ROMANCE: MENAGE ROMANCE: Tapped and Taken by Two (Pregnancy Sports MMA UFC Fighter Romance) (Alpha Male Romance) (13 page)

The three of them worked for two weeks on an abandoned farm in the middle of nowhere. Going through every detail of every part of the plan over and over. James could say he learned almost everything he knew in those two weeks. Especially that knowing the plan and sticking to the plan no matter what happens is what make the jobs work, and this job went off without a hitch. The score was more than James had ever seen in his life, there was no going back to the dish pit again, and he now had the formula to make sure he never went back to jail again either.

He never stole from someone unless it was insured. He couldn’t stand the idea of a crime harming an individual, particularly one who couldn’t afford it, and these tellers and security guards wouldn’t risk their lives to save a huge bank’s money. His first few jobs were with Mark and soon Mark got frustrated with the careful planning that James forced them to go through for every job.

“Look, I’ve got this tip for tonight,” said Mark the last time James saw him. “It’s gonna be a huge haul, but it’s gotta be tonight.”

“You know what I think about it. I’m not gonna just rush in and do this with a plan we scratch out a few hours before the job. It’s not how I wanna do things.”

Mark just walked away determined he was gonna keep all the money for himself then. The job was for a brinks truck in an area outside the city Mark had never been to. Mark had no idea he needed a different key from each guard to open the back of the truck. His plan was to wait for the one guard to walk away and pull a gun on the other one, grabbing as much cash as he could while he only needed to watch one guard. The plan didn’t work and soon Mark was running through a field with an empty bag and no idea where to go with a police helicopter chasing him. He went away for a long time, and that was the end of James ever working a job with someone that knew him and one that he didn’t plan himself.

With more money than he knew what to do with, and even bigger scores planned out in his head he took on the name of James Moore. One thing still tied him to that old life though: the family of the murdered woman that he should’ve saved when he first saw what was happening. James almost had enough for himself to live off of forever, but he needed to do something for that family, which meant more scores and secret deposits of cash every few months into the family account to make sure the family would have everything they needed, despite not having their mother.

Maria, the youngest, would be twelve soon. He planned to keep the money coming at least until she turned eighteen. If this string of plans he had already set in motion went like it should, he should be set not too long after Christmas. So, another job. For now, another bank. This time, the Fairlee First National bank.

Since Devon died, Randi couldn’t come. She’d slept with one man exactly once since his passing, another detective at work after a particularly rough case, and while the other detective did everything in his power to get her off, she couldn’t do it. Not even at home in a hot bath with her vibrator. The memory of that night in the bar bathroom with James Moore was sticking with Randi.

His hand had quested up her thigh, met her pantyhose, and tore them at the crotch.

“Sorry,” he muttered into her mouth.

She moaned. She’d soaked through her thong with her excitement. He eased it to one side, and slid one finger in, then another, then a third, excited by how receptive her body was.

He broke the kiss, yanked her skirt up over her hips, and bent her over the sink. He dropped to his knees, pulled her thong to one side, and lapped up all her juices. Pleasure and the drink assaulted her, and her legs felt wobbly. He held her up, kissing, licking and teasing her.

She let her eyes close and experienced him, giving herself up completely. He backed off for a moment, and she heard the buckle of his belt, the whir of his zipper, the rustle of his pants. Then she felt the tip of his cock probing at her cleft. She leaned back into him. He rubbed himself up and down her wetness, the soft head rubbing her clit and making her cry out. He dragged himself all the way up, working her wetness into her a little. She wanted him everywhere, all over her, she wanted it all.

He plunged in and she found him huge, stretching her. She let out a long, delighted groan as she rocked back into him. Once he established his rhythm, hard and fast, he reached around and freed her tits from her dress. One cupped in each hand he worked her nipples, pinching and pulling while he pounded her from behind.

She came as James came, simultaneous rockets being launched. She shuddered and bucked and he squeezed onto her, letting her do the work of riding him to orgasm. She collapsed against the sink as they finished together.

*              *              *

“I got laid last night.” Randi told Chris while they sat at a red light in the Impala, heading to the First National Bank for another look at the scene.

“I could tell something was different about you. You seem more…human.”

“Ha, ha.”

“Serious thing?”

“Nope. Cold, animal sex. Nothing more to it. Slam, bam, thank you sir.”

“Good for you.”

