A smile curved her lips as she slid him from her mouth, then took him deep again. She stared up at him and sucked while fondling his balls, making little circles with one finger behind the sac. She traced the skin between his balls to the front and a shudder of pleasure traveled over him.
With her other hand, she grasped his cock as she moved her head up and down. Watching her head bob while she took him deep only made the feeling in his groin tighter and powerfully intense. Sweat broke out on his skin as he felt the strong suction of her tongue and mouth that threatened to make him come. She’d been right. When she went down on him, she had all the control.
He had to stop her from taking it too far, to the point of no return. He pulled her hair hard, tugging her head back, and his cock slipped from her mouth. She bit her lower lip as she looked up at him and he stared into her liquid-soft brown eyes.
I’m a goner.
“Hold on.” He removed his belt and laid his Colt on the nightstand. He turned back to Tori, his heart beating a mile a minute.
She grasped his jeans and boxer briefs and tugged them all the way to the floor and he could tell she loved what she saw. He stepped out of his clothing and she slipped off his socks with his help.
This woman would be the death of him. Death due to being deep-throated by a gorgeous woman.
What a way to go.
* * *
When Landon stood naked from the waist down, Tori took in his rock-hard muscular body. She loved sucking his cock, loved to have the hard length of him in her mouth and down her throat. He felt so good, tasted so good.
Tori eased up from the floor, pressing her lips to his flat belly and skimming them over his ripped abs. She smoothed her palms beneath his shirt and over his muscular chest as she rose and placed her lips on his collarbone but avoided touching the other shoulder, where he’d been shot.
For a second, the memories of last night washed over her and threatened to tear her away from the moment. But she held on to her composure, determined not to let the horrible men ruin her time with Landon. Right now was for the two of them.
He bunched his fist in her hair and buried his nose in it, and she heard his audible inhale as he breathed in the scent. “You smell so damned good.” He nuzzled her. “All of you.”
She sighed when he slid his lips over her cheek and his mouth claimed hers. He seemed to know exactly what she wanted and what ways she loved to be kissed. He sucked her tongue into his mouth and kissed her hard.
He raised his head. “I want to take off this damned thing.” He reached for the fastening on his sling. “I don’t need it.”
She braced her palms on his chest, her breathing ragged. “Are you sure?”
“Damned sure.”
He needed her help removing the sling and she tossed it onto the rocking chair. She had to unbutton his shirt for him and she took her time, slowly undoing each button while she skimmed her fingers along his hot skin. She could tell by the slight tremors in his body he had a hard time restraining himself. When she’d taken care of the last button, she gently pushed the shirt over his shoulders and helped him slide it off.
She ran her fingers lightly along his shoulder, staying away from the injured area. Only a small spot of red dotted the dressing, so it didn’t appear to be bleeding.
“I want to taste you again.” His words came out in a deep rumble that sent a thrill through her. He moved his body close to hers, his cock bumping her belly, his chest rubbing her nipples. He ran his fingers down her side to her hip and back up again.
“I need you inside me.” She pressed her mouth to his and whispered against his lips, “I need you. Lie on the bed.”
Still watching her, he sat on the bed then lay back, resting his head on a pillow. His hunger for her flamed in his eyes.
She trailed her fingers up from the base of his cock to the head and back again. “Where are your condoms?”
He stroked her hip as she teased his cock. “In the nightstand drawer.”
She smiled and inched closer to the nightstand. He had tucked a new box of condoms in the back of the top drawer. She opened the box, took out a foil packet, and closed the drawer.
Her fingers trembled a little, tearing open the foil and pulling out the condom. She eased onto the bed and straddled his legs.
“Come on, honey.” His dark, intense expression captured her. “I want you to ride me. I want you to fuck me good and hard.”
She almost dropped the condom. She nearly came unglued from the heat of his words and the wicked desire in his gaze. With her eyes focused on him, she grasped his thick cock and put the condom over the head before slowly rolling it over his erection. He groaned as she pushed it all the way down to the base.
