Twelve Days of Pleasure (13 page)

Chapter 13

V
anessa's eyes fluttered open and then closed as she willed her body awake. As her eyes adjusted to the darkness she saw a shadowy figure standing at the foot of the bed. She sat upright, backing against the pillows. Liam stood staring at her, a gun pointed at her heart. Panic suddenly gripped her and she screamed, calling out for Kendrick to come save her.

Vanessa's screams pulled Kendrick from a sound sleep. He jumped, flipping on the light next to the bed. She was writhing from side to side, her forehead beaded with perspiration. He called her name as he shook her awake, pulling her from the hold of a frightening nightmare.

Her eyes suddenly flew open, her gaze skating from side to side. She was panting for air, her heart beating harshly in her chest . Comfort came when Kendrick pulled her into his arms, whispering lightly against her ear.

“Shh, it's okay. It was just a bad dream,” he said, his gentle tone consoling.

Vanessa clung to him, her breathing still erratic. “He was standing at the foot of the bed and he had a gun,” she finally sputtered.

Kendrick shook his head, concern furrowing his brow. “Who? Who had a gun?”

“That damn butler!”

Kendrick smiled. “The door's locked, baby. There was no one in the room with us. And definitely not Liam.”

“Are you certain?”

“Positive. It was only a dream.”

Vanessa hesitantly settled her body down against his. “It just felt so real,” she said.

He kissed her cheek as he laid his body back down, pulling the covers back over his shoulders. “Go back to sleep,” he whispered. “I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere.”

Nodding, Vanessa reached to turn off the light and snuggled her body back down against his. Within minutes Kendrick was sound asleep again, snoring softly against her ear. The lull of his breathing was soothing and she allowed herself to relax. As she lay beside him she thought back to their evening together. Kendrick had never answered her question and she wondered if he just didn't want to hurt her feelings by saying no. Maybe he couldn't see himself loving her.

She was foolish to think that there could be anything between them. Despite the physical connection they shared, which was fueled by the romantic setting and close proximity they found themselves in, he really didn't know her at all. And she didn't know him. Her life was in New York and his was tied to the secrets of the government agency he serviced. She had no right to expect that their time together was more than it was. She had no right to expect anything at all from him. So how could she expect him to love her?

But she did. She wanted him to love her as much as she felt herself loving him. And she did love him. Kendrick had captured her heart and was holding it hostage. She loved him with every fiber of her being and she wanted him to share the same emotion she did.

* * *

Between the dreams and her own frustrations, Vanessa had not slept well. She had tossed and turned most of the night, contemplating every possible scenario that she and Kendrick could find themselves in. As she stood in the shower, the water raining over her face, she ran through her list again.

Kendrick could realize he loved her and they could live happily ever after. He could go his way and she could go hers and their time together would be a sweet memory to draw on in her old age. Marcus could shoot her dead and put her out of her misery. She shook her head at the absurdity.

When she stepped out of the shower she heard Kendrick in the bedroom. He was talking to his mother and that made her smile. As he ended the call, telling the woman that he loved and missed her, tears misted her eyes. He was sitting on the edge of the bed as she entered the room.

“Good morning,” she said, meeting his stare.

Kendrick nodded. “Good morning.”

“How was your run?”

“It was good. I ran an extra mile today.”

She smiled. “I think we need to talk,” she said, a wave of anxiety sweeping through her body.

* * *

Kendrick tilted his head as he eyed her. She was clutching an oversize towel tightly around her body. Rivulets of water rolled over her face and shoulders. Her knees were locked tightly together and her body language reflected her nervousness.

He lifted his hand and beckoned her to him with one finger. He could see the hesitation in her eyes as she shifted her weight from one foot to the other. He raised an eyebrow at her. She took a deep breath, clearly pondering her options, before taking one tentative step toward him and then another. When she stopped before him, an arm's length away, her eyes were glued to the floor, fighting not to look at him.

