Perfect Duet

by Aliyah Burke

  “How can you not report this, Xahara?”

  “And say what? I was in the middle of a robbery, was shot, taken prisoner and then helped that very man escape after shooting another in the process. We then stole a motorcycle and hauled ass out of town to hole up in some old house.” She hissed. “Ow, damnit, that hurts.”

  “Quit your bitching. This is why I like animals better. They don’t whine like little bitches.”

  She clenched her fist. “I’ll show you a little bitch.”

  Xaya laughed and tied off the last suture. “You’ll be fine. Whoever the hunk was, he did a great job of keeping it clean.”

  Her entire body flushed at the memory of Jager. “Who said he was hot?”

  With a shrug her cousin tossed the remaining supplies in the trash before setting the sterilized needle aside back in the kit she always had with her. “Sorry, the ugly fucker you let put a hickey on the side of your breast.”

  Xandra was there in seconds, staring at her breasts. “Holy shit! She’s right. Oh, you slut. You’re holding out on us. Did you do the nasty with your savior-slash-kidnapper?”

  “No. And can we please stop acting like my boobs are a goddamn conversation piece?”

  She struggled not to sound like a panting whore when she said that, even though her entire body lit up like a power station at the thought of her rugged biker. Besides, blowing him and having him finger her to orgasm didn’t count as full-on sex. Right? It worked for her—right now, anyway. So she was sticking with it.

  Both her cousins looked at her for a moment before meeting each other’s gazes. “Heffa’s lying,” they announced at the same time.

  She really hated her family sometimes.

  Xandra passed over the bottle, and Xahara took a long swig, wishing it were something a bit stronger. But Xandra loved the wines. Xaya was the beer, whiskey and moonshine drinker, and she claimed vodka as her personal preference.

  Still, times being what they were, she could use the hit and so she took another two swigs before passing the bottle back. Xandra sat beside her and put a hand on her leg.

  “You tell us about your man, and I’ll tell you about my one-night stand.”

  It was a good fucking thing she was no longer holding the bottle—she would have dropped it. Little miss perfect having a one-night stand?

  “You?” Her demanding question was echoed by her cousin who wielded a mean needle.

  “It happened.” She blinked her pink lashes. “Deal?”

  Knowing full well Xaya would skin her alive if she kept their cousin from spilling about her fling, she nodded. “Deal. But not here. Let’s go out.”

  “Done, but we’re getting a ride because we’re drinking tonight.” Xandra bounded up, fixed her boobs and sauntered over to her closet, where she stepped in and rooted around for something she wanted.

  She sat there and listened to her besties, her cousins, her ride or die, laughing and talking as they got ready. Sure, she felt better sitting there and not worrying that someone was going to kick in the door and put a bullet in her ass or head.

  Sleep was a beautiful thought, but she knew her cousins. They were going out, they were going to drink and they were going to talk about sex.

  Sex she hadn’t even had. Damn it.

  “Put this on.”

  Scrunching up her nose at the dress Xandra held out for her, she shook her head. “Fuck no. I’m not looking like a whore hoping for a five-dollar tip.”

  “Bitch! This is a great dress.”

  “Sure, for you. I’ve got several inches on you, Xandra. That will barely cover my pussy.”

  Xandra snorted. “Then maybe that dick will come back and find you.”

  Xahara could only hope. “Besides, my ass ain’t leaving without my gun.”

  Both women spun and glared at her. “Thought you didn’t bring any weapons with you this time. You promised.”

  “I didn’t, but in light of what happened, your father,” she said pointing at Xandra, “is giving me one of his.”

  “Fuck, Xahara. If you’re packing, then we have to behave and you can’t drink.”

  “I’m on pain meds. I shouldn’t be drinking anyway. I shouldn’t be packing with the pain meds either.”

  “You just had some of my wine.”

  “Wine is for pussies, Xandra. And besides, a small drink from the bottle doesn’t, in my world anyway, constitute drinking.”

