Stripped Defenseless

by Lia Slater

  Kade cleared his mind of Ava and the affect she had on him. His overwhelming need to touch her, kiss her, and protect her would undoubtedly put one or both of them in danger, and he needed to get a handle on it somehow. If he only knew what Moreno had up his sleeve. Why had the man placed such a high price on Ava’s head? When Kade had spoken to him, it was obvious Zack was passionate about finding her. But for what reason?

  There was only one way to find out. Kade pulled his cell phone from inside his jacket and dialed Zack Moreno’s cell phone number.

  “Moreno speaking,” he answered quickly.

  “What are you trying to pull?” Kade asked, tension building inside of him.

  “Gavin, you’re calling.” The man seemed surprised. “This must mean you have good news for me.”

  “Not just yet. I need you to answer some questions for me first.”

  A false burst of laughter roared into Kade’s ears. “You’re my employee,” Zack said, adding another chuckle. “You don’t get to ask questions. You get to do what you’re told. Now, do you have Ava or not?”

  “Why do you want her? You obviously didn’t want me to find her right away with the bogus eye color you gave me.”

  A moment of silence passed.

  “Why do you want her?” Kade repeated but with more authority.

  “I’m impressed. You found her despite my misinformation. You’ve lived up to your reputation. I may have to tell the senator to hire you on.”

  “My reputation is dirt. I’m a son of a bitch, but I still need to know your plans. I won’t have her put in harm’s way.”

  “Relax, Gavin,” Zack said with a bite. “You act as if she means something to you. I know that can’t be true because Ava belongs to me. Have you overstepped your boundaries? Have you fucked my property?”

  “She doesn’t belong to anybody, especially you. Is that why you want her? Do you want to force yourself on her?” Kade gritted his teeth at the mere thought.

  Zack let out another bitter laugh. “Now, that would be illegal, my friend, and I’m a man of values. I only want to have a conversation. Then she can be on her way if that’s what she pleases.”

  Kade bit his tongue. Moreno was spitting out garbage and both of them knew it. Ava was in danger. But why?

  “Besides,” Zack added. “If you don’t follow through, Gavin, you won’t get paid, and I’ll see to it you don’t work another day in your life. Understand?”

  “Completely.” Kade shut the phone off. There wasn’t anything more to discuss. He knew what he needed to do. He didn’t like it, and he sure as hell knew Ava would hate him for it. But it had to be done.

  * * * * *

  Kade’s hand on the small of Ava’s back allowed her to momentarily forget about the stinging sensation on her cheek as the cold air bit into it. She only wished she knew why he looked as if he had just shot someone. Or wanted to.

  This wasn’t a man who traveled selling software. With his intimidating appearance, how could anyone trust him?

  How could she? For all she knew, he was being paid by Zack to find her. But that was ridiculous. Zack would never allow his employee, or anyone, to lay their hands on her, let alone make love to her over and over. She mentally laughed at the thought. No, it had been months since she’d left Zack, but she was sure he would be just as possessive as the day she’d met him.

  Which meant Kade was still a complete mystery. Everything from his last name to his real occupation to where he came from was a huge puzzle just waiting to be pieced together. If only he’d let her in long enough to at least have a glimpse.

  “I’ll go grab some ice from the machine while you warm up inside,” Kade said after opening the door for her.

  She tried to smile, but her face hurt too much so she just nodded and stepped into his room. His bed was unmade, but it looked tempting all the same. She crawled on top of the mattress and snuggled up in the stiff comforter and tangled bed sheets. Just a hint of his scent lingered on the white-cased pillow. She inhaled deeply.

  God, what was wrong with her? It was as if she were a lovesick teenager...with serious doubts about the man she was falling for. How could someone make her feel so safe and frightened all at once?

  Although she was exhausted, she forced herself to sit up, hauling her body off the bed like dead weight. A shower was exactly what she needed to clear her head and start thinking of where to go next.

