Back Off: Reed Security: Book One

by Robin Leaf

  He bumps me with his chin to get my attention. “He’s what?”

  I blink, trying to form the words slowly. “He’s fucking a woman’s mouth.”

  As soon as I say it, I feel a single swipe across my clit. I groan, and look to Noah, who’s watching me. I have to hold on to the wall to steady me.

  “Please,” I say louder than the first time.

  “Do you like watching them?” he asks, his voice huskier than before.

  I nod, which I think makes him smile. He’s kind of blurry since I’m so turned on.

  I feel another swipe, but it’s not enough.

  “Watch them, and you’ll get more,” he says roughly, removing one hand from my thighs to reach between his own.

  And suddenly, it’s my fantasy come to life.

  “I’d rather watch you do that,” I say, surprised by my admission. I sway, and he steadies me.

  Once I’m stable, he moves his hand closer to my core. “If you want this,” he swipes once more, “you’ll watch them.”

  I look to see I’ve drawn a bigger crowd. Another man is there, his hand on his cock over his pants. It makes me so giddy, I giggle.

  The man is still watching me while fucking the woman’s mouth, but she has upped the hotness by pulling her dress open to expose her breasts. Another woman walks up to the couple, and it’s obvious they are familiar with each other. The new woman reaches down and plucks the cock-sucker’s nipple, which makes her moan. The man throws his head back.

  I feel more hot breath on my pussy, but he still hesitates. I look down to see him watching me still, now with wary eyes. He’s uncertain of what to do, unsure if he should break his promise. The hand between his legs is moving, but I can’t see what he’s doing.

  My hands find his cheeks.

  “I trust you,” I say again, slowly, just loud enough for him to hear.

  “You shouldn’t,” he says, and his tongue darts out and licks me softly on the tip of my clit.

  I cry out, “Yes,” slapping the wall behind me, and I have to catch myself from tipping over.

  I hear a strangled moan, and I look out to see the man coming all over the woman’s breasts.

  Noah stands abruptly and pulls down the hem of my dress, and I groan in frustration.

  “Do you see the senator,” he whispers in my ear.

  I look, squinting through the blur, and giggle. “No.”

  “I need you without the audience,” he says loud enough for any prying ears.

  Oh, God, yes, let’s go fuck in private.

  The look he gives me seems stern, almost mean, like I did something wrong.

  He wraps his huge hands around my waist firmly and leads me away from the crowd to the end of the hallway, where he turns left. Turning the knob to the first door we come to, he leads me into the room and slams the door.

  For a split second, I thought maybe, just maybe, he really wanted me. Now that we’re in this room, I watch him pace with his furrowed brow, and my hopes dwindle.

  “Are you drunk?” he says through clenched teeth.

  “What?” I scoff. “No, I’m just horny because you brought me to a sex club. I’m not drunky,” I step to him, wrapping my arms around his waist and push my breasts against his chest. “I’m lusty.”

  He grabs my wrists and unwraps my arms, pushing me away.

  “Cristiana,” he snaps. “You had two rum and cokes.”

  I cross my arms over my chest and feel my lips flap. “No, estúpido, I had two cokes with twisties of limeys.” I roll my eyes, because obviously, he is dumb. “That’s what a Cuba Libre is. I don’t drink alcohol.”

  He glares at me like my dad used to whenever I broke curfew.

  “Cuba Libre is a rum and coke with lime.”

  I shake my head. “Nuh uh, you’re wrong.”

  “Really? So, how do you feel right now?”

  I take a minute to notice that my head is very swirly, and the earth is spinning too quickly, but I look him dead in the eye.

  “Well, two minutes ago, I was primed and ready because I was watching the live version of porn in front of me. You were down there,” I point to my crotch, “touching me, so I might be a bit dizzy from the lust and the intrigue of trying to help you with your case,” I point my finger in his chest, “Señor Reed.”

  “And you’re slurring your words and can’t stand up straight.”

