Unexpected Destiny (Assassins and Sweethearts Book 3) Page 7

  He squeezed her ass. “A second is about all you got. You haven’t even moved yet and you already feel fucking fantastic.”

  She leaned forward and he hit a different spot just inside. Her pussy coiled around the bliss he created in spades. “Yes, it’s fucking amazing.” She pushed her ass back a little which pulled him out ever so slowly.

  He whacked her bottom.

  “Ouch!” A series of sparks shot around her, from her nipples to her clit. “You spanked me.”

  “And there will be a lot more of that if you don’t get to riding me.” His palms covered her ass cheeks and squeezed.

  “Yes, Sir.” She pressed down on his firm chest and rolled her hips.

  “What did you say?” His body froze under her.

  “Ah. I’m sorry. Did I say something wrong?” She arched her hips back a little as she watched him.

  “You called me Sir.” His dark eyes and cocky smile told her everything she needed to know.

  “I knew it. You’re a Dominant. Aren’t you?”

  “Is it going to be a problem?” He held her hips.

  “Not at all but I haven’t…” She bit her lip and focused on the rumpled sheets around them.

  He pumped his hips up and then tapped her chin. “Eyes on me. You’re not running from me anymore, remember. Finish that thought.”

  “I’ve never been someone’s sub.” It felt like butterflies were putting on a performance in her belly. She’d only just begun exploring this desire over the last year as she drowned herself in the books she loved. Reese had refused to even talk about it. All her studying couldn’t have prepared her for the reality. Disappointing him seemed a forgone conclusion. She focused on his chest.

  “Let’s concentrate on right now.” He pulled her down and claimed her lips. His tongue plunged into her mouth at the same time as his hard cock thrust high inside.

  She held still while he pumped into her over and over. Here she was on top and he still had complete control. An intoxicating need to submit to his command took over. Her natural lubricant eased his way and he increased his speed and force. He ravaged her and something cracked open inside. A feeling more intense than anything she’d felt before. She pushed off his chest and he let her go. “This. This is what I need. How do you always know?”

  He continued to plunder her pussy. “Because it’s exactly what I need.” She met his hips thrust for thrust until he stopped. “Now ride me, baby. Show me how you need this.”

  “Yes, Sir.” She swiveled her hips as she pulled and slammed down. The smacking of their bodies and ragged breathing filled the room. She wanted to scream to the world, let everyone know how damn good this man made her feel.

  “Fuck, you feel like heaven. Come for me when you’re ready.”

  “For you. Yes, for you.” A force crashed into her and she used the strength to squeeze his length. They moaned together as the sweetest release swirled higher and higher. She rode him faster and harder until the intense pleasure loosened its hold. Bursts of pure pleasure stole her breath. Her hips rolled in languid sweeps, reigniting little bursts of heat.

  When she could take no more, she laid on him and tried to memorize the completeness surrounding her. A haze floated over her, sating her desires and at the same time filling her thoughts with all the wicked things she wanted to experience with this man. She never would have guessed submission could be liberating.

  Sometime later, she woke in the same spot, his warm body still underneath her. She had no desire to ever move again. Her gaze found an ugly purple bruise on his ribs. “This has got to hurt?” She dragged her finger tips over the discolored skin.

  “I’ll be fine. I’m used to it.”

  “Occupational hazard?”

  “I’d rather take the blow than have my clients get hurt.” He rubbed his side and she spotted the scraped skin on his knuckles.

  She leaned forward and pressed her lips to the back of his hand. “Your clients are lucky you risk so much for them.”

  “It’s nothing compared to what they’ve had to deal with.”

  “You’re such a boy scout.”

  He brushed the tip of her nose and they shared a smile that warmed her all the way to her toes.

  He was quite simply the sexiest thing she’d ever seen. Her stomach rumbled and she nuzzled in next to his ear. “I don’t ever want to get out of this bed.”

