Ezekiel didn't answer, but she loved the look on his face. He didn't think she was a freak, or crazy. He had an expression of such beauty she wanted to cry just looking at him. He looked at her with love. She'd never seen that before, but it didn't matter, because she recognized the emotion. It was that clear.
He spun her around in a circle and then took her toward the river. Now that she was paying attention, she saw the large sun umbrella he used as a shelter. On the planks of wood was a blanket laid out with a small fire pit already lit. He carried her to the blanket and sat her down just beneath the umbrella so she could stick her legs out into the rain or be sheltered. He sat down beside her.
"You did this for me?"
"You wanted to be outside and I wanted you comfortable, so this is our compromise."
Bellisia's gaze jumped to his face. He sounded a little gruff. Her man didn't know how to take compliments, that much was easy to see. She leaned into him, and brushed kisses over his lips. "I like the way you compromise."
"I like the way you look in a sheet."
He took control of her mouth, a raw, possessive kiss that told her his body was on fire for her. He kissed his way down her throat to her breasts and latched on, his mouth a cauldron of fire over the cool sheet that clung to her. She cradled his head to her and let desire take her. The dark heat swept through her like a tidal wave, every nerve ending alive and hungry for her man.
He lifted his head, slowly, reluctantly. "I made both of us hot chocolate with whipped cream." He reached around her and pulled a thermos into view.
A whimper escaped before she could stop it.
He touched her lips. "You're pouting. Seriously, baby, what am I supposed to do with that?" He leaned down and caught her lower lip between his teeth, biting down gently and then tugging.
The sensation was electric and went straight to her clit. Her channel spasmed, and wept for him. He released her, and she reached for one of the mugs sitting in the middle of the blanket. "You are a tease, Ezekiel," she accused, pouting even more.
"You scared the hell out of me, Bellisia," he returned. "Your doctor hasn't given us the go-ahead, so you'll just have to suck it up."
That gave her ideas and her gaze dropped to his lap. Oh, yeah. Hard as a rock. She could work with that.
"No." He pushed the mug into her hands and then spooned the homemade whipped cream onto the surface of the chocolate. "Behave yourself."
"You're making me crazy."
He ignored the major pouting in her voice and poured himself chocolate, although he placed the mug on the wooden planks. "I have something for you. I'm going to warn you, it isn't expensive or particularly beautiful as you deserve, but it's important to me."
Bellisia studied his face. He looked as if he had been made of stone. His tone was mild, but that nonexpression on his face told her whatever he was going to give or show to her, was extremely important to him. She drew back and took a sip of the chocolate, keeping her eyes on his. The chocolate was delicious, not packaged for certain. She loved that he had made it for her. The first real meal he'd given her had been that very afternoon and it was shrimp gumbo, one he'd made with Nonny just for her.
She couldn't believe he had made it himself. For her. She had no idea if all men were that thoughtful with their partners, but she was eternally grateful that Ezekiel was that way with her. She'd really wanted to taste the gumbo Nonny had taught her to make. She loved seafood, and Nonny was such a good cook. She gave lessons twice a week to Pepper and Cayenne. The triplets always helped and were never treated as if they were in the way. Bellisia felt as if she'd learned so much from Nonny about life, not just cooking, in such a short period of time. The gumbo had been on the stove when Violet had come. Ezekiel had made certain she got to try it and it was delicious.
He pulled a small bracelet from his pocket. His fingers found the first stone. "When I was a kid and my brothers were born, I was so happy. I found this small rock on the ground right outside when my mother brought Malichai, my youngest brother, home. Later I found out the stone was something called black jasper. The rock was divided into threes by small red lines running through it. I thought it was fate. You know, a sign that the three of us belonged together against the world. I polished it every day and kept it in my pocket. This is it right here." He lifted the small stone and showed it to her.
Bellisia could see the rock was so polished it gleamed. It was very small, and oblong shaped. The stone appeared to be black with faint red lines running through it, but it was clearly divided into threes just like he'd said. She thought it was beautiful.
