Beyond the Call of Duty

by Wendy Stone

  Joe and Gerald were already in the kitchen waiting for them. “Jack took off. He said he’d call you, Lexi.”

  She took a look at the kitchen. It held every imaginable gadget she could think of. “It looks like we’ve been dumped into the lap of luxury.”

  “There’s a dishwasher,” Gerald said. He hated doing dishes.

  Lexi picked up her purse, sitting in a jumble of packages Joe and Gerald had already carted in. Pulling out her .45, she checked the load before slamming the clip back into place and setting the safety. She clipped the holster to the back of her sweats and tightened the drawstrings to hold it in place.

  “Have you checked this place out, or have you two been too enthralled by the dishwasher?”

  “It’s been empty for weeks, Lexi,” Joe said, holding his hands up to stop her angry response. “We’ll go right now.”

  “Take Molly and Luke with you. It’ll be easier for the four of you to clear.” She watched as her agents checked the room, hearing them making sure each closet, each storage space and every room was empty.

  She felt Gabe move up behind her, his hand reaching for her .45. “Mind?” he asked as he slipped the snap on the holster.

  “Just don’t take it off safety.”

  He smiled as if she’d said something funny and slipped the clip from the weapon, setting it on the table. He hefted the weapon in his hand as if checking the weight and lifted it as if he were going to fire it, checking the sights. “Nice,” he said, replacing the clip and handing it back to her, butt first. “You any good with it?”

  “Proficient,” she said with a smile, slipping it back in her holster. “I’ll show you my trophies some day.”

  “It’s a big gun for someone as little as you.”

  “You’d be surprised how many men back down when they see what I have.” She went over to the pile of packages, straightening it out and putting away the food while she waited for her agents to come back. There was a noise from upstairs, as if someone knocked something over, and she grabbed Gabe, shoving him behind her. She pulled her weapon and pointed it at the swinging door into the kitchen.

  She only flipped the safety again when Joe and Gerald pushed through the doors. “Who’s the klutz?”

  “Luke. He tripped over an ottoman in the master-bedroom suite,” Gerald said with a laugh. “I’m almost tempted to move in here myself, boss. This has to be the nicest safe house we’ve ever used. It’s even got cable television.”

  “It’s clear?” she asked, watching both Joe and Gerald nod.

  “There’s a Jacuzzi in the master bath, Lexi.”

  She just waved her hand, returning to straightening out the mess her agents made by moving them. “Get it all out of your systems now, boys. It’s all business when Luke and Molly take off. One of you will be walking perimeter. I want the team Jack left with eyes on the front of the house at all times.”

  “You got it, boss.”

  Luke and Molly pushed into the kitchen, Luke still rubbing his shin. “You pushed me.”

  “Luke, dammit, quit being such a fucking baby. You fell over a piece of furniture; you didn’t take a damn bullet. Now shut up about it.”

  He glared at Molly. “It would just be nice one of these days if you admitted when you did something wrong, Molls, instead of blaming me for everything.”

  “Honey, if I ever do something wrong, you’ll probably be dead, so shut the fuck up.”

  Luke’s eyes narrowed, but he didn’t say anything more.

  “Anything else we can do for you, boss, before we take off for the night?”

  “No,” Lexi said quietly, “I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”

  She watched as Luke and Molly left, ignoring their argument as they went out the back door.

  “The house is secured,” Joe said. He barely looked up as he picked through the packages still left on the counter. “No coffee?”

  Lexi went to a cupboard, pulled down a tin of coffee and the filters and pointed him at the coffee machine. “Damn, Joe, learn to use your eyes. I’m going to take a shower.” She glanced over at Gabe and noted his pallor. Grabbing his pills, she popped one out and handed it to him. “You should grab a nap, Gabe. That trip took a lot out of you.”

  * * * *

  He took the pill and grabbed a glass to get water out of the tap. He followed her up the stairs, seeing her turn into one of the rooms. He waited a minute, heard the shower turn on and went into the same room. He could feel the pain pill beginning to work, the drugs making him feel a bit woozy, so he sank down on the bed, curling up on the softness of the pillows.

