Crime of Passion (HBIA: Case Files Book 1) Read online

  The instant heat that emerged in those golden eyes had Neculai hardening faster than ever. Leaning in, he took hold of Dragos’ lips, nipping at the bottom one and drawing him in deeper. Dragos moaned, his arms wrapping around Neculai’s shoulders and tugging him closer. Then again, with their clothes on Neculai wasn’t sure how much closer they could get.

  “We can’t,” Dragos suddenly said, pushing Neculai away. “You’re still recovering.”

  “And that’s exactly why,” Neculai didn’t release Dragos, his arms still wound around his waist. One hand roamed lower, cupping his ass. “I have to know I still have you. That everything still works,” he winked.

  Dragos laughed. “Oh, I’m sure it all still works.” He pressed his palm against Neculai’s engorged length, making him moan. “How about I get you off? Fair enough?”

  “Nope,” Neculai denied, kissing Dragos again, and sliding his knee between his thighs. He pressed up on his mate’s erection, earning him a throaty whine from Dragos. “I want you. Not a hand job, or a blow job. I want to be inside you.” He punctuated his words with a firm squeeze of Dragos’ perfectly shaped ass.

  “But, your head,” Dragos continued to try and find an excuse.

  “As long as I don’t hit it on anything, I’ll be fine,” Neculai countered. He didn’t care what excuses Dragos came up with, he would dash them all away. He wanted his mate, now.

  Kissing Dragos into silence, Neculai started backing him toward the hallway leading to his bedroom. He knew the way by heart and he could easily maneuver them both in the darkened passage, stripping Dragos of his clothes as they went. First went Dragos’ shirt, next he unbuttoned his pants, and slid his zipper down. Pushing the jeans passed Dragos’ ass, Neculai let gravity take over as they reached the door to his bedroom.

  Dragos stumbled as his pants pooled at his feet before he kicked off his shoes and let his jeans follow after. With his mate naked, Neculai laid him out on his bed. There had to be a law somewhere against someone being allowed to look so damn sexy. Dragos naked and flushed was far too potent for any sane man to resist. Neculai wasn’t even close to sane as he succumbed instantly, pulling his own shirt up and off, and kneeled between Dragos’ legs.

  “Neculai,” Dragos whimpered as Neculai nuzzled his groin. Licking at his sack, Neculai drew in the intoxicating scent of the man laid out before him like a buffet. Kissing Dragos’ inner thigh, Neculai made his way to his cock leaking precum onto his stomach. “You’re killing me.”

  Neculai smirked. He hadn’t even started playing with him and he was already whining. It wasn’t going to take much to push him over the edge today. Lapping at the pool of precum, Neculai hummed at the taste, savoring it on his tongue. He loved how Dragos tasted.

  Licked clean, Neculai moved his attention to Dragos’ neglected cock. Suckling on the tip, he flicked his tongue against the slit, driving Dragos into a panting mess before he worked the girth down his throat.

  “Oh, fuck,” Dragos shouted as Neculai swallowed him and moaned around his shaft. Holding Dragos’ hips down, Neculai started a slow rhythm, bobbing his head up and down, drawing him closer and closer to the release he no doubt wanted.

  Releasing one of his hips, Neculai dragged a hand beneath Dragos and probed his ass with a single digit. Dragos whined as Neculai breached his ass, sliding to just the first knuckle. Without lube he couldn’t get very deep, and he didn’t want to hurt his man.

  “Top drawer,” Neculai directed, coming up from Dragos cock just long enough to give him instructions. Thankfully he understood and Dragos sat up on his elbows and dug into the bedside table until he found the bottle of lube. Quickly he handed it to Neculai and grabbed his own cock, stroking it slowly.

  The show of Dragos pumping his own shaft had Neculai’s jumping in his jeans, begging for attention. Popping the cap on the bottle, Neculai poured a generous amount on his hand and pierced Dragos’ ass again.

  “Keep stroking yourself,” Neculai ordered as he pumped his fingers in and out of Dragos.

  “Neculai,” Dragos moaned, his hand picking up the pace.

