Authors: Crystal Jordan
Unleashed (26 page)
“You're right. About this being the only lifestyle I've ever known. Crime. Poverty. You're right. I want better for Sophie. I want her to be a better person than I could ever be.” He heard her swallow. “I want to protect her the way no one protected me.”
“The way your mother should have protected you and didn't.” Anger and pain on her behalf burned through him and he squeezed her closer, wishing more than ever that he could have spared her all that she'd survived.
“Yes.” She cleared her throat. “I want Sophie to have the life I never had a chance at. I would have been buried in poverty if I hadn't turned to crime, and I want the best for her on every score. I have the means to make her life what mine could never be, and I want that for her.”
He crooked a finger under her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. “If you have the means, why didn't you quit to take care of her?”
“Because this is what I do.” She shrugged. “This is who I am now. I put all the money I steal into accounts that will pay for Sophie's schooling no matter what happens to me. I want to make sure she's as secure as possible financially. And while I'm free and breathing, I want to make sure I'm as financially secure as possible, too.” She pressed her lips together for a moment. “I remember very clearly what it was like to have nothing, to
be
nothing. There was never enough food, nothing was ever clean, let alone new. What little we had could always be taken away by crooked police or stolen by our neighbors. Because when you're that desperate, you'll slit your best friend's throat to survive. It's every man for himself. Or woman. Or child.”
be
nothing. There was never enough food, nothing was ever clean, let alone new. What little we had could always be taken away by crooked police or stolen by our neighbors. Because when you're that desperate, you'll slit your best friend's throat to survive. It's every man for himself. Or woman. Or child.”
What she described was so far outside the realm of his experience, he didn't know what to say to her. He could give her sympathy, but he couldn't really understand. He was glad, too. That life was one nobody should have to live. He knew that was reality, but it was still horrible. He tried to offer her a smile, but failed.
“What would you do with your life if you didn't do this?”
Her smile was much more genuine, almost gentle and a little sad. “I'm good at this. Good at conning people into trusting me with things they value.”
“You'd be good in business.” He ran a fingertip down her soft cheek.
“Legitimate business?” She snorted, leaning away from him a little. “I've been caught a time or two. I've managed to charm the right people in order to escape a prison sentence, but no reputable company would hire me.”
According to the dossier his investigator had put together for him, Tam had been caught three times, to be precise. The charges had been dropped in the first two cases, and she'd spent ten days in jail awaiting trial for the third. She'd been given “time served” and released. Charmed the right people, indeed. Seduced, more likely. It hadn't escaped his notice that the judge in all three cases had been male.
He gave her a lopsided grin. “Does that mean you wouldn't mind honest employment, beloved? I might have a position or two you could try.”
“New positions to try, huh?” Shaking her head, she huffed a laugh. “You're impossible.”
It took effort to fix an innocent expression on his face. “What? I own several companies. I'm certain there might be a job for you in one of them.”
She hummed in her throat, giving him a skeptical glance. “I'm sure that's all you meant.”
“What else do you think I meant?” But the smile slid off his face and he sobered, staring her straight in the eye. “I would trust you in my business. Come work for me.”
He'd considered this before but still hadn't decided if it was the best course of action. Too late now, he'd just have to go with his gut.
“Ha.” The look she gave him questioned his sanity. “Very funny.”
“I'm not joking.” He continued to hold her gaze, let her see how serious he was. “Don't you want the chance to make sure Sophie grows up well? What if you put her back in school, or in another school, and Stefan takes her again? You'd be back in this nightmare.” A chill went down his spine at the idea of either female in that bastard's clutches. No. Never again. This was already bad enough. “What if you could get legal custody of her? I could help you with that. Pay the right people and they won't notice any shadiness in your past. You'd have a lot more legal recourse if you had custody.”
She snorted again, louder and more derisive. “Men like Stefan don't care about legalities. Pay the right people and he can get what he wants, too.”
“How is it going to help her if you're in jail, too? He wants you in prison or deadâthat's what you told Gea.”
Tam glanced away, not answering.
“Exactly.” He pressed. “How are you going to get her away from him now?”
“I don't know, all right? I don't bloody well
know!
