Freelance: Mercenary Shifters (Mercenaries For Hire Book 1)

by Becca Vincenza

  Jackass never loosened his grip as horns sprouted out his forehead and wings shot out from his back. My eyes gaped. Tingles started in my fingertips and twisted up my arms. Holy … this was unreal. Unbelievable. He seemed to get bigger, but he never shredded his skin. Half transformations were next to impossible, but he was more than impossible.

  “Dragon,” I whispered, wishing that I could escape his hold more than ever. However, a small, totally illogical part of me wanted to snuggle closer.

  “My name is Dominic.” His eyes met mine for a moment before he looked at my stunned roommate.

  He bent his knees as he glared over his shoulder. My nails raked over his shoulders and I struggled in his hold. No. No. No, no, no.

  Ignoring my frantic movements, he hissed angrily at Bonnie who took a lumbering step forward, wide brown eyes on me. His large hands gripped me tighter, in attempt to stop my movements or to get a better grip on me, I wasn’t sure.

  His wings folded over around us as he leaped upwards. I squeezed my eyes shut—not that I could see with his dark wings blotting out the lights. Wind streamed past us; it whistled in my ears. Glass shattered and a scream was torn from my throat.

  My body shook with fear, and wet trails adjourned my cheeks. The air was calmer out here, silent. My head swam, nausea pooled in my gut. Gods, I didn’t want to be sick. The tingles that had been in my hands continued their upwards crawl. Too much. I held onto the only thing I could.

  Dominic.

  Chapter 7

  Dominic

  She passed out in my arms.

  Part of me wanted to roll my eyes. But the protective part of me pulled her closer. I sort of thought that part of it was my dick. I looked down at the blonde in my arms. She seemed so delicate and small.

  I shook my head, dislodging those sort of thoughts. I had a job to do, and I was already headed in the wrong direction. Literally.

  I had a safe house for these sort of things, with a prison built in the basement. The upstairs was sparse, but it was perfect for holding people. And yet I was headed to my house. My very hidden, remotely located house. Outside the city. Not even my two closest friends knew where it was located.

  The flight out to my remote cabin didn’t take long, but it took longer than normal. During the flight I tried to convince myself to fly in the other direction to my safe house. To put her in the basement, throw away the key, and keep her forever.

  Fuck! I meant keep her there until the exchange. Instead my wings started a slow beat, the air catching to slow my progression downwards. The top of my secluded house came into view in the clearing where I had chopped down a nestle of trees to make my home. It was one of many, but it was my main home. One I should not be bringing a target to.

  But definitely one I should bring my mate to.

  My feet touched the hard earth, and I felt the jolt of the impact radiate up my legs. The small, two bedrooms, one bath, with an open living room and kitchen cabin sat peacefully in front of me. The outside was made of thick wood, enhanced with strong metal, but it was meant to blend with nature. For the most part it did.

  The wood was covered with moss; I left the trees that butted up to the backside of the house. The cabin was nestled near small formations of tall hills that were often mistaken for mountains. It was several hours’ drive, but only a couple hours’ flight for me from the city I had stolen my mate from. Fuck … mark.

  I should retreat. And instead I surged forward with my mark cradled in my arms. She was feather-light and so fucking fragile. What the hell am I going to do with her? I pushed the thought away as I opened the door to my house.

  I stomped through the living room to the back of the house where the bedrooms were located. The interior of the house was exposed wood, dark as the wood on the outside. My dragon preferred the darkness like a cave even in my human form. Just like outside, there was a lot of exposed, industrial metal.

  Once inside my bedroom, I placed her on a bed built to accommodate play. Built for my tastes. She was draped perfectly across my black silk sheets. I covered her—for gods knew what reason, I don’t even want to begin to fucking think about. Instead I turned away and shut the door quietly behind me.

  I rubbed the back of my neck. Associated with bears. She didn’t even seem fazed by the fact that her roommate was one. That concerned me. Bears were positioned pretty high on the paranormal council. I didn’t fuck around with the legal shit of our world. I did my kind of work discreetly. I stayed under the radar.

