Mercy (The Guardians Series 1)

by Wendy Saunders

‘Then let him watch,’ Theo replied as he grasped Olivia by the waist and yanked her body to his.

  Olivia gasped as his lips crashed down on hers; giving him the opening he needed to taste her. She moaned at the touch of his tongue, sliding her hands into his silky dark hair and tugging gently. He pressed her back against the opening of the car, needing more.

  A throat clearing and an embarrassed cough finally broke them apart as they stared at each other, breathing heavily.

  ‘You getting in then?’ the cab driver asked.

  ‘Sorry,’ Olivia climbed in and slid across the seat making room for Theo.

  Theo was quiet on the way home seemingly brooding on something. He barely said a word when they arrived back at the house, nor when they dropped their jackets in the hall. Olivia limped into the library and dropped down on the sofa. Bending down she took her sneakers and socks off, wriggling her toes in obvious relief.

  The fireplace burst happily into flame at Olivia’s presence as it usually did, Theo stopped in front of the mantle and stared down into the flames thoughtfully.

  ‘What is between you and Jackson?’ Theo asked after a few moments of brooding silence.

  ‘Is that what’s wrong with you?’ Olivia asked in amusement.

  He said nothing; he simply turned his dark brown eyes on her and watched her.

  Olivia hauled herself off the sofa and shuffled closer until she was standing toe to toe with him, looking up at him.

  ‘There’s nothing between me and Jackson,’ she smiled, ‘he’s in love with Shelley. It’s painfully obvious to anyone with eyes, except maybe Shelley.’

  ‘And if he wasn’t in love with Shelley?’

  ‘There would still be nothing between me and Jackson; he’s a friend that’s all,’ she answered softly, ‘besides…’

  She pressed her body closer to him and watched as his pupils dilated and his jaw tensed.

  ‘He’s not the one I want,’ she murmured, grazing the corded muscles of his exposed forearms with her fingertips.

  She smiled as she rose on tiptoes, being careful to take most of her weight on her good ankle. Scratching her nails softly and playfully across his chest so he could feel it catch his nipples through his shirt, she moved closer and rubbed her lips against his mouth.

  ‘Be very careful Olivia,’ he warned, his voice low and hungry, ‘you’re playing with fire.’

  Her eyes flashed molten gold, the fire roared in the hearth and every single candle in the room burst simultaneously into flame.

  ‘I thought we’d already established,’ she whispered against his mouth, ‘that I like playing with fire.’

  And then his mouth was on hers, demanding and insistent. The second his arms went around her he lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around his waist tightly. Her fingers tangled in his hair the way he liked as they simply devoured each other. She couldn’t get enough of the wild taste of him as she plunged her tongue into his mouth and bit down on his lip.

  He spun around and dropped down onto the sofa, pulling her forward to straddle him. The moment his hands were free he grasped the bottom of her shirt and yanked it over her head, discarding it ungraciously on the floor. He broke his mouth away from hers long enough to look down at her lace covered breasts.

  ‘What is this?’ he breathed hard, his fingers tracing the edges of transparent black lace.

  ‘It’s a bra,’ she smiled pressing another kiss to his lips.

  He eased back and looked down again. Her full breasts were cupped lovingly by the thin see through fabric revealing her hard rosy coloured nipples through the lace.

  ‘I like it,’ he murmured fascinated.

  She felt him harden even more between her thighs and she moaned, unconsciously grinding herself against the long hard length of him.

  ‘Theo please,’ she gasped against his mouth as he took her under again with a deep drugging kiss.

  She’d never felt so needy in her life, like she would die if she didn’t have him inside her, hot, hard and furious, to ease the vicious pressure building in her core.

  His mouth trailed fire across her skin as he kissed the long line of her neck, down to her collar bone to close his lips over her hardened nipple, sucking her through the thin material.

  She found herself rocking in his lap in sync with the long luxuriant pulls of her nipple as he worked it with his tongue, before switching to the other and lavishing it with equal attention. She moved to unclasp the catch on her bra so he could get to her bare skin but his hands closed over hers pulling her arms behind her back and pinning her in place.

