by Caisey Quinn
Chase didn’t buy it. “It’s just all very convenient. And asinine. He could’ve gone to the Captain himself at any time. Going rogue is stupid but it’s not that big of a deal that I’d break the law to keep anyone from finding out.”
Annalise nodded. “He’s a glory hog. He was likely more concerned about getting pulled out before he could make a bust.”
“Any word on Edwards? Was he in any contact with Murphy that we know of? Just the fact that he lied about his connection to Lewis should be enough to bring him in and hold him for a while.” Vivien chewed her lower lip while waiting for a response.
“We haven’t located him yet but we’re working on it. From what Lewis says, Edwards had his own agenda when it came to setting off explosives downtown, but he never told him what it was. That singer, the one Aiden pulled off stage when we found the bomb, has a stalker. We think it might be Edwards.”
Vivien’s eyebrows shot up. “The ex-roommate?”
Annalise nodded. “I have a bad feeling about Edwards. I’m pretty sure he’s the brains of the operation. I can’t pin anything from the storage unit on him but I don’t think Lewis or Campbell possess the ability to strategize the way whoever hid those maps and materials did. That only leaves Edwards, and he’s the one who appeared the least guilty and can’t be found.” She sighed. Chase noted that this case had clearly taken a visible toll on the usually high-spirited woman. “Right now we’re operating with the working theory that Edwards revealed his plan to blow us all to hell and back for reasons unknown, maybe in a Cop Block group or an online site they were trolling. Murphy seized an opportunity to get Vivien and her team where she wanted them, using Lewis as a pawn to do her dirty work. And he blackmailed Campbell into helping him.”
Chase’s first thought was that there were too many unpredictable players in the game. He’d feel a hell of a lot better when they apprehended Edwards.
“Murphy isn’t going to give up on coming after me,” Vivien said quietly.
“She won’t get anywhere near you. Once they can prove she was involved in putting a hit on an FBI agent from the inside they’ll put her in solitary and she won’t see another human being for the rest of her life.” He wrapped an arm around her waist and turned to Annalise. “Luke the lead detective on the case still?”
Annalise nodded.
“Good. Both of you keep us in the loop, please.”
“Will do,” she promised. “Try to enjoy your time off despite everything. You both deserve it.”
“Will do,” Vivien promised, leaning closer against him.
Yes, Chase thought to himself. One way or another, they would.
***
The drive to the beach was nearly nine hours and they’d stopped to visit some friends of Viven’s just outside of Charlotte. Chase had met them briefly the night he’d met Vivien at a bar near the base in South Carolina. Jen and Emerson were a couple now, happily united in matrimony with an adopted three-year-old daughter. Chase had watched them openly embrace Vivien, thrilled at the news that she was alive and well. He wished he’d been as readily willing to show his gratitude the way they were when Vivien first returned to his life.
But no, he’d been a jilted, stubborn ass. The shock of her initial arrival had been too much for him. He vowed to put his asshole ways behind him for good and spend the rest of his life making Vivien nothing but happy.
After they said their good-byes and headed onward to the coast, he spoke up.
“They were so happy to see you,” he said quietly. “My initial reaction should’ve been more like that.”
“They got a phone call first, Chase. You didn’t.”
“Still.” He shook his head.
“Still, nothing. You were hurt and you are allowed to be honest about how you feel. I don’t ever want you to hide anything from me just to spare my feelings. I have no regrets, babe. None.”
“Me neither,” he said, taking her hand over the center console. “Well, one. But I’m rectifying that very soon.”
Her forehead creased in confusion. “Do I get a hint?”
He shook his head. “Nope.”
“Meanie.”
He laughed lightly at her pretend pout. “So Jen and Em, huh? I didn’t realize Jen was . . .”
“Gay? Bi? Neither did Jen apparently for a while. But jealously eventually got the best of her and she realized she didn’t want Em with anyone else. It’s like I said before, love is a tangible thing. I don’t know that I’d classify Jen as heteroflexible or anything. She’s just Jen. And she loves Emerson and so they’re together.”
“They seem really happy.”
Vivien grinned. “They are. And I’m happy for them. And they’re happy for us. I told them we might try to visit again around the holidays. Since you and I don’t really have family commitments.”
Chase nodded but inside he was grinning to himself. Jen and Emerson were going to be visiting Nashville much sooner than the holidays.
At least, he hoped so.
“So . . . are we going to talk about your hands?”
He was surprised by the sudden subject change but not shocked that she was bringing up his tremor.
He exhaled, noting that the tension that usually sat like bricks on his chest seemed to be lifting. Finally. “It’s mild . . . for now. If it gets worse, I’ll take a backseat or move from EOD to SWAT.”
“I’m sorry, Chase. You weren’t supposed to be there. You were never supposed to get hurt.”
He lifted their joined hands and placed a firm kiss on hers. “I’m healing. That’s all that matters.”
By the time they reached Luke’s family’s beach house, Vivien was asleep in the car. He unlocked the front door and carried her inside bride-over-the-threshold style. She murmured in her sleep as he laid her gently on the bed.
