Now he started laughing. “Your best bet is to just accept and roll with it.” Part of him was secretly thrilled she wasn’t laughing at the moment they just shared, because it felt monumental for him.
It wasn’t lost on Desdemona Adare that she’d just gotten the same advice earlier from Elizabeth Blackhawk.
“Give me twenty minutes to get changed back into normal clothes.” She needed to escape from him to just catch her breath.
“I’ll wait for you right here,” he watched her walk away, and immediately felt her retreat. His brother had been right. She’d run in a heartbeat. Desdemona was going to bolt the first chance she got, and he was going to do everything in his power to stop that from happening. Someone should have told Doctor Adare that when you play hard to get, it just makes the man want to hunt you down that much more.
Protectiveness kicked in, as she needed that from him. He needed a way to move forward in life, and he’d offer that in exchange for being her guardian. Deep down it felt wrong, even as he tried to rationalize it, but he shut off the inner voice.
“Start running, Desi, I’m right behind you,” he whispered. Yeah, right behind her and willing to run a very long marathon.
* * *
Those two bitches were going to pay. First they came to his town and made him look bad in front of his co-workers, and then the one ambushes and breaks his nose. She was just lucky the mask got in his way, or he would have beaten her into a pulp, pregnant or not. She just got damn lucky.
Now he had to make a run for it, and get back to his place and get some things. First he was going to break into their house and teach those women a lesson, and then he was going to head out of the state. His brother was in Canada, and he’d be across the border before they had any clue where he was heading. They’d never find him again.
Stupid, worthless, broads had cost him his job, and now it was going to cost them their lives, and the men following them around too. If he was going to jail, it was going to be for a truly heinous crime. Not just scaring two stupid women with a mask and play knife. It was time to teach them a lesson about what happens when women aren’t kept in their place and made to mind their manners.
They ended up dead.
* * *
“I'm perfectly fine!” objected Elizabeth, as her husband was bullying her once again. “Wait until I’m not pregnant, I swear I’m going to kick your ass,” she stated, as he had her scooped up off the ground and into his arms.
“Just let Desdemona look at your shoulder,” he replied, smiling. He’d let her kick his ass, if she’d just get checked out.
“Ethan, put me down!” she ordered and then saw her brother-in-law standing in the doorway. “Callen, please help me,” she pleaded to the man.
“What’s wrong now?” he inquired, walking in and laughing. She may have been mad, but the love they had was still evident between them.
“When she had her little fight this afternoon, she hurt her shoulder. I just caught her rolling it out. It has to be stiff.”
“The one with the bullet wounds?” Whitefox asked.
“Yes.”
“I’m perfectly fine, and the fact that you’re carrying me around is making me angry, and that’s going to exacerbate the ass kicking I give you when I get down.”
Blackhawk laughed. “I’ll stop holding you,” he said, winking at his brother. “Hey Callen, catch,” he said, tossing his wife to his brother.
It showed the complete trust between the men. Elizabeth was precious cargo to him, and he only trusted his brother with her.
Elizabeth closed her eyes and prayed he caught her.
“I got you, Lyzee,” he said, kissing her neck and gently cradling her against his chest.
“Please Cal? Can I get down?” she asked, touching his cheek, trying to play the ‘girl card’.
Whitefox grinned wickedly, knowing her game. “Sure beautiful.” He tossed her back to his brother and when she screamed in frustration they both laughed.
Desdemona watched the game of catch from the doorway and smiled. There weren’t many people that could manhandle Elizabeth Blackhawk, and these were probably the only two she knew that would get away with it. There was distinct jealousy at the intimacy they shared.
“If you willingly let Desdemona look at your shoulder, I’ll put you down,” said her husband. If he didn’t lighten her anger by their little game, she’d kick both their asses without a doubt. Already he could see the fire leaving her eyes and he kissed her, figuring it was safe.
“Sure.”
“Liar,” laughed her husband, as he tossed her to his brother.
