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  She pretends to button her lips. “Your secret is safe with me,” she laughs.

  I turn on my playlist and suddenly realize that I don’t know what type of music she likes. I hand her my phone. “Feel free to play DJ,” I tell her as I head toward the city.

  She scans through music for a few seconds and out of the corner of my eye, I see her smile. Suddenly, the punk rock beats of the Kaiser Chiefs fill the silence of my car. I grin. “Excellent choice,” I say.

  She smiles. “Why thank you,” she giggles as she sings along to “Never Miss a Beat.”

  I pull into my parking spot at the back of our row house and escort the lovely Melissa up to our second-floor apartment. I was skeptical when Colin found this place. The owner is an old lady named Francine, and she lives on the first floor. She rents her second and third floors. A quiet couple named Henry and David live above us. They work as buyers for a big department store and are seldom home. But when they are they have some kickass parties, and we are always invited. Francine converted her row house into apartments not because she was in need of income, but rather she was lonely after her husband of fifty years passed away. They had no kids, but she loves all four of us like we are her own. She’s quirky and artsy, and at first glance, you’d think she didn’t know how to let loose and have fun, but you’d be mistaken about that. Each floor has a deck overlooking our garden, which is quite spacious for the city and filled with plenty of hidden corners, all of which I’ve tested out over the past few years. They are quite good for more than smelling flowers if you know what I mean.

  “OK, here we are,” I say to her as I open the door to our apartment. It’s a little shy of one thousand square feet, two bedrooms, two bathrooms, and an open living/kitchen combo that leads out to the deck.

  “Wow,” she says taking in the original woodwork. It was originally four bedrooms and two bathrooms on this floor. Francine converted two of the bedrooms into our living space and made the kitchen. I explain the unique history of the building to Mel as I lead her to the bedroom. “Wow,” she reiterates when she enters my bedroom.

  The bedrooms in the house are all large, but with smaller closets. I lucked out and inherited my parents’ old antique bedroom set when my mom moved out to her current home. I have matching mahogany dressers, armoire, side tables, a big chair, ottoman, and my bed. I smile at the old four-poster bed with the beams surrounding the top. I thought of adding curtains to the bed, but I didn’t want to cover the amazing woodwork. And I like to use all those beams and posts. I ponder whether Melissa will be game for my more adventurous side.

  I watch her drop her bags as she walks over to the bed and runs her hand down the post. The non-sexual movement goes straight to my cock, and I stifle a groan. I walk up behind her and wrap my arms around her waist, bending slightly to do so. I press my lips to the back of her hair and breathe in the honeysuckle fragrance. Even after traveling, she smells divine.

  “Are you tired?” I ask her.

  “No,” she whispers. “Where’s your roommate?” she asks.

  “He is working a double shift,” I say. “He’ll be home tomorrow morning.”

  “Oh,” she breathes.

  “Oh,” I say with a smirk. I feel like a spider, and she just landed on my web.

  “Thirsty?” I murmur as I run my nose along the back of her ear.

  “A little,” she says softly.

  “Wine?” I ask her.

  “Yes, please.”

  “Make yourself at home. I cleared out a drawer in the dresser and some closet space for you,” I say, motioning to my closet. She nods. I turn and go to the kitchen, pouring us each a glass of my old go-to, The Boxer by Blue-Eyed Boy. It’s a great shiraz.

  I return to find Melissa naked and lying on my bed. My room is painted a medium gray and my bedding is a dark blue, high thread count, cotton duvet and sheets. It feels almost satiny. It was a housewarming gift from my mother, and I have to say, after sleeping on such luxurious sheets, I will never go back.

  “Nice bedding,” she whispers as her hooded gaze meets mine.

  I take a seat on the edge of the bed and hand her a glass. She takes a sip, her eyes closing as she does. She looks hot on my bed. Her porcelain skin contrasts nicely with my dark sheets as does her reddish-blonde hair. She also seems incredibly small lying in the middle of my California king bed.