He’d planned on making love to her until the sun came up, but after what she’d been through she was exhausted. He let her sleep.
She’d need it.
Tomorrow was going to be a big day.
Thirty-four
Vivien was jostled awake by firm fingers grabbing wildly at her arm.
“Wait, damn it. Just wait, Viv. Please wait, baby.” Chase’s voice was strained, breaking on the last word. His entire body jerked as if he’d grabbed a handful of live wires.
She blinked the darkness into view and clutched the hand that held her arm. “Chase,” she said in an attempt to rouse him out of what appeared to be a nightmare. “Chase, it’s okay. I’m here.”
His breathing came in desperate gasps and she began to panic. Chase was deep in the clutches of a night terror—one that seemed to be about her. She tried to steady her own breathing as she pried his fingers loose, then rolled so that she was on top of his massive muscular body. Sitting astride a fitful but still sleeping Chase, she traced the sweat-slick blue and black flame and tribal tattoos that covered the scars she knew his dad’s abuse and neglect had left on his body. Her heart ached for all the torture he’d had to endure. She rubbed her hands over his chest soothingly, vowing to never cause him another ounce of pain if she could help it.
“Chase. Chase Ryan Fisk, look at me.” She used the sharpest tone she could without waking his roommates. “I’m here, baby. Look at me.”
His eyelids fluttered open as she stroked the stubble on his chiseled jawline.
Confusion clouded his gaze.
“You were having a bad dream.” She hesitated, but the comprehension in his eyes was easy to identify. “About me. I’m guessing that’s not a new thing.”
He swallowed thickly and stared at her. “No. It’s not new. They had eased up for a while though. I’m sorry if I woke you.”
His body began to respond beneath her even though fear was the primary emotion still etched in his face.
Vivien rocked gently against his hardening length. “I’m s
orry. God, I’m so sorry. If I had known how bad it would be, how long I’d have to—”
“Shh,” Chase sat up, removed her shirt and bra, and rested the side of his face against her bare breasts. “I know. I know it was out of your control. You’re here now. That’s all that matters.”
He used his right hand to brush her hair behind her shoulders. It was a tender gesture, but Vivien smiled when he took a handful of hair into his fist and tugged firmly.
“I’m not going anywhere, Chase. And I’ll do whatever it takes to prove that until the only dreams you have about me feel like this.” She slid her hand between them and removed her panties then took his thick erection into her palm. She kissed him softly on the lips and stroked him steadily until he groaned. Grinning wickedly, she leaned back to place him at her entrance.
“God, you’re beautiful. Take me inside, sweetheart. All of me.”
His command increased the wetness between her thighs. Following it made her moan out loud as she lowered herself onto him.
He released her hair and his hands gripped her hips, his fingers denting her flesh at ten distinct points she became acutely aware of as she rode him.
“I’ll make it up to you,” she whispered. “I’ll make it better until the nightmares are gone.”
She’d give up sleeping if she had to. Chase always had her back. Now it was her turn to be the guard dog. She’d lie there, protecting him from the darkened corners of his own mind all night long if she had to.
Or on nights like tonight, she’d make love to him until she’d chased every painful thought right out of his head.
***
A few hours later, sprawled across Chase’s chest, Vivien woke to sunlight streaming directly into her face. She blinked herself awake, smiling when he kissed her neck softly but firmly. He was awake first. That almost never happened.
“Good morning, handsome,” she greeted him.
“Mornin’, gorgeous.” He pulled her tighter against him. “Tell me you can skip your run this morning.”
She felt his erection come to life against her stomach. “Well, if you have other ideas about how I can get my cardio in, I’m open to hearing them.”
Chase pressed his lips to the back of her neck. “I might have a few suggestions.”
She wiggled against him. “I’m listening.”
Her body bowed backward as he slid a finger down the length of her clit and into her body. She moaned, and he kissed her deeply and swallowing the sounds of her pleasure while sinking two more fingers inside her welcoming heat.
When she couldn’t take any more of his fingers expertly massaging her sex, she sat up and ran her hand down his sculpted chest—reminiscent of their intense interaction the night before. Chase sucked the moisture from the two fingers that had been inside her. Her eyes went wide at the erotic gesture.
“Still my sweet girl.” He wrapped his giant hand around her waist. “I think going for a ride this morning might burn a few calories.”
“Mmm. Sounds like a plan.” Their mouths remained fused as she used her free hand to guide him to her entrance. Her head fell back as she impaled herself on his length. She lifted and lowered again and again, savoring the way he fit so perfectly inside her.
Chase’s hands roamed from her waist to her ass to her breasts, seemingly everywhere all at once. The harder she rode, the harder he squeezed. She cried out, enthusiastically proclaiming her approval of his ministrations.
She leaned down to kiss him and he rose to meet her until they were sitting up face to face, chest to chest. This was quickly becoming her favorite position. It was the only time she knew she could dominate such a large, powerful man.
“Four years I’ve dreamt of you. Of this. Of us.”
Vivien moaned while grinding deeper down on his erection. “Me too, Chase. God, me too.”
