The Middle Man Read online

  “I do see something I want.”

  “What is it?” she asked standing a little taller.

  “Your mouth.”

  “My mouth?” she smirked as if she’d won.

  “Yes, I wonder what it would look like shut.”

  “You’re an asshole!”

  “Maybe, but the word that applies here is honest. So stop wasting my time and spit it out.”

  “Fine,” she huffed and all traces of fake flirtation vanished. Shoving cash into my hand she said, “That’s one hundred dollars and I want to you to find out if Brody is cheating on me.”

  Jesus, I hated high school. Crumbling up the cash, I throw it over my shoulder then lean into her space.

  “Of course, he’s cheating on you,” I smiled. “You’re a bitch.”

  With Finn sprawled across my chest, I replayed her plowing Goose over, standing her ground and found myself getting hard all over again. No one has ever had my back. Being that I was the first to be owned by the devil, the rest of his minions have followed my lead without question. It had killed me to leave her behind, thinking it was best for her. To have Finn disobey an order because the pull to be with me was stronger, was a heady feeling.

  Sensing my arousal, she shifts and her hand finds my hard cock and squeezes it. Groaning low, I fist her hair tugging it so she’ll meet my eyes.

  “Morning, partner,” she smiles adoringly and I wasn't sure I'd ever get used to it. Honestly, I prayed I didn't.

  “I feel like I'm going to regret this, but have you ever been in love?” I ask her, knowing she’ll tell me the truth. Unlike me, Finn wasn’t afraid of saying what’s on her mind. “And before you answer, keep stroking me.”

  Doing as she’s told, she thinks on it and says, “No, I haven’t been in romantic love, but lust and I have been on a first name basis since I was eighteen.”

  Picking up her pace, I thrust into her hand demanding to know, “From now on, the only male you have permission to lust after is me.” Because I am so in love with you, I can’t see straight…

  “Hmm,” she smirks knowing I was at her mercy.

  And before I could reaffirm my order, she found her way between my legs, fully freed me cock and licked it.

  Nothing in the world compared to the feeling of her mouth sucking me off.

  Actually, nothing in the world compared to watching her suck me off. Finn wasn’t just generous with her feelings, she was also generous with her body and reciprocating pleasure.

  The plan was to let her play a little, get me rock hard before I fucked her into the box springs.

  Instead, I came in her mouth and watching her swallow me overrode the embarrassment of finishing so soon.

  Anytime Ryan was nervous he held my hand. Today though, he wasn’t nervous for himself, he was nervous for me. Looking out the window, I couldn’t muster up an ounce of fear. Maybe a little fear was healthy? When butterflies took flight in my stomach, I smiled inwardly and decided if fear was healthy, I was fine with being sick. And if this was a sickness, I was terminal.

  Because while my body was up here, it couldn’t wait to fall down there.

  Clutching my hand tighter, I glance at Ryan reminding him, “I’m going to be fine.”

  “What about me?” he paled further when the door opened. “I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack.”

  “You’re not even jumping,” I joked. “Relax, I’ve got this.”

  “Is this a grey hair,” he asked sticking his head in my face to check. “It feels like a grey hair.”

  When I was called over, I kissed Ryan on the cheek promising him, “I'll see you at the bottom.”

  That day marked my first solo free fall. Soaring through the air at one hundred and twenty miles an hour was my kind of heaven but only because I knew he was watching, waiting, filming.

  According to Nix, we had to stay on the road, stay ahead of the other Middle Men and hopefully keep them guessing.

  But after an hour and a half in the car, I spy my escape asking him to “pull over.”

  Parking in the visitor’s lot, he checks the perimeter while I grab my pack and stretch.

  “Why this park?”

  “I need to meditate,” I say, taking his hand and leading him toward our destination. A place I hadn't been to in far too long and hadn't realized how much I missed it until I saw the exit sign.

  “That actually works?”

  “Most of the time,” I admit. “Sometimes, no matter what I do, I can’t find it.”

  “Find what?”

  “My calm.”

