Refresh

by Suzanne Steele

  Even as Inc’s hips jerked and pulsed through the last waves of his release, he could hear all the myriad questions that weighed on her mind. What about school? How will I explain what happened to me? What am I really getting into?

  She was looking at things with her mind, when his world made such mundane thinking irrelevant. “Shh,” he whispered and placed a finger over her lips. “I’ll take care of everything. Let me take care of everything.”

  Lying in a puddle of post-coital bliss, Electra nodded. He brushed a strand of hair from her eyes, pulled the covers over her, and quietly got out of bed. She never heard the door shut as she drifted off to sleep.

  As much as it vexed him to leave her before seeing to her needs, there were pressing matters to attend to first. When he finally took her, body and soul, he had no intention of rushing. He would take his time.

  Inc applied himself to the task of returning the rest of the group to the basement, which was an altogether more logical location for the police to save the day. He ensured they were more comfortable this time around, leaving a stash of water and other basic supplies, even a change of clothes for each of them. Despite his efforts, they were none too pleased to be back in their old prison and called Inc every foul name in the book.

  He was efficient in wiping their memories of all traces of him and his new partner. Convincing the public that Electra hadn’t been kidnapped was going to be a bit trickier. He had powers but he wasn’t the Almighty and the rules clearly stated that he was not to turn back time or history would be altered. If that were to happen, balance would have to be restored and the consequences could be cataclysmic. And that was why this was a job for Wolf and Reese.

  They would save the day and probably get a commendation for their efforts. Some things took just good old-fashioned shrewdness and if anybody knew how to wheel and deal, it was Wolf. Inc had no doubts Wolf and Reese would take care of business and not leave any loose ends.

  Inc fucking hated loose ends.

  Chapter Seventeen

  “It’s been three days, you’ll die without water after three days.” Amy’s perpetual state of anxiety had passed the ‘you’re getting on our nerves’ stage two days ago. It seemed the woman vacillated between being a pain in the ass and being a sarcastic naysayer who would depress even the most stubbornly optimistic of people.

  Dee pushed her glasses up on her nose and tilted her chin toward Amy. “You know, you’re not helping the situation. We’re all scared. Do you think you’re the only one who’s worried that Randy might not come back? He could be dead or he could have decided to let us die here. He’s the only person who even knows where we are. We need to be thinking about how to get out of here.”

  A new voice entered the conversation. “We’ve exhausted our supplies. There’s nothing to do now but wait,” Michelle said flatly. The group gaped at her unexpected words. “What? It’s not like I’m speaking in tongues here,” she said with a frown. “It’s perfectly obvious: either we live or we die. We can’t walk through metal bars and we don’t have a key. If he comes back, we might stand a chance; maybe, depending on what he plans to do with us. If he doesn’t come back, we’re dead and it ain’t gonna be pretty for whoever goes last, I’ll tell ya that.” She shuddered and resumed her blank stare as if nothing had happened.

  These weren’t the defeated words of a woman who had given up. It was a simple statement of fact. They looked at each other, silently wondering who would die first and who would outlive everyone else and die last.

  That was when all hell broke loose.

  There was a violent banging on the basement door, followed by the shout of “Police!” and an ear-splitting crash as the door burst open and dangled off its hinges. The women leapt from their positions inside the cell and ran over to the bars, crying for help and reaching through the bars, as if their rescuers would somehow not notice them at the bottom of the steps.

  “Help! Please help us!”

  “Get us out of here!”

  “Please, hurry before he comes back!”

  “Police,” Reese bellowed in a clear, strong voice as he and his team scrambled down the steps, guns drawn. Wolf’s instructions had been crystal clear: they were doing everything by the book on this one, and that included the knock-notice rule being adhered to diligently. They’d be damned if they were going to see this guy, whoever he was, get off scot-free because of a technicality.

  The men were dismayed to see that the women were being held in what looked like a jail cell.

  “Go upstairs and look for that key, Reese. I’m not leaving them alone.” Wolf turned in his partner’s direction and whispered so the women couldn’t hear, “I hope like hell that bastard didn’t take it with him.”

