Highest Bidder (A Bad Boy Romance)

by Mia Carson

  Alec’s kiss deepened, and she moaned against his mouth. His hand moved against her, cupping her through the fabric, and she groaned when he slid it aside and found her wanting and soaking. “You cry for me,” he whispered in her ear, sucking and nibbling her earlobe as his kisses trailed lower across the tender flesh of her bared neck. Goosebumps covered her body, and her nails dug into his skin, silently begging him to take her. “God, you’re beautiful like this. I want to hear you scream my name.”

  His fingers shifted and penetrated her swollen folds. She clung to him, and a cry slipped from her lips. “Alec,” she gasped as he ravished her with quick, hard thrusts of his fingers, stretching and spreading her.

  When he claimed her mouth again, his tongue kept time with his hand, and she was completely possessed by this man. His broad-shouldered body swallowed hers in the shadows, and her legs weakened in his grasp. He pulled his fingers out, teasing her with the near orgasm, tugging on her clit as she squirmed against him, desperate for all of him. He chuckled, and the sound vibrated through his body and into hers, though he brushed her hands aside from his jeans.

  “Not yet,” he whispered huskily. “Not until I hear you moan for me, hear you come apart in my hands so I can put you back together.”

  He gripped the edges of her thong, and she heard the fabric rip and fall from her body. A white-hot spike of arousal shot from her loins to her tingling nipples. She pressed her chest against his, and he obliged her, relieving her of her bra so she stood completely naked before him in the flickering light. He leaned back and stared at her, his eyes caressing every curve and shadow of her body before he walked her slowly backwards across the room. When she bumped into the counter, he looked around and hurried back to their clothes. She watched, her whole body shivering for his touch, and he hurried back with his t-shirt in hand, quickly wiped down the counter of dust, and tossed it aside again.

  Iris reached for him, but he turned her around, kissing her shoulders slowly as his hands ran down her arms and up to her sides, wrapping around her stomach. His mouth teased and nipped at her neck, moving upwards until he turned her head gently enough so he could slant his lips across hers again. As his tongue thrust into her mouth, his hand slipped down her front and massaged in hypnotizing circles around her clit and wet warmth. She trembled, her hips circling with his hand as the spring within her tightened.

  Her head fell back against his chest as the well of pleasure swelled, but again, he pulled his hand back and she grunted in annoyance. “Don’t worry, love. I’m not through with you yet,” he promised hotly in her ear.

  His hands moved to her hips before disappearing, and she heard his jeans unzip and hit the floor with a muffled thud. She wanted to turn and look, but his knee spread her legs apart and his hand glided down the smooth curve of her ass, spreading her lips and rubbing against her vigorously. She gripped the counter as his other hand massaged her breast, tugging and teasing her nipple into a hard point. A cry tore from her chest, and she shook in his arms as the orgasm ripped through her body, every muscle in her legs shaking with the effort to remain standing as he moved faster against her, lengthening the pleasure and drawing every last moan from her throat.

  Iris rested against the counter, though not for long. Alec’s engorged member rubbed between her legs, coating himself in her flowing wetness. She arched her back, and he spread her legs wider. She wanted him, needed him, and when he pulled away, she whimpered, but a second later, his crown pressed up against her sensitive flesh, and she bit her lip on a cry. His hands cupped her breasts, holding them in the hotness of his palms as he spread her sheath in one slow, long thrust.

  With each shift of his hips, he buried himself deeper within her, swelling even more and stretching her to the max. The sensation of being full and complete tightened the burning column of heat within her again, and Iris gripped the counter until her knuckles turned white.

  “Alec,” she whispered on a breath. “I can’t… I can’t hold on…” She moaned, and he thrust faster and harder, his fingers tugging her nipples and rolling them between his fingers.

  “Then don’t,” he growled behind her, his voice strained as his hands shifted to her hips and held on tightly.

  He adjusted the angle so it was deeper, rubbing perfectly against her g-spot, and Iris lost it. She screamed his name as her inner muscles clenched him hard, holding him inside her body as his hot seed spilled within her depths. His body covered hers as he held onto her tightly, his legs trembling as he pulled out and rested against her.

  “I think… I think we just christened the place,” she muttered. He laughed, a deep throaty sound that made her heart flutter. She turned around to face him and held his face in her hands.

  “I don’t know what I would’ve done if I hadn’t found you,” he said and kissed her nose, forehead, and cheeks. “I forgot what it was like to just be happy, and you did that for me.” He lifted her and set her on the dusted-off part of the counter, pushing between her legs so he could nuzzle her breasts. “I think I could stay like this forever.”

  She ran her hands through his hair, imagining the shop come to life around them as the candles kept their vigil. “You know, Danny’s usually pretty nice about delivering take out. Want to stay here for a while longer?”

  “If you’re here, I’ll stay forever,” he swore and pressed his cheek against her chest. “Stay here forever and listen to the lullaby of your heart.”

  Iris’s body swelled with a love so deep she knew it should scare her, but with Alec holding her securely in his arms, she could take on the world and never be scared again.

