Seize (St. Martin Family Saga: Emergency Responders) Book 2: Erotic Romance

by Gina Watson

  “I can feel you getting hard beneath my fingers. Do you like it when I touch you?”

  Her legs closed around his hand. “Yes,” she whispered. Couldn’t he tell?

  He pulled into the drive-in and she started to pull her pants up. His hand pushed them back down.

  “I don’t think so.”

  She surveyed the parking lot. The place was jumping. It was lunchtime and there were people everywhere. He pulled up behind a car that was backing out and took the slot next to the oversized burger logo. Even the picnic tables were all full and the diners sitting there could see directly into the car. Since they were just outside the kitchen, carhops skated by on every side. Augie rolled the windows down, and a welcome breeze blew through Mia’s hair.

  “But, Augie,” she whispered, “there are people everywhere.”

  “Mmm, I know. So you’ll just have to be quiet and act natural.” He fisted his hand between her legs, and she let out a strangled gasp.

  A carhop rolled right up to the car and Augie started his order. His middle finger lightly circled her clit, not quite giving her enough. Her vision went spotty, and she laid her head back against the seat.

  “Make it a double cheeseburger and a strawberry milkshake and she’ll have a … Well, actually, let me get her to tell you. I wouldn’t want to order for her.” He turned to face Mia, still massaging. “Babe, tell the lady what you’d like.”

  Her eyes flew open and narrowed at him.

  “I know you don’t like it when I order for you, so tell her what you want.” His finger entered her—slowly, so slowly—and her jaw dropped. Incoherent words emerged from her throat.

  “I’m sorry, babe, Melissa here didn’t get that. Will you say it again?”

  The finger inside her danced as one on top circled round and round.

  “Ah, the, the, ahhh … what … he’s … having.”

  It was all because she’d confessed her dislike of him ordering for her. Melissa skated off to put in their order.

  “Bastard,” she whispered.

  “That’s a bit harsh.” He frowned.

  She closed her eyes and rested her head on the seat. A loud car pulled into the slot next to them. Augie whistled through his teeth.

  “Look at that. A 1957 Corvette Stingray convertible.”

  Mia opened her eyes and tipped her head toward the window. The old man driving the car nodded at her.

  “Nice wheels,” Augie said, leaning slightly toward her but looking out the window.

  Oh God, they were exchanging compliments about the car. Augie was playing with her clit, driving her crazy, and he was talking to some guy about his car. She was stuck in the middle and completely ravenous for his touch. She squirmed for more and he gave it to her, all the while conversing with their oblivious neighbor. Augie pumped his finger into her, and she ever so slightly rode him, but at this point she didn’t care who knew. She just needed him to bring her to that sweet climax only he knew how to do.

  “You guys from around here?”

  Augie pointed with his free hand. “She is, born and bred. Right, babe?”

  Her eyes opened again, but she didn’t see anything. “Wh-what?”

  “The man wants to know where you’re from.”

  “E-Elora.” His thumb massaged while his finger curled inside of her.

  “Elora, that’s near the gorge, isn’t it?”

  Her eyelids went down again.

  “Babe.” Augie whispered his hot breath into her ear as he worked his magic on her sex. “He asked you a question; don’t be rude. He wants to know if Elora’s near the gorge.”

  She blinked at the man in the convertible.

  “You okay, miss?”

  She felt the coil tighten like an elastic band, and then she exploded.

  “Oh, oh yes, yes, I’m … oh, yes, I’m fine. Ah …”

  Her back bowed against the seat as she exhaled and then inhaled long and deep, smiling at the stranger. “Elora is a small town outside Ontario, and you’re correct, it’s near a gorge.”

  His jaw hung open and his eyes were too wide. Next to her, Augie chuckled, and in that moment, Mia knew she loved him with everything she had. She couldn’t imagine feeling this comfortable with anyone else. She trusted him, yes, even his shenanigans. She enjoyed sharing parts of herself with him and enjoyed the fact that he let her share herself. He’d indulged her silly game and even walked away liking it. Turning her smiling face toward him, she sighed. Augie kissed her nose.

