A Man Like No Other

A Total-E-Bound
Publication

www.total-e-bound.com

A Man Like No Other

ISBN #
978-0-85715-357-9

©Copyright Aliyah Burke 2011

Cover Art by Lyn Taylor© Copyright December 2010

Edited by Jess Bimberg

Total-E-Bound Publishing

This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from
the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance
to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

All rights
reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form,
whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written
permission of the publisher, Total-E-Bound Publishing.

Applications should
be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Total-E-Bound Publishing. Unauthorised
or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil
proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

The author and
illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs
and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book
and illustrator of the artwork.

Published in 2010
by Total-E-Bound Publishing, Think Tank,
Ruston Way
,
Lincoln
,
LN6 7FL
,
United
Kingdom
.

Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only
suitable for mature readers. This story has been rated
Total-e-burning.

A MAN LIKE NO OTHER

Aliyah Burke

Dedication

To the ones who
willingly give up time with their loved ones to protect people they’ll never
meet. Your sacrifice may not be noticed or recognised by everyone, but I thank
you. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you!!

To my husband, thank
you for being you!

Trademarks
Acknowledgement

The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of
the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

Cuervo: Tequila Cuervo

Coke:
 
The Coca-Cola Company

Nissan Xterra: Nissan Motors

Dodge Dooley 3500:
           
Chrysler Group, LLC

Popsicle: Unilever

Charger: Chrysler Group, LLC

Mossberg 500: Mossberg & Sons, Inc.

Taurus Judge Magnum: Taurus International Manufacturing, Inc.

Colt: Colt Defense

SIG: SIG Sauer, Inc.

Chapter One

“What the fuck?!”

Serefina LeBenoit cursed again as she
tracked the movement through the object up to her eye.

“What’s wrong?” a whispered voice
questioned in her ear.

“We have a problem,” she muttered,
moving the scope between the ongoing deal and the approaching man. He wore a
black vest with the letters DEA in white across the front.

He had a fluid grace about him, despite
how cautiously he progressed. His blond hair was tied back, and dark glasses
sat upon his ruggedly handsome face. Suddenly, he froze and glanced in her
direction, a slight frown filled his features. She remained immobile out of
instinct even though she knew he couldn’t spot her.

“What’s the prob?” the voice asked. It
was male and belonged to Hector.

She wiped the sweat from her brow after
the unknown man faced forward again. “God damn DEA agent approaching. You know
they can’t travel alone.” The second the agent began moving once more, so did
she. “ETA, two minutes.”

She ran with subconscious perception. Having
traversed these areas countless times, she had the confidence to do so
blindfolded. She ran hard. Fast. Pouring everything into it, for she knew if
that man made it before her, there would be bloodshed. She stashed her earwig
down the front of her bra and kept going.

She was fast.

He, unfortunately, was faster.

The unmistakable sound of gunfire
reached her.
Damn it! Sounds like it’s
all going to hell over there. Have I cursed the DEA yet?

Gun deals were dangerous anyway. Throw
in the unexpected arrival of a federal agent, and sure as shittin’,
this
would happen.

Trigger-happy,
over-testosteroned…

Her mood dropped even further south
when she came around the final corner. DEA swarmed, they were cuffing others,
her team included, and shouting to one another. A glint to the right caught her
eye and she turned. There was a shooter in another corner sighting down on the
agent she’d had in her own scope. She never hesitated, just took aim and fired.
Seconds later, she found herself slammed on the ground, gun scattering across
the pebbled ground, an agent digging his knee into her back. The hiss of pain
almost slipped through but it stopped courtesy of the anger flooding her.

Black boots filled her vision and she
looked up. Her blond Adonis stood there, powerful arms crossed, staring at her
with blue eyes. His face was composed of sharp angles—nothing soft about
him—and raw masculine strength. Intense, panty-wetting strength. The kind which
would have affected her if not for the fact she was in the process of being
cuffed, the small sharp rocks slicing into her skin. Even so, dude was hot.

Damn hot.
And when did I claim him as mine?

He stepped forward, reminding her of a
predator when she was jerked to her feet. His height added to the intimidation
factor. Well, it would have had she been intimidated. As it was, she wasn’t.
However, with each passing second, her ire grew. If there was one thing she
hated it was incompetence. She flicked her eyes in Hector’s direction and sent
him a look she knew he would understand for silence and pass it along to the
rest. Then she lifted her chin and held the gaze of the man before her.

“Who are you?”

His voice, while angry, was decadent,
rough-hewn and dangerous. She stared at him. He had a body to die for. One that
would give her hours of pleasure to explore.

