He’d be gone. And who would blame him?

  Suddenly, Zy wrapped his arms around her and brought her against his body. “Morning, baby.”

  His voice sounded rough and smoky, exactly like he’d been on the all-night sex bender he had been.

  “Good morning.” Her voice sounded overused, too. Must have been all that screaming. “I should get up.”

  Just like she should scrounge up some coffee for Zy, grab a shower, and start waking Hallie for breakfast.

  But all she wanted to do was lie here with him for one more stolen moment.

  “You okay?” He held her tight.

  “Why wouldn’t I be?”

  He chuckled. “I could feel you thinking.”

  “Sorry.”

  Zy kissed her forehead. “It’s okay. I don’t need an answer right now.”

  “Thanks for understanding. There’s a lot to consider.”

  “There is. But you should let me plead my case again. You know, just in case you need more persuading.”

  He rolled her to her back and slanted a kiss across her lips, urging her legs apart. She shouldn’t let him. They didn’t have time. But Tessa melted beneath him as he scooped her backside in his hands and pushed inside her. She was tender and swollen, but it didn’t matter. She still welcomed him with a shudder and a gasp.

  After a night of sex, her whole body was hypersensitive. But all Zy had to do was look at her, and she came alive. Her nipples beaded, her sex flooded, and she tingled everywhere. She didn’t see how she’d ever stop wanting him.

  Last night, he’d shown her what pleasure really meant and left no part of her untouched. Today was starting no different.

  Zy eased inside her so slowly she wanted to cry, but no amount of writhing or moaning changed his pace. He withdrew in an even more molasses stroke, driving her crazy. Tessa pressed her lips to his feverishly and dug her fingers into his shoulders, trembling and whimpering and giving all of herself to him. Again. She couldn’t help it. Refusing Zy when he set his mind on pleasure was impossible.

  “That’s it, baby…” he growled in her ear as he lifted her hips and impaled her in another unhurried stroke before he dragged his way out, leaving her struggling to breathe as she climbed toward another helpless peak.

  “Zy…” she panted. “Zy, please.”

  He gripped a fistful of her hair and tugged just hard enough to force her head back. He took advantage of her arched neck, sliding his lips down the column before he dragged his tongue up over her throat and chin, then finally covered her mouth, prying it open for his next kiss. Eagerly, she parted her lips wide for him, just as she did her legs when he pressed his way inside her again with another thrust that left her gasping, straining, and clawing.

  But he wasn’t satisfied. He never was until he made her a trembling, pleading mass. She felt that relentless part of him now, searching for weaknesses he could exploit, for ways to make her yield all of herself. He wouldn’t give up until she did.

  “If you’re looking for mercy, I have none. I want you to come.”

  She was almost there, now too far gone to form words. Instead, she nodded frantically, thrashing and bucking against him in a fevered cry for more.

  “I know you’re close. I’d love to keep you on the edge until you beg me…”

  His words sent a shudder down her spine. Her eyes widened. That sounded both horrifying and wonderful.

  “But we’ve got a busy day, so I’ll settle for one last back-clawing scream.”

  God knew he could wrench it from her. He’d already proven that over and over. “Zy…”

  “But not yet.” He hooked his arms under her thighs, spreading her even wider and leaving her completely vulnerable. Whatever he wanted to do to her, he would.

  And she would happily let him.

  His strokes picked up speed. God knew the friction was already about to unravel her. She tried to move with him, get the last bit of stimulation she needed to vault over the peak, but he held her at his mercy, open for his pleasure. She couldn’t do anything except hang on for the ride, knowing that orgasm would only come when he decided to give it to her.

  The tension stretched on. Despite how tender she was, she ached for the pleasure Zy dangled just out of reach. He kissed his way across her shoulder, nuzzled his face in her neck—then slammed his way deep inside her until her bed frame creaked, until she couldn’t catch her breath, until the climax she wanted went from unattainable to inevitable.