Ezekiel touched the second stone. "I overheard my mother negotiating to sell my brothers to men so she could buy her drugs. Mordichai was five and Malichai was four. I took them out of there. When I found us an abandoned warehouse to live in, I found this small rock. It's hematite. It's actually the main source of iron."
She thought the stone was more than beautiful and she could see why it would have caught a young boy's eye. The stone had a rust red streak running through it that resembled a lightning bolt. This had to be professionally polished as well. It was thicker than the other stone. She wanted to cry, thinking of that boy taking his younger brothers out of harm's way.
"This one is for the first fight I lost. It reminded me that I had to do better, to let loose that dark need for blood in order to feed my brothers. It's a red sunstone. I was beaten all the hell up and covered in blood and bruises. You can see I polished this so much I wore it down a bit on one side from my thumb moving back and forth on it. I kept it on me all the time as a reminder that I had to be okay with letting a demon loose in order to protect and feed my brothers."
She felt the burn of tears behind her eyelids. He was such an amazing man. The idea of him using his fists and feet for him and his younger brothers to survive made her feel as if her life had been easy. So what if she'd been experimented on. She had a bed and three meals. She'd been taught how to defend herself, and she ran missions that helped her country. She was falling harder for him every minute.
"This one represents the first time I won a fight. We needed food. Really needed it. I had to get medicine for Mordichai. He was sick, and there was no money. I knew if I didn't win, I'd be taking him to the authorities, he'd go into foster care and I'd never see him again." His fingers slid over the beautiful stone, a highly polished, gleaming black. "I lucked out. This is a black garnet. I was bloody and hurt like hell, but I had the cash in my hand. I looked down in that exact moment of awareness that I'd done it, gotten the money to save my brothers. I looked down at the blood dripping onto the ground, and there it was."
She couldn't help it. Tears slipped from lashes to her cheeks. She tried to dash them away before he saw them, but Ezekiel saw everything. He leaned in and kissed her eyes and then her cheeks, sipping at her tears.
"I won, baby. Don't cry. It was a good thing. It made me even stronger."
She nodded, trying not to think about that little boy clutching the money he needed for his brothers in his torn hands. "I know, honey, it's beautiful."
"This one is when a couple of rough boys from the Appalachian Mountains showed up. They needed help and reminded me of Mordichai and Malichai. Ready to fight at the drop of a hat, but good inside. Really good, baby. I had to help them survive, and in the end, they helped us, so it was good all around. This one is polished quartz and represents the family we formed together."
Ezekiel touched the next one. "This one is really rare. Trap gave it to me when I joined the service. Mordichai and Malichai followed me and then Diego and Rubin. It's called benitoite." The stone had several colors in it, including red, white and blue. She could see why it would represent his service to his country.
The next stone was gorgeous. Really, really beautiful, almost translucent. She loved the deep green of it. Ezekiel rubbed his fingers over it, clearly something he had done often. "This is green jadeite. My brothers got it for me when I became a surgeon. It means a great de
al to me for that alone."
His fingers moved to the next one, an almost raspberry colored gemstone. "This is from Afghanistan. It's a red pezzottaites, a beryl actually, but has lithium in it, changing it slightly. Every mission I've gone on, I've collected a stone or acquired one that was native to that area. I've run missions all over the world and intend to make you a necklace from them when you have our first child."
The breath rushed out of Bellisia's lungs. A child? She didn't know the first thing about children. She wanted them, but the thought of having one was terrifying.
"This one is from a mission that went sideways. It was a hot zone, and there were Marines down. I ran two of them out of there on my back under heavy fire. I ended up wounded. I have medals, Bellisia, but for me, these stones mean milestones in my life. Things I conquered or overcame or achieved. I saved men's lives that day. Good men. And we got out alive."
