“That’s what he likes to call it.”
“Call ‘it’?”
“Our recovery work.”
“Ah, I see. The secret mission type stuff that you do,” I respond. “You never were one to follow the rules.”
He looks down at me, his muscled arms folded across his broad chest and his eyes sparkling. “Fuck the rules,” he says, that half-grin of his curving up to crease his scar. A lust-filled shiver runs down my spine. I didn’t think it was possible, but somehow, Aiden just got hotter in my eyes.
Keeping his eyes on me, he addresses Jared. “We’re going to go to the range, figure out what vehicles to use. Then we’ll scout the location to work out where to stash them. We’ll meet back here to discuss things more tomorrow. Does that work for you?”
Jared nods. “Sure, I’ve got this. Just go somewhere and fuck or something. Your pheromones are distracting me, and I’m about five minutes off abandoning this plan in favour of RedTube clips, a bottle of lube and a box of tissues.”
A laugh escapes my lips as Aiden’s half grin becomes a full blown, perfect smile before he says goodbye to Jared and guides me out of the building and we head toward his car.
“Not much gets past him, does it?” I ask, with a laugh, deciding that I really liked Jared. He seemed like a decent kid.
“Nah, he’s too smart for his own good. But he’s my best guy–a gun on the computer and he’s excellent in the field. He’s the only one I trust watching over things when I’m not around. My sister especially, she worries about me a lot.”
“Is that why you advertise as event security? So she doesn’t worry so much?”
“We are event security. That’s exactly what I opened up as, and it’s what’s on the books. But with my special ops background, I get some very specific job offers from time to time.”
“Funny,” I say, letting out a soft chuckle. “When I came to you, I was worried about getting you involved beyond teaching me to pick a lock and disable a security system. I knew you didn’t mind breaking the rules, but I didn’t realise how comfortable you were with breaking the law. Had I known I would have just hired you for the bank job in the first place.”
We reach the car and he opens the door for me, leaning close, making me want to kiss him, have his taste once again on my lips. “That reminds me. We need to discuss my payment.”
“Yes. We do,” I agree in a whisper, tilting my head back as he towers over me.
“It’s you. My payment is you.”
A nervousness fills my stomach as his mouth closes over mine and he kisses me like he’s drinking me in, absorbing me, owning me. My toes curl and my head spins and when he pulls away, he looks down at me as if he expects me to say something. But I don’t say a word, I simply lower my lashes and slide from his arms and into the car.
“Let’s go break some rules together,” I say, reaching out to close the door and avoid any further talk of the future. I just don’t see the point. There is no future for a girl like me.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Aiden
“WHERE ARE we going?” Chloe asks after we’ve been driving for over half an hour.
“We need to change vehicles. We can’t go in there in this. Too obvious when there’s CCTV cameras all over the city.”
“Fair enough.” She goes quiet for a while before she turns to me and speaks again. “We’re going to have a fuckload of money when this is done, you know,” she says, looking out the window and squinting at the sun.
“I know that. What do you plan to do with it–buy a big house and reclaim your old lifestyle?”
She shrugs, playing with the hem of her skirt as she continues to look out the window. “I still have money, Aiden. I’ve barely spent any of it. I only care about getting those documents. What about you? What would you do with it?”
I shrug as well. “I don’t need the money either.”
“What about Jared?”
“I mean, he’d take it. But whether he needs it… I’m going to go with a no. He’s pretty prolific in his work. What about your friend Leah?”
“Leah’s goal doesn’t require money. Leah’s all about revenge.”
“You’re going to have to tell me his story at some point.”
“It’s not mine to tell. You’re going to have to ask him.”
“How do you think he’s going to react to how things are progressing? Will he be fine with bringing me and Jared in?”
“He’ll see the necessity. As long as his goal is met, he’ll be fine. But I’ll talk to him about it tonight and bring him to meet Jared tomorrow.”
“I think that’s a good idea. That way, we can work through all the tiny details and split up any prep work.”
I reach into the centre console and pull out a small remote as I approach the electric gate to an industrial compound. Inside is a large garage, workshop and training range. It’s where all of my vehicles and recovery supplies are housed. It’s also where I hold any ‘team training’ as it’s out of the way, and we can fire weapons without causing any sort of disturbance which would occur if we were closer to the city.
“Is this your secret base?” Chloe asks, as she watches the large roller door open up and reveal the large warehouse I own. “The special Aiden Price version of the Bat Cave?”
I chuckle lightly and stop the car, switching off the engine before I turn to her. “It’s something like that,” I say. I get out of the car, walking around to meet her on her side as she gets out along with me and looks around.
“Quite the collector, aren’t you?” she notes, her gaze wandering around the complex and taking in the twenty-odd vehicles that are lined up on either side.
“They all have their purpose,” I say, reaching out and taking her hand before leading her toward another door.
“And what’s through here?” she asks.
I unlock the door with a pin code and push it open. “It’s my weapons cache.”
“Bullshit,” she laughs. But as I hit the lights, her laugh quiets and is replaced with a low whistle as she looks around the room. “What the hell are you planning for? The zombie apocalypse?”
