"You good?" Connor asks, moving behind me as his hand moves possessively across my stomach and tugs me back into him.
Benson and I exchange a glance, and I know I'm finally done here. He nods once, and I look up at my boyfriend with a stupid grin on my face. "I'm so good. Take me home?"
His grin turns lopsided, and he scoops me up and throws me over his shoulder. I squeal and smack him on the ass, but I'm laughing as he calls out his goodbyes and carries me to the truck. He helps me into the passenger seat and buckles me in, his fingers brushing across my skin, and everywhere he touches shoots pulses of lust straight between my legs.
Shit, it's going to be a long drive.
We don't quite make it back to Connor's house—our house—in time to watch the sunset, but there's nothing I want to do more than forget about the bags and boxes that need to be unpacked or what I'm going to do with my life starting tomorrow. Right now, after a long drive and an emotional morning, all I want to do is sink my toes into cool sand under a sky filled with stars with Connor's hand in mine.
And just maybe, he'll strip me naked under the moonlight and show me everything we've had to hold back for the past few days. If the way his eyes heat and roam over my body, undressing me with only a look is any indication, I think I might just get my wish. There's nowhere else in the world I want to be but right here, right now, as Connor wraps around me.
Tonight I want to get lost in desire and love so intense, it steals my breath, so that's exactly what I'm going to do.
One month later…
"Tell me about the other situation," I say, pinching the bridge of my nose. I've been back at work for a fucking month, and Christ, it's been nothing but headaches from the fallout of the Death Kings-Reign of Chaos bullshit. I'm beyond ready for that chapter to fucking close for good.
Then I think about Gigi, and everything inside me relaxes. It's not realistic to think I'll ever be free of the club now that I'm tied to them through her, but I need to throw myself into some new clients before I go insane.
Ronin's forehead wrinkles as he looks at me. "What other situation?"
"The one we talked about last month when you helped me with the ROC thing. The girl? I can't sit here and listen to more bullshit about motorcycle clubs. I can't even look at my bike right now. I need a distraction."
His whole body tenses. "I'm not talking about that. Now, I think this will be the last update on the biker shit, so you can pull the stick out of your ass. Julian left a stack of files on your desk this morning for new potential clients, so you'll have plenty to do as soon as we're done here."
Sighing, I lean back in my chair, resigned. If I'd thought to have this meeting in my office instead of the conference room, I could be flipping through the files while Ronin talks, but as it is, I'm stuck listening.
Don't get me wrong—I'm happy with the way everything turned out in the desert. Really, there couldn't have been a better outcome, but Gigi's been doing so well adjusting to her life here, I'm really just sick of thinking about it.
"Timothy's hasn't shut up about everything Gigi managed to get while she was in that bunker. He's practically giddy because he's sure there's enough evidence there won't be plea deals. Two of the six have already pleaded guilty." Timothy was Ronin's FBI contact, an old friend from when he was in the military after our time in together.
"When do the other four trials start?" Once those are over, this will truly be over, at least for me. Benson still has his hands full dealing with the fallout in his own club and the Death Kings' retaliation. I've already told him I'm staying the fuck out of it, but if he needs equipment, I'll help him out. Saint's already been out here twice to see Sebastian, who's started teaching him some complex computer shit I couldn't understand when he explained it to me.
"The first one's in about a month. The final charges ended up being human trafficking, drug trafficking, unlawful possession of firearms, kidnapping… There's really a bit of everything," he says with a grin. I know he wanted a more violent outcome when we stormed that shack in the desert and brought Gigi home, but if he couldn't have that, he wants to see these guys go down for what they did, just like any good law enforcement officer would want.
Even if he doesn't wear the uniform, he still has a bit of that blue inside him, and I don't know if he'll ever be able to shake it.
"I talked to Benson this morning," I say, and Ronin coughs to attempt to cover up his laugh, but it doesn't work, and I glare at him. "What?"
"Nothing, it's just cute how often you two talk. He's like your new BFF." He bats his eyelashes at me.