Okay,
I obviously need to get laid.

“I’ll ask you again. Who are you?”

The rough baritone had a deep
Texas
drawl to it and
felt like he pulled velvets and silks across her naked body. Harsh, intense
need filled her from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

Really,
really
need to get laid.

Sinfully long lashes lowered when he
narrowed his gaze. “Do you have any idea how much trouble you’re in?”

“Do you?” she retorted, not backing
down from his acute look.

“I’m arresting you.”

She watched as the crates of guns—her
guns—were loaded into newly arrived vehicles. “You think so?”

“I’d say it’s a safe bet given the
silver you’re wearing.”

“I like silver. Gold is too pretentious.”
One shoulder lifted in a lazy shrug.

Although he never cracked an official
smile, she could see the amusement lingering behind the hawk-like stare.

His voice was nothing but business when
he spoke. “So you’ve been arrested before.” He made it a statement.

She shut down. If he didn’t know who
she was, that wasn’t her fault. And given the handcuffs she wore, she bet he
didn’t. So she arched a brow and gave him a bored look.

“You know those men will sell you out.
Give me something to work with and I’ll tell the judge you helped.”

Skimming her teeth with her tongue, she
snorted in derision. Her men would never do that but if she said anything, he
would know he had gotten under her skin. And
that
was not an option.

“You don’t think they will.” He stepped
closer, getting in her face. The scent wafting from him smelled like a man.
Strong, virile, and so much more. “You’re wrong and you
will
go to jail for it. Not just county jail. I’m talking federal
prison.”

Another agent grabbed her arm and
shoved her towards a waiting converted ice cream truck. A black suburban raced
towards them, lights flashing and sirens blaring.

“What the—?” Blondie muttered from
beside her.

Hot on the heels of the SUV was another
paddy wagon type. They squealed to a stop before them and a tall man stepped
out. She knew him and yet continued to keep her face blank. Salt and pepper
hair in a nice neat cut. He wore shades but his expression showed his immense
displeasure. The fact his lips were pressed together informed her his anger sat
on the cusp of its boiling point.

“Explain,” the new arrival snapped.

Tall, buff and blond made himself a
target by putting himself in front of her. Almost in a proprietary motion.

“Who are you,” he growled in response.

“Director McKeon, ATF.” He flashed his
badge. “What’s the DEA doing here?” He waved his hand and the sun glinted off
his wedding ring. “Never mind. Take her to that vehicle.”

“I arrested her.”

McKeon gestured impatiently like her
blond man had not said a word. Blondie’s fingers dug into her arm and he led
her over to the waiting truck. She saw the rest of her team already in there
and the sight of their injuries revived the anger within. With a sharp swallow,
she glanced to her director. He wore the hell out of his suit. A very handsome
man, cold, calculating and one hell of a boss.

“Get these off me,” she ground out.

She heard the DEA man argue but paid
him no mind as the cuffs were loosened and given to her. Serefina took them and
stepped up into the back of the RDV, Rapid Deployment Vehicle.

“Hell no, you can’t release my
prisoner.”

Sunglasses were removed and she got the
full weight of James McKeon’s stormy hazel eyes. He looked past her briefly to
where she knew the DEA man stood then back at her.

“Why were you cuffed?” McKeon demanded.
“You can leave.” That directive was for the blond.

“I didn’t see the point,” she said.
There was more to it than that but she didn’t want to discuss it in front of
the man who’d made her panties wet.

“You’re still here?” James asked as a
large presence appeared beside her.

“I’m not handing my prisoner over to
you.”

“Fine. Let’s roll.”

Doing her best not to look at him, she
sat and stretched out her jean clad legs. He sat across from her and removed
his own sunglasses. Amazing eyes watched her. She winced over the stiffness
gathering on her left side. The one which had hit the ground first. From the
slight narrowing of his blue eyes, she knew he’d caught it. It wasn’t just him
watching her; she could feel the other gazes although none had the effect of
the lone DEA agent in the vehicle.

From beneath lowered lids, she stared
at him. Still no name. His DEA vest did nothing but highlight the power in his
body. She fought the urge to squeeze her legs together. A knowledgeable and
mocking grin turned up one side of his Cupid bow-shaped lips.

Jackass.

The truck rumbled to a stop and he got
to his feet. She waited. When the back door opened, McKeon stood there.

“Move,” he ordered.

With a single push, she got to her feet
and headed to the door. Beyond McKeon, she could see others of the DEA waiting.
The anger returned. She glanced to her left and found those intense blue orbs
focused directly on her, like they were the only two in the world.

