BETRAYED:: Sizzling HOT Detective Series (Book 3, The Criminal Affairs Collection Book 3;)

by Taylor Lee

  Before Viviana could respond, a deep voice from the doorway intoned, “That’s a given, Commander Bannon. And when Sergeant Moreau begins to capture the information as only she can do, I’ll schedule a team-wide meeting so she can update us all.”

  Viviana frowned, knowing that Jax was purposefully making his point that going forward, she would be reporting to the team as a whole. Glancing up to see him coming toward her, it was hard to maintain her annoyance. After all, a movie star–handsome man with gleaming emerald eyes that sparkled with salacious innuendo was hard to dismiss—or stay angry with. Even if she’d considered it, the impulse died when he reached for her chin, raised her face to him, and planted a proprietary kiss on her lips.

  Grinning at what she was sure was the flush on her face, Jax glanced at Bannon and Mick. “Hope I’m not interrupting, but I needed to see if this wayward sergeant of mine is up for ‘bash duty.’ As much as the bristly sergeant despises hobnobbing with the hoi polloi, I may have an invitation she can’t resist.” To the group as a whole, he added, “Actually, this is an invitation for all three of you. Mayor Simpson and Commissioner McElroy have ‘encouraged’ me to attend an event presenting Enrique Vega, the upstart guy who’s running for governor. Suffice to say, he is the shiniest of shiny new things, and the press is going wild over him.”

  Pulling Viviana out of her chair, he grinned at her. “How about it, Sergeant? You up for putting on one of your knock ’em dead outfits and going to a bash celebrating a guy who’s almost as good-looking as I am?”

  Viviana couldn’t hold back a smile. Nor could she keep from tweaking him. “Now, that is quite a concession, Chief Hughes. I didn’t think you thought a mere politician could be in the same winner’s circle as you. Tell me this, Jax, is he as arrogant as you?”

  Jax chuckled. “So I’m told. But if that means that you are up for an evening with the city’s elite, I have news for the upstart pol. Competing with me is one thing, but sharing the limelight with the Enchantress? Honey, that poor guy won’t know what hit him.”

  Chapter 6

  Later, Viviana fought to come to grips with her reaction to Enrique Vega. That he was handsome as sin was to be expected, given his rave reviews. She sighed to herself. Try tall, dark and handsome, then raise it a few dozen notches. The rising political star looked more like the centerfold in a “hottest ethnic men” slick pub than an aspiring candidate for governor.

  Remembering how the crowd of San Jose elites had come to a dead silence when she and Jax entered the ballroom, she knew how unlikely it was that a mere politician could compete with them for attention. But clearly, Enrique Vega was no mere politician. Seeing the drooling sophisticates crowding around him, it was obvious the smiling man was a superstar in the making.

  Vega spotted them and nodded in appreciation at the awed silence that greeted them. Viviana was grateful she’d slept ten hours plus the night before and she’d acceded to Jax’s request that she join him at the bash. She was also glad that she hadn’t skimped on her preparations. At Jax’s urging, she agreed to wear the gold lamé dress that had captured Jax when he first saw it and every other man thereafter. She knew she looked hot as hell, but how could she look anything but, arriving on the arm of the wickedly handsome police chief?

  Enrique’s wide-eyed appreciation as they approached him confirmed that their entrance was as spectacular as they’d intended. The budding superstar showered her with an approving grin as he made a point of visually cataloguing all her womanly wiles. Rather than speaking to her, however, he turned to Jax and extended his hand.

  “Clearly, you are the infamous chief of police who has turned San Jose, and California, upside down.” Shooting Jax an admiring glance, he added, “Congratulations, sir. Your fame has spread. Without a doubt you are the most admired law enforcement professional in the state.” He included Viviana in his approving gaze. “If not the most envied man who walked the earth. At least among those of us who have had the privilege of meeting this remarkable woman.”

  Jax laughed, then tugged Viviana next to him. He wrapped a protective arm around her waist, making it clear he hadn’t missed Vega’s blatant perusal of Viviana’s delectable wares. Nodding to Vega, he said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “Thank you, Mr. Vega. Or do you prefer your current title as California’s assistant attorney general? A title I understand you are throwing into the political dustbin, hoping to become our next governor.” He added with an ironic grin, “If so, I admire your fearlessness. It’s not everyone who would leapfrog the obvious next step as the state’s attorney general and run for the big kahuna instead.”

