Hijacked (A Retribution Novel) (8 page)

“Don’t be,” she whispered breathlessly. She could never be sorry for the beautiful way he’d loved her.

He held her hand as they strolled along the sidewalk, an orange glow from the streetlights making it seem as though they walked in an alternate universe. Only a few days ago, Howard would have been here, and she could have introduced them to each other. The thought that she’d never be able to left her profoundly saddened.

Perhaps it was for the best. Neither Christian nor Howard would be a part of her future. No sense pretending otherwise.

When all was said and done and she’d gained her vengeance, she hoped there would be something left of her to salvage.

Then again…maybe not.

Christian left her at her car, waiting for her to climb inside and start the engine. He didn’t ask for her number or ask to see her again.

Both of them seemed to be stuck in some kind of emotional limbo. But he had left her with a sizzling kiss on her lips that still burned as she pulled away.

She’d driven two blocks and fought with herself the entire time before she turned around and headed for Caora Dubh. She didn’t want to rationalize her actions. She didn’t want to think at all.

Christian’s sexy Mustang already sat vacant in the lot when she pulled up next to it. Blocking out any sort of common sense, she climbed out of her car and ascended the metal stairs. At the top, she lifted her hand and knocked, refusing to entertain any ideas that this wasn’t the right thing to do.

She’d allowed Christian to make love to her once, and she needed to feed that beast again. God forgive her.

She knocked softly and waited.

It took him a moment before he opened the door. Her heart thudded in her chest as panicked fear ripped through her. What if he denied what she so desperately needed?

He stared down at her with his cell phone to his ear. His eyes were dark and stormy, his expression unreadable.

“Give me a call back,” he said into the phone and hung up.

Then he held out a hand to her without speaking. She grasped it, letting him fold his larger one around hers, and he tugged her inside. He kicked the door shut behind them as he pulled her into his arms.

“What are you doing here?” he asked with a husky voice.

She bit her lip, cursing the powerful need that waged a war inside her. “I don’t know. I just…didn’t want to be alone.”

“Eliana,” Christian whispered as he lowered his mouth to hers.

Hunger colored his kiss this time, his hands and his lips greedy. Eliana tried to keep up, but in the end, she let him devour her.

He stripped her of her clothes within seconds and quickly lost his as well.

“Fuck,” he hissed as he pushed her against the door, scooping her breasts from beneath and capturing a nipple in his demanding mouth. He sucked hard, leaving her toes tingling and forcing a gasp from her lips.

She buried her fingers in his soft hair and held on.

Sweet Jesus. This was exactly what she needed. This addicting, blinding lust that stole her away from her life.

Fierce need balled inside. She panted in an effort to gain air.

He slipped one hand between her legs while he continued to suck, and she fought to keep control of her overwhelmed senses. The sensation of his hot mouth on her breast battled for attention over the incredibly sweet feel of his fingers stroking her wetness.

“Shit
,” she whispered. Too much, too strong, too fast. A low tremble started deep inside her, and she scrambled to slow it. For whatever reason, she didn’t want him to have this much power over her body or her mind.

She needed to keep a small part of her sectioned away for protection.

He blew through that desire like a raging thunderstorm, and she cried out as her body throbbed against his fingers.

“Yes,” he hissed. “I love how easily I can make you come.”

She trembled around him, trying to regain some sense of herself, but his touch left her no purchase on a slippery slope. She put her hand over his in an attempt to slow him, but he took her fingers and slipped them into her wetness.

“No,” she said softly, trying to give some meaning to her word, but it sounded like a plea for more.

“Feel yourself. I love how much you want me.”

Another low rumble started deep inside her, and she shook her head, trying to stave off the orgasm.

“Let it come, love.” His command was her undoing. She pulled her hand free and gripped his shoulders as his touch ripped a cry from her throat. Her legs threatened to fail her, but he held her tightly against him, a deep moan of pleasure vibrating in his chest.

“Fuck, yeah.” He hitched her legs around his waist as he pressed her against the door. With a quick thrust, he buried himself inside her. The feel of him owning her space was enough to make her want to cry out again. “Christian,” she whispered, knowing where he’d take her.

“Say it again, love. Say my name.” He thrust into her over and over again.

Each time he pumped into her, he tattooed his touch onto her soul. “Christian,” she said between gasps. “
Christian
.”

God, she was lost to him. At that moment, he owned her completely.

With a shudder, she collapsed around him again. He drove into her a couple more times, and then he buried his head in the hair near her shoulder as he trembled and emptied himself inside her.

They stood that way, her pressed against the door, him holding her weight for a few more moments. The frenzy of their lovemaking disappeared and slowly the sounds of heavy breaths replaced it.

“Eliana.”

He left her name hanging in the air between them.

“What?” she finally asked.

“You’re too damn good for me.” He lowered her to the ground. Her legs wobbled as she tried to steady herself.

“No.” She caught his chin in her hand and stood on tiptoe to kiss him.

He placed his hand over hers and folded his fingers around her. “You’re not leaving me tonight.”

He didn’t ask. Only commanded.

She wouldn’t argue. She couldn’t leave him at this moment if she’d wanted to.

He took her hand and led her into the bedroom, leaving their clothes by the door to his apartment.

In the darkness of his room, he pulled back the covers and tugged her onto the bed with him as though he was afraid to let her go. Once she’d settled beside his strong, warm body, he pulled the sheets and comforter up over them and snuggled her in his embrace.

She sighed as the feeling of coming home washed over her. It was a dangerous emotion to experience, but for now, before the light of day shed truth on her situation, she wanted to have a man hold her, to love her even if it was only for a while.

