by Susan Stoker
Benny got together the plate with dinner on it as well as napkins. He stuck two water bottles under his arm and headed over to Jess.
“Jesus, Kason, you should’ve let me help. I could’ve carried something.”
“I said I got it.” Benny leaned down and let Jess take the bottles out from under his arm. He turned and put the plate on the coffee table and settled in next to her. He yanked the blanket off the back of the couch and pulled Jess into his side. He put the blanket over her lap, making sure she wouldn’t be chilled after her bath.
Then he reached out and grabbed the plate of food and leaned back again, resettling Jess against him.
“What’d you make?”
“Pizza roll ups.”
“From scratch?”
“Yeah.”
Jess smiled, his words said yes, but his tone said “duh.”
Jessyka reached for one of the crescent rolls and Kason held them out of her reach.
“Uh uh. I got this.” Benny picked up one of the homemade pizza rolls and blew on it, making sure it wouldn’t burn her when she bit into it. He took a bite, and finding the temperature acceptable, held it to Jess.
She looked at him, incredulously.
“Open.”
When Jess started to raise her hand to take the roll from his hand, Benny held it up out of her reach. “Open,” he repeated.
Jess opened her mouth and didn’t take her eyes off of Kason’s as he brought the roll down to her mouth. He placed part of it between her teeth and she bit down. Some of the sauce dripped out, but before it could fall, Kason caught it with his finger. He brought his finger up to his mouth and sucked on it, licking away the red sauce he’d just wiped from her mouth.
Neither looked away from each other. Jess finished chewing the first bite and Kason held the rest of the pizza up to her lips. She opened dutifully, and felt Kason’s thumb brush against her lip as she closed her lips around the delicious crescent roll.
Kason continued to feed her. He took turns between eating himself, and feeding her. Each time, he took a bite of the roll first, making sure it wasn’t too hot, before letting her take a bite.
Jessyka felt weird. She knew she was supposed to be freaking out about Brian and what the SEALs had done to him, but she just didn’t have it in her at the moment. Between the bath, being held in Kason’s arms, and him feeding her, she was one big marshmallow.
When the pizza rolls were gone, Kason leaned over and placed the now empty plate back on the coffee table. He leaned back to the couch and turned, taking Jess with him.
Benny held on to the woman in his arms as he turned them around on the couch. He moved so he was on his back and Jess’s back was to the back of the couch. She was half lying on him and half lying on the couch. Her head rested on his shoulder and one of her arms was lying over his stomach. He had one arm wrapped around her shoulders and the other rested lightly on her hand on his stomach. He sighed in contentment.
Benny hadn’t allowed himself the luxury of cuddling with Jess since that first night she’d been in his apartment. Oh, she’d leaned into him on the couch while they watched TV, but it wasn’t like this. He wanted to give her space. He didn’t want to push her into anything she might not be ready for. But he wanted her. He wanted her more now than he did a month ago. Benny knew all the important things he needed to know about Jess, except for one. How she felt about him.
Benny had spent the last month fantasizing about her. It wasn’t enough he woke up hard and had to take care of it before he could go to PT, but every night he went to bed hard, imagining how Jess looked spread out on her bed just one door down from him. He’d had to wash his sheets a lot more often now that Jessyka was living with him.
“Are you comfortable? Your leg doesn’t hurt?”
“I’m perfect, Kason. This is perfect.”
Benny pulled Jess toward him and kissed her forehead once before settling back again. “Good. Now, talk to me.”
Jess didn’t hesitate, but laid out what she was thinking. “It’s not that I care about Brian, because at this point I don’t. But I’m worried about the guys. What if Brian goes to the cops? What if they get in trouble? What if Brian goes after Caroline or any of the others? What if . . .”
“Shhhh, hang on, gorgeous, let me address your fears one by one, okay?” Benny waited until Jess nodded against him before continuing. “First, Brian won’t go to the cops. It’s already on file what he did to you. Remember, they took pictures in the hospital. Brian knows it’d be his word against a SEAL’s. Who do you think would win in that battle?” Not waiting for her response he went on.