  I blink, realizing he’s right about the swaying. “Maybe it’s because you teased me and denied me, which pissed me off, ever think of that, güero?”

  He continues to glare at me for what feels like a few minutes. “You know what? You’re right. I am stupid. I never should have brought you here.”

  My heart stutters in my chest and I stumble. He was right. Words do hurt.

  He puts his hands on my shoulders, keeping his arms straight to hold me steady. “There’s been a change in plans. We need to leave.”

  I feel my eyes fill with tears. “I’m sorry. You can’t walk out on your case. I’ll do better. I can –”

  “Look, whether you like it or not, you are drunk. And to top things off, Cesar De La Torre is an international drug and arms dealer,” he lets go of my shoulders and steps back, “and a human trafficker dealing in the sex trade. If he had seen you…” he closes his eyes and shakes his head. “I just probably exposed you to him… put you in his path.”

  I stumble again and swallow. “How can you know that?”

  “Remember what I said about my gut?” He takes a phone out of his pocket. “It’s almost never wrong, and it’s screaming right now.”

  Let the freak out commence.

  Thirteen

  Noah

  I just lied.

  Not about my gut screaming. Nope, that’s quite true.

  It’s just that it’s not about De La Torre.

  Yeah, I didn’t like that he is even potentially in the same place as her. It is just… wrong.

  The truth is I never actually saw him, just a guy who might be him. Yeah, he reserved a table, but Tony never confirmed he actually checked in, and since I didn’t see him, I can’t be sure.

  But if he is…

  Jesus, I could have completely exposed her to him.

  But the real truth is that I didn’t like anyone looking at her.

  And honestly, I almost broke my promise.

  In fact, if I’m really honest, I did break my promise. I got lost in the moment and touched her… tasted her. I almost did more.

  Oh yeah, and she’s fucking drunk. I almost took advantage of a drunk Cristiana.

  God, how I want to do more, and she’s made it clear that she doesn’t… at least when she’s sober.

  Drunk Cristiana says things like, “Oh God yes, let’s go fuck in private.”

  Drunk Cristiana begs me, all caught up in the situation I created.

  I had to stop. Lord knows she wouldn’t have stopped me. She would have let me lick her luscious pussy until she came. Then, she would have most likely begged me to fuck her, and, if I hadn’t noticed she was drunk, I doubt I would be strong enough to deny her that… to deny myself that honor…

  That cannot happen. Not when she has made it clear to me, even if her drunk self doesn’t agree.

  I made a promise, to her and to myself, and I failed us both.

  I dragged her into this mess, and that’s unfair to her. I was selfish. I was blind. I was weak.

  That ends now.

  Fionn answers on the third ring. “Meet me in the conference room in thirty minutes. I have a job.”

  I snap my phone closed and turn toward Cristiana, who is white as a sheet and biting her thumb.

  “We need to leave, Cristiana,” I say gently, placing my hand on her shoulder.

  She nods and stumbles toward the door, weaving back and forth. I rush to her side, wrapping my arm around her waist again.

  Damn, either she’s a lightweight, or those drinks were really strong.

  We somehow make it to the car without drawing any sta
res. I have to stop myself from wrestling her into the front seat, not because she’s fighting me, but because she’s trying to do it herself. I catch her before she falls out of the car face first on the pavement, which makes her laugh uncontrollably.

  “You might be right, güero. I think I’m drunk.”

  “Yeah, no shit.” I slam the door. “And stop calling me that.”

  ***

  “So, she’s up in my apartment passed out?” Fionn asks, rubbing his chin.

  “Yep.” I down the rest of my whiskey.

  “And you want me to take care of her? Why can’t you do it?”

  I glare at him, making it clear it’s not up for discussion.

  He holds up his hands and steps back. “I’m not saying I won’t, it’s just that…” he sighs. “Well, after what you two went through tonight, it might seem a bit… rude to just dump her on someone else.”

  I grunt, getting up to pour another shot.

  “I think you need to be there when she wakes up. Talk about what happened. Otherwise, she might feel like you used her.”