  “Miss Brown, I do believe you have just enjoyed your first public orgasm. I honestly didn’t think you’d let me go all the way with it, but I can’t tell you how glad I am that you did. You’re very brave.” He pulled his hand free of her and placed his finger in his mouth. She moaned at the sight that had her quivering all over again. She loved how contented and safe she felt next to him. He would die keeping her protected and satisfied. She knew he would.

  Chapter 16

  Leaving her hamburger half-eaten, Mia had fallen asleep against Augie’s shoulder. Her sweet sighs in his ear as she slept—not to mention her show at the drive-in—had him aching. Smiling, he shook his head, but the girl was under his skin. Without being overly cloying, she’d managed to do what all the women in Baton Rouge combined could not—hold his attention. Okay, maybe that was a stretch, but hell, he wanted to wake her now because he was missing her chatter.

  And she took his shit like a pro, something no woman has ever been able to do. When he and Gloria were together, his controlling tendencies had been at the crux of all their heated arguments. Gloria had liked to have control too, and they knew there was no way they would last as a couple. Yet it wasn’t only that Mia let him have control; it was more that they controlled things together. They agreed on most major issues, so it was just easy. And when they didn’t agree, she’d let him have a win, he’d let her have a win. Was that how a relationship was supposed to be? He wouldn’t know since he’d never had a healthy one before.

  What could he do with her? He tried to imagine himself with her, even married to her. But then what? He’d grow bored, she’d grow bored, they’d grow to hate one another like his parents had. It would be a disaster. He wasn’t a family man. Hell, he hadn’t even known what she was talking about in the car with her road-trip game. But he’d enjoyed that time with her. He couldn’t make her eternally happy, he knew he couldn’t. And if she grew to hate him, like his mother hated his father, he’d be devastated. And besides, what did he have to offer a woman? He had a nice home, he didn’t want children, he was good in the sack, he wasn’t romantic, and he had post-traumatic stress, although it had cleared up a lot. But he still suffered the nightmares. Basically, he would be the worst husband of all time.

  He focused on the meandering road ahead, instead of the one in his head.

  GPS led him to a tree-lined drive at the end of which sat a palatial red brick building sprawled across an acre or so. Parking in the designated area, he killed the engine. His hand went to her hair and petted there.

  “Mia? We’re here.”

  She rubbed her face in the crook of his neck. “I fell asleep.”

  “You were exhausted.”

  She smiled sleepily at him for several seconds. “I know it’s out of the way, so I just want to thank you for bringing me here.”

  He kissed her cheek. “You’re welcome.”

  He opened his door and walked around to assist her.

  She held the daisies and chocolate in her hands and stood next to the car. “I’ll be just a few minutes, if you want to wait in the car.”

  She didn’t make eye contact, which wasn’t like her.

  “Why don’t you tell me what’s going on,” he said.

  She shifted back and forth and fidgeted with the flowers. Looking down, she sighed. “I’ve never really brought anyone around my mom. She’s um … she’s different.”

  His palm went to her cheek to comfort her and to get her to look him in the eye so he could read her emot
ions better. “Different how?”

  “She may say something or act in a way that may upset you.”

  He wanted to tell her every parent would do that, but he didn’t want to make light of her distress. His hand in hers, he pulled her along. “Come on, we’ll tackle her together.”

  Inside, the place seemed more like a governor’s mansion than a behavioral center. Silk curtains and antique furniture gave it an air of opulence. Before they cleared the entry, a woman in a navy business suit greeted them. She wasn’t that old, but the way she pulled her hair back in a tight bun made her seem ancient. Her narrow glasses rode halfway down her nose.

  “How may I assist you?”

  “I’m here to see Mrs. Brown. I’m her daughter.”

  “She will receive you in the library.” She held her still hand out to her side, indicating the direction they should walk, but she followed them. “Right in here. I’ll just have someone go get her.”

  “Thank you.”

  Mia’s voice was low energy, and Augie wanted, needed, to let her know everything was going to be okay.

