Servicing the Target

by Cherise Sinclair

  “Feds?”

  At the nasal voice, Ben spotted Anne’s asshole cousin Robert.

  Harrison straightened.

  Scowling, Travis handed the kitten to Anne’s mother. The party was going downhill fast.

  And yet, Anne still sat, cool and composed. There were times he appreciated that Mistress armor of hers.

  “She’s a police force dropout.” Joining his father, Robert asked Galen, “Did she tell you the FBI wanted her? And you believed her?”

  “Actually, my ex-partner at the bureau, Special Agent Buchanan, made the offer and is pretty steamed she turned him down.” Galen had a wolfish grin. “I win.”

  “Don’t know your source of information, boy, but she’s not a dropout,” Dan said. “She quit the force. A lot of us have been trying to get her to return to us, where she belongs.” As Detective Sawyer leaned back in his chair, his jacket fell open enough to allow everyone a good long look at his holstered weapon.

  That silenced the cousin fairly well.

  Ben met Dan’s gaze and saw both amusement—and impatience. The cop had a low tolerance for assholes.

  “Anne,” Matt whined. “You really took a job elsewhere?”

  “Yes.” Anne tilted her head. “Gentlemen,” she said coldly, “if you don’t wish to offer that apology, please remove yourselves from my property.”

  Russell puffed up. “We did—”

  “Actually, you did not. I didn’t hear any phrase containing the words forgive or sorry.” Anne’s father folded his arms over his chest. “My gi—Anne built you the finest team in Florida, and you handed her crew over to your incompetent kid. That showed disrespect to Anne—and wasn’t fair to your agents either.”

  “Uncle Stephan, the guys wanted me. Not her,” Robert yelled.

  “Sure, they did,” Travis said sarcastically. “Two of the wimpy part-timers wanted a male—not particularly you. The rest wanted the person who melded them into a team and who kept them safe. Not the cowardly asshole who botched the last three apprehensions with his grandstanding, who almost got Aaron killed, and who got Michael winged.”

  Anne was on her feet. “Travis, is—”

  She’d gone pale. Damn, she shouldn’t have to deal with this crap. Ben put his arm around her and felt her tremble.

  “He’s okay, sis. They all are. But it only took three times with dumbass here and the men are jumping ship.”

  “The team is yours if you come back, Anne.” Matt directed a stern stare at Robert’s father, who stayed silent.

  “Thank you, but no,” Anne said firmly.

  Ben cheered silently. She didn’t need those fuck-ups. Galen would value her.

  She continued, “I won’t be back. Perhaps if you remove Robert—completely—and make Aaron the team leader, you might keep your agents.”

  Matt’s shoulders slumped. “I understand. We’ll give Aaron the job.”

  “You’ll what?” Robert shouted. “You’ll listen to that cunt?”

  Ben growled.

  Anne’s upraised hand held Ben in place. She frowned. “Ben, did you ever visit the bail bond office to see me?”

  “No. Never been there.”

  When her gaze turned to Robert, the asshole turned white.

  “I couldn’t figure out how the bastards last night got my address,” she said. “But a week ago, someone beat you up. You said it was Ben.”

  Robert took a step back at the menace in Anne’s voice.

  She leaned both hands on the table and fixed him with a cold stare. “I think those guys came into the office, slapped you around, and you told them where I lived. And you never even warned me.”

  “I never…” Robert sputtered, eyes shifting sideways. Every single person on the deck could see his guilt.

  As fury roared through Ben, he moved forward. Paused. It was Anne’s right to tear apart the chickenshit. But damn. “Anne. Please?”

  She smiled and patted her stomach. “Feel free to tend to these little chores for me…for a while. Don’t kill him.”

  “Fuck, I love you.” Ben advanced on the asshole, swung from his hip—and, obediently, pulled his punch. Barely.

  Robert flew halfway across the deck.

  Arms crossed over his chest, Ben waited for dumbass to rise. Instead, he lay there, flat on his back. Eventually he put a hand on his jaw.

