Intensity Read online

  Up close, that body of hers was so mind-blowing, it looked like she’d fit him perfectly just like her hand to his palm. Light brown eyes so pretty yet so sad, etched themselves into his memory where they stayed until he saw that picture on her father’s desk. Suddenly that one encounter wasn’t enough. Embedded images of her face and knowing the intimate details of her life by watching her, weren’t good enough to silence the urge within him.

  “Fuck!”

  He bellowed, gripping the steering wheel so tight it felt as if it would snap. Kya was there again, deep set in his mind, refusing to leave, causing his brain to war with a good portion of his cold heart.

  Pulling a hard right, Antonio parked against the curb, cut the engine, then rubbed a hand over his face. He wanted this girl out of his head and the thoughts to stop consuming him, but it wasn’t happening.

  Just like he’d gotten the best of Detective Rich, Kya was unknowingly doing the same to him, but there was a difference. While the cop spent his days hoping for the chance to win, Antonio was already on top. All he needed was to get the girl out of his system, and he knew of only one way. He would have to get under her skin and in between her legs.

  TWO

  The buzzing against her hip was incessant. It would stop for a few seconds only to begin again with an indication of a new voicemail and another call. Frustrated and annoyed, Kya stopped talking mid-sentence to yank the strap of her purse over her shoulder. Gliding her thumb over the screen, she saw the same number that had been calling non-stop since early that morning, appeared again, causing her frown to deepen.

  “No se habla por teléfono!” A hand came down over the screen of her phone, threatening to pull it from her grasp, “And no texting. I brought you here to have fun, not sext all night.” Angel screamed over the music, grabbing Kya with her other hand in an attempt to make her dance.

  Typical Angel. Since meeting her at work several months back, Kya had come to realize that it was her solution to everything. Dance it out or fight and when drinks were involved, the two seemed to converge magically. When her friend didn’t get her desired response, she released Kya's hand but continued to whip her hair wildly. Ignoring her, Kya snatched her phone back and continued to read the text.

  “I wasn’t sexting,” her expression was flat and just as annoyed, “it’s my father.”

  Hearing that, Angel stilled. Quickly she squeezed in next to Kya to see the text for herself. In small bold print, a plea for a callback came across with a sense of urgency. For what seemed like forever, Kya stared at it. What could he possibly have to say to her after so much time had passed? Most importantly, why did he think he had a right to talk to her at all?

  When her fingers began to move, she found herself typing back a reply of how many ways he could go to hell, but once again, Angel’s fingers covered the screen.

  “Don’t do that."

  “My mother passed away six months ago. Now, he wants to talk to me?”

  Angel shook her head, almost in a childlike manner, sending her long wavy locks into her face. With the tips of her fingers, she swept it back, animatedly speaking with her hands.

  “You have to treat him like an ex-boyfriend. Let him believe you’re over the pain he caused you by not saying anything. If you send him that, ” she pointed to the phone, it’s light dimmed from inactivity, “he’ll know you’re still mad and keep trying.”

  She had a point. Every single word carried an impact that made Kya feel a little ashamed for reacting to something that ultimately was not worth it. Words from a man who was not worth it. Every second of every day spent without her father, and now her mother caused her anger to increase. At times, it nearly boiled over, but somehow Kya remained calm by shoving those ill feelings to the back of her mind and the bottom of her heart.

  Even through those dark days after her mother’s death, she forced herself to keep it together. Although she believed he would have deserved to hear every mean and nasty thing she intended, Angel was right. If she was reading the emotions behind the message, his want and the need for conversation, was dire. It was the perfect time to turn her back on him like he had done her and her mother.

  Forcing a smile, Kya tossed her phone back into her bag, obviously making Angel happy.

  “That’s my girl! Now, you owe me a dance!”

  Once again, she took hold of Kya’s hand, twisting and twirling in front of her to a tempo that was nowhere near as fast as she was moving. Her dress kept riding up, and as if it were no big deal, she just brushed it back down and kept going. Lips pursed Kya bit back the laughter that was slipping through her nose until a man trying to get by them stopped and watched in complete amusement.