“They all have their purpose,” I say again, watching her as she slowly walks around the room. “Pick your weapon. I’ll take you to the range. You’re going to need to be confident with it before we do this.”
She runs her hand down the barrel of an M-16, a standard military rifle, and looks up at me. “Do you actually think we’ll need these? I mean, I don’t really want to hurt anyone.”
I step toward her. “If we do this right, no one will get hurt at all. But we need to be prepared. Sometimes, plans don’t work out and that’s when your fire power will come in handy.”
She nods and moves to a table that holds various hand guns. “Could I just use one of these?”
“You can,” I say, moving up behind her as she lifts one up and tests its weight in her hand. “Are they loaded?”
I take the pistol from her hand and place it back on the table, selecting a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard that has less recoil and will fit better in her small hands. “Try this,” I tell her, placing the gun in her hand. “Does that feel more comfortable to hold?”
She shifts it from palm to palm, inspecting it timidly before replacing it on the table and picking up a Browning high powered pistol. “I think I like this better,” she says, as she checks its sight and opens it up, checking it over like a fucking pro. She’s obviously done this before. She clicks it back together and places it back on the table.
“Why am I not surprised that you know how to do that?” I ask, reaching out and pulling her up against me.
“A girl needs to be prepared,” she whispers, her eyes dropping to my mouth and her sexy pink tongue snakes out and licks her lips in anticipation.
“So, you know guns. But can you shoot?”
She rises up on her toes, brushing her lips against mine in a tease. “You might have to teach me,” she whispers, looking up at me through lowered lashes.
It’s much like any other indoor shooting range, sound proof with different targets that we attach to an electric track. Outside, I have an area for clay pigeons and shit, but this is about knowing Chloe can handle herself if things go south.
I hook the paper target up onto the track and hit the button to take it to the back wall. “Now, if for some reason, we don’t get away clean, you’re going to have to use your weapon. It would be better if we didn’t kill any cops, but if you have to, you have to. But a hit to the shoulder or in the side will do enough damage to make the guy pause or to stop him all together.”
“What about shooting them in the thigh?”
“Sugar, that stuff’s for movies. You shoot a cop in the thigh and you’re likely to hit the femoral artery and they’ll bleed out, making you both a bank robber and a cop killer–you don’t want that if you can avoid it.”
“Ok, so I’ll shoot anywhere there isn’t a major organ or artery. Gotcha.”
“You’re very confident.”
She gives me a wink. “I’m an excellent shot.”
Picking up the safety glasses and headgear, she sets herself up, checking that I’ve done the same, before she releases the safety and opens fire, rapidly shooting until her clip is exhausted. Calmly, she places the gun on the ledge in front of her and removes the earmuffs.
“Was that good enough for you?” she asks. I hit the button, bringing the target back in so I can inspect her aim.
I let out a slow whistle. “Nice work,” I tell her, noting that not one bullet has hit any critical zones.
Dropping my glasses on the ledge, I reach out and remove hers as well before pulling her up against me. “That, is fucking hot. When did you learn how to shoot?”
Her arms slide up around my neck. “I’ve picked up a thing or two over the years.”
“I was worried about taking you into the bank. But you’ve been training for this, haven’t you?”
She leans in and whispers, “Every single day.”
Smiling, I pull away and grab another target, hooking it up and sending it back down the line. “Now,” I say near her ear, as she replaces her cartridge, “shoot to kill.”
With our safely gear back on, I stand to the side of her as she lands bullet after bullet in both the head and the chest. Taking our headgear and glasses off yet again, she turns to me with a triumphant smile.
“How was that?” she asks, her cheeks flushes as she looks up at me, looking like a slice of death-wielding innocence.
My hand slides up her back and I grab a fistful of her hair, pulling her head back and exposing her neck. I lean down, dragging my teeth over her soft skin. “Is it wrong that watching you massacre that target made me so hard I can’t think straight?” I murmur, growing even harder as a light moan escapes her lips. She presses her breasts against my chest and slides her hands downward, pulling up my shirt.
“Then fuck me,” she purrs, her fingers working the button and zip of my pants and sliding in, wrapping her hand around my shaft.
I grind myself into her grip, fucking her hand as I reach down and squeeze her arse. Hard. “Are you getting sore yet, or are you ready for more?”
“More,” she whispers. “I like the way you make me hurt.”
Her whispered words cause my cock to throb and my fingers to clench, tighter against her flesh. I release her hair, digging into her skin because I want to own her. Body and mind. Heart and soul. I want to own this woman.
As she continues to stroke me, my hands trade positions. One reaches down to her arse as the other slides up her back. Diving into her hair, curling my fingers around the soft tendrils and pulling again, I run the tip of my tongue along her pulse line, feeling the excited thump of her heart, telling me how much I thrill her. My mouth moves up to her jaw, tasting, kissing, biting and finally, to her open and waiting mouth.
I tease her lips, biting before releasing, causing her to shake and whimper, wanting more. “Aiden,” she breathes, her voice a soft whisper. I look into her eyes and release the grip I have on her arse, slipping my other hand underneath her dress and between her thighs, feeling almost drunk when my fingertips glide through her arousal.
