by Anna Hackett
She was walking a few steps ahead of him and his gaze fell to her pert ass. Suddenly, his wound wasn’t feeling so bad.
Shit. No. She’d had a rough night, Vander was pissed. Saxon finally had Gia Norcross, so he was going to take his time when they got naked. It wouldn’t be rushed, and not with all this shit swirling around them.
She turned and eyed his face. “You okay?”
“Yeah, baby. First aid kit is in the master bathroom.”
They walked into his bedroom and he heard her sigh. She eyed his bed, then the window with its leafy view.
Then she turned and saw his walk-in closet.
“Oh. My. God.”
There was pure lust in her eyes as she stalked through the huge closet. Smiling, Saxon watched her circle the island in the middle. Then she fingered his shirts hanging in a neat row.
“How many suits do you own?” she asked, one brow arched.
“How many pairs of shoes do you own?”
She grinned. “Not enough. This is totally my dream closet.”
She pulled out a drawer in the island. All his cufflinks sat in neat rows. She pulled out a second drawer that contained his watch collection.
“Holy cow, Saxon.” She shook her head, stroking one of his Rolexes. “You and your watches.”
He cleared his throat. “Um, this is just half the closet.”
She blinked. “What?”
“There are his and hers—”
She brushed past him. By the time he’d turned, she’d moved through the other door. Obviously, the “hers” closet was empty.
Fuck, he remembered that the closets had sealed the deal when he’d bought the place. He’d known Gia would covet it.
He’d bought this place for her.
She spun around in the center of the empty closet, shaking her head. “Right, I’d better not let you bleed to death because I’m busy drooling over your closet.”
“I’m not going to bleed to death.”
Walking briskly, she headed into the bathroom. She made another happy sigh at the huge shower, and freestanding, stone tub.
“First aid kit’s on the left side of the vanity,” he said.
She moved into his spacious bathroom, along the double sinks, then pulled open the cabinet below. She heaved out his giant first aid kit, and opened it. Then she frowned.
“This is well used. You’re almost out of a lot of things.”
“Shit happens.”
Her lips tightened.
He pulled a wooden stool out from beside the vanity and sat. She helped him shrug out of his jacket, and that’s when she saw the blood staining the arm of his white shirt.
She hissed. “Saxon!”
“Damn, I liked this shirt and jacket.”
“Don’t joke right now, Saxon Buchanan.”
She started unbuttoning his shirt. Hmm, Gia Norcross standing right in front of him, unbuttoning his shirt.
She carefully pushed the ruined shirt off.
“Vander’s right,” Saxon said. “I’m not good enough for you.”
Her hands stilled. “That’s not what he said.”
“I suck at relationships because I haven’t had one, haven’t wanted one…”
Her eyes met his. “Do you want one now?”
He saw her pulse fluttering in her neck. “I want you more than anything I’ve wanted in my life.”
She stared at him, the connection between them pulsing.
Then she looked at his arm. “Dammit, Saxon, this must really hurt.”
“I’ve had worse.”
Those gorgeous eyes narrowed, and she set to work pulling things out of the kit. She started cleaning his wound, focused and careful. She finished with a bandage, then leaned forward and kissed it.
He grabbed her arm. “I’m trying to be a gentleman tonight. You’ve had a rough, emotional day. You need to rest.”
“You don’t need to be a gentleman.”
“I’m not going to screw this up, Gia.” He cupped her cheek and kissed her, but pulled back when she whimpered. “I’ll find you a T-shirt to wear to bed.”
“And I’ll find you some painkillers.”
“No.” He frowned. “I hate taking them.”
She cocked her hip, full of attitude. “Too bad. I’m taking care of you, Saxon Buchanan, and you’re taking the pills.”
His chest locked. No one had ever taken care of him. His team medic had pumped him full of meds, sure, but no one had fussed and worried. As a kid, the only people who’d looked after him were those who were paid to do it.
He lifted his chin. “All right.”
“Good.”