  Beneath the colorful lights, the exact shade of his hair was hard to determine, but his skin tone appeared to be close to Kya’s. Short dark hair was coiled into natural curls, his eyes capturing each change of the colored lights.

  Without care, Angel turned, making him her new dance partner and like a real champ, he danced along. Her shoulders shimmied, fingers snapped, and thanks to the low neckline of her dress, her breasts threatening to spill over.

  “I didn’t know it was possible to Cha Cha to Hip Hop music.”

  Kya’s laughter grew louder, taking in the man’s words and his amused expression. Angel never stopped moving, throwing a hand upon her hip and extended one long red nail into his face.

  “That’s because you don’t know anyone like me, baby, and this is not Cha Cha. It’s Salsa.” The tip of her tongue rolled with the last two words, drawing more laughter from behind her.

  “I didn’t mean to offend, sweetheart,” his hands came up defensively, only lowering when Angel replied with a smile.

  “Where are you from?”

  “The hood.” She retorted with all seriousness.

  Deep chuckles could be heard over the music, “Yeah, I like you.”

  “Mmhmm, and I think you’re sexy, too.”

  “I’m Christian. What are you drinking?”

  “Angel. Whatever you’re buying.”

  “Alright then,” he shook his head and stopped dancing long enough to move between the two women.

  “She always like this?” He hooked his thumb over his shoulder.

  “This is nothing. Easter is even more eventful.”

  Like he was seeing Kya for the first time, he gave her a good once over, those light eyes of his revealing appreciation. She wasn’t the exotic beauty dressed in red like her friend, but she was the type of beauty that a lot of men dreamed of. The kind of woman who didn’t need a lot of makeup or exaggerated hairstyles, but used very little to enhance what she already had. Natural looking makeup topped with clear gloss on full lips. Blown straight hair that laid thickly over her shoulders. Curves that looked great in acid washed skinny jeans and a shirt that stopped just above her pierced navel.

  Kya could feel his eyes boring into her. On a whim, looked his way and confirmed that he was indeed staring.

  “Sorry, didn’t catch your name.”

  The thought of telling him she didn’t throw it crossed her mind, but instead, she accepted his hand, “Kya.”

  “You always this shy, Kya?”

  A frown brought her brows together, “What makes you think I’m shy?”

  Following his line of sight to her still dancing partner in crime, she saw how he came to that conclusion.

  “I prefer to observe and let my girl provide all the entertainment.”

  “By your girl you mean your friend, right—because if that’s your woman, I don’t want to cross any lines asking for her number.”

  Kya snorted and shook her head, “I’m only a lesbian on the second Friday of every month, so go for it.”

  Before this guy could ask her another question, Kya pushed off her stool placing her hand on Angel’s back. Giving her head a little nod, she gestured toward the bathroom, sliding her purse off and handed it over. She didn’t want to come across as anti-social or unfriendly in any way, but the truth
was, she hadn’t been outgoing Kya, in months. Each time she came close to it, memories of her mother would surface and destroy it. Guilt and loneliness replaced any drop of peace she could find. Pretending was the only way she could hide it from the only person that cared—Angel. Even then it was like trying to hide an elephant with a baby blanket.

  Moving through the thick crowd, the pace of the music changed. The bass stopped vibrating the now visible floor. Something about love songs seemed to make the masses scatter; she noticed while working as a bartender herself. Maybe the fact that they signaled the night’s unfortunate end. Perhaps it like was throwing the idea of commitment to men who came looking for no strings. Either way, it meant the same here for Kya as it did when she was on the job—she would be going home soon.

  Her temporary haven in sight, Kya decreased her speed. There was no reason to go to the ladies room other than to escape the party scene. Angel would hear none of it, and until the lights came on, she knew she was stuck.

