Resting my hands on my knees, I close my eyes, exhaustion running through me now the adrenaline’s leaving my system. Cruz places a large hand on the small of my back, and I offer a weary smile.
Just then, a shout goes up, and we scramble to pull out our guns as two men lope toward us from across the street. They quickly put their hands up and call out, “The Duke sent us!”
Ryan cuts off his phone call and grabs the nearest one by the arm, pulling him close. “What about The Duke?” he asks, his voice raspy.
“You’re Ryan Grant?” he checks, and Ryan nods, letting him go and stepping back. “I’m Gabe Alvaro and this is Ren Winters.”
They go on to explain that they have been living in an apartment across the street. “We don’t know much,” Ren admits. “She set us up as a failsafe.”
“What can you tell us?” Ryan asks.
“When you sent The Duke and the other team out, The Duke replaced her entire team with a new one. It was to protect your group should one of them be captured and tortured for information. She then had us come in and set us up here with the instructions that if she didn’t make a call to us every day, to watch for you coming here and make ourselves known.” He looks down, visibly upset. “She hasn’t made the call for several days.”
“The Duke wanted us to tell you that she arranged to be betrayed so she could infiltrate from the inside. I’m sorry I can’t be more specific, but she said you would understand. She kept us in the dark so we wouldn’t be able to answer questions if interrogated,” Gabe continues.
Ryan scrubs his hands over his face, worry lines etched deeply into his brow. “Is there anything else you can tell us?”
Gabe shakes his head. “That’s all we were told. She wanted you to know she’d be helping from the inside.”
Ryan nods and lets out a sigh. “Do you have further instructions? Are you supposed to wait here?”
“We were instructed to tell you her message, then go home. We’ll be on the first flight out of here.”
Ryan holds his hand out and shakes both of theirs. “I appreciate it, thank you. Have a safe journey.”
I place a hand on Ryan’s shoulder. “At least we know for sure now.”
He blows out a breath. “Yes, not that I had any doubts. I just hope she can stay alive long enough for us to get her out.”
Punching him lightly in the arm, I tease, “This is The Duke we’re talking about. If any of the tales I’ve heard about are true, she’s survived everything this world could throw at her. She’s too smart to be taken down by my father.”
The corner of Ryan’s mouth lifts. “True.” He turns to everyone still standing on the sidewalk. “Come on, in your vans. Let’s go home.”
Later that night, I grab Cruz’s hand, dragging him to the bedroom. “I need you,” I murmur as he scoops me into his arms. Every time he does that, my heart does a little twirl of delight. I’ve never considered myself the romantic type, but with him, I could be persuaded.
He sets me down once we’re in our bedroom. “How do you need me? Should I make love to you, or fuck you so roughly you can’t walk tomorrow?”
“I want to fuck you this time.”
Cruz raises a dark eyebrow, his eyes gleaming. “Mm. I am yours to command.” I step into him, desire already thick between us. With nimble fingers, I undo the buttons on his shirt, then toss it to the side before running my hands up his waist.
He stands patiently as I touch every bit of bare skin, my mouth coming down to trace his tattoos, then moving across to run my tongue over his nipples. Reaching up, I draw his head down, gently touching his lips with mine before deepening it, drawing his tongue into my mouth, a shiver of delight running down my spine.
His body is a work of art; all hard angles and jutting muscles but covered in golden velvety skin that begs me to touch him, explore him. Twining my hands up into his hair, I tug it lightly and pull him closer.
His arms come around me, a soft sigh of happiness slipping from my lips. Running a fingertip down his stomach, I unhook the button and tug on his pants. Cruz gives me a hand, doing that little wiggle to get them over his hips that always makes me want to smack his ass.
His boxers and socks are next, and when he is standing naked before me, I can’t stop myself from drinking him in. He’s a god made flesh—a brutal avenging god perhaps but one, nonetheless. My stomach clenches in anticipation as lust thickens in the air.
I want to worship him, to show him what he means to me, to let my body tell him those three little words my mouth still won’t allow me. So, I do just that. Keeping my gaze locked on his, I slowly get to my knees before him.
His long thick cock juts toward me, a bead of precum just waiting for me to taste. Reaching out, I dab it with my finger, then put it in my mouth. A husky groan leaves me at the saltiness on my tongue, and Cruz’s eyes flare. Curling the corner of my lip up, I lean forward, grabbing him by the base. My tongue darts out to lick him from root to tip, his taste an aphrodisiac leaving me wanting more.
Sucking him into my mouth, I swallow around him when he hits the back of my throat, letting him slip farther down. My eyes never leave his; I need to see every expression, every ounce of pleasure I’m able to give him.
He brings his hands to my head, holding me still as he begins thrusting. “Mi alma, your mouth is nirvana. Fuck, baby, you feel so good.” Hollowing my cheeks, I suck on him roughly, letting my tongue slide along his base. He throws his head back, his teeth clenched as his thrusts become more erratic.
Pumping the base of his cock, I watch as he comes undone, his eyes meeting mine once more as his orgasm rushes through him. Thick ropes of cum empty into my throat, and I greedily drink it down, making sure not to waste any. He tries to pull back, but I hold him still, gently licking him clean. He groans and jerks, too sensitive, and pulls away to fall back onto the bed.
