by Margaret Kay
“We do that well,” he whispered as he rearranged her hair off her face. He caressed her cheek with the back of one hand. “I’d never hurt you, Brielle.”
She gazed at him with uncertainty. Her heart pounded in her chest and her body bristled with energy from that kiss. She dragged a breath in after realizing that she wasn’t breathing. “You said you wouldn’t pressure me to have sex.”
“And I’m not. That was just a kiss goodnight.” His lips pulled into a grin. “But you’re thinking about it.”
“I’m not on birth control,” she confessed.
“Why not?”
“Because I’m not having sex with anyone. My last relationship ended over a year ago and when I do meet someone, I plan to take it slow and allow plenty of time to get to know him before I sleep with him. I’ll have a lot of time to know it may happen before it does.”
“Hum, now that sounds like you have it all planned out. There isn’t much room for any spontaneity in there. You’re discounting that you may find yourself laying with someone who you just can’t resist wanting more with.”
“I’m Catholic. I don’t do that, Brian.”
“I’m Catholic too, but I’m also a realist. I know that there are just some things we can’t control, and nor should we. Life is too short to deprive ourselves of things we want, or people we want for that matter. Tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of us. I’ve been shot twice and have seen buddies die. My momma died of cancer at the age of forty-seven, way too young. I’m sure the only regrets the people I’ve known who died too young was of the things they never did, not the things they did do.”
Brielle was shocked by his words. It took her a few seconds to process what all he’d said. “I’m sure,” she agreed. “Have you really been shot twice?”
Sherman nodded. He hadn’t moved. He still hung his head over hers.
“Where?”
“The first one hit my upper thigh on my right leg. I was lucky. It hit on the outside edge, didn’t fuck up too much muscle and hit no bone. The second time I was shot, it was in the arm.” He moved his left arm forward and his eyes led hers to a spot on his upper arm where a scar marred his skin. “That one did a little more damage.”
Brielle’s eyes focused on the scar. Then she reached her hand up to it and ran her fingers over the flesh. “What does it feel like when you’re shot?”
“It hurts like hell. It burns and throbs.”
“How long did you have to wait for a doctor to treat it and give you pain killers?”
Sherman’s eyes angled away from hers and he stared at the pillow beside her head. “It felt like forever, but it was only a matter of seconds each time. Sloan, my partner, is our unit’s medic. He got pain killers in me within minutes both times and bandaged me up.” He felt her fingers trace his jawline. Then they slid down his neck.
“I’d sure like to kiss you, and I mean really kiss you. And if you want it to end there, I promise you, you won’t have to tell me twice,” Sherman whispered.
Brielle knew she wanted that real kiss, she knew she wanted more. Her body throbbed with desire. But she wasn’t ever going to be that girl again who slept with a guy too soon. If a man really wanted her for who she was, he’d have no problem waiting till she was ready. Without thinking more about it, she nodded her head yes, and reached her lips up towards his.
She felt his lips press to hers, just as softly as they had before. He gave her a few of those same kisses with his lips slightly parted before she felt his tongue nudge her lips. She instantly responded, opening her mouth and entwining her tongue with his. He deepened the kiss, and she felt overwhelmed by the desire that washed over her. The kiss was lengthy, vigorous, left her breathless, and made her want more.
“May I make love to you, Brielle Jarboe?” He asked with a raspy, soft voice.
Brielle breathed out heavily, trying to catch her breath. She knew she wanted that, but she couldn’t. “I can’t Brian. I’m sorry.” Her words were soft, apologetic, and pleading.
Sherman was disappointed but not surprised. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Then turn over onto your side, snuggle with me, and press your cold ass to me so I can warm it up. Let’s try to get some sleep.”
“Thank you, Brian.” She felt a deep appreciation for him. He was a true gentleman, probably the first gentleman she’d ever been with. She turned onto her side, facing away from him.
“Just so we’re clear. I want you. I will ask you again at some point in the future, but not tonight.” He reached up to the bedside lamp and turned it off. Then he snuggled in close to her.
When Sherman heard the buzzer indicating the washer was through its cycle, he reluctantly pulled himself from beneath Brielle. She had rolled over and half her torso as well as her head and one leg laid across him.
“Where are you going?” She was surprised she’d already fallen asleep.
“Washer’s done. I’m going to throw our clothes into the dryer. I’ll be right back.” He pressed a kiss to the top of her head.
She felt the heat leave the bed with him. She remained with her head on his pillow, watching the open bedroom door while he was gone. She really liked snuggling with him, and she was very attracted to him. He was handsome, sexy, and capable. She felt safe with him. She knew he wasn’t relationship material, but still, she thought about what it would be like to make love with him. She bet he’d be giving, not selfish like her last boyfriend who didn’t seem to put much effort into pleasuring her. Of course, while they were together, she gave him the benefit of the doubt, that maybe he didn’t know how to.
