14. Temptation’s Edge #2
I collapse onto Eve, still buried deep inside her as we both struggle to catch our breath. Her skin is slick with sweat beneath mine, her chest heaving against my own. I press my face into her neck, breathing in the intoxicating mix of her perfume and our sex.
“Fuck,” she whispers, her voice deliciously hoarse. Her bound arms strain against the silk restraints, and I reach up to gently untie them. As soon as her hands are free, she wraps them around my shoulders, holding me close.
The intimacy of the moment hits me hard. This isn’t just sex anymore—this is something deeper, more dangerous. The way she yields to me, trusts me with her submission. A fierce need to protect, to possess, to cherish.
I roll to my side, bringing her with me. Her leg drapes over my hip as she snuggles closer, pressing soft kisses along my collarbone. My hands roam over her curves, memorizing every dip and swell of her body.
“You’re incredible,” I murmur into her hair, tightening my arms around her. The marks I left on her breasts fill me with savage satisfaction.
Eve hums, her fingers tracing lazy patterns on my chest. “That was … intense,” she says softly. A slight tremor in her voice betrays her lingering vulnerability.
I tip her chin up, forcing her to meet my gaze. Those emerald eyes are still heavy-lidded with satisfaction, but uncertainty lurks in their depths. “Having second thoughts about submitting to me?” I ask, keeping my tone light despite the sudden tension in my gut.
She hesitates before answering, biting her lower lip in that way that drives me wild. My cock stirs again at the sight, already eager for another round despite our intense fucking.
“No second thoughts,” Eve finally says, trailing her fingers down my chest. “It’s just … different. Letting someone else be in control.”
I catch her hand, bringing it to my lips to kiss each fingertip. “I know, love. But you were perfect. So beautiful when you submit to me.”
A blush spreads across her cheeks at my praise. I love how I can make this fierce, strong woman turn shy and soft in my bed. The contrast between her public and private personas is heady.
“What happens if I disobey you?” There’s a playfulness in her eyes and a slight grin on her face.
“I punish you,” I say, guiding her onto her stomach. She complies without hesitation, making me proud. “I’m not above spanking you.” I gently massage her ass before running my hands up her back to massage the tension from her muscles.
“Mmm, she hums again, melting under my touch. “Sounds like a challenge.”
I lean down to press a kiss between her shoulder blades, savoring the taste of her skin. “We’re going to have so much fun together, love. So much fun.”
My cock is fully erect again, and I can’t stop myself from easing her legs apart and slamming inside her from behind. She takes me with a cry of pleasure and my chest swells.
“This is what you get when you obey.” I thrust harder and deeper, taking her fast this time. “My cock making you scream.”
Possessive thoughts circle through my mind as I fuck her into oblivion, the sound of my name on her lips.
My wife. Mine to protect. Mine to pleasure. Mine to cherish.
The subtle light from my desk lamp casts long shadows across the blueprints spread before me. My eyes burn from hours of staring at the detailed layouts of Columbus’s warehouse district, but I can’t stop now. Not when Eve’s safety hangs in the balance.
I take another sip of coffee, grimacing. I need something stronger. Pushing to my feet, I head to my small private bar to grab a bottle of Macallan and pour myself two fingers.
The quiet hum of Club Velvet Petal’s bass reverberates through the walls of my office, a constant reminder of the facade I maintain while working to keep Eve safe and suppress the mafia growing in my city.
My fingers trace the routes marked in red ink—possible escape paths that Costa’s crew might use after their next hit.
The pattern is there. Each crime scene mimics Costa’s signature but with more brutality. Someone’s trying to confuse the cops and set a trap for Eve. I feel it in my gut.
My jaw clenches as I remember the determined glint in her eyes when she talked about the case. She won’t back down, my fierce detective. Which means I need to be three steps ahead of whoever’s pulling these strings.
I’m the one who killed Gio, and I’ll die before I let Eve pay the consequences of my actions.
I shuffle through the stack of surveillance photos Seb gathered.
Warehouse workers, dock hands, truckers—any of them could be Alessandro’s eyes and ears.
Or worse, a copycat orchestrating this whole thing.
Someone making it look just like Gio’s crimes to throw off the police.
