He breathed deep, feeling the buzz of the alcohol, and told himself to keep enjoying the show.
“Skirt next,” he said, stroking his cock as she wriggled out of it, then sat primly back on the leather in only her bra and panties.
He let his gaze linger on her as he took in the gorgeous woman who was his wife. Who fired his senses. Who he still craved with as much heat as the first time he’d seen her, a heat that was supported by so much more. Love, respect, adoration.
That’s what he wanted now. To adore her. To worship her.
“I can’t,” he said, watching with amusement as her brows rose.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard that before, Mr. Stark,” she teased, making him laugh.
“No, that I can do just fine. I can’t not touch you. I can’t play like this. Not now. Not tonight.” He held out his hand. “Come here, baby. I want to make love to you.”
“Yes,” she said. “Oh yes.”
She knelt in front of him, helping as he tugged off his slacks and briefs. Then she straddled him as she worked the buttons on his shirt, not bothering to take it all the way off, but sliding her hands up his chest.
“Hi,” she murmured, then kissed him. She was still in bra and panties. He was in a dress shirt. His mouth craved her, and his cock was aching with the need to fill her.
“I love you,” she whispered, her fingers in his hair and her hips moving just enough to make him crazy. “And Damien?”
“Yes?”
“I want you inside me.”
Hell, yes.
“Take off your panties,” he ordered, but she just shook her head.
“Push them aside. Please. I just want you inside me now.”
Her words burned through him, and he slid his fingers into her panties, pushing the soft damp silk aside, his fingers finding her core.
She rose up, her eyes locked with his as he entered her—as she lowered herself onto him, then rocked, the motion causing the edge of her panties to rub his cock in a way that was driving him mad.
He pulled her close, his mouth claiming hers, his tongue mimicking his cock as he fucked her mouth in slow, sensual movements, their bodies as one. Her hands stroked his chest, and he cupped her ass, guiding her movements as a slow, lazy fuck that built into something wild and frenzied. Something he hadn’t intended but couldn’t deny he wanted after all.
Because with Nikki there was always passion. Always heat.
Always something wild and wonderful and untamed.
And when she trembled in his arms—when he came completely apart and exploded inside her—he knew that even more than all of that, there was always the most important thing of all.
There was love.
* * * *
“Got anything for me?” Damien asked as they reached the third floor and found Ryan still at the computer with Jamie curled up asleep on the couch. “A quick report and then you should really take your wife home. Or at least crash in one of the guest bedrooms. Start back fresh in the morning.”
“Jamie can sleep anywhere,” Ryan said with a grin. “Or haven’t you met my wife?”
Damien laughed, because Jamie pretty much had slept anywhere—and with anyone—until she settled down with Ryan. “Even so.”
“We’ll go…but I’ll be back early. I’m expecting some video footage. Hopefully I’ll have a link bright and early.”
“You have found something. Tell me.” He sat down, pulling Nikki into his lap.
“We found the girl. Rory’s foster sister. Louisa Crenshaw. You can thank the asshole reporter for giving us a name. Saved tons of time. And yeah, she fostered with Rory for three years. She’s an addict—currently in recovery—and she’s got some pretty heavy duty medical issues, too. She’s been living in a rehab facility and Rory’s been sending her money weekly to cover the facility charges and her medical bills.”
“Let me guess,” Nikki said. “The money’s kept coming even after he ended up in prison.”
“You got it. Only now it’s money orders. Totally anonymous.”
“You mentioned video footage,” Damien prompted.
“Right. From the rehab. Private facility, good security. They’re sending us their video archives for the last six months. That’s all they maintain.”
“That’s incredibly cooperative,” Nikki said.
“So far, they’ve been great.” He shot Damien a glance. “They also know who I work for and why I’m asking. My guess is they’re not counting on it, but they’re hoping for a hefty donation.”
“Odds are good they’ll have one,” Damien said. “Especially if the footage helps.” He nodded to Jamie. “Go on to bed. We’ll tackle these mysteries in the morning.” He urged Nikki off his lap, then stood.
“Sounds good. Except there’s one mystery I can solve for you tonight.”
