The Debt Collector: An Underground Bad Boys Romance Read online

  Maybe this forced vacation was just that … a way to cut loose, to bring her wild side out for once before returning to work. After all, Mabel may have had a point. A vacation would do her good, even if it was a weird one. Which reminded her that she had to make that call.

  Bracing herself, Tessa jumped out of bed and left the room, and saw Gage resting on the couch. Immediately, her mind compared him to Locke as she had seen him earlier. Two friends, brothers on their own terms, charismatic and handsome in very different ways. However, Gage didn’t grip her in the gut the way Locke did, but with his wealth of muscles and ink, raw masculinity and scars, it clashed with Locke’s cool sophistication, honed body, and burning sea eyes. And Locke was clear that he wanted to avoid emotional intimacy of any kind with her. The fact that he’d forbidden kissing got to her, maybe it was a sign that she should detach herself from Locke, and truly consider the idea of a threesome.

  Taking advantage of the fact Gage was sleeping, she searched for a phone or even a computer. Turning around, she decided to head to Locke’s office. Another thing she wasn’t supposed to do, but as she entered, and saw the phone on the desk beside the computer, Tessa decided that this little infraction wasn’t going to be a big deal.

  It looked like an IP phone, but just to make sure, she hid the phone number before making the call. Her first was quick. Although human resources were pissed as hell with her for making the decision so unexpectedly and without advising them first, her clean record and the fact she had saved their butt more times than they could count, meant they couldn’t deny her request.

  The next call was to Mabel and wasn’t as quick. Her friend had clearly been worried sick about her.

  “You better have a good explanation! I’ve never been so worried in my life!”

  Tessa looked at the door, not knowing how much she could say. “Listen, I’m fine, Mabel. I can’t talk long. Someone told what happened with the girl.”

  Mabel’s sudden intake of breath told Tessa that her friend knew the implications. “Are you all right? Where are you?”

  Again, Tessa wasn’t ready to tell Mabel more than was necessary. “I don’t have much time. They know about what I did but not where the girl is. You might be in danger too.”

  More silence on the line. Mabel may be courageous, but she wasn’t a fool, and it wasn’t something to be cocky about. “You’re serious.”

  “Dead serious. I’m in a safehouse myself. Why don’t you go to Nigel’s for a while? I’m working on a solution and knowing you’re out of the firing line would help me out a lot.”

  “Baby girl, I’m not a doctor, and I don’t have that kind of money.”

  “Let me worry about that, will you?”

  “Are you trying to piss me off, girl?” Her friend was clearly on the verge of hanging up on her.

  “I’d rather you were angry at me and alive.”

  “No way. I’m staying here.”

  Tessa had no choice. “Then, I’m coming back to the hospital. Now.”

  More silence and this time, she could almost hear Mabel’s teeth grinding together. She would never normally use blackmail, but she was desperate to save Mabel and get her out of danger. And she knew very well that she would be safe with Nigel.

  “Damn it, Tessa. Okay. I’m gonna call Nigel and make arrangements. And I’ll tell him about the situation. But when it’s all over, I swear to you, girl, you and I are gonna have a talk, and you’re not going to like it.”

  As she ended the call, Tessa put her forehead on the cool desk, feeling empty, but also relieved to know that Mabel was okay, and that it would stay that way.

  “Glad to see that your friend came to her senses. I would have hated to tie you down until Locke came back so you remained here.”

  Gage. She should have guessed that even being discreet wouldn’t work with him. Slowly, Tessa pushed herself upright until she could lean back and relax in the chair.

  “Last time I asked, I wasn’t a prisoner here.”

  Gage looked okay, still a bit drawn, and the way he leaned against the door jamb told her that he still felt some level of discomfort but was obviously feeling better as he’d removed his bandages. However, as he was able to listen in without her hearing him move, it was obvious he was getting better.

  “You’re not. But you made a deal with Locke, and my friend is not the type of man to take you going back on your word well.”

  Tessa wasn’t surprised about that. “And he asked you to stay in the apartment to make sure I don’t find a way to leave and disappear?”

