Vulnerable: (McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series - Book 1)

by Wilson, April

  Shane cocked an eyebrow at her, his expression a mix of disappointment and anticipation as he wondered what she was up to.

  She walked around him in a slow circle, her fingertips trailing across his abdomen and around his back. Standing behind him, she dragged her fingernails gently down his spine and was thrilled to see him shiver in response.

  She came around his other side, she sank to her knees on the rug and ran her hands up his muscular thighs.

  At the sight of her on her knees, Shane closed his eyes and let out a long, heavy breath followed by a groan. “Beth.”

  “Yes?” She ran her hands around to the back of his thighs, urging him closer.

  He looked down at her. “Sweetheart, you don’t have to do this.”

  “But I want to,” she said.

  He looked down at her skeptically.

  “I do!” She gazed up at him, stunned by the blatant desire in his glittering blue eyes. He might be trying to give her an out, but his eyes told a different story. Yeah, he wanted this. Badly. And she was going to give it to him.

  She leaned forward and pressed her lips against the hard ridge of his erection, right through the silky fabric.

  His stance faltered. “You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?” he said.

  She smiled against his boxers, then pressed her open mouth against the ridge of him, breathing her hot, moist breath on him. When she felt his cock buck beneath her mouth, she smiled.

  “Jesus!” Shane cried.

  Beth’s hands gripped the backs of his thighs. Her nails lightly scored his flesh through the fabric.

  “Beth.”

  Grinning at the rough tone of his voice, her hands went to the waistband of his boxers and she peeled his shorts down his hips, taking care to free his cock from the material. She let his shorts drop to the floor, and he stepped out of them and kicked them aside.

  Shane stood at Beth’s mercy, watching her with avid interest. His arms were stiff at his sides, his hands clenched as he resisted reaching for her. This was her show; he’d let her call the shots.

  Beth leaned forward, peering up at Shane’s tense expression, and licked the head of his cock.

  His hands went to her head, cradling her face. “God, baby,” he choked out.

  Taking badly needed courage from his reaction, she licked the length of his cock, from root to tip, marveling at the softness of his smooth skin. How could he be so hard and so soft at the same time?

  “Sweetheart?” he said, his voice uncharacteristically hesitant as he stroked her hair. “I should shower first.”

  “No,” she said. “I want you like this.”

  Shane closed his eyes as if in pain, and his hands gently gripped the sides of her head.

  Her fingers wrapped around his cock and traced the path of a thick vein with the tip of her tongue. He groaned harshly.

  She kissed her way up the length of him, alternately stroking him with her tongue. When she reached the crown, she opened her mouth and enveloped the head of his cock, licking the droplets of moisture she found here. Her tongue swirled around the crown and stroked his sensitive glans. Then she pushed him deep into her mouth, as far as she could take him.

  “Oh, God,” he groaned, his hands tightening in her hair.

  When she began to suck on him, her head bobbing up and down on his erection, he made a rough sound deep in his throat. She bathed the glans with her tongue, teasing the ridge until his groans grew louder.

  Shane lost his balance and stumbled, catching himself. “Fuck!” His breath came fast and harsh now, and his hips began to move on their own accord. Unable to help himself, he held her head as he began to thrust into her wet mouth. “Beth.” Her name came out as a low, ragged groan.

  She licked and sucked him, moving her mouth and her tongue and her hand on him. She must have been doing something right, because he was holding onto her head like a drowning man holding on to a lifering. He started making low growling noises in his throat.

  “Beth,” he grated. “I can’t hold out much longer.”

  He hissed loudly when she gently scraped her teeth along this length. “Fuck!” He reached down to grab her beneath her arms and haul her to her feet and kissed her, his mouth devouring hers.

  “But I want you to come in my mouth,” she said, frowning against his lips.

  Shane swung Beth up into his arms and carried her to the bed. “I want to come inside you,” he said, his chest heaving. He kissed her again. “I need to be inside you. Now.”

  Shane fell back onto the mattress, bringing Beth down on top of him so that she straddled his hips. He scooted toward the head of the bed, taking her with him. Grabbing a condom packet, he tore it open with his teeth and quickly sheathed himself.

