Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
She was soaking wet and shivering.
But she was alive.
Rome released a slow breath. For what felt like an eternity, he hadn’t known if she was all right.
He’d taken down their attackers, but he’d known one had followed her.
Hunting her down.
He tightened his hold. She made a sound and burrowed deeper.
“I was so worried,” she murmured.
“You’re safe now.”
“I was terrified they’d hurt you.”
Rome stilled. She’d been worried about him? Fuck . Emotion swelled in him.
He met Vander’s gaze in the rearview mirror. His boss shot him a knowing look but didn’t say anything.
Fuck it . It wasn’t protocol to get personally involved with the person he was guarding, but it was too fucking late for that.
He wasn’t backing away from Sofie.
“I’m fine,” he told her. “You’re fine.”
She nodded.
“The attackers?” he asked Vander.
“We gathered them all up. Rhys is with them, waiting for Hunt to arrive. They’ll take them in and get them booked. Hunt will question them. Hopefully, we’ll know who they work for soon.”
Rome noticed that Sofie’s palms were grazed badly. “Oh, beautiful, that must hurt.”
“They’ll be fine. They just sting a little.”
He shifted her. Her knees were grazed, too, and her bare feet were too dirty to tell, but they were probably scratched up as well.
“Vander, she needs someone to clean her scrapes.”
“I’m okay,” she insisted. “I don’t need the media attention of visiting a hospital. I—”
“Ryder,” Rome said. “He’s a paramedic friend. Can you get him, Vander?”
“On it,” Vander replied.
Vander made the call quietly in the front, and finally, they made it to the house.
Two guards appeared, staying close and watchful.
Rome got out and then pulled Sofie into his arms. He carried her inside.
“I’ll help her get showered and clean,” he told Vander. She was clinging to Rome like she would never let go.
Vander nodded. “Take your time. Ryder will take a while to get here. We’ll be down here when she’s ready.”
Rome took the stairs two at a time. Overwhelming, possessive urges clawed at him.
She’d been threatened.
Someone had tried to take her from him.
He wouldn’t let that stand.
Sofie made a noise and he hugged her tighter. The first priority was getting her warm, clean, and calm.
In her room, he strode straight into the bathroom.
He set her on the edge of the deep tub, then turned on the huge shower.
She was shivering, her dress a mess, her wet hair plastered to her head, shades darker than it normally was. His gut twisted. “I’ll wait out—”
“No.” She stood and swayed.
Rome grabbed her.
“No.” Huge brown eyes met his. “Don’t leave me.”
Shit . Steeling himself, he reached out and started unzipping her dress. He pushed it off and it hit the tiles with a wet splat.
Trying to be businesslike, he quickly flicked open her bra, and pushed her panties off.
He didn’t let himself look. She needed to get warm. He had to keep his unruly cock under control and take care of her.
He opened the shower stall.
She grabbed his hand. “Rome—”
“ Shh . Get under the water, Sofie.” He shed his wet jacket, then followed her in, uncaring that the spray hit his already-soaked clothes.
He urged her under the warm water, and she made a happy little sigh.
His gaze dropped. Damn, her body was gorgeous—delicate but strong, slender, but with curves at her hips and ass.
He moved up behind her and grabbed some shampoo.
He worked it through her hair. Her head tipped back, and he smoothed the shampoo through the strands, separating the tangles. He massaged her scalp.
That earned him a low moan.
Desire was a scorching fire in his blood, tempered only by the need to look after her. He helped her rinse her hair out. Then he repeated with the conditioner.
Next, he checked her abraded palms, making sure they were clean. He kissed one, then the other.
He heard her voice hitch. Being so much taller than her, he had a clear view over her shoulders. He saw her nipples peeking out through her hair.
Suddenly, she spun and tugged at his sopping shirt. “Off.”
Together, they unbuttoned it. He let it drop into a wet pile on the floor of the shower.
Sofie attacked his belt, but he pushed her hands away. Working quickly, he let his pants and boxers hit the tiles.
“ Oh .” Her mouth opened, hunger in her gaze as she looked over his chest. “You’re so big and muscled.”
Shit . That sexy, cultured voice made his desire spike.
Her gaze met his. “Can I touch you, Rome?”
“Anything you want, Sofie.” Hell, he’d never deny her what she wanted.
She smoothed her hands over his chest, fingers tracing over the intricate tattoo on one side of his chest. It curled down his side.
As she explored him, flames licked at his gut.
She dragged her fingers down the ridges of his abdomen. “You’re so strong, Rome. I wanted you the first time I saw you.”
Her hand moved south, but he caught it before she grabbed his cock. If she touched him, he’d go off like a teenager.
