Another Man's Treasure

by Jay, Wendy

  When they reached the bedroom, Jude slid Miranda down the length of his body until her feet reached the floor. He grabbed her face and kissed her hard. Miranda held fast to his shoulders and returned the fervent kiss. He turned her around to face away from him and slowly slipped the blindfold above her eyes.

  Miranda gasped at the sight. The only light was from dozens of candles around the room. The bed was spread with rose petals and champagne glasses were set on the nightstand.

  “I had planned this romantic interlude for us, Miranda. I was going to come home and set this up while you were cooking dinner. I wanted to sweep you off your feet and bring you in here, undress you slowly and make love to you. I come home and find you naked and blindfolded. You are so full of surprises, Miranda. I never know what is goi sin> on in that head of yours.”

  Jude stepped in front of Miranda and wiped the tears from her eyes as he kissed her tenderly.

  “Don’t cry, baby. I hate it when you cry. I love you so much, Miranda.”

  “I love you so much, Jude, it’s hard for me to put itspto into words. Promise me something, Jude. Just this one thing.”

  “Anything baby, you name it.”

  “Don’t leave me, no matter what happens. Don’t ever say goodbye, Jude. I need you and love you with all my heart. I always have.”

  Jude put his hands on her face and tilted her head so they were eye to eye. One single tear tried to escape his left eye. He blinked several times and closed them. He took a deep breath, and then opened his eyes.

  “That’s all I needed to hear, Mandy. That you need me…you love me. I promise, baby. No goodbyes. Not now, not ever.”

  Jude held Miranda so tightly, she wasn’t sure she could breathe, but she was sure she didn’t care. They loved each other.

  Jude picked Miranda up and laid her down on the rose petals. He gently removed her shoes, slipped his boxer briefs off and crawled on the bed next to her. He took the blindfold off and threw it on the floor.

  “There are times for fun and games, but not now. Right now all I want to do is hold you close and never let you go, Mandy.”

  Miranda snuggled in close, and ran her hands down Jude’s back and over his firm buttocks. She kissed him gently on the lipsspnt>ont size="+0"> over and over. She felt his erection pushing against her thighs as he rolled over on his back and pulled Miranda on top of him. Jude moved her over his hardness and slipped into her soft wetness. Miranda’s eyes fluttered shut, feeling Jude inside her again.

  “Open your eyes, Mandy. I want to watch ont">toyou make love to me.”

  **********

  Miranda attempted to escape Jude’s arms quietly without waking him. As she slipped from his arms, he started to stir and tightened his hold around her waist.

  “And where do you think you are going, my dear?” Jude had ant span>< sleepy grin on his face as he pulled Miranda back into his arms.

  “It is 4:00. I was going to shower and start dinner. Ross will be here in a couple of hours.”

  “To hell with Ross, let him eat out. I don’t want to let go of you.”

  Miranda laughed and squirmed away from Jude. He scrambled quickly, caught her leg and held her until he was practically on top of her. Miranda squealed and playfully beat on his chest with her fists.

  “You brute! Let me go!”

  “Not until you kiss me, you naughty wench! Tell me what I want to hear. Beg for your release and I will consider it!”

  “Pfft! Beg? Are you crazy? I will lay here and fight you no longer. Do with me as you will.”

  “If that’s the case, I will ravish your body and dinner will be late. Ross and

  Frannie will catch us in the throes of wild ecstasy!”

  Miranda tried to go limp and appear indifferent. Jude stared at her with one eyebrow lifted. She looked into his eyes and burst out laughing.

  “Oh my god! All right! You win this round! Now let me up so I can get dinner ready.”

  “Not until my conditions are met.” Jude winked at her t>and smiled that wicked smile.

  “Please dear sir, let me up...I beg of thee. I shall love thee till the end of time.” Miranda gave Jude a quick kiss and giggled. “Does that suit your need, you rogue?”

  “Ahhh, you saucy wench. For the time being. But be assured, I shall be back n><"+0">for more!”

  Jude rolled off Miranda, laughing. She moved from him, but not quick enough as Jude had time to plant a firm slap on her ass.

  “Yeouch! You will pay for that, Mr. Delaney! I was going to invite you to my shower, but now you can bathe alone!”

  “We’ll just see about that!”

  Jude jumped out of bed and chased Miranda to the bathroom. She tried to get in quickly and lock the door, but he was too quick and strong. Jude muscled the door open and Miranda was laughing so hard, there was no way she could push back. He backed her up against the shower wall, pinned her with his body and turned the water on. He held her arms at her sides and kissed her hard. Miranda had no intention of resisting as she parted her lips to allow access to Jude’s probing tongue.

  “I want to collect on that promise of more right now.” “Anything you say, my rogue. Anything you want.”