  She keened again, her throat almost raw, as she splintered into a thousand pieces for him. She tensed and jerked, riding ecstasy that somehow, unbelievably, outdid all the orgasms he’d given her over the past ten hours. Or did she just think that because her body sang with the kind of head-to-toe bliss she’d never experienced until Zy?

  He crashed into her, the tendons of his neck standing out, sweat trickling down his temples, and his eyes looking so blue above his five-o’clock-shadowed face.

  “I love you,” he ground out roughly as he slammed home again and let go with a harsh cry and a tremor that wracked his body.

  I love you, too.

  Panting, he collapsed onto her, absently kissing her shoulder. “Holy shit. I’d love to call in sick. Work is overrated.”

  Despite her sated afterglow, Tessa laughed. “I wish…but we can’t.”

  Everyone would know why. And even if the bosses had finally allowed them to explore their relationship, those three definitely hadn’t given them permission to slough off their jobs because they’d rather have sex.

  The sounds of Hallie grunting and working up to a cry began drifting through the baby monitor on her nightstand.

  “Duty calls, huh?” He grinned at her. “Guess I can’t blame it on the bosses this time.”

  Her heart flipped over. She was so in love with Zy and wanted to tell him how she felt so badly. But if she said the words, he would assume that she wanted to move in with him. He’d expect it, even.

  Tessa wasn’t ready for that.

  “Pretty much.”

  As if to reiterate the fact she needed to get out of bed, her alarm clock went off next, playing a Keith Urban song.

  Zy laughed and rolled to his side, pressing a kiss to her lips. “No rest for the wicked, I guess.”

  “None. You poor thing.”

  “Yeah. I guess we should get up. You want me to make you some tea before I head out?”

  It was sweet of him to ask, but… “You’re leaving?”

  “I need a shower and a change of clothes.”

  “Of course.” If he showed up in what he’d worn yesterday, One-Mile would definitely notice. “I’ll see you at work. Don’t worry about the tea. I got it.”

  “All right.” He pressed another kiss to her lips, this one lingering, telling Tessa without a word that he didn’t want to go. “Did I, um…persuade you any?”

  To move in with him? “Well, you’re very persuasive; I can’t lie about that. And I’d love for you to persuade me again, any time you want.” She kissed him and cupped his face. “But what you’re asking of me…it’s a big step. I need more time to think.”

  His jaw tightened. “It didn’t take you long to let Cash through your door.”

  “But that’s just it. Well…first, we weren’t living together romantically. I was giving him an opportunity to be a father to his daughter.” She’d needed the money, too. She still did. Rent was due in four days. She’d probably make it this month, but it would be tight… Next month? She’d have to figure it out then. “And second, I was too impulsive with Cash. Thankfully, when he left it didn’t affect Hallie. Then again, he never paid any attention to her. But you would.”

  “Hell yeah. I want us to be a family, Tess.”

  She wanted that, too. But she needed to be sure. “Then give me more time.”

  “How much?”

  “I don’t know.” How long should it take to decide what might end up being the rest of her life? “A week?”

  Zy didn’t say that he didn’t like her answer, but it was all over his face.

  “It’s not that I don’t want to say yes,” she assured him. “It’s that I want to say yes so much it scares me. And we found out barely twenty-four hours ago that our contracts weren’t going to keep us apart for another…”

  “Eight hundred eighty-seven days. I was counting.”

  “I was trying not to. Moving in together isn’t something we should do on a whim, and after last night… It was great.” Understatement of the century. “If we take that step, I want to be sure it’s not just for the sex but for the right reasons.”

  “I get it.” He sighed. “It’s easier for me to jump in because I only have myself to worry about.”

  “Exactly. Hallie and I come as a package deal.”

  “I know, baby. I’d love her, too.”

  His words melted Tessa’s heart. “We’ll talk about this more tonight.”

  “All right.” He groaned and pulled away from her, rising to his feet.

  She hustled out of bed and dragged on her pajamas, then dashed to the thermostat to turn up the heater. This January seemed chillier than the last. Or maybe she just felt that way because she hated the cold…and Zy wasn’t next to her anymore.

