by M J Adams
“Going running. See you later.”
“Good luck today,” she said, and he slipped out of the room.
She put a bit more space between her and Max, who’d never slept over with her before. He hadn’t been as handsy as Isaac, but she liked his presence a whole lot. She turned onto her side and watched him sleep in the moonlight, her fondness for him delving deeper than a physical attraction.
She liked this man a lot. So very much. Did she love him?
On some level, yes, she did. A smile slipped across her face, and she reached over and put her hand on his chest. He continued to breathe in and out, his face peaceful and his breathing a safe haven for her.
She closed her eyes, the dreams that slipped through her mind coming quickly. She didn’t fall asleep, but simply dozed, her imagination painting rich pictures of what her life in Wisconsin would be like.
There would be pizza, and laughter, and Max. He’d make sure their bills were paid and their vehicles operational, all while making her heart throb in a way it never had before.
There would be cookies, and conversation, and Luke. He’d take her to church with him, and talk to her about everything she was feeling, and help her come to terms with her new life.
There would be running, and dogs, and Isaac. He’d balance out the stoic Max and the in-touch-with-his-feelings Luke, and he’d make Cora feel like a queen all the time.
She envisioned herself with each of them, building a strong relationship that could weather any storm. She wasn’t exactly sure what that looked like, how that building went, but she wanted to put in the work.
Max rolled over, interrupting her fantasies. “Cora,” he murmured, and she turned onto her side to face him.
“Right here, love,” she whispered, surprised at the words that came so easily to her. His huge hand came down on her waist, and she slithered closer to him until she was tucked right against his chest.
“I love you,” he whispered, and Cora froze. His breathing evened, and she realized he wasn’t fully awake. Did he know what he’d said? How it made her heart race and her soul sing?
Cora smiled against his T-shirt, the scent of him pure muscle and man and musk. Heat started low in her belly, and she wanted him to know she loved him too.
She leaned away from him and placed her lips right against his throat. He stirred, but she’d have to do better than that if she wanted him to wake up and make love to her.
Did she want that?
The episode on the bench yesterday said she did. And not just with Max. But she thought she should at least start with one at a time.
She moved her mouth to another part of his neck, kissing a little more urgently now. His arms around her tightened, and he dipped his head to receive her next kiss. He moved slowly, as if he were coming out of the dregs of sleep, and Cora’s whole body heated at the sensual, sexy way he held her and kissed her.
“We can’t, Cora,” he whispered when she tugged on the bottom of his T-shirt to let him know she wanted that gone.
“Why not?” She kissed him again. “Isaac went running. It’s five-thirty in the morning. No one will know.” She pushed against his shoulder so he’d roll onto his back, which he did. She straddled him, almost desperate to have him inside her.
His eyes opened, and he gazed up at her. “I’m worried we’ll get caught,” he said huskily. “And I don’t want to rush this. Luke will be up in half an hour.”
Cora couldn’t imagine anything they did would take that long. “That’s not enough time?”
Max smiled at her and twisted so she moved back to the bed. “Baby,” he said, placing a kiss just below her earlobe. “Trust me when I say it’s not enough time for what I want to do to you.” His hands slid down her body, and Cora shivered. “I know you’ll sleep with the other guys,” he whispered. “Maybe you want someone fast and rough, who gets you off once. I don’t know. But that’s not really what you’ll get with me.” He dropped his mouth to her neck, his kiss urgent and yet tugging slowly against her skin.
She sighed into his touch, her legs naturally spreading apart. His fingertips skimmed the top of her underwear and his hand slipped under the fabric, lower and lower.
“Max.” She sucked in a breath as he stroked her, his mouth moving to hers in the next moment. This kiss held power and passion, and Cora wanted it all.
He pulled back, his hand moving back to her stomach. “I want to take my time,” he whispered. “Explore all of you. Kiss all of you. Feel all of you.” He laid his head against her chest, and surely he could hear and feel the rapid beating of her heart. “And we can’t do that in thirty minutes. Okay?”
