Page 16

Orion

I can’t get enough of this woman. She’s sexy, smart, and oh so fucking hot. The pure trifecta of a woman.

I don’t do this. I wasn’t lying when I told her I never give control over to a woman. I also wasn’t lying when I told her she’s perfect. However, she thinks I was only calling her pussy perfect, but let’s be real here. She’s fucking perfect.

And I’ve never felt that way about a woman… ever.

It’s almost scary, but I don’t want to think about things happening that have never happened to me before.

Not when I’m balls deep in this beautiful vixen and she’s taking my cock nice and deep inside her beautiful pussy.

I dig my fingers into the hot flesh of her hips as I pound away inside her. “You handle me so well,” I tell her. “ So fucking good .” I plunge my hand into her brown hair, tugging and scraping along her scalp as I pull her back so I can kiss her.

I kiss the fuck out of her, my tongue exploring every inch of her mouth. I keep pumping my cock into her sweet pussy as I wrap one hand around to fondle her tits. She’s got great tits, and I love the way I can get a handful. I squeeze and play with each one, while my dick dives deeper.

This woman’s pussy is heaven. Pure fucking heaven.

“Briar,” I grit out, my cock so close to exploding it’s insane. “Next time I fuck you there’ll be no condom. Please put me out of my misery and tell me you’re on the fucking pill.”

“I’m on the pill,” she calls out breathlessly. “I’m on birth control.”

Halle-fucking-lujah.

I pull out of her quickly, removing the condom from my dick, and enter her wet cunt in a punishing stroke.

“Fuck,” I groan out. “That’s another thing I never do…”

“What?”

“I’ve never fucked bareback before.”

She peeks at me from over her shoulder, her eyes burning into mine. “Really?”

I pull her back once again by her hair, my mouth so close to hers. I breathe against her. “Yes, why is it so hard to believe that this is different?” It’s all so different with her. Every sensation feels different with her.

I don’t know what’s happening to me, but it’s not something I’ve ever felt before.

And then she says the magic words, words I’ve never heard uttered from another woman before. “Come inside me.”

“Yes.” I close my eyes as I sloppily kiss her, our mouths not staying connected from the brutal pace of our fucking. “Yes,” I groan out once more, my balls tightening with my need. I’m so fucking close.

I’m so fucking hungry for her.

I move my hand from her tits to her clit, and her pussy squeezes my cock tighter. I bet I could get her off once more before I shoot my load deep inside her.

Her taste on my lips, I leave her mouth, sinking my teeth into the side of her neck and gently bite her. I want to mark this woman up. I want the world to know she’s mine .

My heart’s nearly beating out of my chest, my mind focused on getting her off, I rub her clit like the fucker owes me money.

“Oh my god, Orion. Fuck, what are you doing to me?” She’s coming. I can tell by the way her pussy grips my cock. It feels fucking out of this world, and I drag my tongue down her back.

“Same thing you’re doing to me, Briar.” My body goes off like a ticking time bomb, my orgasm shaking me to the core. It takes me a full minute to recover.

She flips over, her eyes on me as I get off the bed. “That was…” her words fail her, and I smile.

“I know, it was that for me as well.” I head into the en suite bathroom to grab a washcloth to clean her up.

I’ve never knotted before. I’ve never had anything like that ever happen to me before, but then again, I’ve never fucked a woman like Briar before.

I sit at my desk, the clutter of papers spread out in front of me a reminder of just how tangled this whole situation has become. My phone is wedged between my ear and shoulder as I rifle through the documents we collected from Briar’s apartment. There are receipts, notes with half-scribbled phone numbers, a couple of old photographs—but nothing that screams, I’m working with accomplices to ruin Briar’s life.

“Tell me something, Orion,” Dean’s voice crackles in my ear. “Any chance Jason’s part of a bigger scheme? Because he’s not the type to be working alone. I mean, if he’s hitting you guys with these threats and taunts, you’d expect a pattern, maybe an enforcer or some muscle behind him, but I can’t find a damn thing that indicates he’s got partners.”

I shift a stack of papers aside. My office is nothing special—bare walls, a metal filing cabinet in the corner, and a single desk lamp offering a dull glow. Normally it’s my sanctuary, but right now, it feels claustrophobic. “I’ve been combing through every shred of evidence,” I say, resting my forearm on the desk. “Nothing suggests he’s working with a team. I get that you think he might be, but so far, he’s just a lone creep with a grudge.”

Dean sighs, a heavy sound that buzzes through the speaker. “But why, Orion? Why go to these lengths? The guy’s not an idiot—he knows if he keeps pushing, we’ll eventually find a way to bury him. So there’s got to be a motive beyond just wanting Briar back.”

I flip open a manila folder. “Could it be he’s after her parents’ money? That’s the only angle that keeps coming to mind.”

“Likely,” Dean agrees, “but according to our checks, he’s not drowning in gambling debts or anything that would suggest an immediate need for cash.”

I slump in my chair, pinching the bridge of my nose. “So if it’s not gambling or a big con, what is it? Revenge? Obsession? I wish I had answers.”

“Me too.” There’s a pause on Dean’s end, and I can practically see him running a hand over his stubbled jaw. “I’ll keep digging. You hang tight and keep an eye on Briar. The moment we find anything concrete, we’ll move.”

