Shane: (A McIntyre Security Bodyguard Novella - Book 2.5)

by April Wilson

  “Hmm?” she murmurs, moving closer so she can kiss the base of my throat.

  “Have you ever thought about having kids? Is that something you want?”

  She looks at me, surprised. “Of course I do.”

  I shrug, not wanting to make any assumptions. “Not every woman wants kids. Lots of couples are perfectly happy without children.”

  “Well, I do.”

  I smile. “I grew up in a crowded, noisy, chaotic household with seven kids, and I loved every minute of it. I want that for us too. Not necessarily seven kids, but a few at least. A little bit of noise and chaos sounds pretty good.” I roll her to her back and hover over her. “And I know you’d make a fantastic mother.”

  She smiles. When we kiss, it’s a slow, sensuous kiss

  “About the wedding,” I say.

  “Yes?”

  “Let’s hire a wedding planner, and she can help you with everything. I’ll leave all the planning and decisions up to you. You have carte blanche to plan whatever you want. Just tell me when and where to show up, and I’ll be there. My only requirement is that I want my brothers and Cooper as my groomsmen. And we have to wait until my parents get home. How long does it take to plan a wedding, anyway?”

  Beth shrugs. “I don’t think it’s something you can plan overnight.”

  “Well, the sooner, the better, as far as I’m concerned.”

  She chuckles. “You seem eager.”

  “I am.” I grab her left hand. “I want a wedding ring on this hand. I want to proclaim to the world that you’re mine.”

  She smacks me playfully on the shoulder as my mouth travels down to her breast. “You don’t need a wedding ring to prove that, silly.”

  I throw off the covers and trail kisses down her body, past her belly button to the delectable spot between her legs. I settle myself comfortably because I plan to be here a while.

  “What are you doing?” she asks, raising her head to watch me as I begin licking the hot, moist flesh between her legs.

  I smile when she shivers. “What do you think I’m doing? I’m practicing for my wedding night.”

  Matchmaking

  As I sit at my office desk Monday morning, I find myself fixated on my youngest sister. Lia looked like crap this morning when she came up to our apartment to pick up Beth for work. She’s been struggling ever since she caught a glimpse of Logan Wintermeyer at my surprise birthday party at Rowdy’s.

  Of course we had no idea he’d show up there that night. It’s a public place. Beth rented Rowdy’s party room for our get-together with family and friends, but our group spilled out into the main area of the bar for drinks and to check the scores on the big flat screens. That’s where we caught sight of Logan. Jake chased him out of there, threatening his life and limb, but not before Lia saw the little prick, so the damage was done.

  Something has to give. Lia’s been trapped in an emotional rut since she was sixteen years old. What that little prick did to her back in high school is inexcusable, no doubt. But still, for her own sake, she needs to move on. She needs to allow herself to have a healthy emotional relationship with someone. I know she’s not celibate – but she never stays with one guy long enough for a relationship to even start. Just because her first boyfriend was an asshole doesn’t mean all guys are. I think she just needs to meet the right guy – someone calm and steady, someone who’s patient enough to get through to her and give her a reason for letting go of her angst and risking her heart again. Someone who’s crazy about her.

  I actually have someone in mind. One of our newest clients, Jonah Locke, might be just what she needs. He’s a little bit older than Lia – he’s twenty-eight, she’s twenty-two – but that’s probably a good thing. He’s mature, and he has a calm, steady personality. Despite being a celebrity, he’s actually a really nice guy. And best of all, I think he’s a tad infatuated with my little sister. He met her once before, here in my office, and he’s asked about her several times since then.

  I have this crazy ass idea to throw the two of them together while Jonah’s here in town to see what might happen between them. I discussed my idea with Beth and explained to her why I want to try this, and she was all for it. But it’s going to require reassigning Beth to guard Jonah, and I don’t know how well that’s going to go over. Right now, Lia is Beth’s driver. I have a feeling she won’t take well to being reassigned. She and Beth are thick as thieves these days.

  There’s a knock at my open doorway, and I glance up to see Jonah. I met with him and his manager early this morning at their rental house in Lincoln Park to go over security measures there at the house, as well as Jonah’s personal protection. I invited him to come to the office today to meet his new bodyguard.

  “Jonah, come in!” I say, motioning to the chairs in front of my desk. “Take a seat.”

  Jonah’s dressed casually in ripped jeans and an old, a faded T-shirt, and scuffed boots. His long hair’s pulled back in a ponytail, and he’s got more than a few piercings and black tattoos. He’s a good looking guy – even I can admit that. He seems like the kind of guy who would appeal to a young woman with an attitude.

  Jonah drops into one of the chairs in front of my desk, propping one booted foot on his knee. “So, what’s the plan?”

  I smile. “I want you to come with me. There’s something I’d like to show you.” Or, rather someone.