“And Gia, I’m not fucking you tonight, but you’re sleeping in my bed.”
She bit her lip. “Okay, Saxon.”
Chapter Ten
She woke with her face pressed to a hard chest covered in golden skin and intriguing black ink. A strong arm was clamped around Gia, keeping her anchored to him.
Saxon.
She fought off the fog of sleep, little tingles igniting all over her. She was plastered all over him. She looked up his body and stilled.
She’d never watched him sleep before. Awake, he was always so confident, intense, but asleep, he looked more relaxed, more boyish. Or as boyish as Saxon Buchanan could ever look.
Desire—hot and overwhelming—rushed through her. She couldn’t keep fighting him much longer. She wanted him. Desperately. Completely.
Gia Norcross wanted Saxon Buchanan.
Fear bubbled through her belly. He could hurt her, destroy her.
His eyes opened and she held his green gaze. She wasn’t and never had been a coward.
“Morning.” His voice was rough with sleep.
“Morning. How’s your arm?”
His hand shifted down her body, cupping her ass which was covered only by her silk panties. The T-shirt she’d borrowed from him had ridden up.
“What arm?” he asked.
She smoothed a hand over his chest. God, he felt so good. “Saxon.”
“It’s fine. I don’t even feel it.”
“Good.” They kept staring at each other.
Screw it. She leaned down and kissed him. Mmm, it was so good. His tongue stroked hers, and her moan mingled with his groan.
She moved, straddling him, cupping his cheeks. More. She needed more.
With a growl, he turned, half pinning her to the bed. Then he spun her so her back and butt nestled into his body.
“Saxon—”
“All mine.” His big body kept her pinned in place. His hand slid over her belly, and her breath hitched.
“I can touch you how I want. Stroke you how I want.” His hand slid into her panties. “Love you how I want.”
She let out a small cry. His fingers found her clit and rubbed. Her hips bucked, and she jerked against him.
“Hold still,” he growled.
“I want to touch you.”
“Later.”
He pinched her clit, rolled it. Oh. God. It was too much, and not enough.
He kept working her and soon she was moaning his name.
“So fucking hot. You’ve got me hard as steel.” He ground his hard cock against her ass. “I need to taste you.”
Before Gia could manage to string two words together, he moved. He pushed her onto her back and rose above her. She loved looking at that chest, those tattoos. He shoved her panties down and off her legs, then pushed her T-shirt up, and pressed a kiss to her belly. She shivered.
Then he nudged her legs apart and growled. He ran his fingers through the neat strip of hair on her mound.
“I like this.” He lowered his head. “So damn pretty, Contessa.”
He slid his hands under her ass, then closed his mouth on her.
Oh. Her brain stuttered. He shoved her legs up on his shoulders, then licked and sucked.
With a sharp cry, Gia’s back arched. She grabbed two handfuls of his hair.
“Saxon.”
He sucke
d on her clit, and her cries turned desperate. She dug her heels into his shoulder blades. He was so good at this. So damn good. A connoisseur.
With another lick of his clever tongue, Gia imploded. She screamed, her body shaking, intense pleasure searing through her.
She slumped back on the bed, her limbs too heavy to move. He knelt in front of her, his lips glistening, a smug look on his face. He licked his lips and her belly contracted. So sexy.
“Apparently an orgasm helps wake you up in the morning just as well as coffee.”
“You’re good at that,” she said breathlessly.
“I’m good at a lot of things.” His gaze ran over her body. “You make it easy to give you pleasure. You’re so responsive.” He ran a hand along her thigh and made her shiver. “You like to control everything in your life, so I wasn’t sure you’d let go so easily.”
She licked her lips. “I don’t usually. Not unless I trust someone.”
His eyes flashed. “I’ve also had a lot of training at reading people. I guess I use that to watch and see what you like.”
He meant training from the military, and training he probably still used in his job. She already noted that Saxon Buchanan was very perceptive.
Her gaze dropped to his boxers, tented by a large, very erect cock.