  Her cousin flipped her off. “Forgive me for not being the drinker of hard shit like the two of you.” She sniffed and lifted her chin. “Unlike you two whores, I have a refined palate.”

  Xahara cocked an eyebrow. “How refined was that palate when you were leaning over some desk taking it from behind like a good bitch?” She bent and put her hands on the low table, shaking her ass. “Oh, baby, yes. Harder. Fuck me harder.” She moaned and gyrated until Xandra cracked her with a pillow, sending her into the table.

  The silence was all telling and they fell into cackles. She laughed until her side hurt. Of course the dress that smacked her in the face moments later got the point across. A bit more would be covered with it, but not by much.

  All three were dressed and in front of Xandra’s three-way mirror as Xahara stared at their reflections. They were in order of age from left to right. Herself, Xaya and the baby who, up until a few moments ago, she’d thought was damn near perfect, Xandra.

  Their dresses were the same color as their personalities. Red for Xandra. Metallic silver for herself, and a shade of blue that worked for her on Xaya. With promises of being good and looking out for each other, they went to Xandra’s Lincoln Nautilus and climbed in. She got into the back seat, allowing the other two to claim the front.

  “Do I want to know where you have that gun?”

  “Nope. Don’t ask, Xandra. I’ll tell you, then you’ll never be able to get it out of your mind.”

  Her cousin flashed a smile. “Already have. Determined not to think about that. Let’s go get this shit on.” Drumming on the dashboard, she tipped her head back and whooped. “Triple X rides again.”

  Xaya joined in with a rolling holler that would have made anyone proud. With a smile for her girls, Xahara moved back and forth a bit, making sure her range of motion was acceptable.

  Whats Poppin blared on the audio system as Xandra drove them to whatever club Xaya wanted them to hit. They were being followed by her father and an uncle, who would be bringing the vehicles back. Why the men didn’t just drive them, she wasn’t sure, but hey, it was what it was.

  Personally, she’d prefer a night in. Hell, a board game with the men in their lives would have worked, but she was exhausted. What little sleep she’d been granted hadn’t been peaceful but disturbed by a handsome, sexy man who’d saved her.

  Jager.

  She shifted on the bench, not needing to walk into a pounding club while hypersexual. That was a recipe for disaster. After the initial wince from the pulsing beat and loud bass pumping through the building, she smiled at her girls. They linked arms and walked in, well aware of the looks coming their way.

  “Xaya!” Two large men blocked them, smiles on their faces.

  They were extremely hot if she wanted to think about it. Which I don’t.

  “Aaron.” She pointed at the white man. “Del.” She gestured with a finger to the black man. “My cousins.”

  Both men grinned and whistled as they hugged her. She turned back to them and said, “I took care of their dog for them. They work here, and so I always know I’m safe when they’re on.”

  “Nothing happening to our girl on our watch.”

  Aaron pointed over to the right. “Your area is ready.” He winked at them. “Have fun, ladies, and let us know if you need anything.”

  “Thank you!” Xandra waved as Xaya led the way to an area that had a ‘Reserved’ plate on it.

  “Seriously? You have your own pair of security guards? I’m pretty sure they were wanting you to let them know what it was you want them to do for you.�
� Xahara waggled her eyebrows at Xaya.

  “Not me. We’re firmly friends, but I’m sure they are hoping you both call them. Fine as fuck, ain’t they?”

  “Yes.” They still didn’t compare in her mind to one Jager but hell, she couldn’t spend the rest of her life pining over a man she’d left to fend for himself as she licked the remnants of his cum from her lips.

  Pasting a smile on her face, Xahara draped an arm over each cousin. “This isn’t helping me burn any calories. Let’s go hit the fucking floor.”

  Xaya started dancing, and they followed her out onto the floor. Heart light, she pushed all her troubles and concern away, living for the moment. The here and now, being with her girls. Her cousins.

