Heated Manipulations

by Aiden Bates

  “If you can?”

  Harper nodded, kissing me again. “If I can, I will.”

  25

  Harper

  “I don’t like this,” Nick grumbled, crossing his arms over the seatbelt that kept him nestled safely in the passenger seat of my Mustang that night. As it was, I was surprised that I hadn’t needed to hog-tie him and sling him over my shoulder to get him in the car. But as tempting as the idea of having Nick Paulson bound, gagged, and at my disposal was, I had to admit that he was taking this better than I’d imagined.

  “I’m sorry, darlin’,” I said, reaching over to pat his knee. “It’s just for a little while.”

  “Eat a dick, Harper.”

  …scratch that. He was taking this exactly like I’d imagined. I was just grateful that he’d agreed to do this for me. For his baby. For himself.

  We pulled into the parking lot of King Private Security to the muffled sound of Latin dance music coming from the building and the yellow-orange glow of the lot’s lights. Gravel crunched beneath the Mustang’s tires as I slowed it to a halt right out front.

  “I don’t like this,” Nick said again, looking up at me with wide, anxious eyes as I opened his door and offered him my hand.

  “I know, darlin’. Ernesto is a laugh, though—and his boys will keep you safer than anyone else in town possibly could.”

  Nick’s eyes narrowed as he took my hand, pulling himself up out of the car. “His boys? I thought you said he didn’t have kids.”

  “Nah. He had an Omega a long while back, but something went sideways. Work-related, I think. I wouldn’t ask him about it if you can help it—he doesn’t like to talk about it much. But the guys he hires, he treats like his own kids in a lot of ways. That’s why Dad felt comfortable selling KPS off to him—the place still has the vibe of a family business.” I chuckled as the music from inside crescendoed with every step we took toward the front door. “Different kind of family, maybe, but a family just the same.”

  Nick smoothed a hand down his stomach. “Yeah, I guess maybe I know a thing or two about that.”

  Inside, Ernesto and two of his men were playing domino. Smoke from a cigar curled up from an ashtray on the center of the table, but as soon as Ernesto caught sight of us he stubbed it out right quick.

  “Old habit,” he apologized, rising and holding his arms out to greet us with a big, warm grin. “I was winning. Good to see you, Harper. And nice to meet you—Nick, is it?”

  “Nick Paulson, Ernesto.” I placed my hand against the small of Nick’s back as I swept him toward the tall, towering Cuban. Ernesto had traded his dapper work suit for casual jeans and a t-shirt, but he still looked formidable as ever. Broad and muscled, like anyone who might want to get to Nick would wet themselves if they realized they had to get through Ernesto first. “Nick, this is Ernesto Alvarez. The man, the legend.”

  “Big man, little legend.” Ernesto winked as he shook Nick’s hand, then mine. “Allow me to welcome you to King Private Security. I’d hug the both of you, but unfortunately the cigar smell can be infectious. ” He glanced down at his golden wristwatch and frowned. “Ah. It’s late. You must be exhausted, Nick. This kind of situation takes a lot out of a man.”

  Nick glanced at me like he wasn’t entirely sure what to say to the man, then shrugged. “I’m… all right. A little tired, but no more than usual.”

  “Harper tells me you’re with child, though. Takes a lot of energy, making a baby.” Ernesto wagged his finger in a fatherly manner, tutting through his teeth.

  Nick couldn’t argue with that. He ran his fingers through his hair, cracking a smile. “Ha—you can say that again. Makes me feel like I’m running a dozen hair dryers off of one fuse.”

  “Let’s get you up to your suite, then,” Ernesto laid a gentle arm across Nick’s shoulders, guiding him away from me. Over his shoulder, he gave me a knowing wink.

  I chuckled as Nick allowed himself to be led in. Trust Ernesto to charm my Omega in under thirty seconds of idle chit-chat.

  My Omega. As Ernesto introduced Nick to the guards that would be hanging out at KPS for the night—Michael Shane and Gabe Russel. Big guys. Good at what they did—I couldn’t help but scratch my head over the way I’d begun to think of Nick. After everything we’d been through together on this case so far, plus the fact that I was living at his house and kissing him like it was going out of style, I supposed it wasn’t so strange that I was starting to think of him in those terms. My Omega, though…that implied a level of ownership that we hadn’t exactly talked about yet. A certain sense of possessiveness that I’d expressly promised Nick would not be the case between us, whether we were fucking or not.

