Being Nobody (The Witness Series #1) Read online

  “What?” I squeaked.

  “You heard me. Take it off. Now!” He crossed his arms over his chest as he waited for me to move.

  I wasn’t sure where this dominant side was coming from, or why it was turning me on so much, but as I stood there, I could feel the heat pooling between my thighs and my belly tightening in anticipation. His gazed bored into me as a smirk slipped into place.

  “Do I make you nervous, Mallory?” His stare continued to burn my skin as I stood there.

  I slowly shook my head as I watched him to see what he’d do next.

  “Then strip,” he narrowed his eyes.

  The lust that filled them set me in motion, but as I reached for the hem of my shirt I winked at him. “Didn’t your mother ever teach you to be patient?” I grinned as I slowly pealed my Rusty Nail t-shirt up my belly, exposing each bit of flesh as slow as possible.

  “I think I’m a very patient man, Mallory, but if you know what’s good for you, you’ll move faster. I have no problem ripping those off you,” he eyed my jeans in warning.

  “Tsk, tsk,” I shook my head as I tossed my shirt to the floor, and went to flick to button on my jeans open. As I slid them over my hips, I heard him hiss.

  “Damn woman,” he growled as his eyes widened.

  I had forgotten that I’d worn a sexy pair of panties today. I hadn’t done my laundry all week, and it was all I had clean. I grinned at him as the red lace came in to full view, and once I had my jeans around my ankles, I kicked them to the side. “See something you like,” I called as I went to turn around.

  Just as I went to unsnap the matching red lace bra, he growled from right behind me, “Leave it on! I want to fuck you just like this.”

  My entire body shivered as every muscle tensed in preparation for what was to come. “Come here,” he tugged my hips back and grabbed both hands. “Hands stay here,” he placed them on the back of the couch, and as he backed up, he dragged his nose up my jaw, “I’m gonna hold true to my promise tonight.”

  “And what promise is that?” My voice quivered with desire as I tried to turn my head to look at him.

  “I told you last week that I was gonna take care of you when I got better. It took me longer than it should have to get back to normal. Now…I’m gonna play your body like the musical instrument that it is.” He skimmed his nose along the side of my face until his mouth was beside my ear. “You’re so beautiful, Mallory,” he whispered as he lightly bit down on my ear.

  “Brian?” I tried to talk, but he cut me off when he covered my mouth with his.

  “No talking, just feeling,” he murmured against my lips. His left hand moved down my side as he gripped the edge of my thong. “I’ll buy you more,” he whispered just as his hand wound inside the fabric and yanked harshly. The delicate lace gave way to his brute strength as he slid his hand around in front of me and cupped me. I could feel my knees weakening as a finger slipped inside; it took everything I had to stay upright.

  “Brian,” I tried again as I pushed my hips back against him.

  “Shhh,” his lips trailed down my neck and over to my shoulder. “Feel that?” He pressed his erection into my backside. “Feel what you do to me, Mallory?”

  “Please,” I begged as his fingers began to work me over. In and out, faster and faster, building to the ultimate pleasure. “More,” I pleaded. “I want more.”

  “Oh, I’ll give you more,” he leaned forward, pressing his chest to my back. His right hand moved to cup my breast as he lifted me so we were standing completely upright. My head fell back against his chest as he tugged the lace down, allowing my breasts to pop free. “So beautiful,” he continued to mumble as he pinched my nipples and rolled them between his thumb and finger.

  “Ahhh!” I cried out as my first orgasm ripped through me. It was so strong that I couldn’t hold it back, and as I trembled against him, he chuckled. “There’s one.”

  “Please,” I reached blindly behind me searching for him. I wanted him inside me, and the foreplay was quickly sending me to a place where I was not going to be able to think clearly for much longer.

  “Easy, baby,” he murmured as he moved my hands back in front of us. I felt him shift behind me, and when he pressed his hips against me once again, all I felt was warm flesh.