When she raised her head, she smiled at him. “Now I’m going to fuck you.”
She moved up his body until she straddled his waist then rose and grasped his erection and placed it at the entrance to her core. With her gaze focused on him, she lowered herself onto his cock.
Her eyes widened and her lips parted at him filling her, stretching her. It struck her again how amazing it felt having this man fit so perfectly inside her. No one else had ever satisfied her the way he did.
She threw back her head and thrust her breasts out as she began riding his cock as he thrust up to meet her. He cupped one breast with his big hand and she closed her eyes, the heat of his touch adding to the fire inside her. He pinched her nipple hard and she gasped, her eyes opening in surprise. The brief but electric pain shot a current to her belly and her clit.
“That’s it, honey.” He urged her on and reached for her other breast. “Fuck. Me. Hard.”
Her breaths came faster as she rode him. His cock easily reached her G-spot, rubbing against it and drawing her closer to orgasm. Everything in her body felt tight, buzzing with electricity.
“Look at me. I want you to come with me.”
“Yes.” Her words came out in a whimper, his eyes holding hers. “Yes, please.”
She rode a few more hard thrusts when he commanded her, “Come now, Tori. Come now.”
Her orgasm exploded through her, throwing her into a world that seemed to spin uncontrollably. She could barely process the moment as her core clamped down on his cock, pulsing around him.
He shouted his release and his cock throbbed inside her as he drove in and out a few more times before his entire body seemed to relax completely.
Would her mind ever stop spinning?
When it finally did, she let his cock slip out of her and she slid onto his right arm, resting her head on his good shoulder. Her breathing came harder and faster than ever, her heart pounding in her ears.
Perspiration slicked his skin and hers and the smell of sex permeated the room. His breathing came out as hard as hers.
For a long moment they rested together, sated and relaxed. When her breathing finally slowed and her heart no longer pounded like a drum, she tipped her head up and smiled at him. He kissed her softly and she snuggled against his side.
Gradually she fell into a deep sleep, feeling safe with Landon, as though nothing bad could ever happen to her again.
Chapter 23
An early morning thunderstorm darkened the sky and the desert monsoon rain pounded down on the rooftop, a constant thrum. Distant thunder followed lighting flashes.
Landon realized something that caused him to pause in picking up a breakfast dish. He hadn’t had any nightmares about Stacy since he’d met Tori.
What did it mean? He put the last of the dishes into the dishwasher. He hadn’t had the desire to drink. He wasn’t an alcoholic—he didn’t miss it or think about it when not drinking and he didn’t crave it. But he had used it to self-medicate after Stacy had died.
He realized then too that the leg that had shattered in the motorcycle accident hadn’t been bothering him for some time now. He wondered if the pain had been part of what he hadn’t been able to let go of.
As he straightened, he glanced at Tori who wi
ped down the breakfast bar with a damp sponge. She wore a blue T-shirt and jeans along with the athletic shoes George Fallon had picked up at Walmart.
He closed the dishwasher and watched her for a moment. So damned beautiful. Not just her looks, but also her spirit, personality, intelligence, and more. Much more.
After all she’d been through, how would she feel about what he had to tell her?
Out of nowhere came the words of the old woman wearing the mantilla at the church. ‘You will die if you tell her the truth. If you don’t tell her, she will die.’
Hair at his nape stood on end. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes. He didn’t believe in omens or predictions or any other bullshit like that, but he’d intended to tell her the truth regardless.
Tori rinsed out the sponge, put it away, and looked at him. “Is something wrong?” She frowned. “I don’t know if I can handle any more bad news.”
He moved toward her and enveloped her in a one-armed hug before kissing her on the top of the head. When she put it that way, maybe he should hold off.
She drew away, tilting her head to meet his gaze. “What’s the hug for?”
