“She had a heart attack.”
A chill ran up my spine when I heard Vincent Prieto’s voice. I carefully replaced the file folders and turned to face him. It was all I could do to keep my expression hard and unreadable. The walls I kept around my emotions were compromised, and that meant my feelings were bouncing all over the place, something I couldn’t afford to do around Prieto.
“You expect me to believe that? Was she in your custody?”
One of his black eyebrows twitched as if he wanted to raise it in a daring glance but refrained. A bit emboldened, I took a few steps closer to him and waited for him to speak.
“We didn’t take her in. She made bail and was released. She died on a park bench a few blocks from her home. As I said, a heart attack.”
Now it was my turn to lift an eyebrow. “Who posted her bail?”
“Tony Stark.”
I snorted and rolled my eyes. “Iron Man, of course.” I didn’t want to look at the holier than thou smirk on his face any more, so I walked passed him in long strides and took my amulet in hand, preparing to orb.
“She was nearly one hundred and seventy five years old, Miss Lincoln. She had a heart attack. It was her time.”
I stopped and closed my eyes, willing the burning tears not to fall. After a long shaky breath, I turned to face him again. “I guess your case is closed then. She’s dead, and you can’t punish her for what she did.”
“I’m not involved to punish her. I’m here to prevent a catastrophe. You understand that, Miss Lincoln. You’ve spent your career doing that same thing.”
I nodded. “Thank you for telling me what happened to her. I realize you aren’t required to offer any information.”
“I’d like to know I can count on you to provide assistance should I need it.”
His grey eyes bore into me, and a rushing sound filled my eyes as I felt myself getting lost in him. I tore my gaze away and shook my head side-to-side. I didn’t want to talk anymore. I didn’t want to have anything to do with this man. “Excuse me. I have to meet some plumbers.”
When I got back to the grotto, I sank down to my rear with a plop and dropped my face onto my bent knees. Even though I refused to cry, my body overrode me, and the tears ran hot down my cheeks. “What the hell is wrong with me?”
This wasn’t normal for me. I didn’t get emotional about my clients. It just wasn’t something I could afford. Still, Charley wasn’t just a client. She was a sweet old lady who loved children and almost never gave me any problems. She even sent me homemade pound cake every year for Christmas.
“I loved that pound cake!”
The plumber was later getting to my house than expected, and it was well past dark before he was gone. I wanted to kick myself for not calling in a MAUC favor, especially when I had to pay the guy’s bill.
It took about an hour to get the mess cleaned up, after which I dialed Beck’s number, cradling the phone on my ear as I grabbed a beer from the fridge. Popping the top, I slipped the bottle into a koozie and pulled a long drink. After a few rings, his phone went into voicemail, and I rolled my eyes. I hated leaving messages.
“Hey, it’s me. Just give me…” I paused when I heard a beep, not surprised to see his image popping up on the screen. I tapped the answer button and headed off towards my office. “Hey.”
“Hello, gorgeous. Sorry about that. Kids and I are having a rough night.”
I frowned and swallowed down another gulp of my beer. “Anything wrong?”
“Just sleepy kids who aren’t showing dad the respect they should.”
“Jilly too?”
His response wasn’t a word, but more of a grumble. I was a little surprised since Jilly was usually the perfect child.
I started up the stairs towards my bedroom. About halfway up I remembered I hadn’t locked my front door and turned on my heel as I spoke again, “We all have our bad days, I suppose.”
“Speaking of, how was yours?”
I listened to some shuffling on the other end of the phone and imagined him plopping onto the couch in his living room. Had he already taken a shower? I rolled my eyes, annoyed with the way my mind wandered. “My day sucked. Are you wearing a shirt?”
His throaty chuckle might as well have been his finger running down my spine for the shiver that thrummed through my body in reaction. “Are you?” he countered.
“Yes, but I could be induced to change that.”
“Miss Lincoln, are you propositioning me for phone sex?”