  “Shit.” Neculai added a third finger and twisted his hand until he found that special bundle of nerves that sent Dragos to screaming. Unable to take it any longer, Neculai pulled his fingers out, removed his own jeans, and blanketed Dragos’ body with his own. Swatting his hand away from his cock, Neculai claimed Dragos’ lips in a dominating kiss as he hefted his legs up and aligned his cock with his slick entrance.

  Dragos moaned as Neculai pushed forward, breaching him, then sliding home. Neculai’s balls slapped Dragos’ ass [AS1]and Neculai paused just long enough to regain his senses before he pulled out and thrust back in. Dragos cried out, Neculai swallowing the sound and thrusting his tongue into his mouth as his cock claimed his ass.

  “Neculai,” Dragos managed to moan between gasps for air and dueling tongues.

  “Mine,” Neculai growled, his hips snapping forward with more force, pushing Dragos up on the bed. “Get back here.” Grabbing Dragos’ hips he pulled him back toward him.[AS2] Using his new grip, he held Dragos in place as he thrust deeply into him.

  “Oh god. Oh god. Oh god,” Dragos cried, his head falling back. “Neculai. Coming.”

  “Do it,” Neculai ordered, his hips snapping faster. He was so close. He wanted to watch as Dragos came undone in his arms.

  “Neculai!” Dragos screamed, cum bathing his stomach and chest as he came. Neculai growled at the sight, his own release following right behind his mate’s. He thrust two more times before stilling, his cock buried deep in Dragos’ channel as he released inside him. “Mm, I can feel you.”

  “Damn it,” Neculai fell to Dragos’ chest, his arms wrapping around him. “I don’t want to let you go.”

  Dragos laughed, his own arms circling around Neculai and cradling him gently. “Unfortunately, I have a sick bastard to catch. Besides, your mother will be here shortly to watch over you while I’m at work.”

  God, Neculai did not need the reminder that his mom was coming. The last thing he wanted to think about while still balls deep in his mate’s ass were his parents.

  “I need a shower now,” Dragos complained.

  “Let’s take one together,” Neculai perked up at the thought of getting to see Dragos dripping wet.

  “No,” Dragos gave him a hard glare as he gently pushed Neculai off of him. “If you need to wash up, it’ll be in a bath. You aren’t to get those stiches wet.”

  “Then, we can take a bath together,” Neculai suggested. His tub was big enough to handle them both.

  Dragos shook his head as he started collecting his clothes. “I’ll take a shower. Now, where is your bathroom?”

  Wanting to pout, Neculai pointed down the hall and gently flopped back on his bed. He understood Dragos was just being caring, but damn it! He wanted to spend this time curled up with his mate, not recovering.

  * * * *

  Dragos stepped into his office with a heavy conscious. He knew he wasn’t being fair to Neculai when he left him, but he needed to find this guy. The man had dared to attack an officer in broad daylight. There was no telling what he would do to a regular citizen. If it wasn’t for the fact he needed to do his job, Dragos wouldn’t leave Neculai’s side for anything.

  “Hey,” Rozalia nodded in his direction as he took his seat. “You sure you should be here?”

  “Yeah,” Dragos picked up the file sitting on his desk. “I want to get this guy.”

  “We all do,” Rozalia reassured him. “That’s the information we got out of Max Othello, including the name of the owner of the Naked Blonde.”

  Terrance Perry. It didn’t exactly scream psychotic whack-job, but then again, if this job had taught Dragos anything, it was that the most normal appearing people tended to be the most twisted. Flipping the page, he read up on the details they did have on this Terrance. He was half angle and half demon, meaning he immediately moved up to first on their suspect list as far as Dragos was concerned.
He was thirty-seven years old. A college graduate with a major in business. No wife or kids. Just your everyday wealthy, club owning bachelor.

  Minus the part where he most likely used magic to kill women and then cut their hearts out after branding them.

  “The guys down in tech are working on getting the video from the van now,” Rozalia said. “We also still need to get a sketch from Neculai on his attacker.”

  “If the video shows his face it won’t be important,” Dragos reminded her, setting the file down. “Have we heard anything from the guys in forensics?”

  Rozalia shook her head as she reached for her coffee. She took a long drink before saying, “They promised to have something by this afternoon.”

