Into The Night

by Janelle Denison

  Wanting to get even with him for his sensual torment, she decided to use the only ammunition she had in her arsenal-her hands, and her body. She wanted to show him just how resourceful she was, her ultimate goal to unravel that precious control of his and reap the benefits of a man who succumbed to the red haze of lust.

  It became a sexy game between them. An irresistible challenge of who could arouse whom the most. And she was determined to win.

  She touched her breasts, grazed her thumbs over her nipples, and moaned, feeling the tension rise within Nathan as he watched, his gaze burning with carnal hunger, his jaw clenched in denial. Biting her lower lip, she skimmed one palm downward, and when her fingers slid between their bodies to the hot, wet place where they were joined and glided over the hard nub of her clitoris, she gasped and tightened her inner muscles around him-and swore she felt him swell harder, thicker inside her.

  He shuddered, but his features remained etched with determination. “Jesus, Nicole,” he groaned raggedly, and pumped into her a little bit faster, but it wasn’t nearly enough to satisfy the relentless arousal demanding release.

  “Give me more,” she taunted in a soft, heated whisper, and continued to push him closer and closer to the edge of his own sanity.

  Done teasing them both, she closed her eyes and circled her clit with her fingers, knowing exactly what it would take to grasp the orgasm lingering just beyond her reach. Knowing, too, that her climax would trigger his own. With each deliberate touch and caress the thrill increased, the sensation amplified, the yearning grew… and with a defeated groan Nathan finally let go and began giving her more of everything she needed. Harder strokes. Deeper penetration. Faster thrusts.

  He drove into her, impaling her on his cock, over and over again, so solid, so rough, so powerful he sent her higher than she’d ever gone before. The pressure inside her became almost unbearable, then seemed to snap apart, battering her with a pleasure so intense she couldn’t hold back the shocked cry tumbling from her lips, or the rippling aftershocks that gripped him tight.

  She heard Nathan curse, felt him buck uncontrollably against her-once, twice, three more violent thrusts, then the hot, scalding rush as he came.

  He collapsed on top of her with a rough groan, his breathing erratic, his body slack from his own vigorous orgasm. Feeling completely content for the moment, she laughed, enjoying every moment of his defeat.

  * * *

  Nathan woke just before dawn to find his face pressed against a fragrant spill of hair and his arms full of silky, curvy woman-a great way to start the day, in his opinion. Nicole was spooned against his chest, her tempting bottom tucked against his groin, her body all soft and warm and satiated from a night of incredible sex.

  Unable to help himself, he smiled and gently trailed his fingers along the indentation of her waist and felt her stir sleepily against him. This time, she hadn’t snuck out on him in the middle of the night, not even to return to her own room, and he had to admit he liked having her in his bed.

  She’d proved last night just how weak he was when it came to her, that resisting her allure was next to impossible. Somehow, she’d wrapped him around her finger, coercing him into letting her be a part of his assignment and seducing him into having sex with her. Not that he was complaining about the latter, not when he already wanted her again this morning.

  Would it really be such a bad thing to indulge in the friends-with-benefits proposition she’d suggested-a temporary agreement to enjoy sex with a woman he couldn’t seem to get enough of anyway? Truly, it was a win-win situation-lots of physical pleasure without the emotional involvement. Just the kind of arrangement he preferred, especially considering that their reason for being together was temporary.

  Bottom line, Nicole made him feel alive, more so than he had in years. She aroused him, frustrated him, even, but there was so much about her that intrigued him and kept him coming back for more. After last night, he was done fighting what he wanted so badly. Her .

  He pressed his damp lips to her bare shoulder, then slowly kissed his way up to the warm curve of her neck. Nuzzling the side of her throat, he cupped a soft breast in his hand, and her nipple instantly beaded against his palm. His cock stiffened, and despite the numerous times they’d had sex during the course of the night, he was already aching to get inside her again.

