Bounty's End (Bounty for Hire) Read online

  * * *

  “Take it easy there, killer.” Thomas laughed as he pulled Wen back down against his body. He didn’t expect the feel of her there against his naked chest, in his bed, to feel this good.

  “I’m sorry, Wen. I didn’t mean it like that.” He knew he hurt her, but what the hell was he supposed to think when she blurts out ‘Greg’, and nothing else? Just Greg. If that was her boyfriend, then he was going to back off. If not, then yes, he was planning on making his move, because her eyes held massive warning flags that he was not going to be able to penetrate again.

  “Right.”

  He heard the sarcasm in her voice. Deciding to make his move, he then turned the front of his body against hers, placing both arms on each of hers. He pinned her in place for a much-needed conversation.

  “Thomas,” Wen growled.

  “Yeah, baby,” he whispered in her ear.

  “What are you doing?”

  Thomas knew what she was asking, but he was too consumed with the feel of her next to him. “Greg?”

  “Ex,” she whispered.

  Awe, she was getting excited. He could hear it in the hitches of her breath.

  “Sure?”

  “Yes.”

  With the yes just off her lips, Thomas took the moment to kiss her. She smelled like cinnamon. Taking a chance, he moved one hand to her breast. He massaged it in small, slow sensual strokes, while his other hand kept him up and from falling on the floor from want and need.

  “Wen, please say yes,” he groaned out, as his hand left her breast and traveled down the path to her shorts.

  “What happens if I say no?”

  “I will tell you that you are full of shit and your wants and needs are rising by the second. However, if that is what you truly want, I will stop right now, turn over, taking you with me and go to sleep.”

  Chapter 10

  She gasped as the cool air rippled over her exposed body. There was a storm coming. She could hear the thunder rolling against the flashes of lightning that rippled behind the curtain in his room, illuminating the room for brief seconds. Not only was there a storm outside, but there was a storm inside. The electricity was rolling off of both of their bodies; she moaned at the kisses Thomas was placing on her body. She needed him. Although she’d had one-night stands before, this desire, this need, clawed at her with Thomas. She knew that this would not be a one-nighter because of the desire in his eyes, the desire Thomas allowed her to see. This could be ‘ever after’ if they both allowed it.

  It was not often that you could find ‘ever after’ just by one single touch, but that was what she’d found. For six months, she had been denying herself this. Denying him the feel of their bodies. Enough was enough.

  “Yes,” she moaned as she felt his fingers seep into her wet folds. It was heaven; it was hot chocolate cake with vanilla ice cream on the top. It was bliss.

  She could feel him working his one finger in and out, as she placed her head against his shoulder.

  “Please,” escaped her mouth.

  “I am keeping you, Wen, my little lotus flower.” She heard the growl that held a promise, as her cami was yanked up over her head. She should be scared, but she wasn’t. All men weren’t Greg and she knew this. Still, the love and the betrayal she felt with Greg, hit her to the core. She looked up at this handsome man and the promise of everything and more. She could let it go, would let it go, because she knew, deep down to the soul of her body, that if he meant forever, then forever is what she would get. This promise would not be broken.

  “I think I just might get lucky tonight,” he murmured as he bent and kissed her stomach, darting his tongue out and circling her bellybutton.

  “Ummm…you might, if you just shut up and get busy, buddy. I’m dying here…”

  She could see his eyes roll.

  “Are you in desperate need, baby?” He went back to kissing her stomach, slowly making a trail to the hem of her shorts. She held her breath to see what he would do next. Seeing his eyes on her face, she nodded slowly.

  The feel of his large hands skimming her hips ever so softly in the attempt to pull her shorts down her body created rapid tingles of fire coursing throughout her body. Her body bucked as she felt him blow on her now exposed flesh. The need was overwhelming. Nothing had ever felt like this. It was almost too much. Wen closed her eyes, avoiding his intense gaze. She could hear his chuckle as she felt the bed dip low and there it was.

  He gripped her hips, opening her thighs, kissing the soft flesh, slipping his tongue between her tender folds, tasting her. This was the bliss she was crying for. She threw her head back letting, “Oh god, yes!” escape her mouth.

  She wanted to put her legs back together, pull him up to her body. She wanted to feel his smooth chest against hers.

  “You’re perfect, Wen. So absolutely, fucking perfect.” The voice that reached her was deep, and hungry.

  She shivered. There were no words to express what that meant to her. All she could give him now was her moans, letting him know just how much she wanted this, wanted him.

  When he abruptly sat up, she opened her eyes in shock. She saw it then. His perfectly sculpted body, a clean shaved chest that rippled with testosterone. He was all man. Sliding her glance lower, she saw a massive bulge making its first naked appearance.

  “Nice.”

  The smirk that met her was enough to make her cream herself. She watched him as his hand slowly made its way to his hard cock.

  Oh, sweet Mary, mother of God. Was it possible to get even more turned on? Lifting herself up on her elbows, Wen enjoyed watching as he slowly caressed himself, letting his hand work up and down in slow motion. A groan escaped her lips. Smiling back up at him, she lifted her hand toward him.