  Jude smiled and his eyes turned dark. This beautiful redhead was his, body and soul. Nothing pleased him more. He kissed her, deep and long. Miranda was breathless after their kiss, like always. His kisses made her weak in the knees.

  “I love you Mandy. I will never get enough of your smile; your smell...the sound of your voice is like a drug...”

  “Jude, shut up and kiss me.”

  “Your wish is my command, my sassy brat.”

  Jude released Miranda’s hands, lifted her off her feet and wrapped her legs around his waist. Miranda’s back was still pinned against the wall as Jude lowered her onto his hardness. She dug her nails into his back as he thrust into her over and over.

  “Oh my God, Jude...yes, fuck me harder. Yes, my sweet Jude...yes!”

  Jude groaned when he heard Miranda moan his name. That always threw him over the edge. This encounter was not going to be tender and leisurely.

  “Jesus, Miranda...when you say my name like that...”

  Miranda turned her lips >toward Jude’s ear and whispered to him as she began to suck. She knew just what to say to drive him wild.

  “Watch me as I make you come.”

  Jude groaned and pumped into her fast and hard. Their eyes were locked together intensely. Jude growled deep in his throat. Miranda began to shake as her orgasm rocked through her body, at the same time igniting every one of Jude’s nerve endings, and he exploded inside of her.

  “Holy hell, baby. Never in my life has my whole body felt like it was on fire like it does when I am with you.”

  “Must be the red hair.”

  Miranda laughed as e="+0">she laid her head against his shoulder, catching her breath. Jude set Miranda down and turned her so she faced away from him. He grabbed the shampoo and began to wash her hair. Jude finished with her hair and reached for the liquid soap. He ran his hands down Miranda’s beautiful, curvy body and washed her. Miranda turned around and smiled at Jude.

  “Can I return the favor?”

  “Oh course, baby. There is nothing I would love more.”

  Miranda ran her soapy hands over Jude’s chest and shoulders in slow circles as she enjoyed the feel of each muscle and every ripple. His body fascinated her. Jude was fit and taut...not toofont> bulky or too lean. In Miranda’s eyes, Jude was the perfect specimen of masculinity and she loved him so much it hurt. Jude noticed a tear had escaped Miranda’s eye.

  “Mandy, you ok? Why the tear, baby?”

  “Jude, I just can’t believe how much I love you.”

  “I love you more than life, Miranda. Believe me.”

  “I believe you, Jude, and it makes what is coming our way less scary for me. I know Ross doesn’t have good news. But I will get through this knowing you are with me and love me.”

  As Jude and Mir
anda dressed, they discussed approaches, scenarios and outcomes. No matter what Ross had to throw at them, they felt ready. What did Ross have for information? That thoughze=/fot alone scared them both.

  Chapter 25

  Ross pulled up to the farmhouse and parked behind Jude’s SUV. He noticed the plates on the Lexus were California tags…Miranda.

  He sat and wondered what her reaction would be when she saw him again. Miranda and Ross had met before tonight. She just didn’t realize it, and neither did Jude.

  Ross knew Jude better than anyone. He knew about Jude’s past and his quick temper from their college days. They were roommates and best buddies and kept in touch long after Ross left for the West Coast to pursue his career as a private investigator.

  Ross crawled out of the sedan, sputtering to himself. Who the fuck made the arrangements for this rental for him? He would kick his ass the first chance he got! Annoyed as hell, he slammed the car door, straightened his leather jacket and put his game face on.

  Ross was a 6’4”, 240 pound hulk of a man. Bald, sporting a goatee and a massive tattoo across his well-defined chest and shoulders, Ross could intimidate anyone with just a glance from his steely blue eyes. At the same time, he could calm a small child lost in the department store with a smile. He was a gentle giant with a heart of gold, as long as you didn’t fuck with his family. Cross that line and you would witness hell on earth.

  Jude heard the car pull up and opened the front door just in time to see his college friend pull himself out of the car, sputtering and swearing. Jude was laughing as he approached Ross.

  “That’s what you get when you’re bigger than the fuckin’ Egyptian Pyramids, dude.”

  “Ah, Delaney, you jealous fuck! Good to see you, it’s been too long.”

  The two old friends bumped fists back and forth and slammed each other’s forearms together, their version of a hug since college. They reminisced a few minutes before they turned and approached the house. Miranda stepped out on the front porch, wide-eyed and slack jawed. Her mind started to race ze=/fisceas she looked directly at Ross Guthrie. What was Trevor doing here?

  “Miranda, what’s wrong? You look like you have seen a ghost!”

  “I...I...I think I have. What are you doing here, Trevor?”

  “Who the fuck is Trevor? This is my college buddy, Ross Guthrie.”

  Ross put his hand on Jude’s shoulder to calm him down. Jude’s eyes darted back and forth between Miranda and Ross. Miranda’s eyes narrowed and her facial features hardened.