Do you think this is helping?” She struggled against his hold, but he refused to let her go. Wedging her hands between them, she glared at him. “Do you think I don't stay up at night trying to find a way around him? Do you think I'm not terrified of what he'll do to her? Do you think I wouldn't do anything to save her, to make him go away?” Tears stood out in her eyes and she used one hand to dash them away. “I don't know what to do, but I know I can't abandon her.”
know!
Do you think this is helping?” She struggled against his hold, but he refused to let her go. Wedging her hands between them, she glared at him. “Do you think I don't stay up at night trying to find a way around him? Do you think I'm not terrified of what he'll do to her? Do you think I wouldn't do anything to save her, to make him go away?” Tears stood out in her eyes and she used one hand to dash them away. “I don't know what to do, but I know I can't abandon her.”
Breck tangled his fingers in her hair, shaking his head. His chest squeezed tight at the sight of her tears. “I'm sorry.”
“So am I.” Her laugh was bitter, and she turned her face away to stare out the tinted transport window. “Just leave me alone, Breck. I have enough to handle right now without you poking at me for not being some paragon of virtue.”
That made him growl in frustration. “I don't expect you to be a paragon of virtue.”
“Don't you?”
“I just want you to be safe, and your career isn't a safe one.” He stroked her hair back, then cupped her cheek until she met his gaze again.
“I'm good at what I do.” Her dark eyes were sad, resigned, but she stopped resisting his hold and leaned against his chest.
“You could be good at other things, too, things that didn't keep you away from Sophie.” He pressed a finger to her lips when she tried to interrupt him. “If, by some miracle, we get out of this and Stefan is the one who ends up jailed or buried, I want you to at least think about my offer.”
She shook her head slowly, regret in her voice. “An offer that comes with many, many strings to tie me down, since you claim we're mates.”
“We
are
mates. It's a simple fact. And the job offer didn't come with any strings about being in a relationship with me. Do I want that? Yes. Would I force you? No.” He blew out a breath. “I know you too well to think I could force you to stay. But you say you didn't choose this career, that you don't have any other options. I'm giving you an option. I'm giving you the chance to raise Sophie yourself, to have her close by and
know
she's well cared for.
If
we get out of this in one piece, I hope you'll consider it.”
are
mates. It's a simple fact. And the job offer didn't come with any strings about being in a relationship with me. Do I want that? Yes. Would I force you? No.” He blew out a breath. “I know you too well to think I could force you to stay. But you say you didn't choose this career, that you don't have any other options. I'm giving you an option. I'm giving you the chance to raise Sophie yourself, to have her close by and
know
she's well cared for.
If
we get out of this in one piece, I hope you'll consider it.”
Her mouth opened and closed. Emotion he couldn't read flickered across her expression. “I . . . I don't know what to say.”
“Don't say anything. Just think about it.” He brushed his lips over hers, and she pressed forward into the contact, letting it linger. Desire unfurled inside of him, but he didn't push, just savored the small intimacy, the tart flavor of her.
When he tried to pull back, she clutched his lapels, holding him close as she shoved her tongue into his mouth. He groaned, startling in surprise. But just that quickly, the moment exploded into something far more intense than he'd intended. The fire between them was always there, waiting to consume them both. She scooted around until she could straddle his lap, aligning their sexes so she could grind her clit down on his erection.
His hands cupped her hips, pulled her to him, and he arched himself into her. The friction of her moving against him made his cock chafe in his pants, exquisite pleasured-pain. She hissed into his mouth and he could smell her moisture. The scent of her passion was headier than a shot of fine whiskey.
Wrapping her arms around his neck, she kissed him harder, held him closer. Yes, that was what he wanted, too. More. All of her, all of him. Together. He fisted his hand in the blanket around her and ripped it away, thanking Deus for the privacy screen that blocked the rest of the world out. He threw the blanket to the floor of the transport. Then she was bared for him, creamy curves and ebony hair spilling around her shoulders. He bent forward and sucked a rosy nipple into his mouth.
