Chapter 16
Chapter Sixteen
L istening to Volkov come on to Haven, oozing his slime all over her, was one of the hardest things Rhys had been forced to listen to.
What was worse, was not being able to do anything about it.
He curled his hands, his knuckles turning white. Knowing that she was in there, alone, afraid—
Vander clamped his hand on Rhys’ shoulder. “She’s doing fine. Your girl is tough.”
Rhys nodded. She was. He just wished she didn’t have to be. She’d been through enough.
They were standing in the shadows, one house away from Volkov’s mansion. Somehow, Vander had ensured the homeowners were out for the night. Rhys heard the music and murmurs of people on the terrace.
The rest of the Norcross team was spread around the area. They were all good—Ghost Ops had honed them to be the best in the world. Easton hadn’t been Ghost Ops, but he’d been a damn good Ranger. They hadn’t let their skills go rusty, not even Easton.
Vander’s friend, Zane Roth, was in there too. Still, the man was a billionaire businessman, not a soldier. If things went south…
Then Rhys heard Volkov’s tone turn steely across the line.
“Let’s discuss…art some more after the party.”
Rhys’ body locked. He heard Vander curse under his breath.
“I insist,” Volkov said. “I’m a man who’s very used to getting everything he wants, Haven.”
Fuck . Anger exploded in Rhys. He took two steps.
Vander grabbed him. “You can’t burst in there. There are security guards everywhere.”
“That asshole wants my woman. Threatened her.”
He could hear her fast breathing across the line. She was afraid. He listened to her trying to get out of the library using the bathroom excuse. Smart girl.
But Volkov’s thug wasn’t falling for it.
“Help,” she murmured.
With a growl, Rhys shoved against Vander. Rome appeared out of the darkness. Both men shoved him against the wall of the neighboring house.
“You go in there, you put her at more risk.” Vander’s tone was the same one he used as commander of their Ghost Ops unit. “She needs you clearheaded.”
Shit . Rhys’ shoulders slumped. “Vander…”
“We’ll get her out.” His brother lifted his phone. “Zane, you’re a go. She’s being held in the library. Get out via the side exit. Schematics are on your phone.”
Seconds later, Rhys heard a man’s charming, yet authoritative voice on the line. Every muscle in Rhys’ body went tight, vibrating with tension. Rhys listened as Zane Roth got Haven clear of the library.
The ugly noise inside him rose to deafening levels, urging him to move, run, fight, take action. That horrible burn that he’d dealt with ever since he’d left the military. The nightmares and flashbacks had faded, thanks to the counseling Vander had forced on them. But the noise never went away.
Rhys figured it, and the edginess, the need to move, was a small price to pay. He could deal with it, usually. Right now, it wanted Haven safe.
“That’s it.” Rhys shoved free. He strode down the narrow path beside the neighboring house. A stucco fence divided it from Volkov’s place. He reached a metal side gate. It opened into Volkov’s immaculately landscaped side yard.
Then across the line, he heard Haven laugh at something Roth said, and Rhys’ gut stilled.
She was okay. Hell, she was laughing. How could the woman be so resilient?
A second later, Roth and Haven appeared.
They were hurrying down the path, holding hands, and damned if they didn’t look like a good couple. Roth was in a tuxedo and Haven’s green dress glittered in the garden lighting.
Then she lifted her head and spotted Rhys. A smile broke out on her face, and relief flooded her eyes. “Hey—”
Rhys closed the distance between them in two strides, and lifted her off her feet. His mouth closed over hers, the kiss hard and punishing. She made a muffled sound, then kissed him back, melting into him.
Dammit, he realized now just how afraid he’d been.
Finally, he broke the kiss, and lifted his head. She looked dazed, and he pressed his forehead against hers.
Without looking at the man, Rhys said, “Thanks, Roth.”
“My pleasure,” the businessman replied.
Rhys glanced at the man. “I owe you.”
Zane inclined his head.
“Let’s go,” Vander said. “Zane, you should probably go, too.”
“It was a dull party, anyway.”
They all moved out the gate, through the neighboring yard, and onto the street. Rome and Zane said their goodbyes and headed down the sidewalk.
“I’m getting Haven home,” Rhys told Vander.
His brother nodded. “We’ll debrief tomorrow.”
“Hey, you can have your magic mic back,” Haven said.
“Vander isn’t removing it.” Rhys quickly slid his hand into the neckline of her dress, taking the dot off her skin. She gave a little shudder and he looked into her face. Her cheeks were flushed.
Vander held out a small case and Rhys pressed the mic inside.
“Night, Haven,” Vander murmured. “Good work.”
“Night, Vander.”
Rhys towed Haven down another street to where he’d parked his Norcross SUV. He’d found a quiet, dim spot on a street a few blocks away.
