Brian Read online

  “Oh no, you don’t,” Dagger bit out and launched himself at the man, taking him down. Fists flew, and the feed showed Reginald’s man’s face framed by the floor, then the ceiling, and then the floor again as the two men rolled. When the image settled, the man was on his belly and Dagger was cuffing him.

  All the cameras converged, one by one, on the living room where Reginald sat, bleeding from a shoulder wound, his hands behind his back. Daryl lay on his belly, Reaper’s knee in the center of his back as he was cuffed.

  Sammy stood beside Kenan, who held up his hands. Brian had never seen a more lost look on a man’s face. “Kenan Reynolds, you’re under arrest,” the deputy said.

  Chapter 8

  “Man, you screwed the pooch.”

  Raydeen winced as Dagger shook his head at Brian. It was well past midnight. They were back at the Montana Bounty Hunters office building, waiting for Reaper. They’d all given statements to the deputies about what they’d seen and done and had been cleared to leave, but Reaper was finishing up with the sheriff and had asked for all of them to be there when he arrived.

  Brian’s head was down; the droop of his shoulders betrayed the fact he must be feeling the weight of everyone’s stares. She felt bad for him. She’d gotten him into this mess.

  A chime sounded, and everyone glanced toward the door. Reaper and Carly strode through, their expressions grim.

  Carly glanced at Raydeen. “Kenan’s been booked. His father was just arriving to bail him out when we left. He said thanks for the call. Kenan is cooperating, and the sheriff said he’ll put in a good word with the prosecutor.”

  Raydeen nodded.

  Reaper walked around the counter that divided reception from the bullpen and pulled out a desk chair. He settled his large body into it and raked a hand through his long blond hair. “Dammit, Brian,” he said with a huffed breath.

  Brian lifted his head. “I’m not sorry.”

  “I get that,” Reaper bit out. “That boy would be dead if you hadn’t heard what you did, but still… We have rules. Laws we abide by. You’ve been through the training. If one of those bastards gets a really good lawyer, the case could go south, and they’ll all walk. Anyone looks too close at how we heard that conversation, and we’re all out of work.”

  Brian firmed his mouth. “I understand. It might take a day or two, but I can be packed and out of here by the weekend.”

  Reaper arched an eyebrow. “That right? You think I’m firing you?”

  “It’s what I’d do,” Brian said.

  Brian kept his gaze steady, his chin up, but Raydeen knew his stomach had to be in knots.

  “You’ve built a great satellite office, here,” Brian said. “I can’t imagine Fetch’ll be very happy about what happened tonight, either. He might reconsider placing you and Jamie in charge.”

  Reaper grunted. “Well, it’s a good thing I had Jamie sit this one out. Told her she was too close to you. That I didn’t need her here fighting for you.”

  Brian’s eyes grew glossy, but he blinked them dry. “I imagine she’d try. But you needn’t worry about what she’ll say to you. I’ll make it easy. I quit.”

  The other hunters stirred in their seats, but they stayed silent, their gazes turning to Reaper.

  “Well, not so fast, buddy,” Reaper said, sitting forward in his chair. “It’s true; Fetch isn’t happy. I spoke to him when I finished with the sheriff. Thing is, he didn’t like the fact you stepped outside the law, but he did like your initiative. And your instincts. He also said, not that I needed to hear it, that a lot of our success rests on your shoulders. You’re the heart of this office, Brian. Have been since the day we brought you in. I don’t want to lose you. But I have to know you won’t go off on your own again.” He raised his hands. “I’m not saying you can’t take out the van. I’m also not saying you can’t perform surveillance on your own. You’ve proven you can, but any job you do as a hunter, has to be on the books.”

  Brian frowned. “As a hunter?”

  Reaper shrugged. “It’s what you are. When you make calls, you’re doing our work. When you surveil or provide support, you’re part of our team. You’re a hunter, Brian, same as us.”

  Brian’s shoulders rose, and he drew a deep breath. “But tonight…”

  “Yeah, there has to be a consequence. Fetch figured you should take a few days off, and that your pay ought to be docked what it’ll cost to pay the team for their time.”

