Deeper (The Deeper Chronicles #1) (25 page)

“He’ll be hard to get to.”

“Let me worry about that,” a masculine voice with a foreign accent demanded. His body turned to the one curved into his. His big hands ran over the angular frame he’d become acquainted with.

A hand flitted over his hard member.

“Be careful, young one.”

Smaller hands moved lower. “I’ve got you by the balls. What are you gonna do?” Seduction was the name of the game these two favored.

He easily overpowered his lover, shackling their hands to the top of the massive bed. “I told you I always get what I want.”

“And what is it you want?”

He flipped his companion to their knees, sheathing himself with a condom.

A grunt was heard as the man forcibly took what he desired, eliciting a welcoming moan.

N
oah’s knock was sharp on the door. He knew she was there. He could hear her moving around behind the locked door of his spare bedroom.

Unable to get her scent off his fingers or her taste out of his mouth, Noah had walked to this very door late last night.
Or was it earlier this morning?
Three hours after fielding text messages and responding to phone calls, he was back for more.

He had considered knocking, but remembered she’d had a long day. Hell, his day had been even longer. Though he longed to bury his cock in her, he had decided to give them both time to rest.

But his chivalry kicked him in the nuts, literally, when even after his shower, his hard dick called him a fool and dared him to use the key he had to Avi’s room.

He didn’t.

Now, he stared at the locked door and wondered what was going on.

“Who is it?” Her words were low, as if she was nearer to the door than before.

“Me.”

“Me who?”

He didn’t miss the snark in her tone. He shoved his hands in his pockets so he wouldn’t be tempted to rattle the door off its hinges. “Bugs Fucking Bunny.”
Now I’m talking like her.
He swore he heard her curse. “Open up.”

The door cracked open just a sliver. She stood there tapping her foot as if he was a bother. She wore a form-fitting skirt that complimented her shape. He liked that she had on some of the clothing he’d ordered for her while she slept in the back of his vehicle. Maybe there’s time for a quick—

“Did you need something?”

They’d have time to fuck...later. “You have to go to work, and so do I. I’ll drop you off...” His words came to an unnatural stop at the defiant way her head shook. The plan had been to have breakfast together before the start of their day. But she was wasting time. He glanced at his watch.

“Am I keeping you?” Avi asked. Her tone was cutting and her features a tight mask.

“Let’s eat.” He turned.

“Asshole,” Avi muttered.

The door slammed. The sound registered right away, but his ears perked up when he didn’t hear footsteps in his wake. He went from confused to pissed. Noah stomped his way back to the door. His fist was relentless.

She yanked the door open. A draft came from inside, wafting Avi’s scent into his nostrils. It pulled him closer, but he was stopped in his tracks by her cold demeanor. His morning was already fucked and he had little tolerance for this ball-busting, pain in the ass woman.

Noah cocked his head to the side. “You’re not a morning person?”

He was greeted with silence.

“PMSing?” He took another guess. “You’re on your period?”

Avi’s gaze narrowed. Her hands left her hips and balled at her sides.

“Then why the hell didn’t you follow me?” Noah threw his hands up.

When his cock had finally cooperated and allowed him to drift off to sleep last night, he was plagued by nightmares of chasing Harry’s killer. In his dream, the figure was quick and elusive, always changing shape. Eventually, Noah caught up to them and was ready to deal with the person responsible for Harry’s murder. It turned out to be a faceless figure with a maniacal laugh. He never got another wink of sleep after that.

Avi took a step toward him, pulling Noah back to the matter at hand. She tipped her head back to make eye contact. “First, I don’t work for you. So following you is not something I’m going to do. Second, you need to learn some manners.” She brushed past him. The click of her heels echoed across the wooden floor.

Noah’s eyes darted from the space Avi had stood to where her form was headed. For the life of him, he couldn’t figure out what had happened.

When he finally neared her, he thought he heard, “...such an idiot.” But he wasn’t sure, so he ignored her muttering. He blew out a harsh breath and ran his hand through his hair before following her down the hall.

She turned the tables on him so quickly.

When they reached the kitchen, he pulled out one of his bar stools for her. She didn’t approach him or the seat. Noah looked at the chair and then back at her, confused as to why it was still empty. Her anger was clear in her tight jaw and clenched fists.

“Avi.” Her defiance was wearing his already thin patience much thinner. “Sit.”