*        *        *

Eliana woke with a start, gasping for air as a heavy weight held her down. She pushed and fought to be free. Panicked seconds passed before she realized she was still in Christian’s bed, buried halfway beneath his large, slumbering body. He mumbled as she slid from beneath him and sat. Cool air caressed her skin, giving her a sense of space and freedom. Her breaths came easier.

“Shit,” she whispered in the predawn light. She hadn’t meant to actually sleep with the man. If she wasn’t careful, this situation could bite her damn hard. She’d done well to ignore the need to have someone love her and focus solely on how good it felt to physically be with someone.

She leaned close to his ear. “I need to go. I have an early morning meeting.”

“Uh-huh,” he muttered and then rolled over, pulling her pillow with him.

A frown settled over her. Just a groan? No goodbye? She was tempted to punch him in the arm. Then again, what could she expect? They’d had no conversations about love, loyalty, or any kind of commitment. If she treated him like a good-time fuck, then she couldn’t complain when that was what she got.

She diligently worked to push all thoughts and questions regarding Christian out of her mind as she gathered her underwear and shoes, promising no more shallow hookups. The aftereffects weren’t worth the quick tumble.

Except they were. Dammit.

But she wouldn’t do it again. She deserved better.

Except how would she find better. Except—

Ah, God.

With frustrated and conflicting emotions leaving her confused, she dressed and slipped out into the cool morning darkness, keeping the Duke close at hand. One could never be certain who she might encounter downtown before the sun chased the hoodlums back into hiding.

*        *        *

Christian woke feeling more rested than he had in a damn, long time. He inhaled a deep breath and stretched before he rolled to reach for Eliana.

“
Goddammit
.
”
His complaint echoed off his lonely bedroom walls. She’d left him again.

Why couldn’t the woman stick around for breakfast? Did she think he appreciated waking up to a cold, empty bed without a thank you very much, I’ll talk to you soon? No one liked to be used.

Then again, this was his fault. The fact that she worked for his brother highlighted her character. She was too smart to not understand what kind of organization now employed her. The fact was she couldn’t be trusted.

If he viewed her as anything other than a piece of ass, he was a fool.

He lifted his phone from the bedside table, glanced at the screen, and then cursed again as a sick feeling washed over him.

Six missed calls. All from Hunter during various times throughout the night. “Fuck.” He’d been so tangled up in Eliana’s sweetness, he’d completely forgotten about the drug bust his buddies had arranged. And he’d placed his phone on silent before he’d gone into the bar so nothing would disturb him.

Another string of curse words filtered through his mind as he dialed Hunter’s number. He prayed nothing had gone wrong the previous night.

“What the fuck, man?” Hunter said when he answered. “You leave me a cryptic message and then don’t answer for hours?”

“Sorry, dude. Something came up. I found myself in a situation that kept me tied up for a while.” He shook his head, reprimanding himself. He needed to steer clear of Eliana before he completely fucked up everything.

“All night?”

“Pretty much…” He shook his head to clear thoughts of Eliana straddling him, riding him all the way to the stars.
Damn
. “But, I may have discovered a way to break the case. I stopped by my brother’s bar last night, and I got more than I bargained for. He might be cracking under pressure.”

“Tell me.” The irritation in Hunter’s voice settled into curiosity.

Christian focused on the stream of sun coming in through the slats in his bedroom blinds. “When we went into the backroom, a group of his distributors were gearing up to hit the streets. Normally, he hides that shit from me, but he was pretty open with what was going on. He even admitted he’s not making the sales Hardy expects.”

“Just like you thought.”

“Well, we knew he was involved.” His family had always maintained ties with criminals. Hell, growing up, he’d just as likely find lines of cocaine on the kitchen table as leftover pizza. “But he’s confirmed a direct connection with Angel Hardy.”

“Sounds like you might be able to milk him for further information.”

“I think there’s a good chance I will.” Was that a note of excitement he detected in Hunter’s voice? “I gotta tell you though, it came at a price.”

“Always does.”

Fuck. Here goes nothing. “That’s why I tried to call last night. Gideon had confided a few things to me, and I needed to build trust. So I threw him a bone.”

A long, uncomfortable silence screeched across the phone lines. “The drug bust in Rockaway.”

“Yes.” Double fuck. He hated letting down his buddies, the only family he claimed. “I figured what we’d gain was worth the loss.”

“And you decided this without consulting anyone else. Without even a heads-up.”

“I didn’t have time, Hunter.” Except there would have been if he hadn’t been screwing Eliana. “I had to make a spur of the moment decision. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t have done the same?” Despite everything, he’d made a hell of a chess move.

“We almost died last night.”

It was as though a grenade went off in Christian’s stomach, forcing his heart up through his chest. “
What
?”

“When we tried to overtake the truck, they were ready for us. They shot out Ryan’s tires and sent us careening off the road. Took us completely by surprise, and we didn’t have time to do anything but hang on. Luckily, we landed in a marsh instead of plowing head first into some trees or off a cliff.”

“Fuck almighty,” Christian hissed. “Either of you get hurt?”

“Ryan has some bruised ribs, and his Jeep is totaled. We’re mostly banged up, scratched up, but okay.”

Another long pause ensued, giving Christian plenty of time to disparage himself.

“You’d better let me talk to him,” Hunter continued. “I’ll play up the vantage point you gained.”

“No. I’ll call him. I did this. I’m going to own it.”

“All right, dude. Good luck. Better steer clear of Violet for the time being. She’s a pissy, little hornet right now.”

He could only imagine. “Thanks, man. I’ll keep you updated on what I learn.”

“You do that.”

Disbelief and disgust owned his emotions as he ended their call. The message couldn’t have been clearer.

Stay the fuck away from Eliana.