  His hand engulfed hers as they both worked his dick up and down. She moved her gaze from his eyes to the head of his penis to see that the first drop was there for the taking. Ever slowly, she moved her head forward, allowing herself to get close enough to flick her tongue against the drop of wetness that graced his cock.

  In a flash, she found herself on her back with dark eyes on her face.

  Curving her finger, she signaled him to come to her. She waited as he bent forward. Only to surprise her when he stopped just mere inches away from her. His body leaned over to the table next to the bed. She heard the drawer open and then close. Foil ripping and then…

  Oh, my god.

  The opening of her legs grew wider as she felt him slide his body perfectly between her thighs. Full penetration. This feeling of him inside of her was nothing to what she felt when she was with Greg. It was as if the heavens opened up and were letting her know she was home.

  In the background, the rain had picked up; it was a soothing sound against the racing of her heart. Thomas could kiss, she would give him that. His kisses were soft and teasing until she arched up, pressing them even closer. It was then that his kisses became hungry and wild. His eyes were heavy lidded, total bedroom eyes, as he slowly lowered himself back against her body once more, allowing himself to penetrate her deeper. She met him with every thrust he gave her.

  * * *

  “Please,” Wen begged.

  It was the sweetest sound next to her moans of pleasure that he had ever heard.

  “With pleasure, baby. With pleasure.” Holding her hips tight, he growled and pushed forward, her heat and wetness welcoming him as he slipped inside after pulling out. Teasing her. Thomas was beyond euphoric as he slid back to the hilt. As their bodies joined, he opened his eyes, smiling down at Wen, who was wearing a welcoming grin.

  “God, you feel so good,” Thomas ground out, trying to not move as he allowed her to feel him, letting the anticipation build up. She gasped, a groan escaping her lips.

  Thomas growled low and feral as he began to move faster with each thrust, pumping deep into her. He leaned forward, taking her nipple in his mouth, biting hard.

  Thomas could feel her legs wrapping tighter around his thighs a
s he worked her with his cock and mouth.

  * * *

  He was amazing, perfect; this was just as she’d imagined it would be. She wanted to shut her eyes, but Thomas would not let her. Every time she started to close them, she could hear him say, “Look at me, baby” and he would chuckle as she opened her eyes.

  It was all overwhelming between him going deep and licking her nipples from one to the other. Wen came so hard, harder than any other time she’d sex, that she was seeing white spots in her vision. All she could think about was hanging on to him for dear life. Feeling her nails claw in his back, she arched her back, allowing the ecstasy to roll off her body.

  “That’s it, baby, let it go, Wen. Give me all of it…come again for me; come, baby…”

  A scream leave her as she felt waves of orgasms hit her. She felt his kiss upon her lips sucking hers into his own mouth. As tired as she was, she readily gave control over to him.

  She was moaning into his mouth, as he pumped faster, ripping his mouth away. Wen whimpered. She didn’t think she had anything else left in her body.

  “Oh God, I can’t,” she hoarsely announced in the throes of ecstasy.

  “Yeah, baby, you can. I know you have it in you. One more time for me, baby…” She felt him change direction. His thrusts were bigger and deeper. It was then that she looked up into his eyes and she knew that she would give him everything. He wanted one more time, and by god, she would give it to him. Arching into him, she released her orgasm as Thomas shuddered against her body.

  * * *

  Thomas was at a complete and utter loss. He knew she would be magnificent; but holy hell, that was phenomenal. Best of the best. Rolling off her body, he knew he needed to dispose of the condom, but in reality, all he wanted was to pull her back in his arms and hold her.

  “You going to take care of that?” Wen asked.

  But jeez, he didn’t have the breath to answer her. He had never worked so damn hard, nor had the pleasure to cum so hard.

  “Yep,” was his response. Quickly discarding the condom, he turned to wrap Wen up in his arms. “So?” he said. He felt like a teenager and dammit all to hell, he was an adult.

  “I have to say, Thomas, you sure know how to make a girl lose her mind.”

  He laughed at that. So much for him holding back. The moment she curled her body against his, he knew there was no going back.

  “Let’s get some sleep, huh?”

  “Yeah; night, Thomas.”

  “Night, Wen.”

  With that, Thomas knew they both would sleep soundlessly ’till morning. Come morning, he would worry about his sister and what Alek had planned.

  Chapter 11

  Wen watched in the rear-view mirror as Thomas drove behind her car as she drove to Simply Antiques to get to work. The police had cleared the shop and her parents thought to close for a few days but Wen was against it. Between everything that was happening she just needed something, and being around the things she loved and the work she enjoyed, she told them she would run the shop while they headed up north a few hours an estate sale they heard about when she talked to them yesterday.

  Thomas was against it, but soon realized that there was nothing he could say or do besides tie her up, and the hell if he would do that to her.

  So he relented, but rumbled about it the whole time she was getting ready for work. A few kisses helped to ease the grumbling, but didn’t stop him from doing it.

  Yet, here she was kissing him goodbye at the shop before he walked out of the door. His ringing phone broke them apart. She knew it was Alek, telling him that he needed Thomas.

  After hanging up, Thomas proceeded to inform her of all the ways to that she needed to be careful.