“So…” she drawled.
Disappointment crossed his face. “Baby, unless you can call off work for the day…”
She shook her head. “I can’t.”
“Then we’ve got to get moving. We need to stop at your place so you can get changed.”
She turned her head and glanced at the clock. Shit, they’d be pushing it already. For the first time in forever, Gia consider playing hooky.
Saxon gripped her chin. “I want time. Not a quick fuck. I want to take my time with you.”
His words shivered through her. “Me too.”
“All right. I’m going to take a shower. A cold one. You’d better use the guest bathroom if you want me to keep my hands off you.”
He slid to the side of the bed.
That’s when Gia saw the mass of ugly scarring on his side, right near his lean waist. Frowning, she crawled across the bed and touched it.
He stilled.
It was old, but bad. The thick ridges of scar tissue crisscrossed; some surgical scars, and one part of it that was circular. A bullet wound.
She swallowed, feeling sick to her stomach. “Saxon, what happened?”
He didn’t look at her. “It was a long time ago. On a mission that’s classified.”
She stroked the ugly scarring and wondered why he wouldn’t look at her, what he wasn’t saying.
Finally, he turned his head and smiled. It wasn’t quite a usual Saxon smile. He reached over and dragged her off the bed. “Get moving, Contessa.”
She wanted to push him for more, but they didn’t have time. Shoving her feelings aside, she gave him a saucy smile and sauntered out. She showered in the guest room that she’d used the other night, and then screwed up her nose at putting on the previous day’s clothes.
By the time she was dressed, Saxon had made coffee, and she followed the smell upstairs. She made a beeline to the island, grabbed the steaming mug sitting there, and gratefully gulped it down.
“Mmm.”
He smiled at her.
She ate some toast while he held a bowl of cereal, eating and reading news articles on a tablet. She glanced around his fabulous kitchen. This was very…domestic. And crap, she liked it.
Gia bit her lip, then let the worry go. It was time to pull her head out of the sand. Saxon wasn’t letting her go. It looked like they were doing this.
And…she didn’t want him to let her go.
She wanted him. It was time to suck it up and deal. It wasn’t a hardship. She eyed him in his gorgeous Hugo Boss suit. The Patek Philippe watch on his wrist glinted as it caught the light. Hot, rich, and classy.
“Contessa, you need to quit looking at me like that.”
Her gaze flicked to his face. “I can look at you however I want, Saxon Buchanan.” She sipped the last of her coffee.
He shook his head. “I know you’d argue about anything, but let’s get moving. And Gia, while we’re at your place, pack some clothes. Whatever you need to stay at my place.”
She opened her mouth.
Saxon held up a hand. “No arguing. Just do it.”
She huffed out a breath. “Fine.”
After a quick trip to her place, Gia changed into a black Ralph Lauren sheath dress with cap sleeves. She paired it with black Gucci pumps with a red strap. Then she tamed her hair back severely in a tight, sleek bun.
She then pulled out her vintage, Mark Cross duffel bag and packed some clothes and toiletries. She tried not to focus on what taking stuff to Saxon’s place meant.
“I’m ready.” With her Louis Vuitton handbag and her duffel bag, she breezed back into the living room.
The sight of her missing paintings, vases, and other things that were now all gone gave her a pang.
“You sure are.”
At Saxon’s drawl, she looked up. He was watching her with blatant appreciation in his eyes. He walked over and took her duffel bag.
She smiled. “Let’s get moving, Buchanan.”
On the drive to her office, Gia stared out the window. She bit her lip, thoughts swirling. Saxon was looking out for her. So were her brothers and Haven.
Willow was out there somewhere, and she had no one. Gia was so worried about her.
“You’re thinking of Willow.”
Gia jolted, and realized that he’d parked the car in front of her office and was looking at her.
“I worry about her. Dennett’s really pissed off.” Gia patted her hair, smoothing it down. “I just wish I knew where she was.”
“I’ll find her.”