  The next town over or a whole new state all together? Maybe someplace warm where it never snowed. The cold weather was beginning to get on her nerves. Phoenix, maybe? She could get back on the bus and head south, stopping when and where she felt far enough away from the danger. Ha. That would be never and nowhere.

  She turned the shower on and undressed while the water heated. Her body ached from being manhandled by Jarred. One thing was for sure—wherever she went, she knew the people would all be the same and none of them could be trusted.

  Sighing, she stepped into the pelting hot water and let the spray beat down her back. When had she become such a pessimist? Or was she a realist? Either way, it was lonely and depressing.

  Through the marbled glass shower door, she saw Kade’s large, distorted image walk into the bathroom. She held still, not sure if she wanted him to leave or to join her. Could she handle one last fling? Or would it only leave her craving something more? Something she realized he wasn’t willing to give. It had been painfully obvious the first couple of times he’d made that clear.

  “I’ll put the bucket of ice in the sink, Ava.”

  She liked the way he said her name. It felt familiar and warming. “Okay, thanks,” she answered, still immobile.

  For what seemed like an eternity, he stood there, just outside of the shower door. She couldn’t tell if he was watching her or not. She guessed there probably wasn’t much of her he could make out if his view was the same as hers.

  “What are you thinking about?” she asked over the noise of the running water.

  The blackness of his T-shirt fell out of sight, leaving the tan of his flesh. From what Ava could tell, his jeans dropped next.

  Her heart beat heavily as anticipation pulsed through her, making her breasts ache for his touch and her pussy grow warm with need.

  His hand pressed against the steamy glass and slid it open. He stepped in and moved toward her, only allowing Ava to close her eyes before he grasped the good side of her face with one hand and braced the other hand on the small of her back. His commanding mouth took control of hers and let her know how much he desired her.

  Ava reached for him, wanting to feel the mass of his chest, the firmness of his stomach. She dared to slide her fingers around his waist to run them over his tight buttocks. Water ran down her arms and onto his backside, making it slippery to the touch as she rubbed his firm ass.

  His skilled tongue tangled with hers, and she let her fingers crawl up his back, gliding lightly on the solid muscle.

  Her wet breasts crowded against his body. Their skin slithered smoothly together, making her nipples aroused and receptive. They pebbled into hard knobs against the coarse hairs on his chest.

  His erection grew stiff against her stomach, and the craving to explore every inch of him overwhelmed her. Having a mind of its own, her hand came back around and encompassed the velvety skin of his long, hard cock.

  She gently squeezed as she slid up and down his wet, slick shaft.

  His lips froze on hers as he drew in a breath. Ava dared to open her eyes and see firsthand the pleasure she gave him. A heavily lidded gaze stared back at her. The paleness of his blue eyes read more than just lust, and she shivered at the possibilities of what he could be thinking.

  In any case, exciting him awarded her more satisfaction than she’d ever imagined. She took in the sight of his pulsing erection ready to burst at her fingertips. Scrumptious.

  Wanting nothing more than to taste his warm cum, she shoved him against the far wall and kneeled at his feet, holding his thick length in her palm. />
  “Jeezus, Ava.” The sound of her real name leaving his lips sent warm flutters to her belly.

  Glad this wasn’t over between them just yet, she licked the salty pre-cum from the tiny slit at the head his cock. Mmm.

  He hissed out a breath and visibly tensed the cables of his stomach muscles. “You don’t have to do this. It wasn’t what I’d intended.” He tilted his head. “You’re hurt. You should rest.”

  She ran her fingertips down the corded muscle that led to his groin. The man was perfection. And, for this precious moment, he was hers. She dared to meet his gaze. “I want to do it. I want you, Kade. All of you.”

  He gently cupped her injured cheek and nodded stiffly, his gaze never leaving hers. “Stop if you feel pain.”

