She deliberately breathed out, her warm breath wrapping him in teasing heat, and he curled his hands into the comforter, attempting to focus on anything but the blood pumping through his veins and settling in his dick.
Before he could prepare himself, her tongue snaked out, and she licked the pre-come off the head, causing electricity to shoot through his body. He bucked up, his cock jutting straight out, and she caught him between her waiting lips. Once her warm breath and slick tongue got hold of him, Tyler couldn’t remember a damn thing, including his own name.
She licked and sucked, pulling him all the way to the back of her throat, deeper than he’d imagined she would, and he’d had plenty of fucking dreams about this. Then she used her hand along with her mouth, and he saw stars.
His hips jerked in time to her persistent suckling. She alternated grazing him with her teeth, slicking her tongue over his shaft, and humming around him until his body vibrated beneath her. What was supposed to be about her became about him.
She gave and gave, refusing to release him, ignoring his tap on her head, warning her to let go. He needed to be inside her with a desperation, wanting to come but not like this. But he wasn’t in charge; she was.
And she was determined to control the outcome. Suck. Pump. Graze. Hum. He lost track of time and place. His balls drew up tight. He was on the verge of an explosive orgasm, and she must have known it. Felt it. Because she doubled down on her effort, and suddenly there was no stopping the surge, the volcano-like explosion that ripped through his body. He came with a shout, her name on his lips, as he shuddered through the onslaught. And she stayed with him, swallowing every last drop.
His head fell against the mattress because he was so fucking spent. But he couldn’t let things end here, so he forced himself to move. He flipped her off him, onto her back, and came over her. He held her down, hands on her hips, and slicked his tongue through her soaking-wet folds. Obviously taking care of him had aroused her beyond belief.
It was nearly enough to give a jolt to his well-sated cock. He dipped his head and inhaled her fragrant scent, so perfect. So Ella. And then he began to devour her, eating her up like he was a starving man at a feast. Licking and sucking her clit into his mouth until she was banging on the mattress, screaming his name.
He didn’t let up, sliding his tongue over and around the sensitive nub, pausing only to insert a finger into her ready body, pumping in and out, to the jerky movements of her hips, the groans and cries coming from her lips. She’d given him the best orgasm he’d ever had short of the ones he experienced inside her body, and he intended to treat her to the same explosive completion.
He curved his finger inside her body, finding her spongy inner walls, and she shrieked, “God yes, I’m coming!” And she did, shuddering and shaking, riding out her orgasm around his hand and against his mouth. He didn’t let up until he’d wrung every last contraction from her body.
Only then did he collapse to one side, wrapping himself around her, exhausted but satisfied he’d accomplished his goal. She wasn’t thinking about anything except him.
* * *
Ella couldn’t concentrate on work. Although she sat at her desk and attempted to make her way through her to-do list, her mind was full of everything that had gone on in the last twenty-four hours.
I love you. Tyler’s words echoed through Ella’s mind, over and over until she thought she’d go insane. It was everything she’d ever wanted to hear from him … and yet she couldn’t respond in kind. Not until she fixed herself. And boy, did she need fixing.
Without thinking, she filled out the application, which was in her purse, stuck it in an envelope, and put it with the outgoing mail.
She picked up the phone and called information, then dialed the prison where her father was located and explained who she was, that her father was dying, and asked how she could expedite visitation. She was informed that their computer systems were down and someone would get back to her with an answer.
Her stomach hurt through the whole process of calling a state prison and being informed of the visiting rules, but she forced herself to handle it all. Because what awaited her when she came out the other side was something she’d never imagined having.
A man who really and truly loved her. But before she could give herself to him, she needed to be whole. She needed to put the past, and the needy little girl who often crept into her adult life, behind her.
Somehow the day crept by, and Tyler showed up as usual for the ride home. He walked in, looking sexy as always, even after a long day at work. In his charcoal slacks and white button-down shirt, he was every bit the imposing man she was falling for.
