Keep Me Close (Lazarus Rising Book 2)

  “That he’s the strongest,” Sawyer finished, voice growling. “Yeah, I’ve gotten that impression from the jackass before. He thinks he’s the best of the Lazarus subjects. And he believes he can take the rest of us out.”

  She nodded. “But he isn’t the best.” Her gaze was on Flynn once more. “I know that. And we can stop him. We can use what we know about the Midnight Strangler’s profile, we can use what I learned about Bryce in our sessions at Lazarus, and we can stop him.”

  I’m assuming you’re going to be sticking to your shrink like glue? Sawyer asked Flynn.

  He inclined his head. Every moment, day and night.

  Then I’ll go back to the alley. I’ll try to pick up his scent. We’ll—

  “You two are such assholes.”

  Flynn blinked. She sounded seriously pissed.

  “I am right here,” Cecelia snapped out, and her small hands had fisted on her hips. “So don’t pull that telepathic bullshit. Don’t hide things from me. Talk to me. This is my life, you get that, don’t you? He’s not just gunning for you two. He’s coming for me.”

  Flynn cleared his throat. “Sorry. It’s, um, a habit.”

  She just stared back at him. Her eyes were pure hazel right then, a swirl of color that was absolutely stunning.

  Or maybe he just found her stunning. “I was just telling Sawyer that I’d be staying with you. Day and night.”

  He waited for an argument. None came.

  “We already have the bodyguard cover in place with the FBI. And I sure don’t have a death wish, so yes, I would appreciate you staying with me. Thank you.” Her voice had been ever-so-polite. Too polite. She was still pissed.

  Sawyer coughed. “And, uh, I was saying that I’d go back to the alley and see what I could find there. Maybe I can even pick up the guy’s scent.”

  “I’d be careful with that.” Her expression turned pensive. “Because I think Bryce is going to try manipulating us. He has the same strengths that you guys do, so he knows how sharp your sense of smell truly is. If he wants you to follow a certain trail, if he wants to throw you off, I could easily see him putting out a deliberate scent trail for you to follow. So be on guard. Bryce likes to…play with his prey.”

  “I’ll remember that.” Sawyer turned for the door. “I’ll check in after I see what’s out there.”

  “And I’ll get Aaron to give me everything the FBI has on the Midnight Strangler.” She exhaled on a long sigh. “And if the FBI decides not to give me what I need, then I’ll just get Jay to hack into their system. Problem solved.”

  Flynn didn’t think there would be any problem. “I don’t exactly see Special Agent Barrett denying you anything.” Yeah, he sounded jealous. He fucking was. An issue he’d have to handle.

  With his hand on the doorknob, Sawyer glanced back at him. “There something happening I need to know about? A problem?”

  “Nothing I can’t manage.”

  “All right. If you need me, well, you know how to reach me.” Sawyer tapped his temple. “Keep her safe.”

  “Damn straight.”

  Then he was gone. Cecelia hurried across the room and locked the door behind Sawyer. Then she turned and pushed her back against the wooden frame as she stared at Flynn. “What’s the issue you have with Aaron?”

  Every muscle in his body was tight with tension. “We shouldn’t go there right now. It’s been a hell of a day.” And the adrenaline still pumped through his body. The adrenaline rush always hit him hard, amping up his tension, cranking his emotions to a deadly intensity.

  This time, though, he felt different. Because this time, she’d been involved. Bryce had gotten too close to her.

  “I don’t think we should keep secrets from each other.” Her back was still pressed against the door. “I mean, it looks like you and I are going to be very close for the time being, and secrets—”

  He began stalking toward her.

  “S-secrets are dangerous.”

  “You have secrets, Cece. You gave me one in that alley, but I know you hold a dozen more. You gonna share them with me?”

  “I-I don’t have secrets relevant to—to what’s happening right now.”

  She’d stumbled over her words. “Are you afraid right now?” Because he knew her heart was racing like mad. “You’re afraid of me again?”

  “Before he left, what was Sawyer talking about? He was worried about something, I could tell.”

