by Avery Gale
“Oh, so good. I’m going to melt into a pile of goo if you aren’t careful.”
Chuckling, he finished conditioning her long locks and then turned his attention to moving his soaped hands over every inch of her body. He brought her back up to the pinnacle, but this time, he sent her tumbling over, catching her in his arms when her legs folded out from under her. Wrapping her in a warm towel, he stepped from the shower and set her on the cool marble countertop then returned to finish his own shower.
Within minutes, he had exactly where he wanted her—naked and under him. “I’ve been waiting for this moment all day, love.”
“I need you to fuck me, please…Sir. I’m sorry. I try to remember, but my desperation is louder than my memory.” Oddly enough, he wasn’t inclined to argue the point, because he was dealing with the same thing. His need to feel her clasping him, milking his cock of every drop of seed far outweighed his need for her to follow protocol.
Whispering against her ear, Landon coaxed, “Tonight, forget the rules. Forget the roles we’re playing and let me make love to you, Savannah. I haven’t had vanilla sex in a very long time, but I don’t think I’ve forgotten much.”
“I’ll help you if you lose your way. First step, kiss me.” Her airy voice made his cock jerk against her bare mound, and he heard her gasp just before he sealed his lips over hers. This kiss wasn’t an out of control raging inferno. This was a slow seduction, and he wanted her to feel the difference all the way to the tips of her pretty pink toes. Without releasing her lips, Landon shifted position so the head of his cock slipped effortlessly through her drenched folds.
“So wet for me. Your honey is molten hot and twice as sweet. Let me love you, Savannah.” He pushed himself in to the hilt and groaned at the heated clasp of her vaginal muscles as she stretched around him. “Fuck, love, your body was made for me.”
“More. Please. If you don’t move, I’m going to die.”
“I aim to please, Princess.” Pulling back until the rigid ring around his cockhead teased her opening, he paused for several seconds before setting a slow pace.
“Oh, yes. So…good. But too slow.”
“Like it hard and fast, do you?” Her groaned agreement made him smile. “You are a greedy girl, and that makes you fucking perfect. But even though we’re making love, we’re still doing it on my timeline. And I want to savor you just a little longer.” That wasn’t entirely true. Jesus, he was dying to fuck her as hard and fast as he could.
Long minutes later, she was begging, and he couldn’t hold out any longer. Her pulsing muscles were more than he could fight, pulling him deeper as she screamed his name. Nothing felt as good as this—nothing! And he wasn’t going to give it up—not without a fight.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Savannah sagged with relief when Landon announced his bag of torture devices had already been sent to the waiting jet. “No, Princess, I need your head clear tonight. We have one mission…get in, get your niece, and get out. The other officials will round up everyone else. We’re only taking Amaryllis. Above all else, I’m focused on your safety.” She knew he wouldn’t hesitate to pull her out if things got dicey, and oddly, she wasn’t angry at what could easily be considered high-handed behavior.
After leaving the hotel, they’d gotten a call informing them that other law enforcement agencies were standing by. It seemed the Alvarez family had stepped on the wrong toes, and the locals were no longer willing to ignore what was going on right under their noses.
Every nerve in her body felt like it was vibrating at a different frequency, and she was having trouble sitting still in the back of the limo. When she looked up at Carter, he lifted a brow in question. “Sorry. I’m nervous. I haven’t done many field missions, and this one is so terribly important.” He nodded, letting her know he understood. Savannah hadn’t aspired to field work until her brother had insisted she wasn’t suited for it and pressured her superiors to bench her. In her view, Brit was turning out to be every bit as overbearing as their parents. Amy had always demanded more freedom and seemed to wield much more power in her relationship with her father than Savannah had ever managed.
Driving through the estate’s large gates sent a shudder through her. Landon turned her face with his warm hand, forcing her to focus on him and not their surroundings. “You’ll be fine, Princess. Carter and I will not let you out of our sight. You’re wearing two tracking devices, and if they insist on removing them, Carter will take you to the waiting jet, and I’ll finish alone. No one is going to remove them.”
