Always With You: Part Two

by Leighton, M.

  “Good God! He was…he was just…holy mother of reproductive organs, that man is just made for sex, isn’t he?” She turns her surprised eyes back to me. “I feel like I’ve been roofied!”

  I laugh again, mostly because I can sort of see what she means. Even I feel a little dazed. Not as much, though. Cash is the love of my life, my soulmate, my forever. No other man will ever affect me the way he does. But I have to give Jason King props for turning my head when so little can these days. There is only one Cash Davenport, but if he didn’t have my heart, Jason King would be trouble. For me and for every other woman on the planet.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Cash

  Something slightly different is vibrating in the air of Dual when I walk in. It’s like the buzz of electricity, humming just beneath the surface of the normal club atmosphere. I look left and right. Nothing appears amiss, but something is just…off.

  I dropped Isabella off at the garage entrance, not wanting to bring her in through the mob of clubbers. I didn’t want to go in and have to talk to Sophie, so I waited until Isabella was safely inside before I drove around to park out front.

  That little girl…

  I sigh. She’s something else! So smart and funny when she loosens up. Cute as hell. I’m really starting to see how she could be a fixture in my life. And how I could be a fixture in hers. She even asked me questions about Olivia tonight, what she likes and how she feels about Isabella, which I thought was so sweet. She was acting so grown up, trying not to let it show that she’s a little insecure about my wife. But she doesn’t know Olivia well enough yet to realize that she’ll be the warmest, most welcoming female in her life, even above her own mother. It gives me a weird tightness in my chest just thinking about Olivia reading her bedtime stories or something maternal like that. Of course, Isabella is too old for bedtime stories, I’m sure, but I can also picture them laughing as Olivia paints her toenails or both of them in aprons as Olivia shows her how to cook macaroni. We were meant to be a family, Olivia and I. And now I’m seeing Isabella as a part of that, too.

  My eyes go straight to the bar and I spot Olivia immediately. Tension leaves me, like it always does when I see her or hear her voice or spend time with her. To me, she’s like life’s Valium. Or a cosmic shot of Jack. She calms me. Stills my soul. Fills my heart.

  As I make my way to her, she looks up and her eyes meet mine. In them, I can plainly see that she feels the same way. Before I can think twice about it, I stop in front of the bar and lean across to kiss her.

  “That’s very unprofessional of you,” Olivia reminds me when I release her ponytail, which I’d grabbed without realizing it. Her eyes twinkle and her smile says she doesn’t really give a shit. There was a time when she didn’t want the other Dual employees to know about us. Favortism, sleeping with the boss, all that crap. But now, she doesn’t care. Everybody knows I’m head over heels for her and I’m damn glad they do!

  “Hell if I care,” I say, taking her left hand and nipping her finger right above her wedding ring before I back off. It wouldn’t do for me to have to get Ginger to fill in for an hour because I have to take my wife out to the parking lot for a good pounding.

  Who am I kidding? I’d need more than an hour!

  Olivia’s right brow arches suggestively, like she knows exactly what I’m thinking, which turns me on even more.

  My dick twitches.

  As if she knows that, too, Olivia puts her head down and looks coyly up at me from beneath her lashes. “Down boy,” she whispers in that throaty voice of hers.

  For about ten long seconds, I seriously debate the wisdom of throwing her over my shoulder, consequences be damned, but I somehow manage to coral my wayward thoughts, bringing them back to the present situation and away from alone time with my wife.

  I clear my throat. “How’s everything going?” I ask, trying to be all boss when I’d much rather be all husband.

  “Fine,” she replies with a grin. Her grin dies and her brows lift as if she suddenly remembered something, which she must have. “Oh, Gavin wants you to come back to the office.”

  “What for?” I know I sound like a whiney asshole, but I don’t want to see Gavin. I want to see Olivia.

  Her grin returns. “His...friend is here.”

  “Oh.” I glance back around the club and wonder at the odd energy that seemed to be zinging through the room when I came in.