  He was only half-awake when she walked out of the bathroom, her skin glistening with gem-like water drops. She had a towel wrapped around her and another in her hand that she was using to squeeze out the water in her hair.

  “Gabe, what are you doing in here?”

  She moved quickly to the door, opening it to check the hallway before closing it again. She walked slowly to the bed. “Where else should I be?” he whispered and yawned, his hand barely covering his mouth. “I feel safe with you.”

  She sighed. “You can’t be in here with me.” She ran her hands through his hair and over his stubbled cheeks. “Gabe, I’d love to keep you in here with me. I’d love nothing more than to cuddle up with you all night, but we can’t do that. Joe and Gerald will be checking on us tonight to make sure we’re safe.”

  He pressed his lips into her palm and held her hand to his skin. “This way they only have to check one room.”

  He was more than half-asleep, and he used her hand to tug her down beside him, moving her towel until he could find her naked breasts. He dropped his head down upon her breast, moving his lips over one pert nipple. “Gabe,” she began and then moaned. He nipped gently at her nipple with his teeth. “You’re impossible.”

  “No,” he whispered. “I love you.”

  * * * *

  For a moment, Lexi felt as if all the blood drained from her, leaving her cold and trembling, then a rush of heat had her face flaming. “Y-you what?” she asked softly, not sure if she heard him right.

  His only answer was a subdued snort followed by a long snore.

  “Gabe?” she asked, pushing him gently so she could move out from under him. His hands held her still, and he curled even more up against her.

  “W-What?” he mumbled, confused, gazing at her before closing his eyes again.

  “Gabe, you have to get up.”

  He groaned but refused to move.

  “Dammit,” she growled. She struggled against him, leaving more of her towel under him and less on her still-damp body. “Gabe!”

  He opened his eyes and stared at her, smiling into her face. He glanced down, his eyes growing wide as he saw her naked body curled into him. “Hmm, nice way to wake me up.” He moved his lips the few scant inches until he could take her nipple into his mouth, his warm breath causing tiny shivers up her spine.

  She speared her hands into his hair, groaning in pleasure as he slid his hand down her body. “No, Gabe. You’ve got to let me up.”

  “Why?” he groaned, poking his tongue at her hard nipple.

  “They can’t find us like this. Let me up.”

  “I don’t want to,” he moaned. He teased at her other nipple with his hand, ignoring her small gasp. “You don’t want me to, either.”

  “I may not want you to, but you have to. Come on,” she urged, pressing against his shoulders.

  * * * *

  She’d have grabbed his head, but his teeth were doing incredibly sensual things to her nipples, and she was having a hard time holding onto her determination to stop him.

  She finally took hold of his chin, pulling his face up to take his lips in hers. Kissing him made her even more anxious to touch him, to make him cum in her body or in her mouth or even in her hand. She heard him moan and felt him move between her thighs, his hard cock pressing against her bare loins. She moved her fingernails over his back and across his thighs a
nd he pressed even harder against her.

  His lips were hot and, even though he was still partially asleep, very nimble against her own. He pushed his tongue into her mouth, and the sound of his pleasure sent a thrill of bliss through her.

  “Roll over, Gabe,” she managed to mumble between his heated kisses.

  He rolled, but he hung on to her, parting her thighs so she was straddling him. When she finally managed to grab his hands and hold them in her own next to his head, she was panting, and the need to take him inside her was an almost unbearable ache.

  She pushed herself off him and watched him roll to his side, grabbing the pillow his head had been on and pulling it into his arms to cuddle.

  “Dammit, Gabe,” she whispered, breathing hard through her mouth. She went to the closet, opening it and pulling out a bathrobe amid the clothes left there. It was thick and warm, soaking up the few drops of water still left on her body.

  He was asleep, his eyelashes thick and lying against his cheeks. His breath came from his parted lips, and his cheeks were flushed. He looked younger, even with the stubble of his whiskers dark on his cheeks. She pushed a lock of his hair off his forehead, smiling when he mumbled her name in his sleep.

