Spirit of Danger

by Sidney Bristol

  Merida went up on tip-toe and kissed him.

  That was something he would never get tired of. He framed her face with his hands and leaned into her, sinking into the kiss and exploring her mouth.

  “So you love me?” Merida asked, her words half muffled by his kisses.

  “Yes.” There was a thrilling freedom and a need that came with that admission.

  “Mm.”

  She smiled into the kiss now.

  Her warm hands slid under his shirt, her gentle touch skimming his skin. He caught her by the wrist.

  “I still need to shower,” he said, his lips caressing hers as he spoke.

  “That’s a very good idea.” She nudged him backward. “With all those bandages someone is going to have to help you, anyway.”

  “Merida...” He wasn’t sure what he was going to say or what he should say.

  In the next moment she swept her shirt off. That seemed to be her go to move, and he’d be hard pressed to say he didn’t like it. Especially when she wasn’t wearing a bra under her shirt.

  “What?” She grinned at him.

  “You already showered.” He took another step back.

  “You noticed?”

  “We aren’t done talking.” There were things they should say, damn it.

  She went up on tip-toe, the points of her breasts pressing through his thin T-shirt, and kissed him. He splayed his hands against her back, holding her there while her tongue stroked his.

  Stroking.

  That was an awfully good idea.

  He slid his hand down and cupped her ass. It was every bit as firm as it looked.

  She tugged his shirt up to his armpits, but it could go no further. He quite liked where he had his hands. He’d also like for them both to wear less clothing.

  He let go of her even though he didn’t want to.

  Merida dragged his shirt up and over his head. It took a little bit of work on both their parts. His shoulder was stiff after not having moved it for a few hours and the pain reminded him that these moments were special, because they could have never happened.

  She dropped the shirt into a pile of her clothes on the tile and stepped close again. Her hand pressed against his chest, just over his heart, and she kissed his collar bone.

  Today was about being alive. Every bullet shot last night was a missed encounter with death. They’d pulled it off, somehow, and he intended to cherish what he had. What they had.

  Merida pulled the clip from her hair. The wet locks tumbled around her shoulders. One side of her mouth hiked up as she hooked her thumbs in her pants and shoved them down. He watched in fascination as her skin pebbled. She shivered and pulled the bathroom door shut, showing more presence of mind than he had.

  “You aren’t even going to ask if I’m serious? If I’m just saying this to get in your pants?” he asked.

  She snorted and strolled the few steps toward him. “You ran around a building full of people trying to kill us. I think that’s proof enough for me. Anything else you want to talk about?”

  He watched her saunter past into the glass walled shower, hips rolling.

  “No. I guess not,” he said.

  Merida turned on the water then faced him and crooked a finger. “Come here.”

  Finley took one step before he remembered the very important fact that he was still wearing pants. Sweatpants. But still pants.

  He shoved pants and boxers down and stepped out of them, conscious of his morning wood.

  One side of her mouth hiked a bit higher.

  He stepped into the shower and let the door close behind him.

  Merida hooked her fingers in his and pulled him under the warm water. Her touch was gentle as she swiped a washrag over his body, cleaning the dried blood and dust from him. He wished he’d have woken up earlier so he could have done the same for her. Last night was just something he’d survived. It was far more personal for her. She’d left the Navy to work for Aegis Group. From what he could tell it was her whole life, save for the time they spent together.

  A had wrapped around his cock. He sucked in a breath and glanced over his shoulder. Merida kissed his bicep as her hand slowly pumped his length.

  “What? I’m just being thorough.” Her smile grew with every word.

  He quirked a brow at her. “Thorough?”

  “Yes.” She nimbly stepped around him. The water and damp air had her hair sticking to her skin again.

  Merida’s hand tightened as she stroked him from the base of his shaft to the head. He had to close his eyes. Before last night he’d only known his own had for so long. Another person’s touch—her touch—was near intoxicating.

  “I think...” There was a note of mischief in Merida’s voice. “You should sit.”

  She nudged him backward with a hand to the middle of his chest. He took one step and ran into the cool stone of a bench.

  “What are you doing?” He grasped her wrist and narrowed her gaze.

  “Oh, come on. Let a girl live out a little fantasy, won’t you?”

  He opened his mouth to reply, but he knew he was done for. Whatever she wanted he’d do. He’d lived harboring a love he didn’t think she shared. To find out she loved him back left him reeling in a good way. He just wasn’t prepared for how to deal with it.

  “What does this fantasy entail? Hm?” He eased down, his muscles loser now that they’d warmed up.

  “Hm.” Her eyes trailed down his body to his cock again. Her fingers stroked up the erect length of him then back down. “I’ll let you know as it comes to me.”

  He leaned forward. Two could play this touch and tease game, but she stopped him with a finger across his lips.

  “Oh, no you don’t.” She grinned at him. “You just sit there.”

  “Whose fantasy is this supposed to be?”

  “Are you complaining right now?”

  He opened his mouth then thought better of his words. “Nope. Do whatever you want.”

  “That’s a much better answer, Marine.”

