Page 13 of Hers to Claim

His eyes moved slowly over her face. “I like all sorts of things, Mariana.”

She stared up at him, enjoying the way he looked at her with longing she couldn’t deny. “I do too. I think I’m only just realizing how many. But I do enjoy when you get growly and bossy.”

“I like being bossy.” He leaned to kiss her, smiling against her lips. “Until very recently I only had one rule, that nobody could top me, but then you made me bend that rule and I kind of liked it. I am really starting to appreciate sexy-as-fuck witches who know what they want and demand it.”

Memories of what it had felt like to see him on his knees gazing up at her with adoration flooded her. “I liked being bossy, too.”

“We don’t have to have just one label, you and me. We can be anything we want. Everything we want.” He pushed her hair back over her shoulder and looked down at her with a considering expression. “We’ve never seriously talked about bringing someone else in. How do you feel about it?”

“I hadn’t thought much about it until I saw her reaction to you.” She moved a little closer and grinned up at him. “For a minute all I could think about was watching you tease a smoking hot woman until she came undone.”

He leaned down to whisper in her ear. “Well, let me know if you see anyone you like at the club tomorrow and we’ll see if I can make that happen for you.” His lips brushed her skin. “But only if it’s something you want.”

She clutched his arm and pressed against him, feeling bold. “What I want right now is for you to bend me over my desk and fuck me raw until I’m calling out your name like a hymn.”

He growled into her ear. “Your wish is my command.” And he did exactly that until half of the house could probably hear her. He didn’t stop until she was shaking under him and all she could do was moan because her voice had given out.

Chapter 5

Mari and Rio workedon party plans in her office while enjoying afternoon tea. Giselle had outdone herself with the scones and Rio slathered them with delicious toppings before feeding them to Mari with a satisfied smile as she read over an email that Willow had sent about decor. The door between her office and Cisco’s was open so he could listen and offer input while he was going through some inventory lists.

Dasher strolled into Cisco’s office and waited for Cisco to look up before he said, “The guy you sent us to check on is no longer a problem.”

Cisco leaned back in his chair and folded his hands across his stomach. “What did you find?”

Dasher bared his teeth in a snarl. “He had two of the submissives on the list tied up in a closet. Banged up, but okay. We took them to the club for medical treatment after Dancer finished taking out the trash.”

“Nova?”

Dasher grimaced and shook his head. “We asked if he knew where she was but he didn’t have anything to say on the matter.”He eased his hands into his jean pockets. “Samar’s guy was clean, so there’s only a few left on your list of likely names.”

Cisco licked the tip of one fang. “One of them is the seraphim.”

“That one is probably a bigger job. Might need all hands on deck.”

Cisco nodded. “Let’s clear the others first, then we’ll make a plan for Vincent. Report to Kima about what you found.”

“You got it, boss.” Dasher turned and headed out of the office.

Rio was on his feet before the door closed behind the hellhound. Mari pretended to go back to her work, even though she felt the urge to go comfort Cisco after the news as well. Rio was who Cisco needed right now. They had been through so much together, and Cisco only allowed himself to be truly vulnerable when Rio was nearby.

Cisco turned in his chair, pinching his lip in thought. He glanced up when Rio stood in front of him. “I’m worried that it’s been too long,” Cisco said.

Rio reached to touch one of his curls. “She’s tough as nails. You know that.”

Cisco nodded and pulled Rio into his arms, burying his face in Rio’s chest.

“We’re going to find her,” Rio said in Spanish as he hugged Cisco’s head to him.

Cisco didn’t say anything at all as he held Rio close.

Mari tried to go back to her work, but concern over what might be happening to the missing people made it difficult to concentrate.

Eventually Cisco and Rio drifted into her office. Cisco turned her chair so that she faced him. “I’ve been informed by Rio that the most comforting place in this entire compound is between your thighs.”

She glanced up at him, surprised when she could guess what he needed by the tension across his shoulders. “Do you needcomfort, Francisco?” She rested one hand on her thigh and pulled up her skirt the barest inch so that he couldn’t quite see her panties, but knew they were just beyond.

“I do,” he rumbled with his eyes on her fingers where they curled under the hem of her skirt. “I’m worried about my friend and I can’t do anything more about that right now.”

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