  “If that key is in this house, I’ll find it. If not, no worries. The tools we’d need are at the station, just a phone call away.” The resolve in Reese’s eyes was all Wolf needed to see. They were getting these women out of here, pronto.

  Reese bounded up the steps two by two, clueless to the fact that Fey was already there, rifling through the personal effects of a criminal.

  “Ah-ha! Gotcha.” She had to remind herself not to wave the keys in the air when he walked into the room, but far be it from her to scare her crush to death. She could only imagine what it would be like for him to see the keys dangling in mid-air with no one attached to them. The mischievous part of her was tempted to do it but, for now, she’d wait. She would show herself when the time was right.

  Reese was moving fast and reached the room before she had expected him to. She froze next to the end table when she heard his footsteps approaching. When Reese appeared in the doorway, she panicked and flicked the keys into the air. They jingled when they landed on the dingy hardwood floor and came to rest by Reese’s foot. With a frown he picked them up, glancing around the room with narrowed eyes. She wiggled her fingers at him and grinned mischievously before he turned away and ran down the hall to the basement steps. She followed after him, sashaying down the steps and more than a little pleased with herself.

  Of course, she wouldn’t have missed the ride back to the station. She spent the drive pressed up against her own living Ken doll; it was more excitement than any angel could ask for. One steely glare at her brother had him rolling his eyes and arranging the bedraggled women in the back two rows of seats in the police van. No way in hell was she going to sit back and watch some other woman ride next to Reese, even if he had just rescued them–hell, especially if he had just rescued them. None of that damsel-in-distress crap was going to happen on her watch. Not that she didn’t feel bad about what the women had been through, but her compassion only went so far–and it did not extend to anyone who might make a move on Reese.

  The ride back to the police station was uneventful, with the women huddled together comforting each other and the men not wanting to talk in front of them. No need to traumatize the women any more than they already had been.

  The office erupted in deafening applause as the detectives entered with the women.

  “Good job, boys.” Vasilisa had a smile that reached far into the depths of her eyes and revealed her mega-white, twenty-thousand-dollar porcelain veneered smile.

  The women were escorted away to the other end of the building where they would be debriefed and, eventually, reunited with their families. They would receive medical care, and counseling would be arranged to help them with their initial adjustment to freedom and to help minimize the effects of PTSD.

  “We need to talk, Vasilisa.” The low, serious tone of Wolf’s voice had her walking quickly back toward her office with Wolf on her heels. He passed her and stood in front of her desk, and waited while she closed the door and the blinds to give them some privacy.

  “You need to let me handle the press release. There are some…issues.”

  She’d known for a while now that Wolf was profoundly intuitive and, in fact, was considered by some to be something of a psychic, able to communicate with entities beyond this
dimension, so she immediately understood the direction this conversation was taking. “Really. What kind of issues, exactly?”

  “Yeah…Inc wants to keep one of the girls.”

  “Wait just a damn minute. He wants to what?”

  Wolf cleared his throat. “Seems he’s enamored with one in particular and wants to keep her. Thinks she’s his mate or whatever. He’s got some big stuff on the horizon and thinks they’re supposed to deal with it together. Destiny and some shit.” Wolf rolled his eyes.

  “This destiny shit better be consensual. Is it?”

  “Yeah. He said he wanted her to stay of her own free will.”

  “And you’re sure there’s no mind control bullshit going on? I don’t know much about whoever this is, but they sound manipulative as hell. You’re sure she’s not being held, but just by someone else now?”

  “I’m certain.”

  Vasilisa let out a heavy sigh and sat down at her desk. More than once this ‘Inc’ entity, had helped them crack a high-profile case, but she wasn’t going to condone him taking a traumatized woman and keeping her against her will. She might let Wolf fuck her like a madman while pulling her hair until it hurt, but she didn’t put up with that shit.

  Wolf stepped toward her. “Okay, here’s what we’re gonna do. I’m going to arrange a way for you to meet with Inc and this woman. If you sense anything that feels ‘off’, you take the girl and bring her to me.”

