Sworn to Protect

by Jo Davis

  “Hey, yourself.” Leaning over, she kissed him on the lips. “I’m glad you’re back.”

  “Me, too. Or I will be when I get out of here.” He surveyed the rest of the room. There were flowers and balloons. Nice. “Where’s Drew? Is he OK?”

  “He’s totally fine,” she assured him. “He went down to the cafeteria with Shea. He stayed with Tommy and your sister last night, and they convinced him to stay home from school today. But he’s determined to go back tomorrow and catch up on the work he missed.”

  “He is? Did an alien invade his body?” She just laughed. “How long have I been here?”

  “The shooting was yesterday. You slept all night and most of today.”

  “Damn. I lost twenty-four hours. Could’ve been worse, I suppose.”

  “Much.” She hesitated, and he waited, knowing she had something important on her mind. “Drew told me what he’d been so scared about the night before he disappeared, and we were right. It was Carl.”

  “I knew it!” He tried to sit up, but fell back, groaning. She fussed over him for a minute before he shook his head. “Go on, tell me.”

  “When the boys cut class, they found Carl and Frank at the cabin with a third man. The third guy argued about the drug being defective, and Carl mentioned killing Larry Holstead. Then he shot the third man between the eyes. Both boys saw the killing, and then Carl spotted them and gave chase. They got away, but that’s why Drew was so frightened when he came in.”

  He stared at her, the truth washing over him. “My God. I lectured him about classes and his grades. I grounded him, and he’d just seen a murder. He knew Carl was going to come after him! What kind of father am I?”

  “A good one.” Clasping one of his hands, she kissed his fingers. “You said what any dad would have with the information you had.”

  “I knew something was terribly wrong. If I had just pushed him harder for the truth, he wouldn’t have been in danger yesterday.”

  “Listen, you and that boy are driving me crazy with your self-blame,” she said, arching a brow. “You’re both going to have to learn that there are circumstances you can’t control. You don’t have a crystal ball to see the future and know exactly what to do. So give yourselves a break, please.”

  “I will if he will,” a voice said from the doorway.

  Shane smiled when he saw Drew walk straight toward him. “Come here, kid.”

  Drew wrapped him in a careful hug, then let him go and took a vacated chair by the bed while Shea did the same.

  “Cool to see you awake,” the teen said, smiling. “I thought you were going to sleep all day.”

  “I still might. Injured man’s prerogative.”

  “I guess you don’t want to hear another apology?”

  “You guessed right. There have been enough regrets to go around, and it’s time to move forward. Don’t you agree?”

  “For sure.”

  Shea stood, perhaps sensing they needed time together, and kissed Shane’s cheek. “I’m going to run some errands now that you’re awake. Love you, bro.”

  “You too, sis.”

  After she was gone, Shane studied Daisy and Drew before addressing the boy. “I want to talk to you about something, Drew. This isn’t the ideal place and time, but . . . I need to know how you feel about the three of us becoming a family.”

  The words hung there, and Drew looked between them in apparent surprise. “Why would I have a problem with that? What, like I didn’t think that’s where you guys were going?”

  “I don’t know, but I thought if you weren’t ready for that, if you just wanted it to be you and me for a while, then that’s how we’ll do it.”

  Daisy agreed. “We want what’s best for you. We’ll wait until you’re ready.”

  “You guys would really do that for me, wouldn’t you? Just put your lives on hold because you love me.” He said it with a strange sort of wonder, as though nobody had ever put him first.

  In a way, Shane knew Brad hadn’t put his son first in many years. As close as they all had been, that was an inescapable truth.

  “We would. You’re our first priority.”

  For a few seconds, the boy looked like he was going to cry. After a long moment, he composed himself and grinned. “I want you both to be happy, and I’m totally cool with the hot cop chick moving in with us. Just sayin’.”

  Shane couldn’t help but laugh. “Good. But she’s my hot cop, and don’t forget it.”

  “Guess that means you’re getting married?”