Choosing to ignore his teasing, I finish what I was saying. "Harlow seems to be settling in with the ROC, so we can consider that loose end dealt with."
Out of the women we recovered from the basement, all but one was able to return back to their lives pre-kidnapping and attempted sex trafficking. Harlow had a past she refused to talk about, but Tiffany took her under her wing and brought her back to the Reign of Chaos clubhouse for the time being. Based on my conversations with Savage, Harlow was going to stay and live the sweet butt life, at least until she figured out what else she wanted to do.
"That's everything, right? I actually have somewhere to be," I say, checking the time on my phone. Since I brought Gigi home, I've been a lot more distracted. Where I used to be the guy who got lost in work until all hours of the night, now I couldn't wait to get out of the office and back to the girl who's become my entire life.
Ronin gives me a bit of a sad smile before he nods. "Yeah, go. We can deal with whatever comes up."
As soon as I'm up out of the chair and on the move out of the office, my mind's already on Gigi and how her face lights up the minute she sees me and how I hope she loves the surprise I've been working on for the last month.
Some people might judge the speed of our relationship and think we did things backward, moving in together before we got to know each other very well, but I knew from the first time I saw Gigi she was it for me. No one before and definitely no one since has caught my eye and stuck with me like she did. I didn't expect to find my forever when I walked into that clubhouse a few months ago. Gigi has a way of catching me off guard and surprising the hell out of me on a regular basis, so I can't say I'm all that surprised things ended up where they did.
I pop into Julian's office on my way out the door. He's on a call but rolls his eyes at me before waving me off. He's busier than ever now that I'm spending less time in the office, but he doesn't seem to mind. Like all of my guys, he's dedicated to the job and doesn't have anyone or anything at home waiting for him. Outside of Ryan, every single person I've brought onto my team lives and breathes the job with a dedication that's hard to find, though now that I've figured out what it means to be content with someone outside of work, I wouldn't mind fucking up the dynamic a bit.
My truck's parked outside, and the drive over to MJ's isn't long, but when I pull up and go inside Midnight Ink, it feels like a lifetime since I last laid eyes on my girl. I drink her in from the messy bun on top of her head down her subtle curves to her cutoff jean shorts. Her legs go on forever, and suddenly all I can think about is wrapping them around my waist.
Gigi's got black latex gloves on, and she's on a rolling stool right next to MJ, staring down at the girl they're currently tattooing. When the door closes behind me, she looks up, and her reaction doesn't disappoint. She gives me a bright smile and hops up, running across the room and launching herself at me without even bothering to take off her gloves. I laugh as I catch her, and her legs go around my waist like I'd just been fantasizing about.
Her body fits perfectly against mine, and her lips find my neck before she kisses me hard. I groan because now I'm fucking hard standing here while MJ and his client watch, but there's a part of me that doesn't even care; that wants to take her into the back room and fuck her against the wall. But, there will be time for that later, so I slowly slide her down my body, letting her feel how she affects me, and at her soft g
asp, I chuckle and drop a kiss to her neck. I watch as she shivers, feeling really fucking pleased with myself that she reacts that way every time I touch her.
In fact, every day that passes, she comes out of her shell more, thriving like even I didn't know was possible. She belongs here with me, and if she ever changes her mind, well… she'll find out just how possessive I can be.
"What are you doing here?" she asks with her bright eyes tipped up in my direction.
"I came to steal you away. I told MJ you're mine for the rest of the day," I say in a way that leaves no doubt about how I'd deal with an argument if he should try. Being the smart man he is, he doesn't bother with anything other than a knowing grin and waving Gigi off.
Once she disposes of her gloves and washes her hands, we climb into my truck. "Where are we going?" Her voice is filled with excitement, and surprising her has become one of my favorite things to do since she came home with me. Everything is new to her, so it doesn't take much. Even little things like a new type of food or a movie theater date night are a big deal to Gigi, and I don't want her to miss out or feel deprived of anything.
