Logan could talk about cybersecurity for days. That was his main job at Savage Security. He maintained all the technology and could get through any firewall and create complex viruses to attack and destroy a threat. His specialization was cryptography and encryption.
After hours of talking and innocent flirting, they had dessert and made their way to the porch. It had warmed up considerably since morning, but that was life in the south. Weather could change by thirty or forty degrees overnight.
The screened-in porch overlooked the fenced in backyard. Logan propped opened the door, and Mojo took off down the few stairs and barked at a bird as it circled just out of reach.
“Shall we?” Logan motioned to the porch swing.
Aditya nodded and slipped her arms into her cardigan as she followed him to the swing.
He eased himself onto the cushions and wanted to pull her onto his lap, but he hadn’t even kissed her yet. That would change very soon.
She sat beside him, her pant leg brushing against his. She knew he’d make his move. They always did. “It’s nice back here,” she said. “Mojo seems to really like it.” She pointed at the husky as it raced around the yard.
“Yeah, he’s a good dog.” Logan extended his arm and pointed at the dog. “That bird loves to harass him.” Mojo barked and jumped at the bird.
“That’s funny,” she said as the bird shrieked and dove towards Mojo. The dog whined and then barked again as the bird flew higher in response. Aditya relaxed against Logan’s shoulder. Dogs may be man’s best friend, but they could also be a giant hassle. “You’ve got him well trained.”
Logan draped his arm around her shoulders. His fingertips slowly caressed her upper arm over her clothes. She scooted against his body so their sides touched from knee to shoulder.
“Yeah, I think they may be a couple, but neither have realized that it will never work between them,” Logan said with a chuckle. He’d read all her signals during their meal, and she was responding to his gentle caresses.
She looked around the porch and noticed a security camera mounted along the wall of the house. It covered the entrances and windows of the house along the back. She pointed to it. “Is crime a problem in this neighborhood?” she asked him with a lilt in her voice.
Logan glanced at the camera. “No, you’re perfectly safe. I just like gadgets.” The motion activated cameras weren’t linked to the house security system, but they did record and archive movement along the perimeter of his house. He figured they made a good deterrent and would provide valuable information if there ever was a breach.
She’d noticed the one by the front door too. Were all entrances covered? What about windows? “Well, at least I know that I’m safe here with you,” she teased as she rested her hand by his knee. “Must be the security expert coming out in you.”
Logan’s blood rushed south as she nestled her hand higher around the inside of his thigh. The fact he was wearing jeans made no difference. Her skin may not be in direct contact with his, but the thought was there. He leaned a little closer and whispered in her ear, “I’m glad you came over today.”
She looked up at him and squeezed his thigh. It was obvious that he enjoyed her touch. She saw the way his body reacted to her. “I’m glad I came too,” she said softly. She stared at his lips and wondered how they’d feel on her. It was too bad he was a killer. Other than that flaw, he was the type of man that she’d always imagined for herself.
Logan read her signals and leaned towards her. When their lips made contact, warmth seeped through him. He turned a little and gently cradled her head in his hand. Her lips parted slightly, and he eased his tongue into her mouth. She tasted of wine and chocolate. He wanted to drown in her sweetness.
When her hand left his thigh and slid around his waist, she stroked him through his shirt and he deepened the kiss. He wanted to explore and taste every part of her. And when the faintest of moans purred from her, he gripped her waist and pulled her atop him.
She felt his desire as she straddled him, and she squirmed against it. She knew he’d feel good. It was clear from the kiss that he knew how to enjoy the moment, not rush things. She moaned in encouragement and slid her hand over his cheek. The barely-there stubble prickled her palm.
His hand snaked between the fabric of her shirt and her skin as he brushed his fingertips over her waist. Her nipples reacted in anticipation of his touch. She wanted his hand to go higher, to squeeze her breast and tease her nipples. There was something intoxicating about him. She wasn’t sure which attracted her more, his brain or his body. Either way, she wanted him.
She wiggled again, rocking her hips against him. Her goal was to drown him with pleasure through the motion and pressure of her body. It worked. As she ran her hand along his neck, his pulse thrummed along.
The way he savored her mouth, she knew he would treat her body like a delicacy. He was a man who knew how to take his time. The intimate brush of his hand on her skin ignited goose bumps along her flesh. She sucked his lip into her mouth in response.
He groaned from the pressure of her rhythmic squirming. He wanted her. He wanted her under him so he could slowly explore her body. Moving his hand up from her waist and over her ribs, he noted the anticipatory hitch in her breath. He wanted to hear her moan as he rubbed her nipple between his fingers. Reaching around her back, he unclasped her bra. Pulling away, he looked into her heated dark eyes. “Is that okay?” he murmured, his hands resting on her back.
“Yes,” she nodded. This was what she wanted. She wanted him to need her, to be so lost in pleasure that he couldn’t think straight. The only problem was that he was affecting her too. Her core pulsed with excitement as his hand snuck under the cup of her bra. She moaned as his fingers tugged on her nipple. Her pussy clenched, and she rocked herself against him, eliciting a deep groan from him. She could have him here, right now, but that wasn’t in her plan. A woman should always leave a man wanting more. Let lust fuel his desire and clog his thinking.
