Bounty Hunters: 03 Stay Hungry (19 page)

"Now is as good a time as any for you to learn something," she began.

Jake cupped her breasts. Angela grabbed his wrists but wasn't able to get her fingers to wrap around them and meet. She was even less successful at stopping him when he tugged on her already swollen breasts. He squeezed her nipples between his fingers and Angela's world toppled to the side, taking all her coherent thought with it.

"I would have to agree," he grunted, not taking his attention from her breasts. "And I plan on learning more than something, darling. I'm going to learn everything about your body, where you're most sensitive, where you're ticklish, what gets you off, and what doesn't."

"That's not what I meant." This was quickly becoming the wrong time to show Jake how he needed to act around her. Unfortunately, she couldn't tell him his behavior turned her off. Her pussy throbbed and was so damned soaked, she felt her come on her inner thighs.

"You're very sensitive." His crooked smile was mischievous.

"Jake!" Angela would not lose this battle. She pressed her hands flat against his chest. Tight small curls of chest hair tickled her palms while his solid heartbeat matched the throbbing between her legs. There wasn't any way she could push Jake backward if he didn't want her to. "Lay down," she ordered.

Her expression must have given her away. Jake's grin faded and his expression grew serious as he dropped his hands. "You're going to run the show?" He sincerely sounded surprised.

It was time for his first lesson. "I've always run the show," she whispered, and gently pressed against his chest.

It was an odd moment for Albert's words to come to her.
I see danger in one and a strong sense of possessiveness in the other.
She could only guess which man held on to which trait. If anything, both men were dangerous and possessive. But to give in to either would put her at the mercy of that man. She would lose control.

"All right, darling." Jake stretched out on the bed, his head touching the headboard and his feet at the edge of the bottom of the bed. "I'm yours to command," he added, raising his arms and strapping his hands behind his head. His brown hair was tousled and his expression once again mischievous. This was all a game to him.

"I can only imagine how you've mastered such skills." She really didn't want to know how many women it took to make a man as confident and convinced of his abilities as Jake was. "You're not mine and I'm not going to command," she tried explaining.

Jake pressed his lips together as his body tensed. "They aren't skills. What's happening here isn't something we've plotted out and now are putting into action." His jovial look was gone, and the man staring up at her looked dangerous, intelligent, and incredibly focused. "This is new territory for me and for you, which is why you want to maintain control."

He moved his hands and gripped her waist, lifting her and easing her on top of him, until her legs straddled him.

Angela straightened her arms, flattening her hands against his chest. "You're seducing the hell out of me," she accused, pushing and sliding backward. They couldn't do this with Jake determined to manipulate her thoughts and insist her desire to control was to cover up some deeper longing.

Jake grabbed her arms, keeping her from getting too far away from him. "Don't try and make me think you don't want me."

"I thought we'd already established there was mutual desire." The fog was still there, drifting around her senses, but she felt a remnant of control return to her corner. "This isn't a good idea."

"You believe that?" He wasn't letting her go.

Angela tried twisting out of his grasp and ended up struggling against him. Wrestling with Jake would only put her back in the middle of that fog. She ended up with her back pressed against his hard chest and his muscular arms wrapped around her. The two of them knelt on the bed, and Jake lowered his head so his curls brushed against her cheek.

"You're so damn hot and I bet if I were to check right now you're soaked as hell, too," he whispered against her face.

Angela stiffened. "Soaked" didn't begin to describe her current state. "Don't you dare," she whispered, but made the mistake of turning her head to look at him.

Jake raised one hand and gripped her neck, using his fingers to pin her face and keep her gaze locked with his. "If you believe both of us should restrain and not ease our pain and desire for each other, I have a right to know."

Instead of making her think of an answer, he stretched her body against his, both of them on their knees with his legs on the outside of hers. He kept her head turned and slowly brushed his lips over hers. It was barely a kiss, but she made the mistake of fighting him. Jake came back for more, pressing his lips against hers, and once again applied incredible skills as he made love to her mouth. She was stretched against his torso, on her knees, leaning back into him while they devoured each other's mouths. When his hand eased inside her shorts she stilled.