My cheeks flamed, but I grinned just the same. “Uhm, no, really I’m not. I’d rather have the real thing.”
He paused a moment, and I knew it was on the tip of his tongue to invite me over. Still, he had been really good about not pressuring me on weeknights. I almost always spent the weekends with him and the kids, but being in my own home was important to me. Beck was good enough to give me the space I needed. Finally, he took a deep breath. “So what happened today?”
Emotion threatened to well up, but I took a long swig of my drink to force it back down. “One of my charges died. A really nice old woman.”
“Oh, baby, I’m sorry. What happened?”
“Heart attack. I’m fine,” I waved my hand in the air as if he could see the dismissive gesture. “She’d lived a very long time. A good long life as they say,” I wasn’t exactly sure that was completely true as I’d only known Charley for about ten years. Plus the questions about her behavior the night before called into question everything I knew about her.
“Why don’t you come over?”
My mind said “no” immediately, but when I opened my mouth the word “okay” somehow popped out in a soft murmur. My teeth clacked when I snapped my jaw closed as if I could stop the word before he heard it.
“Just come when you’re ready, babe. The kids are already in bed.”
I hung up, swallowed down the last of my beer and hurried upstairs to pack a small overnight bag. Within thirty minutes, I was there on Beck’s porch and within no more than thirty seconds, I was encased in his strong arms. He’d been waiting there for me, and as soon as I’d appeared, he embraced me. It was good he did it on the sly because if I’d anticipated it I would have dodged. Not because I didn’t want to be in his arms, but because I knew my feelings were still too raw for touchy-feely. I would have been afraid of breaking down and crying again.
As it was, I managed not to cry. I just buried my head into his chest and took a deep, cleansing breath. “You smell like food.”
“I wonder why.” He laughed, then turned towards the door, his arm slipping to my waist so that he could urge me into the house. “I’m whipping up some supper for you. I figured you hadn’t eaten. So you head that way, and I’m heading this way to finish up.”
He pointed down the hall while he padded off to the kitchen. I watched him go, admiring the sexy shape of his backside under his shorts. I hadn’t spent nearly enough time exploring the man’s strong calves, and before he disappeared I mentally told myself to resolve that soon.
Curious, I gazed in the direction he’d told me to go. Raising an eyebrow, I started that way. The bathroom door was closed, but the light was on inside and steam was coming from under the door. A little note was taped to the handle.
Take your time. Relax. Remember I love you.
Beck was entirely too romantic, I thought to myself as I opened the door and stepped inside. The room was toasty, a half-full bubble bath of hot water in the tub. I wanted to be disgusted with the sappy display of affection, but I was too busy stripping off my clothes so that I could sink down into the inviting suds.
As I dropped into the water, all the muscles in my body tightened a moment and then dissolved so that my limbs all felt like jelly. I took some time to enjoy it. When I opened my eyes, I noticed the glass of chardonnay on the little table opposite the sink. I sat up, water sloshing almost to the rim, and reached for the wine.
“Ahhh…” I murmured as that first big sip trailed down my throat.
Any remaining tension melted away.
I wasn’t sure how long I stayed there, but the scent of something yummy awoke my stomach, and it growled loudly. With a sigh of resignation, I cleaned up and got out of the tub to get dressed.
Beck must have heard me, because by the time I got to the kitchen he had a plate in hand and motioned me to the table. Dutifully I sat, and my mouth began to salivate at the sight. Chicken stir-fry, a little bit scorched and just the way I liked it. My current favorite meal.
With what I was sure was a goofy expression, I looked up him. “What am I going to do with you?”
“You can start by eating.”
I probably should’ve been embarrassed, but I ate the first and second helping before finally stopping for air. I told Beck to sit while I cleaned up the kitchen. He didn’t usually let me help, but tonight he must have sensed my need to move around, since he didn’t even put up a fight.
“So why do you think she did that? I mean, using her magic out in the open like that?”