  The man smiled. “Nope. It’s because I’m wounded and a big baby in need of a doctor.”

  Rolling her eyes, Tessa got up, but Gage pointed to the phone. “Replace the desk exactly as you found it, otherwise Locke will know. And I’m guessing he didn’t give you permission to come in here.”

  Tessa did as he asked, and it was another part of her debt collector’s personality she found fascinating and incredibly annoying.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “I’m hungry.” Gage whined as she passed him on her way to the living room, which made her smile. And to be honest, she could eat too.

  “I’m not your cook. Why don’t you make something for yourself?”

  Gage shuffled. “Because I’m weak and injured. And because Locke doesn’t like me messing up his kitchen.”

  Tessa turned to him. Being in such a good mood was a sign he was on the mend. “Where do you live? You can go raid your own fridge.”

  Slowly, he rounded the sofa and sat down. “I don’t think I can make it the two flights down to my place.”

  No surprise there. They both lived in the same building. On that note, Tessa turned to the kitchen and saw an empty plate on the counter. “Don’t tell me that Locke left that.”

  Gage pouted. “Locke made me a small sandwich. I need something more substantial.”

  Ignoring him, she checked what was available, and was impressed with how Locke kept his fridge and pantry full of fresh stuff, neatly placed, or stacked. In the freezer, she saw a pot of homemade spaghetti sauce and decided to go for it. As she prepared a healthy portion of pasta, sure to satisfy Gage, she checked him as he watched her every move. The fighter was so different from his friend, and much more open.

  “How long have you known Locke?” Tessa hoped that the question was asked in such a way that it didn’t feel as if she was prying.

  “All my life. We were from the same fucked-up neighborhood.”

  As she let the water boil, Tessa used the microwave to thaw the sauce. “And he’s always been like this?”

  “Like what?”

  Gage sounded defensive, and when she looked up, there was confirmation of her guess on his face. “I wasn’t insulting him, Gage. I’m just curious. Everything in his environment is so controlled. The way he is, and how he acts.”

  “You mean his OCD? Shit. I can’t answer that, but it developed much later, and was caused by something I can’t discuss. That’s for him to tell. Not me.”

  Tessa could understand that, and to be honest, it was something in the man that both intrigued her and make her wonder how far she could push him. From a clinical viewpoint, it was always a bad idea, but she wasn’t a doctor right now.

  Putting the pasta in the boiling water, she searched for a pot in which to put the sauce. As expected, it was lined up in one of the drawers.

  Only a few more minutes and it would be ready. Still, Gage watched. His energy was so different from Locke’s. One was a burning cold, the other a hot flame. Where Locke could arouse her with a single glance, Gage’s insistence and expectant face made her restless. She knew the body that was under the loose sweatpants and large t-shirt. The doctor had examined his body, but the woman remembered every single inch of it.

  “Do you need help?”

  “You’re only asking now because I’m nearly done. Nice try, pal.”

  Gage chuckled. “Busted. Unless I come here and Locke cooks, I mostly eat out. I enj
oy a home cooked meal.”

  The longing in his voice moved her. And the sincerity. “Well, cooking pasta is nothing fancy. I work most of the time, and I’m at the hospital so much I never have time to go shopping.”

  “Locke told me how tired you are because of your work.”

  “I’m not that bad. I’m used to long hours.” Finding a sieve, she drained the pasta before returning it to the pot and pouring the steaming tomato sauce over it. Once she stirred everything together, she placed it on a trivet and went to grab plates.

  “Hey, Doc, come here a minute.”

  Putting the plate down, she turned to see him trying to get up, holding his ribs.

  “Take it easy, will you. You’re still on the mend and moving as if you’re perfectly fine.” Tessa went and crouched before him. “Can’t you just lean back and relax? Resting is the only thing that will help you get better.”

  His eyes locked with hers. “I’ve been in worse pain, Doc. Thanks for worrying about me.” His fingers with their bloodied knuckles from his fight skimmed her cheek. “But who worries about you?”

