Wicked Bad Boys (64 page)

I
couldn’t deny
Johnny was a sweet guy so far. It was still beyond me that he could give me a two-million-dollar check. After our phone session, I got dressed and made sure to get to the bank to deposit it. The teller had to get manager approval, and told me the funds would be on a two-week hold because of the amount. I didn’t care how long it took. I wouldn’t need to touch it for at least a month during the tour.

Now, in the back of his limo, I couldn’t even pretend to put up a fight with him. Check or no check, I did miss him. At least my body did. So when he told me to ride him, my stomach clenched. I turned my head and his lips met mine for a fierce kiss. I was already wet when he had placed my hand on his hard, throbbing cock. Now there wasn’t any turning back. He pulled me up on his lap to sit sideways, and slid his hand under my skirt.

“I want you now,” he groaned, rubbing his hand against my inner thigh.

He cradled my neck with his other arm, looked up into my eyes for a brief moment, and pulled me into his smoldering hot body to kiss me again. His kiss was so raw, so full of need, it released any hesitation I had. He parted my lips, exploring my mouth with his tongue. I spread my legs and let his hand have full control through the sheer fabric of my panties.

“God, Johnny,” I murmured through the mind-blowing kiss.

He hiked up my skirt and held me around my waist to turn me into him.

I lifted my hips to straddle him, and sat facing him on his lap. He unbuttoned my blazer and shirt, shifting my bra over to the side. He leaned into me and circled his tongue around each of my already tingling breasts.

“God woman, you’re so beautiful,” he moaned, pulling away to look up at me with those seductive eyes.

He wrapped his arms around my ass and spread my ass cheeks. His arousal grew firmer between my legs. My hips rocked on him, grinding my pussy on his hardness. I was ready for him, wet and completely undone. I quickly undid his belt and tugged on his zipper. He lifted his hips effortlessly with me on top, freeing his cock beneath me.

“Fuck me, Johnny,” I moaned, reaching my head down to kiss his ear.

He returned to my breasts, licking and caressing each nipple as I nibbled on his ear lobes. He growled deeply, and his cock became stiff as a board, pressing against my folds to enter me. I lifted myself up and slid my panties to the side as he grabbed my hips, pulling me down on his shaft. I just about squealed as he moved deeper inside me. My hips undulated, and I gripped tightly on to his shoulders to hold on, letting that elemental pleasure take over my body.

“Oh God. It feels so good inside you, baby,” he said.

His pace sped up, and I matched his movements, riding high on the heights of desire. His thrusts deepened, and he squeezed my ass cheeks so I could feel his thrusts hitting deeper inside me. I moved my hands into the small of his back, anchoring myself to him as his cock hit my pleasure spot over and over again.

“Come for me, Amanda,” he muttered.

“Oh God!” That extra leverage took me straight over the edge. He tilted his hips up and plunged deeper, following me to his own climax as my body shook. On two sharp jerks, he came, pulling me down hard on his cock. He buried his head between my breasts and groaned through his orgasm. I rested my chin on the top of his head. Neither of us moved for some time, waiting to renew our energy. I closed my eyes. As much as I enjoyed it, I reminded myself this was just sex. And temporary.

I
took
Amanda’s luggage to the bottom of the stairs and led her down the hall to the main floor bathroom. She wanted to neaten up quickly before her meeting with Agent Carlson and his team. If it were up to me, we would be up in my bed, finishing what we started in the back of the limo. I appreciated that she was a professional and had her head on straight when it mattered.

The agents had briefed Kevin and me earlier in the day. They told us they would be monitoring the house, and would keep an agent near the front door at all times. As if on cue, Agent Carlson and Kevin entered the hallway as Amanda exited the bathroom.

“Hello Amanda,” Kevin greeted her. He was trying to be professional, but I could hear the irritation in his words. “Pleasant flight back?”

“Yes. Thanks again, Kevin,” she answered, and turned to Agent Carlson. “Good to see you again, sir.”

“Welcome back,” Agent Carlson answered. “All set?”

“I am,” she told him confidently. “I understand you gentlemen are working on the timeline for the tour. Do you need any help?”

“We should be fine,” Kevin spoke up, “but there have been a few adjustments. The biggest change is we’re flying out tomorrow afternoon, to accommodate a final photoshoot in the morning.”

“So we get to Greece on Saturday night?”

“Yes.”

“That doesn’t leave much wiggle room for a Sunday concert, does it? Never mind the jetlag. Do you have anyone arriving there ahead of schedule to clear the place and check for vulnerabilities at the location?”

“We should be fine,” Kevin answered. “We’ll have less setup and practice time in Greece now, but it doesn’t deviate too much from what you already know.”

I let Kevin and the agent do their thing, and stood back to admire Amanda. She was a true professional. No one had any clue what the two of us were up to just minutes before. And until Kevin backed off, it would stay that way. I wasn’t sure how long I would be able to hide what was really going on. In some ways, Kevin had already figured it out. But being brazen in front of him was just not smart. He would only make it more difficult for Amanda.

