"Status, Houston!" Jared called the demand over the radio. He could see two of the team moving toward what remained of the cab of the truck, but there were three others unaccounted for. The seconds stretched before his lead answered, "We need an ambulance. Suspect is still alive. Two officers down."
"Houston PD has been notified sir, and two ambulances have been dispatched." Jared nodded before he relayed the information and asked, "Status of downed officers?"
"One is mobile, minor injuries, but sir… Harrison couldn't get out of the way. He was hit by the truck. Sir, you need to tell that ambulance driver to expedite."
Chapter Ten
Chief's fingers beat a rapid, staccato against his desk. The four video screens held David Xavier's personal net worth and charted to show the exponential growth over the last year. He nodded glad that his investments while acting as David hadn't cost the man anything. The next screen held offshore accounts, shell companies and money tucked away in tax havens such as the Grand Cayman. His tax lawyers and personal accounting firm were briefing him on the projections for the next two quarters. As was the norm, they couldn't see him, but they could hear a slightly modulated version of his voice. The few people he'd interacted with in the last year were an anomaly as David Xavier had never allowed anyone to see him outside of his tightly held reality. The real David Xavier had decided to control his vast empire through masked video conferences, telephone calls, and anonymous, faceless contact. Which made Mike's cover perfect.
Mike stifled a yawn and scrolled through his email pausing to read one marked urgent. The meeting had run through lunch, which irritated him more than it should have. He penned a quick note for Tatyana and had Joel give it to Hannah to deliver. The empty carafe of coffee on his desk had washed down a delicious meal that he'd mindlessly eaten as he waded through the tidal wave of information his lawyers and accountants detailed. He shook his head. He was going to need more caffeine. He'd gone days without sleep under the worst possible conditions, and here he was sitting in a chair that cost more than his truck, wearing a bespoke suit while sequestered in a warm, secure environment and he was tired. Fuck, he was getting soft. All the exercise programs in the world couldn't condition you for the extremes that had become the normality of his life. After the last mission with Alpha team, he'd settled into a routine. One that had obviously made him soft. He chuckled to himself at that thought. If Jacob, the Wonder Twins or Doc ever heard him admit that, he'd never live it down. He missed his brothers. And they were brothers, if not in blood, in spirit.
The screen flashed and drew Chief's attention. Oh, thank God, the summary. He leaned back in his chair and concentrated on the presentation. An hour and a half later, he killed the connection and rubbed his eyes.
Mike retrieved a folder from the corner of his desk. His security team was impressing him. Not to Guardian's caliber, but effective and efficient. The background information on Anya or Tatyana that he'd been given had some holes, but it was enough to confirm his suspicions. The aunt she spoke of did in fact exist, but she wasn't related to either Tatyana or her cover identity. The old woman's husband was Bravata, and so were her sons. There wasn't a threat to the woman. There was nothing forcing that little viper to stay in the Bravata's employment other than greed. The threats to her personal security could be mitigated enough to allow her to escape. No, if the Bravata wanted to find her, they would. He cracked his neck and reminded himself there was no smoking gun here. She worked for the Bravata, end of story.
He tossed the folder onto his desk and rubbed his eyes. He was disappointed that she'd lied. Admittedly, the woman intrigued him. Her beauty captured his imagination, and her sexuality drew his desire like a flame draws oxygen. But, she was the spoiled, deadly fruit from a poisonous tree—a fruit he would devour in order to make sure no one else was harmed.
He needed to stretch his legs. A glance at his calendar confirmed his meetings were over for the day. Rightfully he should be going through his correspondence, but he'd had enough. It was time to find the pretty doe-eyed woman who was evil to the core. The big brown eyes, curls, freckles and this morning's kiss floated through his mind. He pushed the warm thoughts away. He had a job to do. She was a means to an end and nothing more.
The fireplace in the master's suite flickered sending a warm light over the intimate dinner table. Mike sat holding his nightly cognac while he waited for Tatyana to arrive. He'd changed the location of their dinner so there would be no pretense as to his intentions. He swirled the amber liquid and gazed at the fire. He was in foreign territory. If she refused his advances, he'd have to figure out another means of tying her to him. He needed her stripped bare of pretenses, and an intimate relationship was the quickest way to reach that goal.
