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Could the bubblehead thing be an act, then? If so, as her purpose? And why hadn’t Jaxon, her blood kin, recognized the difference?

That last question had Hector shaking his head, dis his suspicions Jaxon was sharp, one of the best and ents out there, and he would know his own cousin better than a friend/servant would

Dallas cleared his throat, the universal sign for make-the-damn-introductions-already

Jaw clenched, Jaxon made them Dallas first, then Hector No one tried to shake anyone’s hand, thank God, but at least Ava aze Noelle peered so Dallas’s cheek as if he were the sweetest toddler she’d ever seen

Stupid shit enjoyed the fondling, giving her a high-wattage grin of encouragement

"You both know I can’t show you preferential treatment while you’re here," Jaxon said, uneasy His scarred face paled in the sunlight, becoht?"

"Of course we do" Finally re her attention froary tolerance usually reserved for the brain daed "But that’s okay, because everyone else will"

Uh, that would be another are-you-kidding-no No one got preferential treats off this first week, and would then hand the reins of control over to Dallas, ould run things for a week before handing the reins to Jaxon for his week Jaxon would then hand the reins to Ghost, as well as a feent named Phoenix for their hell week Then, Ghost and Phoenix would return the reins to Hector, and he’d have to endure another seven days

He’d make damn sure Ghost and Phoenix knew these tere to be ridden harder than everyone else

Ridden … harder …

Da hin of trouble

Dallas he didn’t have to worry about Boy would knohat to do It was the principle of the thing and all

"I can guarantee you’ll get the gold star treat Hector’s expectations into oblivion "After you answer a question for me Do you like pretzels?"

Ava rolled her eyes and ible under her breath

"Oh rin was all white teeth and that damn innocence "I love pretzels! They’re just so yulad you said that," Dallas began "Because--"

Jaxon reached around Hector and slugged Dallas in the jaw

"Ow! What was that for?" the agent gru area

"Just be happy I don’t have a spoon" The scoiped froave Noelle his full concentration "Don’t pay hiet settled, honey Orientation starts in an hour" He gave her a gentle push in the direction she was supposed to go

Noelle stopped at Ava’s side and slung her aro We know you guys have important stuff to do I just want to say thank you You’ve done your best to rateful"

Were those tears in her eyes? Shit They were Deep down, he’d known she was a crier How pathetic And even disappointing

"Take your bag already," Ava snipped at her "It’s, like, two hundred pounds heavier than ht the essentials Clothes, my favorite boots, face creaerie, and irl like me just can’t live without but can’t mention in mixed company because it would be indelicate You know, because they’re sexual" There at the end, she whispered, the hints of serie," Hector and Dallas had stood a little straighter At "sexual," they’d moaned Jaxon punched thenored his attractions, yeah, but co a trashy, barely-there scrap of lace and a take-a-bite-out-of-rin were seared into his brain

And wouldn’t you know it? His arns of trouble

If this kept up, his arlow and the tattoos etched froertips would crackle The final oh, shit signs that e, that his skin, muscle, and bone were about tohe touched A transition that would last several hours, until the heat finally lost steam and died down

Problem was, he couldn’t masturbate his sexual desires away because he’d fry off his cock And he couldn’t take pills because they scra his cases

So, when sexual frustration became too much for him and his arirl stayed on her knees,to worry about torching an entire town

Another probles while he was here That would mix the secret, seedier side of his personal life with the crucial business side, and he would never do that AIR was the one pure thing in his life; he refused to taint it For any reason

"I think I just heard so" Ava shouted the words as she fumbled with the zipper "You have a body in here, don’t you? Well, you’re not fraain, and that’s that"

Noelle stepped away fro already You’ve been whining about needing to step up your exercise progra time, and I’ve decided to help you You’re welcome, by the way"

"I never asked--oh!" Ava sto to asped, intense waves of hurt wafting from her "I can’t believe you just threatened me like that I … need a , she walked away Without taking her bag

Frowning, Hector rubbed at the abrupt ache in his chest What the hell? He actually cared that she’d been threatened?

Ava followed after her friend, dragging both bags anddouchieness too far

The three agents watched theo Each for a different reason, Hector was sure Jaxon, to make sure they entered the bunkhouse without any trouble Dallas, to see his pretzel’s perfect ass sway, and Hector because he just couldn’t seem to stop himself

"Girls’ bunk is upstairs, honey," Jaxon called "There’s an entrance to the right, so you won’t have to go through the guys’ area"