Ten minutes later, Landon’s resolve was tested when Marco Alvarez’s staff insisted her collar and arm bracelets were removed. “No. This is not up for discussion. I do not take the safety of my slave lightly, nor do I share. I protect what I own.” The guard standing in front of them appeared annoyed, but pulled a phone from his pocket and spoke in rapid-fire Spanish. He was obviously consulting someone further up the food chain, and it wasn’t long before a man in a tux stepped into the reception area.
Landon reiterated his insistence she remain collared, and that the slave bracelets remain in place. “I will not risk losing an asset I’ve paid a lot of money to own.” Turning to Carter, Landon’s clipped tone made his frustration clear to the crowd surrounding them. “Take her back to the jet and secure her inside. Alvarez will just have to do without the scene he was looking forward to.” The comment had the desired effect, and even with her eyes lowered, Savannah saw the men both flinch.
For a few seconds, she thought they were going to let Carter lead her from the room, but before she could cross the threshold, Marcus Alvarez’s voice boomed through reception area. “Why is Mr. Nixon’s slave leaving?” Landon wasted no time explaining, and Savannah felt their host’s gaze move over her. His look was appreciative, but as odd as it sounded, she didn’t feel as though it was sexual. She felt more a piece of art he was admiring than a woman dressed in little more than a transparent piece of gauze masquerading as a dress.
“Mr. Nixon, does your sub have any devices my staff doesn’t already know about?” Savannah knew exactly what he was asking, and she held her breath hoping Landon didn’t offer to prove that she didn’t. But…no such luck.
“Present yourself, slave.” Without hesitating, she bent at the waist and used her hands to part her ass cheeks. The position was beyond humiliating, but she was grateful he’d made her practice the move so she’d been able to block out all the people milling about. You’ll never see them again…you’ll never see them again. Savannah chanted the words in her head as Landon slipped his fingers into her empty pussy before sliding them into her ass.
When he finally pulled her back to her feet, her head spun for a few seconds. He kept a hand on her elbow until she was steady, and they moved into the main room. He leaned down and lightly bit the shell of her ear. “I’m so fucking proud of you, Princess. You were perfect.” His words of praise embarrassed her more than being bared to a room full of people. But when she considered it, it made sense because he was the only one whose opinion mattered.
“Thank you, Sir.” His lips slanted over hers, and she could feel his frustration. He didn’t like their circumstances any more than she did and wondered if he’d ever forgive her for putting him in this position.
An hour later, they still hadn’t seen Amaryllis. Savannah was beginning to worry Alvarez wasn’t going to risk bringing her into the room. The slaves that were for sale were easy to spot, because they were nude and sported thick collars. Each carried a sheet of paper Savannah assumed listed their vital statistics. She’d only been able to catch fleeting glimpses of a few of them, but each one appeared to have been drugged to the gills.
“Ten o’clock, boss.” Carter’s voice was tight, ratcheting up her concern even as she hoped he’d spotted her niece.
“We’ll wait for them to move closer. Any attempt to position ourselves will throw up red flags. Alvarez hasn’t gotten where he is today by being stupid.” Before she could sneak a look
, Landon turned her in the opposite direction. “Don’t. She is fine. The dress she’s wearing is modest, and that confirms our source’s suspicion Marco intends to keep her for himself.” His entire body went rigid, and she wondered what had happened.
“Fuck. I was hoping his old man wouldn’t be here tonight. Juan Alvarez is a paranoid bastard.” Landon’s words were whispered so quietly she might not have known he was speaking if she hadn’t been facing him. “Doesn’t matter. We’ll get her out. It just isn’t going to be as easy as I’d hoped.”
“They’re headed this way.”
“Kneel, Princess. It will keep your face out of view, and the old man will assume it’s a show of respect for him.” He turned her a quarter turn as she dropped gracefully to the floor and spread her knees. Her hands rest atop her thighs, and Savannah breathed a sigh of relief when the dress fluttered in soft folds over her sex.
