King of Tides (The Immortal Iron Brothers #3)

Chapter 29

Returned Blessing

“ Y ou just came from seeing dead bodies, how can you eat that?” Rafael, one of my CIs says as I scuff down a hotdog.

“I can’t be seen with you in a five-star restaurant and a girl’s got to eat, so street dogs it is. What you got for me? You said you had something I might be interested in.”

“You know that guy Candido Ricci?”

My ears perk up. He has my full attention now. I polish off the second hot dog and wipe my mouth, then clean my hands and toss the napkin. I nod for Rafael to continue.

“Word on the street is he’s trying to find entry to the headquarters of some biker gang. Iron Fists or Immortal Chain Brothers or something like that,” he goes on.

“Immortal Iron Brothers,” I correct him.

“Yeah, that’s it. Shit like that usually doesn’t grab my attention, but when I heard the amount he was willing to pay to get into the place, I thought I’d mention it to you. Sounds like our buddy is up to something big.”

“How much?”

“Forty grand.”

I release a low whistle as Ardan growls in my head. I can feel that he’s pissed. Candido has lost his mind trying to find the brothers in their home.

I don’t think it’s a wise idea, but who cares? If he gets himself killed, he gets himself killed. The thought makes me feel giddy.

“Thanks for the info, Rafael. Here’s a couple of bucks. Stay out of trouble and stop lurking around my crime scenes. You have my number, call me next time,” I say and hand over the cash.

Without another word, I walk off, shoving my hands in my pockets. I need to get back to the station to file some paperwork. Rafael stopped me before I jumped in my car to head back. Needing something to eat, I walked with him to find a street vendor.

I’m lost in my thoughts as I make the three-block trek back to my car and hop in. Ardan surfaces as I start the engine. I glance over at him.

“Do you have to report that information to your superiors?”

“No.”

“Then don’t. I will deal with Ricci.”

“Cool, no problem.”

As I drive, a large drink appears in the cup holder. I smile and grab it to suck it down. I forgot to order a drink with my dogs. I was more worried about a quick bite and getting the information Rafael had for me.

“Thanks.”

Ardan grunts as if he’s lost in his own thoughts, or he might be mind-linking his brothers the information. I can’t help but wonder why Ricci wants access to their headquarters. He has to be desperate if he’s willing to pay forty grand to gain it.

“He is a fool. We have cut him off and have been ignoring him. This reeks of more than desperation. He’s becoming a danger,” Ardan says, causing to me to realize I’ve left my thoughts open.

“What do you plan to do?”

“He would never make it past Aravos. Whoever is selling Candido this promise, they’re lying to him. Besides, since Lee’s arrival, we’ve implemented coin access. If you don’t have a coin, you can’t get in.”

I sigh. “Lee. I want to spend more time with her. You know, so I can build more trust and start to get to know her, but Reilly doesn’t allow her to breathe. What’s the deal with him smothering her?”

“Not my story to tell. He has his reasons. I didn’t think it would manifest to this extent, but I understand.”

My stomach growls as if I didn’t just wolf down two loaded hot dogs. I’ve been eating more since we started training yesterday. I guess it’s all the energy and magic I’ve been using.

Ardan laughs as he disappears once again as we pull up to the precinct. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to him doing that. I park and make a mental note to order something once at my desk.

Climbing from the car, I get out and pull my phone out to check my emails. I’m waiting on a few test results to come in on a case. I bump into someone and almost drop my phone.

“Sorry,” I murmur and look up. “Hey, Car, what are you doing here?”

“Only place I know to find you these days. You’re never at your apartment, you don’t come by the gym, you’re never at dinner with Papi, so here I am,” he says.

“In the middle of my shift?”

Ardan growls so loud in my head, it sends a shiver through me. I hate being cornered like this. Carson should know better. I try to remain even to keep from setting Ardan off, I can feel him ready to break free of the pendent.

“Since when is that a problem. You have shown up on me, and I used to drop by with dinner for you all the time. What changed?” Carson bites out.

