by Brynne Asher
Fuck. Today has made me question who I am. But right now, all I can do is hope I have enough time left on this earth to show her how completely fucking obsessed I am with every part of her—inside and out.
Every bone in my body aches from how much I love her.
I put my hands to her jaw and pull her mouth to mine. Her bare tits press against my chest and I can’t get out of my boxers fast enough. My cock is alert and aching for her before we can manage to stumble under the hot water.
Always her.
Ever since she pissed me off on the first day I met her.
“Cole,” she breathes against my lips with barely enough room for the water to run between us. “I’m sorry. Today has been horrid.”
I drag my greedy lips away from hers and I swear she’s crying. Her tears mix with the running water.
She shakes her head. “I wish I could have done more … for you and for Abbott. For Red.”
I put my hands under her arms and lift, her long legs circle me as I press her to the shower wall. I reach under and find my pussy—spread and wet and ready. Sliding two fingers in, I take what’s mine and my cock jumps with jealousy. “Didn’t think I could, but after today, love you even more.”
She presses down on my hand and I circle her clit with my thumb. “Take what you need, Cole. Let me help you forget, even if it is for only a second.”
She has no idea how much I need her.
Bella
Cole hasn’t even won his bet yet and I’m ready to give him everything. As much as his plans frightened me in the beginning, I’d live through everything all over again.
Other than today.
I thought I knew what it was like for my heart to break last year when I sent Cole away, but it was nothing compared to feeling Red’s life slip away under my own touch and not be able to do a thing to save him. Seeing the pain on Abbott’s sweet, beautiful face was too much, and to know Cole was going to lose his father—it killed.
Waiting on him to return from Vermont was harder than telling him Red had a heart attack. I knew it was going to take a miracle to save his father. Unfortunately, there were none of those being handed down from heaven today.
And after it all happened, I needed to be with him.
My head falls back and hits the tile where Cole has me pinned to the wall.
“I’m taking you bare,” he warns before stretching me impossibly wide and thrusting inside.
Yes.
It’s selfish, I know. To want this—no, to crave this—after what he’s lost and been through. I find the longer I’m here with him, the greedier I am. And this time, being together with nothing between us is a gamble. I know my body like I know the current exchange rate. If I’m not currently ovulating, I’m not English with a splash of Welsh.
Greedy.
So much so, if he tried to slide a condom between us right now, I might cry … again. And I’m no crier.
I lift my knees to sink further. Cole’s groan vibrates inside me and I love it. I love what I do to him.
His big hands grip each cheek of my bum, his fingers biting into my skin and muscles and I know I’ll wear his handprints for days. He pulls his head back far enough to look into my eyes. “Don’t leave me. Don’t ever leave me.”
My eyes fall shut as he takes me hard. Thrusting over and over and over, every time connecting with my clit in a brutally delicious way.
My hands work themselves up his thick arms, shoulders, and into his hair where I hold on because I feel it coming. After losing Red, spinning myself into a tizzy trying to be what Abbott needed, and worrying sick for Cole, I’m spent. This orgasm might wreck me.
“Love,” I breathe and grip onto him tighter. I’m on the edge and he’s got me where I have no purchase to move. “Please.”
“I’ll never get enough of you,” he growls and slams into me two more times, not only pushing me over the edge, but picking me up and throwing me over, where I tumble and tumble and tumble.
His grip on my bum is cruel.
My fingers yank at the roots of his hair.
And we both come.
With nothing between us.
Anxiety and tension and pure, raw emotions are washed away, literally and figuratively down the drain, leaving nothing in its wake besides exhaustion.
Still, Cole doesn’t put me down and he doesn’t pull out.
“If it weren’t for Abbott coming to look for us, I wouldn’t move an inch. Right here, me fucking you into next week, with no one else messing with our shit, so we can settle and live.”
When I exhale, my body slumps and he shifts me, but he must be serious about fucking me into next week because he doesn’t pull out.
I put my lips to his stubbled jaw. “There are moments of hope—flickers of light at the end of the tunnel. Then the universe kicks our legs out from under us and we have to start from scratch.”
“There’s going to be a light. I swear. It’s so fucking dark right now but we’ve come too far.” He squeezes my abused bum and leans back, leveling his beautiful dark eyes on mine. “We deserve a perfect life, dammit. I’m going to give it to you and to Abbott and the rest of the superhumans who grace us with their presence.”
I swipe the water from his face and lean in to press my lips to his, letting my kiss linger as the water starts to run cold. “As long as I’m with you, Officer Carson, life will be perfect.”
Cole
I’m accustomed to waking in strange places. Hell, I made a career out of traveling the world. It wasn’t unusual to see the sun rise in a different city every day. You get used to it.
Though I can say the times I opened my eyes with Bella in my bed, I didn’t give a shit where I was or what was on the agenda. Those are the days shit felt right.