The door to his suite opened slowly. Tatyana stepped inside and took in the setting. She searched the room. When her eyes fell on him, he could sense her hesitation. He watched as she straightened her shoulders and slipped into the persona she wanted him to see. The tiny slivers of who she once was were hidden.
She walked across the floor toward him. Her pink skirt floated demurely away from her long legs. The matching top dipped enticingly between her breasts exposing the delicate column of her neck to his eyes. She wore the same scent she'd chose last night. The Nano RFID trackers that were mixed with the perfume when it was pushed through the antique atomizers not only activated the mission but would track his lovely distraction should she slip out of his control. He thanked the brilliant minds that were able to work the size of the trackers into picograms, which allowed trillions of the trackers to be produced from three grams of product. Now that the transmitter distance issue had been solved, the trackers were monitored from satellites. Guardian was the only agency using the new technology and the only ones who had the frequency to track them.
He rose and extended his hand to her. "You look beautiful." He noted the subtle blush to her cheeks and applauded her acting skills. If he didn't know what he did about her, he might have fallen for her demure act.
"Thank you. I'm sorry about this morning. Did Hannah explain that it wasn't my fault?"
He threw back his head and laughed hard. "Oh, Hannah explained in detail that it, and I quote, 'wasn't the lass' fault' and then reprimanded me about the expectation that you should join me in the gymnasium. Evidently, it isn't seemly for a young lass to sweat in front of her paramour."
He offered her a glass of cognac. She took it and swirled it in her hand. "Seems it is a foregone conclusion that you and I will be sleeping together."
He took a drink. He purposefully raked his gaze down her body and back up again. He needed to sell this bag of goods, and she needed to pony up and buy every bit of it. "I won't deny the fact that I want you. We are together for the foreseeable future. You are free of the Bravata while under my care. Your aunt is being monitored to ensure her safety. Once the business necessities are over, you will be free to leave, or if the situation between us is mutually acceptable, you may stay as long as you want."
She glanced over at him and then down at her drink. "Would this be an exclusive situation?"
"By exclusive you mean?" He knew exactly what she meant, but he wanted to hear it anyway.
"There would be no others in your bed?"
"Do you think you're not enough to hold my attention?"
She sat the drink down and lifted off the chair to stand in front of him. She slowly lowered to her knees in between his legs. Her fingernails trailed up his thighs toward his swelling cock. "I'm more than enough to keep your attention."
Her fingers deftly unfastened his belt and released his filling shaft from his slacks. She traced the swelling bulge in his boxers through the silk and then palmed his length. "I'm impressed, Mr. Xavier." She maneuvered his hard cock out of the opening and fondled his balls as she extracted them. Her small hand circled his shaft and stroked up to the to
p. Mike drew shallow breaths. The sensation of Tatyana's soft, warm hand brought his orgasm raging forward. It had been years since he'd been with a woman. His self-enforced celibacy crumbled under her feather light touches. She held his stare as she lowered and sucked the head of his cock into her mouth. Mike closed his eyes and dropped his head back onto the cushion of the chair. His gut clenched when her tongue circled his foreskin, dipping in repeatedly to circle his head before she drifted lower and trailed along the vein under his cock. The magnitude of what he'd personally surrendered to ensure this mission succeeded slipped away along with the reason's he needed to keep an emotional distance from the woman. His hands found their way to her hair. He gently cupped her head and followed the motion, not stopping or encouraging… just grounding himself. Tatyana lifted and drew a deep breath before she lowered onto his slick shaft. He could feel his cockhead at the back of her throat. She swallowed him down further. He fisted her hair and pushed deeper as he lost his load. His first orgasm brought on by anyone other than him in years. He released her, but she continued to swirl around his over-sensitive dick. He grabbed her under the arms and lifted her into his lap. Her lips covered his. He dipped his tongue into her and tasted his release.
