The Malinois gave a small “woof” this time.
“What do you smell, boy?” He wished Maverick could talk. Had their intruder been back? He studied the ground, looking for footprints. Nothing. Maybe the person who’d tried to feed Maverick rat poison thought he’d succeeded. He shook his head and pulled his four-footed buddy away from the fence.
“Go do your thing, boy.”
Maverick looked up at him before heading toward a tree close to the house which he soon marked. He sniffed around the patio, marking the pile he’d left last night. “Good boy. Are you done?” The dog headed toward the driveway, sniffing and peeing his way to the front yard where he doused a large oak tree for good measure.
“That’s right, Maverick, mark your territory.” Rob laughed. He checked the front porch for the newspaper and stuffed it under one arm. Once Maverick had sniffed and marked a bush near the front porch, they headed back toward the kitchen door.
Once inside, Rob rewarded him with a treat and a pat. He refilled the dog’s water and food bowls and made coffee. A bleary-eyed MJ, hair sexily mussed, shuffled into the kitchen as he was sipping a cup of coffee and reading the paper. She slid down in the chair across from him and glowered through half-closed eyes.
“You’re awfully chipper, even though it isn’t even seven o’clock yet,” she observed with a scowl. She let out a huge yawn.
“I got used to getting up early in the service. Sorry. Maybe I shouldn’t have scheduled the alarm company so early. I forgot that not everybody bounces out of bed as easily.” He winked.
“I’ll be fine after a cup of coffee.” She started to get up, but he stopped her.
“I’ll get it for you, sweetheart. Do you want something to eat? I can make you an omelet or pancakes.”
“No, thanks, not yet. I need coffee first.”
He got up and poured her a cup, then set it in front of her before sitting down again.
“Did you see anything this morning?” she asked.
“No, but Maverick smelled something. He barked and propped himself up on the fence. I just don’t know if it was from the other night or new.”
“You still think an alarm system is necessary? I mean, what if they don’t come back? We’ll have spent all that money for nothing.”
“For me, money isn’t the issue. Security and safety are most important. I told you, I’m planning to pay for it. It’s the least I can do. I want you both safe, and there will be times when I’m not here. Consider it an exchange for rent.”
A cloud passed over MJ’s face, and she glared at him. “Rob, we have a relationship, and it isn’t one of landlord and tenant. I hope I’m more to you than a place to stay!”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I stuck my foot in my mouth. I don’t consider you my landlord.” He got up and pulled her up into his arms. “I never kissed any of my landlords.” He dropped his head and captured her lips in a deep, intense kiss.
She relaxed in his arms, and sighed into his mouth, igniting his libido. Damn, but this woman could turn him on without even trying. Her calling him out for his comment was the sexiest damn thing. What on earth was wrong with him?
He leaned in again and tightened his grip on her hips. Someone moaned. Maybe it was him. Maybe it was her. The chemistry between them became molten, as she kissed him back, her sweet tongue tangling with his.
When they finally broke apart, he glanced at the kitchen clock. Damn. Frank would be here in ten minutes. Not nearly enough time to slake their desire for one another.
“Sorry, babe. We don’t have enough time before the alarm guy comes, but I’d love a rain check.”
MJ looked up at him, a dazed expression on her face. “Crap, you’re right. I have to go get dressed. I’ll take my coffee with me. Back in a few.”
Right at eight, the doorbell rang, and he hurried to answer it with Maverick at his side.
Frank met them, dressed in a navy polo shirt with his logo and the words “Protect and Defend” embroidered in gold thread.
“Want some coffee while we talk more about the system you’re going to install?”
Frank nodded. “Sounds like a good plan.”
Rob ushered Frank into the kitchen where he poured coffee. Maverick followed close behind, keeping his eye on the newcomer. MJ showed up moments later, looking more put together than he would have thought possible in such a short time. She’d tamed her hair into a low ponytail and had on body-hugging jeans with a red sweater.
