by Alexx Andria
Where did Dex shop? The Army Supply store?
If Dex survived on a steady diet of these calorie bricks, it was a wonder he wasn’t four hundred pounds.
But Dex looked like a fitness model.
A deadly fitness model, that is.
There were worse ways to lose your virginity than being with a hot assassin who was built like a Roman god.
And for being a cold-blooded murderer, he was surprisingly interested in knowing what made me squirm.
Not that I had a whole lot of experience with men or killers in general but I always heard my female coworkers complaining about their sex lives, about how their partners just wanted to jackhammer them to death and then call it a night.
Dex was nothing like that.
I think if I’d let him, he’d happily camp out in my pants.
He seemed genuinely turned on by my taste.
A flush heated my cheeks as a small smile tugged at my lips.
Okay, what could I say? That was hot.
I grabbed a granola bar that was probably a hundred years old and wolfed it down.
Yep. A bit stale.
I sucked the remaining granola from my teeth, my gaze wandering the small house.
It was a lot like the first house — small, easy to defend — one story.
Fully furnished by someone in the ’70s and never updated.
I couldn’t even say it was charming without grimacing.
I’d never considered myself a snob but maybe being unwittingly surrounded by wealth had affected me in ways that were only just now surfacing.
Even my apartment, though small and cramped, was still boho-chic.
God, I felt like such an idiot for never questioning a single oddity in my life.
“Mom, you could’ve done me a solid and told me the truth about who I am, at the very least,” I muttered to the empty kitchen. “Maybe then, I’d know who was trying to kill me.”
I needed to relax and just let my brain shut down before I went insane.
Unlike the last house, this place had one feature that was worth the hassle of driving to the middle of nowhere.
An ivory clawfoot tub.
Everything else in this place was shit except for that tub.
If there was some way I could bring it with me, I would.
But seeing as that wasn’t possible, I was going to soak in it until my fingers pruned up and I looked like an old lady.
With a plan in place, I headed straight for the bathroom.
I quickly swished the dust out of the massive old tub and then, began filling it with tepid water.
I would’ve rather enjoyed a hot bath but seeing as it was summertime and already becoming sticky hot in the small house, a tepid bath was the only option.
I doubted I’d find anything resembling bubble bath but I looked anyway.
As expected, nothing but a roll of toilet paper remained under the sink.
Dex wasn’t big on toiletries, it seemed.
Oh well, I’d just have to make due.
Once the tub was filled, I stripped and gleefully sank into the water, sighing on pure bliss as the water lapped my chest and rose up to my neck.
I used a rolled up towel to cushion the back of my neck and then I closed my eyes, ready to just let the water take all my tension.
Someday, I will have a tub just like this, I promised.
But I won’t forget the bubble bath.
And pretty much that’s how I fell asleep and almost drowned.
21
DEX
It was late afternoon by the time I returned to the house. I put away the groceries and headed for the living room, expecting to see Bree conked out on the sofa.
Contrary to what she believed, I knew she hadn’t slept well last night.
I felt every fidget, every toss, every barely restrained sigh.
I was just better at pretending than she was.
“Bree?” I called out when the living room was empty, her magazine tossed aside.
The silence in the house spiked a sense of unease as I quickly checked the room, ending with the bathroom.
I jerked open the door and found Bree in the bathtub.
Underwater.
Holy fuck!
I didn’t stop to think, just reacted.
I pulled her from the water and immediately started CPR, followed by mouth-to-mouth.
I must’ve had luck on my side.
Within seconds, she sputtered to life, coughing up water.
“Good girl,” I encouraged her softly as she cleared her lungs, sucking for air. After a good five minutes of hacking and coughing, she seemed able to breathe without choking.
Now that I knew she was safe I wanted to shake her head off her shoulders.
“What the hell happened?” I asked, carrying her to the bedroom in spite of her weak protests. “Are you trying to kill yourself?”
She shook her wet head. “I fell asleep,” she said, her voice raspy. “I’m must’ve been more tired than I realized. I never knew you could actually drown in a tub as an adult.”
The urge to laugh at her ridiculous statement warred with my need to hold her close and tight.
“You’re an idiot,” I said, brushing a kiss across the top of her head. “Yes, you can drown in a bucket of water, much less a full tub. If you were that tired, you shouldn’t have gotten in the bath.”
She had the wherewithal to scowl, which I took as a good sign. “Thank you, Captain Obvious. I think I’ve figured that part out now.”
I chuckled and went to grab her a towel.
“I was thinking that I might want a tub like that someday but now, I’m rethinking that decision,” Bree said, smiling between residual coughing fits. “Ugh, did I drown? I mean, like seriously?”
“Luck was on our side. You must’ve just went under when I got back. Another minute or so...I don’t think I would’ve been able to revive you. As it is, you might have lung damage. I think we should chance a trip to the ER.”
“The hospital? No, I’m fine,” she protested, shaking her head. “I’m not going to take the risk that someone might find us again over a paper trail. No, I’m good. Just give me a minute to dry out.”
