She moaned the entire time, taking shallow breaths, rarely blinking as I soaped her entire body. I bent one leg at the knee, pushing it against my hip, taking my time to wash over every drop of paint.

  The way she pressed her hands against my chest was almost as if trying to steady herself. Every look she gave me was so damn powerful I could barely think straight. What she was doing to me had to be a crime somewhere. The thought brought more than just a smile to my face. I was completely in a trance, enjoying washing her, something I’d never done before.

  “You’re very good at this,” she cooed.

  “I want you perfectly clean.”

  “But I like being oh-so filthy around you.”

  Her comment made me laugh. “I can tell. One bad little girl.” When I was finished, she yanked the scrub ball from me, taking her time to wash my chest and arms. She constantly flicked her eyes toward me, watching my reaction as if fearful I’d get angry. How could anyone not be entranced by every move she made?

  She was graceful, stunning in her natural beauty, her long wet hair only adding to her look of innocence. But of course, I knew better. The thought brought another smile to my face. When she dropped oh-so slowly to her knees, I took a deep breath and held it, allowing the heated breath to escape a little at a time.

  I widened my legs, planting one hand on the top of her head, the other against the tile wall. As she washed my legs, the jolt of energy from raging adrenaline offered a shimmer of colors in front of my eyes. That rarely happened, the rush more powerful than I’d felt in a long time. When she finally moved to my cock, she brushed the scrubby down the length of my shaft twice before tossing it aside, using her hands to finish the sinful deed.

  She laughed and purred alternately, her long eyelashes skimming across her cheeks as stunning as the rest of her. When she rolled her hand between my legs, cupping and squeezing my balls, it took everything I had not to force her mouth onto my cock. But I allowed her to play, to take her time stroking me.

  At least until she twisted her hand back and forth around the base of my shaft and I was close to erupting, pre-cum already leaking from my slit.

  “Don’t tease me, baby. I can’t take it,” I said in a husky voice.

  “And here I thought you could take anything just like you dole it out.”

  She had a way of making me laugh, so much so I was ready to combust into flames, the fire was burning so brightly. The moment she wrapped her luscious lips around my cockhead, I had difficulty breathing. Panting, I pushed down her head, forcing her to take almost every inch.

  Her mouth was hot and wet, just like the rest of her. I’d gathered a scent of her desire almost from the beginning, forced to keep full control of myself of I wouldn’t have been able to snap so many amazing photographs.

  The sounds of her jaws clenching, sucking with gusto was enough to push a series of growls up from the depths of my being. I couldn’t allow this to continue for long. Hell, no. My needs were far too brutal, almost desperate. That’s what she did to me. A few seconds longer and I couldn’t take it anymore, pulling completely away before it had become too late.

  She licked around her lips in an exaggerated manner, reaching for me again. I placed my index finger against her chin, shaking my head. “Not now, baby.”

  “When?”

  “When I say so. Remember? You will do what I say from now on.”

  “Mmmm… Maybe I’ll disobey on purpose.”

  Unable to resist the invitation, I slipped my arms under hers, forcing her to stand. Then I shoved her against the shower wall, bringing my hand down four times in rapid succession.

  “Ouch. That is… painful.”

  “More so when water is involved. Careful or I’ll step out and grab my belt.”

  “No, you won’t, big boy. I know you’d prefer to fuck me instead. Now, wouldn’t you?”

  I cracked my hand against her bottom a few additional times, adoring her moans of longing.

  She did know me far too well. “I might surprise you.” Using my knee, I kicked her legs further apart, immediately plunging all four fingers into her sweet and very tight pussy. As her muscles clamped around the invasion, I flexed them open, pumping several times.

  Her moans were adorable, so much so my pulse raced. Then I ripped my hand free, issuing six brutal slaps across her bottom, repeating the salacious action one more time before losing my patience. Then I drove my cock back inside, both of us throwing our heads back from the force I used and the pleasure.

  Everything seemed more intense, special in a way that couldn’t be taken from us. She was gasping for air, her eyes cinched shut. I wrapped one hand around her throat, holding her head back by several inches as I started fucking her like the savage I’d become. She could turn a man into a beast within seconds, the creature losing his mind because of a single taste of her sweet lips.

  I allowed myself to become lost in the moment, the steam rising in the shower matching the heat building in our combined systems. That was easy to tell by the adorable beads of perspiration trickling down both sides of her face.

  Delaney pushed up onto her toes, meeting every brutal thrust with one of her own, the sounds we made completely animalistic. For what seemed like a full hour, I fucked her like a wild man, slamming her against the wall several times.

  It wasn’t long before I realized I couldn’t hold back for long. I closed my eyes, taking deeper breaths in an effort to keep from releasing. But as she did with everything else about me, she sensed I was close, squeezing her tight pussy muscles on purpose. Dear, sweet God, the release was more powerful than I’d experienced in a long time.

  If not forever.

  As I filled her with my seed, I heard her soft words, whispers that would sadly haunt me throughout the entire night, but ones I’d longed to hear.

