In Walked Trouble (Under Covers)

by Christina Elle

  Ronan was destined to win this battle. Miguel would join his brother in the gang and there wasn’t anything she could do to stop it.

  All true. Except for one major detail.

  When Cassandra Stone set her mind to something, she didn’t stop until she achieved it.

  She would save Miguel’s life. No matter the cost.

  Chapter Ten

  “Are you kidding me?” Cass shrieked, darting a look at Luke. “I thought it wasn’t supposed to amount to anything. A dusting. Isn’t that what the news guy said?”

  The pair were seated in Maybel’s basement. Cass had shown up at the row house that afternoon with a bottle of wine and some popcorn. Despite his decision not to see her anymore, she’d mentioned that the ex came and grabbed the rest of his stuff, and that her condo felt empty. Knowing the feeling all too well, like a sucker, Luke had given in.

  He stretched out on the worn sofa and Cassandra relaxed on the blue club chair to his left, watching reruns of Arrested Development when the special weather report had cut in.

  “It wasn’t supposed to,” he said, scooping a large handful of popcorn from the bowl they passed back and forth. He shoveled the helping in and spoke through the mouthful. “I guess the storm took a different turn.”

  “A turn that’s going to result in Snowmageddon?”

  He would’ve laughed, if it wasn’t for her pitiful expression. What were the odds? The news reporters had stressed that the impending storm wasn’t going to amount to anything. Just yesterday they’d said a maximum of two inches. Nothing to worry about. Freaking amateurs. One job. They had one important job.

  Today, the state of Maryland was gearing up for one of the biggest snowstorms they’d seen in years. The mayor of Baltimore was urging people to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary.

  It hadn’t started snowing yet, but it would. The sky was gray and there was moisture in the air that hadn’t been there hours before. Before sundown, Baltimore was going to get walloped.

  Cassandra shot from the chair and paced the room. The fabric from her jeans-clad legs swished together as she shuffled back and forth. Her bare feet were going to wear a path in the carpet for as hard as she stomped. “I shouldn’t have waited. I should have left this past Friday.” She looked at Luke so conflicted that he wanted to snap his fingers and turn back the clocks for her.

  He set the bowl on the nearby table next to his empty wineglass. “I’m sorry.” That’s all he could say. And he hated it. He wanted her to be able to go home and visit her family. He wanted her to get away from all this shit going on in the city. But mostly, he hated himself because he was glad she’d been stranded here. He wanted more time with her. Even if it wasn’t the best thing for her.

  She was looking at him, but not really seeing him. “I should call the airline.” Then she reached for her bag and pulled out her cell and started dialing.

  With phone to her ear, she walked out of the room and into his bedroom.

  Luke reclined in his spot, giving her the space and time to sort out her issue. Hopefully the airline could squeeze her on a flight today.

  Yeah, that was best.

  Ash had been talking about sending the team into the city to shake things up a bit. Maybe try to make contact with Ronan or Joaquin from a buyer’s level. See if the team could determine the type of drugs they were dealing with. If they were indeed Serrano’s. Hopefully the city would be able to clear this snow so they weren’t stranded indoors for too long.

  Soft footsteps sounded behind him and stopped at his side. Cassandra dropped onto the other side of the sofa, folded forward, and cradled her face in her hands.

  After a few silent seconds, she lifted her head with the corner of her eyes and mouth sagging. “They’re all booked.” A small, grim chuckle broke free. “There’s nothing left for me to switch to. The airline put me on a waitlist in case someone cancels. But it’s not looking good.” She glanced toward the staircase in front of them and her chest expanded on a sigh. “I promised him.” She stared for a full minute, then brought her gaze to Luke with her lip trembling. “I promised him I’d be there. Why did I do that?”

  That was the moment he wanted to rent a private jet and fly her out west himself. Right then and there. Anything so he didn’t have to see the defeat in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Cass,” he said. “I know how much it meant to you to get home.”

  Cassandra nodded as she nibbled on the inside of her cheek. She seemed to be doing a calculation in her head like she wasn’t going to accept what the airline said. She was going to find a way to get home before this storm.

