Keagan (This is Our Life Book 2) Page 17

  Keagan pulls out onto the main road and lights Black Beauty up. I squeal as I feel the throb and quake between my thighs. It’s like the feeling of running, but on steroids. I’m scared to death and thrilled all at once. My knuckles are white from holding on tightly to his taut stomach. The vibrations from his laugh course through him and into me, as if we are one.

  The sensations of no limits, no worries, and total freedom astound me. The shifting of the gears are exhilarating. We pass by a field and I’m enveloped by the sweet distinctive smell of honeysuckle. I’m surprised by another encounter of the savory aroma of a grill cooking somewhere close by. This is what freedom feels like. With Keagan’s help, I’m being brave, taking risks and allowing the unexpected to happen. It’s amazing and I love the feeling. I never want this to end.

  Little by little, I’m learning to never take life too seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.

  The more time I spend with her, the more I realize I’ve been kidding myself. This isn’t just a fly-by interest, here-today-gone-tomorrow thing with Jocelyn.

  I hit a pothole and wait. Her arms wrap tightly around my waist, pressing her heavenly body closer to mine. I gun the bike and she squeezes harder as we speed down the highway back to Gainesville.

  I’m aching for her. I can’t seem to get enough of her.

  I’m concerned Desmond has set his sights on her. I know she doesn’t understand what people like him are capable of. She’s lived a somewhat sheltered life from the harsh reality of crime and mayhem in the world. I’m sure she’s dealt with some cases that would curl my toes, but the actual culprits I’m dealing with here scare the shit out of me to think what they would do to her if they had the chance.

  An unfamiliar ache grips me; the thought of never hearing her laughter or listening to her give me hell isn’t something I can deal with right now. Making my mind up, I decide to keep her with me, at least until I’ve talked with the guys and get an update of what they’ve found.

  We pull up in front of the two-story building. Jocelyn lifts her head from the center of my back and a contented sigh escapes her lips. I turn the engine off and hold my hand out for her to dismount. When she’s standing beside me, desire explodes inside. I grab her hand and pull her close for a kiss.

  Initially, it was to satisfy my body’s craving after having her up against me for so long on the ride. But passion ignites zero to sixty in a flash when our tongues collide and my hand fists in her curls, bringing her as close as possible, exchanging breath for breath. Her tongue circles mine, tantalizing me, begging for more. I grab the firm globes of her rear and yank her into the cradle of my thighs. She returns the favor, holding me as tightly.

  A throat clears somewhere nearby and I reluctantly open my clasped fingers one at a time and stroke her hair. Leaning my forehead on hers, I let out a loud sigh.

  “This better be fucking good, Ollie. You’re interrupting me and I’m in the middle of something very, very important.”

  “Yeah, Keagan. They found something you’re gonna want to see.”

  Jocelyn looks at Ollie and gasps. “You?”

  He chuckles and offers his hand. I swat it away.

  “Jo, this is Ollie Bishop, my business partner and used-to-be friend,” I say, giving him a stern stay-the-fuck-away look.

  He laughs harder at me, grabbing his clenching stomach. “Oh man, you’ve got it bad. We’ve already met. Good to see you again, Jo.”

  “It’s Jocelyn to you,” I remark, not being able to stop myself.

  “I think I can speak for myself, thank you very much,” she says, giving me a stern look. Turning, the sassy little minx smiles at Ollie. “Hi, Ollie. Glad to know he’s actually got a friend these days. I was worried.”

  I push past the hysterically laughing Ollie and grab Jo’s hand.

  “C’mon. Let’s get inside.”

  He’s still chuckling softly when we enter the building. Lukas and Gunner stop what they are doing and stare. I wrap my arm around Jocelyn’s waist.

  “Hi, Jocelyn,” Gunner greets her with a wave of his fingers.

  “Lukas Rogers, this is Jo.”

  “I kind of figured that and all, Keagan.” Lukas stands, making his way towards her and wrapping her in a burly hug. “Hiya, Jocelyn. It’s nice to finally put a pretty face with the name.”