  But the conversation we’d had earlier that afternoon had changed things within me, it seemed. Or, at least, it had unleashed a hell of a lot of feelings that had been just under the surface for a good long while now. Nick wasn’t talking casual anymore. Nick was talking about not wanting to lose me. He’d shed tears over the idea of me getting myself killed.

  He’d asked me to come back to him. And I’d kissed him and told him that I would.

  As I followed Nick and Ernesto up the stairs to the set of rooms Nick would be staying in while I was out of town, I cast a glance back down to Michael and Gabe, a wave of envy rippling through me. God, what I wouldn’t give to be able to send one or both of them off to Atlanta to do my dirty work while I holed up here at KPS with Nick instead.

  Gabe and I went way back—we’d gone to high school together, and he’d always been a bit of an Omega-hound. Too good of a guy to make a move on a single, pregnant Omega trying to hide out from whatever roach-infested reach of the criminal underworld I’d turned over while I kicked around leads, thankfully, so I didn’t have to be worried about that. But too blunt to trust with the kind of slick, careful swaggering around I was going to need to do if I wanted to bust this thing open. I’d never known him to go into any dangerous scenario with any intention other than busting heads.

  Michael, on the other hand, was a little more of a wild card. I knew of him, but I didn’t know him. If Ernesto trusted him enough to watch over Nick while I was away, that was more than enough for me. But I didn’t have enough awareness of his capabilities to task him with carrying out the plan that had been forming in my head ever since Nick and I had put two and two together on this Carter Media thing. The local police would know him as one of Ernesto’s men, which would lose us any element of surprise sending in a new agent might have gained us—and since the Fort Greene police station was my first stop, I didn’t want to throw caution to the wind. Even if it would mean having one more night here in Fort Greene with Nick.

  Which meant—whether I liked it or not—it had to be Ernesto’s men watching over Nick, and me in the line of fire. Was always going to be, I supposed, but this new wave of feelings I was having for Nick had caught me a little by surprise.

  I’d have to sort that when this was over, I guessed. For the time being, Nick had a safe place to stay. That was the important thing.

  “Your rooms, sir,” Ernesto said, opening the suite door and gesturing Nick inward with a flourish. “It’s not much, but you’ll have a comfy bed and a private bath for as long as you need. Food in the fridge downstairs and a kitchen to cook it in, or you can ask either of the boys to run out and grab you something if you prefer. Wi-Fi password on the router in the corner.” Ernesto pointed to the small, flickering lights of a dark little box on top of the wardrobe.

  “It’s perfect, Ernesto. Thank you,” Nick said softly, slumping down onto the bed with a sigh. There was an entire pile of pillows resting up against the headboard and a big flat-screen mounted to the wall across from it. Like a hotel room with a pair of bodyguards attached to it. He’d be comfortable and safe, if nothing else.

  “Any friend of the Kings is a friend of KPS.” Ernesto smiled, drawing backward to rest a hand on my shoulder. “Anything else you think you’ll need up here, Harper?”

  “I think this shoul
d do it,” I said with a pleased nod as I gave the suite a final once-over. “Thanks again for this.”

  “Not a problem, Harper. Why don’t I head back downstairs? Give you and your…friend a moment to get settled in.”

  Ernesto closed the door behind him as he went, shooting me a brief but meaningful look before it clicked in the lock.

  Be good to this one, the look said. I already like him. Good work, kid.

  “So.” Nick leaned back on the bed, looking considerably more relaxed than he had when we pulled up to KPS. “Here I am. Safe and sound.”

  “Here you are,” I agreed, crossing my arms and standing in front of the door in a wide, firm stance.

  “What now, then?” Nick gestured to the room around him. “I just luxuriate in here until you’re done with your John McClane business?”

  I smirked. “It was Dirk Gently earlier.”

  Nick shrugged. “I’ve got personal bodyguards and a private suite now. I feel more like I’m dating an action hero than a bumbling PI.”