“Wolf talked to our Commander about what happened, essentially giving him a head’s up. Of course he didn’t give him all the details, but enough that if he heard about it through official channels he could defend the team. And lastly, there’s no way in hell Brian would go after the women. He knows he’s outmanned and outgunned. Besides, they’re all monitored 24/7.”
“What do you mean?”
Benny sighed. He had no idea how Jess would take this. He knew he had to give her some background. “How much of the history of the girls do you know?”
Jess looked up at Kason. He sounded so serious. “I know some, but obviously not enough if the look on your face is anything to go by.”
Benny put his hand on Jess’s head and encouraged her to lay back down. “Wolf met Caroline on a plane that was taken over by hijackers. They survived it, but the bad guys came after her and kidnapped her. Alabama fled from Abe because he did a dumbass thing and hurt her. It was weeks before we could find her. She’d been living on the damn streets. Cookie met Fiona when he was sent into Mexico to rescue another woman that had been taken by white-slavers. She’d been in captivity for about three months when we got her out and no one had even known or cared she was gone. Summer was taken by a man who’d kidnapped, tortured, and murdered Mozart’s little sister when he was in high school. Cheyenne had a bomb strapped to her chest…twice. And finally, you know what happened to Cheyenne, Summer, and Fiona when they were taken from the bar not too long ago.”
Benny took a deep breath. Now the hard part. “All the guys got together and agreed this shit had to end. We have a friend who lives in Virginia . . . Tex. He used to be a SEAL, but got hurt and now does some computer shit from out east. He can find anyone. We’ve literally used him to save the lives of every single one of the guys’ women. He does illegal crap we pretend we don’t know about, and he knows people in every branch of the military and probably in every state. We overlook anything illegal he might do because it’s effective and has saved us more times than not. He monitors the girls. They’re tracked all the time. Every day, every move they make.”
“But, Kason . . .”
“I wasn’t done. Let me finish then I’ll answer whatever questions you have.” Benny waited for Jess’s agreement, then continued. “They know about it. They agreed to it. They all have issues related to what happened to them. It makes them feel better knowing their men will be able to get to them if, God-forbid, something happens again. The work we do is dangerous. The last thing we want is for some asshole we captured, injured, defeated, whatever, to come back and try to get revenge by taking our women. Their shoes are tracked, their bags, some of their clothes. They even have several pieces of jewelry that have tracking devices in them. Jess, if you remember nothing else, remember this. The women know about it and agreed to it. This is not us being manipulative, controlling assholes, which I admit, we all can be. But this is not that.
“So while Brian doesn’t know about any of that, the guys made it clear if he even thinks about coming after their women, he’ll pay. And how he’ll pay would be completely unconnected to us. Tex knows people. I know for a fact he’s as close to a team of Delta Force operatives as he is with us. Payment could be arranged without any of us being involved in any way.”
“This sounds like the mob or something, Kason. I don’t like it.”
“I know, and
I’m sorry, Jess. But it’s how we are. We’re a family, yes, sort of like the mob, but we don’t go around hurting and intimidating people for the hell of it. In fact, I think this is the only time the guys have taken Tex up on his repeated offers to allow him to be involved.”
Benny let his words sink in. The silence stretched out for at least five minutes, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable.
At last Jess spoke, “You really think I’m safe? He won’t come after me?”
“I really think you’re safe. If I didn’t think so, I’d tell you. I’d tell you so you could be more vigilant, more aware. I’d never hide that from you.”
“Are you tracking me?”
Finally. It was the question Benny had expected from the second he’d mentioned tracking the other women. “No.”
“Why not?”
That was not what he expected her to say. “I told you the girls know about the devices. I would never do that to you without your consent.”
Without looking up, Jess said in a voice that cracked, “I think it’d make me feel safer.”
“Then I’ll set it up.” Benny didn’t hesitate in agreeing.
“But Kason, it’s different for me. I’m just . . .” Jess paused thinking about how she wanted to word her thoughts and about what Summer had told her that day. “I’m not with you. I’m just your friend. It’s not the same.”