  “Gotta get your panties off,” he said, breathing hard. “Lift up.”

  Beth lifted up on her knees, and Shane unhooked the clips from her stockings so he could pull her panties off.

  He fingered the loose straps dangling from the garter belt. “Damn, these are sexy,” he said.

  His gaze locked on her inner thighs, his hands stroking the tops of her stockings as she positioned herself over him. He reached between her legs to test her readiness and found her sex drenched and swollen, ready for fucking. With a fist at the root of his cock, Shane held himself steady as she brought herself down over him. She gasped when he wedged the fat head of his cock into her opening.

  “Ride me,” he said, his voice hoarse.

  Beth lowered herself onto him slowly, rocking her hips as she slowly sank down. She was so aroused, her sex so wet and slick she had no trouble working him inside. Once fully seated on him, she lifted up a bit, testing their fit, and her tissues clung to him, dragging on him to create the most deliciously sweet friction.

  “Come on me,” he said, leaning up to kiss her. He sucked on her lips, on her tongue, and he bit her lower lip gently. He bucked his hips up into her, causing her to bounce on his loins. “Come, baby, please,” he said, arching his head back as he raised his hips, thrusting himself deeper until her pubic hair was meshed with his and their bodies were flush together. He laid his head back and closed his eyes tightly as he clasped her thighs.

  Beth closed her eyes and leaned forward, her hands pressed into his pillow, one on each side of his head. She started to move, slowly at first until she found her rhythm, and then with more confidence. She varied her angle until she found just the right one, the one that caused his cock to drag along the sweet spot deep inside her.

  She moved languidly on him, her eyes closed as she navigated his body using only her sense of touch. She rocked herself on him with increasing abandon, gasping when she found what she was looking for.

  “That’s my girl,” Shane said, his hands clutching her waist as he watched the myriad of emotions cross her face. “Ride me, baby,” he said, gritting his teeth as he struggled to hold back his climax until she’d found hers.

  Beth rocked herself with sensual abandon, lost in her own pleasure as she rode the length of him, his cock sliding easily through her wetness. She felt hot all over, flushed.

  Shane reached up and unhooked the front clasp of her bra. The two halves fell open, revealing the sweet mounds of her breasts to his hot gaze. He slipped his hands inside the cups of her bra, his thumbs brushing her nipples. He gently rolled both nipples between this thumbs and index fingers, lightly squeezing them. She groaned loudly.

  She was so close to coming – she could feel it gathering inside her, just waiting to be released. She focused her movements on just the right spot, letting his cock drag back and forth over her tender, sensitive interior. That tantalizing sensation deep inside her rose higher and higher, and she couldn’t help the soft, desperate sounds coming from her throat. She was so close now, so close!

  “Oh, God, Shane!” she gasped as her muscles clenched down on his cock.

  He reached for her hips and his jaw clenched. He was desperate to take over and ram himself in her, but he wanted her to take what
she needed from him first. “Look at me, Beth. I want to watch you come.”

  Beth opened her eyes, stunned by the intensity of his gaze. When her climax hit, she cried out and her eyes locked helplessly on his. Shane leaned up and kissed her, swallowing her cries.

  When the residual tremors of her climax eased, he began thrusting himself hard and fast into her sex.

  “I want you on top,” Beth said, nearly breathless.

  “Are you sure?” he said, breathing hard. “We don’t have to.”

  “I want to. I want to feel you like that.” She rolled to the side of him, and move with her, still buried deep inside of her.

  Shane rolled Beth to her back and came up over her. He held himself up, careful to keep his weight off her, and began moving in carefully measured thrusts.

  “Harder!” She pulled him down to her. “Please!”

  Shane couldn’t resist giving in and letting go. He’d fought the urge to do just that, but with her giving him a green light, he couldn’t hold himself in check any longer. He thrust himself deep into her body, sinking balls deep into her luscious, wet heat. He braced his arms on either side of her and began a steady, fierce rhythm. He mouth dropped to hers, devouring her, drinking in her loud, keening cries as his hungry cock devoured her clinging sex.

