The Falling

by Jessie Jones

  "Okay, John. Whatever you say," she replied as he broke the contact between the two of them and stood up. She then watched him wink at her before he headed to the door. As he opened the door, she shouted, "I love you, Bear!"

  "I love you more, kitten," John said, closing the door.

  A few minutes later, John stepped into his office, where Patrick, Luther, and Duff were engaged in conversation at a small conference table. Taking his seat at the head of the table, John poured himself a cup of coffee from a nearby tray. He then flipped open his tablet so he could keep one eye on his kitten as they talked. John shifted uncomfortably in his seat when he saw his American taking a shower. Damn, her body was delicious. He would love to be balls deep inside of her at this moment, but he simply couldn't. When she was healed, though, all bets were off. Maybe John would even show her his special room.

  "Fuck, boyo! Let Gillian have a moment of privacy, for crying out loud. She doesn't need you watching her every move, you paranoid bastard." Patrick chuckled, taking a bite of his breakfast.

  "Shit!" Duff laughed, joining in. "I say turn the damn box around and let us all have a look at your exquisite tabby. Gillian can purr against my leg any time she wants. I'll make sure and pet that amazing ass."

  "Piss off, both of you!" John smiled, taking a sip of his coffee. He then looked at Luther and said, "You're awfully quiet, Luke. Got anything witty to add?"

  Luther laughed a deep, rich sound as he chewed his food and wiped his mouth. "I have found that what women really like is the strong, silent type. Plus, Ms. Kitty already told me how much she enjoys a nice, big piece of dark chocolate. I'm just patiently waiting for my invitation."

  John laughed, dimples flashing in his darkly tanned face before he flipped off the men. Taking another sip of coffee, the Brit said, "You know you are talking about the future Mrs. Kenric. I don't think you want to piss her off. It's not pretty, trust me."

  "Aye we know. Your precious kitten can be quite the hell cat, mate. So how long before the wedding?" Duff asked seriously. In the thirty plus years he had known John, the man had never mentioned taking a wife; that was until the American doctor came along.

  "I'm not sure, but it will be in the very near future," John replied in a matter of fact tone. "I'm already working on getting her added to my financial accounts. She is to have access to everything I own, gentlemen. Kitten is to be denied nothing. Do I make myself clear?"

  "Shouldn't you ask Gillian what she thinks of marriage first, mate?" Patrick said, taking a drink of his tea. "I don't think she would appreciate you, alone, making plans about her future. Have you mentioned marriage to her at all?"

  "No, I haven't, but she's my soul mate, Pat. I feel it—have from the moment I met her. I know we haven't known each other long, but I plan on spending the rest of my life with kitten. Getting married is just a formality so she will have my last name. Speaking of kitten, she only leaves the manor if she is with one of us four. Duff and Luke, if you take her out, she goes only where I say she can. Any changes in the schedule go through me. Understand?"

  "And what if Gillian doesn't like your rules, Johnny?" Duff asked, internally rolling his eyes. John's rules were not going to sit well with the American.

  "I'll deal with kitten," John replied, his tone dark and deadly.

  "Johnny, you're being absolutely ridiculous!" Patrick laughed derisively. "You know Gillian is just as safe with Duff and Luther as she is with us. She's going to feel like you're holding her hostage, mate. She's not used to being told what to do and when to do it! Gillian is going to be your wife, boyo, not your servant. Maybe if you talk to her first—"

  "I know who the fuck she is, Patty!" John interrupted, slamming his fist down on the table, "Why do you think I'm going to such great lengths to protect her? I fucking love kitten, and if I lost her, well, that's not going to happen. And why, you ask? Because everyone in this fucking room will be following the same set of rules!"

  Suddenly losing his appetite, the handsome Irishman pushed his plate away. "Fine, Johnny. You want to fuck things up with Gillian, mate, then fuck them up. I'll do as you ask because you're my brother, but I'll be damned if you dictate where I take her and what we do. I have not now, nor will I ever, ask you for permission to do a fucking thing!"