  “If Daisy will have me, nothing would make me happier.”

  Her eyes widened. “Is that a proposal?”

  “Like I said, it’s not the ideal place, and I don’t have a ring hidden in my hospital gown, but yes. Will you marry me, Daisy Callahan?”

  “Yes, I will!” She leaned over, giving him a thorough kiss. The look in her eyes promised much more the moment he was well enough to handle it.

  “Awesome.” The boy bit his lip. The twinkle in his eyes before he spoke suggested he already knew the answer. “So, since we’re all happy campers, am I still grounded?”

  “For skipping school almost a dozen times? Uh, that’s a big ten-four.”

  “Damn. Guess I still can’t drive the Mustang?”

  “Not until you manage something quite a bit above a two-point-zero GPA.”

  “Had to ask.”

  “For all the good it did. Have fun during house arrest while I’m home recuperating and being grumpy.”

  The boy rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”

  “Dammit, Drew—”

  “Hey, he’s a work in progress,” Daisy said, and gave Drew a wink.

  Giving up, Shane settled back and closed his eyes. But he was smiling as he pictured his family. Their future together.

  He was a damned lucky man.

  • • •

  A little over a week later, Shane was parked in his own easy chair. It was wonderful to be home, even if his family fussing over him was bound to get old eventually.

  Daisy had taken off a few days to play nurse, with Austin’s blessing. The captain had said the brass wouldn’t make a huge fuss about them working for the police department—but they could not work calls together any longer, for everyone’s safety. They were being lenient, and Shane was grateful. As for now? He couldn’t wait until he could play doctor with his honey. Damn, he was so horny he hurt—another pain to add to the list.

  Just then, the key turned in the front door and she rushed in, holding two grocery sacks. “Hey, handsome! How are you doing? Everything okay while I was gone?”

  “You were only gone an hour,” he pointed out, adjusting his blanket over his hard-on. “What trouble could I get into?”

  “Plenty, knowing you.”

  He gave her a pout. “Not fair. Trouble just finds me.”

  “Then you and Drew have that in common.”

  “Oh, crap. What’s he done this time?”

  “Nothing. That I know of. But I guess we’ll find out when he gets home from school in a couple of hours.”

  “That’s reassuring.”

  “Seriously, I do have some news,” she told him, perching on the arm of the sofa close to him. “Ty has moved to Texas to live with an aunt. Turns out she’s wanted Ty to come live with her for years and has never been able to get him away from Carl. He said he’d call Drew with his new address and phone number.”

  “Fabulous.” He grimaced. “I feel bad for the boy, really. He can’t help the way he was raised. But I’m not sorry that he won’t be an influence over Drew anymore.”

  “I don’t think he would have, anyway. Drew told me he’d already decided not to spend so much time with him anymore. In fact, he’s been mentioning Alan quite a bit.”

  “That’s good. New friends are what he needs.”

  “Found out something else: Drew was right. The drugs had been manufactured in Frank’s barn, but after the boys pulled that stunt with the spray paint, he and Carl moved them
to a warehouse in Nashville. Taylor and Chris found the address in some of Carl’s papers and passed it to the Nashville PD. Lacey and his team made the find there. Stuff had a street value of millions, or would have if the formula had ever been perfected. That knowledge died with Holstead and the goateed man from the cabin, Irvin Sanders.”

  “Goateed?” he mused. “That would be our supplier who got away when we took our dunk in the river. Sounds like they cut off their noses.”

  “Yep. Frank’s the only one left to take the rap, so he’s singing loud, giving up their ring of sellers on the street, hoping for a deal.”

  “Good luck with that.” Shifting, he tried to be discreet about reaching under his blanket to shift the erection straining at his sleep pants.

  “Are you mining for gold under there?” She grinned wickedly.

  “Damn, baby. You know I’m going crazy,” he grumped. “We haven’t had sex for days.”

  “Because someone went and got his ass shot and has to recover.”

