NaturesBounty (11 page)

“You’re going to make all this go away. I need your help to
wipe the slate clean.”

That was the cue. With any luck, Lydia was well away from
the door.

The two-way crackled to life.

“We’re moving in,” came the voice.

“Copy,” Nate said. “We got enough on him?”

“More than enough.”

“Ready, partner?” Benny asked, checking the ammo on his
handgun and shoving the clip back in.

Nate smiled at him. “Let’s stick something where Asa’s sun
don’t shine.”

The van roared up just as Benny and Nate were crossing the
street. Cops in riot gear tumbled out like clowns from a Volkswagen, and all
were amazingly light-footed while they gestured at Nate to hang back.

“Like hell I will,” he said, coming up behind them. He had
no jurisdiction in this, of course, other than his participation in getting the
charges against him dropped. But he wasn’t going to sit around while Lydia was
in the middle of a takedown.

The men burst into the office with the usual shouting and
whirlwind of activity, but Nate couldn’t get close enough to see. Anxiety
throbbed through his body, and when a slightly shell-shocked but smiling Lydia
was hustled outside, the victory high he’d long forgotten flooded through him.

“Hi,” she said, red-cheeked and breathless after she was
deposited in front of him. “How’d I do?”

“Fantastic,” he said with a grin.

“You were a natural,” Benny added. “Pissed him off just
enough to get him to spill without losing control of the situation.”

“I hope I got him to say enough,” she said, hugging herself.
“God, I’m shivering.”

“Adrenaline,” Nate said and pulled her to him and rubbed her
arms vigorously.

“He said plenty,” Benny told her, shooting Nate a suspicious
look at the way he was holding her. “Enough to get him on obstruction of
justice, conspiracy and attempted kidnapping, maybe even racketeering. Turns
out this wasn’t the first time he’s used his business to work around the
system.”

“Speak of the devil,” Nate said grimly as Asa was escorted
out in cuffs.

Nate let go of Lydia and stepped right in front of Asa when
they reached the sidewalk. “Hiya, Ace. Good to see the cuff on the other foot,
so to speak.”

“You.” Asa gave him a furious glower. “After all the jobs I
shunted your way, this is how you thank me?”

“And I’m really hoping none of those other jobs involved
your special brand of bullshit.”

The grin Asa shot him twisted his stomach. “Guess you’ll
never know, will you?”

Nate’s nostrils flared. “I wonder what it means that I’m so
far out of my prime and yet still good enough to collar you?”

He turned and walked back to where Lydia and Benny stood
against the brick building, watching.

“That felt good,” Nate said. “Although I’d have preferred to
punctuate my last sentence with a fist in his face.”

“You were right, you know,” Benny said. “You’re more than
good enough to collar that asshole.”

“Maybe so.” Nate glanced at Lydia, and a pleasant jolt went
through him when their eyes met. “Are you sure you’re okay?”

She shrugged. “Couldn’t be better. In fact, I feel sort of
happy-buzzed, if that makes sense.” She glanced over to where Asa was being
loaded into a police car. “Does that mean I’m some kind of sadistic bitch?”

Benny laughed. “Bitten by the bounty hunter bug’s more like
it.”

She turned to Nate, and his heart skipped at the look on her
face. “Thank you, Nate. Without you, I wouldn’t be walking away from this free
to live my life.”

He shrugged casually, but he swallowed when she took his
hand and moved closer. “No, really,” she whispered. “You put yourself out there
to get my life back, even after I ran out on you.”

“That’s exactly what you did when you confronted Waller and
tried to work me into your deal. It’s only fair I returned the favor.”

“It must have been quite a risk, contacting the police when
you were a wanted man.”

Nate glanced at Benny, who gave him a casual grin. “I
couldn’t have pulled it off without help. Benny told them my story and said I’d
be willing to help them catch Andrew Waller in exchange for dropping charges.
Benny’s quite convincing when he wants to be.”

“And a man of stellar disguises,” Benny added, taking a deep
bow. “Those guys working for Andrew didn’t know what hit ’em.”

“What hit them was your stench,” Nate said, eyeing the
threadbare, dirt-encrusted army coat and stand-in-the-corner cargo pants.
“Where the hell did you get that getup, anyway? Did you roll a real drunk for
it?”

Benny shrugged. “A guy owed me a favor.”

“And a bath. But now I owe you the favor.”

“So do I,” Lydia added. “To both of you. I’d hug you,” she
said to Benny as she eyed him up and down, “but well, you understand.”

