by Lia Slater
If Kade let her go, he was sure Moreno would have ten other guys to take his place.
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted movement on the screen. His attention went back to the cameras as he watched a red SUV drive past the five-mile mark, sending a series of light dings out through the computer speaker. Damn it.
* * * * *
Poppy ground her body into Zack’s erection held back only by a pair of thin black slacks, getting herself off in the process. This was her favorite part of the job, but she would never admit it to anyone.
Her mama, bless her heart, would have called Poppy a depraved trollop and sent her to the preacher for a good talking to. But Poppy couldn’t help it. She always loved everything about sex and didn’t see what the problem was.
The stranger underneath her grunted and groaned as she slid back and forth, rubbing hard against him. “Take off your panties,” he ordered.
“This is as far as I go, mister.”
“Five hundred bucks says you’ll do whatever the fuck I say.” He grabbed her waist and held her still.
She rolled her eyes. Did the man think she was born in a barn? “You got that on you?” she asked, just in case. Five hundred would get her one step closer to her dream house, that was for sure.
His large hand plopped down on the briefcase sitting next to them, as if it were its own person. He pulled the case between them and carefully opened it enough for her to see the stacks of dough inside. With a glint in his eye, he reached in and pulled out a single one hundred dollar bill. “I have five more of these just waiting for you.”
“You got a hell of a lot more than that in there,” she said, excited. “How much is it?”
“Enough to get me laid. Now, take off those panties.”
Without another thought, she stood and slid her thong down her legs. She’d do just about anything to get her hands on that case. Even screw this guy. At least he was cute. She’d had worse, much worse. And it wasn’t like Jarred was in a hurry to turn her into an honest woman.
* * * * *
Ava felt Kade harden from her touch. She might be angry with the man for all he’d done, but she couldn’t help but still be attracted to him. And if seducing him was the answer to her survival, then so be it.
“I didn’t lie to Zack about my eye color,” she said, maneuvering her body in between his muscular thighs. “He guessed and I didn’t argue. It was almost as if he wanted them to be green. As if it meant something to him. So...I let him have that.”
“Do you always give pieces of yourself to unworthy men?”
She bit her tongue so she wouldn’t curse at the man. His words had hit her somewhere deep, but she didn’t want to face the ugly truth. Just focus on the objective. Get your shoes and get out. She peered up at Kade, who seemed distracted by something on the computer screen and the odd noise coming from the speakers. This was going to take more work than she thought.
Determined, she took a breath and ran her tongue over his jean-covered erection.
“Baby.” He shifted in his seat and looked down at her. “Don’t do this. Not now, and not for the reasons you have in your mind.”
Ignoring him, Ava fumbled with his fly, unbuttoning one, then two, then three.
“Shit. Ava...” He ran his fingers through her hair and rested them on her chin, nudging her to look at him. His expression was intense, concerned, caring. But he didn’t say a word.
She knocked his hand away and went back to work. He wasn’t allowed to look at her that way—like she meant something more to him other than just a paycheck or an easy fuck. This was about sex, seduction, and survival. That was it.
The rest of the buttons came undone easily, and she peeled his underwear over the bulge burgeoning beneath. His beautiful cock sprang free and her mouth watered.
A pang of desire pulsed between her thighs as she licked his full length from base to head.
“Jesus, Ava. I can’t say no to you.”
“Then don’t,” she murmured and ran her tongue over him again. He was thick, hard and silky, and she let her mind wander to the times it had been inside of her, commanding her to come.
After tightly gripping his base, she sank his head deep into her mouth, devouring him. “Mmm,” she rumbled against it, sucking and tasting him. Her tongue wound around, back and forth, over the ridge of his head and then up and down, feeling every inch of his shaft with her taste buds. His cock pulsed in her mouth, and his hand braced the back of her neck. He massaged her roughly as he leaned down and cradled her head.
“Oh, God, Ava,” he said huskily.