“Okay,” she gasped, willing to let Max be in complete control of this situation.
His hot breath covered her nipple, and she really wished she didn’t have a shirt on. “Plus,” he said. “I really want a door that locks for when we make love the first time.”
She couldn’t help giggling, which made Max chuckle softly too. He kissed her again and looked down at her, his eyes highlight only by the faint light of dawn as it came through the skylight.
“And one last thing: I want you to be able to scream as loud as you want.” He gave her a devilish smile, pressed his hard length into her thigh, and crawled over her to get out of bed. “I’m going to go shower. See you at breakfast.”
“Yeah,” she said to his retreating back. “See you.”
He left, and Cora laid in bed, thinking. Scream as loud as she wanted? Why would she need to do that? Rich hadn’t liked it when she made any noise at all while he had his way with her. Sometimes he’d say, “Beg me, Cora,” and she’d learned to say exactly what he wanted until he was satisfied, got cleaned up, and left her suite.
There was no sexy talk. No conversation. And certainly no screaming. She’d have to ask Max about it later.
She sat up, deciding she was awake and aroused, so she might as well get ready for the day too. A light knock sounded on her door, and she knew it would be Luke standing in the hall.
After hurrying across the room, she opened the door for him. “Hey,” she said with a smile. “Good morning.”
“Can I come in for a sec?” He held a folder under one arm, and Cora put her head on straight. She wasn’t here at Parkwood for a four-way sexual encounter. She was here to get strong, get a new life, move on.
“Of course.” She stepped back, being very careful not to glance around like she and Luke were doing anything wrong.
He came in, and she closed the door behind him. “Look, Luke, I wanted to talk to you about something too.”
He turned toward her, his face completely unreadable. “Yeah?”
“Do you—I mean, I didn’t—Max and Isaac slept over last night.”
“I share a room with them, Cora,” he said. “I figured out I was alone about nine-thirty.”
She couldn’t tell if he was upset or not. “Nothing happened. We just…slept in the same bed.”
“It’s fine,” he said, a tiny blip of emotion finally showing on his face. He sighed. “Honestly, Cora, it is. I told you I would do what you wanted, and I will.” He reached out and cradled her face. “I’m not jealous. This is what we agreed to.”
She nodded, though tears pressed behind her eyes. She wasn’t even sure why. “I love you, Luke.”
He drew her into his arms and held her right against his heart. “I know you do, sweetheart,” he whispered. “I love you, too.”
They stood like that for a few moments, maybe longer. Cora wasn’t sure. She just knew she needed Luke as much as the other two, and she didn’t want to hurt him. “What’s in the folder?” she finally asked, stepping back.
“Your plans,” he said. “I thought now would be a good time to go over a few things.” He glanced around. “Let’s sit over here.” He moved toward the couch, and Cora went with him.
He sat, and she snuggled in beside him. “Okay,” he said, exhaling mightily. “Let’s start with you in Silver Lake. This will be Sunday, two d
ays after you leave here.”
“Luke?”
He looked at her. “Yeah?”
Cora wanted to know the details of her relocation and subsequent escape to Wisconsin. She did. But she wanted to kiss Luke first. So she did.
Chapter 18
Isaac
Isaac refused to wear a jacket and collared shirt to meet with the Grand Master. Max always did, but Max wasn’t as stubborn as Isaac. Lucinda would frown at him, but then the interview would go just fine.
She’d assigned Max to Montana, and everyone expected her to grant Luke permission to return to Aberdeen. Max had told him he better have a state in mind for Lucinda, and as he waited in the post foyer of the barn, he stewed about it.
No, he still hadn’t picked a place. He honestly didn’t care. He knew where he was going to end up, and he wished he could just quit this job like any other.
Play by the rules, Isaac.
