The Missing Pieces

by H. S. Strickland

  Ryan brought me out of my thoughts by slipping my dress off my body. I stepped out of it and was left in nothing but my black lacy strapless bra, black lace thong, and my black high heels. Ryan’s eyes visibly darkened to a stormy color and he stalked closer to me. I could feel my heart beating erratically in my chest the closer he got. He had a feral look in his eyes and I knew just from that look that one time wouldn’t be enough with him. Deciding that for once, I was going to allow myself to have something I wanted, and moved the rest of the way to Ryan. I crushed my body to his. I melded our mouths together and slipped my tongue inside.

  Ryan groaned and gripped my ass. My legs went around his waist and the friction from his pants caused me to gasp out loud. Ryan took advantage of my open mouth and slid his tongue inside.

  “More,” I moaned.

  Ryan backed us against the wall then slid one hand down the front of my panties. I was so excited with the contact to my pussy I wanted to squeal, but didn’t get a chance because Ryan slid two fingers through my soaked slit. I threw my head back, which hit the wall behind me in a dull thud.

  It had been over a year for me since I had any kind of pleasure down there that wasn’t self-induced and Ryan’s hands felt oh-so-good. He ran his hand up and down, spreading my moisture around. It was such a tease not having his fingers where I wanted and he could tell I was getting frustrated. Finally, just as I was about to complain, Ryan sunk his fingers deep inside me. I groaned at the welcome intrusion and focused on the feelings Ryan’s fingers were giving me.

  I could feel a delicious pull in my belly then suddenly Ryan was removing his fingers.

  “What the hell?” I somehow managed to contain the scream and spoke in a normal, albeit, frustrated tone.

  “I want to feel your pussy clench around my cock not my fingers,” he rumbled.

  He backed away from the wall and began walking down what I assumed was a hallway. I wasn’t sure though because it was so dark. A moment later a light flipped on and we were in a bedroom, his bedroom. The focal point of the room was the large four poster bed up against the far wall.

  He walked to the edge of the bed then tossed me on it. When he crawled up my body he started getting a dark glint in his eyes, causing a shiver to rack my body. His mouth delved on mine and a spark was ignited.

  I planted my feet firmly on the bed then used all my strength to flip us so I was on top. I moved my mouth to the column of his throat and felt a little bit of stubble which caused me to have thoughts of him tickling me between my thighs.

  I worked my way down to his chest and took one of his nipples in my mouth. I flicked my tongue a few times then kept moving down. I had one thing on my mind and that was freeing Ryan’s cock from its denim confinement.

  I traced my tongue over the ridges in his abs and came across a tattoo on the right side of his ribs. I wanted to see what the scroll read but I was too determined to get to my destination. Ryan’s hands fisted in the dark gray covers when I got to his hipbones and nipped lightly. I continued stroking my tongue across his skin until I hit the waistband of his pants.

  I sat up slightly so I could work on his button and zipper. When I had them undone I starting lowering his pants, he lifted his hips to help. I had them all the way down to his ankles and was immediately greeted with his hard, throbbing cock. My mouth watered at the sight. He went commando so I didn’t have the hassle of boxers. His cock was the largest I had seen, although that wasn’t many.

  “Baby, if you want a taste then take it. Don’t tease me by licking your lips and not doing anything,” Ryan told me in a slightly husky tone, interrupting my thoughts.

  I grinned and bent my head to lick the tip of him. His hips flexed just a little and somehow his eyes darkened further with lust. I sucked him in my mouth, until he hit the back of my throat and kept my hooded eyes aimed at his face to see his reaction. I pulled back up until all I had was the tip of him in my mouth then flicked my tongue, causing him to groan.

  I put my hand at the base and stroked while I sucked. Ryan must have liked what I was doing because he had his eyes shut tightly and groaned every now and then.

  All of a suddenly I was flat on my back and Ryan was looming over me. It was odd, but I liked being tossed around. I was very tall, 5’10 to be exact, so it was rare for me to feel small. It was surprising, even to me, that I liked it. I’ve always needed to feel in control, but Ryan didn’t let me have control for very long.

