Page 52 of Johan. (Van Den Bosch #8)

“Oh, it’s very serious,” Amelia says, her tone darkening as old memories surface. “Twenty years ago, I tried to expose him. His men kidnapped me, and I was only released after agreeing to never speak against him again.”

Lukas takes a deep breath, running a hand through his hair as he absorbs this information. His glasses slide slightly, and he pushes them back up with a determined motion. “That’s terrible. What am I supposed to do? I’m ready to help in any way I can.”

I place a hand on his shoulder, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “All we need from you is to be vigilant. Keep an eye on what Ludovic does and says while we’re on-site, and report everything to me. We need to tread carefully, Lukas. One wrong move, and everything could fall apart.”

Angela and Amelia exchange glances, nodding in agreement. A tense silence settles over the room for a moment, the gravity of our mission sinking in.

“We have to be extremely cautious,” I continue, my voice firm. “This mission is dangerous, but if we stay united, we have a chance to outsmart Ludovic and uncover the real treasure of Ubar.” I then turn to Angela and Amelia, and ask, “Do you have everything ready for tomorrow?”

Angela steps forward, her voice calm yet firm. “We do. A trusted local contact of mine has secured the necessary permits and will assist us in Oman. To avoid drawing attention, we’ll travel separately, use different jeeps, and operate from various sites. Discretion is critical.”

I nod, processing the information. “If there’s anything I can do to help, just let me know.”

Amelia joins in, her expression serious but reassuring. “Don’t worry. Our contact is highly experienced and will ensure both our safety and a smooth journey to our base. We’ll only gather outside the site when absolutely necessary.”

Angela reaches for her phone, her fingers moving swiftly as she speaks. “I’m sending the GPS coordinates for our tent now. Your driver will be able to bring you there whenever we need to regroup.”

A sense of resolve begins to grow inside me, the anxious tightness loosening slightly as I realize we’re as prepared as we can be. “Thank you,” I reply, my voice carrying a quiet but firm confidence. “Tomorrow is the big day. Let’s review the plan once more before we call it a night.”

As we gather around the table to finalize the details, a sense of unity binds us together. The path ahead is uncertain and dangerous, but with this team, we have a fighting chance.

Once everything is said and done, Hannah and I bid farewell to her aunt Amelia, Dr. Angela, and Lukas.

The door clicks shut, and suddenly, it’s just the two of us—alone.

The room feels significantly emptier yet charged with a different kind of energy.

It’s quieter, more intimate. I turn to face her, noticing how her eyes sparkle with a mix of excitement and curiosity.

The air between us thickens with anticipation, especially now as I recall what we did here last time we were together alone.

We stand close to each other, the space between us charged with unspoken words. I take her hand in mine, feeling the warmth of her skin.

“Well, this is it. Tomorrow, I’m off,” I say softly, my thumb brushing over her knuckles.

She looks at me, her eyes filled with a mix of sadness and determination. “It’s gonna be hard,” she replies, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I know this is the only way to defeat the Goschens.”

I nod, appreciating her understanding. “It's just for a few weeks,” I assure her. “I'll be back before you know it.”

“I know,” she says, trying to smile. “But it's still going to be hard.”

I lean in, pressing my forehead against hers. “We'll make it work,” I tell her, my breath mingling with hers. “No matter what.”

She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath. “I just wish we had more time together before you go.”

I pull back slightly, looking into her eyes. “We have now,” I say softly, a smile playing on my lips. “Let's make the most of it.”

Without another word, I close the distance between us, pulling her into a deep, passionate kiss. My hands roam over her back, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin fabric of her shirt. She responds eagerly, her hands tangling in my hair as she presses closer.

“God, I love you so much,” I murmur against her lips, feeling her shiver in response.

Her breath hitches as she whispers back, “Me too.”

The intensity between us grows, and we stumble towards the couch, barely breaking our kiss.

I push her gently onto the cushions, following her down.

The world outside seems to vanish, leaving just the two of us in this electrifying moment.

Our clothes quickly become an afterthought, discarded haphazardly as we explore each other's bodies.

