by Zara Chase
“Well,” Reynolds said, facing Riley and crossing his arms over his chest. “I guess that’s a dead end, but then we both knew it would be, didn’t we?”
Riley spread his hands and grinned. “Damn, you’re good.”
“Now we’ve got that out the way, perhaps you’d do me the courtesy of telling me why you’re really here.”
Riley hesitated, but only briefly. If the answers were here he’d never find them without Reynolds’ cooperation. “We don’t think the major’s accident was actually an accident,” he said succinctly.
Reynolds merely nodded. “That doesn’t surprise me. A canny man like the major was never going to get in the way of a speeding car. What I don’t understand is why you think it has anything to do with this place.”
“I don’t. I think it far more likely that he found something he wasn’t supposed to in his new job and it cost him his life. Army CIDC told Maddie McGuire that it was definitely an accident but have been sniffing around since my partner and I arrived, which kinda confirms that it wasn’t.”
“I’d say so.” Reynolds looked ready to commit a few murders of his own. “How can we help?”
“Did the major spend more time with one person here rather than another?”
Reynolds thought about it for a moment or two. “No, I’m sorry, I can’t say that he did. People come and go all the time, you see.”
“Did he fall out with anyone?”
“Again, not so far as I know. Everyone liked and respected him.”
Riley was neither surprised nor discouraged by his lack of results. If it was something obvious, it would have come to light before now, and he was used to delving in the dark, waiting for things to emerge. He followed Reynolds outside to a relatively small, immaculately kept garden. Several men were working in it.
“The major enjoyed this little oasis.”
“The men working here, are they regular employees or residents?”
“Two residents,” he replied, pointing out the men in question. “And one employee.”
“Can I meet the employee? If the major spent time out here, it’s just possible that he might have seen or heard something of interest.”
“By all means.” Reynolds waved to a man trimming the edges of the lawn. “Pearson, over here a moment.”
A large middle-aged man looked up, acknowledged Reynolds’s signal, put down his shears, and walked toward them. As Riley watched him approach he experienced a strong tingling sensation down his spine. He had a feeling he knew who this man was. Reynolds introduced Riley as a friend of the major’s and Pearson as an Afghanistan veteran, invalided out of the army. Riley noticed then that Pearson was missing three fingers on one hand and had a scar running down the whole of one side of his face, possibly explaining the presence of a ball cap pulled low over his eyes.
“Well, I must be getting on,” Reynolds said. “I’ll leave you two to chat.”
Both men watched Reynolds go. Only when he’d disappeared inside the building did Riley turn on Pearson with a violent scowl on his face.
“Why were you following Miss McGuire and frightening her half out of her life?” he demanded to know.
* * * *
Maddie’s body continued to spasm long after he’d sucked the orgasm from her. She balanced completely still, hands bound above her head, and smiled her defiance. She obviously expected a punishment for coming without Axel’s permission. And so she should, but the uninhibited way in which she’d let herself go had blown Axel’s mind and it was beyond him to chastise her for it.
“You taste gorgeous,” he said, kissing her so she could taste her own juices still on his lips.
Maddie was sex on stilts—one of the most sensuous women they’d ever come across—and what it had taken for Riley to come alive again. Finally. Axel had thought that they’d have some fun for a while, just as they always did when they found a woman worth sharing, and then move on. Before he’d even fucked her, he was starting to amend that opinion. Perhaps, just perhaps, Maddie was a keeper. Axel shook his head. No, he and Riley didn’t do permanent relationships. Besides, the life they led meant they made a lot of enemies, for whom Maddie would become an easy target. No way were they going to place her in danger. Anyway, she was a career girl, with her life and work in New York.
Axel’s cock throbbed a painful reminder that it was being neglected. He grabbed a condom from his wallet, ripped the packet open, and suited up. Never one to rush such important things as fucking, today was going to be an exception to that rule. He placed his hands on Maddie’s ass, lifted her from the floor, and she wrapped her legs around his torso without him having to say a word.
He could hear the uneven tenor of her breathing as his cock slid into her entrance. He stretched her to the limit, sighing as he slammed all the way home. He didn’t introduce himself slowly. He knew she was aroused and more than ready to meet him halfway, so he thrust into her with urgent intent. Her breath was hot against his damp skin as Axel attempted to control the white-hot explosion building inside him.
“That’s it, babe. You’ve got it all now.”
He hammered into her pussy like a man on the brink of losing it. Her breasts—one of which still had a clothespin attached to it—rubbed against the abrasive hairs on his chest, adding to his sensory awareness. Being unable to use her hands, Maddie made athletic use of the muscles in her vagina instead. The little witch closed them about his length each time he plundered her body, holding him captive within her silken fist. He removed one hand from supporting her butt and slapped it hard, clearly taking her by surprise. She gasped, but with Axel still inside her, thrusting hard and deep, she obviously worked through the pain because she stayed right with him.
“How did that feel, darlin’?” he asked. “You like being slapped?”
“Yes,” she replied breathlessly. “The tingling feels hot and vibrant. It’s wild. I like very much.”
He chuckled. “Thought you might say that.”
