and Freya reunited. And he’s the reason Abe Royal is spending time, romantically, with Sloane. He’s the reason Codex exists.”
Abe smiled, looked down at his glass—cast a raised brow at me. “You told them we were romantically involved?”
“Oh, she didn’t have to tell us Abe,” Freya said. “It was obvious the second we saw the two of you together. We never knew you were such a reverse cougar. Damn.”
I held up a finger. “I believe I’m the reverse cougar in this situation.”
“I stand corrected.” Freya beamed.
Abe kissed my hand to the cheering laughter of his team. I winked, chugged my champagne to another roar of applause.
“To Bernard,” Abe said. “And to all of you.” He squeezed my hand tight as he set his glass down. “Contrary to popular opinion, I am a man able to love. And I might not be the best at showing it, or saying it, but I do love all of you. Very much.”
For once, Abe’s team didn’t tease or joke. They came around the table to wrap him in a messy and clumsy group hug.
“Aw, we love you too, boss,” Freya said.
And over the tops of their heads, Abe stared at me with the full force of his emotions, vulnerability and all.
I’m still here, I mouthed.
Outside this pub, Sherlock Society members were clamoring, gossiping, standing around in a daze. Cop cars took up the street, police officers patrolled and questioned people, and Bernard Allerton was on his way into custody.
And inside this pub, clutching a glass of champagne and smiling at Abe, I finally found my family.
48
Sloane
It was past dawn the morning after we’d caught Bernard Allerton. Abe looked relaxed and handsome in his sleep. There was no white whale to chase; he was no longer Ahab on an endless hunt. He was merely the brilliant man in my bed.
The brilliant, naked man in my bed. And I knew just the way he deserved to be woken up.
I crawled onto his naked body. His skin was hot from sleep. His eyes, still sleepy, fluttered awake. I kissed his chest. His smile turned dirty. His breathing hitched.
“Aren’t you a beautiful sight to wake to,” he said, voice gravelly. Rough.
I bit his nipple.
He hissed with pleasure. He wound his fingers in my hair and dragged me up. Our lips met in a kiss that was both harsh and tender, bruising and sweet. He looped my hair around his wrist, holding me in place. I could tell by the look on his face what he wanted to do. With a sly grin, I shook my head, kissed his jaw. Kissed down his strong throat—his chest, my fingers threading through the silver hair. Tugging. Another sharp breath from him, followed by a sigh. Sexy man. Strong man. Last night was the highlight of my professional career. And stepping through that hallway and into a room that held Bernard fucking Allerton was only made more perfect because Abe was by my side.
And last night, surrounded by Freya and Sam, Delilah and Henry, getting tipsy on champagne and laughing at their stories—I could feel the complicated knots of my heart unravel. Fall away. It was so much more terrifying to be vulnerable in this world. And so much more possible with a man like Abe, gently encouraging me to open.
“Sloane,” he whispered. A plea. His fingers were still in my hair, but my mouth was trailing open kisses down his stomach. So fucking gratifying to mess with this man’s control, to be the one to bring this level of unfettered pleasure onto his face. “What are you doing?”
“You know what I’m doing,” I said. I licked my tongue across his skin, tasting him. He groaned, fingers tightening. His cock was hard, like steel, pressed to my body the farther down I explored. The second I reached his cock I sat back on my knees to admire it—the delicious, veined length of him. All that primal, raw strength. It didn’t matter how many bespoke suits Abraham Royal had, how many college degrees or years of FBI agent promotions.
Beneath all of that was a hard, hungry man who was twisting my hair in his fingers and yanking my head to the right.
I ran my tongue along my teeth. “Do you have something to say?”
A snarl threatened to overtake his mouth. “I won’t last. Not with you. Not like this.”
I held his gaze. Lowered my mouth to his cock. “I believe in you.”
It was a privilege to take that man into my mouth, to