  Chapter 14

  Alec stood in the kitchen, drinking his beer and staring at the photograph, a close-up of Gyda Lundy’s face, a different one Joe had found in the archives. She wore the earrings Joe’d said Iris had sold him several months ago. He’d brought it by that morning, and all Alec had done since was stare at it. August covered his shift at the gun range and was showing Sam around the place. They still hadn’t talked to Iris about it, but he’d let Sam decide if he really wanted to work there first before they dropped that on her.

  After last night, he doubted she’d say no to it, though. His body reacted, remembering the sensuousness of her body in his hands, melting at his touch. She came alive in that shop, and when they woke that morning after falling asleep against the wall, her eyes were so filled with fire it was intoxicating. They’d spent most of the night digging through what stuff was left behind and found a decent stash of antiques she’d assumed the bank had sold.

  It wouldn’t be much stock to open her doors with, but it’d be a good start. She was going back over there after her shift at Joe’s shop, and he was going to join her. The electricity would be turned on today, so no more working by candlelight.

  The eyes in the photograph followed him as he tossed out his empty bottle of beer and snagged another one from the fridge. One hour. He’d see her in one hour. His body itched to go to her now, but he wasn’t sure he’d be able to keep his hands to himself for long. That, and he wanted to tell her about everything Joe had uncovered so far about the Lundin family disappearing. Everything was linked back to that arrest record, but Joe hadn’t been able to find any concrete evidence on it yet.

  Alec pulled out his cell to text August and check in when the doorbell rang. He set his beer carefully on the counter. When he reached the door, he called out, “Who is it?” because he wasn’t expecting anyone and Joe always called before he showed up.

  “Nikki,” she yelled back. He rested his hand against the door, cursing quietly under his breath. “Please, Alec, I just want to talk.”

  “Why would I want to talk to you?”

  “I know about the woman you’re seeing,” she said, and he heard the fake worry in her voice. “I think there are some things you need to know about her. Things that could ruin you.”

  “And if I say no?” he said, debating whether he should call Sheriff Pueller to come and collect her for harassing
him.

  He heard her heels click against the stone porch, but she didn’t go away. “Please, I still care about you, and I don’t want to see you hurt. I just want to talk, and if you don’t want anything more to do with me, I promise I’ll leave you alone for good.”

  Red flags popped up in his mind, but he wanted Nikki gone from this town and his life. Hoping he wouldn’t regret it, he opened the door and stepped to the side so she could enter. “Do you want a beer?”

  “No, thank you,” she said with a soft smile.

  “We can talk in the kitchen,” he said and led the way to the table, grabbing his beer off the counter as she took off her coat and sat down. Her dress was skimpier than yesterday, revealing her cleavage and every curve of her body. It was hiked far up her thighs, barely covering anything, but Alec’s eyes remained fixed on her face. He stared at her, bored. “Well, talk. What do you think you know about Iris that I don’t?”

  She smoothed her hands down her dress, accentuating her chest, and he took a sip of beer, shooting her a look as she continued to preen as if that would make him magically fall into her lap. “I spoke with several people around this… lovely town,” she said with a grimace, “and she is an alcoholic with no money and no future. You can’t be with a woman like her.”

  Silence fell between them before he laughed loudly. “Really? Wow, thank you for telling me that. I had no idea.”

  “You already know this?” she asked, shocked.

  “Yeah, I do. I know why she’s in the place she is, and I understand her,” he said leaning closer, his voice deepening with his anger. “You know why? Because someone I knew and trusted dragged me down to the same dark place not too long ago.”

  Nikki glowered at him. “I did no such thing.”

  “You slept with my best friend,” he said lightly. “You both stabbed me in the back, and then you expected me to just let it go. We were going to get married, have a life together.”

  “We can still do that,” she said desperately and jumped up, snatching his hand in hers. “Please… this woman, she’s cheated, too. She’s not good for you.”

  “That is a lie,” he said and tugged his hand free. “Iris’s reputation was ruined by an asshole who turned this whole town against her.” His neck grew hot, and he set his beer down slowly. “Who told you all these things about Iris?”

  Nikki took a step back, her eyes dancing around the room. “Someone I met, I told you.”

  “Who, damn it?” he asked.

  “Deputy Jenson,” she blurted out. “He said that he still loved her and that she was messing around with you. It was driving him mad, so I told him we could help each other out.”

  Alec’s chest tightened, and panic echoed around his mind. “Help out how?”

  She let out a heavy sigh, her shoulders sagging. If Alec hadn’t known her for years, he might’ve bought her saddened look, but he knew it was all fake. “I want you back, Alec, I truly do. Just let me prove it to you.”

  “And how the hell would you do that?”

  “By proving that I’m better than Iris Newton could ever be.”

  It was a little before five, but Joe called to tell her to go ahead and close the pawn shop so she could head over to the antique store. She hummed as she locked one door and hurried over to the other. She drew the heavy key from her pocket and kissed it before sliding it into the lock and opening the door.

  As the door swung open, she reached to the right and flipped on the light. The overheads clicked on, one after the other, stretching across the room. A few bulbs were out, but today was about making a list of what needed to be done around the shop to get it back to its old self. The storage room was packed with items she knew she’d be able to sell fairly easily if she did a grand opening sale, just to drum up business again. She breathed in the air when she reached the counter and nodded her head.

