As normal as I could, when every cell in my body was still vibrating. And my panties were still damp.
Cole had gone down on me, pinned me to a desk, and totally rocked my world. I still felt like I was in a happy daze. One I never wanted to stop feeling.
We were walking toward the elevators and every brush of his arm against mine, every time he pressed his hand to my back, I wanted to melt into a puddle.
No, scratch that, I wanted to climb him like a tree. Well, that, or tear his clothes off and touch him. Put my mouth on him the same way he’d done to me.
I shivered. It was as though electricity was zinging through my veins.
He pressed the button for the elevator, and I shifted on my feet. I’d never been sex-obsessed before. I’d never crushed on boys or celebrities, but I sure was now. On a gruff, rugged former assassin with callused hands and scars.
“Lili, are you okay?”
I looked up at him. “Yes.”
“You seem restless.” The elevator opened, and he pressed his palm to the small of my back and nudged me inside.
I almost moaned. I wanted him to pin me to the elevator wall and…I cleared my throat and knew I was blushing. “I’m fine.”
His brow creased as he studied me.
My gaze wandered. Down that scar on his cheek, that I really wanted to trace and lick, then to his mouth. God, I knew exactly what he could do with his mouth.
He made a low sound as the elevator started its descent. “Quit looking at me like that.”
“Like what?”
“Like you want to get naked.”
I licked my lips. “I can’t help it.”
He closed his eyes and looked like he was struggling. Then his eyes opened. What I saw in the blue depths made my nipples harden.
“Cole…”
The elevator slowed and the doors opened. He shook his head, then took my hand.
The security office ahead was a hive of activity. I spotted Lark talking with a few people, leaning over a screen as they studied something. I guessed there was a lot of work involved to maintaining the security at a casino.
The small woman looked up and gave me a wave. With a tentative smile, I waved back.
“Hey, guys.” Nash appeared. The bearded man was scowling and held a mug of coffee in one hand. “Come into the conference room.”
As we stepped inside, my orgasm-addled brain instantly cleared. Printed photos of women lay on the table. They looked like photos from parties.
Nash hitched a hip on the corner of the table. “Lili, we pulled the files of women who’ve gone missing recently, and cross-refenced them with some surveillance pictures we have from places Goodyear frequents.”
“Like the fight ring,” I said.
He nodded. “Are any of these women Ava-Jane?”
I made myself look at the women. They were all very beautiful. There was no particular type, some were white, some were Black, some had blonde hair and other had brown. Except for one thing. They were all very young.
God, was Goodyear hurting all of these young women? Were they trapped somewhere, with no hope of getting out? I knew how that felt, that bitter hopelessness.
“Lili, take a deep breath.” Cole’s hand touched the back of my neck and squeezed.
I pulled in a ragged breath. That firm touch was all I needed. It steadied me.