  A magazine on the coffee table caught his eye. Car and Driver. He lifted it. “Hey, look—blue Impala.” Grinning, he showed the cover to Mia.

  She pulled the magazine from his grip. “That’s crazy! What a coincidence.” Her smile beamed.

  “You still would’ve lost. Face it, I rock.”

  “Hmm, I think a rematch is in order.” She held her finger to her lips as she pondered.

  “Same stakes?”

  Her eyes grew dark, and she pulled up close so that only he could hear.

  “Definitely not the same stakes; we need to up the ante.” She kissed, slowly, up the side of his neck.

  “Mia.”

  “Mom!”

  Mia crossed the room and greeted her mother with a kiss on the cheek. She started to present the flowers.

  “Where have you been? This place is awful.”

  “But you said it was better than the last place.”

  “I was wrong. This is much worse.”

  “But we can’t afford to relocate you again.”

  They moved toward the sitting area. Mrs. Brown took a chair perpendicular to Mia on the couch. Mia still held the gifts in her arms, so to make her more comfortable, Augie took the items from her and placed them on a console table.

  “Who the hell are you?”

  “Mom!”

  She waved one arm in his general direction. “Well, who is he?”

  “This is my friend Augie. Augie, my mother, Pauline.”

  Standing in front of her, he extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, Pauline.”

  She shook his hand swiftly and eyed him coolly. “What is this?”

  Her eyes shifted from him to her daughter. Augie took a seat next to Mia on the couch.

  “Mom, I told you, this is my friend Augie.”

  “Friend?” She scoffed. “Men aren’t friends with women.”

  “How do you feel, Mom? Still getting headaches?”

  “Every day.” She sighed. “Your hair is terrible; didn’t I tell you to get it trimmed last time you were here?”

  Mia wrapped her arms around herself and rubbed her arms. “Have you met anyone?”

  “What is this, Club Med? No, I haven’t met anyone.” She crossed one long leg over the other and leaned back. “What I need is a cigarette.”

  Mia looked up at Augie expectantly, so he handed her the car keys. “Go get my smokes.”

  She geared up to say something, but he stared at her with intent. Receiving his unspoken message, she hurried from the library.

  As soon as she cleared the door, he turned to her mother.

  “Pauline, I realize we don’t know each other, but we do both know Mia. Hear me when I say this—I’m here to protect her from those intending to do her harm. I will take her far away from you. Far—away—from—you.”

  She opened her mouth to talk, but he held up his hand to forestall her.

  “She cares for you. Deeply. You should know that even when she is in dire straits that her mind is never far from you. You will act ecstatic at her lovely gesture of flowers and chocolate that you don’t deserve. And I mean do it up big. I need to feel your excitement, your exhilaration. Are we clear?”

  Rubbing her upper lip with her fingers, she inhaled deeply.

  “Your daughter is the most amazing person I’ve ever met. She selflessly gives and gives and gives to people in need. I’ve never seen anything like it. You should spend the rest of your days getting to know her. You’ve created a gem.”

  Augie did a double take when he thought he heard her whisper, Well, fuck me sideways. Since she still sat primly, her nose high, he assumed he’d heard wrong.

  Mia rushed in and dropped the pack of cigarettes in her mother’s lap before reclaiming her seat on the couch. Silence filled the room. Augie raised a brow at Pauline Brown. She leaned forward in her chair. Pointing to the flowers she said, “Those are lovely.”

  Augie frowned.

  “Just really beautiful. I love daisies.”

  Mia jumped up and grabbed the flowers and chocolate. “We thought you might like to put them in your room.”

  “That’d be great. I know the perfect place.”

  Mia beamed at Augie, and he wondered why this mother would be so hateful to a daughter with such an innocent spirit. This relationship wasn’t good for Mia.

  “So, Augie, what do you do?” Pauline asked.

  “I’m a sheriff in Louisiana.”

  “Oh.” Her eyes rounded. Her expressions and mannerisms matched many of Mia’s. They even had the same body structure, and Pauline was extremely attractive when she wasn’t being a bitch.

