| |
Avery gulped. Derek was so much larger than she recalled from the hell of her kidnapping.
“You.”
Even his voice was a work of art.
“Hi.” She couldn’t find any other words. At her side, Cao leaned in silent support against her leg.
Derek’s dark blue gaze darted around, searching for something only he knew about.
She ran her gaze over him, taking in the broad bared chest with scars down to the low riding sweats. There was a trail of black hair she had this insane urge to follow. Tongue, fingers. It didn’t matter to her.
Were she to be completely honest with herself, she built him up so much, it made sense she was attracted to him. In her mind, he was more than just the man who’d saved her. As a hopeless romantic she created an entire scenario where they’d fallen in love and had gone from there.
That wasn’t any dream she shared with the numerous therapists her parents had sent her to. No, it was something she ran a scenario of when nightmares and cold sweats kept her from sleeping.
To everyone else, she had zero intentions for or attraction to any man. She knew why but again, not anyone else’s business.
He gazed around before lowering his arm before stepping back and gesturing her in.
The expression on his chiseled features couldn’t be classified as welcoming by any means but, given he did not slam the door in her face, she considered this a win.
Plus, now I’m in his house.
Cao sat at her side, quiet and observant. She brushed her fingertips along the top of his head as she gazed about Derek’s home. Searching for any bit of insight into this man who’d saved her life.
“Why are you here?”
That deeper raspy voice grated along her skin, replacing the memory she’d held onto, greedy and unwilling to allow it to fade from her memories.
She’d rehearsed this a million times in her mind, what she’d say, how he told her, and then that first kiss.
Mentally slapping herself, she flicked her tongue over her lips and opened her mouth. His gaze never once left her.
His phone rang. Still, without removing his gaze from her, he withdrew it from his pocket.
“What?” The word harsh and sharp.
She moved her gaze from the strong fingers clenching the phone. No problem holding a phone, gun, or her. She stared again at the scars along his chest, proving he was a man who did things. The two newest were gunshot wounds.
Part of her wondered how he’d received those. Saving somebody else. Someone special to him?
“I’ll be by later, I have something to handle here first.” A few more grunts. “Sure thing, Kris, see you later.” He ended the call and slid the phone back into the pocket of his sweats. After a long blink, he arched an eyebrow at her. “You’re about to say why you are here.”
“I needed to thank you.” Her nerves were jacked up. Already there had been the phone call. That sucked some of her confidence. Now the anger and impatience with how he watched her eroded the rest of her courage to finish this.
“For?”
“Not letting me die in Central America.” She inhaled deeply and forged ahead. “I know it’s been two years and a man like you probably has no reason to remember, but to me it was just yesterday.” Her chest tightened. “When you —”
She stopped when he shook his head.
A different glint reached into his eyes and she struggled to bite back a whimper. The heat there had her heart pounding in her chest.
“I remember you, Avery.”
Her knees trembled at the way her name danced off his tongue. He rolled the ‘r’ and she would swear before God and the Supreme Court it vibrated her clit. Leaving her aroused and wanting.
“Every fucking day, you’re there. In my head. My mind. My dreams. Trust me, Avery. I remember you.”
He moved closer as he spoke and so their feet nearly touched. Fingertips burned and she ached with the deep need to touch him. Spread her fingers along the hard planes of his chest, rushing over the defined muscles, experiencing the brush of his chest hair over her palms. Be close enough to inhale the scent of his skin. More than now, and he smelled delicious.
Time lost all meaning as they stood there until the sound of footsteps on the porch and the squeak of the screen door. Not a fan of people behind her, she adjusted in time to see a tall, broad man entering.
Recognition sparked as she watched him. Blond hair to Derek’s black and light blue eyes versus dark. A man who went by the name Wild.
“What the fuck is —” he focused on her — “oh, well now, this is an interesting development. Hello, Avery.”
While unsure, her smile came. “Wild, right?”
He flashed a grin she had no doubt turned women’s heads. Her body didn’t react any further than feminine appreciation.