  "You will when it pertains to kitten, Patty," John replied seriously, his eyes not leaving the Irishman's. "You and I are going to have to establish some ground rules, privately."

  "Fuck your ground rules, mate!" Patrick yelled as he shoved his chair back and stood up. "You can't dangle Gillian in front of me and not expect me to want her! I think we should let her decide what type of relationship she wants with me!"

  "And if kitten doesn't want a relationship with you, Pat?" John asked, intentionally trying to piss the Irishman off.

  "Duff, you and Luther can sit here and listen to this shit if you want. I've got work to do," Patrick replied coldly, running a large, scarred hand through his wheat blond hair before turning and heading toward the door.

  "Patrick, don't leave, mate," Duff began, but before he could finish the words, the door was slamming shut. Turning to John, the Scottish man said, "Why did you want to piss him off, Johnny? You know as well as I do that Pat is going to continue a relationship with Gillian."

  "My issues with Patrick are none of your concern, Duff," John responded coldly, his eyes darkening as they looked at the Scottish man. "Now, before Tania arrives, let's discuss the next few days. Luther, you will be joining Pat and me on a business trip to Berlin. Duff, you will be staying here with kitten. She doesn't leave your side, even for a minute. If you leave the manor, there will be a team of guards surrounding the both of you. Again, kitten goes nowhere unless I give the green light."

  "Even though I think you are making a fucking mistake, Johnny, you know you can count on me," Duff said, pushing away his empty plate as well. "I don't understand, though, why you are leaving Gillian right after getting her back. Think she'll agree to you leaving?"

  "I'll handle kitten, Duff," John replied, drinking the rest of his coffee as he noticed Tania entering his office. "You just keep the woman I love safe. She's everything to me, mate. Don't fuck this up. Now, gentlemen, if you will excuse me, I have meetings to schedule with Tania."

  Duff and Luther glanced at each other as they stood up to leave. Damn, the Brit was a stubborn bastard. They knew John was making a mistake, but if there was anyone who could change John for the better, it was the feisty American. They just hoped she was up for the job.

  Chapter 3

  Gillian ran along the English seaside cliffs as she listened to the pulsing metal music in her earbuds. The early November morning air was bitterly cold and crisp, but she didn't feel it. Her mind was too busy racing to focus on the falling temperatures outside. She needed this morning jog because she was going crazy being cooped up in Kenric Manor. Duff had rejected her request to run, but he had been called out to deal with a security issue downtown, so Gillian had taken advantage of the moment. She knew she was being followed by a handful of guards, but the American had no intention of leaving Kenric property.

  Gillian's mind immediately drifted to John as she passed an old, stone lighthouse. She missed him terribly and was anxiously awaiting his return home. John had been gone for the past three days on business, but she had talked to him via phone and video often. Each time they spoke, he expressed his love and affection for her. Gillian was also happy to wake up each morning to a bedroom full of roses. Patrick had even called her multiple times in the past three days, and she was discovering how sweet and wonderful the Irishman could be. Gillian was also healing well, and her bruises looked much worse than they felt. Dutch had put together a mixture of creams, ice packs, and injections that had her almost feeling back to normal. She couldn't really complain about anything, except the fact that she felt bored, isolated, and alone.

  With a loud sigh, she turned up her music and headed back toward the manor. John had explained to her that he hated being a
way from her, but that he could not be near her without being inside of her. While she understood his reasoning, she wished that he hadn't left. Truth be told, she wanted to talk about what had happened with Galen and how she felt, knowing that he was dead. Gillian was glad he was no longer a threat to her, but she didn't like knowing that he had died because of her. The one time she had attempted to bring Galen up to John, he had changed the subject and blamed himself. Gillian didn't blame the Brit for anything that had occurred and was grateful for him saving her life, but how could she get him to see that? She was learning that John was not much of a communicator, and that would have to change. After all, Gillian loved him and was in this for the long haul, but John was going to have to learn how to express his feelings in a therapeutic way and not just sexually.