Rob introduced her to Frank, and the man laid out his plan for the security system. “I’ll alarm the fence and install several motion-activated cameras to capture pictures of anyone who gets into your yard. All the doors and windows will have an alarm.You’ll be able to turn off the outside security when you’re outdoors, and you can leave it on for the inside, or you can turn off both. We’ll design the coverage in such a way that you won’t have false alarms because the system is recording one of you or your dog as an intruder.” Frank summarized his other recommendations and gave them a new price, one reduced with a twenty-percent discount for military veterans.
“What do you think, MJ?” Rob asked. He wouldn’t mess up again by not consulting her.
“It makes sense, I guess. I’ve never worried about security in my home before. This is a small town.”
Frank responded, “I know many people believe that when they live in a small town, there’s not much crime. Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth. Both Ridgeview and Green Oak, although small in population, have the same problems cities like Knoxville have. Breaking and entering, burglary, sexual assaults, vandalism, and even murder. Maybe you won’t experience those things, but given that someone has already targeted your house and yard, you’re wise to do something. These days, people need drugs and money to buy them. Much as we hate to think about anybody breaking into our homes, it happens all too often.”
“I think it’s the smartest thing to do, MJ,” Rob chimed in. “We’re both gone during the day. Maverick will protect you when you’re home alone, but I hate the thought of him being at the mercy of somebody high on drugs during a break-in. We’ll both be able to monitor the alarms with our phones, and we can have the Ridgeview police respond.”
“The price I quoted you will include six months’ monitoring by us. If we see that someone has breached the property, you can authorize us to call the police.”
MJ nodded. “All right. You’ve both convinced me. I know my brother will be on board with this, too.”
“Install it, Frank.” He leaned in and kissed MJ. “I’m going to watch him work if that’s okay with you.”
She rolled her eyes. “Go ahead. I know boys like their toys. Just come back in when you’re done and show me what to do.”
“Of course,” said Frank. “You need to know how to set the alarm, how to turn it off, and how it alerts your phones. It’s easy, so don’t worry.”
Several hours later when the men finished installing the system, Frank took them both through the steps to set the alarm, and how to turn it off, giving each of them separate passwords, and helping them set it up on their phones. He gave them each a card with his private numbers on them.
“Call me anytime. It may take some time to get used to turning the alarm on and off, especially when you go outside into the yard, but eventually, it should become routine. The system will let us know if you’ve left a door or window unlocked, and if that’s the case, we’ll call to let you know what we’re seeing and to make sure everything is all right. The last thing we need to do is set up a word to let us know you aren’t safe. This will be a word you’ll use if we ever call, and you’re in a bad situation. Instead of telling us everything is okay, which is what you’ll usually do, you’ll use the word ‘finger’ to let us know you need help. You can say something like ‘My finger must have slipped on the keypad.’ That way we’ll know that someone is there with you, and you need help. We’ll have the police respond.”
“Won’t that put us in more dang
er when the cops come with sirens blaring?” MJ furrowed her brow. This was supposed to make her feel safer, not scare the bejeezus out of her.
“When we hear the unsafe word, we call them and tell them it’s a hostage situation, and they need to come in quiet.”
Rob nodded. “Smart,” he said.
The two men stood and shook hands. They seemed more like long-lost friends than someone Rob only met recently. Maybe it was that military bond. Rob had told her that Frank had been in the army.
“Call if you need anything,” Frank told them.
“We will,” Rob answered. “Thanks.”
“I’ll let you know if I hear anything,” Frank said, shooting Rob a look and a nod.
“What was that about?” MJ said after he’d left.
“I told him I was looking for a job.”
“Really? I didn’t know you were ready to do that.”
“I like Ridgeview, MJ. There’s somebody special who lives here. I want to see where things will go with us, and I’ll need a steady income.”
“I want to see where things will go, too. You’re someone special. I love that you’d want to put down roots here. That means a lot.”