  This wasn’t any place for drugging thoughts of arresting blue eyes, brown hair, tattoos for days, and a goatee that did wicked things to her. Exhaling sharply, she reprimanded herself to stop thinking about him. Arms up, she began dancing.

  Jager swore as he left the meet with his handler. The man hadn’t been able to stop laughing that he’d been left behind by a woman he’d rescued. Sure, he couldn’t be too mad, because if it had been anyone else’s situation, he would have found it fucking amusing as well. But it had happened to him.

  His gaze landed on two men from Paul’s crew and he froze, pressing into the wall beside him. They were engrossed in something and not at all paying attention to what they were doing or who might be watching them. Like him.

  So he followed them. Keeping a decent distance, he trailed them to a place called Frenzied. There was a long line, but he watched them slip in after a word with the man at the door.

  Checking his money, he strolled up to the rope.

  “Line’s back there.” The man gestured behind him.

  “I’m with Travis and Matt. I had something else to attend.”

  Brown eyes stared at him and he waited, a look of bored irritation on the bouncer’s face.

  “Next time be here when your boys go in. Like I told them, that bitch your boss is looking for is here, has a private area but has been spending most of her time on the floor dancing. Two other bitches with her.”

  There was only one girl he knew that Paul would be after and that was his Dove. Damn it, Dove. Why did you come back here? You should have hauled ass out of dodge and never looked back.

  “I’ll make sure he knows you tipped us off. Thanks.”

  The man moved the rope and he slipped by. As he stepped inside the door, the man clapped a hand on his shoulder.

  “Wait a minute, aren’t you the other one he wants?”

  “Unfortunately,” he admitted before striking back with his elbow, clipping the man hard in the jaw, dropping him like a rock. Ignoring the sting reverberating up his arm, he rolled the man into a darkened part of the entryway. A body slumped over wouldn’t be much of a cause for concern in this place.

  Pushing through the crowd, he paused at the railing and looked over the dance floor. Desperation pumped in his veins. He had to find her before those two twats did. They would shoot her first and not give a fuck who they injured in the process.

  He wasn’t about to even entertain something like that happening. He had plans for that woman and her taking another bullet or three wasn’t anywhere on that list.

  He didn’t see her, and as the seconds passed, his frustration mounted. Travis and Matt worked the floor from opposite sides of the room. Jager had already pinpointed the reserved area but didn’t see the woman he sought.

  Hell, logically, he knew that it may not even be her, but somewhere in his gut, he knew his Dove had gotten herself involved in something once more. Neither man indicated that they’d seen her, so he swung his gaze back to the mass of gyrating bodies, many women in dresses so small they didn’t even qualify as one in his mind. None of them did a damn thing for him, women damn near showing off their pussy or boobs. Hell, sometimes both.

  His gaze moved over them without any interest.

  Right up until he found her.

  Fuck!

  Lightheaded, he stared. All he could think about was how fast he could get his cock deep in between her legs and that snug pussy. The dress covering her shone and shimmered in the lights that flashed above. When she turned, he witnessed the sheer lace panels that went up to the top of each hip.

  His cock went rock-hard and a possessive growl erupted from him. That was his woman they were looking at. The prickle went up his spine and he knew the time of her not being noticed had evaporated. Once he had hopped the rail—it was two steps higher than the floor, not much for him to clear—he strode out into the middle of chaos, his trajectory locked, and no amount of dancing bodies would dissuade him.

  He knew the women beside her in the red and the blue dresses were with her. She was the protector of the group, and they looked to her. Right now, they were all blissfully unaware.

  Allowing his body to find the beat, he moved up behind her, snaked an arm around her midriff and pulled her flush to him, allowing his hard cock to settle firmly against her ass. Where it fucking belonged.

  “Hello, Dove.”

  She went stiff for all of three seconds, then she moved. And the way her hips worked, he was ready to embarrass himself. Jager dropped a hand along the lace covering one of the legs he needed wrapped around him.

  “Tell your girls to get out of here. Travis and Matt are here.”

