Stranded With My Brother's Best Friend

by J. L. Beck

  “We can’t bring a civilian on this!” Walker yelled.

  “I can stay hidden. Watch your six or whatever it is.”

  Harris grinned at her. “So dammed cu—”

  “Don’t say it!” She raised her pointer finger at him.

  “Watch our six?” He chuckled.

  “Yes. I can be a lookout or something.”

  “We cannot chance it,” her brother shot her down again.

  “Then where are you going to put me while you are out…Out doing what exactly?”

  “We…” Harris’ voice faded away.

  “Sis.” Walker stepped up to her. “We are going to go and kill someone.”

  Blinking her eyes, she swung her gaze to Harris’ face.

  He nodded.

  “T-the person who tried to kill the both of you?”

  Walker nodded as Harris looked away.

  “Well, I’m with you.”

  They both turned to stare at her.

  “This man tried to kill my brother and…You, Noah.”

  His eye met hers. He sighed and nodded his head.

  The look in his eyes told her more than most of the times she’d tried to read him. He looked as if he wanted to grab her up again. She shivered a bit. “Besides, he sent hit men after me too!” Her eyes went beady. “I almost died. I’m in this whether you like it or not.”

  “Stubborn much?” Harris quipped.

  “Don’t egg her on, Harris,” Walker snapped.

  Harris and her locked gazes then the both of them laughed.

  “What’s so funny?” Walker asked.

  “She’s got this thing about eggs…” Harris chuckled.

  “I do not! Speaking of that…we need breakfast,” she quickly changed the subject. “Come on SEAL boys and help me fix it.”

  Harris glanced over at Walker.

  Her brother looked puzzled. “But you can’t cook!”

  She scoffed. “I can so!” She marched into the kitchen.

  The men followed her in.

  Walker looked doubtful. “Did she actually cook for you, Harris?”

  He paused at the question.

  Riley giggled. Yes, sizzlin’ hot. I was tucked full, baked, turned over and put out soaking wet.

  Harris gave her the eye, warning her not to say anything. “Well, she scrambled some um…eggs?”

  “And she didn’t burn them?”

  Riley spun around and put her hands on her hips. “Burn them?”

  “Yeah sis, really. You have actually started fires.”

  Harris bit at his lip to keep from laughing.

  “Well, maybe since my amnesia, I have changed.”

  Walker shook his head. “And pigs will fly.”

  Harris burst out laughing.

  “I’ll cook.” Walker stepped to the fridge. “I need to do something normal for a change. Just go sit or something.”

  “Want any help?” Harris asked.

  “Nah. I got it.”

  The couple retreated to the bar.

  “OJ?” Harris asked with a wink.

  She grinned at him. “Straight up?”

  He chuckled and handed her the orange juice. “No ice, though.” He raised a brow at her.

  “You are so stingy on the ice. I mean we are in ice, Harris. There’s a shit ton of it just outside the door.”

  Snickering at her ranting, he grabbed a bottle of water.

  “Just water?”

  He nodded and came around to sit next to her.

  She reached out to the cut below his eye. “I’m sorry about this morning.”

  He looked into her eyes. “I deserved it and more.”

  “Harr—”

  He grabbed her chin. “I knew what I was doing. I am a bastard you know?”

  “You are not!”

  “Oh, but I am.”

  “You are a beautiful one though,” she whispered.

  Laughing, he kissed her lightly on the lips.

  Wanting so much more, she grabbed his face to get a real kiss.

  He pulled back “Oh, no. Not while big brother is around.”

  Riley pouted.

  “So adorable.” He grinned.

  “I can’t help it if you are too scared.”

  He raised a brow at her. “Really? You’re going to go there again?” His voice went low in warning.

  Riley giggled. “Oh, hell yeah. Again and again.”

  He tilted his head back and laughed.

  “Come and get it, guys!” Walker called from the kitchen.

  They rose up and got their plates then sat at the breakfast nook counter.

  “Wow, omelets, eh?” Harris looked impressed.

  “Yeah, in our household, the men cooked.” He laughed.

