Relentless Night (New York Knights Book 4)

by S. M. West

  I want to do this for hours, for days, just kiss her, but I pull back before we get carried away. She may be all right despite everything, but I need to slow things down. My feelings for her are more than physical, more than sex and I need to show her that my need to be with her is about who she is and what we have. It’s about our friendship.

  “Where did you say those snacks are?”

  She laughs into my chest, shaking her head. “Come on, I’ll show you.”

  We make popcorn and settle on the bed, side by side, to watch a movie. Not too long into it, on the screen, a man springs from the dome of a cathedral, running down the arc of the building, only to come to a complete stop on a ledge.

  “That’s insane and completely unrealistic. That guy would be dead leaping from a building like that.” My incredulous outburst isn’t real, it’s more for Tommie—she gets a good laugh out of it.

  To add to my mock outrage, I toss a kernel or two into the air and Gunnar leaps from his resting position, all too eager to gobble up any bit of food before it hits the carpet.

  “Hey, but it looks good.” She laughs, raggedly running a hand through my already disheveled hair. “This isn’t about facts and physics. It’s a stylized action flick.”

  “Fine, I’ll park my brain.” I snuggle into the bed and draw her closer to me.

  My body betrays me and my dick twitches, liking her soft curves against my hard frame. She seems to like it too as her face inches toward my mouth. Then she freezes and something flickers through her eyes. I stiffen, wondering what I did wrong.

  “Hang on a sec.” She bounds from the bed with the dog on her heels.

  “What’s wrong?” I hit pause on the movie.

  She now stands at the door, pressing buttons on a keypad next to the light switch that I hadn’t noticed before.

  “Okay, that’s better.” She smiles, sauntering back to the bed. “Now, where were we?”

  “What was that?”

  She crawls up the mattress next to me. “I turned off the cameras to this room.”

  I glance around, looking to the ceiling for any signs of recording. I shouldn’t be shocked that we were being watched. This is HC after all.

  “Glad you remembered.” I smile and she wriggles into my side, sliding her hand once more around my neck.

  “Tommie, status?” a familiar voice says into the room.

  “What the hell?” Tensing, I search our surroundings once more for any indication as to where the voice is coming from.

  Tommie snickers. “Hey, Tango, all is good. I turned off the cameras. I’ll switch them back on later.”

  “Oh, I see how it is.” There’s no missing the innuendo or smile in Tango’s voice over the speaker system.

  “Goodnight, Tango.” She chuckles, shaking her head.

  “You two enjoy yourselves.” His voice is now extra deep and husky, followed by a sharp clip that I hope indicates the sound system is now off.

  Her fingers weave through my hair and I don’t have time to think about potential listeners or viewers or anything else when her lips crash onto mine, tongue stealing into my mouth. It’s clear she’s the one in charge and it’s sexy as hell. Who am I to fight her lead? I give up the fight to go slow, hungry for more of her kisses, for more of her touch, for more of her.

  I sweep my fingers along her jaw to her hairline, where my fingers tangle with the thickness of her hair. My hot mouth trails soft, wet kisses down her neck and across her collarbone and she emits a stuttering sigh.

  Attached at our mouths, tongues exploring, she fumbles with the button on my pants and I pause, capturing her hands.

  “Are you sure?” I search her deep, longing gaze for even a hint of hesitation.

  “Yes. I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you. Just thinking about you makes me wet.” Her words come in a husky rush.

  “Let’s see.”

  Tommie

  A wicked grin flashes across his face as his hand skates from my hip to slide under my dress. Quakes of pleasure shoot low into my belly and his strong fingers slide along my thigh, slipping into my panties. I jolt at his touch, firm and sure on my hot, aching core.

  “Holy hell.” His teeth sink into my neck. “You’re so wet. So ready for me.”

  “Uh-huh,” I whimper, wanting more of him as his warm lips cover mine in a languid, dizzying kiss that only intensifies when he slides a finger inside of me.