  The entire time, he continued dancing with her. One of the women with her looked at them, and he grinned at her. Her arched eyebrow rose further.

  Using the beat to his advantage, he moved her slightly so she could see Travis as he shoved through the crowd.

  “Fuck.” She rested a hand over his and put her head on his shoulder. “Xaya.”

  “Is this your hot biker who made you scream his name as he fucked you with his fingers?”

  “That’s me,” he answered before she could say another word.

  “Xaya, now’s not the time.” There was an edge to her tone. “Get to Aaron and Del.”

  “Why?”

  His Dove shook her head and pointed. “Go. I’ll call you later.”

  Xaya nodded, shot him another look then took off with the one in the red dress in tow.

  Turning her toward him, he sprawled a hand on the bare skin of her back, aligning their groins. Two bucks and he gloated at the hunger in her eyes.

  “Trust me.” He didn’t make it a question, because if she said no, they didn’t have the time to debate.

  “Plan?”

  “Can you run in that?”

  “Sure.”

  The movement of her hips was distracting as hell, but he tabled his lust. He had to get her out of there before following that desire. Drawing her closer still, with his left hand at the nape of her neck, he put their lips so close they brushed with each breath they took. As they danced, he moved them back toward the edge of the dance floor.

  “After we get out of this, I’m going to need a reason why you left my ass.”

  Her gaze sparkled and she nipped at his lower lip, sending another spear of lust rocketing through him.

  “I may give you one if we survive.”

  His chuckle was ripped from him. “We’ll survive. Believe me. There are still things I need to do to you.”

  “Promises, promises.” Her gaze hardened. “I see Matt.”

  “Nearest exit?”

  “Your side.”

  He spun her and located it. The music changed back to fast and in the loud whoop from the patrons, he gripped her hand and bolted to the exit. Bullets began to fly and people screamed as the stampede for the door began. Unfortunately, the man he’d clipped earlier was there and he blocked their way.

  “Del!”

  Jager watched a large black man hurry over. “You okay?”

  “No, I have to get going, but he won’t let me. I also need you and Aaron to keep Xaya and Xandra safe.”

  Jealousy rose as the man flicked a gaze between them. “Understood.” He took them a different way and
let them out of a side door.

  “Thank you.”

  The alley was eerie in its silence, coming from the club.

  “Now what?”

  “Remember that running I mentioned?”

  She groaned. Sexy as fuck. “I do.”

  “Don’t forget those words, Dove.”

  They took off, leaving the club behind in the chaos created by the shooters. His grip on her hand didn’t waver as he plunged ahead, desperate to lose those after them and make sure that he didn’t lose her before he had a chance to have her.

  His handler was going to kill him.

  Chapter Six

  Talk about déjà vu. Xahara swore she’d been in this predicament before. Holding on to the stone body that belonged to Jager.

  And me. She couldn’t help that thought, given the heated words of possession that had bandied between them before. She wanted to be able to claim him and that, again, didn’t make any bit of logical sense.

  But then, she wasn’t in a logical situation.

  Not that I ever am.

  Thankfully, her cousins would be safe. That was really all she cared about. Even with the gunfire, she didn’t doubt that Aaron and Del had done their job to protect them. While she regretted bailing on them, she admitted that they were probably safer away from her right now.

  She tightened her hold around Jager’s trim waist as he took a corner probably far above any posted speed limit. There wasn’t any fear within her for her own safety, not riding with him at least.

  “Do I at least get to know where you’re kidnapping me off to this time?” she hollered over the roar of the bike.

  His hand settled over hers where they clasped around him. Her belly did a few flips and flops at the tender yet blatantly possessive gesture.

  “Somewhere with a bed.”

  Yeah, there was going to be a wet spot on his seat.

  “Good idea, you’ll need a place to recover.” She pressed her cheek against the warm cotton of his shirt. He didn’t even have a jacket on and all she wanted to do was crawl closer. Fuck, he smelled good. Felt even better.

  “Likewise, Dove.”