"You'll see." I keep it vague, but she doesn't press, happy to connect her phone to my stereo and find a song to sing along to. It's only about a fifteen-minute drive, and when we stop, an adorable crease appears between her eyebrows.
"Where are we?"
"Downtown Laguna." I know that's not what she's asking; she's lived in Laguna Beach with me long enough now that she knows the area and recognizes it. She rolls her eyes, and I laugh while I walk around the truck and grab her hand.
We walk down a few storefronts to an empty one, and I pull a set of keys out of my pocket and open the door for Gigi to step through. I follow her inside and close it behind us. The space smells a little musty, but it's bright and clean.
"What is this?" she whispers, spinning around to take it all in with wide eyes before those beautiful green orbs settle back on me, filled with a million questions.
"I know you're not ready yet," I start, moving closer to her so I can hold her hand. Touching Gigi is one of my favorite things to do. Whenever I'm in the same space as she is and my hands aren't on her, I consider it a wasted opportunity. "But this is going to be your studio. Until you finish with MJ, you can use it as a quiet place to draw or make it into whatever you want, but it's yours when you're ready."
I spin her so we're facing each other, and her eyes are shimmering with tears that haven't fallen yet. She looks overwhelmed. "You're so fucking talented and have so much passion, I never want you to feel held back or like you can't follow your heart. This is me proving to you that no matter what you want to do in this life, I'll do anything to give it to you, Gigi. If you let me, I'll give you forever."
She leans up and gives me a watery kiss and then murmurs a thank you against my lips before I bend down and grip her thighs, lifting her up, so her legs wrap around my waist. I'm picking up where we left off at MJ's. I kiss her hard and fierce, trying to show her with my tongue how much I want her—how much I need her—and that I'll never let her go. Her fingertips graze lightly down my arms, sending electric sensations across my skin. My dick throbs as I push her up against the wall, already so hard for her I couldn't think straight.
Her hand slips down between us, grabbing my cock and squeezing gently. I can't help thrusting up into her hand, and I growl in protest when she pulls back, but she doesn't leave me waiting long. Gigi's hand fumbles with the button on my jeans, and once it's open, her hand dips inside. Her delicate fingers circle my cock, her thumb brushing across my piercing. It's so fucking sensitive. I inhale sharply at the contact, needing more.
She gives me a couple of long strokes before she focuses her attention on the button on her own shorts. I bat her hand away and rip it open, pushing my hand inside. I run my fingers down the thin material that separates me from her dripping pussy. My knuckles rub across her clit a few times, making her roll her hips against me.
I watch as her head falls back against the wall, her eyelashes fluttering closed as her chest rises and falls with her breaths. "You want me to fuck you up against this wall, little demon?"
"Connor…" My name rolls off her tongue like a prayer, and I step back enough to rip her jeans and panties off in one move before kicking my own off and lifting her back up.
Lining myself up, I waste no time slamming into her until I'm buried balls deep. Gigi's pussy squeezes me so tightly, my knees go weak. Before I've even moved, intense pressure is building at the base of my spine. Being inside Gigi is a lesson in humility because if I'm not careful, I'll come as soon as I'm wrapped inside her.
When I've gotten myself under control, I slide almost all the way out of her, and she gasps as I thrust back hard inside her. I want her too much to take my time, and the way she responds to me tells me she feels the same. Her nails bite into my back, leaving behind evidence of our fucking that I can wear around on my skin for days after.
"Don't stop," she cries out as my fingers dig into her thighs. I watch as her fingers slip down between us and play with her clit, and I can't help but yank her shirt up, lower my head, and suck one of her nipples into my mouth, running my tongue across the hardened peak.
Her pussy twitches around me as I fuck her, and I know she's about to come. "Come all over my cock, baby. Let me watch you fall apart."
Her cries of pleasure fill the room as she squeezes me so fucking tight, I can't help but follow her over the edge. My dick jerks inside her as I fill her up while her cunt still convulses around me. Aftershocks course through my body, making me twitch involuntarily while I press soft kisses to her swollen lips.