  She sighed, gradually coming awake, and tried to turn around to face him, but he had something else in mind. Gently, he eased her onto her stomach, nudged her thighs apart with his knee, then settled his hips between her legs. He covered her from behind, careful about distributing his weight as he aligned their bodies and the tip of his shaft glided along her slick, feminine cleft. Finding her hands, he laced their fingers together at the side of her head.

  “Mmmm,” she murmured as she instinctively lifted her bottom, seeking a deeper, more intimate contact. “Good morning.”

  “Yeah, it is.” He slid into her with a sleek, heavy thrust that made them both groan in pleasure. “And it’s about to get a whole lot better,” he said, and proceeded to make good on his promise.

  Chapter Ten

  It amazed Nathan how Nicole could go from being such a sultry vixen with him in bed, to looking like a fresh-faced teenager trying to appear mature and experienced. From her cute and trendy outfit and accessories, to the soft curls framing her face and her practiced, youthful expressions, she pulled off the pretense quite well.

  On a Saturday night, the Strip was congested with partygoers seeking the kind of excitement and entertainment that only a city like Vegas could provide. When they pulled into the circular drive for the well-known nightclub Bliss, there was a long line of people waiting for a chance to get inside. It didn’t help matters that it was a long summer weekend that concluded with the Fourth of July, which attracted more tourists than normal.

  Once the valet took his Ferrari to park, Nathan grabbed Nicole’s hand tight in his and gave it an encouraging squeeze. “Ready or not, here we go.”

  “Don’t worry about me,” she said with a reassuring smile as they made their way though the press of people gathering on the sidewalk. “I’m more than ready to get in there and find Angela.”

  He believed her. At least a dozen times they’d gone over what they needed to accomplish once they got inside, and even though she wasn’t technically trained for this sort of undercover work, he trusted her implicitly. She might be looking to nail a story on Sloane, but he’d seen enough concern in Nicole’s gaze when they’d discussed Angela’s predicament to know that she truly cared about extracting the young girl from a dangerous situation.

  Nathan still believed there was some kind of personal slant to her interest in Sloane’s lifestyle and his preference for underage teens. But whatever her motive for pursuing in-depth information on the man, it remained a mystery to him and she didn’t seem inclined to talk about her reasons. Just like he wasn’t willing to discuss his own private issues with Sloane and the case with her.

  For now, their sole focus was to first locate Angela, then form a plan of action to get her out of the mess she’d tangled herself up in.

  Nathan veered away from the main doors to the nightclub and headed toward the clearly marked VIP entrance. A hefty, bald-headed man dressed in black guarded the closed steel door, turning away party revelers trying to talk their way into the exclusive section of the club.

  The man took his job seriously and wasn’t letting anyone past him, which was why Nathan handed him the card that Sloane had given to him as an invitation. “I’m here for Preston Sloane’s private party.”

  The other man glanced from the card to Nicole, then back to Nathan again, his rugged face expressionless. “I need to see some identification.”

  Since Nicole looked barely old enough to drive, the guard was obviously more concerned with clearing Nathan’s name before letting them through. Withdrawing his wallet, he flipped it open and showed the guard his Alex Keller driver’s license. The man scanned the information caref
ully before making a call on his cell phone to verify his identity and to get approval to let him beyond the black metal door.

  Sloane seemed to run a tight operation, and Nathan supposed the other man had to be careful about who he allowed into the private parties. His meticulous screening of the people he accepted into his inner circle was one of the reasons he had managed to elude prosecution.

  After receiving confirmation, probably from Sloane himself, the guard disconnected the call, then unlocked and opened the door to let them through. Nathan led the way down a nondescript hallway that came to an end at another closed door and a younger man dressed in a dark suit. He, too, asked to see Nathan’s ID before finally granting them access into the private club.

  Once inside, Nathan discovered the atmosphere was much mellower than he’d anticipated-more like that of an intimate party than the frenetic mood that accompanied most nightclubs. The lighting was dim, and the music was kept at a reasonable level so conversations could be heard as guests mingled in the spacious lounge.