  While Gillian liked living in Kenric Manor, she did not like being stuck inside of it. John had told her that he did not want her going outside without Duff, but she was not used to just sitting around. She was feeling very restless, and she missed simply being a doctor. Gillian knew and understood that she was now part of John's world and, with that, came certain dangers, but if she took the necessary precautions, why couldn't she attempt to live a normal life? She had no problem with having guards, especially after the Galen/Pandora incident, but she did not like people telling her what to do. Lucky for her, John would be home sometime around midnight, so she would be able to talk to him about it. She wanted to work again, even part time. John was a man who was constantly on the move, so surely, he could see how being circumscribed could make someone go crazy.

  Despite her feelings about being stuck in Kenric Manor, Gillian was completely and totally in love! She could not even begin to express how happy John had made her by saying those three little words. For the first time in her life, she felt loved, protected, and safe. Her British lover had not only flown to Paris, but he had literally saved her life! She would never be able to love John enough for doing that. Gillian did not see her British lover as the marrying type, but she hoped that he would want that in the future. Even though their relationship was new, Gillian felt how much he loved her. She only hoped she was enough for him. Her lover was used to being with multiple women. What if he got bored with her after a few months? The thought of losing him made her heart feel as though it would literally explode. She hated feeling so damn weak and vulnerable, but she knew she would be miserable without John in her life. Hopefully, she would never have to know that kind of pain.

  Although Gillian was clear on how she felt about John, she was not sure how to feel about Patrick O'Malley. Where John was dark, brooding, and dangerous, the Irishman was the exact opposite. John was beyond handsome and sexy as hell, but Patrick had to be the most beautiful man she knew. She could see why women threw themselves at him and why he had such a low opinion of women. Gillian was hugely attracted to the blond, Irish god, but could she have a relationship with him and John at the same time? Her British lover had already brought Patrick into their bed, and clearly, the men were extremely close, but would John want her having sex with him when he wasn't there? What if she somehow damaged John and Patrick's relationship? The British billionaire had indicated that Patrick would join them from time to time and that the Irishman would have his own set of rules, but what exactly did that mean? There were so many unanswered questions, but Gillian knew that she wanted to get to know Patrick on more than just a sexual level. She already felt odd sensations when he was around, but there was no way those feelings went beyond sex, at least she hoped they didn't. Things were already complicated enough!

  As Gillian ran up a small hill toward the dirt road that led back to the manor, she was not surprised to see a car quickly approaching. Rolling her emerald eyes, the stunning American stopped and waited for the car to reach her. She knew exactly who was behind the wheel of the car, and she was positive he was pissed. Gillian was not really in the mood to listen to his bitching and planned on just keeping her earbuds in while he talked. She had started stretching when the black Mercedes-Benz pulled up beside her.

  "What the fuck do you think you're doing, Gillian?" Duff roared as he rounded the front of the car. "I told you that you couldn't go for a run, and you fucking did it anyway."

  Unfazed by the massive, Scottish brick wall yelling at her, Gillian continued stretching as she said, "I know what you said, Duff, and I don't need you to repeat it. I don't know what the big deal is. I stayed on Kenric property, and there are probably a dozen damn men following me. I understand the concern, but clearly, I was safe."

  "Don't you dare use a dismissive fucking tone with me, woman," Duff growled as he quickly moved closer to tower over her. Gillian's eyes immediately locked with his as he said, "You're my responsibility when John isn't in London, and if I tell you to eat fucking grass, you better ask me how much."

  Crossing her arms over her chest, Gillian said, "Duff, you can save the male bravado bullshit. I know you are supposed to protect me, but I'm about to lose my damn mind being stuck in the house! I'm not going to take any unnecessary risks. I went on a jog, for Pete's sake! You're acting like I called Geno and set up a meeting! Besides, you don't need to be such an ass to me. Make me eat grass, really? Not in this lifetime."