  I take her glass after she’s had a few sips and set it next to mine on the side table. “Melissa, I’d like to try something,” I start. She looks at me, her head cocked to one side with curiosity that is mirrored in the sparkle of her eyes. I’m a little nervous to try this with her, but I’m also curious if she’ll like it.

  “Do you trust me?” I ask her. Part of me wanted tonight to be about comforting her, but now that she’s here, naked in my bed, all I can think about is getting kinky with this sex goddess.

  “Yes,” she breathes.

  “Good,” I say as I open my drawer and pull out an eye mask. I put the satin cover over her eyes.

  She grins. OK, she’s game so far. “Are you OK with me tying you up a bit?” I ask, biting my lip to calm my nerves.

  “OK,” she says slowly.

  I find a long satin ribbon and place her wrists together. I tie them together and then I turn her, so she is kneeling and facing my headboard. Then I tie the end of the long ribbon to the wooden beam that connects the two posts at either side of the headboard, near my ceiling. Her arms are now stretched upwards.

  I move back and look at the sexy woman who now kneels before me. Her luscious ass exposed. I use my foot and separate her legs, so they are spread wide. I remove my clothes, while I continue to be mesmerized by her body. She looks amazing.

  “You look so damn beautiful tied up to my bed, beautiful,” I murmur in her ear. Her head turns toward my voice, and I kiss her mouth until her lips are plump from nipping and sucking at them.

  I crawl on the bed behind her. I grin because she looks around, clearly wondering what I’ll do next. Her breathing is erratic, and I know she’s turned on by this. I lie down on my bed and push myself up so my head fits between her legs and directly under her glistening sex. I breathe in her arousal and then using my hands on her hips as leverage, I force her down onto my mouth, my nose hitting her clit at my tongue penetrates her core. She cries out at the sudden feel of it and begins to whimper as I feast on her.

  “You taste so good,” I tell her in between lavishing her sex. I move my tongue to her clit and circle and suck at it as I push several fingers into her, leaving my pinky finger out so I can test her resolve. I run it slowly across her anus, and she flinches, but then sighs as my finger, lubricated from her arousal, circles her back entrance, again and again, while my other fingers find that spot deep inside and begin quickly flicking at it, over and over. I can tell she’s close, so I dip my finger a little into her ass as I suck harder on her clit. She unleashes in a silent eruption, her body convulsing, her creamy juices running down my fingers. Her body is stiff, and I keep up my ministrations until I feel her relax against me. She’s panting hard, trying to catch her breath, but I’m not going to give her time to do that. I move out from under her in a manner fit for someone working on the underside of a car, only my view is so much better. I turn quickly and thrust inside of her from behind. I take her deep and hard, my thrusting becoming desperate and uneven as I chase my release. Eventually, her walls start to clench around me. I reach around to her clit with one hand, while I slowly insert my index finger from my other hand into her ass. This time she presses back against me. She likes it, and I grin. I haven’t taken many women in that way, but the few times I have it has been amazing. I can feel my cock moving in and out of her, only a thin membrane separating my finger and my cock, and it feels so good, so tight with that added pressure. She detonates around me, clenching hard, and I come like a fucking cannon going off, coating the walls of her sex.

  Still, inside her, I reach up and pull the end of the ribbon, releasing the knot and le
tting her arms drop down. I undo the rest of the ribbon and rub her wrists and pull her back against me.

  “That was…” She trails off, and I smirk. Yeah, my sexual tastes get a little kinky, but I find keeping it interesting in the bedroom is key to a good sexual relationship for me.

  “Amazing? Life changing?” I suggest with a laugh.

  She elbows me. “Careful, or your head won’t fit through the door,” she laughs.

  I look down at my semi-erect cock and grin. She shakes her head, but can’t contain her laugh. I pull her back against me and kiss her, holding her across my lap. Her arms reach up and wrap around my neck, and we get lost in each other’s mouths, exploring, claiming.

  “Shower?” I suggest to her, and she nods.

  “Holy fuck,” she says as she looks at my shower. I do have to agree. Francine did a great job with the bathrooms. I don’t have a tub, but I do have the world’s largest walk-in shower with about ten jets that come out of the ceiling and walls. “Please tell me I can move into your shower.”

