Deadly Intentions (Hardy Brothers Security Book 1) Read online

  “I can’t believe you didn’t tell me any of this was going on,” Heidi said, pushing her lower lip out. “We’re supposed to be friends.”

  Mandy shot an angry look in James’ direction. “I didn’t want to upset you.”

  “No, that’s not it,” Heidi shook her head. “You didn’t trust me.”

  James felt guilty. He knew why Mandy hadn’t told Heidi what was going on. She was a private person and, as funny as Heidi was, she had a really big mouth. He barely knew her, but he could ascertain that all on his own.

  “We need this to remain between us,” James cautioned. “If someone finds out why I’m here, it will mess everything up.”

  Heidi stood, nodding as she did. “This is like an undercover operation, right?”

  “Right.”

  “You can trust me.”

  “Good,” James said. “Because there’s nothing more I want in this world than to make sure she’s safe.”

  Heidi smiled, patting James on the head as she moved past him. “I’m glad you ended her dry spell,” she said. “I was starting to get worried.”

  James smirked. “Her dry spell?”

  “It was tragic,” Heidi said. “If I looked like her, I would be sleeping with every guy that asked me out. She refused, though.”

  James fixed his eyes on Mandy. “You refused?”

  “I think she was waiting for you,” Heidi said. “Maybe she was always waiting for you.” Heidi shook off her serious thought and walked into the hallway. “I’ll be quiet.”

  Once she was gone, it was just the three of them: James, Mandy, and her anger. James got to his feet, shutting the door so the outside world couldn’t intrude, and then sat on the edge of Mandy’s desk.

  Mandy refused to meet his gaze.

  He reached over, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. “Is that true?”

  Mandy tried to hide the shiver coursing through her. “Is what true?”

  James leaned down so his lips were dangerously close to her ear. “Were you waiting for me?”

  “Heidi is prone to hyperbole,” Mandy replied. “She watches a lot of soap operas.”

  James smiled. “If it’s any consolation, I think I was waiting for you, too.”

  Mandy froze as his lips brushed her ear. Suddenly, his earlier suggestion regarding her desk didn’t sound like such a bad idea. Mandy lifted her blue eyes until they were level with his brown. “I’m still mad at you.”

  James cupped the back of her head and pulled her forward until her lips were on his. He kissed her gently, pulling away a few seconds later. “I can live with that. I just need you to live with that and understand why I’m doing this.”

  Mandy blew out a sigh. “I understand.”

  James kissed her again. “Good.”

  He got to his feet and moved away from the desk, adjusting the uncomfortable erection in his pants as he did. He opened the door again and sat back in his chair.

  Mandy’s gaze was still fixed on him.

  “Do your work,” he prodded. “We’re not staying here one second more than we have to tonight. I have other plans for you.”

  Mandy couldn’t hide the foolish grin from her face as she turned back to her files. How had he turned her life upside down so quickly?

  Seventeen

  “I thought you wanted to stay in tonight?”

  James had insisted on taking Mandy out to dinner after their day in court. She’d called a ceasefire on her no-talking war during lunch. He picked a local Italian restaurant – one with a great reputation – and they were settled in a private booth waiting for a waitress to take their order.

  “We need nourishment,” James replied. “I need some fuel if I’m going to have the energy to do what I want to do to you tonight.”

  Mandy’s face colored and, even in the dark ambiance of the restaurant, it wasn’t lost on James. “You have a one-track mind.”

  James lifted an eyebrow. “Where you’re concerned? Guilty as charged.”

  Mandy smiled, turning her attention to the menu. “Have you eaten here before? What’s good?”

  “You’ve never had pasta before?” James teased.

  “Honestly? I was wondering how much garlic was too much garlic.”

  James smirked. “I like garlic. If you think that’s going to deter me, you’re wrong.”

  “Good to know.”

  They both looked over the menu for a few more minutes, placing their orders when the waitress stopped at the table. Once she was gone – with a little extra flirt in her step for James’ benefit – Mandy turned her attention to him. “Did you find anything out in court?”