Kendrick continued to stare at her. He rose from his seat and stepped toward her, closing the short distance between them until they were nearly touching. He brought his hand to her chin, lifting her face to his. “What do you want to talk about?” he asked as his fingers gently caressed the side of her face.

* * *

Distracted by the nearness of him Vanessa stammered foolishly, her next words completely lost. The front of his shorts had tented, exposing the rise of an erection, and she found herself struggling not to stare. She took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of him. He smelled like a man and it was the sweetest aphrodisiac. She closed her eyes and imagined it pulsing for her attention. Pure decadence filled her thoughts.

She finally opened her eyes and looked up at him. His smile was slight and endearing. It felt like an eternity that they stood gazing into each other's eyes.

Kendrick wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into a tender embrace. His erection crushed between them and Vanessa felt herself grinding her body against him. Her gyrations were slow and easy. She drew her hands to his chest, her palms pressing against his torso. He hugged her tighter, his arms encircling her as he leaned into her neck. Nuzzling his nose against her he breathed in deeply.

Vanessa's hands trailed down to his waist as she wrapped her arms around him. He let out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding and pulled her even closer. Tilting his head he kissed her neck, her cheek, blowing warm breath against her earlobe. The sweetest whimper eased past her lips.

Kendrick snatched the towel she'd been clutching and Vanessa gasped loudly as he pulled it from her body and let it drop to the floor beneath their feet. He eased his hands down her back and felt her tremble with anticipation. He stopped at the rise of her buttocks, his fingers caressing the tight curve of her bottom. As he pulled her pelvis to his own he leaned to capture her mouth, covering it with his own.

Vanessa pressed her hands to his chest, pushing slightly as she tried to regain a semblance of control. Her efforts were feeble. Her body was reacting on its own accord, her mind focused on nothing but his touch. As if reading her mind Kendrick tightened his hold. His mouth continued to dance over hers as her lips parted enough for him to snake his tongue inside.

She tasted like the minty mouthwash on the counter in the bathroom. He stroked her tongue, reveling in its tenderness. He felt her swallow as his tongue invaded her mouth, searching for the back of her throat. His kiss was intense, passionate and anxious. And he kissed her until he felt her knees buckle.

She was light in his arms and he held her up easily. Her hands moved from his chest to his arms and she clung to him as if he was a lifeline and she feared ever letting go. Her chest heaved up and down against his. Tiny whimpers converged into low, throaty moans. She melted against him, her tongue entwining with his. Kendrick groaned into her mouth as they stood there making out like teenagers.

Breaking the embrace he leaned back so that he could look into her eyes. His pelvis was still pressed firmly against hers, the rise of his manhood begging for release. Her eyes were closed, her mouth parted, and her body trembled with anticipation.

Vanessa's skin was on fire and when she opened her eyes, her brows climbing toward her hairline, the look she gave him was telling.

Desire seeped from her intense stare, burning heat straight through him. Kendrick grabbed her hand, entwining his fingers with hers. He stepped back, pulling her along with him until his legs hit the bed and he sat down, drawing her between his legs. Needing to feel her against him he slid his T-shirt off, tossing it aside. His breathing became ragged as she roamed her hands over his chest and across his broad back. He closed his eyes, basking in her gentle caresses. He was beyond aroused, his organ so ridiculously hard he felt as if a steel beam had grown in his shorts. Kendrick leaned back, propping himself up with his arms as Vanessa cavorted freely, her soft hands gliding like silk across his chest, shoulders, stomach, arms and legs, ignoring the protrusion against his inner thigh. It was beautiful agony. A low sigh escaped past his lips.

Leaning forward he pulled her against him, pressing his lips to her cheeks, then her mouth, planting damp kisses on each eyelid, then her forehead. He kissed and licked and nibbled a trail down her neck and along her profile. His hands slid around her waist and gripped each one of her butt cheeks. He pulled her on top of him and rolled her onto her back. He began to devour her, suckling one nipple and then the other. His kisses were easy and gentle as he worked his mouth and tongue across her heated skin. He kissed his way back up to her mouth, sliding his tongue back where it belonged as he crushed his body against hers.