  She shoved away the thought of how many other women had knelt before him like this. How many he’d stared at with those hot-and-cold eyes, promising them both everything and nothing.

  It didn’t matter. She had the power now. With the flick of her tongue over his engorged head, she made him groan. His fingers entwined in her hair, holding her closer.

  She held his base with one hand and cupped his tight balls with the other, loving how every inch of him responded to her. She licked her lips, then took him in her mouth, just a couple inches. Her cheek felt bruised, but she ignored the tenderness, her desire overpowering any discomfort.

  He was large, but she tried not to let that intimidate her. She’d give him pleasure one way or another.

  Trickles of his hot cum danced at the back of her throat as she sucked him in harder. She found herself purring against him, his taste making her hot with need. Her thighs trembled and her pussy ached as the water from the shower pelted her ass and lower back.

  He leaned against the tile wall and slowly pumped his hips forward. With his hand holding her in place, his cock reached the depths of her throat.

  Ava swallowed and slurped, eagerly accepting his rhythm, wanting nothing more than to consume every inch of his yummy length. She moved her hands over his muscled thighs, up to his perfect tight ass, and clutched his flesh.

  He swore gruffly as if pleading for her mercy.

  Yes. Come for me, Kade.

  Sheer satisfaction rolled through her, and all her thought and energy centered on sucking and manipulating him with her tongue.

  He grasped the hand towel rack beside them and let out a rumbling groan that echoed in the shower stall. Hot cum shot down her throat, and she drank him up, savoring the taste of his liquid cream. When there was no more to be taken, she eased away and kissed his taut rippled abdomen.

  Was it wrong to worship his body, to need more?

  “Ava,” he said in a husky, heated voice. “What do you do to me?”

  Water trickled down her face as she stood to face him. How could she answer him if she didn’t understand the question? Her mind was blurred with a strong yearning to be held and caressed by him. Nothing else mattered at that moment.

  He reached out and pushed back a wet lock of hair that had fallen against her injured cheek, and her skin tingled across her entire body. What did he do to her? One single touch had her reeling with an unbridled hunger.

  Not being able to wait any longer, she grabbed his wrist and directed his hand toward her needy breast. He massaged it, gently stroking his thumb over her drenched, aching nipple.

  A half grin formed on his lips. “The water’s starting to get cold.”

  It wasn’t until then she noticed the goose bumps on her skin and her quivering lips. She was freezing.

  He stretched his arm around her and shut off the shower. “Come on. Let’s get warm.”

  Without a thought, she followed him out and let him pat a towel down her roused body. She was glad when he slowed and paid special attention to the inside of her thighs, sliding the terry cloth up between her legs, over her sensitive pussy...her mound...her stomach...and across each breast.

  After grabbing another towel, he walked behind her and began to dry her hair, wrapping it up and squeezing the water out of the locks.

  “I could get used to this.” She instantly regretted her words.

  He stopped what he was doing and draped the towel around her. “I wouldn’t if I were you,” he said in an almost inaudible voice as he maneuvered around her. His intense gaze cut into her, and he walked out of the bathroom, leaving her there feeling like a complete idiot. Again.

  Biting into her lip, she refocused and tried to gain control of her emotions. “I didn’t mean it literally, Kade,” she called out to him. “It’s not like I want to marry you and start popping out puppies. I don’t even know your last name.”

  Silence thickened between the rooms so she gave up trying to defend herself for absolutely no reason at all. Why did she care anyway? The man was good for the physical stuff but that was it. That was where it ended. If she could manage to keep her mouth shut, she could probably get one more night of sex out of him before she moved on. And maybe find out where he lived in case she wanted to locate him again. Just for the sex. Really.

  The mirror over the sink reminded her of the long day she’d had. Her cheek was pink and slightly swollen, and the dark circles under her eyes made it seem like she’d aged ten years in the past few hours.

  She sighed, wrapped some ice in a towel and gathered the courage to join him.

