Photo Finish (6 page)

More images of him spanking her flickered through her mind before she took a deep breath and tried to take stock of her situation. Brogan was rubbing his hands across her backside as he murmured his appreciation between his ragged breaths.

“God I love your ass.” He slapped it once as if he’d read her thoughts. “One day I’m going to put this pretty little rear over my knee and spank it ‘til it glows red…but not tonight.”

A sense of disappointment moved through her as the fantasy slipped away, but it quickly dissipated when he ran a single finger down her crease, slowly circling her back hole.

“I’ve always wanted to be the first man to take you here, too.” His voice had dropped to a whisper, as if saying the thought out loud might destroy his chances. “Maybe…”

His voice faded and she found herself wanting to give him anything just to hear him speak again. She went to turn her head when he gathered some of her cream on his finger and placed at her pucker, gently easing it inside. Her muscles rebelled, squeezing on the intruder until it slipped through the tight ring and sank deep into her hot channel.

Pleasure soared from her ass into her sex as he slowly fucked her butt always keeping his fingertip inside her. Just when she thought she’d die if he didn’t go harder, he pressed his cock against her pussy, easing his length inside in perfect sync to the finger claiming her ass. She felt full, stretched, but couldn’t deny the overwhelming need to have him claim every inch of her. She wanted to move with him, meet each forceful stroke, but the ties held her in place, demanding she do nothing but feel.

“Oh god, Paige, I can feel my cock inside you with my finger. Fuck, I’m not going to be able to hold off for long.”

“Then fuck me,” she screamed, once again teetering on the fine edge between pleasure and insanity.

Brogan growled, slapped her ass again then moved, pummeling into her with such force the bed banged against the wall. But he didn’t stop. It was as if he’d crossed some invisible line and there was no turning back. All she could do was wrap her fingers around the metal chain connecting the handcuffs and hold on.

He grunted, grabbing her hip with one hand as he lifted her slightly higher, lining it up so his crown brushed across her G-spot with every stroke. She had one last moment of conscious thought before the darkness erupted into a sea of colored light and she climaxed, drenching his cock with her release as she went limp on the bed. He followed her scream with a roar of her name, before pumping her full of his hot seed. She felt the head flare, sending her over again, stealing any strength she had left. She sagged against the restraints, no longer able to even lift her head. Brogan’s voice sounded from far away, but all she registered was the gentle caress of his hands along her skin. She felt her arms fall to the bed, followed by her legs, before his strong arms pulled her into the protective curl of his body. His whispered words of love played in her head and she mumbled hers in return, fading into a soothing abyss, where only the heat of their bodies filled her mind.

Brogan stared up at the ceiling, watching the moonlight play across the wooden beams. Paige slept beside him, her chest rising and falling rhythmically. He tried to ignore the way her body grazed his with each gentle breath or how she murmured softly in her sleep. They reminded him too much of the life he’d left behind…the one he desperately wanted back.

He sighed, tracing his finger along his skin until he skimmed over his tattoo. He didn’t need to see it to be able to follow the inscription, writing his brother’s name out with the tip of his finger. He’d done it so many times it’d become second nature.

“What the hell have I just done?”

His voice sounded loud in the room, though it was little more than a whisper. He glanced down at Paige. She looked peaceful and he wondered what his life would be like if he’d never walked out that night? If he’d chosen her over his promise?

Uncertainty niggled at him as he continued to trace the name, not sure how he was going to find the strength to leave her—again. She kept him grounded. Dared him to dream for something bigger, better. But if he didn’t show up tonight, Tate would walk, and his ghosts would never be free.

“Great move, Brogan. Another stellar decision.”

He sighed and closed his eyes.

Chapter Four

“You fucking bastard!”

“Now, Paige, baby, don’t—”

“Don’t you
Paige
baby
me,” she snapped.

She kicked at him when he bent down to retrieve a sock.

“You promised to tell me everything, but as usual, you’re breaking it.” Angry tears slipped down her cheek, but she didn’t even try to wipe them away. “I should have known better than to trust you.”

Anger flared and Brogan clenched his jaw in an effort to stay calm. “I’ve told you everything I can. And I’ve never broken a promise to you.”

