Another Man's Treasure

by Jay, Wendy

  Miranda snapped her head up and looked at Jude as her mouth gaped open.

  “Did you say Hank Castile? Oh my God.” Miranda got off the couch, opened her television cabinet and took out a box of tapes. Turning toward Jude, she handed him the box. Jude’s jaw dropped open as he looked at the tapes.

  “Do you mean these tapes? I think we need to call Ross Guthrie.”

  “Mandy, what the fuck? How did you get these and how do you know Hank Castile?”

  “You’re right Jude, we need to talk.” Miranda walked back into the bac do you kitchen to get more tea and stopped dead in her tracks. Wheeling around, she looked at Jude with her eyes wide. “What did you say to me a few minutes ago?”

  Jude walked over to her. He held her face in his hands and kissed her gently on the lips.

  “I was wondering how long it was going to take you. I love you, Miranda. I always have. And I always will.”

  Chapter 17

  Jude picked Miranda up and walked towards the stairs. Climbing them easily, he only stopped once to kiss her soft lips.

  “Jude shouldn’t we…” He cut her off with another kiss.

  “But, the tapes…shouldn’t we watch them? The information they hold…we can have sex after,” Miranda said as Jude laid her down on the unmade bed. She noticed how dark his eyes got when passion took over, and right now Jude’s eyes were as dark as coal.

  “Oh, Miranda, we are not going to have sex. I am going to make love to you. Sweet, passionate love. We have plenty of time for the tapes, and sex, later. Right now, I want to know how it feels to make love to the only woman I have loved since I was 15 years old. Do you still love me, Mandy?” Jude whispered.

  Miranda sat up and gazed into his dark eyes she kissed him gently and whispered against his lips.

  “Jude, I have never stopped loving you…wanting you…never. I love you.”

  Jude smiled and leaned against Miranda as she wrapped her arms around his neck and lay back down. Jude moved his body over hers, kissed her neck and kissed his way down to her breasts. Her scent was intoxicating, a mix of muskiness and floral. Damn, she enticed his senses without even trying. He rubbed his face against her already stiff nipples, and began to suck on one, then the other. Miranda’s fingers entwined together behind his neck and she moaned with each flick of his tongue. Jude moved her legs apart with his knees, positioned himself over Miranda, and then gazed at her.

  “You are the most beautiful woman I have ever seen, Mandy. I could stare at you forever and feel completely happy.”

  As he slowly pushed his rigid cock into her wetness, Miranda wrapped her legs around his waist, and slowly began to move with his body. Jude was propped up on his forearms so he could get as much body contact as he could. He buried his face in her glorious red hair. He could feel Miranda’s fingernails digging into his back, as she arched her back to meet every thrust.

  “Jude…oh my God, yes…yes…” Miranda moaned as Jude moved a bit faster and deeper with each of her moans. Her body was a perfect fit to his. Every inch of his throbbing cock was inside of her, feeling her clench her muscles tight against him. The smell of sweat and sex filled her nose. Oh mother of God, I can’t get enough of him.

  Several times they were so close and Jude would back off. Jude spoke between ragged breaths, not wanting this to end. He closed his eyes and reveled in the velvety wetness of her pussy.

  “Oh not yet Miranda…not yet baby. This feeling being inside of you can’t end yet. Fuck, I just want to crawl inside your skin.”

  Moving her hands from his back, stroking his shoulders, Miranda ran her fingers through Jude’s hair, pulling his lips to hers. Kissing passionately, their tongues danced together, searching, probing, and tasting each other. Miranda began to whimper slightly as the physical sensations rippled through her, beckoning her closer to climax. Miranda let go of Jude’s waist with her legs and lifted her hips to meet every thrust with vigor. Jude groaned low in his throat, sounding like a primal animal preparing for an attack.

  “Mandy, sweet Jesus, I’m going to explode!”

  “Yes, Jude…oh my God, Jude…please,” Miranda pleaded. Looking into each other’s eyes, they both knew there was no stopping. Jude steadied himself on his hands and thrust two or three times hard into her, yelling her name.

  “Miranda! Yes, baby YES!”

  With his last thrust he could feel his seed explode into her as he felt a rush of wetness come from her body. Jude could feel every muscle of her pussy clench his cock, coaxing it for more.

  “Jude! YES! Don’t stop, holy Jesus, don’t stop.”

  Miranda screamed as the massive orgasm rocketed through her whole body. She felt his warm release inside of her, her body clutching and contracting at will. Miranda began to shake uncontrollably, feeling as though she was spiraling out of reality. As Jude collapsed on her, a rainbow of colors blazed through her mind. Both of them sated, Jude rolled off Miranda, and pulled her on top of him. Miranda lay on top of Jude, trying to catch her breath.

  “Isn’t this how we woke up a couple hours ago, Miranda?”

  “I believe so, but with one difference. I’m not frightened, I am loved…and so are you.”

  “Baby, you are so loved and I can’t wait to show you how loved you are every day of your life from here on in. But, right now, how about some sl abght="2%">

  Jude yawned, so Miranda went to move off Jude to her side of the bed, but he held her tight.