Damien hesitated, something in Ryan’s voice giving him pause. “What are you talking about?”
“Sofia. She called the house phone. She’s in Santa Barbara.”
“She is?”
Ryan shrugged. “Well, that’s what she said.”
With a frown, Damien pulled out his phone, and once again opened the tracking app. He selected Sofia’s name and, within seconds, a small red dot appeared on a map, marking her location—right there in Santa Barbara. Specifically, at the Santa Barbara Pearl Hotel on Bank Street.
He dialed the night manager’s direct number, then found himself talking with a young woman he recalled had been hired within the last six months. “This is Mr. Stark. Can you confirm that Sofia Richter is a guest?”
“Yes, Mr. Stark. She checked in earlier today.”
“Thank you. I’ll take care of her bill personally.”
“Of course, Mr. Stark. Is there anything else?”
“No. Thank you.” He hung up, then met Ryan’s inquisitive glance. “She’s there. And that’s at least one mystery solved. Hopefully our winning streak will continue in the morning.”
“It has to,” Nikki said as he pulled her to bed. “I think we’re due.”
Chapter Twenty-five
Nikki raced into the kitchen as Damien was sipping coffee and Bree was fixing scrambled eggs for the girls.
“Oh, praise be,” she said, snatching his mug, then taking a long swallow. “That’s exactly what I need. I’m running late. I thought the PR team was coming at ten, but the appointment’s at nine. I blame you,” she added with a teasing smile. “You kept me up too late and too distracted to check my calendar.”
“Is that what I did last night?” he asked, filling a traveler’s mug. He handed it to her, leaning in as his free hand stroked her ass. “I could have sworn I fucked your brains out,” he added, in a whisper meant only for her.
“Exactly.” She kissed him, nipping his lower lip in the process. “It was very distracting.”
“And a good morning to you two,” Bree said, her voice full of laughter.
“It really is,” Nikki agreed, shooting Damien a smile as she headed toward the girls. “Hey, my little snuggle monkeys. Give Mommy a kiss.”
He watched as she accepted their wide-armed hugs and sticky kisses, his heart swelling, then tightening as he remembered once again why their house was so full of people. Because they were going to find and destroy the man who had the gall to try to erase the joy and love he saw in the kitchen this morning.
“I’m going to catch up a bit after the meeting, then bring work home,” she told him, returning to his side for one more kiss. “See you after lunch.”
“Let Edward drive you. You can get work done on the drive.”
She shook her head. “I’m prepared, just late. And Sofia’s in Santa Barbara,” she added, warding off any potential protests. “All is good, right? Well, as good as can be expected?”
He had to nod.
“So I’d rather be in Coop,” she added, referring to her cherry red Mini Cooper he’d given her before their marriage. “I’ll be back this afternoon,” she promised, then started toward
the stairs.
He tugged her back. “I think I need one more kiss.”
She flashed a teasing smile. “Well, if you really need it, I guess—”
But he didn’t let her finish. He was too busy quieting her with his kiss.
When he finally let her go, he went back in to check on Ryan and his team of techies who were just arriving.
“I talked with the girl this morning,” Ryan said, glancing up as Damien approached. “And if you bring me coffee, I might be persuaded to share the details with you.”
“I’ll get it,” Jamie said, padding through the open area in a tank top and pajama bottoms. She grinned at Damien. “Thanks for the offer to crash here,” she said. “We took the suite by the pool. And we took a dip in the hot tub before crashing.” She sighed. “It was very relaxing.”
“I know,” Damien said dryly. “I’ve done some dipping there myself.”
Jamie burst out laughing. “I do love you, you know.”
“Back at you, James,” he said, using Nikki’s nickname for her BFF.
Ryan leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest. “If you’re done flirting with my wife…”
“Give it a rest, Hunter,” Jamie said. “You know I don’t go for the brilliant, wealthy, handsome type.”
Damien bit back a laugh as Ryan tumbled her into his lap. “Oh, kitten, you are so going to pay later.”
She bit her lower lip. “Promise?”
“Get me my coffee, minx.”
“Yes, Sir. Damien? Coffee?”