  Just as she went to step down from the slightly raised platform used to separate the main room from the sitting area, a hand took hold of hers seemingly to help guide her down safely.

  Naturally, her eyes traveled from the hand, up the length of a heavily tattooed arm, and over a shoulder surrounded by thick black curls, to a vaguely familiar face. Those eyes, so dark and dangerously alluring held her hostage. She wanted to blink. She needed to blink, but could not and would not allow herself to look away. Not when his smile sparked flashes of images in her mind.

  The sharp black suit.

  The gun with the silver handle.

  Dark shades were covering what she could now see.

  Kya was mesmerized. Truly and so profoundly that he easily led her to a less populated part of the floor and was able to place her arms around his neck, pulling her against him without protest. At that moment, Kya was there in body only. Her mind was still on its journey to the day she first laid eyes on this man. Long after he was gone, she could only stare at the rose in wonderment. Something deep inside her knew that her assumption was correct. He was dangerous and could have ended her on the spot, but decided to treat her heart with something so sweet that it was still sitting in her freezer to preserve its beauty.

  Both of his hands slid slowly around her waist, settling on her lower back by the time Kya regained a sense of awareness and blinked. They were much closer than she remembered.Close enough to feel each breath he took and smell her perfume fusing with his cologne in a dance of their own. Her cheeks warmed, eyes and arms both lowered to his chest as she scanned the room for Angel.

  He took hold of Kya’s chin gently, raising it to level their eyes as best as he could. There, she was stuck once more, staring into pools of dark brown so deep she was drowning without water.

  “Who are you?” Her question was just above a whisper.

  Obviously, he could not hear her over the music but had to have read her lips.

  The prickling of his close-cut beard grazed her cheek on its course to her ear, “I’m the bad guy,”

  His warm breath against her created all too familiar goosebumps on her bare arms and produced shivers that made her eyes close.

  “What—” She paused for a slow breath then cleared her throat to raise her voice, “What do you want from me?”

  Again he spoke directly into her ear, using the short hairs around his mouth to caress it this time, “Just you.”

  Never mind his response and the fact that he had just verified her initial suspicion. His voice had done the same thing as his eyes. It kept her in place, blinded from the facts, too blissfully ignorant to care that he’d begun to move to the music, taking her along with him. Smoothly he swayed her hips in time with his own. He bit down on his lower lip when he reconnected their eyes, successfully silencing her logic.

  It started as a look from beneath his lashes and quickly became a full-on staring match that only ended when their faces were too close to maintain eye contact. Once more, Antonio placed Kya’s arms around his neck, then took full advantage of that position, lightly kissing the soft skin right above her lips. Down a little further, he dropped another kiss and kept going until he reached her bottom lip, caught between his teeth for a tender bite.

  Surprising him and probably herself, too, Kya licked his lips, initiating the kiss that escalated like everything else between them. His tongue tasted of the gloss he removed and touched hers so sweetly and seductively that a fuse within her ignited. He sparked a need she hadn’t experienced due to the darkness and depression. A small groan set off a new wave of excitement transforming the kiss from delicate and harmonious to carnal and demanding.

  Never in her life had Kya kissed a stranger. Never in life had she enjoyed a kiss so much it obstructed her judgment.

  The hand that found its way to his cheek ran deep into his hair, holding him close like a lover that didn’t want to let go. Between them, the hardness of his chest and something else pushing into her belly made her insides clench.

  She should have stopped him. She should have broken free of the kiss and his hold to curse him for touching her that way, then back away to create a safe distance between them, but someone else did it for her.

  Out of nowhere, someone gripped her harshly by the back of her shirt, yanking so hard that she was forced from her mystery man’s arms and slammed into a wall. Black spots blurred her vision just as screams brought the music to an abrupt stop.

  THREE

  It was the hand in his hair that set him off. Her small, delicate fingers rubbed across his scalp. The kiss was on a whim, only because he felt the need and deepened for the same reason, need. A peck was all he intended before she rolled her tongue over his lips. It was both surprising and the sexiest thing Antonio had ever experienced. Just like that, he lost himself in it. So lost in the moment, Kya's sudden absence and a fist to his face caught him off guard.

