by Rachel Cross
Brice chuckled. “Yeah, it’s your typical man cave. Sometimes I get lost in here for days at a time. Let me show you the rest of the house.” He gave her a quick tour of the lower level, which included an office that doubled as a music studio, the guest bathroom, the laundry room, and the master suite. “The other bedrooms are upstairs. You can have your pick.”
When she’d seen each room, she settled on the second master suite. It had large, masculine pieces of furniture and a king-sized sleigh bed with lots of pillows and a heavy comforter. She was instantly tempted to sink down into that huge bed and let all her troubles disappear among the pillows and plush covers.
“Everything you need should be right here,” he said as he showed her the bathroom and the linen closet. “Take your time getting settled. I’m going downstairs to make us a couple of drinks.”
She joined him downstairs in the family room a few minutes later. “This is a really nice place, Brice,” she commented.
“Thanks. I like it.” He handed her a cocktail. “I didn’t know what you preferred, so I took the liberty of making you one of those fruity drinks.” He smiled as he handed her the glass. “It’s an apple martini.”
“Thank you. I like apple martinis.” She took the drink and downed most of it in a couple of gulps.
“Do you think it could have been Nash?” he asked. “Given his recent behavior, it wouldn’t be a far stretch to consider him a suspect.”
“Nash? Why would you think it was Nash?” she blurted out, surprised. “He doesn’t even live here in Atlanta. He lives in New York City. I only saw him once or twice a month, when he came here on business. He’s never even been to my house. Besides, why would he do something like this? I know he’s been acting strange, but he wouldn’t go that far. Would he?” Fear and confusion flooded her. It hadn’t occurred to her that this might have been a personal attack.
She must have looked distressed, because Brice dropped his line of questioning. “You’re probably right. I guess I’m blaming the guy because I don’t like him. Let’s just forget it. You don’t have to think about any of this right now, and you’re welcome to stay here for as long as you want to.”
“Thank you, Brice, but I don’t want to impose any more than I already have. I’ll stay tonight, but tomorrow I should probably go to a hotel. I know I can’t go back home yet. I need time to clear my head and figure out what to do next.”
“Look, Candace, you’re not disrupting anything. I wouldn’t have offered if I didn’t want to help.”
“You really are a sweet man,” she said. She reached up to cup his cheek in her hand and planted a soft kiss on his lips. “Thank you for everything. If you hadn’t been there, I don’t know what I would have done.” She stared up at him, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.
He gently pulled her close and wrapped his arms around her. Pressing her face against his throat, he rested his chin on her head. “Don’t worry, Candace. I’ll fix this. I’m not letting him get away with this, whoever he is.”
“Are you going to be my knight in shining armor?” she whispered, her voice muffled, as she snuggled closer.
“I will if you let me.”
• • •
Brice rubbed his hands gently up and down her back. Sighing deeply, Candace shook her head and pushed back from his embrace, obviously weary and still shaken up.
“If you don’t mind, I think I’ll take a shower and go to bed now. I’m kind of tired.”
“Sure, a shower and a good night’s sleep will be good for you.” He reluctantly released her, and she climbed the stairs out of sight. “Let me know if you need anything else,” he called after her. His heart pounded in his chest, beating hard in response to the feel of her soft lips, the warmth of her body, the smell of her perfume—and the growing need to shield her from all the world’s unexpected cruelties.
He closed his eyes. A flood of emotions tore through him like a runaway train: his desire for her body, the fading willpower to resist her allure, and his overwhelming need to watch over and protect her. The depth of the unfamiliar feelings concerned him, but he’d deal with that later. Right now there was something else he had to do, something much more pressing.
Brice fixed another drink and went into his office and closed the door behind him. Since the room doubled as his studio, it was also soundproof, and that was a good thing. He needed absolute privacy for what he was about to do. He rummaged through his desk until he found what he was looking for, then picked up the phone and made a call to his private investigator, Richard Thorne.
Thorne, former Special Operations Forces with the Marines, had once been the Agent in Charge assigned to his dad’s personal protection detail. Having worked primarily in hostile foreign environments, he was a trained counterterrorism, weapons, and self-defense expert. Richard Ashton Thorne was the living, breathing badass you only read about in books or saw in movies, the stuff heroes were made of. He’d successfully taken his military experience and crossed over into the civilian sector, and now ran a highly sought after PI and personal security consultant firm.
Brice had used his services on numerous occasions to breach company security of potential clients and, when necessary, for other, more personal reasons. Being the son of a former high-profile political figure and a wealthy man in his own right, Brice often had need of Rick’s expertise. Personal security had been drilled into him since childhood, so he never took anything or anyone at face value. When he needed something checked out, he called Rick.
Thorne had access to unique state-of-the-art super gadgets and high-tech information databases. He was the consummate professional, a man of few words who got results.
Brice couldn’t shake the feeling that Nash was responsible for trashing Candace’s place, and Rick Thorne was just the man to find out if his gut intuition was right.
“Rick, this is Brice. I’ve got a job for you.”
