Disclaimer: I still don't own Big Time Rush. Case closed.

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A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who has read, followed, favorited, or reviewed this story! I can't thank you guys enough, and I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate it. You guys seriously rock!

Okay, so, I suck. I seriously do. I can't believe it's been two freaking months since I last updated this story and I'm so sorry! I wasn't trying to leave you guys hanging, I promise. It's just that I got blocked with this chapter, and then I got sucked into my other stories, and then some family problems came up, and I had a midterm for one of my classes, and it's just been insane. I also posted a new Jatie story (yes, I'm pimping out my stories) if you guys are interested. But anyway, not the point. The point is, I'm sorry! And I know I've sucked at updating my other stories as well. I've had a huge case of writer's block with most of my stories, and the ones that I've been working on haven't actually been posted yet. And with "Break the Ice" I'm putting off finishing the epilogue because I don't want it to be over. But hopefully the writer's block is mostly gone, so with any luck more updates will be coming soon! *Fingers crossed*. And as always, shout out to Dana2184! She posted a new Jatie story not too long ago and it's a thriller type fic. Very intriguing. So...check it out? :)

Warnings: Language, innuendos, some sexual content, mentions of firearms.

Enjoy the chapter :)


Chapter Eleven: Buy and Sell

Katie's POV

By the time I got in the car with my seatbelt buckled and the engine running, my head was spinning, my lips throbbing, and my breath was coming in short, painful gasps.

I could see James' taillights flashing on and a moment later, he was pulling away from the curb, but I waited a moment before signaling out as well.

The entire evening felt both hazy and clear at the same time, like something out of a dream or a memory. The feeling of his lips against mine was like a tattoo, staying with me no matter what.

I had known from the very first second I saw him that things would be intense between us, it was too obvious. When we had first locked eyes, even though we were wearing masks, it had literally felt like walls were falling away, like everyone else was just disappearing. And now here we were, several weeks later. Kissing him had been…there weren't words to describe it. Intense could only mean so much, and I wasn't what sure what other adjectives there were. Passionate worked. Fiery. Explosive. Crazy and insane. Everything you could want and more. Something straight out of the best dream ever.

I somehow managed to get home without crashing the car into a tree or a building, and slipped into the house, hoping fervently that no one would be up. Luckily, the house was completely dark and silent and I managed to get up to my room without anyone catching me. I stripped down, changing into my nightgown, and collapsed on my bed, chest heaving.

God, I already needed him again.

Without even thinking twice about it, I grabbed my phone and dialed his number, holding it up to my ear. It rang twice, but before I could even seriously consider hanging up, I heard his voice on the other end.

"Hey."

"Hey," I breathed out.

"What's up?"

"Just…you know…laying in bed. Not much. You?"

"Doing the same thing," he laughed. "So, uh, are we back to not being enemies?"

"Oh, no, we're totally still enemies."

"Just enemies who make out and talk on the phone?" he retorted.

"Yeah, pretty much," I giggled. "So, you get home safely?"

Oh, dear God, did I really just ask that? He was home, in bed, and I asked him if he got there safely?

"Actually I hit a couple of buildings, might have crashed into the lake. They're having my car towed out tomorrow."

"Yeah, I know it was a stupid question," I huffed out. "No need to make fun of me."

"But we're enemies, Katie. That's what enemies do," he reminded me sweetly.

"Go screw a log."

"I – what?" he busted out laughing. "How the hell would that even work?"

"Figure it out," I told him, pouting. "You're laughing at me."

"So you noticed that?"

"Just shut up."

He continued to laugh. "I'm still thinking about your go screw a log comment."

I whined. "Yeah, calling you was a mistake. I'm hanging up now – "

"Wait! I mean, uh…"

"Uh?"

"Did you call me up for anything specific?"

"Um…no…"

"You sure? Did you call me up for phone sex, Katie?"

"I will seriously throw my phone across the room just so that I don't have to listen to you anymore."

"Then all you'd do is ruin your phone," he replied simply. "So what good would that do?"

"You drive me fucking crazy, you know that?"

"I guessed as much. So…did you call me up for phone sex?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, because I really want you to get off on my voice." Actually, that didn't sound like too bad of an idea…

"Oh, please, you'd love it. And I'm guessing you're feeling a little frustrated after tonight."

