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“In a roundabout way, you’re my first.”
“First orgasm you didn’t give yourself?” Nathan smirks.
“That too. But I mean this was the first time I really enjoyed myself. I didn’t know it could feel like this. Is sex always this intense for you? Or is this new?”
His sexy, alpha demeanor has calmed. Mission accomplished, he goes back to a sweet marshmallow. “Everything is new with you. I think the intensity of sex depends on how much you care about a person. Obviously, we’re explosive.”
I nuzzle into his lap, his semi resting against my cheek. A reminder. “Hey, it’s your turn.” No way he’s allowed anywhere between my thighs right now. I’ll implode. But I can put him in my mouth. I reach for his damp pants, soaked in splotches from the shower.
He takes my hand, stopping its explorations. “Another time.”
“You don’t want me to?” I peer up at him, curious.
He rests his head against the wall, looking completely satisfied even though he never got relief.
“Spencer, I know this is a tough lesson for you, but sometimes it can just be about you. You can be the star and center of attention. You can take what you want without worrying so much about everyone else.” His head descends to kiss my cheek. “This one was just for you.”
39
Nathan
My phone lights up with a bright glare.Dammit, I left it on the dresser. It’s on silent but keeps going off, making my dark bedroom look like a rave. Carefully, I drag my body away from Spencer. She’s in such a deep sleep, she’s not remotely disturbed when I climb out of bed.
Grabbing my phone, I pad quietly out of the room. Thanks to the blackout shades, I had no clue it was already morning. Hodge has been calling every two minutes since six forty-five this morning. My stomach twists as I call him back. It can’t be good news if he’s blowing up my phone.
“Hey, boss.”
“What the hell’s going on? Eight missed calls.”
“I found something you need to know, but because of who is involved, I didn’t want to email. No paper trail.”
“Talk,” I grumble as I open my fridge, fishing out the jug of orange juice before grabbing a small glass.
“Ruby met with that contact again. I didn’t recognize him at first, but I asked another PI buddy of mine. It’s Zavala. An enforcer for the cartel. They send him all over to collect serious debts.”
“Serious debts?” I fill my small glass to the brim, as I try to unpack Hodge’s sobering update.
“A lot of cash or heads. Whatever they can pay with.”
“Why the fuck is Ruby meeting with the cartel?”
“I’ll do more digging, but probably because she’s trying to pay off something Peter owes. I bet he went to prison owing them. They got impatient, started harassing Ruby.”
“Who lives with Claire,” I grind out. “They can’t harass a single grandmother and little girl.”
“I don’t think his family situation is consequential.”
My blood goes hot with anger, and dread. Violent drug cartels don’t get their reputation for mercy. Whatever Peter got himself into, he got Ruby and Claire involved in as well. “I remember Elise telling me Peter was an inside man for some crime organization. Is it possible he folded and told LVPD something that put his entire family at risk?”
“Not likely,” Hodge grunts. “Snitches are dealt with swiftly. There are cartel enforcers in every prison you can imagine. If Peter were a snitch, we’d know because he’d be dead. I’d bet my life this is about an unsettled debt. Ruby’s been hitting the ATM almost every two days, collecting cash.”
After a small sip, I slam my glass down on the island. “You’re just telling me this now? I told you to alert me of anything significant?—”
“I didn’t think anything of it until the fourth or fifth time, boss. She’s an old lady. Cash is a thing of the past for us, but baby boomers still like to fill their wallets with bills and butterscotches. I just ID’d Zavala this morning. I’m piecing this all together as you are.”
“Tail them both,” I order. “I want daily reports now. I also want you to keep an eye on Claire. If anyone suspicious sneezes within a mile radius of her, I want to know about it.”
Hodge sighs into the phone. “I mean…”