AnnieMarie had to admit she was a little nervous with just the two of them in an enclosed space. The sexual tension that was always there between them had not diminished. After her father’s death, AnnieMarie believed Cainan knew why her father did not want them together as a couple, but would not tell her. Yet, the sexual pull remained intact. They made a vow to keep it at bay, but then her sister was kidnapped, her uncle was killed and she discovered the existence of a new family member. It seemed life could change in the blink of an eye. Grandfather Walker had always told her to never waste time, tomorrow wasn’t promised to anyone. Over the last few days those words had her and Cainan rethinking that vow. In fact, Cainan was leaning in to kiss her when he was shot. If he hadn’t leaned towards her, the bullet would have landed right through his heart. The kiss that never was, saved his life. Well, she was going to get that kiss she had longed for since the first. She exhaled a long cleansing breath as the elevator moved upwards. They had only shared one kiss, but damn if it wasn’t memorable. Even now, just thinking about it, AnnieMarie could feel the juices stirring between her thighs. Or was it the heat radiating from his stare. She did not have to turn to know his eyes were on her. The moisture was all the proof of that. Yes, she would listen to his explanation and then, she was going to put her forever plan into motion.
“This was my grandparents’ home,” she started talking to keep her nerves in check. “Since we moved Uncle Walker out I’ve been thinking of moving into to it. Now that he is dead, I’m thinking of buying it from Aunt Vivian. This house means a lot to me. Whenever I got into trouble at home, I would come here and spend time with my grandfather. He built me a tearoom in the attic so that I could come here and contemplate what I’d done wrong and try to do better.” She smiled. “My contemplating usually consisted of a variety of tea and cookies.” She smiled as the elevator stopped and the doors opened.
Stepping into the huge open room that spanned the length of the house AnnieMarie immediately felt the security of her safe space. The first half of the finished attic was more of a sitting area with sofas facing the six double windows on one side and rockers on the back side. In the center was a table with four chairs, positioned in front of a double window that opened to the outside. The windows overlooked the pond and gardens on the back of the estate and the circular driveway and wrought iron security fence on the front.
“This is and will always be my place to come when I’m trying to figure out what’s next in my life.,” She said as she walked across the room to the table. “One of the reasons my Uncle Walker and I remained close even when my family was ready to kill him was because I spent so much time here.” She looked around. “For some reason this space didn’t do the trick when my father died. I did not understand why until Uncle Walker’s involvement in his death was revealed.” She placed her purse on the table then turned to Cainan who was still standing near the elevator. “I need the healing magic of this place to get me through this… through your betrayal.” She took a deep breath as she stared at him. “I don’t know who you are. Do I call you Cainan? Do I call you Scott? Agent Wagner? What?”
“Cainan,” he slowly walked towards her. He understood her distrust of him. Expected it. Yet, now that he was with her, Cainan wasn’t sure how to proceed. She knew the facts of his situation. What she did not know was the how and why. He glanced around what she called her space. The table dressed in lace, a vase in the center with pearls, not flowers, and the boxing bag in the corner was a declaration to the many facets of her personality. He had to admit, the attic, as she referred to it, was intimidating. It seemed to go on forever, with different sections for storage and who knows what else towards the far end. But this area, where she stood with the moonlight shining through was all AnnieMarie Dunning. The woman he desired. The woman whose love he was determined to have. And he knew beyond a shadow of a doubt, he was going to have to do some begging to have her.
“You’re pissed and confused,” he nodded as he stood before her. “You have every right to be. I’ve lied to you, your family and co-workers for two years. Today I put your life in danger. That is something I never wanted to do. For that I can only ask for your forgiveness. To keep you safe, I have to go back to finish this case.” He pulled out a chair for her to take a seat. “Before I do I want to tell you who I am.”
He sat across the table from her, stretched his legs out then sat back. He watched as she crossed those legs he longed to travel up with his tongue, then glared at him with those big curious brown eyes, and her slightly pouty lips. God he wanted her in so many ways. But he had a long game in mind. There were no short routes he could take. He had to use this opportunity to lay it all on her playing field. Right here. Right now. He may not have another opportunity.
“I am Agent Cainan Scott Wagner. I am the son of Scott Wagner who was a friend of your father’s from college. When he reached out regarding my situation, Hepburn Dunning did not hesitate to accept me into his family. He protected me with his life, or so I thought. He became my confidant. The only person I could openly talk with for the last two years. I will always be in his debt. The night we kissed,” he took a moment as the memory flooded his groin causing him to shift in his seat, “I knew my feelings for you were growing in a direction that could cause Hepburn to worry. I could not do that to a man who had done so much for me. That was the reason I slowed things down between us. I loved and respected your father. I was not going to let my actions harm his daughter who he loved with all his heart. He knew my situation, and I understood his reasons for concern. If he had asked me not to see you socially, I would have honored his request. I owed him that and much more. And I also knew the possibility that something like what happened this morning could have put your life in danger and I was not going to let that happen because I was falling in love with you.” He held her eyes for a long moment.