“I'm sorry for not taking you somewhere nicer,” I murmur against her neck, my breath hot on her skin.

She smiles up at me, her eyes half-closed with desire. “This is perfect,” she whispers back, pulling me closer. “I just want you.”

We move together, a tangle of limbs and whispered words.

Those four little words go straight to my cock, making me harden even more.

In one swift movement, I bring my lips down hard against hers, aching for her taste.

This is more than just a simple kiss—it's full of passion and an animalistic need.

She matches my desire, and our tongues intertwine.

The room seems to melt away until it's just the two of us, lost in each other's arms.

I let my hands wander across her soft skin, exploring the curves of her body as our breath mixes.

In one swift movement, I flip her over on her stomach, straddling her from behind.

As her ass presses up against my erection, I trail my lips down the length of her spine, eliciting a slight moan from her lips.

“Quiet,” I whisper, smiling as I press a finger to her plush mouth. I’ve often wondered if Hannah secretly liked my rough side, and this particular groan tells me she does. I slide a hand under her body, my fingers finding her wet slit, gently toying with her clit.

“Don't move,” I order, before smacking her ass just enough to make her cry out.

Hannah remains still as I stroke her heated skin, the anticipation becoming too much.

As I trace a finger along her leg, moving her thighs apart, she keeps them perfectly still.

If this wasn't about us physically expressing how much we need each other in the moment, I would smile.

“You're beautiful,” I murmur, leaning down and sinking my teeth into the soft flesh of her shoulder before easing the pain with a swipe of my tongue.

Her low, appreciative sound lets me know I'm on the right track.

Hit with a need to mark her, to leave some visual sign that this woman is mine, even when I'm gone, I suck at the side of her neck until a red mark forms. Again, I lick the offended skin and repeat the motion twice more before I'm satisfied.

The hickeys are bright and red against her pale skin, and they make something primal in me want to stand up and shout.

The warm feeling of her folds begins to caress the head of my shaft as she grinds back against me. I keep her in place, holding her as my mouth finds the nape of her neck once more.

But Hannah refuses to slow down, pushing back once more, telling me without words just how much she wants me.

Right now. No more waiting. Giving in to those primal desires, I finally thrust myself into her hot, wet sex, a slick sound mixing with the whimper that fills the room.

Pounding into her slowly, I close my eyes and relish the feeling of her tight walls engulfing me.

A groan escapes her lips as I hit her sweet spot.

She tries to speak but can't form the words, her moans growing louder.

Letting my hand drop, I wrap my arm around her and pinch her nipple, one and then the other.

Hannah bites back a cry, her breathing ragged.

I tease her nipples and plump her full breasts, keeping my cock buried deep inside her.

"Johan." Her whispered breath of my name makes my cock jump, and I pause my movements, glancing at her face as she turns to the side. She's dazed and delirious as I pull her mouth into another heated kiss, my hand tangling in her silken hair.

I continue to make love to her, drowning in every moan, whimper, and gasp she produces as I roll my hips against hers.

The friction between our bodies leaves us both soaked in sweat, our skin sliding together with each movement.

I bring my lips to her ear, trailing kisses down her jawline.

“You're mine, Hannah,” I growl, tightening my grip on her as she nods vigorously. “Forever."

“Yes, Johan,” she pants as her grip on the cushions only tightens.

I'm suddenly overcome with the need to see her face, to look into her eyes as I bring her to her peak.

Pulling out of her, I flip Hannah over with my hands on her hips, hooking both of her legs over my shoulders as I thrust into her once more.

With her legs at this angle, and sitting down on the back of my legs, my cock is more deeply buried within her than before.

Hannah clings to me, cries turning desperate as I find her clit with my fingers, doubling the pleasure I'm giving her all at once.

I let out a breath as she practically convulses around my shaft, the two of us panting and clinging to each other as if the other is a lifeline.

Once more, I bring my lips to the marks on her shoulder, flicking my tongue over them until I know that they'll be darkened in just a little while. My god. The sight of her like this is heavenly, my gaze sliding from her neck to the swell of her breasts, rosy and flush from our love making.