Hard Money (Bad Money #3)

by Ali Parker

  Jon rolled against Kate, his hands sliding over her tummy and locking her against him as Marcus watched. She leaned against the large cop, her eyes closing as she moved to the beat provided by the music.

  Marcus pulled the pills from his pocket and counted them as he slipped into the sea of bodies. People moved around him, hands tugging at him, rushing across his back, over his stomach, down his ass.

  By the time he reached Kate, his body was humming. "We need to decide who's going to stay sober tonight."

  He released the pills into his pocket and moved close to his woman, tugging her arms up to drape them over his shoulders as he turned his attention to Jon, who held on to the back of her.

  "You do it. I'm good with going under." Jon nodded, as if there was nothing else to say.

  "You sure? I know you've got some untapped shit in your past. It might pull that stuff forward. These new synthetic drugs are a little-"

  "He took it last night, Marcus." Kate ran her hands down his back and smiled up at him.

  "Oh, then fuck that. I'm up for a turn. I never get to have fun because I trust no one but Kate." Marcus chuckled darkly and bent down, kissing the beautiful woman beneath him.

  "Then I'll stay sober. Have fun with it." Jon moved back a little and nodded. "Looks like it's time. Let's go."

  Chapter 15

  Jon

  Nervousness rushed through Jon's stomach as they ascended the stairs to the party room and hovered above the club. The drugs and sex were all part of his past, but protecting people was something he wanted to be great at, but continued to fail at over and over. Marcus and Kate were trusting him to keep an eye on things, namely them.

  He moved in behind Marcus as Kate took the lead. The pretty girl that trembled beneath his touch earlier was all but gone as she moved up to the mini stage and took the mic. Her dark hair was slightly curled and ran down the sides of her heavy breasts, only outdone by her full lips and the smoky grey eye shadow she wore. Jon took a shallow breath, feeling very much like he'd gotten in way over his head.

  To feel meant opening himself up to everything he'd closed off. Kate had forced him to take a few hard steps forward, and now standing at the edge of the cliff, he had one final decision to make. Follow her into whatever life she wanted and leave his, or hand her over to Marcus and walk away.

  It was no decision at all, but leaving his job and the hopes of a different life in the future felt stifling, yet nothing was more terrifying than the possibility of not being important to the girl in front of him.

  "All right. I'm Kate. This is Jon and Marcus." She nodded toward them, and Jon lifted his hand and nodded at the pretty people in the room. There couldn't have been more than twenty of them.

  Jon's gaze moved around until he locked on to Fredrick. The illustrious billionaire was watching Kate with interest though two pretty women pawed at him like small kittens might.

  "Marcus will be passing out our party favors. Please understand that we will be taping certain parts of the event, and that you will experience an enhanced drive toward lust. Just go with it, and most of all, have fun." She put the mic up and walked down, only to be stopped by Fredrick.

  Marcus moved into Jon's view, handing him half the bag of pills. "One per person. Don't take one, all right?"

  "Yeah. I'm pulling you guys out if anything goes wrong." Jon turned as Kate walked up.

  "Good. We trust you to do just that." Kate slid her hand into his hair and pulled him down for a long kiss.

  Jon wrapped his hands around her hips and tugged her tightly against him, growling softly, "Be careful."

  "Never. That's not the girl you fell for." She smiled and turned, walking through the room like she owned it.

  Chuckling, Jon moved in his half of the room and handed out the small green pill. Three girls dressed like they worked at the club passed out small glasses of water and everyone started to ingest it. Jon tracked Marcus and Kate to the far corner of the room, each lowering the window shades so that the club patrons below weren't capable of seeing in.

  "You ready?" Kate turned and lifted the pill to her lips while locking eyes with Marcus.

  "Always ready for a wild night with you, Katie." He popped the pill into his mouth, swallowed it and glanced toward Jon. "You ready, cop?"

  "Nope, but what the fuck? Living with you guys is going to keep me young and help me die happy." He shrugged and took a step back, pressing his back to the glass before him, watching to see what might happen.