  “It’s not my ass that hurts. It’s a little more toward the starboard side.” With that, he flung the blanket off his lap to reveal the large tent poking at the front of his flannels.

  “Oh, my. That does look uncomfortable. But while the spirit is willing, the flesh is wounded.” She pointed at the area on his side where his bandage and staples were hidden under his shirt.

  Grabbing her hand, he pressed her palm to the ridge of his cock and ground against it. “Some of the flesh isn’t wounded at all. I need you. I’m dying here. Please, sugar?”

  Finally relenting, thank God, she started to work down his pants. “All right. Only if we go slowly. One twinge, and we’re done.”

  It would take a lot more than a twinge to stop him. Especially when she finished exposing his stiff cock, then tossed aside his pants. Then she scooted off him to remove her clothes, baring every inch of creamy skin to his gaze. Her shining blond hair cascaded around her shoulders, and her rosy nipples begged to be sucked. He wanted those long thighs straddling him, too.

  “Climb on top of me. There’s plenty of room.”

  “I will. But first . . .”

  Kneeling between his legs, she spread his knees and grasped his erection. Lowered her head and began to lave the leaking tip. He sucked in a breath, watching her sweet mouth work him. Those pretty lips. Her mouth felt like hot velvet when she took him in, began to suck.

  “Jesus, yes.”

  Holding the back of her head, he guided her up and down on his shaft. Loving the tingles that skittered from his cock down to his balls. They tightened, and he knew he had to stop.

  “Gonna come if you don’t stop.” Gently, he urged her off. “Climb on and fuck me, sugar.”

  She straddled his lap, and he positioned his cock at her entrance. They both groaned in pleasure as she slid down, taking him inside her. She began to move, almost too carefully, driving him insane.

  “Faster, honey. You won’t hurt me.”

  He didn’t care if she did. He needed this badly. She increased the tempo and he tried to thrust, but only managed a few pumps before his side protested. So he let her take control, and she was so damned sexy riding him. His own goddess to keep forever.

  His cock slid in and out, the slick heat bringing him closer and closer to the edge. Too soon, the familiar quickening began in his groin and became fire that shot through his balls and cock.

  “Shit! Yes, baby!”

  His release hit hard and he shot into her, filling her up. Arms around his neck, she tightened around his cock with a cry, following him in orgasm. They floated for a few minutes, coming down from the high. It was so fantastic, being together with her. Here in what would be their home.

  He kissed her lips. “You’re amazing.”

  “You’re the one who’s injured.” Gingerly, she felt his bandage to make sure he was okay.

  “Tell that to Mr. Happy.” She giggled. “When are you going to make an honest man of me? If we don’t set a date soon, I’m going to be tempted to move you in, anyway, and risk scarring our boy for life.”

  “Oh, I doubt he’d be all that affected, at least in a bad way.” She kissed him thoroughly. “But you’re right. When do you want to do the deed?”

  “Tomorrow?”

  “A bit soon. How about next month?”

  “Really?” he asked hopefully. “You won’t need more time to get all that stuff together that women do? Whatever that is.”

  He had no clue, except from Tommy and Shea’s wedding, and he hadn’t had to do anything but pick up his tux and show up. And get Tommy drunk at his bachelor party the night before, of course.

  “No, it’s not like I have a big family. I don’t want anything fancy, either. Just a small wedding and a party afterward here with our family and friends.”

  “Whatever you want, sugar. I just want your big day to be special.”

  “I can’t think of anything more special than becoming the wife of the man I love.”

  “You look very pleased with yourself, future Mrs. Ford.”

  “I am. I scored the most dedicated bachelor in town, and I’m not about to let him go.”

  “Escape is something I’m not interested in, I assure you. I’ll never run from you or our love again.”

  “Prove it.” She wiggled on his lap.

  Since she’d reawakened the beast, he smiled and set about doing just that once again.

  He’d prove to her that nobody made him happier and that he’d cherish her forever.

  Daisy and his son. The two people he was born to love and protect.

  Shane and his family were complete, at last.

