Devil You Know (Lost Boys Book 1)(56)

"I heard you approached a potential rapist on your own."

Oh crap. Suddenly I didn't want to be over his shoulder. Downstairs or in the next state would have been preferable.

"Two of my best guys were there and you decided to handle it on your own."

His hand moved over my ass and realization dawned a second before it came down hard on my left ass cheek.

"Ouch."

He didn't stop after one, he smacked my ass-a few hard hits on each cheek, and even as my ass stung in pain, I was so wet.

"I've waited for you for half of my life. I want a lifetime with you."

"You just spanked me."

He smacked me again. "A lifetime, so that means you don't confront potential felons on your fucking own."

He rubbed my tender flesh, his finger moving between my legs where I was soaked. I never would have thought a spanking would make me hot, but I was so turned on.

"You liked that." He was as surprised by my body's reaction as me.

He rubbed his finger over my clit and I couldn't stop the moan, didn't try to when he started finger fucking me. Right before I came he yanked me down his body and onto his cock. My eyes rolled into the back of my head.

He pressed me to the wall, held both of my hands in one of his high over my head, lifting my breasts to his mouth. His hips moved hard and fast, his cock hitting me on the clit as he moved in and out, his mouth taking turns teasing and sucking on my breasts. I came apart in a dizzying orgasm. He stilled, his cock jerked as ecstasy rolled over his features.   





 

"A lifetime, Thea." He kissed my neck and carried me into the shower.



It was while we cleaned the dishes after breakfast that Damian shared, "It's over."

I stopped drying the glass. "Cam has made the arrests?"

"Yeah."

"How many?"

"Seven."

"Was Guy … ?"

"He couldn't pin anything on him, but we've linked him to all of it. He knew Dobbs, the dirty cops, the man who attacked you in the alley."

"There's more."

"Cam believes Guy is the one who called out the hit on your dad. Your dad must have figured it out that Guy was the common denominator."

We had already been thinking this, but hearing it spoken out loud was shattering.

"Guy wants something from me, so let's use me as bait."

His face went dark, but he looked conflicted.

"That's the plan, isn't it?" I asked.

"I don't fucking like this plan."

"I'm in."

"Think about it first. I dragged you here to keep you safe and now we're asking you to walk right into the middle of it."

"Guy ordered the hit on my dad and if we can't flush him out he'll get away with killing him. That's not an option."

He rubbed his hands over his face. "We orchestrate this op, right down to the smallest detail."

"Okay."

"You don't take any chances. I'm not kidding, Thea."

"I won't." I realized then what fueled the spanking from earlier. It wasn't so much what I did, but what I might do. "I won't be careless, Damian. I promise."

He reached for his wallet, pulled something out and handed it to me. It was the first letter I had written to him and the picture of me from Cam's wallet.

"Do you know how many times I looked at these? Waiting out insurgents, sitting in foxholes … how many missions the thought of you got me through. You have been in my head since the first time I saw that picture. And having that letter … fucking Christ. And now you're in my bed and my heart and … " He rubbed his head before his hot stare speared me with its intensity. "I fucking hate this plan, making you bait, but I swear to God if you take any unnecessary risks..."

"I won't. I promise."

He moved so fast, pulling my body into the cradle of his. "I'm holding you to that, because you own me. Every dark part of me."



"I thought we were leaving?" Two days after he returned, we were heading back to New York. Mic, who had accepted a job with Damian, and Razor were joining us. Damian had spent most of the day yesterday out of the house while I packed my stuff. Whatever he was up to, he wasn't quite done.

"We have to make a stop first." He said as we parked down the street from Janice's. I was surprised to see Missy.

"Thanks for coming," Damian said to her as we approached.

"Thank you," Missy replied then turned to me and surprised me with a hug. "I'm going to miss you. Damian filled me in."

She surprised me again with that confession. "He did?"

"It's like a episode of a crime drama." She took my hands into hers. "Please be careful."

"I will."

"I'll fill everyone else in."

