The Honeybun home was dark and quiet when they arrived. The rising sun was a tender promise on the horizon and the neighborhood hadn’t yet started to stir. As Alfric unlocked the front door and opened it, the only indication that the house was inhabited was the sound of Clancy’s nails on the hardwood floor as he loped over to greet them.
“Hey boy.” Alfric crouched down to scratch the big dog behind the ears and then stood and headed toward the kitchen, towing Pleasance along by the hand. He glanced at her and pulled her under his arm, smiling down at her. “You hungry?”
When he looked at her that way she was definitely hungry. Pleasance felt her body warm and soften. She fought an almost overwhelming urge to pull him into a kiss and forget about food altogether. But, at the mention of food, her stomach decided to grumble.
Alfric laughed. “I guess that answers my question.”
In the kitchen, Pleasance gave Clancy fresh water while Alf rummaged through the refrigerator for the makings of a quick, light meal. Then, she washed her hands and went to help.
Twenty minutes later they settled at the long table with eggs and buttery whole wheat toast in front of them. Clancy snarfed his eggs from a bowl on the floor.
Pleasance nibbled her toast and watched him eat for a moment, admiring the way the muscles of his strong neck rippled when he chewed. “That was pretty impressive with the helicopter. You’re a good shot.”
He shrugged. “I got lucky. It’s amazing what you can accomplish when the adrenaline starts kicking.”
“You weren’t lucky you were good.”
He swallowed and favored her with a slow grin. The dying sun took that moment to slide into the room from the bay window overlooking the Honeybun’s huge back yard.
The sunlight sparkled in his dark blue eyes and made her knees wobble under the table. “If I promise to be good can I get lucky again?”
Pleasance chuckled, the sound husky with building need. “For that, Alfric Honeybun, you don’t need any luck, you just need to be good.”
He leaned over the table and captured her lips with his. His lips tasted of butter and felt like velvet fire against hers. Heat flared quickly between them. He increased the pressure of his lips and wrapped a hand around the back of her neck, pulling her out of her chair in an attempt to get closer.
Alfric made a sound of urgency deep in his throat, almost like a little growl, and pulled away from her. She gasped at the sudden loss and dropped back into her chair, licking the warm taste of melted butter off her bottom lip.
Alfric stacked the still full plates and set them aside, on the floor, along with their glasses of juice. Then, he kicked off his shoes and slid up onto the long, heavy wooden table, grabbing her hands to pull her up with him. Pleasance giggled with delight as she realized what he had in mind. “Your mother would have a stroke if she knew what you have in mind.”
His long fingers settled on her throat and he leaned close, touching the tip of her nose with his lips and then nibbling it.
Pleasance gasped in a helpless, little moue of lust. She let her head drop back as his lips and tongue created a heated trail down her throat. He dipped his head and found the warm crevice between her breasts, licking his way between the taut mounds and bringing her nipples to rigid attention under the soft cotton of her shirt.
Alfric wrapped one hand around the back of her neck and the other rubbed gently across her sensitive nipples, caressing them in slow, sensuous circles with his palm.
He lowered her to her back on the long table and rolled to cover her, taking the bulk of his weight on his elbows and knees and pressing his groin into her soft belly.
Sharp, bright flashes of lust shot through her body from the erotic contact he was creating at the center of their bodies. She moaned as his soft lips lowered over hers. Alfric slid his hands to cup her face and moved his lips softly over hers, building the heat with his mouth as his body massaged hers into sensual submission.
Pleasance closed her eyes and let her other senses take over. Cool air slid across her belly, followed by smooth warmth as Alfric’s hand slid her T-shirt up to just under her chin. Moist heat touched the thin silk of her bra as he nibbled the turgid nipple beneath the flimsy material.
Finally, with a gasp, she reveled in the feel of his hot mouth closing over a newly exposed nipple and pulling it deeply, gently into the warm cave of his mouth. The other nipple soon found its way into that same, wonderful place, and Pleasance’s lower body arched upward with need. “Too many clothes…” she managed to gasp as she began pulling at Alfric’s shirt.
