I had no idea how much time passed. Ten seconds.

  Twenty.

  A minute.

  However, when I felt the weight on the bed change, I moaned and reached for him, gasping for breath as I blinked in order to see him. The expression on his face was that of a predator who’d cornered his prey and as he crawled onto the bed, barely moving as he inched closer and closer, I whimpered my discord.

  That only made him smile, a knowing look crossing his rugged face.

  “You’re very hungry tonight,” he whispered.

  “Yes. God, yes.”

  “Are you ready for me, sunshine?”

  I nodded several times, still trying to catch my breath.

  I was ready to scream all over again as he took his time, crawling closer inch by inch. When he took my leg into his hand, lifting it into the air and pressing kisses along the inside, then rolling his tongue in swirls and zigzags, I threw my arms over my head to keep from clawing him. I grabbed the iron posts, holding onto them for dear life as he continued teasing me.

  His cock stood at full attention, the veins throbbing from his ability to keep control. But I knew he wouldn’t be able to hold back for long. I could tell by the carnal look on his face, the way his breathing was shallow. Soon he would claim me all over again.

  Dominik pulled first one leg then the other around his hips, then wrapped his hand around the base of his cock. Damn if the man didn’t continue teasing me, sliding the tip up and down my molten pussy. When he finally eased his cockhead inside, I sucked in and held my breath until stars floated in front of my eyes.

  He pushed inside another inch before gazing into my eyes. For the first time they were absolute windows straight into his soul. He allowed me to take a glimpse into the forbidden side of the man, the one he’d protected year after year in order to survive. In them I saw a mixture of emotions as well as the rage that kept him fueled. He was so complicated, but the single glance into his world was more powerful than he could understand.

  I would be forever locked inside the same cage that he’d placed himself into. My only fear was that there was no key for the steel lock.

  He placed his hands on either side of me, bending his elbows and lowering his head until our lips were mere inches apart. Then he thrust the entire length of his cock inside, the force shoving me up by several inches. My muscles strained to try to accept his massive size, the dazzling sensations so damn explosive. I couldn’t stop shaking as my pussy clamped around the thick invasion, pulling him in deeper.

  After dropping his head another few inches, he pulled all the way out, plunging into me again. Then he began a beautiful rhythm, sliding in and out. I wrapped my feet together, brushing the tips of my fingers down from his neck to his chest, tiny moans slipping past my lips.

  He said nothing as he fucked me, using the power of his muscles to keep himself aloft, barely rubbing his lips across mine. I finally wrapped my hands around his neck, tangling my fingers in his hair, trying to meet every hard thrust. I was so wet, my juice already slickening my thighs. The scent of our combined desires was a beautiful aphrodisiac, so deliciously intoxicating that I could live on the fragrance.

  As our bodies became one, moving together in a perfect orchestration, the rapid beating of my heart told me something that didn’t make any sense.

  I was falling hard for the man, the one I’d called a monster over and over again. The realization was confusing, pushing me into another state of mind altogether. I had to shut it off, to remember what this was really all about. I needed to protect myself from the same kind of pain I’d felt once before. That one had nearly destroyed me.

  His actions became more brutal as his needs continued to increase, but he was determined to take his time. When he suddenly rolled me over, forcing me to straddle his hips, I took several gasping breaths.

  The grin on his face was playful and as he cupped my breasts, squeezing with enough pressure I moaned, I knew he was allowing me some control.

  For a limited time.

  I placed my hands on his chest, pushing up then tossing my head up toward the ceiling. I clamped then released my pussy muscles several times as I dug my knees into him. Then I brought my head down, sliding my long hair across his face and chest. His husky growl made me smile.

  Dominik pinched my nipples, twisting and pulling until I cried out in pain. But the feeling was incredible, almost throwing me into another orgasm. I kneaded his chest as I bucked up and down three times, taunting the man who’d done it to me before. He pinched my hardened buds again before fisting my hair with one hand.

  “Be careful, little girl. You forget who you are dealing with.”

  “Oh, I remember,” I purred. “I don’t think you’re ever going to allow me to forget.”

  He laughed, the sound rumbling into my chest. I rocked him several times, the friction sending another wave of tingles. Then I couldn’t take it any longer, bucking like a wild stallion, lifting my hips them slamming down as I rode him.

  The way he gripped my hips was invigorating, holding me in place as he stared up at me with his sizzling blue eyes. He kept the wry smile on his face even as his expression remained like a primal beast.

  I was shocked as the movements forced me into another orgasm. Panting, I closed my eyes, enjoying the sensations rocketing through me. “Yes. Yes. Yes!” I knew my scream had to be heard outside the house. The thought almost made me laugh.

  There was no immediate coming down as I released, another climax pushing me into further waves of glorious euphoria. When the spasms started to subside, only then did I lower my head, a smile crossing my face.

  “Don’t stop, baby. Ride me. Make me come.”

  His words were more thrilling than any others. Within seconds, I started rocking him again, but this time with the intent of making him come. The electricity was enthralling, stealing my breath as my pussy clamped down. I adored the way his breathing continued to change, becoming more rapid, his chest heaving. He was doing everything in his power to keep from releasing.

