by Tiana Laveen
I didn’t kill her in the hotel when she tried to cut my neck open and drain me of life. I betrayed myself.
And now here I am, thinking about her, wondering how she feels and breaking my own rules to make sure she is more comfortable. And for what? What do I really think I’m going to get out of this? If anyone knew who she was and that I have her here, they’d demand me to hand her over to the authorities. Instead, I’m keeping her in hiding, like a precious jewel swallowed by a poisonous snake.
He sighed, turned off his light and lay with his eyes open for probably over an hour, thinking. And then thinking some more.
Just face it. Tell yourself the truth, Phoenix…
I want her. I want Tiffany McCall all to my goddamn self. Her deviousness makes my dick hard. Her brilliance makes me smile and laugh. Her talent makes my heart pump fast. Her ruthlessness fascinates me but her physical beauty and femininity is her allure, and she is so much more than anyone could ever know. The real her is in those books … and I want a piece of that. I want her mind and her body. I want to know what she tastes like between her long, sexy legs. I want to hear what her moans will sound like when I slide my cock inside her pussy. I want to feel her all over me, make her confess that she wants and needs me…
But in order to have her, in the way that I want her, I have to keep her alive and safe from everyone else. And that’s what I intend to do…
T.A.R.G.E.T.: Tiffany McCall
Mission: To convince, befriend, protect and love
CHAPTER TEN
She observed the man from the glass partition. The door in the kitchen was locked and armed, but outside, in the wilderness, a light shone down on Mr. Phoenix Hale, who stood in army fatigues, bathed in the early morning light. One after another, Phoenix shot at the wine bottles, hit bullseyes on the target posters, and caught dummy after dummy in the forehead, with the precision of someone who seemed to have come out of the womb firing at random. He was such a good marksman.
He even turned his head a time or two, sensing her presence, and proceeded to shoot the targets dead center. Her whole damn body warmed as he worked another line of bullets into the chamber of a Glock 22. Placing her hand against the glass, she let the coolness hit her, making her shiver, but not as much as when he turned slowly in her direction, and just stared.
The icy blueness of his eyes went through her like a galactic breeze. He looked soulless at that moment, as if he hadn’t a care in the world. But then his lips curved in a smile, and she smiled back as he turned away from her. Walking away from the target, his back towards the dummy, he shot over his shoulder, hitting the damn thing square in the forehead in one clean shot. She gasped as he did the same to the other. That was the final straw. She couldn’t deny it any further. Phoenix turned her the hell on. He was tall and sexy, powerful and dangerous, deadly, smart as hell and important to so many people. And though she had no idea when her luck would run out, right then, she felt happy he’d been the one who’d found her.
This motherfucker is unfuckwithable. He lost his friend and he came after the people who’d done it: me and Gable. I can’t fault him for that. I might have done the same thing. It is what it is. You live by the sword and you die by it, too. It just so happens the guy who is armed and dangerous is the only one I can depend on right now. He is what he is, and he’s not sorry about it. I respect this mothafucka to the fullest…
“Is that what the private jets are for?” she asked as she stood in the living room, her hands wrapped around a large, white cup of hot tea. The clock on the wall marked 1:00 A.M.
Phoenix regarded the ornate fireplace, the thing adorned with carved gargoyles and angels, then back into her eyes. He ran his hands along the armrest claws of the oversized, leather loveseat, enjoying the smooth sensation against the pads of his fingers.
“They’re for whatever I need them for.” They’d been up talking for hours, but it felt like a mere few minutes had passed. They’d mainly discussed business, the things that had brought them into each other’s world in the first place.
“Why are you talking to me so openly now? You trust me?” She took a few steps closer and set her cup down on a nearby table. She sat down before him, as if waiting for a bedtime story. As she crossed her legs, looking slick and seductive in her oversized plain green T-shirt, her body called to him. She wore no panties beneath it. Right before she folded her legs, he caught sight of her labia, purposefully exposed for his viewing pleasure. The light of the fire cast a glow against her smooth, flawless skin and her hair fell in loose spirals, her braids freshly removed.