“That’s me, darling. Everything okay?”
“I just came to thank him, and you for rescuing me. I’ve been negligent in expressing my appreciation.”
Wild crossed his arms, glancing between Derek, Cao, and her. “Sweetheart, we don’t need any more thanks other than you safe as you are.”
In her periphery, she observed Derek’s gaze narrow. Face impassive, she ignored her initial “happy dance” as that romantic whore she was pretended it was solely for the reason this man flirted with her.
“I needed to do this.” She tamped down her frustration that rose because it happened. People tended to think she wasn’t all that capable.
“We heard you. And we thank you.”
“Leave us, Wild.”
Derek’s voice dragged along her skin like he touched her himself.
Intimately.
The golden man didn’t move. And his brother repeated himself, his voice even lower.
“Derek?”
“Dammit, Wild. Get. Out.”
Those dark blue eyes had latched onto hers, refusing to release her gaze. Still, she believed the other one was hesitant.
“One hour, Derek. I will be back.”
She didn’t see Wild leave but, from one second to the next, she had zeroed out they were alone. Worrying the inside of her lip, she waited for Derek to say something else.
He approached her. Every inch of him coiled. Predatory. Her insides were a mess, but she didn’t move.
Derek reached for her, calloused hands cupping her cheeks in an infinitely gentle manner. She trembled, not out of fear but from the simple pleasure of his touch. It was better than she recalled. From the first moment he held her close — to protect her, yes — that emotion had been there from that initial touch.
Gazes locked, she held her breath as he swept his thumbs along the corners of her lips. He dipped his head closer and she whimpered slightly.
Closer and closer he came, those eyes never moving from her.
His warm breath fanned out along her lips and cheeks. Derek leaned in, the blue of his eyes deepened into almost black.
Music filled the air, separating them with a jolt. With a scowl he yanked his phone from his pocket once more and snapped, “What?”
Whoever he spoke to meant something to him. She had no doubt about that as she witnessed his entire visage soften.
“Yes, ma’am. I got it. I’ll swing by Emma’s and pick it up. Oh, and Ma, there will be another guest for dinner.”
Panic slammed her. Dinner? With a deep breath she calmed herself. Very arrogant of her to assume he meant her. Surely a man like him had a girlfriend. Perhaps a wife.
I hope not, given he almost kissed me.
He continued his conversation, all the while his stare never wavering from her, no doubt cataloging everything. Avery fought the urge to shift beneath his assessing gaze.
“We’ll see you then, Ma.”
He ended the call and tossed the phone to the sofa. She tracked it with her eyes. Watching as it bounced before settling. Once. Twice.
“I’m sure you have things to do and I don’t want to take up any more of your time. I, like I mentioned, needed to say thank you in person.”
I have to get out of here before I break down.
With a deep breath she turned to the door. Forcing her feet to go each step until she could reach out and pull it open. Then she stepped out into the increasingly cold weather. Fat flakes fell from the sky and she knew she had to get to a hotel. This would not be good weather for her to be caught in at night. Or day, but her vision wasn’t good at night. Especially if the conditions were hazardous.
He reached her three steps from her car.
“Why are you leaving?”
Finishing the distance to her car, she turned to face him, resting against the frame.
“I came and accomplished what I had set out to do. Is there reason I shouldn’t leave?”
His eyes smoldered as he again eradicated the distance that had been between them. Cao growled and he stopped short. He leaned to the left and peered past her. When he was upright once more, Derek beckoned to her.
Avery was before him before she realized she not even hesitated in following his order.
“We have unfinished business.”
Everything on her felt heavy in that languid, well, pleasured sort of way.
“And this.”
Derek kissed her.
Were he to die now, he would die a happy and content man. Two years of dreams and the craving he couldn’t explain, all soothed and appeased now.
Protectiveness towards this woman surged with more power and focus than anything he’d ever experienced before. Not even as an active duty seal had a mission gotten to him like the first time he laid eyes on her.
