He squeezed her hand. “What did you find out?”
“He was meeting with the head of an organized crime family. Anthony Bianchi. Derek wasn’t just dirty, but he was involved in a lot of illegal activities. He not only passed information along to Bianchi but would sometimes do jobs for him. His favorite ones involved Bianchi’s human trafficking ring because he could sample the goods.” Bile rose in her throat. Those poor women.
“Take deep breaths.” A hand soothed her back, rubbing slow circles. “It’s okay, you don’t have to tell me more.”
But she had to. So he could understand. “I reported him, of course. And IAB was all over me to bring him in and testify. So, I collected all the evidence and made the arrest myself at a warehouse where they kept the new girls. It was a big bust because we got Bianchi too.” It had been the greatest moment of her career. At least, it should have been. “My testimony in a few weeks will put him away for good.”
“You did the right thing,” he said.
The irony of his words weren’t lost on her. “I thought so too. But the other cops and detectives didn’t see it that way.” She pulled her hands away from him and wrapped them around herself, feeling a sudden chill. “I’ve been ostracized ever since then. I can hear them whispering behind my back. Been called all kinds of names. No one wants to work with a rat. Because that’s what I am.”
“No.” He moved closer to her, so close that she could feel the heat radiating from his body. “Sofia, you did the right thing. Derek was hurting people, and he deserved to be put away.”
“You know what they do to cops in prison?” she asked. “The first day he was there, he was beaten up so bad, he had to be fed through a tube for weeks.”
“That’s the prison warden’s fault, not yours. Sofia, look at me.” He slid his palm up to her jaw in a soft caress.
“It doesn’t change the fact that I turned on my own. My mother would—”
“Your mother would have been proud,” he insisted. “You upheld the law. Made sure justice was served.”
“You don’t understand, you’re not a cop.” The brief flash of hurt in his eyes made her chest ache. “No! Lucas, I didn’t mean—”
“I know.” He cupped her jaw so she couldn’t turn away. “You put away some very bad people and you should be proud of that. You saved a lot of people and probably stopped more from getting hurt.”
It was the one comfort she took in, knowing those girls with the haunted looks on their faces were all free now. “Thank you for saying that.”
His arms wound around her, and he drew her close. She lay her head on his chest, listening to the soothing beats of his heart. A hand came up to stroke her hair.
“I’m sorry for what you went through and what I said about you wanting to forget your problems.”
“No, don’t be sorry.” She rubbed her cheek against his chest, breathing in that ocean-breeze scent. “You were right about one thing. I was trying to use you, and you deserved better than that.” Better than me.
“Sofia, you have no idea how much I want you. You’re so beautiful, but also so fierce. You’re passionate about your job, and I admire that.” He rested his chin on top of her head. “I didn’t want to sleep with you if you weren’t doing it for the right reasons, because you have to know, this won’t just be about scratching an itch for me.”
She shut her eyes, wondering if she heard him correctly. What he said shook her to the very core because if she were honest with herself, it was the same for her. Pulling away from him, she slid her hands up his lapel and pulled him down to touch her lips to his. Pouring every ounce of desire and passion in the kiss, she hoped he could feel how much she wanted him. Him, not just because he could make her forget.
His mouth moved against hers, slowly, almost reverently. His hands went to the back of her dress, and his nimble fingers eased the zipper down, exposing her back. He pushed her on her back, sliding the front of her dress down to her waist.
“Beautiful,” he murmured as his warm palms cupped her breasts through her black lace bra.
She moaned when he pulled down the cups, her nipples instantly pebbling under his gaze. He brushed the hardened tips with his thumb and forefinger. It sent zings of pleasures straight down to her pussy, making her wet.
His nostrils flared and his eyes blazed. Leaning down, he drew a nipple into his mouth, sucking back hard. His tongue was wet and warm, licking and torturing her until she was squirming under him.
He shifted his weight, sliding her across the settee until she was sitting on the edge and her legs spread. He was kneeling in front of her, his gaze never leaving hers even as he pulled the rest of her dress off.
“I need to taste you,” he growled. Fingers skimmed over her stomach, moving lower to hook into her panties and peel them off. Lowering his head, he pressed his tongue to her.
“Nnggghhh!” The sensation of his mouth on her was too much and she began thrashing her hands. His hands caught hers and pinned them down. He was looking at her even as he licked and sucked at her, as if daring her not to look away. God, it was so hot watching him like that, enjoying himself as he gave her pleasure.
When his mouth encircled her clit, he let go of her. Her fingers dug through his thick hair, raking her fingers down his scalp. He ate at her enthusiastically, licking and sucking at her until she felt the pleasure building in her.
