Stripped Defenseless (20 page)

The
fatal instinct that shouted for her to fall in love. With the man who found and
exposed her. With her own kidnapper.

* * * * *

Jax
peered at Poppy from the corner of his eye as she breathed onto the truck
window and sketched out a dollar sign. The woman was certifiable.

“Not
that I care,” she said. “But what is he planning on doing with all that money?”

“Why
don’t you ask him when you see him?” Jax said, aggravated he had bothered to
pick her up when she would most likely get in his way. There had to be some way
he could stop Kade from ruining their family name. Once this was all over, he
was sure neither one of them would be employable.

She
swerved around and faced him. “That’s not funny.”

“I
didn’t laugh.” He shot her a warning glare. “The only reason you’re still here
is because I’ve got no idea what else to do with you. And if you think I’m
going to help you screw over Moreno, you’re insane.”

“What
about half?” she asked. “I’ll do all the dirty work. All you have to do is wait
for me. He won’t even know you’re a part of it.”

That
got his attention. He gripped the steering wheel and punched on the
accelerator. If the crazy woman could pull it off, all Jax had to do was put
her back where he found her and take the money. With that amount of dough, he
wouldn’t have to work for a long time. “How exactly are you planning on getting
it in your possession?”

“I’ll
shoot him with your gun.”

“He
won’t be the only one there who wants that money. There’s another man and a
woman.”

“Kade
and Ava?”

Jax
smirked. She knew more than he realized. “Yep.”

“I’ll
shoot them, too.” She stuck her chin up at him.

Not
only was she crazy, she was a horrible liar. But it didn’t matter. If it worked
out, this could put him on easy street. “Okay,” he said. “You got a deal.”

* * * * *

Mere
moments passed until Kade was back with a bowl of chili in one hand and a spoon
in the other. “Here.” He placed them down on the coffee table in front of her.

Ava
scooped up the spoon and tasted it. She really was starving, and if she planned
on escaping, she needed her energy.

Kade
tended to the fire, giving it another log and jabbing it with the poker. He
seemed fine. Normal. How long had it taken her to pass out after she had been
drugged? She couldn’t remember.

Who
knew if the drugs would be effective anyway? Some of the chili had stuck to the
bottom of the pot. And she’d only used a few of the pills. He was bigger than
her. Much bigger. What if it didn’t have the same effect on him?

“We
need to discuss a few things,” he said, snatching her out of her thoughts. He
leaned against the mantel and gave her a gentle grin.

Ava
dropped her head back down and kept busy chewing and swallowing. What if he
started feeling fatigued and dizzy and realized what she’d done? She was sure
she wouldn’t get anymore of those smiles.

“Look
at me, sweetheart.”

That
word.
She gave him
her attention just so he wouldn’t say it again. She was anything but his
sweetheart, he’d soon realize.

“I
want you to be prepared for when Moreno gets here.” He knocked his knuckles
against a log on the opposite wall of the fireplace. “This is where I keep my
weapons.” He pushed against the wood, and Ava heard a click.

The
panel of wall popped out like a dresser drawer. He pulled out a rifle and a
handgun, showed them to her and carefully set them back.

“Why
are they hidden?” she asked, confused by that and why he was giving away his
secret hiding place. “I thought men like you liked to show off their guns.”

He
let out a short breath and closed the drawer. “I guess you don’t know me very
well, huh?”

“Not
at all,” she lied. She knew him better than she ever wanted to.

Her
words seemed to give him pause. He dragged his hand through his hair, and that
Adam’s apple bobbed up and down again.

“Are
you feeling better?” He sat beside her on the couch and set his hand on her
knee.

She
looked at where their skin connected for a moment and contemplated standing up
just to get away from his touch. “I’m fine. Why are they hidden?” she asked
again, suddenly curious to know more about the man she’d never see again after
this day. The mere thought of not having him around anymore gave her an
unwanted knot in her stomach.

“In
all honesty, I don’t like them. I’ve seen enough violence in my life, and I’m
not particularly fond of looking at something that reminds me of it.” He stared
into her eyes as he spoke, his light blue gaze drawing her in like a magnet.
“But I’ll do anything to protect the people I love.”

She
gulped as he leaned toward her. He tilted his head and kissed her lips.

“Who?”
She braced her hand against his chest and nudged him back. “Who do you love?
Lucy?” God only knew why she asked. Jealousy? Curiosity? Hope?

It
didn’t matter anymore.

He
stood and grabbed her hand, pulling her from the couch and against his body.
“No, she’s not who I love,” he said in a low voice as he looked down at her
with an expression that gave away so much more than she was asking for.

Reluctantly,
she let him guide her to the furry shag rug in front of the fireplace. He
dropped to his knees and loosened the flannel shirt still wrapped around her
waist. It fell to the floor.

Before
she could object, he lifted her blouse and ran his tongue from the top of her
jeans to her navel. Defiantly, her body ached for more.

He
began unfastening her pants, but she clamped her hand over his.

“I
can’t do this, Kade. I’m sorry.”
So sorry.

“You’re
going to have to stop rejecting me sooner or later, sweetheart...if we’re going
to make this work.”

His
words both bewildered and ignited her. And as she stood paralyzed, he tugged
down her jeans and panties all at once. He untangled the clothing from one foot
and then the other, discarding them to the side.

Ava’s
body trembled under his touch as he gripped her hips and stared up at her.

“Kade.”
She let her hand run through his hair. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Do I
really want to?
Her heart was beating hard as her chest rose and fell with
her rapid breaths.

“It’s
wishful thinking on my part.” His staid blue eyes seared into her. “I’ve fallen
in love with you.”