He pulled his mouth from her nipple and helped, quickly divesting himself of his shirt and yanking hers over her head too. When he lowered himself again, his lips found hers and his hot, smooth chest pressed her tender breasts, creating fire where their skin touched and slid.
He captured both of her hands and pulled them over her head, stretching her out for his hungry gaze and greedy lips. Then, he proceeded to lick and nibble a trail across her breasts and up the long, smooth column of her throat.
Pleasure boiled and churned inside, starting at the juncture of her clenched thighs and climbing up her body until she could barely breathe from the pressure. Stars burst in front of her eyes and she throbbed painfully with need. She suddenly knew that she’d go mad if she didn’t have him soon.
Fortunately, Alfric had apparently decided the same thing. He worked his way down her flat belly and slid his tongue under the waistband of her jeans and then he settled his mouth over the button and nibbled it free.
Pleasance looked up, giggling. “You didn’t just unbutton my jeans with your teeth?”
He grinned proudly, “I didn’t?”
She shook her head and watched as he grabbed the zipper between strong, white teeth and started pulling it down, his intense blue gaze locked on hers. A full body shiver of pure, unbridled lust swept over her. As the zipper reached the bottom of the track, Alfric nestled his chin against the throbbing spot at the juncture of her thighs and pressed, once, twice, and a third time, and Pleasance’s upper body flew upward, her eyes crossing as she convulsed in a full blown orgasm.
Her jeans slid easily from her boneless body. He flung them to the floor and pulled his own jeans off. The last of his clothing joined hers on the floor and then, after a ripping sound that heralded the opening of a condom packet, she felt him slide against her, feet upward, until he’d settled into perfect position between her legs. She gasped as he slid slowly into her body, and then even more slowly back out, dragging his hot, hard flesh against her over sensitized nerve endings in a deliciously mind-numbing way.
Pleasance couldn’t think, she could barely breathe, all she could do was grab his arms and hold on for the ride. Sensations washed over her, swept through her, and pushed her hard into the table as her body’s needs overcame all of her thought processes. Instinct and feral need removed all semblance of awareness beyond his touch, his smell, the incredible feel of his smooth skin against hers.
Alfric buried his nose in her throat and dragged her essence into his lungs, holding it deep and letting it swirl through his senses like the expensive scent of an exotic flower. His tongue flicked out and tasted her, sweeping across the exquisitely soft café-au-lait column of her throat and dipping into the sweet crevices around her ears.
She moaned beneath him and tightened around his hard flesh, driving him to the next level of frantic need with a mere twist of her hips. Alfric lowered his hands to her hips and drove into her hard, increasing the tempo of this thrusts until there was nowhere else to go but over that building peak.
Pleasance cried out first, her body arching up to meet him as a scream of pure lust tore from her throat and her beautiful eyes fluttered closed in ecstasy. Alfric went rigid under the sensation of her hot flesh tightening around him, holding himself perfectly still until she’d softened into the aftermath of her release. Then, he started moving with new intensity, driving hard and fast into her eager, pliant body, building towar
d something bright and hot that waited just out of reach. His thrusts grew in intensity until, finally, his body tightened in pulsing expectation and then softened into blessed release, taking her happily over that sweet edge with him.
He sagged wearily, feeling the strain of the last several hours dragging him down now that his more urgent need had been assuaged. He rolled over and sat up, grabbing her hand as he slipped down from the table. “Sleep…” he groaned as his feet hit the cold, wood floor. “I need sleep.”
Pleasance nodded groggily. She could certainly use about fourteen hours of deep sleep too. Unfortunately for them they needed to be at the tailor shop in less than 5 hours. Sighing, she allowed herself to be tucked under Alfric’s arm and trundled off to bed.
She grinned when she saw the single bed and the posters of robots and red-eyed bugs on his walls.
He tugged her ear and gave her a crooked smile. “What? You don’t like the décor?”
“It doesn’t quite fit with the image of you I have in my head.”
He chuckled. “My parents haven’t changed much in here since I was eight.”