“Will you let her?” Whitefox spoke, gazing at her seriously. “We’re just worried about you.” When Elizabeth looked into his eyes, he wasn’t above begging. “I’m worried about you.” He dropped his forehead against hers. “Please beautiful? For me?”
She sighed. “Okay Callen.”
Blackhawk grinned. He had no doubt that she’d eventually cave, and especially if his brother gave her the wounded look. She didn’t have a snowballs chance in hell against it. Elizabeth was a sucker for the Blackhawk men and especially Callen.
Desdemona came further into the room and was ready to check out her shoulder. She decided to ignore the way Whitefox cradled Elizabeth in his arms. Thinking back to the kiss they shared, the jealousy grew at how it wasn’t the same. “Men out,” she said, pointing. When they were gone, she smiled at her new friend, despite the raw feelings inside her heart. “Let me look at your arm,” she helped Elizabeth out of her shirt and inspected the wound. “It has a little swelling on the joint. I’ll give you some ice and then heat will make it feel better.”
“Can you do me a favor?”
“You want to screw with them, don’t you, Elizabeth?”
“Oh, yeah I do. Want to help me teach them a lesson?”
Desdemona smiled. “What can I do?”
Elizabeth whispered in her ear, and told her what to say and how to play it. “Can you pull it off?”
“Yes, and I’ll enjoy every second of it too.”
Desdemona rushed into the living room and looked worried. Immediately she could tell both men sensed her panic.
“What’s wrong?” Ethan stood. Gone were the laughter and the wicked grins from tormenting his wife.
Desdemona dropped her voice. “It’s bad. Her shoulder is a mess, and she’s in the kitchen crying. You guys screwed it up tossing her around. You both better get in there fast.”
“Shit!” They both rushed the door, entering the kitchen. Elizabeth was ready and waiting for them. Turning suddenly, she tossed a bucket of ice cold water on both men, drenching them completely.
“That’s for thinking might is right,” she said laughing, wickedly. “I’m smaller but not above fighting dirty!”
Blackhawk stood there soaked with cold water. To add insult to injury, his wife had opened the windows and back door so the room was subzero in temperature. “You are so going to get it now,” he growled menacingly, as he started stalking towards her.
Elizabeth ran for the back stairs and headed up them two at a time, her very wet, laughing husband right behind her nipping at her heels.
Desdemona stood in the doorway laughing at the man remaining. “You’re right, I like Elizabeth a lot, thanks for bringing us together,” she said snickering, and then she saw the same look on his face. “Callen, don’t do it,” she warned, but it was too late. He already had her by the arm and was dragging her across the room and into his arms.
Whitefox was going to teach the woman a lesson, she was pressed between him and the kitchen counter, and he invaded like an advancing army. Callen wanted what his brother had, and his only frame of reference was watching Elizabeth and Ethan together. He followed suit, pulling her into the kiss. It wasn’t gentle and he worked hard at conveying how he felt. He buried his hands in her hair and pummeled her mouth unmercifully. He took what he wanted and didn’t care if she was going to protest.
Desd
emona at first was filled with fear. When she saw the look on his face it made her nervous, but then she realized he wouldn’t hurt her. Callen may have looked scary in that moment, but his eyes stayed warm and gentle. It was her own fear of her past that had her frightened, and what she was going to do about the man pressed against her. Now he was invading her mouth and wouldn’t let her free, and she was falling for him. Something about him just made her feel safe. When he picked her up and plopped her on the counter, never breaking the kiss, she felt her heart pounding in her chest.
Somehow he’d set her hair free from the clips holding it up, and he was running his hands through the long lengths, and continuing to swallow her whole. This warmth grew in the pit of her stomach, and her hands began to trace a trail across his shoulders and chest.
Wow, he had a really nice muscular chest.
“Desdemona, are you okay?” came the yell, as Elizabeth ran down the stairs and slammed to a stop. Yeah, they had the worst timing ever, as her husband ran into the back of her.