  “Um, well okay. Hello. You know, you’re really tall, right?” she mumbles with her chin extended up.

  He smirks and steps back as Roxy comes barreling towards us. “I’ve been told a time or two. Here comes his other baby.”

  I snap my fingers and Roxy sits.

  “Jo, meet Roxy.”

  Dropping to her knees, she opens her arms. “You didn’t tell me you had a Rottweiler, Keagan. She’s adorable.”

  I motion for Roxy to come forward. As she starts licking Jo’s face, the room erupts in laughter.

  “You thirsty, Jo?”

  “Now that you mention it, I could use something cold to drink.”

  “Hey, kid. Can you show Jo? I need a minute real quick with these guys.”

  “Sure thing, pops.” He rises from the chair and motions her towards the kitchen area. Sooner or later, I’m gonna get him and his smart aleck comments. I watch as she strolls away. Damn, those boots have me wanting her in a bad way. The image of her wearing nothing but her pink boots while I’m taking her from behind has me shifting my stance. When they are a little ways away, I turn my attention.

  “Ollie mentioned you found something?”

  “We broadened the search. You know we’ve been using the Cabricci family and known associates. After Desmond confronted Jocelyn, we decided to include the Blackwood name.”

  “What the fuck?”

  “Hear me out, Keagan.”

  “I’m listening. Haven’t lost my shit.” I lower my voice.

  “We knew there was a possibility we would find something. Desmond Payne doesn’t make a move without their approval. And, with him chasing Jocelyn the way he did, got us to thinking. What if the connection between them is one of her clients?”

  “Tell me something I don’t already know, Luc. Talked to her about him and she’s not saying a word.”

  “Gunner also found that Matilda Blackwood purchased several properties across the United States the year Fallyn Blackwood went missing under the alias of Matilda Rice.”

  “She purchased my home the same way. No biggie. That’s how she keeps her properties separate from my grandfather’s. Her attorneys have had her doing it that way for years,” Jocelyn interrupts and shrugs her shoulders.

  “Jocelyn,” I rumble.

  “Keagan,” she sarcastically mimics.

  “You shouldn’t be listening in on our private conversation.”

  She shrugs again and places her balled fists on her hips. Fucking wonderful. I know that look. We’re about to go round and round.

  “Why are you running a background check on my grandmother? She’s not involved in anything illegal.”

  “Jo, you can’t be involved in this.”

  “Why not? You’re discussing my family.”

  “It’s business. We don’t want to mix business with pleasure.”

  “Whatever, Keagan. I’m not going anywhere. I want to know why you were talking about my grandma. So, deal with it.”

  “Jo, this isn’t a good idea. I don’t want to dredge up bad memories.”

  “Good gosh, Keagan. I’m an adult. I think I can handle anything you dredge up.”

  “Keagan, she could help us,” Ollie inserts. “Why don’t we all sit down and talk about this?”

  He gestures at the table. Jocelyn doesn’t hesitate to sit down. Well, shit. This isn’t how I wanted to spend my day. I wanted time alone with her, just the two of us. I reluctantly walk over and take a seat.

  She drums her fingers on the table. I clasp her hand and pull it into my lap.

  “The case we are working on involves a large crime family from the west coast,” Ollie begins. “For years, the
y’ve been known on the black market as the ones to go to see if you needed illegal firepower. We’re not talking average guns for personal use, but heavy weapons used for war, terrorism. Sizeable shipments.”

  “They lead the drug-trafficking here in the states,” Lukas interjects. “Their connections are endless.”

  “Yeah, they hire illegal gangs and clubs. Keep ‘em on the payroll as distributors for their stock,” Gunner pipes in. “That’s how I got messed up in this shit, Jo. They needed a hacker.”

  She nods. “So, what does this have to do with me? My family?”

  “Well, here’s the tricky part. Our client didn’t hire us for those reasons,” Lukas states wearily.

  “Then why?”

  “They’ve added a new product to their repertoire,” Ollie hesitantly says with an uncomfortable expression.

  “Okay.”