“Save it for this lug over here.” He smiled at Nate. “He
could use a hug. He was a wreck while you were inside. He was practically
wringing his hands and pacing back and forth across the back seat.”

She flicked him a look. “Were you really that worried about
me?”

“Benny’s also really good at exaggerating.” He let out a
sigh of relief. “But I’m glad this is over.”

With that, she grabbed him by the front of his jacket and
pulled him to her lips. Benny cleared his throat and wandered off while Lydia
almost kissed away his memory of why they were even standing there.

“What was that for?” he asked when she pulled away.

“That was to thank you for not hating me, and for coming
after me even after I was a complete ass and cuffed you to a bed.”

“I’ll buy that. And here.”

His kiss was almost rabid, and his cock began straining in
his pants when he ravaged her mouth with his tongue. He pulled away and smiled
at the glazed look in her eyes. “
That
was to remind you that as per our
discussion on the way over, you will be subject to any sordid punishment I deem
fit for leaving me naked, handcuffed and without a car.”

Her stare oozed of liquid sex, and Nate’s heart skipped.
Before he could start her punishment, however, he spotted a pair of cops headed
their way.

“They’ll want us to give our statements,” he said. “It’s
going to be a long night.”

“You have no idea,” she said teasingly. “Where will this
punishment of yours take place? Your dungeon or mine?”

“Mine. I forgot to mention that Andrew apparently had your
place tossed hard after you left.”

“Looking for the evidence, no doubt.”

It was while they were headed to the police station later
that Lydia turned to him abruptly. “Say, what kind of training do you need to
get into this gig full-time?” She flashed him a wicked grin that prickled
gooseflesh on his arms. “Seems I’m in the market for a new job.”

Eleven months later

“Open your legs a little more,” Nate said to Lydia. “Now
bend your right knee. Just a little higher. Oh yeah, baby. That’s perfect.”

“Do you have any idea how perverted you sound right now?”
Lydia asked, glancing around the essentially deserted alley. “I feel like I’ve
just dialed a porno hotline.”

“And you look like something I’d hop on in a hot minute.”
The sound of his voice in her ear sent a shiver through her. “I have some damn
fine memories of that bikini, you know.”

“You’re not the only one.”

“It occurs to me that while I’ve made you scream in the
passenger seat, across the gear knob, and laid out in back, I’ve never bent you
over the hood of a car before.”

She gave a private smile as she adjusted the Bluetooth
headset and shifted the balloons in her hand. “And something tells me you’re
already cooking up an evil plan to remedy that oversight.”

“About ten minutes after we’re through here.”

“Rule One, cowboy. Stand down.”

“Too late. I’m definitely standing up.”

She stopped talking and glanced around again. There was no
sign of the skip yet, and she was beginning to feel beyond silly splayed out
across the hood of the guy’s car. At least the hood was still warm. Even though
it was early summer, the weather was a bit on the cool side for lounging around
in a bikini. Then again, she wasn’t out here to work on her tan. They were on
the job. They guy they were after was worth five grand. He’d skipped out on
bail and had been kind enough to celebrate by stopping in at the local watering
hole before getting out of town.

“I still can’t believe you’re making me wear that old
stripper thong,” Nate said in her headset. “It went straight up my ass as soon
as I crouched down in the carport.”

“Welcome to the club,” she replied. “But that was our deal.
Whenever I have to wear one on the job, so do you. Just be grateful I’m not
wearing nipple clamps.”

There was a pause. “Okay, Benny just radioed. He made the
guy ducking out the back door. He’s on your six, headed your way.”

Her attention immediately shifted. “Copy that. Tits up and
ready.”

Lydia refined her pose, thrusting out her breasts while she
clutched the bouquet of blue and white balloons. A minute later, she saw him.
Sagging jeans, a gray t-shirt and a mass of frizzy brown hair that hadn’t met a
comb in a couple of days at least. He hadn’t shaved since the mug shot on his
file, either. He did look less droopy-eyed, especially once he caught sight of
the bikini babe laid out over his hood and smiling at him as though she’d just
hit the jackpot.

He froze three feet from his car. “What the hell’s all
this?”

Still smiling, she slid off the hood like a slithering
cobra. “Chris Chacon?”

His eyes were everywhere on her at once. “Who wants to
know?”

“I’m Candy from Fantasy Girls Exotic Dance.” She ran a hand
over her breasts for effect, and he homed in on her cold-hardened nipples.

“You are one hot bitch. What can I do for you that involves
taking my pants down?”