Besides, he wanted this to be about her.
He spun her again so her back was pressed to his front, and ignored her sound of protest.
He squeezed some liquid soap that smelled fresh and sweet onto his palm. He smoothed it over her shoulders, and down her arms. She leaned back against him, her eyes closing and her lips parting.
Rome cupped her breasts. Hell . He let out a shuddering breath. Her breasts fit perfectly in his hands and she pushed into him. He played with her nipples until they were hard and beaded.
Then he let one hand slide down her belly, and she undulated against him.
“Yes. Please , Rome.” Her eyes opened.
“You’re so beautiful, Sofie.” Every part of her was beautiful.
He let his hand go lower and dip between her thighs. He toyed with the strip of curls he found.
“Oh, God.” She clamped a hand on his wrist.
“You feel so soft. I bet you’re sweet.”
Sofie made a hungry, inarticulate sound. She rubbed against his hand.
“What does my sexy princess need?”
“ You .” She moaned. “Please. Touch me.”
He parted her folds and slid a finger inside her.
She cried out.
Damn, she was tight. He stroked her, loving her wild, abandoned moves. Soon she was riding his hand. His thumb found her clit and her husky cries filled his ears.
Need was a wild sensation riding him hard.
He needed to taste her. Was desperate for it.
He withdrew his hand and shut off the shower.
“No,” she cried.
He scooped her up and swallowed her gasp with his mouth. Still wet, he strode into the bedroom and lay her on the bed, so just the lower parts of her legs hung over the edge.
“Rome?”
When she tried to sit up, he pushed her back down and knelt by the edge of the bed. He pushed her thighs apart and she quivered.
“There’s that sexy, little shiver. Drives me crazy.” He stroked her thighs, dropping gentle kisses on her bruises. “I knew you’d be pretty.”
Then he slid his hands under her curvy ass and lifted her to his mouth.
Her cry filled the room.
Rome used his lips, tongue, and teeth, reading every little move and moan she made to find what she liked best.
She tasted like spicy honey, and he licked harder, pulling the taste of her in.
“ Rome .” A moan. “You’re so good at this.” Her body tensed, twisting in his hold.
He plunged his tongue into her, tightening his grip to hold her in place. Then he moved his tongue back to her clit.
“It’s… Oh … Rome!” Her back arched, thrusting her into his hold.
As she shuddered through her orgasm, he watched her, absorbing every detail.
When she dropped back on the bed, panting, little aftershocks made her twitch. She smiled. “I’m feeling very warm now.” Her gaze skimmed down his body. “Are you—?”
He slid his hands up her thighs. “I’m not going to fuck you.”
Her face fell.
“Not now.” He kissed her. “You’ve had a rough afternoon. You’re hurt—”
“I’m fine. Really .”
He smoothed her damp hair back. “When you finally take my cock, Sofie, it won’t be rushed, with my boss waiting downstairs.”
“Oh.”
Rome gripped her chin. “I can’t wait to watch your pretty face when I sink inside you.”
She squirmed. “I look forward to it.”
He smiled. “Get dressed. Ryder will be here to treat your grazes soon.”
* * *
As Sofie dressed, her body was still tingling. She grinned.
Somehow the worst afternoon of her life had turned into the best.
Rome wasn’t holding back anymore. She shivered and pulled on some loose trousers and a tank top. What he’d done to her… She closed her eyes and smiled.
She pulled her hair up in a simple ponytail. Her scrapes stung and she winced. Her feet were a little cut up, too, but she’d had worse.
She headed downstairs, the murmur of deep male voices growing in volume as she approached.
When she entered the kitchen, she stopped in the doorway to appreciate the view.
Rome’s broad back was to her, but still made her pulse leap.
He’d changed into dry clothes, and was wearing a white shirt and another set of black pants.
She’d seen all the hard, defined muscles hidden under his clothes.
And that fascinating tribal-like tattoo on his chest. Her gaze ran up over his close-cropped hair.
Vander looked dark and dangerous as always. His pitch-black hair was damp, and he leaned against the kitchen island, his rugged face set in hard lines.
The third man was rough and sexy, a bad boy designed to lure good girls into dark corners.
He lifted his head.
Yikes . The Universe help whoever caught this man’s eye. His light-brown hair was shaggy, his jaw covered in dangerous scruff, and his green eyes promised pure sin. He had a long, powerful body clad in jeans and a tight, burgundy Henley that was snug enough to showcase his muscled biceps.
Rome spun. “Sofie.” He held out a hand.
She took it and moved closer.
“This is Ryder Morgan. He’s a former Air Force combat medic who now works as a paramedic.”
“Hello, Mr. Morgan,” she said.
