by Milly Taiden
“I’m sorry about Clara,” he said, as he shoved his hands into his pockets and rolled his shoulders.
“It’s okay. I didn’t realize she was my sister. I thought our resemblance was mostly due to being related.”
He shook his head. “No, she’s older than you by around six years.”
“I knew I saw photos of my mother at Clara’s house that caught my attention.”
“Yeah, that was your mother when she was expecting Clara and with Clara as a baby,” Galvez said.
She gasped, things finally falling into place. “That’s what struck me as strange. I couldn’t figure why the photo was different. When I went through my baby album, mom had long hair in her pregnancy photo and in my baby pictures. In the one of her pregnant with Clara, she had really short hair and looked like a little girl.” She sighed. “Thanks for filling me in on everything.”
It was hard. Much harder than she’d thought it would be to acknowledge the disease eating her family’s mental health. It was the reason she wouldn’t, couldn’t stay with James.
“I should have told you before. I just wanted to see you succeed without this hovering over you.”
“You should give Brock his job as lead.” She met Galvez’s dark gaze. “He deserves to be in charge. We both know that. Besides, I don’t think I can work with him anymore.”
Galvez lifted a dark bushy brow. “Why? You’ve been at the job for all of a week and you’re ready to quit?” He glanced at Roxy then at Cyn. “I didn’t take you for a quitter.”
Fuck. “I’m not a quitter, but he and I…” She sighed, not wanting to but having to admit things to Galvez of all people. “We have a history and I’m not sure I can lead this group, work beside him and keep it professional.”
“Cynthia, this team is different than others,” he explained. “They’re all special, remember?”
She nodded, her own words being repeated to her. “I know that.”
“That means there are certain rules we don’t enforce with the paranormal unit. Like fraternizing.” His lips curved in the first smile she’d ever seen on his face.
“Fraternizing?”
“Yes. Buchanan and Villa are married and will continue to work together on this team. If you’re concerned about having a relationship with Brock, don’t be. Wheeler has specifically stated this group is different than all others. We don’t have enough paranormal units that we can make rules and force anyone out of the team. As such you aren’t bound by the same limitations the rest in the department are.”
Nice to know but that wasn’t her problem. She shook her head. “I have that in my blood,” she said. She knew he understood. “That same illness that runs through the family. The same one my mother had.”
“You don’t know that for sure,” he said sternly. “You can get a blood test to be sure.”
She’d thought about it. But the truth was she’d been afraid of finding out if her worst nightmares might actually come true. She turned to glance at Roxy’s pale bruised features. She and Cyn had a resemblance, but Roxy’s hair was much lighter than Cyn’s.
“What’s going to happen with her?”
Guilt squeezed at her gut. This was her niece. She should do something to try to help her.
“She’s going for medical evaluations to see if she’s got the same problem as her mother. She’s then going to be sent for physical and mental rehabilitation.”
She bit her lip. “And then?”
“Her late father’s mother would like to get custody of her.” He placed a hand on her shoulder. “They’re nice people, Cynthia. I’ve had them checked out. They lost touch with Clara and Roxy when Clara stopped taking her meds almost two years ago and refused to have anything to do with them.”
“Her father’s not around?” She blinked back tears for the girl. Her mother was going to be locked in a mental institution for a while, possibly forever.
“No, he died in a car crash two years ago. But she knows her father’s family. She called them from time to time to speak to her grandmother. She’ll be okay with them.”
Cyn nodded. Still, she wanted to be a part of Roxy’s life. It was not her niece’s fault their genes were screwed up.
Then there was James. God. It hurt to think of how much she loved him and what she’d do for him. One of those things would be to leave. She knew he’d want forever. He’d want a family. When his parents died working for the government, he’d been left all alone. He’d always told her he wanted children. And she couldn’t give him that.
Her heart clenched. She loved him too much to put him at the risk of being with her and the possibility she might end up sick. Or worse, for them to have children with the same illness. She could handle a lot of things, but putting the man she loved in the position to deal with a sick family was not one of them.
“Give James his job back, Martin.” She called him by his first name for the first time ever. “I’m going to request a transfer.”
Galvez shook his head, rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “I’ll give you a few days to think it over before I bring it up to Wheeler. He was very excited to have you lead the team. Your record with extractions is impeccable.”
“Thanks, but sometimes you have to sacrifice yourself to ensure the happiness of the people you love.”
The lights in her house flickered. She’d just walked in the door when she noticed the dimness. Just what she needed, a power failure. She should call Tonya and let her know she was okay. After her friend tried to warn her about seeing Cynthia in danger, she’d been very concerned for her. She tried to reassure her constantly, but Tonya was such a lovely friend that she still called to make sure Cyn was okay.
She flicked the lights on and off, but they continued to stay dim.
“Great.” She’d been saved from having to spend time with the team for the past few days. Out of town meetings with superiors and possible cases had her taken away from them. She’d ignored all of James’s calls. It hurt to do it, but she needed to start distancing from him. To help him cope when she finally transferred from the team.