After several more minutes of kissing, teasing and some sucking, she pulled away and placed her hand atop his as he cupped her breast. She looked into his eyes and said, “I’ve had a wonderful time with you.”
“But,” Logan said. He knew what was coming, she was going to leave before things got out of control. But he saw the desire in her eyes. She wanted him too.
She squirmed one last time, enjoying his heat and hardness against her. She needed to leave before she lost control and came in his lap. As she stood, his hand slipped out from under her shirt. “I should probably go before we get carried away.” She gazed at his crotch as her hands went behind her back and hooked her bra.
He noted her staring at him, focusing on the bulge in his pants. She’d enjoyed rubbing against him, but she was right. If they didn’t stop soon, their first time would be on the swing in the screened-in porch. Hell, he already wanted to take her inside. He wanted her laid out naked on his bed, but he’d never rush a woman. Some things were meant to be savored.
Logan took his time standing and slipped his hand into hers. “I’d like to see you again,” he said. “Are you available tomorrow night?”
She chuckled lightly and pressed her hand against his chest. There was no denying the strong beat of his heart. “You sure you want to see me again so soon?” She looked up at him through her dark lashes. “What if we run out of things to talk about?” She bit her bottom lip.
He moved, bringing her body flush with his, and wrapped his arms around her. He slowly slid his hands down her back and cupped her ass and pulled her against him. “I’m sure we can figure something out,” he murmured as he squeezed her ass.
Her mouth formed an ‘O’ as she giggled in response. “How ‘bout I text you?”
“That will work,” he replied and released her ass.
After a kiss at her car door, he watched her drive away. Their afternoon together had gone nicely, better than he’d expected. But now he had some research to do.
8
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Monday
Jack had hardly slept. Images of Bella with the effeminate man taunted him. Had she spent the entire weekend with that loser? Were they lovers? How could a man like him even know how to pleasure a woman of her quality? And it was painfully clear that Eric wanted to pleasure her. He’d had trouble keeping his hands off of her at the party.
Jack let out a heavy sigh as he draped his arm over his head. He stared up at the ceiling and cursed. He needed to go run, burn off some of his energy before he lost his mind.
He would talk to Cole today. They needed to do a background check on Eric, make sure he wasn’t some pervert, or worse yet, a man using Bella to get to them. The thought of that sent his blood racing. He’d put a bullet in him if he abused her in any way.
Jack dragged his body out of bed and stepped into his running shorts and shoes. He ran his miles and couldn’t stop thinking about Bella. Worry that maybe he’d lost his chance warred within him. Maybe he should have declared his feelings for her sooner and now his opportunity was gone.
He hated Cole. This was all Cole’s fault. Cole was the one who’d declared her off limits. But what gave Cole the right to do that? She was a responsible, independent woman. Shouldn’t she have the right to decide who she spent time with? Of course she did, as long as it was him.
Jack drove like an obsessed man to Savage Security. The building had always symbolized stability and acceptance. The men at Savage Security were like him. They looked at the world the same way. Their rose colored glasses had shattered a long time ago. They understood the danger that threatened their country and loved ones, and they had the balls to do something about it.
He’d always enjoyed walking through the doors and seeing Bella sitting at her desk. To Jack, she was the softness that buffered the hostility of life, but today was different. He feared he’d discover that she was sharing her softness, her compassion, her love with another man. His greatest fear was that she was no longer available to him.
Bella’s nerves skittered through her. So far this morning, all the men who’d arrived at the office seemed different. It was like they looked at her differently. She’d regretted being so affectionate with Eric at the party. Maybe she should have been more professional. It had been a work party, but the men never seemed to worry about how they acted. They drank and joked. Why couldn’t she relax a little too?
Bella looked up from her desk as the door opened. Their eyes met, and a sickening tension coiled in her stomach.
Jack. He’d been an ass Saturday night.
He looked at her and smiled, but she saw through it. She saw the heat in his eyes. He still blamed her for what happened to Alisha.
Nothing had been the same between them since the day she interfered in Alisha’s security. Jack had wanted to snatch Alisha to protect her and lock her down at Savage Security so her stalker couldn’t get to her, but Bella had argued against that. And that was when everything went to hell.
She’d never forget the look on Jack’s face as he glared at her from his seat in the conference room. He’d looked at her with such raw intensity that she realized how truly dangerous he was. In that look, he’d gone from a work friend to a man to be avoided. Of course, she was always friendly when he passed by her desk and greeted her. She wanted to keep things professional between them. But it would be a long time before she’d give her input into any of their assignments again.
She still wasn’t sure if she should apologize for her interference that day. She knew Alisha didn’t blame her, but she hadn’t worked up the nerve to discuss it with Jack. If she were brave like the men she worked with, she’d have already hashed through this emotional battlefield with him.
Who was she kidding? They never wasted a moment on regretting what they said or did. They had enough confidence and raw energy to power a small country. Once they made a decision, there was no going back. They didn’t waste their time with regret over their choices. But her, she wasn’t brave. So far their courage and bravado hadn’t rubbed off on her.
