Twin Souls (The Guardians: Book 2)

by D. M. Mortier

  “We’re not dating,” he would say every time he brought her home. “This was just a night out.”

  “Tell yourself whatever you need to, Rico. But you and I both know that we are dating.”

  Each encounter tested his resolve not to make their relationship more intimate. One weekend he took her on his motorcycle to have lunch at his favorite Puerto Rican restaurant. “Casa Borinquen is somewhere I can enjoy food from home,” he told her. “The food is very good, authentic, and the people are friendly. You gave me food from New Orleans. Now you get to sample mine.”

  “I can’t wait,” Cherone had said as she climbed onto the back of his black MonsterR1100 motorcycle.

  Over plates of shrimp in Creole sauce, conch salad with green plantains, fried pork chops, Churrasco and Mofongo, he told her about his childhood on the streets of San Juan. He took pains to tell her about his lack of pedigree and that he had no idea who his parents were.

  “I was left at the entrance of the hospital as an infant. So I don’t know where I came from or who gave birth to me.”

  “It doesn’t matter to me where you came from, Rico. It only matters where you’re going. I know who you are now and could care less about your lack of parents, other than of course, how it has hurt you.”

  “I only have a high school education, pequeña. This is why I’m so adamant that you finish college and have a chance for a career of your choice. I want the world for you.”

  “Rico, you’re an amazing man and I appreciate all that you have accomplished and all you’ve done for me.” She held his hand across the table and held his gaze steadily. “I marvel at just how phenomenal you are, serving our country with courage, honor, and distinction. You are a hero, Rico. If anyone should be concerned it should be me. I’ve done nothing to be worthy of you.”

  Rico sighed at the soothing balm of her remembered sweet words. To hell with what anyone else thinks. When I get back from Iraq, I’m going to make this relationship real. With Cherone safely at the dorm of the university, he settled into his bed knowing that he would not be invading her dreams tonight. The sheets were cool against his still heated skin. A few restless minutes later, he fell into a deep sleep.

  Like a vision, Cherone walked toward him with provocative sensuality wearing a flowing translucent negligee.

  Rico laid sprawl in the middle of the mattress with the sheets discarded to the foot of the bed. With the moonlight streaming through the bedroom window, he could see her clearly. Knowing that this was yet another dream, Rico was astonished at the strength of their connection. They had never been able to share dreams from this distance.

  The pale colored silk illuminated her coffee toned skin. The need to touch her softness gripped him, sending desire sizzling through his body. His breath quickened as Cherone slowly removed the gown from her lush body. Her movements were seductive, sensual, beckoning him to take what was on offer.

  After feeling her erotic lips wrapped around his cock, Rico couldn’t resist her paranormal presence now. Swinging his legs off the bed, he stood and went to her, powerlessly drawn to her and couldn’t help being an active participant in this dream.

  He pulled her tantalizing naked body against his hot skin. The feel of her jolted him, circumventing any hope that could have called a halt to their lovemaking. “You’re not supposed to be in my dreams tonight,” Rico murmured. Their dream-state contact had never felt so real.

  “I can’t stay away. I needed to be with you.”

  Bending his head, he peppered her face with tender kisses before capturing her lips in a devastating kiss. He drove his tongue in the warm cavity of her mouth, groaning as he tasted her sweetness. Wrapping his arms around her, he lifted her in his arms and took her to his huge bed.

  “Will you love me tonight, Rico?” Before he could answer, she reached up, pulled his head down, and kissed him again. She angled her head, darted her tongue into his mouth, and twirled it around his tongue. Deepening the kiss, she trailed her hands down his back and then to his ass. Coming up for air, she trailed her lips along the warm corded column of neck. She was hell-bent on seduction.

  “Please don’t send me away,” she whispered. “I want to belong to you. I’m so ready to be a part of you, mi amor.”