“You didn’t tell me shit. And you have broken a promise.”

Brogan grabbed his jacket and punched his arms through the sleeves, hoping the action would still his need to toss Paige over his lap and hold true to his threat to paddle her ass. Though just the thought had his cock straining against the fly of his jeans. He cursed, hating the hold she had over him. He didn’t want to leave things this way, but she’d left him no choice. He tried a soothing breath, only to groan when her sweet essence drifted to him, tempting him to strip off his clothes and spend the foreseeable future with her tied to his bed. He met her heated glare, knowing there was nothing he could say to win her over. He’d lost her, and this time, he knew there’d be no coming back. She’d never speak to him again once he walked out that door.

“If I tell you any more I’ll be putting your life at risk. Hell, I shouldn’t even be here. I’m dead, remember!”

Her chin quivered for a moment before he saw her pull herself back. She’d gotten better at distancing herself since he’d left, and he couldn’t help but wonder if that was part of his legacy to her.

“Then why did you bother? I would have been out of the house before anyone saw me. Why take the chance?”

“Because that little stunt you pulled on the motorcycle put you at the top of Tate’s “most wanted” list.” He stomped to the end of the bed.

Shit, she looked beautiful with the sheet hugging her breasts and her nipples poking at the thin fabric. He’d clipped one of the handcuffs around the heater coil beside the bed and left the other around her arm, hoping to disappear before she’d woken up. But as usual, she was too damn stubborn to sleep through it. He knew the cuffs wouldn’t hold her forever, but by the time she’d gotten free and walked back to town, the deal would be over, and Tate would be off the streets, once and for fucking all.

Or I’ll be dead
…

Paige sneered at him and tilted her head in that way women did that clearly said she didn’t know what he was talking about. “I was wearing a tinted helmet and Tate was in the back. There’s no way he knew it was me.”

“Right. He had no idea up until the point where he ran your plate and got all the information he needed.” Brogan speared a hand threw his hair, wishing he’d left it long. “Ever since you made it your vocation to hunt the man down, he’s been keeping tabs on you. But you’re a bit too well known to kill without good reason. Turns out your little drive-by was enough to push him over the edge. Those men at the house were there to kill you, baby, not ask you to take their picture.” Brogan sighed and leaned against the frame. “Why did you show up last night?”

Some of the anger left her eyes, replaced quickly by pain. “I needed to know.”

“Know what?”

“If it really was you, or just a ghost?”

Uncertainty surfaced and Brogan felt the first inklings of fear. “But you thought I was dead. I don’t understand.”

She shrugged, staring down at the bed as she spoke. “I saw you at the pier and I needed to know if it was really you.”

“The pier!” He moved before he’d realized and came back to his senses with Paige trapped between his chest and the headboard. “What the hell were you doing at the pier? How did you know Tate was going to be there?”

Fear flickered in her eyes, washing a wave of guilt over him.

“I got a tip. I was there gathering evidence to give to the Feds. I wanted to put Tate behind bars…for killing you.”

Sobs wrenched her chest and it was all he could do to hold her gaze.

“You have photographs? Of the meeting last night?”

Shit, he should have guessed, but he was too busy listening to his dick to think about why she’d pulled up alongside of Tate or where she’d gotten the image of him on her computer screen. Now all he could do was bow his head and try to breathe. This changed everything. If Tate found out she’d photographed the meeting, he’d never stop hunting her. And Brogan knew the man would put it all together.

Determination set his jaw. He couldn’t back out now, not with Paige’s life on the line. Tate might have let it drop after the deal, but not once he found out she could finger him as the dealer.

Brogan stood up and paced over to the table, opening her case. He removed the camera and flicked through the images, feeling his chest tighten more with each one. He stopped when his face filled the small screen. “Fuck.”

He glanced over at Paige. Be damned if she wasn’t spitting fire with her eyes, completely oblivious to the fact she’d just signed her own death warrant, not to mention putting six months of hard work in jeopardy. He cursed again and grabbed his phone.