  I was taking my next step when he lifts me at the waist moving me out of harm’s way. Frowning down at the hole in the ground, I realized when I was with Nix, my surroundings evaporated. “Careful,” he says stroking my cheek.

  “You saved me,” I say gripping his belt loops.

  “Ask me,” he says with lust on his tongue.

  “Kiss me, Nix.”

  On a growl, he plasters our bodies together and when his mouth crashes into mine, the world disappeared. And it wasn’t until passersby cleared their throats that the spell was broken. Pressing his forehead to mine but not releasing me, he says, “If you’d let me, I’d finger fuck you right here.”

  “You make it difficult to walk around in dry panties, Nix.”

  “You aren’t wearing panties, Finn.”

  “You don’t miss much, do you?” I ask wrapping my arms around his waist.

  “Not when it comes to you, no.”

  With my goal in view, we were making progress when he steers me behind a huge tree, away from prying eyes. Faster than I could blink, he cupped my ass with one hand while the other slid down the front of my yoga pants.

  “Brace yourself,” he says in my ear. “But let me hear you.”

  Closing my eyes, I focus on his fingers playing with me, his harsh breathing in my ear and the liquid feeling spreading throughout my body. “One or two?”

  “Two,” I manage to reply and when he inserts both, my eyes rolled back in pleasure.

  “Soaked,” he praises, pumping in and out of me.

  “Nix,” I moan loud. “Ah fuck, don’t stop.”

  “Ride my hand, Finn. Purr for me, kitten.”

  Knowing we could be seen, definitely heard, had me giving his fingers the ride of a lifetime. When he bites my nipple through my shirt, I didn’t just go off, I exploded in ecstasy. As my body came back online, I started to sag when Nix pinned my back to the hard bark demanding that I, “Do not move.”

  And then he was on his knees before me. Wondering what he was doing, I was unprepared for him to seal his lips over my pussy and suck. “Oh my God,” I wheeze out in shocked pleasure.

  Growling between my legs, Nix gives me one long, strong lick and the sensation made my eyes cross. Placing a kiss to my inner thigh, he looks up at me, licking my juice from his lips and grins, “Your come is delicious.”

  Blinking at Nix in a mix of awe and arousal, he fixes my pants and announces, “Now you can meditate.”

  Unable to speak, let alone move, he takes the lead until we’re standing on the wood planks.

  “Why is it called the Tridge?”

  How could he even talk right now? I could see how hard he was and all my mouth and I wanted was to choke on his cock. Unfortunately, he wanted a history lesson and any choking I had in mind would have to wait. Plus, the elevation seemed to make him uncomfortable, so the less time we spent here the better.

  “The Tridge marks the spot where two waterways meet. When I was a kid, my mom brought me here for a nature day and told me all about it. God, I haven’t seen this place in years. Do you want to know the best part?”

  Hanging on my every word as if his world was quiet when I spoke, he says, “Yes, tell me.”

  “The park ranger threw us out.”

  “What the fuck for?”

  Pointing to the highest point of the structure I confess, “For climbing.”

  “Where was your mom?”
<
br />   Giggling at the memory I explain, “Taking pictures.”

  Here we were sharing a nice moment when my senses tingled. And I wasn't sure what was more exciting? Scoping the bad guys first or impressing him by scoping the bad guys first? Yes, I was that competitive.

  Stepping into his arms, I get up on my toes, following the movement with my eyes and whisper, “Do all you guys copy the Men in Black uniform?”

  Tensing, he grips me back asking, “Describe him to me.”

  “Them Nix,” I say kissing his neck. “I count two. Black guy, white guy, they move in total synch, choreographed.”

  “We need to move, Finn,” he says throwing his arm over my shoulder.

  “The extra gun is in the first pocket of my pack just a few inches under your hand.”

  Vaguely nodding so she knows I heard, he whispers, “While we walk, look at me adoringly.”

  Doing as he said wasn’t difficult since I looked at him like that anyway. Now semi-hidden by the tree line I ask, “Civilians. What do we do about them?”