  Tessa blinked, not knowing how to answer. She had been alone for so long, her life only about work, there wasn’t anybody. Opening her mouth to say something, Gage stopped her words by taking it. The surprise made her fall forward, but strong arms held her upright. The kiss was tender, but incredibly possessive, his beard making her skin even more sensitive as she finally opened her mouth to him.

  Tessa swallowed his groan, as his hands pulled her into him. “I’m going to hurt you…”

  “You’re not hurting me, Tessa.” And as if to prove his words, he brought her body flush against his, forcing her to straddle his thighs to keep her balance. Pretty sure his entire body ached, she put her hands on the back of the sofa instead of his wounded shoulder, balancing herself on her knees. This allowed Gage full access to her, and he didn’t hesitate to take advantage of it. His wide hands spanned her waist to her hips before squeezing her ass. She’d never felt little before, she’d always been on the curvy side, but Locke, and now Gage, changed her view of herself. Vulnerability filled her, she had been forced to give her trust and body to men she barely knew, but she was convinced they didn’t wish to harm her in any way.

  Nonetheless, it was a stranger who was kneading her derriere and possessing her lips like a starved man. Thoughts of Locke came to mind as she kissed Gage, and she imagined for a second what it would be like to kiss him but immediately dismissed the thought. She might be willing to have sex with two different men, but her mind shouldn’t be filled with anything other than lust. Possessing and possessed, nothing more. Maybe the two guys had found something when they fucked each other without those pesky deeper feelings that messed the whole physical thing up.

  His hands roved over her body, cupping her breasts through her top. Barely breaking the kiss, Gage slipped his hands under the fabric. “Damn, Tessa.”

  She wanted this, and there was no way would she be a passive participant. Gripping the edge of her top, she didn’t think and pulled it over her head before throwing it over her shoulder.

  Gage didn’t hesitate and closed his mouth around her nipple and tugged, making her bow in surprise, before soothing the bite, laving the sting with his tongue. In reaction she buried her hands in his hair and pulled hard, allowing her access to his mouth again. This time it was a wicked battle. Nothing in Gage was calculated. His hands were hot over her skin, hard, demanding. Urgency flamed her lust, making her forget about his bruised body. Only the need to take it, him, remained.

  Her world spun, and she was under him. Her mind was about to tell him not to strain his body, but he pulled at her shorts and Tessa lost her breath.

  Gage’s face was a mask of intense hunger, and Tessa almost panicked at his intensity. She’d asked for heat and got a raging fire instead.

  Naked under his gaze, the fighter straightened to remove his clothing with such speed, if she hadn’t known about his injuries and seen the bluish areas on his skin, she wouldn’t have guessed there was anything wrong with him. Although he seemed to favor his shoulder still.

  It was one thing to examine him lying down on a bed, in pain, and another seeing him like he was ready for the fight of his life standing in front of her, his cock throbbing to life, glistening with precum.

  Licking her lips, Tessa twisted to her knees and swirled her tongue over the bobbing head begging for attention.

  Gage wasn’t shy about baring his hard and honed body and showing his pleasure. His voice, lustful and deep, filled the space.

  “Tessa, take me deeper in your mouth. Oh yeah, as deep as you can.” His breathing hitched a little. “Shit, I can feel the back of your throat.” Hands fisted in her locks, he was still mindful of the pressure he put on her head and how he rocked his hips against her mouth.

  Unable to use her hands for fear of falling off the couch, Tessa used her tongue to draw random patterns, feeling the living flesh, attempting to guess what pleased him. The pulsing of the blood in his shaft accelerated and she started sucking. Hard.

  “Doc, easy. You’re a little too good at this.”

  Tessa hid a smile, unknown power surging inside her belly. Her core tightened at his begging. Not being stimulated was an advantage in this situation. She was incredibly aroused, her core trembling for more, fluids slowly trickling down her thighs, but at least most of her focus was on him, and how she could make him lose his mind.