Agent Carlson took Amanda to meet his team and do a walkthrough of the logistics for the first tour stop. Kevin went with them, and I excused myself to get some things finished up in my main floor office. After about an hour, I returned to the guest office to see how they were doing.

“We’re just finishing up,” said Agent Carlson.

“Good timing.” I turned to Amanda. “You’ve had a long flight, and we’re all boarding another one tomorrow. I’ll get your bags up to your room so you can relax a bit.”

“Not a bad idea,” Kevin agreed. “I still have some packing to finish at home, and it will be the last few hours of quality time I get with Lady before this month-long tour. I’ll see you all this evening.”

Kevin left, the agents resumed their planning, and Amanda followed me as I went to get her bags.

“Thank you,” she said to me, glancing back to look at Kevin.

She followed behind me. An odd tension settled between us as we climbed the stairs and went to her guest room. I laid her bags on the bed. I wanted to say something to get her to open up again, but settled for, “Are you hungry?” Food was usually a safe offer.

“Thanks, but I’m all right. What I really need is a few hours rest. Good call, by the way.”

“No problem. Want me to hang around while you rest?”

“It’s probably better if I go this one alone,” she answered. “You don’t mind, do you? I’ll come to check on you a little later.”

“Sure, sure. See you,” I answered. I left the room, and she closed the door gently behind me.

My chest tightened. I didn’t expect that. But then again, I knew she wanted to keep things above board when the others were around. And she didn’t let up on not wanting anything more than sex. At least I could take some comfort that I would see her every day for the next month. She would be closer with the FBI’s plan being set in motion once we were on the road. I would take Amanda as my pretend girlfriend until she figured out I was for real. This chance took three years of waiting. I was crazy about her long before she met me. Now that she was this close, I was not going anywhere.

A
s soon as
Johnny was gone, I leaned back against the door and let out a long sigh. I had hoped that my day and a half away would give me the space to clear my mind and figure out what I wanted. It didn’t. He had dominated most of my waking thoughts. By the time I was boarding my flight back to LAX, I was more confused than ever. I had been drawn to him like a magnet since the moment I met him. There was something about him that haunted me. I couldn’t figure out what it was that had me almost hung up on him. Almost.

I wasn’t sure if it was the fact that he turned out to be so different from what I had expected. Or maybe it was how he treated me. He was so sweet and kind, I could get used to it. And he had no problem handling me just being myself. I found it easy to have hot, passionate sex with him one night, then share a couple of beers and watch a football game like old friends on the next. He didn’t even flinch when I told him I couldn’t have kids. There was no awkwardness or anything. The way he got me off over the phone…that was a bonus. And I couldn’t tell him this, but my legs were still shaking long after I rode him in the back of the limo on the way over. I had to step in the bathroom downstairs to get my composure back. Putting all of that together, it was no wonder the man could wreak havoc on my body chemistry and make me crazy.

Even with the money safely in my bank account now, I had kept Kevin’s threat top of mind as my ammunition to keep my feelings out of it. It was bad enough the man who could make or break this gig seemed to hate me. I reminded myself that this was business—my golden ticket. If I ever wanted to start my own security firm, I still needed to press on, remain professional, and work my ass off to earn that big fat paycheck. That was the only way I’d be able to keep the funds in the end to use as seed money. If I blew the contract over some guy, I would never forgive myself. Of course, Johnny was not ‘some guy’—protecting him was the objective of the contract—but that’s what made it more difficult. We
had
to remain close.

I walked across the large room and headed right for the shower. I turned the water on and had steam spreading through the bathroom by the time I stripped off my clothes. I stepped inside and let the water flow over my head and face, and down my back. I was adding soap to my bath sponge when I heard my phone outside. I let it ring—I needed this time. After I was done and drying off, it rang again. I checked the phone. It was Eva, so I answered.

“Hi Eva.”

“Hi bestie.”

“How are my babies doing?”

“You fish are just fine. Little party animals. Did you notice how they splash water out of the tank when you walk into the room?”

I laughed. “Yes! They’re cute aren’t they?”

“Nope,” she said, joking. “I just put down hardwood in my place. I need a spill-zone around the little socialites. Anyway how are you?”

“Good. Got back into LA earlier.”

“I’m still pissed about that. I can’t believe you won’t tell me anything. Even after I took you to your favorite dessert place last night.”

“I told you, hun. If I talk, the deal goes bye-bye.”

“At least tell me if he’s hot.”

“Who?”

“Whoever it is you’ve been getting busy with.”

I giggled. “What are you talking about, Eva?”

“Don’t even try to deny you’re getting laid, missy. I can tell from that goofy smile you had on your face all evening.”

“Shit. Okay. Yes, he’s hot.”

“How hot? Dwayne Johnson hot?”

