Free Nice and Naughty by Jayne Rylon

She lurched in an attempt to jump up but collapsed gasping and pushing a hand against her ribs. The gesture granted him a reprieve from the tirade she prepared to launch.
    “It’s fucking true! The world feels right when I’m with you. I don’t need a year or ten to know that I’ll never find a woman like you again. I won’t throw that away because you’re scared.”
    “Yelling in her face probably isn’t the best approach to convince her of what little self-control you possess.” Jason’s deadpan delivery came from the doorway in an attempt to diffuse the situation but Alexa lay stunned by the impact of Justin’s words and emotions.
    He scrubbed his hands over his face. “Shit. You’re right, that was…stupid.”
    The shrill ringing of the house phone drowned out his last syllable. Both brothers stiffened, becoming instantly alert. Jason set the tray he carried on the bed and grabbed for the receiver on the nightstand.
    Angling closer, Justin whispered in her ear as Jason punched the talk button. “Only a few emergency contacts have access to that number.”
    “Hello?” Tension emanated from each stiff muscle in Jason’s body. “I see. Yes. We’ll be there.” He replaced the handset in the cradle with a precise snap of his wrist.
    “When and where, Jay?” Justin asked as though he’d heard the conversation himself.
    “You have to stop doing that!” She squirmed from beneath him and faced them with hands on hips, unconcerned by her nakedness. “What the hell was that about?”
     

    “Seems someone from the R&D lab kept process notes and they’re willing to make a deal.” Jason looked between her and Justin in silent communication but this time she understood exactly what they intended.
    “Oh, no you don’t.” She stepped between them, cutting off their line of sight. “I’m going too.”

    Justin watched his brother cross the gloomy street in front of their parked car. The tinted glass made surveillance possible, hiding them from any onlookers. The caller had demanded Jason come alone but neither he nor Alexa would have permitted a solo excursion. He hoped the fact they refrained from calling the cops would satisfy the informant.
    “Son of a bitch,” he muttered under his breath as Alexa unfolded her lithe body from the backseat and climbed upfront. The awkward position must have hurt like hell considering her injuries but it gave him a world-class view of her luscious behind.
    “Are you looking at my ass?” Her scathing tone implied he better not be.
    “Yup.”
    “How about you watch out for Jason instead?” She had a point there. He swiveled his head to face out the windshield. Although his brother trained in self defense to protect against money seeking schemers, it never hurt to have help.
    “How did you talk us into letting you get involved in this again?” Justin fired the words from where he fumed in the passenger seat.
    “I was already involved, remember?” Like he could forget the horror of witnessing her half-jammed into the hatch of that van. “Besides, no matter what he thinks, Jason needs someone to cover his ass while he’s exposed out there. From the way you’re holding that gun I assume you actually know how to use it, but it probably requires some concentration. In addition, you couldn’t refute that it would be easier to protect him if someone else were in charge of the exit plan. I happen to be an excellent driver. Plus, I’m an even better negotiator. It’s one of the reasons Jason hired me in the first place.”
     

    “I’ll keep that in mind.” The sly smile she sent him caused his cock to harden, a distraction he couldn’t afford right now. He had to clarify one thing, though, in case this situation went to shit like his instincts screamed it would.
    “About what I said…you know, before.” Justin cleared his throat while keeping his attention glued to the surroundings, monitoring every nook and cranny of the shadowed alley for signs of