  No surrender. He idolized her for that. She could give up. Her situation seemed all but lost. If she didn’t get out now, she would be stuck on the East Coast until roads cleared. And what Luke had seen of Maryland roads with only a few inches of snow, it would take the city days to clear what they were forecasting. Days.

  The woman would drive herself insane in that amount of time.

  Luke moved to sit next to her, his weight making the cushion dip slightly, which tipped her balance toward him. He placed an arm over her shoulders and let her decide if she needed his comfort or not. She didn’t give in immediately, but she didn’t pull away, either. She was trying to stay strong, he could see it in the way she set her jaw. But each breath grew deeper and her chest rose more noticeably. He stayed still, letting her know he was there, but was careful not to offer more comfort if it wasn’t wanted. If she was going to break down, it would be her choice.

  She gave in.

  Cassandra curled into him, placing her head on his shoulder, so Luke wrapped his other arm around her and held tight. He breathed in her soft floral scent as he let her have the time she needed to regroup. The protector in him was glad he was here, holding her when she needed it. Otherwise, where would she be? Back at her vacant condo with nothing but her thoughts to keep her company.

  “What am I going to do?” she asked, holding onto him like a lifeline. He wasn’t sure she realized she was doing it. “I need to be there. They need me there.”

  He squeezed her tighter, hating that he couldn’t give her a solution. “I don’t know. We’ll keep calling in case something opens up. The worst part of the storm isn’t supposed to hit until tomorrow, so there’s still a chance you’ll be able to get out.”

  There was always a chance. Even if it didn’t seem plausible.

  No surrender. If she wasn’t going to give up, then neither was he.

  She picked her head up, meeting his gaze straight on. “Okay.”

  He still didn’t release her. Instead, he wrapped a hand around the back of her neck and looked into those determined green eyes that had captured him the first day they’d met. He dropped his shields and let her see right into his thoughts. He wanted her to know that someone was in her corner. She didn’t need to feel alone.

  His gaze traveled to her lips. She moistened them with her tongue, and then swallowed hard. He pulled her in closer, dipping his chin. He wanted his mouth on hers. Wanted to experience more of what she tasted like. Hell, he wanted to know every kiss so intimately that it branded into his memory. Reserved and cordial. Soft and sweet. Hard and fast. Complete abandon. He wanted every single one.

  Cassandra moved in the rest of the way. The kiss was quick—much quicker than he preferred—but it still filled him with warmth.

  She pulled back a few inches and spoke through a sigh. “Thank you. I feel like I’ve been saying that to you a lot. I guess it’s because you always seem to be there to rescue me when I need it.”

  “You don’t need rescuing,” he said, wanting more of her. As much as she’d give him. “You can handle anything.”

  He placed his lips on hers, relishing how receptive her body was to his. How it seemed to radiate electric currents when mixed with his own energy. He’d never felt anything else like it. It was intoxicating.

  Her smile broadened to full power, and he could have sworn he lit up like a 500-watt bulb.


  “I know what it’s like to struggle,” he said, “and it makes it a hell of a lot easier when someone’s got your back.” He’d spent too much time growing up on his own. Never being able to lean on anyone for help or support. It wasn’t until he’d joined the military, and met Ash, that he’d learned how strong the bond of a true family could be. People sticking by you no matter what. It had changed his entire perception and attitude. Some might have even said it had saved his life.

  The Army was a big reason why he’d never had to talk about his mom. Sure, he’d had mandated counseling sessions, which he’d begrudgingly attended for a while. But what did some doctor care about Luke? The “experts” he’d talked with were doing a job. Nothing more. Getting paid to let him talk about his shitty past. But after he’d gained a family of thousands on the battlefield, he’d learned the importance of being there for someone. Really being there. All the way. He’d done it for Ash, and if that’s what Cassandra needed right now, then he was ready and willing to do it for her, too. Something good had to come from what he’d went through.

  “Thank you,” she said again with an open expression. “I appreciate you listening.”