  ‘No,’ he smiled against her swollen lips, ‘leave it.’

  He tossed her down onto the sofa and unbuttoned her jeans, dragging them down her legs as she watched him with flushed skin and heavy eyes. He discarded the jeans negligently as he had with her shirt and as he stared down at the tiny little matching black lace panties his mouth watered. He could see the tiny little patch of dark hair through the material as he leaned closer, his thumbs strumming over the fabric making her arch helplessly into his hands.

  ‘Theo,’ his name fell from her lips in a breathy curse, as he pulled away abruptly and stripped the panties from her body.

  Olivia grasped him by his shirt and pulled him up her body pausing only long enough to pull his shirt over his head and toss it away. She leaned up and took his mouth as her hands slid down his hard stomach and pulled open the buttons of his jeans. Reaching inside she grasped the hard length of him and stroked.

  He took her lips again, moaning helplessly as he rocked in her soft willing hands.

  ‘Olivia,’ he gasped fighting to hold onto his control, ‘I need to be inside you.’

  She released him and grasped his jeans pushing them and his boxers down. He pulled away just long enough to kick himself free of the rest of his clothes before being pulled back into her waiting arms.

  ‘Is this what you want?’ he breathed against her lips.

  She could feel the scorching heat of his skin pressing between her thighs as his hands ran along the soft silken skin of her arms. Grasping her hands, their fingers interlocking, he stretched her arms back over her head and pinned them down, forcing her back to arch and her breasts to press against the firm ridges of his chest. The light dusting of his hair teased her already oversensitive nipples.

  ‘Tell me what you want my love and you can have it,’ his voice was low and seductive and it coiled deep inside her, making the ache worse.

  ‘I want…you’ she whispered.

  His eyes locked with hers, watching them deepen to the most entrancing shade of gold he had ever seen as he sank into her, stretching her deliciously and making her feel every single inch of him.

  Her breath caught in her throat and she couldn’t breathe. She’d never felt so full and thought he’d gone as far as he could, but he tensed up and sank deeper. Her body trembled hard and when he rolled his hips against her she found she couldn’t control herself as she clamped down on the delicious intrusion.

  The moment he felt her inner muscles grip him like a velvet lined vice, his control snapped. With a deep growl he pulled out and plunged back in to the hilt. From that point on it was a battle, a primitive claiming on the most basic level. Olivia bit down on his shoulder making him pound into her harder, her nails raking across his skin, clawing at him to pull him closer.

  He released her hands and grasped one of her thighs wrapping it high at his waist so he could drive deeper, his other hand tangling in her gorgeous dark hair, dragging her head back so he could feast on her neck. A sudden cry tore from her throat as her climax ripped through her, devastating in its intensity.

  Feeling her grip him even tighter in her orgasm sent him wild and he drove deeper into her. Somehow they both managed to roll off the sofa and onto the floor. Theo turned at the last moment to break her fall. Still joined and breathing hard his lips found hers in a surprisingly soft, slow and deeply intimate kiss.


  ‘Theo,’ she breathed into his mouth.

  His movements slowed as her mood changed and he thrust into her slower and deeper, swallowing her moans and sighs. With her now laid out over him she rolled her hips and ground against him. He watched her with dark eyes while she rocked against him slowly, savouring each sound he made. When he finally couldn’t take anymore he rolled her onto her back and thrust deeply grasping her hips so tightly he left fingerprints in her skin. She gasped desperately, she was so close and with one final deep rock of his hips her orgasm exploded, clamping down on him so hard he had no choice but to follow. He buried his face in her neck and moaned, burying himself deeply into her body as he came hard, spilling himself inside her, marking her as his in the most primal way.

  For a while they stayed that way, slightly stunned and breathing heavily, their bodies trembling with the intensity of what they had just experienced. After a while Theo rolled away from her and pulled the soft chenille throw from the sofa, tucking her into his arms and covering her shivering body tenderly. Neither of them spoke; perhaps because neither of them knew what to say.

