Stripped Defenseless (17 page)

“Did
you sell me out?” Kade asked with an eerie calmness.

“I
just gave him what he would’ve gotten from someone else. It’s not like this
shitty cabin is a secret. And in case you’ve forgotten, you have more enemies
than Satan himself. Anyone would have given Moreno your whereabouts. Even
Lucy.”

“Fuck
you,” Kade said through clenched teeth. “You’re my goddamn cousin. We’re
blood.”

Cousins,
huh? Ava squinted at the man’s profile. That explained the resemblance, but it
didn’t explain why Kade was angry. Didn’t he want Zack to find them? Wasn’t
that the whole point?

“That’s
why I came up here,” Jax said. “To warn you.” The brown-eyed man shook his head
and leaned over the table. “Why the hell are you pulling this shit anyway? He’s
got the money for you.”

“Then
he can bring it here. I’ve got what he wants.”

Ah,
there was the Kade Ava had grown to know. Damn him. It was all about the money.

“Where
is she?” Jax asked abruptly. “Got her tied up somewhere?” He grinned like a
schoolboy about to perform a prank. His eyes shot across the room, and Ava
stepped backward, completely out of sight.

The
lump in her throat was painful as she listened on. She needed to get away
before Zack showed up. And before Kade could get paid for kidnapping her.
Bastard.

Maybe
this guy was the ticket out. If she could get him to take her away from here,
away from this man who made her heart break every second he kept her hostage,
then she could get to a different location. And maybe, just maybe, she could
have a chance to escape—to survive.

She
peeked around the corner again and caught Jax’s amused stare.

He
smiled and nodded once, his features just as handsome but darker than Kade’s.
“Are you going to come out and join us?”

“No,
she’s not.” Kade stood. “Ava, go to my room,” he ordered.

Screw
you.
If this was
her only opportunity to break away before Zack arrived, then she’d seize it and
run. Whatever it took.

She
walked out into the open, letting the bathrobe open as she moved.

“Mmm,”
Jax rumbled. “Now, I see what all the fuss is about. Why don’t you come closer
so I can have a better look at this sweet little target?”

Kade’s
face paled as he strode toward her. With jerking motions, he pulled her robe
closed and tightened the knot. “I know what you’re doing,” he said under his
breath. “Trust me, Ava. It’s not a good idea.” His knuckle skimmed down her
cheek as he gave her one of those bogus you-mean-something-to-me expressions.

Ava
flung his hand away and glared up at him. She wasn’t going to fall for his
bull. “You can’t keep me here,” she whispered up at him.

Kade
leaned down and spoke softly into her ear. “I’m not letting you go so you can
forget about whatever strategy you’ve got rattling around in that foolish head
of yours.”

“Foolish?”
She lifted her chin defiantly.

He
crossed his arms. “If you’re considering leaving here with him, then yes.”

“Besides,”
she said loud enough for Jax to hear and walked around Kade’s large frame. She
took bold strides and stood in front of the stranger. “This looks like fun.”
She ran her hand through the man’s hair.

“Could
be.” Jax swept his dark gaze up her body and tugged at the terry cloth belt. “I
like this girl, Kade.” The robe opened, and he slid his hand across her bare
belly.

Ava
swallowed and tried not to think of what Kade could be thinking of her at that
moment. And hated herself for caring. She peeked at him. He hadn’t moved, and
he wasn’t looking. But his fists were clenched white at his sides, still
standing where she had left him.

It
didn’t matter. This was her only chance, and she had to take it.

Just
like any other time at the club, she lifted her leg and set it on the man’s
thigh. But unlike any other time, he responded by holding her close, his large
hands firmly gripping her hips.

She
tried not to think, letting her attention go to Kade, who turned around and
looked sickened.

“Ava,”
he gulped out. “Don’t let him do that to you. You’re more than that.”

Jax
chuckled and slid his grip over her ass. “Lighten up, cuz. We’re just having a
little fun.”