Axel slapped her butt again and picked up the speed of his thrusting.
“Come on, babe. Let’s do this together.”
“Yes. I’m so fucking close, Axel. This is amazing. Fuck me harder.” She threw her head back, banging it on the wall without appearing to notice. “I’m going to come for you, Axel. Keep fucking me.”
She clamped his throbbing cock within her spasming sheath, causing Axel to almost lose it. He absolutely couldn’t hold back for one second longer. She needed to come again so he could. He slapped her harder than before, hoping it would do the trick. She screamed his name and he knew his desperate gesture had been effective.
“That’s it, babe. Take what you need from me. It’s all for you.”
“I am. I can’t stop coming.” She circled her head, hair falling all over the place as she took her pleasure. “Axel, just keep fucking me.”
“Ride it, darlin’.” He ground his teeth as hard as he ground himself into her, straining to hold back. “I’m gonna come, too.”
He groaned, calling her filthy names as he plundered her cunt. He closed his eyes when his balls pulled together and he shot his load into the condom. Maddie was screaming again, riding yet another orgasm before the aftershock from its predecessor had even faded.
He removed her bonds and the blindfold and carried her back to the couch, cradling her on his lap.
“Let that be a lesson to you,” he said, smiling as he kissed her.
Chapter Ten
Pearson shuffled his feet and fastened his gaze on the ground in front of them, saying nothing. Riley waited him out, certain he was right.
“It’s not safe to talk here,” he mumbled.
“Why not?”
“I get off in half an hour. There’s a bar around the corner called Smith’s. I’ll meet you in there.”
Riley could think of all sorts of reasons why that wouldn’t work, the main one being that the guy obviously knew something, had been following Maddie and almost certainly wouldn’t show. Then Pearson
lifted his gaze from the ground and focused it on Riley’s face. Riley could see naked fear in his eyes and figured this thing—whatever it was—ran deeper than he’d realized. Pearson appeared to be a tough veteran, not easily intimidated, but something had scared the fuck out of him.
“All right,” Riley said, turning away. “I’ll keep a beer cool for you.”
“You do that. I’m gonna need it.”
Pearson went back to work and Riley retraced his steps through the center.
“Did that get you anywhere?” Reynolds asked from behind the reception desk where he appeared to be immersed in paperwork.
“No, but thanks anyway.”
Riley decided to give Pearson the benefit of the doubt and didn’t stake out the center, waiting for him to leave. Presumably there was more than one exit, and he couldn’t cover them all. He left his truck where it was and covered the short distance to the bar on foot. It was now late afternoon, and those getting off work early were already holding up the bar. It was a bit of a dive, cheap and cheerful with dim lighting and a floor that could do with a decent wash. Riley ordered a light beer for himself and a regular one for Pearson. Then he took a seat in a booth that gave him a clear view of the door and sat back to wait.
His cell phone rang. It was Axel, checking up on him.
“How’s it going?” he asked.
Riley chucked. “I might ask you the same question?”
Axel’s dramatic sigh echoed down the line. “She. Is. Superb.”
“No arguments on this end. Anyway, I found the guy who was following her.”
“Good work.”
Riley explained.
“You need me to watch your back?”
“Sounds like you have more interesting backs to watch.”
“She’s sleeping. Poor baby, I wore her out.” Axel chuckled. “She ain’t used to having multiple orgasms, and it’s taken it out of her.”
“Yeah, I got that part. But to answer your question, I’ll be okay here on my own.”
“You sure he’ll show?”
“He’s just walked in now. Gotta go.”
Riley pocketed his phone and waved Pearson over. He pushed himself into the opposite side of the booth and nodded his thanks for the beer. Lifting the bottle to his lips, he downed half of its contents in one swallow, watching Riley the entire time.
“Thirsty work in that garden,” he said when he put the bottle back on the table.
“I’m sure it is.” Riley fixed him with a glare. “Okay, now that we’ve got the pleasantries out the way, you need to tell me why you were stalking Ms. McGuire.”
“Stalking?” Pearson seemed genuinely surprised by the suggestion. “I wasn’t stalking her. I needed to talk to her, that’s all.”
“Ever heard of the telephone?”
Pearson snorted. “Yeah, like that’d be safe.”
“Look, what’s this all about?”
He hesitated. “I’ve no idea who you are. I’ve never seen you before. You could be one of them sent to trick me.”
What the fuck? “I’m ex-military, just like you.”
“How did you know Major McGuire?”
“I served with him. He was fine man and a great soldier.”
“No arguments there.” A little of the tension left Pearson’s shoulders. “Where did you serve?”
“All over. Wherever there was war, I was usually close by.”
“Me, too.”
They shot the breeze for a while, talking about the good old days. Any lingering doubts about Pearson’s character fell away as they exchanged war stories. Pearson was the real deal. It took one to know one. He was a tough guy who was scared, and men who’d seen as much of the ugly side of life as Pearson had didn’t scare easily.
“So what did you need to see Ms. McGuire about?” Riley asked again.
“To warn her she was in danger.”
“What from?”
Pearson finished his beer and attracted the server’s attention. Only when they both had fresh bottles in front of them did Pearson speak.