“Sure. What’s the target?”
“It’s a special job.”
“Special jobs come with special prices.”
“I know. That’s not a problem.”
“What’s the name?”
“Andrew Nash. I don’t know much about him except that he lives in New York City and travels here to Atlanta for business once or twice a month. There’s no evidence to prove it yet, but I believe he broke into and vandalized my friend’s home. I want him investigated, and if he’s the threat I think he is, then I want the problem dealt with, or eliminated.
“I want to know his every move for the past month: phone calls, contacts, business trips, et cetera. I want to know where he works, where he lives, and what kind of car he drives. I want to know every detail there is to know, because when I’m done with him, I want to make sure he’ll never threaten another living soul.” Brice gave a brief description to get the investigation underway.
“Okay. What’s the deadline?”
“How about yesterday?”
“I’m on it. I’ll have a preliminary report in a few days.”
“Good. I look forward to hearing it.”
Brice made a couple more calls, one to his security service and one to a locksmith. He gave them instructions to replace all the locks at Candace’s house and to drop the new keys off the next day. The police had temporarily secured her place, but something more permanent was needed. He knew he was overstepping his boundaries, but he didn’t care. He’d deal with the consequences tomorrow. Having accomplished everything he could for the moment, Brice showered. After putting on pajama bottoms and an undershirt, he decided to make one last check on Candace before going to bed. When he reached her door, he found it ajar. Peeking inside, he overheard quiet sniffles.
“Candace? Are you okay?”
“Yes,” was the muffled response that came from beneath the bedcovers.
“May I come in?”
“Yes.”
Brice went to the edge of the bed and eased down beside her, putting his hand on her back. To his surprise, she abruptly turne
d and wrapped her arms around his waist and buried her face in his chest, sobbing quietly. The sight of tears in her eyes moved him and melted something deep inside.
He was a take-charge kind of guy. If someone was in need, he dove right in—up to his neck if need be—without hesitation. He made decisions quickly, with no fears and no regrets. That’s what he did. That’s who he was. Emotion had no part in his decision-making process; it was a distraction that he couldn’t afford. Up until now, he’d made it a point to stay away from women with whom he might share strong common interests. He didn’t want to see them as individuals with personalities because that made them more human, and it made him more vulnerable. But there was something about her tears that twisted his stomach and jolted his heart.
He stretched out beside her and pulled her fully into his embrace. Holding her to him, he kissed her eyelids and tasted her tears. “Shh, baby, don’t cry. Everything’s going to be okay. I promise.” His kisses were deliberately soft and tender as he pressed his lips to her tear-streaked face. His mouth moved down the curve of her upturned cheek and lightly brushed across her pouted lips. The moist and silky softness he encountered triggered his natural male instinct, and pushed him beyond his ability to resist.
This is a mistake.
His mouth settled over hers, and she tentatively opened to allow him entry. He was swept up in a whirling pool of sensual heat that pulled him in deeper under her spell. What had begun as a show of support was fast becoming something more meaningful.
She shifted her body and pressed closer and held on tighter. He took the kiss deeper. The hardened tips of her breasts pushed into his chest and brought chills to his body, raising goose bumps that prickled his flesh. She moved against him in slow, sensuous, grinding circles, and the chill became a spark that ignited and burned into passion. Hunger raced through his body, fed by the warmth of her touch. Rippling sensations flowed through his core as bursts of fiery desire reached every part of him, from the base of his scalp, down to his toes.
He sought out the sweetness of her mouth and descended further into its softness. His body responded, and his cock hardened and lengthened, destroying any vestige of doubt that he craved this woman.
But with supreme effort, he pulled back from the edge of insanity. No matter how badly he wanted her, he wouldn’t allow the situation to push either of them too quickly into something they might regret. He reluctantly ended the kiss, and, resting his forehead against hers, he drew in a ragged breath.
“Candace, honey, I didn’t come up here for this. I came up to make sure you were okay.”
“I know.” She whispered and reluctantly loosened her hold. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to molest you.” She gave a small, tremulous laugh. “It’s just that it’s been so long since I’ve been held like this. It feels good. With everything that’s happened, I think tonight more than anything, I needed to feel good.”
“It’s okay. Anytime you need to be held, just let me know. I’m your man for the job.” He chuckled softly as he wrapped his arms around her again. “And just ignore him,” he said, referring to his apparent arousal. “He has a mind of his own. I don’t intend to take advantage of you while you’re in this state. When we make love,” he said, lifting her chin and looking into her eyes with unwavering certainty, “it won’t be because you need a distraction. Call me old-fashioned, but when it happens, I want both of us fully engaged.”
She rewarded him with a small smile. “Will you stay with me for a while, at least until I fall asleep?”
“Of course.”
She kissed him on the lips again and then turned over on her side. Snuggling deeper into his arms, she pushed her bottom up flush against his arousal and gave a quick little wiggle.
“Stop that,” he admonished, laughing in her ear. “I’m trying to be the bigger person here.”