  My thighs tremble, fingers digging into his shoulders as he pumps hard and fast, only stopping to add another finger. Sweet Jesus.

  Sparks zip through my body and he swallows my moan. With his touch, my body burns, melting with Max all around me. In one fluid motion, my dress is over my head, then my bra and panties. I’m naked and he grinds against me, wearing way too many clothes.

  Together, we work to remove his pants and then he does the rest as I push onto my elbows to watch. His body is incredibly defined. The corded muscles of his arms are firm and long, stretching across his broad shoulders down to his wide, solid chest.

  His waist tapers into a V and those muscles are sexy, edible grooves on either side of his hips. My mouth feels dry and I swallow with difficulty as I stare at his beautifully honed body.

  Max has always been attractive, sexy even, and I noticed from the day I met him, but now it’s something altogether different. He’s here in bed with me. Max.

  My Max.

  I get to have him, be with him and feel every glorious inch of him inside of me.

  “Open for me. I want to see you.” His voice is possessive, confident.

  I widen my legs, baring myself as a slow burn simmers deep in my core. His smoldering green eyes dip between my legs and back to my face as he slides off his boxer briefs.

  His throbbing shaft springs free, smacking against his hard abs, and moisture glistens on the tip. He takes his thick cock in his grip and pumps from base to crown while his gaze never strays from me.

  My body burns, aches with my insatiable need for him and even more so as he moves off the bed, dropping to his knees, and yanks me by the ankles to the edge.

  He flashes a crooked grin and kisses my inner thigh tenderly as the backs of his fingers caress my folds. I hiss at his touch and rock shamelessly against his face when he plants his mouth on me, his tongue doing wickedly magnificent things, licking and teasing.

  Tension coils so deep, so tight within me and my fingers curl into his hair, holding his face to me as a sob escapes my lips. I squirm, moan, working myself against his mouth, almost there. One second I’m climbing, legs shaking, on the brink, and the next I’m soaring, crying out his name upon release.

  As the body shocks ease and I catch my breath from the intensity of the pleasure, he pulls back, the pure lust in his gaze stealing the little breath I have left.

  “Stay right there.” His voice is rasped dominance and my insides quake in delicious anticipation. For more.

  He grabs a condom from his discarded pants on the floor and climbs back onto the bed. The heat of his cock nudges at my leg and, unable to resist, my fingers curl around his hard steel. He jerks in my hand and I lick my lips, wanting to taste him.

  “As much as I want your smart mouth around me, not now. I want to be inside you.” He pushes back from my grip, putting on the condom.

  He moves to fill his hands with my breasts, pinching my nipples, and I arch into his touch, his hot hands blistering every place they roam.

  “Max, I want you now.”

  Holding my gaze, he moves to hover above me and slowly slides in, burying himself. I gasp at the feel of him. Fingers digging into his shoulder, I rapidly blink with sensations of him filling me and he stills.

  I feel the change, the difference. This is Max. My best friend and now my lover. Feelings I’ve never experienced spring to life within me. My heart flips and twists, and the sensation is both magnificent and scary.

  “Tommie.”

  My core pulses around him and he releases a whispered curse.

&n
bsp; My hips buck, needing more of him. “Max, you gotta move. Please.”

  He nods, sweat beading along his hairline as he leans down to capture my mouth. He starts to thrust into me and I nip at his flesh, loving the way I cause him to hiss. His strokes match my moans as his cock fills me, my sensitive walls throbbing.

  “Harder, faster,” I beg.

  Above me, he braces, pressing his hand into the wall over the bed, then picks up the pace. The sight of him, his body strong and lean, his breath hot and thrilling against my flesh, sends ripples of pleasure through me. I climax, strung tight at the same time every part of me scatters in the wind, and he follows, both of us screaming the other’s name.

  His hot body collapses on top of me and I love the way every inch of him touches me; his arms wrap around me, ppossessive and greedy.

  Being this close to him doesn’t feel like any of my concerns—going from friends to lovers—are founded. It doesn’t feel like we ruined anything. I feel closer to him than I’ve ever been to anyone else.

