Chapter Eighteen
King looked over atKeys, drumming his fingers on the counter. The other man had his laptop on the bar, tapping away like normal. “Brother, it’s been two weeks. You don’t really think he’s given up, do you?”
“My gut says no, but the house is empty for all intents and purposes. All the staff have been let go. Presumedly, they don’t plan to return anytime soon. Kailani’s accounts haven’t been touched. It’s as if he’s ghosted.” Keys turned the computer screen to face King. “Look at the amount of net worth she’s got.”
King whistled through his teeth. Traeger and his ole’ lady had stuck to their area for the last two weeks, and so had Ayesha and her sister Tiana, but he could see they were all getting stir-crazy. The need to get out amongst the world was making Tiana bratty. “Traeger know about that?” he asked. His Sergeant at Arms was finally back to a hundred percent, or so he’s assured King since his bullet wound.
“What’s Traeger know about what?” the man in question asked.
King glanced over his shoulder, shaking his head. “Why are you sneaking around?”
He pointed at Keys. “He knew I was here.”
King let out a tired sigh. “Did you tell him about his ole’ lady?”
Traeger crossed his arms over his chest, his leather cut creaking in the silence that followed while they waited for Keys to respond.
“Nope, I told you. I figured you could tell him.” Keys tapped his keyboard several more times, pausing before giving them his attention. “What?” he asked.
King and Traeger shared a look. “He’s got looks and brains, but he’s seriously a stupid fuck.” Traeger stepped toward Keys, clearly ready to pound some sense into him.
“Hey, don’t mess with the looks.” Keys made a circular motion around his face. “Besides, I knew you’d overhear our conversation, which would lead to you hearing.” He pointed at one, then the other. “There was a probability of eighty-five percent.”
“Can I hit him now?” Traeger asked.
“I’ve been asking that for five years, and the answer has been no. If anyone gets to beat Keys, it’s me,” Duke said with a straight face, walking in carrying a bottle of whiskey.
Keys eyed them from his spot. King would laugh if Keys were to actually show the others how deadly he was—not just at computers but in combat. The brother was lean but was probably one of his best fighters in a fistfight or firefight. The others were clueless, which Keys preferred.
King glanced at the clock on the wall and then at Duke. “I guess it’s five o’clock somewhere?”
Duke gave a salute with the bottle before taking a drink straight from the bottle. “So, your ole’ lady is fucking loaded, I hear. That’s dangerous to have hanging on her head with a crazy non-bro lurking around. You need to keep better tabs on her.”
Traeger froze, his entire body stopping in mid-motion. “What did you say?”
“There you go.” Keys put his glasses back on and looked at the screen. “They found another body. Oh, I haven’t told you yet. So far, in the last five days, there’s been five bodies found. All dark-haired, young women of Latino or mixed heritage. The first two were prostitutes; they were fucked up bad. These last three were college girls who went missing from campus at the same time, but each girl’s body was discovered a day apart.”
“Are you saying you think these five girls’ deaths have something to do with Kailani’s brother?” Traeger asked.
Keys turned the computer around, showing surveillance footage. “I’ve finally got my program right. I’ve been able to upload my spyware to the traffic system servers. I can then hack into every traffic camera and narrow it down to where my program bots can detect whichever vehicle type, from make and model to tire and wheels, I program into it. Once I have the correct profile into the program, I upload it, let it piggyback through their system, and narrow it further by giving my bots more specific information. Once it had the vehicle in sight, they followed it. I was able to back-trace it as well, and...and saw when they procured the victims. Kailani and Tiana are very lucky to be alive,” he said soberly, removing his glasses.
King knew there were more technical things to Keys’ program, but the other man dumbed it down for the three of them, knowing he, Duke, and Traeger would be lost to the details. “Is any of that going to be admissible in court?” King asked, figuring it best to ask. They skirted the law.
Keys shook his head.
“Shit. We need to stop him, or our girls are going to be virtual prisoners for the rest of their lives.”
“That’s not gonna happen,” Kailani said.
King growled, throwing his hands in the air. “What the fuck happened to my security?”
Keys pointed at Traeger with his thumb over his shoulder. “He knew she was coming too.”
Traeger dropped his chin to his chest. “She’s not like Ayesha.”
“Sucks to be you ‘cause my ole’ lady is perfect. In fact, I’m going to go and show her just how fucking perfect she is.” King pushed past Traeger and a smiling Duke. He snatched the bottle of Maker’s out of Duke’s hand. “You’re on deck tonight. Sober up.” He left without looking back. They were going to need to set a trap for the bastard. But using either of the two women wasn’t happening.
Tiana sat at Curly and Gator’s place, holding their new baby in her lap on the swing. Curly and Gator were in the chairs off to the side, watching. King raised his hand. “How’s it going, brother?” he asked.