  “Shane, stop!” she gasped against his lips.

  When she started pushing frantically against his chest, he rolled smoothly to the side, taking her with him so that they stayed joined. He thrust one last time deep inside her and his hoarse cry reverberated through the room as his climax ripped through him. He held himself still, deep inside her, as his body erupted. When the tremors finally stopped, he pulled out and collapsed beside her. His chest heaved as he drew in a shaky breath.

  “I’m sorry,” she said.

  Shane turned to look at her, a pleased smile on his face. “Are you kidding? That was amazing! You were amazing!” He pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her, kissing her soundly. She curled into his side, reveling in his warmth and the masculine scent of his body. They lay quietly together as their heart rates stabilized.

  Once he had recovered somewhat, Shane removed the condom. “I’ll be right back,” he said, rising from the bed. When he returned, he cleaned her up, then crawled beneath the covers with her, pulling her close and kissing her.

  “That was incredible,” he said.

  “I panicked.”

  He shrugged. “That’s all right.” He kissed her on the forehead. “You were willing to give it a try, and that’s what matters. Baby steps, sweetheart. Baby steps.”

  They settled into the bed, their bodies sated and their muscles relaxed. Shane stretched and groaned in pleasure. “You haven’t started your period yet,” he said, as Beth lay drowsily against him.

  “No,” she murmured. She yawned, completely wiped out. “Anytime now, I think,” she said.

  “Sweet dreams tonight,” he said, kissing her forehead. “I’ll chase the nightmares away.”

  Chapter 34

  Beth walked into her kitchen Monday morning and found Gabrielle standing at the sink rinsing out a coffee mug. “Gabrielle, can I talk to you?”

  “Sure,” Gabrielle said, putting the mug in the dishwasher. “What’s up?”

  “It’s about Shane.”

  Gabrielle closed the dishwasher door and straightened, her arms crossing over her chest. “What about him?”

  Beth took a deep breath. “I think I’m in love with him.”

  Gabrielle’s expression fell. “Don’t say that, Beth.”

  “Why not?” she said, taken aback. “Why would you say that?”

  Gabrielle stared at Beth, her jaw clenched tightly.

  “Gabrielle, you’re not being fair to him. He’s a wonderful guy – ”

  “He’s lying to you, Beth!” Gabrielle said, throwing up her hands. “Okay? He’s lying to you. He’s not who you think he is.”

  Beth’s eyes narrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about?”

  “Do you honestly think you just accidently met him at Clancy’s? Please tell me you’re not that stupid.”

  Beth recoiled as if Gabrielle had slapped her.

  “Oh, God, I’m sorry, Beth,” Gabrielle said. ‘I didn’t mean that. But it’s true – it wasn’t a chance meeting.” Gabrielle ran her hands through her hair in exasperation. “Tyler will kill me for telling you this, but you need to know. Tyler hired Shane’s company to protect you. You have bodyguards watching you 24/7. Tyler’s paying them. This is just a job to Shane, and he’s taking advantage of you.”

  Beth shook her head, her thoughts reeling. “That’s ridiculous.”

  “It’s not ridiculous, Beth. In fact, there’s someone outside our house right now. He’ll follow you to work, then he’ll follow you home in the evening. There are bodyguards watching you around the clock.”

  “Gabrielle, that’s insane! Why in the world would Tyler hire bodyguards to protect me?”

  “Because of Howard Kline.”

  At the mention of Kline’s name, Beth felt a jarring pain in her chest as her heart missed a beat. “Howard Kline?” she said, shaking her head. “Howard Kline’s in prison.”

  Gabrielle shook her head. “He was released a couple weeks ago on parole.”

  “No! They can’t do that!” Beth cried. “The parole board would have notified me if they were releasing him early. There are rules about that. They can’t just release someone early without notifying – ”

  “They did notify you. Tyler knew ahead of time that the notification was coming and he intercepted it.”

  Beth’s eyes began to tear up. “Why would he do that?”