Max’s last words to him before he’d left their room after lunch looped through Isaac’s head. He just had to jump through a few more hoops. Survive a few more days here. Then he could be free to do what he wanted.
“Isaac,” Lucinda said, and he stood, automatically pulling his polo down. So maybe he did care what she thought of him.
“You’re looking good,” he said as he crossed the room to where she stood in the doorway of her office.
“Thank you.” She smiled. “As are you.” She gestured him into the room, and he went ahead of her, taking his customary seat in front of her desk while she moved behind it.
“So, let’s start with the easy things,” she said, as if there would be harder ones later. “The relocation of Miss Middleton?”
“All planned and ready,” he said, falling into his soldier voice. “Major Ellis has every detail mapped and planned down to the minute. I’m driving with Miss Middleton to Silver Lake. It’s a two-day drive. She has a house there, and Max will meet us sometime on Saturday night to unload the truck. I believe he’s picking up the furniture and other things from one of our regular dealers out of Amarillo.”
“Ah, the Jason Brothers.” Lucinda nodded and smiled.
Isaac didn’t confirm what she’d said. She obviously already knew the plan. Max had likely turned it in days ago.
“And Miss Middleton is ready for this relocation?”
“In my opinion as her physical trainer, yes,” he said. “She’s grown already, and she’ll make the transition smoothly.”
“I’m sure she will.” Lucinda looked like a plastic, smiling doll for a moment. Then she inhaled and focused on the folder in front of her. “Major Ellis will stay in the Silver Lake area for a few days following the relocation, as per protocol.”
“I believe he’s planning on it,” Isaac said.
“And I need you to check on a few previous charges before your termination.” She tapped her black-painted fingernails against the folder and returned her gaze to him.
Fear struck Isaac right through the heart. He’d known Lucinda for three years, and while she wasn’t his favorite person, he’d always found her to be fair and forthcoming. But he had a feeling that was all going to change.
She wore a look now that felt predatory, and Isaac had the very distinct feeling that she knew about everything. Knew about the way he’d been kissing Cora. The tryst on the bench yesterday. The secret plan to escape to Wisconsin. All of it.
He sat very still and gazed right back at her. Checking on previous charges was routine, something the front team often did after a relocation.
“Will Luke be coming on the checks?” he asked.
“No,” Lucinda said. “Jonas will accompany you.”
“Jonas?” Isaac asked, his eyebrows going up and then drawing down in confusion. “He’s got a new charge coming in on Monday. I don’t see—”
“His team has been reorganized,” the Grand Master said smoothly, her eyes dropping to the folder again. She opened it and took out a piece of paper. “You didn’t write anything on your relocation request.”
Isaac swallowed, shocked Jonas would get reorganized. His team was comprised of his literal brothers. All three of them had come to Parkwood after their parents had died. Why would they split up now?
“I know,” he said. “I was thinking—”
“I’m thinking you don’t really want to quit.” Lucinda popped the T on quit, further alarming Isaac.
“I do, ma’am,” he said. “I’m ready to do something else.”
She cocked her head, clearly in disbelief. “And yet, you didn’t even write in a location. What will you do if you don’t know where you’re going?” She reminded him of the Cheshire Cat in that moment, making insane riddles in a creepy voice.
“I’m resourceful,” he said. “I can do anything.” He didn’t mean to sound arrogant, but it was true. He didn’t have a plan for a job in Richland Center. He’d find something. They’d make it work.
Lucinda smiled. “I’m not sure I’m ready to let you go, Isaac.”
His throat went dry. “I don’t want to start over with a new team.”
She shuffled a couple of papers, not really looking at them. “I’m considering you for a different position within Parkwood.”
“A different position?”
“We’ve been in operation for five years now,” she said. “I need men who can travel to check on things.” She met his eyes. “So not part of a team. But an agent for the company.”
An agent for her, she meant. “I don’t know, ma’am,” he said. “I’m not really the traveling type.”