His mouth lowered to her breasts. His tongue generously laved each nipple before he sucked them hard enough that she felt the light pinch of his teeth. Every cell in her body felt electrified.
“The first time I saw you, I knew you were about to change my life. I just had no idea how much.”
Vivien felt the smile spread across her face at his admission.
“The first time I saw you I couldn’t wait to see you naked,” she answered honestly. “And the day I saw you in that classroom . . . I was panicked and thrilled all at once.” She felt him move deeper inside her.
Chase lifted his face and chuckled against her mouth while still thrusting steadily inside her from below. “I told myself it was a bad thing that you were under my command. But in the back of my mind I was so damn glad to see you again—to know I had at least eleven weeks with you.”
“And what did you want to do with those eleven weeks exactly?” she asked with a coy grin.
Chase dug his fingers into the pressure points in her lower back. “So many things. Everything. Get to know you. Fuck you blind.” His voice was becoming strained, and she knew he’d lose control soon if they kept up the current pace.
“Hmm . . . Well, I think we can do better than eleven weeks this time,” she said against his lips.
“I think you’re right.”
She mumbled her approval as he slammed upward into her G-spot. “I love those words.”
“Do you now?”
She nodded. “Mm-hmm. I think I’m even wetter now just from that sentence alone.” He gripped her ass hard with both hands and moved her body at his own pace. Just before she hit the cresting wave of orgasm, he lifted her off his length. “Turn over for me, baby. Let me see how wet my words make you.”
Vivien grinned as she did her best graceful imitation of a lazy cat while moving to all fours. He really was making sure she got a workout this morning, and she loved every second of it.
When he was positioned behind her, she tilted her backside upward to give him the best view of her. She knew it wasn’t the most flattering angle and that her slick arousal would be plenty visible. With any other lover, she’d have been self-conscious. But his groan of approval made her feel like the sexiest woman alive.
“God damn you are beautiful. Every. Fucking. Inch. Of. You.” A long lick that ventured from her opening to the tight ring he had yet to explore nearly shattered her then and there.
“Chase,” she whimpered, trembling as her knees threatened to give out. He continued working her with his mouth from behind without mercy. “I’m ready for every inch of you. Now. Please.”
He bit her right ass cheek gently. “I love when you say please.”
“I need you. Now. Please,” she bit out. “Sir,” she added for good measure and as a throwback to their military days when she had to call him that. There was no shame in her game when it came to orgasms. At work and in daily life she would be his equal, but in the bedroom, all bets were off. There would always be push and pull between them, but when it came to lovemaking, she was happy to let him command her body at will. Because he did it so perfectly.
“Since you asked so nicely, sweetheart.”
A hard thrust jolted her from her backside again and again as he took her higher and higher until she was flying.
The best part? She knew that this time, she’d never have to come down.
***
Once they’d finished making love and showering, Chase led her outside for a picnic on the beach.
“This is a familiar scene,” she laughed once they reached the blanket by the shoreline.
He nodded. “Except this time I won’t fuck it up.”
“You didn’t fuck it up before, Chase. You know I didn’t leave because you didn’t profess your undying love that day.”
He smiled but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Maybe not, but I never forgave myself. In a way, that was the last time I saw you. You died, Viv. You were gone and I hadn’t said what I needed to say.”
The mome
nt changed from sweet and playful to somber.
Vivien stared into his eyes. “I knew, Chase. I knew you loved me. Swear to God, I knew. You were risking everything for me. Your promotion, your entire career, your military family, all of it. I knew it was more than a hookup.”
“I’m glad to hear that. But I lived through four years thinking you’d died without knowing. I’m never going to let that happen again. You will never go to bed, go to work, or go out the damn door without knowing exactly how much I love you.”
Without warning, he dropped to one knee and looked expectantly up at her. He dipped his right hand into his pocket and withdrew a square black box. His hands were a little shaky, but she was pretty sure it was unrelated to his occasional tremor.
She gasped out loud when he opened it.
Vivien stared at the gleaming ring in the box. The nervous, hopeful excitement in Chase’s expression brought tears to her eyes.
The ocean waves whooshed behind them, back and forth with the tide against the sand.
“Since I’ve been hired on as a consultant at Central, technically you might be my CO again, Fisk.”
A smile broke across his face. “Fine by me. I always did enjoy a good forbidden romance.”
She shook her head. “Are you sure you want this? Now? Sure it’s not just because I was nearly . . .” Killed. She was nearly killed, and she knew it had scared them both half to death.
“It’s because the first time I saw you, I wanted to know everything about you. I wanted to hear everything on your mind. It’s because you’re the only person I know who’s as stubborn as me. It’s because you start every day like you’re attacking it and making it your bitch. It’s the sound of your voice, the gleam you get in your eyes when you’re about to put me in my place. It’s because your laugh makes my dick hard. Your smile does things to me I can’t even explain, and if I have to live another day without either one, I might as well be dead myself. You are it for me, Vivien Brooks-Montgomery-soon-to-be-Fisk. You are the beginning and the end and everything in between.”