  As he thrust his hips up from the bed, his body began to shake violently. I bit back another series of moans as I concentrated, shifting the angle. This time, he couldn’t hold back any longer. There was nothing like the roar he released before erupting deep inside, filling me with his seed.

  I slowed down, rocking him gently before easing down on top of him. For another few blissful seconds, he stroked my back, brushing his fingers up and down my spine. The warmth of his body was incredible, so comforting and protective. As I nuzzled against his neck, the sound of his heart thumping in my ear, I fell into a dreamlike state. A part of me wished I never had to leave.

  But I would.

  Nothing would prevent me from making certain Grady was back in my life. Even if it meant being forced to do what I’d promised myself only a day before.

  Killing the man that I could be falling in love with.

  Chapter 11

  Dominik

  The adrenaline rush was intense, the desire refusing to be satisfied. I felt more alive than I had in months if not years. And it was all because of the woman I continued to hold in my arms. Hope had brought out the beast, but there was something even more troubling. She’d managed to get under my skin in the short period of time she’d been in my possession.

  Some would call that a weakness. Hell, I would agree the majority of the time, but given she’d also managed to yank me out of another layer of darkness, altering my focus was also beneficial.

  At least I hoped.

  I had a purpose that might not make sense to anyone else, but I knew I was correct in making my decisions. I just had to figure out when the time was right. Leaving her would be difficult, not only because of my raging hunger, but also because I knew she would continue to try to dig into my past. At least I’d give Jerry explicit instructions on how to handle her.

  Sighing, I rubbed my jaw, glancing down at the sleeping woman. Every voluptuous curve fit against my scarred body perfectly. It was as if she was meant to be by my side. The thought could be debilitating for most men. But I wasn’t like the majority of men. Maybe I was barely human.

  I closed my eyes, enjoying the quiet moment until I heard the sound of my phone. Very few people had my number and while I’d been able to eliminate any possibility that someone could trace any call to my location, I bristled nonetheless. I’d forbidden anyone to call me unless it was an emergency.

  The person on the other end of the line better have a damn good excuse. Very gently I eased her aside then climbed out of bed, grabbing my phone and walking into the hallway. The last thing I needed was for her to overhear the conversation.

  “Yes?”

  “Dominik.”

  I recognized the voice, the man someone I used as a private informant. I’d saved the life of his sister years ago. Now he owed me everything for an extended period of time. Angelo knew better than to cross me. At least his information was usually valuable given his ranking within the Ivanov Crime Syndicate, even if he hadn’t known shit about Hope before. “Speak.”

  “You’re not going to like this,” Angelo said in a hushed voice.

  “Go on.”

  “Ivanov is gunning for you. He’s hired two assassins to track you down no matter what it took. No, I don’t have any details. I was lucky to be informed at all. He’s angry. He’s also nervous.”

  “When is this going down?”

  Angelo snorted. “They’re already in motion. I have no idea about their identities, but I can tell you that they are good at what they do. If you have any secrets, you better lock them down.”

  “Did you know about the child?” I asked.

  There was no hesitation on his part. “What child?”

  “Hope’s son.”

  “Jesus. No. Are you trying to tell me Viktor sent you to kill him as well?”

  There was a level of truthfulness in his voice. “I had an assignment. I wasn’t given all the information. That fucking pisses me off.”

  “I swear to God I didn’t know that. How can I prove that to you?”

  The bullshit he’d just told me would accelerate my plans by a couple of days. “Just keep me informed if anything changes. And Angelo…” I allowed the words to hang for a few seconds. “Do not try and betray me. I assure you that I know everything about your family.”

  He hesitated for a few seconds, his breath sounds becoming entirely different. “You know I wouldn’t do that. Never.”

  “That’s good to hear. I’ll be in touch.” I ended the call, holding the phone to my head before walking back into the bedroom. The beautiful woman was sleeping peacefully, her soft murmurs forcing my cock to twitch all over again. I could take her easily for hours, but I would need to process the information as well as finalize my plans. Everything had to go exactly as I intended. There wouldn’t be a second chance.

  I took a deep breath as I walked closer to the bed. When she rolled over, opening her eyes, a slight smile crossing her face, I felt the same pang of anguish as before. This should never have occurred but there was no way I would be able to get her out of my system.

  Not now.

  Not ever.

  I’d never been the kind of man to lament over goodbyes. Even now, I’d barely said much to Hope about the fact I was planning on leaving. I’d kept her in my bed, holding her close for a period of time. After that, the conversation had been stilted, mostly because I’d closed down, shifting into my usual mental space in preparing for an assignment.

  Then I’d left a little after nine to ensure I’d be able to get to my destination in the early hours. Even then, I’d exceeded the speed limit in order to make up for lost time. My anger had kept me fueled, the adrenaline pumping to the point I’d developed a headache behind my eyes. My discomfort would all be worth it if I completed the task that I’d given myself.

  Maybe then I’d have some kind of satisfaction.