She palmed his balls and they tightened in her embrace. Her pussy ached for more, and she rocked against the seam of her jeans.
The taste of his arousal filled her senses, dizzying her mind.
An anguishing need throbbed between her legs so she pressed her fingers there, rubbing her clit. She sucked his hard length into her mouth with a vengeance, letting him skim the back of her throat. Her tongue stroked and massaged his silky skin, and he groaned by her ear.
“Ava, look what you’re doing to me.” His deep voice vibrated through her body, straight to her blazing core.
His grip tightened in her hair. He filled her mouth with his sultry cock, so thick and powerful. She scored her tongue down his pulsating vein, his velvety taut skin. Over the clipped ridge of his rounded head.
She eagerly sucked more of him in, tasting his salty flavor. Her pussy wept against the denim of her jeans, crying for release.
She was so close, but before she could reach the pinnacle of orgasm, he thrust forward and let out primal growl.
He held her against him as his hot cum spurted the back of her throat. She stopped rocking and swallowed him whole, hating that she loved the taste of him.
And despising that the seduction was over.
She’d gone too far too fast. He’d gotten what he’d wanted and she hadn’t gotten a thing.
One more piece of herself she’d given away. His words had definitely hit home.
Her heart twisted terribly, and she fell back onto her bottom. He followed her onto the floor, hovering over her body, slanting his wounded mouth lightly against hers.
“Forgive me,” he whispered and kissed her again. “Please.”
“I’ll forgive you when you let me go.” She stared into his pale blue eyes as she held her breath. Only momentarily questioning if she would have loved him under different circumstances.
“I...I can’t. It’s for your own good. You have to believe me.” He moved in to kiss her again, but Ava wasn’t having it.
“Fuck you,” she whispered and brought her feet up. She slammed them against his solar plexus as hard as she could. Surprisingly, he lurched back against the chair, like a tired old man.
Huh. She supposed every man had a weakness, but what was so different about that particular instance she didn’t know and didn’t have time to guess.
He stood from the ground and quickly buttoned his jeans as he towered over her. “We’ll finish this later,” he said in a grave voice, but somehow she wasn’t frightened by his threat at all.
She rose to her feet and straightened her shoulders. “Only if I let it happen.”
A sexy smirk curled his lips. He brought his hand up and brushed it against her pebbled nipple pointing shamefully against her snug T-shirt. “Oh, I think you will.”
Shocked by his words and embarrassed by how he could turn her into mush by one simple touch, she could only watch as he headed toward the door—just as someone began to knock.
* * * * *
Zack’s cell phone rang as Poppy was about to sit down on his latex-covered cock. He put up a finger. “Hold on. I have to answer this.”
She sighed and sat back on his legs.
“This better be good,” he said into the phone while groping one of Poppy’s breasts with his callus-free, manicured hand. “He’s not here and neither is she, so where are they?” He released her and traveled down over her Bermuda
-waxed mound to her wet heat. He slipped one finger in absently. “You got to be kidding me.” Growing impatient, Poppy slapped his hand away and slid on top of his hardness, guiding it into her. She began slowly driving up and down.
He didn’t object, but it was obvious he was irritated at the information he was receiving over the phone. “No, I don’t want you to go there. I’ve paid you morons enough money as it is,” he yelled. “I’ll do it my goddamn self. It’s what I should’ve done in the first place before Gavin decided to screw me over.” He shut his phone with force and slammed it back into his jacket pocket. “Didn’t I tell you to wait?” he bellowed at Poppy.
“Time is money, pal.” She pumped him faster, grasping his shoulders as she began to climax. “Yes, yes, yes!” she called out as she worked overtime, clenching her walls tightly against his erection until she reached a full orgasm and then collapsed against him.
“Get off of me,” Zack barked into her ear. “I can’t believe this shit. I just got raped by a whore.”
“I didn’t rape you,” she shrieked. “And I’m not a whore.” She flung herself off his lap and his deflated cock and began searching for her panties. The jerk was just looking for an excuse not to pay her, and she wasn’t going to let him off that easy.