“Bella,” Jack said as he stopped in front of her desk. He did his best to look relaxed, which was difficult since his gut churned with the ferocity of a crocodile thrashing in the water. “Did you have a good weekend?” He hoped his voice didn’t sound clipped. He was aiming for friendly.
She felt his eyes travel over her body, like he was assessing her, looking down on her. He towered over her from the other side of the desk. She’d always thought that he was a good looking man: tall, broad, and packed with muscles. She’d even considered him to have a good personality, but everything changed when she questioned his advice on how to protect Alisha.
She forced a smile, which she hoped didn’t look forced, and said, “Yes. I had a great weekend.” She did have a great weekend. She’d spent her time with Eric, and they’d spent plenty of time on the couch with wandering hands. Eric had squeezed, teased, and tweaked her breasts with the finesse of a master masseuse.
Jack noticed a slight discoloration on her neck. Was that a hickey? Where else had that bastard’s mouth been? “Good.” He nodded, his mind reeling from the fact that another man was putting his lips, and God knew what else, on her. He needed to get out of there before his carefully constructed façade faltered. “That’s good to hear.” He drummed his fingers on her desk, gave a quick nod, and walked towards the conference room.
Once he disappeared into the conference room, Bella could breathe again. He’d been blatantly rude to Eric on Saturday night, and she hadn’t liked it. She’d just sat there and put up with his roguish behavior. And here she was again, sitting in her chair and not confronting Jack for his rudeness. She really was a coward working amongst a team of giants.
She slid her finger over the mouse pad and the computer screen came to life again. She needed to look over the calendar and see what was on her agenda for the day. Getting angry about Jack wouldn’t help the time pass or her get her work done. Besides, she needed to get everything done on time today because she had a date tonight.
Mike smirked as Jack pulled out the chair and sat at the conference table beside him. He knew Jack was pissed. He’d be pissed too if Alisha showed up marked with a hickey from some other man. He was surprised Bella hadn’t done the lame scarf around her neck thing to hide it, but then again, maybe Bella was proud of it. Who knew with women?
“Hello, sunshine,” Mike said. “Rough weekend?”
Jack flipped him the finger.
Mike bellowed a laugh. “It’s gonna be a fun day with you, isn’t it?”
Jack leaned forward, rested his arms on the table and looked at Mike. “You saw it too.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Yes.” Mike nodded. “Makes you wonder if there are any more hidden on her body.” He knew he shouldn’t tease Jack, but he also knew Jack’s mind had already gone there.
“Fuck you,” Jack bit out and leaned back in his chair. He crossed his arms over his chest and looked up as Cole entered the room.
The other men filed in after Cole and everyone took their seats. No one bothered talking to Jack. They knew him well enough to know that he was pissed and wouldn’t be worth talking to.
Cole stood in the doorway and looked out at Bella. She seemed absorbed in her work. He cleared his throat to catch her attention and said, “Bella, please no interruptions during the meeting.”
Bella looked up from the computer screen at Cole’s voice. She nodded and went back to her screen. She seldom interrupted the men when they were behind closed doors. She didn’t want to see something that wasn’t meant for her eyes, and they trusted her for that.
Cole closed the conference room door and stepped to the head of the table. He tapped a button on the computer, and the screen on the SMART board came to life.
Cole cleared his throat. “All right gentlemen, we all know the drill.” He clicked on a file titled FOXZ, and it opened for them to see. “It appears our Bella is dating. You know what that means. We must protect our own. Logan did a background c
heck on Eric James last night.”
Logan hadn’t mentioned Aditya to Cole yet. He could only wait so long before he would be accused of hiding her. But he didn’t want to dig into her past and have her private information available for his friends to see before he even knew if they would continue to see each other. He’d wait another day, see how things went tonight, and then mention her to Cole.
The men around the table smirked. Tyson rolled his eyes. His sisters would go ballistic if they knew he did background checks on their boyfriends. He couldn’t imagine what Bella would think. Women could be so sensitive about their private lives. Sure, they’d share everything with their friends, or the world on the internet, but you do a little digging for their safety, and they’d unleash the hounds of hell on you.
“Okay, I’m not the only one who saw it, right?” Ryan said, holding his hands palms up. He laughed and glanced at Jack.
Tyson grunted, his crossed arms over his broad chest. “The hickey? How could you miss it?” He started to laugh as he eyed Jack.
“What the hell is she thinking?” Ryan said, motioning with his hand. He didn’t even try to hide his smile. “The man’s a total poser.”
“It’s not our job to judge,” Cole replied, swiping the air with his hand. “She’s free to like whomever she wants.”
Except me, Jack wanted to scream in response to Cole’s statement. Besides, as far a Jack was concerned, she wasn’t free to like whomever she wanted. If she was going to be intimate with a man, then the man should be him, or at the very least a man of his caliber. Eric was a pussy douche bag. Jack just couldn’t understand the attraction. What the hell did she see in him?
Avenging Kiss (Savage Security Book 2) Page 5