A purr vibrated her chest, and she speared her fingers into his hair. He batted at the tight tip with his tongue, biting down just hard enough to sting. He switched to the other breast and offered it the same treatment. She hissed, and the scent of her wetness increased. Lust punched through him, and he wanted to feel how damp she was for him. Only for him. Sliding one palm down her back, he dipped between her buttocks and eased forward until he reached the hot core of her. Soaking wet. Deus, she was so responsive. He groaned, clamping down on her nipple.
“Breck!” Her claws scored his scalp, and she sobbed when he speared two fingers inside of her slick pussy.
Lava flowed through his veins, burning away his control, and his cock throbbed with the need to be inside of her. Every time she squirmed, he thought his skull might explode from the cravings pounding through him. The eagle inside of him screeched with the need to claim its mate. Mate, mate,
mate.
The word ricocheted within him, so powerful it made him shake. Sweat broke on his forehead, and he thrust his fingers in and out of her sex. More. Now. He released her breast and dropped his head back against the transport seat. “Ride me, Tam. I want to feel you all wet and tight around my cock.”
mate.
The word ricocheted within him, so powerful it made him shake. Sweat broke on his forehead, and he thrust his fingers in and out of her sex. More. Now. He released her breast and dropped his head back against the transport seat. “Ride me, Tam. I want to feel you all wet and tight around my cock.”
Her cheeks were flushed with desire, and her chin bobbed down in a nod. A slight tremor shook her hands when she reached between them to unseal his fly. The first touch of her slim fingers on his cock made him clench his jaw. Deus, it was fucking good.
Mate.
Mate.
They swayed together as the transport rounded a corner. Her free hand clutched his shoulder to try to maintain her balance. He pulled his fingers from her pussy to grasp her hips and keep her in place over him. She shivered, her eyelids dropping to half-mast as she stroked up and down his cock.
“Put my cock inside of you, Tam.”
“Deus, Breck.” She moaned, rubbing the head of his dick over her hard clit and the soft wet lips of her sex. “I want you.”
“I want you more. Hurry.” He watched her face as she filled herself with his cock. Any subterfuge had been burned away, and all that was left was wanton woman. Her eyes lost focus, her lips parting as she sank down to take all of him. Her slick walls closed on his dick, and a groan ripped from his throat.
She lifted and lowered herself on him, rolling her hips to meet his. They moved together in perfect sync, and gooseflesh broke down his flesh. He caught her mouth in a swift kiss, tangling his tongue with hers. Every sense grew more intense. Taste, scent, feel . . . even the sound of their pounding hearts reached his ears, her low purring, the smack of their skin meeting.
Breaking the kiss, she fell back on her hands, bracing them on his knees. She offered him a wicked smile with a hint of fangs. She used the leverage to thrust herself harder onto his cock. “Deus, this does get better every time.”
Her tongue darted out to lick her lips, and her eyes slid closed as she moved faster. He reached down to rub his fingers over her clitoris and she whimpered. His muscles burned as he rocked his pelvis up again and again, trying to meld their bodies together. He wanted no distance between them. The eagle inside of him demanded he claim her. Mate. The instinct that never quit, that always craved more. The human fought for control over the animal, focusing on the pure carnality of their joining.
“Look at me,” he growled. He wanted to see her come, wanted to watch her lose every scrap of her self-restraint until there was nothing left but the naked truth of her desire for him.
He flicked the pad of his thumb over her clit hard enough to make her body jolt, and her breath caught as she went over the edge into climax. The walls of her sex clenched around his cock and it was too much, far too much. He slammed into his own orgasm. His hips rose from the seat, grinding against her clit. The rush of it broke over him in a giant wave. His heart pounded and he clamped his hands down on her waist to pull her tight to the base of his cock. They both groaned, and his come exploded from his dick in hard jets, pumping into her slick pussy. He worked himself inside of her until every sensation had been wrung from the experience, until he was left shaking in the aftermath.
A last wave of orgasm hit her, and her internal muscles continued to milk his spent cock, making him groan. She threw her head back, her body arching as she leaned back on her hands. Her mouth opened in a silent scream, her bared fangs glistening. In that moment, she was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen. Strong and vulnerable, sweet and passionate, feral woman. Everything he'd ever wanted. All he'd ever need.
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