  He was right in front of her. Flynn lifted his right hand and pressed it to the wood beside her head. His body leaned in close, but he didn’t touch her, not yet. “I’m supposed to bare my soul for you, but you’re gonna keep holding back from me?”

  “Flynn…”

  His emotions were swirling to a dangerous degree. “That won’t work for me.”

  Her breath came in quick pants. “What was the problem? If it’s something that involves me—”

  “I don’t fucking like the special agent.” Fine. There. He’d said it.

  Her eyes flared. “What?”

  “I don’t like it when he’s near you. I don’t like the way he looks at you. And I don’t like the way he says your name.” The prick still wanted her. “And I like it even damn less that I know he’s had you.”

  Her lips parted. “Aaron and I aren’t together any longer. We haven’t been, not since Lazarus.”

  He focused on taking some deep breaths and not fucking imagining her with the special agent asshole. “Jealousy.”

  She searched his eyes.

  “You once told me that you believed the Lazarus formula amplified our darker emotions. Well, jealousy is freaking dark, and it’s eating away at me right now. It’s the reason I burst into your office when you were meeting with the special agent. It’s the reason Sawyer wanted to know if there was going to be a problem. You have to work with the special agent on this case, and every time you’re near him, I want to drive my fist into his face.” Flynn figured he couldn’t get more brutally honest than that. “Dark enough for you?”

  “I’m…not interested in sleeping with Aaron.”

  He growled.

  She tensed.

  “Sorry, baby,” he said, and he was, but the emotions were overwhelming him. Fucking Lazarus. The program had turned him into a freak. A normal man could deal with jealousy. A normal man could deal with rage. A normal man could have a normal freaking life.

  But Flynn wasn’t normal any longer. “I don’t like it when you say his name. I want to hear you calling my name. I want you to need me the way you once needed him.”

  And he had to get his shit back in check. In order to do that, he needed to back the hell away from her. He was too close right then. Her scent filled his nostrils, the warmth of her body seemed to brush against his, and her lush mouth was right there. So close. He wanted to kiss her, the way they’d kissed in the alley. “Having a taste wasn’t enough.” If possible, his voice was even lower, rougher. “Just made me want you more.”

  “What do you want from me?” Cecelia asked him, and while his voice had been rough, hers was breathy. Husky. Sexy as all hell.

  He smiled at her and gave Cecelia the truth. “I want everything.”

  “I don’t have everything to give.”

  Then I’ll take what I can get. “You want me.” The kiss in the alley had proved that point.

  “Yes.”

  His cock jerked. He was pretty sure the zipper of his jeans was going to be permanently imprinted on the damn thing. “But you don’t trust me to be your lover.” She didn’t trust him enough to surrender her body. To let him pleasure her. To take her. His jaw locked and he gave a jerky nod. “Fine.” Flynn shoved away from her. He’d go shower, make certain the water was icy, and he’d get his control back. Not like it’d be the first time he had to cool down after being near her. He spun on his heel.

  Her hand touched his shoulder. “I don’t trust myself.”

  That stark confession didn’t make a bit of sense to him.

  Flynn g
lanced back at her.

  “I can’t make a mistake,” she said.

  “Is that what you think I am? A mistake?” His words were wooden.

  “I don’t know what you are. I know that you make me feel things that I shouldn’t. You make me want things I shouldn’t.”

  The drumming of his heartbeat echoed in Flynn’s ears. He turned toward her. “What things?”

  “I want to let go with you. To lower my guard. To stop thinking and worrying and analyzing every single moment. To just feel.”

  “Let go, baby. I can take care of you.” The blood was nearly burning in his veins. He wanted to grab her. Hold so tight. She’d almost died. He never wanted to lose her. Never wanted to risk her.

  “If we cross this line…what happens next?”

  Fucking hell, she wanted to have sex with him. “Screw what happens next. Only think about now.” He locked his arms around her and pulled Cecelia up against him. His body was so much bigger and harder than hers. Careful with her. Careful. The warning was his own, and he’d do everything he could to use care with her. “Think about me. Because you are the only thing in my head.”