It bothered Randi though that she hadn’t asked him to use a condom. She’d thought of it in the moment, but something about the riskiness turned her on. She’d make an appointment to get tested soon. In the aftermath, she was embarrassed by not taking precautions. It would have been just as sexy if they’d have to wait the fifteen seconds it took to be safe.

Nothing to be done now.

They parked out front of the bank, turning on the blue lights hidden in the grill and back bumper. It was snowing again today, and the blue lights made the falling flakes sparkle. The manager met them, ringing her hands. She’d never seen a dead person before, never seen violence before, and even a day later seemed to waffle on the edge of shock. The bank was closed, and their footfalls and voices echoed in the large marble room.

“Bella, did you eat this morning?” Randi knew how important it was to keep the body fed, even when your mind didn’t seem to want it, and Bella needed someone to look out for her after what she had went through yesterday while the bank she worked at was getting robbed.

“I ate something. Not much. I couldn’t—I keep seeing that man, them shooting him. I—I could hear the bullets hitting his body. I saw him fall.”

“You have to eat. You have to get some rest. It’s okay to take some time off. Okay to take a break.”

When Bella left, Chris whispered in her ear “You should take your own advice.”

“Ha, ha, ha.”

“Not a joke. I’m not the one getting banged in bar bathrooms.”

“What’s that supposed to mean.”

“You’re stressed and overworked. You always get this way this time of year. You stop being you and now I guess that means you do stuff like sleep with random guys in bathrooms.”

Her comment killed Randi’s good mood. Her phone buzzed.

Unknown number.

She excused herself to answer it.

“The internet says a gentleman should always call a lady the day after the first time they make love.”

James. Calling her. Talking about what they did the night before as making love. “Uh, hi.”

“How are you doing?”

“Great. Good. Busy. At work. This isn’t really a good time.”

“Okay, well, you want to give me a call sometime when you’re free?”

“Sure, I’ll do that. I’m busy though so don’t expect anything today,” and she hung up and turned around to see Chris staring at her.

“Is that the guy from last night?” Chris had a husband at home and three kids, and felt very strongly about family. Of course she did, her husband was amazing. He had a career and put it on hold to stay home and take care of the kids. It was hard at first, but now he had a few online business going and Chris was able to keep her job doing what she loved in the police department. Chris wanted the best for Randi, of course, but she also held this crazy idea that everyone had someone out there, and everyone had the potential to be happy. Not so, Randi knew all too well. “Not all of us get to be so lucky as you Chris,” Randi thought to herself every time Chris started to get all big sisterly with her.

“None of your business.”

“You just totally blew him off.”

“Yeah. I don’t want to see him again.”

“I thought you said he was good.”

“He was.”

“And handsome…?”

“Yeah…”

“So…”

“I wanted to get my rocks off. Let it go, Chris.”

“I worry about you.” Chris backed off, then, leaving her alone. Was she being too harsh on James? She hadn’t even really gotten to know him. Maybe she should give him a shot…

No. She wasn’t into a relationship right now, probably ever, even with someone who seemed to have it all together.

*              *              *

The bank robbery confounded Randi, and she kept putting off going to the doctor. Some days James and their one night stand slipped out of her memory altogether. The case exhausted her. After work she’d come home and crash on her couch, no energy to go out, to see friends. Christmas came and went. Devon’s parents invited her to spend the day with them, and she declined, promising she’d see them after the New Year, when things quieted down. She knew she needed to eat better, knew she was gaining a little weight. Her boobs were sore, so she knew her period must be coming, though oftentimes when she got really into a case she’d stress herself into missing them.

Finally Devon’s sister insisted they meet for coffee on a Tuesday morning. Randi worked almost sixteen straight hours the day before, talking to a witness upstate who, it turned out, hadn’t seen anything. So she had a little time where she could meet Kellyn for a quick cup. They met at Starbucks, Randi got her latte, and sat down.

By the time Kellyn joined her, she’d deduced the milk in the latte was bad. So disappointing when you pay almost five dollars for a drink and they use spoiled milk. Kellyn took her seat as Randi went back up to the barista.

She returned with a second drink, sipped it when it got cold, and grimaced.

“Does this taste weird to you?” She thrust her drink at Kellyn, who sipped it, and told her it tasted fine.

“Are you kidding?”

“Are you getting sick?”

“No, I’ve been super run down lately. The bank robbery at First National. I’m exhausted, and I can’t figure out why.”

Kellyn squinted at her. “Have you been eating a lot?”