  “Cash,” she begins, reaching over to lay her hand on mine. “Be careful.”

  I frown at her warning. “Why? Has something happened?”

  “No. I just…he just seems…just be careful.”

  That managed to refocus my attention like nothing else can. Is Olivia in danger? Would Gavin bring someone into our midst that would hurt her? Does she feel threatened?

  As though, for the third time, she can read every dark thought running through my mind, she laces her fingers with mine, paying no attention to the people surrounding us, and says, “I trust Gavin, but…well, you’ll know when you meet him.” She laughs lightly, relieving some of the tension that had tightened my fingers into clenched fists.

  “I’ll be back,” I tell her, turning to walk straight back to the office.

  I open the door to find Gavin in deep, seemingly serious conversation. Two sets of eyes turn immediately toward me and I know instantly why Olivia said what she said. The man sitting a few feet away, across from Gavin who is behind the desk, reeks of calm, cool, collected danger.

  With his weird golden eyes on mine, he stands and offers me his hand.

  “Jason King. You must be Cash.”

  I take his hand. His grip is firm and confident. Not that I expected anything less. I get the impression of bold confidence. And something deadly. Not “crazed killer” deadly. No, his eyes don’t hold enough eerie hostility for that. I just get the feeling that if someone crossed this guy, he’d put ‘em down. Plain and simple. No muss, no fuss, no questions asked. Black ops style and shit. That kind of deadly. That kind of dangerous.

  I’d thought to myself once before that it would be doubtful for this man to use his own name, Jason King. After meeting him, I’m almost certain of it. Guys like this probably need aliases. Lots of them.

  When Gavin said he was bringing in someone who could help us find out about Sophie, I expected someone with an edge, something like Gavin has only a little darker, but this guy…yeah, I’d say he has ways of getting information. Some pleasant ways. Some not-to-pleasant ways.

  And yet, when his lips quirk into a small, dry “guy” smile, I get the feeling he’d rather not resort to violence if he doesn’t have to. Even though he gives off danger vibes, I get the very clear indication that he’s no threat to us. To me, to Olivia.

  “Cash Davenport,” I tell him, nodding and releasing his hand.

  “How about we step outside?” Gavin suggests, tipping his head toward the door behind him, the one that leads to Sophie and Isabella.

  “Good idea.”

  The three of us leave the office and turn right, heading toward the emergency exit, the alarm on which Gavin disables with his front door key. When the door is closed behind us, blotting out all but the heavy thump of the bass in the music, Jason turns to me.

  “Tell me what you know about Sophie Lynn Marks. The ex from hell,” he adds with another slight twist of his mouth.

  I like this guy already.

  CHAPTER NINE

  Olivia

  When I see Cash, Gavin and Jason King reappear through the emergency exit, I relax. I see Cash shake Jason’s hand and clap him on the shoulder, man-style, before Gavin says something to him and heads into the crowd with Jason following slightly behind.

  As Cash is ducking into the office, he catches my eyes on him and winks, sending a little thrill down my spine. I can’t help smiling. All is well.

  When the office door closes, I let my gaze wander to Gavin and Jason as they make their way through the thick cluster of dancers. Easily six inches taller than most eve
ryone else, Jason moves with a feline grace that reminds me of a lion picking his way through clumps of grass on the plains of Africa—strong, lithe, fearless. Certain that he can outmatch any other creatures in his world.

  He glances in my direction and gives me a penetrating look. This time, I recognize that little something that put me at ease earlier. There’s a protective light in the honey-gold orbs. Steely yet warm. Like being wrapped in comfortable Kevlar if a look can convey such a thing. It assures me we’re in good hands.

  At the doors, before he slips into the night and out of sight, one side of his mouth curves up into a lop-sided grin. That’s when I know that everything is going to be okay. We are in good hands. I can feel it.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Olivia

  The next day, it didn’t take Dad long to shoo me off, so I declared it another work night. Cash would be working since Gavin had something to do. I might as well be there, too. No one has heard from Sophie, so no one knows if she plans to show up for her shift or not.

