Stripped Defenseless

by Lia Slater

  She sat up and stared at his lips. Her sensual green eyes devoured him for a moment. Jax grew hard in his jeans and smiled at her, letting himself think of all the fun he could have with her curvy little body.

  * * * * *

  Poppy jerked her eyes away from Jax’s alluring stare, taking in the situation she’d gotten herself into. The truck was totaled. There was a bump on her head, a hand on her breast, and a massive bulge in his jeans. “I think I need a ride,” she said, happy he hadn’t taken the case and left her stranded. And thrilled the gorgeous man had finally noticed her assets.

  “Well, then...” Jax squeezed her flesh in the palm of his large, rough hand. “I’d be more than happy to give you one.”

  What a gentleman.

  Poppy wrapped a leg around him to straddle his lap. Could it be Poppy Q. Smith found herself the man of her dreams and the money to buy her house on Bluebird Street?

  Her mama would be so proud.

  * * * * *

  After hours of questioning, Ava slouched down in the wooden chair in the cold, bland interrogation room and took a deep breath.

  “No, Kade Gavin did not kidnap me,” she repeated for the hundredth time. “Yes, I was free to leave if I had chosen to.” And “No, I do not want to press charges.”

  It was mostly lies, but she didn’t care. All she wanted was her life back with Kade in it, and she’d do or say anything to get it. Where was he?

  The bald-headed man with the mustache who had been questioning her took yet another loud slurp of his coffee and then set it down. “Well, then, Miss Lureau, you realize if he’s set free, we can’t offer you protection from him?”

  “I don’t need protection from him.” She grinned. If she told the man what she desired from Kade, he’d surely want to add a bolder ingredient to his java.

  “I see. You do understand we’ve had our eye on this particular man for quite some time. He’s a dangerous person. We just haven’t had enough proof to lock him up yet.”

  “And you won’t get any more evidence from me. He saved my life, Officer―” Whatever-the-hell-his-last-name-was. It didn’t matter. “And I’d like nothing more than to see him so I can thank him properly.”

  The door opened and Lucy stepped in wearing a knee length skirt and matching coat with a silk chamois underneath. Her hair was up in a tight bun. Mauve lipstick.

  It didn’t look like the same woman Ava had met at Kade’s cabin. But she was. And she was avoiding Ava’s stare. “Officer Kingsley, can I speak to you for a moment?”

  Who the hell was this woman? And what was she up to? Ava wondered if Kade knew her true identity.

  After Lucy whispered to Officer Baldy, he shrugged and took a seat in the corner of the room.

  Lucy turned to Ava and nodded. “You’re free to go, Miss Lureau.”

  Ava stood and adjusted Kade’s white cotton shirt to cover herself as much as possible. The scent of fresh mountain air wafted up into her nose. “What about Kade? Where is he?”

  Lucy shut the door behind her and took a few steps toward Ava. “Sit down.”

  Ava didn’t like the look on the woman’s face. Solemn and grave, not snide like it had been before. Ava sat but didn’t take her eyes off Lucy. “Where’s Kade? I want to see him right now.”

  “I’m sorry, but I’m afraid he’s dead.”

  “What?” It couldn’t be true. She was lying. The bitch was screwing with her mind. What kind of interrogation tactic was this?

  Lucy’s face seemed to pale as she straightened her shoulders. “I was forced to shoot him when he attempted an escape by grabbing at my gun.”

  “That’s bullshit,” Ava bellowed. “Why are you doing this? Who the hell are you?”

  The woman turned to the cop and gestured for him to leave. He nodded and obeyed.

  Good. She was alone with the wench. Maybe now Ava could get some real answers.

  Lucy took the idiot cop’s seat and looked over the table at Ava. Certain sincerity blanketed across her stunning face but Ava wasn’t fooled.

  “What have you done with him?”

  “I’ve been working undercover for quite some time, so I know all about Kade Gavin drugging and kidnapping you.”

  “He didn’t—”

  “And I know about Mr. Moreno paying to have you found.”

  “Just tell me where Kade is.”