  Riley raised her fork. “Can you tell me about our family?”

  Walker sat and looked surprised. “Tell you?”

  Harris spoke up, “She doesn’t remember. Remember?”

  “Oh. Well, we had great parents.” He took a bite of his food.

  “Had?” she asked.

  He nodded and took a sip of his milk then swallowed. “They died two years ago in a car crash.”

  Gasping, Riley dropped her fork with a clatter.

  Harris grasped her hand.

  “What kind of crap is that?” She glared at her brother.

  “What?” He wiped his mouth with a paper towel.

  “No preamble, no easing into it. Just… they’re dead!”

  He stared at her. “I’m sorry. It’s just that I’m used to it by now. And maybe with what I’ve been through, I lost my dammed sensitivity, ok?”

  Riley stared at him.

  “Besides, no one knew who caused it. Was a hit and run.”

  She felt saddened…Cheated somehow.

  “Until you poked your nose in it. Tracked the man down and the evidence. Gave it to the cops and the man is in prison.” He took another bite of his food.

  Her eyes widened.

  “Well, I believe that.” Harris took a forkful of his food too.

  Riley stared down at her plate.

  “Eat, Ridge.” Harris nodded at her.

  “Why do you keep calling her that?” Walker asked.

  Harris shrugged. “She didn’t have a name.”

  “So, you gave her one?” Walker stared at him.

  “Yeah. I mean what? Should I have called her SHE?”

  Walker laughed. “I bet she drove you nuts.”

  Harris laughed with him. “Absolutely looney.”

  “HELLO? I’m sitting right here!” she yelled.

  The guys both laughed.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  Noah and Tanner sat over their plan of attack for a couple of hours. How to get in and how to get out. Faulkner had an estate that was nearly attack proof. It would be gutsy to go after a general and just the two of them too. However, two of their kind was like 20 normal men.

  Yet, they had no choice but to kill this man. Their lives would never be safe as long as he lived. Ridge would never be safe. This alone was enough reason to take the fucker out.

  Tanner had told him of the trail he’d followed. From the suicide bomber that set himself off that fateful day, all the way to the source of the bomb, then a payment to the bomber’s family. Before he could go further, he’d been captured and got loose after a month. Following his escape, he went to pick up his secret cash. They all had access to immediate funds for getting out of tough spots, bribing officials, paying for access to get through customs and out of different backwater countries. Using it to buy his way to the top of the chain, Tanner found Faulkner was the man who’d ordered it. He had sabotaged their team. Two men dead. Two good men.

  Noah didn’t doubt Tanner’s findings. He was as good as Noah was, trained the same way. No, there was no mistake. Tanner told him of the chain of discovery and it all made sense.

  Tanner stood up and stretched his body. “Okay, I’m going to get some rest. It was quite the trip up this dammed mountain. Then in the m
orning, we’ll get our weapons and explosives ready, check the copter over, load it up and be ready.

  Noah nodded.

  “So where did my kid sister go?”

  Noah shrugged. “Said she was taking a nap?” He hid his smile, because in fact knew she was sleeping soundly. He’d worn her out last night, though he certainly wasn’t going to tell this man that.

  Tanner shook his head. “God dammed stubborn…” He sighed.

  “Can I ask you something?” Noah met his eyes. He paused as he realized brother and sister had the same eyes. Maybe that was what seemed familiar about her when he first caught sight of her on the mountain.

  Tanner nodded.

  “Was she involved with anyone?”

  Tanner stared at him. “Helluva time to ask that, Harris.”

  Noah shrugged.

  “But why do you care? At this point, I mean? It’s not like you to settle for one woman.”

  Noah looked away.

  A long silent minute passed.

  “Wow, seriously?”

  Noah tuned to look him in the eyes. “Seriously.”

  “Well, I’ll be fucked!” Tanner laughed. “I can’t believe it.”

  “Your sister isn’t like other…women.”

  Tanner’s laughter halted. “No she isn’t. Of course, I would think that, but you—”

  “It’s partly why I need to do this mission. I want to…live a real life with her.”