“You’re not going to say anything?”

“Say anything about what?” He tapped the top of the stool.

She sat with exaggeration. “You left.”

“You saw me leave.” He sat beside her, picking up a bagel.

“You never came back,” she croaked out, lowering her face.

His hand swiveled her stool to face him. He captured her chin in his hand, gently tipping her head back. “I did.”

“You did?”

Cocking his head to the side, he realized the reason for her attitude. Her words were measured, bordering on snappish, but her eyes were bright with questions. “I did. But I thought you’d be too tired.” He left it at that, pulling his hand away.

Her grin softened her features. Her face was awash with her personality, flitting between relief and carefree, which she tried to hide. Noah was struck once again by Avi’s simple beauty. She continued to throw him off his guard. A grin pulled at his lips, revealing his teeth.

“I’m sorry.” The words were rushed out, but they still surprised him. When there was no timely response from her, he was beginning to regret saying anything.

With her head held straight and facing his galley-style kitchen, she whispered, “I like it when you’re respectful, Mr. Adams.”

Avi’s steady hand brought her cup to her lips. Between her words and her ordinary action, he envisioned mornings filled with teasing and light-hearted banter. His mind ran rampant with images of his lips tasting her nipples and driving his cock into her.

He paused. This was a first for him, a man like him. While his friends encouraged him to hire staff to help him run his homes, he never did, not trusting anyone outside his small circle.

He blew on his hot coffee, internalizing what this meant.

Should I have her here all the time?
Maybe not every day, because he’d need his own space—he was used to living on his own—but maybe she could sleep here a night or two.
That’d work.
Avi had already spent one night, and outside of the small hiccup just a few minutes ago, Noah thought they were doing okay.

“Penny for your thoughts,” she asked, flashing her violet eyes at him, reminding him of the man who bound them together.

He chuckled at the demure picture she portrayed—head down, gaze averted, and lip between her teeth. If he didn’t know better, he’d think Avi was seducing him, but then she giggled.

“In good time.”

“A car will be here at the end of the day to get you,” Noah said with his ear plastered to his cell phone and not looking at Avi. “Yes, that’s fine,” he said into the mouthpiece.

Avi rolled her eyes, choosing to gaze at New York City’s passing landscape and wait for Mr. Demanding to get off his millionth call of the morning.

I know he runs his own company, but this is freaking ridiculous.

The man had two different phones. And Ro, who was seated in the front passenger seat, shuttled more phones back to Noah.

Ro had made a reappearance when Avi and Noah exited his high-rise building, standing outside the SUV and never hiding his amusement. He didn’t say anything to her or Noah, but Avi suspected Ro knew exactly what had happened on the couch.

Noah’s loud command, “Set that up,” recaptured her attention.

“Ro, give me five, man,” Noah said, handing his phones to his friend.

“Sure thing.” Ro looked at his watch. “ETA in fifteen.”

“Good.”

Tinted glass ascended between the front and back seats, allowing for privacy. Low music hummed in the background.

Noah’s head drifted backward and his hand casually dropped on Avi’s stocking-covered knee. She shook her leg, attempting to free his hold, which only made his fingers sink deeper into her skin.

With his eyes still closed, Noah applied pressure on her knee. She took the move as his silent command for her to stop, trying to control her once again.

Avi side-eyed him in his suit that screamed wealth, even in its understated design. His hand felt great on her. The spot became warm and tingled under his fingers. The teasing sensation crept up her body, making her stomach muscles quiver and her nipples pebble. She was on the verge of offering herself to him on a silver platter...even in the back of his truck. His long fingers made an attractive contrast on top of her black stockings. It was too right, and that scared Avi.

Last night, she’d waited until well into the night for Noah’s return. She’d taken a shower and lay naked in the bed. She still couldn’t believe she had revealed what he had to consider her desperation.

But what really shook her was his apology. His words in the kitchen
—“in good time”—
was too ominous for Avi, who wanted to lead a simple life. She was nervous and fearful, though she hid it well when they were in his apartment.

He was invading too much of her space and the control she needed. Instead of giving in to her desires, she shook her leg again.

Noah’s eye popped open. His dark irises bore through her. A meeker person would’ve allowed him to carry on as he pleased. Noah’s boisterous laughter filled the small space. The deep sound reminded Avi of how overbearing he was.

“Do you get a kick out of being a tyrannical ass?”