“It’s Brogan.” He ignored the loud hiss on the other end. “Look, I know, but we’ve got a problem.” He turned and looked straight at her. “Paige.” He took a deep breath, knowing the silence on the other end of the line was a bad sign. “The old forestry cabin by tower three. I suggest you hurry.”

He hung up, shoved the phone in his pocket and tossed Paige the key to the handcuffs. She snagged it off the sheets, holding it to her chest as she stared at him, her eyes brimmed in red. He ignored the lump making it hard to breathe and pointed at her clothes still strewn across the floor.

“Get dressed, baby, then plant your ass in that chair. Don’t’ even think of trying to ditch me,” he warned, turning away. He paused, then looked back at her. “What promise did I break?”

Paige grabbed her clothes and held them tight to her chest as she headed for the bathroom. She stopped as she bridged the doorway. “You promised to be back by midnight.”

Brogan felt the lump expand as she stepped inside and slammed the door.

* * * *

Paige sat in the chair, drumming her fingers across the wood. Brogan had taken to pacing the floor, peeking out the window every time he went by. She’d asked him a dozen times who he’d talked to on the phone, but he’d answered with only a, “You’ll see,” before pacing again.

The sound of stones crunching along the road filtered through the room, followed by the steady hum of an engine. Brogan palmed his gun and gave her a stern look, silently warning her to stay put. She nodded, knowing now wasn’t the time for any smart-ass remarks. Fear and anticipation played along her nerves, and she wasn’t sure whether to stand up or duck under the table. She heard a car roll to a stop as a cloud of dust blew past the window. A door slammed shut and footsteps fell on the porch. There was a double tap before Brogan opened the door and waved the man in, checking behind him before shutting it tight and turning around.

“Hello, Paige. Didn’t expect to see you here, but then I never did think Brogan…”

Paige smiled as his words faded into a grunt as her throw hit home and the book bounced off his chest and thudded to the floor. She saw Brogan wince out of the corner of her eye, but he didn’t make any attempt to step between them. Anger bubbled in her veins as she stared at the man who’d been lying to her for six months.

“How could you?” She grabbed another book. “How could you come to my home and tell me Brogan was dead when he was still working for the Bureau?”

Special Agent Douglas Brown sighed and looked as if he was bracing for another attack. But the emotional roller coaster she’d been on for the past twelve hours had taken its toll, and she sank into the chair, letting the book fall to the floor.

“I never wanted to hurt you, Paige. But we needed the world to think Brogan was dead.” He shook his head and leaned against a chair. “It was the hardest thing I’d ever done.”

“Save the sob stories, Doug. You played your part perfectly.”

“If it’s any consolation, Brogan didn’t want to lie to you. He wanted me to tell you the truth and ask you to go work in some third-world country for awhile, but I knew I’d never be able to keep the two of you apart.”

“You could have asked,” she said.

“Asked,” he repeated. “I think the fact I’m standing here talking to you right now is enough proof you wouldn’t have stayed away.”

He held up his hand when she glared at him.

“I know, neither of you planned this, but be damned if it didn’t happen regardless.” Doug nodded at Brogan. “So what’s the big glitch…besides the fact Paige knows you’re alive?”

Brogan stepped forward and handed him her camera. “You might want to take a look at these.”

Doug frowned as he grabbed the device and began flipping through the screens. Paige could see his lips tightening, slowly pulling into a thin line as he scanned the images. By the time he lowered the camera, his face was flushed red and his mouth had descended into a frown.

“Bloody hell,” Doug cursed and put the camera down, looking over at her. “Do you know what these are?”

“Photographs of Tate dealing weapons,” she taunted.

“These are your death sentence, honey.” He turned on Brogan. “Why the hell didn’t you call me last night once you knew she had these?”

“I didn’t realize she’d taken pictures until this morning,” Brogan confessed.

“It took you twelve hours to put together the drive-by and the fact Tate wanted her dead to figure out she’d taken pictures of the deal? Jesus Christ, man, you’re supposed to be thinking, not screwing.”

Brogan growled and took a calculated step forward. Paige had seen that expression before. He’d always been overprotective of her and it looked as if that hadn’t changed.