  The strobe light in the middle of the room descended and the music began to pump through the speakers above them, the song techno and giving off a nasty hot beat to play with. A pretty brunette stopped in front of him and smiled.

  "Something to drink for you, handsome?"

  "I'll take another Corona." He handed her the empty bottle and leaned back, ignoring her hot stare. The girls delivering drinks weren't given the pills, so they would be as stone cold sober as him. It would be almost comical to watch their reaction to the drug. If it was anything like Kate had been the night he showed up and she attacked him at her place... it was going to get wild.

  Marcus tugged Kate out toward the amoeba of people as everyone moved to the center of the room to dance together. They stayed on the edge, and Jon watched intently as Marcus's hands slid across Kate's front, his fingers playing by her nipples over and over as she arched into his touch.

  "Beautiful," Jon whispered as his body hardened painfully.

  Lust was so deeply tied into his emotions where Kate was concerned, and where love was king, lust was its comparable queen for sure. It seemed to be the same for her and Marcus as well.

  Jon had always been a fairly active guy sexually, but something about Kate made him want to up the ante. He smiled as she glanced up at him and gave him a naughty, come fuck me, smile.

  Hot, he mouthed.

  Marcus's hand slid down Kate's stomach and pressed against her sex as she rocked against him rhythmically.

  As much as Jon wanted to watch the show, he let his attention be drawn around the room. Shock slapped into him to see several couples half naked, fondling each other as they danced sensually. A pretty blond was bent over a table, taking it hard from a short guy who couldn't have been old enough to be with her.

  Shifting from his comfortable position, Jon moved toward the floor to pull Kate and Marcus toward him. Things weren't rowdy just yet, but they were soon to get there.

  "Come here, guys. Come with me." He took Kate's hand and tugged at her.

  She giggled and moved to wrap her arms around him as she pressed her lips to his neck.

  "Did you know that I can't stop thinking about you? That I want you all over me?" she whispered against his neck and chill bumps raced down his arms and legs, setting him on fire.

  Marcus moved in behind her and wrapped his arms around both of them, leaning down and sucking on Kate's shoulder as he rocked himself into her.

  Unable to help himself, Jon chuckled. "This is fucking wild, and I thought parties back in basic training were bad."

  Marcus glanced up and took a step back before starting to work on Kate's dress. "I need you, girl."

  "Yeah." She turned from Jon and started to work on Marcus's shirt, tugging and pulling until he was standing in his slacks and quickly moving to his knees.

  Jon moved up behind her, unzipping her dress and pushing it off her shoulders. She sighed softly and pressed her back to him as Marcus tugged her panties off and pressed his mouth to her center.

  Wrapping his arm around her middle, Jon ran his nose up the side of her throat, breathing in the scent of her arousal and loving it so much.

  "You're so beautiful, baby." He turned her face toward him and kissed her, working his tongue along hers as she cried out and undulated her hips forward against Marcus. "Yeah. Let him take care of you, Kate. Rest against me."

  "I love you," she whispered and closed her eyes, panting softly against his lips as he held her tightly. She stiffened in his arms as her eye
lids flew open and her pupils dilated. Her lips parted and the most sensual sound he'd ever heard ripped from her as she came.

  "There you go, baby. Ride that wave." Jon pressed his mouth against hers and squeezed her breasts tightly as Marcus jerked her hips back and forth with his strength. If he and Kate made love passionately, she and Marcus fucked like animals. It was exhilarating and frightening all in the same moment.

  Marcus stood up and started to work on his slacks as he caught Jon's eye. The bigger guy was lost to the drug pumping through his system, and his words were slightly slurred, but the aggressive look on him was all lust.

  "Come here, Kate. Let me fuck you." He reached for her, tugging her from Jon and growling softly.

  Jon leaned back against the glass, ignoring the deep ache inside of him to join them. His body was far beyond ready for him to step in and find release, but something about watching them almost excited him more than getting involved.