"Uh, yeah, because our parents asked us to do pretty much the impossible. Of course I'm frustrated. Anyone would be."

"I was thinking more along the lines of sexual frustration," he replied and I heard the soft groan of the bed, telling me he had just shifted.

"Well, maybe you're having that problem," I smirked into the phone. "I, on the other hand, am totally, completely fine." It was a lie, but he didn't need to know that. And unless he suddenly decided to crawl in through my window and get firsthand experience, he wasn't going to find out.

"Really? So what if I told you that I'm debating to come over and fuck you senseless against the wall?"

"I would tell you that I'm a virgin, so fucking me senseless into the wall might not be the best idea."

There was a long pause, and then James repeated, "You're a virgin?"

"Yeah."

"So you've never…?"

"That's usually what being a virgin means," I responded.

"So I'd be your first."

"Assuming I didn't push you out my bedroom window? Yes, you would be."

"Fuck," he breathed out. "That's fucking hot."

"I'm not even going to ask. But, for future reference, I can barely fit a tampon in."

"Okay, really?"

My smirk widened. "Yes, really. What's the matter, Jamie? Getting turned on?"

"As if I wasn't already. You're not good for my sanity," he informed me.

"I know I'm not. But admit it, it sucks being on the receiving end of the teasing," I said.

"A little. Although I'm wondering what else you might say, just to get me back for all the times I've teased you."

I leaned back against my pillows, shifting the phone to my other ear. "Maybe I'll just leave you wondering, leave you to your fantasies."

"You're not a very good tease," he informed me.

"I'm not trying to be. If I was, I'd tell you that I've been thinking about what might have happened in the fitting room when you were unzipping my dress."

A sharp gasp told me I had gotten the response I had been going for and I snickered.

"You're so easy."

"I knew you wanted me to fuck you in the fitting room."

"Guilty as charged," I admitted.

"Shove your dress up around your waist and take you right there."

Was it bad that I could see it happening in my mind?

"Lift you up and back you into the wall. Get my jeans and boxers open and push into you. So warm and tight and wet," he breathed out and a small whimper escaped me. And then…

"Hey, wait!" I cried. "You forgot about my panties! How would you push into me if I'm still wearing them?"

"Fucking hell…Let's just say I've already ripped them off."

"Did you tear them?"

"Possibly."

"You're buying me new ones."

"I'm never having phone sex with you again," he informed me.

"Sorry, sorry. Okay, continue on."

"The mood's ruined now."

I rolled my eyes. "Okay, where were we? Let's see…you had just entered me…warm, tight, and wet according to you. You have me up against the dressing room wall. You're picking up speed, your hips snapping into mine…My nails are sinking into your shoulders…"

"I'm moving even faster. You're panting, moaning…I'm stretching you out and filling you like never before."

"I would just like to mention that the only thing I've ever shoved up my vagina is a tampon."

"Seriously? You would make an awesome chaperone, you know that?"

"Sorry, sorry. It won't happen again."

"Hmmph. And for what it's worth, I'm a lot bigger than a tampon."

"You just had to throw that in there, didn't you?" I retorted.

"Yes. Because it's true."

"How would you know? Have you ever seen a tampon?"

"Katie, two of my best friends are girls so yes, I have. And if you still don't believe me, I've measured myself."

"Flaccid or erect?"

"Both."

"And? What's the verdict."

In a rough, husky voice he gave me two numbers and my eyes widened. "Holy shit."

"Like I said, I'm a lot bigger than a tampon."

"I wouldn't be able to walk after having sex with you!"

"I'd take that as good thing."

"I'm sure you would," I grumbled. "Maybe I should start small…You have any friends with small dicks?"

"If you fuck any of my friends, I'll – "

"You'll?"

"Make sure they can never have children – or sex – ever again."

"Aww, would you get jealous?"

"Yes. No one but me is ever touching you."

A heat wave crashed over my body, leaving me gasping. Oh, fuck. Possessiveness. Who would think that it would be so fucking hot?!

"Fuck…okay…okay…I can live with that…" My nightgown was sticking to my now very sweaty skin, and I lifted the material away from my body, trying to cool down.

"Good," he said firmly, sounding a little breathless himself.

"Okay…um…" I worked on trying to get my thoughts together. "Hang on." I set my phone down and pulled my nightgown off, reaching for a shorter, lighter one. The cool material was smooth against my skin and as I laid back against my pillows I could almost see James moving with me, body enfolding over mine, his hand sliding up my now bare thigh.