Ouch. Now Kellyn was calling her fat? “I mean, it’s winter. I’m trying to hibernate. I mean, as much as my job lets me.”

“Any weird cravings?”

What was this, an interrogation? “No. Just hungry and tired. You know. Winter?”

“Your boobs look bigger.”

“My boobs always get bigger if I gain weight.”

“Randi…are you pregnant?”

Randi laughed. “Absolutely not.”

“Just checking. ‘Cause it sounds like you are. Maybe get checked out for depression? I know this time of year is hard on us.”

They chatted about Kellyn’s three kids, but the word pregnant rattled in Randi’s brain. God, it hurt so bad to rope her breasts into her bra this morning, she almost didn’t wear one. On the way home from Starbucks—her latte thrown away—she stopped at CVS and bought a pregnancy test.

Couldn’t be pregnant. Not from one time.

But she knew it was bull. And the more she thought about it, the more she connected with her body instead of focusing everything on her job and not thinking about Devon…

She knew she was pregnant before she got the test home. She’d been peeing a lot more so she didn’t even have to wait long before she had to go again.

Two little pink lines. Pregnant.

Her knees buckled and she sat.

She’d been pregnant once before. When she and Devon got together the very first time, before his first deployment. He’d just joined the Army, she’d just gotten into NYU. They knew they wanted to get married, but it wasn’t the time. So they’d gone together, and he’d held her hand while she had an abortion. She was convinced it was the right thing to do until they started trying and she couldn’t get pregnant again. And then Devon died. She’d killed their only chance at a baby. She knew, no matter what, no matter who the father was, she’d have this baby. She wanted this baby, she needed to live life again for someone else.

Randi knew she shouldn’t but she tried to use James’ phone number to trace his address. She wanted to talk to him. She needed to tell him. It didn’t come up with anything, just an anonymous tracfone. So she had to call him.

His tone was cool when he answered. “Randi, hey. I’m about to run out the door. What’s up?”

“I need to see you.”

He laughed. “That’s kinda funny, coming from you, you know?”

“Not that funny. Can I come over?”

“To my house?”

“Yes.”

He groaned. “What’s going on?”

“I need to talk to you, dammit!”

“Fine.” He gave her the address, and she hopped in her car to drive across town.

She hadn’t expected the building to be quite so tall. Or there to be a doorman.

“Mr. Moore is expecting you,” he said, and showed her to the elevator. Another man in uniform pushed the button for the penthouse. What kind of guy was James Moore? What had she gotten herself mixed up into?

He looked nothing like he had when she saw him shopping or at the restaurant. At home he wore a tight white t-shirt which showed off a six pack, and muscular arms. The suit he’d worn both times she saw him covered all of it up, made him look generic, somehow. Tonight he wore soft grey sweat pants, and his feet were bare. He looked more like a person now. He looked delicious.

He was the father of her child. The reality made her head swoop.

“Well, come in.”

She did, holding her purse in front of her like a shield between them.

“I’m sorry I haven’t called.” It sounded lame even to her. “I’ve been really busy at work.”

“Have a seat. You look exhausted.”

She was. “Thanks.”

She’d rehearsed this a hundred times on the way over, but none of it sounded right. It was like a Band-Aid. Do it fast. Be honest.

“I’m pregnant.”

James gaped at her, and she noticed his perfect teeth.

“And you’re here because you think it’s mine?”

“I know it’s yours.”

“How?”

“You’re the only guy I’ve been with…”

“You want me to believe you haven’t slept with anyone else? You were all over me. You had me in that bathroom in minutes.”

“Hey it was your suggestion and whether you believe me or not, it’s yours.”

“So are you looking for money?”

Now it was Randi’s turn to gape. Though when she looked around at his posh penthouse, the bank of computers on one wall, she realized it made sense.

“No. I don’t want money.”

“You’re having an abortion?”

Common sense told her the answer should be yes, but she knew she wasn’t going to. Not again. She shook her head.

James stumbled backwards and sat down on a black leather chair in his expansive living room. “I can’t have a child. My life is not set up for it. I just…I mean I just can’t. You know I’m happy to take you to the appointment, I’m happy to pay for it.”

She sat there silently letting him go through all his shocked responses. She’d expected nothing less, nothing more.

“I respect you can’t be a father. I’ll have a lawyer draw up paperwork and—”

“No!” he blurted out, “I can’t do that either.”

Now anger started to kindle inside her. “I’m not having an abortion. I won’t.”