Today, I think I woke up in the damn Twilight Zone—in a strange place where my past mingles with my miserable present. I support Bella’s weight, something that has become a habit for us since I brought her home from the hospital. It’s ironic since she’s one of the strongest humans I know and needs no help to survive on a daily basis. I’m lucky she gets off on my cocky and winning personality, because she certainly doesn’t need my talents. She’s that fucking good.
But I sure as hell need her.
My gut sinks as everything from yesterday slams into my recollection and my brain clears from a dead sleep.
Red is gone.
My Abbott … her heart is broken.
Bella wants to soothe everyone’s pain.
And I’m still fucking exhausted after six hours of dead-ass sleep.
I reach over and grab the culprit that kept me from a full seven hours. I read the message and have to tamp down my anticipation.
Because I’ve been kicked in the ass enough times in the last few weeks—carrots dangled in front of me, and then ripped away, leading me to wait for more.
Jarvis – Sorry for the early text but I’m manning the control room. Our favorite Floridian has been busy. Finally, a money transfer.
Shit.
I slide away from Bella but don’t dare kiss her. If I can sneak out of bed without her waking, it’ll be a miracle.
Maybe … just maybe, the gods are on my side for the first time in a long time. I’m dressed and out of the bedroom without her rolling. I walk through the house of the man who used to hate me, out his front door, and through a vineyard.
Chapter 37
Charlie Daniels
Cole
“Someone will access the account soon. It’s too much cash to leave there for long. Especially when we know this isn’t fun money. This,” Jarvis nods to the open laptop in front of him, referring to the really big fucking balance that was transferred from an account linked straight from Randolph’s phone, “is too big to sit in a simple savings account which sees a lot of movement.”
I take a sip of coffee. It was the first thing I smelled when I walked in the door of Crew’s farmhouse headquarters. I feel the need to brace for whatever the world wants to thr
ow at us next and I need to be alert. It’s no shot of espresso but it’ll do.
“Where is the bank registered?” I ask.
Jarvis flips through a couple screens and scrolls miles before he lands on an address. “There—Amsterdam.”
“What do you want to bet it’s not an actual place of business?”
“There’s only one way to find out.” He switches over to the satellite surveillance system and types in the location that was buried on their website. When the screen focuses, we both lean in to get a closer look. Jarvis taps the screen with his finger. “There’s your answer.”
It’s in an alleyway and not one any legitimate or self-respecting bank would operate out of. There isn’t even a sign on the door.
Jarvis picks up his cell and starts to type. “I’ll get Ozzy on it. He’s eerily good at this shit. We’ve flagged this account. When there’s a withdrawal, we’ll know.”
I gulp down the last of my coffee and contemplate a direct IV. I’m going to need it to get through the day ahead of me. “I’d stay and man the surveillance but I have a meeting with the mortuary this morning. Bella can take over after I get back. I don’t want to take Abbott with me. I think one of us needs to be with her for the next few days. Thank goodness she’s finally taken to Bella.”
“Do what you need to do. I don’t mind.” He reclines in his chair and looks at me. “None of us do. I don’t have a trip for another week. Then I’m taking Gracie back to Uganda for her birthday. Hopefully this shit will be settled by then. I’ve been around for a few years now. It’s what we do.”
I pull in a breath. “I know Crew has issues with me—”
He shakes his head and stops me. “Crew is cool with you … now. I’m telling you, he trusts Bella and he doesn’t trust easily. I haven’t always been in his good graces either, but once you earn his respect, you’ve got it for life.” Jarvis shrugs with a smirk. “You might be in because of your woman, but you’re in. That means he and everyone else in this place will work themselves to the bone for you.”
I nod because there’s nothing more to say. I need people at my back right now more than ever.
My phone vibrates against my ass.
Bella – You went to work without me?
I can’t help but smile.
Me – You were asleep. I’m next door checking on things. You know I wouldn’t actually strut my fine ass into work right now.
Bella – You can strut your fine bum right back here because Abbott is asking for you. A big box of cat toys arrived and she’s anxious to open it, but wants you to be here. She thinks if you give the toys to the cat, it will like you more.
Me – Tell her I’ll be there in five. Oh, and sweetness?
Bella – Yes?
Me – Randolph moved a lot of fucking cash into an account in Amsterdam. We’re watching it.
Bella – Finally.
Me – We’re getting close.
Bella – At this point, I don’t care what’s at the end of the tunnel, as long as we get there as quickly as possible. Hurry back.
I look to Jarvis. “I’ve got to go. Thanks again for this and let me know if a nickel of that money moves.”
He picks up his coffee and props his feet up on the desk. “Got it under control.”
I walk out of the old farmhouse, for once not worried about the details. And it feels really damn good to have people to trust.
It does not feel good to retrace your footsteps at a mortuary. I did this only a few years ago for my mom. That time I was comforting Red. Today, I’m flying solo. I know I’m a selfish fucker at times, but I never cared that I was an only child.
Until today. As I sat there and picked out flowers and an urn and music, I decided Bella and I are going to make a shit ton of superhumans. Abbott will not be an only child. Who knows, we might’ve already started. But even flying solo and having everything fall on my shoulders, I think I did okay. Red would slap me on the ass and tell me good job if he were here because, even though we’ll be in a church, I went with Charlie Daniels, just for him.
