Page 5 of Hidden Desires

“Look here, buddy. You do not get to come into my home and insult me. I don’t give a shit what my father told you or is paying you, but this is my house and ultimately my decision.”

A spark of interest flashed through his eyes and his lips curved slightly at her remark. “I fully intend on the Major briefing me, but I haven’t the slightest idea what the hell is going on. I need you to tell me what happened so I can plan the best course of action.”

Course of action. Yeah. Right.

“Someone planted a small bomb in a package and sent it to me. It blew up at my office. My father’s overactive imagination thinks the person who sent it is out for blood and planned on killing me in the process. I know enough about bombs from studying with Nick that a little hand-held isn’t going to threaten a life. Take an arm off, maybe. But not take a life.”

“And you saying that shows your naïve stupidity.”

“Stop it,” she screamed, tears forming in her eyes. “You do not get to waltz into my home and call me names. Especially when you’re uninvited.”

“No? You’d rather me sugarcoat it for you?” Jackson stepped inside her bedroom, taking up her space. “Tell your father, ‘Yeah, sure she’s tough shit. She can handle herself.’ Then stand to the side and watch your body turn into pink mist when a bigger bomb explodes—all on my watch? When hell freezes over, sweetheart. If you think I’m backing down on this mission because I hurt your feelings fourteen years ago, you’re not only stupid but an ignorant fool.”

“I hate you.”

“Yeah, well, that’s something I can live with.” He reached into the side pocket of his pants and pulled out shiny metal cuffs.

“What are you doing with those?” Autumn arched a brow.

“Until I can trust you, you’ll be handcuffed to the bed.” A sly grin crept across his face.

“You aren’t putting those things on me.” She walked around the bed, positioning it between them.

“No? Is the tough girl going to stop me?”

Autumn sized him up and immediately decided it was a battle she’d lose. Although she roughhoused with her brother Nick, Jackson was twice his size. She would lose before the battle even began. Where the hell was Davis? “I’ll scream.”

“And no one will hear you.” He grabbed her arm and clicked the first cuff in place before she could pull out of his reach. “Or better yet, no one will care.”

The cool metal wrapped around her wrist like a snake twining around a limb. Autumn struggled and Jackson’s grip tightened. She hated the tingle he sent up her arm when his fingers held her wrist immobile. Nothing was more humiliating than the fact she still had that kind of reaction toward him after all he subjected her to.

“Now that’s a good girl,” he cooed. “If you’re really nice to me, I promise to give you more freedom.”

“Davis!”

Autumn jerked her hand away only to lose her balance and fall against the bed. Jackson climbed on top of her, pressing his body against hers to hold her still. She bit her lip to keep from saying something stupid like “Kiss me.” This was war, not foreplay, and she should have used her legs to kick him off her. Instead, her mind played their past relationship like a silent film. Each kiss, each touch flooding her memory faster than the speed of light. She groaned when he pressed his hips to her, remembering the feel of his body as he moved inside her. She’d been with men since her time with Jackson, but he was the only one who made her scream. Oh, how he made her scream.

He clicked the other cuff in place around the posts, the smug smile on his face saying he knew her thoughts. She didn’t exactly hide them, with her legs spread apart and her crotch all but rubbing against his. So much for not embarrassing herself.

“You try to play tough, sweetheart, but in the end, you will lose, and I will win.” Jackson brushed a strand of hair from her face. His gaze lingered along the length of her body almost as intimate as a caress. “I always win.”

She screamed her frustration, and he did nothing but smile. She kicked her legs in an effort to fight him, but he moved quickly out of the way. All logical reasoning said she was doomed. She couldn’t comprehend who he thought he was coming into her house and holding her prisoner, but he sure as hell would pay for it. They’d all pay for it, starting with her overbearing father and his gallant status quo.

Jackson held out his hands. “Now don’t move.” He snickered. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

“Fuck you, Jackson!”

He smiled. “As memory serves, you already have.”

* * * *

Jackson paused outside Autumn’s bedroom and took a deep breath. It was her. The forbidden temptation. Fourteen years ago, Autumn was pretty, but now…now she was hot.

Jackson leaned against the closed door and tried to erase the image of her body from his mind. Although she was still small, her body had filled out to perfection. Her plain black Metallica T-shirt did nothing to hide her perky breasts that he knew for a fact felt good in his hands and tasted even better on his tongue. And the tight denim jeans molded along every curve of her lower body, leaving nothing to the imagination. His libido came to life, dancing with excitement at the forbidden temptation she offered. A lot had changed since he saw the love-struck teenager last, and from what he could tell, it was all for the better.

He tried to clear his mind and erase the way she essentially tried to hump him on her bed just a few seconds ago. He never fucked the job, no matter how tempting it was. And that’s all Autumn Callahan was. The job.

He pushed away from the door and made his way into the living room to find Davis smiling at him, a boy with a secret. For whatever reason, he had been chosen to protect Autumn, and the Major expected him to follow through on his commitment. As hard as he knew it would be, he would follow through.

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