She kicked her heels off and shoved her luggage next to the sofa, the wheels squeaking with the push. Exhaustion pulled at her muscles. She’d been traveling for two days straight, and she needed a hot bath. She shoved down the suit pants as she walked, almost tripped on her own feet and headed for her bedroom. With a few wiggles, she kicked the pants away and tugged the silky blouse above her head. She stopped in her tracks when she noticed a pair of cuffs locked on to the wooden bars on her headboard.
Her breathing increased in speed. She padded next to the bed. There was nothing different than the last time she’d been in her room. Only the cuffs attached to her headboard.
“What the hell is this?”
A gust of wind pushed her forward. Instinctively, she grabbed on the headboard so as not to fall on her face on the mattress. Metal clinked. Her vision swooped down. The cuff was securely attached to her wrist.
Another burst of wind and she landed on her back on the bed, one arm pulled above her head.
“This isn’t funny, James!” she growled. “Get out here already!”
He stepped out of a darkened corner of her room. The bastard had been standing there that whole time.
“Let me out of these you jerk!”
She probably could have said that nicely, but she was tired, hungry and needed a damn shower. She wasn’t feeling very nice at that particular moment.
Instead of loosening the cuff, her loose hand pressed against the bars, as if it had a mind of its own and the second set of cuffs locked her wrist into a secure hold.
“James!” she screeched his name, no longer with any trace of patience. Frustration had become a constant inside her since she wasn’t near him. She missed him, damn it.
“No,” he said softly. He took slow steps toward her, stopping at the foot of the bed to roam his gaze up her almost naked body.
Embers sparked inside her, spreading down to h
er pussy with the intensity of a forest fire.
“What.” She swallowed past the knot in her throat. “What are you doing here?”
She watched him remove his shirt, his muscles contracting with every move.
“I came to take back what’s mine.”
Uh-oh. “And what’s that?”
“You,” he said, his eyes glowing a bright gold. “You’re mine. Don’t bother denying it because you have the mark to prove it.”
“James, we aren’t going to get back together,” she mumbled, her eyes glued to the hand undoing his jeans. If life really loved her, he’d take those pants off asap.
“I wasn’t aware we’d broken things off again.”
The zipper hissed on its descent. She licked her lips and stared as the denim slid down his legs to reveal his fully erect cock.
“Well.” She blinked. It didn’t do any good. She couldn’t will her eyes away from his erection. In fact, her only thoughts centered on tasting him.
“If that’s how you want to begin, I’ll be more than happy to bring my body to you.”
Hell yes!
He grinned. “You’re projecting. I find your enthusiasm over my being naked incredibly refreshing.” He wrapped a hand around his stiff length and jerked. Her throat went sandpaper dry. “Not to mention it’s fucking hot to know you want to suck my cock until I come down your throat.”
Yeah, among other things.
“James, you…” She took a breath and squeezed her legs tight. Her pussy leaked her need for him, and she knew he smelled how hot she was for him. “I…we can’t.”
He crawled up the bed by her feet. He curled his hand around her ankles and spread her legs apart. He inhaled.
“Ah, yes, there’s that sweetness that drives me crazy.”
“James, I quit the team,” she blurted out.
His finger trailed up her legs to her thighs. She couldn’t stop the muscles under his palms from trembling.
“You can do whatever you want, love. I’m not going anywhere.” He tugged down her panties, carefully removing the damp bit of lace to then return to her wet folds. He scooted down, until he was laying between her legs and glanced up. “What you need to understand is that no matter what job you have, or what team you lead, I’m not going anywhere. You’re mine. And you’re staying mine.”
“James…” She took short puffs of air, watching him place tiny kisses in her inner thigh. “I can’t be with you. Can’t give you what you want.”
He rubbed his cheek on her thigh. “And what is it I want?”
“More than I can give,” she mumbled, breathless.
“Right now, all I want is the taste of you coming on my face,” he said with a steadfast determination she had come to know as solely his.
Oxygen froze in her chest as his lips slowly brushed her inner thigh to reach the center of her pleasure. With a single-minded swipe, he licked her from ass to front. Groans tore up her throat without a hiss of warning. “James!”
He pressed closer, lips encompassed her clit and laved the tiny nerve bundle with quick flicks. Her legs pressed him closer, his lips and tongue working her entrance. In. Out. Faster. Harder. Then he added a finger, and her whimper turned into a moan for more.
“God, please…”
She tugged on the cuffs to no avail. There was no getting free until he let her. He controlled the situation. Along with her body. His unwavering licking and finger fucking drove her to near breaking in seconds. She thrashed on the bed, curled her fingers on the wood bars she was strapped to and let her body race toward release.
“James, God, James…” Her legs shook, her belly quivered. Her entire focus shifted to the impending orgasm. She hovered just above the ledge, ready to take flight.
She took a breath and lost it. He sucked on her clit, grazing blunt human teeth on the throbbing bit of flesh. Tension unraveled fast, and she soared. Her body floated on the wave of release, her scream for him choked and breathless.
Her lungs felt ready to cave in. She blinked to try and get rid of the spots dancing before her eyes.