“Let’s
leave,” she gathered the courage to whisper into his ear. “Take me with you and
we can finish this without an audience.” Without Kade staring at her, making
her ill. She had to do this. She needed to survive.

“Mmm...that
sounds tempting.” He shoved the robe off her shoulders, and it landed at her
feet. “Kiss me in front of him,” he said in a low voice and forcefully squeezed
her butt cheek. “And we’ll go.”

 Ava
attempted to empty her mind. It was just a kiss. She closed her eyes and
lowered her lips. His mouth crushed hers while his tongue slid between her
lips. It was like Kade’s kiss, she told herself, but without the passion and
enticing taste.

“Fuck
this,” Kade’s angry voice said from behind her and suddenly she was being
yanked from Jax’s hold and into Kade’s strong arms.

He
didn’t look happy as he rushed her into his bedroom and slammed the door shut
with his foot.

“Kade,”
she breathed out, feeling unwanted guilt and anxiety.

He
dropped her on the bed and climbed on top of her, unbuttoning his pants in the
process. “What? Did you want me to just stand there and let him have you?” He
tore off his shirt, making the buttons fly, and threw it on the floor. “Do you
think I’m that kind of a man?”

“I
just wanted a way out,” she whispered.

His
eyes were distant and avoiding her stare. It was upsetting to see him hurt. She
cared about him. And even after all that had happened she still wanted him.

“
I’m
your way out, Ava. Not him.” He reached over her and grabbed a condom from his
dresser. Quickly, he pushed his pants down and rolled the rubber over his
thick, long hardness, making her mouth water with anticipation. “
I’m
the
man you need.”

Ava
nodded. It had taken another man’s touch for her to realize how her feelings
for Kade had grown...whether she wanted them to or not. What was wrong with
her? How did he get under her skin? How did he make her desire him?

“Fuck
me,” she heard herself say and spread her legs wide for him.
Love me. Never
let me go.

Kade
wedged her thighs farther apart and only let her have one passing glance before
he drove his cock deep.

She
gasped at how he quickly filled her and with enough force to inch her up the
mattress. He pulled out halfway and repeated the thrust. Like a man on a
mission, he pumped faster and harder through each pass. So much so the bed
shook and rattled beneath her. She’d never felt anything so powerful.

Pain
and pleasure. How that combination kept arising.

She
cradled his face while one of his hands reached down and grabbed her ass. He
hauled her bottom up toward him as he continued to slam his full length into
her. Almost as if he couldn’t get in far enough.

Ava
felt the heat rising and buried her head into his neck, licking at his pulse.

“You
feel so good, Kade.” Tears burned her eyes as she lifted her hips to meet his
thrusts.

Skin
slapping together and panting breaths were the only sounds in the room, and it
made her even hotter. She hoped Jax could hear it. She hoped he would walk in
the room to see Kade pleasing her like no man could.

 The
door pushed open, and she got her wish. Jax leaned against the jam with a grin
on his face.

Thankfully,
Kade didn’t appear to notice. His full attention seemed to be on their two
bodies colliding together.

Jax
stared at her breasts with a predator’s eye as they bounced every time Kade
glided into her. To show the wicked man who she really wanted, she wrapped her
legs around Kade’s body and began moving with him, matching his thrusts,
letting him go deeper than ever before.

His
cock was agonizingly delicious and, as she stared up into his eyes, she allowed
herself to pretend she saw love and devotion. Was it really there? Could he
love her? Her heart wanted to believe. It stuttered and flurried as the words
tingled at the tip of her tongue.
I love you, Kade.

“Come,
Ava.” He tore her from her foolish thoughts as he tugged her earlobe through
his teeth. “I’m the only man who’ll ever fuck you this hard, this good. Scream
for me.”

“Oh,
God, Kade!” she cried out. Her mind and body ached with pleasure, and she
forgot all about Jax’s presence, focusing only on the man she was falling in
love with.

The
ceiling above spun as she climaxed, abrupt and potent.