  Holding onto his chin, Antonio straightened his back and turned just as another punch was coming his way. Reflexively, he dodged it. Two quick jabs sent the other man staggering backward into a glass table, shattering it upon impact. The sound cleared the club of everyone but the bouncers, who wisely stood back before retreating, themselves. As the man was trying to climb to his feet, Antonio towered over him like wrath in human form, backed by two men, armed and ready.

  It was then that Antonio recognized the man that had assaulted him. Putting his hand up for his boys to lower their weapons allowed the man to get to his feet finally. With Donny and Kash at his side, Antonio was more concerned the whereabouts of Kya rather than another hit. Taking hold of his chin again, he quickly massaged, scanning the dark room until he found Kya on the floor. She was slumped over with one person holding the back of her head while the another begged for her to keep her eyes open. The fact that she was on the cold, wet, and sticky floor sent a surge of anger through him.

  In rapid Spanish, Antonio gave off an order for Kash to take Kya outside. Both of his men gave him a strange look, but neither dared to question him. Shoving his gun back into place, Kash helped Kya to her feet, one hand on her back and the other placed carefully in the crook of her arm. Her eyes remained closed with all of her other features twisted in pain. Once she and the others were out of earshot, Antonio sent a blow to the stomach of his attacker, causing him to double over.

  “Between you and your partner, I don’t know who makes my trigger finger twitch more.” Touching his chin for the last time, he parted his lips, moving his jaw slightly. "Now, Wes, you know better than to touch me, yet my jaw hurts a little, and I think you were aiming for my eye with that second punch. You have two seconds to give me a reason not to carve out one of yours."

  Still in pain, but deeply alarmed, Wes stood with one arm draped across his stomach as he held the other up between them.

  “I—I—” he stammered, still trying to breathe through the pain. “Rich—he,” Wes paused and winced, “he said you came to him talking shit about his daughter. He asked me to make su
re you didn’t hurt her.”

  Antonio spared a glance at Donny, cocking his head to the side as if he were silently running the question by him. Returning a hard gaze to Wes, he voiced it. “Did it look like I was hurting her?” If his tone and facial expression weren’t intimidating enough, Antonio paused as if he really were waiting for an answer and silently dared him to do it. “Are you his bitch, now? Doing shit for him simply because he asked?”

  Wes laughed, revealing reddened teeth that were oddly visible under the still dimmed lights. “You just said I know better and so do you. I only agreed because that’s what you’re paying me for, remember? Use my badge to keep you up on his every move in your direction. Help you remain several steps ahead.”

  Antonio considered it, shaking his head slowly. The reason he was able to stay on top this long was due to men and women like Wes―cops that were willing to accept his so-called dirty money to watch his back and make sure he was informed. His reach didn’t stop with law enforcement. It extended all the way to Congress and other high ranking officials with little habits they called upon his people to cure. He had employed the young detective for the reason he spoke of, but mostly because he had an advantage over everyone else. He had a direct line to the man that wanted his arrest more than his next breath. Still, that didn’t answer the question of why his jaw was stinging.

  “Ok,” Antonio nodded, “the girl’s old man put you on as her babysitter. So, what’s your reason for putting your hands on me?” This time he was met with silence. There was no nervous laughter this time. No sign that Wes was going to give a reason at all and from there, Antonio knew why. “You want her for yourself, don’t you?”

  A broad smile spread across his face, reaching his eyes that had darkened with the thought.

  “You can tell me, Wes. That’s the real reason why you accepted his request, isn’t it? Working that close with her father for the last few years, you’ve gotten to know her through his fading memories and wanted a piece for yourself. I don’t blame you. She is a sweet piece and easy on the eyes.” Nudging the man beside him with his elbow, he joked, “¿Qué te parece, Donny? Es bien chula, ¿no?”