She liked what his stones represented to him, and wanted to touch the beautiful red stone in the hopes that it would give her the same courage. She wanted children with him, and looking at the bracelet with the rain falling down around them and her man wet from both the rain and her soaked body, she knew Ezekiel was the right one for her.
"This one is easy. I met Nonny. She's important, because the only female influence I had up to that point was my mother, and believe me, baby, she wasn't something I ever wanted around the boys or me. This is a cabochon-cut oyster shell. I found a red spiny one, shaped like a fan. She's a firecracker if she needs to be and I just saw her like this."
"This one is a teal magenta Tahitian pearl. It represents when I found you. You're cool like the ocean but have fire in you. You're my most precious find, Bellisia, and I'll always treasure you." He opened the clasp of the bracelet and held it out.
She knew he was handing her his life. She extended her wrist, her hand trembling. To her, this was momentous. Ezekiel was giving himself to her completely.
"I had all the stones professionally polished and then I had Mordichai take them to a very talented local jeweler," he explained as he closed the clasp.
She felt the weight of the bracelet on her wrist. She put her other palm over it, holding Ezekiel to her. She never wanted to take it off. Not ever.
"Stop crying, baby," he said softly and lifted her onto his lap.
"I didn't know I was." But she did. How could she help it? "You're the most beautiful, unexpected man. I'm so crazy about you."
He nuzzled her neck. "That's a good thing. Drink your chocolate. We can't stay out here too long.
"You're too good to me."
"Nothing is too good for you, Bellisia."
Ezekiel sounded like he meant it.
18
The house was going to be very, very large. Bellisia wandered around looking at it from the outside, while Ezekiel pored over blueprints with Mordichai and Gino inside. The house was completely framed in. Like most of the houses near the river, it was up high to give plenty of room for flooding. She liked the view. The house towered above the river, almost as if Ezekiel had known, when he bought the property and designed the house, that she would be his chosen partner.
It was perfect for her. The river was right there. The dock was already built, a long expanse of wood where Ezekiel's boat was tied up. The launch ramp was in as well. She walked a few more steps, shading her eyes, looking the house over.
"Babe, wait for me," Ezekiel called.
She glanced at him over her shoulder. She was healing fast and felt nearly 100 percent. She still got fatigued if she did too much, not that she would know because Ezekiel made certain she didn't do too much. He did it in a nice way, always sweet with her, like coming up behind her, spanning her waist with his hands and lifting her to the countertop when she was helping Nonny cook. He took over whatever she was doing smoothly, leaning in for a kiss and engaging with Nonny so that Bellisia didn't have a chance to protest.
"Catch up with me," she called back and rubbed at the stones on her bracelet. She loved her bracelet, although she did worry that if she had to dive into the river and disappear, something might happen to it.
"Wait for me, I'll just be another second," he repeated, and turned back to direct the men gathered around him.
She was tempted to keep walking, but what was the point? She liked being with him so he could point out every little detail of his plans. She might even give input, although she had no idea what she was doing. She didn't know what it took to build a house.
She wandered back to him, going inside the open, cavernous building. She could see they were framing the walls inside now, and the ring of hammers was loud. As she walked up to him, he held out his arm without even looking back at her, as if he knew exactly where she was every second, and he probably did. Ezekiel was not only observant, he had a highly developed sense of smell, and he'd told her everyone had a distinct scent.
She stepped close, slipping her arm around his waist. He instantly locked her to him, her front to his side, right under the protection of his shoulder. There was something wonderful and safe about the way he always held her to him. Her gaze slid around the room, taking in the various workmen forming up walls several feet away.
She stiffened, just for a second, an increment of time, but Ezekiel noticed. He always noticed. At once she had his full attention. "What is it, baby?" he asked softly, his eyes on her face.
Oh, God. She couldn't lie to him. She wouldn't do that, and she'd never get away with it anyway. She shook her head and attempted a small smile. Her face felt stiff. She curled her fingers in his shirt. Ezekiel's gaze drifted over her face, and then he lifted his head and studied the workers framing up the wall.