Gia’s mouth opened. “What?”
“I’ll find her.”
“For me?”
“Yeah. And because I think Willow knows more than she’s shared.”
“You don’t know that.” Warring emotions knocked around inside Gia.
“Gia, I’m your brother’s troubleshooter. I know where to look to ferret out info and fix problems.” He leaned over and stroked her cheek. “Let’s get you upstairs. I’m going to have Ace come and keep an eye on you while I track down Willow.”
He walked her upstairs, and she watched him smile at Ashley. Gia’s assistant sighed dramatically.
Scrounging up the courage, Gia turned, grabbed his jacket, and kissed him.
He was stiff for a second, like she’d surprised him, then he kissed her back until she was dizzy.
“I like it when you kiss me, Contessa,” he murmured against her lips. “Stay inside and out of trouble. Ace will be here soon.”
“Be careful, Saxon.”
Ashley watched him go, then eyed Gia. “You got another morning orgasm.”
“No comment.”
“I’m not the paparazzi.”
Gia cleared her throat. Change of topic. “Another Norcross man, Ace, is arriving—” Gia glanced up. “Oh, there he is now.”
Ace sauntered in, wearing suit pants and a blue-check shirt with his sleeves rolled up. He carried a laptop backpack over one broad shoulder.
“Where does your brother find these guys?” Ashley breathed.
“Roll that tongue back into your mouth.” Gia swiveled. It was time to get to work.
In his office, Saxon checked a few searches he had running. Willow hadn’t gone far; he was sure of it.
I will find you.
He wouldn’t let anyone hurt Gia.
There was movement in the doorway, and he glanced up to see Vander. His friend’s jaw was tight, his dark-blue eyes moody.
Saxon drew in a deep breath. “You’re still pissed.”
“Yes, I’m still pissed,” Vander clipped out. “You should’ve fucking told me. I didn’t need to find out my best friend is doing my sister by seeing your tongue down her th
roat.”
“There’s been shit happening—”
“Fuck, Saxon.” Vander ran a hand through his black hair. “You’re like a brother to me. We’ve been through so much shit together. Now this?”
“What’s going on?” Rhys appeared, frowning.
Vander looked at his shoes. “Saxon and Gia.”
“Saxon and Gia what?” Rhys looked confused. “Did you guys finally try and kill each other?”
Saxon looked at the ceiling. “No.”
“Not yet,” Vander said.
“I’m not planning to hurt her,” Saxon said.
“But you will,” Vander said.
“What?” Rhys looked between them like he was trying to put the pieces of a puzzle together.
“He’s fucking Gia,” Vander said.
“Not yet,” Saxon growled. “And don’t talk about her like that.”
“Saxon and Gia.” About a hundred emotions crossed Rhys’ face in an instant.
“What is going on?” Haven appeared. “I just got here to take Rhys out for coffee, and I can hear you guys from the front door.”
“Saxon and Gia…” Rhys looked like he was struggling to find the right words. “Are together.”
Haven looked at Rhys, then Vander. “You two only just worked that out?” She shook her head. “I thought you guys were crack investigators.”
Rhys shifted his feet, and Vander’s scowl darkened.
Haven arched a brow. “The two of them put off enough sexual heat to power a nuclear plant.”
“She’s my sister,” Vander said.
“And I’m in love with her.” The words rushed out of Saxon, and he stiffened. Shit, did he just say that aloud?
Haven clapped her hands together, beaming at him.
Saxon rubbed the back of his neck. Shit. Fuck. He was in love with Gia.
What the hell? He didn’t know the first thing about love. He looked up, and saw that Rhys had a small smile on his face, and Vander was just staring at him.
“You should’ve told me that,” Vander said.
“Um, I’m just kind of realizing it now.”
“You fuck with her…” Vander let that hang.
He met his best friend’s gaze. “I’ll keep her safe, and make her happy.”
“Man, you are brave.” Rhys grinned at him.
Haven slapped her man’s chest.