“You are stronger than you think.” He trailed his finger along her cheekbone. “In a matter of days, you have handled more than most people go through in a lifetime.”
“Doesn’t mean I’m up for more of the bad news variety.” She appeared fragile in that moment and he’d never seen her look as if she might shatter. He could understand why, he just hadn’t seen it in her before. “If it’s not going to kill me and it doesn’t involve my family, I don’t want to know. At least not now.”
He ran his finger along her cheekbone and down the curve of her neck. Her words mingled with the old lady’s.
‘If it’s not going to kill me…’
‘If you don’t tell her, she will die.’
Damn.
No, he didn’t believe in crap like that. Hell, even if he did believe in them, how did he know the old lady been talking about the fact he’d killed Tori’s brother?
If the slightest chance existed of the old woman’s prediction coming true, he needed to tell Tori, and he needed to do it now.
“Tori.” He captured her attention and she turned her gaze to meet his.
“You have something bad to tell me, don’t you.” She just glanced at him as she said it as a statement. “And you’re going to tell me anyway.”
He nodded. “I have to. It’s something I should have told you long before we…before we went to bed together.”
She frowned. “How bad is it?”
He dropped his gaze, then lifted it back to her. “Your brother worked as a dealer for the Jimenez Cartel.”
She looked as if she held her breath, waiting for him to tell her something bad.
God damn it.
Landon gripped his good hand into a fist then relaxed it again. “And as you said, a DHS agent killed him during a raid.”
She didn’t say anything, as if she knew what storm barreled her way.
“He shot at us and we returned fire.” Landon studied her widening brown eyes. “Ballistics came back that my bullet killed your brother.”
Tori put her hand over her mouth as if she held back a cry or a scream. He reached out to touch her arm but she backed away. She lowered her hand and shook her head. “No.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “I don’t want you to touch me. I need—” Her breath caught. “Oh, God.”
She buried her face in her hands and her shoulders trembled with her sobs.
Landon reached out and grasped her shoulder, but before he could say anything, she straightened and shook him off. She distanced herself from his touch and headed into the living room. He followed her.
She went still. “I hear something over the storm.” She hurried to the front window and peeked through the blinds. “Someone’s driving up the road in an SUV.” She looked over her shoulder at him, a slight edge of panic in her voice. “What if it’s the cartel?”
Landon frowned as he moved toward her. “No way anyone could know we’re here.” He squinted, peering through the blinds. Even in his surprise, he relaxed. “It’s Dylan.” Landon gave Tori a glance meant to reassure her.
“I met Dylan at the DHS office.” Her chest rose and fell as she took a deep breath. Then she looked a little flushed. “And he walked in on us that night.”
“Yes, he certainly did.” Landon strode to the front door, opened it, and stepped onto the porch as Dylan parked in front of the house. He climbed out into the rain and approached Landon, the man’s expression both relieved and pissed off.
“What the hell did you mean by disappearing?” Dylan strode up the stairs to the porch where Landon waited for him. Rainwater drenched his clothing from the downpour and dripped from his Stetson. “We thought you’d been blown to hell. Your family did too.” He glanced at the front door to see Tori peering outside. “And we thought the cartel had killed the witness.”
“I didn’t know who the hell to trust.” Landon shook his head, his frustration tensing his muscles.
Dylan’s scowl turned into a frown. “You’re telling me that you didn’t trust me?”
“I didn’t want to use my damn phone.” Landon moved the hand of his right arm to the nape of his neck. “I wanted everyone to think we’d died in the blast.” He rubbed his neck, trying to ease the ache.
“How did the bastards find the second safe house?” Dylan asked. “An inside job?”
Landon shook his head. “I confiscated Tori’s phone after she took out the battery, and both were with me. After the explosion, I found a tracker in the phone that worked independently of the phone and battery.”
“Holy shit.” Dylan’s jaw dropped. “How did they get it on her phone?”
