Broken Hero Read online

  My breasts shook with each penetration, Garrett lowering his head to suck on my pink nipples as I ran my hands through his hair. He lifted his gaze up to me looking at me with those baby blue eyes as he regarded me with an expression of pure, heated sexual passion.

  An orgasm began to build in me, and I could tell the same was happening for Garrett. Moans slipped out of my mouth and animal grunts out of his as my body writhed and squirmed underneath him. I was being fucked like I’d never been fucked before in my life, and the need to come was so intense that I felt like I might come apart at the seams at any moment.

  “How’s that cock feel in you?” purred Garrett into my ear as I got closer and closer to the release I craved.

  The orgasm that blasted through me answered his question.

  Every muscle in my body went tense as I came, tight and hot before a wave of pleasure was released. My eyes opened wide, and all manner of moans and screams left my mouth.

  “I’m…I’m coming!” I announced.

  Garrett grunted hard, and I felt him come too, his cock pulsing as he drained himself into the condom. The feeling of him releasing inside of me pushed me into a higher level of pleasure, and my legs were locked around him so tight and hard that I worried I might snap him in two.

  Soon the orgasm faded, and my limbs plopped down to my sides, limp and warm. Garrett’s muscles relaxed as the last few drops of his release left his cock, and then his body fell on top of mine. I held him close, feeling his chest rise and fall as we both caught our breath.

  Finally, he lifted his head and regarded me with a playful little smirk.

  “What’re you grinning at?” I asked with a smile.

  “Nothing,” he said. “Just wondering if this is part of the interview.”

  I laughed.

  If it was, he would’ve passed with absolutely flying colors.

  Chapter Eleven

  GARRETT

  I couldn’t believe how quickly I fell asleep. One moment I was laying on my side, my eyes on the silver sheen of moonlight playing on Natalie’s gorgeous, naked body, and the next I was awake in her bed in the morning, sunlight streaming in through the large windows.

  And I was alone.

  I sat up, the events of last night flooding back into my mind. There was the party, the attack, and, of course, the amazing sex.

  God, she was so sexy I could hardly wrap my mind around it. The image of her underneath me last night, her beautiful face in a tight expression of pure ecstasy, appeared clear as the day outside the window.

  My prick went hard underneath the soft sheets, and part of me wanted to search through the apartment for Natalie and see if she was ready for a little more fun in the clear light of day.

  “Not a good idea,” I said to myself out loud.

  It had been a fucking terrible idea, actually. Sleeping with Natalie had been something I’d wanted since the moment I’d laid eyes on her, sure, but that didn’t mean I should’ve actually done it. I had known it’d take some major restraint to keep my hands off her, and I’d assumed I was up for the task.

  But it didn’t look like I had been. A few drinks and a little adrenaline had been enough for me to give in, to lose myself to desire. There would likely be a price to pay for this, and I assumed it wouldn’t be one I could afford.

  After all, there was more at stake here, more than Natalie even knew. Or ever would.

  I stretched, letting the blood flow to my sleepy arms and legs. The sleep had been restful, and I was ready to start the day. The only issue was figuring out where, exactly, my potential client and recent lover had gone off to.

  I plopped my feet onto the cool white floor and got up, my cock dangling long and loose between my legs. I scanned the room for something to wear, not wanting to put back on the tux I’d worn last night.

  Then, on a small table near the door, I spotted a small pile of clothes, a little note on top written on a folded piece of paper. I stepped over and saw that there was a pair of dark blue jeans, a white T-shirt, and some white Vans sneakers.

  “Look to be about your size,” read the note.

  I set it aside and put on the clothes. No underwear, but that would have to do. Not like I hadn’t deprived myself of worse luxuries over the years. The clothes fit, but the T-shirt was almost comically tight on my chest and arms. I glanced at myself in the mirror, trying to fight off the urge to do one of those wrestling moves where they flex and rip off their shirts.

  Once my shoes were on I headed into the kitchen, the smell of cooking bacon and fresh coffee greeting me. I followed the smells, which led me to the main room of the apartment. Sure enough, Natalie was in the open kitchen, her back to me as she stood at the stove.

  I took in the sight of her as she cooked. She was dressed in a pair of gray lounge shorts that were short enough to show off the bottom inch of her perfect little ass. She stood with her legs crossed, her thighs looking gorgeous and inviting. Up top she wore a simple tank top, her arms willowy and toned. Her hair was done up in a quick, messy bun that was casual yet somehow still totally sexy.

  “Morning,” I said, my voice deep with sleep.

  She turned on her heels, and I noticed right away that she wasn’t wearing a bra. Her nipples were hard and I could make out the outlines through her thin shirt. My morning wood had gone down, but the sight of her dressed like this was making me hard all over again.

  “Morning,” she said. “Want some coffee?”

  “Coffee sounds great,” I said, stepping closer to the kitchen, the smells growing richer the closer I got.

  Natalie poured me a large mug of coffee from her French press and passed it down the kitchen bar.

  “Wow,” I said. “Coffee and breakfast—who’s working for who here?”