Had already fallen for, she amended, unable look away from his handsome face. And not as her best friend’s older brother she had a crush on but the caring, sensitive, often demanding adult Tyler he’d shown her as he’d opened his heart.
On that thought, it being the first time she’d allowed herself to go there, she glanced away, not wanting him to read her emotions and feelings on her face. Instead, she organized the files and papers on her desk and rose to meet him.
“Hi there,” she said, unable to stop the smile at the sight of him. Her own fears and issues be damned, this man made her feel good. So she rose to her tiptoes and brushed a kiss over his lips.
“Hi, yourself.” He squeezed her waist, his eyes twinkling.
“Not that I mind you being here, and I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but are we close to finding out what’s going on? Who’s after me?” Another thing to add to the things floating around in her head, consuming her thoughts.
His big hand on her back heated her skin. “We’ll talk when we’re out of here, okay?” he asked, meeting her gaze.
“Okay. It’s just that I hate feeling cooped up, bringing lunch, not being able to go out and get fresh air unless one of your men is following me. I want my life back,” she said.
He ran his knuckles down her cheek, his warm gaze never leaving hers. “With a little luck, you’ll have that soon.”
“She’ll have what soon?” Angie asked, striding out of her office and pausing by Ella’s desk. “And who is this handsome young man?”
Ella gestured to Tyler. “Angie Crighton, this is Tyler Dare. Tyler, this is my boss.”
Angie held out her manicured hand, her bangle bracelets jingling with the movement. “It’s lovely to meet you, Mr. Dare.”
“Likewise,” he said, looking Angie over in a very orchestrated, practiced manner, and Ella couldn’t help wondering what he saw beyond the cultured, refined, elegantly dressed woman.
“Are you Ella’s young man?” Angie asked.
“He’s—”
“I’d like to think so,” Tyler said in a firm voice, cutting her off. “Ella just likes to keep her private life … private. So I understand your trip to St. Lucia was a success?”
Angie nodded, smoothing a hand over her platinum-colored hair, which had been pulled into a tight bun. “A very successful photo shoot.”
Ella agreed. “The pictures came out fabulous.”
“And we’ve gotten great placement in the spring magazines,” Angie said, sounding as pleased and proud as she had when she’d congratulated Ella on her role in securing the ads.
“Did you buy any good souvenirs?” Tyler asked Angie, causing Ella to narrow her gaze. “Unfortunately whatever Ella purchased was stolen during the mugging, but I understand the island is known for their beads and jewelry?”
Clearly, he knew something more than Ella did, and she wondered why he was not-so-subtly questioning her boss.
“Really? I wouldn’t know,” Angie murmured. “We were so busy shooting the entire time, I had no time to shop.”
“That’s too bad.” Tyler folded his arms over his chest. “I would bet an island like St. Lucia has gorgeous items. If you know where to look.”
Angie’s eyes narrowed to slits. She actually glared at Tyler before glancing at her watch. “It was nice mee
ting you, Mr. Dare, but I have a phone call I must make.” She quickly turned away and rushed back into her private office, slamming the door behind her.
“Hmm,” Tyler said. “It was almost as if she couldn’t get away fast enough.”
Ella retrieved her purse and hung the strap over her shoulder. “Angie is eccentric,” she said in a low whisper. “But you were digging. What’s going on?”
He grasped her elbow and led her out of the office and onto the street. As usual, the humid air hit her as soon as she exited. “I’ll tell you more when we’re in the car,” he said.
She waited, impatient and curious, until they were locked inside his vehicle, and she turned to face him. “Well?”
He blew out a long breath. “What is it?” she asked, hating being in the dark.
He shrugged. “According to Luke, your boss has been involved in shady black market deals. She’s bought stolen jewelry and sold it for an obscene profit. Her name is well-known in certain circles.”
