Under Pressure [IAD Agency] (Siren Publishing Classic)

by Laurie Roma

  “As it should be.” Mikayla grinned.

  “So do you all work for Mac Securities?” Jenna asked.

  “Yes, we do.”

  Bella turned slightly to look back at Adrian who seemed to be hovering around the table of food picking and choosing items with great concentration. “What’s your nickname, Adrian?”

  He flashed her a wicked grin. “I don’t want one, and Finn had enough sense to understand that I would hurt him badly if he gave me one.”

  “He’s so sensitive,” Finn joked before jumping up from where he was seated just in time to avoid a blow to the head. “See?” Finn straightened to his full height, and he cocked his head to the side as Adrian approached him. “You know, I’m gonna quit baiting you before your twin gets here and you both open a can of whup-ass on me and break me into a million pieces.”

  “You can’t help being an asshole, can you?” Adrian sighed as he grabbed Finn in a friendly headlock.

  “Well, when you’re good at something, why change?”

  Adrian laughed as he dragged Finn back toward the food.

  Rubbing a hand over Bella’s thick hair, Jason asked, “Speaking of, where is Tara?”

  “Rock and Steele are with her.” Sal turned to his sister with a glimmer of mischief in his eyes. “You remember Lucian Steele, right? You know the one you thought was really handsome?”

  Bella laughed as Jason grumbled under his breath and held Bella tighter to him.

  “Don’t you even start that, Sal.” Cocking her head, she smiled at Jason from her perch on his lap. “It seems to me that you have a very biased hiring system. I mean, all the men and women look like they could be on a cover of a magazine, you included, mister.” She poked Jason in the chest, but he quickly took her hand in his to kiss it.

  Sal rolled his eyes at them and made his way back to the food, pushing Brett, Finn, and Adrian out of his way. “Anyways, Rock got her a new gun for her birthday and she wanted to try it down at the range. Steele went with them.”

  “Oh, I guess all of you are trained with firearms,” Jenna stated, innocent interest showing in her eyes. “I’ve never shot a gun. I wonder if I could in the right situation.”

  “You’d be surprised what you could do if you had to,” Mikayla replied kindly.

  “I could take you shooting.”

  Adrian’s offer had Jenna’s back straightening. “Ah, no, that’s okay. I don’t think I really want to shoot anything.”

  The door opened, and Tara, Lucian, and Rock strode in to a cheer of birthday greetings. Dinner was a big robust affair. Laughter and conversation flowed as easily as the wine. Bella couldn’t help being amused by the baffled expression on Jason’s face. He was totally out of his comfort zone, and it was apparent to her that he had not spent much time hanging out with his people on a social level before now.

  Going to him, Bella wound her arms around his waist, and he pulled her close to kiss her forehead. It always made her feel good to see the quiet pleasure that lit up his eyes at the slightest affectionate gesture.

  Tara threw herself into a chair and tugged at Bella’s hand, so she sat down next to her leaving Jason and Rock talking near the fireplace. Tara’s small body was packed into black pants and a light off-the-shoulder black sweater. She always wore black. It was almost like her signature. Her short black hair was razor cut in a unique angle around her face. Red highlights shot through black, making a stylish but funky statement.

  Leaning back, she gave Bella a slightly crooked smile. “Thank you so much for the party! God, I’m so full I feel like I’m gonna burst!”

  “Good, then I did my job well. There’s always more cake.”

  “Bitch. I swear I just gained twenty pounds.”

  Bella laughed and hugged her. “I’m so glad you moved back here. It just wasn’t the same with you in LA.”

  Tara shrugged. “Yeah, well, all the tan skin, blonde hair, and the plastic body parts were starting to freak me out. I knew it was time to leave when I started having trouble controlling the urge to stab someone just to see if they would pop, if you know what I mean.”

  “God, Tara, I missed you.” Bella looked around to see who was near before she gave her a searching look. “Were you really in LA?”