"Trust comes with time, sweetheart. I understand that. You're accustomed to being in charge and not letting go. Tonight, let's just enjoy the release of mutual cravings." His voice was raspy and scraped over her raw senses the way his teeth and fingertips had tortured her flesh.

As he spoke, his hand slid over her pelvis. Instinctively she tightened her abdomen, giving him easier access. In spite of her mind demanding control of this situation, as Jake had just suggested, her body was more than willing to ease the path to pleasure and satisfaction. His fingers parted her moist flesh, and his eyes opened wide, staring at her in astonishment. Even at close range, they locked gazes and both forgot to breathe.

"You're smooth." He spoke with a reverence that was empowering.

Angela sucked in a breath and swore she could taste him as she took his scent deep into her lungs. Shaving was a personal vanity. She knew men liked it, but she loved how it felt, too. The smooth, hairless skin heightened her sexual experiences, when she had time for them. And it kept her feeling clean. At the moment, though, she was so wet his fingers slid easily deep inside her.

"This isn't..."
a good idea.
Angela didn't get the entire sentence out of her mouth.

The only hint she had was a slight twitch on the side of Jake's jaw before he thrust his fingers deep inside her.

"Holy crap!" And her world erupted.

His fingers were long, thick, and took her to new heights she hadn't known she'd been missing out on until now. He thrust again, then one more time, each time he impaled her a very macho grunt escaping his lips. With his fourth thrust, which was as premeditated as the ones previous, a dam broke inside Angela. Wave after wave of pent-up desire rushed through her, streaming fast and wild like a narrow river heading for a very high waterfall. She tumbled over, free-falling and seriously unsure if she'd recover from her orgasm and ever be the same again.

Giving Jake this unhindered control would put a strain on their relationship. Just as Albert said, Jake was very possessive. It would make him think he could call all the shots and simply tuck her under his wing. Letting go and giving him that power would be the biggest mistake of her life. Although the way his arms had tightened just enough around her when her orgasm hit, how he allowed her to ride it out, and with his continual impaling, thrusting until the pressure was fully gone, was not only the most incredible experience; it was hot as hell.

"You're so soaked." Jake nipped at her ear. "My sweet baby needed to come."

His baby?

Jake plunged deep inside her, applying the same amount of force and aggressiveness that had pushed her over the edge a moment ago. Hell, she was still basking in her aftermath and he shoved her right back into a state of turmoil and swelling pressure.

"Damn it! God!" Angela would have tumbled over if he weren't keeping her pressed against his body. Besides, his hand in her shorts braced her. Instead of crashing to the bed, both of them leaned forward slightly. His fingers plunged in an altered course, hitting a spot that was seldom touched. Her orgasm peaked so fast it stole her breath. "Jake. Oh shit!"

Her world exploded in an array of warm colors, every sensation suddenly heightened as she started plummeting, sliding into an explosive state of satisfaction that gripped and held on to all of her senses. Angela felt her orgasm tear through her and, try as she did, she couldn't stop it or control its strength.

Which was what she usually did. It didn't hit her until the intensity of her ride began to ebb. No man ever made her come until she was ready for release. Angela controlled her orgasms, just as she controlled everything else in her world. It allowed for few surprises but kept her world manageable.

"Next time you come like that, it isn't going to be with your back to me." His deep chuckle raked over her nerves.

Already he was assuming control. If she weren't so sated right now, Angela was positive she would have a comeback that would securely put him back in his place. Just because he got her off better than she could do herself. And although he'd made her come when she'd instructed herself not to, that didn't make him the boss.

As soon as she quit floating and the intense pleasure causing every inch of her to tingle receded, she would make sure he knew that. No matter what Jake King thought about her, now that he'd just given her one hell of a memorable orgasm, Angela didn't answer to any man. Nor would she ever. Although maybe, possibly, if Jake was nice about it, she might let him make her come like that again.