“I’m all out of options,” he said, spreading the hand with just one finger and a thumb remaining on it. “You tell me you’re here to help Ms. McGuire, which indicates they’ve already tried to get to her, so I guess I can trust you. Fuck it, I need to trust someone.”
“If you have any doubts about me, call Ms. McGuire.” Riley pulled his cell phone from his pocket and laid it on the table between them. “She’ll set you straight. And just so you know, you’re right about phones. The one in her father’s house was bugged. So, too, was the house itself.”
“Shit!” Pearson expelled a long breath, fixing Riley with a steady look as he started to talk. “Okay,” he said, “here’s the deal.”
He spoke in a very low voice, his account succinct yet meticulous. Riley didn’t think there was anything in the world that could surprise him. He’d seen it all, done half of it himself in the defense of his country and had the sleepless nights to prove it. But what Pearson told him shook him to the core.
His beer remained untouched in front of him, condensation trickling down the bottle as he listened to what Pearson had to say.
* * * *
Maddie fell out of the shower she’d shared with Axel. He wrapped her in a large fluffy towel, swept her into his arms, and carried her to her bed.
“Get some rest,” he said, kissing her brow like she was a child. “Who knows what Riley will have to tell us when he gets back? Need to be ready for anything.”
“Stay with me.”
He chuckled. “Baby, that’s the best offer I’ve had since I can’t remember when, but if I did we wouldn’t get much resting done.”
“It’s the middle of the afternoon,” she protested. “Why do I need to rest? I never rest during the day.”
Axel chucked. “You don’t normally do what we just did, or what you did with Riley last night, either. Your body needs time to adjust.”
“But what if Riley needs any help?”
“Riley can take care of himself.”
“That’s what he said about you.”
His eyes sparkled with amusement as he perched one naked buttock on the edge of her bed and playfully tweaked a nipple. “Did that clothespin hurt?”
“Hell no!” She shook her head, grinning like a cat who’d overdosed on a vat of cream. “Who would have thought it?”
“Darlin’, you have no idea what pleasure there is to be had from everyday household items when they’re put to inventive use, but in order to appreciate them you need to—”
“Don’t tell me…rest.”
“Exactly.”
“Talk to me for a while then,” she said, running her fingers down his muscled thigh. “Tell me about the siblings you sacrificed yourself to raise.”
“Quid pro quo, Clarisse,” he said, grinning. “I’ll tell you mine if you’ll tell me yours.”
She laughed. “I have nothing much to tell.”
“Everyone has secrets.”
She glanced away from him. “Not me.”
“Okay then, don’t tell. I like a lady of mystery.”
“You were going to tell me about your siblings.”
He hoisted a brow. “Was I?”
“Do they all look like you?”
“How do I look?”
“Like a surfer dude.”
“Looks can be deceptive.”
“Obviously. There’s a very great deal more to you than a hunky body and a laid-back attitude.”
“Thanks. I think.”
She leaned up on one elbow. “Come on, Axel, I’m curious.”
He sighed. “Okay. I was sixteen and found myself the sole guardian of three bewildered kids who couldn’t figure out what had happened to their mom and dad and looked to me for everything.”
“But you were too young to take on that sort of responsibility.”
“Yeah, and what would have happened if I hadn’t?”
“Well, I suppose you’d all have
been taken into care.”
He shot her a look. “Right. And kept together?”
“Ah, probably not.”
“Exactly. I was all they had, and there was no way I was allowing us to be separated. So, I simply didn’t tell anyone we were alone.”
“How did you manage?”
“Not easily. I graduated high school, worked two jobs, the usual.”
“You didn’t go to college then?”
“Nah, I worked until my youngest sister was out of school, then I enlisted.”
She reached up to touch his face. “You make it all sound so easy, but I know it can’t have been.”
“You do what you have to do. The upside is that both my sisters are now married to decent guys and have families of their own, and my brother…well, he’s gonna make it.”
“What happened to him?”
Axel looked away and was quiet for a while. “He got in with the wrong crowd. Drugs, run-ins with the law. I thought he was okay. He’d finished school and was working as a trainer at a local gym, so I decided I could take my eye off the ball and think about myself.”
“Not before time. What did you do?”
“What I’d always wanted to do. I enlisted. When I came home on my first leave I saw the state my brother was in and ripped him a new one. The idiot was only dealing drugs out of his gym.” He still wouldn’t look at her. “He cleaned up his act but drifted back to the white powder time and again—”
“He wasn’t as strong as you, obviously. I’m guessing not many people are.”
“I always felt that losing our parents affected him the worst. He was a third-grader when Dad left, and he never really got over it.” Axel shook his head. “Anyway, he’s been clean for a couple of years now. He lives with a woman he met in therapy, and they’re strong for each other. Besides, he’s an adult now, and how he chooses to live his life is up to him. There’s nothing more I can do to help him.”
“You’re a good man, Axel Cameron,” Maddie said, moved almost to tears by his casual way of explaining the huge sacrifice he’d made. “I hope you know that.”
“And you need to rest.”
“I haven’t told you mine yet. That was the agreement.”