“Very nice, Mr. Nixon. Your slave is well-trained. My son told me you are hoping to add another, and I’ve heard you have an eye for blondes. It’s unfortunate my son has decided to keep this one for himself.” The minute the older man had started speaking, Savannah’s stomach turned over. She recognized his voice. The name he’d given her when he’d accosted her in the elevator at the Agency wasn’t Alvarez, but her mind was racing so quickly she couldn’t remember what he’d told her it was. She could barely remember to breathe.
A few seconds later, her memory started to clear. He’d asked her to join him for dinner, and she’d declined despite his claim to be a longtime friend of her supervisor. Yeah, that turned out to be a crock. Nemesis was a more accurate description of their association.
She didn’t dare move. Men like Juan Alvarez didn’t forget a woman who’d turned them down. The conversation continued as the older man attempted to convince Landon to look over their available offerings and submit an early bid. “There are twice as many buyers as slaves, so they’ll sell quickly.”
Amy seemed to falter as Marco’s warning was snarled from her side. “Father, enough. You are upsetting Amaryllis. I won’t have it.” Savannah’s mind was filled with questions, and the urge to grab her niece and sprint to the door was almost overwhelming.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Marco, I’m very thirsty. Could we please find something to drink?” Amy’s voice sounded airy, and for a minute, Savannah wondered if she’d recognized her. But when she wobbled in the stilettos she was wearing, Savannah knew she’d been drugged. Amaryllis Fitzgerald could dance backward down the steps of Lincoln Memorial in the pouring rain in those damned shoes and never miss a step. She’d been wearing sky high heels since high school. The only places she wore anything else was in the gym and on the beach.
“Are you okay, sweetness?” Carter was kneeling beside her, but he wasn’t close enough for her to explain without being overheard. His warm hand cupped her shoulder, and she fought the urge to look up when he instructed her to.
“Red.” The word had barely been a breath of air, but she’d felt his fingers flex. This time he leaned much closer when he repeated the question. “No. I’ve met the father. He will recognize me.”
His muttered curses let her know he’d heard her. “Boss, your slave is ill.”
“Ill?” Landon immediately knelt close, and she hoped he was blocking Alvarez’s view when she used her fingers to flash 911. Thank God he hadn’t questioned her. “Carter, I’ll need a subbie blanket and a bottle of water.” She heard Carter’s retreating steps, but the black dots dancing in her vision were making it hard to see anything. “Breath, slave. You are not allowed to damage what belongs to me.”
Later…much later, they were going to have a long conversation about that damned word. Saints and sinners, she hated the word slave. But right now, she was counting the command as a blessed reminder and sucked in a deep breath.
“There is a first aid station near the entrance, Mr. Nixon. I’m afraid the local hospital will not meet your standards.” Savannah bet it wouldn’t. And the man standing so close she could smell his ghastly after-shave wouldn’t risk being exposed. He’d make sure they went directly to the waiting jet. What the old man didn’t know was the local authorities were already focused on uncovering the truth about the Alvarez mansion.
Landon wrapped the blanket around her shoulders. “Up you go, pet. I’m going to ask Carter to accompany you back to the jet.” She kept her chin against her chest and fought back tears. Fucking hell, how has this happened? She’d seen a picture of Juan Alvarez, but it had been so old she hadn’t recognized him as the sleazeball who’d crowded her into the corner of the elevator.
Carter clutched her arm so tightly she’d likely have bruises…assuming you get out of this place alive. They’d only covered half the distance to the door when a woman bumped in to her, and Savannah instinctively looked up to apologize. That one microsecond slip was all it took to bring the house of cards tumbling down around her.
“Savannah?” Amy’s voice sounded from several feet away. She and Marco were standing between them and the door.
“How do you know Miss North, mi pequeño la flor?”
Amaryllis must not have heard the hard edge in his voice, because she didn’t hesitate. “She is my aunt.” Turning back to Savannah, Amy flashed her the same goofy smile she always had when she’d been drinking. Two steps, that was all Amy took when the entire world slowed, and Savannah looked on in horror as pandemonium broke out.
Someone behind her shouted her name, but she didn’t have time to react before Juan Alvarez’s voice thundered around her. “Marco, let me introduce you to Special Agent Savannah North Fitzgerald.” The emphasis he put on the last word made the younger man blanche.