He forced himself to relax and back off from her lips. Her big brown eyes watched him with a blend of raw passion and shock. The shock faded and the passion grew.
“You’re not going anywhere, Avery.”
“I have to get a hotel room. I don’t see well at night anymore.”
Instantly, that protectiveness raised forward again at the sound of embarrassment dripping from her words. “You survived. Do not feel less because you have suffered aftereffects.”
Dammit, he wanted to hold her and offer support. He had to keep his distance until he regained control.
I shouldn’t have kissed her.
Didn’t matter how much he berated himself, had he that moment all over again he would still do the same thing. Still allow himself that simple pleasure.
Right now he wanted to kiss her again.
“I should go.”
“You’re staying here. We will go together, and your dog as well, to get your things. This weather will become worse before it’s better. And I’ll not have you out there on the road.”
“I have no wish to be even more of a —”
“Don’t finish that sentence,” he growled.
Raking his gaze over her once more, he took a deep breath and retreated into his home. Once his jacket was in hand, he made his way back to her side, noting the way she withdrew her fingers inside the sleeves of her army green coat.
Two things had him in a moment, he had to go easy for, while he knew he’d never hurt her, he could appear intimidating and it may not register for her. And two, he really, really wanted this woman as his. Keep her safe and protected. With her, he wanted what his brothers had with their women.
Avery blinked but didn’t move back. He was proud of that, she may have fear but she held her ground. He gestured for her to return to her car.
The cold bite from the winter air had him sucking in a deep breath, even as it brought to mind nights before a roaring fire. With Avery.
Avery glanced all around before striking out to the car once more. Derek had brought her with him to get his jacket because he wasn’t sure she wouldn’t have left had he not had her so close. He lagged and, phone in hand, pressed the preset button.
“Sup?” Adam’s deep voice crossed the line.
“I won’t be at dinner.” He clicked off the call and shoved the phone back in his pocket. Moments later it buzzed but he ignored it. She opened the back door and her dog, a large Chessie, bounded in, turned around, then came right back out. Derek was impressed, this dog had the old look with a large blockhead, powerful.
A personal hand signal had the dog parking his ass beside her. Derek rocked back on his heels before approaching. Those big eyes followed him every step of the way. Derek went with her as she popped the trunk. He reached for her bag and lifted it with ease to place it at their feet.
No denying she cared deeply for her dog. There were more items for the canine in there.
“Food for the dog?”
“Black duffel.”
He took that and hefted her bag. “Close the trunk and let’s go get you settled. We can take your dog out after.”
She reached for the metal and his heart ached at the site of the scars there on her exposed forearm. Ones he knew she received in captivity.
He had two stories but had converted the second floor to his home office. So he put her downstairs on the opposite side of the home from him. Not where he wanted her, but for now this would do. Opening the bedroom door, he set the bags down but didn’t enter. The dog went by him and lay on the braided rug in the middle of the floor.
“Linens are fresh. Towels are in the bathroom and more in the closet there. Make yourself at home. Dog, too, although knowing his name would be nice.”
“Cao.”
“Nice.” He stepped back. “Come up front when you’re ready and we will take him out.”
“We’re ready now.”
Another hand gesture and the dog was again at her side.
“Cao’s well-trained.”
She ruffled his head. “He’s my best man.”
The title that should be for me.
“You can leave him out as long as you want. These border properties belong to my brothers.”
“He won’t wander but he will enjoy being able to stretch his legs.”
They bundled back up and exited out onto the back porch. He stayed up top while she and her dog went down. They ran in the increasing snow, obviously more at ease. Whether it was because he remained there or because they were just enjoying the time outside, he wasn’t sure.
His pocket buzzed with his phone and he yanked it free to answer without checking the screen.
“What?”
He wanted to growl and snap. His protectiveness was in full force combined with he didn’t want others there. This was their time to figure things out.
“Mind your tone with me, Derek Logan. You may be grown but you ain’t that big.”
“Ma?”
“What’s this about you suddenly not coming to dinner? You told me to set another place, why are we not getting you or your mysterious guest? Plus there’s the things I need you to get from Emma’s.”
