She closed her eyes and shook her head under the water. Wiping her face again, she blinked away the droplets on her dark eyelashes. “I was a sure thing. You don’t have to keep up the lines.”
That was the reason he needed to tell what was in his head. She was too convinced that everything was a façade, that he was still the enemy, but for him, they’d changed. Instead of trying to find the words, he let his mouth drift over hers. He tasted her kiss, teasing her tongue. His fingers kneaded into her back, and as she moaned, he dropped to her neck to feel her vibrations.
“Luke, thank you for this. But you don’t have to.”
“Your entire life, you’ve been told sex is a commodity.” Taking more care, he lathered the soap between his hands and ran the sudsy bubbles across her body. He worshipped every curve, every swell, appreciating the smoothness that could only be described as extraordinarily feminine. “It is sometimes, but not all the time.”
She shook her head slightly, but her eyes were closed. His hands ran the length of her, exploring and whisking away soap remnants until he held her close and their eyes locked. Her pebbled nipples pressed to his chest, her pouty lips kiss-swollen. Everything about her made him hard as steel again, yet he didn’t want to fuck her against the wall—no cold tiles and hot shower spray surrounding their bodies. He wanted to take her like a man, to make her feel the million ways he knew he could make her moan, make her gasp. He wanted to make love to her until they couldn’t breathe, to hold her until she refused to let go.
She was worth so much more than she realized. Everything he’d seen on the surface was all a front. Just like his pain addiction hid his hurt, her focus derailed everything else in her life. Luke wanted to make this one woman feel better, a direct contradiction to his only focus, his long-ago-lost girlfriend.
None of this made sense, except that part of him had staked claim to Maddy, and he didn’t know what to do about that.
The sweetness she’d never seen in the fighter before her was almost contagious. It almost made her feel as though her shell of a heart, held together with barbed wire, had softened. Maddy sighed, inching closer to him as Luke turned the water off. He stepped them out and towel-dried her body as though she were priceless.
This magnificent man made of etched, powerful muscle was more than he let on. Not just a fighter. Not just an enforcer. He was…different, and he made her curious about what else she could experience with him, what she could give him to reciprocate what he’d done for her.
She wanted sex and fulfillment again and was falling for him. Such a problem. She’d said too much. Hours had passed, and it was time to go. “That was great, but—”
He caught her mouth, kissing her silent and awakening that warmness that bled in her veins. It was more than a ravenous desire for him to bring her to the edge. It was a happiness, a need to stay in his arms.
“You hungry?” he asked.
“No.”
“I am.” With his arms around her, Luke led her to the bed. “Lie down.” He stripped the damp towel from around her, taking a long glance before pulling a sheet over her. “You good, baby?”
Nodding, she had no words because, no, she wasn’t okay. Their connection was more than she’d signed up for and more than her mind wanted to handle, but she couldn’t run away.
“All right, I’m past due on a phone call to work. Be back in a minute.” He pulled on a pair of shorts from a dresser and left her alone. The sounds of him unwrapping his middle-of-the-night fried pork dish and mumbling on the phone reminded her of how they’d met. They were enemies. Yet here she lay.
She could wonder who he was speaking to or, again, if this was a setup. But a realization dawned again—she trusted him not to screw her, just as she had placed her faith in him when she said she wanted Mercier to crumble.
A few minutes later, the sound of takeout being thrown away and then Luke brushing his teeth in the bathroom made her skin tingle. She was eager for his return, anticipating his moves. As he walked into the room, she pushed up on an elbow. “Hi.”
His dark eyes shone as he stalked to the bed. He leaned over, burying his head in his hands as though he couldn’t figure out what the hell they were doing either, but then his body shifted. With a quick tug, the sheet pulled off of her torso, baring her hip. His hand ran the length of her, from thigh to ribs, in a sinfully slow move. He bent, placing a chaste kiss on her hip as his fingers froze in place, splaying as though marking ownership.