As I walk out of the mortuary, my spine steels and I stop in my tracks.
He’s got some fucking nerve.
“Carson. I hear condolences are in order. I was sorry to hear about your loss.”
I slide my hand in my pocket and casually palm my subcompact. Did I expect this? No, because to approach me on the street after everything I’ve been through would be an idiotic move of grand proportions. But then again, this is Nick Peterson. I should never have given him that much credit.
But there’s also no way I’d leave the protection of Crew’s compound unarmed.
I look around casually to make sure I’m not going to be ambushed before I settle my eyes on him. “Planning someone’s funeral, Nick? Not really surprised to see you here with as many people as you’ve tried to kill in the last couple weeks. I guess if you keep shooting at the moon, you’ll eventually hit something.”
He didn’t expect that.
“Wow, I actually made you blush,” I say into his silence. Okay, so it’s a blush of fury. He’s about the color of Red’s tomatoes. Which reminds me, the blast didn’t take out the garden. I need to get over there and water it. Abbott would be heartbroken if it dried up.
I rest my finger on the trigger when his jaw goes hard and he says, “You’ve gone AWOL.”
I shrug. “Maybe. But most people would when their superiors are out to kill them. It’s called self-preservation—a natural instinct in intelligent human life. But I get why you wouldn’t understand.”
“You were given orders,” he growls.
“Unlike you,” I lift my chin to him, “I’m no one’s puppet.”
His eyes narrow.
“What do you want, Nick?” I throw my free arm between us. “You want to have it out here, in the middle of a parking lot where they can drag one of our dead corpses inside to get a jump on things? Because I’m game.”
His eyes drop to my hand in my pocket and his jaw clenches. I bet he’s not carrying. Not sure he could be more stupid.
“We can march it off right here, ten paces, like the old west where the law was interpreted by crazy lawmen and the bad guys always died in the end. I promise you, my ass will not be the one dragged in there. I plan on going home to my daughter, the one you had no fucking problem putting in harm’s way when you ordered an IED to be delivered to my front door. I can overlook a lot of idiocy, but not that. Never when it comes to my family.”
He finally adds something productive to the conversation, even if it is a lie. “I had nothing to do with that.”
“Did your boss tell you to say that?”
He looks both ways before taking a step closer. “You don’t know what you’re doing or who you’re dealing with.”
I click my tongue and shake my head once. “That’s where you’re wrong. And Nick?”
“What?” he grits.
“I’d bet my future children I know more than you do. I’ll give you a hint of what your outlook holds—you’re fucked.”
“I came to warn you to stand down.”
“You’re serious? You think you can come to me and tell me to do jack shit after everything that’s happened?”
“If you cooperate, I can assure—”
“That I’ll be as big of a dipshit as you? Yeah, not interested.”
“You know too much. People want you dead.”
I take five quick strides to close the distance. He takes two back. “I’ve been running from bullets and blasts. I know people want me dead. You can give them a message—tell them to watch their backs. I know all the angles and who’s in with who. It’s not me who should be running scared, Nick. So don’t piss me off. I’ve had a bad fucking month.”
His chest rises and falls with labored breaths as he searches my eyes, maybe trying to read me the way CIA officers are trained to.
“Tell your boss to go fuck herself. And I’ll be back in the office after I bury my father and make sure my f
amily is safe.” I start to turn for my car but pause. “You know what? Go ahead and fuck yourself while you’re at it.”
He shakes his head and lifts a finger to my chest. “I warned you.”
“I don’t need a warning. I know exactly how big the stakes are.”
He stares at me two beats before turning on his very basic walking shoe. It’s not until after he slams the door of his g-ride that my finger relaxes off the trigger in my pocket.
I move to my truck and pull out of the parking lot, making sure no one is following me.
Chapter 38
Brilliant Babies
Bella
Two days.
Two excruciatingly painful days have passed.
The money has not been touched.
Randolph has been mindlessly boring.
Marie Kasey is still unconscious and there’s no word on her prognosis other than she’s critical.
Cole and Penn Simmons are becoming fast friends. Crew supplied Penn a cell connected to the new secure satellite system and Penn’s family is extending their summer holiday here in the States. Penn has proven to have contacts far and wide across Europe—an impressive list even by my standards, which are sky high.
But it seems we’ve come to a standstill once again in the never-ending saga that has become our lives.
Because of that saga and Cole’s run-in with his boss, we have not left the refuge of Whitetail or Crew’s headquarters. Even though I’m accustomed to hiding out, Pakistan allowed me the camouflage to move around and still work. Under any other circumstances, being confined to two properties would suffocate me. I’m utterly flabbergasted I’m not drowning.
I don’t dislike children. I’ve simply never spent a great deal of time with them. I also wonder if it’s because she’s Cole’s and I would literally rip my own heart out for him, but I find his daughter exceptional on the scale of my tolerance of tiny humans in general. Spending time with her has been an honor rather than a sacrifice.