Guarding Hope (Police and Fire: Operation Alpha)

by Steele, C. M.

  “Wow, I know there’s a lot more there, but shit, that’s plenty. So that’s the reason for being a lawyer or the rancher?”

  “I grew up on the ranch, but I hated the way people looked at us, so I changed professions even though I couldn’t give up the land. Now, I’ve decided to go back to my roots. There’s something peaceful about being your own boss.”

  “You’re light years ahead of me. I’m excited to even have my own phone for the first time. There are so many experiences I’ve yet to have.”

  “I’m going to make sure that you have as many of them as possible,” he remarked, bringing her hand to his mouth and kissing the back of it.

  “Like teaching me to shoot?” They’d only gone out for thirty minutes, and she’d had enough after the first round, but she never mentioned it to him.

  “I’m sorry that was cut short because of Dax’s visit, but we’ll go out again.”

  She bit her lips and hesitated to respond. “What?” he asked, sensing she wanted to say more.

  “Okay. Here it is.” She took a breath, then rushed the rest out. “I don’t want to. I don’t like a gun in my hand. It’s too powerful.”

  “That’s fine, but then we’re going to have to work on your combat skills. I never want you to be unprotected. I’ll do my best to always be close by, but there will be times that it’s not possible.”

  “You’re so wonderful to me, and I’ve done nothing to deserve it.”

  “Even if…even if I didn’t want to bury my cock deep inside of you, I would have helped you out. You’ve been through hell, escaped, and saved yourself. That makes you fucking amazing.”

  She shook her head, reached over, and turned up the radio to stop their conversation as well as hear the song that played while they drove. Gage smiled and let the subject drop for the time being.

  “We’re almost there.”

  Hope fidgeted, grabbing at the edge of her T-shirt and twirling it with her fingers and letting it go. Her heart raced, and her stomach did flips. She gasped when she felt Gage grab her hand.

  “Relax. I’m not going to let anything happen to you. No one is going to take you from me, so let’s go have some fun, shop, and get something to eat.”

  They entered Austin city limits, then he pulled into a large strip mall. Gage knew it would be too busy for her hunters to find her, plus they had several stores they needed, including a phone store. The first department store resulted in three outfits and two pairs of shoes. She shocked him when she pulled out her wallet and paid for the clothes in cash. Unwilling to bring it up in front of the store clerk, he waited until they exited the store.

  “Where did you get all that money?”

  “It’s money I saved up over the years. You’ve done everything for me. I don’t want you to pay for all of my clothes too.”

  “Well, how about you save that money and let me take care of it?”

  “I just… Well, it’s nice to do this for myself.”

  “Fine, but when we buy your cell phone, I will be buying it. I don’t want your name on anything, so they can’t search for it.”

  She nodded in agreement. He took her bags and carried them in one hand and led her to the next store. She paid for herself until they purchased the cell phone.

  “Are you hungry?” Gage asked her, holding all her bags in one hand. He heard her stomach growl in the last store but decided not to mention it. One lesson he learned working with women was that you never bring up accidental bodily functions.

  “I’m starving.” She exaggeratedly rubbed her belly.

  “What do you want to eat?” He didn’t care where they ate, but his stomach was about to sound like a tuba if he didn’t eat soon.

  “Can we eat in the mall?”

  “Sure. Which place do you want?”

  “Hmm…Panda Express.”

  “Okay. Let’s go over there and get some food.”

  They picked out their dishes and laughed at how they both selected completely different entrees. As they ate, he offered a taste of his food and vice versa.

  “These were all good.”

  “It’s definitely nice to get out like this and have dinner with the most enchanting woman in the world.”

  Chapter 11

  “We’ve got nothin’, boss,” Jimmy informed Cummings as they stood in his office.

  The older man pretended to be calm, his face stoic and his body relaxed as he undid his suit jacket. “Well, you ain’t trying hard enough.” Before either John or Jimmy knew it, Cummings pulled the trigger, shooting Jimmy right between the eyes. The deafening shot sent John jumping backward.