“Ma, I —”
“This is the first meal we will have since you got back. I know you’re not thinking anything else is more important.”
“Ma —”
“I fully expect to see you at my house, at my dinner table, in forty-five minutes. Weather is getting bad, better get a move on.”
She was gone.
Derek sighed and stared at the black device in his hand. Orders were orders. A tingle up his spine had him sighing.
“What are you doing here, Wild?”
“Told you I’d be back in an hour. It’s been longer.”
Derek hadn’t a clue about that.
“Hi, Derek.” Alyse patted him on the shoulder as she went by him, heading down across the lawn toward Avery.
He didn’t speak, just watched as the women hugged, then Alyse dropped to one knee to pet Cao.
“I don’t want to hear it, Wild. I’m telling you, right now. I’m overly protective and possessive. I’m not in a joking mood.”
His brother stood beside him, staring in the same direction. Derek was confident his sibling was focused on his wife.
“I know. I knew from the moment you laid eyes on her. From that moment, in Guatemala, you were the one who would have killed Rhodi were Adam and I not there to stop you. The one I am sure you were on missions for the SEALs.”
Derek shrugged. “I warned him.”
“I know that, too. I won’t lie and say this obsession you had with her didn’t worry me. Still does.”
Wild’s words registered but he still didn’t look away from Avery.
“How soon did you know with Alyse that she was your one?”
“Almost immediately. That tension built up in my chest from those missions, you know the ones.”
He did. All too well. The ones that went sideways.
Wild grunted.
“Right, those.” He blinked as the snow increased tenfold.
“From the first moment I touched her, they went away and I knew she was my calming force.”
He faced his brother. “She is mine.” Focusing back on the women, he sighed. “Avery, we need to go.”
Even from this distance he couldn’t miss the tension radiating from her at his words. When Alyse slipped her arm through Avery’s it faded a bit, but only a bit.
“You need to relax, Derek. You’re going to scare her.”
“I feel she’s in danger and I don’t want her in the open.”
Wild touched his shoulder.
“What?”
“Relax. She’s here. I get it, man, honest I do. We’re going to go to dinner with Mom. You have to relax, she’s safe.”
He struggled to rein it in and felt as if he teetered on the edge. He stared at the woman approaching. So tiny compared to him. Delicate, perhaps, to be a more appropriate term. Despite outward appearances, she contained an iron will.
She’d had to be for her to survive what she had. Even now, seeing her with Alyse, he had the overwhelming urge to hold her. As strong, if not stronger, than when he first laid eyes on her.
Avery smiled at something Alyse said and his heart caught for an entirely new reason. The smile completely transformed her, driving away all the fear and uncertainty, allowing her beauty to shine through.
“Breathe.”
Wild’s voice penetrated his single-minded focus.
“I suppose you’re bringing the dog as well?”
“He’s calming for her.”
“More to him than meets the eye. Service dog?”
“I think protection. It doesn’t just watch her, but everything.”
Wild grunted as the women neared. “Good way not to advertise it. Using a retriever.”
He nodded and went to the steps, holding out his hand to Avery. Alyse smiled as she moved by him, Avery placed her hand in his, her skin far colder than he would’ve liked.
Closing his fingers around her hand, he drew her close. “You’re freezing.”
“I’m okay.”
“We need to go.” He met his brother’s gaze. Alyse was wrapped in his arms. “I have to swing by Emma’s first.”
“Let’s head out.” Wild tugged on Alyse’s hair before going back into the house.
Derek followed, keeping Avery tucked against him. Wild and Alyse hurried to the vehicle and he unlocked the door to his.
“Get in. I’m going to put your car in the garage. Give me your keys.”
She passed them over without a word, even as her eyes went to Cao.
“He goes too. I’ll be right back.”
In her car he had to adjust the seat, but it didn’t take him long to put it there and be back in the vehicle with her and Cao.
Derek pulled out after Wild and made sure to close the gate once they went through.