  I turn on him, making him back up.

  “I did not use her,” I growl loudly.

  “Oh, c’mon, Noah. Ye know I’m not saying ye did, but she may wake up and feel a bit… tossed aside.” He moves cautiously a step closer. “You need to be there… talk to the girl.”

  I feel all my anger leave me, and I sag against the table. “I… can’t.”

  “For the love of Mike, why the hell not?”

  I stare into my whiskey, watching the contents swirl around the glass.

  His hand lands on my shoulder. “What is it?”

  “I’m scared.”

  He barks out a laugh. “What’s this? Noah Reed… scared? Don’t tell me you’re scared of that little slip of a girl.”

  “That girl could kick your ass, Fionn,” I say, fighting a smile.

  “Oh, no doubt, and probably yours.” He squeezes my shoulder. “Ye know, everyone gets scared, Noah. Brave people can’t be called brave because they’re scared. Bravery is acting in the face of fear, but it’s the coward who runs when he’s scared.” He takes my glass and sips. “You always give me advice, so mine to you is don’t run.”

  I take back my glass and empty it into my mouth, letting the warmth soothe my soul.

  “I’m not running, Fionn. I’m saving her.”

  He pushes my shoulder. “Oh, are ye, now? What the hell from?”

  “Did you not hear me earlier? I am trying to take down the senator, which is potentially dangerous. I also threw her in the path of a psychopath, one with a habit of kidnapping girls and forcing them into slavery in the sex trade.” I set my glass down on the table. “I can’t do that to Graciela and Javier, after all they’ve done for me.”

  He chuckles. “If you ask me, this has not much to do with Graciela and Javi and everything to do with their daughter.”

  I step closer to him, intending to deny what he said. Instead, I take a deep breath, releasing it slowly while running both hands down my face.

  “I can’t fall for her, Fionn, and I can’t let her fall for me. Not now. Not with all that’s going on. I can’t put her in harm’s way. If these men even suspect what I’m doing…” I shake my head at the toxic thoughts entering my brain. “It’s just… it’s safer if I have nothing that can be used against me.”

  He claps me on the shoulder.

  “It sounds to me like you already do.”

  I look up at him, raising my eyebrow in question.

  “Buddy, based on what you told me so far tonight, it might be too late. You might have already fallen.”

  ***

  “Why are you here, Boss?” Joe asks, sliding his sunglasses over his eyes. “I thought this was Fionn’s job.”

  “It was,” I admit. “Fionn is taking care of a special project for me, so I’m covering here.”

  Joe has a right to be curious. I don’t usually take on the role of bodyguard anymore. My specialty is the security side of the business, setting up and designing security and checkpoint systems for multinational corporations and rich clients who are ultra-paranoid.

  Ignacio Muñoz is shooting a music video in this warehouse. He’s become quite the popular star since he began, so we have to double his personal security whenever he goes just about anywhere. How his fans got ahold of his location, I’ll never know. These screaming women are rabid.

  “Noah,” Ignacio says, extending his hand to me when he sees me. “Good to see you. It’s been, what? A year?”

  I take his hand and shake firmly, nodding. “Things have definitely changed for you since the last time I saw you.”

  He gives me a humble nod. “Yeah. I gotta tell you, I appreciate that y’all still come and help out with situations like this, especially so early. The security the record company provides is… inadequate.” He smacks my upper arm. “I always feel safer with Reed security here.”

  “That means we’re doing our job.”

  He shakes his head. “I wish I could say the same for the other people that work for this pinche record company. They insist I make these videos, but they hire these dumb ass people to make them.” Opening a water bottle, he takes a drink. “The concept is stupid. We were supposed to be learning the dance today, but the choreographer called in sick, so this is a wasted day.”

  Hello, opportunity.

  So I can’t face Cristiana, but maybe I can distract her with this little career boost to make up for last night’s fuck up.

  “I might be able to help you with a choreographer, if you need one.”

  “Right,” he laughs, “like you can produce a professional choreographer in the next hour.”

