Being Nobody (The Witness Series #1) Read online

  “Why? You got a hot date?” She giggled but then her smile dropped when she looked at me. “You do, don’t you? He’s coming back. You’re going home with him,” her eyes bulged as she stared at me.

  “I thought about it.” I tried to play it off, but she wasn’t buying it.

  “I want details tomorrow. He looks like the kinda guy who knows what he’s doing,” she grinned as she handed the drink over to her customer and took the cash he was thrusting out in front of himself.

  “I’m not telling you that,” I gasped. “You’d tell everyone you talked to. I learned my lesson the last time,” I groaned and tossed my head back. “Besides…I’m not going home with him, he’s coming here.”

  “Does Tori know that?” Tiff smirked.

  “No, and if you tell her I won’t be covering for you the next time you’re late or need a favor,” I glared at her.

  “Why don’t you just take him to your place, then?” She shifted to lean on the back of the bar. Business was slowing down and I knew that she’d get to go home soon since I was the closing bartender.

  “You know my rule. No guys at my place. I want to keep it ‘guy free’. I don’t want to worry about sanitizing the place when things don’t work out,” I muttered as I began wiping the space in front of me.

  “Maybe they will work out,” she lifted a shoulder as she watched me.

  “I doubt it. They never have before. Why would things change now?” I sighed.

  “Because you have that attitude,” she pointed at me and then turned to begin closing down her station. “It’s dead in here now,” she called over her shoulder. “I’m going to close up, and then see if Tori will let me leave. You might actually make some decent tips if I do. Stop worrying about ‘The Badass’, it seems like he might really like you.”

  “We’ll see,” I turned and began heading to the far end of the bar to help my newest customer.

  ooooooooo

  As I was finishing up the last of the cleaning for the night, I heard the telltale squeak of the back door. I froze mid-step and listened. Tori had gone home an hour ago, and other than Brian, I had no idea who it could be.

  “What’d you forget, Tori?” I called as I rounded the end of the bar.

  When no answer came, fear began to slowly build in my gut. With soundless steps, I made my way over to my purse and grabbed my cell. I opened up the screen to the emergency number that I was supposed to use to call the marshals and let my thumb hover over it. While I stayed crouched behind the bar, I could hear heavy footsteps making their way closer.

  “What are doing back there?” A deep voice from above me caused me to lose my balance and fall backwards.

  “Holy shit! You scared the crap outta me. Why the hell didn’t you answer me when I called out?” I quickly stuffed my phone back into my purse before standing to look at Brian. I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him.

  “Easy,” he chuckled. “I thought you were expecting me,” he smirked as he sat down on a stool. “With the way you were talking earlier, I thought I’d come in here to find you naked on the bar,” he grinned as he watched me slowly relax.

  “Very funny!” I snapped as I threw a dirty bar rag at him.

  “Well,” he held his arms out, “I’m ready.”

  “Ready for what, exactly?” I scrunched my nose up before turning back to my cleaning.

  “Ready to be taken advantage of,” he smirked. “The way you were talking this morning was like you were all business. So…I’m ready.”

  “I’m not,” I grumbled. “I’ve changed my mind. I don’t want you anymore,” I kept my back to him as we talked. I knew that if I turned around, he’d see that I was lying. I wanted him so badly; I could feel my anticipation building. I knew though that once I got a taste of him, I’d never be able to walk away…and walking away was inevitable in my life. Eventually, the marshals would move me, especially when they found out that the men I was supposed to be hiding from were in Chicago. Hell, I was talking to one of them right now.

  “I find that hard to believe,” his whispered breath came from right behind me. I’d been so lost in my own thoughts that I’d missed the sound of him getting up and moving. He pressed his hips into my rear and placed his hands on each side of me, resting on the counter in front of me. I shivered as his breath hit the back of my neck. “See, that right there, tells me that you’re lying. You may not want to want this, but you do.”

  I swallowed and pinched my eyes shut, taking a deep breath before responding, “How come you can read me so well?”

