The Hustle (Irreparable 4)

“What about things like underwear or bras?”

“Jesus. I don’t know. I didn’t exactly inventory my unmentionables. Why would he want those?” Her hands tremble as she rubs her legs.

“He’s unstable, maybe even fixated on you.”

She nibbles her bottom lip as the red color in her cheeks intensifies. I can’t decide if she’s embarrassed about this pervert ransacking her stuff or if she knows more than she’s telling me. “God. What do we do?”

Of course she’s embarrassed. My lack of trust with women is causing me to look for the hustle in the story that she’s sharing, when I should be focused on easing her concerns. “I’m having him followed. Sid thinks the scene suggests he was looking for something. Do you have something he might want?”

“No, not that I can think of.”

I take hold of her hand and offer her the support I should have been giving her all along. “We’ll file a police report so you can press charges. They’ll be pissed we didn’t do it that night and that we cleaned up, but Sid knows the Chief.” She stays quiet, possibly not hearing me at all. The pressure of how I feel about Peyton wants to control me, wants me to send her out of my life before it’s too late. Before she destroys me. Only I won’t let her go because I have to protect her from this creeper. No . . . she needs me to protect her. “Hey, I won’t let him hurt you.”

She gives me a weak smile. “Thank you.”

“Once, he’s locked up, you can go back to your own place.” I realize what was intended as teasing sounds more like I want her out of the loft.

“I’ll go whenever you want,” she answers softly.

“Good.” Her eyes flash with shock, but then she laughs when I say. “We have two rooms left at my place and then we can christen all the rooms in yours. Unless you’re ready to be rid of my sorry ass.”

Her lips stay curved up as she shakes her head. “Not yet, but you’re pushing it.”

The air in the car feels significantly lighter as I pull into the garage at the loft. I speak with Mike and JT while Peyton goes up to shower. When Peyton does return to her loft, they’ll still be assigned to protect her until Eduardo is dealt with. It’s hard admitting how much I’m going to miss her.

Steam billows from the bathroom as I open the door.

“Took you long enough,” Peyton teases from behind the glass wall.

Her sultry voice beckons me to strip naked and join her. To which I humbly oblige, slipping into the shower behind her. I rub my palms over the points of her shoulders as my teeth graze her earlobe. “Were you growing impatient?”

“No,” she giggles, as one of my hands lowers, tickling her ribs. “I was growing horny.”

“Direct as ever.” I laugh.

Her head falls back against my chest as I splay my hand across her firm stomach. As I work lower, she sucks in a ragged breath. It’s been awhile since I considered a woman’s needs before my own. But then again, it’s been awhile since I’ve been with a woman I wanted to please.

My hand slides down her abdomen until I reach her folds. Her breath hitches when I push into her clit and continues in quick gasps as I stroke her to a back arching climax. Quickly, but gently, I push her forward. Her palms press flat into the tile in front of her as she peers back at me over her shoulder. When I slam into her, she cries out in carnal scream that nearly makes me lose my load.

I pump my hips, wanting to reach the brink as quickly as possible. Maybe later, I’ll go slow and savor the moment, but right now, I seek escape from my thoughts.

It doesn’t take long for my balls to tingle. Warmth spreads down my legs and up my groin as my body goes rigid on release. I stay buried inside of Peyton until my head clears and until I’m ready for more.

Now I shall take my time and enjoy how incredibly beautiful it is to be inside of her.

Just before bedtime, I allow Javier to watch a movie while Eduardo busies himself in the study. The missing cell phone has taunted my thoughts all evening. I start in the foyer, searching to see if I dropped it anywhere before making my way to the bathroom.

It’s vanished.

As I exit the bathroom, I run into Marco, who nods for me to go with him outside. I follow him out and he tips his head for me to come closer until we’re out of camera shot.

“Looking for this?” he whispers.

“How did you get that?”

“I’m not an idiot, Maria. And neither is Eduardo. I pulled it from your jacket when Eduardo took you upstairs. It’s a good thing, too. He searched the pockets when he came down. He doesn’t trust you and you should never believe for a second that he does.”

“Marco, the cameras will have seen you.”