“Angie?” she asked, processing the information and immediately denying it. “No.” Ella dismissed the possibility with a wave of her hand. “She’s impatient and, as I said, eccentric, but a thief? It’s just not possible.”
Tyler shot her a sympathetic look. “Luke is the best at what he does. If he says she’s dealing in stolen goods, she is.”
Ella glanced out the window at people walking by on the sidewalk. Ella wrinkled her nose, trying to imagine her older boss dealing with the kind of people necessary for illegal transactions. And couldn’t.
“Tyler, look, I understand you need to check all angles, but Angie?” She was cut off from saying more by the ring of his cell.
He hit the answer button, allowing the call to go to speakerphone in the car. “Dare here.”
“It’s Luke. The cops picked up someone lurking outside Ella’s apartment. They took him down to the local precinct.”
Goose bumps rose on her skin, and she shivered, but not from the car’s AC that Tyler had turned on.
“Finally, a real lead,” he muttered.
“You going to the police station?” Luke asked.
“Damn straight.” Tyler disconnected the call and turned to Ella. “I want to head down there and see what this guy knows. Are you up to it?” he asked, squeezing her thigh.
“Damn straight,” she said, meeting his gaze and with a firm nod.
He grinned and pulled out of the parking spot. A little while later, she sat in the police station in a wooden chair, Tyler beside her, waiting for the arresting officer to arrive and speak to them.
Neither of them spoke, so she focused on the busy precinct, so many people bustling past them she lost track, and she took to studying the dingy beige walls before, finally, a young, uniformed officer walked over.
“Ms. Shaw?” he asked.
She nodded, jumping up from her seat. “I’m Ella Shaw.”
“Officer DeCarlo,” he said, extending his arm, and they shook hands. He glanced at Tyler, standing possessively close beside her.
Ella cleared her throat. “This is Tyler Dare. Can you tell me what happened?”
He inclined his head toward Tyler before continuing. “Let’s talk over here.” He gestured for them to follow, and they walked over to an empty desk, where Ella seated herself in one folding chair. Tyler leaned against the wall, arms crossed over his chest, and the officer took his seat.
Officer DeCarlo glanced at papers on his desk, then looked up at Ella. “Someone in your building called in a suspicious guy loitering outside. We picked up a man with dark hair, a”—he glanced down as if to confirm—“Diego Santana, and took him in for questioning. I also pulled records that indicate your apartment was the subject of an attempted burglary a few weeks ago, so we were working that angle when we questioned him.”
Tyler braced a hand on the back of Ella’s chair and asked, “What did he have to say?”
“Considering the outstanding warrant and the fact that a search shows he’d just returned from St. Lucia, the same day you did, he was happy to talk.” The officer smiled at the question, his white teeth gleaming against his tanned skin.
Ella clenched and unclenched her fists, nauseous at the reminder of her ordeal there and how it had truly followed her back here. “Is he the guy who mugged me?”
Tyler placed a hand on her shoulder, steadying her. As usual, she was grateful for his presence and support.
“Yeah.” The officer scratched his head. “But we can’t get him for that attack since it took place out of the country. But apparently he was looking for a piece of hot jewelry.”
“Excuse me?” Ella asked, unsure she’d heard correctly.
“Apparently he was looking for stolen jewels from a museum on the island.”
Ella’s stomach twisted painfully. “Stolen?” The word came out a croak, and it was no wonder. The hotel clerk had told her a story about a stolen necklace that looked very much like the one her boss had given her for safekeeping.
She didn’t want to think that Angie would do something that would endanger her in any way, but it seemed like when it came to Angie, Ella’s instincts were totally wrong. Tyler’s and Luke’s were right on target.
Officer DeCarlo met her gaze, clearly assessing her. “Yes. He claims he’s working with a group who wants to return the piece to the museum and the people of St. Lucia,” the dark-haired man said.
“Then why didn’t he go to the police on the island? Why mug Ella?” Tyler asked.
