“I-I can’t. It’s too m-much,” she sobs, her gaze pleading.
“Hold on, sweetheart,” I promise in a thick voice.
I thrust hard one last time. Nora lets go of my shoulders, wraps her arms tightly around my sweat-slicked neck, and buries her face into it as she screams, another orgasm hittingher. She clamps around me hard, and I follow her over the edge, detonating on a loud, long grunt, filling her with my cum.
I hold her tightly as we ride out the last of the tremors, our bodies entwined. She continues to jerk and tremble against me even after I come down from my high and withdraw from her slick folds.
“You’re phenomenal,” I croon softly against her ear, stroking and petting her until she finally starts to breathe easier.
I pull back a little and hold her gaze. “I’m sorry.” My heart tightens as I press a soft kiss to her lips. “Was I too much?” I ask.
“No. You were perfect,” she replies, smiling softly.
I want to bask in the moment, but reality trickles in, reminding me of what led to this in the first place. If I don’t find a way to protect her now, there won’t be more moments like this. The thought feels like being doused with cold water.
“Shower,” I say finally, my voice lower but steady.
She tilts her head slightly, looking up at me with a small, knowing smile, then nods slowly. “Okay.”
“You go first. If I go in with you, I won’t be able to control myself,” I say, kissing the corner of her mouth while she slides down my body.
She smiles, then pulls away reluctantly, grabbing her clothes as she heads into the bedroom. I watch her go a second longer than I should before forcing myself to look away. The shower starts a few seconds later, and I quickly drag on my shorts.
I reach for my phone immediately, dialing Emerald. The line connects faster this time.
“Tell me you’ve got something,” I say without preamble.
Emerald exhales on the other end. “We’ve finally gotten a voice, and we’re working on it.”
My jaw tightens, but I wait for more.
“It’s distorted,” he continues. “Whoever set up the contract knew what they were doing. It’s layered, masked. It’s going to take time to strip it down cleanly.”
“Give me something.”
Another pause. “It’s a woman,” he says finally.
I go still. “You’re sure?”
“As sure as I can be without full clearance,” he replies. “The base tone, the cadence—it’s female.”
My mind shifts instantly, pieces rearranging, aligning with what we just uncovered. Nora’s inheritance. But it’s better to be sure.
“When will you have a name?” I ask.
“Not soon enough for your liking,” he says. “We’re pushing it, but whoever this is, they covered their tracks well.”
“That won’t last.”
“No,” he agrees quietly. “It won’t.”
I end the call shortly after, my thoughts already moving ahead, connecting what I know with what I suspect. A woman. Close enough to know the system. Smart enough to hide behind it. The shower cuts off not long after.
I set the phone aside just as Nora steps back into the room, towel wrapped around her. Her hair is damp and her expression lighter than before. I walk toward her, meeting her halfway. The pull between us is something I’m unwilling to ignore.
I gather her in my arms, drawing her close. “Anything?” she asks.
“A lead,” I murmur, placing a soft, lingering kiss on her lips.