  Merida lowered herself to her knees, hands braced on his thighs. He stared at her, hardly believing this was reality. Twenty minutes ago at most he’d been in bed wondering if he’d lose his best friend. Now he could hardly believe his eyes.

  She bent her head, her lips wrapping around his cock. Reality came back into sharp focus. He sucked in a deep breath.

  Damn, but he was so fucking close and she’d barely touched him. Celibacy was hell and her mouth heaven.

  “Merida? Merida, babe...”

  She ignored him, doing exactly as she wanted. Like she always did. Because that was Merida.

  Without realizing it, he dug his hand into her wet hair. The strands wrapped around his fingers didn’t give him control. It wasn’t like that with Merida.

  Her tongue rubbed the underside of his cock as she rose, her head tilting a bit so she could look up at him.

  Finley swallowed a curse. She looked so damn pleased with herself.

  He fucking loved this woman.

  Merida gave to everyone. She was a team player, holding the line and backing up her people. He was damn proud to have been that for her even just once in the field, but more than that he wanted to be her teammate for life.

  He pushed on the back of her head, not hard, just enough to urge her on. Her lips curled around him and he thought she smiled as she took him back in, all the way until he bumped the back of her throat.

  “Fuck,” he muttered and leaned against the shower wall.

  Merida let him pull on her hair, guiding her at a pace that worked for him. But he wanted more control. This time he lifted his hips. Her eyes widened a bit, but she worked with him, bracing her hands on the bench and shifting.

  That was when she looked at him. The look seemed to urge him on. So he thrust into her mouth, keeping it easy. He was so wrapped up in the spell of her touch and the moment his orgasm almost too him by surprise.

  “Merida!”

  Finley yanked on her hair a mo
ment before pleasure rippled through him. He shuddered, palming his cock as his mind focused on the one fact he knew he’d never shake.

  He loved Merida, and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

  A hand slid up his chest.

  He glanced at her swollen lips curved in a smile.

  God, she was beautiful.

  He bent and kissed her, tasting himself on her tongue.

  “For the future, it’s perfectly okay to do a little hair pulling,” she said.

  “Was it too hard?” He leaned back so he could see her face.

  “I’m sorry, did you think you were pulling my hair? Maybe there at the end.” She snickered. “Remember, I grew up a tomboy. You’ll have to do better.”

  “Noted.” He drew in an easier breath.

  A shrill ring from the bedroom broke the moment.

  Merida’s body went tense and she glanced over her shoulder.

  Finley knew that sound.

  It was her work calling.

  She winced and glanced at him.

  He kissed her cheek. “Go, save the world.”

  “It’s probably Zain. Sorry.” She pushed to her feet and stepped under the spray, washing his seed off her thighs.

  “Go.” He leaned forward, content to watch her. “It’s fine.”

  She might work for Zain, but she loved him. And that was something Finley could live with. For years he’d been the one heading off on dangerous work. Now the roles were switched to some extent, and he intended to do the job justice.

  Merida was his to look after, to care for and love. Openly. There was no more hiding it.

  9.

  Thursday. Bed and Breakfast, Seattle, Washington.

  Merida shoved her arms through the plush robe that had been hanging on the back of the bathroom door. There just wasn’t time to put her clothes back on, and she wasn’t sure she wanted to. Her whole body was throbbing. She was pretty sure even her pretty, silky panties would rub her the wrong way in her current state.

  She scooped up her phone, resigned to spoiling her good mood when she saw Zain’s name. It would be too much to hope for some happy news.

  “Hey,” she said by way of an introduction.

  “You weren’t asleep were you?” Zain’s voice was strained.

  “No. What have you found out?” She paced around the bed, sparing a glance for the roaring fire.

  Finley must have done that.

  God, that man.

  No.

  Her brain had to be on work.

  Zain’s tone was still grim. “They were able to unearth a few of the bodies about an hour ago. Two were in good enough condition to run through facial recognition.”

  “And?”

  “And they’re Lebanese Special Forces.”

  “Oh, God...”

  “No, sorry. This is good. In a way, I guess. We know exactly how many came into the country and according to your accounts they’re all dead. I’m not sure who is going to get to do it—CIA, FBI, State Department—someone is going after them. You saved the day. You and your neighbor, Finley the Marine who has a pretty spectacular record, by the way.”

  “Zain.”

  “What? Did you seriously expect to just drop a name and me not look into him?”

  Merida wasn’t sure what changed. She simply knew she wasn’t alone anymore. She glanced over her shoulder and glanced at Finley. He had a towel around his hips and water ran down his face and chest.

  She wanted to lick him. It was a crazy, irrational desire and yet there it was.

  Damn, but he looked good.

  “So you’re telling me the threat has been eliminated and I’m basically on vacation until it’s good to start looking at real estate?” she asked.

  “Affirmative,” Zain replied. “Is he standing right there? Andrea has questions and is looking at me. If you don’t give me something I’m going to be in big trouble with the wife.”

  “Well, that’s your problem, Zain. Seeing as the office just got blown up and you’re routing all work through the main office, I guess I’m going to turn my phone off and enjoy Christmas.”

  “Damn it, Merida. You can’t leave me hanging like this.” Zain groaned. “When I get back, I want to meet this guy. I’m not joking around.”