“I’d like you to try it,” she said, nothing wavering in her voice or expression. “Thirty days. If you don’t like it and still want to move on, I’ll sign your termination papers at that time.” She pulled one page from the bottom of the pile. “But I will need you to put where you’ll be going.”
Isaac’s brain spun. Thirty days. Still working for the Academy. No freedom. No Cora. No Wisconsin. No Max, no Luke.
He leaned forward and took the pen the Grand Master held toward him. “All right,” he said, not seeing another way out of this that wouldn’t cause a problem for everyone else. He scrawled Wisconsin on the paper and pushed it back toward her. “Max said he got a whole state. I’d like that one.”
Lucinda read the state and repeated it out loud. “Interesting,” she said before snapping the folder closed and standing.
Meeting over.
Almost.
At the door, she paused and said, “Isaac, I’d appreciate it if you said nothing of this to Major Ellis or Captain Holt. I don’t want them to…think I’m displeased with them. Since you’ll all be going your separate ways in a few days anyway, there’s no need for them to know about this…new offer.”
“Of course,” he said, wondering how in the world he was going to keep this to himself. He couldn’t. Luke had plans that would likely need to be changed based on this new information. He made to step past her, but the Grand Master blocked him once more.
He refused to give her an inch, show her he was afraid of her at all. His heart did leapfrog in his chest, and every fiber of his being urged him to get away from her.
“Captain Ramsey?”
“Yes, ma’am?”
“I’ll know if you tell them.” She smiled in the most wicked way and backed up so he could open the door and leave.
Isaac bolted from the room, not caring how it looked. She’d just taken his whole future from him, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Once in the safety of the car, he tapped out three words to Luke and Max. Emergency: She knows.
Nothing happened in Luke’s exit interview. He, Max, and Luke huddled together for three nights, trying to riddle out what the Grand Master knew and what she didn’t. She hadn’t acted weird in Max’s interview, and she hadn’t questioned Luke for longer than five minutes.
“Easy, breezy,” he’d said.
Isaac had not told them about the new job offer, only that she’d said all kinds of things tha
t led him to believe he knew of their planned flight to Wisconsin.
But nothing happened. No guards showed up in the middle of the night to haul anyone away. Friday morning came, and Isaac packed his bag as he normally would. They’d drive for eight hours today, stop in Amarillo, and drive the rest of the way to Silver Lake tomorrow. Just him and Cora.
But now Isaac didn’t trust that the vehicle they had was safe to talk in. He felt jumpy about every little sound, and when Daphne whined, he knew he was putting off some seriously bad energy.
“I know, girl,” he said, scrubbing her face. “I’m going to miss you too.” He couldn’t take the dogs with him, and he’d asked Jeremiah to take care of them. He’d agreed, but that was before Isaac knew his team was being reorganized.
He’d since learned that Jeremiah and James—Jonas’s brothers—were staying together. It was only Jonas that was moving to a new team after he returned from the audit of Cora’s relocation.
Isaac wouldn’t be returning at all. He hoped. His plan was to follow what Luke had outlined for him. Pension be damned, Isaac thought as two more pups came over to get some love from him.
“You guys are going to be okay, okay?” he whispered to them. “Jeremiah is a great guy. He loves dogs too. He might even take you running.” Emotion caught in Isaac’s throat, and while he wanted to leave Parkwood Academy, it wouldn’t be easy.
At least not for him. It seemed like Max and Luke would be able to make a clean break, go under the radar, and start their new life with Cora without a hitch.
Isaac wasn’t sure if he’d ever get to Richland Center now. If he had a tail—or even suspected he did—he wouldn’t lead them to Max, Luke, and Cora.
He might have to be on the run for a while. Alone.
He got up and packed another T-shirt, another pair of boots, and his knife kit. He stared down into the bag, wondering what else he could get away with taking. If he was leaving for good, he’d pack it all. Max had orders to return to Parkwood and give a final accounting of Cora’s relocation.