She knew ownership. It wasn’t what she ever wanted or needed. But this, this feeling of belonging to someone, with the sparks and the sizzle, was a feeling she wanted to feel again and again. She remembered when he’d threatened her with handcuffs, when she’d alluded to the truth about what she wanted with Mercier. “When did you stop hating me?”
His teeth nibbled before kissing her side. “I don’t know.”
“We’re not enemies.”
“Not even close, and I’m going to make love to you, seeing as I can’t stop thinking about you.” His fingers flittered over her breast. The sensation was amazing. “There you go, beautiful. Give me your eyes.”
She hadn’t realized they were shut. And when she opened them, she saw the emotion on his face that she felt inside her chest, and she knew she was gone for him. Maddy let her fingers drift over him as their eyes stayed locked. “I don’t understand why this is happening.”
“Does there have to be a reason?”
She nodded, embracing the zings of excitement sparking through her body and embracing the soreness from their time in bed before. “In my world, yes.”
“Too bad.” His lips upturned. “I’m ignoring my world for you.”
Her heart slammed within her. They’d just had explosive sex. Why did she want this again so soon? She was sore and had never had an interest before, but Luke had changed her from the inside.
His lips landed on her as he rolled her onto her back. He kissed her stomach, dreamily letting his tongue sweep across her skin. Her nipples hardened, and his greedy hands found their mark, massaging in a gentle way that made her want to cry. She embraced the softness, the man that was spinning her mind a million ways.
His hand went between her legs, and she moaned.
“Fuck, you can’t. Can you? You’re hurting?”
“No,” she promised. “I can. Don’t stop.”
“Don’t do this for me, Maddy.”
“I’m not. Or…” Because, yes, she wanted him to need her, but she needed him the same. “Please.”
“Beautiful.” He swept hair off her face, then pulled away to find a condom and sheathe himself before returning to the bed.
Again, she was able to take in how hard yet gorgeous he was. His sexiest attribute, though, was the hungry desire in his eyes.
Slowly, he positioned over her, again one arm holding himself, the other grasping her hand. Their fingers interlocked, and he squeezed. As his lips found hers, he pressed against her ready entrance.
“Oh, God.” She winced and kissed him, scared he would stop.
Luke’s hips flexed, slowly filling her body as he urged her mouth open. The full feeling was deliciously tender, intentionally torturous, and unlike anything she might have expected.
“I,” she breathed into his kiss, “need…”
He shushed her quiet, slowly thrusting his shaft into her, inching in deeper each time. “Beautiful, I’ve got you.”
And he did. How it happened, she had no idea. But he held her, and he saved her from a world that had her captive. With his full length inside her, her head rolled back, and her body arched. “God, Luke.”
He held her close then rode her slowly, in and out, hands locked together, eyes locked. The building sensation was intoxicating as two hundred pounds of ripped muscle dedicated its every move to making her body come alive.
The whirlwind of tightening muscles and uncontrolled passion blinded her. She was so close but couldn’t fall. His teeth caught her bottom lip. The bite was so sweet ye
t so hard. He bit and sucked, his hips racing and flexing against her. Maddy crawled her legs around his hips, and with all of the force she’d expected to be fucked with, Luke made love to her. The intensity was ferocious. She couldn’t breathe. His hard breaths tangled with hers.
“Mon nounours,” she moaned.
His mouth dropped to her neck, and he devoured the sensitive skin, growling as they both found release together. Her climax made the world fade. No sounds, no sights. Just the overwhelming, addictive feeling of falling in love with him. He was her savior in so many ways.
Their bodies pressed together as he collapsed, spent and exhausted. Still, he held tight, and she didn’t want to be let go.
CHAPTER TWELVE
The jarring phone ring pulled Luke from his coma-like connection with the woman in his arms. This moment, this night, had been unexpected, and he didn’t want reality to come crashing upon them. As soon as it did, he would have to own up to who he was and why their paths had crossed. What did he want? To save her? To claim her?