The question I still need answered—is Alessandro responsible for the copycat too? Or is that Nicolo’s doing?
A fresh wave of protectiveness surges through me as I mark another potential surveillance point on the map.
I’ve spent years building my network, cultivating the right connections to ensure Nicolo never gains control here.
Now every single one of those resources will be dedicated to keeping Eve safe, whether she likes it or not.
My phone buzzes with a text from one of my informants. Another victim. Same MO as the others, except this one didn’t survive. “Fuck,” I mutter, rubbing my temples. Time’s running out. I need to figure out this puzzle before Eve ends up in the crosshairs.
I lean back in my chair, studying the web of connections I’ve mapped out on my office wall. Somewhere in this mess is the key to keeping her safe. And I won’t rest until I find it.
The soft click of my office door opening pulls my attention from the maps. Eli’s imposing frame fills the doorway, his expression unreadable as always. The sight of my old friend eases some of the tension in my shoulders.
“Any movement at the precinct?” I ask, not bothering with pleasantries. Eli knows me too well for that shit.
He crosses the room in three long strides, helping himself to my whiskey. “Our guys have eyes on every entrance. So far, Eve’s still inside, working late again.” He takes a slow sip. “Rob’s keeping watch from the coffee shop across the street. Tommy’s got the back alley covered.”
I nod, some of the knots in my gut loosening. Having my best men watching over Eve helps. “And the parking garage?”
I agreed to let her drive herself to and from work, a decision that feeds my anxiety. It’s safer if Eli drives her but I’m trying to trust her. She’s strong and a good cop. She won’t do anything stupid.
“Joey’s there. Nobody gets near her car without us knowing.” Eli settles into the chair across from my desk, his dark eyes scanning the mess of papers and photos. “You’re going to make yourself sick with all this.”
“Better sick with worry than careless.” I tap the newest crime scene photo. “Alessandro’s been upping his body counts. These aren’t random hits anymore—he’s sending a message.”
“And we’ll decode it,” Eli says with quiet confidence. “But you need to trust the system we’ve built. Our men know their jobs. They’ll alert us the second anything feels off.”
He’s right, damn him. I’ve spent years training my crew, building a network I can trust. Preparing for this very moment when my past catches up to me. They’re the best at what they do. If anyone can keep Eve safe while we untangle this mess, it’s them.
I drain my glass, letting the burn of whiskey chase away some of the darkness clouding my thoughts. “Keep the rotation tight. I want updates every hour.”
Eli takes another slow sip of whiskey, studying me over the rim of his glass. A hint of amusement plays at the corners of his mouth. “Eve seemed in good spirits this morning when she left for work.”
My hand stills over the map, warmth spreading through my chest at the mention of her name in more casual conversation. The memory of her satiated smile as she kissed me goodbye floods my mind—the way her eyes sparkled with contentment, how she lingered just a moment longer than necessary.
I clear my throat, forcing my attention back to the surveillance photos. “Did she take the route we discussed?”
“Mmhmm.” Eli’s knowing smirk widens. “Even stopped for coffee at that little place you suggested. Though I noticed she ordered an oat milk cortado instead of her usual triple espresso. Seems someone’s tastes are rubbing off on her.”
Heat creeps up my neck. Eve’s been stealing sips of my coffee for days now, wrinkling her nose at first but gradually developing a taste for my preferred blend. The intimacy of that small detail hits me harder than it should.
“The important thing is she’s following the safety protocols,” I say gruffly, shuffling papers to hide my reaction. “As long as she sticks to the established routes—”
“Right, right. The protocols.” Eli’s deep chuckle fills the room. “Nothing at all to do with how she practically floated out of the house this morning, or that satisfied little smile she couldn’t quite hide.”
I shoot him a warning glare, but there’s no real heat behind it. “Are we discussing security measures or gossiping like teenagers?”
“Can’t it be both?” He drains his glass and sets it on my desk with a solid thunk. “It’s good to see you both happy, brother. Even if you’re too stubborn to admit it.”
“We need to talk to Olivia.” I push away from my desk, ignoring his jests. “She’s our best connection to New York right now.”