  “Because he didn’t want you to worry. He hired Shane’s company to protect you. They’re also monitoring Howard Kline’s movements around the clock as well, trying to determine if he’s a threat to you now or not. And based on what I’ve been hearing lately from Tyler, he might be.”

  Beth began pacing. “Gabrielle, do you hear how crazy this sounds?”

  “It’s easy enough to prove. Go outside and meet one of your bodyguards. His name’s Miguel, and he’s parked out front in a black Mustang. Shane’s been deceiving you all along, Beth. That’s why I don’t like him. He’s using you.”

  Beth’s vision blurred as her eyes filled with scalding tears. “That’s not possible, Gabrielle.” She wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Shane would never – ”

  Gabrielle grabbed Beth’s hand and pulled her toward the front door.

  Beth tugged on her hand. “What are you doing!”

  “I’m going to prove that Shane’s lying to you.” Gabrielle opened the front door and pulled Beth outside.

  Beth yanked her hand free. “This is crazy!”

  Gabrielle pointed at a black Mustang parked across the street and three houses down from theirs. “There’s Miguel. Go see for yourself.”

  Beth stared at the Mustang. “Oh my god,” she said. It couldn’t be true. What Gabrielle was saying was impossible. It was crazy! Shane wouldn’t have lied to her like this. He wouldn’t have.

  She glanced back at Gabrielle and saw that her best friend’s eyes were filled with tears, too. And that’s when Beth knew it was true. Gabrielle looked as gutted as Beth felt.

  “I’m so sorry,” Gabrielle said, reaching for Beth’s hand. “Sweetie – ”

  Beth jerked her hand out of Gabrielle’s and marched across the street, making a beeline for the Mustang. The windows were darkly tinted, but as she neared the car, she could tell there was someone sitting in the driver’s seat. She walked up to the driver’s door and rapped on the window with her knuckles. The window came down, and Beth gaped at the dark-haired young man seated inside.

  “I remember you!” she said, pointing at him. “You were there on the Kingston campus last week. You helped me. Are you following me?”

  The young man removed his dark sunglasses and laid them on the dash. Then he looked up at Beth.

  “Who are you?”
she said.

  He scowled at Gabrielle over Beth’s shoulder, then turned back to look at Beth. “Hello, Miss Jamison,” he said, nodding at Beth.

  “Oh, my God!” Beth said. “You are following me.”

  “I’m providing you with protection, yes,” he said.

  “Do you work for Shane McIntyre?”

  He hesitated a moment, then nodded. “Yes.”

  Beth wrapped her arms tightly around herself. “What the hell is going on?”

  Miguel sighed, then pushed a button on a dashboard panel.

  Through the open window, Beth heard a woman’s voice coming through the car speakers.

  “Hi, Miguel,” the woman said. “What can I do for you?”

  “Diane, I need to talk to Shane.”

  “I’m sorry, but Shane’s in a meeting right now.”

  “Interrupt his meeting and get him on the phone STAT.”

  “Certainly. Hold, please,” the woman said.

  A moment later, Beth’s stomach dropped when she heard Shane’s voice over the car speakers. “Miguel, what’s wrong?” His voice was an odd mix of urgency and caution.

  “Shane, I’m on speaker, and I’m not alone.”

  There was a moment of silence, and then Shane said, “All right. Who’s with you?”

  Before Miguel could reply, Beth leaned through the open car window and said, “Shane? Is that you?”

  Beth heard a muffled curse over the speaker.

  Then Shane said, “Yes, Beth. It’s me. What’s going on, sweetheart?”

  “Maybe you could explain that to me!” she said, her voice rising. “Gabrielle told me about Howard Kline. And about you. I want to know what’s going on!”

  There was another moment of silence, and then Shane spoke. “Miguel?”

  “Yeah, Shane?”

  There was an audible sigh over the phone line. “Please bring Beth to my office,” Shane said. “If that’s agreeable to her.”

  Beth was already moving around the front of the car to the front passenger door. Miguel disengaged the door locks, and Beth slid inside. She buckled her seatbelt and looked expectantly at Miguel.