  “I love you.”

  CHAPTER 25

  Francois

  As I pulled on my jacket, I studied Delaney’s sleeping form, able to smile even though I was about to face accusations for a crime I hadn’t committed. I’d done some terrible things in my life, including killing at least ten men over the years, but they’d deserved their extermination, every one of them the scum of the earth.

  By anyone’s standards.

  However, drugs had been phased out of our world long before, long enough that the last few times they’d been a part of our family’s business Arman had handled them. I’d had nothing to do with it. Rocco had a full list of priorities to handle, one of them locating the people who allowed members of Alturo’s soldiers to board our ship.

  I would exact the kind of wrath that would leave them begging for their death, but I wouldn’t give it to them at least for a week or more. I pulled the roses I asked to be dropped off to my nose, taking a deep breath. While they had an amazing aroma, they were nothing like the woman’s sweet essence that lingered with me even after taking another heated shower.

  I’d been amused that doing so alone wasn’t nearly as much fun as what we’d shared the night before. Chuckling, I moved closer to the bed, gently placing the roses onto the pillow where I’d had my head before, although I hadn’t slept more than a couple of hours. I’d been going through what I knew about the situation, trying to ascertain whether I was right about my assumptions of who was behind it.

  However, the nagging about Brandon remained, something that had forced me to make a call to him only an hour before. The call had dropped into his voicemail, which wasn’t a good sign. I had no idea what I was going to do if the man had betrayed me. Ending his life would destroy what I had with the woman I had to admit I loved.

  Whatever love could be to a man like me.

  I brushed my hand down her naked arm before backing away, but as soon as I turned around, I heard the rustle of sheets, the slight murmur of giddiness from seeing the flowers. With a grin on my face, I turned around, able to smile fully seeing the sparkle in her eyes.

  “You are full of surprises,” she half whispered as she rolled over, taking a deep whiff of her own.

  “You have no idea, baby. There’s more to come.”

  “Are you okay with this?” She struggled to sit, holding the sheet over her voluptuous breasts. She had no idea how sexy she was with her long hair falling into her face, her lips rosy and swollen from our kisses.

  “Don’t worry about me. For now, you’re to stay at the condo. There are four men that will keep anyone from getting in. Should you have any issues, you will call me.” I walked closer, putting my hand on the phone I’d placed on the nightstand with a note for her. I left both where they were, bending down and kissing her forehead.

  Delaney placed her hand on my cheek. “Be careful.”

  “Don’t worry. I plan on it, beautiful doll. I’ll be back before you know it.”

  As I headed for the door, I grabbed my weapon, shoving it into my jacket. While I wouldn’t be able to take it into the precinct with me, I would have it close by in my attorney’s car. I couldn’t be too careful about anything at this point.

  I took one last look before walking out. When I was outside in the corridor, I glanced at the soldier standing guard by the front door only once. “If anything happens to her, I will hold you personally accountable. Am I clear?”

  “Yes, sir. You won’t need to worry.”

  I took a deep breath and headed for the elevator, loathing the fact I had to leave. Once the doors were closed, I raked my hands through my hair. I had a feeling the police would take the single opportunity of having me inside their precinct to grill the fuck out of me. Hopefully, they got their fill. It was never going to happen again.

  Sante had already arrived, standing against his Mercedes. He’d driven in from Miami, the firm the sister of the one we used in New Orleans. The man was sharp, more so than I’d originally given him credit for. I’d secured him in particular given his family was still in Cartagena. His heritage had proven to be helpful more than once.

  His family happened to be in the diamond brokerage business, which had provided my family with significant experience and tutelage once we’d made the decision to get into precious jewels.

  When I approached, he pushed away from the vehicle, lifting his sunglasses. “You don’t look like a man who rose from the ashes.” He threw out his hand, waiting as I took my time to accept the gesture.

  “Yeah, well, fortunately, I wasn’t there when it started.”

  “So I heard. The daughter of your business partner. You do like playing with fire.” He grinned after a few seconds, which was something he rarely did.

  “News travels fast.”

  “Always in this part of the world.”

  “Let’s get this over with. I’m not going to be questioned for hours.”

  “It’s best to cooperate right now. You know that.”

  “Bullshit. And you know it.” I climbed into the passenger seat of his car, glancing out the front windshield, able to see two of my men strolling from one side of the complex to the other. “What do they have?”

  “You mean other than the actual evidence? One of your men swearing you gave the orders.”

  I sucked in my breath. “Which man?”

  “Oh, no. You’re not going to end his life. I doubt you want to add murder charges on top of everything else.”

  “How much are the party favors worth?”

  “The police estimated four million street value, but they don’t know shit. If it’s pure, which I’ll guess it is, then it could be double.”

  The value was enough to keep me in prison for a long time. “Are they planning on charging me?”

  “You’d be in jail if they were. At this point,” Sante continued, “it’s just a fishing expedition. Don’t give them ammunition, Francois. I know you far too well.”

