want to leave her body.
"You're so deep," she whispers, arching her back. Her hands find purchase on my thighs, her hips swiveling. She moves slowly, carefully, almost like she's marveling at how good it feels, and then she finds her rhythm, sliding almost completely free of my cock before dropping back down on me. Every time I'm balls deep, she cries out, writhing on my cock.
I watch her through slit lids, committing the sight of her above me to memory. She's a goddess with the ocean at her back and the sun shining like a halo around her head as she takes what she wants from me. Her nails dig into my thighs, her heavy breasts bounce.
"That's right," I groan, gripping her ass to grind her down on me. "Ride me, Mila. Don't stop until you're coming all over me. Christ, you should see how fucking good you look with my cock buried in you."
Her movements speed as her inner muscles clamp tight around me, fluttering. She loves the filthy shit I say to her. Her body responds, her arousal growing with every word that passes my lips. I slid one hand around her hip, squeezing her plump ass cheek in my hand before I glide a finger along the crevice of her ass, over the tight ring of muscle.
"You going to let me take you here again before you have my baby, Mila?" I ask, biting my lip when a powerful bolt of lust rips through me as she moans loudly and her juices soak me. "Not today, baby," I say, earning a whine of protest from her. "Today, I want you riding my cock like this."
Her nails dig deeper into my thighs, her hips rolling as she gives me what I want and rides me faster, gliding up and down my cock. Her dazed eyes dart around as if she's looking for something. I fight a smile.
"You want to get caught, don't you? Christ, baby, you're perfect." I sit up beneath her, wrapping her up in my arms to take her mouth in a deep, hungry kiss. Her tongue dances with mine, sliding like silk over the seam of my lips and then into my mouth. I tilt her head, going deeper as she writhes on my lap. "Never fucking knew how good it could be before you, Mila. You ruined me, sweetheart. My heart, my body, my cock…it's all yours now."
"I'm ruined too," she cries into my mouth. "I want you all the time. It never stops."
"Good. I want you ruined for me. No one else gets to touch what's mine." I bite her lip hard before kissing away the sting. My hand runs down her back and then around her hip, rocking her against me until she's crying out my name, pleading for permission to come. "That's it, baby. Just like that."
"Please, please, Roman."
"Not yet," I growl, bucking my hips to push deeper. Her muscles clench and flutter, her body shaking. My balls draw up, my spine tingling. I'm so fucking close and I know she is too.
"Please!"
"Now," I demand, capturing her mouth with mine. "Give it to me."
Her fingers dig into my shoulders as an orgasm washes over her. I swallow her screa
m, keeping our mouths fused together as she comes hard. Her body shudders, her inner muscles clamping down on me hard enough to rip my own orgasm from me. I grab her by the hips and slam her down on me hard and fast as my hips jerk beneath hers and come pumps from my cock in heavy spurts.
Her name leaves my lips on a loud roar of sound.
Everything fades, the blood rushing through my ears in time to the roar of the ocean. My heart pounds as I grind her down on me, not stopping until she's worked every drop of come from my body, claiming it and another little piece of my soul. It all belongs to her anyway. I think it always has.
"I love you," I whisper the words against her lips again and then again. "I love you."
Her body goes limp in my arms, her head landing against my shoulder. I hold her tightly, running gentle hands up and down her back as her heart hammers against my chest. Mine beats in time to hers. The ocean breeze cools the sweat on my skin. Even then, I keep her close, refusing to separate for even an instant.
"I love you," she whispers, pressing her face into my throat. She's soft and sleepy again, her head lolling against my shoulder as her breathing evens out.
"You going to sleep on me?" I ask, brushing her hair away from her face.
"Maybe. Maybe not," she mumbles, the words thick and half-formed. Even on the verge of sleep, she can't resist fucking with me.
Securing her in my arms, I push to my feet, holding her carefully. She grumbles wordlessly and then settles again. I smile down at her, warmth shooting through me at the sight of her resting securely in the protective circle of my arms, one of her hand's cradling her pregnant belly. My entire life I think I've just been waiting to find her. I was made to love and protect her, to keep her safe and sweet and happy. If we're born for a purpose, mine is in my arms, holding our baby with a sleepy smile on her face.
"I love you, Mila Lawson," I murmur, carrying her toward the condo and our future, naked and unburdened.
Epilogue
Mila
Three years later
"Wead me a stowy, daddy?" Stella asks Roman, her little voice full of hope as it comes over the baby monitor.