Chapter Ten

"We've got work to do." Jake held Angela's limp body against his, feeling the strong thumping of her heart between her swollen breasts.

Jake had never made a woman come the way he just had with Angela. As tortured as he was physically at the moment, with his cock engorged and the urge to rid her of her shorts and impale her soaked pussy, a strange sense of calm and intense satisfaction seeped through him as well. It made for a strange mix. Maybe her demanding nature had its effect on him. Getting her off satisfied him in a way. He definitely wanted to fuck her for hours and hours, but as late as it was getting, they needed to start laying out their game plan. He was a bit surprised Mandela hadn't figured out her room number and come pounding on her door.

Angela blinked, shifted, and tried twisting in Jake's arms. He reluctantly pulled his fingers out of her moist heat and dragged them up her flat abdomen. They were sticky and wet, and he fought the urge to lick her come from them but wasn't sure what Angela's reaction would be to that. It was another odd sensation that her feelings and thoughts meant so much to him.

His family had been right. It was worse than a humbling revelation. The past few years he'd gallivanted around, lining women up as far as the eye could see. The women had used him as much as he used them. He didn't know a lot about any of the ladies he spent time with, other than contact information and small bits of useful knowledge, such as which ones preferred to be on top or enjoyed giving blow jobs. Jake forced himself to face the whole truth. He'd been worse than an alley cat on the prowl.

Right now, as he stared at Angela, all that mattered was her pleasure. His cock was harder than steel. It rubbed against his boxers and jeans and was uncomfortable as hell. And he didn't care.

Well, he cared. No way would he consider himself converted from prick to saint in the matter of time it took for Angela to come twice. If she were any other woman, he would probably take advantage of her dazed state to strip off the rest of her clothes so he could get himself off.

Jake ran his hand over Angela's long, black hair, stroking it away from her flushed cheek. He'd seen other women with hair as long. Her hair tickled his chest and was thick and silky. It was a nice contrast against her creamy white skin. He'd been with many women who were a lot tanner than Angela, women who dedicated time daily to ensuring their tan remained dark and their skin healthy. Jake doubted Angela gave a lot of thought to how dark or light her skin tone was. He'd been with women who'd had breast implants and with women who barely had breasts. Angela's full, round breasts were natural and her nipples large. They were perfect and again he would be surprised if she worried about their size or shape.

When his hand was no longer in her shorts, Angela slid off him and let her legs fall off the side of the bed. She sat on the edge, hunched over, and dragged her fingers into her tangled mane.

"I didn't ask for this." Her voice was raspy, as if she was out of breath.

"Ask for what?" Jake combed her hair with his fingers and she arched her back, tilting her head so she stared at the ceiling.

She gave him a hard look over her shoulder. "I didn't ask to come."

He grinned. "Consider it a gift."

She sighed, shaking her head, and stood, gathering her hair at her nape and pulling it free of his hand.

"I'm going to take a shower. Jack off if you want, but I'm not going to watch you do it. When I get out, we'll order food and I'll play back what the surveillance equipment has recorded so far." She walked away from him as she spoke and didn't look over her shoulder as she shut herself in the bathroom.

Like hell he would jack off. Whether she asked for it or not, Angela hadn't told him no. She didn't hold back and didn't get angry with him for what he'd done. Jake knew a sated expression when he saw it. Maybe he'd been a male slut for too many years, but those years had taught him a thing or two about women. Angela wasn't a manipulator or a schemer. She wasn't a player, and although he believed she was damn good at acting and handling undercover work, that didn't make her an expert as a sexual prima donna.

Jake stared at the closed bathroom door as a grin played at his mouth. Angela meant something to him. He hadn't understood what until now. She thought keeping him in a state of yearning, of wanting her and not having her, would keep him in line. If the little lady believed she could maintain control of him through sex, she'd definitely bitten off more than she would be able to chew.

Jake stared at the table with the small black box and manual next to it. Angela had top-of-the-line equipment. She'd already planted bugs inside Mandela's house, one of the most notorious and elusive criminals in this country. Working with Angela would be more than fun. "You're a challenge," Jake whispered, and realized why she intrigued him as much as she did.