Yes.
On so many levels, yes. Despite the turmoil inside his chest.
“Do you have to get that?” she purred against his neck.
Nodding, Luke shifted and pulled the covers around her. The phone stopped ringing, but he knew it would begin again shortly. He stalked toward the phone. Sure enough, the ringing restarted.
The screen read Cade. Of course it did. “Yo.”
“Been off the grid long enough to work?”
Nowhere near long enough. “Got something for me, or you just bustin’ my balls?”
“That woman you can’t get enough of? She has a shipment outgoing noon tomorrow.”
“Bullshit.” The automatic reaction should have stayed silent. No need to give away how much he’d screwed up the investigation, nor did he believe the lithe beauty lying in his flophouse apartment had a major deal going down in less than twelve hours.
“Excuse me?”
“I’m just saying, maybe we’re looking at this wrong.”
“Shit, are you kidding me?”
“What?”
“You’ve fallen for her? Believing BS lies and pillow talk?”
Hell yes, he’d fallen for her. Claiming that could be a career ender. Ignoring their connection would be ludicrous. And where was she in any of this? She couldn’t deny their chemistry. “What I’m telling you is there is more than what we see.”
Her soft footsteps padded down the hall, and Luke turned to see her wrapped in a sheet. Her dark brown hair was tousled and framed her dangerous face. Her dark eyes danced, pleading with him not to bring reality into the shitty apartment while her lips readied an excuse to leave.
“How deep are you into this mess?” Cade asked.
“Deep, brother. I gotta go.” Then he hung up the phone, tossing it onto the cheap, scarred counter. “You have a deal at noon?”
She didn’t blink, but her business face morphed into place, taking away the sexy angel he’d just bedded, just loved. “We’re not here to talk about that.”
“You’re here because I gave you what you couldn’t get anywhere else. Ever.”
Her lips pursed, and her hold on the sheet tightened.
Luke stalked closer. “You can’t do it.”
“What are you going to do? Arrest me?”
“You don’t want that.”
Her lips pressed together in a tight line. “Obviously.”
He stepped closer, pulling her into his embrace. “There’s something important here. With us.”
“Don’t—”
He hugged her. Held her. Pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Yes. There is.”
Maddy’s body melted to his. “We’re enemies. You said it yourself.”
“Only because you want it to be like that.” Time ticked by until he pulled her from his chest. “Why do you do it? You’ve said your lines, and I get that there’s an underlying want to help them. But I’ve seen your soul and the walls you’ve put up.”
“No.” She shook her head too emphatically, her eyes shining with tears she was too proud or maybe scared to shed.
“Yes, beautiful.”
Maddy pushed away, though he caught her in his arms. “Let go.”
“Look at me.” He swept her into his arms and carried her, the sheet trailing behind, back to the bedroom. “Why?”
“You wouldn’t understand.”
“Why?” he whispered.
“Luke!” She slapped her hands against his chest, pushing him away. “Stop.”
“Why, Maddy? Tell me why you’re hanging on to something so evil.”
“Because I am evil!” She snatched the sheets against her chest. “And I don’t want to be.” Tears streamed down her face. “I was born into it, and I can bring it down. I can! But not now, not yet. He’ll get away with too much, and he needs to pay.”
“He, who?”
Her chin dropped. “My father.”
“Maddy…”
She inched back. “I don’t even know what you are, who you work for. I just know it’s a detriment to what I live for.”
“Those girls?”
Her head shot up, defiance in her eyes. “No. To kill him. One day, it will happen. It’s what I need to justify my existence.”
“I can’t let you murder your father.” However, that almost didn’t make sense, as much as Luke wanted to eradicate the world of filth. “Blood shouldn’t do that to blood.”
“Why not? He’s done so much worse to me!”
