Bad Men

by Stone, Piper

  His hesitation was unnerving.

  “That he is, but he usually does things with a purpose. He’s certainly no fool, even if he is an arrogant son of a bitch. Jack is right. Something doesn’t fit about this entire situation. While I can’t put my finger on the reason right now, I will. I do hope you’re not lying to us, Lindsey. That won’t bode well for your continued safety.” He tipped his head, as if waiting for a reply then chuckled. “But that’s not for tonight. You need to get some rest and I don’t want you out here alone. Will you at least follow one rule, Lindsey? Nowhere in this country is safe, and the same is true for several others. You have to trust me on this. Do not attempt to escape again. Period.”

  I knew he was telling the truth. “I do trust you, Diego, although I’m not certain about Jack.”

  “Jack is a good man, whether he wants to allow anyone else to know that. He served his country, sacrificed in more ways than the majority of Marines, and continues to try and do the right thing. Even if he is an asshole.”

  “Funny. I thought you hated him,” I said jokingly.

  “He and I ain’t gonna be friends, but he’s not a bad man and I assure you that he’d die in order to keep you alive. Something you should keep in mind.”

  “I’ll try.” If only he wasn’t so damn arrogant.

  Diego shifted closer, taking my hand into his. “I bet you make an amazing doctor. Let’s just make certain and get you back home so you can continue doing that.” As he brought my fingers to his lips, my heart pounded the same way it had before. Even the simple touch was almost too much, bringing out the kind of hunger that didn’t make any sense. He kept his eyes locked onto mine as he pressed his lips across one then another.

  Shuddering, I bit my lower lip to keep from crying out, leaning even closer. The way my nipples scraped against the thin shirt was almost painful. My God, I was crazy with desire, my mind spinning as the electricity shot through both of us.

  When he brought my hand to his chest, pressing it against his heart, I was taken aback, the gesture so sweet and endearing.

  The darkness couldn’t hide the intensity of his gaze or the heat of the current rushing through every muscle in his body.

  “I’ll go back to my room like a good little girl.” Why did I have the feeling that he was going to tuck me in as well as attempt to make certain the door was locked? The moment I stood he did as well, immediately placing himself behind me. He was determined to remain my protector, even if I fought him every step of the way.

  He stood in the shadows as I pulled down the covers, still cognizant of his heated look. “Are you happy in your job?”

  Diego seemed surprised by my question, an exaggerated exhale coming from his lips. “Happiness isn’t something I’ve thought much about lately. I do my job. I’m paid well and I live my life.”

  “That sounds depressing as hell, as if you’re confined to a cage.”

  “We all have cages around us, at least during portions of our life. When I find a way to break free, I assure you that I will. Until then, I’m biding my time.”

  “Finding the right key,” I half whispered, unable to turn and face him. I’d never heard such angst in his tone before, the sound more chilling than Jack’s constant words of hatred.

  “Maybe so. Go to sleep.”

  The air between us was suddenly stagnant, the scent of my own desire wafting into my nostrils. While none of this made any sense, the rush of emotions continued to overrun any rational thinking. I slowly turned to face him, not bothering to turn on a light. As I slowly removed my shirt, I could sense his ragged breathing, even as the sound of my pulse echoed into my ears.

  His shoulders rose and fell in the shadows as he watched me, the slight growl rolling up from his throat even more savage than before.

  As I shimmied out of my shorts and panties, kicking them away, a shiver trickled down my spine. I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew without a shadow of a doubt that I wanted to feel him. To touch him.

  To fuck him.

  Perhaps I’d lost all sense of reality, but I couldn’t stand the thought of being alone.

  Very slowly, he approached. Only when he was two feet away did he yank his shirt over his head, pitching it aside. He wasted no time finishing undressing then closing the distance.

  When he was mere inches away, I reached out, fingering his muscular arms. He allowed me to explore, brushing my fingertips down the length then rolling them along his eight-pack. I marveled at his physique even more than before, allowing the prickling sensations to shift into every pore and cell.