I needed him here.

I grabbed my phone and put it back up to my ear. "I'm back."

"What was that about?"

"I…changed…"

"Into what?"

"A different nightgown."

"Send me a pic?"

"Just a sec." I held my phone up and snapped a picture, before sending it to him.

James' breath caught once he received the picture. "So fucking sexy."

I blushed slightly, smoothing the night dress down over my upper thighs, stretching my legs out and pointing my toes. "You think so?"

"I know so."

"You need to be here," I managed to get out. "Right now. I need you." My voice cracked slightly on the word need, pure desperation echoing through the single word.

"Fuck, Katie…" he groaned out. "God…"

"Just come here. Please. I'll sneak you in," I offered.

"Shit…I'm on my – " he cut off abruptly at the sound of a muffled knock. I frowned. Someone must've been outside his bedroom door. "Yeah?" he called.

There was a mumbled answer and then James groaned. "Of course you would find something out tonight. What – oh, never mind, it's nothing. When?"

A response.

"Okay, I'll be down in a little while." A moment later, he said to me, "Sorry about that. My dad got a lead about something. We're going to have to leave in a little while."

"Oh, okay," I said, trying not to sound disappointed. This was part of being in the business; something could come up at any time and you were lucky if it didn't.

"Sorry. Rain check?"

"If you're lucky," I teased.

"I will be," he teased back.

"Mmm hmm. Sure. Um…can I ask you kind of a personal question?"

"As long as you don't use it against me."

"Who'd you lose your virginity to?"

There was a long pause. "Why?"

"I'm just curious." I wasn't going to lie, there was a huge part of me that was hoping that he would laugh and say, Yeah, it hasn't actually happened yet. Guess we'll be each other's firsts. But maybe I'm just too much of a romantic, because that didn't happen at all.

"It was to my girlfriend in senior year of high school," he answered after several long seconds.

"Oh. Did you love her?" I asked before I could stop myself.

"Very much."

"Do you still talk to her?"

"We're friends on Facebook, but no, not really. We've both moved on, Katie." His voice was laced with suggestion, and a small smile tugged at my lips.

"That's good to hear."

"What about you? Should I be worried about your exes?"

"Well, one of them still lives here in Cherry Lake…"

"Super."

"But the other one is going to school in New York."

"City or state?"

"Both."

"So, I don't have to worry about him at the very least. But what about the other one?"

I shrugged before remembering that James couldn't see me. "I don't speak to him anymore. He's a jerk."

"So, nothing to worry about?"

"Nope. Do I have to worry about you and your other exes?"

"Not in the least. Well, no, there's one old girlfriend who texts me occasionally, but I have no interest in her."

"Okay."

"Okay."

There was another pause and then he cleared his throat. "I should get ready to leave."

"Yeah, okay. What lead are you guys following up on?"

He let out a laugh. "What the hell makes you think I'd tell you that?"

"Because you want to sleep with me."

"Yeah, but I'm not going to tell you what's going on with my family."

"Damn it. Hey, you know, if you guys just let my family buy your business out, we could be together."

"That's not going to happen," he retorted, voice going sharp.

"Yeah, I didn't think so," I sighed. "It was worth a try."

"I'll talk to you later, Katie." And with that, he hung up.

I groaned as I pulled the phone away from my ear, seeing call ended flashing across the screen. "Damn it!" I screamed, chucking my phone to the floor. How was it that just when things seemed like they were going really well, everything would just go to crap again?

I took a deep breath, snuggling under the covers. So maybe I had pushed it a little bit…He probably thought I had a hidden agenda, that I was using him to help to benefit my family. And I wouldn't blame him. If he had asked me that, I would have thought the same thing.

I'd call him tomorrow night and hope he'd pick up. I'd explain that it had been a bad joke. He would understand that, right?

A couple of minutes later I heard the front door open and close, and I pushed the covers back, padding over to my window curiously. I could see Felix's car backing out of the driveway and I frowned. Guess he was off to some late night meeting.

I drifted in and out of sleep for most of the night, finally giving up at seven-thirty and shoving the covers back, crawling out of bed.

I showered and got dressed, before heading downstairs. No one was in the kitchen yet, so I hurried out to my car. I had no intentions of sitting around the house on a Saturday morning, especially when I knew my parents and dear uncle would more than likely interrogate me about everything that had happened the night before with James' and my decision. It just wasn't worth it.