“We think her boyfriend put it there.” Landon frowned. “They likely got the information when they tortured him.”
Dylan’s mouth tightened into a thin line. “Damn.”
Landon lowered his hand from his nape. “I would have bought a burner phone to use to call you, but I’d passed out cold before our help went to the store for us.”
Dylan looked at Landon’s left arm.
He hadn’t used the sling today, but he favored it, the bandages peeking from beneath his T-shirt sleeve.
“What happened to your arm?”
“One of the sonsofbitches shot me in the shoulder.” Landon grimaced. “It’s slowing me down.”
“Well, that’s fucked-up. The last thing you need.” Dylan quieted. “We confirmed by dental records O’Donnell and Danson died in the explosion.”
Landon pinched the bridge of his nose and squeezed his eyes shut. He’d been sure they had been killed, but the confirmation made his chest hurt and his blood boil even hotter.
When Landon looked up, Dylan nodded toward the house. “How’s Tori?”
Landon peered over his shoulder to see Tori had gone back into the house. He thought about all she’d been through and on top of that he’d dropped the bomb about killing her brother. “She’s pretty shaken up, but she’s tough. She’ll be all right.”
Dylan nodded but still looked concerned for Tori.
Landon returned to the fact Dylan had just shown up. “What are you doing here? How did you figure out we’d be at my place?”
“We processed the scene and got the report back.” Dylan hooked his thumbs in his front pockets. “The two pairs of footsteps clued us in. One large and one small, headed away from the safe house into the tree line of the mountains.”
“How did you guess the footprints were ours?” Landon asked as lightning flashed and thunder rumbled.
“You bled all over the place, Landon.” Dylan rocked back on his heels. “As soon as we got that news, Sofia sent me to your ranch to see if you’d made it and decided to hide out here.”
Landon hadn’t been himself after being knocked out, as well as weak from blood loss, so he hadn’t even thought about the fact he might have left a bloodstain behind. It da
mn sure should have occurred to him. “You’ve found us, so now what?”
“We get you back to the office.” Dylan rocked on his heels again. “We need to double down on all the precautions we have available to make sure Tori is safe.”
If the RAC figured it out so easily, then others would as well.
“When we found out you were likely alive, Sofia called the U.S. Marshals,” Dylan said. “They’ll be at the DHS office to take Tori into WITSEC sometime after we get there.”
“Damn.” The thought of Tori going into the Witness Security Program and disappearing from his life didn’t sit well with Landon. He couldn’t begin to imagine never seeing her again. But he had to think of the best options for her now.
“Don’t mention the program to her yet.” Landon kept his voice low. “She got pretty upset the night when Claire Danson told her that’s what she might be looking at. We can wait until we’re at the office.”
“Can’t say I blame Tori.” Dylan raised his Stetson and scratched a spot on his head. “To give up your life as you know it, and everything and everyone in your world, would be pretty damned difficult.”
Landon nodded as he started to turn. “I need a few moments with her, then I’ll follow you in my truck.” They could leave the rental car at the ranch for now. He felt safer in his truck with its powerful engine on a par with law enforcement vehicles, and its sturdy build, as opposed to a mid-sized car from a rental agency.
Dylan leaned back against his SUV and folded his arms across his chest. “I’ll wait out here for you.”
Tori stood in the living room when Landon walked into the house and closed the door behind him. She crossed her arms over her chest as if protecting herself from him. The fact he’d killed her brother had clearly affected her and he couldn’t blame her.
“We’re going into the office.” He let her have her space at his words. “You’ll be safe there while we plan our next move.”
Tori’s belly clenched and she kept her arms crossed over her chest as Dylan drove his SUV behind the truck she and Landon were in. Landon, the damned macho alpha male, had insisted on driving despite his shoulder that couldn’t have been close to being healed enough. His head probably still ached too after being hit from the explosion.
Hidden Prey Page 20