  Before she could make her way to Hallie’s room, he stopped her, now dressed, and pressed another kiss to her lips. “I’ll see you at work.”

  She nodded. “I’ll be there by eight.”

  “Well, I’m the boss right now, so if you’re a little late, I won’t tell.” He winked.

  “But Kimber needs us. Did you hear anything last night?”

  Sobering, he shook his head. “I checked my phone a couple of times. Nothing. I’ll make some calls and have an update by the time we meet at the office. Okay? I know she’s your friend, but try not to worry.”

  Too late. But she gave him a little smile. “Thanks. I’ll see you soon.”

  At three minutes after eight, Tessa slung her sedan into the lot, yanked her keys from the ignition, grabbed her purse, and hopped out of her car. Despite Hallie being a little cranky this morning—she blamed teething—Tessa was surprised she’d almost arrived on time.

  As she shoved her keys in her purse, she looked up to find a stranger approaching. Early thirties, wearing casual clothes and a ball cap. Someone from the Oracle team, maybe? It seemed likely that they would incorporate Zy and One-Mile into their tactical planning to rescue Kimber. If the operation required a demolitions expert or a sniper, they were the best.

  The man nodded her way as he cut through the parking lot, heading straight for her. He came closer, and something about him set her on edge. She assessed him again. He was too clean to live on the streets and his smile looked too ready to belong on a thug.

  At least that’s what she thought until she got a good look at his cunning dark eyes.

  Tessa hustled for the door.

  “Sorry if I startled you. Tessa Lawrence?”

  He knew her name? “Who wants to know?”

  “We have some mutual friends.”

  Was he from Oracle after all? “Who?”

  The stranger waved her question away. “That’s not why I’m here. You have two thousand dollars in your bank account. You owe twelve hundred dollars in rent and another one eighty-five for daycare. Your car payment is another three-fifty. Then you have to buy groceries and—”

  “What do you want?” And how do you know so much about me?

  “To talk to you. We can help each other.” He pasted on his friendly smile again.

  Every instinct she possessed told her not to believe it. “I’m okay.”

  “You’re falling a little more behind every month. What will you do when you can’t pay your rent anymore?”

  “I don’t think that’s any of your concern, Mr.… Who are you?”

  “It’s not important. I’m here to make you a proposition. There’s ten thousand dollars in it for you—cash. Today. It will take maybe ten minutes of your time and—”

  “If you’re suggesting for even an instant that I give you sex for money, then—”

  His hearty laugh cut into her righteous speech. “I’m not, Ms. Lawrence. You’re pretty, and maybe you’re a tiger in the sack. But you’re not worth ten grand. I can’t think of a single woman who is. This is strictly business.”

  Now Tessa was even more confused. “Then what do you want for that amount of money?”

  Her guess? It was illegal, and she wasn’t interested.

  “Information. That’s all. You’re in a position to know some things my associates need to. Once you provide that, I’ll give you cash. And if you like the arrangement, it might be something we can continue, as needed.”

  She narrowed her eyes, not liking the sound of this. “What kind of information?”

  “We’re looking for someone.”

  Valeria Montilla? Even if that wasn’t the case, Tessa didn’t like his vibe, didn’t like this conversation, and didn’t like the direction this encounter was heading. “I can’t help you. And you shouldn’t come back.”

  She bustled toward EM’s door—but he was faster, gripping her by the arm. “Listen, it’s not in your best interest to say no. Trust me when I tell you we have ways of…persuading you to comply.”

  The uneasiness roiling in her stomach turned to fear, especially when she realized they stood alone on the shadowy side of a building in a light industrial area. The place next door was abandoned. And the alley behind them was too close for comfort.

  Tessa tore her arm free. “Don’t touch me.”

  “I don’t think you understand, Ms. Lawrence. We’re trying to be nice here, but—”

  “Hey!” Zy shouted from EM’s door as he pounded down the steps, then strode across the parking lot. “Who the fuck are you? Get your hands off her. If you want something, you deal with me.”