  I laugh. “Ladies first,” I say as I press the button that turns on all the showerheads at one time.

  Mel steps inside and gives me a childlike grin. “Oh. My. God. This feels amazeballs!” she exclaims.

  “Glad you approve,” I respond as I follow her inside. It really does feel amazing. It’s a little crazy and probably not super environmentally friendly, but it’s my one indulgence currently, so I let it go. I’ll get water-saving showerheads when I buy my own place someday, well, I keep telling myself that. Although my uncle J has amazing showers at his house and they are all water saving, so I suppose my pipe dream is possible.

  “I’m never leaving,” she announces as I begin to rub body soap on my hands and work a lather on her neck and back.

  “Oh really,” I murmur as I nip at her ear.

  “Yes, really,” she says with a giggle. She’s so damn cute!

  After I clean her, I turn her to me and look into her eyes. “What we did, was it good for you?” I ask, curious if my kinky desires have scared her at all.

  She meets my gaze. “Yes, very,” she says. “You’re not into anything more than that, are you?” she asks.

  I grin. I know what she’ referring to and I want to laugh. “No, that’s about as wild as I get, beautiful. I just like a little different sometimes. You know, keep it interesting. But if anything makes you feel uncomfortable, let me know, OK?” I explain.

  She nods her understanding. “OK,” she answers.

  I let her wash my body. Her answer relaxes me, and I feel my muscles unclenching. She takes her time lathering me and when she reaches my cock, she pays it extra attention until I feel like I’m going to burst. Before I know it, she rinses me off and drops to her knees, taking me into her mouth. I groan and flex my hips, involuntarily. Damn, she feels good. I watch as my dick glides in and out of her sweet mouth, over her swollen lips, again and again. I feel the back of her mouth and her throat. I force myself to stay still, to not ram into her throat, but she swallows me and the tightness of it is too much.

  “I’m going to come, baby,” I say as I let go and shoot stream after stream down her throat. She licks me clean and then rinses me off again before standing next to me.

  “That was…very perfect,” I say to her. She grins, clearly aware of her amazing blowjob skills.

  It’s late now, and I know she must be exhausted. “Let’s get you to bed,” I say to her as I lead her back into the bedroom. I offer a bottled water from the small fridge in my armoire. Yeah, I had to put the college fridge somewhere and it’s nice having it in my bedroom.

  She takes a sip and cuddles up against me, her body warm and smooth against mine.

  “Goodnight, Mel,” I say to her as I kiss her forehead.

  “Goodnight, Nick,” she murmurs as she snuggles against my chest and falls fast asleep, leaving me to lie awake for a few hours and watch her sleep.

  Chapter 13

  Nick’s Playlist: “Soldier” by Civil Twilight

  It’s early when I wake, and I’m getting my bearings when I see I’ve just missed a call from Cody. I hit call, and he picks up before it even rings.

  “Meet me for coffee,” he commands.

  “OK,” I say slowly.

  “Twenty minutes, down at the coffee shop by your place,” he says.

  I hang up, grab a three-minute shower, and throw on a pair of jeans and a shirt and then lean over Melissa. She’s fast asleep. I leave her a note and kiss her forehead, I don’t have the heart to wake her.

  Cody’s already there when I arrive…Cody and Bryce and Jack. I do a double take and walk over to a small corner table away from the rest of the hustle and bustle.

  “What’s up?” I ask, dread creeping over me.

  “Sit,” Jack offers as he points to a chair. I sit and stare at them. They really are a force to be reckoned with, all large men, imposing figures that look like they could kill you with their bare hands and truth be told, Bryce and Jack may have done that at some point.

  “What’s going on?” I ask, partially-annoyed that they’ve ambushed me and partially-annoyed they ripped me from my slumber and waking up with Melissa.

  “There have been some developments,” Jack says quietly.

  “Such as?” I ask.

  “Such as Walsh has been combing the dark web, and we found out that my IT guy Hank Banovich has been working for Mohammed. Now that Mohammed and Saeed are dead, he’s trying to sell the encrypted data on the dark web,” Jack says, he runs his hand through his hair. “I can’t believe I fucking missed that.” He shakes his head in disgust, with himself, I assume.