  “Merry Christmas,” she said in a sing-song voice then hung up.

  A double date with her boss? Now there was an idea. Merida adored Zain’s wife. Andrea was good for Zain. Would Finley hit it off with everyone else?

  Her nerves began tying themselves in knots.

  Now she had a whole new thing to worry about.

  Great.

  “Are you really turning it off?” Finley asked.

  “No.” She sighed and eyed the other notifications. The preview of the texts from Melody alone told her others knew the office was gone. “I’ll just turn it on silent and look at it every now and then.”

  He chuckled. “That’s what I thought.”

  Her head snapped up. “Fin, my job—”

  He grasped her by the shoulders and looked down at her. “Is important.”

  She blinked a few times. “That was not what I expected you to say.”

  “Don’t forget, I’ve been on your side of things.” He slid his arms around her waist.

  Merida quickly turned her phone off and tossed it on the bed. It wouldn’t kill her to have it powered down for a little while.

  “So, any plans for your unexpected vacation?” he asked.

  “Well, there’s this guy I like.” She couldn’t help but grin. “I was kind of hoping I’d get to spend some time with him.”

  “Must be a real lucky guy.”

  “I think he is.” She flushed and her heart picked up the pace as his head dipped toward her.

  A sly grin spread across his face. “Well, too bad he isn’t here now.”

  Finley kissed her before she could sputter a laugh or a reply to that statement. She curled her toes into the plush carpet and let herself enjoy this.

  His hand slid past the robe to cup her breast. She gasped into the kiss as he toyed with her nipple, which only granted his tongue entry to her mouth. Her knees were wobbling and she found it hard to remain standing there without holding onto him. As fuzzy headed as she was she couldn’t keep track of all his injuries and where she couldn’t touch him.

  Finley walked her back to the edge of the bed. She sat down, because it was that or turn into a puddle on the floor.

  Merida looked up at Finley and felt like her future had grown legs. She’d always known what she wanted and how to get it. Her career had been her focus until him. And now here he was, telling her he wanted her back.

  He gently slid the robe from her shoulders.

  “You’re beautiful,” he muttered.

  She opened her mouth to refute the comment then stopped herself. Why should she? If the one man she wanted to like her thought she was beautiful, who was she to say otherwise.

  He leaned over her until their noses bumped. “I want to make love to you.”

  “You do?” Her voice trembled.

  “I do.” His gaze lowered to her breasts.

  “Fin?”

  “Hm?”

  “I don’t want to use condoms.” It was a split second thought and she’d just said it, but it felt right.

  “What?” His gaze jumped back to her face.

  “I’m on birth control. And I don’t want to use condoms with you.”

  He opened and closed his mouth. “You’re sure?”

  “You did say you loved me.”

  “I could be saying that to get in your pants.”

  “You didn’t have to say it the first time.”

  He scowled, clearly not finding humor in that joke. She tugged him down for a quick kiss. Or she meant it to be quick. He pressed her back until she lay on the mattress, him over her, their fingers threaded together. He kissed her until she was breathless and her head spinning.

  “Are you sure?” he whispered.

/>   “Yes,” she said between breaths. “Any reason why we shouldn’t?”

  He didn’t hesitate. “No. None at all, I’m just...surprised.”

  “Why? You said you loved me, and I said I loved you long before you loved me, so...why?”

  “It’s just...fast.”

  “It feels right to me, but if it’s too fast—”

  “No.” He kissed the corner of her mouth. “I want everything with you.”

  “Me, too,” she whispered. Her stomach fluttered, but she needed to say it. Really say it again. “I love you.”

  His nose bumped hers and his lips curved into a smile. “I love you, too.”

  Fingers stroked her folds. She gasped as he touched her.

  His voice was deeper now. “Someone is very wet.”

  “Mm.” She tried to lift her hips, but he had her pinned to the bed.

  “Have you been a good girl this year?”

  “Not in the slightest. I’ve had very naughty thoughts about a certain someone all year long.”

  Finley’s frown turned into a hungry stare.

  “Fin, save the teasing stuff for later, I just need you, okay?” She’d beg at this point.

  He pushed up and kissed her, giving something to focus all her need on.

  A moment later she felt the blunt head of his cock—his bare cock—press against her. He still stood at the side of the bed, leaning over her. She knew he’d never be anything except this big, powerful, in-control kind of guy. And that was something she loved about him.

  He stared down at her as he eased into her body, their gazes locked. She shuddered at the feel of him, the intimate sensation of skin on skin. Now wasn’t the time to share the fact that she’d never allowed this with another man. That could happen later. Right now she just wanted to be with him. To revel in this love they’d found. They were alive, and they were going to get to figure out what came next. Together.

  Finley worked his cock into her, taking it slow. He watched her and she knew he saw everything. Each sigh, any wince of pain or soreness, whenever she moaned, he knew.

  “God, Fin.” She dug her nails into his ass, trying to urge him deeper, but he wouldn’t be hurried.

  Instead he pulled almost all the way out and kissed her.

  It was torture, wanting so desperately to be filled by him and yet not have him.