  “You’re lucky to be alive. You understand that, right?”

  “Who are you?” Ava finally asked.

  “I’m Special Agent Lucy Keller. And I’m not here to hurt you. I think the best thing for you to do is to go home and get back into your regular routine.”

  “My regular routine? I don’t—”

  The woman put her hand up and stopped Ava from going on. “Forget about Moreno. Forget about Kade.”

  “I won’t forget about Kade. I love him, and I want him back.” Ava searched the woman’s heavily made up eyes for something...anything that said she was lying.

  There was nothing but blank expression on her face.

  “Tell me where he is,” Ava pleaded, losing control. It didn’t make sense. Kade couldn’t possibly be dead.

  Lucy slammed her hand on the table and looked Ava directly in the eyes. “Kade Gavin is dead,” she said pointedly. “Move on.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Kade sat on the couch in the tiny living room of Ava’s apartment and stared over Lucy’s shoulder at the front door. “When is she supposed to be home?” he asked anxiously as he ran his fingers over Raven’s fur.

  Six months had passed since he had last seen Ava. Six excruciatingly lonely months. But Lucy had insisted he wait that long to make sure there wasn’t a threat of retaliation from Senator Wadsley or any of the men working under him. Moreno had been his top man, the guy who had done all the dirty work. And now he was deceased with Kade to blame.

  The long list of wrongs Lucy had on Kade gave him no choice other than do as they said to avoid prison time. Including agreeing to play dead until the FBI collected enough evidence against Wadsley to take him down.

  Kade Gavin no longer existed. Kaden Thompson did. He hoped Ava liked the new last name since it would be hers soon, too. That is, if she agreed to marry him.

  “Any minute. She works in a battered women’s shelter on the weekend, but our surveillance team informed me she usually arrives home by seven.”

  Kade looked at the clock on the wall. Five past the hour.

  He swallowed down his anxiety and took yet another look around the small apartment. The Ava he didn’t know lived here, but somehow it felt familiar. Veterinary textbooks spread across the secondhand coffee table. His cat that she’d kept purred at his fingertips. A pink, loosely knitted sweater lay on the couch beside him. He scooped it up and inhaled the fruity scent before setting it back down.

  “Think she’ll recognize me?” He ran a hand over the stubble on his head. He’d kept it shaved, and it was just now growing back.

  Lucy chuckled and gave him the once over. “It’s not like you’ve had plastic surgery. Geez, Kade, you’ve got it bad. It really is pathetic.” She tossed a manila folder onto the table between them and stood. “Birth certificate, social security card, driver’s license—they’re all in there.”

  “Thanks.” Kade didn’t bother picking it up. His mind wouldn’t be able to register anything other than the thought of pulling Ava into his arms and onto the bed. Thankfully, he finally had that choice. “I appreciate you going up to bat for me, Luce.”

  She shot him a sly grin as she stood and headed for the door. “Why wouldn’t I? You’re a good man, Kade. And a talented investigator. You’ll more than make it up to me after you complete your training and show everyone at the force what you’re made of.”

  A new name, a new career, a fresh start—it was all coming together. And he couldn’t wait to share it all with Ava. Where was she?

  * * * * *

  At a quarter past ten, Ava walked up the steps to her apartment. Her friends and co-w
orkers from the shelter had convinced her to finally go out for drinks and dancing. Their intentions were good. But after two and a half hours of being hit on by men who weren’t Kade, Ava was done.

  It was too soon. His image was still fresh in her mind. Light blue eyes that easily switched from ice cold to a warm pale hue. Broad shoulders that were intimidating to others but made her feel secure. Muscular arms that could completely engulf her body to make her think she was the luckiest woman on the planet.

  The ripped stomach muscles that traveled down—

  Ava shook the thought from her mind. He’s gone. Six months had passed, long enough for her to accept reality. Too bad it wasn’t that easy.

  She shoved her key in the door, but the deadbolt turned too easily. She reflected back to that morning. Had she remembered to lock it? It was hard to tell. Her mind was useless ever since...since she’d lost Kade.