  “Human trafficking,” I announce, getting tired of all the tiptoeing around the subject bullshit, “or more specifically, children.”

  “Whoa. Hold on a minute here. Did you just say selling children?” she squeaks, rubbing her arms.

  “Yeah. I didn’t realize what I was doing for them. Never would have done it, had I known it was selling babies,” Gunner answers, visibly upset. “But, I’m gonna fix it. I was able to find out the date to the upcoming auction. It’s next week.”

  “And you think my grandma is involved in something as horrific as this? You all are out of your ever-lovin’ minds!” she yells and slams her hand on the tabletop. “This is absolutely crazy. We can settle this right here, right now. Where’s my phone? I’ll call my grandma and she can tell you just how nuts all of you are.”

  “Hold on there, Jocelyn. No one said your grandmother was involved in the kidnappings,” Ollie calmly responds. “We are just covering all the bases, and with Desmond sniffing around you, we needed to check.”

  “Okay, I know something is going on. First, Keagan questions me about Desmond, and now you say that. What does he have to do with that family?” she demands.

  “He gets his orders from the top.”

  “Fantastic. Just what I need. A moron with organized crime connections on my trail. What’s next?”

  “Nothing. C’mon. Time to get you home, Jo.”

  “Wait a minute, buddy. I’m not finished here.”

  Not replying, I secure my arm around her waist and lift her out of the chair.

  “Put me down, right now.”

  I nod at the guys and stride out the door to my bike. Putting her feet back on the ground, I straddle the bike and give her my “get on the fucking bike now” look. She huffs and puffs and accepts my hand, climbing on behind me. I start to crank the bike and hear her mumble, “Two can play that game, baby.”

  As we walk into my home, Keagan is holding my hand in a death grip like he’s scared I’ll turn tail and run. Does he even know his own strength? Jeez, Louise. I squeeze his hand as hard as I can with both of mine to send the message because I’m just not talking to him yet. He briefly looks my way, worry written on his beautiful face, and eases up a bit. My hand is thankful.

  Tonight was full of shock and awe. I uncovered some pretty disturbing things I’m not sure how to handle thus far. I’m exhausted mentally and fuming mad due to the lack of responses given by a certain someone who is pulling me through the house at this very moment. I want answers.

  On the ride home, I had a chance to cool down a little with the wind whipping my hair, the sweet smells of Florida inundating me. It was heavenly.

  I learned some things out of pure luck by overhearing the guys talking. My grandmother bought homes all over the United States, and she did it all under the name Rice—her maiden name, barely traceable if you didn’t know what you were looking for. That’s the way she’s done things for years, so it was not real surprising.

  The guys pretty much shut down after my question tirade and Keagan dragged me out of the door, so I quit talking to him. Yep, didn’t say a word as we walked to the bike, got on, and sped through the streets. Just sat there like a stump on a log—while gripping him tightly, of course.

  But a couple of things are really bothering me, aside from the fact that my family name is being looked into by Keagan and his cronies. Unbelievable.

  Number one: Fallyn left right after Harper’s birth, so is that a coincidence? Two: Human trafficking. Children, at that. And three: The creeper, Desmond Payne, is connected to all of it. I have to talk to Grandma.

  Keagan leads me through the long hallway to the back of the house into my bedroom. His eyes are laser beams focused solely on me. Decisive, resolute. Stopping a few feet from of my bed, he sighs. I pull my arms up and cross my chest as I huff and jut my hip out to the side.

  “Angel. How long ya gonna stay mad at me?” Keagan props his large paws on my shoulders and playfully shakes me back and forth. “C’mon, Boo.”

  He lets go, backs up a little, and strikes a pose. Oh my goodness. A mouthwatering muscle-mania pose like he used to do when we were kids. It was just to see me smile, he’d always say. Gosh dang it. He’s bringing the big guns out. Literally.

  I can’t help the smile that begins to curve on my mouth, so I turn my back on him.

  “Ugh!”

  “Ya can’t hide from me, Jo,” he adds in his sexy voice as he moves his beautifully constructed body around until he’s in my view again. The only thing better would be him naked. Keagan commences to modeling his muscles and I’ve had about all I can take.