  The cheers meant nothing compared to Anne’s soft, “Excellent work, my tiger.”

  “Okay, I want to know something.” Stephan scowled at his daughter, not quite belligerently, but obviously annoyed. “Last night, you yelled at me for expecting Ben to defend you. Said you could do it yourself. So why is it different today?” He waved at Robert.

  “Well, actually, last night I didn’t have any choice as to fighting,” Anne said, “and once I started, I kind of lost my temper. Ben knew I needed to release some anger.”

  Ben shrugged at her father. “Her home. Her toys.”

  “After I calmed down, I realized I shouldn’t have…indulged.” She gave Ben a wry look because when he’d understood how she’d risked herself and the baby, he’d given her hell. “So today Ben got to deal with the problem.”

  With a smile, Ben took her hand, silently letting her know that he was available to deal with all her little problems. Any time. Any place.

  Travis stared. “Since when do you not indulge? You’ve been knocking guys into next week from the time you were ten.”

  Oh yeah? It’d be entertaining to hear some of those stories. Maybe if he gave Travis enough alcohol…

  “My indulging days are over for…oh, another seven months or so. Until after the baby is born.” Anne set her hand on her stomach and smiled.

  As the uproar broke out, she leaned into Ben, fisted his hair, and demonstrated that her indulging would be in a whole different arena.

  With satisfaction, Ben pulled her closer and gave her everything she demanded, knowing his heart and mind and soul were safe in her very capable, loving hands.

  The mission had been a long one and filled with peril, but somehow—some-fucking-how—he had won for himself the love of the Mistress of the Shadowlands.

  Well done, Haugen. Bravo Zulu.

  ~ The End ~

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  by Lexi Blake & M.J. Rose

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  Welcome to 1001 Dark Nights… a collection of novellas that are breathtakingly sexy and magically romantic. Some are paranormal, some are erotic. Each and every one is compelling and page turning.

  Inspired by the exotic tales of The Arabian Nights, 1001 Dark Nights features New York Times and USA Today bestselling authors.

  In the original, Scheherazade desperately attempts to entertain her husband, the King of Persia, with nightly stories so that he will postpone her execution.

  In our versions, month after month, each of our fabulous authors puts a unique spin on the premise and creates a tale that a new Scheherazade tells long into the dark, dark night.

  WICKED WOLF by Carrie Ann Ryan

  A Redwood Pack Novella

  WHEN IRISH EYES ARE HAUNTING by Heather Graham

  A Krewe of Hunters Novella

  EASY WITH YOU by Kristen Proby

  A With Me In Seattle Novella

  MASTER OF FREEDOM by Cherise Sinclair

  A Mountain Masters Novella

  CARESS OF PLEASURE by Julie Kenner

  A Dark Pleasures Novella

  ADORED by Lexi Blake

  A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

  HADES by Larissa Ione

  A Demonica Novella

  RAVAGED by Elisabeth Naughton

  An Eternal Guardians Novella

  D
REAM OF YOU by Jennifer L. Armentrout

  A Wait For You Novella

  STRIPPED DOWN by Lorelei James

  A Blacktop Cowboys ® Novella

  RAGE/KILLIAN by Alexandra Ivy/Laura Wright

  Bayou Heat Novellas

  DRAGON KING by Donna Grant

  A Dark Kings Novella

  PURE WICKED by Shayla Black

  A Wicked Lovers Novella

  HARD AS STEEL by Laura Kaye

  A Hard Ink/Raven Riders Crossover

  STROKE OF MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian

  A Midnight Breed Novella

  ALL HALLOWS EVE by Heather Graham

  A Krewe of Hunters Novella

  KISS THE FLAME by Christopher Rice

  A Desire Exchange Novella

  DARING HER LOVE by Melissa Foster

  A Bradens Novella

  TEASED by Rebecca Zanetti

  A Dark Protectors Novella

  THE PROMISE OF SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  A MacKenzie Family Novella