  He stands. “Sure.”

  I escort Jonah down to the third floor, where the martial arts studio is located. My brother Liam runs the studio, teaching martial arts and boxing classes to employees and clients. Liam’s won more martial arts championships than most people ever enter in a lifetime.

  After exiting the third-floor elevators, I lead Jonah down the hallway to a large viewing window that overlooks the studio. Inside, the floors are gleaming hardwood, the walls are mirrored, and there are numerous workstations covered with floor mats and two boxing rings. Right now. Liam and two new recruits are standing on the mats in the center of the ring. Lia, dressed in black shorts and a matching sports bra, is seated on the sidelines, observing.

  “So, what are we doing?” Jonah asks.

  “Just watch. This is a demonstration for two new recruits.”

  A moment later, Lia gets up from her chair and approaches the mat. Liam and one of the recruits, a tall young male, step out of the way. Lia faces off with the other new recruit on the mat.

  I glance at Jonah and find his gaze glued to the scene on the mat. “What’s Lia going to do?”

  “Lia’s going to give them a demonstration on why they should never underestimate an opponent. Both Phillip and Mateo are well versed in martial arts and combat. But I guarantee you, they’ll take one look at Lia and think she’s a pushover. Why not? She’s petite, blond and cute. Surely she’s no match for them, right? She’s here to set them straight and teach them a lesson they’ll never forget.”

  Jonah watches intently as Lia and Mateo face off. A moment later, Lia sends Mateo sailing over her shoulder, and he hits the mat hard. Mateo gets to his feet, laughing good naturedly.

  “Holy shit,” Jonah breathes, stepping closer to the glass. “Did you see that? She cut right through him. Hell, she didn’t even break a sweat.”

  I smile. Yeah, he’s a tad infatuated. “Watch.”

  The second new guy – Phillip – is laughing his ass off at Mateo’s expense. That’s not going to bode well for him. He says a few things to Lia that we can’t hear, but I see her expression darkening and her muscles tensing. Whatever he’s saying, he’s pissing her off. Not good. She’s going to clobber him.

  As Lia and Phillip move into position on the mat and start posturing with each other, I sneak a glance at Jonah. Sure enough, his gaze is locked on Lia.

  On his first attack pass, Phillip goes the way of Mateo – right over Lia’s shoulder. He gets up, and he’s clearly pissed as hell. He mouths something to her, and then he makes another run for her. She reverts to a Krav Maga move – something totally inapp
ropriate for this exercise – and renders Phillip unconscious.

  “Jesus, would you look at her,” Jonah says. He’s shaking his head in disbelief. “She’s amazing.”

  Yeah, he’s infatuated. “If you’ll excuse me,” I say, “I have to go chew my sister’s ass off now for using excessive force.”

  “Don’t be too hard on her, Shane,” Jonah says. “I’m sure whatever the guy said to her, he deserved it.”

  “Meet me up in my office in twenty minutes, okay?”

  Jonah nods. “Sure. I’ll head down to the lobby and grab a coffee. See you in twenty.”

  As Jonah heads for the elevator, I shove open the door to the studio and walk in. “Lia! In my office! Now!”

  She turns to face at me, looking a bit sheepish, and not one bit surprised. Yeah, she knew what she was doing. She knew she’d get in trouble for that move. I turn and walk out, managing not to break a smile until I’m out of sight. My little sister is a pistol, that’s for sure. Let’s see what happens when she finds herself spending some quality time with Jonah Locke.

  * * *

  That evening, after a very casual dinner party hosted at the penthouse, Lia leaves with Jonah Lock and his manager, Dwight Peterson. It took some doing, but Lia finally agreed to be reassigned as Jonah’s personal bodyguard. She’ll shadow him twenty-four-seven and protect him from overzealous fans and disreputable paparazzi.

  And as for my attempts at matchmaking, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens. Jonah’s a good guy, and I’m hoping he can get through her protective walls and help her begin to heal.

  It’s been a whirlwind few days, and I hope that things are going to settle down now.

  Beth and I head for our suite, tired after a long day of work and entertaining a rock star and his manager.

  “What did you think of Jonah?” I ask her as we enter our private space.

  She smiles. “My God, he’s so gorgeous.”

  I chuckle. “Should I be worried?”

  She shakes her head and smacks my shoulder playfully. “Of course not! He can’t hold a candle to you, silly.”

  We head to the dressing room to change out of our dinner attire. “I see what you mean about Jonah seeming quite interested in Lia,” Beth says, as I unzip her little black dress. “He couldn’t keep his eyes off her.”

  “And he’s a good guy,” I say. “I think he’ll be good for her.”

  Beth’s dress falls to the floor, and I groan when I see what she’s wearing underneath – a black lace lingerie set with garter belts and silk stockings.