  “Spill it, Keagan. I need to know what’s going on. It’s just you and me now.”

  “There she is. M’aingeal.”

  “I want to be mad here, Keagan. Stop that!”

  I gesture to his posing. He gives me one last pose, then sighs with sadness playing across his features, and he quits.

  “It’s complicated, Jocelyn. There’s so many players at work here. It’s not all black and white. Let’s sit.”

  He guides me over to the chaise lounge in front of the window and sits down. I reluctantly follow suit.

  “Well, I’m waiting.” I stretch my knee up across the lounger and face Keagan.

  “The client who hired our firm has a six-month-old. He was taken two weeks ago, and we know who has him. We have a handful of days to find him before he’s lost to them forever. I know you want answers. I honestly don’t have them for you. But I promise that when I do, I’ll share them with you.”

  I understand what he’s saying. No answers today.

  “Those poor people. I’m sure they’re going out of their minds with worry. What kind of monsters would take an innocent child?”

  “There’s evil in the world, Jo. I’ve seen it, been ‘round it, got the scars as proof. C’mere.”

  He reaches over and uproots me from my current position. Cradling me in his lap, Keagan strokes my back and runs his fingers through my hair.

  “M’aingeal.”

  My head against his chest, I listen to the solid beating of his heart. Thump-thump, thump-thump.

  “I think I’m in love with your bike Black Beauty.”

  “Yeah?”

  I feel the reverberations of his voice in his chest.

  “I loved going fast, the wind caressing my face and the power of freedom that comes with it. Riding with you was exhilarating! Even if I didn’t have much of a seat.” Just adding another piece of my heart to what’s already yours. I keep that tidbit to myself.

  Laughing, he says, “It’s made for one, angel. But you did good.”

  “I hope I get to do it again. I’d like that.”

  “Let’s get you naked, baby,” he whispers in my ear as he redirects the conversation.

  Keagan stands up and puts me on my feet. He kneels down in front of me and begins to take off one pink boot at a time. Slowly and methodically, he pulls them off and discards them on the floor.

  “One day soon, I’m gonna fuck you with these on. That’s a promise, Boo.”

  A shiver rocks down my spine all the way to my
lady parts. The possibilities are thrilling.

  “I’ll hold you to it, Mr. Fontneau.”

  Keagan winks and smiles up at me. When he’s done with my boots, he stands back up and reaches out to grab my shirt. Ever so gently like a man with purpose, Keagan tugs it up. He stops when my shirt has uncovered my breasts and still covering my face, arms caught above my head. He nips and licks his way around my bra, teasing and taunting me. I squirm. He chuckles as he removes my shirt the rest of the way.

  Unsnapping my jeans, he hooks his fingers around the sides and slides them down my legs, taking my underwear along with them. The last piece left is my bra and he circles me up while he unclasps it. My skin is sensitive, overheated from his foreplay when he brushes up against me with his fully clothed body. I’m all hot and bothered, wondering what Keagan will do next.

  He releases his hold and steps back.

  “Beautiful,” Keagan says as he unsnaps his jeans and toes off his boots.

  I watch as his arm muscles bulge and shift when he removes his shirt, tugging it from behind his head. I’m mesmerized by his abs and muscular chest as he delivers the show, inch by glorious inch.

  I’ve had enough and move to touch him. My fingers skim over his heated skin. I stop as my finger finds one of the puckered scars. Keagan inhales a short breath. I kneel down, kissing each scar, hoping one day he’ll tell me about them.

  He gathers me up from off the floor. In a matter of seconds, he scoops behind my knees and I’m off my feet and into his arms. He heads into the bathroom.

  “Time to clean you up, baby.”

  My shower is a double stall, walk-through style with no curtains or glass needed. Glorious. Once on the hand laid travertine floor, Keagan settles me back on my feet to turn on the water. He pushes a few of the buttons and the water spray begins. I’m impressed he knows which ones to use; it took me a while to figure it out.