NaturesBounty(15)

Lydia’s hair had been pulled up into a high ponytail, and from the length of time he’d heard the sink running, he’d be willing to wager she’d brushed her teeth as well.

She stopped and cocked her head at the change in his attire. “I’d say it’s a definite costume improvement, but I’m not entirely sure what you’re supposed to be now.”

He stopped spinning the handcuffs. “Come over here and find out.”

She wandered closer and eyed him up and down. His body tingled on high alert while she came toward him. The front door was on her left and the fire escape on her right. If she tried to run now, she’d most likely turn tail and head back down the hallway, right into a dead end. Which was why he had chosen this exact spot.

He counted until she was four steps away, then three. “I’m a surety agent.”

Confusion crossed her features. “What the heck is that?”

“You know, a bounty hunter.”

Her eyes actually lit up eagerly at this news. Another first. “Ooh, I think I like the sound of that.”

“I’m glad to hear it.” He stepped closer and held out the badge hanging over his chest. “Turn around and get on your knees. Hands on the back of your head.”

Her eyebrows lifted, but not only did she obey, she did it with a smile on her beautiful face. Holy shit, maybe he was onto something with this ploy. Not that he would be hunting down any more jumpers after this. Figures he’d get the perfect angle just in time for the last job.

“Aren’t you going to play some music or something for this routine?” she asked.

His day had gotten so damn weird.

He went into restraining maneuvers, guiding her facedown easy while he put a knee to her back. When he was cuffing one of the wrists that were still on top of her head, that’s when she finally got squirrely about the whole thing.

“Wait,” she said, struggling against him. “You know what? Stop. I don’t actually want to get handcuffed. I have bad memories of that.”

“I’ll bet you do.” He pulled the cuffed hand down behind her back and brought the other one around to join it.

“Don’t! I mean it, Antoine. Stop.”

“I thought you were so eager to see the job I came here to do?” He held the badge in front of her face. “And my name’s Nate, actually. I’m a real bounty hunter. And you, Lydia Franklin, are under arrest for violating the terms of your bail.”

She was struggling wildly now, but with her hands cuffed behind her and his weight on her back, there wasn’t much she could do. “Like hell! What are you talking about?”

“You failed to appear in court. I’m authorized to bring you back to Colorado.”

“No. No! You bastard.”

There was the reaction he knew was coming. The one he dealt with every time it came to this moment in his job.

“This can’t be true,” she went on, trying to buck him off her. “Valerie hired you to strip for me. She told me so. She wouldn’t do this to me.”

He growled and leaned on her harder. “Stop fighting me, or I’ll have to put you in a hold you definitely won’t like.”

“Fuck you,” she said. “Get the hell off me, you sick freak. You’re lying about this.”

“I have the paperwork from your bondsman if you need proof. It includes a clause you signed stating you were aware he could use any means necessary to reclaim you. Any means, Ms. Franklin. And that’s just what I did.”

When she started fighting harder, he jammed her cuffed hands high on her back.

“Ouch!” She followed that with several expletives. “You’re breaking my arms!”

“Settle the fuck down or you’re going to get hurt. Don’t be stupid, Lydia. Cooperate nicely and you won’t add any more charges to the ones you’ve already got stacked against you.”

“Cooperate? What, I suppose you mean let you fuck me again? You told me you were a stripper! You had sex with me. Isn’t that illegal?”

A muscle twitched in his jaw. “I’m not a peace officer, and you were more than willing. A lot more.” He got up off her back, but kept his hold on her. “Get up slowly now.” He pulled gently, using techniques he’d learned to guide her in the direction he wanted.

With some difficulty, he maneuvered her to the couch, where she plopped down and favored him with a glare. Much as he expected, the expression he’d memorized earlier was long gone. This version of Lydia was red-faced, panting and pissed beyond belief. All her resistance had shaken one of her tits completely out of her bikini top, and the other one was attempting an escape as well.