  Ryan fit his hand underneath my back then lifted me so he could undo the snaps to my bra. He flung it somewhere across the room, but I didn’t have time to see where it landed because his mouth fell to my breast. He drew my nipple in his mouth, got it nice and wet, then released it with a pop. He lightly ran his index finger over it then blew, causing my nipple to turn into a hard peak.

  I moaned and threw my head back against the pillows. His other hand, the one that wasn’t attached to my breast, skirted down to my waist and gripped my hip. He took my other breast in his mouth and gave it the same treatment as the other. A throaty moan slipped from my throat and I used my hands to encourage his to go lower.

  He finally moved his fingers to my pussy and found my clit. My hips bucked off the bed at the contact and I cried out.

  “Love that you’re vocal hon,” I vaguely heard Ryan say.

  I didn’t respond though, I was too busy chasing an orgasm I was sure he wasn’t going to give me, yet. I moved my hips along with his fingers, trying to gain more friction. I needed that extra push to have the orgasm I was so desperate for. Ryan moved his hand and I almost cried out in frustration until he slipped two fingers in me. The intrusion was so welcome that I felt a pull in my stomach then tingles went up my spine, and I finally had an orgasm. My vision went spotty and my body slackened. That was one of the most powerful orgasms I had ever had.

  “Told you I wanted to feel you come around my cock,” Ryan growled.

  Uh-oh, I’m in trouble, I thought then giggled.

  Ryan’s face filled my vision, “Did I say something funny?” He asked and I shook my head no, but kept giggling.

  A grin tugged at his lips, but he fought it. He schooled his features then looked down at the black lace panties I was wearing. He snuck a glance at me, smirked, and then ripped my panties off in one swift move causing me to gasp. He mindlessly tossed them over his shoulder then looked down at my now bare sex.

  It felt empowering when his eyes filled with more lust at the sight of me. I wasn’t shy by any means; I loved the attention I got from men. I knew that I looked good, that I had a nice body. I liked to flaunt what I had, whenever the time was appropriate.

  Without warning, Ryan grabbed my hips, lifted them off the soft bed, and rammed inside of me, stretching me beyond my limits. I yelped at the welcome intrusion, loving the feeling of him in me. My nails scraped down his back. He was fully sheathed, to the hilt, and nothing had ever felt so good. He pulled out slowly, then slid back in.

  “Faster,” I moaned shamelessly, I wanted more. When it came to sex, I was greedy.

  “Gladly,” he grunted then pulled out and sunk back in.

  An hour later I was completely sated and breathing heavily. Ryan had given me what I wanted. He went faster, a helluva lot faster, until I had the best orgasm of my life. Ryan’s had followed shortly after.

  We had almost forgotten a condom and that scared the shit out of me. I had never, not once, gotten so caught up in the moment that I didn’t use protection. I could have gotten pregnant or worse, gotten a disease. Ryan put me in a lust induced haze and that didn’t bode well. I couldn’t get caught up in the moment. That wasn’t me. That wasn’t what I was here for.

  Shaking the thoughts from my head, I got up and searched for my clothes. My panties were torn so I left them on the floor. I found my bra next to a tall black dresser so I slipped it on then snapped the clasp together. The entire time I was moving around Ryan’s room he watched. He was still lying on the bed, hands behind his head, a small smile gracing
his face. I told him that I would be right back and he lazily nodded, still sated from our hot sex.

  I found my way into the living room and saw my dress lying on the floor. I slipped my feet in then brought the dress up, all the while trying to smooth my hair down. I hadn’t looked in the mirror but I’m sure it was standing up all over the place. I really wanted to go back in Ryan’s room and tell him I was leaving, but I didn’t want to deal with the awkwardness. I also didn’t want to take the chance of him convincing me to stay, it wouldn’t take much. So with my decision made, I quietly slipped out of Ryan’s condo.

  Chapter One

  Sloane

  I laid my head against the desk then thought better and banged my head quietly. I was so ready to go home. I couldn’t stand sitting at this desk. I was used to being out in the field, where the action was. Not sitting here…at a desk…filling out paperwork.