  Three of Cummings’s men rushed into the room with their guns out, assessing the situation.

  “Clean this mess up, or you’ll be next,” he told his men. With a pointed glare, he bared his teeth and warned John, “Find her or you’ll be with your friend, here.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Helping the men dispose of his less-than-a-human buddy, John remembered Cummings’s words. He had no idea where to find her and would soon end up just like Jimmy.

  John stood up and left the dump site with Jimmy’s SUV. After parking it on the estate, he hopped into his Cadillac and fled the estate before Cummings summoned him. He had somewhere to start looking for her.

  * * *

  Just as they finished up their meal, Gage received a message from Dax.

  We’ve found an insider.

  Gage dropped his fork onto his tray involuntarily. He typed the message without even looking up to see the curious expression on Hope’s face.

  What do you mean? That was fast as fuck.

  He just showed up.

  Gage typed furiously into his phone, wondering why someone would cave so easily. Had they been listening to my conversation with Dax? It was possible that we’d been wiretapped without knowing it. Shit.

  He replied: I don’t trust it.

  He’s got valuable information on him.

  Be safe, and don’t let him get you alone. Let me know when and what you need from me.

  Hope looked on as Gage typed away on his phone without looking up or speaking. She sat quietly and ate, biding her time. Once he set down his phone, he blurted out, “Dax says that someone is talking.”

  Her eyes darted open widely. The thought of someone snitching on her father seemed unfathomable. They knew that he had ways of getting to people and how ruthless he could be. “So soon? Didn’t we just ask on the ride in?” she questioned.

  Gage flailed his hands and shook his head lightly. “I know. It's nuts. He claims the guy just walked into his office.”

  Taking a deep breath and trying to be positive, she said, “Fine. We can’t look a gift horse in the mouth, right?”

  “I don’t know. Things just don’t fall into your lap unless…” The wheel in Gage’s head spun as Hope looked on, waiting for him to continue.

  “Unless…what?” she questioned.

  “Unless Cummings did something to send the guy over the edge.”

  “Over the edge? Not one of them cared about what happened to me.” She remembered quite vividly how no one offered to let her run away. Not a single one lifted a finger to help her. She frankly hated every last one of them.

  “Sometimes a guilty conscience takes over or the informant doesn’t trust Cummings.”

  She scoffed. No one trusted her father, and feeling guilty wasn’t their forte. “It wouldn’t be Jimmy. He’s the leader of the idiots. He wouldn’t rat out my father even if he killed his mother.”

  “Then who?”

  “I don’t know.” The mood shifted—gone was the frivolity of time alone without any thoughts of Cummings or Navarro. Hope lost her appetite as soon as Gage told her about the messages.

  Seeing the change in her demeanor, Gage said, “Let’s get out of here. You get everything you need, baby?”

  “I grabbed plenty.” Gage took her hand and carried the bags with the other. Hope carried two small bags from Victoria’s Secret
in her free hand. She pressed her head against Gage’s chest and released a sigh briefly before pulling back.

  Gage took that as a sign that she trusted him like he’d hoped. Once they reached the vehicle, he let her in first before loading the bags into the back to keep her away from prying eyes, although Gage’s motives could be questioned. Did he just want to protect her from those out to get her, or because other men noticed her beauty in the mall? In his heart, he knew it was the latter.

  The ride back stayed awkwardly silent until Gage asked, “So how did you get along with your mother? Were you two close before her death?”

  “I was fourteen when she died. She was my only friend. My body had started changing, and the boys noticed. The few friends I was allowed to have resented me for it. I lost every one of them before she died. Her death was ruled a homicide, but they never found the shooter. They searched with us, questioned Baxter and me, but they ended up with nothing.”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you. I wanted to learn a little more about who you are.”