  “Well, fuck. I’d better go outside and see if the sun just fucking turned pink!”

  “Shut the fuck up,” Noah grumbled. “And you never answered my question.”

  Tanner’s expression changed to one of panic. “Shit.”

  “What?”

  “I’m sorry man. But before we deployed…Umm.”

  Noah stood up. “What?”

  “She was engaged.”

  Noah felt like he just got gut punched and the earth beneath him just shifted. “The hell you say!”

  Tanner shook his head. “Look it was six months ago. And I hadn’t seen her since then.”

  “What…” Noah paused, as he couldn’t believe he was going to ask this. Jealousy ate him up so quick, he felt enraged with it. “What was the guy like?”

  Tanner cocked his head at him. “A lawyer type, good looking. Drives a Benz, wear suits. Looks like a GQ man who just stepped off the pages of a mag.”

  “You’re not helping any.”

  “Sorry man.”

  Noah let out a breath. “Then where the fuck is he? Why did he let her come up this dammed mountain by herself?”

  Tanner gave him a half smile. “Have you met my sister?”

  Noah paused. “Yeah. When she gets an idea in her head.”

  “Exactly. And no one could’ve stopped her.”

  “So what is his name?”

  “Why man? What difference does it make now?”

  “Just fucking tell me!”

  Tanner raised his hands. “Not if you’re gonna go after him.”

  Noah shook his head. “NO! Shit. I wouldn’t do that.”

  “Adam Groves. Thirty-two years old. No criminal record. Graduated Harvard. Never married. Good rep. Works for Fellman and Groves, Attorneys At Law. He makes 6 figures a year. Has about 4 million in the bank. All legit savings. Then another 6 mil in stocks—“

  Noah’s eyes widened. “Wait. Wait. You ran a dossie on him?”

  “Fuck yeah! Gonna date and marry my kid sister, and I’m going to know what kind of underwear the man sports.”

  Noah laughed. “Well, good luck finding me. I’m a ghost as you well know.”

  Tanner raised a brow.

  “Tanner, you know you cannot find anything real on me.”

  The man stepped close to him. “Doesn’t matter. We are friends and teammates, but if you hurt her. I will take you down.”

  Noah knew he meant it and he respected this too. “I want to keep her. Make her happy. Not hurt her, ever.”

  “I’m still not sure if you’re serious. I mean Playboy Harris?” he scoffed.

  “Believe whatever you want, man.” Noah went over to the bar his mind on this GQ fiancé.

  “Apparently, she didn’t love the guy or she wouldn’t have gotten with you.”

  “It’s my fault. I mean I took up with her not knowing her past. I told her it happens, people wanting someone else suddenly.”

  “Nah, man. Not my sister. She barely dated and when she did finally get serious, it was with this guy. She wasn’t loose. Not like that.”

  Noah poured a whiskey and gave no response. All he could see was her with some other guy. Damn, he’d never felt jealous before. He hadn’t cared enough and competition meant nothing to him.

  “Okay, man. See ya in about eight.” Tanner went down the hall.

  Was I a slut? He remembered her asking. He knew she wasn’t. But what about this guy? Did she love him? He felt his stomach clench. Did they get married while Tanner was gone? He tipped back his drink in one gulp. Then set it down on the bar. No wedding ring and not even a ring shade on her finger to show there’d ever been one. This news threw him, for sure. What the fuck had he been thinking? Getting involved with a woman who had an unknown past?

  He paused. He would’ve anyway. From minute one, he had to have her. Yes, he resisted but he knew he was doomed the first time she opened those big blue eyes and told him he was beautiful.

  He poured another drink and finished it off quick. He got up from the stool. He needed to see if she remembered this guy. After all, when he questioned her about Tanner, she then remembered him.

  Making his way down the hall, he quietly opened the door. He stepped in and locked it behind him. He didn’t want Tanner in here, though he doubted that would happen.

  Striding over to the bed, he gazed down at her.