  “For a time.” She shrugged. “I was stationed there with the CIA. before I was recruited by Mac.” Tara smiled at the shock on Bella’s face. “I know, somehow it’s easy to forget how unreal all this shit seemed to someone outside of the life. I did miss you guys though. Sorry I couldn’t tell you, but you know how it goes. Although I do feel better knowing that you know about all this…madness. Someday remind me to tell you about the day that Sal found out what I do. I thought his head was going to explode.”

  They both laughed.

  Tara’s smile disappeared, and she became serious. “Bella, if you ever want to…talk about things, you know you can talk to me. I’m sorry I didn’t know when it happened. I would have come to New York to see you.”

  “Don’t worry about that, sweetie. I know.” Bella squeezed her hand. “I didn’t want to tell you on e-mail. I knew you were busy.”

  “I would have made the time.”

  “I know, and I love you for that. It was just easier to put it off, you know? I’m just glad to see you now.”

  Tara had emotional scars on her soul that had been there for years. If anyone could understand what Bella had been through, it would be her.

  Lightening the mood, Tara grinned. “Can’t believe you and the boss are getting married. Marriage…I mean wow. One penis for the rest of your life.” Tara looked so horrified Bella laughed hysterically.

  “Don’t get me wrong, marriage is good. Good for other people.”

  “Oh, honey, I can’t wait till it’s your turn. You are going to be so fun to watch when you fall in love.”

  “That may just be the meanest thing you have ever said to me.”

  Jason and Rock walked over to the two laughing woman, and they couldn’t help but smile. “What are you ladies laughing at?”

  “You.” Tara wiggled her eyebrows at him, making Bella collapse against her giggling. Jason cocked an eyebrow. “Or more specifically, your penis.”

  “Ah.” Jason’s face went blank in shock as he looked at them, uncertain what else to say, which had them bursting out in laughter again.

  “Tara,” Rock scolded, but his lips lifted in a rare smile.

  “I’m just messin’ with ya, boss. I was toasting your upcoming nuptials.”

  Bella took pity on him and reached for his hand to give him an affectionate squeeze. “I was telling Tara that I can’t wait till she falls in love and I get to watch her get all sappy like me.”

  Jason leaned down and brushed his lips lightly over hers. “I like you sappy.”

  “Oh God, all the romance is killing my buzz. Rock, let’s go get me another drink, I’m not drunk enough yet.” She took his hand as he helped her up. Tara paused and pressed a kiss on Jason’s cheek. “I’m happy for you two.”

  The comical look on Jason’s face made Bella realize that he didn’t know that these people were the family he claimed he didn’t have. They treated him with respect and even awe at times. Their admiration of him as their leader was apparent in the way they treated him, but the familial affection was there. Hugging him close to her, she silently thanked God that she found him.

  When the last of the party goers had left, Jason let out a contented sigh and looked around at the disheveled mess that was his apartment. A goofy smile played across his lips as he realized what a change Bella had brought to his life.

  They were building a home together.

  She had brought him out of his self-imposed isolation and introduced him to life again. Glancing around for Bella, he noticed her dress lying on the floor of the hallway leading to the bedroom. Raising a brow, he felt his blood start to heat and quickly followed. The bedroom was empty, but he could hear the water running in the bathroom.

  Quickly stripping out o
f his clothing Jason watched as Bella stuck her head around the shower door. Slick and wet, she was temptation itself. Water droplets ran down her skin shimmering in the light. Steam rose, casting an ethereal glow around her, making it hard for him to believe she was real. Bella flashed him a wicked grin and crooked her finger, beckoning him to her like a siren leading him to his doom.

  Unable to refuse her call, he went to her. Water cascaded over their bodies as he crowded her small body with his own. Desire surged through him as their lips met.

  Bella immersed herself in the feel of Jason, and she gasped into his mouth as her back hit the cold tiles. Her hands reached up to brace herself, holding on to his large biceps when she felt her knees buckle. Bella rubbed her body against him, and her nipples tightened and her breasts ached for his touch.

  “Touch me. Please touch me,” she couldn’t help but plead.