  Garters. Damn.

  She knows what seeing her in garter belts does to me.

  She turns to face me, a beguiling smile on her face. Yeah, she’s up to something.

  “Here, let me help you,” she says, unbuttoning first my cuffs, then my shirt.

  While she’s busy unbuttoning my shirt, my gaze travels the length of her tall, slender body, stopping at the stocking clips holding up her silk hose. My dick starts throbbing as it fills with heat. Then my gaze drifts up to the front of her black lace panties, and dear God, I can see a tuft of blond curls through the lace.

  I glance down at her, and I’m sure my gaze is as hot as my body feels right now. “You’re trying to kill me, aren’t you?”

  She gives me an innocent look as she tosses my shirt in the laundry hamper. Then her cool, nimble fingers latch onto my leather belt, unbuckling it and pulling it slowly from my belt loops. Before I know it, my slacks are on the floor at my feet, and my erection is tenting the front of my boxers.

  As her gaze settles on my cock, her cheeks flush a pretty pink and her breathing quickens. Her fingers go to the waistband of my boxers, and she licks her lips.

  Jesus!

  “Hold that thought,” I say, sweeping her up into my arms.

  The closet floors are hardwood, and I have a feeling I know where this is going. She’s been practicing her oral skills lately, to my delight. But I want her to at least be comfortable. I carry her across our suite to the seating area in front of the fireplace and sit her down on the soft leather sofa.

  “Do you want a drink?” I ask her.

  She peers up at me, her blue-green eyes sheepish, and shakes her head. My God, she has no idea what she does to me. She’s part sex kitten, part goddess, and the combination is enough to bring me to my knees. But right now, going by the flushed, eager expression on her face, I think she’s the one planning to be on her knees.

  “Well, I want one,” I tell her, pouring myself a shot of whisky. I down the liquor, preparing to be tortured. “Lights, twenty-five percent,” I say, dimming the lighting to a romantic level.

  “Come sit down,” she says, patting the cushion beside her.

  As I do, she drifts down to the thick rug beneath us and kneels between my open legs. When she runs her hands up my thighs toward the waistband of my boxers, the heat builds, and my cock threatens to rip a hole in my underwear.

  I tuck her silky hair behind her ear and marvel at how exquisite she is. It’s not just her physical beauty that awes me. She’s one of the kindest, most caring and most gentle people I’ve ever met. I don’t know how I got so lucky.

  She peers up at me beneath her thick lashes. “You’re overdressed.”

  “I am?”

  “Yes.”

  “What do you propose?”

  She sits back on her heels. “Stand up and take off your boxers.”

  I can’t help grinning. “You think that’s a good idea?”

  “I think that’s a fantastic idea.”

  “Well, I certainly can’t argue with that.” I stand and shove my boxers to the floor, and she helps me step out of them. My straining erection lifts eagerly in the air, bobbing between us as it defies gravity.

  She rises to her knees in front of me and takes my cock firmly into her hands, looking simultaneously apprehensive and determined. “I’m going to rock your world,” she says.

  I have to chuckle. “Sweetheart, you already do.”

  ~ The End ~

  ... for now...

  Thank You!

  Stay tuned for more of Beth and Shane in Shattered, a full-length McIntyre Security novel due out in the spring of 2017! Following that will be another full-length novel called Imperfect – Jamie’s story – due out in the fall of 2017.

  Thank you for reading Shane’s novella! I hope you enjoyed this little glimpse into Shane’s point of view. I hope you will take a moment to leave a quick review on your Amazon store for me. I’d be so incredibly grateful if you would. Just a few words to say whether you liked the book or not is all you need to do.

  Books by April Wilson

  The McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series:

  Vulnerable, Book 1

  Fearless, Book 2

  Shane, a novella, Book 2.5

  Broken, Book 3

  Shattered, Book 4 (more Shane and Beth, spring 2017)

  Imperfect, Book 5 (Jamie’s story, fall 2017)

  Stay in Touch!

  For announcements about new releases, sign up for my newsletter:

  http://www.aprilwilsonwrites.com

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  https://www.facebook.com/AprilWilsonWrites/

  Send me an e-mail:

  mailto:aprilwilsonwrites@outlook.com

  Acknowledgements

  I’d like to thank the following people...

  Thanks to Shane’s beta readers: Tiffany Mann, Lori Holmes, Keely Knutton, and Rebecca Morean. Your feedback was invaluable!

  Thanks to my dear writing buddies, Samantha Christy and Rebecca Morean, for helping me keep my sanity. (If you’ve never read their books, you need to! They are both amazing writers, and I’m honored to call them friends!)

  Special thanks to Keely Knutton for being my late-night, across-the-pond Facebook buddy. Thanks for your kind support and for helping me stay sane. :)

  a - Book 2.5)