  She was someone of importance, since I was told she was human and I was supposed to handle her with care. I just had to hope like fuck I could do this without screwing everything up. That little human in there was my fucking mate. Her scent called out to me and made me want to take her. Just like the very first moment I caught the scent in my truck. I had the same reaction. My blood ran hot, eager, my cock pressing against the zipper of my pants, adding a horrible pinching pain to my already straining dick. Fuck. If her scent drove me insane, to actually see her curves? Fuck, she was gorgeous.

  I shook my head. Job first.

  I didn’t need to bring a mate into my life. She wouldn’t want to share a life with me murdering, kidnapping, and torturing for money. And I couldn’t live without it. It gave my beast an outlet. It gave me a semblance of peace.

  Pulling out the disposable phone that my employer gave me, I dialed a number I had committed to memory. I was very safe with my clients.

  “Hello.” A voice modifier was being used. I wanted to roll my eyes. Even though they have already used it, it still resurfaced old annoyances. I shouldn’t give a fuck one way or another. But this time it really got under my skin. Fuckers were messing with my mate.

  “I got the girl. Where are we doing the hand off and when?” I demanded. I needed to get her out of here before I did something really fucking stupid. I couldn’t help considering it. Her scent lingered on my clothes, as did the warmth of her touch. I ran hotter than most. I never really felt cold before until she was out of my arms.

  “Hold her for two days, then meet us at the south edge of Three Rivers Park. We will make the exchange there.” Just like the document had said. Maybe it was the plain man on the other line.

  The phone clicked dead.

  Two fucking days.

  I could hold out until then.

  At least I thought I could.

  My dick strained in desperate protest.

  Fuck.

  ***

  I found myself watching her sleep. I was a sick, sadistic bastard. Who watched their captive sleep? Who the hell thought about slipping into bed with them and holding them close? I didn’t. The gods must have been playing a joke for some shits and giggles.

  Things were spiraling. I had to remember she was just a job. But she wasn’t just a fucking job or I wouldn’t have brought her here, to my home. I wouldn’t be watching her like she was precious. I wouldn’t be having fantasies of plunging deep inside of her, making sure everyone knew who the fuck she belonged to.

  I readjusted myself for about the hundredth time. She had been asleep for almost eight hours. I was ready to wake her up. It would be easier for me if she slept, but damn I wanted her awake for some unimaginable reason. I was trying to convince myself because I wanted more information about her. Not because I wanted to see those sinfully dark brown eyes again, or see those pink, plump lips upturned in a smile.

  Eden started to stir. Her breathing changed a little. This was it. She was finally waking up.

  Chapter 8

  Eden

  I stretched.

  I had dreamt of a shooting at a club, a shifter that was a dragon, and that I was held captive by him. I wanted to laugh. I didn’t remember my dreams usually, but I remembered these in high definition. It seemed funny to me I would dream up such a sexy guy, but make him an asshole. He had a strong name, though. Dominic. The thought of him sent zings of pleasure right down to my gut. I twisted my legs together trying to forget the feeling. Or relieve i
t.

  I reached over to grab my glasses, but in my hazy state, I must’ve missed my nightstand. I gave up and soon was nearly asleep again, my hands tracing patterns in the delicate fabric. That’s when it hit me: this was not my bed. These pornographically sensual sheets were not mine. I sat bolt upright, blinking my eyes furiously. My contacts blurred my surroundings. I never slept in them. I was paranoid about it, to the point that it annoyed Bonnie. Finally, things got a little clearer and the burning in my eyes subsided.

  When my eyes finally cleared, I was certain that even the white ceiling, like so many other white ceilings but not like my own, belonged to someone else. I gulped, my heart was racing in my chest like I had just run a couple miles. I looked to the right. Then to the left. This was so not home. I scooted up and stared down at the sheets pooling around my waist.