“Continue.”
Cainan almost wanted to smile. AnnieMarie did not crack a smile, no twinkle in her eyes, nothing at the words, I love you, showed in her posture. She was not giving him an inch. He had to go full force to win this round. He cleared his throat and continued.
“I have two sisters, Kandace who they tell me is pregnant with my first niece or nephew and Kennedy who is dating a guy I don’t like.” He smiled. “You are a perfect blend of both, plus a huge dose of my mother, Kaitlyn Wagner who has one of the biggest hearts ever. I told you about my father, Scott Wagner who is a police officer and my closest friend. I have a slew of uncles, aunts and cousins on both sides. I think one of the reasons I love your family is because they remind me of them.”
As she listened to him talk about his family it was evident he loved them and even seemed a little excited to be able to see them again. For the first time since knowing him, she felt he was being completely open and honest about who he was. He was laying his family and life before her. The joy in his eyes began to fade as he began talking about his job. The fear for his family ran deep and his mistrust of people in his own agency concerned him.
“With 53 arrests associated with 22 indictments against the Giuliani family they will do anything to get to me. There was no way we could have protected everyone in my family. The only option was for me to die.” He sat forward. “My SAC, my father, the prosecutor in the case and Sereena are the only people who knew of the situation. We originally thought three to six months tops was all it would take for us to go to trial. As you know it turned out to be two years. It was clear someone in the agency knew I was still alive. It was the only way Giuliani could have any way of knowing I still was a threat to him. His attorneys, and we believe someone from within our circle, is feeding him information. We need to identity that individual if we are to successfully try this case. Even now, the only reason I’m returning is because of the danger I’ve brought around you. With all the anxiety I’m dealing with coming face to face with my family, none of it compares to the fear I have of losing you. I would give my life for you AnnieMarie. The only way I can protect you now is to push the prosecutor to demand a speedy trial based on the attempt on my life. We need to bring this case to an end.” He took a deep breath as he held her gaze. “Not telling you about my life was my way of protecting you.”
“I understand what you, Daddy and Myles were trying to do. What I don’t get is why any of you thought I was helpless.”
That question made Cainan realize she really did not understand. “I watched Johnnie Giuliani kill an entire family because they wouldn’t sell their store to him. I watched that man and his family rob people of their lives just to make his better. You have lived a sheltered life. Your father put barriers between you and ugliness. There is evil out there AnnieMarie. I can’t protect you or other people the way your father did. But as an agent, I can stop evil people from taking the lives of others. When you say you understand what we were trying to do I have to question, do you really?”
She could see the uncertainty in his eyes. A part of her wanted to assure him she did understand. That her father not only protected her, but ensured she and all of his children knew how to fend for themselves. But she knew, as a man it was his nature to protect the woman in his life. For now, she would just have to let him have that round. Listening to him reminded her why she loved him. Yes, she loved this man. The way he cared for others and his sense of honor always come through with whatever he did. It should have been clear to her that he was more than a stock market wiz kid, as her father used to call him. She had to wonder where or if she would fit in his life now? To get an answer, she had to change the conversation.
“It sounds like you have a wonderful family.”
His smile showed in his eyes as he nodded. “I do. They are all going to be a little pissed at me when I go back.”
“They will be thrilled,” just as she would be sad she thought. Not wanting to go there, she shook the thought away. “She’s pretty,” AnnieMarie raised an eyebrow to Cainan.
Cainan kept his eyes on her. “Who?”
“Agent Chase.”
“Sereena? Yes, she is. She is also my partner. Has always had my back.”
“Is that all she is to you?”
“No. Sereena is like family. But I don’t want to spend our time talking about Sereena .”
“What do you want to talk about?” AnnieMarie asked.
“Where we go from here.”
“We?” AnnieMarie exhaled. “Is there a we, Cainan?” She stood then walked over to the window. The sun had set, the moonlight was seductive and the sky was filled with bright stars. She kicked off her heels, pulled the windows open then hooked them to the ceiling to hold them in place. Stepping out she sat on the window seat as she had many times before. A minute later Cainan came out and sat next to her. His arm brushed against her.
“How long will you be in the sling?”
“Until it gets on my nerves, which will probably be tomorrow.”
She smiled as she looked at the stars. “The stars seem so close from here. When I was a little girl I would reach out to see if I could capture one.”
Cainan looked up. “How many stars do you think are in that sky?”
AnnieMarie smiled at the question. “I’ve often wondered that myself,” she shrugged, “since stars can be seen all around the world, an infinite number I would think.”
“I think you are right,” he nodded. “That’s how I know there is a we, AnnieMarie,” Cainan pressed his injured shoulder against hers. “Ouch.”
She reached over and rubbed his shoulder. “You okay?”