“Understood,” I murmur, eyes lingering on a photo of Jason and Briar before I quickly set it aside. “Thanks, Dean.”

We exchange quick goodbyes, and I tap the phone’s screen to end the call. The hum of my desk lamp suddenly feels loud in the quiet. For a moment, I just sit here, letting the tension bleed out of my shoulders. This case is a damn riddle. Jason’s crossed every boundary, but we have no proof he’s got anyone else helping him. No clue what his endgame is, aside from terrorizing Briar.

Pushing back from the desk, I gather the scattered papers into a neat stack. That’s all I can do for now, short of pacing a hole in the floor.

When I step out of my makeshift office, I hear Briar’s voice drifting from the living room, light and coaxing. “That’s it, Jeb. Good boy!” There’s a chirpy squeak in response, and a soft flutter of feathers. I follow the sound, rounding the corner to find Briar crouched on the floor, a small dish of treats beside her. Jeb sits perched on a portable stand, bobbing his head.

“Good job, Jeb,” she says, voice brimming with excitement. “Now, can you wave?”

Jeb cocks his head, as if in thought, then lifts one foot in a tiny wave. Briar laughs and hands him a treat, and I can’t help but grin at the scene. It’s a far cry from the tension we’ve been living under.

“Looks like you two are in the middle of some serious training,” I say, stepping closer. Jeb turns his head to eye me, his red tail feathers twitching.

Briar glances up, a smile tugging at her lips. “Yeah, I figured it would be good to help him settle in. He’s been off his routine, poor thing.”

I nod, watching as Jeb takes another treat from her hand. “He’s got a real knack for these tricks. Too bad he’s not a performer. Like that other bird at the zoo. The famous one.”

She chuckles, standing up and dusting off her knees. “Chester? Yeah Chester’s in a league of his own—most famous bird in the world. Over twelve million followers on social media. A total superstar.”

“Yeah, I bet Jeb could be more famous than him,” I say, crossing my arms over my chest.

She barks out a laugh. “Oh, Jeb’s definitely funnier and better in every way, but the stage fright. He’ll do a bunch of tricks when it’s just me, but bring an audience, and he clams up.” Her face softens as she scratches Jeb’s head. “Not everyone’s cut out for the spotlight.”

I watch the bird preen under her attention. “Well, he seems content to be your little buddy. Don’t think he’s too broken up about not being Internet famous.”

Briar gives a playful shrug. “Probably not. But I can dream, right?”

I crack a smile. “Sure. I can see you and Jeb taking the world by storm—who needs Chester?”

She laughs, nudging me with her elbow as she steps past me. “Exactly. Who needs Chester?”

“Who needs Chester?” Jeb squawks out. “Who needs Chester?”

The moment feels light, unburdened by the weight of our troubles. But it doesn’t last. My mind can’t help drifting back to the lingering questions about Jason—and the note hidden in my jacket pocket. I haven’t found the right time to show it to Briar yet. She’s calm right now, and I don’t want to yank her back into fear mode. Tomorrow, I decide, once we’ve formulated a better plan. Or maybe I should show her now…?

Sensing my hesitation, Briar tilts her head, eyeing me. “Hey, everything okay?”

I clear my throat, forcing a half-smile. “Just thinking about the conversation I had with Dean. We’re all stumped about Jason’s next move.”

She nods, sighing. “Great. That’s just what I need to hear—nobody knows what he’s up to.” Her voice wavers slightly, but she musters a brave face. “Well, I guess that’s our cue to stay here.”

“Exactly,” I say, stepping forward to rest a reassuring hand on her shoulder. Her body relaxes under my touch, and I note the soft flush creeping across her cheeks. The memory of last night comes flooding back. Just looking at her has my dick growing in my jeans.

Jeb squawks, flapping his wings and turning his back on us, as if annoyed we’re no longer paying attention to him. Briar laughs, stepping back to check on him. “Sorry, bud,” she coos, offering him another treat, “didn’t mean to ignore you.”

I watch them for a moment. Briar’s gentle, nurturing spirit is in full display, and it stirs something deep inside me. Despite everything, she refuses to let Jason’s threats define her life. She finds these pockets of happiness—like training Jeb—to keep herself anchored. I admire that more than I can say.

“Well,” I say, dropping my arms to my sides, “I’m going to step out for a minute, take a look around the property, make sure everything’s secure.”

She gives a quick nod. “Okay. I’ll just finish up with Jeb, then maybe we can figure out dinner.”

I pause at the threshold, glancing over my shoulder. “We can do that. Let’s see… we might have some leftover ingredients for macaroni and cheese,” I tease, recalling her fondness for “kid food.”

She scoffs, a playful glint in her eye. “Listen, mac and cheese is a delicacy. Don’t knock it.”

I grin, stepping into the hallway. “I’d never dare.”

Before I go, I catch one last look at her—face alight with a smile that hasn’t been easy to come by lately. It warms something in my chest, a reminder of why I’m doing all this, why I’m so determined to keep her safe from any threat Jason or the world can throw at us.

I linger long enough to see Jeb wave again, Briar praising him like a proud parent. Then I slip outside to check the perimeter, hoping there’s nothing lurking in the shadows. Because if Jason is planning something, I need to be one step ahead. For Briar’s sake, and maybe for my own.