Gator got his name because he could be a silent stalker like the Alligator from the Bayou. The man also had massive arms that consisted of muscles upon muscles. The fucker also loved dinosaurs which he and T-Rex bonded over and had a collection of them any kid would envy. “Couldn’t be better, Prez. Charlie’s a good boy. Strong like his mama.”
King laughed at his words. Where Gator was huge, Curly was tiny. “I don’t know how she puts up with a shithead like you, but you better be good to her. That kid’s cute as shit. Thank fuck he looks like his mama.”
“Ain’t that the truth,” Gator agreed, looking behind him at Tiana.
“T, did you finish your homework?” he asked Ayesha’s sister. Since they didn’t know where Rico was and his threat was still real, they couldn’t allow her to go to school, so they’d gotten her online classes, which she was happy about. Ayesha had no clue her sister had been unhappy at school. Teenagers could be shits with their bullying ass bullshit. If King had still been in school, he’d beat the living shit out of all the little fuckers. But Ayesha had made him promise he wouldn’t scare the hell out of them, no matter how much he wanted. He was still working on a work-around to that promise.
When he realized the girl hadn’t answered him, he barked the question a little louder.
“Yes, I did. Gah, what do you think I am? An idiot?” She rolled her eyes.
“I say yes since you just spoke to me like that,” King agreed.
There wasn’t much they could do to her short of standing her in a corner for timeout each time she did or said something wrong. Yeah, they needed to get Rico off the streets, stat.
He turned back toward his house. If his steps quickened because he knew Ayesha was there alone, that was between him and his dick.
AYESHA WATCHED KING’Sapproach from the big window. She had already bitten her nails all the way down to the nubs. If she didn’t get into a salon, any fucking salon, soon she’d be biting cuticles. King was amazing. Everything about being with him was nothing short of perfect...except she needed a life outside of here. She felt like a stupid woman. One of the females in her books where they had everything they ever wanted, and of course, they tossed it all away. Only she didn’t want to give King up. She just wanted some of her identity back.
She moved away from the window, returning to the kitchen where she’d already organized his cabinets. Every single one of them. Not a room in his home wasn’t organized and color coordinated. The beep beep sounds the alarm made when a door was opened and shut made her sigh. Her body was so attuned to the daily routine that her nipples hardened. Before this happened, she’d have been at her salon, doing some fabulous hairdo, ordering supplies, and preparing for the next day, rinse, and repeat. She loved it...she really did. Sorta. Okay, if she was honest, she was tired every night. Her back hurt from standing, and her hands from cutting, shaving, washing, and drying. What she really missed was just being able to come and go freely, and that wasn’t anyone’s fault but a crazy bastard who needed to die.
“You look upset, Little Dove.” King walked into the kitchen, not stopping until he was right before her.
There was no sense in denying it. The man could read her like a book. “I wish Rico was dead. Does that make me a bad person?”
King tugged her head back, sending tingles from her scalp to her lady parts. He’d literally reprogrammed her in the short time they’d been together. The man owned her.
“If you didn’t want him dead, I’d think something was wrong with you. Where’s my kiss?”
She smiled. His deep, velvet voice made her wet in ways nothing else before ever did. “Right here.” She stretched up on her toes, kissing his lips, nibbling on his full lower lip with a suck before dropping back onto her feet.
King lifted her onto the counter, his arms boxing her in. “You’re going stir-crazy, aren’t you?”
“A little.” She held her thumb and pointer finger an inch apart.
King pushed them closer together. “I think that’s closer to the truth.” King cupped her chin in his hand, his dominance such a part of him it was natural, forcing her to look at him. “Tell me I own you. This body, your pussy, your orgasms, and your heart.” He held her gaze.
Her breath came out a shaky pant, her lips parted on a whimper of need or agreement, probably both. “Y...yeah,” she tried to say, her mind fogged with need from his words.
Her legs tightened around his hips as he pushed his jeans-covered cock against her. She had on a pair of yoga pants. The brush of fabric hitting her clit with each thrust made her moan. “That wasn’t an answer.” King bent his head, biting Ayesha’s neck.
She tilted her head to the side, giving him better access. “I’m yours, yes,” she gasped.
His mouth closed over the little mark he made, soothing it with his tongue. “Say it again.”
“Yours. I’m yours, but you”re mine, too,” she added in the caveat because Ayesha was many things, but a sharer, she wasn’t. They’d agreed to that.
King chuckled. His face was so close to hers that she could pick out the little flecks in his eyes.
“Oh yeah, I’m all yours.” He covered her mouth with his, licking along the roof, stroking her tongue with his.
Ayesha loved how he held her head with his hands, twisting her head how he wanted it. She loved how he kissed her until she needed air as if knowing how much she could take. He would give it, god he gave it, the diabolical man pulling back with little biting kisses that he’d soothe with his tongue, setting her on fire.