  Jason groaned as she sucked his lower lip into her mouth and bit playfully. He plastered his body against hers, lifting her easily against the shower wall. Bella immediately lifted her legs to wrap around his waist, one arm wrapping around his neck to draw him closer as the other burrowed into his sleek hair.

  “I need you. Christ, I need to be inside you, love.” Desperate for relief, he pushed against her insistently. Unable to hold back any longer his muscles flexed as he drove himself deep within her. He let out a strangled groan at the acute pleasure of feeling her pussy tighten and flutter around his cock as her muscles fought to accept him.

  “Shit, you’re not ready. I’m sorry, baby.” His breath heaved out in shotgun bursts as he tried to rein his desire back.

  “Oh God, you feel so good. Don’t stop, please don’t stop.”

  Bella’s nails dug into his shoulders as if trying to hold him to her. As if he could leave her now. Jason’s hips bucked, and his hard cock forged deep into her heat, sliding his entire length in and out of her, thrusting in the age-old mating rhythm. With a deep growl, he plunged his tongue into her mouth, stroking her tongue with his. His hands gripped her hips hard. Bella licked the water from his chin and worked her way down his neck. She bit down on the soft flesh where his neck met his shoulder and unleashed his beast.

  He growled as acute pleasure swamped him, leaving him incapable of doing anything but racing toward the promise of paradise. His hips slammed hard against her as he began to tunnel into her with fast, powerful strokes. He whispered words to her, not knowing what he said, only that they came from his soul.

  Bella wrapped her arms around his neck and her legs around his hips as she let herself revel in the pleasure of having him inside her. He filled her completely as he stretched her body over his impaling cock, pounding furiously into her welcoming warmth with rhythmic thrusts. The harsh timbre of his voice washed over her and heightened her pleasure to the point of ecstasy.

  Overcome with the possessive need to claim her, Jason drove his hand in her wet hair and pulled her head up. “Look at me, Bella. Open your eyes and look at me,” he commanded harshly. Her amber eyes snapped open, and she struggled for breath at the intense look he gave her. “Tell me it’s me, Bella. Tell me I’m the only one. That I’m the only one you want, forever.”

  “God, yes! I love you, Jason. I’ll love you forever.” Bella cried out as shock waves of pleasure raced through her body and she came apart in his arms. Bright lights exploded, impeding her vision as her entire body shook.

  The force of her climax strangled his cock, and Jason roared his release as he joined her. His cock embedded deep, he filled her with pulse after pulse of his hot, thick cream, and he wished that the moment would never end. His hand came up to slap against the wall, trying to stop them both from falling to the shower floor. Jason laid his head against her neck as he shook with emotion, overcome with a bliss that he never thought he’d find.

  Chapter Twenty

  “I can’t.”

  “Oh yes, you can,” Liz argued.

  “Enough of this shit. Bella, unwrap yourself. You’re getting a massage, not going snowboarding.” The three of them were standing in the women’s dressing area of the most exclusive day spa in the city. For the past two weeks Bella had been living in utter chaos, and loving every second of it. Gio had moved quickly and found the perfect building for their new restaurant. It was in an up-and-coming location, ideal for a decent dining space with room for an intimate bar area for late-night patrons or those who just wanted to hang.

  During one of their planning sessions, Bella had offered up a hefty portion of her savings for the down payment on the property only to have Jason nonchalantly announce that he had already purchased the building.

  At first Bella had been furious with him for stepping in to take control.

  Gio, being Gio, had simply shrugged, stating that the building was in her name so there was no reason for concern with a casual indifference only a pure-bred Italian male could manage.

  Bella was not so calm about it. She had gotten up from the table and gone into the bedroom, slamming the door in anger before she exploded.

  Jason had quickly followed, knowing enough to try to explain.

  Bella tried to make him understand that it was important to her to feel that he wasn’t doing things like this behind her back, without her participation. She wasn’t with him for his money, and it wasn’t right that he should pay for her business. If this was to be her future, she needed to do her part, not have him do it for her.