She kept her smile firmly in place. “A friend of yours sent
me to help you celebrate your very special day.” She held out the bouquet.
“Here. Why don’t you hang onto my balloons while I show you?”

That won a smile, and as he reached over to take them, she
saw Nate and Benny slipping into position. “I don’t get it,” Chris said. “It
ain’t my birthday. What’s the occasion? Who’s the friend that hired you?”

“That would be me,” Nate said from right behind him. He had
his gun trained steadily at the guy’s head. “I’m bond enforcement. And the
occasion is me arresting you for violating the terms of your bail. Hands up,
Chris.”

Startled, Chris let go of the balloons and they floated
skyward.

“Easy, boy,” Benny said, coming up in a smooth, sidestepping
motion on the other side of the car. “Don’t move.”

“You missed your court date,” Nate added. “Turn around and
put your hands flat on the hood.”

Lydia stepped out of the way while the men restrained the
guy and searched him for weapons. She was treated to a nasty look from the guy
when they spun him back around, and she just gave him a little shrug and a
smile. While the men got him ready and called it in, she went over to Nate’s
car, which was tucked away in the deserted carport and grabbed her ski jacket.

“Nice work, Bond Agent Franklin,” Nate said after he helped
Benny get the jumper into Benny’s car. It was their partner’s turn to play
haul-’em-to-jail.

“Thanks, and same to you. But next time, maybe I’ll try
sucking a lollipop instead of holding the balloons. I always feel bad when they
end up floating away. I heard it’s bad for the environment. Besides, I get
hungry while we’re waiting.”

“I don’t know, the balloons just seem to add that believable
touch.” He eyed her with a frown. “By the way, who gave you permission to cover
up?”

“I’ll have you know it’s freezing out here,” she said,
zipping up the front of her ski jacket.

“I could see you were chilled all the way from my post. It’s
not that cold, by the way. It’s a balmy sixty-seven degrees.”

“Says the one of us who is not currently dressed in a string
bikini and high heels.”

He smiled. “Some Colorado native. One week as a California
beach bunny and you’re still a tenderfoot.”

“Is that so?” She yanked off the jacket with a mock scowl.
“Fine. Check me out until I catch cold, then.”

He grabbed her around the waist. “Oh, I intend to warm you
up plenty.”

Her hands went straight down his back to cup his ass and
squeeze through the deliciously tight jeans. “I see we’ve moved onto Rule Two.
But right here in the alley?”

“No one’s around. I warned you before you had exactly ten
minutes after the catch before I Rule Two’d you.”

“Yeah? Not if I Rule Two you first.”

With that, she grabbed his arm, bent it at the elbow, and
put him in an arm bar maneuver she learned in bond enforcement training. She
twisted his body in a smooth motion, controlling him until he was facing the
hood of his car with the arm pushed up behind him.

“Very good,” he said over his shoulder. “You’re learning.”
In a flash, he reversed out of the hold, whirled on her and restrained her in a
similar way, only with her bent in half over the hood and him bent over her.
“But I’m still faster,” he whispered teasingly in her ear.

“Then show me how fast you can shut up and fuck me,” she
said, spreading her long, high-heeled legs wider apart while her torso was bent
over the hood. “You know that alcohol isn’t the only thing that gets me crazy
damn horny these days.”

“Tell me about it. You dig the thrill of the hunt as much as
I do.”

“Enough that I don’t want to wait one more damn minute to
feel your cock inside me.”

The exertion of their maneuvers already had her breathing
hard, and she was grinning like a fool. Damn right she dug hunting. The buzz
she got off making a successful catch made her invariably and immediately want
to climb on Nate and ride hard. Then again, so did a lot of other things. Like
watching him read the morning paper.

He was holding her down with one arm while she heard him
fumbling with his fly, and after a few moments, she felt his hot, hard shaft
pressing into the cleft between her parted ass cheeks.

“You have the right to remain silent,” he said, and he
tugged the wet thong of her bathing suit away from her slit. “But I highly
recommend that you scream my name instead.”

“Don’t Mirandize me, bounty hunter. Just take me into your
custody.”

Without even bothering to take her bottoms off, he slid his
cock against her pussy and pushed his way in.

“Oh Nate,” she said, her body stiffening in pleasure as he
sank in. “Oh yes.”

She flattened herself against the hood as his wide, welcome
hardness penetrated, and she reveled in the feel of hot metal against her body
and his hotter cock inside her. She was warming up, all right, and fast
approaching high gear.