  Ava twisted the door knob slowly and pushed. The lights were off so she reached and flicked the switch, illuminating the living room. Raven slept lazily at the foot of the couch. Nothing seemed to be to be bothering her. Not that it would. The cat was the sweetest animal Ava had ever come across. And she was the only memento that bitch, Lucy, had let her keep from Kade’s cabin.

  After closing the door behind her, Ava swept a long glance over the apartment. Everything was in its place except for a folder sitting on the coffee table. That was odd. She was sure she’d remember putting something like that there.

  Someone had been here. Or still was.

  She went to see what the file contained. But stopped short when she heard the shower running in the bathroom.

  A surge of fear shot through her, standing her arm hairs on end. No one had a key to her apartment. And she’d just left every friend she had in the world at the bar.

  There was a stranger in her home.

  Moreno was dead, but there was nothing to keep one of his buddies from trying to take his place. Ava had been afraid of retaliation. That’s why she had purchased a gun.

  Without another thought, she made her way to the kitchen drawer where she kept it hidden. The small black pistol was the perfect size and fit for her hands as she grasped hold of it.

  She’d been through too much to simply roll over and die now.

  No, she was still a survivor. And whoever attempted to change that would regret it.

  * * * * *

  Kade let the hot drizzling water run down his back. He had to do something to ease his mind from the nervous anxiety of seeing Ava again.

  He pictured her in his head—deep blue-gray eyes that saw right through him. A petite curvy body he could hold in his arms. Nice, plump breasts. Soft. Supple. Lickable skin. Every inch of her. God, he couldn’t wait to taste her. That sweet flavor. He grew hard just thinking of it. Six months was too long.

  “Who the hell’s there?” Her voice echoed into the bathroom.

  The feisty sound of it made him smile. Sassy, lovable Ava.

  He reached down to shut the water off and then yanked open the pink, flowery curtain that hung between them.

  She stood there with a pistol gripped tightly pointed at him. Eyes wide and bloodshot. Face pale. Hair was blonde and cut short. Lips pursed. Light makeup.

  He’d never seen such a beautiful sight. “Hi, sweetheart.”

  “Kade.” She choked out a whisper. Her eyes rolled back into her head and her body went limp. The gun dropped to the rug.

  Before she could fall to the hard linoleum floor, he grabbed hold of her waist and lifted her into his arms. Her small, feminine body fit perfectly in his embrace.

  He was home.

  * * * * *

  Her fast fluttering heartbeat woke her as he carried her to the bedroom. He was naked against her. Wet.

  It was Kade, wasn’t it?

  The same searing eyes looked down at her through those dark lashes, saying so much more than words ever could.

  “Are you okay?” he asked with a half grin.

  Ava nodded, not knowing whether to scream, cry, or cheer. How could it be? She had gone to his funeral. Closed casket. Jax Cullen, his only family, had insisted on it even after Ava begged for one last look to say good-bye.

  “I don’t understand,” she said as he gently placed her on the bed. “They said—”

  “It was a lie. A cover up. I had to play along to avoid prison time.” He lay beside her and kissed her once. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, against her mouth.

  The feel of his lips released a wave of pent-up fantasies she’d been evading ever since she spent her first night alone without him. But he was here now.

  Wasn’t he?

  It seemed too good to be true. She brought her hands up to his clean-shaven face and cradled his strong jaw line. His head dipped down to kiss her again. His velvety tongue slipped past her stunned lips and possessed her mouth, commanding her to want so much more.

  Yes, it was Kade. It had to be. No other man had the ability to blur her mind with a mere kiss. A surge of overwhelming heat raced down her body, settling between her legs. How the miracle of getting him back came about wasn’t important. But as his hand made quick work of the buttons on her silk blouse, a horrible thought occurred to her.

  She pulled away from his kiss. “Where have you been? You don’t have to leave me again, do you?” she asked all in one fretful breath.

  He smiled and shook his sexy shaven head. “We’ll talk about it after I’m done making love to you. And, no, I’m not going anywhere.” He finished unbuttoning and then threw her blouse to the floor. He dragged his fingers down her belly to unfasten her jeans and tugged them off with panties that were already soaked with her desire for him.