  “Unless you are uncomfortable, please don’t move. I don’t want to let go of you right now.”

  Miranda kissed Jude’s lips as she settled down over him and nuzzled his neck.

  “I love you, Jude.”

  “I love you too, Mandy.”

  Miranda’s breathing became rhythmic as she drifted off to sleep and Jude lay there holding her with so many questions running through his head. The tapes…what could be on them? Why did Ross stress their importance? Who the fuck is Hank Castile? A shiver went through his mind. It was the first time he felt any semblance of fear since he was a child. Whatever was on those tapes, he just wanted to protect Mandy. I won’t break my promise, baby. Grateful he didn’t have to work tomorrow, Jude planned his next move. Call Ross, watch the tapes, book a trip to Cali… but, the first thing he would do when he woke up was to remind this beautiful redhead how much he loved her. Jude drifted off to sleep feeling like his life finally had meaning.

  Chapter 18

  The early morning sun was shining and Jude was still fast asleep when Miranda quietly climbed out of bed. She grabbed her favorite pajama pants and tee shirt and tiptoed to the bathroom. Looking in the mirror, Miranda began to laugh. Her hair looked like a tornado landed on her head! She ran a brush through the tangled mess and a ponytail would have to serve to tame it until she showered.

  Peeking in on Jude, she saw he was still sleeping and gently snoring. Miranda suppressed a giggle and went downstairs to start the coffee and read the morning news. She booted up the computer and checked her email. Since she sold her Auntie’s house and the condo, she was flooded with sale proposals, investments quotes, you name it. As she was deleting them, one stood out.

  Hank Castile…shit.

  Listen, Bitch. Give me back what you fucking stole from

  me. You have no idea what you are getting yourself into.

  ~HC

  Miranda sat and stared at the computer, she didn’t hear Jude come into the room. She gasped and jumped when Jude put his hands on her shoulders.

  “Damn, Mandy…I didn’t mean to scare you baby. You ok?” Jude laughed. His mood became instantly somber when he sa abghe sw the look on her face. “Miranda? What’s wrong?”

  “I got an email from Hank Castile. Or I should say a threat.”

  “That fucker threatened you? Let me see the email.”

  Miranda got up and poured coffee for the both of them as Jude sat down and turned his attention to the computer. Jude was so pissed, he slammed the laptop shut.

  “That son of
a bitch isn’t going to get away with this, Miranda. I promise you that!” Jude grabbed his cell phone call and called Ross.

  “Ross…Jude.”

  “Jude do you know what time it is in Cali?”

  “Yes, I know it is early in Cali. Quit your bitchin’ Ross and listen will you? I know where the tapes are located.”

  “What? How the fuck do you know where they are?”

  “Yeah, now you’re listening! They are here, with Miranda. She told me she came across them before she left that jerk-off and she took them. I can be on the next plane to Cali and bring them to you.”

  “Have you listened to them yet?”

  “No we haven’t heard what is on them.”

  “Don’t bring them here…just wait. Let me get back to you on that. Put them somewhere safe.”

  “No problem. I will take care of them. See you in a couple of days…Thanks, Ross.”

  Miranda heard only Jude’s side of the conversation, but knew it wasn’t good news. She stopped pacing the floor and sat beside Jude.

  “What did Ross say?”

  “Asswipe Hank got one thing right. You don’t know what you have gotten yourself into. But what he doesn’t know is you have some very powerful people on your side. Let’s check out some of those tapes. Ross will be here in a couple of days. He has more info and he said under no circumstances are you to go to Cali. He also suggested you change your email address and phone number. And staying alone is out of the question.”

  Jude reached out to steady Miranda’s hand that was visibly shaking. “Don’t worry, Mandy. Nothing is going to happen to you. Ross and I will take care of this situation and put it to sleep once and for all. Tell me how and when you met him.”

  “I met him after I sold my Auntie’s house and bought the condo. I attended school and got an entry level job with a top real estate agency. After I graduated, I started to move up the corporate ladder. My sales were in the millions within a year. So, they started giving me high profile clients and that is when I first met Hank. I sold several properties for him. It was about 3 years ago I met up with him at the club in LA called Singles and we started dating. I was there with some girls from the real estate office. We were all dancing together, drinking tequila shooters, when Hank walked up and started dancing wited bsph me. It sort of surprised me that he picked me.” Miranda’s voice trailed off.

  “Why do you say that, Mandy?” Jude asked, puzzled. “You are beautiful beyond words, and I have seen you move that fantastic ass of yours around a dance floor.” He raised his eyebrows a couple times and gave her a quick kiss. Miranda laughed, because she knew Jude was trying to lighten the mood.

  “I say that because I was looking pretty “plain Jane” compared to my friends. Jeans, tee shirt, cowboy hat and boots are not the normal attire for Singles. That club is pretty high-end, designer stuff, you know? I assumed he picked me because I looked different, out of place. I even argued with David that morning about the club. He hated that I was hitting the clubs pretty hard. I told him I was putting on my shit-kicking cowboy boots and gonna show the city slickers how the country folk ‘do it’…it made him laugh. My friends thought I was crazy, but they loved it.” Miranda took a deep breath and continued her story.

