by Lexi Blake
It was easy to sink into his warmth. She let her hands wrap around his neck as he pulled her into his lap. She was wearing someone’s, probably Sean’s, old T-shirt. It was enormous on her, coming to her knees. The material rode up, allowing Sean’s big hand to cup her knee. His nose nuzzled into her neck. There was nothing inherently sexual about the touch, just two people who were intimate taking comfort in closeness.
Grace sobbed against him. She let herself go. She cried for Kayla and all that she had lost. She had been so young. She cried for herself, for losing Pete, and then Sean. She cried because she’d been strong for so long that it felt good to let go. Grace cried for Matt, who was so lost. And she cried because she was so scared. What Mr. Black wanted her to do was to put her life on the line without any training or know-how. She was going to play a game she didn’t even know the rules to, but there was no backing out now.
All the while, Sean held her close, sometimes murmuring soothing words in her ear, sometimes just rocking her against him. After a long while, she heard the strong beat of his heart as she began to come back to the world. He was a solid, warm body to cling to. She knew what she should do. She should push him out. She should be strong, but she seemed to have used all of that strength up accepting Black’s offer.
She was going back to work tomorrow, but not as Matt’s admin. That was now her cover. She was going back in as a spy.
“Grace.” Sean’s voice was soft and close to her ear. They were curled around each other like puzzle pieces. “Let me get you out of here, baby. I can get us by Ian’s security. We’ll get in the car and just drive. I have some money saved up. Let me take you away. We’ll drive for awhile, get new IDs, and then we can go anywhere we like.”
“I thought you were under the impression I was guilty as sin.”
His turnaround had been surprising. Ever since they’d come in from the rain, he’d been much more tender with her. It was unnerving. She preferred the righteously angry Sean to this man who treated her like she was made of glass. It was easier to hold herself apart from him.
Sean’s blue eyes grew soft, and he ran his hand through her hair. Everywhere he touched, she felt the connection to him. “I was an idiot, baby. My only excuse is you knocked me on my ass. I’ve never been in this position before. It threw me for a loop. I’m much more used to people lying to me. It’s the nature of the business.” He was quiet for a moment and seemed to come to a decision. “You know the scars on my back?”
She nodded. She’d intended to kiss each one when she’d thought they were just lovers. She’d wanted to run her lips across all the places he’d been hurt. Without thinking about it, her hand went to his shoulders where she knew some of the large, silvery scars started to wind their way down his back.
“I got those in Afghanistan. My CO, who I trusted more than anyone besides my mother and my brother, sent me and two others on a mission to this small village just outside of Taliban-controlled territory. We caught an IED ten miles from the village. I’m the only one who survived. Turns out we had bad intelligence. The Agency didn’t take credit, so my CO got called up. He tried to pin it on me and the two men in my unit who died in the explosion. He tried to say we didn’t have authorization to be there. He claimed we stole the Humvee and were going on a drug run. It happens. I was court-martialed. Ian found evidence that proved I was just following orders and, well, he also has some pretty badass connections in that world. Needless to say, I was exonerated, but it didn’t exactly boost my trust in my fellow man. Three months later, Jake and Adam got busted for fucking the wrong person…at the same time, of course. They were good soldiers. They got set up. The army was my life at that point. Then there was my dad, he walked out.” Sean sighed and shook his head. “What I’m trying to say, Grace, is that I’m not a man to take things at face value.”
“I understand. I guess I feel the same way.”
He chuckled. “You are an entirely different creature, little one. I finally came to terms with that. You’re a woman who trusts and loves with an open heart. You have to forgive me for not recognizing something I’ve never had.”
“Yeah, well, my open heart gets pummeled on a regular basis, so I think I’ll close it off a little bit.” Maybe it was time to toughen up.
His hands tightened. “There’s no need now. I told you I would protect you, and I mean to do it. The first way I can protect you is by getting you away from here. You are not cut out for this game. We’ll go somewhere and never look back.”