I help her lower to shaky legs and bend down to help her into her shorts, dropping a kiss to her inner thigh while I do and feeling an intense sense of satisfaction as I watch my cum drip out of her. Someday, I'll knock her up, and I'm surprised to find the idea of that isn't nearly as terrifying as it once was.
But for now, we've got time. She's missed too much, and the timing isn't right. We'll get there, and until then, practice makes perfect, right?
"What are you grinning about?" she asks, eyeing me with flushed cheeks and hooded eyes from what we just did.
Before I can tell her, my phone goes off, saving me from a conversation I know she's not ready for yet. I hold up my finger as I answer my phone, and she raises her eyebrow at me, putting her off. "Where the hell are you, Jamison? And why isn't Gigi answering her phone?" Ryan's pissed-off voice carries through the phone, and Gigi winces.
It's my turn to lift my eyebrows at her. "I've got her here with me, and we're taking a late lunch," I say, smirking at the flush that creeps up Gigi's chest and neck.
"You need to bring our girl down here now. We've got a gym date." In the month since Gigi's been here, she and Ryan have become good friends, and they've been working on self-defense shit in the gym for the past couple of weeks. Gigi says it makes her feel less afraid and more confident, and Ryan says it keeps her from wanting to kick my ass for putting her on desk duty.
Ryan can threaten me all she likes, but she's not stepping foot anywhere near the field until she has her baby.
I look to Gigi to make sure she still wants to go, and she's busy straightening herself out. She's running her fingers through her hair and gives me one of her warm smiles as she nods. "We'll be there in half an hour," I tell Ryan before disconnecting the call.
"You know, if you don't want to hang out with Ryan, we can go home and continue this," I say, nuzzling my face into her neck and breathing deeply. My dick perks up again at the scent of me on her.
She laughs and pushes lightly against my chest. "Rain check for after?"
I throw my head back and groan. "If I have to. I guess I'll go be a responsible boss and get some shit done while you wrestle around in tight clothes with Ryan." My head snaps up, and I give her a predatory grin while I pull her back into my arms. "On second thought, maybe I'll just sit and watch."
She squirms in my hold an
d laughs, slapping my chest. "Oh, no, you don't. I'm sure Julian can use your help sorting through whatever you left him to do while you messed around with me this afternoon. C'mon." Gigi grabs my hand and tugs me out of the store with her, waiting for me to lock up.
When we're back in my truck and headed for the office, she turns toward me with a soft smile. "Thank you again for the store, but more than that, for believing in me and for loving me when I didn't know how to love myself. I hope I never have to know what it's like to do this life without you. I love you, Connor."
At her words, my pulse spiked, and warmth courses through my veins. "I love you, too, Gigi." Sneaking little peeks out of the corner of my eye at her in the late afternoon sun, the way it halos her profile and makes her look ethereal, I'm struck again with the urge to throw her over my shoulder and drag her to the nearest minister. It's this primal need to lay the ultimate claim, to tie her to me so completely nothing will ever separate us again.
My future wife, though… she's just not ready for that yet. So, I'll do what I've been doing for the last few weeks and shove that feeling down, making myself a promise it's not forever, just for now. The day will come when she'll wear my ring and have my children, but today isn't it. For now, I'm happy with her by my side and in my bed.
Gigi saunters into my office, freshly showered from her sparring session with Ryan. She smells fantastic, even if a part of me is pissed, she washed me off her body. "Ready to go home? I'm starving."
I nod, already imagining all the ways I'm going to make her come as soon as we finish dinner when my phone buzzes. People don't randomly call or message me, so I never ignore it when my cell goes off. Not unless I'm inside Gigi.
When I look at who's calling, I'm surprised. "Montana? What's wrong?" Shadow Phoenix's fiery manager isn't usually the one calling me when there's a problem. The guys typically deal with me on their own.
"I didn't know who else to call," she says, sounding panicked, and immediately I sit up straighter on alert.
Captive: A Bodyguard Romance (Hollywood Guardians Book 1) Page 28