I ended up driving to a diner, thinking about having a real breakfast. I was starving, having barely eaten dinner the night before, and a plate of bacon, eggs, and a stack of pancakes with a pot of coffee sounded perfect.

I was led to a table and the hostess passed me a menu. Before I could even flip it open, however, a shadow fell across my table and I looked up at the boy standing there. A groan escaped my lips as I took in messy blond hair and sky blue eyes.

Brendan.

My ex.

"What do you want?" I demanded, laying my menu down on the table in annoyance.

"I saw you and thought I'd come over to say hi," he responded, sliding onto the bench opposite me and I swung my leg out, kicking him in the shin. "Ow! What the fuck?!"

"Liar," I snapped. "If you were just coming over to say hi, you would already be on your way back to the rock you crawled out from."

"Still as psychotic as ever, I see." He rubbed his leg, glaring at me.

"Actually, I'm just allergic to bullshit. Now go away."

"So, who're you with?" he asked me, ignoring my command. "Are you here alone?"

"Actually, she's with me."

My head snapped up and my mouth fell open. James stood there, looking extremely pissed off.


James' POV

The lead didn't go anywhere. All it did was cause Dad and me to spend a good three hours behind a warehouse, falling asleep. At last, he admitted that we had most likely been played, and we headed home. I crawled into bed, turning over what Katie had said in my mind.

I had no idea if she had been serious or not. There had been a joking tone to her voice with a serious edge, so maybe half and half…

I wasn't in the mood to dwell on it, though. Instead, I just conked out, waking up several hours later by my dad shaking me.

"What?" I mumbled, rolling over, away from him.

"I have an assignment for you."

"Nooo…I'm sleeping."

"You can sleep later. I just got word from one of our informants that the guy we were supposed to meet up with last night is having a breakfast meeting at Chloe's Diner. I need you to go down there and keep an eye on him, see if he's a sellout or not."

"To us or the guy he's having breakfast with?" I asked, sitting up and rubbing my eyes.

"To us. He sells his information to the highest bidder, and we need that information to prove that we weren't the ones who blew up Kendall Knight's car."

"I'm still not entirely sure why you're so eager to clear our names," I informed him as I climbed out of bed.

"We're a lot of things, James, but we're not murderers, and that was an attempted murder. Kevin Knight might decide to get revenge on us and I'm not going to lose you and Shane over a mistake. So I need you to do this. I would, but I have other matters to take care of. Someone tried to hack into my e-mail account last night when we were out. They didn't succeed, but I got the alert. I need to figure out who the hell it was so that I can stop them from doing it again."

I nodded. "Is the dude at the diner right now?"

"He's meeting a possible buyer there at nine, so you have forty-five minutes to get ready and get down there."

"Got it."

The second he left my room, I hurried into my bathroom to brush my teeth and wash my face, before rushing back to my room and throwing on jeans, a white v-neck, my black leather jacket, and my boots. I ran a comb through my hair, snatched up my car keys and wallet, and dashed down the stairs and out to the garage to my car.

I slid into the driver's seat, slipped the keys into the ignition, started the car, pressed the button to open the garage door, and backed out.

Once I was out on the street, I pressed down on the gas pedal and sped down the road.

I made my way into downtown Cherry Lake and quick reached Chloe's Diner. I parked and went on in, waving off the hostess's offer of a nice table by the window. I had to find the guy before I could even think about sitting down and enjoying breakfast, even though my stomach felt hollow and it was grumbling in protest. Plus, I could really use a hot cup of coffee…or maybe five. Ten might work too.

I glanced around, trying to find the guy. I knew what he looked like – tanned with black hair and a beard – but he didn't seem to be there yet.

Damn it.

I let my gaze wonder, and then almost did a double take when I spotted Katie sitting at a table in the back corner, beside the window. And seated across the table from her was some blond dude. But I didn't pay any attention to him; I was too focused on the irritated look on her face. And in all honesty, I really wasn't thrilled about seeing her with another guy after we had kissed the night before and then pretty much had phone sex afterwards. He wasn't going to get her, not if I had my say.

I strolled over to them, reaching them just as the guy said, "So, who're you with? Are you here alone?"

I crossed my arms, glaring down at him. "Actually, she's with me."