“Marco, I’d like to introduce you to Savannah. Oh my God, I’m so happy to see you.” Amy started toward her again, but screams filled Savannah’s ears just as her niece’s eyes went wide with fear. Savannah looked to the side for Carter, but he was being pulled away by several men she assumed were Alvarez’s goons. Marco launched himself in front of Amaryllis at the same moment Savannah was stuck from behind by what must have been a runaway truck. As she flew to the floor, the crack of gunfire sounded from a few behind her, and a man’s grunt of pain in her ear made her heart clench.
Several shots rang out, and she watched in revulsion as red bloomed over Marco Alvarez’s white shirt and he fell to the floor. Amy was bent over him, crying hysterically and clutching his limp body against her own. Savannah pushed the heavy weight off her and turned to find Landon lying in a growing pool of blood. Yanking the blanket from around her, she pressed it against the wound in his shoulder and nearly fainted when she saw the slice that started near his left cheek and continued over his ear.
The gaping cut fell open as he turned to call out to Carter, and the sight of his skull between the edges made her gag. “Get her out of here. Fucking get her out now.”
What? No! She wasn’t leaving him bleeding on the floor. He could just forget that right now.
“No. I’m not leaving you. Carter can take Amy out. I’ll leave with you.” She’d no more than spoken than a muscled arm wrapped around her waist and she was lifted into the air. She screamed at the man sprinting toward the door, rage replacing the fear she’d felt a few seconds earlier. Carter never paused as he plucked Amaryllis off the floor, unceremoniously throwing her over his shoulder and running out the door.
“Put me down. Marco! Oh God, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know she was coming. Let me go, you big oaf. Marco! Please don’t die.”
“If he’s not already dead, he will be soon. He caught one right over his heart. Nothing you can do. Now stop fighting me before I tranq you.”
“She’s already been drugged. Don’t give her anything.” Savannah wasn’t sure what they’d given her, and any mix of meds could be deadly. Carter tossed them both into the back of the nearest car, shoved the chauffer out of the way, and roared down the drive.
Amy threw herself into Savannah’s arms, sobbing so hard she worried the youn
ger woman would be ill before they reached the airport. She could hear Carter talking on the phone and knew both planes were waiting with medical personnel, and Savannah hoped they had something to numb the pain squeezing her chest.
The car bounced over the rutted highway, and Savannah reached over to latch Amy’s safety belt. Not bothering with her own, she stared out the window and let the tears flow unchecked down her face. One mistake…less than a blink in time was all the inattention needed to cost one man his life and seriously injure another. How could she have been so stupid?
The car slid to a stop, and both rear doors were pulled open before it finished rocking. Carter pulled Amy into his arms and moved to the Nixon’s large jet. “Come on, sweetheart. You’ll feel better as soon as we get you cleaned up.” Savannah was surprised at the soft tone of his voice and wondered if he realized how sweet his words sounded.
“Agent North?” She glanced up into the concerned eyes of a man who looked a lot like Jen McCall’s husband. “I can tell by your expression you’ve met my brother, Sam. I’m Sage McCall, Special Agent. Let’s get you on board, and then we’ll make sure none of this blood is yours.”
The entire flight home was filled with questions and debriefings. She’d finally been allowed to clean up just before they landed. Watching Landon’s blood swirl down the drain of the marble shower set off a tsunami of tears. She had no idea how long she’d knelt on the floor, but the water was ice cold when she heard Carter’s curse.
“Jesus fucking hell. Come on, sweetness, you’re going to catch your death of pneumonia. Landon will kick my ass if he finds out I left you in here alone.” He turned off the water and wrapped her in a bath sheet before pulling her to her feet. Picking her brush from the counter before leading her into the bedroom, he ordered her to sit and then moved behind her. He patiently detangled her long hair and laughed. “I’m getting really good at this. I just did the same thing for Amy. She’s scared of Sage, called him a giant, and wouldn’t let him near her. I think she must be the only woman in the world who didn’t immediately fall at his feet. Damn, I think I’m in love with her.”