Kendrick couldn't remember ever wanting a woman as much as he found himself wanting Vanessa. His desire was all consuming, more need than craving. He needed to feel every pore, every hair follicle, to literally merge every ounce of his entire body into hers. It was a sweet ache, her radiance nourishing everywhere they touched.

Vanessa pulled herself from him, pushing herself backward till her back hit the pillows. Kendrick instinctively crawled up after her. He lay down against her, pinning her beneath him as he continued to engulf her mouth, assailing her tongue with his tongue.

He lost track of time as they explored each other, rolling back and forth against each other. Her mouth and hands made him squirm. He gasped and moaned when her tongue slid against his nipples, his neck, his clavicle, her teeth nipping at him with each pass. She gently kissed her way down his chest, over his abs, dipping her tongue into the well of his belly button.

She reached her hands past the waistband of his running shorts. She pulled them and his underwear off in one masterful tug that made Kendrick smile. His boy parts greeted her eagerly as she hovered over him. Reaching for a condom on the nightstand she continued to trail kisses over his face and torso. As she sank down onto him his cock drooled with want as his natural instincts kicked in.

With both hands clutching her breasts, his fingers kneading her nipples, Kendrick was grinding himself in that warm place between her thighs. The path was slick and damp and with each thrust of his hips, her muscles tightened, drawing him in deeper and deeper. With each thrust he hit her sweet spot and she purred, the guttural sound feral.

“Oh, yes! Oh, yes!” she screamed, the only words she'd spoken since he'd first touched her. “Oh, Kendrick, yes!”

Kendrick held her as she trembled, her body convulsing atop his. As her muscles spasmed, nerve endings trembling with pure pleasure, she suddenly found herself on her back, Kendrick plunging himself in and out of her. Her orgasm was an unending crescendo, relentless and unforgiving.

Kendrick drank in the sight of her, his eyes roving over her face. A hint of morning light peeking through the closed blinds kissed her cheeks and he became jealous, wanting all of her for himself. He was like a piston as he claimed her, jutting every ounce of himself into her. Pushing and pulling himself in and out of her he was like an avalanche, a tornado, a sexual force of nature. Beneath him, Vanessa began to frantically writhe and scream. She wrapped her legs around his waist and locked her heels behind his back. She was shaking, orgasmic bliss like a tidal wave washing over her.

And then Kendrick exploded. Her body felt magnificent wrapped around his as she milked him, each contraction of her velvet lining sending him over the edge of ecstasy. He could feel her heartbeat humming against his cock and he surged, convulsion after convulsion taking his breath away.

His body shook as hers trembled beneath him. He hugged her close as his body collapsed on hers. She nuzzled her face into his neck, her tongue giving him a gentle kiss. Kendrick cooed into her ear. Still lost deep inside of her he was unwilling to lose the connection as he shifted enough to swing her leg around so that she was spooning against him. She wiggled her bottom against his groin. He kissed her shoulder and the back of her neck, snaking his tongue against the lobe of her ear. With his arms around her he pulled her close to his chest and held her tightly. The words were there,
I love you
a whisper on his tongue, but before he could say them, they both drifted off to sleep.

 

Chapter 14

K
endrick stood along the edge of the shoreline, the satellite telephone pressed to his ear.

“What's going on, Sayed?” he asked. “My sister put you on a leash yet?”

Zak greeted him warmly. “Your sister is a special woman, Boudreaux. Very special.”

Kendrick laughed. “So what's going down?”

“Base has some concerns.”

“What's going on?”

“They can't seem to find your squad. Liam, Mike, Simon or Kent. Every one of them seems to have disappeared on leave.”