  Who, in their right mind, could tolerate this every day? I asked myself then answered my question. Oh, yeah, that’s right. Normal people. And normal I wasn’t.

  I also loathed admitting that I was nervous. Nervous because Mace and Ryan were out on a case. A case that was more than likely dangerous. I would have felt so much better had I been able to go with them, but they didn’t know who I really was. Therefore, unless I wanted to reveal who I truly was, I couldn’t go.

  I heard movement behind me but didn’t raise my head or say anything.

  “Sleeping on the job?” I heard Callum’s voice behind me.

  I lifted my head and looked at him, “No but it wouldn’t be too hard to fall asleep.”

  He quirked a dark eyebrow and shook his head in amusement while walking back to his office. He ought to know by now that I had a snarky attitude.

  I had filed all the case paperwork and gone through more cases that needed to be handled. I was bored and tapping my foot, which was a clear indicator I was also anxious. Ryan and Mace had been gone for several hours.

  Deciding that I was done waiting for them I picked up the office phone, dialed Mace’s number (because there was no way I was calling Ryan), and put the phone to my ear.

  “Yes?” Mace’s deep, slightly out of breath, voice answered.

  “Where are you guys? You’ve been gone for hours.” I kept my voice neutral so he didn’t know that I was worried.

  “We’re…uh, a little busy,” I heard a gunshot through the phone and my heart jumped in my throat.

  “What the hell is going on?” I almost screamed. I hadn’t noticed, but I had begun to pace the floor in the lobby. I ran my hand through my long, dark hair and blew out a breath to calm my nerves.

  “Well we really need Callum and Cade to get over here. We are a little outnumbered,” Mace said and I could hear a few more shots being fired.

  At that point I was mad, really mad. Mace knew better than to take one person with him on cases. He was smarter than that.

  “What were you thinking when you only took Ryan with you?” The anger was evident in my tone.

  Without waiting for a response, I hung up the phone and began to gather my things. I was going to get them out of whatever mess they couldn’t get out of.

  Strutting into the artillery room, I quickly obtained a company gun. I had my own gun but really didn’t want to explain that to the guys. They were already going to ask too many questions if they figured out that I was a skilled shooter and I couldn’t raise any suspicion. I was sure normal paper pushers weren’t packing a piece. After I made sure the safety was on I put the gun in the waistband of my pants and went on a search for Cade hoping he wasn’t in his usual broody mood.

  I found Cade in his office with the lights flipped off.

  “Up, big boy. We have things to do!” I clapped my hands together to get his attention.

  I barely made out his silhouette walking towards me until he stopped in from of me. Cade was a hunk of a man and quite sexy and it was too bad that he didn’t make my heart flutter like Ryan did.

  “What?” He grunted.

  I tugged on his arm and drew him into the hallway, “Come. We have got to go. People to save,” I ordered him.

  He pulled on my arm to stop me and I turned around and cocked my head to the side. We had to leave before something happened to Mace and Ryan. There was no time to waste!

  “Mace and Ryan are in a situation they can’t handle by themselves,” I told him.

  “You ain’t going anywhere babe,” he told me.

  I waited to speak so his words had time to sink in and when they did I threw my head back, laughing my ass off.

  “You think…you think I’m not going!” I managed to gasp out.

  When I didn’t hear any laughter coming from him I looked up and noticed that his face was emotionless.

  “I’m going. You don’t have to like it but I’m going,” I told him, placing my hands on my hips for dramatic flair.

  “No, you aren’t,” he rumbled.

  “Cade, you are more than welcome to try and stop me, but since we don’t have time you won’t argue. Now, let’s go,” I turned on my heel and walked away from him, heading for the elevators.

  Cade, once again, pulled on my arm to stop me and I angled my head to glare at him.

  “You do as I tell you when we get there. Don’t pull a stupid stunt to get yourself killed. Do you have a gun on you?” He was clearly not happy with my tagging along. Not that he was ever happy.

  I nodded to answer his question then pulled the gun out of my pants.

  “Good. Do you know how to use it?” He asked impatiently.

