He doesn’t say anything else but walks right out of my home office and a moment later I hear the front door fall shut. Great. Just great. I close my eyes and shake my head. Instantly this woman’s face flashes back in my head. Esmee.
Dirty blonde hair pulled back, green eyes that pin you in place and will take your breath away. The way she was in my face? And I’ve seen women lose their shit when they’re in a confrontation, but this chick? Utter calmness in her voice and body but her eyes held liquid fire while her body vibrated with strength.
This is where the whole bad feeling in my gut comes in because of this woman. I shouldn’t let my feelings interfere with my job; I never have. A groan rips from my body because I might not agree with the way her father’s MC works, my dick couldn’t care less about these details. All it wants is to be buried deep inside her to make her submit. And that might be it, the challenge to take the fire raging inside her.
Yeah, this is going to be one pain in the ass case I’ll be working on the next few months. First, I’m going to need a cold shower. Then I’m going to read the file again and make a plan to shadow her for a few days before I make contact. My chest tightens again and I rub my sternum. This is what I’m talking about, the way my body reacts in all different ways about this woman. But, there’s no choice; I have a job to do.
——————
The following few days are divided in parts where I either research the MC, the bikers in it, or the people surrounding them. All while I follow Esmee’s every move. Which I have to say isn’t very hard to do. From what I’ve found out, she has been inactive due to the report I filed. And like I mentioned to Lex, it complicates things for me since this woman is dynamite and she for sure as shit will blame me—which is her right.
Though it’s also true what Lex mentioned about the two of us bumping heads. She’s fierce and isn’t afraid to put her heart where her mouth is and give you a few punches to the throat to make sure her words are swallowed correctly. I have a complete file about her background. Though, there’s a gap a few years ago of a total of fourteen months where I can’t find anything, as if she was dropped from the planet and bounced right back.
Fourteen months off grid and then she’s suddenly active in a few MMA championships and taking cases just like every biker of Broken Deeds MC. This to me sounds like overseas training, and not the fluffy kind either.
My phone rings and when I check to see who’s calling, I mentally groan and answer. “I know. I’m not avoiding, just busy with work.”
“And yet somehow I’m not accepting it as an excuse. I know you’re home and not out of the country. Make time, everyone does. The barbecue is this Saturday, Cullen,” my mother orders me.
My eyes leave the gym Esmee is in and I rub my eyes. I know very well my mother’s words hold truth; I haven’t been around much lately. “I’ll make time,” I promise.
My mother might be pushing me into coming around more, but she’s right. And it might be just the thing I need; to be around family and friends, and to take a break for a few hours. Besides, I have to eat and the stuff I’ve consumed over the last few days won’t compare to what my parents will organize along with everyone else who will be there.
It also gives me the opportunity to talk to both my mother and my father about my gut feeling. Even if I can’t talk about the case I’m working on, I can talk to my mom about my struggles with it.
The both of them will understand but my mother even more. She used to work for the CIA and was one of the best. Not to mention the fact my grandfather was the former CIA Director. Needless to say where my ambitions came from, right?
I love my job, always have and probably always will, but for the first time I have a bad feeling and it makes me itchy. I can’t put my finger on it but maybe it all has to do with the woman who’s connected to the case. Mainly the way she spikes my blood, and not always in a good way.
“You sound distracted, Cullen,” my mother muses right before someone punches me in the shoulder.
“Didn’t they teach you over at that fancy CIA school how you need to pay attention when you’re stalking?” My gaze slides up and connects with the stunning green eyes of Esmee.
Her dirty blonde hair is in a messy French braid while it was perfect when she slipped inside the gym over an hour ago, so I’m sure it’s a mess due to her workout.
“I’ll have to call you back, Mom,” I mutter.
“Barbeque. This Saturday, Cullen. No excuses.” The hard snap of my mother’s voice is loud and I’m pretty sure Esmee heard it by the way her mouth twitches.