  The stranger cursed under his breath, then released her, sidled behind her, then shoved her into Zy’s path before he sprinted down the alley and disappeared behind the fence.

  “Are you okay?”

  She nodded. “Fine.”

  “Go inside.”

  Tessa feared he intended to chase that guy. “Zy…”

  “Go!”

  He took off running, looking as if an all-out sprint was second nature to him, assisted by his long legs. She watched him go, her heart in her throat.

  What was this stranger capable of? Did he have a gun? Would he use it to stop Zy from chasing him? The thought terrified her.

  Tessa stood frozen in panic. If she dashed inside for One-Mile’s help, it would probably come too late. If she called the police, it would take them too long to arrive. And if she chased after them herself, Zy would be furious, not to mention she ran the risk of leaving Hallie an orphan. What the hell was she supposed to do?

  Before she came to an answer, Zy returned from the alley, panting, looking frustrated and furious.

  “What happened?” she asked. “Did he get away?”

  “He had a head start and a waiting vehicle. He was halfway gone by the time I even started chasing him. What did he say to you? What did he want?”

  “I-I’m not sure.”

  “He must have said something.”

  “He was looking for information about someone but—”

  “Who?”

  “He never actually said. He’d just finished saying that it would be in my best interest to tell him what he wanted to know when you walked outside.”

  “In your best interest how?”

  “He didn’t get around to explaining that, either. But he knew everything about me, even how much money I have in the bank.” She shivered. “It was creepy.”

  Raking a hand across his short stubble, Zy sighed. “I fucking don’t like this. And you don’t have any idea who he was?”

  She shook her head. “I’ve never seen him before. He didn’t look familiar to you?”

  “Nope. I’ll ask One-Mile if he’s seen anyone hanging around lately and look at the security cameras to see if we caught a better angle of him. In the meantime, you shouldn’t walk to and from your car alone.”

  That was no problem. She didn’t want to. “So what do we do now?”

  “Carry on with our day, I guess. We have a shitload to accomplish. Let’s start by making some phone calls and seeing if there’s been any progress on the Kimber front. And I’ll take a look at the security cameras and let you know if this guy looks familiar. And until we know who he is or what he wants, I won’t let you out of my sight.”

  Tessa exhaled in relief. She always felt safer with Zy. “Promise?”

  He glanced around to make sure no one was watching, then reached for her hand. “Baby, I’m not going anywhere.”

  After another long day at the office, full of one frustration and dead end after another, it was nearly time to quit. Tessa had gathered her things, and Zy was following her to her car when his phone rang. He pulled it from his pocket. Hunter.

  Shit.

  “It’s the boss. I should take this,” he told her as he scanned the area around her car, finding it clear. Only One-Mile’s Jeep and his bike were in the vicinity.

  It bugged the hell out of him that someone had accosted Tessa in the parking lot. It bothered him even more that the stranger knew so much, including where to stand to avoid their parking lot cameras capturing a full-frontal shot of his face. But Zy would have to unpack that later.

  “I can wait for a few minutes.”

  “Go get Hallie. I’ll watch you walk to your car.”

  “Okay. I’ll go home and start dinner. If you can eat with us, come on over.”

  “I’ll let you know.” He watched Tessa make her way to her vehicle as he answered the call. “Garrett.”

  “Hey.”

  In that one syllable, Zy heard his boss’s exhaustion and worry. “How are you doing? Anything new?”

  “No. Whoever has my sister grabbed her from the parking lot at the grocery store. It looks like they followed her there, pulled up beside her in a van, and grabbed her as she stepped out of her SUV. The plates are registered to a stolen truck in Texas, so we have nowhere to go from there. They tossed her purse into her front seat, phone and all, like they knew Deke would trace her to the store and find a dead end. No prints on anything. The only sign of Kimber since is that fucking picture with a gun to her head and a demand to know Valeria Montilla’s location.”