  His breathing remained scattered as I continued but I could tell his patience was wearing thin. Every part of him was electrified, his skin hot to the touch. When I finally closed the distance, pressing my body against his, he lifted my chin with a single finger.

  “This shouldn’t happen,” he whispered.

  “I know.”

  As he lowered his head, capturing my mouth, I rose onto my tiptoes, rolling my hands over his shoulders and tangling my fingers into his hair. I was so wet, my inner thighs slickened, my nipples aching as they were crushed against him.

  He shifted his hand down my back, cupping my buttocks, holding me so tightly against him that I had difficulty breathing. The kiss became a swell of passion, molecules exploding as sparkles of light flashed across my field of vision. His tongue dominating mine, he shifted his hips back and forth, the friction his cock created only adding fuel to the fire.

  I adored the way he kissed, the rough and tumble man refusing to let me go until he’d had his fill. Lightheaded, I swayed back and forth even as he held me, wanting nothing more than to have his cock buried deep inside. He seemed to sense my eruption of needs, finally inching us toward the bed.

  When he broke the kiss, he wrapped his hand around my hair, yanking me into a deep arc, growling as he lowered his head. The feel of his hot mouth on my nipple forced a moan, my entire body tingling. The second he bit down on my tender bud, I opened my mouth in a silent scream.

  “Oh, God. Oh…” The words slipped from my mouth as he shifted his lips to my other breast, repeating the harsh action. Pain. Pleasure. It became mixed together in one amazing tangle of sensations. I could hear a nervous laugh bubbling to the surface as he swirled the tip of his tongue around my nipple in a luxurious manner, as if he had all the time in the world to savor my body.

  I struggled to shift my hand between us, finally able to wrap my fingers around his cockhead. I adored his dark guttural sounds as I skimmed his sensitive slit with my nail. Everything became an amazing blur as he continued. I was barely cognizant when he finally lowered me onto the bed, crawling over me as he made certain I was positioned just like he wanted.

  “Such a bad girl,” he whispered, remaining on his knees. Even in the darkness, I could see how he shifted his gaze down to my pussy then back to my face. “Such a handful.”

  “Uh-huh,” I managed as I reached for him.

  He tweaked my nipple and shook his head. “Keep your hands over your head. You aren’t in control.”

  “Yes, sir.” I obeyed his command, shuddering all over again as he crawled between my legs, lifting first one then the other, bending them at the knees. I was splayed wide open, feeling even more exposed than before. When he rolled his fingers down from my forehead and over my eyes, forcing them to close, I bit back a moan. I was completely at his mercy.

  Another round of tingles swept into me as he rolled his fingers down the center of my chest, taking his time to swirl a single one around my bellybutton. When he slowly tickled my skin as he crawled down to my pussy, I took several gasping breaths, tossing my head back and forth.

  “Keep your eyes closed and your arms over your head. If you disobey me, I will punish you.”

  There was something incredible about the rugged darkness of his voice, the command both thrilling and sending a slither of fear into me. He was expecting absolute trust. I realized how much I actually did, the thought almost as surpri
sing as the desire that continued to rip through me.

  I’d never felt this close to a man, similar to the way I felt about Jack. All common sense had been tossed out the window, but the excitement was too glorious, a walk on the wild side. I bit back a laugh as he blew across my tummy, only exasperating the tingles as well as the anticipation of what he was going to do.

  I was tense all over, my muscles almost cramping as he teased me relentlessly, raking his fingers along my stomach then down to my legs. He could have no idea what he was doing to me. Every breath I took became more labored, the sound filtering into the air much like the raspy moans that I couldn’t seem to stop.

  I heard his dark and dangerous chuckle when he blew across my pussy. The second I cried out, he swirled his fingers roughly around my clit before pinching the delicate tissue. Another hint of anguish was shifted almost immediately to the most intense round of pleasure as he darted his tongue around the aching nub.

