by Dawn, Taylor
“We need to hunt this guy down and take care of him,” Cole suggested.
“How the hell are we supposed to do that and still fly under the radar?” So many scenarios blasted through Luke’s head—none of them were ideal for the situation they were faced with.
“Fuck if I know. But if we don’t take care of the problem, the big man will find out and call this thing off.”
“Fine.” Luke leaned forward and braced his elbows on the table. “I’m putting you in charge of it.”
“You know I like to be where the action is.” Cole grinned like a kid who’d been abandoned in a toy store. Yeah, Luke knew this was Cole’s thing, the more damage he could cause the better.
“But I bet you ten to one this bastard doesn’t come out of hiding unless Ava is around.”
“So we use her as bait.” Luke could see the wheels turning in Cole’s brain. But he didn’t like the thought of putting Ava out in a situation like that.
“I don’t like it,” Luke bit out.
“How else do you suppose we get him to show himself? It’s not like we can go around town yelling ‘here, piggy piggy’.”
“I guess you’re right.”
“How about this, we know he’s more than likely not going to show up here again. What if we let her go back to her house and just keep an eye on the place?” Cole suggested.
“I don’t see how that’s supposed to work. Her house is out on the beach, the only neighbor she has is at least a hundred yards away.” Luke tried to think of other alternatives but came up short.
Cole chuckled. “Only a hundred yards, that’s child’s play to you. Hell, that Columbian in Bogotá was further away than that, you dropped him while he was drinking his Folgers and reading the Drug Lord Times.”
“Don’t remind me. That was a tough one.” Luke thought back to that job. It hadn’t been easy at all. He’d sweated his ass off in the sub-tropic climate while wearing enough camouflage that even the trees thought he was one of them. “I’ll cover the distance but I want you on site somehow.”
“I can handle that. Chances are he doesn’t know I’m here. If we play this right, I can use the cover as a beach bum for a bit.” Cole began to type furiously on his laptop and then stopped. “Just pulled up the property next to hers. It’s a vacation rental.”
“Is it vacant?” Luke mentally crossed his fingers.
“As of three days ago. Doesn’t look like the new vacationers are supposed to come in for another two weeks. That gives us plenty of time.”
“We won’t need two weeks,” Luke said with utter certainty.
“Now the only problem is how do we get Ava back to her house? You insisted she stay here with you, you can’t very well be like ‘time to go’.”
Cole had a point. But if Luke knew anything about Ava, it was that she had a temper. He would have to play on that and hope she would forgive him yet again for being an asshole. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Good luck. I’ll spend the rest of this evening getting everything squared away. If you can get her there by tomorrow before dark, I think we’ll have our best shot at taking this guy out.”
Luke nodded. This was a throw-together plan, and hopefully it would pan out. If not, they would have to find some other way of tracking this guy down and taking him out of the equation. The one thing he didn’t want though was for Ava to catch wind of any of this. If she did, she’d be gone. But on the flip side, if she didn’t forgive him for what he was going to do in the morning, he’d lose her anyway.
Chapter Eighteen
Ava rolled over in bed and hit a brick wall. Well, it wasn’t really a brick wall; it was Luke sitting up in bed beside her. His lamp was on next to him on the nightstand and he was reading something on his phone. He hadn’t noticed her awake just yet so she took the chance to admire him. Damn, she couldn’t get enough of looking at the gorgeous man in the bed next to her. Even with the firm beginnings of a full beard, he was a sight to behold. How she got so lucky as to have met him was beyond her. She’d vowed to stay single because of her circumstances, but the day she laid eyes on Luke all of that changed. A bit of sadness crept in though as she thought about the future. What if she needed to go on the run again? What would that do to him? Did he even care for her as much as she’d begun to care for him? So many questions stood without solid answers.
“Are you staring at me?” His gravelly voice snapped her attention back to his face.
“Maybe.” Her cheeks flamed with embarrassment and she ducked her head.
“And what were you thinking about when you ‘might’ve’ been staring at me?” He sat his phone on the table beside him and scooted down under the sheet so he was eye-level with her.
“How handsome you are.” She pulled her hand from under the covers and yanked gently on his growing beard. “Even with this you’re still gorgeous.”
“First of all, men are not gorgeous. And are you telling me you don’t like my beard?” One dark eyebrow lifted in amusement.
“It’s growing on me.” Ava began to run her fingers through the course hair on his face.
“That feels good.” She watched as his eyelids shuttered his blue gaze while he reveled in the sensations that her fingers produced.
“I’m sorry you had to cut your meeting short because of me.” Ava didn’t know why she was apologizing—force of habit maybe. Or maybe it was to have some sort of conversation with him.
“Hey.” Luke opened his eyes and began to stroke her face the same way she’d done his. “You needed my help. Don’t apologize for that.”
For some reason thoughts of the future replayed again. Not necessarily their future together but one where she had to leave suddenly. “Can I ask you something?”
“Anything.” His eyes were focused on hers.
“If I had to pack up and leave tomorrow, what would you do?”
“Are you leaving?” His face became serious.
“It’s a hypothetical question.”
“Then I hypothetically don’t have to answer it.”
