All I could do was wait and see. And give her a reason to stay.

“Meeting you has been just as much of a revelation for me as it has been for you.”

“Really?” Her dark gaze filled with longing.

“Yeah, cupcake. Really.” I leaned down, cradled her face in my hands, and poured all the crazy shit I was feeling into a kiss.

Even though I was consumed by Eden, a noise grabbed my attention. Yanking my lips away, I shoved Eden behind me as movement came from the shadows of the alley.

“Who the fuck is there?”

The light on the back of the building that should have been shining over this section of the alley was out, but it hadn’t been the night before. No one answered my demand.

All my senses jammed into high alert as I reached into my pocket and pulled out the keys. I held them out behind me to Eden.

“Open the door. Get inside. Single key on the big ring.”

Eden’s hand shook as she picked them out of my palm, but she didn’t say a word.

I heard the door open and said, “Hit the light inside.” I couldn’t make out whoever was in the alley, but I heard footsteps as someone ran for the street.

When the light from inside the tattoo shop flooded a small section of the darkness, I caught a glimpse of the back of a dark hoodie as a guy turned the corner.

I stepped inside the shop. “Go upstairs. I’ll be right there.”

“Are you going after him?” Eden asked quietly.

“Just checking shit out as soon as I can get a flashlight from the break room. I’ll be right up. I promise.”

With a small, uncertain nod, Eden opened the door to my apartment and climbed the stairs as I stepped into the break room and retrieved a flashlight.

The first place I pointed it was up at the light fixture Con had added to the back of the building for security. Power ran up the back in a piece of conduit rather than through the brick.

Crouching down, I checked the wire. Cut.

I locked the door before stepping farther out into the alley. If someone took me out, there was no way in hell I was letting them get to Eden.

The first noise I’d heard had come from near the Dumpster on the opposite side. Scanning the area, I found three cigarette butts in a pile. Someone had been watching. Waiting.

Anger and unease pooled in my gut.

Was my past finally catching up with me? Had they finally decided to collect? Fuck.

I knew I should have taken them out first, but that was like attacking a snake that would regrow three heads when you chopped off one. What was that Hercules shit called? The hydra?

If it wasn’t them, then who? The question gnawed at me as I headed back inside. Fuck whoever that asshole was for screwing with our night. I wasn’t going to let them wreck a goddamned thing.

I’d made promises to Eden, and I was keeping them.

I SHOULD HAVE BEEN FREAKED. I should have been terrified. But instead, the adrenaline pumping through my veins manifested in a completely different fashion. When Bishop cleared the stairs, I was ready for him.

“I want more. Tonight. I want everything you promised me, and I’m not going to let anything get in the way.” I wasn’t sure I’d ever spoken bolder words that were more true.

His neutral expression changed in an instant.

“Fuck, I’m glad you said that. Because I’m dying for you, cupcake.” Bishop crossed the floor and lifted me into his arms. “Fuck the world. I don’t care if it burns to the ground. I need to be inside you.”

His lips crushed to mine, and I wrapped my legs around his waist. He carried me to the bedroom and lowered me onto the bed. Ever since I’d come in the middle of the courtyard at Pat O’Brien’s, I’d been wet and ready for more.

Before the bitchy hostess incident, I’d been teasing myself with the thought of Bishop dragging me off to the ladies’ room and taking me against the wall. I made a mental note to add that to my list for later.

It seemed the man had quite the talent for checking things off my lists.

When he pulled back, my gaze zeroed in on the bulge beneath his zipper. I already knew what I was getting, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t just as excited to get my hands on it.

But Bishop had other plans. He tossed my dress up and buried his face between my legs.

“Fuck, baby. I wanted to feel you coming on my tongue earlier. I’m gonna eat this pretty pussy for dessert, and then I’m going to make you scream.”

My hips lifted toward him, sending an undeniable message that I wanted this just as bad as he did.

“Please.”

Bishop splayed his hand out over my center. “If you were wearing panties, I’d rip them off you like the guy did at Pat O’Brien’s. But you’re such a naughty fucking girl that I don’t have that option.”

He dragged his fingers over my most sensitive skin. “You know how fucking hot it was to watch you walk through the streets knowing I could reach under your dress and touch nothing but bare skin? Do you know how many times I had to talk myself out of dragging you into an alley and finding out how tight this little pussy would feel around my cock?”

“I want it. I want it all.”

His lips twisted into a smile. “You want to be my bad girl, don’t you? My naughty girl? If you only knew all the things I wanted to do to you.”

I started to reply, but whatever words I meant to speak died as Bishop moved his hand and bent between my legs. His tongue stroked me from top to bottom before spearing inside. He moaned against me, like he was truly enjoying every lick and suck as much as he might his favorite dessert.

The feeling was decadent, and heat radiated from my pussy outward.

“So fucking sweet.” He lifted a hand and slid two fingers inside me, reviving all the nerves that had been so overwhelmed by my earlier orgasm. They were ready for more. I was ready for more.

And he gave me more.

Curling his fingers, he found that perfect spot at the same time his lips closed over my clit, unleashing an orgasm like a tsunami. I gripped the sheets of the bed with both hands as I writhed against his face, shameless as I took my pleasure. I didn’t feel inexperienced with Bishop; I felt amazing. Desired. Wanton.

It was fabulous.

Slick with my wetness, he pulled a finger out and slid it lower, brushing over a part of me that I’d never expected him to touch.

My entire body jumped, not out of fear, but from surprise and a sensation overload.