“Huh!” Kendrick grunted, a smile crossing his face. “Imagine that.”

“I told them they probably went on a boys' trip to Vegas or something. Cards, booze and beautiful women. That kind of thing.”

“That's probably what it is.”

Zak chuckled softly. “I can't imagine it being anything else.”

“Well, you know if I hear anything I'll let you know.”

“I'm sure you will,” Zak said.

There was a moment of pause before Zak spoke again, his tone suddenly serious.

“Word on the street is Marcus Bennett is about to make a move. Something has the man seriously on edge,” Zak said.

“Do you know when it's supposed to go down?”

“Soon. Just keep your eyes open. He's shifting money and putting people in place. He's planning to hit and hit hard and they say he might even be on his way to Vegas.”

Kendrick nodded into the receiver. “Good thing my team might already be there. I wouldn't want that son of a bitch to slip away.”

“Watch your back, brother. Your sister's looking forward to spending time with you and Vanessa. Your mother, too.”

Kendrick laughed. “How do they know I want to spend time with Vanessa?”

Zak laughed with him. “They know.”

* * *

“So what do I get the twins for Christmas?” Kendrick asked, surfing the internet for gift ideas. “What do babies want from Santa Claus?”

Vanessa giggled as she moved to his side, dropping down onto the sofa beside him. She pulled her legs beneath her bottom, sitting Indian-style. “They're babies. They're not going to remember what you get them.”

Kendrick cut an eye at her. “I still need to get them something.”

She pulled the laptop computer onto her lap. “There's this great baby site that sells the cutest moccasins for kids,” she said as she typed in the web address.

“Moccasins?”

She nodded. “That and two savings bonds toward their college education would be great.”

He nodded. “I like the savings bonds.”

“They'll never get too many of them and the moccasins are just cute.”

“Good! All the kids are taken care of. So what do I get my mother?”

Before she could answer Liam rushed into the room, pushing through the door without knocking. A sense of urgency painted his expression.

“Boss, we have an issue,” he said, his gaze meeting Kendrick's.

Kendrick nodded. “Stay with Vanessa,” he ordered.

Vanessa dropped the laptop onto the coffee table. “What's going on?”

Kendrick leaned to kiss her forehead. “Don't leave the bungalow,” he said. “I'll be back to get you.”

“But what's...” she started but Kendrick was out the door, leaving her and Liam alone. She turned her attention toward the uniformed man.

“What's going on, Liam?”

He crossed his hands together in front of himself. “I'm sure Agent Boudreaux will be back soon, Ms. Harrison.”

Her eyes widened. “You know my name?”

Liam smiled but he didn't bother to answer. Before she could ask another question Kendrick moved back through the door.

“There's no time,” he said. “They're moving in too fast.”

Liam's smile faded. “You're going to let it play out?”

“Everyone's in place.”

“Would one of you please tell me what's going on?” Vanessa asked a second time.

Before either man could answer there was a knock on the door. She looked from Kendrick to Liam and back.

Kendrick moved to her side. “Do you trust me, Vanessa?”

Her gaze narrowed ever so slightly as confusion danced in her eyes. “Of course I trust you.”

There was a second knock, harder and longer, someone anxious for their attention.

Kendrick nodded. “Then answer the door,” he said.

She took a deep breath, moving slowly in the direction of the entrance.

Kendrick called after her. “And no matter what happens, Vanessa, remember that I love you.”

Vanessa's head snapped as she turned to look at him. The rap against the door was harsher and he gestured for her to open it. Still staring at him, she reached for the knob and pulled it open.

The woman from the shoe store stood on the other side. “Hi, there! I'm sorry to bother you.”

“Lydia, hey,” Vanessa said. “What can I do for you?”

Lydia suddenly pulled a gun, pointing it in Vanessa's face.

“What? What's going on?” Vanessa stammered as she took two steps back.

Kendrick and Liam both bristled.