His dick throbbed in his pants, and he felt himself dangerously close to exploding. Just by looking at her, as though he’d never seen a naked woman before. But this one pressed all the right buttons. All of them at the same time…
“I don’t trust anyone, Tiffany. But life isn’t about complete trust. It’s about trusting just enough.”
He wanted to make her cum so bad…
She looked at him for a spell then nodded in agreement, coaxing her hair to fall against her shoulder. She uncrossed her legs, spread them wide and planted her feet flat against the floor. His gaze was drawn to her honey valley. He leisurely stroked his chin as he eyed her gorgeous pussy, the way the fat lips opened and closed, glistening with wet desire as she popped her thighs wide then shut them, teasing him in dangerous ways.
“Do you trust me … just enough?” Her brow rose as her lips curled in a devilish grin. Setting his glass of bourbon down on the agar wood end table, he leaned forward and winked in her direction.
“Still deciding…” He reached for his collar and undid his tie. The satiny finish rolled like butter against his touch. She watched with such intensity while he unbuttoned his shirt and took it off, tossing it aside. The woman’s eyes landed on his dragon tattoo before he stood to his feet and removed his leather belt and pants. The metal of the buckle clinked loudly as it hit the floor. He stood before her, looking down at his feast, falling under her tricky little spell.
Lifting her T-shirt, she exposed perky breasts. She discarded the garment the moment he reached low to scoop her with one arm from the floor and lay her down on a soft, white rug in front of the fire.
“Are you going to throw me in?” She smiled. A part of him believed in some way she might have wanted that…
“Fire … do you think you’re going to Hell?” He lay on top of her, pressing his weight and muscles into her tender flesh, relishing the skin-on-skin contact. Delicately caressing the side of her face, he gazed into her eyes.
“Hell is here on Earth.” Wrapping her toned arms around him, she thrust her tongue into his mouth and kissed him with the urgency of a woman dying, coveting her last moments with everything she had. He returned the fervor, his desire rising to fever pitch, then reluctantly pulled away for a moment. Pressing his hard cock against her, letting her see his need, he trailed burning kisses down the side of her neck, sucking on her tender flesh and eliciting moans of pleasure. She writhed beneath him, her sultry body moving against his. Driving him crazy.
No more waiting.
Ripping his black boxers down, he chucked them off to the side and shoved her legs wide open.
“Well, here’s a little pleasure on Earth…”
He plunged his dick deep inside her, rough and hard, to the hilt. After a moment of adjustment, he started thrusting at an even pace, holding on to her hips, digging his nails into her soft skin. Their mutual groans echoed throughout the room and she hissed as he drove himself impossibly deeper. The walls of her pussy felt like a dream—so soft and wet, catering to his every movement. Claiming her lips in a crushing kiss, he fucked her to oblivion. They held on tight to one another, held on for dear life, needing each other so desperately in that moment—for he felt her desire matching his own. Her body shook against him as he plunged in and out of her dripping wet pussy before pulling out and depriving himself of her warmth. Her eyes widened, her need awakened. She spoke no words, but she curse
d him wordlessly, her face saying all she needed to say.
His dick protested but he ignored it and kept going. He’d been dreaming of doing this for so long…
Yanking her thighs wide open, he delved low and slicked his tongue up and down her saturated zone. Soon, she was lying back, enjoying his ministrations, seeking that relief he so wanted to give her. The sound of his mouth against her wet pussy echoed in his ears, driving him mad as the scent of her sex and the sweet taste of her love sent his libido into overdrive. Frantic fingers ran through his hair and clawed at his neck. He tasted her sweet nectar over and over, becoming drunk within seconds.