“Oh, there’s no question you’re the ‘bigger’ person.” She giggled into the pillow. He purposely groaned out loud, making her laugh harder.
He was glad she was feeling better, even at his expense. Her laughter reassured him she had bounced back and put aside her fear, at least for the moment. The feel of her body, warm and soft cradled next to his, and her fresh-from-the-shower scent made him realize he couldn’t have left her bed even if he’d wanted to.
He ended up staying the entire night with his body wrapped intimately around her, feeling an unfamiliar but welcome sense of warmth and satisfaction. He slept comfortably with his arms around her and his erection nestled against the cleft of her buttocks. To his surprise, he adjusted quickly to her restless movements in the night and the light sound of her snoring. Whenever she moved, he instinctively tightened his hold and snuggled closer, nuzzling her neck and shoulder, and folding himself more protectively around her.
Chapter 15
At the first sign of morning light, Candace stirred and came fully awake to the pleasant sensation of a warm body lying beside her, and strong masculine arms surrounding her. Smiling with the pleasant memory of where she was, she rolled over see beautiful sleepy blue eyes peering at her from beneath a cap of dark and tousled hair.
“Good morning.” She reached up to brush aside wayward strands that threatened to obscure his sight. “What beautiful blue eyes you have,” she said as she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him on his chin.
“The better to see you with,” he growled playfully.
Nuzzling in closer, she was again made painfully aware of his arousal pressed intimately against her thighs. “Um, now that the three of us are awake, what ever should we do?”
“I told you to ignore him. He has a one-track mind. Besides, he always wakes up long before I do.”
“You know,” she said, pinning him with a meaningful look, “eventually we’re going to have to do something about his shameless behavior, right?”
“I’m counting on it. But it won’t be today.”
“Well, if you insist.” She pouted. “I suppose I’ll let you get away with this sweet, albeit misguided attempt at chivalry for now. But you should know up front I’m a high-maintenance kind of girl used to having her way. So, consider yourself forewarned. Right now, I’ll settle for being fed. What’s for breakfast?”
“Are you going to be this demanding the entire time we’re together?”
“Absolutely.” She grinned.
He grinned back and kissed her on her nose, and then untangled himself from her arms and quickly got out of bed. “If you’re going to stay here, you’ll have to pull your weight. Meet me in the kitchen in ten minutes.” He turned and left the room.
Candace lay in bed a while longer. She hadn’t been the least bit alarmed by Brice’s earlier statement that they would make love. The attraction was mutual, and the two of them becoming intimate was inevitable. She’d enjoyed lying next to him all through the night and had felt safe cuddled in his arms—a feeling she was woefully unaccustomed to.
Poignant memories of nights with Nash, void of intimacy and affection, flashed in her head. Nash? Crap. Where did he come from to ruin my feel-good moment? She didn’t want to think about him right now—who he really was or what he might be capable of. She was with Brice, and Brice was nothing like Nash. That thought put the smile back on her face and made her jump out of bed and hurry to the bathroom. She quickly washed her face, brushed her teeth, and combed her wild, curly mane of hair up into a bushy ponytail perched on the top of her head.
Still dressed in cotton drawstring pajamas and a tank top, she hurried downstairs to meet Brice in the kitchen. What she saw there stopped her dead in her tracks, tightened her nipples, and sent a flash of warmth straight to her center, causing it to ache and throb with anticipation. Brice was bent over in front of the refrigerator, his muscular arms flexing as he reached inside. His firm rear end was so enticing it took every ounce of self-control she had not to walk up behind him, grab his ass, and rub all over him like a cat in heat.
The man had a body to die for: tall and lean with well-defined
abdominals and chest muscles beneath an undershirt that stretched tight across his torso. His arms were muscled and roped with veins that stood out with implied strength. He was virtually a walking advertisement for a gym membership, and he’d be perfectly cast in one of those TV infomercials selling newfangled workout equipment. She knew he looked good in a suit and tie, but hot damn, he looked even better dressed in less. When he’d come to her room under the cover of darkness, Lord knows she’d felt every hardened inch of him pressed against her, separated only by two thin layers of cloth. Now in the light of day, she ogled his near-naked glory, feeling damp and needy—and wishing like hell he weren’t so determined to be a gentleman.
Of course, he picked that instant to stand up and catch her gawking. Her eyes were immediately drawn to the impressive outline of his “friend,” which she’d enjoyed pushing tight and aroused against her all night long. The full frontal was even more magnificent as it hung low and swayed from side to side. She had to lean against the counter to keep from collapsing on the floor. The unexpected rush of heat and desire made her dizzy. Oh my God. He’s got a six-pack—and packing an extra nine down below.
“Caught you looking.” He grinned as he closed the refrigerator door with his hip, his hands full of food for breakfast.
“Damn right you did,” she said defiantly, clinching her fists as a rosy blush spread across her face and down her throat. “Traipsing around the kitchen wearing fancy pajamas and precious little else, you’re lucky that ‘looking’ is all I was doing.”