“Where’s dinner?” I challenge.

He purses his lips and rolls his eyes at me. I place my hands on my hips and glare back. I’m getting that weird vibe from him again.

Something is off and it goes beyond him being upset with me. It’s like animosity is pulsing off him. I can almost taste it in the air.

My hands begin to tingle and that feeling in my gut begins to stir. However, what catches my attention is the feel of Ardan leaving the necklace. That’s the last thing I wanted.

“I didn’t bring dinner because I didn’t know if I was wanted around anymore.”

“Hey, baby girl.”

I close my eyes and groan. As I inhale deeply, heat envelops my back. The feeling of being in a warm bath takes over me.

“I got your text about being hungry and picked you up something to tide you over,” Ardan says.

I open my eyes and find him holding a bag of food up for me to see. My mouth waters and my stomach growls loudly. This man.

“Thanks,” I say and take the bag.

“Yeah, I get it. Call me when you remember who you are, Billy,” Car seethes and storms off.

I don’t bother to call after him because I don’t like the feeling I get when he’s around. I turn to face Ardan and he’s glaring in the direction Carson just went.

“Calm down,” I say, placing a hand on his chest.

“He smells odd. I want you to stay away from him. His human scent has been compromised. I don’t know why yet, and I can’t just confront him and reveal myself,” Ardan says tightly.

“I don’t know what you’re smelling, but I do feel like something is off about him. Is there a way I could check?”

“No.”

“There is, you just don’t want me to know,” I accuse.

He grunts and looks down into my eyes. “Finish your shift. We will talk when we get home.”

“Ardan—”

“No.”

Without another word, he vanishes. I know he’s back in the necklace, as the weight of it makes itself known between my breasts. I sigh and head inside to eat and get to work. Hopefully, I won’t be called out again tonight.

Ardan

I’m still fuming from Carson’s visit to Billy’s station. I know I’m not crazy. Something was off about him. He smelled less like a human and more like one of my mother’s kind.

I’m aware those hunters are still out there, but attacking him could be a trap. They could have placed their scent on him just to cause me to harm a human. I can feel that Billy still cares about him, which is the other reason I didn’t rip him apart as soon as I caught the scent.

“Ardan, you are causing the pool to stir with all your brooding,” Billy says as she lies in bed beside me.

I focus on the room and realize she’s right. The pool around the bed is troubled with my mood. I reel it in and turn onto my side to look down at her.

“Am I keeping you from sleeping?”

“No,” she says, reaching up to cup my face. “I’m not tired at all. Maybe I can help you clear your mind.”

I smile back at her. I had wanted to allow her to rest, but I want her more than anything. It occurs to me that I haven’t revealed to her my latest addition to our place.

I place my hand over hers and bring the back to my lips. Her eyes fill with lust and my mind is made up. Before I can change my mind, I use my magic to move us to the room I added this morning.

All the walls in this room are made of glass. Behind three of the walls of glass are water and sea life. Schools of fish swim by as sharks float around as well.

The fourth wall holds shelves—some open-faced—others have mirrored soft-touch cabinet doors that sit flush to give the illusion of large panels.

“Ardan, this is beautiful. Where are we?”

“The third floor of our apartment. Our playroom, if you want a name for it.”

She looks around in awe. Then she turns to me and places her hands on my waist. I lift a brow as she looks up at me from beneath her lashes as she bites her lower lip.

“What are you up to, my pretty one?”

She doesn’t give me an answer. Instead, music begins to play throughout the room. “Slow” by Tank, that’s what she told me the name was the last time she played it. I grin down at her and search her pretty face.

Billy lifts her right hand and snaps her fingers. The next thing I know, my arms are cuffed behind my back and I’m standing before her naked.

I tilt my head to the side as I look at her while the design of the room begins to change. At first, the walls begin to cover with condensation. Blue lighting wraps the room, rising from the floor and illuminating the glass panels.