  He caressed her cheek. “Someday soon, you’ll spend the whole day in bed but we have a few things to take care of first, like getting you something to eat.”

  “Can’t push anything past you, can I?” She didn’t miss his comment of her spending the whole day in bed and not we. The last person she should be falling for was a hitman. Maybe she was losing her mind.

  “I’m determined to take good care of you.” He pulled back the blankets and slapped her ass. “Up you go. Let’s eat. There’s cereal and milk in the kitchen.”

  “That’ll work.” She swung her legs over the edge of the bed and watched his firm backside strut to the kitchen. God bless his open floor plan. She pulled the sheet from the bed and wrapped it around herself as she followed him. “Tell me how much danger I’m really facing.”

  “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.” He pulled two bowls from the shelf and set them on the kitchen counter.

  “No more sugarcoating things.” She stopped behind him and focused on his back. “I need to know what’s going on. Tell me the truth. Please.” She traced a pattern across his back from one freckle to another. “If you don’t, my mind is going to work overtime with different freaky scenarios. Give me something to focus on before I drive myself completely insane.”

  “Okay.” He turned around. “First of all, you’re not in this alone.” He grabbed her hands. “I and my team will get you through this, if you listen.”

  “But you were hired to kill me.” She took a deep breath. Her world spun out of focus, like something dead as winter was freezing her numb.

  “Yes.” He squeezed her hands and pulled her closer. “I have no intention of killing you. My intentions are quite the opposite. But the other assassins, and there could be more, won’t stop until you’re dead.”

  ****

  Aidan tugged on her hands. The more she pulled away, the harder he hung on. “I didn’t want to scare you.”

  “Too late for that.” She pulled back.

  He lowered his tone and leaned down to catch her gaze. “You’re safe with me.”

  “But more than one lunatic is trying to kill me!”

  “Hey.” He yanked her forward to remove all the distance between them. “I’m not trying to kill you. I will keep you alive. Do you hear me?”

  “Yes.” Her eyes closed and he gave her the moment.

  He couldn’t imagine what it would take for her to get through this mess. The helplessness she must feel didn’t sit well with him. Then it hit him like a ton of bricks. After he got her through this, she probably wouldn’t choose to stay with him. How could he blame her for still wanting to run? It didn’t matter how much fun they had together or how damn good she felt when squeezing his dick with her luscious pussy. It didn’t matter if she was his one. If he was honest with himself, he couldn’t keep her forever. It was the only way to keep her safe.

  He nodded his head and let go of his hold on her. She didn’t back away. She just looked at him with those big misty brown eyes. Until the moment he was forced to let her go, he’d keep her close. He’d memorize every inch of her, he’d taste her as often as he could, and then, when the dust settled, he’d let her go.

  “I want to trust you.”

  “Good. Now, let’s get dressed before we eat. I can’t concentrate knowing you’re naked under that sheet.” He walked to the shelving behind the bathroom and retrieved a fresh pair of jeans. “Liz.”

  “Yes.” She shook her head and then walked to her purse on the island.

  “I should tell you, we need to leave for a meeting. Before we go, I want to check in with my security team u
pstairs.” He checked his phone. “My brother is meeting us up there.” He shook out the jeans and yanked them on. “He’s one of the people I have helping us with this situation.”

  “Your brother?”

  “You saw him last night, outside.” He buttoned his fly.

  “The mean-looking fellow was your brother?” Her eyebrows arched high.

  “He was just worried about me.” If she thought his brother was mean, she’d most certainly loathe his father.

  “He must hate me.” She played with the strap on her bag.

  “He doesn’t know you.” He grabbed a black t-shirt and slipped it over his head.

  “We don’t know each other.” She let go of the sheet as she dug through her bag. Only her elbows held the fabric and it dipped to reveal her lower back. She had the loveliest skin.

  “No.” He walked over to her and dragged his touch up and down her back. “But I know this world is better with you in it and I like getting my way.”