  While she hadn’t complained or even asked me any complicated questions about where I was going or what I was doing, I could see the concern in her eyes, a level of pain that I’d seen in my own on more than one occasion. Even now, as I pushed down on the accelerator, several hours passing since I’d left, I couldn’t stop thinking about her or the way she’d felt in my arms. Leaving had caused more anguish than I wanted to admit to myself.

  Especially when I’d managed to catch a glimpse of her at the window when I walked into the shadows of the early morning. She’d been instructed not to follow, and to the best of my knowledge she hadn’t. I continued to ache all over as my need for her continued to grow. I’d become insatiable in my desires, pushing her to the limit, but the way her body had responded was breathtaking.

  Growling, I shook my head. I’d crossed so many damn lines.

  I had to admit to myself that while Angelo’s call had been unexpected, as well as troubling, I was glad to be moving forward. The last thing I wanted was for this to drag out any longer than necessary. It was more obvious than before that time was of the essence.

  I tapped on the steering wheel as I glanced into the rearview mirror, double-checking that I hadn’t been followed. Then I checked my watch. There was still five hours to go before reaching my destination. However, I’d learned enough about the people I was planning on visiting to know their every activity. I smiled at the thought. They would have no idea what was about to happen.

  If I was lucky, dealing with the targets would be clean and take only a few hours. While I wouldn’t take the time to do my usual disposal methods, their deaths would leave a full understanding that they’d fucked with the wrong man. Would it stop the assassins? Likely not, but I would deal with the bastards as necessary.

  Now I just had to learn patience.

  The thought made me laugh.

  I had one last phone call to make. Then there would be silence until the job was finished.

  “I thought I’d receive a call from you,” Jerry said after picking up the phone on the first ring.

  “Any activity?”

  “No. She’s been inside the house. When do you think you’re going to return?”

  “A couple of days,” I answered. “Be prepared for longer. Keep an eye on her as well as for any activity. If you see anything, you know what to do.”

  Jerry huffed. “Of course I do. Whatever you’re planning, I hope that it will bring some level of peace.”

  “Yeah, so do I. Only call me if a situation develops.”

  “Understood. Good luck.”

  Luck wasn’t in my vocabulary. This was all about the art of eliminating the enemy. Then again, maybe it would bring some level of peace in order to start a new life.

  New York City

  I actually loathed the place. The traffic. The stench of gasoline and fried food. The crowds. I’d kept away from the city itself for the most part, my condo located in a pristine location less than thirty miles away. However, I was forced to go into the city to handle my first mark. The prosecutor not only worked near Manhattan; he also owned a very posh as well as secured apartment. If I was right in my timing, he would be on his morning run, even earlier than a good portion of other joggers.

  And he enjoyed jogging in the streets, driving to an area of town that actually surprised me.

  I’d spent time researching the city years before. I knew almost every square inch, including the most secluded parking areas and blind spots. Given the early morning hour, I found the perfect spot without any issues. As I cut the engine, I scanned the perimeter. There was always some form of activity no matter the time of day, but at least the foot traffic was minimal at this hour.

  I eased the metal briefcase I’d prepared onto the passenger seat, selecting the perfect weapon and silencer for the job. The last thing I needed was to draw attention to the kill. While I had no intention of making this one messy, something I would have preferred, it was always entirely possible the prosecutor would sense an attack, attempting to scream for help. That would necessitate an in and out event, only taking a few minutes of my time.

  In looking into Shane Willis’ life, I’d been able to confirm his close friendship with both the mayor and the local police commissioner, all three of whom were gunning for Viktor Ivanov. From what I’d been able to learn, they were growing desperate to bring the Mafioso down in order to further their careers. They’d made empty promises to their constituents regarding cleaning up the city streets, ridding New York of such horrible criminals.

  And they’d failed every single time.

  After snapping in an ammunition clip and slipping the weapon into my jacket pocket, I got out of the car, confirming there was no one in close proximity as I clicked the locking device on the key fob. Then I adjusted my tie before moving out of the shadows of the ugly parking garage. As far as anyone was concerned, I was simply another businessman preparing for a long day at the office.

  I checked my watch before heading in the direction where I should be able to run into Shane in about four minutes. If the man fucked with me, altering his schedule, the only other easy attempt would be to meet him in his office. At least he usually arrived thirty minutes prior to the rest of the staff.

  I knew I was banking completion of my job on a man who occasionally alternated his weekdays, but it was a chance I had to take. The crisp morning air was a surprise given the time of year, but the light breeze wafted the stench of garbage into my nostrils. Growling, I darted my eyes from one side of the street to the other, scanning for members of law enforcement as well as any other threats. God, I couldn’t wait to get back to Kentucky.

  And to Hope.

  She’d gotten so far under my skin that I wasn’t certain I could yank her out of my system ever again. Her vulnerability was just as much of a turn-on as everything else about her, including her rebellious nature. When my cock started to twitch, all I could do was smile.

  Then I noticed a runner coming in my direction. If my information was correct, my new mark would make a turn at the upcoming corner. I held my breath as the jogger came closer. Damn it. The asshole was wearing a hoodie today. What the hell was that about? His stature matched the description and pictures I’d studied, but I also didn’t want to make a mistake.