  Her lips were parted when he kissed her. Parted and soft and his tongue thrust into her mouth. Her hands rose and her nails sank into his shoulders. She didn’t push him away. She pulled him closer. Her tongue met his. Her taste…so sweet. His favorite cream. And he could truly eat her up.

  I will.

  He scooped her up into his arms and carried her up the stairs to her bedroom. If she wanted him, there would be no stopping. He wanted to take and take and take, and never let her go. But he knew he had to slow down. Knew that he couldn’t overwhelm her.

  Because he needed her to come back for more. Come back to him, again and again.

  He put her on the bed. She stared up at him, her hair tumbling over her shoulders, her eyes wide and her lips red and full. His hands went to her waist, and he shoved up her t-shirt. He tossed it aside, not giving it a thought. Her bra was white, silky-looking. It hugged her sweet breasts, and the sight was so sexy he growled.

  She smiled up at him. Pure temptation.

  His hands went to the snap of her jeans. He undid the snap and pulled down the zipper, and Flynn found that she was wearing matching panties. White, silky, and skimpy. He tugged those jeans off her legs and dropped them to the floor.

  “Your turn,” Cecelia whispered. “Take off your—”

  No, he wasn’t taking off his clothes yet. He put his hands on her thighs and pushed them apart and then he slid between her legs.

  “F-Flynn?”

  “Wondered how you’d taste.” His fingers slid over the crotch of her panties. He loved the silky fabric, but he knew he’d love what was under the fabric even more. He stroked her, and Cecelia arched into his touch with a soft moan. “You smell like vanilla. Do you taste like vanilla everywhere?” His fingers moved under the edge of her panties.

  Her lips parted as she gasped out a hard breath.

  She was wet. Warm. So incredibly soft. His fingers were so damn big, but he slid his index finger into her. Worked in another, moved with a slow rhythm at first, then faster, a little rougher as the need inside of him grew with every gasp and moan that she gave.

  But touching wasn’t enough. Tasting, that was what he needed. The silky panties were in the way, so he grabbed them and jerked.

  They ripped, but she didn’t seem to notice. Her head had tipped back as she arched, and he finally could see her sex. Bare. Open. Ready for him. His touch.

  His fingers slid into her. His thumb pressed to her clit.

  Ready for his mouth.

  He lowered his head, and Flynn feasted. His tongue licked over her, in her, he stroked again and again, and her nails were suddenly raking over his arms. She moaned frantically as her sex pressed eagerly to his mouth.

  She tasted better than vanilla cream.

  “Flynn!” His name was a choked cry from her, one that burst with pleasure. He kept tasting her, licking her as Cecelia came for him.

  Then he lifted his head. Her cheeks were flushed. Her gaze was locked on him. He felt absolutely savage. So wild for her. Desperate. He moved away from her slowly, hating to leave her for even an instant, but he had to strip. He tore off his clothes. Kept his stare on her every single moment. She didn’t speak. Her heart was still racing so fast. And the scent of her arousal was driving him absolutely insane.

  His cock was long and hard, surging straight toward her. “Take off the bra.” The words emerged as a guttural order. If he tried to remove her bra, Flynn knew he’d just rip the thing.

  She sat up and unhooked the bra, revealing her breasts as the cups fell away. Dusky nipples, tight. “Flynn,” she began and there was nervousness creeping into her voice. A faint edge of worry—

  Need her. Take her.

  He picked her up, twisted their positions on the bed, and had her sitting over him in a flash. Her legs were on either side off his hips. His cock shoved against the wet opening of her sex, but he didn’t enter her, not yet. “Don’t be afraid.” Another guttural order. He’d moved to this position for her, wanting her to feel some power. He was holding onto his control with every ounce of strength that he possessed.

  Her hands splayed over his chest. Her knees pushed into the mattress and her soft thighs brushed against his body.

  “Protection,” she gasped. “We, you—”

  “Don’t have any diseases.” He’d been examined a million times at Lazarus.