  And even if it’s too soon to tell if any damage has been done, my stubborn heart already loves him and couldn’t bear to lose him. After making love with Max, I’d sooner die than walk away from him.

  “Why didn’t we do this before?” His voice is low and rough, speaking into the crook of my neck.

  “What? You mean sex?” My nails gently scrape down his back and he moans.

  “Yeah.” He pushes off me, rolling to my side. “But I mean you and me.” He grins, squeezing my hip. “This. Us.”

  “It’s a good question.” I track his movements into the bathroom, likely to discard the condom, and when he returns, he gets back into bed, pulling the covers over us. “Did you ever think about me this way before now?”

  “Hell yeah.”

  “Seriously?” I don’t know why this surprises me. I thought of him this way.

  “Yes.” His lips hover over the shell of my ear and his warm breath warms me further. “Almost from the moment I met you, and my desire and attraction only grew as I got to know you.”

  His confession turns up the heat inside me and I feel his cock swelling against my thigh.

  “What about you?” His teeth nip at my earlobe and tingles shoot up my spine.

  “What about me?” I’m coy and he reaches to cup one of my breasts.

  “Did you ever think about us like this?” He thumbs and pinches my nipple.

  My chest heaves, pleasure sparking from where he is teasing me straight to my core, and I’m unable to think of a response. To comprehend what he’s asking. I just want him. Again. I only want him and I tell him just that.

  “All the time.”

  I move to straddle him, my bare chest pressing into his as my lips rain kisses, alternating between tender and urgent, all over his jawline, mouth and cheeks.

  “We really were kinda foolish,” I say between kisses as my hands roam of their own free will, memorizing and cherishing every hard plain and chiseled hollow of his body.

  “Yes. We need to rectify that, stat.”

  “We most certainly do.”

  We kiss again and I feel that familiar tug of need, for him, low in my belly as he dips his head and takes my breast into his hot mouth, swirling his tongue around my hard bud.

  Lifting his head, he looks at me like we belong together. Like we always have and none of that has changed, only become stronger. “I love you, Tommie.”

  I blink, my eyes wet, and beam. “Max, I love you too.”

  He grabs hold of my face, bringing his mouth to mine. He’s gluttonous, ravishing my mouth, and I don’t want him to stop. It’s as if I’ve shattered his control and I feel the same way. I am lost and found in Max.

  The call comes at five-thirty in the morning. Max fumbles in the dark for his phone, which is ringing on the bedside table.

  Groggily, he answers, “Conrad.”

  He stiffens, rigid from head to toe as he sits up and swings his legs over the side of the bed. It has to be Taya.

  “I’ll be there in thirty.” He hangs his head, legs open as he rests his forearms on his thighs.

  “Your mother?” I rest my hand on his warm back, sliding the other arm around his waist and bringing my cheek to rest on the hard plane of his shoulder blade.

  “Yes. I have to get going. Is someone around to wire me up?” He turns, taking my face in his hands, and plants a soft kiss on my lips.

  “I’ll do it.” I run a hand through my mussed hair.

  “No, sleep.”

  “I’m not going back to sleep knowing you’re going to be with Taya.” I throw back the covers. “I’ll be in the surveillance room.”

  We dress, and while Max takes the dog for a quick walk, I set things up for when he gets back. We have to move quickly, knowing he’s being watched, and Taya also has expectations on him showing up as soon as she calls.

  I’m nervous for many reasons but most of all, this is the first time Max is wearing a wire. He isn’t usually checked but there’s always a first time.

  “What if she pats you down?” I secure the last of his shirt buttons before taking a walk around him to make sure nothing is visible.

  “She won’t search me. She’s never done it before.”

  “Yeah, but you said one time a new guy did. And you’ve never slept at HC before.” I now face him again and swallow past the lump in my throat. This is serious. “What if she does this time? And don’t forget about Ash. He doesn’t trust anyone. He might demand that you’re checked.”