  “It’s part of my job…reading people. I have to be able to look at someone and know everything about them. Not knowing about you is killing me, but I’m slowly learning your body and it’s sending a message loud and clear.”

  “And what’s that?” I moaned when he leaned in next to my ear and nipped it.

  “That you want me as badly as I want you,” he pressed his hips forward again, only this time his hands didn’t stay on the counter. One hand slid across my chest, squeezing my breast, as the other cupped my cheek and turned my head to face his. He released a hissing sound right before his mouth crashed into mine.

  When his tongue swept in, I ground my hips back against his. He groaned, and the hand cupping my face moved to grab my waist. He broke the kiss, panting, and a tortured look spread across his face. “Don’t do it if you don’t mean it,” he warned and waited to see what I’d do next.

  “I could say the same to you,” I giggled as I spun in his arms so that my body was facing his. I moved closer to him, and as his eyes darkened, I let my fingers trail down his chest. When I reached his belt buckle, I gave a little tug on the waistband. “Wanna play a game?” I smiled up at him.

  “What?” He shook his head as if he was clearing out his current fantasy, one that I’m sure I was staring in.

  “Do you want to play a game?” I tipped my head in the direction of the pool table.

  “Not what I had in mind,” he grumbled.

  “I’ll make it worth your while,” I teased as I backed away from him and began sauntering over to the table. I made sure to swing my hips a little extra, and when I heard him groan, I knew I’d won.

  “So what do I get if I win?” He called as he made his way over to where the cues were hanging on the wall.

  “I’ll tell you my last name,” I flirted. I knew that that was something I could give him. After all, it was an alias, too. “What about me? What do I get if I win?”

  He shrugged, “What do you want?”

  “You…naked,” I bit my lower lip as his nostrils flared.

  “You’re playing with fire, Mallory,” he hissed.

  “That’s ok,” I grabbed my own cue and chalked it. “I’m used to getting burned. Now…show me what you got, hot stuff.”

  When Brian bent over the table to break, it was a sight to behold. He’d taken off the leather jacket, and was now in a fitted white t-shirt. It rode up his back slightly when he bent over, exposing a sliver of smooth tan skin. His worn jeans fit his backside perfectly. You could tell they were some of his favorites. There was a worn square spot on the back pocket where his wallet made itself known. The cuffs were frayed where they’d scraped against the pavement, or his bike, and there was a small tear on the left knee. When he shifted, you could see the lines of a tattoo on his right hip, but I couldn’t make out what it was. I was hoping to get the full picture before the night was over. A leather watch band now covered the ink on his wrist, but another, smaller, tat crept out of the sleeve on his left arm. Once he took his shot, he stood and watched the balls spill across the table. His eyes were in deep concentration, and he failed to notice that I’d moved.

  “Nice shot,” I murmured from behind him.

  He flinched slightly, but recovered quickly, before nodding in agreement. “Could’ve been better; you’re distracting.”

  “Maybe,” I shrugged as I took my turn. When I leaned over, I made sure to take my time, and shift my hips
in front of him. I wanted him thinking about what was under my clothes as much as I was thinking about what was under his.

  “Stop shaking your ass and take a shot,” he hissed just as I pulled the cue back and sent a solid into the side pocket.

  “You’re a bossy one, aren’t you?” I winked as I leaned my stick against the wall, and went to grab a pitcher of beer. When I returned, he was leaning against the table with his arms crossed, watching me. “What? I’m thirsty,” I shrugged.

  “Nothing,” he grinned. “I’ll have whatever you’re having,” he laughed, and it was the first time in a while that I’d seen the carefree look he wore so well.

  “I have pretty simple tastes.” I placed the pitcher on a table nearby and poured two beers. “Here,” I handed him a mug, “it’s Bud Lite.” He took it from me and took a big gulp before placing it back on the table and using the back of his hand to wipe his mouth. “Your turn,” I motioned to the table and I cocked a brow.