  “This is Trevor Wilkes. Hank Castile’s business partner.”

  Jude’s hands balled up into fists. Something here was very wrong and he was going to get an answer one way or another. Ross reached into his coat pocket and showed his identification. FBI.

  “Jude, man, settle down. I have some explaining to do. Let’s go inside.”

  “What the fuck is going on, Ross? How do you know Miranda and what’s up with the alias?”

  They walked into the house and Jude took Ross’s jacket, unveiling his holster and glock. Jude’s eyebrows raised and he heard Miranda gasp. He grabbed her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Ross chuckled in an attempt to lighten the moment.

  “Yeah, I get that reaction a lot from the ladies. Miranda, it’s good to see you again.”

  “Wish I could say the same Trev....Ross. Right now I am freaking out.”

  “I’m confused too, Ross. Let’s have a seat and talk about what is going on?”

  “Look, Jude, when I moved to Los Angeles after college, I started out strictly as a PI, doing investigative work for the LAPD, working with the Internal Affairs Division I was investigated and eventually approached by the FBI to help them bring down a drug trafficker. I went undercover as Trevor Wilkes, Hank Castile’s business partner. I worked with that piece of slime for 2 years prior to Miranda’s relationship with him. When my bosses told me who Miranda was, it was imperative to keep my identity quiet. I couldn’t risk blowing my cover and putting her in danger. Not only was I there to take Castile down, I was there to protect her.”

  Miranda and Jude looked at Ross, confused and full of questions. Ross took a deep breath. This was going to suck.

  “I don’t understand, Ross. What is the connection with Mandy, Castile, and me? Other than the fact that I want to kill the son of a bitch.”

  “Protect me? From Hank, his business affiliations? Is that what you mean, Ross?”

  “Partly to protect you from Castile, the drug lord, and his future plans. Also to protect you from the truth of your past. Hank Castile had a younger brother. The parents put the younger child up for adoption at the age of 8. Fuckers practically sold him for drug money. Theneyto y kept Hank, and at the age of 12 had him running product for them on the streets of LA. Police caught them, took them down and placed Hank in a foster home, but the damage was done.”

  Ross stopped, looked at them and then shook his head. Miranda and Jude sat with their mouths open. This was too surreal to be true.

  Jude got up from the table and paced the floor. He grabbed three beers from the refrigerator, popped the tops and handed one to Miranda and Ross. He took a long drink, sat back down and grabbed Miranda’s hand. Jude looked at Miranda and she nodded yes.

  “Ok, Ross, spit out the rest of it. We’re ready.”

  “This sucks, but I am going to say this flat out. The youngest boy was adopted by a nice family from Virginia. David Jones was Hank Castile’s younger brother and his East Coast drug runner.”

  Miranda stood up, staggered back and knocked her chair down. Ross jumped and grabbed Miranda before she fell, then settled her onto Jude’s lap. He set the chair upright and sat back down. Jude held Miranda tightly as she sobbed. Her world was falling apart and Ross delivered the blow causing it to crumble.

  “Everything I knew as a child was a lie? What do I believe? Who do I believe?”

  “Shhh, Mandy, we will figure this all out. It’s going to be ok. Ross and I will figure this out.”

  “Miranda, Jude, there is a lot more information, but I think later would be better. I am here for the duration. I am here for you and we will settle this once and for all.”

  Ross slapped Jude on the back and nodded. What a fucking mess.

  Miranda picked her head up from Jude’s shoulder and looked at Ross. Her eyes were pleading for answers as tears flowed down her cheeks.

  “Ross, I have questions I need answers to now.”

  “Sure Miranda, what are they?”

  “How much danger was I in being with Hank?”

  “Enough that the FBI left me assigned to you indefinitely.”

  “Are Jude and I still in danger?”

  “Yes, but both of you are more protected than you realize.”

  “One the one tape we listened to, Hank remarked about David practically selling me?”

  “Hank controlled David. He gave him money to live on and kept the family secrets while David had to do was traffic the drugs. Hank used you as a bargaining chip. He was branching out from drugs to prostitution. David was scared about the level of involvement Hank would expose you to. David didn’t know I was there. There was no fucking way my best friend’s girl was going to be used like that.”

  “His girl? You knew how we felt about each other in the past?”

  “Honey, I know aone>

  Miranda looked shocked. All these years, Miranda thought Jude had forgotten about her and moved on. Jude shrugged his shoulders and smiled.

  “I told you, baby. I don’t do goodbye and it was worth all the pissing and moaning I got from him when I woke him up.”

  “I kept an eye on you from the moment Jude called me several years ago. It wasn’t until you got caught up with Castile that the info I could give him was limited. I couldn’t blow my cover. Sorry dude…I never wanted to keep you out of the loop about Castile. I had no choice.”