Page 10 of The Delta’s Rogue (Crescent Lake #4)

“Mr. Stone!” Forrest exclaims as he reaches our table.

His shoulder-length hair is pulled into a bun at the back of his head, and his lumbering muscular form wears wine red slacks and a black shirt with the collar undone and the sleeves rolled up.

“You haven’t visited us in a while. And you’ve never brought a guest with you.

” He holds his hand out for me to shake.

I grip the bear shifter’s hand and offer him a smile. “I’ve been extremely busy but made time tonight to bring Sarina here. We’re only observing, though, to see if this is something she’d be comfortable with eventually.”

My grip around Sarina’s waist relaxes from the fierce hug I’d been giving her before Forrest approached, and my hand rests on her thigh, fingers dangerously close to her pussy.

They graze the hem of her lacy underwear with each subtle pass over her skin.

I don’t bother lowering the skirt of her dress to cover her.

The thought that Forrest could glance down and see her thrills me, and I detect no hesitation from her. She has a safe word to use if needed, and not once has she hinted she was close to uttering it.

My little rogue is enjoying our act as much as I am.

“You wanted to speak with me?” Forrest asks.

I gesture at the booth for him to join us. “Yes.”

Sarina leans closer to me and fiddles with the end of my tie, eyes downcast, as Forrest takes a seat.

Her body relaxes into mine, and for a split second, I tighten my grip around her reassuringly before returning my hand to its position on her thigh.

She peers up at me surreptitiously. Beneath her submissive, passive expression is that fire I’ve grown accustomed to, the fire that blazed there as she laid me out on the forest floor when I attempted to spy on her.

“I’m looking for information on someone.” I turn my attention to Forrest while caressing Sarina’s flawless body. “I have reason to believe he came here about an hour ago. His name is Lennox.”

Forrest crosses his arms. “Why are you looking for him?”

“Pack business.” I keep my voice as low as possible.

He nods, and his eyes scan the club’s interior, examining its patrons but never lingering too long on any one spot or guest. “A male came in here earlier this evening. He told me his name was Leonard, but I’m positive he lied about that.”

“You let him in even though he wasn’t a member?” I growl.

My hand curls into a fist on the tabletop, and Sarina smooths hers up my torso to my chest, placing gentle pressure right over my heart. I inhale, taking in her soothing scent before exhaling slowly.

“Apologies,” I say to Forrest. “I don’t wish to go into full detail about what he did, but—”

“He came by this afternoon,” Forrest says, ignoring both my growl and my apology.

“I wasn’t here, but he presented himself as a potential investor.

He was answering the discreet ad I’d placed in search of someone to aid in the plans I have for the club.

Gerald set an appointment with him for me.

Had I seen him first, I would have turned him away without a thought, but Gerald doesn’t read people as well as I do. ”

“He wanted to become an investor?”

Forrest barks out a dry laugh and shakes his head. “He wanted to use the club as a front.”

I frown, and Sarina freezes, her throat bobbing.

“A front for what?” I ask.

“I don’t know.” Forrest shrugs. “Drugs maybe? I didn’t let him get that far. He started talking about how much money I could make if I worked with his friends, and I kicked him out before he could finish his pitch.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “So, he left?”

“About fifteen minutes after he arrived, yes. He went out through the back exit. ”

“Fuck.” I slam my fist on the table. “Another dead end.”

“Sorry I couldn’t be of more help.” Forrest stands from our booth and walks away, but then pauses, turning to face us once more. “I had a thought,” he says, leaning his fingertips on the table. “The investment opportunity. Would you be interested?”

I blink at him, surprised. “I—”

“Don’t answer me right now.” He cuts me off with a raised hand. “I know you’re busy with pack business at the moment. But think about it.”

With that, he heads towards another guest, with a smile on his face.

My teeth grind together. “This was a waste.”

“Do you think Lennox really wanted to invest in Forrest’s club?” Sarina resumes her stroking of my chest.

“I don’t know.”

Her gaze turns inward, head cocking to the side after a moment. “Levi said the trail led in but not out, right?”

“Yes.”

Sarina purses her lips and tentatively cups my cheek. I sigh and cover her hand with mine, letting her touch calm my annoyance prowling under the surface.

“What if he was waiting for his scent blockers to kick back in?” she says, leaning close to my ear as if she’s whispering sweet nothings to me. “Maybe he knew Forrest would want nothing to do with his plan, but he also knew he needed time off the streets to cover his tracks.”