“Sit down,” Lydia shouted, gesturing for Kendrick to take a seat.

Liam took a slight step back against the wall. His eyes never left Kendrick's face as the man slowly raised his hands and eased over to the sofa.

“What's this all about?” Kendrick asked.

A deep baritone voice rang in the entranceway. “This is all about respect,” Marcus Bennett said. The man named Paul was behind him, holding his own gun in the air.

Vanessa gasped loudly, her breath catching in her chest. She felt herself begin to shake. “Marcus!”

Marcus's eyes skated around the room. He nodded at Liam, who nodded back. The gesture caught Vanessa by surprise and she tossed Kendrick a look. It took everything in her not to scream what she had told him before. The butler couldn't be trusted.

“Who's he?” Marcus asked, his eyes focused on Kendrick.

Lydia shrugged. “Her boyfriend.”

Marcus smirked. “So now you have a boyfriend,” he said, his gaze shifting back in Vanessa's direction.

“What do you want, Marcus?” she snapped.

He held up his index finger, waving it from side to side. “Watch your tone, Vanessa. You don't want to make me angry.”

She took a deep breath. “Just leave us alone. I didn't see anything.”

He smiled. “You don't know what you saw,” he said. “But you and that camera of yours have really gotten on my last nerve.”

“I don't have my camera,” she said. “It's in Miami.”

Marcus nodded. He tossed Lydia a quick glance. “Lydia, did you find that camera in Miami?”

The woman nodded. “Yes, sir.”

“What was on that camera?”

“Nothing, sir.”

He looked back at Vanessa. “There was nothing on your camera, Vanessa. So I need to know what happened to the film you took on my yacht.”

“I... It... I...” Vanessa stammered. She turned to look at Kendrick, who nodded his head slightly, his eyes locked on her face. She took a deep breath. “I saved it to my cloud account,” she said.

Marcus nodded. “See how easy this is, Vanessa. I ask a question and you answer it.”

A tear rolled down Vanessa's cheek.

Lydia grabbed the computer from the coffee table. She walked to the sofa table behind Kendrick and began typing furiously. “What's your password?” she said, lifting her eyes to Vanessa.

“My password? But that's not my computer,” Vanessa said, confusion washing over her expression.

“To your cloud account,” the woman snapped.

Vanessa's gaze shifted to Marcus, who tilted his head. She stole a glance at Kendrick, whose eyes urged her on, and the five-digit code rolled easily off her tongue. Minutes passed before they all watched as Lydia downloaded file after file onto a flash drive. When she was done she moved to Marcus's side and handed him the tiny storage device.

“Did you delete all the files?” Marcus asked.

Lydia nodded. “Her cloud account doesn't exist anymore.”

Marcus nodded. He pulled a cell phone from his pocket and placed a call. They all listened as he spoke quickly, instructions falling off his tongue. “If you find any trace of her cloud account I want to know,” he said as he disconnected the call.

Vanessa cut her eye toward Lydia but the woman didn't seem to be fazed. She blew a low sigh. “What now?” she asked. “You have what you want.”

The man's smile was smug and Vanessa would have given anything to slap the smirk off his face. “Now I'm going to leave. And when I'm gone your boyfriend is going to have a very nasty accident. I imagine your cute little love nest might even burn down and when the good butler here finds his body, they won't even be able to recognize him. It'll be quite a shame!” Marcus said.

“But you...I have something special planned for you,” Marcus added, evil tinting his words. “I've already negotiated your sale to a very special friend. He likes to make pretty women feel a whole lot of pain. When he's done with you, you won't be so pretty anymore. Then he'll put you on the track to make him some money. You won't be saying no to his customers. In fact, you won't say no to another man ever again.”

Vanessa was visibly shaking. She turned to stare at Kendrick, who was still sitting stoically, his expression emotionless. She turned back to find Marcus staring at her. The man eased his way to her side, standing in front of her. His gaze skated from the top of her head to her feet. He drew his fingers down the length of her arm and she stiffened, pulling away sharply from his touch.