  “I found out you’re sexy when you’re serious.”

  “Then I must be downright irresistible now.”

  “You’re always irresistible,” James replied, taking a swig from his beer.

  “Are you going to be serious?”

  “Do you want me to be serious?”

  Mandy sighed

  James smirked but answered her question anyway. “I want to check out Clint more.”

  “Why? He’s harmless.”

  “He’s interested in you.”

  “And you know that from seeing him a grand total of, what, four times?”

  “He likes you.”

  “Lots of people like me,” Mandy countered. “That doesn’t mean they’re trying to hurt me.”

  “He asked you out,” James reminded her.

  “Lots of people ask me out,” Mandy said. “That doesn’t mean they’re trying to hurt me.”

  “Who asked you out?” James asked. “Besides Clint, I mean.”

  Mandy pursed her lips. “Why does that matter?”

  “Why don’t you want to tell me?”

  Mandy sighed. “Chad Cooper has asked me out a few times, even though I’ve made it clear that I would rather sleep with a politician and his dog than him.”

  James barked out a laugh. “I can’t help but be happy with that. Who else?”

  “I don’t know,” Mandy said, shrugging. “A lot of lawyers go through the building. I’ve been asked out by a decent number of them.”

  “You don’t like lawyers?”

  “Not really.”

  “Good,” James said, breaking apart a breadstick and dipping it in marinara sauce. “I only want you interested in me.”

  “Not that I’m not happy to hear that,” Mandy hedged. “But why are you suddenly all gung-ho in this relationship?”

  James heard the worry in her voice, hating himself for doing that to her. “Because I’m done fighting it,” James admitted. “I wanted you the minute I saw you.”

  “You didn’t remember me when you first saw me.”

  “I always remembered you,” he said. “I just didn’t realize I was seeing you when I was seeing you.”

  Mandy wrinkled her nose. “I’m not sure that makes any sense.”

  “I’m not sure it has to,” James replied. “I saw a beautiful woman in my office. Then I found out who you were and, I’m sorry, you just got more beautiful.”

  “Then why did you pull away when I touched you?”

  James was surprised. “What do you mean?”

  “I touched you, in my apartment that night,” she said. “You pulled away like I had given you a disease or something.”

  “Oh,” James replied, his mind traveling back to the moment she was talking about. “The truth?”

  “No, I want you to lie to me.”

  “I felt a spark,” James admitted, ignoring the sarcasm. “The minute you touched me, I felt a spark.”

  “So, why did you try to keep your distance from me?”

  “I already told you,” James said. “I didn’t see you coming. I didn’t want to see you coming.”

  “And now?”

  James’ eyes darkened. “All I want to do is see you coming.”

  Mandy wanted to press the issue. She wanted to be a typical girl. She wanted to know where this relationship was going. What she didn’t wan
t to do was scare him away again. So, instead, she grabbed her own breadstick and dunked it in the sauce.

  “Hungry?”

  Mandy smiled. “You have no idea.”

  THEY BARELY had the apartment door shut before they were on each other. In a few days, they’d shared more orgasms than should be allowed by law – and yet the hunger was still as fresh as ever. They separated long enough to shed their clothes, leaving a trail from the front door to the bed.

  Mandy pushed James down on his back, reaching over to the nightstand as she searched for something in the dark.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Shh,” Mandy admonished him. “Don’t ruin the moment.”

  Realization suddenly flashed over James. “Are you looking for condoms? Crap, we haven’t been using condoms.”

  Mandy read the panic on his face, even in the dark. “I’m on the pill, moron. Do you think I’m an idiot?”

  James relaxed beneath her. “Thank Christ.”

  Mandy stilled. “You forgot about condoms for three days?”

  James shrugged beneath her. “I’ve been a little distracted.”

  “It’s a good thing women can manage birth control these days,” Mandy said. “If they couldn’t, this would be one overpopulated world.”