  “If they search me then I’ll use the code word.” His chest rises on a deep intake of air before deflating with his exhale. “Isn’t that what I’m supposed to do? And someone from HC will be close by.”

  “Yeah, I’ll be there.” Tango, the booming voice through the speaker last night, steps into the room. “And that’s exactly what you do.”

  “I know but… just don’t do anything risky.”

  Tango comes to stand next to me, placing a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t stress. If anything starts to feel off, I’ll get him out. Promise.”

  “I know.” I don’t sound convinced and I internally cringe.

  Typically, I’d be okay with all of this. Our team has done this kind of thing more times than I can count and if the shit hits the fan, we get our man out. Always.

  But this is Max.

  And Ash knows what he means to me.

  “Okay.” Tango lifts his arm, glancing at his watch. “Clock’s ticking, you better get a move on.”

  Max nods and, reading the room, Tango leaves the two of us alone.

  “I’m going to be okay. Are you?” His hands cup my face and my fingers curl around his wrists, needing to hold onto him for a bit longer.

  “Yeah. I’ll be better once you’re out of there.” I try to keep any of the edge or anxiety I’m feeling from my voice.

  “I’ve got to be at the hospital after, but I’ll text you.”

  “You’ll come by later?”

  “Yeah. Is Gun okay to stay here? If not, I can get the dog walker to pick him up.”

  “No, he’s fine.”

  “And I’ll be fine too.” His fingers tip my chin up and the tenderness in his tone matches his gaze.

  Max pulls my head to his, bringing our bodies flush against each other. I wasn’t aware I’d been holding my breath until he wraps his arm around me. He bends his head to mine and his lips destroy all thought or worry. I hold him close, arms sliding around his waist, needing all of him.

  Max

  Removing the stethoscope from around my neck, I place it in the black bag on the concrete floor of the warehouse basement. I’ve examined nearly two dozen women this morning, although the term girls is more accurate. I’d wager the oldest is pushing twenty-one at the most.

  And as if that isn’t bad enough, more than a third weren’t healthy. Some had walking pneumonia and one, I think, had syphilis. Taya isn’t pleased with the news as she barks orders for the men to get rid of the girls.


  There’s a chorus of sobs, or more an outcry, across the basement as the men begin to gather up the women who are unfit for whatever is planned.

  My fists curl, tightening by the second. “I’ll take them to a local clinic. No one needs to know where they came from.”

  It’s clear that some of these women were vulnerable before this, living in unsafe, maybe even just as dangerous situations. I want to stop the men from taking them away. Whatever their fate, it can’t be good.

  “No. That isn’t your job. They’re useless.” Maybe sensing the tension building in me, my mother motions for one of her men to grab my arm.

  Turning her back on the depravity she’s the ringmaster of, she leads the way through the dark halls and up the stairs to the ground floor.

  Because it’s so dark, it’s hard to grasp just how big the basement is or how many cells they have or most importantly, how many women. Since that night with the woman dying of a gunshot wound, I would guess that I’ve examined close to sixty women, with about thirty percent unwell.

  While I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I’m more than sure the sickly are no longer here. Bile rises in my throat, knowing the ill women are living on borrowed time and I’m helpless to stop it.

  HC as well as the FBI and the NYPD have made it very clear that I’m to follow Taya’s orders to the letter. I can’t cause trouble or raise suspicion. They want to shut down the whole operation.

  My mother leads me to her office and I shut the door, resolved to find out more, speed things up so law enforcement can do their jobs sooner.

  “Why did you spend the night at Hart Corporation?”

  She isn’t even trying to hide the fact that she’s having me followed. Does she suspect I’ve double-crossed her?

  “Why are you having me watched?” My arms fold over my chest and I scowl, trying to act unfazed by this line of conversation.

  “Answer the question.” She matches my glare with her own.

  “Tommie’s staying there right now.”

  She taps her nails annoyingly on the desk. “What’s going on with you two? You seem closer than usual.”