  I flashed her a smirk, and she gave me one back, rolling her eyes along with it.

  “Don’t get used to it,” she said. “I wanted some eggs and bacon, and I figured it’d be rude for me not to offer some to my guest.”

  Guest. It was a strange word to use, but it was the right one. After all, I wasn’t officially working for her yet.

  She flicked her gaze up and down my body as if appraising a car she was thinking about buying.

  “Good to see the clothes fit,” she said.

  Then she turned her eyes to the straining fabric on my arms and chest.

  “For the most part. An ex of mine way back when left those here, so you can keep them.”

  “Thanks,” I said.

  I sipped my coffee as she turned back to the stove, my eyes on her impossibly lovely legs all the while. Before too long the food was ready, and she passed me a plate of scrambled eggs topped with melted white cheese and a side of crispy bacon. I was so hungry that it took all the restraint I had not to dig in before she had a chance to sit next to me.

  Once she was seated, she held her hands out in front of her as she looked down. I could tell she was getting ready to say something.

  “About last night…” I said, beating her to the punch.

  “Here’s the deal,” she said. “That was stupid. Really stupid. I never, and I mean never, do that kind of thing with guys I’ve just met.”

  “But…”

  “But, I also don’t end up the target of gangster violence. And I don’t get jumped in back streets. So I think all that just put me into a weird frame of mind.”

  “You regret it?” I asked.

  “I don’t regret any decisions I make,” she said, turning her hazel eyes to me. “Regret is the most pointless emotion there is. We screwed. It’s done.”

  Despite how stern she was being, my cock still twitched as she said “screwed.” I wanted to give myself a jab in the crotch to get my cock to calm down for once.

  “Aside from that,” she said, “you did a hell of a job last night. You were great at the party, and that’s to say nothing of you kicking the snot out of those assholes Joey sent.”

  I jabbed my fork into my eggs and scooped some up toward my mout
h, the cheese stretching and drooping.

  “And if Joey’s sending out men after me,” she went on, “that means I don’t have the luxury of sifting through candidates for the job. I need protection, and I need it fast. So, I might as well go with the team that’s already proven themselves.”

  “Then you want to sign?”

  “I want to sign,” she said. “As of today, I want you and your team on my ass at all times.”

  I had to use more than a little restraint to avoid making a comment.

  “That’s what we do best,” I said.

  Then she raised her finger to my face, my eyebrows rising as she did.

  “But last night, that other part of last night, isn’t going to happen again.”

  I hated to admit it, but she was right.

  “Sure,” I said. “We slipped, but that can be all it was. Once you sign the contract you’ll be my client, and we can keep everything from here on out perfectly professional.”

  Relief washed over her face. “Good,” she said. “That’s what I was hoping you’d say.”

  I raised an eyebrow. “What were you worried I’d say?” I asked with a grin. “That I was head-over-heels in love with you?”

  “Oh god,” she said. “Don’t even joke about it. You’d be surprised at what kind of insane men you find in this town.”

  I chuckled. “I’ll have to take your word for it,” I said.

  “Yeah, you will. Because I like to keep my private things just that—private.”

  She was serious as hell, no doubt about that. Considering how badly her last relationship had gone—the one that made her hire me—I couldn’t blame her one bit for acting this way. I’d already gotten the impression that she wasn’t the most open woman, and the whole Joey situation likely had only made her more closed off.

  “So,” she said. “Let’s eat our breakfast, and then I’m going to take a nice, long shower. Can you have the contract ready to be signed by the time I’m washed up and ready?”

  “Sure can, ma’am,” I said.

  Her lip curled slightly. “That won’t be necessary,” she said. “I want to keep things formal, but not that formal.”

  “You’re the boss,” I said as I turned my attention back to the delicious eggs.

  Before too long we both had our plates cleaned.

  “I’ll take care of the dishes,” I said. “You get ready, and I’ll have the contract waiting for you.”

  She gave me a nod before hopping off her seat and heading down toward her room. My eyes lingered on her legs and ass as she went, and I noted how it didn’t matter if she was in a smart business suit, a stunning gown, or a pair of little booty shorts, she looked so insanely gorgeous that I could hardly think straight.

  But she was right. From here on out it was going to have to be all professionalism. I drank in the sight of her as she headed down the hallway and turned the corner, knowing that I’d have to do my best not to constantly eye-fuck her now that we were going to be working closely together.

  I burned the image of her in those little shorts into my mind, making a quick internal vow to keep things platonic. It was strange—I’d worked with some gorgeous women in the past, and not giving into temptation had never been a problem before. But there was something about Natalie, something that I couldn’t ignore.

  While she was in the shower I grabbed the Italian leather messenger bag that I’d brought with me and took my laptop out of it. I fired off a quick email to the team letting them know that Natalie was going to sign on for our services, and that I’d keep them abreast of the plan going forward.

  And then I remembered that there was someone else who would want to know about this development, but I knew letting them know could wait. A tinge of tension ran through my stomach as I considered this matter.