  “Young, aren’t you? For an elected office, I mean.”

  “My family is in politics.” It was what had torn his parents apart, although it was also what had drawn them together at the beginning. They stayed together for the sake of his father’s career, but their marriage was a business. Both of them had significant others. He’d never understood their reasoning and thought it a bizarre arrangement.

  “How did you meet Mia?”

  “Through a friend.”

  “Ah.” She raked her hair through her fingers. She turned toward Mia. “I don’t guess you’ve heard from your sister.”

  Mia wrung her hands. “Actually, I have. Through Augie. He’s a friend of hers. We’re headed to see her.”

  “I see. So you’re leaving too. I’ll be all alone.”

  Mia shook her head. “Not alone; I’ll be back. I promise.”

  “Just like your sister. She promised the same thing.”

  “She had to go. She had no choice.”

  “There’s always a choice, Mia.”

  Mia cleared her throat. “Anyway, I’m going to go to Louisiana to see her, set some things up, and then I’ll come for you. I was going to apply for a visa; we could get one for you.” She looked up into her mother’s face. “It’s warm there, Mom. You’d like it.”

  “Sounds wonderful. What do we do when the visas expire?”

  “We could come home.”

  “You’d come back with me?” Pauline’s eyes held pain. Maybe fear.

  “Mom, I’ve been with you for twenty-five years. You have no reason to question my loyalty to you. I’ll be back when you get done with treatment. Please don’t worry; you won’t be alone.”

  After they talked about insignificant things like the weather, Mia hugged her mother and they both said goodbye.

  Once they reached the car, Mia asked, “What did you say to my mother?”

  He lounged against the open passenger door and searched for the best possible way to tell her what he’d done. He hadn’t expected Mia to ask about Pauline’s change in attitude. “I told her she had a beautiful daughter she needed to appreciate more.”

  Her lips tightened as she whirled away from him. “You didn’t need to do that.”

  Grabbing her elbow, he turned her to look at him. “
But I did. She hurt you. I told you I would protect you, keep you safe. Just because she’s your mother doesn’t mean she’s excluded. Besides, we trekked a long way to get to her, and she damn well was going to act pleasant. I’m sure she does it for her doctor and her other visitors. She could do it for her daughter.”

  Closing the gap between them, Mia lifted her eyes to his. Her purple irises shined with unshed tears. “Does everybody bend to your will?”

  Since she kissed the corner of his mouth, he figured she wasn’t too upset. At least not with him.

  “It’s not bending to my will, it’s what’s right, what’s expected. But yeah, usually people do bend.” He wrapped his arms around her. “Although you haven’t.”

  And he rather liked that she pushed back against him.

  Kept him on his game.

  Chapter 17

  Traffic was backed up going east so he’d headed west, and was now passing through Minneapolis. It would have been farther but Augie had driven until nine o’clock and then the idea of her warmth in the bed next to him had him yearning to fulfill that image, so he stopped for the night when usually he would have driven straight through.

  After showering they had breakfast at a diner and hit the road again. Several hours later had them in St. Louis, and Mia was asleep again. She’d slept most of the way the last two days, which didn’t seem like her, but he guessed that seeing her mother had taken its toll on her mentally and now she needed to regroup. It had been seven hours since they’d eaten anything, so he’d pulled into a barbeque joint.

  “Mia?” He squeezed her thigh.

  “Mia, wake up.” But she wouldn’t. Despite the air conditioned interior of the car, her head was sweating. He hadn’t noticed that before. He pulled her toward him. Perspiration framed her delicate face.

  “Shit. Mia?” Her eyes opened ever so slightly.

  “Are we home?”

  “No. We’re in St. Louis.”

  “But I thought you lived in Louisiana.” Her speech was slow and slurred. “Thiss line iss ssseparate.”

  Her words didn’t make sense. Feeling her forehead again, he recognized that she was full of fever. He started the car and drove to the first drugstore he could find. He was in the downtown area now and pulled up next to the curb directly in front of a pharmacy.