Cherise Sinclair - Edge of the Enforcer

She licked around his nipples. Nibbled. Kissed the ridges of his stomach muscles, tracing them with her lips. Detoured down his arms and sucked on his fingers.

Her pussy dragged over his straining erection as she moved…downward…torturous inch by inch. When she licked the top of his cock, he barely kept from groaning. Mischief brightened her eyes. “Does take what you want mean I get to tie the big, bad Enforcer up?”

“Don’t push your luck, Tex.”

She actually giggled, and then her mouth closed over his cock, surrounding him in wet velvety heat. Fuck.

As the crackling fire in the huge lodge fireplace exuded welcome heat, Lindsey curled against the couch arm and listened to Simon and Dixon talk. She couldn’t seem to come up with the energy to join in. Ever since yesterday when she’d confessed her past, time had moved like a drunken armadillo.

Last night, the hours had flown by as she’d teased Zander until he cursed and took control. Completely. After they both got off, he’d exacted his revenge, bringing her to the brink of orgasm over and over, until she was begging mindlessly. When he’d finally taken her to their mutual satisfaction, he’d stayed inside her, watching over her as she fell asleep. She’d never felt so close to anyone. So protected.

But today had dragged interminably. After breakfast, Zander had taken the memory drives and disappeared into Logan’s office to try to break the code. Simon had been on the phone all morning. Rona had slept late. Logan had been doing lodge-keeper duties. An elderly couple had needed to be checked in, a single lodger later.

Lindsey had wanted to run errands with Becca or go with Kallie to help with chores at the Masterson place. However, with Zander’s overprotectiveness in full flood, he demanded she stay close, and she hadn’t had the willpower to say no. Not after yesterday. She sighed. Another week and she’d be back to her normal stubborn self.

Thank goodness, Dixon had shown up, and the women had returned. Between him, the women, and the baby, conversation had been lively. Distracting.

After lunch, she’d started worrying again and had retreated into the main lodge to think. To stew, her daddy would have said. A few minutes ago, Dixon and Simon had joined her, talking around her, keeping her company.

How had she won such wonderful friends?

With a mild squeak of hinges, the door of the lodge swung open, and Lindsey opened her eyes to look.

A tall, absolutely stunning man in a sheepskin coat, jeans, and boots stepped in, paused, and crossed the room directly to their small group.

“Simon.” The man held out his hand as Simon rose. “Good to see you again.”

Simon shook his hand. “Stanfeld. It’s been a while.” He turned. “Lindsey, Dixon, this is Homeland Security Investigations, Special Agent Jameson Stanfeld.” He smiled at Lindsey. “He’s a recent transfer to California from Texas.”

Keen gray eyes in a tanned face surveyed Lindsey. “It’s good to meet you, Ms. Parnell.”

Parnell. He knew her real name. Sheer terror impacted her chest, stealing her breath. He stood between her and the door…too close.

The man took a step forward. “Lindsey—”

Instinctively, she cringed.

“Uh-uh.” Dixon jumped up and blocked his path. “Back off, sweet cheeks.”

“No, Dixon,” Lindsey hissed. The big man could crush him with one hand. Shoot him. “No, don’t. He’ll hurt you.” Her legs shook as she stood. Seizing Dixon’s wiry arm, she tried to jerk him back. Tried to step in front of him.

He stubbornly stayed put.

“Christ Jesus,” the agent muttered to Simon. “They’re both cute enough to die for and braver than many a soldier I’ve known.”

“That they are,” Simon said. “Dixon, listen. You don’t—”

“Stand down, buddy.” Stanfeld held his hands up. “I have no intention of hurting or arresting your friend. Simon asked me to come.”

All the strength drained out of Lindsey’s legs, and she sank back onto the couch, pulling Dixon down with her.

“What the fuck?” From nowhere, Zander appeared—and stepped right into Dixon’s place between her and the agent. His hand was under his jacket, on the pistol he wore in a shoulder harness.

“Zander, this is a good guy,” Simon said, his voice relaxed and calming as he went through the introductions again. “Lindsey was a bit…”

“Lindsey overreacted.” She managed to stand up. Leaning slightly on Zander, she held her hand out. “I’m pleased to meet you, Special Agent Stanfeld.”

“Likewise—and make it Stan.” He took her hand gently and undoubtedly felt the way her fingers trembled.

The minute Stan released her, Zander tucked her against his side. And she’d never been so happy to be under an overprotective Dom’s care.

Simon resumed his seat. “I met Stan when Demakis Security provided protection to a model threatened by a serial killer. We’ve been friends for years now.” He leaned forward. “I called him yesterday. Having come from Texas recently, he has contacts we need. This morning, he and I had a conference call with one of his Texas friends, a special agent in charge—name of Bonner. Bonner has quite an interest in you, Lindsey.”

Riiight. I’m the woman who murdered her husband and a police officer. Bitterness filled her mouth. “I’m sure.”

Zander gently pushed Lindsey down on the couch beside Dixon and set his hip on the armrest beside her. Staying close and staying mobile, she knew.

Stan took an empty chair directly across from Lindsey and leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “You sent Bonner an e-mail attachment of Victor Parnell raping a boy.”

The thought was enough to make her sick, but she nodded.

“Bonner had already been looking into your husband’s and the young officer’s murders. He’d noticed the investigation was somewhat…irregular, and after talking with Simon, he’s very interested in knowing more. Since I’m stationed in San Francisco, I volunteered to drive here this morning and talk to you.”

And arrest me too . Her hands closed into fists as despair started to weigh her down.

His gray eyes met hers. “Lindsey, did you kill the police officer?”

“What? No. ”

“Didn’t think so.” He leaned back.

Wait. Wait. “You believe me?”

“I’m good at detecting liars.” His smile transformed his face from stern to gorgeous, and she heard Dixon give a small sigh.

To her surprise, Stan’s gaze shifted to Dixon with sufficient appreciation to send her gaydar dinging. The agent liked her Dixon? Hold on one cotton-picking minute. Dix had been through enough. Lindsey put her hand on top of Dixon’s and gave the man a narrow-eyed stare as a warning.

He tilted his head in acknowledgment, and she had to give him props for picking up on her unspoken threat. He continued, “Bonner plans to interview your sisters, by the way.”

Oh God, would he arrest Melissa and Mandy for aiding and abetting or something? “They don’t know anything. They don’t .”

He gave Simon an amused glance. “Like I said…”

When Zander chuckled, she looked up at him in surprise.

“You really are a lousy liar,” Zander said.

She frowned. Should she take his comment as an insult or a compliment? “Well. Now what?”

“Simon told me the encryption on the jump drives from your husband’s safe has been broken. I’d like permission to go through the information. Do I have it?”

Her heart skipped a beat. The last time an agent wanted those drives, she’d almost died. If he confiscated them… They were her only proof Victor had been a criminal. “I—”