Pleasance shook her head and headed toward the narrow bed with the Transformers bedspread on it. “I hope you don’t need a pillow, ‘cause I’m not sharing.”
He slapped her on her naked butt. “I can get you to share, woman.”
She slid under the covers, moaning as she stretched her tired muscles. “Oh yeah? Let’s see you try.”
Alfric lifted the Transformer spread and slid under it, covering her body completely with his own. Pleasance found herself wedged, not unpleasantly, against some real evidence that he wasn’t completely out of steam yet.
Though she was weary beyond words, she suddenly realized she still had a smidgeon of energy left in her. She smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck, arching upward as he pressed himself against her belly. Then he kissed her and she forgot all about being tired.
When he lifted his lips from hers a moment later, she almost whimpered.
He caught her soft, full bottom lip between his teeth and nibbled it gently. “I told you I’d get you to share the pillow.”
Her laugh was husky. “Okay, you win, I’ll share. As long as you keep doing what you were just doing.”
He lowered his lips and touched hers softly. “Like this?”
“Mm hmmm.”
He tucked his hips and made her gasp. “And like that?”
“Oh yes. Definitely like that.”
Chapter Eighteen
The area around the tailor shop was quiet. Only the occasional young mother pushing a stroller along the cracked sidewalks or pedestrian following a dog on the end of a leash around the neighborhood crossed their field of vision.
Alfric turned to Brita. “We need to make sure there’s nobody around when this goes down.”
She nodded. “Once Raia’s in the shop my men will move in and cut off any traffic on the street.”
They were behind a privacy fence at an empty house directly across the street from the tailor shop. Brita had the gate partially open and they’d been standing just inside the fence line, keeping an eye on the street while they waited for Raia to show. Undercover cops were peppered around the neighborhood, posing as home owners watering lawns and tending gardens, mail carriers, and sundry other invisible roles.
Brita’s radio crackled and Bud Shinks’ voice emerged. “North side. There’s a long, black car coming up the road. He has an escort of at least two black Escalades.”
Brita lifted the radio to her mouth, her eyes sliding to the north. In the distance a large, black car rolled toward them. “I got ‘em.” She lifted a hand toward the detective up the street who nodded and started walking toward them with a large German Shepherd on a leash. The dog’s name was Baad. He was a canine cop, currently working undercover as a lowly family pet. Detective Will Blief had his cap on backward, his pants drooping low enough to highlight white, cotton boxers with guns on them. His knees were loose as he bounced and swaggered up the street. Around his throat, about five gold chains of varying sizes sparked in the mid-day sunlight.
“Love the goatee, Blief.” Brita’s lips tipped upward as the young detective jerked his chin in acknowledgement.
She turned to Alfric and Pleasance. “This is it.”
Alfric frowned, glancing at Pleasance. He didn’t like that she was involved, but he respected her need to help take Raia down. He reached to grab her hand and she smiled at him. Her palm was slightly moist and she nearly vibrated with excitement.
The first black Escalade pulled up to the curb in front of the tailor shop and two men climbed out. They eyed Blief, now two blocks away and rolling slowly toward them. Apparently dismissing him as a serious threat, they turned to the long, black caddy that slid up to the curb behind them and nodded.
Brita lifted the radio. “Close ‘em up, Shinks.”
The third car slid next to the Caddy and idled in the street. The men inside made no move to get out.
Brita frowned. “The third car is mobile. We’ll have to grab them down the road.”
Her radio crackled and Shinks’ voice said, “Roger.”
The two thugs from the first car moved back and took up position on either side of the door on the tailor shop side of the car. One of them bent to pull the door open and, a heartbeat later, a small man wearing a white fedora, with long, golden hair flowing out from beneath it, and a pristine white suit climbed out.
Raia moved quickly toward the tailor shop, the two thugs from the first Escalade flanking him closely. He walked with small, quick steps, his narrow shoulders swaying. His two bodyguards scanned the area as they walked, their heads swiveling constantly.