I’m trying to come up with a good reason why I’m here but I’m coming up empty. Frustration is running through my veins along with a truckload of other emotions and again my gut clenches. I knew it was a bad idea taking this case.
Not only is this woman an enigma, but she’s a distraction when it comes to my own skills. And the last part is something I’ve never encountered. Not with any female walking this planet. I’m always able to do my damn job, under any circumstances.
This little internal admittance makes me realize I don’t owe her an explanation whatsoever. I keep staring at her gorgeous eyes and keep my mouth shut. She raises one of her groomed eyebrows and it causes a smirk to slide on my face. If she thinks I’ll submit to her demand, she’s got another thing coming.
A loud whistle from across the street pulls both of our attention to a burly biker who yells, “Are we going to finish this or what?”
“Or what, Ganza? Because if I come back to finish…you won’t be able to get on your bike for days,” Esmee barks back.
Ganza, at twenty-seven years old, had been a prospect of Broken Deeds MC for a year before he was patched in three months ago. He’s a computer expert who also used to dabble in underground fighting. I know, and have read up on, every single biker of Broken Deeds MC.
“Put your fists where your mouth is, Princess,” Ganza snaps and curls his fingers to wave her over with both hands.
I instantly dislike this asshole and from everything I’ve read about Esmee—and seen over these last few days—I’m pretty sure she dislikes the title “Princess.”
Esmee raises her hand, clenches it into a fist and brings it to her mouth to slowly slide it up and down. Ganza releases a full-blown belly laugh before he shakes his head and slips back inside the gym.
“Nice,” I sneer, judging both the blow job gesture and the interaction with the biker along with the yelling from across the street at each other.
Her green eyes flare and I can tell she’s dying to give me a load of attitude back but instead she takes a deep breath and plasters a bright smile on her face.
“Don’t judge what you don’t understand.” Her eyes slide over me and when they land back on my face she says, “Return to your stuffy job, agent.” She steps away and adds over her shoulder, “And don’t forget the barbeque this Saturday.”
My brain must be short-circuiting as I blurt, “You should come with me to make sure I don’t forget.”
What the hell am I thinking? She spins around to face me, and judging from the expression on her face, it’s clear she’s questioning my sanity too.
She narrows her eyes. “Why in the hell would I come to some social gathering with you?”
“Why not?” I fire back.
By now I’m convinced she’s a huge magnet I’m drawn to. As if pieces of me are chipped off and automatically collide with her. Mainly my working brain cells since it’s clear I don’t have any function left because, really…Why not? How is that going to persuade her to spend some time with me so I can gain her trust?
Esmee is in my personal space the next instant, her scent envelopes me. A seductive blend of pineapple, and a hint of vanilla and something that’s all woman. My whole body is on edge due to this sinful, tiny as shit woman with the perfect curvy ass.
Yes, my eyes were admiring it when she was walking away from me. Maybe that’s the reason I invited her over for dinner because
her ass sure is bitable. Shit. I’m in so much trouble.
“I don’t do olive branches when they are coming from a guy who judges without thinking. And if you need me to spell it out for you, listen up.” She inches closer and our noses touch, her hot breath slides over my skin as she says, “I don’t like nor trust you. So, piss off.”
She smells so good and the way her heat and anger flows off of her in waves makes me aware of every damn detail this magnificent woman possesses. In this moment I don’t care about the job or the fact she’s the damn case I’m working on. All I need to know is how her lips feel against mine. The way she tastes, sounds, feels, while I dominate her mouth.
A low rumble rips from my chest, driven by pure lust for the woman who’s caging me in. Her eyes widen a fraction before I see a hint of desire seeping through. We’re stealing each other’s breath while the air around us thickens along with my dick.
Right when I’m a hair away from taking her mouth a harsh voice beside us snaps, “You okay, Princess?”