  Marcus pointed to the glass. "Go press your sexy little body against the glass and tilt your ass toward me."

  "Fuck you," Kate murmured, but did exactly as he said. She turned her face toward Jon and bit her lip, smiling at him through her haze.

  Jon's breath caught in his chest at the sensual feast it was to watch her slide her hands up the glass and press her body to its icy coldness. Her hips arched and her thick ass moved into the air.

  Marcus stepped up behind her, his body bare, cock proud and bouncing around unashamed.

  Jon was surprised to see the guy wasn't nearly as big as him, but size wasn't everything. It still made him feel a little better. He kept waiting to feel anger, disgust, or disdain, but nothing assaulted him but desire.

  "Tell me you want it, Kate." Marcus pressed against her, and her body tightened before Jon's eyes, her mouth opening in a silent scream as she nodded.

  "I want it." She opened her eyes and locked on to Jon again. "I want you."

  "Good girl." Marcus slammed into her, shaking the glass a little, and Jon drew in a tight breath, lost to the beautiful woman beside him. She knew exactly what she wanted in life, and she would have it. He would give it to her if nothing else.

  Reaching out, Jon slid his hand up her stomach, over her silky black bra and up to cup her neck. She pressed against his hold as Marcus continued to fuck her slow and hard from behind. She moaned with each thrust, and Jon closed his eyes, listening intently to her passion.

  "Come here," she whispered and pushed back on Marcus a little, making room between her and the glass wall.

  Jon didn't hesitate to move in front of her and take her face into his hands as she leaned in for a long kiss. The thrusts forced her against him, and he cradled her from the wall, reveling in the power Marcus had, and hoping like hell he had the same hold on the beautiful creature between them.

  Kate cried out sharply as Marcus stood up and smacked her ass, the sound of it reverberating around Jon.

  "Hey. Be careful," Jon barked out and looked over Kate's shoulder at Marcus.

  "She likes it. I promise." Marcus smiled as his hands gripped Kate's shoulders. "Don't you, baby."

  She glanced up to Jon, her eyes hazy with a mixture of tears and the drug. "I love it."

  "Come for me, Kate." Marcus started his assault, standing up higher and fucking her from a different angle.

  Jon watched her intently, wanting to see her explode into a million pieces in his arms. Her hands moved down the wall, and she bent over farther, rubbing her face against his stomach before nipping at his cock as it poked above his jeans, but remained hidden behind his shirt.

  "Give it to her." Marcus glanced up and caught Jon's attention.

  "What? No, I'm good. This is about you guys." Jon reached down and brushed Kate's hair back. "Stand up, baby."

  "Pull it out, Jon," Kate whispered, nipping at him again.

  Someone screamed behind them, and Jon pulled Kate back up carefully. "Not tonight. Not like this. I don't want you drugged with me."

  He moved out from in front of her, leaving her in Marcus's capable arms to pull some big dude off of a small woman. "Hey. Find someone your own fucking size."

  Jon ducked as the guy swung, and came up, punching him in the face, knocking the poor bastard out completely. Fredrick moved up beside him, seemingly okay.

  "Always goes down like this. Drugs, sex and violence." The club owner laughed. "Great product. You guys are in... Welcome."

  Jon shook his hand and turned toward Marcus and Kate, not entirely sure he was thrilled about the prospect. Victor would be, but that alone was something to be concerned with.

  One thing was for sure, where Jon was fine with Kate and Marcus fucking... he wasn't okay with the drugs. He would have to let them know in the morning, though he was sure he'd get some kickback on it, which was fine. He needed to be straightforward with them.

  They had a long life ahead - together.

  Chapter 16

  Kate

  The night before was a blur, but bits and pieces of it brushed past her as she woke up the next morning. Strong arms held her tightly, a warm body pressed to the back of her, his breathing deep and peaceful. Marcus. Jon was a little ways away from her.

  Kate reached out and touched Jon's arm as he turned his attention to her. His beautiful blue eyes were full of questions, but she understood perfectly. She had a million questions bubbling up inside of her as well. He was on his back, his pants on, but his chest bare and hair a mess.