“I’m being serious. Just answer the question.”
In mere seconds Luke had her pinned beneath him. He wasn’t hurting her but every nerve ending in her body was singing in unison at the way his frame connected with hers. “Well, if I knew you were leaving, I’d tie you to my bed and make you stay.” He laid his lips on hers and began to kiss her.
Hurt crept in as his words registered. This wasn’t about a meaningful relationship like she’d hoped. It was strictly about sex for him. That should’ve been fine since that’s what they started this whole thing out as. But even though every part of her was screaming for him to touch her, another part of her—her heart—was telling her that this entire thing was headed for disaster. She’d finally told herself that Luke wasn’t just a fixation or a passing fancy. He meant something. And that something was going to rip her apart if she had to let it go.
“Look at me, Ava,” he demanded. She did as he asked. “You’re slipping away in that head of yours. I need you here, with me.”
“I don’t know if I can do this anymore.” She felt more tears begin to build and didn’t want to let them fall.
“Do what?” He looked confused.
“This. Us. I can’t pretend what we have doesn’t mean more than it does anymore.”
She watched as thoughts flew through his head. What was he going to say? Was he going to beg her to stay and give this thing a shot? Or would he tell her to pack her shit and get out. Either way, if he feigned indifference, she’d be leaving anyway. So it didn’t really matter what he had to say at this moment.
“I love you,” he said.
Ava shook her head. Did she hear him wrong? He couldn’t have said what she thought he said. “What did you say?” she whispered.
“I said I love you, Ava.”
It didn’t seem real. No, this had to be a dream and she’d wake up any second and be filled with disappointment. It was too perfect, too surreal. Someone nee
ded to pinch her and make sure she was really hearing this correctly. Ava opened her mouth to respond to Luke’s declaration only to be interrupted by his lips on hers once again. He took his time, savoring and licking the seam of her lips while running his hand down her clothed body. She thought for a second he’d be upset that she was wearing her nightgown while in his bed, but thought better of it when she felt his hands glide over the soft cotton of the fabric. She wanted to tell him how she felt, but he wasn’t letting her. He was distracting her with his wicked mouth and hands.
Finally he broke the kiss, leaving her breathless and full of need. But still she had to say something. “Luke, I…” He stopped her by placing a finger over her kiss-swollen lips.
“Don’t. I don’t want you to say anything right now. I just want you to feel.” His words were barely a whisper, but she heard him so loud and clear. They were punctuated with the touch of his fingertips moving gracefully down her side, lifting the bottom of her nightgown, until she could feel the cool air of the room on her bare legs and midsection.
Luke’s body lifted off hers and he motioned to her gown. He didn’t have to say anything; she knew what his request was. Her. Naked. So she grabbed the hem of the garment and pulled it over her head, dropping it off the side of the bed. As she lay back against the plush pillows, Luke hooked his fingers in the band of her panties and slid them down her legs—goosebumps popping up everywhere he touched. She wasn’t sure she’d ever wanted him as much as she did right then. There was an urgency building inside that began at her core and felt like molten lava wanting to spew outward. Her eyes connected with his, asking a silent question when he didn’t move back up her body.
He shook his head. “I need to taste you.” He grabbed her legs and bent them at the knees, his gaze locking on the soaked flesh ready and waiting for his caress. “Fucking amazing.” The look of extreme intent was written all over his bearded face as he scooted down the bed and aligned his face with her intimate folds. She’d never been one to enjoy oral sex, but having Luke front and center with her like this was giving her a heady sort of power she couldn’t wait to unleash.
“Spread your knees apart for me, sweetheart. I want to see all of you.”
She squirmed as she did what he said, his hands running the course of her legs causing her to whimper in anticipation. The lamp was still on beside the bed and the image of his face between her spread thighs had her ready to explode, and he wasn’t even really touching her yet. How pathetic. She was under his spell so much that with just one look she was a heap of need around this man. A man who truly loved her. Ava smiled at that thought. Luke loved her. He didn’t just say it in the heat of the moment to make her happy, he meant it. Her thoughts of what that meant were halted by a tickling sensation along the insides of her thighs. She giggled a little when she realized it was Luke’s newly grown beard causing her to become jovial all of a sudden. But the humor was cut short as he pressed his mouth to her sex and began giving the most erotic open-mouthed kiss she’d ever felt.
Hands and fingers delved into his hair as he licked her, paying special attention to her now swollen clit. She wouldn’t last long if he kept this up. Her hips rose off the mattress as he dipped his tongue lower and fucked her in the same way he would’ve done with his cock.
“Oh fuck,” Ava moaned as he began a sensual figure eight on her clit. His mouth was pure magic wrapped in sin. But she’d burn in hell before she told him to stop.
He concentrated on what he was doing and everything was done with precision. Just when she thought the sensations couldn’t get any better, Luke added two fingers to the mix. He slowly entered her and pushed deep as he continued to tongue the outside of her sex.
“Luke, I’m going to come,” she hissed. But he didn’t speed up, he stopped entirely. “No, don’t stop,” she scolded.