If she was to ever have sex with someone she wasn’t in a relationship with, it would be with Brian or someone like him, though she doubted there were many men like him out there. She certainly had never met anyone like him before. It would be hard for her though to have an intimate encounter with him and not want a relationship with him. She knew she’d be setting herself up to be hurt, and she didn’t need any more of that in her life.
She watched Brian reenter the room. He slid back into bed with her. She readjusted her position to give him his spot back, but she nestled in close. “I really like snuggling with you, Brian.”
“I guarantee you’d like naked snuggling even more.”
Brielle chuckled.
Sherman loved her sultry laugh. He admitted to himself that he was quite enamored with her. The fact that she had refused him did make her more attractive, he’d admit that. It was a challenge, and he always loved a good challenge. But it was more than the chase. He hadn’t lied when he told her he respected her. He did, and not just for her courage to go after BioDynamix. She was a loyal friend to Bobby, loved him like a brother. And Bobby was loyal to her, loved her like a sister. He was sure him wanting to sleep with her somehow bordered on incestuous because of that. He laughed to himself with that thought as his hands caressed over her hips and lower back.
He let his hands wander over her butt. Her cheeks were finally warmed up. He gave them a gentle squeeze and then returned them to her lower back. He wouldn’t make her tell him to stop again. He kissed the top of her head, which again rested on his shoulder. He could get used to falling asleep like this.
Hotel
The morning was hectic. The alarm he set went off at zero four-thirty. He left Brielle lying in his bed while he took a quick shower. She was back asleep when he reentered his bedroom eight minutes later. He turned the bedside light on, earning a moan and a few choice curses from her. She pulled the covers over her head.
“Come on, get up and get dressed. We need to roll in fifteen minutes. I have the dryer on heating the wrinkles out of our clothes. We need to pack up fast and get to the office so you can take your shower.”
“What time is it?”
“Nearly quarter to five. The meeting with my boss is at zero six hundred.”
“How long will it take to get to the office?”
“About fifteen minutes,” he replied as he pulled a pair of boxer briefs on
and then a pair of blue jeans.
“I have fifteen more minutes to sleep,” she moaned.
After he zipped his fly, he pulled the bedcovers back.
She grabbed them and tried to pull them back over herself. “Oh, come on!”
“Get up. You can dress as we pull our clothes from the dryer.” He pulled on her arm. “Up!”
“Too fucking early,” she swore below her breath, but she complied and got up.
Sherman disappeared into his closet and returned with two base layer shirts. He handed her one and then pulled the other over his head. He also had a light gray hoodie with the words US Navy across the front. He handed it to her. “Here, you’ll probably need a hoodie at night while we’re back home, and I don’t think you should wear the black one that you wore during the break-in to that BioDynamix plant. Wear this one. You’ll need it. It’s only thirty-nine degrees outside.”
“Jeez it gets cold early up here.”
He followed her out of the room and into the bathroom. They folded the clothes together, shoving them into their backpacks. He left her to use the facilities and get dressed. They left his condo at five minutes to five.
Brielle was glad the car had a passenger-side seat heater. She was cold. The car was cold, the air was colder. They passed a coffee shop with a drive through. It was open. “Coffee, please?” She pointed it out.
“There’s coffee at the office. I’ll make you a nice big cup while you’re in the shower.”
“I hate you,” she said in an animated voice.
Sherman chuckled. It was obvious that she wasn’t a morning person. He hoped she would wake up in the shower. This meeting with Shepherd and the team was not one they could be late for. Little did she know that her return to Louisiana was up to Shepherd. He also knew that she’d have to be locked in some place if it was decided that she would not return. She would not take it well.
Brielle was surprised how much traffic was on the streets at this early hour. She paid attention to the route he took and was surprised when he turned into a parking garage that was attached to a building that was ten stories tall. She counted the floors to know. A lot of lights were on in the building. They went deep into the parking garage, to sub-basement level two.
She also watched with great fascination the security gate and two garage doors they passed through that Brian had to enter a code into a panel to open. They emerged into a brightly lit private garage. About a dozen cars were parked there. He pulled into a parking spot, turned the car off, and then turned to her.
“Inside, touch nothing and stay with me at all times. This is a secure building and you can’t wander around unescorted.”
“Okay,” she agreed, wondering why he made such a big deal about it.
They got out of the car and crossed to the elevator and the door. She watched as he pressed his hand to a pad and then entered a code into the keypad. Twenty seconds later, the elevator arrived. They stepped in, and he pressed nine. The elevator ascended quickly. They stepped out when the door opened, and she followed him to a door with no markings.
