I stormed out of the building and jumped in the Escalade. The anger tried to take over but I was done with that. I had a sexy man on his way to my place and I’d taken down one of the most dangerous bounties in the state. No, maybe tomorrow I’d have time for anger or regret, but not today.
I pulled into my townhouse drive and packed the bags of food into the kitchen then ran into my bedroom and changed. I shrugged off all my work clothes, dropping my gun in its safe before I dressed in a tank top and shorts, no bra. So maybe I’d misread what he wanted from me, but I wasn’t going to make saying no easy on him. Even one more day would be enough, I lied to myself. I was a greedy bitch who would still want more. More orgasms. More intimacy. More everything.
Chapter Twelve
Rebel
I stared up at the townhouse a minute before I lowered my kickstand and got off my bike. If I were in my right mind, I’d already be back in Ardmore. But insanity had me in its grips so I walked up to the door and rang the doorbell.
Elle opened the door looking good enough to eat. Her long blonde hair loose, a tank top showed those nipples that drove me wild, and her legs were framed in shorts that rode high on her thigh. Definitely having more than one taste of her.
“Breakfast is in the kitchen,” she told me as she closed and locked the front door.
“No, it looks like you’re my breakfast.” I closed the distance between us.
She pushed hands into my chest, stopping me before I could get in tasting range. “Food. Business. Sex.”
No, that wouldn’t work, business had to be last because I didn’t want to miss the good parts if my proposal pissed her off. And there was a good chance she’d kick my ass to the curb. “Food. Sex. Sleep. Business.”
“Deal. This way.” She led me down the hall, a living room was to the left and a home office to the right. She had an eye for color and the place felt warm and cozy, a home. I had a house but it wasn’t a home, but then I liked it that way.
“I like your place. Great colors.” I followed her into the bright blue kitchen
“Thank you.” She opened the cabinet and brought out two plates, handing me one. “Breakfast from Tessa’s Deli. I’m not much of a cook.”
I kissed the top of her nose. “I’m starved.” I dug into the food, piling my plate full. I cooked at my place all the time and was better than average, not that I told any of my brothers that. The mooches would be on my doorstep every meal.
“So how did it go at the police station?” I yawned starting to feel the lack of sleep.
She told me about the processing and the shit Stone got when a woman brought him in. She rambled on telling me about her office, then about the fucked-up scene with her father. It pissed me off that the guy was making her jump through hoops.
“I blame you. You’re a bad influence,” she teased me.
“Sounds like he deserved it, and I like corrupting you.” I waggled my eyebrows.
She lost it, laughing so hard she could barely breathe. “You’re terrible.”
“I’m fucking awesome.” I scooped up more eggs. “You can admit it, I already know it.”
Once she brought her laugh fest to an end, she looked me straight in the eyes. “You are awesome at fucking.” She didn’t blush or crack a smile.
I threw my head back and laughed. “You read my mind. Show me to your bedroom, baby. I need to maintain my rep.” I stood and pulled her to me. “I want to taste you, but if I do that now, I’ll take you right here on your table.”
“Exciting as that sounds...” And by the smile on her lips she was considering it. “I’m going to crash and my bed is so comfy.”
“Like I said, lead the way.” We made our way upstairs.
Her room was all deep greens and browns, I liked it. I threw back the bedspread before I picked her up and tossed her in the middle of the bed. “Just where I want you.”
Shedding my clothes, I climbed into bed on top of her and asked the question of the day. “Tell me you have condoms, I’m out.” I should’ve stopped on my way here but my brain short-circuited and I’d forgotten.
“What if I don’t?”
“Say you do,” I pleaded because I didn’t want to drag my ass out of bed and go get some.
“I do. In the nightstand drawer.”
Inside was a box of condoms, barely used. I brought out a whole string.
She giggled, a sound I’d never heard from her before. “I’ll be unconscious before we make it that far.”
“Baby, you never know.” Then I kissed her. It was like coming home.
I’d wanted that kiss since I’d arrived. With the condom stash replenished I might never leave this bed.
* * *
I woke before her and watched her sleep, but her naked body made me want to do other things, and I’d have to leave before too long. I nudged her legs open wider so I could taste her again.
“I thought I was dreaming.” Her sleepy voice was so sexy.
I grinned up at her before returning my mouth to her. She thrust her hips unable to remain still. I could see the orgasm building. When it hit her, I lapped it up along with her sweet cream before I moved up to take her again.
I was addicted to Elle calling my name when she came. I hadn’t meant to see her again, but I couldn’t stay away. Besides what was the fun of rules if I didn’t break them. My one night and done rule was history where she was concerned. Maybe it should worry me, but I couldn’t be bothered when Elle climbed atop me. While I wished we could fuck our way through the whole box of condoms, I had to head home for a council meeting tomorrow but before I left we were going to come to an understanding.
Her small hands rolled the condom down my length. She straddled me sliding her tight pussy around me and my thoughts scattered to the wind. I let her set the rhythm at first, content to watch her beautiful body bounce atop mine.