I smiled at Bree’s plucky spirit. She was stronger than she looked but I wasn’t about to take chances. “If you’re still coughing like that in a few minutes, I’m taking you in.”
Bree was too sapped to argue — point in my favor — but she looked like an adorably wet cat.
A naked wet cat, I might add.
My gaze went unerringly to that sweet thatch of dark hair that called me to like a siren.
I jerked my attention away, trying to stay focused.
Bree caught the trajectory of my gaze in spite of my attempt to cover.
“Can you hand me my clothes?” she asked.
I scooped up her discarded clothing and thrust it at her, not trusting my ability to simply hand it to her or help her.
“I bought you some of that organic stuff you like,” I said, looking away while she dressed.
“Thank you,” she said. “I got desperate and ate a granola bar that may have been left over from the 1800s. I nearly broke a tooth.” A moment later she announced, “You can turn around now. I’m decent.”
I tried to hide my disappointment. I much preferred her naked.
But we had business to talk about. I wasn’t looking forward to dropping this bomb on her but bad news didn’t get any better the longer you waited to share it so I just laid it out there.
“My contact gave me a lead.”
“Yeah?” She perked up. “What is it?”
I steeled myself for tears or disbelief. “Your real name.”
She blinked. “Which is?”
Very little reaction. I didn’t know if I should be worried or relieved. “Your name was Caroline Burke before it was changed to Breezy Grace.”
She wrinkled her nose, much the same as I had. “I don’t look like a Caroline.”
“That’s what I sa
id,” I admitted. “As kooky as it sounds, I think you look like a Bree to me.”
“Well, I’m not changing my name back to Caroline,” she decided with a frown. “I always wished for a different name but now that I have one...I don’t like it. I think I’ll stick with Breezy.”
“You don’t have to change your name. Legally, you are Breezy Grace. But the bigger question is...why did your mom change your names?”
“If she had our names changed, won’t there be a court record somewhere?” she asked.
I nodded. “But we’d need access to a government level database if we don’t know which state and county recorded the change.”
“Do you have friends who might be able to hack into a database of that sort?”
A slow smile formed on my lips. “I like the way you think. And yeah, I think I know someone who might be able to hack in.”
Bree answered with a smile of her own. “Then get to making those calls. I want to know what the hell is going on.”
“How about food first?” I suggested, taking note that she seemed fine after her ordeal but I was still wavering on whether or not to take her to the hospital.
“I could eat,” Bree said, moving slowly off the bed, rubbing her chest with a wince. “Man, I’m going to be sore tomorrow, aren’t I?”
“Probably. Chest compressions are a bitch.”
“Speaking from experience?”
I grinned but left the answer a mystery.
22
BREE
Dex had saved my life again.
I couldn’t bring myself to continue to be a bitch when he’d just pumped the water from my lungs so I allowed myself to relax, at least for the night.
To be fair, I really had been super tired.
I mean, yeah, I guess I never really paid much attention to the warnings about falling asleep in a bathtub but I would from now on.
Dex, ever full of surprises that man, was pretty good on the grill.
“Why do you eat those disgusting prepackaged meals when you can do this?” I asked, savoring a mouthful of grilled chicken that practically melted in my mouth. “Good God, this is delicious.”
He smiled, accepting the gushing compliment with only a hint of bashfulness, which I found incredibly hot. “Well, when you’re a life-long bachelor, you have to learn a few things or you’ll starve.”
I wasn’t much of a chef in the kitchen but I knew how to make a few staples. Most times I just ate fresh fruits and vegetables.
Actually, I was a terrible eater. I tried to eat healthy — I prided myself on avoiding processed foods and soda — but I was not so great about eating regularly.
Sometimes I ate chocolate and a can of mixed nuts all day because I was too busy to find something better.
Not that I had a great role model. My mom hadn’t really cared about such mundane matters as her daughter’s health and well-being.
“Caroline Burke,” I murmured, mostly to myself. “The name means nothing to me. Where do I come from, if not New York?”
“That’s what we’ll find out.”
“How many safe houses do you have?” I asked, curious. “One in every state?”
He shook his head and wiped his mouth. “Not quite but enough. Real estate is a good investment.”
“Yeah, if you’re planning to rent it out, not rig it to blow if it’s been compromised,” I reminded him wryly. “You just blew up your last house and there’s no coming back from that decision.”
He shrugged. “It hadn’t cost me much.”
“Are you rich?” I asked point-blank. He had to be, right? I assumed murder was a big money game.
“I won’t starve anytime soon.”
“Are we talking Rockefeller or Survivor winner after taxes type of money?”
“I’ve never watched Survivor so...”
“The winner gets a million but after taxes I assume it’s probably half of that.”
“Is there somewhere in between?” he joked.
I laughed, enjoying how the skin crinkled around the corners of his eyes when he relaxed enough to actually smile.
“Okay, so you’re padded well for retirement,” I assumed and he nodded. “Next question...how does a killer retire? I mean, doesn’t the very nature of the profession put you at risk if you try to get out of the game? I’ve seen quite a few movies where that’s been the case.”