“I haven’t got a clue,” I told him, scrubbing extra hard as I considered things. “She isn’t like that. Wasn’t like that. I had an incident with her last year, but it was very small, and she called me immediately to clean things up. I would’ve never expected her to be the type to incite this kind of attention.”
“Maybe she was sick. I mean, people do weird things when they’re not well, and if she died less than twenty-four hours later, she must have been.”
“Yeah, I’m sure you’re right. It just rubs me wrong. And that damned Enforcer was so smug, as if Charley was a firebrand and I was covering up for her.”
Beck came up behind me, his hands settling on my shoulders to massage away the returning knots. “It sounds like what probably really got to you was that guy. You aren’t one who likes to be questioned. And if Charley was your responsibility, you take that seriously. But you’ve got to let this go, gorgeous. You’re starting to spark.”
My brows pulled together, and I wondered what the hell he was talking about. He slid his fingers down my arms and held my hands out palm-up in front of me. My fingers were snapping with little glitters of electricity. I fisted them and took a deep breath. When I opened them again, all was back to normal.
“Doesn’t that freak you out a little?” I asked as I turned in his arms to peck a kiss to his lips.
“What really worries me about that is that I’ve never once seen you do it when I make love to you. I’m thinking I might need to work on my game.”
I laughed, but the hot rush of desire building down below was anything but funny. I grabbed his shirt and pulled him close for a kiss. Our mouths opened in unison, tongues plunging deep. When we finally parted, I was weak-kneed and holding onto him for balance. “Let’s retire to your bedroom and see what we can do to work on that game, then.”
Our year together had seen us explore all sorts of sex, and I always enjoyed every minute of it. It seemed I wouldn’t soon tire of this man because all it took was a certain look to get me hot.
Tonight that look was just as hot as ever, but still wholly different. His eyes skimmed over me from head to toes and back up, settling for a long, hard look into my eyes. My soul felt exposed and bare, and a shiver raised goosebumps on my skin.
“Don’t talk. Don’t do anything. I’m in control tonight, okay?”
I wanted to object. I wasn’t good at handing over the reins. Somehow, all I could do as I stared at him was nod my head in agreement. He placed his hands on my shoulders and nudged me backwards towards the bed.
After my shower, I’d dressed in a pair of flannel pants and a T-shirt. Skimming his hands in a soft caress down my arms, he grabbed the hem of the shirt and pulled it over my head, being sure to do it slow enough that his touch tickled along my ribs, teasing my breasts on the way up. I licked my lips and closed my eyes, wanting to press myself into him and make him take one of my swollen and aching breasts in his hand.
But I remained still and silent, waiting.
I felt his warm breath against my face as he leaned in to place a tender kiss to each of my eyes, then my nose and finally my lips. I wanted a full kiss, but his mouth moved lower, grazing my shoulders with little touches, marking the way down to the hollow between my breasts and then to my navel. I inhaled sharply, sucking in my stomach. Beck chuckled as his hands took hold of the waist of my pants and tugged them down to my ankles. I obligingly stepped out of them and watched as he tossed them into the corner.
I was naked now, both physically and emotionally. Every nerve on my skin and every one in my mind and heart throbbed for the man before me. He stood and offered me a half-grin, his eyes heavy with the same desire I felt for him.
“Lay down, gorgeous.”
I did, so fast the bed bounced a little with my weight. Beck flicked his hand at me, and I realized he wanted me to roll over onto my belly. I did, my feet dangling over the edge and my chin resting on my hands as I waited for whatever would come next. The springs squeaked as he knelt down next to me. My hair fluttered like feathers across my back as he swept the thick locks to the side.
And then his fingers, oh goodness those heavenly fingers of his, began massaging my muscles, kneading away tension from spots I didn’t even know existed. I put my face down into the mattress, for a moment holding my breath and enjoying the tightness and pain of refusing to let myself exhale.