“Don’t make me repeat myself.” The
command cracked like a whip.

Ignoring the flutter in her belly, she
tossed the handcuffs to her silent blond, winked and hopped out to land at her
boss’ side.

There was no looking back. No time for
what-if’s. She totally honed in on her upcoming confrontation. They walked into
the building.

“You know I can—”

“No way,” she broke into her director’s
statement. “We’re damn lucky we didn’t lose one of our own because of this.”

“I’ll give you only so much leash,
LeBenoit.”

She understood. So long as she remained
professional, he’d let her do the talking. If there was mudslinging to do, he’d
handle it.

“Why didn’t you identify yourself to
them?”

She snorted. “Why? I don’t carry a
badge undercover. And I highly doubt they’d be willing and open-minded to that
claim from me.”

McKeon remained silent until he pressed
the button in the elevator. When he faced her, his normally cold eyes were
filled with concern. He lifted his chin in direction of her face.

“You wanna get that cleaned up?”

“Later.”

The doors slid open and she stepped off
onto the sixth floor. The area had a life of its own. Its own heartbeat. After
a brief cursory glance around, she strode off beside McKeon, headed to a
confrontation she itched for.

DEA Special Agent Taber Kysenzki leaned
against a desk and watched her walk up the stairs leading to the half floor on
this level and march head high into his director’s office. The other man was
with her but Taber only had eyes for her. She. Her. His mystery woman. Maybe
she was an informant. However, the way she carried herself made him doubt that.

A beautiful woman reminding him of mind-blowing
sex combined with a hint of violence. His ideal woman. The sun had shone on
skin which brought to mind whipped milk chocolate. He longed to put his tongue
on it and discover the taste, feel the texture. Her hair was black, shiny, and
in a short bob around her thin face.

His cock stirred as he watched her
walked. Smooth, effortless movement. He was a man who knew what he wanted. And
he wanted her. He knew it was based on visual and physical, but hey, no one
would get close to his heart again.

Laughter dragged his attention from the
firm jean-encased bubble butt that vanished from view. He saw some guys looking
in the direction she’d gone.

“What’s so funny?” he bit off, frowning
over the wave of possessiveness which hit him.

“Nothing,” Special Agent Lou Howard
said. “Just wondering how the meeting is going to go.”

“Meaning?” he asked, not understanding.

“Meaning we intruded on an ATF
undercover operation. That sweet filly you had so close to you is none other
than SA Serefina LeBenoit.”

He froze. That was a familiar name.
ATF’s version of him. Hard-headed, determined, not uncommon to skirt the line
of the law to obtain the wanted objective. Before he realised it, he headed
towards the stairs and his boss, Tobias Feeney’s, office. He slowed before he
actually got there for the loud voices were obvious. After pausing a brief
moment at the door, he strolled through and headed for a chair in the outer
office. Cricket, Tobias’ assistant was gone. No doubt hiding from the
fireworks. Butt in the plush red chair, he hooked his ankles out before him.

“I don’t give a damn. That was
our
sting. DEA is not the ATF.”

“Watch your tone, LeBenoit.”

“Why should I? You’re not my boss and
your damn arrogance and refusal to tell the ATF about a gun deal could have
resulted in my men being injured. In case you’ve forgotten, ATF trumps DEA.”

The venom and disgust rolled off each
word. Taber smiled and scratched his chin. She had grit. Not many had what it
took to confront Tobias.

The door jerked open and there she was.
Framed by the doorway. Her dark brown eyes shot flames, full—definitely
kissable—lips were drawn tight with anger. Blue jeans and a tank top allowed
him to ogle her figure. Not that he hadn’t already done so but he had no qualms
about doing it again. She locked onto him, her big eyes narrowed.

On the air came his boss’s deep voice.
“Get back in here.”

“Screw you. And next time, Director,
I’ll let the guy shoot your agent, instead of saving his life, and potentially
ruining my long hours of undercover work.”

She stared at Taber long enough to scan
his body and dismiss him without hesitation. Slammed his ego into the ground
and stomped on it. Then she left the office. He went after her, ignoring his
hollered name.

“Hang on a sec,” he said.

Her motion evaporated so suddenly he
almost ran into her at the bottom of the stairs. She turned and glared at him
through the silky strands of hair over her eyes. One slightly arched eyebrow
rose.

“We weren’t introduced.”

Another dismissive glance. “Nope.”

“Taber Kysenzki.”

It was obvious she wasn’t impressed,
for she turned and walked away.

“Don’t feel bad, Taber. She’s rumoured
to be a ball buster,” Howard informed him.