Angela wasn't boring. She challenged him. And that was what held his interest. He walked around the table, got comfortable in one of the two chairs, and turned the black box so he could study the knobs on it. The volume was turned down, and he adjusted it until crackling sounds popped in the small speaker.

"You really are the best boss I've ever worked for." A man's voice came through the speaker, his words breaking in and out and static crackling as the guy laughed.

"You'll never find a better job, Bobby. I guarantee it."

Jake leaned forward, turning the volume up when he recognized Mario's Italian accent. There was a notepad and pen on the table, and Jake grabbed both, sliding them closer as he leaned into the box, straining to hear everything said.

"I think I actually believe you." There wasn't a shred of accent in this man's voice, yet he'd said he enjoyed working for Mario. Maybe it was the blond Jake had seen walking across the yard earlier tonight. "Although I did have a boss right out of high school who hooked me up with one of his favorite hookers because he didn't want a virgin working for him."

Mario laughed loudly, his thick baritone coming through the speaker clearly. Jake wondered where Angela had placed the bug to allow it to pick up these two men's conversation so easily. There were advantages to being the son of a cop who'd been a detective for twenty-five years before switching careers and becoming a bounty hunter. Jake's dad had taught him quite a few tricks of the trade. One of them being how to listen to bugged conversations. Jake would bet these two men were outside. When people were inside they tended to speak in softer tones. As Greg King put it, everyone is taught at a young age to use their indoor or outdoor voice. As well, there was a very slight echo that could almost always be detected with decent recording equipment when a person was speaking in a room. Jake squinted, focusing on their words. He didn't hear an echo.

"You were still a virgin when you graduated from high school?" Mario was still laughing. Whoever Bobby was, Mario sounded relaxed with him.

"Hell no, man." Bobby chuckled and made a snorting sound. "But after high school I headed east for a while. I was new in town. It was a chance to get laid and I figured when my boss gave me a hundred-dollar bill to give to the hooker, she had to be good."

"A hundred dollars, huh?"

"I gave her fifty."

Mario laughed again. "A man after my own heart. What town was this?"

The question was slipped into the conversation, but Jake pictured Bobby's face sobering. There was only a brief silence.

"Baltimore," Bobby said, not letting the silence last longer than a second or two.

"You didn't mention Baltimore on your resume."

"You're right. I figured if I put down too many towns you'd think I was a vagrant and unable to keep my nose clean enough to stay in one town that long."

"So you went from town to town dodging the law?" Mario was serious now.

"I almost wish I could say that was the truth. It would make me sound more like an outlaw." When Bobby laughed, it sounded sincere. Mario didn't laugh with him this time, but Bobby didn't sound daunted as he continued. "Honestly, Boss, I went from town to town quite a bit after I got out of school. I never got busted for anything. I just got bored with the scene and I guess I was searching for my niche."

"I think I understand," Mario said slowly. "All of us have a gift we're given and with some of us it takes a while to learn what that gift is. I think you've found it here, yes?"

"I think you're right."

"I'm always right, my friend."

"So what do you think my gift is?"

"You take orders well and know when to ask questions and when to keep your mouth shut."

"That isn't a gift. That's common sense." There was a squeaking sound, like a door opening.

Jake realized he gripped the pen hard enough so that his knuckles were white. He forced his hand to relax and prayed the two men wouldn't walk away from the bug without saying something he could use as a lead.

"You're good at taking care of my army. And as you can see, I know how to show my appreciation when one of my employees shows loyalty and respect."

"I enjoy the job." Bobby chuckled again and it sounded as if he slapped Mario on the back. "And I sure as hell enjoy how you show your appreciation."

"She's one hot piece of ass, isn't she?"

"You know I always did like them submissive and willing," Bobby said, still chuckling.

Jake cringed. His guess was that Bobby, or both of them, had just fucked one of the women Mario had kidnapped. They needed to confirm where Mario's army was soon.