  If Vega was surprised by Jax’s on-target reference to his political chutzpah, he seemed not to take it as the slam Jax intended. Rather, he glanced at Viviana and showered her with a blinding smile. “Let’s just say, sir, that I’m taking a page from this beautiful woman’s repertoire and shamelessly reaching for the gold ring.”

  Jax’s smile hardened further, but he made an obvious attempt to soften the criticism inherent in his reply. “Careful, Mr. Vega. Ask any of the men who have tangled with Sergeant Moreau and lived to talk about it. They’ll tell you, in addition to being beautiful, she is hell on wheels. Particularly for those who focus on her pulchritude and underestimate her extraordinary competence.”

  Vega nodded and lifted his hands in defeat. “I consider myself warned, Chief Hughes. It would be a foolish man indeed who didn’t recognize the sergeant’s expertise and the fear she puts into the scum she chases.” Focusing a sincere gaze on Viviana, he said, “I don’t know if you are aware of it, Sergeant Moreau, but a central plank in my admittedly audacious run for governor is to root out every child predator that walks the streets of our state. Like you, I’m determined that the evil men and women who prey on helpless children know they will face a governor who will run them to ground. And that includes the gang leaders and traffickers who support their vile, and unfortunately thriving, industry.”

  ****

  Waiting for Jax to come to bed, Viviana sought to understand her reaction to Vega. Of course he was handsome, stunningly so. But it wasn’t as if her lover wasn’t even more compelling. No, she admitted that she’d been taken by more than the budding luminary’s Hollywood looks. Like Jax, Vega radiated star power. He had an aura that was noticeable when he simply entered the room. Which was to be expected, given that as Jax had needled him, the guy was audacious as hell thinking he could catapult over politicians who were his senior not only in years but experience. Viviana had to believe that Jax saw a younger version of himself in the arrogant man. She thought with a smile about how Jax couldn’t help but notice the way the handsome guy couldn’t keep his lusting gaze off of her.

  “Reveling in the sensation you were tonight, Viviana?” His gaze narrowing, Jax added, “Or are you just celebrating the fact that you added yet another arrogant superstar to your lair?”

  Glancing up at him, Viviana tried to squelch the shivers that racked her body then settled in a smoldering glow in her groin. God, how could she not be turned on? He’d just come from the shower. His tousled hair had received a quick once-over with a towel, leaving the sexy strands hanging raffishly over his forehead. He was shirtless and shoeless. The result was a lean man staring down at her, the rippling muscles on his naked torso gleaming with moisture. Loose sweatpants hung low on his hips, revealing an enticing smattering of dark curly hair that started on his chest and arrowed over his eight-pack abs to his groin below. At the erotic sight, Viviana sucked in a deep, surreptitious breath of air, trying not to let the arrogant man see how he was affecting her. The satisfied gleam streaking across his storm-filled eyes confirmed she’d failed. Not surprising, given the impressive arousal tenting his loose trousers. Viviana struggled to assume a self-assured air she was far from feeling.

  Tapping an audacious finger against her pursed lips, she said with a coquettish smile, “Hmm, don’t tell me the oh-so-arrogant police chief is threatened by the dashing and equally arro
gant politician?”

  Jax’s lips quirked up in a grin, but his eyes were hard, lacking so much as a semblance of mirth. “Two points, saucy woman. First, no one is as arrogant as yours truly . . . for good reason.” His frown narrowed. “And second, when it comes to my woman, no one threatens me. Because that would assume she doesn’t know what will happen to her if she gets even feistier than her usual spirited self.”

  Viviana tipped up her chin and sniffed. “Are you threatening me, Chief Hughes?”

  Jax grinned. In seconds, what little humor had shadowed his penetrating gaze faded to dark stormcloud gray. He nodded. “Damn straight. Not only am I threatening you but, sweetheart, I plan to make good on my threat.”

