I felt her unsteady breaths against my cheek as I lowered my mouth to her ear, You Lea. I want you. I pressed my body against hers and felt her shudder. I want all of you to myself.
I don’t want you, she breathed out as I placed my lips on the soft skin just below her ear.
Your body says otherwise.
It’s a traitorous bitch. Her voice quivered as she spoke.
I want every inch of you. I placed a kiss just below her ear.
Please, Lea shivered as I continued.
I want to know what every part of you feels like. I kissed down her neck.
St, stop. Lea placed her hands on my chest and tried unsuccessfully to push me away.
I want to lay down with you at night. I kissed down her shoulder.
Car, Carter, Lea balled my shirt in her fist.
I want to wake up with you beside me in the mornings. I followed the same path back up.
Lea pushed her palms against me and then curled her fingers back into fist, slightly scratching my chest as she let her head lay back against the wall. A sigh escaped as she continued to ball my shirt in her hands and closed her eyes.
Ah, found it. I nipped at the sensitive skin where Lea’s neck and shoulder met. I needed to show her how much I wanted her, how much I needed her.
I nipped and sucked the spot as I moved my right hand from the wall and tangled it in Lea’s honey blond hair. I gently pulled her head to the side, allowing more access to the soft, sweet skin. I could feel shiver after shiver run through Lea’s pinned body as I caressed the sensitive spot with my mouth.
Ah, Lea’s sigh caused me to smirk against her skin.
I pulled away and looked at Lea’s blushed body, admiring the darkening mark on her pale skin. So damn beautiful.
Lea dropped her hands from my chest and I turned and quietly left the room. I noticed Leon and Lewis had taken up post and nodded their way. She’s going to be pissed.
DAMMIT CARTER ! The men cringed at Lea’s outburst.
I suppressed my amusement as the guys groaned. Boss, seriously ? Do you have to get her so worked up on our shift ?
I shrugged my shoulders, Good luck with her. I walked down to the interrogation room and closed the door as Lewis and Leon’s curses and Lea’s angry voice drifted down the hall.
Where the hell is he ?
* * * * * * * * *
Xian looked worse than when he left the plane. The cart of tools sat near the wall that he was currently strapped to. As the doors closed behind me, Lynx and Miller looked up.
Is he talking ? I asked as I walked over to the men.
No. He won’t give anything up.
I rolled my sleeves up and picked up a syringe and bottle of liquid. Have you tried this ?
No, we figured we would let you decide on whether or not to use it.
I stuck the needle in the sodium thiopental and drew back the syringe. Xian looked up through swollen lashes and met my eyes as I pressed the needle into his vein.
Truth serum, I answered his unspoken question.
Xian started to thrash about as I pulled the needle from his arm. I stepped back and crossed my arms over my chest. Lynx. Miller, and I stood quietly and waited as the serum started to course through Xian’s system.
I knew how unreliable the serum could be, that I would probably have to sort through rubbish to find the truth, but I needed the man to start talking, to give me something to work with.
After a couple of minutes, I walked up and cupped Xian’s chin, Who sent you to the house in Hong Kong ?
Wouldn’t you like to know ? Xian’s accent was thick as he spoke.
I landed a punch to his ribs. Who sent you ?
The Alpha and Omega, Xian laughed as he spat out blood.
Lynx and Miller looked at each other as I landed a second punch. Who ?
Night and day. Sun and moon. Light and dark, Xian taunted, a mischievous glint filling his eyes.
I kept my face blank. I refilled the syringe and pressed it into Xian’s arm and waited.
Now, Xian, I’m going to ask you one last time, who sent you ?
The one who knows all, Xian smiled as he spoke, but knows nothing.
I stepped to the cart and ran my fingers over the array of blades.
They’re coming for her.
There was no vindictiveness behind the words, no taunts, no empty promises. The honesty of which they were spoken caused my hands to still above the Cold Steel MAA Italian Dagger Knife.
Spare my life and I’ll help protect hers.
I picked the blade up and turned to face Xian as he continued.
Do you think I was stupid enough not to know that you would try the serum ? Xian hissed out. I conditioned myself against the effects of it. I needed you to find me, Stephens, and I needed it to look as realistic as possible. I needed to warn you.
Why should I believe you ?
Because my father died before he could repay yours for sparing his life eight years ago. To honor him, that repayment now falls to me.
My father is dead, I spat out as anger threatened to consume me.
Killed by your mother for sparing my father, to uphold and protect the family reputation.
I looked to Lynx and Miller, their faces giving nothing away. It was common knowledge that my mother had killed my father, but what wasn’t common knowledge was the words that Xian had just spoke were the exact words my mother calmly spoke before she executed him.
Allow me to honor both our fathers. Allow me to help you protect the girl you are in love with.
I caressed the blade in my hand as I looked Xian over.
I know what is at stake if I cross you, Stephens.
I drew the blade back and let the cold metal slice through the warm air.
I stopped the blade at Xian’s throat as I spoke, For my father’s honor.
I laid the blade back on the cart and nodded to Lynx and Miller. They set to work on releasing Xian from the wall restraints, uncertainty clear in their eyes.
You will have a tracker implanted and if you cross me, I won’t stop myself next time.
Xian stepped from the wall and stood in front of me, his head bowed in submission. My life is yours.