  FOREVER WICKED by Shayla Black

  A Wicked Lovers Novella

  CRIMSON TWILIGHT by Heather Graham

  A Krewe of Hunters Novella

  CAPTURED IN SURRENDER by Liliana Hart

  A MacKenzie Family Novella

  SILENT BITE: A SCANGUARDS WEDDING by Tina Folsom

  A Scanguards Vampire Novella

  DUNGEON GAMES by Lexi Blake

  A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

  AZAGOTH by Larissa Ione

  A Demonica Novella

  NEED YOU NOW by Lisa Renee Jones

  A Shattered Promises Series Prelude

  SHOW ME, BABY by Cherise Sinclair

  A Masters of the Shadowlands Novella

  ROPED IN by Lorelei James

  A Blacktop Cowboys ® Novella

  TEMPTED BY MIDNIGHT by Lara Adrian

  A Midnight Breed Novella

  THE FLAME by Christopher Rice

  A Desire Exchange Novella

  CARESS OF DARKNESS by Julie Kenner

  A Dark Pleasures Novella

  Also from Evil Eye Concepts:

  TAME ME by J. Kenner

  A Stark International Novella

  THE SURRENDER GATE By Christopher Rice

  A Desire Exchange Novel

  SERVICING THE TARGET By Cherise Sinclair

  A Masters of the Shadowlands Novel

  Bundles:

  BUNDLE ONE

  Includes Forever Wicked by Shayla Black

  Crimson Twilight by Heather Graham

  Captured in Surrender by Liliana Hart

  Silent Bite by Tina Folsom

  BUNDLE TWO

  Includes Dungeon Games by Lexi Blake

  Azagoth by Larissa Ione

  Need You Now by Lisa Renee Jones

  Show My, Baby by Cherise Sinclair

  BUNDLE THREE

  Includes Roped In by Lorelei Jame

  Tempted By Midnight by Lara Adrian

  The Flame by Christopher Rice

  Caress of Darkness by Julie Kenner

  About Cherise Sinclair

  Authors often say their characters argue with them. Unfortunately, since Cherise Sinclair’s heroes are Doms, she never, ever wins.

  A USA Today bestselling author, she’s renowned for writing heart-wrenching romances with laugh-out-loud dialogue, devastating Dominants, and absolutely sizzling sex. And did I mention the BDSM? Her awards include a National Leather Award, Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice nomination, and Best Author of the Year from the Goodreads BDSM group.

  Fledglings having flown the nest, Cherise, her beloved husband, and one fussy feline live in the Pacific Northwest where nothing is cozier than a rainy day spent writing.

  Search out Cherise in the following places:

  Website: http://www.CheriseSinclair.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CheriseSinclairAuthor

  Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2882485.Cherise_Sinclair

  Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/cherisesinclair/

  Sent only on the day of a new release, Cherise’s newsletters contain freebies, excerpts, upcoming events, and articles. Sign up here: http://eepurl.com/bpKan

  If you enjoyed the Shadowlands, you might also enjoy Cherise Sinclair’s Mountain Masters & Dark Haven series. Here is an excerpt from book 1: Master of the Mountain

  Brande at Book Junkie says: “I loved it! Every word, every page, every moment until the end! So that is my review in a nutshell... OK I can do better than that, but seriously a melt your panties right off, intriguing love story that forces you to turn the pages until the wee hours of the night just to get to the end! How about that!”

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Blurb ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  When Rebecca's boyfriend talks her into vacationing at a mountain lodge with his swing club, she quickly learns she's not cut out for playing musical beds. Now she has nowhere to sleep. Logan, the lodge owner, finds her freezing on the porch. After hauling her inside, he warms her in his own bed, and there the experienced Dom discovers that Rebecca might not be a swinger…but she is definitely a submissive.

  ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Excerpt ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

  The sun was high overhead and unseasonably hot by the time the trail descended, leaving the pines behind. He led the group across a grass- and wildflower-filled meadow to the tiny mountain lake, clear and blue and damned cold. Granite slabs poked up through the wildflowers, glimmering in the sun. With yells of delight, people dropped their backpacks and stripped.

  Logan enjoyed the show of bare asses and breasts as the swingers splashed into the water like a herd of lemmings, screaming at the cold. As he leaned on a boulder, he noticed one person still completely dressed with wide eyes and open mouth. The city girl. Considering she and Matt bunked together, Rebecca couldn’t be a virgin, but from her reaction, she was pretty innocent when it came to kink.

  “C’mon, babe,” her boyfriend yelled, already buck naked in the lake. “The water’s great.” Not waiting for her response, he waded out deeper, heading for a blonde who looked as if she had substituted bouncy breasts for cheerleading pom-poms.

  Rebecca glanced from the water to the trail, back to the water, where Matt wrestled with Ashley, and back to the trail again.

  Logan could see the exact moment she decided to leave. He walked over to block her way.

  “Excuse me,” she said politely.

  “No.”

  Red surged into her cheeks, and her eyes narrowed as she glared at him. Red-gold hair. Freckles. Big bones. Looked like she had Irish ancestry and the temper to go with it. Stepping sideways to block her again, Logan tucked his thumbs into his front pockets and waited for the explosion.

  “Listen, Mr. Hunt --”

  “It’s Logan,” he interrupted and tried not to grin as her mouth compressed.

  “Whatever. I’m going back to my cabin. Please move your… Please move.”

  “Sorry, sugar, but no one hikes alone. That’s one safety rule I take seriously.” He glanced at the swingers. “I can’t leave them, and you can’t walk alone, so you’re stuck here.”

  Her eyes closed, and he saw the iron control she exerted over her emotions.

  The Dom in him wondered how quickly he could break through that control to the woman underneath. Tie her up, tease her a bit, and watch her struggle not to give in to her need and… Hell, talk about inappropriate thoughts.

  He pulled in a breath to cool off. No use. It was blistering hot, and not just from his visions of steamy sex. Nothing like global warming in the mountains. He frowned when he noted her damp face and the sweat soaking her long-sleeved, heavy shirt. Not good. The woman needed to get her temperature down.

  At the far end of the meadow, the forest would provide shade. He could send her there to sit and cool off, but she’d be out of sight, and from the obstinate set of that pretty, pink mouth, she’d head right back down the trail in spite of his orders.

  Shoulders straight, chin up, feet planted. Definitely a rebellious one, the ty
pe that brought his dominant nature to the fore. He’d love to give her an order and have her disobey, so he could enjoy the hell out of paddling that soft ass. But she wasn’t his to discipline, more’s the pity, since a woman like this was wasted on that pretty boy.

  And he’d gotten sidetracked.

  With a sigh, he returned to the problem at hand. She needed to stay here where he could keep an eye on her, and she needed to cool off.

  “Even if you don’t strip down completely, at least take some clothes off and wade in the water,” he said. “You’re getting overheated.”

  “Thank you, but I’m fine,” she said stiffly.

  “No, you’re not.” When he stepped closer, he felt the warmth radiating off her body. Being from San Francisco, she wouldn’t be accustomed to the dryness or the heat. “Either strip down, little rebel, or I’ll toss you in with your clothes on.”

  Her mouth dropped open.

  He wouldn’t, would he? Rebecca stared up at the implacable, cold eyes, seeing the man’s utter self-confidence. Definitely not bluffing.

  Well, he could be as stern as he wanted. Damned if she’d take her clothing off and display her chunky, scarred legs. She shook her head, backing away. If she needed to, she’d run.

  Faster than she could blink, he grabbed her arm.

  She tugged and got nowhere. “Listen, you can’t --”

  With one hand, he unbuttoned her heavy shirt, not at all hindered by her efforts to shove his hand away. After a minute, her shirt flapped open, revealing her bra and her pudgy stomach. “Damn you!”