  She arched a brow and stared at him, weighing his words. “Don’t fuck with me on this, Wolf. You pull some ‘boys club’ bullshit on me and I’ll make your life a living hell.”

  Her voice was calm–dead calm. Being an alpha male was one thing. Crossing his wife? Never going to happen. And he didn’t appreciate her suggesting that it might. It had been a while; payback was gonna be a bitch. He couldn’t fucking wait.

  “Will you, now. Woman, you are too uptight. You need to relax.” He got up and leaned against the door, then crossed his arms over his chest. “I’ve been remiss in my duties. Stand up.”

  “What the hell do you think you’re doing?” she asked quietly, her eyes wide with alarm.

  “Stand. Up.”

  “Oh, God. Here?” she whispered, incredulous and yet seriously turned on.

  “Oh, yeah. Right fucking here.” He dipped his chin, indicating the top of her desk.

  She rose to her feet, teetering on her high heels and swallowing hard. She rounded the desk, swallowing some more and nervously fidgeting with the top button of her blouse. “So…here I am. What are you–”

  “Stop talking.”

  “Oh,” she breathed. Her plump, red lips formed a perfect, tight, glistening circle that had Wolf’s dick standing at attention.

  “Okay, boss lady. Here’s what’s going to happen. You’re going to take off the thong that I know is under that designer skirt, and hand it to me. Then you’re going to hitch up that skirt, hop up onto that desk, and spread your legs nice and wide. Then I’m going to sit right here in this chair and eat that pretty pussy until you come.”

  Vasilisa got through her ‘to do’ list in record time, and Wolf got to work on his end of the deal, licking her pussy from end to end before gently sucking her clit between his lips the way he knew she liked it.

  “But what if somebody comes–” she mewled, still trying to hold onto some small vestige of control.

  She was worse off than he thought. “Woman, the only person who’s coming in this office is you,” he declared as he glared at her from between her thighs. He had just about had it with her penchant for micromanaging. Usually, they indulged in their BDSM groove in the privacy of their home, but it seemed that this situation warranted a firmer hand than he’d originally thought. Happy to oblige.

  “But, Wolf–”

  He brought his hand down on her spread pussy lips, just hard enough to sting and, apparently, just soft enough to get her nice and wet. “Stop. Talking. Reach back and hold onto the edge of the desk.”

  “Shouldn’t you lock the door?”

  “Probably,” he said as he slid his calloused hands over the silk of her inner thighs. “But a certain amount of danger makes the world go ‘round, now don’t it.” He got up and adjusted the blinds over the glass pane of her office door so that they were not quite open, but not quite closed anymore either. Then he returned to his chair and spread her pussy lips with his thumbs. “I wouldn’t want you to lose your edge.”

  “Shit, what do you think you’re…Fuck…”

  Wolf ate her out with abandon, stripping away any lingering sense of decorum and any remnants of the tightly reined control that had been weighing her down. Two orgasms later, she was splayed out across the purpleheart desk, her beautiful features drowsy with satisfaction and a blissful smile on her face.

  “You good?” he asked softly as he placed a kiss on her thigh with lips that still glistened with her creamy arousal. He absently ran his hands up and down her thighs.

  “Mm-hmm,” she sighed.

  He stood and helped her up. Together they straightened her clothes and tidied the top of her desk. When they were back in their usual seats, they resumed their business discussion, albeit in a far more relaxed atmosphere than before.

  Wolf got right to the point. “Now, let me tell you something, because it sounds like you need reminding. I love you. I do. I don’t lie to you and I don’t deceive you. Never will. I don’t belong to a fuckin’ boys’ club and I won’t tolerate anyone at this precinct who tries to shut you out that way. If something matters to you, it matters to me.”

  “I know,” she said sweetly, still floating on her fluffy pink post-orgasmic cloud. “Alright, then. The press release is yours. Now, on another note...” A wicked smile crossed her face. “The bastard who kidnapped those women is dead. His body was found in an alley with his throat cut so deep that it damn near took his head off. He got what he deserved, as far as I’m concerned.”

