Mine To Protect (Mine #6)(19)

Yes. He could watch her pleasure all night. Never get sick of it. She was moaning softly and her hands were on him, holding him close.

He kissed her. Savored her.

But then…

“Not just me, Victor.” Her hands came between their bodies as she pushed him back. “I’m many things, but not a selfish lover.” She unhooked his jeans. Slid down that zipper. Her fingers closed around his cock and she started stroking him. Long, sensual strokes.

His hands flew out and grabbed for the counter top. He looked over her shoulder. Saw his reflection in the mirror behind her. Hard face. Narrowed eyes. Clenched jaw.

“My turn…” She stroked hard. Pumped faster. He was so erect, Victor knew it wouldn’t take long for him. The scent of her arousal—oh, hell, but it was driving him wild.

She pushed him again, just a bit more, just enough for her to slide off the sink. For her to ease to her knees before him.

He knew what she was about to do, and Victor almost came right then and there. “Zoe—”

She put her mouth on him, and his control splintered. The feel of her tongue, her lips…he was a goner. He held the counter as tightly as he could, and Victor erupted.





Chapter Six


He could have said the desperate need he felt for Zoe was a byproduct of the mad adrenaline rush that had burned in his blood. Victor could have rationalized his desire for her by saying that he’d been in freaking turmoil after the shooting—that he’d been so frantic for her because he’d wanted a reassurance of life. That he’d wanted to wash his sins away.

But those lies would have been all bullshit.

Victor glanced toward the narrow bed. Zoe was sleeping. Dawn was coming, and the mess they were in…it was about to get a thousand times worse.

Because he hadn’t been so desperate for her because of adrenaline or tangled emotions after the shooting or any other excuse that he wanted to throw out there. He’d been so wild…because he’d been with her. Because Zoe made him want and need like no other woman. When and where and why—did any of that matter?

He. Wanted. Her.

This case was becoming so twisted, with every moment that passed.

He took another long look at her, then he eased out of the motel room. He made sure to shut the door as soundlessly as possible. Then, not wanting to take the chance that Zoe might wake up and decide to use her glass technique to eavesdrop on him, he took a few quick steps away from the door.

A few moments later, he had his phone at his ear and—

“Victor.” Russell answered immediately. “Are you safe?”

“Yes.” He gazed at the deserted parking lot. “Tell me you ID’d the guy.”

“You know you have to come in soon for a sit-down. This was a shooting, man. The paperwork alone—”

“Did you ID him?”

A long sigh came over the line. “The perp looked familiar to you, too, didn’t he?”

Yeah, he f*cking had.

“We’re running his prints now and doing a DNA check with other cases. As soon as I have something, I’ll let you know.” Voices murmured in the background behind Russell. “I swear, I’ve seen his face before. Probably somewhere in all those files we have on Luther Bates.”

Luther Bates. “I have a name you need to run for me.” This part made him feel like absolute hell, but it had to be done. “When you’re digging into Luther’s files, look for an attorney…young guy, named Tom or Thomas.”

“What’s he done?” Russell asked.

Broke Zoe’s heart. One of his many sins. “Let’s just say I think he was pretty heavily involved in Luther’s world, and I want to know where he is now.”

“A lawyer…” Russell whistled. That was his thing. He tended to whistle when he was nervous or excited. “That would be the perfect person to turn against Luther. Lawyers always know where all the bodies are buried.” He paused. “You know, a last name would be very helpful here.”

“I don’t have a last name for you, not yet. But I know the guy was in Vegas a few years ago, back when Zoe was twenty-one. He was involved with her. Asshole thought he was going to marry her.”

Silence, then…“So I guess he knows all her secrets, too.”

“No, he doesn’t.” The idea of someone else knowing Zoe’s innermost secrets, her thoughts, her fears…why does this piss me off so much? “I want to know what the hell the guy is doing. Where he’s been, what he’s been up to…find out everything you can.”

“It’s working, huh?”

“What’s working?”

“You’re getting her to trust you. I knew if anyone could do it, it would be you. Has she told you any specifics yet about her father? Anything else we can use?”

“Yeah…” God, he was such a f*cking *. “We need to take another hard look at her mother’s death because I think Luther Bates may have killed her. And…Zoe was there.”

“What?”

“Just get the case files, okay? I’m going off-grid for a while. When I touch down again, I’ll be in contact once more.”

“Uh, wait! Touch down? Touch—”

He ended the call. Not because he was an ass and enjoyed cutting off one of the few people that he called friend but…