“What’s with you and The Rock these days?”

“Answer the fucking question!” she demanded, laughing hard as she waited. “I haven’t slept with anyone in a month. It’s been a dry, dry spell, woman. I almost ended up sleeping with that guy who always sits at the end of the bar at Vinny’s.”

“What guy?”

“You know him! It’s that guy who smells like boiled eggs and menthol mixed with strawberries.”

I had no idea who she was talking about, and her disturbing description concerned me on a different level. “Who?”

“Awww, come on. The guy with the meat-hook tattoo on his cheek.”

“Ohhhhh. That guy? Oh God, Eva, we’ve got to get you some help. As soon as I get back, I’m taking you out to somewhere classy.”

“So you’re not telling me about him, are you?”

“Telling you about who?”

“Amanda girl, you’re being so evasive today. What are you now, a spy in training? Sheesh. The guy you’re sleeping with, dammit!”

Eva wasn’t far off at all. It made me laugh so hard, I was sure Johnny would come knocking on my door.

“I can’t talk about him,” I told her when I got over my laughing fit.

“Shit. Okay, but make sure you tell me if you end up marrying the guy.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I told you. It’s those goo-goo eyes you made last night. You barely ate your chocolate lava cake. Normally you can wolf down a second serving like it’s toffee. You’re already in love with him, aren’t you?”

“Bye Eva,” I said, ignoring her last comment. “I’ll text you in a few days.”

I put the phone down, slipped into my robe, and crawled into bed. It was time for a bit of rest—and getting my mind off Johnny.

T
he nap
and shower helped me feel better. By the time I woke up and got dressed, I felt confident I could keep it together long enough to have dinner with everyone. That was right up until I saw Johnny. I really thought I had drilled it in deep enough, but as soon as I stepped into that dining room and he smiled at me, my resolve went out the window. I lost it all and felt my brain fogging up again. Thankfully, the grimace on Kevin’s face was waiting to keep me in check.

Agent Carlson and his fresh-faced team were already seated. It included Agents Lucas Ramirez and Larry Sanford, who I had met earlier, and a third one—female—Agent Jenny Webber. Carlson explained she was recently freed up from another assignment and could blend into Johnny’s entourage later in the tour. It sounded fine to me. I just hoped Kevin hadn’t gotten any new ideas about replacing me with her.

I put the fear out of my mind as quickly as it came—it made no sense worrying about what I couldn’t control. I decided to focus on being my best, and to let the chips fall wherever they might. I did my thing, and was sociable, getting to know the four of them. Johnny and Kevin excused themselves at the sound of the doorbell. I couldn’t help feeling some anxiety whenever the two of them went off to speak privately. After witnessing their explosive argument, I was fairly certain all further fights during this tour would be about me.

During that fight, Kevin had said Johnny was the one responsible for me getting the job, and the paycheck that went along with it. He also made it clear he held decision-making power over my continued employment. I wondered whether Johnny had told Kevin about the check he gave me. On top of that, I was curious about how Johnny knew me. My only guess was I got on his radar somewhere during my MMA days, or when my fights were syndicated on TV. Even if I could figure it out, there were lingering questions as to why he had handpicked me for this job, and why he had insisted on paying so much money. Deep down I wasn’t sure if I really wanted to know. I had the information that mattered. Kevin had hired me and Johnny paid me upfront. Now it was up to me to make good on my commitment to both of them.

There was no change to my confusion about all these unanswered questions when Johnny and Kevin re-entered the dining room, two huge paper bags in each of their arms.

“I hope you’re all hungry!” Johnny shouted, sporting a broad smile. “I may not know how to hack a Facebook page, decode emails, or fight off a raging fan-girl, but I do know the best underground Chinese place in the city.” He set the bags down on the counter and when he looked up, he did a double take when he saw me. For the life of me, I couldn’t understand why. I had been sitting here before he left to get the door. It was like he forgot. “Uh, anyway, dig in.”

The agents all glanced at Agent Carlson, who nodded his approval before they set their work aside. They gathered around the kitchen center island while Johnny unboxed everything. Kevin rounded the corner of the counter and retrieved a stack of plates from the cupboard. He placed them in front of me, so I handed them out. Johnny was still busy opening up the food. I took the liberty of grabbing drinks and bottles of water from the fridge.

It seemed like a carefully choreographed dance. We all weaved around each other, everyone balancing their plate and loading up on the food. The smell was mouthwatering. I had not realized how hungry I was until I sat at the table with a pile of steaming hot food in front of me. Johnny sat next to me and dug into his own plate.

“So, how does it feel being the bodyguard slash object of Johnny Q Venom’s affection?” Agent Webber asked as she took her seat across from me.

I laughed nervously, caught off guard by the question.

“Isn’t it obvious, Agent Webber?” Johnny interjected, casting a sidelong glance at me. “We’re so pretend in love she’s too overwhelmed to speak.”