Eli nods, already reaching for his phone to make the call. I stride toward the door, my mind racing through contingency plans. The click of my dress shoes against the hardwood echoes my mounting urgency.
“Get Seb up here too.” I order over my shoulder. “He’s got a way of getting Olivia to open up.”
Within minutes, my office fills with trusted faces. Sebastian lounges against the wall, deceptively casual in his designer suit, while Micah takes up position near the door. The energy in the room shifts, becoming charged with purpose.
“Seb, talk to Olivia,” I order. “See what she knows about New York’s operations and involvement.”
Seb shifts his weight from one foot to the other, his hands shoved deep in the pockets of his designer slacks. A telltale sign he’s about to bullshit me.
“I mean, yeah, I can ask her,” he says with practiced nonchalance. “But Olivia and I aren’t exactly close. I’m done with that just like you asked.”
A snort of laughter erupts from Eli’s direction. Even Micah’s stoic expression cracks with amusement. I fix my brother with a pointed stare, one eyebrow raised.
“Not close?” I echo. “That’s interesting, considering she’s been sneaking out of your penthouse every morning for the past month.”
Color creeps up Seb’s neck. “No she hasn’t. It was once, maybe twice. She needed a place to crash. You know how it is with her situation—”
“Right,” Eli drawls. “And I’m sure you’re sleeping on the couch like a perfect gentleman.”
“Fuck off,” Seb mutters. His lips twitch, fighting a smile.
Micah’s deep chuckle fills the room. “Boy, you ain’t fooling nobody. My security cameras catch everything.”
“Jesus Christ.” Seb runs a hand through his hair, messing up its perfect styling. “Fine. Yes, Olivia and I are still fucking. Happy now?”
“Ecstatic,” I deadpan. That boy’s going to bring more trouble our way. But if anyone can get Olivia to open up about New York connections, it’s my brother. Even if he’s being stubborn about admitting it. “Now can we focus on getting the intel we need?”
The familiar banter has lightened some of the heaviness in the room. Seb’s shoulders relax as he finally drops the act, a genuine smile breaking through his carefully maintained facade.
“Yeah, yeah.” He sighs. “I’ll talk to her tonight. But I’m not promising anything. Olivia’s still scared of what might happen if she shares too much about her old life.”
I nod sharply. “Good. Micah, I want you coordinating with our street contacts. Anyone connected to New York or Alessandro’s crew—I want to know where they eat, sleep, and shit.”
“Got it, boss.” He nods.
“We’re going to set a trap,” I tell Micah, pouring myself another finger of whiskey. The amber liquid sloshes against the crystal tumbler, matching my restless energy. “One that ensures whoever’s behind these killings gets caught red-handed.”
Micah shifts his weight, his massive frame casting long shadows in my dimly lit office. “What kind of trap you thinking?”
I spread out the crime scene photos, arranging them in chronological order.
“Look at the pattern. Each murder is more brutal than the last, designed to draw attention. To provoke a response. It could be a unrelated but my gut says it’s a copycat.
” My finger taps the most recent photo. “They’re escalating, getting cocky.
Time to use that against them and find out who it is. ”
“You want me to leak some false intel?” Micah’s deep voice rumbles with understanding. “Set up a situation they can’t resist?”
“Exactly.” I drain my glass, savoring the burn. “Make it look like we’ve got a high-value target coming through—someone connected to the old New York operations. The kind of opportunity Alessandro’s crew wouldn’t be able to pass up.”
“And when they take the bait?”
“We’ll have Eve’s precinct ready to move.” A grim smile tugs at my lips. “Every cop in Columbus will be watching, waiting to catch them in the act. No more bodies turning up in dark alleys. No more families left wondering what happened to their loved ones.”
“On it, boss.” Micah pushes off from the wall, already pulling out his phone.
“Seb, go do whatever it is you do to charm the pants off Olivia. Just make sure to get her talking. Eli, you’re with me. We need to review the security protocols again, make sure there are no gaps.” I turn back to the surveillance photos spread across my desk. “We can’t afford any mistakes.”
I straighten, squaring my shoulders as I meet my men’s steady gazes. “It’s time we took this city back. Alessandro and his thugs have had free reign for too long, thinking they can operate with impunity.” My voice hardens with resolve. “That ends now.”