  I vote for not.

  Ever.

  It’s just past seven when I walk through the front doors to find Sophie behind the bar already, turning on her biggest smile and her snake-like charm for none other than Jason King. I frown automatically.

  I didn’t get the impression that he’s the type of guy to be swayed by a pretty face, but he is a guy. As long as he has a functioning penis—which I fully suspect that he does, based on his behavior last night—there’s no telling what kind of trouble a beautiful woman could lure him into.

  And Sophie is more trouble than most, I think.

  Of course, I don’t think Jason King is the average man either. Between the two of them, I couldn’t be sure who’s the most dangerous to the opposite sex. But then I hear him laugh and he turns that gorgeous face toward me when the door clicks shut and I have my answer.

  Jason. Hands down. He’s absolutely deadly to anything with a pulse, I think. In one way or another.

  I shake off my unease and plaster on my professional, unaffected smile as I nod and make my way forward into the empty club. Jason nods and more or less forces Sophie to stop her audacious flirting and acknowledge me, which she does with a sickeningly sweet amount of sugar.

  “Olivia! Hi, hon! How are you feeling today?”

  If I had false teeth, they’d probably fall out of my gaping mouth. Hon? How am I feeling today?

  Something’s rotten and I know just what it is. Or, rather, who it is.

  “I’m great, Sophie! How are you feeling? I’m assuming you’re not still sick. I mean, you were under the weather last night. Right?”

  She isn’t fazed. “I wasn’t feeling very well. I think I must’ve been overexposed to something that didn’t agree with me. An irritant maybe.” Her eyes harden on mine, making it clear to me precisely what she means. She looks quickly back to Jason and smiles. “I have allergies.”

  Good thing you’re not allergic to bullshit!

  I think that, but I say, “Yes, there are some unbearably annoying irritants around this year. Seems like the holidays brought some pests along with our presents, doesn’t it?”

  My tone is saccharine. My expression is passive. My heart is kickboxing inside my chest with the rush of adrenaline I feel sparring with her. I just wish I was able to throw jabs at her actual face.

  She laughs, handily reaching out to touch Jason’s forearm where it’s stretched along the edge of the bar. “Do you know Olivia very well? She’s so funny! It’s like she lives in her own little world, all by herself.”

  I fume at her insinuation, but another, more rational part of me pipes up to remind me that if she sets her sights on Jason King, she’ll be leaving Cash alone. And, of course, she has no idea that Jason is here to investigate her. Oh, the slam to her ego! This just might turn out to be a good night after all.

  At that (and to Sophie’s consternation), I throw off my anger, toss back my head and laugh. Genuinely laugh. “Oh, Sophie,” I say when my glee dies down. “If you only knew.”

  Still beaming, I leave her to wonder about my meaning and I head for the office to gloat in private.

  φφφφφφφφ

  Working with Sophie who is determined to flirt with Jason King, and watching Jason King who is investigating Sophie, makes for a disturbing and interesting night. The disturbing part comes from Sophie of course. She’s nauseating. She is at her very best (which is, as much as I hate to admit it, good for business), lively and fun, casting her sexy glances at Jason at every possible opportunity.

  The interesting part comes from watching Jason. Good Lord, that man is potent! His attention isn’t even directed at me this time, but damn! I can still feel the heat from those whiskey eyes and the energy from that sexy smile. My heart and soul are taken, so I can look and enjoy from a distance. Which is totally what I’m doing.

  A couple of times, when Sophie has been either engaged with a customer or had her back to Jason doing something at the cash register, he’s glanced over at me and winked. All I can say is that Ginger had better be glad she’s not working tonight. I’m not sure her fondness for Gavin could withstand the attention of a guy like Jason King.

  I’m fond of his little winks. They’re playful and almost…conspiratorial, like we’re sharing a joke. Or a common enemy, which we are in Sophie. Those cute little gestures reassure me that he’s no more under her spell than Cash is, penis or not. I love that he comes with superhuman powers to resist a beautiful woman. I like the guy already and I’m very encouraged that he’ll get results.