“Well, Volkov has the Water Lilies ,” Haven said glumly.
“My guess is that he’s storing it and running the auction as a favor for the Zakharov family,” Rhys said. “No doubt he’ll get a healthy cut.”
“I didn’t learn much else. I’m not a very good spy.”
Adrenaline still churned inside Rhys. “Your spy career is over. You’re officially retired.”
She gave a gusty sigh. “Shame, I liked the outfit.”
His hand tightened on hers. “I’ll buy you all the dresses you want and take you out somewhere fancy.”
Her face softened.
His gut was still hard and wouldn’t settle. He kept imagining what Volkov might’ve done to her. He squeezed her fingers.
“Rhys, are you okay?” she asked.
“No.”
“Talk to—”
He spun her. He pushed her into the darker shadows, and pressed her against a high brick fence under a tree.
She gasped.
“No talking,” he growled.
Inside him, his inner caveman had taken over. He felt a pounding need to know his woman was safe.
“Rhys,” she breathed, excitement hitching her voice.
He shoved her up, until her feet were off the ground. His hands slid under her dress and he found her panties. With one twist, he ripped them off.
She gasped, then undulated against him. His mouth took hers—hard, deep, wet. Her perfume filled his senses—sweet, just like Haven. His fingers found her pussy, stroked.
She cried out against his mouth and he swallowed the noises she made. She was wet. Wet and ready for him.
He thrust a finger into her tight warmth and his thumb found her clit.
“This is going to be fast, Haven. And rough.” His voice was guttural.
She let out a low moan. “Yes.”
He fumbled with his belt, then his zipper. He slid one hand under her ass. And he fitted his cock to her and thrust deep.
Haven moaned his name. Her legs clamped onto his hips and Rhys pumped into her.
“Fuck, I feel you rippling on my cock. Take me, baby.”
She did, clinging as he drove into her.
“That’s all for you, Haven.”
“ Yes .” Her mouth moved, touched his neck. He felt the rake of her teeth.
He kept thrusting, with no finesse, no care, just the primitive need to claim and affirm his mate.
She gave a husky cry and started coming. She bit down on his neck.
Rhys moved faster, plunging his cock deep. Haven. His . So fucking sweet. With one last thrust, he lodged deep and poured himself inside her.
They stayed there, with him pinning her to the wall, both panting.
Shit . He’d been wild, rough.
“Did I hurt you?” He lifted his head.
She blinked, then gave him a wide, lazy smile that he could just make out in the dim light.
“Not even a little. That was… amazing .”
Everything in him relaxed.
“I think we should have wild, brick-wall sex at least once a week,” she said.
His lips twitched. Damn, she was something.
“I might have a few scrapes on my back—”
He frowned. “You said you weren’t hurt.”
“I’m not. They’re badges of honor.”
He shook his head and pulled out of her. She moaned, and that’s when he realized.
“Shit.” He met her gaze in the low light. “I didn’t use a condom.”
She touched his cheek. “It’s okay. I get a contraceptive shot, and I made sure I got tested after Leo.” She licked her lips. “There hasn’t been anyone since him. Um, you…?”
“Haven’t been with anyone since I met you.”
Her eyes widened. “What?”
“And I’ve always used condoms before. But I’ll get checked, just to make sure.” He’d keep her safe in all ways.
He stroked her swollen lips, then realized that there was only silence in his head. No noise. The driving, twisting beast inside was calm.
“Let’s go home,” she murmured.
Home . With Haven.
“Yeah, let’s go home.”
* * *
The next morning, Haven stood in a coffee shop with Rhys, waiting for her latte. The cute, cozy shop was just around the corner from his condo.
He handed her a takeaway cup, and she sipped her latte and moaned. When she opened her eyes, Rhys was watching her with a grin and a certain look in his eyes.
She made a show of licking the foam off the top of the lid.
His brown eyes darkened. “Tease.”
He turned to get his coffee from the barista. That’s when Haven spotted a pair of women sitting at a nearby table, staring at him.
She couldn’t blame them. She raised a brow.
The women both smiled, and one gave her a thumbs up.
Once Rhys had his coffee, they walked outside. He kept her tucked close to his side.
Haven’s heart clenched. She was starting to believe. Rhys had said he hadn’t been with anyone since they’d first met. Unbelievable, but she realized that she hadn’t seen him with anyone. She’d been avoiding him, but she sure had taken a lot of notice of him.
This amazing man was into her. Protecting her, caring for her.
“Come on,” he said. “It’s a short walk to the Hutton.”
She’d wanted to get her work laptop, and some other stuff from the museum, so she could do some work at Rhys’. The museum was closed on a Sunday, but the guards would let them in.