  “Rules, Finn,” he says, kissing my temple. “We may be killers, but those rules keep us off the radar. They won’t engage while people are around to bear witness.”

  “That’s what sniper rifles are for,” I offer blandly.

  “We are a hands-on crew. We kill up close, never at a distance. It’s a pride thing,” he shrugs off my concern.

  “Well, I don’t trust that the rules apply when you’re hunting your own. Call it daddy issues.”

  “If I tell you to run, you run.”

  “You’re fucking up this partner gig, Nix. We've discussed this.”

  “You’ll get over it.”

  Stepping out from the trees, both men size me up and it was like Nix wasn’t even there. While neither were as large, lean, or hot as Nix, they looked just as deadly. Unable to take the silence, I ask sweetly, “And what are your names J and K?” When they only blinked at me I rolled my eyes muttering, “The world is going to hell.”

  Did nobody watch movies anymore?

  Each of her videos pushed the limits of my sanity.

  Yes, I killed for a living, which most would find insane, but I never took unnecessary risks. I didn’t scale mountains, dive out of planes or trust a mask to keep me alive under water. My job required me to be up close and personal. So, the mark knew exactly who was ending their life and why. Our rules were simple.

  We did not kill in public, we did not strike from the back, and we did not play with our kills either. While I never knew the reasons these people were chosen for elimination, I did know the world was better off without them.

  But I couldn’t imagine a world without her in it and the thought of her playing with her life chilled me to the bone. Because I feared the day would come that the videos just…stopped.

  Only Finn Lee would stand next to me staring down her enemy and make a Men in Black reference. Because these two thought as one, fought as one, and killed as one, I answered on their behalf since I’d bet they had no idea what she was talking about.

  “Swift is the gentleman on your left and that’s Creeper on the right.”

  Huffing, Finn rolls her eyes asking, “So, what? When you joined up all the good names were taken?”

  Glancing at each other, it was clear they didn't know what to make of Finn. “How does this work?” she continues. “Like, who goes first? Do we flip a coin?” Pretending to search for change, Finn searches her pack actually producing a quarter.

  “Phoenix,” Swift steps forward. “This isn’t the NFL, we aren’t flipping for it.”

  “Hand over the girl,” Creeper adds. “That’s all you have to do.”

  “And if I refuse?”

  “You don't want to do that,” Swift says eyeing her. “You taught us much, saved our lives many times over. We give our word not to kill her in front of you.”

  “It will be quick and painless,” Creeper finishes.

  “You’re so hard up for money that you’d kill a pretending to be defenseless female?” Finn asks.

  “This isn’t about money,” Creeper says. “It’s about following the rules. The money is just a bonus.”

  “No one walks away and Phoenix knows this,” Swift points out. “He knows this better than anyone.”

  “If no one has ever done it, then how is it a rule?” she fires back.

  “Stalling only prolongs your pain,” Swift sighs. “Phoenix, this is unnecessary.”

  Pulling Finn close, I whisper in her ear, “Run.”

  Nodding once, she gives me a wink, takes off at a sprint and I rushed forward tagging Creeper around the middle and we go down hard. Knowing one couldn’t function without the other, it was a given Swift would join in.

  This was their weakness though they always refused to believe it.

  Landing a blow to Swift’s side, he grunts, “Don’t make us kill you too, Phoenix.”

  “You leave us no choice,” Creeper says reaching for his gun. He did this because the coward knew he’d never best me in a fight. Plus, once they were done with me, they would chase Finn.

  Fighting two men I trained myself, gave me the advantage. But that’s not to say getting rocked in the skull didn’t hurt. Breaking Creeper’s wrist, he snarls in agony dropping his gun. Now with the two of them circling me I make it clear, “I'm going to place your heads at my woman's feet.”

  Swift was about to retort when he found a rope around his neck.

  Kicking the back of his knee in, Swift goes down and his eyes go round. Leaning down to his ear, Finn looks up at me and announces, “He’s mine.” For fuck’s sake where did she even come from?