  Brian nodded. “Sounds more than fair,” he said, his voice hoarsening.

  “Might want to think about getting out of the office for a while,” Reaper said, his gaze going to Raydeen.

  The way he looked at her, with a gleam in his eye, told her everything she needed to know. Reaper wasn’t angry. And he was doing Brian a favor here. “He can stay at my place. Seein’ as how I’m the reason he’s in trouble.”

  Brian’s head swung toward her. His gaze was steely, but she couldn’t read his expression. She couldn’t be sure he was happy with her offer.

  “Well, seems it’s all settled,” Reaper said. “Carly and Jamie will watch the office while you’re out. Not that we’re being sexist or anything, but we know those two can work the computers without going to blue screens.” He pushed up from his chair then strode toward Brian, holding out his hand.

  Brian shook it and gave him a solemn look. “I won’t fuck up again.”

  “Oh, I’m sure you will. We all do.” He gave Brian a wink then turned on his heel, skirting the counter and heading toward the door. Carly pushed up, flashed Brian a smile, and followed him out.

  Lacey gathered her latest Michael Kors’ tote and bent to kiss Brian’s cheek. “Enjoy the time off,” she whispered loudly. Then she straightened and waggled her eyebrows at Raydeen, before leaving with Dagger.

  Hook gave them a casual salute and left as well.

  When it was just the two of them, Raydeen drew in a deep breath. “I’m so sorry.”

  “Stop.” Brian gave her a sideways glance.

  Fuck, was he angry with her? “I shouldn’t have asked you for a favor.”

  “Raye. Stop,” he repeated.

  “But—”

  He reached out, grabbed her arm, then pulled her sideways over the handrail of his wheelchair and straight onto his lap.

  She landed hard, her hair falling forward. When she reached up to push it back, she found his face in the way. His mouth hovered over hers. “I’m not sorry,” he whispered. “I’m glad I could help you. I’d do anything for you.”

  Raydeen’s heart raced. “Good to hear,” she said faintly. She couldn’t think of anything witty to say because she was staring at his lips and remembering how they’d felt latched around her nipple as he’d sucked her “like a straw”—his description. Lucky fucking straw.

  His eyes narrowed.

  “I say that out loud?”

  “Uh huh.”

  A hand crept under the hem of her green sweater, smoothed over her ribs, then cupped her breast. She hissed a breath when his fingers pinched the tip.

  “That hurt?” he asked, his voice deepening.

  “Hurts just right.” She tapped his bottom lip. “But I know what could make it feel so much better.”

  “We have to be out of here come morning,” he said, bending and nuzzling her cheek.

  She shivered. “Won’t take me long, baby. I’ve been hot ever since I watched you workin’ that console in the van, lookin’ so fuckin’ intense.”

  “I’ve been hot for you since the day we met. Doesn’t matter what you do, what you wear, I’ve imagined taking you every way humanly possible and few that aren’t quite human. Now, every time I see you in green, I’m gonna think about these little gems,” he said, tweaking her nipple, “popping against your sweater while you tried to take the rap for me with Reaper.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “Damn, I forgot I wasn’t wearin’ a bra.”

  “I think everyone knew you weren’t. And I have a secret.”

  S
he liked the way his mouth curved as he gave her a boyish smile. “What’s that?”

  “I’m sitting on your bra and panties.”

  She slapped his shoulder. “You had them all the time I was lookin’ for them?”

  “Yeah, I had them under my ass because I liked looking at your breasts.”

  “Huh.” She pouted her lips but couldn’t hold back a giggle. “Have a thing for women’s underwear?”

  “I do for yours.”

  “I’m okay with that. You can sit on any old thing you want so long as I get to sit on your fine-ass dick.”

  “Baby, I love the way you talk.”

  “I love the way you feel, crowding up inside me,” she growled. When he gave her nipple another twist, she arched her back. “Your mouth…please…”

  His hand swept up her sweater, and he bent to take her aching tip between his lips. When he sucked, she felt moisture flood her channel. “I’m gonna need some clean clothes, because I just soaked my jeans.”