  About the Author

  Bestselling author Jo Davis is the author of the popular Firefighters of Station Five series, written as Jo Davis, and the dark, sexy paranormal series Alpha Pack, written as J.D. Tyler. Primal Law, the first book in her Alpha Pack series, is the winner of the National Reader’s Choice Award in Paranormal. She has also been a multiple finalist in the Colorado Romance Writers Award of Excellence and a finalist for the Bookseller’s Best Award, has captured the HOLT Medallion Award of Merit, and has been a two-time nominee for the Australian Romance Readers Award in romantic suspense. She’s had one book optioned for a major motion picture.

  Connect Online

  www.jodavis.net

  Turn the page for the a special preview

  of the next book in the Sugarland Blue series,

  Hot Pursuit

  Coming from Signet Eclipse in December 2013.

  God help me, I’m only twenty-eight. Too young to die.

  Taylor Kayne bolted upright in bed, bathed in sweat, heart beating a sharp, painful rhythm against his sternum. The ghost sensation of cold steel pressed into the back of his head slowly evaporated, bringing him to wakefulness. Once, the real-life incident that spurred the nightmare had been nicely suppressed and compartmentalized in a tight little box in his brain, but lately it descended with alarming frequency.

  Delayed PTSD. Wouldn’t that tidbit give the Sugarland PD’s shrink an orgasm?

  Shane Ford, Taylor’s partner in Homicide, would be shocked, too. Shane knew the story of what had happened four years ago, but had no idea the past was riding Taylor hard. Driving him to lose sleep, affecting his appetite, costing him focus at work. And nobody could find out, especially Shane.

  Why the hell was this happening now, when his life was mostly together?

  Pushing from bed, he stood and shook it off, one more time. One more day. He could do this.

  Glancing at the clock, he grimaced. Just shy of five thirty in the morning. Jesus, that sucked. But since he’d skipped his run for the last few days, he might as well take advantage of the extra hour before he had to get ready for work. He knew he’d feel better once he got his blood pumping, but lately it had been damn hard to get motivated.

  “Get your ass moving, slacker,” he muttered to himself.

  In less than two minutes, he was dressed in jogging pants, a T-shirt, and
tennis shoes. Sucking in a deep breath, he headed downstairs and out the front door, locking it behind him and then hanging the spare key on a cord around his neck. After tucking the key under his shirt, he started off.

  Settling into a brisk pace, he regulated his breathing and enjoyed the feeling of stretching neglected muscles, his soles hitting the pavement. He loved to run. He wasn’t a fitness nut, not even close, but the fresh air was good for him. Helped him clear his head. Especially in the early summer like now, before the weather turned too hot.

  As always, he admired the older homes in his neighborhood, with their tidy yards and beds full of flowers. He had a healthy competition going with the neighbors on his street, trying to outdo one another on who could cultivate the best yard. They even held a yearly contest at their block party. Shane liked giving him shit about that. Sue me. I like plants and flowers, and I’m social.

  Whatever. Focusing on his home gave him something to do to take his mind off his lonely single status for a while. Besides, ladies loved that sort of shit, right? When he found the One, she’d admire his botanical handiwork and realize she’d found the perfect man. The idea made him smirk at his own idiocy.

  He was so into his thoughts, the steady pounding of his feet on the asphalt, that he didn’t register the whine of an approaching engine. Acceleration.

  Not until it was almost too late.

  Out of habit, he glanced over his shoulder—and his eyes widened. A black pickup truck was barreling down on him and swerving in his direction. Twisting his body, he dove for a row of hedges just as the bumper of the truck clipped his left side. The shock of the impact barely had a second to register, and then he was flying over the bushes. He hit the ground hard, skidding, one knee and an arm taking the brunt. Coming to a stop, he rolled to sit up, half-expecting the truck to burst right through the hedges and mow him down.

  At the sound of the vehicle squealing around the corner, he let out a sigh of relief and sat there, pushing a shaking hand through his hair.

  “Shit!”