She took a step toward him, and he pulled her into his arms. He held her tight and whispered softly, “I love you, Mary Jane Van Buren.” Then his mouth descended on hers.
Rob was lost in the sensation of MJ in his arms and how perfect she felt there. He knew she hadn’t said she loved him. She wasn’t in the same place he was, dreaming of a future together. In time, maybe he’d be able to convince her that taking a chance on him was worth it. He had his work cut out for him. He’d show her every way he could that he was the man for her.
He shut off his mind, and turned his attention to the soft, warm woman in his arms. His tongue pressed against her lips, and she immediately opened for him, their tongues caressing. Their breaths intermingled, and the intimacy ignited his passion even further.
His hands roamed her body, and he wanted to claim her, for them to touch each other skin-against-skin. He slid his hand under her sweater, stroking her smooth back and unfastening her bra.
She broke away and pulled her sweater off, followed by her bra, dropping both to the kitchen floor. The sight of her unfettered breasts, the dusky rose of her nipples peaking to his touch, nearly undid him.
“Too many clothes,” she complained, and he hurried to rip off his long-sleeved T-shirt, hurling it toward the living room, barely missing Maverick who watched them from the doorway.
“Sorry, boy,” he said in response to the dog’s whimper.
MJ’s hand soon found his chest, and she moaned as she rubbed her face against his pecs like a cat.
He grabbed her hand and pulled her toward her bedroom.
“Yes, please,” she murmured. “I need you, Rob. Please.”
“Sorry, boy,” he told the Malinois. “Go lie down. Cuccia!”
Rob swept her up in his arms and carried her the remaining six feet to the bedroom, kicking the door closed behind them to keep the dog from interrupting them. He threw her down onto the mattress with a bounce.
She giggled. He was acting like a caveman. He took a deep breath and tried to slow himself down. He followed her onto the bed and held her face in his hands.
“Tell me, MJ, do you want this?”
She nodded, her eyes dark with desire and something else.
“You’re sure?”
She nodded again.
God, he felt as if he’d won the lottery. Much as he’d like to slide into her and pound her against the mattress until neither of them could see straight, he needed to make this good for her. Their lovemaking needed to be special, because this wasn’t just about sex, at least not for him. He didn’t think it was merely sex for her, either.
“Rob?”
Okay, he’d disappeared into his head. He touched her chin and caressed her lip with his thumb. “Oh, sweetheart, I’m here. You are so beautiful, I almost can’t bear it.”
“Shh,” she said, putting her hand over his mouth and shifting restlessly against him.
His hands moved almost automatically toward the button on her jeans, and she sighed as he undid the button and moved the zipper slowly downward. She wiggled to help him get them off, and he threw them toward the dresser.
His eyes roamed her body, and he reached out to touch and caress her breasts thoroughly, before he moved down to her glistening, pink folds. His fingers touched the sensitive button beneath its hood, and she arched in response, her body chasing his fingers, begging for more.
“We’ll get there, honey.” He stroked her hip and inhaled the scent of her arousal.
“Too many clothes,” she complained again, and she reached for his jeans.
He pushed her hand out of the way. “Let me.” Before she could respond, he had his jeans undone, wrestling them down over his engorged member, and kicking them off.
He immediately lowered his head to her glistening, pink tissue, and tasted her aroused flesh. The taste of her charmed him, and he inhaled sharply as he kissed and sucked.
She reacted to his onslaught, moaning, bucking, and muttering, “Oh, yes, right there.” She shuddered and her thighs closed around his head before dropping open as her climax passed.
She wiggled and turned to him, and he surfaced to kiss her again. “God, MJ. You are so beautiful when you come. So responsive. I want to make love to you and feel you come around me, but I’ll wait if you aren’t ready for that.”
“I’m more than ready to have you inside me, Rob.”
“Okay. Then let me get a condom.” He turned to get up.