It sounded perfect. They could find some tropical island and be two completely different people. They never had to come back. And she wouldn’t see her sons again. Grace sat straight up as a horrible thought occurred to her. She understood that Parnell hadn’t meant to kill Kayla. He’d been coming after her. But he could do far worse things than merely killing her. “My boys. He can get to my boys.”
Sean tugged her back down, shaking his head. “No, he can’t. By tomorrow morning, they’ll both have twenty-four/seven security. Liam is on his way to Austin even as we speak. He’s going to pick up your sons and take them to a safe place until this is finished. Ian and I already spoke to them. Your oldest son has quite a mouth on him.”
Grace laughed a little. David was always careful around his mother, but she knew he could cuss a blue streak when he got angry. He was also very protective. Kyle was sweeter, but he would be just as concerned. She didn’t want to bring them into this. They had their own lives. “What did you tell them?”
“I explained the situation. I told them you’re in the middle of something dangerous and that I would protect you. I had to talk really fast, or I think they would have been on a plane to get here. That’s not a good idea.”
Grace agreed. She didn’t want her babies anywhere near her right now. They could end up like…
“It wasn’t your fault.” Sean pulled her close as though he could read her mind. More than likely, he was just really good at reading her face and body language.
Grace shook off the emotion. If she dwelled on Kayla, she would dissolve again. “So this Liam guy is going to protect my boys? Is he any good?”
Sean’s lips quirked slightly up. “Well, several European governments think so.” He looked at her seriously and cupped her face. “Liam is deadly, babe. He’s smart and fast. He’s never let me down before. He’ll take care of them. I had to promise that you would call them in the morning.”
It would be good to hear their voices, to know they were safe. She could answer their probably numerous questions. “What else did you tell them?” Surely he wouldn’t have mentioned anything but the case.
“I told them I was going to marry you.”
“You said what?” Her screech reverberated through the room.
Sean merely shrugged and reached out for the wine glass he’d set on the nightstand. He took a long sip and then passed it to her. “I told David that I was going to marry you, and he shouldn’t worry. I think that was a miscalculation on my part. He still seemed very worried, though now about me in addition to the situation we’re in.”
Grace took the wine. It looked like she would need it. She tried not to think about the fact that Sean’s lips had touched the same place hers had. It was one of those intimate things couples did. Grace scrambled out of bed and started to pace. “I can’t believe you told him that.”
Sean lay back against the ornate headboard looking ridiculously hot in jeans and a T-shirt and no shoes. Even his big feet were sexy. “Well, I thought it was better than telling the boy I was engaging in superhot D/s sex with his mother. Besides, it’s true. I do intend to marry you. I thought that putting my very good intentions out there would ease his mind. I don’t understand kids. After I explained I would marry you, he threatened to cut off my penis with a rusty knife and shove it someplace where a heterosexual male doesn’t want a penis stuffed, though I suspect a gay man wouldn’t want his own penis shoved up his ass, either. It’s a truly pansexual threat.” He gave her a slow smile. “T
hough if you want to experiment, babe, I’m willing. I’ve never tried it myself, but I’ve heard it can be pleasurable.”
She gave him what she hoped was a savage smile. “Yes, I’m thinking of experimenting on you right now, Sean.” Maybe her son had the right idea.
“Try it, little one. I dare you. I’ll have you bound to this bed before you can lay a hand on me, and then we’ll see who gets tortured. Do you know what I want to do to you?”
Don’t go there. Stay the hell away from anything having to do with sex when around Sean Taggart. She wasn’t stupid. It was how he pulled her in. Every time she started to get away, he turned those blue eyes on her, and she was caught. “What?”
All her good intentions didn’t mean a damn thing to her pussy. When had that part of her body taken over? Pretty much the minute she’d met Sean.
His deep voice pulled at her. “I want to tie you to the bed. It wouldn’t be hard. Ian has his whole house decked out for play. I’m sure there are ropes in the dresser behind you. My bag has a few toys I picked up for us. I’ve been waiting to use them on you.”