Benny slid out from under Jessyka and moved her until she was flat on her back on the couch and he was leaning over her. He had one elbow next to her head and his hand curled around the side of her neck.
“How honest can I be with you right now, Jess? I’ve been pretty forthcoming tonight. Can you take more?”
“From you? Yes.”
Benny didn’t hesitate or prevaricate. “I want you. Yes, you’re my friend, but I want more. I want to be your lover. I want you to sleep in my bed. I want to see you lying on my sheets naked and waiting for me. I want to see you in the shower in the mornings while I’m shaving. You’re already doing my laundry and cooking for me when I’m not home to do it for myself. We’re already acting like a couple, just without the intimacy. I wanted to give you space. I wanted you to be sure. I’ve been sure for a while now. I’ve wanted you in my bed since about a week after you moved in.”
“Is that all you want, Kason? Because I don’t think I can handle just a sexual relationship with you. I’m too emotionally involved.”
“Hell, no, that isn’t all I want. If all I wanted was to get off, I could do that any day of the week. I want you, Jess. You have no idea how badly I want you, all of you. I want to be free to hold your hand whenever and wherever I want. I want to pull you down in my lap and wrap my arms around you when you come up to me at Aces. I want to claim you, to make it so no other guy looks at you while you’re walking with your sexy gait. I want everyone to know you’re mine. Can you handle that?”
“Yeah, I think I can,” Jess smiled at Kason, happier than she’d been in a long time.
They both looked at each other, breathing heavily.
“Did we just agree to ‘go together’?”
Benny laughed. “I haven’t heard that term since I was in the seventh grade. And no, we didn’t agree to ‘go together.’ You agreed that you’re mine. You agreed that I’d take care of you and keep you safe. You agreed to sleep in my bed, shower in my bathroom when I’m in there too, and let me put my hands and lips on you whenever and wherever I want.”
“Uh . . .”
“I’m going to kiss you now, Jess, and I’m not stopping until we’re both so exhausted, we’re comatose in my bed.”
Benny waited for her agreement. He’d never do anything she didn’t want him to do.
“God, please, Kason. I’ve waited forever to really feel your lips on mine.”
Benny lowered his head to take what was finally his.
Chapter Ten
Benny didn’t ease into the kiss, he slammed his lips onto Jessyka’s and felt goose bumps form on his arms as she immediately opened for him. Jess wasn’t coy, she didn’t hesitate, she took all he gave her.
He plunged his tongue inside her mouth and reveled in her taste. Benny had never gotten so turned on by a mere kiss before. If he hadn’t waited so long to be inside her, to be right where he was, he could’ve spent all night simply kissing her. But he was too impatient. He needed to see her, all of her. Benny needed Jess in his territory, on his bed.
He broke the kiss and pushed himself up. Benny could feel his hardness push deeper into the vee of Jess’s legs. He smiled and groaned as he felt her hips push up against him.
“You are so fucking sexy, and all mine. Come on, I need to get you in my bed.” It didn’t seem too fast, they’d gotten to know each other very well over the last month, and it felt right, now that they’d cleared the air, to take the next step.
Benny levered himself up and off the couch and held out a hand to Jess. She didn’t hesitate, but immediately put her hand in his and allowed him to pull her up and off the couch, the blanket falling unnoticed by either of them to the floor.
“Walk in front of me, Jess. I want to see your hips sway and know that soon I’ll have them all to myself. You have no idea how badly I’ve wanted to see those hips and that ass on my sheets.”
Jess blushed, but did as Kason asked. Feeling bold, she exaggerated her limp as she made her way down the short hallway, smiling as she heard Kason groan. He was fun to tease, especially when she knew her teasing would end with her satisfaction, at least she hoped it would.
She entered his room and inhaled deeply. It smelled like him. She turned around once she entered and faced Kason.
He was ripping his shirt over his head. “Take off your shirt, gorgeous. Let me see you.”
Without thinking twice, Jess began to unfasten the buttons on her shirt.