“It’s nice to meet you, Princess Sofia. And it’s Ryder.”
“Thank you for coming at short notice.”
He lifted his chin, his gaze dropping to her hands. “Why don’t you take a seat? We can take care of those nasty scratches.”
Rome gripped her waist and lifted her onto a stool.
She smiled at him. Beside her, Ryder opened a huge, black bag resting on the island. Then he lifted one of her hands and started cleaning.
“Sofie,” Vander said. “I spoke with the police. Ryder’s brother, Hunter, is a detective with the San Francisco PD. Hunt said the guys who tried to grab you aren’t talking. He’ll keep trying, but these guys are professionals. Hunt got the impression that they were afraid of whoever hired them.”
She nodded. Another swipe of the antiseptic made her wince.
“Feet next.” Ryder crouched and started on her feet. The man grinned at her. “Never said this to a woman before, but you have pretty feet.”
She laughed at the man’s teasing. When she looked up, she saw Rome scowling.
“Your Tetanus shot up to date, Princess?” Ryder asked.
“Yes. I had one last year. And call me Sofie.”
“We need to increase security,” Rome said. “Take guards with us when we travel. Beef things up around the house.”
Her pulse jerked. That would make things trickier when she needed to sneak out. She cleared her throat. “Whatever’s necessary.”
Ryder finished putting bandages on the worst of her scratches.
“Her knees are scratched up too, Ry,” Rome said.
Ryder pushed up her trousers. “Ouch.”
Her knees were scraped up badly.
“You’ve got some bruises, too.”
She waved a hand. “That’s just from my own clumsiness.”
The paramedic tipped some more antiseptic solution onto a cloth. “Sorry if this hurts.”
“I’m sorry to hear more jewelry was stolen from your exhibition,” Vander said.
“It’s a real shame,” she murmured.
“I heard today that the fire killed someone in the house. They found a body in the ruins.”
She gasped, her heart kicking against her ribs. “Oh, no.”
“A young man. He was asleep in an upstairs bedroom.”
God, a life cut short. Sofie’s hands balled into fists. The Black Foxes had no regard for life.
When she looked up, she found Rome watching her. She blew out a breath and made herself relax.
But inside, anger burned.
She had to get the jewelry back.
And those responsible had to pay.
A poor man had lost his life. Like Tori. The bloody Black Foxes.
“They need to be caught,” she said.
Rome cocked his head. “They?”
Crap, had she given away the fact that she knew more than she should? “The thieves.”
“Ace is poking around,” Vander said. “Discreetly.”
Ryder finished and patted her leg. “Maybe Robin Hood will get the jewelry back again.”
“We don’t need some adrenaline junkie vigilante involved,” Rome said.
Sofie kept her face blank. Then she feigned a yawn. “I think I need some rest. Thank you, Ryder.”
“My pleasure.” He shot her a killer grin.
Rome tipped her chin up. “Okay?”
She nodded.
“You did good today, Sofia,” Vander said. “Kept a cool head.”
“Not really, but I was aware that if I didn’t fight back, they’d take me.”
“You’ve had some self-defense training,” Rome said. “Heard you hit all the right spots on your attackers.”
She nodded. “I’ve worked with the palace security a little.”
“Get some sleep. If you need anything, I’m down here.”
She saw no glimpse of anything personal in his face. She really wanted to see that heated desire again.
But maybe not with two other men in the room.
With a smile and a nod, she headed upstairs. She locked her bedroom door and pulled out her black laptop.
Her belly hardened. She had a job to do. She needed to find the tiara and get it back.
Needed to find out who was responsible for the death of an innocent man.
Tonight.
It was time to get to work.
She did a little creative hacking and read the police reports.
There . There were security pictures of the masked thieves. They weren’t great quality, but they were clear enough to see that one had a tattoo on his forearm. She tapped her nails on the edge of her laptop. It was a coat of arms.
A specific coat of arms. For the old Russian Empire.
She knew someone with the same tattoo, but on his bicep. Andrei Petrovich. A Russian prince.
Sofie pulled up information on his family and associates.
He was a loud man, who’d copped a feel of her butt at a ball once. He didn’t like hearing the word no.
There .
There was a photo of Andrei with his cousins. He had an arm around a man with a coat of arms tattoo on his forearm.
Boris Petrovich.
She did a quick search. The man didn’t work, just seemed to attend parties around Europe. It was also mentioned that he was going to be attending the Glittering Court gala.
She smiled. “Gotcha.”
He was staying at the Ritz-Carlton in the city.
Looked like Robin Hood was going to pay a visit.
But she knew she needed to be very careful with Rome increasing security around her. She wouldn’t let anything stop her.
It was time to get to work.