  James smiled, reaching up to draw her smart mouth down to his. “When you’re right, you’re right.”

  “Hold on,” Mandy said. “I’m looking for something.”

  “What?” James asked, rubbing his erection between her thighs impatiently. “I can’t wait much longer.”

  “Aha.” Mandy pulled something out of the drawer triumphantly.

  James had trouble focusing in the dark. “What is that?”

  “An equalizer.”

  “What kind of equalizer?” He propped himself up on his elbows, trying to see what she had in her hand.

  “Lay down.”

  James did as he was told, although he was still curious. “What are you doing?”

  “Put your hands over your head,” Mandy instructed.

  James wasn’t sure what game she was playing, but he was an eager participant.

  “Wrap your hands around the spindles.”

  James obeyed. He smiled when he felt the bandana wrapping around his wrists as she tied him to the bed. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m in charge tonight,” Mandy replied. “I’m the boss.”

  “Aren’t you always?”

  “Rarely,” Mandy replied wryly. “You like to let me think I’m the boss, but you refuse to ever cede control.”

  “Well, I’m your willing sex slave,” James said. “Do to me what you will.”

  “Oh, I intend to.” Mandy secured the ties around his wrists and then climbed off the bed.

  “Where are you going?” James lifted his head, watching as her silhouette disappeared.

  “I’ll be back in a second.”

  “You better be,” James grumbled, dropping his head back down to the pillow. He had no idea what she was up to, but he was willing to give her what she wanted. Truth be told, he was willing to give her anything she wanted. When had that happened?

  Mandy returned a minute later and climbed back on the mattress. “Relax.”

  James tried to do as she asked, but every nerve in his body was tingling. He kind of liked being at her mercy. He jumped when he felt something cold slide against his nipple. “What the hell?”

  “Did I tell you that it was okay to talk?”

  James gritted his teeth. “That’s cold. What is that, an ice cube?”

  “Mandy is in charge now,” she reminded him. “Shut your mouth.”

  James thought about protesting, but the feeling of her tongue running over his lips stilled him. She removed her mouth and replaced it with the ice cube. James grunted when he felt the cold. Mandy ran the ice cube over his lips and then leaned down to kiss him again, slipping her tongue into his mouth.

  James massaged her tongue with his, fighting the urge to rip his hands from the bandana. He could. It wouldn’t have been a problem. He wanted her to be happy, though. He wanted her to be in charge.

  Mandy pulled her mouth from his, running the ice cube down his chest. She circled each nipple, enjoying the way he writhed beneath her, and then dropped the ice cube to his stomach. James shifted when the icy object started moving lower. He clenched his thighs when he felt it circle his groin.

  Mandy ran the ice cube over his inner thigh, licking along the moisture trail. James groaned. Mandy moved the ice cube lower, running it over his scrotum. James gasped as his balls tried to climb back inside of him.

  Just when the cold was at the point where he couldn’t take it another second, Mandy removed the ice cube and replaced it with her mouth. She kissed his ball sack, running her tongue over it enticingly.

  “Oh, you’re going to kill me.” James flexed beneath her.

  Mandy sucked one of his balls into her mouth, relishing the musty smell of him and the moans coming from his throat. “Mandy,” he gasped.

  She did the same with his other testicle, momentarily lamenting the fact that her mouth wasn’t big enough for both of them. After sucking a few seconds, she flattened her tongue and licked upwards.

  James was at the edge. He needed to get his hands on her. She wanted to be in charge, he reminded himself. He had to give her what she wanted.

  Mandy licked her way up to the head of his penis, pulling back long enough to touch the ice cube against it. James flinched as the cold hit him. The ice cube had melted enough to fit into her mouth, so Mandy popped it in and then descended on his cock.

  James was in Heaven. The mix of cold and hot was something he’d never experienced before. He couldn’t stop from moaning, occasionally whispering her name, and then fighting the urge to scream as she engulfed him.

  It didn’t take long; James was spurting inside her mouth within a few seconds, his body convulsing as he cried out in euphoria.