“Yeah, well, I’m not a satisfied customer,” he grumbled and threw his rubber to the floor. “And I’ve got to get out of here.”
“I don’t think so, pal.” She was determined to get her money. She ran out of the room and quickly slid a chair under the knob, locking him and the briefcase inside.
“What the—” Zack’s shouts trailed off as she made her way across the club to the office.
Jarred walked up behind her, nipping at her heels. “Pop,” he yelled, startling her. “Dean said you were in the backroom with some guy without cover. What the fuck were you doing?”
“It’s not what you think.” She dodged his hand as it came out to grasp her arm. She jerked the office door open and hurried to the desk.
“Don’t lie to me, Pop. I know the look you get after you’ve pulled a trick.”
“I didn’t do anything. I swear,” she lied. She couldn’t help it. That case of money was the answer to all her prayers and dreams...and she didn’t need to suck up to any two-bit loser to get it.
Although she might have to kill one.
Frantically, she yanked out the drawers of the desk, sweeping her hand through each one. Where was the gun she always saw Jarred playing with?
He came up behind her and captured her arms, swinging her around and pinning her against the desk. “What are you doing?” he asked, piercing her with a stare. “Looking for a condom? Who you got in that room?”
“Nobody. And trust me. I’m not looking for a condom.” She already had a stash of those in the backroom.
Poppy scanned the room, making up time as Jarred held her down. And then she saw it. On top of the filing cabinet. “Do you want a blow job?” That usually distracted him.
He stood up and straightened his leather jacket. “Uh, sure.”
As he sat down in the folding chair, Poppy sprung for the gun and attempted to dash out of the room.
Jarred was quicker than she’d anticipated. He grabbed her arm and flung her around.
“Let go!”
“Give me my goddamn gun, you bitch.” His free hand swung up and made potent contact with her cheek.
This is what Ava had warned her about.
Poppy brought the gun up and pulled back on the trigger. “Do you want to die today?” she asked him with all the authority she could muster.
He dropped her arm. “Pop, that’s not funny. Give me that thing.”
“No. I’m in charge now. Get over there by the desk.” She clasped the gun with both hands and aimed at his head.
Slowly, he backed up, and she felt more powerful than ever. This is what it felt like to be in control.
“Throw me your jacket.”
He shrugged off the leather coat and reluctantly tossed it at her feet. “You going to pull this shit after all I’ve done for you?”
“Sorry.” She shrugged and picked the jacket off the floor. “I want more than a job at a strip joint.” She walked backward. “See ya,” she whispered and left him there.
Stumbling only once on her spiked heels, she raced back across the club. She slipped the oversized jacket on, grasping tightly to the heavy weapon in her hands that hid underneath the long sleeve.
But she stopped in her tracks when she saw the backroom door wide open with Zack no where in sight. Dean, one of the bouncers, stood by with a grin on his face. “Sorry, Pop. It’s goes against the fire codes to block these doors.”
“Fuck you, Dean.” She brought the gun out and waved it at him.
He jumped back, and Poppy laughed. She liked being in charge. Too bad she didn’t have the time to stick around and have some fun.
Zack with his shiny, black leather case was getting away.
* * * * *
Ava held her breath, expecting to see Zack walk in Kade’s front door. Instead, it was a tall, thin brunette with big, beautiful brown eyes and deep red lips. She wore a short red leather mini skirt with black thigh-high boots, a charcoal-colored stretchy turtleneck. And in her arms was a sleek black cat.
She looked angry as she stomped in the door and held Kade’s stare. “You know what I’m going to say.”
“Yes, I know,” Kade answered. “I couldn’t help it.” He nodded toward Ava, and the woman turned her head and gave Ava the once over.
“Who’s that?” she asked Kade as if Ava wasn’t in the same room.
“It’s a long story.”