“Shit!” Her back arched, lifting off the rug as he drove two fingers within her while sucking on her engorged clit. She sprang against him, her womanliness bursting free as she came hard and beautiful, trembling. Turning her over on her stomach, he barely gave her time to recuperate. He brought her up on her knees and anchored himself behind her. “Fuck!” Her palm hit the carpet with a hard slap as he shoved himself back inside of her, his hands possessive around her waist, gripping her petite body, manhandling the woman, forcing her back to take his harsh thrusts. He pumped hard and fast until he’d had his fill. With a low grunt, he grabbed her tits with both hands and rocked against her as he roared, flooding her. Violent spasms took over his body as her pussy milked him dry. Her scream mixed with his grunts; they came together, as if chasing one another in search of the ultimate pleasure … and they finally found what they sought. Turning her over to face him, he could see her expression said it all…
He pinned her down on her back, hands above her head, and re-entered her. Breathlessly, he pumped his hips, taking advantage of the last of his erection. The last remnants of his release escaped him as sweat meandered down his face. Sinking his teeth into the delicate skin of her neck, he then gave her a soft peck, and she purred beneath his touch. With a delicate hand, he traced the bruised surface of her wrists, then brought them to his mouth, one by one, and kissed her old wounds from the handcuffs. The fire crackled as they looked at one another, until finally, he broke their gaze and rested his head on her breasts. Her fingers dancing through his hair, she broke the silence.
“I like you, Phoenix…”
He was quiet for a spell, gathering his thoughts.
“You like the fact that you know I can protect you, get you to the next level, get you out of here in one piece.”
“That, too … but it’s more than that.” Lifting himself off her, he stared into her eyes, trying to read her. “You’re strong, and you listen … you give a damn. You know how to get things done. You’re fearless, and that is why you turn me on.”
He smiled at her before placing a kiss on the tip of her nose.
“You wouldn’t like me if you really knew me, Tiffany. I’m hard to love.” He ran his hands lovingly through her hair, moving it back into place after their vigorous romp. “But I’m willing to give you a glimpse all the same. Time will tell if you change your mind.”
“Oh, I know you, and I won’t.” She pressed her lips against his, then rested back on the rug. “You’re an executioner … a hired savage for the government. A heartless killer, all in the name of justice. You spread like wildfire … make people disappear. They go up in smoke. That’s what makes you the dragon…”
“No one can find Tiffany McCall.” Phoenix swiveled in his office chair, the dogs lying next to him as he heard the man drivel on and on. “Maybe he killed her. She knew too much.”
“Maybe.” Phoenix bit into his apple and chewed, even the seeds. “Just make sure Gable is not in general population. They’ll rip his fucking head off if he is. He has to stay in isolation.”
“Yes, I know. I’ll call you back if I hear anything else, but thanks for agreeing to stay out of this now that you’ve helped find him. Just step back, all right? I know it’s hard … I understand, Phoenix, believe me I do, but we’ve got John’s murderer now. We can handle the rest.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you can.” What a crock of crap. Incompetent bastards… Just like you sons of bitches couldn’t even figure out for weeks who the hell did this. I figured it out on my own, but you want me to stay back while you fuck up again … That’ll never happen. “I’ll talk to you soon.” He ended the call and sat back in his seat, glaring up at the ceiling. Beautiful music played, the strumming of a guitar with a hauntingly low yet sexy voice climbing over the notes in just the right way…
“How do you make me smile … simply by telling the time…”
“You’ve got those endless eyes…” He chimed in from the comforts of his office, knowing the lyrics by heart now.
I could look at you all day, Tiffany. You’ve driven me crazy, just like all the men before me that you fooled into thinking you cared to get what you wanted. I’d like to think I’m different, because you know I take losing personally. I’m a vengeful God. You’re testing me, and I’m testing you, too. You don’t want to fail my exam. You better pass with flying colors … because I’ve got too much to lose…
CHAPTER ELEVEN
“That’s not going to allow you as free of a range. Try like this.” She reached over and corrected the angle of his thick, long fingers along the frets. “Okay, do it again.” Phoenix sat in his oversized black leather chair in front of his bedroom fireplace. She’d caught him plucking chords as she walked past some time earlier, his door ajar. “Come in,” he’d said, sensing her presence without even looking up.
Now here she was, giving a guitar lesson. He gripped the acoustic guitar he’d given her in the fashion she instructed, and strummed the chords.
