Autumn turned to him. A deep sadness etched into her face. The blue of her eyes was darker than the gray as if reliving a dark memory. “I remember when I came back after my kidnapping. She wasn’t happy I was back. Her exact words were, ‘I wish you stayed gone.’”
He cocked his head to the side as he gazed down at her. “Perhaps she was jealous. You were getting all the attention…” His words drifted off as she gave him a smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
Autumn shook her head, “No, it was worse than that. And now…” She closed her eyes and looked back outside again. “Now I know she wants me dead.”
Nico walked over to his wine bar and pulled a dusty bottle out. He popped the cork and took out two glasses. “It can’t be both.”
“What are you talking about, Scala?” Autumn’s voice had an exhausted edge.
Nico glanced at her from where he stood and brought both glasses over. “Your sister has to choose. She either wants you dead or to frame you for these murders. She can’t kill and frame you at the same time.”
When he offered the glass, she took it without hesitation, “Are you a cop now?”
His lip lifted in a slight smile, “Your sister can’t have it both ways. It’s not how these things work.”
“Expert in murder, are you?” Autumn brought the glass to her lips, staring at him over the rim.
“I come from a world of bloodshed, baby. I know the intricacies of a sociopath’s mind.”
Autumn stared at him for a beat, holding the glass between her palms. “Did you kill your fiancée’s murderer, Scala?”
The question came out of left field, he never thought about Aimee’s death. He had padlocked that memory in the back of his mind.
Nico blinked back at her. “We’re not talking about me, Autumn.” The words came out smoothly, but the feeling was like raw meat.
“You wanted whoever it was to suffer like you did when she died next to you in the car.” Autumn cocked her head to the side. “They didn’t shoot at you, though. Why?”
“I would be very careful with your next words.” He put his glass down with a clink. “You shouldn’t ask questions you don’t want the answers to.”
“But I do want the answers, Scala.” She looked at him over the rim of her glass. “Hererra made me very curious about her death and how a man was found with his insides tied around his neck.”
He walked, or rather, prowled, towards Autumn. “You don’t want to know that side of me, sweetheart. Trust me.”
As if sensing the danger, Autumn backed away slowly until her back hit the wall. “And what if that’s exactly what I want?” Her words were breathless, and her eyes darkened further.
Nico caged her in with hands on either side of her head. He nuzzled along the side of her neck. “The truth is gritty and raw.” He heard the hitch in her breath as he nipped the fleshy pad of her ear.
“Please,” came her breathy reply.
Nico looked up to see Autumn’s eyes were closed, and her head was hanging to the side of her shoulders. “Please what? You want raw and dirty, Agent Taylor?” Her eyes opened, and they were glazed over like she was on some kind of high. “Once this dress comes off, I’m not stopping.”
Autumn looked him directly in the eye and whispered, “I need you…please.”
“Your wish,” he purred and looked down as he set his hands on the thin material of the dress, “Is my command.” He ripped down the center of the dress and bared her creamy breasts to his gaze. Nico licked his lower lip and crouched before her.
He held the lightweight of her breasts in his hands and circled the hardened nipples with his thumb. He glanced up at Autumn to see her lashes fanning her cheekbones. Nico leaned forward and sucked one nipple into his mouth.
A keening sound poured from her lips.
Nico sucked hard and did the same with her other nipple.
Sharp nails dug into his shoulders.
Nico stood again and picked Autumn up.
Her legs wrapped around his hips as he walked her to his room. Nico kissed her sweet lips and bit at the lower one. Putting her on her feet, he pulled his shirt off, not giving a damn about the buttons that flew everywhere. He pulled a condom from the bedside table tossing it on the bed. He picked Autumn up and laid her on the bed on his black sheets. His lips and tongue skimmed from her neck, down between her small breasts, and into the center of her navel.
His hands made quick work of the black satin thong she wore without taking his eyes from her body, he ripped them off. Skimming down her outstretched thighs, he pushed them open, spreadeagled for his pleasure.