I furrow my brow as I consider her words, angling my face towards hers to hide my expression from the rest of the club. Our breaths mix as my mouth hovers over hers, our lips almost touching. My hand wanders higher on her leg, almost brushing over her pussy through her underwear.

“Do you think he’d have the wherewithal to do that?”

She shrugs. “He might. He knew what he was doing with everything he set up at the club to get to Haven. Who knows what else he has up his sleeve.”

“That’s true,” I agree.

Her fingers trail down my cheek to my neck, and I bite back a contented sigh, clasping her hand in mine and moving it to my lips to kiss her knuckles. She feels way too good in my arms and in my lap, and her touch is addictive. I imagine everything else about her is equally transfixing.

“Thank you”—my lips trail across her fingertips—“for your help.”

She beams at me, pride and elation sparkling in her chocolate brown eyes. “I told you we make a good team.”

“That you did.” I chuckle. “You played your part well.”

“Was I a good girl?” She bites her lip.

I freeze then swallow, my cock twitching in my pants. “What?”

“Was I a good girl?” she repeats, her eyes flicking down to where my hand roams her leg.

Fuck. Me.

Her eyes meet mine again, her thick lashes fluttering, and I nearly lose my composure.

Goddess, I want her. More than anything. I want to watch her fall apart under my touch, to learn what makes her sigh and moan. To feel just how wet this act of ours has made her.

I want it all .

But not here in the booth, not like this. Not for the first—and maybe only—time I play with her.

“It’s getting late.” I roll her skirt down to where it’s supposed to be. “The clubs will close soon. We should get some rest before starting our search again.”

Disappointment flashes across her face, but she exits the booth and waits for me at the edge of the bench.

I rise behind her, straightening my suit jacket by the lapels as I lean towards her ear. “You better wipe that frown off your face if you want your reward, Baby Girl.”

Her breath catches, and I lace our fingers together.

We stroll through the room casually. I want to rush, want to sprint towards my destination, but I take it slow. Sarina’s hand grips mine, her pulse gaining speed as we head out of the room and down the long hallway.

When we reach the fork, I continue straight, leading us to the private rooms. The one I showed her earlier remains empty, the barrier still in place between the glass panes, and I yank her inside, shutting the door behind us .

As soon as we’re inside, I spin us, pinning her to the door with her hands above her head. I stare at her, at her gorgeous body, and I swear time stands still, waiting for me to make a move.

Sarina’s chest heaves, perky breasts rising and falling with each breath. My gaze moves to her plump, parted lips and hooded eyes as I decide where to start.

We don’t have a lot of time, but we both need this. There is too much built up between us and pent up within us to leave the club without this happening first.

I wrap my other hand around her neck and tilt her chin higher, leaning over her. “Are you all right?” I ask her, maintaining eye contact until she nods. “Are you sure?”

“Yes, Sir,” she says, her voice breathy and needy.

“Sarina.” I groan, closing my eyes, and rest my forehead on hers. My hand climbs her neck to her jaw, and I pad my thumb over her bottom lip.

She angles her face to catch my mouth with hers, but I yank myself away, holding her back with my grip on her jaw. “Not yet.”

She hits her head against the door, grunting in frustration.

I smile and run my hand down her neck to her torso. “Look how beautiful you are.” My fingertips graze the bare skin between her breasts then trace the straps framing them, gliding along the curves. “All wrapped up like a sexy little present.”

I slip my fingers under the bodice of her dress and over the peak of her breast, keeping her covered but enjoying the feel of the expensive lace lingerie between our skin. Her nipple hardens into a stiff point, poking through the fabric.

“I wish I could unwrap you,” I say, teasing her nipple. “But we don’t have time for that. I guess I’ll have to make do with using my imagination while I play with you.”

I massage her full breast once, then bring my hand to her neck again and wrap it over her makeshift collar, my thumb right at the front of her throat. My lips lower to her neck and kiss along the thin line of the red fabric marking her as my sub—for tonight, at least.

She arches back, submitting further to me and my whims. Her skin is warm, like the heat of the summer sun, and sweet, like the honeyed blossoms of her scent.

Another scent I can’t pinpoint—deeper, richer, more sensual—is layered beneath it.

Her heart thrums, and her soft sighs wind around my body like the red ribbon winding around her neck—silky and decadent as they enchant me with their gentle carnality .