  I smirked, turned the safety off, aimed at the wall and shot a round off. The bullet penetrated the dry wall, leaving a small hole.

  “Where’d you learn to shoot?” I heard Cade ask. I thought I heard a little bit of awe in his tone, but I couldn’t be sure.

  “My father taught me before he died.” The lie slipped easily off my tongue. It really wasn’t surprising. I had been lying my entire adult life. Fuck, my entire adult life was a lie!

  I barely saw Cade nod out of the corner of my eye. I heard a ding then realized I had already pushed the button for the elevator.

  As we rode down and got in the company truck, I thought about Ryan.

  For the past three months I had done everything in my power to avoid him. When I left that night I went straight home and forwarded all of his calls to voicemail. I didn’t want to talk to him. I needed to clear my head and remember the real reason why I was there. I wasn’t there to get romantically entangled with anyone. Least of all Ryan. I was there to do a job and fucking Ryan wasn’t a part of that job.

  Being with Ryan had me thinking that I could be normal. That I could live like a normal person. That fantasy was shattered 16 years ago and again that night when I was gathering my clothes off of Ryan’s living room floor.

  I was pulled from my daydream when Cade tapped on my shoulder and put an ear piece in my line of vision. He looked at me questionably, silently asking if I was okay. I shrugged my shoulders, not saying anything. Cade didn’t need to know anything about my past. To him-to everyone- I was just the girl from Arizona that lost her parents to a car accident.

  I took the ear piece from his outstretched hand and placed it in my ear. I attached the mic to the collar of my shirt then opened the door and climbed down. I looked back in the truck and Cade was still sitting in his seat, silently staring me down.

  I placed my hands on my hips and glared at him, “Well? Are we going?” My words seemed to shake him out of his stupor because he was out of the truck in a flash.

  “Follow my lead,” he grumbled, walking away.

  Hell to the no! I was not following his lead. For as long as I could remember I did what I wanted, to an extent.

  Cade was paying no attention to me, assuming that I’d fall in line with his command. Taking his completely lack of belief in me as an opportunity to do my thing, I backed away slowly in the opposite direction. I walked around to the back of the enormous house that was sitting o
n at least three acres of land.

  I heard a gunshot ring out and ducked beside an air conditioning unit. I had already taken my gun out from the waistband of my pants and had it aimed.

  I lifted my shoulder and spoke into the mic, “Shots fired. How many guys are we looking at?”

  “What the fuck?” Ryan whisper-yelled, obviously surprised to hear my voice.

  “We don’t have time, Ryan. How many?” I asked impatiently. If we didn’t hurry and figure this shit out one of us was going to get killed.

  “Ten. When this is over, we are talking,” Ryan growled.

  I rolled my eyes. There was no way in hell that I was talking to Ryan after this was over. I had been avoiding him for a reason.

  I peeked over the unit and when I didn’t see anything or anyone I slowly stood. I kept my ears trained to hear any sound and continued my way around the back of this house.

  Sensing movement off to my left, I aimed my gun in the direction. A guy with a black ski mask was standing before me with his gun raised.

  “Drop the gun and get down on your knees,” I shouted to him.

  Apparently he didn’t take well to orders because he shot a round off. Lucky for me, he couldn’t aim for shit. The bullet went in the dirt about five feet away from me.

  I took him down with a single shot to his upper thigh, causing him to fall down moaning in pain. I carefully walked over to him and kicked the gun out of his reach.

  “Got one but I don’t have any cuffs,” I said to whoever was closest.

  It felt so good to be doing something other than sitting at a desk. I loved my real job even though it demanded that I have no life. My job was everything to me. It was all I knew and I wanted to keep it that way. Everybody would be safer without me in their lives.

  I heard movement behind me so I spun around and raised my gun again.

  “Easy there, killer. It’s just me.” Like that was any better than the men with the guns.

  Ryan sauntered over to me with an easy grin grazing his handsome face. His face was annoyingly perfect. Dirty blonde hair that was cut short, but long enough for me to grab a hold of. Sky blue eyes that told me every emotion he was feeling. High, angular cheek bones that cut down to full lips.