  A smile spread across my lips as a blush appeared across Nick’s cheeks, his eyes widening in horror as we both realized what he’d just said.

  “Oh, fuck me. I didn’t mean—I, I mean, I know what this is, Harper, I don’t want you to think—”

  I swaggered toward him, my smile only growing. “Dating, huh? Doesn’t sound very casual, Nick.”

  “Oh, fuck you. I only meant…” Nick’s eyes flickered back and forth across my face for a moment before he turned away in a huff. “You know what I meant.”

  I laughed. “Yeah. Yeah, I know. Still…might be a slip-up worth revisiting. Once I’m back here safe and sound too, you know.”

  “You mean that, or are you just trying to make me blush harder?”

  I tilted my head back, relishing the scowl on Nick’s dark brow and the red that was burning up his cheeks. “Can be both at once, can’t it?”

  “Oh, fuck me,” Nick swore again, collapsing back onto the bed with a frustrated, “Ugh!”

  “Alphas, am I right?” I was still chuckling as I placed myself on the bed next to him, lying back with my feet still on the floor. He looked gorgeous laid out like he was. Dark chocolate hair framing his head like a crown of night. Blue eyes sparkling as he looked me over through the lenses of his glasses, all lit up with life as the blush faded away. “You feel safe here, then?”

  “Two big, burly bodyguards downstairs, Ernesto only a phone call away—and don’t think I didn’t notice the gun safes down behind the desks. Yeah, I think I’ll be all right.”

  “Warming up to this whole idea a little?”

  Nick rolled his eyes. “Not really, but what else can I do? You have your work to do, I’ve got a baby to incubate.”

  I reached over to rest my hand on his stomach. “You’re not just an incubator, Nick. You’re a strong, intelligent, handsome man.”

  “Who just happens to have a baby growing inside him.” Nick’s eyes flashed wickedly. “Handsome, huh?”

  “Incredibly,” I affirmed. “But Ernesto wasn’t kidding when he said that part about this taking a lot of energy out of you, and we’re agreed that keeping you stress-free is a worthwhile endeavor. While you’re here, you can kick your feet up. Watch some television, eat some junk food, drink lots of water and stop worrying for your life for a little while.”

  “It’s not my life I’m worried about,” Nick pointed out, reaching up to run his fingers along my cheek. “It’s yours.”

  I swallowed hard, closing my eyes and enjoying the feel of Nick’s touch. Gentle and loving. The kind of thing I’d sometimes imagined feeling from a husband after coming home from a long stake-out—back when I’d known myself well enough to know that I’d never have one to come home to. Meeting Nick, though…something had changed in me since I’d shown up on his doorstep. He said he’d never met anyone quite like me in his life. I could say the same for him. Maybe, just maybe, after all of this was over…

  I shook my head, blinking my eyes open again to stare into Nick’s blues once more. “You have everything you need here, then? Nothing missing? Nothing left to want?”

  “Mm… Yeah, I think I do.” A little smile crept onto Nick’s lips. “Almost, anyway.”

  I gave a long, measured exhale as he rolled toward me, his mouth moving against mine like a slow dance to an old country song. Lingering, lazy, little pecks in between deeper, more passionate kisses that gradually deepened into something hungrier. Something more.

  “Nick…” I sighed as I forced myself to pull away, brushing my fingers down the back of his neck. “You don’t need to—I’m gonna come back and then—”

  “Shh.” Nick pressed his finger to my lips, shutting me up as he smiled wistfully at me. “I know what you said. But…for me, okay? Just in case.”

  Just in case. It was a possibility that both of us knew existed. One wrong move on my part—or one right move from our enemies—could put an end to me. To us. To the life the universe was dangling in front of my face like a carrot on a stick. These people were killers. What they’d done to Josh had proved that. The idea that maybe they’d get to me too—that this was the last time I’d get to hold Nick in my arms, my last chance to tell him what he meant to me—it stuck me clear through like a knife.

  But even through that pain, I could feel my body aching for him. My cock, suddenly taking up a mind of its own, throbbed against the zipper of my jeans. My heart pounded for him. My mouth watered.