  “No, I don’t plan on making their day.” We were silent for a full five minutes as he drove away from Duval. When I heard my phone ring, I instantly bristled. Seeing Thomas’ number didn’t bode well. “What did you find?”

  “It’s what I didn’t find. Brandon Baxter had no meeting in Germany, Italy, or anywhere near there. So far, I haven’t tracked his flight from London. Maybe he used a false name.”

  Fuck. “Try South America and Cuba.”

  “Are you sure you want to know?”

  I thought about Thomas’ question. “No, but it’s required. Any news there?”

  “The police are scrambling to locate the arsonist, but the press has already put the situation together enough the family was on the morning news. National. We’re the biggest crime syndicate in the world right now, our market shares trending.”

  “Are the stocks falling?”

  “Just the opposite. Being notorious will make us millions.”

  I wasn’t certain that was good to hear. “Find the damn plane Brandon was on.”

  “I’ll see what I can do.”

  As soon as the call ended, I texted Rocco with the information. He had trackers all over the world. If anyone could find out where Brandon went, he could.

  “Trouble in paradise?”

  “Take us in the back entrance of the police station. I have a feeling there’s going to be press crawling all over the place.”

  I’d been right, which had prompted me to contact my soldiers at the condo, also ordering at least three more to head toward the building. The police had no clue what they’d done by allowing it to slip that I was to be questioned. That had given a carte blanche invitation to the goons trying to destroy my world.

  Sante narrowly avoided hitting one of the press members, racing around to the other side of the building. He’d been through shit like this before, easily able to shove aside the three tenacious reporters who’d raced after the speeding car.

  As we strode into the station, almost everyone we passed stopped what they were doing to watch the great entrepreneur being questioned for a heinous crime. I was honestly surprised they hadn’t managed to add a murder rap onto the charges. Why did I have a feeling that would come?

  I was still angry about Brandon, using the festering anger to fuel my attempt at remaining impassive. As we were led to an interrogation room, Sante stopped the officer who’d been assigned the duty. The guy wore a smirk on his face that was difficult not to wipe off with my fist. He, along with the other officers who remained in the building, was amused as hell, likely taking bets on the timing of my incarceration.

  “Do not make us wait for long. We’re both important and busy men,” Sante directed.

  “Yeah, I’ll see what I can do.”

  When the door was closed, Sante shook his head. “Why would Alturo do this? What is the point?”

  “That’s what I’m trying to find out.”

  “Well, I hope like hell you can. Someone is going to face this charge, Francois. I hate to tell you that, but you need to know so you can prepare for what is determined.”

  I walked closer, offering a smile. Of course I knew we were being monitored through the two-way glass. If the police thought they were being clever, they were fools. “Then work your magic and ensure I stay out of jail.”

  “You must think I’m a miracle worker.”

  “Actually, I do.”

  I took a deep breath, backing against the blank wall to wait.

  Thirty minutes passed. Then an hour. I was at the end of my patience, which was exactly what the detectives wanted to have happen, when the door finally opened. A male and female detective walked in, the male slapping a file on the table positioned in the middle of the room.

  “Mr. Thibodeaux, first of all thank you for waiting. We’re sorry to keep you so long. We’ve had a busy night with New Orleans square in the middle of Mardi Gras. You know it filters to the sister city.”

  “Indeed. And you are?” I kept my cool, much to the male detective’s chagrin. I could easily tell in the man’s eyes. Perhaps he’d heard of my reputation. Very little flustered me, at least as far as what I allowed others to see. However inside I was seething, which wouldn’t bode well for the entire police force. I had more influence in Key West than they obviously had any understanding of.

  “Detectives Drake and Crenshaw. We’d like to ask you a few questions.”

  Drake glanced at Sante, obviously unhappy I’d brought him along for the fun. “Why, certainly. I’ll be happy to help any way I can.”

  As they shifted their questions back and forth, barely taking notes, I sensed within minutes they were indeed fishing, but also attempting to force me to lose my temper. By the time an hour had passed, I’d grown weary of their repetitiveness and gave Sante a quick glance.

  “I think you’ve already gone over in detail the same questions now five times, Detectives,” Sante told them, expressing his dissatisfaction by rubbing his eyes.

  “Just a few more and we’ll be happy to send your client on his merry way,” Detective Crenshaw stated. She’d remained stoic throughout the questioning period, but I had a feeling the good cop-bad cop routine was getting ready to be unfolded.

  “Isn’t it true that you consider yourself bigger than the law, Mr. Thibodeaux? As if you can’t be arrested for any crime?”

  I found it fascinating that she’d taken the bad cop routine, but at least it would prove to be amusing.

  “That’s out of the line of questioning, Detective,” Sante reminded her. “And in truth, that’s insulting to my client.”

  “Well, I certainly wouldn’t want to insult your client, Mr. Rodriguez.”

  She moved around the table, daring to walk within two feet of me. How bold, especially since I could see raw fear in her eyes. She wasn’t certain what I was capable of. Either that or she believed goading me would bring about a response.

  “Mr. Thibodeaux, I am curious. How does it feel to squeeze the life out of someone?”