“James, let me loose,” she moaned and met his fully black gaze.
“Why should I?” His lips tipped up in a dark and sexy grin.
“It’s my turn to taste you.” She watched him sit on his heels, his cock fully erect, a slight sheen from his aroused state coating the head.
“How about I just bring myself to you?” he suggested.
Seemed she wasn’t being uncuffed just yet. At least she’d get a chance to repay him in kind. She smiled and licked her lips. “If you come closer, I can make my lips work magic.”
“If that’s the case…”
The cuffs clicked. She didn’t get a chance to say or do much, but her body somehow did it for her. The world shifted and she was on her knees in front of him, her arms now at her back, cuffed again. “You got some kind of fetish for having me at your mercy?”
He grinned. “Maybe.” He lifted an eyebrow, eyeing her mouth with interest. “I believe you promised magic?”
She sat and he moved forward until his cock hovered by her lips. His strong fingers dug into her hair, cupping the back of her head and pressing her forward. With a long slow lick, she worked her way up his cock. She swiped her tongue from side to side at the crown and sucked on his slit.
“Fuck!”
She bit back a grin. They hadn’t been explosive just because he had an amazing cock. She had some pretty good tricks too. Cheeks hollowed in, she sucked him into her mouth. He was big. Thick. She’d learned long ago that she had to work him into her mouth in gentle presses.
She hummed at the back of her throat, pulled off and sucked him in again. Her skin burned, need prevalent in every move she made. He pushed and pulled in strong thrusts. Each one faster than the last. His hold on her head tightened. She hollowed her cheeks tighter. Rubbed her tongue on the underside of his length and sucked.
His body tensed, stomach sucked in, muscles tight to show his amazing abs.
Her jaw burned. She didn’t care, she wanted more. He propelled back, his cock leaving her lips with a wet shine. Her gaze rushed up to meet his, and her heart clenched at his feral possessive smile. There was that barely controlled animal of his. She could sense his power and beast close at bay.
“Do you want me to uncuff you?”
She blinked. The cuffs added that extra kink she hadn’t had with him before. “No, they can stay.”
His wolfish grin widened. “Good. Now let’s see about giving you some cock and filling you with my cum.”
Well, okay then. That could work.
Cynthia woke in James’ arms. A smile floated over her lips. God. The man was fucking amazing with those cuffs. Not to mention he’d remembered her favorite brand of lube and brought some with him. Her ass was still sore from the riding he gave her.
“I really can’t give you what you want, James,” she said more to herself than him.
“What exactly do you think I want?” he rumbled, the sound sexy as hell even after the many times she’d heard it.
“A family. A wife. Children. I can’t.”
“Is that why you left me when I proposed?” he asked.
“Yes. James, there’s severe mental illness in my family, and I’m a possible carrier.”
He cupped her face, tilting her head to meet his gaze. “Have you been tested?”
“Not yet, no. But the probability is high. And I love you too much to put you through a lifetime of caring for me if my mind decides to go that route.” She hurried the words out.
“Haven’t you learned yet what you mean to me? A life without you is just a shell of an existence, love.”
Oh lord. How could she deny someone with those kinds of words anything?
“James, even if I’m not a carrier, my children could be.” She licked her lips. “I made a decision a long time ago I wouldn’t have children.”
“Sweetheart, you might change your mind.”
She shook her head.
“I got my tubes tied. I didn’t want to take any chances. I wanted to have my reproductive organs removed, but my gynecologist wouldn’t do it. He said I was too young and might change my mind.”
He cocked his head. “I could live an entire lifetime with you, and only you, and be completely happy.”
Her heart melted. “Oh, James. Are you sure? I know you always wanted kids, a family.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “You are my family. It’s your smile that fills me with pleasure. It’s your hand I want to hold through the darkest and happiest times. Nothing and no one else matters more to me than you. As long as I have you, I don’t need anything else.”
“What about kids?” She wanted to believe him, her heart almost broke with the sweet words he said.
“You’re my mate. My other half. The only one I need.” Resolution deepened the lines of his face. “Children are nice and if you feel the need to increase our family, there is always adoption. But the reality is that all I need—today, tomorrow and always…is you.”
He was right. She’d forgotten all about that. They didn’t have to have biological children to have a family. They didn’t need children at all. They just needed each other.
“So I guess I can’t quit, huh?” She grinned, sitting behind her desk glancing from Brock to Galvez.
Both men shook their heads.
“You’re stuck.” Brock’s eyes flashed black. “With me.”
“Wheeler says you’re it and he’s not looking for someone else.” Galvez smiled. She’d recently started to speak to him more often, with less hostility. Their conversations mainly centered on Roxy, cases and her family, but it was better than the antagonism they had before. He admitted he’d been frustrated at her attitude toward him and with himself for not knowing about her sooner.
“Besides, we just got a new recruit.” Brock winked and passed her a file.
“Really? Who is it?” She asked, opening the folder to a photo of a woman. Clearly Latin with her brown hair tied back and her hazel eyes staring straight at the camera, unsmiling.