The bedroom was quiet except for the ocean's distant rhythm—waves rolling, crashing, retreating. Dawn light bled through sheer curtains, painting everything gold and soft.

I wrapped my arm around her waist from behind, pulling her sweat-slick body flush against my chest, her back curving into me like a perfect mold. The sheets tangled around our legs, damp and heavy with the scent of sex-cum-musk still clinging to the air.

Her ass nestled against my groin, soft and warm, her breathing slow and deep as the city lights flickered through the half-open blinds. I buried my face in her hair, inhaling the mix of salt, sweat, and her—my woman now.

My fingers traced lazy circles on her hip. She hummed—content, satisfied, maybe a little smug.

"Thank you," I murmured into her neck, my lips brushing the damp skin. "For helping with the Dmitri situation."

She laughed—soft, throaty, still raw from all the screaming, low and husky, the sound vibrating against my chest.

"You would've finished him with or without my help, Eros. We both know that." She shifted, pressed back against me more firmly. "Besides, I was following my superiors' orders. Standard CIA asset protection."

I chuckled, the sound rumbling through both our chests. "Did they order you to have fuck me too? Part of the mission briefing?"

We both laughed, her body shaking against mine, her ass pressing harder into me turning her head just enough for me to see the smirk.

"Oh, fuck off. The sex was me getting back at you for Miami—teasing me, leaving me hanging, making me ache. This was my revenge."

"Payback?" I grinned against her skin. "A payback where you lost miserably?"

She was quiet for a moment, then sighed—half exasperated, half amused. "Fine. I'll admit it. You completely destroyed me." Her hand found mine on her hip, threaded our fingers together. "But at least I got to enjoy that magnificent cock of yours. I always craved this kind of sex, brutal yet gentle for my pussy and nice.

"That counts for something in my revenge, right?"

"Damn right it did." I kissed the shell of her ear.

The moment stretched, comfortable and warm. Then I shifted—tone changing, going serious.

"On a serious note, Ava..." I pulled her tighter, made sure she could feel the weight of what I was about to say. "I can't let you go after this. I'm not a one-night-stand kind of guy. I pride myself on keeping every woman I sleep with as mine."

She twisted slightly, looking back at me with a raised brow. "Greedy bastard. All the women you've had, and you're still not satisfied?"

I shrugged, my hand sliding up to cup her breast, thumb brushing her nipple. "Lust, pride, women, power, money and lastly godly—that's the sincerest definition of who I am. The thought of lossing any of those, most especially a woman I've slept with being with another man?"

I let disgust color my voice. "Makes me sick. Not that anyone but me could satisfy a woman I've fucked anyway—no one can after me—but I just can't allow it."

She was quiet for a long moment. Then her laugh came—genuine, a little breathless.

"I hate to admit it," she said, "but you're right. I'm pretty sure no woman would ever see another man as a real man after a night with you."

Pride swelled in my chest, hot and sharp. I grinned against her shoulder. She wasn't wrong.

"Exactly," I said, voice taking on that edge of arrogant certainty. "That's why I can't let them go. If I did, they'd die of starvation for my cock." I grinned. "They'd come back eventually—that's guaranteed—but claiming them instantly just saves everyone the trouble of searching for something that's not even one percent of me."

Her shoulders shook with laughter. "Your ego is astronomical."

"It's not ego if it's fact."

She turned in my arms then—shifted until we were face to face, her eyes finding mine in the dawn light. Something in her expression changed. Softened.

"Don't worry," she said quietly. "For the first time in my life, I'm actually in love. Been falling since Miami, if I'm honest." Her hand came up, touched my jaw. "I AM staying, Eros."

She affirmed!

That surprised me. "Staying? What about the CIA? Your bosses wouldn't approve of you going rogue."

She shook her head, a small smile playing at her lips. "That's exactly why I decided to take this step with you last night. My bosses assigned me here—to Los Angeles. My mission is to protect Charlotte, you, and Quantum Tech."

Understanding clicked into place immediately.

"Crafty bastards," I muttered, but I was grinning. "It's a two-way street. Your team protects Charlotte, me, and Quantum Tech... while also spying on us. They get informed about every move we make before we even report it ourselves."

Ava's smile confirmed it.

"Of course they won't meddle," she continued, thinking it through. "But knowing every step their partners take? That's a hell of an advantage. Usually, they wouldn't go this far unless you'd proven yourselves extremely capable."

I met her eyes. "But the two things I've already developed for them confirmed that our partnership over the next year will be more valuable than anything they've imagined."

She nodded. "You're not wrong at all."

What they didn't know, though—what they couldn't know—was that Ava was my woman now. She'd only report what I told her to report. Her loyalty had shifted the moment she'd screamed my name.

Whatever. Not like I had any plans of making an enemy of the CIA—at least not now. So I'd keep my end of the bargain as long as they paid. Simple transaction. They pay, I deliver. They stop paying? Well, that's a different conversation entirely.

"Get some sleep," I murmured, kissing her forehead. "You earned it."

She hummed agreement, already drifting, body going heavy and relaxed against mine.

I kissed her forehead, pulling her closer. "Good girl."

She drifted off first, her breathing evening out, her body going limp in my arms. I held her a moment longer, then slipped from the bed, careful not to wake her. The sheets clung to my skin as I stood, the air cool against the drying sweat.

I padded barefoot to the balcony, sliding the glass door open with a soft hiss.

The ocean roared below, waves crashing at their peak, white foam glowing under the moon. The beach stretched endless, dark sand glinting wet. I leaned on the railing, the salt wind sharp on my face, the taste of brine on my tongue.

I needed to talk to my women.

Last time they'd heard from me was yesterday—after I'd told them I'd finished dealing with Dmitri, that each one was free to go about their daily activities. Of course, they all had extra protection on them now.

Even Lea and Kayla—who weren't my women yet—had security shadowing them even though they did not know.

Tommy and Mia too, since they were part of the inner circle with Ms. Chen.

But I'd call them this evening, when they finished their day.

I looked back toward the beach as the water spread outward. The journey of lust had put another something in my path that I have been waiting for for so long—Ava.

Would today be any different?

The beach was still lively.

Competitive women. The kind who noticed when another woman had that post-sex glow, who felt that spike of territorial jealousy when someone else caught the attention they thought they deserved.

Beach rivalries were a special kind of entertainment. Women sizing each other up in bikinis, each one trying to be the most desirable, the most noticed.

The dynamics got interesting.

Tonight, I was finishing the Charlotte mission—finally closing that chapter, securing everything we'd worked for. I needed as much distraction as possible before then. Needed to stay loose, stay sharp, stay hungry.

The ocean called.

And so did whatever beauties and rivalries waited on that sand.

I smiled.

Time to see how many women the day would bring down that beach.

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