Big Easy Temptation (The Perfect Gentlemen #3)(52)

She rewarded him with a groan that played along his skin and vibrated up his flesh, urging him to shove his cock deeper into her mouth.

She sucked him hard, working his dick to the back of her mouth with pliant lips and an active tongue. She swallowed around him and he couldn’t hold back another second. He gave her what she’d asked for. He let go and came with a hard moan, thrusting into her mouth and releasing everything he had. Through a haze of ecstasy, he watched as she sucked him down.

Electricity sizzled over his skin. His whole body felt alive. She did that for him. No other woman could. But it was more than mere desire. He ought to know, because he’d felt it a million times. It was more than just pleasure. He’d experienced that, too. This . . . only love could feel this big and life changing.

Dax smiled as she pulled back and stared up at him, wearing the sweetest smile, like a cat that had stolen all the cream.

He grinned back, then lifted her up and tossed her on the bed.

He wasn’t done with her. Not even close.


*

Holland woke hours later and couldn’t help but stare at Dax. He was spread out on his back, the sheet clinging to his hips. Even in the moonlight she could see all the muscular cuts of his torso. His face appeared so peaceful in repose.

She felt as if she struggled against a storm of anxiety.

She’d almost lost him again. After he’d made love to her for the second time, he’d fallen asleep. Holland had risen and paced. That was when she’d noticed the text on her phone from an unknown number, likely an untraceable burner phone. Whoever had sent the terrible message had probably already dumped the phone.


Next time it’s for real.

Simple message. Nothing that pointed to any particular incident. Hell, if she were another woman in another situation, she might convince herself someone had texted her by mistake.

But she knew the truth. The Russian mob or whoever the admiral’s enemies had been could get to Dax. They could kill him.

She’d thought about it all afternoon. After visiting her uncle, she’d considered going straight to her bosses. She’d actually started driving to work before she realized she would be putting all her coworkers at risk. Yes, they were law enforcement and risk was part of the job, but first she would have to convince them she wasn’t simply love struck or paranoid. She would have to sell her murky conspiracy theory.

If she did, they’d all be ass-deep in something dangerous—and whoever had threatened Dax would only come for him harder. Even if she couldn’t convince her peers that she was onto something, every one of them would be vulnerable to a threat they wouldn’t see coming simply because they’d heard the truth.

As her uncle had shown her the incriminating pictures of the admiral with Amber Taylor, all Holland could think of was how disillusioned Dax would be if he saw how rough Hal Spencer had been with the girl, the way in which he’d left her bruised and battered. What was the point of putting him through that now? His dad was gone.

If she told him everything she’d seen and learned today, he’d be hurt and angry but he still wouldn’t believe his father had killed himself, at least not when and where he had. And Dax would never stop looking for the admiral’s killer.

What was she going to do? How could she distract him from this case and keep him safe? If she didn’t find a way, the violence that had taken the admiral could also take Dax. Even the thought made her crazy. She couldn’t lose him like that. Not when they’d finally come together.

What did she owe justice? Certainly not the life of the man she loved. Her uncle seemed to think that Admiral Spencer’s death had been a suicide. Should she risk Dax’s life to go after the people who might have driven his father to it?

She leaned over and kissed Dax’s forehead. How could such a good man come from such a flawed and selfish one?

“Hey, we never ate.” He chuckled as he turned over and dragged her into his arms. “Well, we never ate the pizza I brought.”

“I put it in the fridge a little while ago.” She hadn’t been at all hungry since she’d realized the Russian mob could make good on their threat. “Do you want me to heat up a slice for you?”

Holland wanted to make him comfortable and happy before she told him—somehow—that she would no longer be investigating any further and that he shouldn’t, either. Not tonight, but tomorrow. He had to work tomorrow, and she would do everything possible to make sure whoever was watching believed that she had dropped the case.

Tomorrow night, she would make him see that not digging up these old bones was for the best—for everyone. They needed to let the past rest so they could have a future.

He gave her a sleepy smile. “Nah. I just want to lie here with you. How late is it?”

“A little past midnight. Dax, I love you.”

“I love you, too. I like saying it. I’ve never said those words to any woman but my momma and sister.” He turned on his side, propping his head on his hand. “You’re the one for me, Holland. You’re the one I want to keep safe, the one I trust.”

God, she prayed he still trusted her tomorrow. “I feel the same way.”

But she had to put his life first. Even if he got angry with her and they had a horrible argument, she would make sure he stayed safe. She couldn’t do any less.

They would make it through this.