  “I’m back,” she whispered. “Don’t worry, Dad, I’ll get this place looking great again.”

  Turning on music on her cell, she tucked it in her back pocket and set about sweeping the dust and dirt from the floor, then cleared off the old wooden display tables. Any minute now, Alec would walk through that door, and she didn’t even try to hide her excitement at seeing him again. She’d just dumped a stack of old magazines in a recycling bin near the counter when the deep tone of the bell sounded as the front door opened.

  “Hey, I was thinking we’d get take-out again tonight,” she said without turning around. “I’m feeling burgers and fries, maybe a milkshake or two.”

  “Sounds perfect, doll-face,” a man grated from behind her, and Iris whipped around. Jenson sneered at her from across the shop, and the look in his eyes said he was not there to chat about how great it was she had her dad’s shop back.

  “Get out of here right now or—”

  “Or you’ll what?” he snapped. “Call the cops? Cops are already here, honey.” He pointed to the badge clipped to his leather jacket. “I’m all you’ll ever need. I think it’s time you realize that.”

  Iris backed slowly around the counter, keeping something solid between them. Jenson’s words slurred, and when he took a step closer, his legs wobbled. “You’re drunk,” she muttered. “Just turn around and walk out. I won’t tell anyone you were here.”

  “Why do you always do that?” he growled, his hands curling into tight fists. “Why do you threaten me every time I try to offer you help?”

  “Help?” she said sharply. “When have you ever tried to help me!?”

  “Every damn day we were together,” he argued.

  “No, you yelled at me every day we were together. You wanted me to be happy and cheery all the goddamned time. I'd just lost my parents! I lost my dreams… I lost everything, and you… All you wanted was for me to be your pushover girlfriend,” she yelled fiercely. “It’s never going to happen.”

  Jenson’s mouth snapped shut so hard she heard his teeth crack together. He took another step and another, and Iris reached into her pocket for her cell. “Don’t you dare call him.”

  Her finger froze on the screen as fear slithered its icy hand down her back. “Call who?”

  “That bastard,” he snarled. “He’s not good enough for you. Never will be. You are mine, you hear me? You and this shop and this damn town, they’re all mine! You will never be rid of me!”

  He kicked the closest piece of furniture, and it shattered, brittle from the days of neglect. Iris jumped but didn’t scream. Her finger swiped to unlock her screen and she hit the last number she called. It rang and rang on the other end, but Alec didn’t answer.

  “Damn it,” she muttered and put it to her ear. “Alec! Jenson’s at the shop. Get here, please, just get here—get the fuck off me!” she screamed when Jenson charged her and lunged over the counter. His hands grappled for her cell, and he yanked it free of her hands. His other reached out, snagging her shirt, but she ripped free and sprinted toward the back of the shop. He roared in a rage and chased her, but she beat him to the storeroom, slamming the door shut in his face. She flipped the lock, but the door rattled beneath his weight and she knew it wouldn’t hold for long. As tears burned her eyes, she sank to the floor with her back pressed against the frail wood and her legs wedged against the other wall.

  Alec… Please, God, get here, she begged. Please… please make it here.

  “You let me in, bitch!” Jenson yelled and gave the door a hefty kick. “I won’t let him take you from me! You are mine! You hear me? You think this shop means anything? He’ll drop you the second he realizes what type of person you are!” He body-slammed against the door again, and Iris flinched at the loud crack that resonated around the storeroom. “Just come out and make this easier on yourself, Iris. I’ll forgive you.”

  Something deep within her snapped. “You’ll forgive me? You fucking bastard! You nearly took my head off one night, you cheated on me, and you think I need your forgiveness? Go fuck yourself, you asshole!”

  He yelled curses and slammed his hands
against the door, and Iris pressed her back against it harder, wondering if she would get to see Alec again. Jenson had finally lost it, and there was no escaping this room. She hung her head and tried to tune out his screaming and focus on the one man who might be able to save her.

  Alec moved to the living room and watched the dying embers of the small fire he had in the hearth to chase the October chill from the place that afternoon. Nikki paced behind him, her heels clicking and clacking against the hardwood, setting his teeth on edge. He wanted her gone, but she refused to leave until he heard every detail about Iris.

  “I told you,” he repeated. “I know everything about her. That’s what you do when you love someone. You tell each other your secrets—all your secrets.”

  The hair on the back of his neck prickled, and he raised his hand to it, a strange draft rustling his hair, though the windows were closed. Sudden worry filling his stomach, he moved away from Nikki and the fire to check the front door.

  Her heels grew silent, and he breathed a sigh of relief for small miracles when he heard them running. He pivoted and saw her snatch the picture of Gyda Lundy and her husband from its place on the table, along with one of the boxes of files, and move towards the fire. Alec stared in stunned shock before his adrenaline kicked in, and he sprinted towards her just as she tossed the photo onto the embers and reached for several files. He picked her up and set her aside then reached to snatch the photo back before it had a chance to burn through the back of the frame and ruin it.