  He was dangerous. He was like a sleek predator, a shark in the turbulent waters of her life. He could take her under with one bite and leave her bleeding and alone. Jobless because of her personal relationship with him, he could leave her with nothing.

  However, the hard part was, despite her feelings, especially hearing the words he spoke earlier, she couldn’t walk away.

  She sighed again and sank down next to him on the mattress. “I love you, too, Gabe,” she breathed against his cheek. “I’ll just never be able to tell you.”

  Chapter Eight

  The room was dark when Gabe woke. He could still smell the sweet scent she wore on her wet skin, but he was alone now. He rolled across the bed, his arm outstretched, his fingers searching for Lexi.

  He sighed heavily, breathing deeply, letting her scent infuse his senses. He sat up and pushed the covers off his legs and, holding one arm over his stomach, got up and went in to the bathroom.

  It smelled even more like Lexi in there, and he could see the towels hung neatly on the towel bar after her shower. He used the toilet, and then stood in front of the mirror over the sink, rasping his hand over the whiskers that were quickly turning into an unruly beard.

  He hadn’t had a completely clean-shaven face since high school. The thought of shaving now appealed to him, and he began to look around in the bathroom, finding shaving cream, razors, a small pair of scissors and a towel.

  Moving around caused him to start shaking, and he sank down on the closed toilet. He drank a cup of water and took slow, even breaths. After a few moments, he felt better and went back to the mirror, picking up the scissors and making the first cuts before he could change his mind.

  Twenty minutes later, he wiped the last of the bits of shaving cream off his clean-shaven face and stared at himself in the mirror. He looked younger. That was the first thought that came to mind. Not that he looked old before; the beard gave him maturity. Without it, he felt about ten years younger.

  A knock on the door of the bathroom caught his attention. “Yes?”

  “Gabe, I came in to check...” the words slowly drifted away as she stared at the man in front of her. “Y-You shaved?”

  He smiled, reaching out a hand to lift her jaw. “I knew they made you a U.S. Marshal for some reason. Yes, I shaved. You approve?”

  Lexi smiled, her eyes gleaming with golden highlights as she moved around him. “Oh yes,” she said softly, bringing her hand up to feel his smooth skin. “I very much approve.”

  He grabbed her hand before she could take it back and tugged her into his arms. Leaning against the counter, he held her close, pulling her off balance so she leaned into him. “You could show your approval in another way,” he said, smiling into her gorgeous amber eyes.

  * * * *

  Lexi didn’t struggle. She was where she wanted to be. It didn’t matter to her that Gabe had run with the mob or that he might be a criminal. What mattered to her was how she felt whenever she was around him. She was nervous, but not afraid, her skin felt hot and her heart seemed to race, especially when she was as close as she was now. She’d never been as attracted to a man as she was to Gabe. Everything else was second place to him.

  A sly smile touched her lips as she ran her fingers through his longish hair, raking it back from his forehead. “Some other way, huh?” She wrapped her fingers in the side of his hair and yanked his head down, and then lifted her mouth, instinctively parting her lips to meet his. His mouth was hot, the skin around it smooth. It was almost like kissing a completely different man who had his mouth, but she took complete advantage, slipping her tongue past his lips to play, listening to his moan of pleasure.

  “I’m not letting you leave my arms again,” he whispered against her lips as she curled up her mouth. “I let you go, and you leave me alone. Do you know how badly I wanted to wake up with you in my arms?”

  She moved her hands across his bare shoulders and slid her palms down his chest. “Gabe, you know why I had to leave. Jack would pull me from the case if he thought I was getting too involved with you. He would be worried about me missing something or being an instant too late or not doing my job right if I care about you too much.”

  “So you do?” he asked, nuzzling his nose into the soft spot next to her ear.

  “Do what?” she breathed, shivering as the heat of his mouth tickled her skin.

  “Care about me too much?”