  Given the paranormal state of this encounter, he didn’t see the need to deny her. “God help me, this is only a dream, but I can’t resist you tonight.” He pulled her hands from him and entrapped them in one large hand above her head. Holding her secure against the mattress, he nibbled gently on her lips, her neck, and along the globes of her breasts. She twisted against him, trying to guide his lips to her taut nipple. He teased and tormented her, licking and kissing everywhere but where she wanted him to most.

  “Rico, please!”

  He kissed her stomach instead.

  She moaned and writhed beneath him.

  Rico was merciless. Turning her over onto her stomach, he delivered heated kissed along her spine and to the generous swell of her ass. God, she feels incredible! He gripped the round cheeks and gently bit into each of them.

  “So sweet,” Rico growled. Dragging her up to her knees, he buried his face into her heat and sucked her pebbled clit into his mouth.

  Her cries were muffled against the pillow. He sucked and licked her until she was close to an orgasm, but then he pulled back to keep her from going over the precipice. He did it over and over again until she was almost crying for him to take her. He dropped to his back on the bed and pulled her to saddle him.

  She looked down at him.“Rico?”

  “Shh, querida. I got you, trust me,” he whispered against her soft cheek.

  Kissing her tenderly, he soothed her distress as he spread her thighs over his hips. He held her tight, teasing her sensitive flesh against his thick length. She caught on quickly and was soon rubbing her dewy clit against the hard ridges of his cock, from balls to tip and back again. .

  Cherone trembled as she sensually rolled her hips above him, helpless thrashing with stunning need.

  Rico pulled her higher up his chest until he was able to latch on to one of her fat dark nipples. With the added sucking of his lips and her hard grinding on his thick length, she shuddered into in sizzling release.

  “Muy buena, bella,” he whispered. Rico kissed her tenderly until she quieted and her tremors had subsided.

  He lifted her from his chest and laid her on the mattress. Looking down at her with reverent appreciation, he spread her before him like an eager child with a new toy. “Magnífico,” he said huskily. Bending his head, he pulled the taut flesh of her clit into his mouth. He sucked and licked her relentlessly.

  Cherone cried out as another orgasm ripped through her.

  He rose above her. Placing the bolus broad head of his shaft at the entrance of her core, he bent his head and captured her lips in a deep kiss as he surged into her, thrusting through her snug walls.

  “Oh my God!” she moaned.

  “Did I hurt you?”

  “I can’t feel pain in a dream, Rico,” Cherone said, and yet she grimaced.

  “Poor little baby.” He licked her erect nipples, worrying the taut bud with his tongue before pulling it into his mouth and sucking like a ravenous babe. His thrusts were initially shallow, burying his length inch by inch slowly into her. With each swirl of his hips he sank deeper and deeper into her tight channel until he was buried to the root.

  She dug her fingers into his ass, clutching him tighter to her as he slid in and out. Her feverish gaze captured his as her passionate cries echoed throughout the room.

  He held her hips down on the mattress, pulled her knees up high on his back, and stroked into her. Capturing her lips with his, he swallowed her moans as he pounded into her. Her walls closed around him like a vise as she splintered into a blistering release.

  His desire spiked even further as her flesh pulsed and sucked him deeper in, the silken walls closing tightly around his thick length. Out of his mind with lust, he tunneled into her wi
th no finesse, only wild primal need. Sizzling pleasure shot up his spine. He growled as his seed burst from him, flooding her core.

  Still trembling after such a profound release, he rolled weakly off her. Already drifting back to sleep, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her damp body against him. “Gracias, mi amor, you were beautiful,” he whispered.

  “I love you, Rico.” She petted and kissed him as he slumped down next to her.

  “Best damn dream ever,” Rico murmured. He fell into a deep sleep, feeling content and blissfully happy.

  He was finally at peace.

  Chapter Nine

  RICO WOKE THE next morning feeling well-rested and ready to get his assignment over so he could return and claim his woman. With the memory of her sweetness still so clear in his mind, he was tempted to call Neo to find someone else to complete this mission but knew that wasn’t an option. A man’s life depended on what he and Sean did best—getting in and out of dangerous places others couldn’t.