  “I’m not upset. I’m glad you asked. She made me smile so often, but he took away hers. I remember how she’d went from playing with me in my room to doing my hair, only to be scolded for turning me into a whore. It’s funny, actually, because he didn’t want me to like boys because he planned to whore me out himself.”

  “He’s a prick and will pay for the things he’s done. I’m sure of it. He’s got to have some enemies.”

  “Oh, he has plenty. Navarro isn’t his friend. He’s a bastard looking for another way to screw my father.”

  “Do you feel anything for your father?”

  “Nothing but contempt. He’s a piece of filth that I wouldn’t even scrape off my shoe. I’d toss it right into a burn pit.”

  “Wow. I’m surprised you call him father sometimes.”

  “I know he doesn’t deserve the word, but he never wanted me to call him that. Now, it’s like a spiteful, revenge kind of thing. It’s stupid and petty, but it’s the little things in life.”

  “No, you do what you need to get by. He ruined all the fun years that we all experience. I know you missed out on a lot, but I promise that I’ll find a way of making it up to you when this is all over.”

  “We’ll see when it’s all said and done.”

  “You’ll see, all right.” They passed the cameras on the ranch, and he received another notification. His phone pinged with the images when it happened throughout the day, but the only ones were his workers twice and the mailman.

  Chapter 12

  Rain crashed against the window, startling Hope out of her sleep. Once she gathered her wits, she laughed to herself. Since when did she become afraid of the rain? Her dangers had always been lurking in her home, so she didn’t have time for silly fears that could wake her father. His wrath proved to be worse than any storm. This time had been different. She’d woken up the bastard, and he’d never stop searching for her; his men hunted day and night.

  And although Hope now had a big, strong beast in the other room to protect her, he was still a room away. She wanted him to hold her and maybe even more. She lusted after Gage Gibson so desperately, but danger lurked around every corner, and she had more to be concerned about.

  Tossing off the light sheet she had covering her body, she sat up and took a deep breath. She should just lay back down, but she couldn’t. Instead, she decided a drink of water would help. The second her feet touched the floor, she heard his voice.

  “Are you okay, Hope?”

  “Um...yes.” Hurrying to the door, she unlocked it and let him in. It bothered her that she woke him up, although she was quite surprised to see him at her door in a flash.

  “Sorry—I guess the storm woke us both.” Gage stared at her, lying through his teeth. He hadn’t been able to sleep until his body caved to fatigue every night since she came to stay. His eyes raked over her barely covered body. She only had on a shirt, and her long red hair, messy from the bed, curled slightly.

  Tonight had been the first night he’d been a good boy and stayed in his room. It may have been for the best, but now that good intention evaporated, just like the moisture on his lips. He slid his tongue out along his bottom lip and around to the top.

  Hope stood before him in just his T-shirt—the one he let her borrow the first night. Gage had gotten her a whole new wardrobe two days ago, and yet, she slept in his clothes. His cock throbbed against his boxer shorts, stretching the fabric until the tip poked out of the waistband. He’d forgotten to put a shirt on, leaving the strength of his desire for her on display.

  Hope watched Gage with equal lust. Her eyes immediately moved to the V shape right at the apex of his hips where his cock jerked. The tip popped out of the top and sent a new craving through her. A part of her mentally fought the urge to drop to her knees and lick the bead of cum on the head, but her common sense and self-control kicked in.

  Their eyes met, alerting her to the fact that she’d been caught eagerly eye-fucking his cock. She blushed as her pussy juices coated her inner thighs, forcing her to slam them closed. The sound of slapping flesh caught Gage’s attention, dragging his eyes directly to the edge of the shirt. A low groan rumbled from his chest, and his thick rod jerked in his shorts. Their bodies were full of hunger—something had to give.

  “Um…we only have two options. I can turn around and go to bed with my cock standing up like a steel pole, or I can carry you back to my bed where I’m going to make you scream my name and bury my cock so damn deep in your innocence that neither of us will want it to end.”