He leaned back and pushed her curls away from her face. "You are dangerous. I want what I shouldn't with you."
She leaned back in and kissed him softly but not before she murmured, "Take what you want."
Chapter Eleven
Taty grabbed at David's massive shoulders. He stood without any hesitation after she'd invited him to take what he wanted. His arms cradled her against his body, effortlessly carrying her toward the bed. He carefully set her down on the feather soft linens. He removed her shoes and traced the arch of each foot with his fingertips before he kissed each toe. She shivered at the erotic feel of his tongue against the sensitive flesh. Transfixed, she watched as he mapped her skin with tactile precision before he trailed a line of kisses up her calves. His fingers and lips left a trail of heat along the outside of her thighs. His hands pushed the material of her skirt up around her waist as his tongue traced the thin lace of the pink thong she wore. His large hands cupped her ass, and he pressed a kiss above her panties.
He captured her eyes with his, released her and then rose to his full height. His gaze held her prisoner as he unbuttoned his shirt. The crisp white linen contrasted vividly against his bronze skin as her eyes bounced from his hands to his exposed skin and then back to the dark, sensual heat of his eyes. The shirt fell away. My God, no wonder he could carry her as if she were nothing. The man's sculpted body was beyond beautiful. Even the darker lines of scars that tattooed his bulging arms and defined chest seemed to enhance his features. Everything about this man surprised her by being more. His chest and abdomen were hairless except for a small happy trail that formed just above his uncut cock which was once again hardening. She'd never been with a larger man, either in physical build or… her eyes drifted down to his impressive shaft. Taty licked her lips in memory of his delicious taste. Michelangelo could have chiseled him in marble; he was that perfect. He turned giving her a view of a scar on his thigh. The size and shape resembled a large caliber bullet hole.
All thoughts of his scars ceased when his hands danced up her legs and tugged at the material at her waist. She lifted her hips allowing him to remove her skirt. Her shirt lasted only a few seconds longer as his fingers nimbly removed the cloth. He lifted onto the bed and straddled her. His fingers once again started their relentless pursuit of awakening every nerve in her body. He lightly traced her collarbone with his fingertips. His hands and eyes traveled over her throat around her jaw and then over her lips. He leaned down and kissed her softly before he began a slow, tortuous trail of touches, kisses, and licks to her breasts. He mouthed her nipples through the thin lace of her bra. Hot breath dampened the sheer lace fabric and cooled as he moved to worship her other breast. She panted in anticipation, her body's need overtaking any higher cognitive abilities. Her only thoughts were of him. His touch, his kiss, his scent and oh… God… his tongue.
An unbidden moan fell from her lips as his teeth found purchase and teased her through the lace. He lifted his head and smirked before wrapping his arms under her, moving up to take her mouth. He lifted her enough to unfasten her bra. His sensual assault once again stoking her need as his mouth and hands traveled down her body. He nipped the skin at her hip and licked the sting away. Her body bucked trying to find anything to provide the friction she desperately needed. Her hands skated over the planes of muscle in his back and gripped the ropes of sinew that formed his shoulders and neck. She slid her hands into his hair and gasped when he snapped the material of her panties and sent the thong flying. A low rumble of laughter preceded his large hands cupping her hips and pressing her into the bed. He continued his assault, relentlessly adding layers and layers of sensation.
Tatyana grabbed his shoulders and tried to push him with absolutely no effect. Her overstimulated body wept in anticipation as he trailed his tongue along the apex of her sex.
"Please." She ran her hands through his hair and tugged, lifting his head. His dark eyes were hooded with lust when he drew them up her body. "Take what you need, David."
He blinked as if coming out of a trance. The desire in his eyes muted before he nodded. Taty felt she had said the wrong thing, but she had no idea. He stretched, reaching for the drawer of the bedside table.