  He pulled the covers back to climb out of the bed and was stunned by the sight of the blood stained sheet and the sweet scent of Cherone still fresh in the room.

  Fuck! Last night was not a damn dream. She tricked me!

  “Roni!” His roar shook the walls.

  Rico jumped from the bed and marched into her room. It was empty and looked like no one had slept there for a while. He muttered in disgust. Why would she sleep in here when she had slept with me? Holy shit!

  He heard Ray coming up the stairs and turned as he filled the doorway. “Where is she?”

  “Rico, you’re naked, son.”

  Ray’s observation brought him back to his senses. He looked down at himself dispassionately, not giving a damn that he was on full display. He wanted to find Cherone.

  “Are you going to stand there all day? I prefer my Clara didn’t see that.” Ray smiled.

  “Fuck!”

  Rico stalked back to his room, slammed the door, and took a punishingly cold shower. When he got out he reached for his phone and called Cherone. Of course the little sneak didn’t answer her phone. He knew it would be pointless calling her again if she was trying to avoid him. After contemplating how irrational it would be to try to find her on a campus the size of the University of Miami, he kicked himself for giving into her demand to remove her surveillance. But he had other options. He activated the tracking device he had on her using his laptop, and once he located her, he sent her a terse text.

  You lied to me.

  Her lack of response was deafening, which only pissed him off more.

  Rico called Neo. “Delay our departure by two hours.”

  Dressed in black jeans, t-shirt and leather jacket, he swung onto his motorcycle, pulled on his aviators and went hunting.

  Five minutes later, he rode up next to her where she was walking with Amanda and Nic on her way to her morning classes.

  She shrieked and started to struggle as he plucked her from the sidewalk and deposited her across his lap.

  “Hey!” Nic yelled.

  “Rico!” Amanda screamed.

  “Don’t fuck with me, Nic,” Rico snarled.

  “Won’t think of it!” Nic stepped back and held his palms up in surrender.

  “Amanda?”

  “Whatever you say, Rico.” Amanda stepped out of his way, her eyes opened wide.

  “Rico, I swear!” Cherone started struggling again.

  He delivered a hard slap to her bottom. “Be quiet.”

  Cherone stilled.

  You know you have gone too far this time.

  I don’t know what you’re—

  Rico pinched her calf. You will think twice about crossing me again, now don’t speak or think to me.

  Rico drove away from the campus with her draped face down across his lap.

  Cherone was stunned by Rico’s sudden appearance. She should have been scared shitless by this pissed off SEAL, but she wasn’t. After being with him last night, knowing how gentle he was as a lover, she was intrigued by this side of him. Burying her face in the hard muscle of his thigh, she was able to block the stinging wind from her face.

  They arrived at his condo on Edgewater Drive in a few short minutes. He brought his bike to a screeching halt in front of the building, not taking the time to park in the underground garage. With effortless strength, he lifted her in his arms and threw her over his shoulder as he marched inside.

  “Rico, what are you doing? Let me up. I’m getting sick!”

  Rico didn’t break stride or acknowledge the building security sitting in front of the bank of elevators.

  Cherone blushed in embarrassment as the bearded Hispanic man looked at them, grinning. I feel like a sack of potatoes, Rico!

  When they entered the elevator, she tried to reason with him again.

  “Rico? I will go with you, just please let me walk.”

  With legs braced apart, he stood still as a statue.

  The doors of the elevator opened directly into his penthouse apartment. She had never been here before and swirled her head around and around like a swivel-headed doll trying to take it all in. The interior was beautiful. Wide open space, lots of light from the large bay windows, French doors leading to a wrap-around balcony, warm crème colored marble floors, and big comfortable looking sofas.

  “Rico? I know you are angry.”

  Rico strode through the foyer, passed through his open living area, crossed to the stairway, and entered the bedroom. He threw her to the middle of the king-sized bed. Cherone bounced on the mattress before he followed her. His weight anchored her down on the sturdy mattress.