  “Then why don’t we check out this Terrance’s address?” Dragos suggested, tapping the file. The man had a small condo in District Two. The high rise buildings were well known for catering to the wealthier residents of this city. Of course, the security would mean Dragos and Rozalia would need a warrant to get in. “Do we have enough to get a warrant?”

  “Right here,” Rozalia smiled and pulled out an envelope with the justice department’s seal on it. “As soon as I had a name and address I contacted the judge.”

  Which meant she’d been working late and came in early to get all of this done. Dragos felt a bit guilty for not coming in yesterday to help her, but there was just no way he could leave Neculai in that hospital alone. Sure, he had his parents, but Dragos was his mate. He needed to be there with him.

  “Iliescu!” The captain bellowed before looking into his office. “I want to speak with you, now!”

  Sighing, Dragos followed the old wolf back to his own office and stood rigid once the door closed. He knew what was coming. No way he was going to avoid talking about the relationship between him and Neculai.

  Captain Archer’s office was fairly basic, windows with plastic blinds over them. Pictures of his academy days, along with several group photos taken throughout the years of the teams here at HQ, hung on the wall. On his desk sat framed photos of his wife and kids, and their kids. Awards, commemorations, and newspaper clippings also decorated the walls. Then there was the bookcase lined with law books, more newspapers and magazines, and trophies from intercity sports competitions.

  “Let’s cut to the chase, how long have you and Petron been seeing each other?”

  “Less than a week,” Dragos answered honestly.

  Captain Archer looked stunned as he glared at Dragos across his desk. “This isn’t a fucking joke, Iliescu.”

  “I don’t take it as such,” Dragos kept his voice steady. “But it is the truth.”

  “You’re telling me, that in less than a week you and Petron not only started a relationship, but also decided to mate each other? Are you fucking insane?”

  “It was an accident, sir,” Dragos wasn’t going to lie. “What’s done is done though, and I can’t say I regret it at this time.”

  “Jesus, fuck.” His captain sat down with a heavy sigh. “I’m not going to press for the specifics, but I am going to require you and Neculai file the appropriate paperwork considering your new relationship status. Also, I should by all rights be taking you off this case. Especially now that Neculai’s been attacked by our number one suspect.”

  “Sir!” Dragos snapped. “With all due respect, fuck that. Rozalia and I are this close to catching this guy. Don’t take that from me. From us!”

  The stern look in Captain Archer’s eyes had Dragos stepping back a bit. “I’m aware of what this means to you now and because of that I’m going to ignore my better judgement. Once this case is over I want that paperwork filed. Now, go catch that bastard.”

  “Yes, Captain,” Dragos grinned and turned to leave his office.

  “Dragos,” his captain’s voice halted his exit, especially the gentler tone it had taken. “I’m glad you’re happy.”

  “Thank you,” Dragos whispered. He knew he’d heard him. Reaching for the door knob, he turned it and let himself out. Going right back to his office, he found Rozalia looking at several pictures. “What you got?”

  “Here,” Rozalia handed him the photos and Dragos’ stomach dropped out before twisting painfully. They were stills taken from the security cameras on the evidence van. The man standing in front of Neculai was Terrance Perry, no doubt about it, except he looked sick. He was far skinnier and his eyes were hollow.

  “I think we have more than enough to move against him,” she said flipping the page. The new photo showed Terrance removing the hearts from the van.

  Dragos growled and tossed the pictures to his desk. Grabbing his jacket and weapon he headed for the door. “Let’s go.”

  Chapter Ten

  Dragos stood opposite from Rozalia outside the door to Terrance Perry’s condo. Both of them had their guns drawn. Neither of them were going to take any chances with this arrest. According to the man at the door, Mr. Perry hadn’t come down this morning, and he didn’t leave yesterday, either.

  Dragos had taken the opportunity to flash one of the photos of the victims, the first one, and asked if the man recognized her. He’d shaken his head and said no, but she did look similar to a woman that had accompanied Mr. Perry in the past.

  It wasn’t unusual for people to snap after losing a loved one, targeting those that reminded them of that person. Dragos had tried asking what happened to that woman, but the doorman didn’t know. He just said she stop showing up. Part of Dragos wondered if there was one more body out there they didn’t know about. Perhaps Terrance Perry had started his killing spree off with this unknown woman?