“Fuck me harder, baby.” I wanted her wild, to let loose of all the passion she’d bottled inside.
She dug fingers into my shoulders and rode me hard but too soon I needed to set the pace. I gripped her hips and pushed her to go faster. Her sexy noises flipped a switch inside me. “That’s it, girl, come for me,” I coaxed her.
An image of her on her knees at the party flashed through my mind and I was a goner. Trying to hold back was no use, she was kryptonite to my control. Gone was the jaded master who could fuck for hours before I came, with her I was someone different and I had no fucking clue why.
Knees tightening I called her name and let go. Her tight pussy squeezed my cock as she came undone for me. I lived for the moments she climaxed—passion fierce and primal transformed her face. Elle Jackson did nothing in half measures, when she came for me her orgasm reached all the way down to her soul, and she shared it with me like it wasn’t the most precious gift in the world.
I held her tight while the shudders of her release tore through her. I’d have to guard my heart close or she’d end up stealing it, and it’d fucking suck to live the rest of my life without it. No matter how much I craved her now, it’d pass, because I didn’t have it in me to love. My family had cured me of that stupidity.
She glanced up with a lazy smile. “Shower and then we need to talk or sleep,” she yawned. “You have worn me out, again.”
After we made it out of the shower, I dressed quickly to avoid the temptation of taking her back to bed. No matter how many times I had her, I wanted her just like it was the first time all over again.
“Come on, let’s talk downstairs.” She motioned for me to follow her.
We left her very orderly bedroom, and she called me a neat freak, and ended up in her living room on a couch that had flowers all over it. I mean as far as couches went, it looked good in the room, but who the fuck bought a couch with flowers on it. Not understanding the mystery of that
, I turned my attention to what I wanted to say. Would it piss her off? Likely, it’s why I’d put talking last on the agenda.
She grabbed a notepad and pen from the end table and tossed it to me. “Write your license and stuff down so I can process your half of the bounty.”
“About that.” I set the notepad aside. “I don’t want it. In fact, I want you to keep the entire thing. It was your contract.”
Her eyes narrowed and nostrils flared—she was getting ready to give me hell.
“Look, Elle, I know it wasn’t the deal we made but I want to make a new deal.”
With hellfire in her eyes she crossed her arms. “Why?”
“The way I figure this, even with the cash from Stone, you’ll be doing the impossible to earn 500 large in...what...how many days do you have left?”
“Ten days and a few hours.” She clenched her jaw tight.
Damn I wanted to kiss away the mad. “Without sharing the history of my fucked-up family, let’s just say I understand the suckiness of family betraying you.”
Her eyes softened.
“So let me do this for you, and add to that the offer of being your backup, no fees will be accepted, so you can shove this fucking deal down your father’s throat.” Anytime I thought of what her dickhead of a dad was doing to her, I saw red.
“So that’s it? You want to help me even though you don’t think it’s possible to do.” She assessed me. “Or just not possible for me to do?”
I clasped her hand. “So you get I’m an arrogant bastard.”
“I get that.” She almost smiled for me.
“I don’t think even with your company’s resources behind me that I could do it, that your father could in his day, and the prick tricked you into the corner you’re in because he thinks he knows better than you. That kind of arrogance just pisses me the fuck off.” My jaw ached from clenching as I tried to hold back harsher words she didn’t need to hear.
“Why not take the cash if it’s so hopeless?” Hurt echoed in her question.
“Because maybe you’ll do it. I want you to do it, no matter what I think or anyone thinks.”
Now she did smile. “So that’s the deal?”
“The work part of the deal.” I ran my hands through my hair not even believing I was saying this shit. “Whether we work together or not, I want to see you again, see you often.” I stood and walked to the far side of the room before I turned around and said the rest. “I’m a bastard, haven’t even had a girlfriend since I was 16.”
Her expression was blank.
“Until you, right now, I haven’t spent two nights with the same woman since I joined the Brotherhood.” I couldn’t look at her face because I didn’t want to see the disgust or judgment there. Best to get the rest out.
“How long have you been in the club?” Her quiet question almost undid me.
I was a breath away from walking out the door and drinking myself into oblivion until this crazy idea couldn’t raise its head ever again.
“Twelve years, I joined when I was 20.” Of course that didn’t count the two years I’d been a prospect and my father had rained down hell on the Brotherhood. I had been sure they’d kick me loose just to avoid his wrath, but they had stood by me. “I’m laying this out clear as I can because while I want more, I’ll never want it all, that’s just not in me. I’ll walk away sooner or later because that is me.” Because I wasn’t a coward, I met her gaze.
I couldn’t read a damn thing in her face, if some emotion had been there it was gone now. It was the same look she’d had when we took down Stone—her poker face was a damn good one.
“So you’re telling me you want to come back and fuck me, give me more of those mind-melting orgasms, but not to get too attached because you’ll bail sometime?”
I nodded.
“And what if I’m done first?”
The idea hadn’t even occurred to me. I truly was an arrogant son of a bitch. “Same thing, no harm, no foul.”
“Would I go to more biker parties?” Her lips quirked up.