Without blinking I push Esmee behind me and face Ganza. “She’s more than okay. And if she wasn’t, she’s more than capable of handling herself,” I snap.
“Oh, now you think she’s more than capable when you let your dick do all the talking, huh? How convenient,” Ganza snorts. “Let me enlighten you, pencil-pecker, she’s more skilled than you’ll ever be. But most of all? She’s out of your fucking league.”
Figures. Everything I’ve learned over these last few days rings loudly inside my head. “You should know, wouldn’t you? Seeing she’s surrounded by dicks all the time it might have dulled her senses and make her crave something that doesn’t come attached to a damn bike.” My head turns to Esmee since my words are meant for her seeing she’s the reason I’m here. “I wrote my report about you because it was my personal experience in the matter. If it would have been a normal mission, a fully briefed one up front where you guys were present too, it might not have gone down the way it did. We never would have wasted valuable time exchanging words while being inside. But Broken Deeds MC doesn’t follow rules and regulations. So, yes, I still think you’re damn lucky that baby or more of us were not killed, because the risks you took were irrational.” I snap my mouth shut because I’m about to ramble some more about what she did wrong.
Fuck. Why in the hell did I add the last sentence? I might as well grab a shovel and start to dig myself a hole because I think I just killed my chance to get close to her.
“You don’t know shit, pencil-pecker,” Ganza growls.
Esmee steps in between us. “Ganza, can you get my bag and let my dad know I’ll finish my training with him tomorrow?”
Ganza ignores Esmee and is shooting fire with his eyes and it’s all directed at me. Esmee clears her throat and crosses her arms in front of her chest. The biker’s gaze slides to her and he huffs before he spins on his heels and disappears inside of the gym.
“Cullen Dixon,” Esmee starts as she faces me.
The way she addresses me lets me know she’s putting up a wall between us. It doesn’t matter how we reacted to each other before Ganza interfered. Realizing I have only one shot left, I decide to throw everything in the wind and act on instinct. I close the distance between us and her eyes widen right before my mouth crashes against hers.
Chapter Three
ESMEE
Liquid heat is causing my body to overload with desire and captures me by surprise when firm lips move against mine. The gasp ripping from me allows him to swoop his tongue inside to swirl around mine. The way his body reacts and the rumble flowing through his chest gives me the impression he likes the feel of my pierced tongue.
Instinctively I engage in a dance of dominance. My fingers dig into his blond hair which is already standing on end. The feel of cold bricks hitting my back makes me aware he spun us around while we’re consumed by one another.
A loud thump enters my brain followed by Ganza’s voice. “Your bag, Princess. I’ll be sure to let Pres know the pencil-pecker shoving his tongue down your throat is the reason why you’re missing your training.”
Before I can say something, Cullen’s voice booms through the air. “You address her as Princess and yet your words insult and degrade her.”
Shit. This is going to be bad. I quickly step in between them. Ganza has a short fuse and an explosive temper and Broken Deeds MC has enough issues as it is without Ganza beating the shit out of a CIA agent.
“You will do no such thing, Ganza,” I snap. “My tongue, my business. And if you feel the need to yap about it, my tongue will whip into action and spread some lies to your sister’s friend. You know, the hot redhead you’re crushing on. I’m sure she would like to know about all the action your dick is getting and how many little Ganzas are roaming this planet. Or maybe I’ll add some short dick infection lies along with it. That will crush your hope of getting any action with the redhead.” Ganza’s look turns feral and I know I have him. “Like I said, my tongue, my business, understood?”
“Understood,” Ganza hisses through his teeth.
“I mean it, G,” I sigh and reach out to squeeze his forearm. I lean in and whisper for his ears only, “Let me deal with this mess in my own way, okay?”
Ganza snickers and a pang of guilt hits me to make him think the kiss meant nothing; payback or a setup to wrap Cullen around my finger to do my bidding. And the guilt running through me is due to the lie because that kiss was all-consuming.