“What kind of toys?”
“A pretty little plug for your ass. This one is a little different than the last one. This one is made of glass. It’s made for sensation play. I can make it cold. How would that feel against your asshole? Or I could warm it up and it would slide into your ass like a hard, hot dick. You liked it when I fucked your ass. I’ll fuck you with the plug for awhile, but I won’t be able to hold out for long. I’ll have to lube up my cock and work my way in. I’ll fuck that ass of yours until you forget what it’s like to not have me in there. I’ll strap a butterfly to your clit. You’ll be caught between my cock in your bottom and that vibrator on your clitoris. The point is, once I get you tied up, you’ll be mine. You’ll be my gorgeous slave, and I’ll do exactly what I want with you.”
His voice played across her skin. She wanted nothing more than to give in and let him do all of it to her, and yet something kept her away. She was wary. He’d pretended to be interested once before to get her to do the things he wanted her to do. He was a savvy agent. If it had worked once, why shouldn’t he try it again? If he knew her at all, he had to know she couldn’t walk away. That man had killed her friend. She couldn’t look at herself in the mirror if she let him get away when she could stop it. Beyond the things Patrick Wright had done to her personally, he was a threat to the country. Who wouldn’t step up when all of that was at stake? Yes, all of the talk of taking her someplace safe could just be more of Sean’s well thought-out script.
“You don’t believe me.”
She wished he couldn’t read her. “You have to admit, it makes more sense that you’re just playing me.”
“I deserve that. But we’re in this position because of you, Grace.” His Dom voice was coming out again.
“Me?”
“Yes, little one, you. You manipulated me into this position and don’t try to deny it. I came by that night to have dinner with you. I had no intentions of ending up in bed. What happened in the pool was my fault. You were far too tempting to let go, and I had wanted you for days. But I’d decided to leave it at that, because I knew I wanted more. What were your instructions that night?”
She felt her face flush. She knew exactly what he was talking about. “I was supposed to open the wine. You never said where I should wait for you. I opened the wine.”
“And met me naked in a gorgeously submissive position you knew I couldn’t turn away from. Classic brat behavior. I knew it would get me in trouble, and I took you anyway. Now I’m paying for it, aren’t I?” He frowned her way. “You wouldn’t be so angry at me if I’d kept that small but necessary distance between us.”
He was probably right, but Grace also knew that if he had rejected her advances that first evening, she would have retreated from him. He really had been in a tough spot. She wasn’t about to admit it to him, though.
He waited, but sighed when he seemed to realize she wasn’t replying. “Fine. We both know what you did. We’re both culpable, baby. You for topping from the bottom, and me for letting you. It won’t happen again. Take your clothes off, Grace. Assume the position.”
She hated the way her heart raced. “You can’t expect me to play with you after everything that’s happened.”
“I’m not playing. This is serious. This is something I think you need. Tell me you don’t need me tonight, and I’ll walk out the door. I won’t go far because there’s no way I’m letting anything get near you while this case is going on, but I’ll let you alone for the night. Otherwise, do as I told you.”
Again, he put the choice in her hands. Again, she chose him despite her better judgment. The thought of spending the night alone and without him left her cold. He was right. She needed his arms around her, his voice commanding her, or she would spend the entire night in worry and despair. Grace pulled the shirt off and dropped to her knees.
Chapter Seventeen
Sean had to concentrate to get his jeans off. His dick was rock hard and aching. It had been since the moment he’d climbed onto the bed with Grace. She’d been hurting at the time, but his cock hadn’t cared that she was emotional. It had only known that she was close. Now he could give them what they both needed so much.
She was the most beautiful thing in the world to him, her head bowed, waiting for his command. She trusted him in this at least. He placed a hand on her head, acknowledging and accepting her submission. “Stand up, little one.”