  When she walked through the door, he had on a pair of black boxer briefs and was sitting at the edge of the bed rifling through a duffle bag.

  “How are you feeling?” He looked up only for a moment.

  “Fine.” One word answers were the best way to go.

  “You don’t look fine.”

  “Mmm.” Not a word but cursing at the man probably wouldn’t get her laid. She crawled onto the bed, still completely naked, but he didn’t even give her the courtesy of a glance.

  “Why don’t you take these?” He swiveled around to face her with a brown prescription bottle in his hand.

  “Those?” She raised an eyebrow. “What are you trying to do, drug me?”

  He shook his head but still didn’t make eye contact. “They’re pain killers for an old injury I’ve got that flares up from time to time. A couple of these, and you won’t feel a thing, I promise you.”

  She arched her body toward him and circled her finger over her nipple. “What if I want to feel something?” she asked in the sultry voice she’d used a billion times at the club.

  He blinked. “What?”

  Why was it so much easier to play a seductress when you were named after a flower? “Nothing,” she said, giving up. She placed the ice-packed towel over her cheek and tried to forget how horny she was.

  The bed creaked as he stood. “I’ll get you some water.”

  “Whatever,” she mumbled, reminding herself that survivors didn’t beg. If Kade didn’t want to see her anymore after tonight, then to hell with him. Oh, who was she kidding? What would one more try at seduction hurt?

  * * * * *

  Kade didn’t look in the mirror as he filled the plastic cup. How could he when the man looking back at him was nothing but a pathetic, self-centered prick?

  Ava Lureau deserved better than what he had planned for her, and it sickened him. But there was no other way around it.

  If she weren’t so innocent and loving, pleasing him so readily with her beautiful body, then what he had to do would be easier. Cut and dried. Regrettably, he knew as long as she let him, he’d take everything she had to give. Just like a drug, he was quickly becoming addicted to her. He longed to please her—every part of her. Fill her. Possess her. Protect her.

  He walked back into the bedroom and saw her lying there with the comforter only partially covering her naked body. God, he wanted her, and he wasn’t sure he would ever be able to get enough.

  Maybe if he were to have her just one last time before she found out his identity. What could it hurt? She was going to despise him anyway.

  After spilling out two of the pills into his free hand, he wal
ked over and sat beside her. “Here, take these.”

  She met his eyes while pressing the towel filled with ice against her cheek. “I don’t need it.”

  “They’ll help you sleep.” He watched a droplet of water drip down her neck from the makeshift ice pack.

  “I don’t want to sleep.” She sat up, and the wet bead ran down between her supple breasts.

  Instinctively, he grew hard as he imagined following that path with his tongue. The taste of her, the soft creamy feel of her, just the thought aroused him.

  “Please, take the pills,” he ordered himself to say.

  She pulled the pack from her cheek and set it down on the bed beside her. “Don’t you want me?” she asked. “I know I look like hell, but...I don’t know. We could have one last fling before we go our separate ways.”

  “Aren’t you in pain?” Kade attempted to keep his thoughts rational because his body wanted to flatten her against the mattress, spread her legs, and make love to her until she was completely satisfied.

  “A little, but you can make me feel better.” She picked up an ice cube from the towel and slid it over her hardened nipple and down her stomach to her navel. “You know, like you did when we were young and innocent.” It melted quickly over her tanned flesh, and trickled down the area between her bare mound and her thigh.

  Focus, Kade.

  With the minute bit of willpower he had left, he shoved the pills and the cup of water toward her. “Take these or I’ll feel bad.”

  “And then?”

  “Then I’ll screw you so hard you’ll have to retire your pussy.”

  She giggled. “Retire my pussy? Is that all you got?”

  He would’ve upped the ante but was relieved when Ava took the pink and white capsules from his hand and swallowed them down with the water. Maneuvering her naked body to the middle of the bed, she lay on her back and opened her knees, letting him see the luscious rosy folds between her legs.