Water begins to flow from the three walls the mirrors aren’t on. The water gathers into grooves in the floor around the perimeter of the room. The sound and the visual changing the aesthetic to a calming one.

“Nice additions, but why have you cuffed me? Did you think I wouldn’t welcome your changes?” I tease.

“Not at all. The cuffs are for you to receive a blessing for a change,” she says and takes a step back.

She flips her wrist out in a gesture as if in offering and then snaps her fingers again. This time her clothes vanish and are replaced with a sexy shimmering blue lacy panty and bra set. Complete with thigh-highs, a garter, and strappy patent leather black heels.

I’m at full mast instantly. The way her breasts are spilling out of the bra have my mouth watering. I widen my stance and lift my head as if in challenge.

“Show me what you’ve got.”

Billy licks her lips as she pulls her hair back in a high ponytail. Then she saunters over to me and drops to her knees. I groan and throw my head back.

“Billy,” I hiss out as she bobs her head on my length.

I’m covered in her saliva in no time. She’s using both hands and her mouth to work me. I look down my body as my lips part and place my tongue in the corner of my mouth.

Gods, her mouth is insane. She tilts her head to the side and runs her lips back and forth. How is it she’s so beautiful while sucking my cock?

“Fuck, baby. You can do no wrong. Yes ,” I hiss the last part as she deep-throats me.

I start to pump my hips, wishing my hands were free to grasp her hair. She hums around me as she continues to work her mouth. Drool is running from the sides of her mouth, covering her chin.

“I’m going to fuck you so good. Not even your powers will heal you enough to walk straight,” I growl.

I’ve been allowing this, not removing the cuffs because I wanted to give her a chance to do what she wants, but my restraint is breaking.

I cause a half sphere to rise from the floor and prepare restraints of my own for her. I come down her throat with a deep rumble emitting from my chest. If I were a human man, she would have brought me down to my knees.

“My turn,” I breathe as I release the cuffs from my wrists.

Reaching under her arms, I lift her from her knees and wrap her around my waist. Then I take her lips and devour her mouth. Not breaking the kiss, I tear her panties off and toss the ruined fabric to the floor.

Lifting her arms, I cuff her wrists to the top of the sphere. I chuckle as she reaches for the restraints to hold her own weight up. Always my little defiant one.

“Trust me, Billy. I’m not going to allow anything to happen to you. Letting go is a part of the pleasure,” I say just below her ear.

I then allow a piece of ice to form between my tongue and her skin. I roll the cube against her flesh, then grasp it between my teeth and drag it slowly down her neck, over her shoulder. She moans and shivers, bringing a smile to my lips.

Teasingly, I roll the ice across her collarbone, then back up her throat to her chin. When it has melted against her skin and dripped down the valley of her breasts, I begin to kiss my way to her breast and capture one of her nipples in my mouth. She jerks against me and releases her tight grip on the chains.

I suck harder, and the tension in her body releases, allowing her body to hang free. I guide my way inside of her and groan. The way her pussy tightens around me feels so damn good. We lock eyes and the feeling intensifies.

“Oh shit, babe,” she cries out as I bounce her up and down. She’s so wet and tight.

I cup her ass in my palms and squeeze as I thrust into her. I take her lips and release my true breath, causing her to moan into my mouth. I pull back and watch as condensation pours from her nose.

She’s smiling back at me as I rock into her. Her head lolls to one side as she keens and grinds her hips back into me. I cause mist to release from the sphere, cooling our bodies down.

“Yes, yes, yes,” she moans.

I keep plowing away. When she begins to convulse, and I know she’s about to come, I free her wrists and create a bed for us to land on.

We land on the bed with a bounce, causing me to drive deeper into her. “ Holy shit ,” she drags out.

I grab her legs and pin them out at her sides as I work my hips, thrusting into her. One day she will be ready for me to place my seed in her womb, and I will fuck her deep like this to make sure she’s carrying my son.

“Yes, yes, fuck yes,” she screams, as if reading my thoughts.