He needed to locate Evelyn, the last batch of drugs, and the toxic VX gas and he was certain the Hadley woman could help him. Not that he gave a shit about the cocaine or Evelyn for that matter. The VX gas was all that was important. The chemical nerve agent was hard to move and even harder to get. The men he was dealing with weren’t patient, and time was quickly evaporating. They’d only give him so much time until he’d be considered a liability. It’s not as if they’d told him outright, but he knew how things worked. The Dominicans he’d been helping smuggle the goods were no problem. They were more or less amateurs, and only concerned with the cocaine.
No, the men he worried about were the Syrians. He’d agreed to look the other way and assist in getting VX gas into the country for them via the Dominicans’ regular drug-running route. The odorless chemical was one of the most destructive biological weapons available and the Dominicans didn’t mind helping because they got paid a lot of cash. Now that the merchandise had gone missing, his time was running out.
Beads of sweat rolled down his face. He needed to make the call. With a trembling hand, he pulled out his cell phone and held his breath. Maybe no one would answer.
Someone picked up after the second ring. “Tell me you have good news,” the foreign voice on the other end was low and menacing.
He swallowed hard. “Not exactly, but I’m closer. I just need a few more days.”
Silence greeted him. Keith inwardly cursed. He shouldn’t have called tonight. One more day wouldn’t have hurt.
“Do I need to send one of my men to help with the problem?”
“No, I have it under control.” Keith didn’t want to bring in the Syrians. Even though the Dominicans had screwed up with the Hadley woman, he’d rather deal with them. He’d never met the man he was speaking to but knew of his violent reputation. If he sent someone in there would be a bloodbath in Saint Augustine. Keith wanted this mess wrapped up as much as the Syrian but without any fanfare. All he wanted to do was retire quietly and without suspicion.
“What about the woman? Has she given you the information we desire?”
He swallowed again. “We don’t even know that she knows anything.” When the man didn’t respond he rushed on. “But if she does I’ll get it from her.”
“It will take more than intimidation. She needs to be interrogated then eliminated. A woman like that will go to the police.”
Keith wanted to deny it but knew the odds were against them. Her brother-in-law was a police officer and her deceased husband had also been in law enforcement. Even if they told her not to go to the police, she would and wouldn’t think twice about it. He didn’t want the pretty young woman killed, but she was collateral. “Consider it done.”
When they disconnected he poured himself another scotch. How had he gotten here? The answer was simple enough. Money. All he’d wanted was to make some extra money before he retired. With a son in college who barely spoke to him and an ex-wife who despised his existence, he didn’t have anything to show for his career. It seemed no matter how many criminals and thugs they put away, ten more were there to replace them the next day. The so-called war on drugs was a joke. There was no war, just small battles. In the end, the drug dealers would win.
With a sigh, he stood and swayed against the bed. He didn’t think he’d had that much to drink, but the half-empty bottle on the dresser said otherwise. “Story of my life,” he muttered to himself.
He picked up his phone, then put it back down. He could make the necessary call in the morning. Might as well let Jade Hadley enjoy one more night of freedom.
Chapter Eleven
Why was everything moving? Jade opened her eyes to find David staring at her. “What’s going on?” she muttered.
“Just making sure you can wake up.” His hand lightly gripped her shoulder.
“Well, I’m awake.” She sat up and glared at the clock. Almost one. She understood that he needed to wake her up every couple hours but it was still annoying to finally get to sleep only to be jostled awake again. She shoved her covers back and started to get out of bed.
“What are you doing?” He kept his hand on her shoulder.
“Going to the restroom and I don’t need any help.”
“Oh, right.” He stepped back and let her pass.
Once alone, she splashed her face with cold water then brushed her teeth. She was never going to get much sleep and if she was honest, she wasn’t sure she wanted to. The last time David had woke her up she’d known without a doubt she was fine. No headache, no dizziness, nothing.
But she was also turned on. Annoyingly so. His close proximity made it worse. She’d been dreaming about him when he’d jostled her this time and it had taken a moment to realize that it had been just that. A dream.
She pressed a finger to her lips. They even felt swollen from her imaginary kisses. Jade flipped off the light as she stepped back into her room.
That’s when it hit her. David had made a sleeping pallet by the foot of her bed. He was all stretched out looking so good—too good—without a shirt on.
He propped up on his elbows when he saw her. “You okay?”
She shook her head at his worried tone. “You worry way too much. I swear I’m fine… Why are you sleeping on the floor?”
With the limited lighting streaming in from the cracked blinds his expression was hard to read but she could see his frown. “In case something happens I just want to make sure—”
“No, why are you sleeping there when my bed is more than big enough?”
He cleared his throat but didn’t move. “That’s not a good idea.”
She stepped farther into the room and sat down next to him. “Why not? You’ve already…” Her face flamed as she tried to formulate her words. What was she going to say? Seen me naked? Licked my pussy? Given me the most intense orgasm I’ve had in years? Twice.
“Already what?” he murmured, his voice seductively low.