  Brian hissed as he rubbed his cock against my backside. His hand quickly left my breast and gripped my hip while his other hand gripped his shaft. “Bend over,” he commanded as he pushed against my back, “and hold on tight, baby.” I whimpered as I reached for the back of the couch to brace myself. Before I uttered another word, Brian slammed his hips forward and entered me in one swift movement.

  We both cried out in unison as he paused to kiss my back. I ground my hips back, attempting to pull him deeper, but he growled and held me in place. He pulled back, almost leaving me completely, before surging forward so hard the couch slid slightly. “Oh god, Mallory, you are so fucking tight!” He slammed into me again. “What are you doing to me?”

  “Brian,” I pleaded. My voice was begging so badly, I sounded like a wounded animal seeking help. “Harder, Brian!’

  He rocked forward again, this time with less restraint, but I was ready. As he set a punishing rhythm, I began to push back, meeting him thrust for thrust. Sweat began to bead across our bodies, and as we worked to bring each other to bliss, I felt the tingling begin once again.

  “Brian…I’m gonna come,” I warned.

  “Not yet,” he growled as he squeezed my hip, slamming into me faster. The slapping of skin was the last sound I remembered as white lights flashed in my eyes. The room disappeared as my body soared into mindless pleasure all on its own accord.

  Before slumping over the couch, I heard a feral growl rip from Brian’s chest as he slammed into me one last time before spilling himself inside me. He paused with his chest pressed against my back as he kissed my cheek. “That’s two,” he snickered.

  “Two?” I whined. “That felt like more than two,” I panted. “I can’t feel my legs.”

  “Come on,” he stood, lifting me in his arms. “I’m not finished with you, yet,” he grinned as he began carrying me over to the bed.

  “I’m tired,” I complained.

  “You’re still awake,” he winked. “I’m gonna fuck you ‘til you can’t keep your eyes open.”

  “That won’t be too much longer,” I moaned. “I can barely keep them opened now.”

  “Well, I better get going then, huh?” He placed me on my back in the center of the bed, and before I could protest, he began kissing his way down my chest, pausing at my breast. Just when I thought he was joking, he sucked the nipple into his mouth, biting down gently as his hips jacked forward, entering me once again.

  I lost count of how many times we fucked that night. That’s what it was, too. Fucking. Even though I knew he had feelings for me, the gentle lover that I’d been with the entire week before was not present in that apartment with me tonight. This man, he knew what he wanted, and he knew how to get it. Brian had been on a mission that night, and he wanted to make sure that he accomplished it.

  I think by the time morning had come, we’d christened every surface in that apartment and then some. Brian had finally passed out from exhaustion sometime around sunrise, and I shortly after.

  I had the day off and I planned to use it to relax. My mom was expecting me for dinner tonight, and I knew I need the rest if I was going to take Brian with me. I wanted my brain to be in top form. I wasn’t sure how Mom would react to him, and I wanted to be prepared for anything.

  ooooooooo

  When I felt Brian shift beside me, I groaned, “I think you broke me last night.”

  “Nah,” he chuckled. “You seemed to enjoy it as much as I did.”

  “Yeah, but I might not be able to walk today.” I turned my head to face him. “We’re supposed to have dinner with my mom. She’s going to see me limping around and know exactly what we were doing last night.”

  “Maybe”
he grinned, “but so will all the other men that are always sniffing around you.”

  “Are you jealous?” I teased.

  “Nope, but I’m around a lot of assholes who like to talk shit. I don’t want anyone trying to move in on my girl,” he rolled toward me and pressed a kiss to my shocked lips.

  “Like who?” I pulled back and stared at him.

  “Like nobody,” he shook off my worry, turned, and tossed his feet over the edge of the bed.

  “Like Max?” I pressed, “or Gage?”

  “Like, don’t worry about it,” he turned to look over his shoulders at me in warning.

  “Fine,” I huffed.

  “Don’t get mad,” he snickered as he leaned over and attempted to kiss my lips again. I turned my head and he caught my cheek instead.

  “I’m not,” I grumbled.

  “I’m gonna shower. Wanna join me?” He began walking toward the bathroom.

  “No,” I scowled.