  There was an urgent yearning in his eyes that left Ava wanting to quench it. To give him everything he needed and desired. She kissed his lips, his cheek, the droplets of water on his neck. She inhaled his masculine scent, unable to get enough.

  “Damn, I missed you,” his voice rumbled out of his mouth and into her heart.

  Eager, she continued down his moist body, trailing a path along his powerfully built chest, solid to the touch. He leaned back and allowed her to lick at the rippled muscles on his stomach. She arrived at his cock—hard, thick and long. Stiff under her lips. She ran her tongue over the tip, tasting a small amount of his pre-cum. Delicious. Familiar. Hers. It was enough to make her hunger for more—to have him shudder under her power.

  Before she could wrap her mouth around his hardness, he grabbed her and hauled her up to his broad chest. He pressed his lips to hers and kissed her, taking back control.

  She resisted. “Wait. I have a better idea.”

  “No. I need you.”

  “And you’ll get me, but on my terms.” Joy overwhelmed her, but she kept a serious frown on her face. It was time to take matters into her own hands. No more being led around by a leash or a gun. No more allowing a man to have complete control of her destiny. It was time for Ava Lureau to be in charge.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m not your captive anymore, Kade. I’m a free woman and I’ll do whatever I want whenever I want.” With you.

  No response. Just a blank stare. Apparently, he hadn’t factored in the possibility of her saying no. She wanted to laugh out loud. But she remained poker-faced for the game. She gestured toward the grip he had on her upper arms. “Let go.”

  He did as she commanded but sure as hell didn’t look happy about it. “You know I didn’t mean to—”

  “Shush.” She clapped her hands against his chest and shoved away from him. “Lie on your back in the middle of the bed.”

  “Do you want to be on top?”

  “I want you to be silent.” She turned her head away so he wouldn’t see her smile. This felt way too good. But who knew how far he’d go for her.

  I guess I’ll find out soon. She made her way to her dresser and plucked out a handful of her silk scarves. When she returned to the bed, he was in the middle, just as she had ordered. He pro
pped up on his elbows and watched her.

  “Maybe we should talk about this,” he said. “I’m sure this was all a lot for you to take in.”

  Ava ignored him and attached one of the scarves to his ankle.

  “What are you doing? Tying me up?” A tight-lipped, anxious grin spread across his face.

  “Trust me.” She jerked the scarf toward the bedpost and knotted. “Trust your intuition.”

  “Oh, I get it. This is cute, but maybe we could play later. After I’ve made love to you.”

  “Nope.” She secured his other leg to the opposite post, forcing his muscular legs apart. His cock jutted up, arched toward his stomach. God, she wanted him inside her. It had been too long.

  His gorgeous ice-blue gaze followed her as she maneuvered around the left side of the bed and grabbed his wrist. His head fell back against the mattress. “You’re mad, right? You want to teach me a lesson?”

  Not bothering to answer him, she yanked and tied. Then she climbed on top of his naked body and sat on his chest. Attempting to avoid his piercing stare, she gripped his free hand and began to wrap the last scarf around it.

  “I’ll do anything you want,” he said but twisted out of her grasp. “However, I need to be able to touch you.” He cradled her cheek and ran his thumb over her lips.

  Weakened by the loving gesture, she closed her eyes. She felt him drag his fingers down her neck and over her tender breast, swollen with the need for his touch. He circled her nipple twice and then continued along her stomach.

  Ava’s skin prickled from the intimate contact. Something she thought she’d never experience again but was ecstatic to have once more.

  The tips of his fingers encircled her navel and then trailed back up the same path. “I love your body,” he said in a husky voice. “Every part of it.”

  She forced her eyes open as he reached her cheek. She took a deep breath to steady her pounding heart. He’d had a certain power over her since the first day she’d met him. Today was no different.

  Determined to take back the control, she gripped his hand and slid it back down to her breast. “I have one scarf left. Do you want to touch me or see me?”