I moan her name and take her mouth in mine, my tongue exploring every surface as my fingers slide inside her, pulling out to find her nub and tease her hot heat. She gasps and shudders, her internal muscles squeezing with a vice-like grip around my fingers as I fuck her with my hand.
Breaking the kiss, I pull out of her grip and spin her around, guiding her up against the wall as my mouth slides along her jaw. I bite at her earlobe while I pull up her dress and get my cock ready, stroking back and forth over it as I reach around to her front and slide my fingers between her folds to tease her clit.
Her hand reaches up and grabs at my hair, pulling as she cranes her neck to pull my mouth to hers. I slide my cock between her thighs, groaning when I’m soaked by her juices.
“Holy fuck,” I moan into her mouth as I squat down and position my tip, forcing myself upward and into her tight hole. I moan again as her muscles grip the fuck out of my cock, and I struggle to keep control. I don’t think I’ve ever come as much as I have over the last couple of days in my entire life. But she makes me so fucking hot that I’m in a constant state of agony from wanting her so badly.
Pushing through my thighs, I drive myself in and out of her sweet cunt while keeping my finger working on her nub. She cries out with each thrust, her volume increasing with every pump.
I’m going to blow. I can’t fucking stop myself. “Aiden!” she yells, pulling at my hair as she shudders around me, and I unload inside her.
“Fuck, you make me so hard, sugar,” I growl next to her ear as I slide my fingers around her juices, rubbing around the base of my cock. “It’s agony and I don’t think it’s going to stop anytime soon.” I grip my base, sliding out and milking the last of my juices as I cup my hand between her legs, rubbing her lightly as I catch our combined orgasm. “You’re still on the pill, right?”
“Of course, I wouldn’t keep doing this if there was a risk.”
“Good. You’re still the only one I’ve ever gone uncovered with.”
She turns around and pulls her dress down–much to my disappointment. “Good,” she says, reaching out and tucking me back inside my pants. “Now, let’s go get cleaned up. We’ve got some work to do right? We can do this again later.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chloe
AFTER REALISING that I don’t need shooting lessons, Aiden chooses a very unassuming looking white Volkswagen sedan from his stash, and we make our way to the bank. We then drive around the area, checking for our best escape and alternate routes. It takes the good part of the day, but by the end of it, we both have a very clear idea of all the roads as well as having chosen a parking garage to switch cars in.
“So how many of these recovery missions have you gone on in the last couple of years?” I ask, as Aiden drives us back to the warehouse and we switch out the car.
“Enough,” he states simply, although I should have known he wouldn’t answer any more than that.
“Sworn to secrecy, huh?”
He gives me a raised brow look and I laugh as we both get back into his car and I marvel at how easy it is for us to fall back into being around each other. And I catch myself wondering what life would be like for us now if I had chosen him all along. Would we have burned bright and fizzled out–becoming nothing more than a pleasant memory? Or would we have stayed strong and passionate and loved each other fiercely from every day since?
A small voice and a feeling deep within me tells me it would be the latter. The feelings between us have lasted for three years without each other, despite all the reasons for him to hate me. But here we are, together again, unable to
be around each other for long without touching. It’s everything I ever wanted.
Too bad we’re doomed…
Seemingly oblivious to my thoughts, Aiden pulls his phone from his pocket and reads over his messages while simultaneously starting the car, a look of concentration set upon his face.
“Jared’s got some stuff to show us back at the office,” he states, putting the car into gear and heading out.
“Ok, well would you mind dropping me back at my car? I’m going to have to go and talk to Leah about all this. He’s been messaging me and wondering where I am.”
“Sure,” he says, keeping his face and his gaze directly ahead on the road. Something about the way he said the word sounded like he left something out, as if there were words unspoken that should have followed it.
“What?” I ask, sensing some sort of annoyance coming off him.
“Nothing. I’ll take you back. It’s no problem.”
I reach over and touch his knee. “I’m not going to take off on you if that’s what you’re worried about.”
He glances at me briefly, before he shifts the gears and turns a corner. “I’m not worried. I won’t be giving you the chance,” he states.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly that. I’m not sending you back to some guy fucking panty-less. It’s not going to happen.”
A sudden laugh escapes my lips. “Is that what your problem is? You’re worried about Leah?”
“Why is that funny? He’s the guy you live with. And considering our history, I have no idea if you have some sort of a relationship going on with him or not.”
“You still think I’m with Leah, and I’m screwing around with you behind his back? I can’t believe you still doubt me.”
He glances at me again. “I’d be a fucking idiot not to doubt you, Chloe. After all, it wouldn’t be the first time you cheated on some guy with me.”
My mouth falls open and my eyes go wide. “That’s a low blow, Aiden. I thought I explained that.”
“I’m not letting you out of my sight, sugar. Simple as that. I want you. You’re my woman, and the fact that I’m willing to rob a bank with you to make sure it stays that way, speaks fucking volumes. There aren’t many people I’d commit a felony worth twenty years for.”
Partners (Fire & Lies - One) Page 14