“Is that your target, Kade? Did you bring her home with you?” The woman let the cat drop to the floor, bending over to showcase her long legs.
Ava felt smaller and less visible with every word they spoke. She wasn’t a target. She was a human being. “Who are you?” she asked the woman.
“This is Lucy,” Kade answered but didn’t meet either of their eyes. “Lucy, this is Ava.”
“I’m his girlfriend,” Lucy said, sticking her chin out. “And his overworked cat-sitter. Which, by the way,” she shot back to Kade, “I’m not doing anymore. I’m just as busy with missions as you are.”
A rush of heat crawled up into Ava’s cheeks. He had a girlfriend. What a great way to top off the day. Suddenly, the threat of seeing Zack was becoming less and less of an issue as her mind clouded with both anger and unwanted jealousy.
“She’s not my girlfriend,” Kade mumbled while looking at Ava. He shook his head and turned toward the kitchen.
“Oh, excuse me. I’m his lover.” Lucy threw a grin Ava’s way. “From the expression on your face, I’d guess you are, too.”
“No.” Ava pushed a lock of her mussed hair behind her ear. “I’m nothing to him. I just want to leave. He kidnapped me.” She thought maybe this woman could help her escape, but by the way Lucy rolled her eyes, it didn’t look like she cared much. But what the hell? Ava gave it one more try. “He kidnapped me against my will and brought me here. You have to help me.”
Ava watched as Kade pulled a box of cat food from the cupboard and poured some into a dish that rested against the wall. He didn’t seem concerned at all.
Lucy winked at Ava, walked up behind Kade, and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Why don’t you let her go, honey?”
He peeled the woman’s hands from him and forced them back to her side. “You know why, Luce. Don’t play stupid.”
She laughed and swerved toward Ava. “Did you give him that nice little cut on his lip? I bet he deserved it.”
“Time for you to leave, Luce. You’ve had your fun.”
“Not nearly enough.” She walked over to Ava and swept her hand across her slightly bruised cheek. “Did he do this to you?”
Ava didn’t answer. Lucy’s up-close beauty was breathtaking, and her scent was heady and sexy. Her skin and makeup were flawless.
She was the perfect w
oman. And she was Kade’s. Ava fought the unwanted jealousy burning inside of her, attempting to turn it to anger. Kade was a deceiving, manipulative asshole.
Lucy smiled at her, emphasizing her blushed cheeks and full, crimson lips.
Ava was speechless and fully aware of her own lack of makeup. She felt like a complete and utter mess. And she was sure anything she said at that moment wouldn’t be enough to make up for it.
“Kade?” Lucy said, not taking her eyes off Ava. “I thought you were against striking women? I mean with what happened with your mother and—”
“I didn’t hit her.” He strode across the room with heavy footsteps, stopping in front of the two women. “You need to leave.”
“Why?” Lucy’s smirk was pure evil. “Want to beat her again? Like father, like—”
“Shut up.” Kade’s jaw visibly tightened. “I’d never hurt Ava. I’m in love with her.”
“What?” both woman said in unison.
Ava felt the blood rush from her face as she grew faint. She stared up at the distraught expression Kade held as he closed his eyes and shook his head.
“Never mind.” He shoved his hand through his hair. “Luce, you need to go. Okay?”
Ava took a step away from them. Clearly, he hadn’t meant to say he was in love with her. And if he had, it was just another deception. He wanted to get this woman, who was causing him obvious grief out of his home, and his bungling words were simply a tactic.
“Are you kidding me?” Lucy narrowed her eyes at him. “You’re in love with her? She’s your target, Kade.”
“I said never mind. Just go. I won’t bother you with the cat anymore.”
“Fuck the cat. You’ve known this woman for how long?”
Ava needed to lie down, scream into a pillow, splash cold water on her face...something. Anything as long as she wasn’t there next to Kade.
Of course he didn’t love her. It wasn’t possible. He had abducted her so he could collect money, for God’s sake. How could that ever be confused with love?