She rose with a little difficulty. For someone untrained, Grace seemed to know what to do, but often the little things tripped her up. He was looking forward to formally training her. He would take her to the club and show her off. He would be so proud to be her first Dom, her only Dom.
She stood before him, her hazel eyes looking up. The sadness, the uncertainty was still there. He wanted it gone. He let his hand trail softly along her skin starting at the curve of her shoulders. He moved from her shoulders down the curve of her chest. Her breasts were round and heavy. He loved the way her nipples puckered sweetly under his gaze and practically begged for his touch. He cupped her breasts, enjoying the weight in his hands. She sighed and let her head roll back. Sean got to his knees and licked at one pouty nipple. He sucked the little bud into his mouth and lavished his affection there. He pulled and sucked at the nipple, his hands circling her waist and cupping that gorgeous ass of hers.
Sean changed to the opposite breast, not wanting to leave it out. He tongued her and already he could smell the sweet scent of her arousal. She was so responsive. He brought his thumbs down and slid both into her juicy pussy. Her whole body quivered as he massaged her clit, his thumbs sliding over and around her labia. Everything about Grace was soft, from her pink pussy to her glorious breasts to her heart.
How had he ever considered she could be involved in something that might hurt someone else?
Sean kissed his way down her body. He let his tongue delve into her navel and past the little curve of her belly. He rubbed his nose in the V of her thighs, letting her scent and her taste surround him. She was the best person he’d ever met. He wasn’t going to let her go. He was going to treasure her and protect her, one way or another.
Sean finally allowed his tongue to have its way. He gave that juicy peach a long lick and was rewarded with a heartfelt shudder from his sub. “On the bed, little one. I want you on your back, legs spread, arms over your head.”
Grace rushed to comply. She settled herself on the fluffy white comforter and parted her legs for him. Sean took a moment to look at his submissive. Her hair made a stark contrast to the white of the comforter. Her eyes looked up at him with desire. She wasn’t thinking about the events of the day now. She wasn’t worried about tomorrow. She was in the moment, and that was the gift he could give her.
“You’re fucking gorgeous.”
A small smile played on her lips.
He felt his eyebrows rise. He could read her. She was a freaking open book.
He’d just been too blind to accept it. “You don’t believe me?”
“Sean, I’m older than you, and even if I was ten years younger, I wouldn’t be in the same league.”
He leaned over and kissed her knees. “I don’t know what league you’re in, little one, but I like it. Whatever you think of me, know that I have never lied about wanting you.” He kissed a path up her leg. “I wanted you the moment I saw you and haven’t stopped since. I love your legs and the way they wrap around me when I’m shoving my cock into you.” He kissed her belly. “I love how soft your skin is here.” He chuckled as he cupped her ass. “I don’t have to tell you the way I feel about this part of you.” He moved on and buried his face in her breasts. “I want to sleep right here, Grace. I want to fall asleep every night buried deep inside you, with your breasts cradling me.” He sighed and reluctantly moved on. He nuzzled her neck. “I think you’re the most gorgeous woman I’ve ever met and don’t try to call me a liar.” He’d reached her mouth and now his cock was perfectly placed. He kissed her sweetly as he thrust his dick inside. “God, I can’t lie about this. This is my home.”
And it was. Sean was aware he was playing none of the games he had promised her, but they could get to that later. They had all night. Sean let his face fall to the curve of her neck as he thrust in and out of her tight pussy. She clenched around him, the little muscles inside rippling against his cock. She wrapped her legs and arms around him, and he was enveloped by her. Sean picked up the pace, completely overcome with love for this woman. He had never believed in it before, that there was one person for him, but Grace had proven him wrong. She was his. He was hers. And it was perfect.
He thrust for the longest time, putting off that moment that signaled the end. He was careful. He made sure his pelvis hit her clit with every sure thrust. He read all of her signs; the way her legs tightened, her breath became ragged, and how often she called out his name. She came three times, crying out her pleasure before he finally gave in and let it take him. He gripped her hips and held himself against her as he came and came.