"They're here, aren't they? On the crew." He spoke softly. "We hired locally, a crew Wyatt and Trap used. I didn't think to check out each worker all over again, but I should have."
It was insane the way he was tuned to her. How would he know that? How could he possibly get that just because she hadn't controlled her involuntary reflex when she'd first spotted them? Gerald and Adam. Adam had been watching her, waiting for her to notice them. Just the fact that she hadn't right away told her she wasn't 100 percent--or that she was getting complacent. Adam had slowly shaken his head, warning her not to say a word.
She wanted to have the opportunity to talk to them before she condemned them to whatever fate the GhostWalkers would determine for them, but now it was too late.
"Bellisia." There was a hard note in his voice. "Take me over and introduce us."
She felt the darkness swirling in him, the powerful energy that rose when he expected a fight. It was that dark power that kept him alive, the power of sheer will and the need for violence--the acceptance of it. Her grip tightened on his shirt. "Ezekiel, maybe I should talk to them first."
"Take me over to them now."
She nodded and stepped away from him. He caught her hand as she started toward the wall.
Mordichai, Gino, with me. Spread out a little. Draden, get in behind them. Be careful no one is caught in a crossfire, but first get the other workers out of here.
These the douchebags looking for our Bella? Draden asked as he beckoned to the three other men to follow him. He gave them orders outside, away from the building before hurrying back.
The ones claiming to be her husband? Gino chimed in.
The ones about to get their asses kicked? Mordichai added.
"What are you doing?" Bellisia hissed, glaring at him. She felt the sudden rise in energy around them. It wasn't just the dark energy clinging to Ezekiel, she was certain he was talking telepathically to the others.
"Baby, whether you like it or not, you have our protection. These men were sent by Whitney to bring you back. That isn't going to happen, and we're going to make that very, very clear to them so they will make it very, very clear to Whitney."
She couldn't argue with that reasoning. She was never going back to Whitney. Her life was here, right beside Ezekiel. She wanted to save Adam and Gerald. They were good
men. They'd gotten into a bad situation for all the right reasons, and had no way out, any more than she did. For all she knew, Whitney planted viruses in his soldiers the way he did the women who ran missions for him, but the bottom line was, she was Ezekiel's woman. She would fight by his side. She'd protect the people he loved as fiercely as he did.
She led him straight to the two men. Gerald slowly straightened, turning fully to face them. Adam didn't take his eyes from her face.
"I thought you both might want to meet Ezekiel. Ezekiel, this is Gerald and Adam." She lifted her chin. "I heard you were looking for me."
Before either could respond, Ezekiel did. "Some crap about Bellisia being your wife?"
The two men didn't so much as flinch. It was Adam who spoke. "You knew he would send someone after you, Bella."
"Of course, but I had hoped it wouldn't be the two of you."
"Better us than any of the other idiots he employs. We didn't want you hurt," Gerald said.
"He thought I'd come for you, didn't he?" she said.
"Why would he think that?" Ezekiel asked, his voice very low. Soft. Deadly.
Bellisia shivered. At once Ezekiel reached for her, pulling her back into him, running his hands up and down her arms to warm her.
The moment she shivered, both of Whitney's soldiers took a step toward her as if they would take care of her. It was a telling step and one that would condemn them in Ezekiel's eyes.
"He paired us with Bella," Adam said starkly, uncaring that he might be inviting a death sentence. "At least he tried to."
"He did or he didn't," Ezekiel snapped.
Adam regarded him with a steady stare. "Bellisia is more a sister than anything else to us. Whitney can't possibly understand that. He doesn't get emotion. Sex, yes. That drive. He never did get that she was important to us in a lot of ways. We were already invested in a different way with her by the time he decided he would pair us."
Ezekiel frowned. "Are you trying to make me believe you don't feel physical attraction for her? Or she for you?"
Bellisia opened her mouth to protest, but his arm tightened around her in warning. She stayed silent, even though she was certain he would want to hear what she had to say.
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