  We went back and forth until the only thing left was the eight ball. I’d taken a shot at it, but Brian had distracted me and caused me to miss. Now, he stood hunched over the table trying to sink it in the corner. “Just miss already,” I teased, but soon groaned as I watched the ball slowly creep across the table before dropping into the pocket. “You suck,” I pouted as I rounded the end of the table, and began tossing balls up onto the felt. “Wanna make it two out of three?”

  “Tell me your name,” he calmly demanded.

  “I wanna make it two out three,” I responded distractedly as I continued to place balls on the table. When I leaned over to rack them once again, I felt him against my back.

  He leaned forward so his entire body was pressed against the back of mine before whispering in my ear, “Tell me your name, and then I’ll fuck you so hard you won’t be able to walk out of here. We won’t need to play another game. If you wanna get me naked so bad, who am I to argue with you?”

  I shivered against him. His warm breath and tantalizing words were putting me in such a state that I wasn’t sure what my name was at the moment. “James,” I whispered. “My name is Mallory James.”

  Before I could say anything else, he spun us, and pressed my rear against the pool table. “Why was that so hard,” he commanded as he cupped both my cheeks in his big hands and sealed his lips over mine. His tongue plunged in as my hands flew to his chest and fisted his shirt. His hips ground forward, pinning me to the table with so much force, it moved a few inches back. “Feel what you do to me? You didn’t need to win a game to get this,” he rubbed his erection against my center as he lifted me and placed me on the edge of the table. “I’ve wanted you since I first saw you, feisty attitude and all. All you had to do was say the word,” he mumbled against my mouth as his hands went to work getting my shirt off.

  We tore at each other’s clothes like we were starving for one another. Pretty soon, he had me naked, and his pants were down around his knees. “You know this changes things, right?” He paused as he watched me. “You’re mine, now.”

  I nodded furiously as I gripped his face and panted, “I’m yours…I’m yours.”

  He leaned down once again and kissed me as he jacked his hips forward slamming into me with such as force that I knew I’d have rug burns on my back from the felt. “Oh god,” I groaned as my eyes rolled back.

  “Holy fuck, you’re tight,” he growled as he grabbed my hips and set a rhythm that even I couldn’t keep up with. “I’ll go slowly the next time,” he promised as he wrapped his arms around me. Our sweat slicked bodies hummed in satisfaction as he continued to thrust into me, muttering incoherently. I knew I was close, I could feel all the signs. My body began tightening, a buzzing feeling started deep within it, signaling the orgasm that was right below the surface.

  “Oh, shit!” Brian howled as he scrambled off me and cupped his hand over himself.

  “What?” I gasped as I glanced around frantically. I thought maybe someone had come in, maybe we had an audience.

  “Condom,” he growled as I watched him ball his shirt up and hold it over himself. His entire body went stiff as his eyes closed while he came. “I wasn’t wearing one,” he shook his head as he slowly came out of the orgasmic daze he was in. “I wouldn’t do that to you,” he scowled as he let that thought settle. He then tossed the shirt to the floor, and climbed up on the table to lie next to me. He pulled me into his arms, and whispered, “Next time, I’m finishing while I’m still inside you. Now, rest up,” he smirked and lifted his head so he could look into my eyes. “I’ve got all night to do this.”

  “All night?” I swallowed.

  “That’s right, baby. All night,” he grinned and kissed the tip of my nose.

  Holy shit! He wanted to go all night. What had I just unleashed and would I survive it? Only time would tell and, at the moment, I hoped that I had the time to find out.

  Chapter 7

  As we laid there wrapped in each other’s arms, Brian released a deep breath before whispering in my hair, “Come back to my place…please?”

  I didn’t answer at first. I wasn’t sure I wanted to. “This isn’t that comfortable, and I’d like to be able to take my time with you,” he murmured. “Come back to my place and stay the night,” he rolled to the side and propped himself up on his elbow. The muscles in his arm flexed, and couldn’t help but stare at the tattoo on his arm. With his shirt off, I could now see that it was a Celtic cross. The intricate design was beautiful, and I watched his bicep quiver when I ran my index finger over it lightly.

  “What does this mean to you?” I whispered.