  I shook my head, getting myself back to the moment. I pulled the contract template up and swapped out all the necessary information. When it was ready to go, I took the portable printer out of my bag, hooked it up, and printed off the contract. Next, I took the still-warm paper, along with the Montblanc pen I kept with me for contract signing, and sat down at the dining room table.

  About the moment my ass touched the seat, Natalie emerged from the hallway. She was dressed in a simple light blue blouse and a pair of dark jeans that hugged her curves in a way that made my cock take notice.

  Focus, I told myself.

  “Ready?” she asked.

  “Yep,” I said. “Have a seat.”

  She sat down next to me, her skin smelling fresh and clean, a hint of some kind of fragrant body wash in the air around her.

  Natalie picked up the contract and began scanning it with an expression of total focus.

  “Looks good so far,” she said.

  “Rate’s right there,” I said. “That’s per diem from here on out. Might seem pricey, but you’re getting the best this city has to offer.”

  “I was there last night,” she said. “I don’t doubt that for a second.”

  “And you’ll be getting round-the-clock protection. I’ll be personally with you at all hours of the day, and if I need to leave your side I’ll make sure that Stan, my second-in-command, will be with you. And it won’t just be him or me—the rest of the team will be close at hand, ready to jump in if anything happens.”

  “Great,” she said. She tapped the contract with her fingertip. “Normally I’d pore over this for the rest of the day, but after last night I’m not going to wait before getting protection. But keep in mind I am a lawyer, and if you try to screw me through any sort of contract crap, I’ll have your balls on a little silver platter. Legally speaking, of course.”

  “Naturally,” I said. “And I’m happy to provide you with references if you want to make sure that I keep everything on the up-and-up. But as far as price, what you see there on the contract is the charge—no hidden fees or anything of that nature.”

  She gave a determined nod.

  “OK,” she said. “Let’s do this.”

  I handed her the pen, and she took it. Natalie pulled the cap off and let the tip linger over the dotted line for a moment before filling it in with an elegant signature.

  “Perfect,” I said.

  I extended my hand to Natalie, who regarded it for a moment before taking it.

  “It’s going to be a pleasure to be working with you.”

  Chapter Twelve

  NATALIE

  Garrett had hopped up from his seat as soon as the contract was signed to make a call to the rest of his staff. I tried to be a good lawyer and spend the time reading every last bit of legalese in the contract, but all I could think about was how my life for the next few weeks or months or maybe even longer was going to be under surveillance.

  I was a woman who valued my independence and my ability to come and go as I pleased. It was why I’d structured my life the way I had, why I lived the way I did. And now I was going to have what felt like a babysitter at all times.

  Sure, he was a babysitter who could kill men with his bare hands, but the feeling was still the same. And as if he’d been reading my thoughts, Garrett came over to me and spoke as soon as he was done on the phone.

  “I’ve got the crew on their way over,” he said. “And this is likely going to be the only time you see them all in the same place. I’ll usually be up close at your side, and someone else will be working recon.” He went on. “And it goes without saying—you don’t go anywhere without me knowing about it. I’m going to be staying here with you, and I’m going to be your shadow. I don’t care if you want to run to the corner bodega for an egg sandwich—I’m going with you.”

  That’s what I was afraid of. But I knew it came with the territory.

  “Sounds intense,” I said.

  “I know it’s not how you’re used to living, but it’s how I’m going to keep you safe. You’re going to chafe after a while—clients often do. You’re going to get the urge to sneak out and get a drink or smoke a cigarette or do something fro
m your old life on your own that you feel like you can’t do anymore.”

  “And if I do?”

  His expression was grim. “Don’t do it. First of all, you’ll be under surveillance, like I said, so you won’t be alone. And in my experience, clients running off just to do something quick is when the people I’m protecting them from like to make their moves.”

  “Have you ever…lost a client before?”

  “Not a one,” he said.

  It was a relief to hear.

  “But that doesn’t mean that clients don’t like to make my job harder than it is. I’ve had some close calls, and they all involved clients not doing what I told them. So, do what I tell you.”

  “Do what I tell you.” Five words that were enough to send a wave of indignant anger through me. “Just don’t treat me like a stupid child,” I said.

  “Don’t act like one,” he said. “Listen, I get it—but I care about keeping you safe. This is the best way to do it.”

  His phone rang, and he answered it. “One sec.” He handed the phone to me. “My crew’s down in the lobby. I had a conversation with the front desk staff about how lax they were with letting people up. So they need your direct say-so.”

  I took the phone and gave my approval. “Are you going to give me a gun?” I asked.

  I wasn’t sure where the words came from—I’d never even held a gun before in my life, let alone shot one.

  “You know how to use a gun?” he asked, his hands on his hips.

  “Not really.”

  “Then no, you don’t get a gun. You’d be more likely to hurt yourself than anyone else. And this is New York—not exactly the most gun-friendly place on the planet. You get caught with one, and I’ll be bailing you out of Rikers.”

  “Point taken,” I said.

  A chime sounded through the apartment, letting me know that the elevator was on its way up. I plopped down on the couch in anticipation of the rest of the crew showing up.