  “I guess I should say you’re welcome,” he said, pride taking up residence in his chest. Or maybe it was Cassandra filling a space, too. She’d come out of nowhere and made him feel things he didn’t know how to process. Emotions he didn’t recognize. “But that doesn’t really cut it. We’ll go with it’s my pleasure.” Because it was. Pleasure was the closest thing he could come up with when he thought about Cassandra.

  He moved his hand up the base of her neck, tangling his fingers in her long, brown hair. He brought his mouth close enough to hers to feel her warm breath.

  Her eyes fluttered closed, and he dove back in.

  Dipping his tongue out, he eagerly found hers. She tasted like wine, sunshine, and temptation. He couldn’t make sense of that thought, and he didn’t want to. All that mattered was his hand closing into a fist around her tousled hair, and her mouth staying exactly where it was against his. She let out a little whimper that ignited his blood to molten fire. He devoured her completely. Took every sigh and moan she put out, and returned it with as much vigor and eagerness.

  Luke eased her onto the sofa and settled on top of her, cradled between her open legs. His free hand coasted down her side to her thigh. Hitching her leg up, he wrapped it around his back.

  Much better.

  Straining against his jeans, he yearned for a way inside of her.

  She clasped the back of his head, applying enough pressure to take control of the kiss. Adjusting her head slightly, she opened her mouth wider, inviting him in for an even deeper connection.

  One quick slice of his hips against her heat, and she was already meeting him halfway. She gripped his shirt like she was trying to crawl inside of him. The thought would’ve made him laugh if it wasn’t for the fact that he was so damn turned on he could barely think about anything but getting her naked.

  “Luke,” she moaned. “We shouldn’t…”

  He kissed her again. “Yes, we should.”

  “This is crazy…” she tried again. “How can I want you so bad from just a kiss?”

  His lips crashed down on hers. He didn’t care what the reason was, just as long as she wanted him.

  His hand traveled from her thigh to her backside where he felt the hard plastic of her phone in her pocket. Unable to dig his fingers in like he wanted, he imagined what it was going to feel like to grip her bare ass once he ripped these jeans off.

  She reached for the hem of his shirt, nudging it up over his head, and tossed it to the middle of the floor. As she ran her gaze over his bare chest, the green in her eyes deepened, making him feel like a god.

  “Cass,” he breathed, resting his forehead against hers.

  “Luke,” she said just as strangled.

  He should stop this. It wasn’t fair to her. He’d promised honesty and no games. But hell if he could do it with her looking at him with that blatant expression of want.

  His hand grazed under her shirt, working its way up her chest to cup her bra.

  “We should probably get rid of this,” he said.

  “It does seem unfair that only one of us is shirtless.”

  Urging her shirt up her stomach, he glided it toward her neck—

  “You kids need anythin—?” Maybel’s voice said in front of them.

  Cassandra squealed, shoved him off, and catapulted to the other side of the couch all in one lightning-swift move.

  Luke was flipped onto the floor, catching himself just before he face-planted into the carpet.

  Damn. He looked up to see Maybel walking the rest of the way down the stairs, wearing a thick black jacket and an apologetic smile. Sorry, she mouthed.

  “Just wanted to check to see if you two were okay,” she said, her gaze connecting with Luke’s balled up T-shirt on the ground. “Guess you were.”

  Cassandra’s eyes expanded and she looked away as her face filled with color.

  “Estelle and I are heading up to the market before this storm hits. You two need anything?”

  Estelle’s brown poof of a head appeared. “It’s gonna be a doozy.” She plodded down the steps in a bright red parka and a leopard print scarf and stopped next to Maybel. She gave shirtless Luke a once-over and smirked. “We need the essentials. Vodka, fruit snacks, and bloody mary mix.”

  Maybel rolled her eyes. “Also toilet paper, bottled water, and batteries.”

  Still seated on the floor, Luke bent a knee and rested an arm over it. “I’ve got the water and batteries in my room if the store’s sold out.”