  “I got that when I was seventeen,” he looked away as if he didn’t want me to see the pained expression on his face.

  “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked,” I muttered as I blew out a breath.

  “No, it’s ok. I want to tell you stuff, but I just can’t right now. I will though…in the future.” He pushed himself up and looked down at my naked body. “Come on,” he held out his hand. “I need to get home, and I’m not finished with you, yet.”

  “Brian, I…” I trailed off as I tried to cover myself. I looked around for my clothes, and noticed they were several feet away, on the ground.

  “I’ll make sure you get home in the morning with plenty of time to get to work. Please?” He smiled and offered his hand again.

  “Fine,” I rolled my eyes. I wasn’t sure what I was doing, and I knew this was a bad idea, but I couldn’t help it. I liked him, a lot, and as much as I wanted to deny it, I knew that I was slowly falling for him.

  ooooooooo

  When we arrived at an old warehouse type building, I wasn’t even sure it was livable. It was dark and looked abandoned, but when Brian turned off the bike, I knew we had to be in the right place.

  “It’s been refurbished on the inside,” he reassured me as he took in my startled appearance. “I’m one of the first tenants.” He held out his hand to me, and when I laced our fingers together, he began leading me toward a large metal door.

  “It looks like something out of a horror movie,” I muttered as I took in my surroundings. I knew that my identity was still a secret, but I’d been taught to avoid situations like this one. If my dad could see what I was doing, he’d have exploded on me. My mom liked to live blissfully unaware of our circumstances, but dad always made sure that I was prepared for whatever lay ahead of us.

  “This way,” Brian called as he led us through the door and towards a cargo elevator. “I’m on the fifth floor.”

  Once he pulled the protective gates down, he pushed a few buttons and we slowly began to rise. I could feel the nervousness spreading through my body as we ascended, and I could tell that Brian sensed it, too.

  “Relax,” he cooed as he shifted beside me.

  I bit my lip as I looked over at him. I knew that if I stopped thinking about my surroundings and concentrated more on him, I’d be fine. Since he’d dirtied his shirt, he was now wearing his leather jacket bare-chested. His white tee was
balled in one hand, and the other was holding mine. His pecks flexed when he moved, and I couldn’t help staring at the small line of hair that descended from his belly button.

  “Could you stop, please?” He smirked. “I want to at least get in the door before I have you again.”

  My face flamed as he called me out. I had known he was going to notice, but I don’t think there is a woman alive that wouldn’t stare at this man. He was perfection, and the fact that he was one of the bad guys made him even more enticing.

  “I can’t help it,” I murmured. “I wanna lick you.” The admission came out so quietly that I didn’t think he heard me.

  “Mallory!” He hissed.

  “What?” I shrugged and grinned at the same time. Before I could utter another word, the elevator came to an abrupt halt. Brian opened the gate and dragged me down a dimly lit hallway. I glanced around, taking everything in. I’d been trained since I was a small child to memorize my surroundings. My father, along with the marshals, had always told me to remember anything I could whenever I went anywhere with anyone. Fear tried to make its presence known, but for some reason, being there with Brian helped. I trusted him for some unknown reason, and I hoped over time, that I could figure out why.

  “In here,” he motioned toward a steel door. He pushed it open, and what was behind it took my breath away.

  “Wow,” I gasped.

  “Not what you were expecting, huh?” He tossed his keys on the counter as he closed the door behind us.

  “No, not at all.” I spun in a slow circle as I took in the room I was standing in. It was a beautiful loft style apartment, much nicer and larger than mine. Exposed brick and duct work added an industrial charm, but the clean lines and white paint made it look modern. Light hardwood ran wall-to-wall, and granite counter tops filled the kitchen along with state-of-the-art appliances. A folding room divider was set off to the side separating a king-sized bed from the rest of the room. Floor to ceiling windows ran along one wall, allowing you to see the Chicago skyline lighting up the sky. Leather couches formed an L shape in front of a flat screen TV, and a glass and metal coffee table sat in the center on top of a dark rug. “This is beautiful,” I whispered. “How did you find it?”