He opened the door to the apartment and flipped the lights on. She entered behind him and closed the door. The main room looked like a small hotel room with a small kitchen with a table to eat at. It was cozy.
He pointed to the bathroom. “Get your shower. I’ll make coffee and bring a cup in so it’s on the counter when you get out.”
She flashed him a stare of warning.
“The shower door is frosted. I won’t see a thing.”
“Don’t be looking,” she warned. Then she sealed herself within the bathroom. She set her backpack on the closed lid of the toilet and engaged the water. The shower door was heavily frosted. She reached her hand within the shower and noted that he was right. She really couldn’t make out any detail. Only then did she disrobe, draping her clothes over the backpack.
Brian had been correct that there were bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the shower stall. There was even a name brand face cleanser. She showered as quickly as she could, even though the hot downpour felt so good that she wanted to linger there for a long time.
“I’m just setting your coffee onto the counter,” she heard Brian’s voice.
“Is there any sugar?”
“Already in, one and a half teaspoons.” He’d been watching when she added it the previous morning on the boat.
“You remembered?” She said, surprised. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, now hurry up.” His eyes took in the sight of her distorted features behind the frosted glass. How he’d like to step into that shower with her!
Fifteen minutes later she opened the bathroom door. She wore her blue jeans and a dark green girly t-shirt. Her hair was wrapped in a towel. “I need to leave the door open while I blow dry or I’ll sweat to death. And can I get another cup of coffee?”
“Sure,” Sherman said. He took her cup from her. He was already on his second cup.
She returned to the bathroom, and towel dried her hair for a few seconds. Then she fired up the blow dryer and hoped her hair wouldn’t frizz out too badly. She blew it from all angles as she sipped the second cup of coffee that Brian brought her. When it was nearly dry, she ran the ends around her brush in an attempt to tame it. In the end, she gathered it into a high ponytail.
Before they left the room, she pulled the base layer shirt over her head. Then they carried their belongings out of the room. He led her to the stairs and repeated the palm-print and keypad routine. She wondered why the security. It wasn’t like they were at a government installation that she could tell. This looked like any other office building.
He led her down to the fifth floor and they exited the stairs. She heard voices coming from a room to the right, its door open. She pulled her phone from her back pocket, five-fifty-five. She took a deep breath to steady her nerves, which were suddenly jumpy. She wished she’d asked Brian more about this meeting before now.
Brian motioned her to enter in front of him. She stepped in, surprised by the number of men in the room. Seven, she counted seven. Some were standing over near the conference table, some sat at it. She stopped as she viewed them. They all looked strong and solid. A few looked downright dangerous. Gary was there, sitting beside the man in the wheelchair. She took a few more steps forward when Brian’s hand pushed on her lower back.
“This is Brielle Jarboe,” he introduced. “My brother’s friend and the reporter who broke the story on the BioDynamics facility in her Parish Blog.”
Brielle was stunned he introduced her as a reporter. No one had ever called her that out loud before. It brought a proud smile to her face, knowing he thought of her as one.
Sherman ushered her up to Shepherd, who sat in his wheelchair at the head of the table. “Brielle, this is our boss, Shepherd.”
Brielle forced a small smile, suddenly feeling very intimidated. Even this man in the wheelchair had massive arms and looked strong. His face was lean and had sharp angles, making him look harsh. “Hello,” she said, extending her hand to shake his.
“Good morning.” He shook her hand. “You provided us with a lot to look into. For the record, we agree with you that something isn’t right with that facility.”
Her smile relaxed. “I’m so glad. Thank you.”
“We’re going to get started. Take a seat,” Shepherd motioned to two chairs across the table.
Sherman noticed the monitor was on, a blue screen. As he led her to the designated chairs, he introduced her to Mother as they passed him and then to Lambchop. The monitor suddenly displayed Cooper and Madison. He pointed across the table. “That’s Jackson and Garcia.” Then he introduced her to Burke from Charlie Team, who took a seat beside him.
Doc entered last, closing the door behind himself. “Sorry I’m late, Shep.”
Brielle pulled her phone out of her pocket and checked the time. It was one minute after six.
“Oh good, you have it on you,” Garcia said. He stood and re
ached across the table, pointing at her phone. “I’ll take that now.”
Brielle instinctively pulled it closer to her body, and she stared at the man who was the most dangerous looking of them all. His eyes were dark, the expression on his face serious and stern.
“It’s okay. He’s our tech guy. He’s going to forward everything on your phone to one of ours for you. That way, if anyone is monitoring your phone, it will ping in this area regardless where your phone data is transferring to. You can text, call, make blog posts through our phone and all of it will point back to yours, right here in the Chicago area,” Sherman said.
“You can do that?” She asked the man whose hand still hung over the table.
“I can do a lot of things.”
She reluctantly handed her phone over to him.