  Duff couldn't help but chuckle at the American's dry tone. Damn, she had balls of steel, and he admired that greatly. "Look, I'm sorry for being a dick, but John will beat my ass if something happens to you. Plus, I kind of like you. I might feel bad if you got hurt."

  "Gee, thanks." Gillian smiled back before giving the Scottish man a hug. Pulling back, she said, "Look, I won't tell John if you don't. What he doesn't know won't hurt us. I find it hard to believe that a man your size is afraid of John."

  "Afraid of John? Are you fucking serious?" Duff exclaimed indignantly as he leaned back against the hood of his car, "That bastard and I have come to blows several times before. I'm simply trying to save your ass, sweetheart. You're the one John will punish, not me."

  "Punish?" Gillian asked, removing the white ball cap she was wearing. She suddenly felt a cold chill wash over her body. "What do you mean, punish?"

  "Don't do the crime, and you won't have to do the time, kitten." Duff grinned, licking his lips. Watching her begin to shiver, he pulled off his jacket and put it around her shoulders. "Come on; let's head back to the manor. You will be happy to know that you get to break free from your cage today, little bird. Johnny called and wants you to go shopping for a dress. Apparently, he has some sort of surprise for you tomorrow night."

  The smile that crossed Gillian's beautiful porcelain face was stunning. Walking toward the car, Duff opened the door for her. Before she hopped in, Gillian said, "I'll need to shower before we leave. Oh, and, Duff, I'm sorry."

  "I'll forgive you…this time." the Scottish man grinned back as he closed the door behind her.

  A few hours later, Gillian was walking out of Harrods with an elegant, sexy dress and heels that had cost a small fortune. Duff and a handful of other large men followed as he talked quietly into his cellphone. She had no doubt that the Scotsman was giving John the scoop on what she had done today and how much she had spent. Gillian had talked to her British lover before leaving Kenric Manor, and he had insisted that she use his credit cards to fund her purchases. She had attempted to use her money at the register, but Duff had made sure that John's card was used. People had stopped, stared, and whispered the entire time Gillian had been in the store. She had been called John's fiancée, mistress, whore, and several other names that she did not care to repeat. Duff had even gotten rid of a guy who was taking pictures of her with his camera. Gillian did not like people knowing who she was. She knew Galen was dead, but what if Geno retaliated? He would know exactly where to find her. Her worst fear was that John or Patrick would get hurt or killed if Geno did come after her, and she couldn't live with herself if that happened.

  Opening the door to the black, Mercedes-Benz G-Wagon, Duff took her packages before he helped her climb into the back seat. He foug
ht the urge to slap and massage her jean clad ass but knew John would not approve. With her jeans, she wore a black, cashmere turtleneck, a black and camel plaid jacket, and a pair of mid-calf black boots. She was casual, yet sophisticated, but sexy as fuck even though she was fully dressed. Gillian reeked of confidence and money, and Duff knew that she had been the envy of every woman in the posh department store. He had heard many comments about the diamond ring she wore on her finger and how John's mistress, Pandora, was suddenly "missing". Duff had also seen how uncomfortable Gillian had been under all that attention, and that pissed him off. If he had to start beating the hell out of people for the American, he would gladly pay the fines.

  Before he closed the door, Gillian took her bag from him and smiled. "Want to get a burger? I don't know about you, but I'm starving, and I know this great little dive in Brixton that sells amazing cheeseburgers."

  With a sigh, Duff knew that he was about to piss off the American. "The answer is no, lovey," he replied, his Scottish accent thick. "John said you are to go back to the manor after you bought your dress, and that is exactly where I intend on taking you."

  Gillian sat in stunned silence as Duff closed the door and came around the car to get in on the opposite side. When he closed his own door, she immediately asked, "Did you just tell me no? In case you have forgotten, I am a grown damn woman who does what she wants. You can call John and tell him we are eating a burger before heading back home."