  “Oh, God. Yes. I…” I couldn’t think clearly, certainly couldn’t put several coherent words together. Everything was one giant and beautiful blur as he rolled his tongue around my clit over and over again before plunging several fingers into my pussy. I was blown away by the intensity of his actions, the force he used to drive them deep inside.

  He continued making animalistic sounds as he started his feast, dragging his tongue up and down purposefully. The second I almost lowered my arms, he smacked my pussy, making tsking sounds.

  “Do you need another lesson in what happens when you don’t follow the rules?”

  “No. No! I’ll be good.” The words were blurted out of my mouth before I realized it.

  When he resumed, licking up and down in fevered actions, I jerked up from the bed. I couldn’t believe he was able to bring me so close to an orgasm so quickly. He was an artist with his tongue, driving me to the point of madness then yanking back. Even the way he thrust his fingers inside, commanding my muscles to accept the invasion was more dominating than I realized he could be.

  He was everything fantasies were made of.

  Dark.

  Dangerous.

  Unforgiving.

  I was swept into his web of lust, the man refusing to let me go until he’d had his fill.

  “Behave,” he managed before devouring me again, burying his face into my wetness as he continued driving into my channel.

  I had no idea how long he brought me close then pulled back, but I was drained, no longer able to feel my legs. I was also unable to hold back the tidal wave as a climax suddenly rushed deep inside.

  “Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh. Oh!” I bit back the scream, not only fearful of being disobedient but of Jack’s reaction. I knew the man was possessive, someone who had no desire to share. The thought seemed so strange as the single orgasm continued, rolling into a second. Then a third. Nothing like this had ever happened before. I almost laughed as the thought about Michael entered my mind.

  The man had never cared to please me. Selfish prick.

  These men, these two glorious hunks commanded everything from me, including extreme pleasure. My body remained on fire, the jolts of current dancing through every cell and muscle. I couldn’t stop quivering and I wanted desperately to see his face, to study his eyes as he took me.

  But I obeyed.

  Like a good little girl.

  The thought seemed so odd as I felt the weight of him on top, his lips pressing against my cheek and his tongue sliding along my jawline.

  “Now, I take you,” he stated before nipping my earlobe and forcing my legs to wrap around him. As he peppered me with kisses, he continued whispering filthy words of what he was going to do to me, every word spoken in Spanish.

  “Te deseo.”

  I want you.

  “Soy tu dueno.”

  I own you.

  “Mio, todo mio.”

  Mine, all mine.

  I trembled as he slipped his cockhead between my pussy lips, holding the tip just inside then yanking my legs over his shoulders. When I briefly opened my eyes, he issued a harsh growl, the sound sending such a delicious wave of heat between my legs. I was completely helpless as he fucked me, thrusting his beautiful cock so deeply inside that I was certain he’d reached my womb.

  “Yes. So… good,” I muttered, the angle almost pushing me into another ravaging orgasm.

  “So tight, mi hermosa mujer.”

  I felt like his beautiful woman as he crushed his mouth over mine, this time allowing the moment of intimacy to be a sweet reminder of the connection we shared. He rolled his hips, plunging in an almost perfect rhythm. There wasn’t a part of me that wasn’t on fire, the white-hot heat like bottle rockets exploding one after the other.

  The sound of our combined moans slipping past our lips as well as the hard creaking of the bed was a scintillating aphrodisiac. And the scent of him was ravaging, leaving me drunk on his testosterone as he fucked me.

  His cock continued to throb deep inside of me, my muscles clenching then releasing over and over again. While I wanted this to go on forever, I could tell he was close to coming, his body tensing even more than before. Within seconds, I could no longer contain my needs, another orgasm threatening to rush over me.

  Breaking the kiss, he kissed my eyelids, issuing another command. “Open your eyes for me, sweet doctor. Watch as I fill you with my seed.”