“I’m not letting you come on my fingers. I want you to come on my tongue.” He placed his mouth there once more and thrust his tongue deep inside her achy channel. It didn’t fill her up as his cock would have but just knowing his mouth was on her made her lose her mind.
“Yes. Right there.” He’s managed to find a spot that made her hips buck off the bed and her words to lodge in her throat.
He pulled away for a moment to say, “When I put my mouth back on you, I want you to come all over my tongue.” Then he was back at it. His warm tongue plunged back into her and she began to move her hips along with his fucking motions.
The scream that ripped from her throat spurred him on as her release climbed up her body and had her shaking from head to toe. Ava’s hands fisted in the rumpled sheets as she felt Luke grab the cheeks of her ass and lift her slightly to get a better angle. If she didn’t think his tongue could go any deeper, she was dead wrong. It did. The feeling causing her orgasm to extend past what she thought she could handle. Pulse upon pulse slammed into her until her body felt like a heap of bones on the bed.
Near lifeless she lay there while Luke worked her down from her epic release. Yes, she would certainly take a one way ticket to hell if it meant being able to experience something like that again.
Chapter Nineteen
Luke woke early to prepare for the day. A day he didn’t want to have any part in. The plan was simple; the outcome would be anything but. He didn’t expect a positive result from what he’d do when Ava woke up, but somewhere deep down, he hoped against hope she would someday see that his intentions were honorable. Even though he knew full well she’d never see it like that. He’d blame it on the way the woman’s thought process worked, but he knew damn well that what he was preparing to do would shatter the beautiful soul still sleeping in his bed upstairs. All he could do was stare into his mug of black coffee and hope it would produce some valid answers.
“Morning,” Cole clunked into the kitchen with a somber expression on his face. The man was always good for seriousness when the mood called for it. Today was one of those days.
“Yeah.” Luke couldn’t even bring himself to give a proper greeting.
“Did you figure out how to get things going?” Cole strode to the coffee pot and poured himself a cup. Even the sound of the liquid hitting the ceramic mug gave him a headache.
“I did.”
“Wow, you’re just full of extended responses today, aren’t you?”
“Just do me a favor and play along when I get this rolling. You’ll probably need to take her home, too.”
“What if our friend is watching?” Cole pulled out a chair and took a seat.
“He won’t be. There’s no way he’s watching this early. Not after his stunt yesterday. He’s gonna be smart and lay low for a while today. If he comes out to play, it’ll be later this evening or tonight.”
“And you’re sure about this?” Cole asked, cocking his head to the side.
“I’m not really fucking sure about anything right now. But I don’t have another choice.”
“Can I ask what the plan is with Ava?”
“No you can’t. The more surprised you are the better. I need the effect to make it work.”
“Whatever you say. You’re the point man on this shit. I’m just the lowly backup dancer.” Cole chuckled.
Damn it, Luke wanted to punch the guy in the fucking face again.
They sat at the table in silence drinking their coffee. Luke racked his brain for another way to handle this, but after what’d happened last night, he realized he needed to stick to the plan. The house was silent save for the normal creaking of the antiquated interior. A sound he was starting to get used to since he’d been there. It wasn’t until he heard familiar footsteps descending the staircase that his nerves began to go haywire.
“Showtime,” he said to Cole as he slapped his game face on.
Ava bounced into the kitchen wearing a pair of cutoff jean shorts and a pink tank top that said ‘I’m a beautician, not a magician’ scrolled across the front in a calligraphic font. Everything in him wanted to smile at her presence but he couldn’t. This w
asn’t the time or place for that.
“Good morning, you two.” Her voice was chipper and upbeat, the polar opposite of his current mood.
“Morning, Ava,” Cole greeted and then looked over to Luke.
She went about getting herself a cup of coffee and sitting down at the table with them. Her eyes shot from his to Cole’s—he tried to keep from holding her gaze too long. If he did, he’d chicken out of what he was on the verge of doing.
“Are you okay, Luke?” Her sweet voice snapped his attention and broke his concentration for a few seconds. But he quickly recovered.
“Fucking peachy.” He shot her a sarcastic grin—by the look on her face she’d picked up on it immediately.
“Am I missing something?” She looked to Cole again.
“Don’t ask me, he was a surly bastard when I came in here.” Cole played along.
Ava laid her hand on his arm and he jerked it away like her touch had burned him. It did in a way, but there was nothing negative about this type of burn. “Luke, please tell me what’s going on. Did I do something wrong.”
He abruptly stood, knocking his chair back a couple feet. “We need to talk.” He kept his voice steady.
“Okay, then talk. Clearly you have something on your mind.” She became defensive. Just what he was hoping she’d do.
“I think I’ll step outside while you two hash out what you need to.” Cole stood and grabbed his half empty cup, retreating out the back door and away from the line of fire. If Luke knew him well, he’d bet the other man didn’t go far.
“Now we’re alone. So what’s crawled up your ass?” Ava spat. There was the spitfire emerging that he wanted to see.
Luke turned his back, if he looked directly at her while he said what he needed to, he’d cave. “I said some things last night. I’m not a man to take back things I say, but I may’ve jumped the gun on one thing in particular.” He rubbed the back of his neck where an ache was forming.