They both looked up at me, Katie's eyes widening, the guy visibly swallowing.

"Who – who are you?" the guy asked, blanching slightly.

"Is that really any of your fucking business?" Movement out of the corner of my eye caught my attention and I spotted our informant walking into the main area and sitting down across the table from some middle aged dude in a business suit. I had no idea who he was, but I could see the bulge of a gun under his suit jacket, so he was definitely not someone to cross. And where Katie and this dumbass were sitting happened to be a prime spying spot. I could see the entire restaurant from where I was standing.

"Look, I don't know who you are, but – "

"Move out of the way, fucker, you're in a prime sun tanning spot." I yanked him out of the seat and took his place across from Katie, flashing her a sweet smile.

The guy gaped at me. "I was sitting there!"

"And now you're not. Go. Now."

With a glare at me, he made his way across the diner and out the door.

"Who the fuck was he?" I asked Katie, signaling the waitress over so that I could get a menu.

"My ex…"

"The one you told me about last night? Thanks," I added sweetly to the waitress before flipping the menu open and cutting my eyes to the informant and his breakfast partner.

"Yeah, Brendan."

"What did he want?"

"To say hi."

"Seemed like a prick."

"He is. What are you doing here…?"

"Having breakfast with the enemy's daughter."

She stared at me, before following my gaze to the table with the informant and the other guy. "Hey, that's Jacob Pullock."

"Pullock? What the hell kind of name is Pullock?"

"Considering your last name is Diamond, I don't think you're in any position to make fun of someone else's name."

"Whatever. Who's Jacob Pullock? Is he the guy in the suit?"

"Yeah. He does some work for my family once in awhile. He buys and sells information," she added once she spotted my questioning gaze.

"Okay…Interesting…"

"Why?"

I crooked my finger at her, signaling to her to lean in. She did so and I whispered, "The guy he's having breakfast with is the guy who my dad and I were supposed to meet last night. He never showed. But we were trying to get information on who blew up your brother's car."

Katie raised an eyebrow. "And he just bailed on you guys?"

"Yeah. He never texted or called or e-mailed or anything. It was weird."

"You going to approach him?"

"I don't know. Maybe. I do want to know what he's doing here with Pullock, though. It's not like he got any information from us last night."

"Maybe he was meeting up with someone else. Or maybe he was getting information on you guys," Katie suggested with a shrug. "It happens. In this business everyone's always double-crossing everyone else."

"Very true," I allowed. "I'd definitely like to find out."

"Have you met the informant?"

"Not in person, but my dad showed me a picture of him last night, so I know what he looks like."

"Think he's seen a picture of you?"

"It's entirely possible. Does Pullock know you?"

"He's met me a few times, yeah. Think they'll see us and get suspicious?"

"Maybe. If they ask, we can just say we're having a business meeting," I replied.

"True." She looked down at her open menu. "Wanna share a pot of coffee?"

"Sounds perfect. I barely got any sleep last night."

"Yeah, you look tired. Bummer that the lead didn't pan out."

"Believe me, I know. I would much rather have been sneaking into your room." I yawned, covering my mouth with my hand.

"About what I said before you hung up…" She bit her lip. "I was just joking. So…please don't take it the wrong way."

"I didn't. I figured you were. I mean, I was a little pissed for a few minutes, but I figured it was just a bad joke."

"It was. I'm sorry."

"It's cool."

The waitress walked over to us and we ordered. She headed off and returned a couple of minutes later with a pot of coffee, placing it in the center of the table. I reached for it and poured us each a cup before adding sugar to mine. Katie dumped a couple of sugar and cream packets into her cup and stirred, before taking a sip, sighing. She glanced over at Pullock again, brow furrowing.

"What is it?" I asked her, sipping from my own cup.

"It's just…It's weird. Not too long after we got off the phone, my uncle left…And your informant never showed up…What if Felix was meeting your informant or intercepting him?"

"But why would he even do that?"

"Maybe the informant had information that Felix didn't want getting to you guys? Information about my family?"

"My dad was going to buy information on who blew your brother's car up," I reminded her.

Her eyes widened, and we stared at each other as the idea began to sink in: Felix knew who had tried to kill Katie and Kendall.


Well, there it is. Chapter 11. What'd you guys think? Like it? Love it? Hate it? Please review! I'd really appreciate it :)