  She drew in a deep breath, backing away to put herself at arm’s length from him. “Are you asking if I love you, Gabe?”

  “Well, no, actually. I was just wondering about you caring about me, but if you love me, I wouldn’t mind hearing about that either. I mean, I know I’m pretty irresistible.”

  “You have a very healthy sense of self.”

  He trapped her against the counter, moving closer so she could feel his heat through her clothing. “Well, I’m more interested in what you think of my sense of self.” He dipped his head before she could answer and brushed his lips with hers, softly, gently tasting. Lexi couldn’t resist the teasing brushes and moved her hand to his hair, tipping her head to bring their lips in closer contact. The kiss was deep and heated, their tongues dueling. He finally pulled away, just the tiniest bit, his breathing heavy, her breasts rising as spasmodically as his own chest.

  “So?” he whispered against her mouth, nibbling against her lower lip.

  “So, what?” she asked, her voice sounding as dazed as she felt. No one had ever taken her to heat as fast as this man did with just a kiss.

  “Do you love me, Lexi?” He lifted her in his strong arms, setting her down on the countertop, sliding his hands under the polo shirt she was now wearing. She shivered at the heat of his hands, but her eyes never left the amazing warmth in his hazel eyes.

  “Yes,” she said, unable to hide anything from him when he held her with such careful hands, his attention focused completely upon her. “I promised myself I wouldn’t tell you. I shouldn’t feel like that, but I do. It’s probably the most stupid thing I’ve done, and I should have never told you,” she said with a sigh.

  “Being in love with me is stupid?”

  She let her fingers roam over his face, feeling the slash of his cheek bones, the deep contour of his jaw. “I love you, and I lose all objectivity, Gabe. My job is to protect you with my life if necessary. I’ve given an oath to the office that I work for, and to the President of the United States, that I would perform my duty to the best of my ability. That ability is now in question.”

  “I don’t doubt your ability,” he said softly, moving his hand over her dark curls. “I’ve no doubt you wouldn’t throw yourself in front of a bullet for me.” His voice grew curt as he spoke, and he curved his hands into fists. “I’d be pretty damned pissed off at you if you did s
omething so God-damned stupid, Lexi.”

  She looked up, surprised at his words and his tone. “But—”

  “But nothing. I’m capable of ducking or of hitting the deck if need be. I don’t need you to throw yourself in front of me, maybe getting yourself killed on a bullet that had my name on it. I love you, Lexi. I’ve never in my life told another person that and meant it.” He sighed almost as if he was disgusted with himself.

  She smiled, she couldn’t help it. Hearing the words spoken back to her, even in that disgusted tone of voice, had her heart swelling in her chest. Her eyes sparkled and she reached up once more, bringing his mouth to hers. “Tell me again,” she whispered against his lips.

  “I love you, Alexandra Hunter.”

  She melted against him, kissing him with every bit of love she felt for him. Gabe growled in answer, his mouth growing harder, more ardent, his lips demanding her response. He lifted her in his arms despite her muffled protests, taking her back to the bed. He laid her down in it and pulled her arms from around his neck. “Just a minute,” he said softly.

  He went to the door, turning the lock before moving back to the bed. Lexi was pulling the polo shirt off her head as she turned toward him, a beautiful sky blue lace bra hiding her full breasts from his eyes.

  “God, you’re gorgeous,” he growled, reaching for her as she pushed the covers down below their feet.

  “You’re just biased.” She arched her back, feeling the heaviness of his chest against her breasts. The feel of him against her like that sent a shocking sense of need through her, plaguing at her for more. “You feel so good, Gabe.”

  He pulled aside the clip she’d used to corral her unruly locks. “I don’t know why you keep these trapped,” he growled, running his fingers through her beautiful dark locks.

  “They get in my eyes,” she said, rubbing her head against his hand. “They can ruin my aim. Kiss me, Gabe.”

  He did, but it was too short, too teasing. He grabbed her hands when she tried to force more from him, holding them next to her shoulders. “Slow down, baby,” he whispered against her lips. “We have time. We have lots of time.”