  Mandy pulled away triumphantly. She knew he could break free from her silly bonds any time the mood struck. The fact that he hadn’t was somehow proof. Of what, she still wasn’t sure. “I’ll be right back,” she whispered.

  She jumped off the bed, racing to the bathroom so she could dump the ice cube in the sink. She was back in the bedroom in seconds, but James was no longer tied to the bed where she’d left him. She pulled up short. “James?”

  He grabbed her from the side, wrapping his arms around her waist as he pulled her to the bed. His mouth was on hers, his desire obvious. “You’re pretty tricky.”

  “I aim to please.”

  James pulled her to him. “I’ve never felt anything like that in my entire life.”

  “I see my restraints weren’t enough to keep you tied down,” Mandy said, feigning a pout.

  James nipped at her lower lip. “I need to please you now.”

  “You please me every day.”

  James felt his heart swelling. “Well, I need to really please you now.” He pushed her down on the bed, climbing on top of her and dragging her up so she was comfortable.

  Mandy relaxed against the pillows, relishing the sight of his hard-muscled body as he towered over her. “God, you’re so beautiful.”

  James stilled. “No, you’re beautiful.” He lowered himself to her gently, kissing her softly this time. “I’ve never seen anything more beautiful than you.”

  James kissed her one more time, and then he moved lower. He stopped at her breasts; momentarily considering running to the kitchen long enough to get his own ice cube, and then dismissing the idea. He would get her back another time. He couldn’t fathom being away from her right now.

  He kneaded her breasts, rubbing them lovingly. He suckled her a few times and then dropped lower.

  Mandy gasped when she felt his tongue slide inside of her. This was the third time he’d performed oral sex on her but each time was a new revelation. He spread her thighs as wide as they would go and buried his face between her folds. He slipped a finge
r inside of her as he licked, smiling as she gasped at the dual stimulation. He frigged her with his finger as he licked her up and down, finally surrendering to her obvious need and sucking her clitoris into his mouth.

  Mandy started trembling, refusing to fight the orgasm as it washed over her. When it was done, she felt James lift her thighs over his shoulders. He positioned his cock at her opening and pressed in, finding no resistance as he slid to the center of her being.

  “Oh,” she moaned. “Oh.”

  James started pumping slowly, never moving his eyes from her lust-filled gaze. Mandy’s head lolled to the side as the feeling of him inside of her cavern overtook her. “Look at me, baby,” he ordered.

  Mandy lifted her head so she could focus on him. “Oh,” she mewled.

  “Just look at me, baby.”

  She kept her gaze locked on him as he increased his pace. He lowered his hand and flicked her clitoris, causing her to moan again. He started rubbing her as he pistoned in and out. Mandy cried out, biting her lower lip as another orgasm claimed her. James increased his pace, determined to go over the edge with her. He was spurting inside of her within seconds, milking himself between her loins until he could do nothing but collapse on top of her.

  They both fought to catch their breath, Mandy’s lips pressing against his forehead as he rested his head on her chest. He wanted to say something, but words escaped him. Instead, he tightened his arms around her and pulled the covers over them.

  “Good night, baby.”

  “Good night.”

  Eighteen

  James answered the door when Grady knocked. He ushered his brother into the apartment, taking the bag of clothes Grady offered wordlessly. “You got my text?”

  “It’s a good thing everyone has a cellphone these days,” Grady replied. “I haven’t seen you in days. If I was a less trusting brother – or an idiot – I might have assumed the worst.”

  James waved off Grady’s comments, dropping the bag on the floor in Mandy’s bedroom. He scooped up a pile of clothes from the hallway – the ones hastily discarded the night before – and dumped them in the closet hamper before returning to his brother. “Thanks for the clothes. I was getting tired of wearing the same jeans.”

  Grady raised his eyebrows suggestively, but remained silent, wordlessly following James down the hallway and into the small dining room. Mandy was in the kitchen, leaning over the stove, but she greeted him anyway. “Hi, Grady.”