  “Hey, I need to get rid of that two-million-dollar price tag anyway.”

  They both smirked at the idea, although Gage felt his blood boil with the thought that someone wanted her virginity. In reality, he understood that there would be hundreds if not thousands of guys who would love to claim her virtue. However, knowing that someone put a price on it pissed him off. She belonged to him.

  He wagged his finger, beckoning her. “Come here.” Hope sauntered toward him. As she closed the distance, her tits bounced against the thin material with her hardening nipples acting like beacons in a raging storm. He held onto an inner strength he hadn’t been aware he possessed.

  “I’m here,” she whispered, pressing her hand to his chest. “Do your worst?”

  “I’m only allowed to give you my best,” Gage growled, sliding his hand around her waist, dragging her body firmly against his and slamming his mouth onto hers. Their tongues danced, sliding across each other. They stood in the doorway of her room, kissing until they both were breathless.

  Gage pulled away from her lips and leaned down, brushing his nose against her shoulder and breathing her in. The scent of his soap was on her skin. She wanted to smell like me. I'll make that very possible in every way. Lazily his lips skimmed her neck, tasting her flesh and growling as he enjoyed every moment. Her soft skin, sweaty and heated with desire, made his mouth water for more.

  A tiny whimper escaped her throat as she tilted her head to give him access to the very beat of her steadily racing pulse.

  “Gage,” she cried out as he brushed his lips over the smooth column of her neck, nipping on her flesh. She moaned his name as if without uttering the words she couldn't survive. Her precious hands slid onto his ripped biceps, running over each sinew as if to memorize every inch of him. The pleasure shot straight through him. Unable to take any more of the torture, he pulled his mouth off her body.

  Before she could be upset with the sudden departure of his body wrapped up with hers, Gage bent down and scooped her up in his arms with his hands gripping her naked ass, causing a loud gasp from her as he carried her back to his room with his cock grinding against her aching slit. She smiled into his chest, loving the way he held her so firmly. Her pussy pulsed all the way there, losing all thoughts of anything else but letting him fuck her brains out until they were both way past sated.

  As he marched into the room with his prize in hand, he s
topped to ask, "Hope, we're going to make a baby tonight. Are you ready for that? Do you want to be the only one for me? The mother of my children? My forever? Because if you don't, we need to stop this right now. I know that once we’re together, I won't be able to let you go."

  "Please, Gage, please.”

  He lowered them both onto the bed, pinning her soft curves between the mattress and his firm body. Her shirt rose up, and the movements pushed his boxers down. Feeling the air on his cock, he dragged the shorts off completely while she lifted the shirt off her body. Gage grabbed his shaft, squeezing it in an attempt to stave off his orgasm.

  Mine. Shit, I’m going to come like a teenage boy.

  He forced himself to think about sports and working on the ranch to keep from blowing his load before he buried his dick inside her. He leaned forward and captured her mouth, pushing his tongue inside, thrusting it against hers. Beads of sweat formed over their skin, trailing down his back and around to their perfectly fit abs. The heat amplified every kiss he bestowed on her parted lips, making her moan until they were both as excited as he felt.

  The room was bathed in a warm glow from a small lamp on his nightstand. “So beautiful,” he said, thrusting his hand into her hair, cupping the nape of her neck and tilting her head to look at him. “Are you sure? We can stop right now and pretend this never happened, no matter how much it kills me.”

  “I'm sure. As the storm raged outside, all I thought about was hoping you would come to protect me.” She threw her arms around his thick neck, sliding one hand up into his hair and the other down over his shoulder blade and to the middle of his spine.

  He rubbed his thumb over her smooth cheek. “I was made to protect you. Time to make you mine.”

  She moved both hands to his broad back, tracing every muscle as he settled his hips between hers, pressing his length against her abdomen. “I’m going to make you mine. It’s going to hurt, but I promise I’ll make it better.”