  I was still in my clothes from last night, which was something. Of course I wouldn’t normally wear this skimpy dress. The back was cut into ribbons so there was a lot of exposure, and while the front was shoulder draped and covered my chest completely, it was still a pretty short dress. It only went about to my mid thighs. I spent half the night pulling it down over the spandex shorts that I had slipped on while Bonnie wasn’t looking. The sheets were silky soothe against my bare legs.

  I didn’t have sheets like this. I mean, who did?

  Black, silk sheets?

  I swallowed hard. Dread swam in my stomach, making it turn, making me feel sick.

  I finally lifted my head and met startling blue eyes.

  Oh … he wasn’t a dream.

  We stared at one another for a while. I didn’t speak and neither did he. His eyes had darkened considerably, and I wasn’t sure if I wanted to know why. Having a staring contest with a shifter was a bad idea, but I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. For some reason, I was determined to hold his gaze.

  “You got a lot of spunk for a little chickadee.” His voice surprised me. I wasn’t expecting him to talk and I jumped. He let out a brash laugh, but his eyes never left mine. Something about his voice and his laugh had me squirming in my seat.

  “Who are you?” I asked, trying to make my voice seem more confident than I felt.

  “Your worst fucking nightmare.” He sobered immediately, those bright blue eyes flashing red. I remembered everything from last night now. He was a dragon, a dragon named Dominic who was planning on kidnapping me. And apparently had.

  “Why am I here?” I tried again.

  “You really don’t want to know.” He didn’t seem apologetic, but a little annoyed. I wanted to get more information from him, needed to know what was going on.

  “Tell me.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “You don’t think so?”

  I gave him my best what the hell face. It didn’t do anything though. The left side of his mouth curled up a bit, amused.

  “You will be with me for a couple days, then I’m handing you off. That is all you need to know. If you try to escape, I will find you.”

  Suddenly he was right in front of me.

  “And you won’t like it when I do.”

  His voice was a whisper against my skin. I felt a dark promise buzz down to my toes and back up again. I wanted to shiver, but for some reason it filled me with desire instead of fear. I was losing my mind, yet I baited the beast and licked my lips.

  “What will you do to me?”

  “You couldn’t even begin to imagine.” His voice was husky. His lips brushed against my ear. I did shiver this time and turned to him. My eyes dropped to his lips, and I thought about how they would feel against mine. I was never so brazen with a man. I was never so forward in general. Something about him made me feel brave, sexy, and sort of terrified. But a good sort of terrified.

  “You are testing very dangerous waters, little chickadee.”

  I peeked up at him through my lashes. The lusty side of myself—the one I was losing the battle with—wanted him. I couldn’t even begin to fathom when my mind said to stop talking, my heart even led me forward, urging me into his strong arms. Maybe the rebellious teenage years I had skipped were finally emerging. And hell of a time for them to!

  “Maybe I want to.”

  Chapter 9

  Dominic

  Who the fuck was this girl?

  She should be meek. Scared. Terrified even. But she was fucking seducing me.

  My hands clenched around the fabric covering those long, sexy legs. Legs I imagined wrapped around my hips, heels pressed into my ass, pulling me closer.

  Shit. Growling, I pushed away from the bed. I’d warned her. I’d fucking warned her.

  But I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. I was certain that she would back the fuck down. No one challenged me. Yet her brown eyes were steady. I wouldn’t fail to answer this challenge. I felt my dick stir in my pants, again painfully too tight. She wanted to test me?

  “You sure about that?”

  It was so silent that I thought I’d scared her with my question. She jumped, but I watched as her breathing grew heavy. Her chest heaved. It demanded my attention. My eyes flicked down to her bosom. Her nipples were hard. They peeked through the thin material. My little mate wasn’t wearing a bra. I should really fucking punish her for exposing herself so thoroughly to other males.

  “Oh, I am certain.”

  She bit her lip, like it was a normal fucking thing to do. Like it wouldn’t drive me to the fucking edge. How did she expect me not to answer her call? How could I not fill her need?