  His muffled laughter shook against her body, and she wound her arms around his shoulders. “Take me to your bed, Bri.”

  * * *

  She stripped beside the mattress while he braked his chair and gracefully lifted himself from his seat to the bed. By the time she stood nude, he’d only managed to remove his shirt. His broad chest, with its cloak of sparse dark hair, beckoned. She couldn’t wait to rest her cheek against it, to tease his nipples like he had hers.

  But she needed to talk him out of jeans. She knew he was self-conscious about removing them. Likely, he didn’t want her to see his scarred stumps, but it was up to her to prove to him that she didn’t care. That she saw him as a sexy man from the top his head to the end of his damaged legs.

  She crawled onto the end of the mattress and walked on her hands and knees toward him, knowing he was watching her boobs sway beneath her, the tips fully engorged. When she reached his legs, she spread her knees to crawl over his body until she could sit on his clothed hips. She shook back her curls and reached for his hands, placing them on her breasts. “That’s better,” she said, leaning into his embrace. “I love it when you touch them. They get hard. The tips throb. And then all I can think about is having your mouth on them.”

  He pulled on her breasts and brought her down. She rose a little on her knees and aimed a nipple at his lips.

  He lifted his head and rooted at it, latching hard around the areola. Then he used his teeth to gently torture her, alternately chewing on the tip and tapping it with his tongue. He was driving her crazy. Fluid filled her slit. “I’m wet for you, Brian.”

  A hand glided down her belly and fingers slid between her folds. A groan vibrated against her breast as he fingered her entrance then slipped inside her.

  She squeezed around him, holding him inside, inviting him deeper. When he gasped and kissed his way across her chest, she figured maybe he was far enough along she could get him past his reticence. His jeans had to go. Now.

  She drew back and moved to the side. Glancing down at his jeans, she said, “Lose them.”

  His cock jerked inside pants, but he held his breath.

  “I’ve seen stumps,” she said, “you know I have. I’m not gonna think less of you. I don’t want anything between us.”

  He drew in a breath that lifted his broad chest then reached for his belt and opened it. She reached for the button at the top of his waistband, flicked it open, then slowly slid the zipper down, liking the scratchy sound of it, because it was loud inside the very quiet room.

  They both held their breaths.

  Brian gave a groan and dug his covered stumps into the mattress to lift his hips. He pushed his jeans to midway down his thighs, exposing himself.

  “Nice,” she said, giving his erect cock a stroke. “Now, the rest of the way.”

  He lowered his hips and lifted his legs, tugging off the garment then tossing it to the floor. Then he lay still, his hands curling into the bedding while she looked at him, taking in his chest, his belly, his glorious cock and hips, his strong thighs, his knees…the savaged stumps.

  The incisions were white. Well healed. The length of each limb beneath the knee almost even.

  She lifted her chin toward his legs. “Open them.”

  “Bossy,” he said, his voice sounding strained, but he spread his legs.

  She moved between them and knelt. Then because she wanted him thinking about the prize, if he was a good boy, she flung back her head and massaged her breasts. “I like the way you play with these. You’re gentle…then you’re not. Like you know I won’t break. I like it when they’re tugged,” she said, pulling on a tip and letting it go, enjoying the bounce. “I fucking love your teeth on me,” she said, twisting a tip. “When they’re hard, the way you nibble them…I feel it all the way to here…” She cupped her pussy and trailed a fingertip along her slit. She swirled her fingers in the moisture she coaxed from inside her body then trailed a wet finger along the inside of his thigh, downward, past his knee.

  “Raye…” he warned, but while his expression tightened, his eyes let her see inside his soul. He needed acceptance. Hers. Needed her to be alright with the damage to his body, so she lifted one leg, and fit the appendage between her legs and rubbed against it, letting him feel how wet she was. “Straighten it,” she said, and then pushed it right against her pussy, moving on it like she was fucking it. “Brian, look at me,” she said, because his gaze had gone to the ceiling. “Watch,” she said as she rubbed and rubbed, the thickness between her legs getting her hotter and hotter.