  I needed Nick, and he needed me.

  Just for the night, then.

  Just in case.

  I let him kiss me again. Let his greedy, hungry mouth take me over and show me how he liked it. Soft kisses, slow and passionate as we savored every breath, every movement of our bodies against each other, every taste. Rough, angry kisses—the kind that told me that he hated me for leaving, even if he understood why. Sweet, sultry kisses that revealed exactly how bad he wanted me—in exactly what way.

  I took every one of them, committing them to memory like poetry. Like the words of a prayer as Nick’s body moved on top of mine.

  He straddled me, fingers tearing the bottom of my t-shirt upward so he could rain more kisses down my stomach and chest. Nick kissed every scar he could find with the same kind of patient, loving reverence. The way I imagined pilgrims kissed statues of saints. But as he worked his way lower, his kisses grew more intense.

  A little less religious. A little more…

  “Fuck,” Nick breathed, looking up at me as he unzipped my cock from the confines of my jeans. It was already painfully stiff for him, and as he trailed kisses up and down my shaft, it only grew stiffer. “I know we should do foreplay and all, but…”

  I grabbed him beneath the arms and pulled him up onto me again, forcing his pants down and settling my cock between his ass cheeks. “I know, darlin’. I want you too.”

  “So fucking bad,” Nick moaned, massaging my cock up and down with his ass. “Be inside me, Harper?”

  “Can’t fucking wait.” I pulled him up by his hips, positioning my tip at his already-slick, soaked entrance, then forced him down onto it.

  He let out a high, loud cry—the kind that I had no doubt everyone else in the KPS building could hear just as well as I could. As far as I was concerned, let ‘em. Nick was mine, and the way his ass tightened around the base of my cock as I pressed my entire length deep into his ass was too good to be ashamed of.

  If anything, I was fucking proud.

  Nick rode me hard, his blue eyes locking my greens into an intense, passionate gaze that I only dared to break as we finished tearing each other’s clothes off. The way he looked as he used my cock for his pleasure, bouncing up and down on it with his lips parted, open and trembling, was like something out of a wet dream. I couldn’t keep my hands off of him—especially not his cock. It slapped against my abs, hard and dripping with precum, with every thrust.

  I took it up in my fist, matching his pace perfectly. If he kept it up, he was going to make me
explode inside him—and I didn’t much like the idea of coming alone.

  My balls were tight and full, heavy with so much cum I was sure I was going to fill his ass to the brim. The way he begged me as he bounced on it— “Please, please, please—” only made me want to fill him even more. I wanted Nick’s ass completely coated in me. Wall to wall, painted white with my cum until it was dripping out onto his cheeks, pooling at my pelvis and trickling down my balls as well.

  “Nick—fuck—” I gasped, our gaze finally breaking as his eyes rolled back and a cry left his lips.

  “Please!” he whimpered, fingers curling against my chest in ecstasy. “Harper—please!”

  Just like that, I shot like a cannon. Never could resist a man who looked as good as Nick begging as perfectly as Nick was. As if there was anyone who could look as good as Nick. Could beg so perfectly. He was singular, exceptional. One in a fucking million.

  As I let loose into him, sending cum gushing up from my balls, through my tip and into the deepest reaches of his ass, I tightened my fist around him, using his precum as lube to catch the ridge of his cockhead. Teasing him to the orgasm he so desperately needed as well.

  He let out another cry—even more desperate this time. I watched in awe as his cock twitched beneath my fingers, then shot out over the tops of them. I could only watch for a second, though—his first rope of cum burst out of his swollen, dark pink tip so hard, it hit me in the fucking eyebrow. As I clenched my eyes shut, just as much to keep me from going mad with lust as it was for safety, I felt another rope of it coat my lips and another still on my neck.

  “Mm,” I moaned, sliding my tongue between my lips to taste him. Salty, creamy and sweet. The perfect mix of flavors from the cum of a perfect, perfect man. I’d never tasted anything quite like it before—maybe because I’d never fucked a pregnant Omega before. Something in the pregnancy hormones, maybe. Something to encourage an Alpha like me to keep my Omega pleased and balls-empty through the throes of conception right up until Nick gave birth.