Benny stalked over to her and brushed her hands away from her shirt. “Too slow, lift your arms.”
Jess just smiled at the impatience in his voice. Soon Kason’s mouth was at her neck. “I saw how you reacted to Dude’s words all those weeks ago about marks on a woman’s neck. I need to see my mark on you. I need everyone else to see it as well.”
Jess had never had so much fun during foreplay or sex before. “Well, since we’re ‘going together,’ I suppose it’s mandatory to have a hickey too.”
She felt Kason’s lips curl up into a smile before she groaned and let her head fall back. He sucked hard on her neck and she felt his teeth nip and his tongue soothe over her skin as he did it. His other hand was busy on her breast. Kason hadn’t removed her bra yet, but his fingers played over and under the cup, teasing her nipple into hardness.
“Oh God, Kason. Yeah. That feels so good.”
Without removing his hand from her breast, his other hand brushed down Jessyka’s side. Benny raised his head long enough to murmur in a satisfied voice, “Goosebumps,” then he returned to her neck.
He kept his lips on her, but backed them up until her legs hit his mattress. Benny kept pushing until Jess had no choice but to sit. Finally his head came up and he looked into her eyes as both hands went to her breasts. He played and teased there, running his fingers under her bra and over her nipples, before backing away and merely running his hands over the cups themselves.
Jess ran her own hands up and down his body as he caressed hers. Kason’s chest was amazing. Hard and cut. He didn’t have an ounce of fat anywhere on him, at least not that Jess could see. She couldn’t help herself, and brought her fingers up to his nipples and pinched them.
Benny groaned and grabbed Jess’s wrists. “Oh no, much more of that and this’ll be finished before we even start.”
Jess mock-pouted at Kason. “But I want to play too.”
“Oh, you’ll get to play, don’t worry, but it’s my turn first. You’re lucky enough to be able to get off several times, while we poor men have to settle for one at a time.”
“Several times?” Jess asked in bewilderment.
“Oh shit. Really
? You don’t already know this? Fuck, this is gonna be fun. Take off your bra and lean back.”
Jess could only watch as Kason took a step back from her. She immediately felt the loss. Jess quickly put her arms behind her and undid the hook on her bra. She let it fall off her arms and onto the floor and she scooted back on the bed and lay back, as Kason had asked.
“Close your eyes and just feel.”
She immediately shut her eyes. Jess knew at this point she’d do just about anything Kason asked of her, and they both knew it.
Jess felt Kason’s hands at her waistband. He undid the button of her jeans and she heard the zipper lowering. But instead of pulling them off, he simply ran his fingers around her stomach and the waistband.
“I’ve spent weeks wondering what you look like here. Do you shave? Are you completely bare? Or do you trim down here so that you only have a small patch? Maybe you don’t do anything and you’re as wild as your personality. Do I dare guess which one it is, gorgeous?”
When Jess opened her mouth to answer his rhetorical question she felt one of his fingers press over her lips. “No, don’t tell me. I want to find out on my own.”
Finally Kason tugged off her jeans. She was mostly naked, covered only by her black cotton panties. Jess’s breaths came out in pants. She was so ready for this.
“Open your eyes, look at me.”
Jess’s eyes popped open and met Kason’s. “Beautiful. You look beautiful against my sheets, in my bed.” His words made her nipples tighten further. His eyes roamed over her body then came up to her eyes.
“Once we do this, I’m not letting you go, Jess. Be sure.”
“I’m sure.” Her words were strong and immediate. “If we do this, you’re mine too. It goes both ways.”
“Shit yeah, it does. I’m yours, you’re mine. Fuck, I love that.”
Jess smiled. Kason’s language got dirtier and dirtier the more turned on he got.
Prolonging the anticipation of knowing what she looked like under her panties, Benny leaned down and tasted her nipple for the first time. Jess wasn’t overly endowed, but what she had was perfect. Benny didn’t know sizes, but she fit in the palm of his hands perfectly. He squeezed her breasts and then brought his index fingers and thumbs to her nipples. “You like to tease, Jess?”