“Jesus, you feel so damn good after a day’s work,” he said,
shoving himself deeper.

They rode each other wildly, with her pushing her ass back
to meet his thrusts and him driving his hips forward to ram against her. Her
nipples strained against her bikini top, and she yanked the fabric away so she
could feel the bare, hard nubs drag over the car hood.

The fact that neither of them could wait to have each other
made the urgency no less sweet for the lack of anticipation. True, the alley
was part of an abandoned housing project, and no one was around. But being
outside in the cool air while her hot, rugged bounty hunter lover fucked her
made her feel so damn wicked, so dirty-good that she moaned and bucked against
him. She was so wet for him. In truth, she’d felt the pool of moisture
gathering between her legs the moment she’d seen him take command of the
fugitive. He looked so damn fine when he was in control of a capture, his
biceps flexing while he maneuvered people to his will. Even the way he pointed
his gun, which had taken time and convincing to bring him back around to, got
her hot.

“I have to confess something,” he said with a desperate
strain in his voice. “I think I love you so much now that I can’t fucking stand
it.”

“That sounds painful. But I’d say you’re fucking while
standing just brilliantly.”

“Actually, this isn’t working for me.”

“Why not?”

“Because I can’t see your face while I’m fucking you.”

He pulled out of her and yanked her upright, turning her to
face him. His eyes were wild and dark with need, and his jaw was tight with the
utmost seriousness while he grabbed her hips and set her up on the hood. It
only took a few seconds, and he was blissfully back inside her.

“Much better,” he said, staring down at her. “Your
expressions when I’m making you come drive me insane.” Despite the comment, he
pulled her close and held her while he pumped his hips.

She smiled. “I love you too.”

Lydia tugged his shirt up high enough to bury her face
against the soft hair on his chest and lick his hard, tiny nipple, something
she’d learned made him crazy. He arched back and swore, and then fucked her
double speed. She held onto his waist and took the ride, feeling the pressure
building in her clit. The euphoria of victory and sexual chemistry fused
together at the top of that climb and shattered. Nate joined her in climax soon
after, and they clutched one another while they finished.

Nate whispered tender, intimate words to her as they came
down from orgasm, surprisingly so in light of the rough, graphic way they’d just
been possessed to fuck one another. Both of them came to earth pretty suddenly
soon after, and when they did, clothes and jackets found their way on just as
fast. Lydia’s face felt flushed, in part from the knowledge of how out of
control they’d gotten right in an open alley.

“Wow,” Nate said after they were both inside the car,
staring out the window in a slight daze. “That was, well, highly intense.”

“It seems we get more driven each time we bag a bad guy
together.”

“Yeah.” He glanced at her. “Interesting career perks we’ve
got.”

She grinned at him. “What can I say? We love our jobs.”

“And each other, apparently.” He gave her a smoldering look
that actually put a new twitch into her still-pulsing pussy. “I’ll admit it’s
damn arousing, the way you took to this business. Watching you work is so hot.
And seeing your enthusiasm has made me look at the job with fresh, new eyes.”

“Helping the justice system out with Andrew and Asa flipped
a pretty wild switch in me, it’s true. The only thing that gets me going better
than catching a bond jumper is having you inside me. And we don’t have a way to
get paid for
that
.”

Nate gave her a mischievous look. “Bedroom webcam? You’re
forever having to flash your tits around anyway. Might as well earn $5.95 per
minute doing it.”

“Ha-ha. I think I’ll stick with this, thanks. Unless you
want to wax your chest and get a job as a male stripper.”

“I’d rather save my male stripping for the bedroom.”

She leaned closer. “Or the car, alleyway, motel, bar
bathroom, behind the bushes at the park…”

“Point taken.” He put an arm around her and pulled her into
him. “I say we take a vacation. Think you can still borrow the Venice
apartment?”

“Tiff’s dad was very understanding when I paid the damages.
The offer’s still open anytime.”

“Then I say anytime starts now.” He revved the engine.

Lydia laughed. “Right now? What about packing?”

“I took the liberty. Have you not been with me long enough
to know I come complete with a fully stocked trunk?”

She couldn’t help but laugh at the sense of boyish fun in
his expression. Something was up with him, she could tell. Part of her
suspected she knew what, and the thought sped up her heartbeat. But she wasn’t
about to spoil the surprise by saying a damn thing.

She gave his arm a squeeze and buckled her seat belt. “Come
on, cowboy. Let’s take our bikini and thong and head off the grid. Only this
time, it’ll be legal.”

The End