  Jason had apologized for not telling her, but he refused to apologize for wanting to do something to please her. He had more money than he could spend in three lifetimes, and it was ridiculous for her to spend her savings on something when he could purchase it for her. He was frustrated and knew that he had pushed her buttons again, but as his wife his money was hers.

  Hell, everything he had was hers.

  Bella’s anger drained as she watched him kick the bed in frustration with an adorable pout on his face. He growled and grumbled about how much he loved her and that he would damn well spend as much money on her as he pleased. She listened to him as he launched into a lecture on why he had done what he did, and she found it impossible to hold on to her anger. She ended up laughing as she pulled him down to her, and they made up in a spectacular way. How could she stay mad at him when he wanted to give her the world?

  The plans moved along so rapidly that she could hardly believe that her longtime dream was finally becoming reality. They had met with a contractor last week to start the planning for the renovations, and a few days ago Jason surprised her with an introduction to the best wedding planner in the city. He was anxious to get married, and she laughed at his expression when the wedding planner had suggested a year from now for the date. His fierce frown had flustered the consultant, and Bella had quietly ordered him to stop scaring the poor woman.

  She was in agreement with Jason though. There was no way in hell she was going to wait a whole year to become his wife. Even though it would take longer to plan the wedding she had in mind, her plans immediately changed when she saw the disappointment he couldn’t hide. Determined for both of them to be happy, she suggested having a Christmas wedding. The brilliant smile Jason gifted her with was worth changing her own plans. With the wedding coordinator’s help and Jason’s extravagant wealth, a small wedding would be easy to pull off even if they only had a few months to plan it.

  There had been no sign of Victor for weeks now, and everything had been quiet. Bella knew he was still out there, but refused to live in fear any longer. Her parents loved their time in Italy, but wanted to come home although Jason felt it was safer for them to stay away for a little while longer. They backed down when Jason told them it was easier to protect Bella with them away, but they had made it clear that no matter what, they would be home for Thanksgiving and in time to celebrate with the family.

  Her mother had cried tears of joy when Bella told them she was engaged, and her papa’s voice had been suspiciously rough with emotion as he wished the couple happiness.

&
nbsp; Besides that, life had to move on. As a celebration the women had decided to use Tara’s birthday present that Bella and Liz had gotten her, a day at the spa. Tara and Liz were already stripping out of their clothes, talking about the upcoming Halloween party at Moretti’s, but Bella had yet to undress.

  Bella knew that she had nothing to be nervous about since her two best friends knew about her scars, but she still hesitated. She pulled off her jeans and folded them neatly, placing them on the shelf of the locker. Next to her, Tara whipped off her shirt and shoved it in her own locker. The sight had Bella’s eyes going wide.

  Oh my God, are those bullet wounds?

  Bella couldn’t help but stare at the two round telltale scars on Tara’s torso and had to muffle her startled cry when Tara turned so she could see the faint signs of long scars marring the golden flesh on Tara’s back.

  Tara’s head turned, and their eyes met. A million thoughts were spoken without saying a word. Shame overwhelmed Bella as she felt silly worrying about her own scars when her friend stood proud amongst her many battle wounds.

  Bella got undressed and shoved her clothes into one of the lockers and put on the waiting robe while Tara and Liz continued to talk. Maybe Bella had the wrong idea about being normal, Bella thought with new perception. With her group of friends, it seemed like it was more normal not to be normal. It made Bella feel foolish that she had made such a big deal about her own reminders of the past when Tara had obviously been in more life-and-death situations than she could imagine. Even Jason’s own body told the story of his hard life.

  Didn’t each scar just make her love him more?

  They made their way into a small parlor where soft harp music played while they sipped water with cucumber and lemon. They were given facials in their own private room while other women gave them manicures and pedicures.

  Sipping on a glass of champagne, Liz sighed. “I could definitely get used to this.”

  “Mmm,” was all Bella and Tara said in response.

  An hour later they were ready for their massages. “All right ladies, let’s go get rubbed down. I hope my guy is named Sven.” Wagging her eyebrows at them, Tara added, “Do you think he’ll give me a happy ending?”