  “Hank was cocky, but attentive. He was always very secretive about his business dealings and meetings. It wasn’t until just before David died that he became aggressive and abusive.” Miranda started to cry. “I overheard a conversation one night, about a year ago, maybe. Hank was yelling at someone, saying shit like ‘she doesn’t concern you anymore’, ‘she’s not going anywhere…you practically sold her to me’…That’s when I became scared and started snooping.” Miranda sobbed harder. Jude pulled her close, trying to comfort her.

  “It’s ok, baby. I’m here now. Do you know who he was talking to?” Jude held her as she continued through her sobs.

  “Yeah, I have an idea and that scares me more.” Miranda looked at Jude with tears streaming down her cheeks. “When I found out David was sick, I wanted to come home. Hank had a fit. He said I couldn’t go, that there was nothing I could do for David. When I called home, David told me not to come. He said he was going to be ok…new docs, procedures, meds, the works. That’s when Hank became a control freak. That was the first time he hit me. It also was the time I started to get my affairs in order so that I could leave him.” Jude wiped Miranda’s tears from her cheek.

  “C’mon Mandy, let’s check out the tapes.”

  Jude walked into the living room and emptied the box of tapes onto the coffee table. Miranda followed him and started to separate the video and audio into different piles. There was a range of dates on each one that spanned several months. Sighing deeply, Miranda got up, grabbed a box and tossed it to Jude.

  “Glad I found this old tape player on my way across country. It’s going to come in handy. Where do we start, from the beginning or random selection?”

  “Are you ready to do this, Mandy? These tapes aren’t going to be easy to listen to, but we need to find out what is on them and what we are up against.” Jude grabbed a tape and popped it into the recorder

  “I’m as ready as I will ever be. Let’s do this,” she said.

  “This one is dated about a year ago. Let’s start Le as there.”

  The tape started to play. It was a bit scratchy, but the voices were undeniable. It was Hank Castile…and David. The conversation was heated and violent.

  David: Don’t fucking hurt her Hank…I mean it.

  Hank: Don’t tell me what I can and cannot do, you little fuck! She doesn’t concern you anymore. You sold her to me years ago to keep your habit flowing. Just do what the fuck you are told.

  David: Hank…I want out and I want Miranda to come home…I don’t want her part of this new venture.

  Hank: You just keep moving the merchandise, you hear me? Mandy-poo will be just fine. Or do you want her to find out all the gory details of how your parents really died?

  David: You said she would never know the truth!

  Hank: Oh, she won’t as long as you keep dealing the east coast for me. She will never know that her parents died due to a drug deal gone bad. One that YOU fucked up on. Miranda will never know that you killed her parents, not some random drunk driver, as long as you do what you’re told. Got that?

  David: What about the rest? She can never know…she will hate me forever…. Please keep her away from the streets.

  Hank: Just follow the plan…tell her what I told you…

  The call disconnected and the tape automatically clicked off.

  Jude and Miranda sat, stunned at what they just heard. Miranda suddenly jumped off the couch and ran to the bathroom. Jude found her leaning over the toilet, sobbing and throwing up. When she finished retching, he took a wet washcloth and wiped oththe coher face and neck gently. He picked her up and placed her on his lap. Cradling her like a small child, he sat on the bathroom floor and let the love of his life cry her heart out.

  Chapter 19

  Miranda’s mind was spinning in circles. There was just no way she could believe what she heard on that tape. David practically ‘sold’ her to Hank. She heard those words…Hank’s voice…talking to David…and David didn’t deny it. His avoidance of the subject was condemning. The conversation had her reeling. Her parents were killed due to a bad drug deal? She was going to be sick again. One question bombarded her thoughts more than any other.

  “Why, Jude? Why did David do this to me?” cried Miranda, sobbing on Jude’s shoulder.

  “I don’t know, baby. Shhhh…you’re gonna be ok. We’ll find out. I’ll take care of you,” Jude whispered while rocking her in his lap. Jude shifted his weight and stood up with Miranda still in his arms and sat her down on her vanity seat. He began to fill the tub with hot water and added some of her lavender bubble bath. When the tub was ready, he turned and watched tears run down her cheeks. Damn, that tore his heart apart!

  “C’mon, baby, let’s get you into this relaxing ba
th,” he said to her gently as he helped Miranda off with her robe. He guided her into the tub and steadied her until she was seated.

  Jude took off his jeans and kicked them aside. Stepping into the tub behind her, he sat with his legs on either side of her and pulled her against his chest. The water rose enough to barely cover Miranda’s breasts.

  Jude wrapped his arms around her and kissed her temple. Miranda sighed heavily and tilted her head back to kiss Jude. He had the softest lips she had ever felt. Their kiss lingered, tender and soft. Jude ran his hand over her breast until he reached her cheek and remained there, caressing her face. When her lips parted slightly, Jude whispered against them.