When the air did gush out of my lungs, all that tension I’d been holding onto settled down deep in my abdomen, pooling in my core. I was torn, wanting to continue to receive this back rub but also wanting to make love with Beck. Since he was in charge, I didn’t have much choice.
He was working his way lower, thumbs gliding over my backside and getting dangerously close to the wetness between my legs. A little moan welled up inside me. He bypassed the place I thought I most wanted him to touch and instead worked on my thighs, instructing each muscle to let go. By the time he found my feet and toes, all my extremities were loose and limp.
I felt Beck move and his weight come down against my knees, straddling me so that he could lean down and prop himself on one elbow. That allowed his lips free access to my shoulder, my neck, my cheek, and if I turned my head, to my lips. He kissed those lips just as his free hand skimmed along my rear and then delved down to the heat of me.
“Beck…” I couldn’t help moaning his name when his fingers entered me.
“Shhh…” His mouth caressed my lips.
It was an exquisite paradox. His massage had left all of my muscles so loose and weak that I was almost immediately responsive to his touch. I tightened around his fingers, unable to move against him because of the way his body was against mine. I was totally at his mercy, and it was absolutely liberating to give everything up and just let him make the sweetest love to my body.
My climax came in slow, undulating waves that went on for what seemed like forever. I was still riding that wave when Beck somehow flipped me over, wrapping me up tight into his arms as he entered me in one swift thrust. We rolled together, as I tried to offer back as much to him as he’d just given me. I was rewarded when we both shuddered together, his lips murmuring I love yous against my ear.
Something was touching my face. I batted at it and buried my head deeper into Beck’s pillow. The something, whatever it was, switched tactics and started blowing in my ear. I pulled the covers up over my head so that none of my skin was exposed. When a tiny voice started speaking to me, I finally decided the something wasn’t going to give up.
“What?” I whispered, sitting up in bed.
There were about fifty teeny men scattered around the room, and all of them were staring at me with wide, black eyes. Each of them had a little spear in his hand, and they were all dressed like little miniature Robin Hoods.
I glanced down at the bed, looking for Beck, but I was alone. Alarm sprouted up in me. I began to demand some answers from the tiny people in the room, but my brain finally kicked into gear and I realized what they were.
/> Brownies.
And if they were brownies, that meant I wasn’t really awake at all. They were a type of fairy that visited people in their dreams. Situating my blankets, I settled my dream self against the headboard and faced the brownie closest to me. “What can I do for you?”
He grinned and hopped down from the footboard onto the bed walking across my leg to get nearer to me. “You assume we need your help?”
I shrugged. It was an assumption, true, but I was a Neutralizer. What else was I to think? “I certainly didn’t call for you.”
Another brownie, this one a little chunkier, started laughing, banging his spear against Beck’s chest of drawers with each guffaw. “We do not come when asked. We come when necessary.”
“Maybe it’s just because I’m still asleep, but I don’t really understand.”
“You’re in danger.”
Those words were spoken by all fifty-something of them. Their voices all sounding in unison was a little creepy, especially since this was a dream. “I can take care of myself.”
“It will swallow you up. If you don’t get out now you’ll go under.”
And then they were gone. The very moment they disappeared, a profound sense of sleepiness came over me. Waves of exhaustion rode me until I settled down into the blankets and a black pall of sleep stole all awareness.
~oOo~
I awoke to the smell of coffee. Opening my eyes, I found Beck sitting on the edge of the bed with a steaming mug in his hand. I grinned, wiped the sleep from my eyes and sat up. “Good morning.”
“Sleep well?” he asked, handing me the mug before standing and slipping into his sports coat.
“I did. You and the kids about to head out?”
“They’re already in the car. I told them you were here, but that you were very sleepy and not to be disturbed. I only caught Jilly sneaking in once, but she tried to be very quiet about it. I hope you got enough sleep.”
A Bundle of Trouble (The Lynlee Lincoln Sets Book 1) Page 21