  I slowly opened them as he rose onto his hands, using the power of his massive arms to stay hovering over me. His long hair framed his face, the stream of moonlight allowing me to catch a glimpse of his eyes as he pumped harder and faster. Within seconds, he was taking shallow breaths, his entire body shaking.

  “Come for me. Come…” he managed, driving even more brutally, skin slapping against skin.

  He was a wild man, so savage in his actions and there was no way I could hold back. As the orgasm shifted down my legs, powering into me, I clamped my muscles.

  “Fuck. Fuck!” When he threw his head back and roared as he erupted deep inside, I fell into the beautiful place of pure ecstasy.

  If only this could last.

  If only fantasies could come true.

  If only…

  Chapter 8

  Jack

  Subterfuge.

  That’s all I could think about after rethinking about the way Dante has assigned the case. It wasn’t entirely about whether or not I liked working with a partner. I was furious that the Italian had leveraged something so private for his own benefit. Why? What good could it possibly do? What power could anyone surrounding Lindsey’s father have?

  Only she had the answer, whether she was aware of it or not.

  The memory wasn’t one I cared to think about, even though the photograph had been the single reason I’d accepted the assignment. Dante had pulled a card that I didn’t think he had in him. I fisted my hand, rubbing it down the length of my pants. I should have known better than to think I would be able to shove aside all my emotions.

  I sighed and leaned my head against the door, the thin clouds adding ominous shadows across the brightly lit moon, still thinking about the hours at the beach. After reading the file twice, I’d spent the better part of twenty-four hours on a drunken binge, unable to cope with making a decision. However, I’d known from the second Dante had walked out the door that I was cornered, incapable of saying no.

  That alone continued to keep me on edge, building the same kind of rage I’d felt twice before. Both times had been because of betrayal. Only one because of my time spent in the military. Exhaling, I pulled the glass to my head, the same ache occurring as had the second I’d seen her photograph.

  Dr. Lindsey Walters. The woman could have accepted any position in the world, but she’d chosen to chuck it all in search of saving people in a foreign and very dangerous country. While I didn’t take her for being stupid or irresponsible on any level, from what I’d learned from the file, she’d made the critical decision to alter her life in a matter of hours.

  When that kind of thing happen
ed, it usually meant the person was running from something or had a significant secret to hide. Why did I have the distinct feeling it was both in her case? Whatever the reason, I also had the distinct feeling the three of us had been placed together for a reason.

  Another motivation to bolster the anger.

  I shifted my weight and the feel of the weapon sticking out of the waistband of my pants was comforting. I’d grown used to having a gun with me at all times, even on the damn private beach in front of my house. Life was too fucking short, but I was growing weary of distrusting everyone, second guessing a smile from a clerk in a store or an odd look from across the street. I’d almost lost my cool more times than I could count.

  Dante had once told me I was perfect for the job. A man with no attachments, no family, and no conscience. He was right on all counts.

  Damn if it wasn’t lonely as fuck.

  “I’m going to check the perimeter,” Diego said from several feet behind me.

  I nodded without giving him a single glance. Even from where I was standing, I gathered a fresh scent of her covering his body. He’d been with her again. It pissed me off. While I didn’t have the right since she was nobody to me, my throat was almost closed off to the point of suffocation.

  I’d already been able to tell that Lindsey was attracted to him. And the way Diego looked at her? Like she was the woman he’d been searching for his entire life. That also fueled an entirely different kind of fire burning in my belly. I could sense he’d hesitated, hovering in the shadows. “Somethin’ you want, Diego?”

  “She’s pretty shaken, uncertain why this is happening to her.”

  “She knows why,” I countered.

  “And you’re going to push her to the brink in order to find the information.”

  “If that’s what it takes. This is all about the care and maintenance of the package we were sent to retrieve.” I hated the words the second they came out of my mouth.