“Maddy—”
“No. You don’t know. You have no idea. I’ve been trained as a soldier my whole life. You saw me. I scaled a hotel wall of balconies. I stood by while he sold women.”
“You said so yourself—you saved them as often as you could.”
“Why are you making excuses for me?”
He pushed away. “I have no damn idea!” Pacing the room, he turned back. “But I am.”
“That’s crazy.”
“This”—he pointed between them—“is crazy. Crazy and intense, and we’d be stupid to let it go just because you’re scared.”
“You are crazy. I’m a criminal. You’re law enforcement.” She threw her arms out. “I want to destroy my father’s empire, not create some American press release where one person is taken off the streets!”
He pressed his hands to his temples. “Here’s a story for you.” Luke planted himself in front of her and watched her take him in. “Here’s a press release for you.”
Maddy’s mouth opened, but nothing came out.
“I was seventeen years old and in love with the sweetest, greatest girl. My mom and her mom were best friends. We grew up together. We were supposed to live together forever. But one awful beach vacation, they took her. They, I now know, were the Rivera cartel. But by the time that intel came around, she was gone. I’ve dedicated my entire life to wiping out those who hurt her, and nothing has stopped me. Until I met you.”
Bile churned in Luke’s gut. Raw hatred flowed in his veins. Many years had passed. The pain was still eating him alive, but Maddy had somehow helped heal a wound that he thought would be forever torn open.
He took a step forward. “You’ve changed things.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I can’t say how or why, but I can’t let you go. I feel different because of you, and I won’t let our pasts screw up what the future could be. I don’t know what it holds. But I do know I sure as fuck can’t walk away from you.”
“I’m so confused by what I feel.” Tears slipped down her cheeks. “I never feel.”
“Beautiful, I made love to you, and you felt it.” He moved to her, pulling her against him. “And I’ll do it again and again until you know you’re worth it.”
“I’ve fought for so long. To hurt Papa, to ruin his world. I wanted this for my whole life.”
He kissed her forehead. “Work with me, let me help you with what you want, and be with me. There’s something here to explore. We’ve g
otta figure it out.”
“It won’t work. They’ll arrest me. He’ll just leave the country. I’ll have a mark on my head unless he’s gone and the whole cartel disabled.”
“He’d kill his daughter?”
“I’m sure he killed my brother.”
Luke’s forehead pinched in thought until he took her chin in his hand and swiped her tears away. “If I can take care of those problems, if I can make sure you’re protected, you’ll try and stay by my side? I want what we don’t have. Time.”
Her eyes landed on his, and the emotional toll of sharing almost overwhelmed him. Maddy had a face for poker—he couldn’t read which way she would go. One way, he knew she’d be his forever, as soon as they traversed the confused landscape of her tumultuous life. The other, he might never see her again unless it was to chase her down a cartel rabbit hole.
He should never see her again. Luke was addicted to pain, and not having the woman he wanted would be the ultimate pain. However, he hadn’t felt that craving since their lives had intermingled. He didn’t want to hurt. He wanted her. “Please, beautiful.”
A soft sigh of acceptance escaped her lips, and he swung her into his arms as her mouth agreed, whispering against his ear.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
“This is unorthodox.” Cade ran a hand over his stubble-covered face but went back to whatever he was working on.
Luke had talked with both the task force team leader and Brock at Titan HQ, and they’d given him an earful of feedback. After running a summary of the discussion by Maddy, she’d agreed to meet Cade face to face and see if his idea would be a go. It’d either break open Mercier or ruin Luke’s career, landing the woman he cared about behind bars.
He held Maddy’s hand in the makeshift war room. Almost all the men had uncertain eyes on them, and he couldn’t blame them. “This is Maddy Mercier.”
A few unsteady nods came their way. Grayson seemed the most receptive, Javier the most on guard. Colin and Ryder simply stared.
Delta: Rescue: A MacKenzie Family Novella (The MacKenzie Family) Page 9