  “No?” His brow furrowed as he rubbed the top of his head.

  “No, I don’t want to join you. I know what we’ll be doing if I do, and I’m sore,” I slowly shook my head at him.

  “Suit yourself,” he winked. “You can have the shower after me then we’ll head to your mom’s. Sound good?”

  “Sounds perfect,” I sighed as I flopped back on the soft pillows and watched his naked backside disappear into the bathroom. Once the shower roared to life, I picked up my cell and texted my mom.

  Coming over for dinner. See you soon.

  Can’t wait. Just let yourself in. I’ve been sitting on the balcony a lot lately.

  Will do.

  I tossed my phone back on the floor and waited. As I heard the shower turn off, I began wondering just how my mom would react to Brian. I’d played it over in my mind so many times, and each time the outcome was different. I hoped that she saw past the bad boy image like I had, and searched out the good. Brian was a good man, and it still baffled me how someone like himself could get mixed up in the stuff he was in. It didn’t make sense, but neither did my life. I knew I couldn’t fault him any more than he could fault me for being the way I was.

  “All yours,” he grinned as he scrubbed a towel over his wet hair bringing me back to the present.

  “Thanks,” I murmured, as I pushed past him and slipped into the shower. Today was going to be a test. Could I do this? Could I be normal?

  ooooooooo

  When we reached my mom’s condo that night, Brian parked the bike and I led him upstairs. I remembered my mom telling me that she might be outside, so when I reached the door I went ahead inside. The condo was quiet accept for some soft jazz music playing in the background.

  “Mom?” I called out as Brian stood behind me. “Mom? You in here?” I walked farther into the condo as a sense of dread began to settle over me.

  “Sam!” She called from somewhere upstairs.

  At first I didn’t think anything of it. We always called each other our ‘real names’ when we were alone. Only today, we weren’t alone.

  I felt Brian touch my shoulder, and reality slowly began to crash down around me. I recovered quickly, though, and answered back, “No, Mom. It’s Mallory!”

  “Mallory?” She stepped into view and her face went from questioning to blank. “Oh, hey. I thought you were your sister. You two sound so much alike.” I silently said a prayer that my mom was like me, and could think on her feet.

  Brian leaned in next to my ear, “Sister? You didn’t tell me you had a sister.”

  “You never asked,” I shrugged as I felt my heart rate slowly return to normal. One crisis averted. Now, if we could just get through dinner. I did not want to deal with another close call, and based on the look my mother was giving me, neither did she.

  Chapter 14

  “So how did you two meet?” My mom lifted her wine glass to her lips as she eyed Brian and me across the table.

  “Work,” I mumbled.

  “Do you work at the bar with Mallory?” She set the glass down, leaned back in her seat, and crossed her legs.

  “No ma’am,” Brian smiled.

  “I’m afraid I don’t understand,” Mom’s brow furrowed as she watched us.

  “He was a customer,” I darted my eyes in Brian’s direction, and then back at my mother. She was digging, and for some reason did not want to let this one go. I rocked forward in my seat, before shoving to my feet, “I’m going to get another drink. Would you like one?” I stared at Brian, apologizing with my eyes for my mother’s inquisition.

  “I’m fine, thanks,” he lifted the beer bottle that was sitting in front him.

  “I need to clean up some of these dishes,” my mom stood, and began piling plates in her arms. “Could you help me, Mallory?” She refused to look at me, and the way her hand trembled when she lifted the plate in front of her, I knew she was upset about something. “Now,” she ordered through clenched teeth.

  “Sure,” I murmured before glancing over at Brian. “I’ll be right back.”

  “Take your time,” he smiled at me and then stared at my mom.

  Once we were back inside, and out of Brian’s earshot, Mom turned on me. “What the hell are you doing with him? Did you see his hand Sam?” She was shaking so hard at this point that I thought she might have a panic attack.