“Yes, just forgot for a minute.” He smiled back at her. “All those stars up there are the number of kisses I have to give you before there is no we. In my calculations, we have a lifetime before we run out of stars.”
Their eyes met. “We’ve only had one kiss.”
“One hell of a kiss,” he replied.
“You have some catching up to do.”
Using his one good hand, he reached over and placed a finger under her chin. “Then let this be the first between Cainan Wagner and AnnieMarie Dunning.
Cainan’s lips captured hers with a relentless need to show her just how deep his feelings were. Her lips parted allowing his tongue to slowly taste the sweetness he knew was there. But a taste wasn’t enough. He needed to leave his mark. To let her know, in this moment, he was claiming her as his. His hand moved to her neck, bringing her mouth securely to his. Holding her in place to allow him to devour every nook and cranny he could touch. The tantalizing pleasure he received from her response, caused him to stick his tongue deeper into her mouth, sucking, stroking, pleasuring with every breath he had. Pulling her body closer to him, he could feel her nipples hardening through her blouse. Her arms circled his neck, pressing her body against his, causing his desire to rise to a state he couldn’t control nor did he want to. Stimulating his arousal which he knew she had to feel. Throbbing against his zipper, demanding he either do something about it or bring this torture to an end. This was AnnieMarie, Hep’s daughter, he made his mind remember. But damn if his dick was complying. It knew what it wanted and he was having a hard time telling it to stop. Then he found himself laying back on the roof, pulling her body completely on top of his stretched out body. His one good hand, holding her firm behind, tight against him, to make sure she knew how much he wanted her. This kiss, this was the first kiss with no secrets, no hidden agenda, just the raw need he had for her.
AnnieMarie moaned. Now, she had him in the position she needed to deliver her message. Her hands traveled down his body to the fly of his pants. She rubbed against the swollen thickness of his manhood just to let him know she was aware. There was another moan. Was that her or was that him? Didn’t matter, she had control of this moment in her hands and she was not going to waste it. She lowered his zipper to allow him some breathing room. He broke the kiss.
“AnnieMarie,” he groaned. “We need to get off the roof.”
“I’ve played on this roof all my life,” She smiled down at him with mischievous eyes. “I’m just going to let you swing for a minute to see which way the wind blows.” She eased her way down his body, then lowered the top of his briefs, allowing his thick, beautifully structured hardness to spring free. Her mouth watered at the sight of his erection, and the knowledge that she’d caused it. “Well, right here under the stars, I’m claiming this as mine.” She laid between his legs as if she was preparing to enjoy a scrumptious meal. She kissed the tip of him and smiled in delight as it jumped.
“AnnieMarie.”
“I’m busy Cainan. Lay back and relax. I think it’s the least you can do for me.” Her hand circled his penis and gently began stroking it as if it was a piece of clay to be molded to her specifications. His thick veins throbbed in her hands. The thickness of the veins made her mouth water in anticipation. She licked her lips and said. “Here we go baby.”
Her mouth covered the tip of him. She loved the taste, the scent of him as her mouth pulled away. She adjusted her position to take more of him into her mouth. Rising a little, she dove back in, bobbing her head up and down, her tongue licking, her lips pulling, her hands massaging his balls, all beneath the stars. She felt his fingers on her head, holding her in place as he called out her name. Yes, that was exactly the response she wanted. He needed to know that this, magnificent dick of his, belonged to her. She could feel him still swelling in her mouth. The heat of him increasing, the throbbing getting out of control. Yes she even felt him trying to pull her head away. But this dick right here, was hers, and she wanted everything that came with it. He jerked up causing the tip of him to hit the back of her throat, she sucked and he exploded. Taking every drop he released, her lips tightened around him, sucking all he had to give. Then she slowly, eased her mouth from him. She looked down at his face, to see him staring at her with a look of pure pleasure. She smiled, then used the back of her hand to wipe her mouth. Rolling to the side, she stood, and stepped back inside the room.
Cainan’s body was sprawled out on the roof with his dick pointing up to the stars. He could not move. He couldn’t think. The vision of his AnnieMarie’s head bobbing between his thighs under the stars had been ingrained in his mind. Giuliani himself, could come in and shoot him and there wasn’t a damn thing he could do to stop him. AnnieMarie had drained him of his mental ability to move, much less protect himself. On a damn roof, surrounded by stars, her mouth had mesmerized him. He was branded for life.
Still trying to catch his breath, his head was lying on the seal of the window. He looked up to see her angelic face above him. Not a hair was out of place. She had replenished her lipstick and was looking down at him. Her hands cupped his face as she gently kissed his lips.
“I understand we will not be together until this trial is over. I want to make certain you understand what and who is waiting for you. Stay alive Cainan Scott Wagner.” And with that she was gone.
AnnieMarie picked up her purse then walked to the elevator. She pushed the button, stepped inside then took one last look at her work. She smiled as she noticed Cainan still hadn’t moved. “Mission accomplished,” she said as the elevator doors closed.