Mike grabbed a condom, took a deep breath and rolled on the latex, using the time to ground himself. He'd lost his mind. Tatyana had bewitched him in ways he'd never experienced. He'd worshiped her body until she'd called him David. David, not Mike. He grabbed her thigh and twisted her over onto her stomach and then pulled her onto her knees. He couldn't look into her eyes knowing this wasn't real. He centered himself at her core. His hand tracked up her spine. He pushed her shoulders into the bed, gripped her hip with his free hand and entered her. The heat of her tight body branded him. Her soft whimper before she pushed her hips back asking for more seared through his mind. He hated himself. He hated the situation that brought him to this point, and he hated that he couldn't bring himself to stop.
"More, please."
"You want this?" He pulled out and slowly pushed back into her, giving her body time to accept his size.
"Oh… God… yes." She grabbed the sheets in her fists and moaned when he finally seated his cock deep inside her. "Take me hard."
Mike wrapped a handful of her brown curls around his fingers. He lifted her up and positioned her against his chest. She gasped, and then her soft, sexy laugh filled the air. He pulled back and drove into her. His eyes rolled to the back of his head from the sensation. It had been years since he'd enjoyed the pleasures of a woman. She pushed back as he thrust forward. He gritted his teeth against the flood of white-hot pleasure pooling in his balls. God forgive him, he didn't want to want this woman… but he did.
He pulled out and spun her onto her back. Mike scooped the tiny woman up and moved her onto his lap holding her with her legs draped over his arms. His cock found her center, and he lowered her onto his shaft. She wrapped her arms around his neck and held on. Their eyes clashed as he lifted her. He slammed his cock into her as he dropped her body. She clenched her eyes closed, let her head loll back and gasped, "Fuck, yes!"
Chief set a punishing pace. Her body jolted with each thrust, and God help him; he loved the feel of her around his cock. Her fingernails scored his skin as he consumed her moans and gasps. Right now, the evil in this woman didn't matter. The only thing that did was that she was in his arms and that she desperately wanted what he was giving her. God knew he wanted it too.
He cradled her closer and took a nipple into his mouth, lurching forward and pushing her onto the bed at the same time. He nipped her taut skin before he lifted her leg over his hip and ground deep into her. He could feel sweat pooling
between them as he worked to bring them to release. She ran her hands through his hair and pulled him down. Her huge brown eyes open and staring at him. "Don't stop. I'm… don't…"
Mike groaned when she came. Her entire body tightened, and then her heat clutched him in a rippling, sucking sensation that enticed him over the edge. His shout as his orgasm blazed up his cock was instinctual and unbidden. He dropped onto her momentarily to gain his breath and some semblance of vision. His mind worked well enough to remember to grip the top of the condom. He slid out of her before he moved to her side and disposed of the filled latex.
She rolled into his chest, and he draped his arm over her. There were no words exchanged. There was nothing he could say. Sex with Tatyana was as phenomenal as it was horrible. Horrible, because putting this woman behind bars would be one of the hardest things he'd ever be required to do. She leaned forward and kissed his chest softly. He froze for a moment and then leaned down to kiss her forehead. Perhaps the hardest thing he'd ever done.
Chapter Twelve
Taty clung to the warmth of his hard body when he rolled off her. She wasn't a virgin, hell she was thirty-five-years-old. She'd had sex, but she'd never had sex like that. The exotic, gorgeous man that held her made love to her like no one else ever had. Made love? Taty trailed her finger over his chest watching his muscle jump in response to the sensation. Did he make love to her? No, they were most assuredly not making love. They fucked, but the way he treated her… the tenderness… it was the closest thing to making love she'd ever experienced.
His arm lay over her back, giving her the illusion that he was holding her, protecting her. She leaned forward and kissed his chest. He tensed momentarily before he dropped a warm kiss on her forehead. The dichotomy the man presented continued to baffle her. She'd wracked her brain looking for a sensible rationale for his business dealings with the Bravata. There was no reason that she could conceive of that would bring this man to the Russian mafia. Everything she'd discovered about him screamed that his association with criminals was off… somehow suspicious. If Taty didn't know for certain using him would lead her to an introduction to her boss, she'd have walked away and told the Bravata it was a trap.
Chief (Kings of Guardian Book 7) (The Kings of Guardian) Page 8