  "Hey," she whispered before pulling from Marcus and moving toward Jon.

  Marcus grumbled something incoherent and turned over, pulling the covers with him as he rolled.

  "Hi, beautiful." Jon tugged her against his side and turned his face to kiss the top of her head. "You feeling okay?"

  She was in a long sleeve t-shirt and boxers, which wasn't her usual attire, but probably the only thing Jon could find to cover her up with.

  "Yeah. I'm glad to see you awake." She turned her face up toward him and studied him. "You okay?"

  "Funny enough, I'm good. I don't like the drugs, but I'm fine with everything else." He shifted to his side and pulled her against his strong chest. His smell rushed over her senses, and she breathed in deeply, greedy to have him stain her lungs like he'd stained her heart.

  "I'm not sure how I feel about everything, but one thing is for sure." She pressed her lips to his, leaving the thought to hang between them until she'd given him a long good morning kiss.

  "What's that?" He kissed her again quickly.

  "We don't have time to think about what's happening between the three of us. We need to deal with all these threats. Last night was fun, but a luxury we can't afford right now." She pulled back a little and ran her fingers through her dark hair. "I'm ready to go back to New Orleans. I miss my city, my club, my stuff."

  "Me too. Let's pack up and get out of here. We'll tell Victor that we got the deal and all is well." Jon kissed her again and rolled off the bed, tugging his arm from her and getting up. "I'm going to get in the shower."

  "Jon." Kate sat up, pulling her legs up toward her and wrapping her arms around them.

  "What, baby?" He turned to face her, his expression kind.

  "Thank you for watching over us last night."

  "I love you, Kate. I've decided that's more important than my own desires. It's all good. Stop worrying." He winked and turned, leaving her to sit there and stew in his comment.

  More important than his own desires?

  She turned and brushed her hand down Marcus's side before getting up and walking out into the hallway. Victor and Zak were arguing about something as she walked through the living room, but they stopped, both of them turning their attention toward her.

  Victor stood and walked over to her. "How did it go last night?"

  "Good. We got the contract." She forced a smile as she glanced up into Victor's handsome face. The disdain on it seemed out of place, but pleasing the man wasn't something that was easily accomplished.

  "Good. Send
Jon and Marcus home when they get up. With our business out of the way, I want a few days with you." He reached out and touched the side of her face.

  She stiffened, unable to help herself. "I want to get back to my club, Victor. I have a business too."

  "I realize that, but you and I made an arrangement, and yet you were in the bedroom down the hall between two men all night. Why is that, Katelyn?" He tilted his head to the side, studying her as his eyes darkened.

  "Victor," Zak started to speak.

  "No. Don't save her, brother." He lifted his hand. "This is between us. We're partners. You're a lackey. Don't interrupt again."

  Kate growled softly, "Don't speak to him like that."

  Victor turned and hit her before she could react, slapping the side of her face hard. His fingers gripped into her chin and pulled her back as rage brushed across his face.

  "Don't tell me what the fuck to do again. You don't run this shop. I do, and if I wanted to take your heart from your chest - I fucking would." Victor pressed his nose against hers as he bled aggression all over her.

  Zak stood stone still just to her left. She had no doubt that he was lost to indecision. Go against someone he called brother, or help the innocent.

  "Get your fucking hands off of me." She pushed at his chest hard, not able to beckon to the position of submission that he tried to force her into. "Find another partner. I'm out."

  He grabbed her hair and jerked hard, throwing her against the glass wall.

  She cried out as she hit it, but got up and spit blood, preparing herself for a fight.

  "Victor. Enough!" Zak moved up beside Victor as the tall man started for Kate.

  "No. Time to teach her a lesson." He moved quickly, turning away from Kate's punches and spinning her. He pressed her to the glass and put his forearm against the back of her neck.

  "Jon's not welcome in this ménage à trois. You take his ass out, or we will. Understood?"