Her shirt came off, followed by her bra. Not in a frenzy, but the need was still there. The yoga pants were slid down, but her thong he paused and looked at it like it shouldn’t be there. A wicked smile lit his face as he tapped her mound, meeting her eyes. “I think you should stop wearing panties altogether.” He didn’t wait for her to agree or not. King made a declaration and was done with the subject.
She tangled her hands in his hair because he hadn’t told her she couldn’t, and she loved the feel of his silky curls beneath her palms. He began kissing a path down her chest, down to her stomach, turning his torso and jerking a chair over. His hands went back to her legs, spreading them wide with a rough push that excited her. “Oh yeah, this pussy is all mine.” He traced his fingers up and down, gathering up some of her wetness to show her. “See this.” He paused, waiting.
Ayesha nodded. “Yours.” She didn’t mind telling him that.
“Fucking-A right it is.” He pushed two fingers into her pussy, closed his mouth over her clit, and sucked hard.
A cry was wrenched from her, pleasure so intense she thought she’d come right then and there. Her hands in his hair pulled tighter, making him growl. King licked and sucked, his fingers pumping in and out of her, building the sweet pressure to the point she was sure he’d push her over any second. Her entire world zeroed down to the two of them. Him making love to her with his mouth, his two fingers fucking her, the sounds of her excitement the only thing filling the room. “God, King, so close. Yes, please,” she wailed.
He lifted his face away from her, his lips and chin covered in her juices. The action pulled her away from the edge of orgasm. Her legs shook as her muscles protested. Her entire body begged for release that was just out of reach. “Dammit, why?” she cried.
“Didn’t I say I owned your orgasms?” He stood up, kicking the chair backward.
She nodded, fighting not to cry. “You come when and where I say, and I want to feel you coming around my cock.”
Ayesha nearly sagged in relief. He pulled out a condom from his wallet, undid his belt and jeans, and had that monster cock out in seconds.
“Put it on me.” He held the condom out toward her.
Her hands were steady as she ripped the foil packet open and rolled the latex over his dick. He pressed the head against her, sliding up and down a few times like he always did, coating himself in her fluids. He was a big, tough, dominant man who always ensured she was prepared for him. She moved her hips forward, wanting him to enter her as he swiped the tip of his cock past her entrance again. King slapped her hip. “I’m in charge of when. If you keep it up, I’ll make you suck me off and not give you release at all.”
She whimpered, knowing he would follow through on the threat. He took his time, sliding in one slow inch at a time. The sweet pain of his thickness filled her even though she was slick and eager. Fuck, she loved the slight burn of having him inside her until her body adjusted to his.
When he was balls deep, he tugged her forward on the counter, rocking his hips back and forth, slowly at first. He only went out halfway at first, plunging back inside in a swift push. After a few gentle thrusts, he sped up, sending a tidal wave of pleasure rocketing through her. “Look at your cream coating my dick. I want to fuck you bare, nothing between us.”
He pulled her closer to the edge, his pelvis hitting her clit with each thrust. His breathing became faster, matching her tortured pants. His fingers dug into her hips, adding a bite of pain that was another layer extending their pleasure. She tossed her head back, spiraling close to the edge, but wouldn’t go without his permission. “Please, King.” Her eyes met his, knowledge rocketing through her. He was waiting for her to ask.
He nodded, pulling her in harder, faster, his hips pumping quicker and fiercer, in tandem with her. Then he sucked her nipple into his mouth, tossing her over the edge. An almost silent scream had her arching her back in ecstasy, her pussy spasming around his dick. His shout of pleasure was followed by him groaning her name. It was exactly what she needed to hear. It had her body contracting again around him. “Jesus fuck, woman, you’re gonna strangle my cock.” His big body shuddered.
She wrapped her arms around him. His sweat-dampened shoulders made it hard for her to get a good grip, but she didn’t care. She locked her legs around his waist, holding him to her. They stayed like that, both shuddering, sweating in the aftermath of their combined, explosive orgasms. “I don’t think you should say Jesus fuck, King.” Ayesha brushed a kiss along his shoulder, tasting his salty skin.
King pulled away after what felt like forever. The drag of his semi-hard cock made her shiver. “Did I hurt you?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Not in the slightest.”
He took care of the condom, tying it off and tossing it in the garbage. “I meant what I said about not wanting anything between us. I’ve not had a woman without a condom since I was thirteen. I’ve been checked regularly. My last checkup was two months ago.”
She was still trying to process the fact he’d had sex at thirteen when she realized he was waiting for her response. “I’m on the shot. Um...the only other person I’ve slept with besides you was my late husband, and we always used a condom. I’m clean. Thirteen,” she blurted.
King chuckled, lifted her off the counter, tossing her over his shoulder, slapping her ass. “Is that what’s got you stuck?” He swatted her again.
“I mean, yeah. Thirteen is young. How old was the girl? Nope, never mind, I don’t want to know.” Ayesha squealed, and then there wasn’t any more talking for a long time.