  Olivia lay in his arms, her ear pressed to his chest listening to his slowing heartbeat. She stared into the flames of the fire, listening as his breathing evened out into the slow rhythm of a peaceful sleep. But sleep came harder for her, as the sheer enormity of what she had just experienced came crashing in her heartbeat picked up in pace, this time in fear. She was falling so hard and so fast and she was afraid that this time…there would be nothing to break her fall.

  Chapter 16.

  Olivia cracked one eye open against the pale morning light filtering in through the window, fumbling across the rug for her jeans as her ring tone blared out again. Theo grunted as she accidentally elbowed him in the stomach. Pulling her phone from the pocket of her jeans she hit connect.

  ‘Lo,’ she mumbled, listening to the reply, ‘Kay,’

  She ended the call and dropped the phone snuggling back into Theo and pulling the throw up to her chin as she shivered.

  Theo wrapped his arms around her pulling her closer into his warm body.

  ‘Who was that?’ he murmured into her hair.

  ‘Jake,’ she yawned, ‘he’s on his way over.’

  She was met with silence.

  ‘We should move,’ she nudged him.

  ‘Mmm,’ he hummed, his voice filled with sleep.

  ‘Theo,’ she smiled poking him in the ribs.

  ‘Mmm,’ he replied starting to snore again lightly.

  Grinning mischievously she jumped to her feet, snatching up the throw and dancing out of reach as Theo made a grab for it.

  ‘God dammit Liv,’ he shivered, ‘it’s freezing in here.’

  She frowned momentarily as she tucked the throw around her naked body. He’d never shortened her name before, it was just another layer of intimacy she wasn’t ready for, another reminder of how much things had changed last night and a hard ball of discomfort suddenly sat like lead in her stomach.

  Glancing over at the banked fire she cast a disapproving look and the fire suddenly burst back into flame, bobbing and dancing drunkenly, almost managing to look ashamed of itself.

  Theo stood and dragged his jeans on, leaving the top button undone as he yawned and raked a hand through his tousled hair.

  God, even with bed hair and early morning stubble he still looked fucking delicious. A curl of lust raised its head and Olivia ruthlessly squashed it. They were never going to achieve anything if they ended up naked every time she looked at him but dammit she wanted him again. Everything they had done last night only made her crave him even more.

  ‘Keep looking at me like that Livy and Jake is going to find us in a very compromising position when he arrives,’ he raised an eyebrow in challenge.

  ‘I can’t help it,’ she shrugged as casually as she could manage. ‘I enjoyed myself last night, it was fun.’

  ‘Fun?’ Theo repeated slowly.

  ‘Yes,’ she smiled innocently. ‘Last night was exactly what I needed, I’ve been so stressed lately, there nothing like really good sex to help you forget your troubles and relax.’

  ‘Well I’m glad I could be of service,’ his eyes narrowed.

  Olivia didn’t miss the tone of his voice, nor its meaning but it was better she lay her cards on the table now and avoid complications later on down the line. After all she just wasn’t built for a long term commitment to someone and it was best that he understood that.

  ‘Look Theo,’ she shrugged, ‘there’s no reason we can’t enjoy each other while you’re here, but don’t make it into something that it’s not, its sex and nothing more. Really good sex, don’t get me wrong but just sex.’

  ‘Just sex?’ he repeated again slowly.

  ‘Yes,’ she nodded; he seemed to be taking it quite well.

  Suddenly he grabbed her, pinning her to the wall. His hands pressed against the wall either side of her head, caging her in without actually touching her. His hands darkened to almost black and his pupils dilated as he took her mouth plundering the deep with his tongue. She moaned as her pulse kicked into high gear and her breath caught in her throat, helpless to control her body’s reaction to him.

  He tore his lips away, breathing hard with his hands still pressed against the wall.

  ‘Just sex is it between us Livy?’ his voice was deep and gravelly, ‘then tell me this, why is it that your heart thunders so loud I can hear it? Why is it that your skin is flushed and your eyes are glazed?’

  He glanced down at her nipples hard and erect through the throw pressed against her chest.

  ‘I bet if I was to reach between your thighs I’d find you wet for me,’ he breathed against her lips, ‘all this from just a kiss?’