  “I’d bet you always get your way.” She turned to face him.

  “You bet your sweet ass.” He claimed her lips and grabbed her butt. Damn she tasted good. He pulled back and swatted her ass. “Now, get dressed. I want us to eat before we leave.” He fetched his socks and shoes.

  “Yes, Sir.”

  “I do like how that sounds.” Before he let her go from his protection, he was determined to hear her say the very phrase while their clothes were coming off.

  She emptied her bag on his table and appeared to be organizing her things.

  “You better hurry or you can expect a spanking to come your way.” He tugged on his socks. “And stop looking at me like that.”

  “You’re the one who’s talking about spanking me.” She put a hand on her hip.

  “If we don’t get in front of this today, tomorrow will get ugly fast.” He slipped into and tied his shoes.

  She covered her face. “Wish we could will this all away and stay right here.”

  He returned to her side and pulled her close. “I need you to be brave a little longer. It will all be over soon. I promise.” He rubbed her back.

  She buried her face against his chest. “You’re too good at the distraction thing, you know?” Her cheeks flushed a lovely shade of crimson.

  He wished he could ask her what she was thinking but he’d asked too much of her already. “I’ve enjoyed our time together. Wish we had time for more right now.”

  “Gosh, me too.” She giggled. The sound lifted his spirits but it stopped all too soon. She rubbed her face and turned to her things. After grabbing several items, she shoved the rest in her bag and swung it over her shoulder. She made her way to the bathroom, keeping her hands busy fussing with the bundle she carried. “Will you answer one question?” She kept her focus on the bathroom.

  “Sure.”

  “Was the bar a setup or a coincidence?”

  He rushed to her. “I didn’t even look at the job particulars until after we met.” He looked away from her and focused on something across the room. When he looked back down at her, he could have sworn her eyes appeared teary, melancholy maybe. “I don’t believe in coincidences though.” He caressed her cheek. “Get dressed. We have a lot to organize today.”

  The second the door closed behind her, he flew into action. He filled the bowls with cereal and placed them on the table with a set of spoons. She’d need more than just fiber and grain in her system. His focus landed on the fruit bowl. Luckily, it wasn’t empty. A couple flicks of his knife and he tossed a peeled orange on a paper towel and set it on the table too.

  He fetched his phone and sent a quick text to Ethan. Liz couldn’t attend the meeting with him but maybe Nadia could keep her company. His final task was cleaning her from his place. If the other assassins didn’t know he also held a contract they would soon and, if by the off chance he was followed by them or something worse, he’d want them to get in his place and find nothing tracing her back to him or his team. He knew a couple assassins in town who utilized print scanners. Technology was making it easier and easier to track a target. If their competition knew he was helping Liz, their options for keeping her safe would dwindle. Keeping up the pretense of an assassin out to complete a contract was the only cover.

  A few minutes later, she walked out of the bathroom. “You’re cleaning?”

  “Just removing your prints.”

  “You don’t want anyone to know I was here.” Her gaze was everywhere but on him. She even stepped back as he came toward her.

  He stopped himself from reaching out to her. An ache tore through him. Here he was trying to help and he’d done nothing but cause her more pain. “Go ahead and start eating.” He pointed to the table. “There’s milk in the fridge.” He walked past her into the bathroom and hung his head. With a firm grip on the sink, he squeezed. His plan wouldn’t work if he didn’t rein in his control.

  Maybe he needed to think of her as what she was, an assignment. Nothing more. He hung his head. Elizabeth was so much more. Leave it to his big brother to be right about this one. He sure as hell would never tell him as much.

  ****

  She rolled her eyes at her stupidity. He wasn’t just removing her prints. He was removing her from his life.

  A cold sweat broke out all over her skin. She jerked the edge of her t-shirt and brushed the dampness from the corner of her eye. Her situation was becoming more real. Here she thought her husband disappearing would be the worst thing to ever happen to her.