  With a circular motion of his fingers, he said, “Turn over, Viviana. But before you do, take off those sexy booty shorts. I want access to your ass. All of it!”

  When she lifted her chin, preparing to refuse, his lips quirked up in a slight smile. “On second thought, don’t bother. I’m more in the mood to strip them off you.” He flicked his wrist again, indicating she should turn over. When she shook her head no and reared back in the bed, his smile widened to a wolfish leer.

  She tried to scoot back, but he caught her ankles and dragged her toward him. When she tried to kick free, he laughed. He reached for her, his voice low and streaked with perilous intent, at least as it came to her ass. “Ah, my feisty woman wants to play hard to get? Pretend that she doesn’t want this as much as I do?” With a quick twist, he flipped her over and crawled on top of her, pinning her to the bed. His breath was hot in her ear. “Do you know how much I wanted to do this to you tonight? Pin you down and take what I want, any way that I want it? And yeah, baby, as much as I’m crazy about those luscious breasts of yours, it was this that I was lusting after.”

  Stripping her booty shorts down to her knees, he smacked her butt and chuckled when she shrieked. “Uh-uh, feisty woman, admit it. You love it when I attack you like this. How do I know? How about we let your sexy body do the talking?”

  Slipping his fingers between her legs, he thrust them into her pussy, then withdrew them, gratified at the fragrant dew coating his probing digits. Pressing his fingers against her mouth, he growled. “Taste this sweetheart, then tell me you don’t want this as much as I do!”

  At her muffled cry, he dragged her butt up higher and smacked her again. At her startled shriek, he gave in to his passion. Christ, he wasn’t exaggerating. He’d spent the evening imagining his hands on her ass. Now that he had her where he wanted her, he dragged her hips higher, positioning her so that he could drive as deep and hard into her as he could. Her damp pussy confirmed that she wanted him as much as he wanted her. Smacking one firm cheek and then the other, he reveled in his bright red handprints on her curvy ass. God, she was beautiful and so fucking sexy.

  At some level of his brain he admitted what he was doing. It was rare that he ever felt threatened by another man. But that fucking Vega had triggered a possessive rage he’d rarely felt. It wasn’t just the way the fucker looked at Viviana. Jax was used to that. Christ, how could any man with a dick and a shred of testosterone not react to her? No, it was more about the interest he saw in Viviana’s eyes that triggered his dominant streak. Not that he could blame her. The guy oozed sexuality. Added to the fact that Vega couldn’t take his eyes off her, it was no wonder that Jax felt threatened. He smacked her ass again, gratified at her lusty moan. Knowing what his little she-devil wanted, what she needed, he lifted her onto her hands and knees.

  Hearing her vigorous cry, he groaned. “Oh yeah. Is this what you want, baby? You want me to take you, like this? High and hard from behind?” At her pleading agreement, he murmured in her ear. “But not so fast; first I need to do this.”

  He knew it made her crazy when he played with her clit. Dragging some of the fragrant dew from inside her cunt, he began to stroke the sensitive nub. He knew her body intimately, and after drumming a merciless assault on her primary sex organ, he nudged aside the protective hood, eliciting a shriek of passion from her. Knowing she was seconds away from orgasming, he yanked her hips higher, then thrust up inside of her. Not taking his probing fingers off her clit, he drove deep inside of her with a ferocity that stunned him. Her answering cry confirmed that she was as hot and demanding as he was. Giving in to the overwhelming passion threatening to take him down, he thrust deeper and harder, then came with a ferocious shout echoed by Viviana’s answering shriek.

  Long minutes later, he dragged himself into the bathroom and returned with a hot, damp towel. Laying her on her back, he wiped at the sweat between her breasts. Grinning at her, he whispered, “Jesus, honey, I didn’t so much as suck on your sensitive nipples, and they’re still hard nubs, slick with sweat.” Taking a moment, he bent over her and ran his tongue over the tender flesh. “How about I clean them off like this, sweetheart, with my tongue?” At her heartfelt moan, he took pity on her, knowing she had to be as exhausted as he was. Spreading her legs apart, he swiped at her puffy labia with the warm towel.

  He stopped, staring down at her in wonder. “God, baby, do you have any idea how beautiful you are? How fucking sexy? You’re still hot, flushed, and swollen. And Christ, you smell good.”