The other man shrugged. “He says there were so many duplicate necklaces floating around, the island police would never have believed that a female tourist got her hands on the real one.”
“What female visitor?” Tyler asked in a tight voice.
“He thinks you have the necklace,” the officer said, pointing at Ella.
Her mouth ran dry, and she had to force the words out. “I do.”
“Ella,” Tyler barked, a definite warning note in his voice. He wanted her to keep quiet, but she couldn’t.
“No. I have the necklace. My boss gave it to me on St. Lucia for safekeeping. When I finally returned home, I offered to return it the day I went back to work, but she said to keep it until she needed it.”
With a narrowed gaze, the officer studied her. “And where is the necklace now?” he finally asked.
“In the safe in my apartment. But I didn’t steal it,” she rushed to add.
But clearly Angie had.
Ella had a good many emotions to sort through. She’d worked with Angie for the last two years, and the woman, though odd at times, had never been anything but supportive of Ella and her career, as well as her life. She’d traveled with Angie to many foreign places. They’d talked. Ella had learned from her. Trusted her. Looked up to her, even.
“Your boss’s name?” the suspicious cop asked.
Ella hung her head and sighed. “I don’t want to believe she knew about this.”
“Well, then give me her name, and we’ll find out.”
Tyler tightened his hand on her shoulder. “Angie’s being involved is the only thing that explains why someone mugged you, took your bag, and when they didn’t find what they wanted, broke into your hotel room.”
“I know,” she said, defeated and hurt as reality set in.
Officer DeCarlo watched them with a wary expression.
“And didn’t the desk clerk mention there being a necklace that looked like yours that had been stolen from a museum?” Tyler asked, repeating what she’d already thought about … and nailing the final head into her boss’s proverbial coffin.
“She did. I just forgot all about it and never looked up the information.” Ella looked up at him, Angie’s betrayal sitting like lead in her stomach. “She obviously knew it was stolen when she gave it to me for safekeeping. And had me keep it so no one here would look to her for it. She was protecting herself.”
“At your expense,” Tyler muttered.
“I’m still waiting for a name?” DeCarlo reminde
d them.
Ella sighed. “Angie Crighton.”
He made a note on a piece of paper, mumbling something to himself. “That is the name our perp gave us as the original buyer of the necklace. Your boss made it clear to the people she hired to sell it she didn’t intend to keep the necklace in her possession. As her assistant, you were the obvious holder of the prized piece.”
“God, I’m going to be sick,” Ella said, her head spinning with all she’d learned.
“Come on,” Tyler said. “I’ll take you home.” He eyed the officer, as if daring the man to contradict him.
Ella rose on shaking legs. She thought the officer believed her, but the fact remained, she was in possession of stolen property.
The uniformed cop met her gaze. “I’m going to have an officer follow you and pick up the necklace.”
She nodded. “Of course.”
“And we’re going to check out your story more thoroughly. And we have a squad car picking up Ms. Crighton as we speak. But until we cross our t’s and dot our i’s … please don’t leave town, and be available for questioning.”
Even as Tyler pulled her close, her stomach twisted at his words, no matter how understandable.
They headed out of the police station and ran directly into Angie, being led into the station, accompanied by her own uniformed police officer.
Ella dug her heels in and stopped walking. “Angie!” Ella said, her fear and apprehension turning into anger and hurt.
The older woman spun at Ella’s voice, the color draining from her face at the sight of her. The officer stood close. “This way, ma’am.”
“Wait, please.” Ella strode over to her boss, grateful for the chance to confront her. “Angie, how could you? You gave me a stolen necklace to transport out of the country?”
“It’s not what it looks like.”
“It never is,” Tyler said, sarcasm lacing his tone.
Officer DeCarlo walked over, stepping up beside Ella. “I don’t think this is a good idea. Frank, take her to holding A.”
Dare to Take (Dare to Love #6) Page 15