  The blankets were tangled around her. The shirt she slept in was his. He gazed at her long legs sticking out from the sheet. Creamy skin from head to toe, and the most lickable tasty skin he’d ever tasted. Her chestnut curls spanned out over the pillow.

  Fuck it, she’s mine. In my bed, wearing my shirt. I claimed her. GQ asshole be dammed.

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  Riley awoke as cool air hit her skin. Her eyes opened. Above her was Harris, his expression looked thunderous. She peered down at herself to see the shirt and the sheet was gone, as she lay bare on the bed.

  She swung her gaze back up at him. Yum… he was nude, and that magnificent cock was at full mast as he’d called it. He reminded her of some bronzed god, all hard planes, and powerful limbs.

  His mouth swooped down over hers and his satiny but hard chest rubbed up against her breasts.

  Where had he come from? Dumb question at this point and who the hell cares?

  He attacked her mouth with his as his hand lowered down to her mound.

  Yes, yes. This man was so hot and hungry all the damn time.

  Slipping his fingers into her, he stroked in and out until her moisture was flowing. Her body arched to get more. His tongue tangled with hers as he kissed her breathless.

  He removed his fingers and she groaned at the loss. No…

  Then he slipped his middle finger slicked with her wetness into her back hole.

  Riley froze as he eased it in. Raising up, he locked eyes with her while he thumbed her clit at the same time. His gaze was so intense, so heated. It took her breath away.

  And god, what he was doing to her felt so good. She never felt this kind of sensation before.

  He held her whole pussy with his hand his fingers inside of her.

  She watched his cock throb, hard as ever, dammit he was pure sex. It never occurred to her that a man would do this to her. Panting, her body flushed with a new kind of heat. Her clit was pulsing as he rubbed it.

  He reached up to her nipples and tweaked one with his fingers then the other.

  Moisture bubbled out of her as she gasped. “Harris this is so nasty…” Her head fell back. “But so good…”

&nbs
p; “I want to be in every part of you.”

  Her panting grew as she thought she would come.

  “Open your eyes Ridge,” he growled. He tweaked one nipple then the other again, playing her body like an instrument. All while easing his finger out and back in.

  Popping her eyes open, she looked at him. What he was doing to her felt so glorious, she never would’ve believed that this would make her so hot. It was just so raw, so possessing. Her belly coiled as he kept it up. “OH!” She was suddenly coming hard as her body grew rigid, her eyes trapped by his.

  “There are many ways I can make you come,” he whispered as he watched her.

  Panting, she nodded. Yes, she could clearly see that.

  He pulled his fingers out of her.

  She gazed into his stormy green gaze. What was up with him?

  He covered her body with his while raising her arms above her head he held her wrists easily with one hand as he gazed into her eyes.

  “Harris?”

  “Your brother just told me that…”

  Her eyes widened. “What?”

  “You were engaged to someone.”

  She sucked in a breath. “What?”

  “At least you were six months ago.”

  “I-I… I don’t remember that at all.”

  “His name is Adam Groves.”

  Her brow furrowed.

  “Do you remember that name?”

  She got an image of someone, but it was fuzzy. “I can’t—”

  “It doesn’t matter. He can’t have you. You’re mine.”

  She gazed into his eyes. “I am yours.”

  He nodded and kissed her again. The same devouring kiss he usually gave her, all consuming, taking, possessing. Storming her, taking her breath away. Breaking the kiss, he rose up and grabbing her by the waist, he flipped her over. “Up on all fours, sweet cheeks.”

  Eager for more, Riley did so immediately.

  His hands rubbed her ass, caressing, squeezing. His fingers passed under her as he fingered her clit.

  Trembling with anticipation, she never knew what this man might do at any given moment. Her chest was heaving.

  “Now, don’t scream. Promise?”

  She batted her eyes. Scream? Her body quivered helplessly.

  He grabbed her hips and without warning, he thrust his cock into her all the way to the hilt.

  Biting her lip, she tried to keep in the scream of pleasure-pain that threatened to come from her mouth. Oh, now she knew what he meant. This position made her even more vulnerable to that huge cock of his.