The
shock of his words forced Ava’s knees to buckle. She dropped to the floor and
into his arms. “
What?
” Her throat tightened.

A
warm, adoring smile spread across his face as he drew her to him. “Now that
I’ve found you, I don’t want to lose you.” He slipped his hands under her top,
hoisting it up and over her head.

“But
you... I thought you—”

“Only
wanted the money? Only cared about myself?”

Ava
nodded.

He
shook his head, still grinning. “I love you, Ava.” With swiftness, he tore the
shirt off his body and began unbuttoning his pants.

“What?”
she asked again, unable to believe her own ears.

“Let
me show you,” he whispered and took her lips with his. Tender,
loving...heart-wrenching.

His
tongue slid seductively along hers as he lowered her onto her back.
Oh, my.
Panic and passion battled for the thoughts in her mind, leaving her stunned,
putty in his hands. Under his spell. She couldn’t move, couldn’t respond,
couldn’t think.

He
licked and kissed a path down her neck, over her breast, sucking in her nipple
as he reached the tip. “Mmm.” His moan rumbled against the aching pebble, and
then he gently took it between his teeth.

Her
belly fluttered as she watched his strong masculine jaw move, his powerful lips
score her skin, and his intense blue eyes stare back at her. Too deep. Too
sincere. She opened her mouth to speak, to say anything intelligible, but
nothing came out.

He’d
said he loved her. No one had ever said those words to her.

Unaccounted
moments passed until he released her breast and moved to dispose of his jeans.
He retrieved a condom from his wallet before throwing everything else to the
side. He rolled it on his magnificent cock and then returned to her.

He
stood above her trembling body. His gaze swept over her, locking on her pussy.
His foot nudged her legs apart, spreading her for his view. Then he kneeled
between her thighs and brushed his lips across her mound. He lingered and
inhaled her scent.

“Kade.”
Her heart twisted into a tight knot as her pussy wept.

He
licked his lips and kissed her once more before standing. “I’ll be right back.
Don’t get up.”

Ava
squeezed her eyes shut and attempted to steady her breathing, to ease her
thumping pulse. One word beat a relentless tempo against her forehead. Love.
Love. Love.

Could
this moment be more ironic? She only hoped the pills wouldn’t have any effect.
Then she could pretend everything was fine. She could love him back without him
knowing she’d tried to drug him. Wasn’t that what she wanted? His love?

She
wrenched one eye open as he approached, a bottle of lubricant in his hand.
Curiosity forced her to give him her full attention. “What are you doing?”

He
grinned and spilled a few drops into his big palm. “I never want to lose you,
Ava. You make me want to be a better person.”

She
sighed. It was all she could do. Her heart was in her throat. Her mind was
nowhere to be found.

He
cupped her mound, letting the oil trickle down her folds, and massaged her.
“I’ll follow you anywhere. Do anything for you.”

Guilt
consumed her. She couldn’t face him. Instead, she tilted her head back on the
rug and stared at the ceiling. His slippery fingers circled her clit, gently
rubbing the lube into her tingly flesh.

 “I
could spend the rest of my life making love to you.” He paused. “Look at me,
Ava. Look what you do to me.”

She
dared to glimpse at him as he fisted his hard cock and greased it with the
lubricant. God, the man was perfect. She rocked against his hand and whimpered
as he slipped a slick finger inside her already wet center.

A
groan rumbled from his chest. “I want this pussy all over me, honey. Can you
give me that?”

Before
she could ask what he meant, he spread out on his back beside her, easily
lifting her onto his stomach. She straddled his waist as he poured oil down the
center of his taut abdomen.

“Rub
it in.” His husky voice was barely audible.

A
shiver rippled down her spine and stung her core at the mere idea of seeing his
muscular body oiled beneath her. She touched her trembling fingers to his
searing skin, but he grabbed them and shook his head, a sly grin quirking his
lips.

“No,
sweetheart, use your smooth little pussy. I want to feel it on me. All over
me.”

“Oh,”
she said with a ragged breath. Her breasts grew heavy and her womb burned. Sex
was sex but what he was asking was somehow much more intimate.

Determined
to be bold for him, she rolled her pelvis forward, inching over his navel, his
narrowed hairline coursing across her sensitive flesh. Ahh. Her core coiled
tight. Such a simple act but so powerful.

His
rough hands gripped her hips, biting into her skin. “Keep going. Please.”

She
pushed off her feet and slid farther along the lubricated path, her hot pussy
brushing along his skin. His stomach muscles constricted underneath her and he
bit into his bottom lip.

“Goddamn,
Ava, your pussy is scorching me. Tell me how bad you want me.” A hint of
vulnerability flashed through his usually steely gaze. “Tell me you love me.”

The
truth bubbled up her throat, but she pursed her lips. How could she lead him
on? Yes, she loved him with every cell of her body, but what would it change if
she were to admit it? She couldn’t. Not yet, if ever.

To
distract him, she braced his shoulders and ground her hot center up his abdomen
to his chest. Then back down again. Her core ached for him. She was soaking wet
with combined oil and juices, smearing the trail along his lean torso.

“Enough,”
he growled and shifted her weight until her pussy covered his cock.

Right
there. Just an inch until heaven. The last bit of her resolve kept her from
guiding him to her slit and capturing him inside her quaking walls.

He
chuckled and rolled her onto her back. “Stubborn, aren’t you?” His slick upper
body skimmed her budded nipples until he rested on top of her.

Ava
drew in a much needed breath. “Kade.” She cupped his stubbled cheeks and noticed
that his eyes looked heavy. Oh, God.

“I’m
right here. I’m not going anywhere. And neither are you. I love you.” He skated
his oiled hands over her thighs and boosted her legs over his hips.