  The decor was very provocative, with erotic art hanging on the walls, live girls dancing in gold gilded cages suspended from the ceiling, and strategically placed beds for couples to lounge on. Each one was draped with sheer red curtains and covered with a luxurious silk comforter and piles of pillows. Some were already in use, and while the veil of material had been drawn around the mattress, Nathan could clearly see what each couple was doing, which added to the erotic, sexual vibe in the room.

  “I think this is what’s called a den of iniquity,” Nicole said from beside him, her voice tinged with awe. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

  “Yeah, it’s quite impressive,” he agreed, having seen his share of exotic places during his years as a vice cop. The underbelly of Vegas held some very licentious lifestyles, but Sloane’s secret society was by far the most luxurious he’d ever encountered.

  Hand in hand, they strolled deeper into the club, and Nathan took a moment to size up the guests. The men ranged in age from thirty-something professionals to older, wealthy gentlemen, and he even recognized a few athletes and lower-level politicians. Women in their early twenties, all dressed very provocatively, mingled with a younger group of girls who appeared to be in their teens.

  All in all, it was a diverse group of females, providing plenty of choices for every male taste.

  Nathan caught sight of Sloane, heading toward them with a young, pretty brunette by his side. The girl, who was wearing a red strapless dress with high-heeled shoes and had painted her lips a shocking shade of crimson, clung to his arm as they approached. While Nicole had gone the understated route with her choice of outfit and opted for a more natural look for her face, this girl appeared as though she was playing dress-up with her mother’s clothes and makeup. And to Nathan, her appearance and demeanor screamed desperation.

  With Sloane’s blatant interest in Nicole, who managed to maintain an air of innocence in the way she presented herself, Nathan wondered if most of the girls whom Sloane was initially attracted to started out looking their age, then gradually felt the need to change their appearance to something sexier in an attempt to compete for his affection and hold his attention, only to be cast aside when fresh blood entered the picture.

  Like now. Sloane was staring at Nicole, and while he’d minimized his desire for her at the art gallery, in this environment, teeming with sexual undertones, he did nothing to hide the lust in his gaze. The girl next to Sloane must have sensed the change in him, because she tightened her hold on his arm and moved closer.

  Annoyed by the girl’s possessive behavior, Sloane peeled her fingers from his shirt, severing the contact between them. Anxiety and dismay etched the girl’s features, but Sloane didn’t seem to notice, or he just didn’t care.

  “Alex and Nikki.” Sloane welcomed them in a cheerful greeting, his gaze lingering on Nicole much longer than necessary. “I’m so pleased that the two of you came.”

  Nathan shook the other man’s hand. “Thanks again for the invitation.”

  “It was my pleasure.” Sloane’s words held a dual meaning as he turned back to Nicole, picked up her right hand, and pressed an openly intimate kiss on the inside of her wrist. “You look absolutely beautiful tonight, Nikki.”

  “Thank you.” Smiling shyly, Nicole tugged her hand back, giving the impression of being demure when Nathan knew she was more likely repulsed by Sloane’s display of affection.

  He understood her disgust. It was all Nathan could do to keep calm when he wanted to beat the shit out of Sloane for even touching her.

  The young girl had witnessed the exchange, too, and seemed to grow more distressed with each passing moment. Nathan guessed that she was Sloane’s current “it” girl, and was feeling threatened by Nicole’s appearance, and Preston’s obvious interest in her.

  “Nice place you have here,” Nathan said, sounding suitably impressed.

  “I’m glad you like it. There’s plenty to enjoy, from the open bar, to the dance floor, and even private massage rooms.” He inclined his head at Nathan. “Care to join me for a drink while Holly introduces Nikki to some of the other girls?”

  “That would be great.” Nathan couldn’t have asked for a more ideal arrangement, which would allow him some one-on-one time with Sloane while Nicole tried to find out if Angela was somewhere in the nightclub.

  They both had a job to do tonight, and the sooner they gathered the information they needed and located Angela, the sooner they could get the hell out of there.