  I moved forward fast, capturing her lips with mine. Forcing open her lips, I thrust my tongue forward. I took charge and dominated her mouth quickly. Moaning, she melted against me. I had her … until the throaty groan that escaped her proved to be my undoing. I was hooked. I would have done anything for her in that moment if she would grant me the mercy of her blissful release. Instead, I needed to keep my goddamned head in the game and keep my dick in my pants. At least somewhat in my pants. Or not in my pants at all. I could not help but play.

  Nothing was going to stop me now.

  My hand crept up her stomach to her left breast. I cupped it gently at first. She moaned and moved even closer, giving me permission I didn’t need. She was mine and I knew that. Soon she would, too. First, though, I had deal with this no-bra nonsense. With me she could do it. But she had been in public like this.

  I pinched her raised nipple in my fingers. She yelped before a delicious groan swept through her. I could smell desire flooding her body. I was about to pull away when her lips wrapped around my tongue. And she pulled, and sucked.

  Fuck.

  I was going to come in my pants like a teenager.

  Growling, I spread her legs. I wouldn’t go any further than a heavy make-out session. At least that is what I told myself at first. Could I resist this woman? The woman who was made for me, and me alone? Her hand moved across my chest, and I shuddered when her nails dug into my shoulder. They bit into my flesh, sending pleasure straight through me, and I fucking loved it.

  Releasing her breast, I went for the already half off strap. I pulled it down farther, freeing her creamy, smooth skin. Removing my lips from hers, I let my tongue glide over the arch of her neck. She shivered and shuddered in my arms.

  I pressed a small kiss where her neck met shoulder. My lips skimmed over the skin from her shoulder to her exposed front. Her hands moved to the back of my head, her nails scraping and urging me lower. I went willingly. When I wrapped my lips against her nipple and sucked, she screamed my name.

  She fucking screamed my name.

  My eyes shut in ecstasy. How could a tiny little chickadee like her make me so weak? I didn’t fucking care.

  I tasted her, my tongue circling her nipple and my teeth teasing. I tugged and licked as she squirmed under me. She kept mewling from my caresses, and if I didn’t stop soon, I wouldn’t be able to stop at all.

  The thought of being inside of her was overwhelming.

  I covered her other br
east with my hand and massaged it, working that nipple hard again. She squeaked when I tweaked it, while nipping at the other. I felt her shudder and release. Her body softened under me.

  Pulling away, I covered her body, even though I wanted to devour her with my eyes. Instead I found her half-hooded gaze and lazy grin. It hit me over the fucking head.

  This wasn’t a fucking pleasure cruise. This was a fucking job.

  When I climbed off her body, she released a quiet groan of displeasure. Well what was I supposed to do? My body and my dragon roared for me to go back to her willing, hot body. Instead I shook my head, tearing my gaze from her exposed breasts, which were calling me back like a siren.

  I stalked out of the room, slamming the door shut between us. I wouldn’t be able to focus if she was staring at me with those big eyes, her inviting tits begging me back into the room. I pulled my phone from my pocket. I would not fucking last with that little vixen in my house. I would take her and never let her go again. If they wanted her, they better come for her tonight. Otherwise, I would do something I never had before.

  I would fail to complete my job.

  “We contact you, not the other way around.”

  The voice on the line sounded annoyed. I really didn’t give a fuck or two. I almost had my mate, and if I did, they’d never get her. And I would never get paid. One thing I learned early in this business, you follow the job through. After that, you forget about it. My eyes slid back to my shut door. But how the fuck was I supposed to forget her?

  “You want the girl, we meet tonight. If not, then I keep her.”

  “What could you possibly want with her?”

  This was new. They didn’t sound curious. It was hard to tell with the modifier, but it almost sounded like they were concerned.

  “That really isn’t any of your fucking business. But that is the deal. Tonight or I keep her. Let’s just say I have a better fucking deal if you decide to back out.”