  “He sure did.” Wolf was smiling from ear to ear. “Karma is a bitch, isn’t she?”

  “Karma or… If your friendly neighborhood angel or Incubus or whatever is involved, who knows what might have gotten him.”

  Wolf knew she had a point. Randy could have fallen prey to a dark force he had crossed. One thing was for sure: when you crossed the ‘powers that be’ (whether they reside in the darkness or the light), you’d get your just reward–no waiting.

  Wolf knocked his knuckles against the purpleheart desk that meant so much to her. “Gotta go, girl, but you know my heart’s with you.” The wink he gave her sent a warm glow through her that made defying Daddy oh-so worth it. Her Wolf was the perfect mixture of rough, tough, alpha, and sweet that hit all her hot buttons as a woman. She loved her man.

  Wolf swaggered out of her office like he owned the world. It wasn’t an arrogant attitude of a man who had gotten his way. It was a walking-on-Cloud-Nine-in-love-with-his-woman attitude, and he knew the remnants of that feeling would stay with her too. They would rely on those feelings to see them through any hard times that might lay ahead. Because you just never knew, did you?

  Down the hall, Fey watched Reese’s ass clench and release as he paced the floor in Wolf’s office. She knew he was waiting to hear what Vasilisa had discussed with Wolf. Fey easily could have opted to be nosey and voyeuristic but, really, this view was so much better.

  “What did she say?” Reese asked, barely giving Wolf time to get through the door.

  “Damn, you act like you’re as scared of her as I am.”

  “That’s real funny, Wolf. You…scared of her? Real funny.”

  “Don’t ever think I don’t know how to pick and choose my battles, my friend. That woman is crazy when it comes to matters of business. She puts a whole new spin on ruthless. Anyway, it’s all good. I’m ready to head home and chill. It’s been a long day and I need to have my head on straight for tomorrow’s press conference. What are you doing tonight, anyway?”

  “I’ve got a date and, trust me, I won’t be heading home
early.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  “Fucking. Hell.” Reese’s cheeks puffed on a hard exhale as his soapy hand picked up speed. The ceramic tile was cold on his shoulder blades. He leaned against the wall, one hand on his shaft and the other squeezing his balls as he manhandled his junk. It was always a good idea to blow off some steam before a date, especially if it had been a while. Reese had been working long hours recently and there had been no time to get laid.

  He was taking out a girl from work. Marma. What the hell kind of name was that? She wasn’t really his type and he wasn’t remotely attracted to her, but it had indeed been a while and at this point any warm, wet orifice would do. She’d already made it very clear that she was a sure thing, but he’d keep things civil by buying her dinner first and making sure she got hers before he got his.

  Unfortunately, thinking about Marma didn’t exactly get his dick worked up for the evening ahead. He closed his eyes–like he’d probably have to do when he got Marma back to his place after dinner and clothes started coming off. He shifted gears and tried to think of other things…long, blonde hair…sweet curves…a luscious ass.

  “Oh, yeah, that’s it.” His dick definitely had a mind of its own and, damn him, it kept going back to that photograph. The one he’d seen on Wolf’s desk, of Wolf and his late sister, Fey. Reese decided that he was one sick fuck to be getting turned on by thoughts of a dead girl he’d never met. But it was hard to resist when the resulting erection was so effortless. So he went with it, stroking his cock with a firm hand and reaching back to stroke his backdoor. Fuck, he loved how good that felt. He knew he wasn’t going to be on the receiving end of any anal play tonight; not with those long, fucking fake nails of hers. Luckily, he was a DIY kind of guy.

  When Reese finally climaxed to thoughts of his blonde dream girl, the orgasm nearly buckled his knees. He let the shower spray rinse away the evidence while he caught his breath, then he dried off and hung up his towel. Looking forward to the night ahead, he whistled as he shaved in front of the mirror with a towel slung low around his hips. “Papa better get ready if he wants the real thing,” he chuckled. “Don’t want to be chafing any delicate skin later on.”