  “Mom,” I reached for her but she backed away from me. “Let me explain…”

  She spun away from me as she scurried into the kitchen, “If your father could see you now, he’d…”

  “What Mom?” I stormed after her. “What would he do? Tell me how sorry he was for putting us in the situation? Tell me it wouldn’t be forever? Tell me that we were going to have to move again, and it’s all my fault? What? What would he do? Please, tell me?” I could feel the heat of my anger radiating off me as my entire body shook with rage. “I knew this was a bad idea,” I grumbled.

  “You listen here, young lady,” my mom rushed around the counter in the kitchen and stood facing me. “I love you, and I’m sorry that you’ve been given a bad hand, but this is no way to deal with it. You need to stay away from people like him and we need to tell Kevin.”

  “No!” I yanked out of her grasp. “I’m not telling Kevin, Mom. He’ll make me leave again,” I could feel the tears welling in my eyes and as I continued to fight my mom on the issue, it brought me right back to high school. I remember standing in our living room in New York as my father insisted that we needed to leave AGAIN. I’d just told Dev that I loved him the week before. We’d made plans for college. We’d had sex for the first time, and now my father was ruining it for me. He didn’t understand that I was in love. He told me repeatedly that we’d come back; that I’d see Dev again when it was safe. Part of me believed him, but the sensible side knew it was all a lie.

  Now my mom was trying to do it all over again. “No,” I began sob as I stepped back. “I’m not doing this again. I’m not leaving him.”

  “Sam, what are you talking about?” She reached for me, but I continued to move away from her. “Do you know him? I mean before now? Have you met him before?”

  I shook my head as I turned to glance up in the direction of the balcony. I was afraid that Brian might hear us. The fear of him finding out who I was fought a daily battle with my heart wanting him to know. “I don’t know. I mean, up until a few weeks ago I’d never seen him.”

  “Why now?” Mom whispered as she reached out and placed her hand on my shoulder.

  “I’m not a kid anymore, Mom, and I think I love him,” I looked over my shoulder and wiped at my eyes.

  Mom nodded slowly as understanding began to sink in, “This is the boy you were telling me about last week.” It was more of a statement than a question.

  “Yeah,” I sniffed and looked up at the balcony door again.

  “You realize that loving him could get you killed, right?” Her voice trembled as she crept closer to me.

  “I can’t do this anymore, Mom. I can’t uproot myself anymore. I wa
nt to be normal. I want to meet someone, get married, have a family,” I turned to face her. “I can’t do that if I keep running.”

  “I know, baby,” she pulled me into her arms and hugged me. “What are your plans with him?” She lifted her chin in the direction of the balcony. “I can tell you haven’t told him who you are. Do you really think he’ll feel the same about you when he finds out?”

  “I don’t know,” I mumbled. “I haven’t thought that far ahead. We’re taking it a day at a time.”

  “Right,” she stepped away from me and she moved over to the sink. “I can’t let you endanger yourself like this. I love you, Sam, and I’d die for you. That’s what a mother does…she loves her children unconditionally and is willing to lay down her life for them. You’ve done a lot crazy things growing up, and I know this life has been anything but easy, but this time…this is just too much. You have to leave. You can’t continue this relationship.”

  “Mom!” I gasped. “No!” I rushed around the counter to stand beside her. “I won’t do it. I’m an adult now. I’m not leaving him.”

  “It’s gonna be me or him then, because I’m telling Kevin. I have to,” she refused to look at me as she began loading the dishes in the dishwasher.

  “Mom, please,” I begged.

  “Sam,” she looked up at me with sadness in her eyes. “Your father wouldn’t want this. He’d want you to finish what he started. I told him…” she paused, trying to stop her voice from trembling “I told him I’d always protect you. I promised him we’d get these guys. I saw…” she shook her head. “I saw his wrist. You’re in bed with the enemy…don’t you see that?” The pained look on her face just about broke me.

  “I love him,” I cried. “I love him, Mom. He’s a good man. I can feel it,” I dropped my head into my hands as the sobs I’d been fighting began to roll out of me. “He’ll change. I’ll convince him to change,” I lowered my hands as I stared at the floor. “I’ll get him to choose me,” I mumbled. “Me over the job,” I bit my lip.