  Maybel gave a satisfied nod. “Thanks, dearie. Anything you two need?”

  “Beer?” Estelle offered. “Pretzels? Condoms?”

  Choking noises came from Cassandra’s side of the sofa, and she still wouldn’t meet anyone’s gaze.

  Thanks, Estelle.

  The brazen older woman shrugged, still grinning.

  “We’ll be back in about an hour,” Maybel said, going up one step. She latched onto Estelle’s arm and pulled.

  Estelle resisted, planting her snow boots into the carpet. “You hear that, boys and girls? One hour. Skip the foreplay and just stick it right in this time.”

  Cassandra was hyperventilating.

  Shaking his head, Luke waved as the women climbed the stairs and closed the basement door behind them.

  Eyes almost bugging out of her head, Cass turned to him and hissed, “They think we’re going to do it. Oh my God. Right here. On her couch!”

  “No, they don’t,” he started. “They’re—”

  “I have to go!” she said, getting to her feet. “I can’t be here when they get back. They’ll think something happened between us.” She glanced down at herself. “My shirt’s wrinkled. Does it look wrinkled to you? Do you think they’ll remember it was wrinkled?”

  Luke got up and went to her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Cass, calm down.”

  She glanced at his bare chest, color rising from her throat, then she covered her flushed face with her hands. “This is so embarrassing.”

  He couldn’t help the laugh that came out. At her annoyed look, he said, “Oh, come on. It’s funny. We’re like two teenagers in my grandmother’s basement getting caught making out.”

  Her lips twitched. “It’s just as embarrassing now as it was then.”

  Well, now. “A little vixen in high school, were you, Ms. Stone?”

  Color reignited in her cheeks, but she did smile. “No. Just normal teenager stuff. Kissing in my boyfriend’s basement. At the movies. In his car.”

  He could picture it. Sweet little Cassandra Stone letting loose and being naughty on dates.

  “God,” she said. “Maybel is going to think—”

  “She isn’t thinking anything. And even if she does, who cares?”

  She looked at him like he’d just sprouted horns. “Because it’s her house. It’s disrespec
tful for us to do it in her house.”

  She didn’t knock the prospect of the two of them getting it on. Just as long as it didn’t happen in Maybel’s house. Good to know. “Maybel isn’t home, so why does it matter?”

  “She isn’t home?” she echoed. “It’s still her house!”

  “I’m a grown-ass man, and you’re a grown-ass woman. We’re attracted to each other. Why shouldn’t they expect we’d do something about that attraction?” He curled a thick strand of hair behind her ear, letting his fingers linger on her neck. The touch tied his stomach into knots, and judging by the way her eyes darkened it sent a jolt through her, too. “You feel it, don’t you, Cass? The attraction?”

  She shivered slightly and her words came out raspy. “She caught us kissing. Now they’re going to think you laid me out and had your way with me right here on this sofa.”

  She let him guide her down to sit on the couch. He encouraged her legs open and knelt between them. Her eyes sparked as she dropped her chin to look at him.

  “Again,” he said softly, “what’s so wrong with that if it’s what we really want to do?”

  She placed her hands on his bare shoulders, her fingers moving in an idle dance that sent a flash of energy right to the part of him that wanted her most. “We do?”

  His hand dipped beneath the hem of her sweater. He pressed his palm against her spine and urged her forward. Her open legs went wider. Her heat pressed against his bare chest, nearly burning him. “That’s exactly what I want to do to you right now.”

  Her features blew right past interest and jumped into full-on anticipation. “It is?”

  Nodding, he whispered, “For the entire hour.”

  She released a soft moan. “You can go that long?”

  “I can go as long as you need.”

  She sucked in a breath as the hand on his shoulder clamped down. The heat in her eyes was enough to make him want to prove his point right there. He was ready to engage and not stop until she said mercy. But he’d made her a promise. A promise that had nothing to do with hearing her scream, though he wished like hell it did. So, he stood, pulling her to her feet with him. He ran a hand down to her backside, making her sway toward him, and he pulled her phone out of her jeans pocket.