"I'd really appreciate that, thank you. Can I ask why you're here?"

"Damian offered me the position of manager for the bar."

Damian's absence yesterday was beginning to make sense. "That's wonderful. But that means..."

As if on cue, Janice was brought out in handcuffs. Unlike the overly confident woman I interviewed for, she had her head down. I had a twinge of pity for her to be so publicly humiliated, but then I thought about Amelia and how she had conned a dying woman. Actions had consequences. She needed to man up to hers.

Damian walked over with a man I didn't recognize. "Missy, this is James Stiles. He was Amelia's accountant. He can bring you up to speed on the bar. I'm closing it, you reopen when you're comfortable. And you'll need to hire a new bartender. We'll be back as soon as we take care of the situation at home."

"Don't worry. I managed the grain depot for years. It's the same concept. The bar is in good hands."

"I know it is."

"Would you like to go through the books now?" James asked Missy.

"I'll put on some coffee." Missy looked back at me. "When you return, I'll make dinner."

"We'd love that."

Damian took my hand and led me to his car. "How did you know she was looking for a new job?"   





 

"I asked."

"You're a good man."

He held the door for me. "Only to those who matter."

That wasn't true, but I didn't press the point.



We didn't go right home, we made one stop. Mrs. Cooke's house. I didn't even wait for the car to stop before I jumped from it and ran to my mom. She caught me into a tight hug. We were both crying.

"I've missed you," she whispered.

"I missed you more."

Mom released me and I reached for Mrs. Cooke's hands. "Oh Mrs. Cooke. I've missed you. How are you with being back here?"

"I'm good, dear. The memories bring a smile not pain."

"I'm so happy to hear that."

Anton and Cam came strolling outside. "Finally," Cam said as his arms went tight around me. "How you doing, sis?"

"Better now."

"You must be tired," Anton said as I moved into him and kissed his cheek. "I'm happy you're home. I missed you."

"I've missed you too, Anton."

"There are refreshments inside," Mrs. Cooke announced.

"Thanks for letting us stay here."

"Nonsense. It's a big, drafty place that has gone too long without having life in its halls."

Razor, Mic and Damian joined us and I knew this because my mom made a sound in the back of her throat, which had me wondering about her own personal hottie. "Where's yoga man?"

"Inside helping the girls with dinner. Who is this?" Mom asked, but she was already offering her hand to Razor.

"My mom, Rosalie, and Miranda Cooke, this is Razor and Mic."

"Just delighted to make your acquaintance." Mom was batting her lashes, but it looked like she had something in her eye. Confirmed when Razor asked, "What's wrong with your eye?"

Mom gasped, Mrs. Cooke looked flabbergasted and I roared with laughter. It was good to be home.



My smile was so big my face hurt when we stepped into the kitchen to see my two besties making dinner. As soon as they saw me they dropped what they were doing, screamed and ran to me. We hugged, jumped up and down and spoke in a language no one but us understood. And then they pulled me from the kitchen. "We'll bring her back," Kimber shouted from over her shoulder as Ryder dragged me upstairs.

"We have so much to catch you up on," Ryder said as she dropped on the bed. The room was amazing, spacious with antique furniture, muted-gold papered walls and a fireplace.

I stood in the middle of the room and spun in a circle. "I can't believe she let this sit vacant for so long."

"I know. The place is amazing."

I dropped down on the bed too. "How were things here? Any trouble?"

"No. None. We heard about Guy, we can't really believe it."

My happy glow soured. "I can't talk about that right now. How's Mom?"

"She doesn't know."

"That's probably for the best because she would absolutely hunt him down."

"That's what your brother is afraid of," Ryder said.

"So what's up with Damian?" Kimber asked.

"It's a long story, but he wants a lifetime with me."

They both squealed so loud I was sure they heard it down the block. "Oh my God. He said that?" Ryder gushed.

"Yeah. It's still there, what pulled at us when we were younger, but it's so much more now."

"I love that something good came out of all this shit." Ryder was right about that.