She lightly smacked his arm. “You know what. This is ridiculous. I didn’t realize you were down here earlier or I’d have never let you stay.”
He lifted a dark eyebrow. “Let me?”
She nodded. “That’s right.”
Sighing, he lay back against his pillow. “Jade, just get into bed. Trust me, I’ve slept in a lot worse conditions than this.”
She knew he had but that didn’t ease her guilt any. “Last time I checked we were both adults.”
“Hmm.” He closed his eyes and slid one arm under his head.
She glared at his still form. If he thought he could ignore her he didn’t know her as well as he thought. Stretching out next to him, she laid her head on his chest. The second her head touched him, he jerked underneath her.
She smiled against the solid wall of muscle.
“What are you doing?”
“If you sleep on the floor, so do I.”
He muttered something incomprehensible then sat up. “I’d forgotten how stubborn you were.” Before she could react he scooped her up and put her on her side of the bed.
When he walked away she started to get out of bed again but he shook his head. “Damn it, woman. Give me a chance to get to the other side.”
With a scowl on his face he slid in next to her but kept about a foot of space between them.
She turned on her side to face him. “I don’t bite.”
He refused to make eye contact with her. He stayed on his back, staring at the ceiling. “Go. To. Sleep.”
“I’m not tired.”
“Jade, you’ve been through a lot—”
“All I really did was hit my head on the sidewalk. Not exactly traumatizing.”
“Well I’m tired, so good night.” He shut his eyes.
She stared at him as she tried to get a handle on her own emotions. She didn’t understand why he was shutting her out. Tonight was supposed to have been their official first date. Kind of strange considering he’d seen and kissed almost all of her naked body.
In a way
, that bothered her. Not because she regretted anything. No, just the opposite. She felt bad because he’d already given her so much—and not just sexually—but he hadn’t asked for anything in return.
Scooting closer, she laid her hand across his stomach. He tensed under her touch but didn’t open his eyes.
Trailing down farther, she toyed with the edge of his boxers. His stomach muscles clenched.
His breathing became more labored and the already substantial bulge in his boxers grew even bigger. Still didn’t open his eyes though.
Keeping her gaze on his face, she grasped the edge of his boxers and just pulled them down.
Now his eyes flew open. They were full of heat, lust…and regret. “Don’t start something we can’t finish tonight.” His voice was strained.
“I do not have a concussion.” She wasn’t going to say it again.
Ignoring the argument she saw on his face, she tore her eyes away and drank her fill of all that hot, hard flesh.
She’d known he’d be well endowed, but good Lord, he was huge. She pushed out a slow breath and stared at him.
David cursed under his breath and attempted to pull his boxers back up but she slapped his hands away. Before he could move she pulled them all the way off then knelt in between his legs.
“Jade.” Her name came out like a desperate plea.
“I want to taste you.” She wasn’t asking.
She sat there, watching him. Waiting. As she did, she grasped his cock and squeezed. Gently, slowly, she moved upward.
His eyes heated to scorching, molten lava.
That’s all the encouragement she needed. She shimmied down a few inches but he wasn’t finished. He grasped her hand, the one holding onto him, and held it. “Jade, if you’re doing this out of some sense of—”
“I want this. I want you. And I’m not in pain if that’s what you’re worried about.” Her words were barely a whisper. She didn’t want to break up the quietness of this moment. She desperately wanted to taste David. To kiss him that way. Everything about the act was so intimate and she wanted to know him on that level.
His lack of argument told her didn’t want her to stop either.
She kept her hand firmly around him. His thick length was hot in her hand. Like a warm, steel pipe.
Leaning forward, she shuddered at his straining erection. The sexual tension in the air was so thick it wrapped around her like a shroud.
A drop of pre-come formed at the tip of his cock. Without working up to it, she just licked the pearly drop off. It was somehow sweet and salty at the same time. She sighed in appreciation and he groaned.
“Damn, Jade.”
She looked up at him to find him staring at her. His gaze was so hot she felt as if she could actually combust or burst into flames. The look in his eyes held all sorts of dark promises. Promises she really hoped he kept.
It had been years since she’d thought of sex and it was as if all her dormant urges had rushed to the surface at once. She’d never felt so hungry. So driven with the desire to give pleasure to someone else.
“Suck me.” His words—words she’d never thought to hear from him—sent a ribbon of desire curling through her, straight to her toes.
She planned to. Grasping the base of his cock, she started at the top. She kissed and lightly raked her teeth over him. So light she barely touched him.
That got a reaction. His hips jerked and he murmured words and phrases that had her face flaming. He was too big to fully take in her mouth so she held onto the base and sucked him as far as she could go.
His fingers threaded through her hair. He held onto her skull in a dominating grip but he wasn’t holding her tight. Just enough to let her know he enjoyed it.
She smiled against his hard length as she sucked him into her mouth again. When she’d been thinking about dating all she’d done was focus on the negatives. Having to touch and kiss another man had been fears and something like this had been seen as a chore. Now she wondered how she’d ever thought in those terms.