  Bryce claps him on the back. “Don’t take it too hard, Jack. He had the entire agency fooled.”

  “What else?” I ask, sensing that’s not the only thing.

  Jack looks away and then back at me. “We’ve lost Ben again, and Walsh dug up some…well, disturbing information.” He pauses. “Ben is Alexei’s son.”

  I stare at Jack, the words not resonating. “What?”

  “Ben is Alexei’s son,” he reiterates.

  “But…how…I mean, how did we not know?” I ask.

  All three shake their heads. “Don’t know how it was missed. Even Interpol didn’t find that. Walsh has some crazy sick skills,” Bryce answers.

  “So, what does that mean?” I ask them.

  “Well, remember our chat yesterday,” Cody says.

  I roll my eyes. I don’t like where this is going.

  “We’re setting a trap. We think we can catch two birds with one stone, Ben and Hank,” Jack interjects.

  “How?” I ask.

  “We’ve hacked Ben’s personal account, and we’re going to put out an offer on Hank’s data, but meanwhile Walsh is disabling it so no one else can see Hank’s request for takers,” Jack explains.

  “And, why do I need to know this?” I ask them.

  “Uh, well, you sort of look a lot like your biological father and uncle,” Jack says.

  “Yeah, so what?” I say, internally cringing because I know it’s true.

  “We want you to pretend to be with your father’s organization, working with Ben and you’re going to be the face of the deal if we need a face to the deal,” Cody explains.

  “Whoa,” I say, putting up my hand. “Just a minute. Are you guys insane? Seriously? I am not a secret agent or operative. I can’t do that.”

  “Sure, you can,” Bryce says.

  “All you have to do is potentially show up somewhere with cash for a handoff,” Jack says. “I trust you, Nick, and right now, I don’t know who I can trust on the inside.”

  I shake my head. “I think this is a horribly bad idea.”

  “But if it works, if we can lure Hank, Ben’s followers, and whoever else is left with your father’s organization, i.e. Mohammed’s group, then we can bring down a spider web of sex trafficking worldwide.”

  “It’s the break we’ve been looking for, now we have their data, and we can ge
t all of these guys on a whole bunch of other charges and flush out the remaining players, then it’s like the Triple Crown, the Holy Grail,” Jack says.

  I close my eyes. I want to help them, I do, but it seems crazy. But if they can do it…if they can make the Holy Grail happen.

  “Do you really think you can make that happen?” I ask them, looking at each of their faces.

  “Yes,” all three respond. I’m still curious how Cody is involved, but I have a feeling he’s only here because he brought this hairbrained scheme to Jack.

  “Fine,” I mutter as I sip a coffee. “I don’t like it, not one little bit, but I’ll do it.”

  Jack claps me on the back. “I knew I could count on you, kid. Oh, and do not tell your mother, she would murder me.”

  “Oh really?” I ask, raising an eyebrow.

  “You know she would,” he says. Oh, do I, I think to myself. My mother must have Jack by the balls.

  I’m still uncertain why looking like my father is going to help things, but before I can question them further, they all make up excuses and head out, leaving me sitting at the table alone, staring at my coffee cup. I shake my head and grab two more coffees and some muffins and head back to the house. Colin is sitting at the breakfast bar when I arrive. He’s busy typing something on his computer.

  “Morning, sunshine,” I say to him and push a coffee and muffin over to him.

  “Thanks, man,” he says as he takes a sip.

  “Whatcha workin’ on?” I ask.

  “Shopping for my cousin’s wedding,” he groans and shows me some wedding registry he’s browsing.

  “Well, have fun with that, cupcake, I’m going to wake up sleeping beauty,” I say.

  “Oh?” he says.

  I ignore him and head to the bedroom. Melissa is still passed out on my bed. She really does look adorable in my giant bed. Talk about Tinkerbell. I set the coffee and muffin down on the bedside table next to my note and sit down next to her. I push the hair out of her eyes, and she mutters something in her sleep. I smile as I lean down and kiss her.