  * * *

  Nicole followed Holly into an adjoining lounge area, feeling the resentment coming off the young girl in waves. Clearly, she didn’t appreciate having to babysit Nicole-the new girl on the block who appeared to have captured Sloane’s attention.

  The first thing Holly did was beeline to the bar and order a mixed cocktail and a glass of water, not bothering to ask if Nicole wanted anything to drink. While the bartender set the water on the bar, then began pouring alcohol into a shaker to create her martini, Holly retrieved a pill box from her purse and shook out three tablets. She popped them into her mouth and washed them down with a huge gulp of water.

  Nicole had no idea what Holly had just taken, but she was absolutely certain it wasn’t aspirin. “Are you okay?” she asked, genuinely concerned for the girl.

  “I just need something to calm my nerves,” she said brusquely. “I’ll be fine in a few minutes.”

  The guy behind the bar finished her cocktail, pushed it toward Holly, and she downed half of it in one long drink.

  Nicole cringed, resisting the urge to take the martini from the girl and dump it out somewhere. Knowing her actions would draw unwanted attention, she opted for words instead. “Should you be drinking alcohol with those pills?”

  Holly glared at her. “What are you, my mother?” she snapped.

  “No. But I’m smart enough to know that taking pills with alcohol isn’t a good mix.” She sounded like an adult instead of a sixteen-year-old, but she didn’t care-and Holly was too worked up to notice. With her own past experience under her belt, Nicole knew all about taking drugs to get through an increasingly unpleasant situation.

  Which was why watching this too-young girl attempt to mask her emotions with narcotics made Nicole’s protective instincts rise to the surface.

  “Well, it works just fine for me.” Holly finished off the cocktail, placed the empty glass on the bar, then walked away.

  Grateful that she’d stopped at one drink, Nicole followed Holly, who continued to ignore her despite Sloane’s instructions to introduce her to the other girls. It killed Nicole to see this young girl falling apart over Sloane, who didn’t give a crap about her beyond his own depraved needs.

  While Nicole wanted to shake some sense into Holly, she knew she had to take a different approach. She couldn’t just come in and immediately change the girl’s way of thinking and dealing with things. First, she had to gain her trust and put her at ease. Then maybe, just ma
ybe, she could eventually reason with the girl.

  It was a long shot, but she had to try, because in Holly, she saw her past. Mark Reeves, just like Sloane, had lured her in with sweet talk and promises, then used her sexually. Kinky desires had evolved into more deviant demands, and with him whispering in her ear how much he loved her, and her system pumped with just enough ketamine to keep her relaxed and compliant, he’d done things to her that with a clear conscience she would have flat refused.

  Those memories were what spurred her with Holly now.

  Gently, she grabbed Holly’s arm to stop her, and the girl came to a halt-mainly because Nicole didn’t give her a choice. She pierced Nicole with a spiteful look, but Nicole wasn’t about to be deterred. Holly put on a tough act, but Nicole could sense the vulnerability beneath the girl’s belligerent facade.

  “I’m not interested in Preston,” Nicole said, getting right to the crux of the problem between them, and hoping that her reassurance would help to soften Holly toward her. “I already have a boyfriend.”

  The tension stiffening Holly’s spine eased a fraction, and the look in her eyes gradually filled with resignation. “It doesn’t matter,” she said, her voice choked with distress. “He’s interested in you. I can see it in the way he looks at you. He used to look at me the same way.”

  Unexpectedly, Holly grabbed Nicole’s hands, the sudden desperation etching her young features almost frightening in its intensity. “If you’ll stay away from Preston, I can change his mind about me. I know I can.”

  Tears filled Holly’s eyes, and Nicole could see the girl breaking down right in front of her. Her belly burned with fury at witnessing how Sloane’s influence had affected this girl’s psyche. Sloane had toyed with Holly’s emotions and twisted her perceptions of their relationship to keep her amenable and dependent on him.