  The big dope.

  Wen watched him leave, exhaling deeply as she watched as the front door shut. She wasn’t sure if she should freak out or jump up and down like a teenage girl and squeal in delight.

  Either way, it was official. His words and tone solidified that they were together. One night together was not enough for Wen, and she was sure that it was not enough for Thomas either. Would it ever be enough? Was it possible to know after just one touch that you found the person? She didn’t know, and honestly didn’t care.

  As the morning wore on, she felt a sense of blah taking over. Maybe Thomas and her parents were right and she didn’t need to be at work today. It was only an hour since Thomas had left. She sent him a text letting him know that she was going to go home, seeing as she was in no mood for the store, and she really needed to deal with her house.

  His response was to ‘wait ’till he was done with Alek and then he would be over’. Of course, Wen was not having that. She knew that Thomas needed to be there for whatever was happening with Keylee. He needed to have his full attention on what was there, not her and her problems at the moment.

  Once she got home, she texted Thomas to inform him that she was home and would be working in the basement. She also told him to call her, or use her spare house key that she’d left at his house earlier, and come over when he was done with his business with Alek and Keylee.

  The windows and door and been replaced, and her living room was bare, but that was okay. At this time, Wen was not sure if she wanted to continue to rent the house or move. Moving meant moving away from Thomas and staying meant staying in a house where she felt a loss of security.

  Deciding she needed to get her hands dirty, she stepped into her room to slip into her old yoga pants and work shirt. She then head down to the basement to do some finishing touches on one of the few pieces she was working on from the last estate sale her parents had gone to.

  She loved this. They went shopping and brought her the rough and tough antiques to clean up and restore. It was one of the reasons her parent’s shop was so successful. The items might be antiques, but thanks to her love and care, the pieces were brought back to life. It made her happy to work on them and then to know someone else was going to love and cherish these items she spent so much time working on.

  Her current project was a 1940s French country secretary desk. She had yet to start it because it too came with those clocks that were stolen. That thought paused her in her steps as she walked down to her basement after changing her clothes.

  Was it the whole batch of items that came from that house or just the clocks, she began to wonder? She knew the police had been in her basement and they reported that nothing was wrecked. Taking in a deep breath, she felt more calm as she figured it had to be just the clocks. She prayed it was just the clocks. Hell.

  Now she was freaking herself out. Calm down, girl. It’s just your imagination.

  She knew it was ridiculous, but still, the thought was there. Flipping on the light at the end of the stairs, she stared into her workspace. Two wooden tables stood off to the right, each holding cups, plates, pictures and other assortments of items. To the left was her current project—the desk. It stood just a few feet away from her working desk that held her paints, brushes, thinner, and primer as well as anything else she could think of for restoring items.

  Sitting down in her chair, she turned to her iPod and scrolled through her music selection. Deciding on Mozart, she hit play and allowed his notes to take over. Turning toward the antique desk, she leaned in, trying to get a sense of where to start. The desk was already beautiful, but held some scratches as well as fading paint. Someone had painted the desk and it was pretty, but it screamed for something else. The old desk had one drawer, two lower cabinets and a fold down desk with eleven small compartments and two very small interior drawers. She had yet to go through all the small compartments. Figuring that was just as a good place as any to start, she took special care in removing the drawer and the two lower cabinet doors. Then she folded the desk down and looked at the small compartments. She carefully pulled out the two very small drawers and set them aside.

  Time passed quickly for her. So engaged with the work, she barely heard the shuffle coming from above her. Glancing up at th
e old alarm clock, she noticed she had been home for just two hours though her body was screaming that it had been longer. Thinking it was Thomas returning, she turned her music even lower and stood up. She had been on her hands and knees carefully removing the old paint from the desk. She needed to see the beauty of the desk before she felt she could really do the old girl right.

  Thinking it would be funny to call Thomas from downstairs, she reached for her phone. After three rings, she heard his voice.

  “Yeah, babe.”

  “You sure are making a lot of noise upstairs. If you’re looking for—”

  “Wen, what are you talking about?” he interjected before she finished her sentence.

  “You’re in my house, right?” It was then she heard him swear.

  Oh God, it wasn’t him.

  “Wen, where are you? Where is Peaches? Is she with you?”

  “No. I’m in the basement and she’s at your house,” she whispered.

  “Shit.” The slur of words just kept coming from her phone as she listened to several footfalls above her head.

  “Thomas, they’re talking,” she informed him.

  “Shit, listen, baby, I am over at Alek’s. He’s on the phone with Anthony right now. He’s directing him to your house as we speak. Stay where you are. I’m heading over.”

  “Did you check the basement?” A man’s asked from the basement door.

  “Thomas, they’re coming down here,” she whispered into her phone.

  “Jesus Christ, Wen, hide. I don’t care where, just fucking hide and no matter what, don’t come out until it’s safe. Don’t be a hero.”

  Hide? He wanted to her to hide? Where the hell was she going to hide? Quickly glancing around, she saw the small opening behind her stairs that she used as storage. Quickly and as quietly as she could, she made her way toward the stairs just as the basement door opened.