Kade
groaned and fell onto her, his body slick with sweat, sliding against hers. All
Ava could think of doing was holding him close. She ran her hands over his
broad back and kissed his cheek as he breathed heavily against her ear.

A
few minutes passed before he finally met her blurred gaze, but he didn’t say a
word. Instead, he rose, pulled the spent condom off and threw it onto the
floor. He stashed himself back into his pants and buttoned up.

“I’m
going to get rid of him,” he mumbled, pointing his thumb to the now closed
door. “Stay here.”

Ava
nodded, grasping at her thighs that panged with gratification.

How
was she ever going to say good-bye to Kade Gavin?

Chapter Nine

Kade
dressed before leaving Ava sprawled out on his bed. Bits of her hair were
drenched in perspiration and clinging to her rosy-cheeked face. Beautiful, as
always. But goddamn her for letting Jax touch her like he did.

Watching
the woman he loved being groped, especially by a man as unscrupulous and
undeserving as Jax, had driven him to the brink of insanity. Sure, for the past
few years, Kade hadn’t been much better, but he was going to change that. He
was going to become a good, moral man. For Ava. He just needed to convince her
of his loyalty and love so she’d stay to witness the change. Maybe then she
could grow to love him, too.

He
closed the door behind him and spotted Jax sitting in the same chair, staring
at the computer equipment that had been concealed by the roll top desk...but
wasn’t any longer.

“You’ve
got a nice setup here.” Jax nodded toward the bedroom. “I’m jealous.” He stood
and walked to the desk and let a finger brush against the screen. “Listen, I
know you probably hate my guts, but I’m only looking out for you.”

Kade
clenched his fists. That was bullshit. Jax Cullen might have been his blood
relative, but he was not his friend. They were competitors, with unresolved
grudges tracing back to their childhood. Not to mention, Jax was the spitting
image of Kade’s father. “It’s time for you to go,” he said through his gritted
jaw.

“Don’t
get mixed up with this girl.” Jax looked at Kade pointedly. “Moreno wants her
dead. You know that, right?”

“That’s
not going to happen.” Kade took the few steps to close the distance between
them. “Not on my watch.”

Jax
shrugged his shoulders and exhaled a breath. “No one’s going to hire you after
this crap you’re pulling. You could end it. Just apologize to Moreno. He’s a
fair man. I bet he’d still pay you.”

“I
don’t care about the fucking money,” Kade said in a low voice and took another
step forward with his arms crossed. “And I’m not going to let anything happen
to Ava.”

Jax
shook his head, making Kade want to knock it off his fucking shoulders. Of course
the guy didn’t get it. He’d never been in love with anyone but himself. And
with his attitude, he never would.

“You’re
being a complete moron, cuz,” Jax said. “But if you want me to stick around and
help out, just say the word.”

Ha.
Kade couldn’t and wouldn’t trust the man, not after all they’d been through.
“No thanks.”

“All
right.” Jax stepped back and then headed for the door. “Good luck then. You’re
going to need it.” After gripping the handle, he sent Kade a look of warning.
“You might want to find out why Moreno wants her head on a platter.” He
shrugged. “Before you give up your entire life for a woman who’s willing to
leave with a guy like me.”

“I’ll
take care of it.” Kade attempted to sound confident, but Jax’s words had struck
a chord. Finding out exactly why Moreno was after Ava was top priority if Kade
planned on resolving this without any fatalities.

* * * * *

Poppy
tried to keep her heavy eyes open as she lay comfortably in the very back seat
of Zack’s SUV. Maybe she’d purchase one of these after she got her money. It
was damn cozy.

Zack
hummed along to a Frank Sinatra song from the front seat. The music wasn’t
helping her stay alert either. She turned onto her belly and ran her fingers
across the lush black carpet on the floor. Very nice. She could get used to
stuff like this. It was much nicer than her dirty old car. Stains everywhere.
Torn upholstery. Fast food wrappers all over.