“If you wanted to, I’m all about fantasy fulfillment.” Maybe this wasn’t the big deal I’d made it out to be. If she was a biker chick or one of the regulars at the club, I wouldn’t have felt compelled to spell it out. This was the norm in our world, but Elle wasn’t part of that world and honestly, I couldn’t ever picture her being part of it. As I thought it, the picture of her on my lap with my club shirt on fucked with my mind.
“Since you shared, perhaps a little of my sexual history would help you understand.”
Fuck. I didn’t want to know about her lovers or boyfriends. Hell maybe she’d even been married. That idea pissed me off for some unknown reason.
“I have had four, count them.” She lifted one finger at a time until four fingers were raised. “You make number five.”
Holy fuck, he’d had five women in one night. They could never talk numbers again.
“Until this badass biker showed me what I’d been missing, sex wasn’t something I was ever interested in, and it sure as hell wasn’t satisfying, at least now that I know what the really good stuff is.”
I grinned at that comment. My ego loved to be fed.
“I’d never given a blow job until last night.”
“What the fuck?” I stormed across the room pissed off all over again.
“No man had ever gone down on me.” She ignored my outburst. “So I think I’m due for some just sex, no emotional bullshit about now.”
“You sure?”
“Did I fucking stutter?” She threw me attitude, the same kick-ass attitude that she’d shown at the diner and when she’d taken down Stone.
“Baby, you don’t know how happy that makes me.” I knelt before her. “You make me break my rules.”
“Well back at you. I had a ton of rules about sex, relationships, all that stuff, and so far you’ve broken every one of them. I have to admit, I’ve never been more satisfied.”
I threw my head back and laughed. What the fuck else could I do? Down deep, we might be copies of each other in most of the important ways. As soon as I thought it, I shoved that thought away, locking it tight. That kind of thinking led to the dark hole where I’d buried all my emotions.
“So only one blow job?” I teased her. “And you decided to do that in front of all those strangers?”
She nodded. “I probably need some practice, I mean, if you need to go right now, I understand.”
“I have some time.” For her, I had all the time in the world, and if I were brutally honest with myself, the very notion had me shaking in my boots.
Chapter Thirteen
Elle
Four days to go and I was still 150,000 dollars short. Today, I had four mid-ticket guys on my cleanup list. If I apprehended all four, I’d be down to 50,000, but I had no idea where that income would come from. One hour at a time, one contract completed then the next until I made my goal.
I pulled up in front of the flop house, Maurice missed his court date. Normally, he showed but no one had seen the guy in a week. Last night a tip had come in that he was back in his familiar haunts. I shrugged on my BEA jacket to hide the shoulder holster I’d been wearing the past few days. While not subtle, it had been easier since I’d been taking down so many contracts. Maurice would be my fifteenth.
I pushed open my truck door and forced myself out, I was bone weary and heart sore. The deadline grew closer while Daddy and I grew further apart. I think he’d expected me to give up by now, but I hadn’t. However, I had made it clear what I thought of his manipulations. We couldn’t be in the office together without a shouting match starting.
I opened the off-kilter wooden door on the run-down building. I stopped at the front desk. “Where’s Maurice?” I asked the woman behind the desk.
“I ain’t—”
I pointed my Glock at her triple chins, no time left for bullshit. “Where?”
“Room 31. Don’t shoot me,” she pleaded making those chins quiver.
Nodding, I moved upstairs one floor, then two. The third floors held the thirties, I’d been here too many times to count. Maurice’s flop was the first door past the stairs. The stench of the stairwell amplified once I stepped into the hall. I didn’t bother knocking, just kicked his door open. Maurice lay sprawled on the floor. Dead. The smells of death assaulted my nose making me gag.
A needle lay beside him, an overdose. I backed out of the room and pulled out my phone to call the police. If I waited on the manager to notify the police, weeks might pass. After reporting his death, I hung up without giving my name or waiting on police as the operator advised. I was out in my truck in minutes but the smell hung on me. I pushed the buttons to roll down both windows before I drove off.
Time for the next bounty. Normally, I didn’t do prostitutes because I figured their life sucked enough without being tracked down for missing court, but Lisa had been bailed out for $50,000 and the bonder was paying $10,000 to bring her in. While I didn’t know why, it was a lot more than her kind of case normally paid.
Walking up another set of steps, this time in public housing, the sound of crying echoed off the walls. Kids, babies, and pregnant moms filled up Dallas’s section eight housing. Shit. I hoped she didn’t have kids.
I knocked on the door, and Lisa opened up. Not only did she have a toddler clinging to her jeans, her belly was round with pregnancy.
Sticking my foot in the door, I glanced behind her, no one else around. “Bail enforcement, you’re coming with me.”
“My kid,” she whined. “You don’t need the five hundred bucks I bring.”
“If that was the bounty, then you’d be right, but Johnny is pissed, put a ten thousand dollar reward on your capture.” I shouldered into the room. “Get someone to watch the kid or I’ll call in a uniform to take care of it.”
Bail Out Page 10