  Smiling, I pull out my phone. “Your lack of faith in me hurts.”

  Fourteen

  Cristiana

  I feel something dragging me into consciousness unwillingly.

  Why can’t the day just fuck off? Wait, it’s not even day yet… the room is still dark.

  Ugh. Just leave me alone.

  A light is switched on, and I feel something touch my shoulder and fly up off the bed swinging.

  My eyes land on a man, right before his hand flies to cover his mouth. I realize I recognize him.

  Fionn, Layla’s husband, stands over me with wide eyes, probably wondering why I clocked him.

  I haven’t seen him in a while. She was my best friend since high school. I was the maid of honor at their wedding. I had no idea he was in Los Angeles. What kind of person am I?

  I prayed he’d be okay. Losing his wife and unborn child like he did…

  I bury my head in my pillow. “Jeez, Fionn, that’s what you get for standing over a sleeping woman in her bedroom.” I open one eye and peek at him. “Care to tell me why you feel like living dangerously today?”

  He pulls his hand away from his mouth, focuses on the crimson staining it, and hits the floor faster than I can react.

  I jump out of bed, ignoring my throbbing skull, and rush to his limp body.

  “Fionn,” I call, feeling for a pulse. It’s beating strong and pretty fast.

  I look around the room, realizing I’m not at home. The clock on the nightstand says it’s barely seven in the morning. I assume Noah brought me here last night after… well, after our highly unsuccessful night. I guess I passed out in the car, so he dumped me on Fionn.

  I hurry out of the room, running into a solid chest. When I pull back, I look into a familiar face.

  “Bryan,” I say, recognizing Fionn’s brother. “I think I broke Fionn.”

  Bryan pushes past me and finds his brother on the floor where I left him.

  “Hey, dick wad, wake up,” he laughs, smacking his brother in the face. “You didn’t break him, Crissy, you just made him bleed.”

  Bryan was in a few of my classes at the school where I met Layla and Fionn… and Noah. He has always flirted with me through the years, especially during their wedding. Since he was Fionn’s best man, he thought it meant we were sup
posed to hook up. I set him straight real fast.

  I move to the en-suite bathroom and find a washcloth. Wetting it, I hurry to Fionn and clean the blood off his lip, chin, and hand.

  He starts to blink, and I quickly throw the cloth on the bed so he doesn’t see it, not wanting a repeat of fainting Fionn.

  “What happened?” he groans.

  “Crissy just knocked you the fuck out.”

  “I did not, asshole.” I turn to Fionn. “I did punch you though. I’m sorry.”

  He sits up carefully and assesses his face with both hands.

  “You have a serious right hook, lass.” His hands move to his chin. “I’m sorry I woke you up, but how fast can you get ready?” he asks, holding his head.

  I lean my head sideways and blink. “For what?”

  “An opportunity.” He smiles, and it’s a good thing I don’t have an aversion to blood. Some covers his front teeth. “We need to run by your apartment so you can change. I need to have you at the warehouse in an hour.”

  ***

  “He had a job this morning, Cristiana. He asked me to stay with you so you didn’t freak out when you woke up in a strange place.”

  More like Noah could have sent Fionn to do the job and stayed with me, but why ask and be disappointed to find out I’m right?

  Fionn smiles at me across the center console. “I guess you got pretty hammered last night.”

  “Yeah, I need to have a long talk with my Dad. He always told us Cuba Libres were just Cokes with lime.” I sink down in the seat. “I honestly had no idea they had alcohol in them.”

  His smile widens. “Are you going to be okay for this morning?”

  “You still haven’t told me what ‘this’ is, Fionn.” I shake my head. “And I just got in the car like a trusting idiota.” Laughing, I look over to him. “I guess I’m channeling my inner Layla –”

  “I don’t really talk about…” he closes his eyes momentarily. “I don’t…”

  Reaching across the car, I place my hand over his. “Fionn, it’s been six years.”

  He blinks. “I know exactly how long it’s been.”