  ‘It means nothing more than the fact I’m attracted to you,’ she replied breathing hard, ‘it’s just chemical.’

  ‘No lies, remember Livy,’ he reached down and stroked her cheekbone, tracing down the line of her jaw, ‘did you think I didn’t feel what you felt last night?

  His voice was low and seductive as his fingertips trailed down her throat and over the swell of her breast causing her to ache.

  Do you think I didn’t feel what you felt when I was inside you?’ he breathed, ‘it will never be just sex between us Livy, it will always be so much more.’

  ‘But I don’t want it to be,’ she whispered sharply her eyes flashing.

  The sharp knock at the door distracted them both.

  ‘That’ll be Jake,’ she pushed away from him angrily, scooping her clothes off the floor, ‘you can deal with him, I’m going to take a shower.’

  He watched her silently as she stormed out of the room and disappeared up the stairs.

  The door was pounded again impatiently. Theo bent down and grabbed his shirt slipping it over his head as he yanked the door open.

  Jake took in his appearance as the door opened abruptly; noting his friends half dressed state and rumpled hair and he was still obviously wearing his clothes from the day before. Jake crossed his arms as his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

  ‘Where’s Olive?’

  ‘She’s in the shower’ Theo replied in annoyance.

  ‘You know,’ Jake said coolly, ‘when you said you were going to stay here and keep an eye on her I assumed that meant you’d be sleeping on the couch. Why do I get the distinct impression this is not the case?’

  Theo cursed silently

  ‘If we’re going to have this conversation I need coffee,’ he muttered turning and padded silently into the kitchen on bare feet, leaving Jake to follow in his wake.

  Jake slid onto a stool at the centre island and watched his friend carefully as he switched the coffee machine on.

  ‘Coffee?’

  Jake nodded.

  Theo stared at the brand new shiny machine, even though she wasn’t that fond of coffee preferring to drink tea, Olivia had taken the trouble to have a coffee machine deliv
ered to the house for no other reason than because he liked it. He sighed heavily; the woman was a mass of contradictions.

  ‘So you and Olive?’ Jake began.

  Theo poured a cup of coffee for Jake and set it on the island in front of him.

  ‘Yes,’ Theo poured himself a black coffee straight up, needing the extra kick, ‘Me and Olivia.’

  ‘Do I need to shoot you?’ he asked seriously.

  ‘I certainly hope not,’ Theo’s mouth curved into an amused smile.

  ‘I thought you Puritans didn’t believe in sex before marriage?’

  ‘And as all of you are so fond of pointing out to me this is the 21st century.’ Theo took a deep swig of his coffee and narrowed his eyes in satisfaction, ‘besides who says I don’t intend to marry her.’

  ‘Seriously?’ Jake choked on his coffee spraying the counter and thumping his chest as he began coughing.

  Theo shrugged nonchalantly as he drained his cup.

  ‘Holy fucking shit, you are serious,’ Jake wheezed as the coughing subsided.

  ‘Look Jake,’ Theo replied, ‘the truth is, she’s it for me; she always has been.’

  ‘And if she doesn’t feel the same way?’ Jake asked curiously.

  ‘She does,’ he stared into his empty cup, ‘she just doesn’t want to admit it.’

  ‘Well then,’ Jake laughed, ‘I wish you luck man, you sure as hell are gonna need it.’

  ‘Tell me about it,’ he sighed, ‘the woman’s a handful.’

  ‘Amen brother,’ Jake lifted his coffee cup in a mock toast, ‘besides my mom always says if it’s not complicated it’s not worth it.’

  Theo nodded and turned to refill his cup.

  ‘Jake,’ Theo changed the subject, ‘I’m concerned about Olivia.’

  ‘We all are, man,’ he replied.

  ‘No,’ Theo shook his head, ‘I mean specifically about Chief Walcott. We were in the pub last night and he went after her in public. He waited until I was in the rest room and then caught her while she was alone and started making threats about arresting her.’

  ‘He doesn’t have any grounds to and he damn well knows it,’ Jake frowned.