  Sucking on his fingers that were wet with their passionate juices, he raised them to her lips and murmured, “Smell this, darlin’, and taste it. Lick my fingers, sweetheart. Aren’t we amazing, what we do to each other?”

  At her shuddering moan and quaking body confirming that she was still coming down from her fierce orgasm, he gentled his touch. Minutes later, her whispery moans and deep sighs softened. Knowing how drained she must be, Jax crawled up beside her and pulled her into his arms. Lying next to her, he allowed himself to acknowledge the fury that had racked him upon seeing Vega’s knowing glances at her luscious body. He was startled at her murmured question.

  “What was that about, Jax?”

  Angling for time, he responded, “What was what about, baby?”

  “You . . . you seemed angry, fierce. Did I do something . . . something to anger you?”

  Deciding to call a spade a spade, Jax didn’t equivocate. “No, honey, and . . . yes. Let’s just say I wanted to shove that prick’s teeth down his throat, and I guess I took it out on you.”

  Viviana met his probing gaze with a surprised frown that quickly morphed into a knowing smile. “Why, Chief Hughes, may I conclude from your rigid jaw and stormy eyes that the ever-so-cool Jaxton Hughes was jealous? Of that rather compelling politician?”

  Jax swallowed a grunt, knowing he was outed. “Let me put it this way, sweetheart. All that grinning Lothario needed to do was rake his eyes over your sensational body one more time and he would have been singing soprano in the church choir.”

  Viviana rose up on one elbow, her eyes dancing. “You mean for once you were jealous? Great! Now you know how I feel when all those simpering women lick their lips and stare at you as though you were the second coming of Christ.”

  Jax laughed and pulled her closer to him. Aiming for aplomb, he conceded, “Yeah, sweetheart, I guess occasionally turnabout is fair play.” He added with a snort, “Although that guy better know he is a marked man.”

  Viviana snuggled up next to him, resting her cheek against his chest. Gazing up at him, she said with a shy smile, “Uh, just so you know, you can ‘take it out on me like that’ any time you are so inclined.”

  Jax didn’t hide the grin he was confident she saw. “You oughta know by now, baby, taking it out on you is a given. I don’t need some obnoxious prick openly drooling over you to ramp up my desire. Hell no. All I need is to be within two feet of you, and this randy brain of mine conjures up the ways I’m going to ravish you.” Pulling her closer to him, Jax let his hands drift over her curvy ass. He murmured in her ear, “And as they say, sweetheart, the rest is history.”

  Chapter 7

  Eager to talk with her primary CI, Viviana left Francis Fleming a message indicating that she needed to see him PDQ.
She’d spent the morning trolling the mean streets of the essj, the most benighted section of San Jose. Early this morning, she’d put out the word that she was eager for the down low, and depending on the efficacy of the shit they had, she was willing to pay. One after another of her more trustworthy CIs had sent word that they had news. By the time she was starving for lunch, her efforts had paid off handsomely. She was armed with names and plans she never could have gotten had she not cultivated her sources over the years and never reneged on a payment.

  Confirming that Francis could grab some lunch, she headed for Flemings. So hungry she could chew her arm off, she ordered a double cheeseburger and a double order of sweet potato fries along with her extra dry vodka martini. She could have told the astounded server it wasn’t surprising she was hungry. As usual, she’d spurned the toast and fruit Jax had tried to seduce her with, not willing to have more than her three mugs of steaming brew. She realized soon into the morning she shouldn’t have been so cavalier. Remembering the extraordinary night they’d had, Viviana acknowledged that her customary refusal of breakfast had been shortsighted.

  Waiting for her food to arrive, she allowed herself to remember the way Jax had literally assaulted her. If assault was the correct term for lovemaking that was more than consensual. Even now, as she sipped on her potent drink, a burst of sensation sparked the ever-ready fire between her legs. All she had to do was remember him taking her, insisting that she acquiesce to his demands for her body to flood with a storm of heady sensations. Realizing that the server was eyeing her strangely, Viviana tried to hide her distraction as she accepted the heaping plate of charred meat and greasy fries.