  “Partners?” Creeper roars. “What is the meaning of this!”

  Wary of the bullshit, I share, “I can’t have both so I choose her. I will always choose her. I will kill for her and she for me. You both have a choice to make; walk away or die today.”

  “You would die for a female?” Creeper demands.

  “I would die for the love of that female.”

  “Love?” he laughs and the sound was raspy. “We don’t love, Phoenix.”

  “Guys?” Finn says but I couldn’t afford to look at her right now.

  “I’m proof,” I say firmly. “That it’s not only possible, but worth the price.”

  “You are choosing her over the brotherhood you alone helped to build, Phoenix.”

  “Guys,” Finn says again but I couldn’t break his stare. Not now.

  “You took the contract not giving a single fuck about the brotherhood,” I remind him. “You don’t ask questions. You follow blindly. Here you stand ready to kill my woman, who is innocent, because you were told to.”

  “That is our way!”

  “Because you refuse to consider another!” I roar in fury. “You fool! Listen to me when I tell you, our ways need to change!”

  “Guys!” Finn yells and when Creeper breaks his stare, so do I. With Swift hunched over and Finn still holding him up, I knew shit was about to go from bad to worse when she shrugs and says, “Oops?”

  “You killed him, Finn.”

  “I just roped him,” she says casually. “He wouldn’t stop moving so really he killed himself.”

  Stunned at what he was seeing, Creeper stood stock still unable to process it and before he came to his senses, I retrieved the gun from my back, raised it and put one in his head.

  Letting Swift go, Finn steps over him to find safety in my arms. “We’re exposed outside like this.”

  Kissing the top of her head, I take her hand and lead her back to the car.

  Once back on the highway, I say, “I’m sorry you didn’t get to meditate.”

  Facing me, Finn smiles confessing, “It’s okay, I’m feeling pretty centered right now.”

  At this, I threw my head back and laughed.

  In many ways, I was a late bloomer.

  Because I was so active and lean, I didn’t start my period until I was seventeen.

  Since I preferred Ryan’s c
ompany to my peers, I never dated or even kissed a boy like other girls my age had. I also had no idea how to flirt or why it was even necessary. I didn’t own a dress or heels because I couldn't run or climb in them. Makeup was foreign to me as was fixing my hair. My motto was: love me or fuck off.

  And then I met a man, yes, a man, who was twenty-three to my eighteen, in Barbados.

  I may not be hip on fashion, but I rocked the hell out of a bikini and he’d noticed.

  His name was Joaquin and bless him, he didn’t flirt. He said what was on his mind and liked that I did the same.

  I had just come out of the water after crushing a nice wave when he tagged my neck, kissed me, and said, “You are the hottest thing I have ever seen.”

  Then he told me to meet him in town later for dinner and dessert. I was well aware I was dessert.

  And I wanted to be eaten.

  So, I did what any girl did. I called my mom.

  She didn’t ask me if I was sure or if he was a decent person. She knew me; therefore, those were moot points.

  But what she did say, I heeded.

  “Humans lie easily, Finn. Just know that a man may lie too, but your body will not. Listen to what it has to say.”

  I lost my virginity on a beach in Barbados and it was wonderful.

  We were eating our truck stop carry-out in the car when Nix asks, “Did you know you were being filmed?”

  With my sandwich poised to take a bite, I lower it, losing my appetite. Because I knew this was coming and Phoenix had every right to ask questions. If roles were reversed I would have asked a lot sooner. But it left my stomach sour just the same.

  “Fuck, I shouldn’t have opened my mouth.”

  “No,” I force out. “The only time I perform on camera is if I’m being paid.”

  “Finn…”

  “Nix, I didn’t love Talon. He was convenient and while I know that's a silly reason to stick around, it beat being lonely. Plus, I thought he understood what made me tick and liked that he didn't press me for extra time. I haven’t watched the video nor do I plan to because that woman isn’t me. I was never myself with Talon. I was fake, he was fake, we were fake.”