Callen turned to look at his family and his face was flushed. His eyes met Elizabeth’s as if waiting for some comment. When she gave him the reassuring smile he’d come to love, Callen relaxed.
“Um yeah, I’m fine!” She finally squeaked out, blushing red.
Both Blackhawks began walking back out of the room. “So sorry,” she said, grinning at them both easily. “Night guys,” she snickered, and hustled out of the room giggling with her husband on the way back up the stairs.
“Oh, that was the most mortifying experience,” she said closing her eyes and covering her face with her hands. “Oh my God!”
Whitefox tried to not be hurt by those words, but they sliced at his heart viciously. It wasn’t like they would care that she was kissing him. Both his brother and sister-in-law were pretty laid back about affection around each other. “I see,” he said, and stepped away from her to put space between them. “I’ll lock up,” he stated angrily, closing the back door and refusing to look at her. Then he did the same with the windows, and the entire time he didn’t say a word. He couldn’t. He was that damn mad at her.
Desdemona stared open mouthed. “Callen, I didn’t mean…”
Whitefox cut her off by shaking his head. “Have a good night, Doctor Adare.” He walked out of the room alone, angry, and hurt.
What could she do? She wasn’t mortified by him kissing her, but by her bosses catching her making out with their brother in the kitchen. Now she’d ruined everything. Then again, she wasn’t surprised.
It was the story of her life.
* * *
Elizabeth heard Callen’s door slam, and she glanced over at her husband. Next was the less audible click of Desdemona’s.
That wasn’t a good sign at all.
“Uh oh,” she said, softly. Immediately, she was concerned for Whitefox.
“Don’t get involved, Lyzee,” he warned, and he noticed she wasn’t listening to a word he was saying. “You’re going to get involved aren’t you?” he asked, sighing.
“I’ll be back,” she answered, kissing him on the lips. “I’ll go talk to Callen.”
“No bloodshed.”
Elizabeth laughed. “I promise no bloodshed.”
“Hurry back,” he said, wiggling his eyebrows, lecherously. He had devious plans for his wife once he trapped her in bed with him.
Elizabeth snorted, sliding off the bed and out of the room, before her husband could pounce. At Callen’s door she knocked, only to earn a growl of ‘go away’. Of course she ignored it and opened the door anyway. Lying on the bed was her brother in law, his shirt was off, and he was barefoot and still in his jeans. His focus was on the ceiling. “I said go away!” And then he realized who it was, and his temper cooled instantaneously.
“Can I come in, Cal?” she paused, waiting at the door.
“Yeah, you can, beautiful. You’re always welcome,” he answered, watching her cross the room, as he patted the bed beside him. He’d be crazy to not let her crawl into bed with him.
Elizabeth hopped up beside him. “I’m sorry we interrupted you in the kitchen. We didn’t know.” She started, and he just closed his eyes.
“I'm not mad at you or Ethan.”
Elizabeth rested her hand on the tattoo of the fox on his abs. “Want to talk about it?” she asked, gently. “I'm a pretty good listener.”
Whitefox let out a breath he was holding and took her hand in his, twining his fingers with hers.
“Are you mad at Desdemona?”
“She has me all tied up in knots, and when I’m this tangled up I lose my temper faster.” Whitefox looked up at her, and tried to decide if he should continue. Here he was confessing lust to the woman he loved and wanted. Callen needed Desdemona to forget the truth.
“Cal, you know you can tell me anything and I won’t tell a soul. You can trust me.”
Whitefox knew he could. It was once upon an assignment when he told her pretty much the same thing that he was feeling now. “I’m beyond sexually frustrated.” He left it at that.
Elizabeth laid beside him, and placed her head on his shoulder. “What can I do to help you?”
He started laughing at the words, knowing she didn’t mean it the way it sounded. “You helping me would get me killed,” he snickered. “But then again, it would be a great way to die.” God, he wished he could take her up on that offer. His body tightened.