“Don't touch her,” Kendrick hissed between clenched teeth.

Marcus grinned, tossing him a look. “So, the boyfriend has finally found his
cojones
,” he said.

Kendrick rose slowly, moving onto his feet, his hands still high in the air. Behind him, Paul raised his weapon and Lydia turned hers toward him, as well. “I didn't have to find them,” he said, his tone snarky. “I never lost my balls.”

Marcus eyed him warily, his gaze narrowing slightly. He held up his hand and both his lackeys lowered their weapons. “Don't kill him yet. A man should defend his woman even if she isn't worth the effort.”

He suddenly grabbed Vanessa by the throat. His hold was harsh, his fingers digging deep into her skin. She gasped loudly as he cut off her air.

Behind him, Kendrick heard the hammer being cocked on that gun. Paul hissed in his ear as he pressed the barrel to the back of Kendrick's head. “Don't even twitch!” the man crooned.

With the last ounce of gumption she could find Vanessa spat, hurling a wad of foulness into Marcus's face. He hurled her backward to the floor, swiping at the moisture that had landed on his cheek. Before anyone realized what was happening one shot and then a second fired through the air. At the same time, Kendrick hurled his body at Marcus, knocking him off his feet. He swung, a right hook, then a left, pummeling the man until he was down for the count.

When the first shot was fired Vanessa had rolled into a ball, her arms covering her head. She didn't budge until Kendrick was leaning above her, pulling her to her feet.

“Are you okay?” he asked, pulling her into his arms.

She was still shaking as she lifted her head, her gaze flying from one side of the room to the other. Liam was putting handcuffs on Marcus. Lydia was clutching her shoulder, blood spewing from a fresh wound. Paul was dead, his body folded over the back of the couch.

Two men she didn't recognize suddenly came through the door, one checking that Paul wasn't going to get back up and the other taking Lydia into custody.

Vanessa nodded her head.

“Nice shooting,” Kendrick said, his comment directed at Liam.

The man's grin was a mile wide. “Almost missed that last one with you throwing your big head in front of the target.”

Kendrick chuckled. “What about the others?” he questioned.

One of the newcomers nodded. “Signed, sealed and delivered. Even caught us a senator.”

Vanessa's eyes shot around the room. “Please tell me what's going on. Who are these men?”

Kendrick gave her a tight squeeze. “This is my team. You know Liam. That there is Simon. The big guy is Kent, and you'll meet Mike a little later. He's putting the last bow on this package.”

Vanessa dropped her face into her hands, swiping at the tears that were suddenly raining from her eyes. “I thought he was going to kill us.”

Kendrick tossed a look in Marcus's direction. “Marcus thought he was going to kill us, but I wasn't planning on going out like that.”

She glared at Liam. “I thought you were a bad guy.”

“Sorry about that, little lady. But I will always have my boy's back,” he said as he reached out to punch fists with Kendrick.

* * *

Vanessa's head was still swirling. She couldn't believe it was all over. That life could go back to normal. She sat against the edge of the pool as Kendrick answered her questions, filling in the missing details.

“You used me as bait?”

“I sent him on a wild-goose chase then I let him think he had found you.”

“He could have killed me!” she exclaimed.

“The dead guy is a hired gun. He's got a rap sheet longer than your legs and was wanted in three countries. Once he showed up I knew Marcus didn't plan to do his own dirty work.”

“But he shot that man in the club. He killed my friends!”

“They were fighting over territory. The man in the club caught him off guard. He was pushed into a corner and he couldn't show any weakness.”

“So what happens to him now?”

“He's in federal custody. In a maximum-security prison. Bail has been denied so I expect that he's never going to see freedom again. He will never be a threat to you ever again.”

“What about my movies?” she asked. “Did he really destroy everything?”