  When the crowd dies down enough that Sophie can handle them and flirting with Jason, I make a quick trip to the office. Cash is sitting at his desk, leaning back with his hands laced behind his head, deep in thought. I close the door and launch myself at his lap, wrapping my arms around his neck.

  “That Jason is—”

  His finger to my lips cuts me off. He rolls his eyes toward the cracked apartment door and I cringe. “She’s sleeping,” he explains.

  “I’m glad she can sleep through a lot of noise,” I say in a hushed voice. I’m not sure why. My talking voice isn’t much louder than the muted music on the other side of the office door.

  Cash nods and smiles.

  “Um, I think Jason is a very nice and competent guy. I can see where he and Gavin would…get along.”

  He nods again. “Come on.”

  He nudges me off his lap and takes me by the hand, leading me out the office door and to the exit that leads to the back of the club. He uses his key to deactivate the alarm and we slip into the night. When the door closes, the noise of the club is replaced with a shroud of quiet that falls down around us like a cozy blanket.

  Before I can even ask what we’re doing, Cash pushes me up against the rough brick wall and kisses me. And not just a quick peck, but one of those long kisses that leaves me breathless and achy. The languid swipe of his tongue along mine reminds me of the hundred of wonderful nights (and days and afternoons and mornings and evenings) that we’ve spent together, touching and kissing and licking.

  When he raises his head, his breathing is labored, too. “Been wanting to do that all night,” he says in his sexy-hoarse voice.

  All I can hear is the beat of my own heart and my wispy gasps echoing off the brick walls that surround us in the little rear courtyard. For all intents and purposes, we are alone. In the cool, quiet night, we are finally all alone.

  “If I’d known that, I’d have managed to get away sooner.”

  He nips my bottom lip with his teeth then pulls it between his own lips to suck gently. A little bolt of want shoots straight through me and lands in my core like a crack of thunder. Suddenly, I don’t care what’s on the other side of the door; I just want Cash’s hands on me.

  “You know it’s rude to leave a girl in this condition, right?”

  One raven brow arches over one raven eye. “Is that right? And what would you have me to do about it?”

  My grin barely has time to
form before I slide my tongue into his mouth and kiss him with everything I have, letting all that I feel for him flow between us. Suddenly needy, urgent, I fist my fingers in his hair, I press my bent leg into his hip, and I cry out with my every muscle and nerve for Cash to touch me.

  And he does. His big hands skate along my sides, teasing the curve of my breast, brushing the dip of my waist, and digging into the meat of my ass.

  I arch into him, into his hands, rubbing my body along the hard planes of his. I drag my palm down his stair-stepped abdomen and cup the thick ridge of his erection, desire pooling in my panties like a moist plea.

  He stops dead, nothing but our own brand of magic and passion vibrating between us.

  “Olivia,” he breathes into my mouth, a question or a statement I don’t know. Either way, I answer with a moan that tells him all that I’m feeling inside.

  And just like that, we are lost. Swept away. His hands are working at my zipper and my nipples are throbbing against his chest. He pushes my pants and panties down my legs and I step hurriedly out of them, anxious to be back in contact with him. With a quick yank, Cash’s own jeans are open and he’s free. Long and hard and free. And all mine.

  I wind my fingers around him, stroking from wide base to silky tip in a single swipe. One is all I can get before he pulls me roughly against him, plants his lips onto mine, and lifts me off my feet.

  In one smooth motion, Cash sets my back against the wall and drives his body up into mine. Hard, deep, desperate. It steals my breath, that sensation of being home, of being filled to the brim with the hardness of the man I love.

  He growls, sinking his teeth into my chin as I scrape my fingernails along his bare shoulder, urging him on. He withdraws and then slams back up into me, going even deeper. Flame explodes from his tip and scorches my insides, detonating behind my eyes in a fiery pulse that sets my whole world on fire.