“Look in the drawer in the bedside table.”
He pulled it open and discovered an unopened box of twenty-four condoms. He turned to her and raised an eyebrow.
MJ blushed. “I got them right after you moved in. I wasn’t taking you for granted, but I was hopeful.”
He laughed. Pulling out the box, he handed her a foil packet. “Do you want to do the honors? I believe in rewarding preparedness.”
He turned on his back, and his cock waved, hard and proud.
MJ looked overwhelmed. “I’ve never done this before,” she said.
He startled. “Never put on a condom, or the rest of it?”
She looked at him as if embarrassed. “Neither,” she admitted softly.
“Oh, honey. I didn’t realize…”
She shrugged. “It’s okay. Really. You probably want somebody with more experience. It’s just that, I always figured Trevor would…” Her voice trailed off.
She thought he didn’t want her? Hell, he felt honored that she wanted him to be her first. He turned her face back to him when she tried to hide. His finger traced the tear that had rolled down her face and hung from her chin.
“Honey, look at me. I want you. I don’t care how much experience you’ve had. It’s you I want, but I need to make this good for you. I’m happy to teach you, to show you, and to let you find what you like. Do you still want to make love?”
She nodded and gazed up at him. “Please, Rob. Please make love to me. I want you.”
“Okay, sweetheart. I’ll put the condom on, and you can watch.” He covered himself, explaining what he was doing. He could tell his little librarian was taking it all in, as she watched him carefully roll the condom down his erect penis.
Damned if he wasn’t even more turned on. He needed her to be ready for him, though. This talk had taken her arousal down a notch.
He positioned himself over her and reached down to stroke the sensitive bud once again. He kissed her passionately, and she responded in kind, both igniting sensations that swept them up again. MJ moaned and wiggled her body.
He added a finger and moved it slowly in and out of her, feeling how tight her untapped channel was. Adding a second finger, he stretched her as he moved downward to suckle her pointed nipples.
Moisture soaked his hand, and he could tell by the groans and incoherent sounds she made that she w
as almost there. “Let go again,” he urged.
Moments later, she climaxed with a sharp wail. “Oh, Rob! Oh, my God.”
“You okay, honey?”
“Oh, yes! Please. Now.”
He took her at her word, aligned himself at her entrance, and slowly began to push inside. The orgasms had done their job of lubricating her, easing his way. He entered and retreated, each time going farther until her channel tightened, making progress difficult. He hesitated, and she grabbed him and pulled him to her, as she rose to meet him on his downward stroke.
He pushed through the hymenal barrier and continued to move farther, deeper. She’d hesitated when he’d breached the tissue but almost immediately began to respond to each thrust with movements to encourage their complete coupling.
By instinct, he read her body and increased his movements, pumping in faster, as their bodies merged, totally in synch with each other.
He felt the tingle in his testicles that told him he was close. He wanted to hold off until she came again but wasn’t sure he could. Her pussy tightened, as it began to convulse around him. He let go, pumping in hard and fast three more times, before shattering in the most intense orgasm he’d ever had.
MJ was right there with him, and it was all he could do to prevent himself from collapsing and crushing her beneath him. He held himself on shaking arms, as he moved to fall next to her.
“Wow,” she panted.
“You okay, honey?”
She nodded. “That was amazing. I didn’t dream it could feel so good.” She paused and seemed uncertain. “I hope I didn’t disappoint you.”
“Stop, MJ. Don’t worry about that. You were incredible. You are incredible. Actually, we’re incredible together.”
“I thought so, too, but I wasn’t sure.” She yawned.
He smiled at her. God, he loved her. The thought came to mind more and more frequently.
“I love you, MJ. Now, let’s take a nap. Okay?” He pulled her into his arms and spooned her, her body relaxed against him. Oh, yeah. For the first time in a long time, everything was right in his world.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Saved by a Warrior Dog Page 19