  “Need some help slowing her down, my friend?”

  The sound of Locke behind the couch, seeing her in that position, made her freeze and dissipated the cloud of lust she had been drunk on. She wanted to let go of Gage and turn, but his hold prevented any movement. With a mouth full of cock, her body confused, and her mind in a complete panic, Tessa felt a finger sliding from the middle of her shoulders down.

  “I think the good doctor is way too focused on the work at hand, don’t you agree? Part of her conscientious brain. Let’s test her capacity to multitask, shall we?”

  Tantalizingly slow, Locke traced the middle of her buttocks, over her clenching anus before drawing a lazy circle around her entrance, gathering fluids. A flick over her clit made her scream, her body shaking with tension. The vibration reverberated to Gage who moaned in answer. It was as if her body decided to ignore any signal of shyness and started to move again. Her tongue swirled around Gage again, and his hands relaxed the hold on her hair.

  Trying to maintain a rhythm of some sort for Gage, her hips unconsciously sought Locke’s fleeting and random caresses. Her eyes searched for Gage who focused solely on her, his body undulating as he fucked himself in her mouth. As she started sucking again, Gage increased his movements. The strain in his body was showing, and Locke must have sensed it as his hand cupped her sex more firmly. Her muffled voice was a clear indicator of what she craved, if he couldn’t tell by the way her back pushed against his hand.

  Locke’s fingers splayed, and he inserted one finger and then another, as his thumb pressed around her clit, avoiding direct contact and driving her mad with need.

  “You should feel how she’s clenching my fingers. She’s slick and slippery, having your cock in her mouth is driving her mad.”

  Gage cursed under his breath as she pumped even harder. Her jaw was starting to hurt, but the jerks of his cock and the increasing caress of Locke’s fingers made her forget the discomfort.

  “She has a fucking talented mouth. And you playing with her like that, Locke, it’s heaven. Please don’t stop.”

  Locke’s tone turned amused. “I thought you wanted her to slow down and enjoy the moment, my friend.”

  “Locke, fuck.”

  Tessa lost the last words he growled, her own hearing blurred by the thunder of her pounding heart.

  But his friend was clearly in a teasing mood, or a tortuous one, as his fingers started circling her tight rosette.

  Tessa had never done anal before, and it was a hard limit. Although, at the moment, she wasn’
t sure what she did or didn’t want anymore, her entire body only craved release.

  Insisting, Locke distracted her again by using his thumb on her clit once more, but this time, the contact was direct and vibrating.

  Her wail was muffled once more, as she felt Locke’s finger slowly breaching her anal ring. Turning into an animal, Tessa sucked and licked in earnest, desperate to make Gage come, and hopefully find some release herself. Bucking against Locke’s ministrations, gasping for air, Gage’s musky smell filling her nose, Tessa was lost, a creature of sensation and sex—being offered pleasure and pleasuring in return.

  Gage’s sudden jerk, and his breath seizing in his lungs as he thrust forward one last time, was the only warning she got before cum filled her mouth.

  Swallowing reflexively, Tessa barely had time to draw a breath before her own orgasm engulfed her body. All she felt was Gage withdrawing from her mouth and her body going into overdrive as Locke literally strummed her clit raw and pushed a digit even deeper into her backside. Her body couldn’t cope, and she came with a howl, unconsciously pitching forward, her arms unable to support it any longer. Fortunately, two strong hands caught her before she hit the ground, and Locke’s finger slid out of her.

  In the aftershock, Gage cradled her body with his warm one until she finally opened her eyes, her vision steady enough for a moment to see Locke crouching in front of her with an impassible expression on his face and an impressive bulge in his pants before she closed them, exhausted.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Locke punched the bag over and over with all his might, the hit reverberating through his entire body, intensifying the pain he relished. Sweat poured over his skin as he forced his whole being into exhaustion.

  “Your elbows are too far apart, and you don’t twist your hips when you punch.”

  Delivering another blow without looking at Gage sitting on the mat by the door, Locke snarled, “I don’t need a trainer.”