  Rozalia caught his eye, and signaled that she would enter first. Dragos nodded, and knocked on the door.

  “Police, open the door,” Rozalia instructed. After several moments of silence, she shouted, “We have a search warrant. Open the door or we’re coming in.”

  Again, nothing.

  Dragos moved to face the door and with a firm kick threw it off its hinges and right into the posh living room within. Rozalia entered first, ducking in beneath Dragos, and instantly searched the room as he took up her flank. There was no one in sight, but the condo reeked of the stench of blood and decay.

  Moving into the kitchen, Dragos winced at the sight of blood dripping from the fridge. Against his better judgement, he opened the door and felt his stomach heave at the sight of all five jars sitting within. One was on its side, the seal having come undone and its contents leaking out. That accounted for the stench, and the blood.

  “Dragos,” Rozalia called from the hall. Going to his partner’s side, Dragos looked over her shoulder and into the open bedroom. There, on the bed, was Terrance Perry. He seemed to be suffering, gasping for air, and shaking uncontrollably. Vomit was crusted on the bed spread beneath him. “I’ll call the paramedics, though the bastard deserves whatever is coming to him.”

  Weapon still at the ready, Dragos moved into the room and glanced around. This room was pristine, just like the living room had been. Terrance himself looked like he hadn’t taken a shower in days. His clothes were rumpled and stained. He also smelled like vomit and piss. What the hell was wrong with the guy? It almost seemed like he was going through withdrawals. Dragos quickly checked for track marks, or any other indications of drug use. He found none.

  “Heart.” The man’s weak voice had Dragos stepping back, instantly pointing his weapon at the man. “I want her heart.” Tears streaked down Terrance’s face as he mumbled in his sleep. God, this man was sick. Dragos felt revulsion rise in his gut as he heard Rozalia return with the paramedics.

  Stepping aside so they could do their job, Dragos looked around the room. Several photos of Terrance with a young woman sat on his dresser. Long, flowing blond hair, blue eyes, and a petite figure put her right in the same category as his victims.

  “Rozalia,” Dragos called her over, pointing at the pictures on the dresser. They looked happy, maybe even in love.

  “I’ll see if we can identify her,” Rozalia si
ghed, snapping a picture of the woman’s face and sending it to someone back at HQ.

  Dragos went to the closet and started looking for any signs that a woman lived there with Terrance. He found nothing. Not even so much as a makeup brush.

  “It’s magic addiction,” one of the paramedics said, walking over to Dragos and Rozalia. “I don’t know what type of magic he’s been using, but it’s taken a hold of him and he’s going through withdrawals.”

  “Thanks,” Rozalia nodded. “Get him in a detox chamber. We’ll have some questions for our junkie once he’s more lucid.”

  The paramedic nodded and helped his partner load Terrance onto a stretcher and removed him from the condo.

  Dragos returned to the kitchen and started bagging the jars of hearts in the fridge. With Neculai out of commission they’d have to wait for a replacement to be decided on before someone arrived to check the scene. Something told Dragos that it didn’t matter who they got, they weren’t going to find much here. Terrance didn’t seem to use this space for more than a sleeping pad. There was no food in the fridge, a good thing in Dragos’ opinion, and the freezer was likewise empty. A quick glance into the cupboards and pantries showed next to nothing. The basic dishes were present, but that was it. Each dish also had a layer of dust on them.

  “You know, I’ve been in crack houses that were less creepy,” Rozalia said coming into the living room. “This is like a really big cell.”

  “Maybe that’s what he wanted?” Dragos suggested.

  “Yeah, maybe,” Rozalia shrugged, moving over to the laptop sitting on the coffee table. “Hey, come here.”

  Closing the last cupboard, Dragos walked over to his partner. He sighed as he looked at the individual files, each only identified by a number, that Rozalia opened. Each one was of the victims, before and after he’d killed them. There were even videos of the women.

  “Seems he stalked them before killing them,” Rozalia said. “And look,” she pulled up a batch of videos where Terrance had photo-shopped himself into the women’s lives. “You think that girl in the photo was his next intended victim?”