Elizabeth started laughing. “Nice! You’re definitely hard up to want a wobbly pregnant woman.”
Callen honestly believed she was still incredible while pregnant. If she wasn’t married to his brother, he’d still be chasing her down.
When he didn’t answer, she saw the truth in his eyes. Immediately, Elizabeth changed the subject. “Did she upset you?”
Whitefox shrugged. Upset, hurt, what was the difference at this point? Her denial of him was a big turn off for him. If a woman could deny him, then she wasn’t what he needed.
“Want me to go next door and kick her ass for you?” she offered, smiling up at him. “I can promise she’ll cry.”
Whitefox hugged her closer to his body, and some of the tension lessened, and he didn’t feel as angry as he was a moment ago. She always had that effect on him. “No, I think you’ve kicked enough ass today to cover it.” Elizabeth curled against him, relaxing into his body and giving him peace.
“I think you like her.”
“Yeah I do.”
“More than any woman you’ve ever met before,” she said, softly.
“No, not every woman.” Whitefox alluded to the only other woman he’d ever loved, and she was currently pregnant with his brother’s child and married to him too. That woman still had him tied up in knots and always would. “There’s only one woman I’m crazy for in this world.”
“Then that other woman is damn lucky to have such a role in your life and place in your heart. Don’t think that it doesn’t matter a great deal to her. It does.”
He glanced at her.
“She also thinks that you have plenty of space in here.” Elizabeth ran her hands lightly over his heart and continued, “for Desdemona.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes,” she answered, honestly.
“The other woman is very important to me too.” Whitefox kissed the top of her head, and this was why she was the center for him. Elizabeth just knew and understood. “More than I have words to express. I hope she knows the truth.”
He started playing with a piece of her hair, as he stared at the ceiling thinking about the two women.
“I told granddad to butt out of your life today and let you find any woman you wanted to be happy with.” She waited for his reply.
“You didn’t use those exact words, did you?”
“Yes, I most certainly did.”
Only Elizabeth could get away with talking to the family patriarch like that. “What did he say? That couldn’t have been good.” Now he was definitely surprised. Her defending him to Timothy touched
his heart, and he fell harder.
“He laughed and told me to bring the girl when we get back.”
Whitefox kissed her on the forehead and inhaled the spicy scent of her perfume. He couldn’t love her more. When he was hurt she comforted him, when he was worried she protected him. “Thank you, Lyzee, but it might have been for nothing at this point. I just might have ruined any chance I could’ve had because I was frustrated.”
“Tell me what she did, and I bet I can help you patch it up.”
Callen spilled it all to the woman lying on his shoulder. Not only was she the heart and soul to their family, but he trusted her to hold onto his secrets. It seemed unfair that he had help navigating love, when he knew his brother had to figure it all out on his own. His life was messy, and still she never complained. He purged it all from the kiss in the autopsy room to the fight in the kitchen, and the hurt he had felt at her words.
“It just hurt to have her deny me, like she was embarrassed by the man I am.”
Elizabeth was well aware that both brothers were emotionally damaged. Ethan Blackhawk ran from his past and built a very attractive outer shell to keep life from hurting him. Callen Whitefox was completely the opposite. He wore life on his sleeve, and when he was hurt, he wore that too. Of the two brothers, this one was the more sensitive and more easily broken.
“It hurt to hear her say those words right to my face.”
Part of Elizabeth wanted to kick Desdemona’s ass for hurting one of the men she loved fiercely, but part of her completely understood. “Cal, she wasn’t mortified by the kiss. Desdemona was busted by her bosses in the kitchen, making out with their brother. Not to mention on an assignment in a house work is paying for and it was her gut instinct.”
“I know,” he said, twisting the hair around his finger.
“I know it hurt you, and I’m so sorry that she wounded you.” Elizabeth watched, as he thought it through. “What if it was reversed? You’re at her house and her family walks in and catches you man handling her.”
True Love Lost (An FBI Romance Thriller (book 3)) Page 20