Alfric watched as Raia entered the small, white building, leaving the two thugs outside on the steps. Then he turned to Pleasance. “Ready?”
She nodded and slipped a wide brimmed, floppy hat over her head. He let his eyes slide down her body for a heartbeat, a slow, appreciative smile spreading across his face. He leaned toward her ear, speaking softly, for her ears only. “You look edible.”
Pleasance smoothed her hands down the form-fitting skirt of her dress. Her heart pounded in her chest with nerves. She wasn’t looking forward to facing Raia again. She lifted her eyes to Alfric’s handsome face and favored him with a wavering smile. Biting her lip she said, “You’re sure it’s not too much?”
He shook his head, “It’s perfect. How about me?” He spread his arms and cocked a hip.
She giggled. “Definitely unique.”
He was wearing a pink leisure suit with a bolero tie, cowboy boots, and a cowboy hat.
Brita turned toward them, motioning them forward with her radio. “Blief’s in position.”
Alfric pulled the hat low over his face and offered her his arm. “Let’s go.”
They sauntered through the gate and headed toward the Jaguar parked at the curb. Alfric poked his chin in the air and sauntered cockily, like a man who didn’t know he was wearing a pink leisure suit and a turquoise studded bolero tie.
Pleasance swayed her hips so hard she was afraid she’d either fall off her four inch high red stilettos or dislocate a hip. She popped the gum in her mouth and puckered thickly painted red lips. The three inch hoops in her ears bounced against her cheeks as she sashayed toward the car.
Suddenly, she stopped. “Oh darlin’,” she said loudly, in her best trophy wife voice, “Look at the pretty doggy!”
Blief, who’d been stooped over, tying his Day-Glo orange rocker sneakers, released Baad’s leash and murmured, “Hump.”
Baad, anxious to enjoy his favorite trick in all the world, ran, panting and smiling widely, toward Pleasance. He jumped up, placing snack plate sized paws on her chest and started happily doing the canine humpty dumpty on her right thigh.
Pleasance screamed convincingly, flailed her arms, and went down on one knee, while Alfric went around behind Baad and tried to yank him off her using the leash.
By this time, Blief ha
d joined the fray and was screaming at Pleasance, who was belly down in the grass, babbling incoherently.
“Stop letting him hump you lady!” Blief stood, hands on hips, every line of his body screaming disgust, not of his dog’s behavior, but of the victim’s.
Pleasance met this advice by trying to stand up. She didn’t get far. She did, however, present a pretty picture as she stuck her butt in the air and shoved with her hands.
Baad weighed almost as much as she did and he wasn’t going anywhere until he got the release command from Blief.
Alf stuck a threatening finger in Blief’s face. “Get your dog outta here, boy!”
Across the street, Raia’s men were hilarious, bent over double laughing with their hands on their knees. They didn’t even notice the SWAT guys who came around the side of the house until they had rifles settled against their throats. They were hustled around to the back of the tailor shop and into waiting vans in the alley within seconds.
Doors opened in the remaining Escalade. Alfric and Blief took off toward the car, guns drawn. Brita gave a shout and cops poured from behind bushes and around homes on the street. Raia’s men took one look at the charging troops and jumped back into the huge, black car.
The sound of tires squealing on the street was followed by the crackle of Brita’s radio as she instructed Shinks that the car was headed his way.
Alfric turned to Pleasance, who was still lying on her belly, her head resting on her hands, a long suffering look on her beautiful face and Baad happily continuing his business on her calf. Alf chuckled. “Blief!”
The young cop turned to her. “Oh, sorry. Baad, release!”
The police dog stopped immediately and, after giving Pleasance a quick kiss on the cheek, trotted over to Blief.
Pleasance pushed herself to her feet. Alf held a hand toward her. “Hurry!”
She reached down and pulled her shoes off and ran toward him, carrying the deadly shoes in one hand.
Baad flopped onto his haunches, his long, red tongue lolling out of the side of his mouth. He looked as if the love of his life had just left him for a Great Dane.
Life Liberty and the Pursuit of a Honeybun Page 15