She felt powerful, sexual and utterly feminine taking him like this. Her inner walls clenched with need but this was about him. He’d already given so much to her and she’d be damned if she couldn’t give him pleasure.
As she moved up and down she tasted more of his saltiness. With each stroke his breathing became louder and more labored.
“Oh yeah, sweetheart.” Most of his words were a jumble but she understood those.
His balls had pulled up impossibly tight. She’d already gripped them in her other hand so she knew he was close. Using her nails, she lightly teased and tugged his sac.
When she did his entire body jolted.
“I’m about to come.” He was giving her the opportunity to pull back but there was no way she would.
She didn’t want to. Increasing her grip on him, she squeezed a little harder and stroked him where her mouth wouldn’t reach.
In sync, her mouth and hand worked him up and down. Over and over.
Finally it was too much. His fingers tangled deeper into her hair as he shouted. His semen hit the back of her throat in long, hot spurts.
As she swallowed he moved harder, faster, spilling a seemingly endless amount of his seed into her mouth. His taste washed over her tongue and she knew it was something she’d never forget. The essence was all him. All David.
It didn’t matter that she hadn’t climaxed. Her nipples and vagina tingled at the memory of knowing she’d given him what he’d given her the day before. Giving him that release gave her more than just a sense of power. It made her happy.
Finally she lifted her head. His eyes were half-closed, heavy lidded with pleasure. He blindly reached for her and hooked his hands under her arms. He lifted her up so that she was sprawled on top of him.
His hands tangled into her hair again in another dominating grip as he ate at her mouth. His tongue, sweet and demanding at the same time invaded her. He nipped and teased her, tugging her bottom lip hungrily.
Finally he pulled back and she sucked in a breath. “Tomorrow…” He didn’t finish because he didn’t have to.
She knew what tomorrow would bring. His heart pounded erratically against his chest with such intensity she could feel it against her own. And she returned the sentiment. Inside she felt wild and a little out of control.
Tomorrow there would be no barriers between them. No clothes. No crazy people in trucks trying to run her over. Nothing. The timing wasn’t right now. She didn’t know how she knew. She just did.
Part of her felt as if they’d been building up to this moment forever. And another part of her, the part that felt guilty for feeling so much pleasure with a man who wasn’t her husband, wondered why the hell she thought she deserved a second chance at happiness.
Chapter Twelve
“Jade, stop worrying. Everything is running smoothly. Rosa is great with the customers so there’s no need for you to be here. More to the point, if I had a man as hot as David waiting on me hand and foot I can guarantee work is the last place I’d be.” Pam motioned to where David stood just outside the front window. Jade followed her gaze. As if he knew they were talking about him, he glanced up from talking on the phone and smiled at Jade.
An intimate, knowing smile that only lovers share. Somehow when he looked at her she felt as if he could see inside her, and knew exactly what she was thinking. Her desires, her wants, everything.
“Whatever, Pam,” she mumbled. Even if David hadn’t sent flowers the other day, he’d made no secret of his feelings for her. The moment they’d entered the store he’d been her shadow, never letting his hand leave the small of her back. Until she’d been forced to kick him out. She could deal with his close proximity, but when he’d practically growled at one of her regular customers, who was only attempting to ask her a question about sizing, she’d ordered him out. Apparently, even sixty-year-old men weren’t safe from David.
“I’m going to break down the empty boxes in the back, then I gues
s I’ll clear out.”
Even though she was loath to admit it, Pam was right. They didn’t need her here. She’d realized it about two minutes after her arrival. She hadn’t really been worried about the store. Pam was more than competent. No, she’d needed to get out from under David’s watchful eyes. Every time he looked at her, she remembered what had happened in her kitchen and her bedroom, and she wanted more of it. So much so that she’d been distracted to the point of using her shampoo as body wash this morning and body wash in her hair.
When he’d woken her his eyes hadn’t been able to hide what he wanted. They’d blazed with need. For her. What terrified her most was that his eyes mirrored her heart. She hadn’t expected to have such a strong physical attraction to anyone. Just a week ago, she’d been contemplating dating again. Now she was contemplating having sex with David. Instead of feeling weird or even repelled by the idea, she embraced it. Well, her hormones did. Her head however, was a confused mess.
Shaking her head, she shoved open the side exit door that led to the alley with a quick thrust of her hips. Her nose curled up. The overpowering stench of garbage and rotting food assaulted her in waves. She couldn’t prove it without digging through the trash, but she had a sneaking suspicion the new Italian restaurant a few doors down was using her trash receptacle when they ran out of room in their own. Neither she nor Mrs. Katrakis discarded anything other than cardboard. Holding her breath, she opened the side of the container and blindly threw the boxes in.
A shuffling sound from behind alerted her that she wasn’t alone anymore. The hair on the back of her neck stood up, but before she had a chance to move or even think, something cold, metal and sharp bit into her neck.
Tempting Target Page 12
