Page 44 of Illicit

Every ounce on her lean body is tense and glued to me.

That shouldn’t give me this much satisfaction, but I can’t help it. The asshole in me wants to tell her I told you so, and another part of me—one that I do not recognize—wants to throw her over my shoulder and get her the hell out of here.

“Sit down.” Jules lifts his chin, motioning to the single chair across from him.

Teagan fists my shirt at my back to hold on, as if I’d let go.

We have a part to play, and I intend on winning a fucking Oscar.

I claim her hand again and do as Jules says. Before I lean back, I pull Teagan between my legs.

When her fine ass hits my thigh, I wrap an arm around her waist to pull her into me. It’s so faint, I don’t know whether I hear it or feel it, but she sucks in a surprised breath when her hip becomes one with my dick.

It’s been two years. There’s no way she could have forgotten. The time I had her pinned to the wall is burned on my brain, and my dick isn’t interested in anyone but her.

It’s been a long two years.

Normally I would claim that I’m unforgettable, but the fact is, the two of us together were pure fire. So much so, it’s haunted me.

A memory to last a lifetime.

She’s wearing cutoff shorts, a tight-ass tank, and a bra with more straps than seem necessary—and I know that because I can see every one of them. I’ve tried not to think about the new panties she’s probably wearing, but the fact I bought every stitch she has on is more satisfying than I could’ve imagined.

I, on the other hand, decided to dress like I have more money than currently sits in my mediocre bank account. I’m in a crisp dress shirt and black dress pants, and I broke out the leather shoes Micah and Evie brought me straight from Italy when they were there last year on vacation. At the time, they seemed like the most useless gift on earth, but now I’m grateful.

I look older than I am, and she looks younger than she is. It’s not lost on me that I probably fit in here better than I planned—a slick older man with a young girl.

I mean, fuck. I am older and she’s younger even though she isn’t a girl any longer.

I wrap my hand high on Teagan’s thigh and settle my gaze on Jules. “I’ve got shit to do tonight that doesn’t include this. Talk.”

He takes a pull on his smoke and narrows his eyes on me. “You wanted to meet with me. Tell me what you wanna know. I’ll decide what it’ll cost ya.”

When Teagan shifts in my lap, I feel it against my dick. I give her leg a squeeze so she’ll keep her mouth shut. “I want to know where Heath Hayes is. And then I want to know how he got put on your radar in the first place.”

“Those are big wants.” He exhales two rings of smoke before tapping his ashes to the floor. “I wanna talk about something else first. I have no fucking idea who you are, and I know everyone. Why is that?”

I tip my head. “Because I’m new to town. Moved here to be with Stella. My business can be conducted from anywhere.” I take the moment to shift my gaze to Teagan but continue talking to Jules. “Who can blame me, yeah?”

“No cunt is worth moving for,” he drawls.

I shrug and reach for Teagan to pull her close enough for me to lean in and give her a slow kiss on the jaw before running my nose down the column of her neck. She goes taut as her breath shallows. When I lean back enough to look her in the eyes, hers are heavy. “Mine is.”

Teagan’s face flushes, but I don’t have time to enjoy it. I need to get this done.

I turn back to Robichaux. “Nothing is too good or too much for Stella. If she wants it, she’s going to get it. Name your price. I’ll make it happen.”

“See, the thing is, this is a slippery slope. I’m gonna need you to make it worth my while. I’m not the only one at stake here. In fact, I don’t own the information or whereabouts of Hayes anymore. I gave that up when I sold him to the next guy.”

“Interesting.” So he creates the contact, hooks them in, and sells the information—or in his words, the human. That adds another level to my investigation, but I also have it on record from the mouth of the trafficker. “I have a flight number I can start with. If I have to follow every breadcrumb from here to Nigeria, I will, but that doesn’t mean I have that kind of time. Stella wants her grandfather back, and I’m determined to make that happen sooner rather than later so we can get on with our lives.”

“That’s gonna cost you some cash, Crowder. I just find ‘em and sell ‘em. I can’t afford to piss off my clients.”

“Please,” Teagan pipes in. Her sweaty hand wraps around the top of mine that’s still gripping her bare leg. “He’s not well. We need to bring him home. Tell us what you want.”

Jules hikes a brow and looks her up and down. “Oh, I know what I want.”

My grip on Teagan tightens, and I growl, “A dollar amount, fuckwad. Stella is here because it’s the only way you’d agree to meet with me.”

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