Maximus (Guardian Security Shadow World #15)

Chapter 17

CHAPTER 17

M ax turned off the lights in the apartment after scanning it again to make sure there were no new listening devices or cameras. His cameras were still up, and he reviewed the film from the day in fast forward while Elena closed up the office. But he wasn’t one to take chances. Checking was second nature. He made his way to the bedroom, where Elena was lying under the sheet. The small lamp on the bedside cast a mellow light over her body. Her curves draped with the linen were a siren’s song.

He dispatched his clothes as he stared at her. Her eyes were hungry, and damned if she wasn’t licking her lips as he stripped. As she sat up and the draped sheet fell away, he drank in the beauty of the woman before him. Elena crawled to the end of the bed and sat on her heels. She reached for his cock, and the feel of her hand on his shaft spun his eyes backward in his head. He ran his hands through her thick hair and held on when he felt her soft tongue trace the cap of his shaft. His hand tightened when she took him into her mouth. He could tell she hadn’t done that act before. She was hesitant, and he carefully encouraged her but didn’t force her. Her sweet submission heightened the sensations. Fuck, he could lose himself in her. In fact, he had. He’d lost himself to her.

When she choked, he withdrew and dropped to his knees in front of her. “I’m sorry,” she said, wiping her mouth. “I wanted to do that right.”

“You were perfect. Absolutely perfect. Now, it’s my turn.” He lowered her to the bed and draped her legs over his shoulders, pulling her to the edge of the bed. He kissed her lower stomach and then trailed lower. Gooseflesh rose against his tongue as he kissed her thigh. He separated her sex with his fingers and blew softly against her heated flesh before lowering to taste her.

Perfection.

His mind clicked off the reasons she tasted so good to him. The biology of sex was something he knew. However, none of that mattered. He didn’t care what chemical reaction was driving his desire because he did not care . At that moment, with this woman, there was nothing else. His mind quieted, his world focused to a pinpoint, and he relaxed into the peace she gave him.

She arched under him, and he belted her waist to the bed with his arm as he ramped up his feasting. He entered her with one finger and curled it, rubbing a bit as he sucked her clit into his mouth. She came undone and grabbed his hair with her hands. Her shocked gasp when she shattered was beautiful music. He licked her a couple more times before he rose, put one knee on the bed, and lifted her legs. He drove down into her, deeper and faster, the way she’d needed the night before. He lost himself in the sensations, and when her body grabbed at him and she tightened, he let go, exploding inside her.

He froze above her and stared at the beautiful picture below him. Her dark brown hair spread across the bed, and her body flushed with a crimson hue of satisfaction. She opened her eyes and smiled at him. He dropped for a kiss, nearly folding her in half, but both adapted as they shared each other’s taste. Then he lifted away and helped her to the top of the bed, where he folded her into him and held her until she fell asleep. When he moved away from her, she simply sighed and grabbed his pillow. He put on his boxer briefs and grabbed his comm device.

That fucker Sokolov was stalking her , not him.

“Sokolov followed us from the office.”

Con snorted. “Bastard.”

“You don’t know the half of it,” Reaper said. “He’s watching the apartment building now. Fucker is jacking off.”

“I’m sure you’re aware he’s acting like a sexual predator,” Smith added.

“Escalation is almost guaranteed.” That was Val. “He got a sexual thrill out of beating her. He wants to do it again.”

Max was aware of all of that. He’d come to that conclusion as soon as he saw the bastard following them.

“Which is why he’s spanking his wanker in the bushes,” Malice chimed in.

“Gross, dude,” Val said.

“What? Would you prefer the five-knuckle shuffle? Spanking his monkey? Corralling tadpoles? Milking the lizard.” Malice laughed when Val growled.

“If we can get back to business?” Max dropped his head into his hand and yawned. He wanted to go back to bed with his woman.

“Sure, what business did you want to discuss besides Sokolov waxing the dolphin?” Con added with a laugh.

“All of you are disgusting,” Val said, and Max could almost hear her eye roll.

“I didn’t say anything,” Smith objected.

“Nor did I,” Reaper added.

“Ditto,” Max said. He was trying to get Merlin information.

“Fine, Mal and Con, you are disgusting.”

“Thank you,” they said at the same time.

“Anyway,” Max sighed. “Sokolov is watching Elena, which means he could be watching the office during the day. If he’s fixated on her, it’s a certainty Merlin will have to go into the building, deliver the crate, load the canvases, and get out without showing the alarm as being deactivated, and he’ll have to do it at night when we’re not there.”

He could hear Con typing. “That’s his favorite time of day. Do we have the specs on the system?”

“I dropped it in your box this afternoon,” Max said, yawning again.

“You did? I didn’t get a notification.” Con’s fingers were flying across the keyboard. “Wait, how did you do that?”

“Do what?” Max drawled.

Con made a weird sound and asked, “How did you disable my notifications?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He smiled despite being tired.

Reaper laughed. “Someone who only works at it part-time is better than you, Con.”

“No, no, this is not okay,” Con said, and Max swore the guy’s fingers would punch a hole through the keyboard. “Nobody can do that. You can’t. Not unless …”

Max chuckled. “Get the information to Merlin. He has to be in and out by Tuesday morning. The art is being packed then.”

“Wait, I want to know what unless means,” Smith interjected.

“Ah, nothing. Nothing. It can’t be that. I’ll figure it out,” Con answered, distracted by whatever he was doing.

“Sure. I have no doubt.” Max chuckled.

“Hey, this is payback for the way you pester Fury. Damn, what goes around comes around, Con.” Reaper laughed.

Con groaned, “No, no, this is bullshit. This isn’t possible. I have to get ahold of Jewell.”

Max laughed. “If it isn’t possible, how did it happen, Con? Maximus is clear.” He took out his earbud. He’d watched Con torment Fury for long enough. It was time for him to get a taste of his own.

He got up and returned to the bedroom, sliding between the sheets and pulling Elena back into him. She made a sound he swore was a purr and snuggled against him. He closed his eyes and pictured Sokolov in his mind. The target on the man had just come into focus. They had less than a week before the showing. Less than a week before he and that bastard would finally meet.