  “I don’t either, and I’m on, ah…” Her hot sex slid over him in a slow glide, but again, his cock didn’t thrust into her. “I’m on birth control.”

  Then he wanted her this way. With nothing between them. With his cock shoving deep into her tight, little sex. With every second that passed, his control weakened. “Now…now, baby, now.”

  Her hips tilted up, and she took him in—but not deep enough. Not fucking deep enough. Just a few inches. He wanted to be balls deep in her, but Cecelia was too tight.

  “It’s been…a…a while for me…I told you…b-before Lazarus…”

  He had no fucking idea how long it had been for him. Definitely before Lazarus, but if he didn’t get all of the way inside of her, he would lose his mind. Absolute certainty. His hand slid between them. He worked her clit, stroking fast and hard, and she gave a little half-scream. One of pleasure, not pain. Only pleasure. He shoved his hips up at the same moment and sank fully into her.

  Her head tipped back. Her hair trailed over her shoulders and her breasts thrust toward him. He needed those breasts. Needed her nipples in his mouth. He surged up and his mouth caught her left breast. He licked and sucked and her sex squeezed him so tight.

  “It’s too much,” she whispered. “Flynn…I can’t…”

  He swiped his tongue over her nipple, and then he was tumbling her back onto the bed. “You’ll come for me again. You’ll squeeze my cock tight, and you’ll come for me again.” He lifted her legs up, and he drove into her, watching her face every second. Needing to see her pleasure.

  And it came. Her face went slack as another climax rocked through her. And he felt it. Felt her sex squeeze him hard and tight with the contractions of her release.

  Then he was lost. His control shattered, and he battered into her, wild and rough, surging toward his release because he’d held back too long. Because he’d wanted her too long. Her body was heaven, driving him beyond all rational thought. He just wanted her. Wanted to claim her. Wanted to own her.

  Bryce had been wrong. Cecelia didn’t belong to that bastard. Flynn had known from the first instant, the first moment he’d seen her…that Cecelia was meant to be his.

  She’s mine! Mine!

  He sent the thought out, rage and lust and possession burning through him, and then Flynn was coming. His climax slammed into him, and he held her even tighter. He emptied into her, his body jerking as the release went on and on and on.

  His heart thundered in his chest. Sweat coated his back,
and his breath heaved in and out of his lungs.

  Awareness returned slowly, and Flynn realized he was crushing Cecelia. He shoved up, fast. “Cece?”

  Her heart was still racing, her breath still coming too quickly, but a faint smile curved her lips. “I liked that.”

  A relieved laugh burst from him. He was still balls deep in her, already rising again, but she’d caught him off-guard, and a warmth filled his chest as he gazed at her sensual smile. “I more than liked it.” He kissed her. A slow, open kiss. “You just made me addicted.” He wanted to go again right then. Wanted to see her face soften with pleasure. Wanted to feel her sex clench around him as she came.

  His mouth pulled from hers. He gazed into her eyes. She was staring at him with desire on her face, but in the depths of her eyes, he could see…fear? “Cecelia?”

  “I wondered what it would be like.”

  She’d wondered about sex between them? Good to know. “I did more than wonder. Thinking about you, fantasizing about you, it’s the only way I could get through those long days of being trapped in a cell at Lazarus.”

  Her eyes widened. “Back…then? You wanted me—”

  “I wanted you from the first moment I saw you. I walked into the office, took one look…” But he stopped, not saying more. Because if he said more, he’d frighten her. He didn’t want to frighten her.

  He just wanted her.

  “I didn’t think you liked me.” Her voice was small.

  He pulled his hips back, sliding his cock out of her, then thrusting in again. She sucked in her breath and her thighs clenched around him.

  “Like isn’t exactly the word I’d use.” He’d taken one look at her, and he’d stopped being just a caged beast. She’d been there, saying she wanted to help him, and he’d been trying to keep his hands off her.

  He bent his head and pressed a kiss to her throat. He could feel her pulse beating so fast beneath his mouth. He licked her, then sucked the skin. He wanted to leave a mark on her because she’d more than left her mark on him. Did Cecelia understand that?