“Real life is rarely like the movies.”
“I know that,” I sniffed, feeling naive. “But still...it’s not like a regular retirement where you get a pension and a gold watch for your service.”
“True.”
“So...back to my original question, how do you retire?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t retired yet.”
“Do you want to retire anytime soon?”
“Not really.”
It was an honest answer. Not sure if I’d been hoping for something different. Maybe something along the lines of, “Since meeting you, I’ve decided to give up my evil ways and become a family man” but I certainly hadn’t wanted to hear that he had no plans to give it up in the near future.
“Don’t you worry about karma kicking you in the ass at some point?”
“I don’t believe in karma.”
“Well, you should.”
“And why is that?”
Because there had to be something that had the power to make him realize the error of his ways. Yeah, couldn’t say that and expect him to remain straight-faced. I floundered. “I don’t know. Because you shouldn’t enjoy killing people for money?”
“Who said I enjoyed it?”
I looked up. “You don’t?”
“I doubt the farmer enjoys slaughtering the cow but the job has to be done so people can eat. Some people are more suited to doing the dirty work than others.”
“People are not cows and that statement makes me want to become a vegetarian.” He glanced pointedly at my near-empty plate and I had to admit, giving up meat might be a stretch. “All I’m saying is, what you do is cruel and I hardly think it’s a necessary evil to sustain the human race.”
All brevity faded from his expression and I knew I’d pushed too hard. He rose and cleared his and my spot, going to the sink to start washing the dishes.
Way to go, Bree. I seemed to have a knack for sticking my foot squarely in my mouth.
“I’m sorry,” I said, joining him at the sink. “I shouldn’t judge. I just can’t quite help myself. I don’t understand how you could willingly kill people for money.”
“Like I said, some people can stomach a job others couldn’t.”
“Are they all bad people?” I asked, hoping for something I could grab onto. “I mean, like, are you killing people who have done terrible things to other people and are being punished for their crimes?”
“I’m not a vigilante,” he said. “Don’t make me into a hero that I’m not.”
Frustrated, I said, “Can you please tell me something nice about yourself so I can, at least, sleep beside you tonight and not worry myself to death over the fact that I’m potentially sleeping next to a psychopath?”
Dex cast a sidewise glance toward me that caused shivers to dance down my spine. “Baby girl, I’ve never pretended to be a good man but I can promise you this, no harm will ever come to you by my hand. Do you understand?”
All the spit dried in my mouth at his declaration.
It was the most romantic thing anyone had ever said to me.
Even if it was fucked-up as all hell.
“Promise?” I breathed, my mouth opening ever so slightly as my tongue darted to wet my bottom lip.
Dex gripped my chin lightly with damp fingers. “And hope to die,” he murmured before sealing his mouth to mine in a searing kiss that made me forget all the reasons why I said I wasn’t going to sleep with him again.
I melted quickly as he held me tight, his tongue dancing on mine, teasing, demanding.
I would never, in a million lifetimes, forget the feel of b
eing at Dex’s mercy.
How sensual his touch.
How carnal his desire.
How utterly consuming.
This was why people throughout history tanked careers, ruined lives, took risks just to immerse themselves in this kind of primal joy.
Dex created more than sparks of lust — he ignited forest fires.
And there was no fighting a blaze that hot, that hungry.
How could I be expected to win against a man who knew every play, every move designed to defeat any defense I might’ve had?
The simple answer — I couldn’t.
My own body betrayed me as I panted, kicking off my jeans, shimmying out of my panties.
My pelvis ached with the need to feel Dex inside me.
Within seconds, Dex’s cock was out, hard and rigid, and I was bent over the counter.
But as I anticipated that breach, that delicious invasion...I was shocked by Dex parting my cheeks, rubbing at my starfish.
I yelped in protest, embarrassed, but Dex had that feral look in his eyes that both terrified and turned me on.
“I want to taste every part of you,” he said, his finger sliding between my folds, slicking my tender skin with my own juices.
Dex knew just how to work me, to get me to agree to anything. I was a twisting, yowling cat in heat in minutes, begging him to do whatever he wanted with me.
He parted me again and this time, his tongue circled and teased the inner ring of my behind and I nearly buckled.
His tongue penetrated my ass as his fingers gripped both cheeks, squeezing as if he couldn’t get enough.
The pleasure outweighed the embarrassed heat climbing my neck. As with all things sexual, Dex knew exactly how to keep me on my toes, almost willingly spreading myself further to feel his tongue burrowing more deeply inside me.
The wild sensations teasing my nerve endings made my clit ache with the need for release but Dex wasn’t finished with me yet.
I begged.
I cried.
I gasped, clutching at the countertop as he fingered my ass, pushing a digit further in, testing how tight I was.
Bending over me, his body covering mine, he whispered in my ear, “I promise you, one of these days I will stick a pretty little plug in your ass and then fuck you until you cry, baby girl.”