  “Rico?” She tried wriggling from under him.

  Rico clasped both of her hands in his and held them up over her head. With one hand he unclasped his belt and pulled it from his jeans.

  “Rico, you’re scaring me! Say something!” Cherone stared into his dark angry eyes.

  He secured her hands with swift efficient movements to the headboard with his belt.

  “Rico!”

  “You want to be my woman?” he asked.

  “Yes, but Rico…”

  “Then don’t ever play games with me.” He glared down at her, his face inches away from hers. “Don’t lie to me.”He stood up from the bed. “Don’t trick me into doing what I told you I didn’t want to do!” Reaching into his boot, he pulled out a vicious looking knife.

  “I didn’t mean—”

  “Shut up. You’re lying again!” Rico held her T-shirt at the collar and tore it in half.

  Cherone gasped. What the hell?

  “You knew exactly what you were doing.”He sliced through her bra with the knife.

  She shrieked and started testing the integrity of her restraint.

  “You took away my choice last night,” he continued.

  “What are you going to do?” She looked at him with guarded eyes, still uncertain of whether to be afraid or be excited. What the hell—I am excited! I’m already wet! Oh God Rico, yes! Bring it!

  He stood and placed the knife on the nightstand.

  “I only wanted to show you how much I love you,” she told him, struggling with pretend vigor to break free of the belt around her wrists. Rico in this mood was hella interesting. Wait, what is he saying?

  “Manipulation is not love.” He walked slowly to the foot of the bed, pulled her sneakers of her feet, and jerked her jeans down her hips. Discarding her pants, he stared down at her and stilled.

  “Dios mio,” he whispered. His dark gaze roamed over her almost naked figure.

  Cherone felt completely exposed because the cups of her bra had become displaced during her struggle and her breasts were completely exposed. She looked down at herself, not at all surprised to see her nipples tightening under his hot scrutiny.

  His black gaze darkened even further as the tips beaded and stood erect on the creamy globes of her breast. He ran the tip of a finger gently from her cheek, to her neck, between her breasts, over the soft plain of her silken stoma
ch, and finally over silk panties covering her pussy.

  “Dreams don’t do this image justice.” He raised dark accusing eyes to hers. “Ah, I almost forgot, last night was not a dream was it? You were physically in my room, in my bed. Stupid trusting me, I thought you were honest, obedient and had gone back to the university. But no, you sneaked back in.” In stark contrast to his tender caress, he hooked a finger in the edge of the flimsy panty material and tore it from her.

  “Rico?”

  “Last night I didn’t appreciate just how exquisite you are,” Rico said softly.

  She stretched provocatively, reveling in her heady feminine power under his heated gaze.

  He caressed her stomach slowly, running his hand over her hips and then her thighs. He spread her legs, exposing her further.

  She squirmed initially but then relaxed and surrendered completely.

  “Estás bella, beautiful,” he breathed, slipping his finger into her damp heat. “This is what you denied me—the awareness of so much beauty.” Despite his seductive words, his touch seemed mechanical.

  Cherone whimpered and twisted on the mattress under his persistent caresses. She wasn’t certain whether she was trying to get away or give him better access. Her desire for his possession spiked, but she was uncomfortable with how coldly he seemed to be arousing her.

  The rough pads of his finger scrapped over the taut flesh of her clit and teased the mouth of her core. He was persistent in his assault, stroking and ratcheting up her desire.

  She cried out, rolling her hips against his torturous fingers. Pulling impatiently on her restraints, she tried repeatedly to get closer to him. Perhaps if she could touch him, he would be less angry and return to her loving Rico.

  “You robbed me of the gift of savoring this experience with you, robbed me of the right to take care of you the way I wanted. To protect you like I was supposed to.”

  His cool voice was in complete contrast to his erotic caresses. If his eyes weren’t glistening with desire, she would have never known he was as affected by their lovemaking as she was. She couldn’t hide the responses of her body as her juices soaked his hand.