“See? Hear the difference.”
“Yeah.” He smiled. “I do. I’m going to keep the capo at the third fret.”
“Well, that depends on what song you’re going to play me.”
“James Taylor’s, ‘Fire and Rain.’”
She couldn’t help but smile as she leaned back against the chair across from him, folding her legs beneath one another and crossing her arms in anticipation. She couldn’t take her eyes off of him. Phoenix Vincent Hale was a hard man. He worked hard, he fucked hard and he played hard. And now that titanium man filled her daydreams and the soft crevices in between, awakened something within her she believed was impossible… the capacity to be open to love a man fully and completely. After they’d made love, they stayed up all morning talking, laughing, and more loving… Her body and mind hurt for him, he filled an extraordinary hollowness that resided within her she didn’t know was void… and she loved him for that.
He makes me want to be me…
As soon as he began, his fingers in proper placement as he drifted along, note after note, her heartbeat slowed. He sang the lyrics, his voice soothing, hitting every note just right, and she fell deep into the sound.
“I’ve seen fire, and I’ve seen rain…” he crooned in a slow, nostalgic tempo.
When he hit the final note, she applauded.
“You did good. Yeah, that was nice, Phoenix.” She took a seat near him, on the foot of the bed.
“Thank you. I’m a little rusty with that song. Don’t really play acoustic guitar that often either, but like I said to you before, I suppose it’s like riding a bike.” He set the guitar down, resting it against the chair.
She sighed. “Where do I go from here?”
They both stared at the fire. Phoenix cracked his knuckles and leaned forward.
“I’ve been checking out Canada on your behalf, just like I told you previously.” She nodded, not sure how she felt about that, but kept her thoughts to herself. “It’s not safe to try and cross you just yet.” She felt relief at those words, but knew deep down she couldn’t stay holed up in the man’s house forever. “I remember a real quiet night like this back in Nevada.” He looked starry-eyed as he gazed at her.
“A quiet night in Nevada?” She grinned. “Doesn’t sound like that matches up quite right.”
“People think of Las Vegas when there is mention of Nevada, but ther
e are plenty of quiet places, like my old neighborhood. I grew up in Henderson. If you look on a map today though, it’s called Green Valley. It was residential … it was nice, actually.”
She nodded in understanding.
“Do you miss it? I’m sure D.C. and Vegas—excuse me, Green Valley—are a lot different from one another.”
“Yeah, I miss it sometimes.” He sat back in the chair, his eyes focused on the fire. “I miss my brothers, my old man, the good ol’ days, but those are long gone.”
“Are you close to your family?”
He smiled at her. It was a sad smile, the kind one would barely be able to muster.
“My youngest brother, Harley, is doing great. He’s a college professor. We talk from time to time. He lives in Vegas now with his wife and my niece. My brother who was only a year younger than me is dead.” She looked at him as he kept on staring into that fire. His face and words were devoid of emotion, but she knew he was hurting … he was hurting bad.
“What happened?”
“Drugs is what happened.” He swallowed hard. “Ellis died of a meth overdose. My father was an alcoholic … a nice alcoholic,” he said, “but one all the same. It wasn’t the type of shit you hear about, like the guy coming home and beating his wife and kids. My father wouldn’t hurt a fly unless provoked. He was loved in the community. He was fair. He was just what many would describe as the kind of cop you hoped would pull ya over … because he’d let you off the hook if you promised to slow down. He was what they called a functional drunk, you know.”
“Yeah…” she said quietly. “I’ve heard of that.”
“Went to work every day on time, didn’t cause too much trouble. He was a good man. He just, uh, couldn’t get that monkey off his back.”
“What happened to him?”
“One night after a two-day binge on his days off, he fell into a coma. The oxygen cut off from his brain and that was that.” He shook his head, looked down at his knuckles for a spell, then back at the fire. “My brother’s overdose, on the other hand, caused him to have a heart attack. Imagine that … a twenty-five-year-old having a damn heart attack,” he said. “That was a long time ago, but it still feels like it just happened yesterday.”