  A couple weeks ago, she didn’t know what it felt like to be strangled with her own damn purse. Now, she’d seen her home violated. Seen her home, the one place she worked tirelessly to create, ripped apart. But she’d guess the worst of it all, the frozen terror that wracked through her body as she sat in the tiny and inadequate safe room, was just the beginning of what was coming.

  She rubbed her chest. The hollow emptiness there left her uneasy. She no longer wanted any part of her life. There was only one thing she wanted now and countless things she wanted to walk away from. No more mourning. No more wrecked homes. No more pathetic safe places. She’d give just about anything to crawl back in bed with Aidan. With him, she felt safe and free in a zillion different ways. But it clearly was no longer an option.

  Another minute ticked by and he came out of the bathroom, the rag still in his hand. Her gaze followed him as he swiftly removed all evidence she’d ever been there with him. Just like that, the most fabulous moments of her life were wiped away.

  The apartment appeared the same, but something was different. It was somehow empty and less lived in than when they arrived last night. So quickly he’d come into her life and rearranged it all.

  What the hell was she supposed to be doing? She turned around and found breakfast on the table. She shuffled to the fridge and hauled out the milk, poured a little in her bowl. Her focus settled on the bright orange slices in the middle of the table and she mindlessly ate.

  “We’re leaving in two minutes.” He joined her at the table and poured milk into his bowl. One spoonful after another, his cereal disappeared. She attempted to keep up with him. Luckily, her bowl was almost empty when he started eating. “Times up.” He got up, taking his bowl and the milk with him. After wiping the milk jug and placing it in the fridge, he took her bowl. She grabbed one last spoonful and followed him to the sink. After he washed her bowl, he took her spoon from her and washed it too. His bowl sat unwashed on the edge of the sink.

  “Should I wash your bowl?”

  “Don’t bother.”

  “I see.” It was okay for there to be traces of him, just not her. Not her. Her chest tightened. She couldn’t think about getting pushed out of Aidan’s life. Not now. Probably not ever.

  “Let’s go. Out in the hallway and don’t—”

  “I know, don’t touch anything.” She grabbed the edge of the paper towel holding the remaining orange slices and pulled them to her hand.

  He grabbed the door handle with a rag-filled hand.
Once she was through, he closed the door and gave the handle on the other side the same treatment. Surfaces along their way to the stairwell and up one flight received the wipe.

  They stopped in front of the one door on the upper floor. Aidan pressed his thumb to a security pad and after he entered a code, the door popped open, and he held it for her. She walked in and found several desks with more monitors and keyboards facing a wall of monitors. In the middle of it all sat one man typing away. Code scrolled on the screen in front of him. “Your team is one guy?”

  “One guy who’s worth a dozen.” Aidan pulled her farther into the room.

  “It’s about time you got up here.” The man she saw last night was across the room pouring a cup of coffee. “I thought you were coming up here alone.” He set the carafe back in the coffee maker and then looked to Aidan. “What were you thinking? I was hoping by this morning you’d have come to your senses.”

  “I think I’ll just go.” She turned to escape.

  “No,” came in unison from both brothers. Aidan stepped in between her and the door. “You stay with me, remember?”

  “Right.” She wished he’d take her in his arms and tell her everything would be okay. Her gaze shifted to the three men in the room. All eyes were on her. Her muscles squeezed out what remaining bit of hope she thought she’d find up here.

  “Look, Liz,” said Gavin. “I wish you no undeserved ill will, but—”

  Aidan approached his brother. “Without our help, she has no chance of getting out of this alive. If we don’t help her, she’ll be dead in two days,” he whispered, but her keen hearing caught every damn word.

  “Regardless of what you do, you might not stop that from happening.” Gavin turned to the monitors. “You’re going to get yourself killed right along with her.”

  “Not helping. Good grief, Gavin.” Aidan walked to the man typing away on the keyboard. “Sam, did you find anything?”