I freaking hate that the man who gave it to me was Cullen since the guy is obviously off-limits. Though, I need this lie to get Ganza on my side. We’ve worked together on a few cases and he’s a good friend like all other bikers of my father’s MC.
“Just don’t eat him alive, Princess. You know what a mess you made the last time you said you wanted to deal with something your own way.” Ganza shoots me a wink and walks away.
The corner of my mouth twitches at the reminder and trust. I take a deep breath and face the frustrating man who has been following me for at least two days. The first time I noticed him was pure luck because I couldn’t decide what coffee I wanted and let my gaze wander.
Then I saw him again later that day, and yesterday I only spotted him once. He’s good, though. Well, maybe not good enough since I noticed, and managed to catch him by surprise today. But I guess I got my ass handed to me when he caught me by surprise by kissing me. And what a scorching kiss it was.
Dammit. I need to focus. I have no clue why he’s here but what I do know is the fact he’s the reason I was benched. And the reason why my father—the whole club—is now in the spotlight and under investigation. Cullen is all kinds of problems I need to stay far, far away from.
“I don’t know what you’re doing here and I clearly don’t care. Like I said, stop stalking me because you’re not very good at it, and it won’t result in anything either. Besides, my life isn’t very interesting since your report got me benched. And if this little detail slipped from your mind, let me enlighten you of the fact I think you’re an asshole. A lapdog who follows orders and who can’t think outside of the box. I’ve seen more action than you or any one of your other CIA buddies. You think you can judge me from one moment during a hostage extraction? One where you had your eyes set on me while I had everyone else’s back? Didn’t you feel those bullets hit your vest? Those could have gone through that baby, dipshit. Instead I let you take them because I knew you could due to the vest you were wearing. Or would you rather have had a discussion first? Like how we wasted precious minutes and got distracted? Oh, wait, we did and my best friend was killed.” I take a gulp of air to swallow down both my anger and grief before I snap, “Like I said. Piss off.”
Ugh. Why did I ramble? I wanted to give him a one-liner, grab my bag and walk away. I reach for my bag and barely manage to dodge him as he tries to snatch my wrist. His face contorts to frustration. Join the freaking club, buddy.
“In my experience—” he starts but I cut him off, it’s been too long
of a day already and I didn’t have my favorite coffee because I had to do my training—which was cut short due to his stalking.
“Don’t bother, Cullen. I’ve read the report, and your background. I’m fully aware of your experience. End of the line? Everything happened because our lives crossed. But there’s an easy solution; let’s make sure it doesn’t happen again.” I reach for my bag but the asshole tries to snatch my wrist again.
With my next breath I have him in a tight grip with his cheek plastered against the wall and his arm behind his back. I know very well he can fight me if he wants, but he chooses not to, and I don’t know what pisses me off more; him not fighting back or letting me push him around.
And it makes me snarl, “Stop touching me. Stop trying to talk to me. And stop stalking me.” I give him one last shove and let him go.
I grab my bag and turn my back on him. His voice follows after me when I hear him say, “Barbeque starts at four. I assume you can find out my parents’ address for yourself. If not, I can always pick you up.”
He’s crazy if he thinks I’m going to a barbeque at his parents’ house. My arm goes up in the air and I kindly give him a one finger wave as I head for my bike. I need coffee with a truckload of caramel to lighten my mood and forget about this insane confrontation.
When I finally arrive at my apartment and grab my keys, I decide to enter Sona’s home instead. “Are you decent? Because we need to—” I freeze in place and sputter for a moment to wrap my brain around the visual in front of me, but come up empty.
Sona points a large jelly looking dick in my direction and as it wobbles she says, “This is research, I’m helping an author, he sent me a bunch of stuff. Now, you were saying?”
I step closer and snatch handcuffs off the table to let them dangle in front of her. “And this male author sending you all this stuff doesn’t strike you as creepy at all?”
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