  “Stop it, Raye.”

  “Why, baby? Can’t you tell I want to fuck you, every part of you. I want to lick you up and down. Taste you.”

  He bared his teeth and cupped his balls. “I have a better place for you to start.”

  Lowering his leg, she widened her knees and slid her pussy up his leg, pausing at his knee to undulate, then moving upward to his thick thigh. The muscles twitched against her, and she bent her head to kiss his belly, rimmed his bellybutton with her tongue, then moved between his legs again, because she was growing impatient to feel his cock in her mouth. His big cock jerked as she ran her tongue up one side then down the other. She gripped it hard and bent to lick his balls, wetting the hair and skin, then sucking one orb into her mouth. She mouthed it, rolling it on her tongue then opened her mouth and captured the other ball.

  Brian cussed under his breath and raised his legs, balancing them on his stumps as he gave shallow pumps of his hips. She knew what he wanted—what his motions invited. She pushed up on her arms and took the tip of his cock inside her mouth and slid her tongue over the cap, lapping around and around. When she pointed her tongue and nudged the eyelet slit, he hissed and gripped her hair.

  She teased him for a long time, sucking, “chewing”, licking only the cap and the delicate underside, until he pulled harder on her hair. The dull pain caused her to groan. She loved it. Wanted more of it. When he pulled again, forcing her down, she relented, sinking down on him, letting his shaft slide across her tongue to the back of her throat. When she gagged, he held still, waiting.

  Swallowing, she opened her throat and sank some more, letting him deeper into her throat while she gripped his balls and rolled them in her palm, massaging, tugging, while she bobbed up and down.

  When she glanced up at him, she found that he’d lifted his head and was watching her, his gaze fierce. Gone was the little boy lost. A feral man clutched her hair, and he wanted everything from her now. She held his gaze as she sank then sucked hard when she came up. After she did that a few more times, she pulled back, coming off him.

  Breathing hard and braced on her arms over his cock, she met his stare. “Will you fuck me, Brian? Give it to me good?”

  He pulled her hair, forcing her up his body then swept his free arm around her back and brought her against him. His kiss was bruising and left her breathless. Then he rolled with her, and his body was on top of hers. She spread her legs, bent her knees, and plac
ed her hands on his ass.

  When he raised himself above her, resting on his hands and knees, they both glanced down their bodies.

  “Funny,” she whispered, “this view’s the same whether a man has ankles or not.” She lifted her gaze to his, challenging him.

  His chest billowed with his deep breaths. He bent and kissed her again, this time simply sucking at her lips, drawing on them to seal their kiss. When he broke off, he spoke into her ear, “Raydeen, I’m not fucking cloaked.”

  She laughed, because she heard disgust in his voice. “I’m clean, Brian. Not on the pill, but then, I don’t care about consequences. I’m ready for them. Are you?”

  When he pulled back to look into her face, the look in his eyes nearly broke her heart.

  “Baby, did you think I was only in this for the sex?” she whispered.

  He blinked hard. “You want kids? With me?”

  She placed her palm alongside his cheek. “I see you, Brian. I see how lonely you are. We both are. Together, we can have everything our hearts yearn for.”

  His jaw hardened. “What I yearn for, right this second,” he said, his voice as rough as sandpaper, “is to be buried inside you.”

  She bounced her hips against him. “Then come right on in, baby.”

  Chapter 9

  Brian schooled his face into a hard mask. It was that or lose it completely. She was right. Looking down at their bodies, they could be any man or woman. He couldn’t see his missing legs. His cock jutted toward her belly, her abdomen quivered as she raised her knees and tilted her wet pussy, ready to receive him.

  What she’d said about consequences had struck his heart, too.

  He’d never considered having children. Hell, he’d never considered having a woman in his life, not after he’d been wounded. He’d thought he’d adjusted to his new normal, learning to adapt to a wheelchair, doing a job that mattered, but he’d only been living half a life. He realized that now, gazing down at her. At them.