"Sleep well tonight," Mario said, his voice sounding farther away. "Oh wait," he added, coming in clearer. "What did you think of the picture on Uncle Petrie's computer?"

"The girl? Do you think she is your lady? There is a resemblance."

"I thought so, too. What do you suggest we do about it?"

"You're asking my advice?"

"I would like your input, yes."

There was a brief silence and Jake rubbed his palms down his jeans. Would Mario be referring to Angela as his lady already? In spite of Jake's stomach twisting in a cruel knot as his entire body hardened instinctively, keeping an open mind was imperative. He didn't blink as he stared at the small black box.

"Say something that will make sense, damn it," Jake grumbled to the box. He snapped to attention, sitting upright in the chair when the two men continued talking.

"Go pick up the detective. If she's his daughter, she'll come forward to save his ass." Bobby barely paused for a breath when his voice deepened, suddenly sounding cruel and hateful: "If she does come running to save her daddy, you know what you must do."

"Don't forget your place," Mario hissed, his accent thickening, which made him sound mean and heartless.

"Trust me. I know my place. You have one hundred percent of my loyalty. But unlike the rest of your staff, who would all die for you, I will always be on my toes, thinking, because I plan to live with you."

Mario's laughter sounded twisted, if not demonic. "Very good. Which is why you're here talking to me right now. As long as you never forget where your paycheck comes from."

"Not only would I never forget that; I also know you don't fire your employees."

Jake guessed Bobby meant Mario killed them if they crossed the line, as the old man Angela saw murdered earlier tonight had done. He leaned forward, holding his breath and wondering if Mario would incriminate himself. Murder, kidnapping, terrorism--enough charges to put the bastard away for life, if not give him the electric chair. That was if they could make the charges stick.

"Keep talking, you son of a bitch," Jake hissed, and fisted his hands on either side of the box.

"I don't believe in liabilities," Mario said, suddenly sounding calm.

When Bobby laughed, it was as if he'd just been told a good joke. Jake fought the anger simmering inside him. He needed a cool head to nail these assholes to the wall.

"I like working for you, Boss." Bobby quit laughing and it sounded like the door opened once again. "I'll get on the detective. It would probably be best to take care of that tonight."

"Make it happen."

The squeaking sound was followed by a dull thud. Jake stared at the box. It grew silent in the room until Jake was able to focus on water running in the bathroom. Angela was taking a bath. He jumped out of his chair, wired and pissed as he reached for his phone. She would be pissed if he stormed in on her, but Angela needed to know what just had transpired. No names were mentioned, but Jake would be surprised if there was another detective in Mario's life who was the father of a lady he was spending time with. Jake barely glanced at the time when he placed his call.

"Do you know what time it is?" James Huxtable sounded pissed as hell. His voice was thick from sleep, though.

"I believe it's almost one in the morning," Jake said coolly. "Wake up. I need to talk to you." He could be as gruff as Huxtable.

"I am awake," Huxtable roared into the phone. "Why are you calling?"

"Because you're about to be kidnapped."

Jake relayed the conversation he'd overheard and explained that Angela had planted the bug. By the time he finished, the water was no longer running in the bathroom.

"This doesn't sound good," Huxtable said slowly, the sharpness in his tone gone.

"It wouldn't be hard to track this Bobby character," Jake said. "I'm sure I could even catch him in the act of kidnapping. That wouldn't incriminate Mandela, though. And it sure wouldn't implicate him in anything concerning the game."

"What's the kidnapping of one man when a much larger bust hovers in the wings?"

Jake glared at the floor, gripping his phone hard enough to snap the thing in two. "Grab a few necessities and get out of there. I need your home address and I'll head that way to cover you."

"Got this all planned out, do you?"

Jake didn't realize he'd started pacing until he stopped in his tracks. "Before Mandela and his henchman started discussing the possibility that a rather old picture of your teenage daughter found on the Internet might actually be of Mandela's lady, the two men were discussing the sex they'd just had with one of the women Mandela kidnapped for the game."