Page 28 of Dark Embers

His mouth on my nipples.

His hands holding me down.

His hard shaft buried inside me as I scream out his name.

And his voice.

Soothing. Commanding. Worshipping.

I press my forehead against the tiles, my breath catching.

Because no matter how hard I scrub… I can’t seem to wash that away.

Not even a little.

CHAPTER 13

Oleksi

I watch Sabrina leave, her hurried steps and tense shoulders betraying more than her words. Something doesn't sit right. She mentioned her mother and a restless child—Elena, her daughter. The revelation that she has a child is a surprise, one I should have known.

I dial Syd's number. “Follow Sabrina,” I instruct.

“Why?” she asks in surprise. “Didn’t you work things out last night?”

“I think she's lying about the message she received.”

“Alright,” Syd agrees to do what he’s asked.

“Did you know Sabrina has a daughter?”

“Yes, it was in the report I provided last week.”“

Damn it.“How the fuck did I miss that?”

“Your blind obsession made you overlook it?” Syd quips.

“Not funny,” I snap. “Get after her; she's heading to her car.”

I end the call and step into the shower, the hot water doing little to wash away my frustration. Afterward, I find a message from Sabrina:

Thanks for the offer, but we won't be needing your help to find Tara.

Her polite dismissal feels like a door slammed in my face. It's not just about the investigation; she's pulling away from everything, including the connection we began to forge.

Anger simmers beneath the surface as I contemplate my next move. My gaze lands on the expensive wristwatch on the dresser, an idea forming. If she won't accept my help willingly, perhaps a nudge in the right direction is necessary.

Sabrina

Sunday mornings usually bring a sense of calm. I spend them window shopping, doing groceries, tidying up the apartment,and then fetching Elena after lunch. But today, my mind is a tangled mess, replaying last night's events with Oleksi. The memory of his touch sends a shiver down my spine, a twinge of desire I force myself to ignore.

Deciding to fetch Elena earlier than usual, I hope her presence will anchor me, pulling me away from thoughts of him. As I search for my keys, my phone rings. It's Heather Gold, my boss. My heart sinks. Working on a Sunday night is the last thing I want.

“Hello, Heather,” I answer, trying to mask my reluctance.

“Sabrina, I need you to come to the hotel. It's urgent.” Heather's tone is clipped, and not like her usual cheerful tone.

“Is everything alright?”

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