Resist Me (Change Me Book One - standalone): McCoy Raven Boys

by A. O. Peart

  “Yeah. No kidding.” I nodded in mocking assent. “Still having second thoughts about going after a big fish politician?”

  He exhaled with force and wordlessly looked at me.

  “I will let you stew on that problem.” I turned around to head back to Lisbeth. But a few steps away, I stopped and turned to face him. “I think Vince will testify. Just offer him your best protection. I suspect Lisbeth will do the same. But I can’t guarantee that she’ll freely go back into your program. If that’s even necessary now. She needs the best safeguarding there is though. Can you offer it?”

  He nodded. “Yes. Anything to keep her safe. I’ll personally make sure she’ll be taken care of.”

  I walked back to him. “I won’t ask for a name, but I need to know the truth—do you know who your mole is?”

  His eyes opened wide. Didn’t he expect to be confronted wtih that? I waited.

  He nodded again, pressing his lips into a thin line. “We had a suspicion, but couldn’t nail the son of a bitch without a definite proof. But he gave it to us on a silver platter. With only three agents in the van, we narrowed it down. When the gang showed up here, there was no way he could deny his tipping them off.”

  “Okay then. Do you know if there are any other members of that gang that went free?”

  “We got all of them. We’ve been chasing them for a while. All are rounded up.”

  “So Gloria is safe?”

  Drasco’s eyes softened. “To best of my knowledge, yes. But as I already promised to you—I will personally take care of arranging the best protection available for her.”

  “I’ll remember that.” I walked back to Lisbeth.

  She was on a stretcher and about to be carried off to the ambulance. Jack squatted next to her, together with Cornell. She was shaking her head, disagreeing about something. Jack noticed me and motioned to me to get to her. As if I wasn’t running already.

  Lisbeth turned her face to me. One look at her sad, worried expression and I felt a stab of pain straight through my heart.

  I kneeled on one knee next to her and took her hands in mine. “You need to go to the hospital, but I’m coming with you.”

  Her face lightened in relief as if a huge weight lifted off her shoulders. Careful not to touch her injured arm, I pressed her to me and whispered in her hair, “Did you think I would let you go alone?”

  She made a noise like a tiny squeak. Then her back shook. She was crying, and I wasn’t sure if these were the held-back tears, induced by all the horrors she went through or if they were the tears of relief. But that didn’t matter, as long as I was privileged to hold her in my arms and protect her.

  Chapter Twenty Nine

  LISBETH

  I’ve always hated hospitals. The smell, the lack of color, and everything else was driving me crazy. As soon as the good doctor stitched up my arm and gave me the bill of health, I asked Ethan to take me somewhere. Anywhere; just away from the hospital.

  He was with me all the time, even though the nurses tried to kick him out of the room and make him wait in the hallway. They didn’t care he was a paramedic. Finally, I threatened that if they won’t stop harassing Ethan, I’m gonna stab each of them in the eye with Ethan’s knife. I even tried to grab it, but Ethan wouldn’t let me.

  A short, very round nurse with rosy cheeks and a bad case of adult acne called the hospital security. I called the FBI. Special Agent Drasco was waiting in his car right outside the building. He came in and straightened everything out, much to Ethan’s relief. I probably acted irrationally, but my nervous system was running on hot-red, and there was no single reasonable thought left in my brain.

  Ethan stuffed me into a wheelchair much to my chagrin.

  “I can walk,” I pleaded, but he wouldn’t even listen.

  “Can you just let me do that for you?” he asked, exasperated.

  “Fine.” I stared straight ahead as he pushed the wheelchair through the hallway, into the elevator, and then outside through the double sliding glass doors.

  Special Agents Drasco and Cornell escorted us to the unmarked, black sedan. We slid into the back seat. Ethan enfolded me in his arms, pressing me close to him, and kissed the top of my head. I looked up at him and said, “Thank you. For everything.”

  “Don’t mention it.”

  I put my hand over his hard-with-solid-muscles chest. His heartbeat drummed against my palm. It was the most comforting feeling I knew. I leaned closer and pressed my cheek to where my hand was a moment earlier, wrapping my arms around his waist. A long, quiet sigh escaped me. I closed my eyes and listened to Ethan’s body. His breathing was slow and deep, and I tried to match my own breath to his. I felt his fingers gently slide over my hair and his lips caress my forehead. I wanted to stay like this forever.

  I must’ve fallen asleep, because it surprised me when the car stopped.

  “It’s time to go,” Ethan’s voice reverberated in his chest.

  I sat up and looked around. We parked in front of a large, well-lit building. “Where are we?” I asked.

  “The Nines hotel in Portland. Two female agents will stay in a room directly across the hall from yours,” Ethan explained. “Drasco and Cornell are off to do the briefing with their superior. They will see you tomorrow.”

  I looked at him, tensing up. “And you? Where are you going?”

  He smiled. “I was hoping you’d let me stay in your room.”

  I closed my eyes in relief and smiled back at him. “I wouldn’t want it any other way.”

  Ethan took me straight into the room. I guessed the booking was done over the phone while we drove here. I covered my head and upper half of my face with the hood of my jacket, just the way I’ve been doing since first taken into the FBI witness protection plan. Maybe the danger was gone, since I was told that all of the gang members were captured. But some habits die hard.

  I walked into the room and gasped. It was a beautifully appointed suite, with a separate living room, one bedroom with a king size canopy bed, and nice furniture. The bedding looked luxurious, and the shower in the bathroom was large and equipped with two showerheads.

  “No way!” I laughed. “Who’s paying for all this?”

  “Don’t worry about that. You deserve a real comfort.” Ethan sprawled in a plush armchair, crossing right ankle over the left knee. “I wanted to take you to my place, but the feds think it’s better to still take precaution and keep you in an unknown location, just in case, until they have the arrest warrant for the Senator.”

  “Am I still in danger?”

  “The FBI doesn’t think so. All of the gang members are in custody. Or dead. There isn’t an immediate threat to you, but the Bureau wants to keep an eye on you.”

  I nodded. The explanation made a lot of sense. I was safe. Or, at least, much safer than I’ve been for a while. That made me feel better.

  When I smiled, Ethan smiled back to me and then closed his eyes. “That shower looks very tempting,” he said in a quiet, raspy voice.

  You look tempting. My heart beat in some crazy staccato rhythm. “I think it has my name written all over it.” I chuckled, but I didn’t feel like joking. I felt like climbing on top of him and letting him have me right here, right now. But I didn’t do that, because I didn’t know how to be so upfront with a guy. So instead, I headed toward the bathroom. Besides, I badly needed a shower. Preferably icy-cold.

  “Ah. Now I know why that shower looked so tempting to me,” he said.

  That stopped me in my tracks. Very slowly I turned my head and glanced at him. One corner of his mouth was up, and he watched me from under half-closed lids. Reclined comfortably and looking so relaxed and dreamy, he was the most stunning, most suggestive male I’ve ever seen. And I wanted him. Badly. He probably knew that. Yeah, he did, and I was happy. I wasn’t into playing games.

  Despite my raging desire, I made myself go off to the bathroom. On the way there, I grabbed my backpack. I was relieved to see that Ethan remembered to bring
it from Ryley’s cabin. I made a mental note to thank him. All my belongings were in there, including a few clean pieces of my very limited wardrobe: a couple of t-shirts, a tank top, and one pair of shorts. I hoped I had at least one pair of clean undies somewhere in there too, although I doubted I needed them right away.

  I turned the water on and waited for it to star running warm. When it did, I slid the curtain open and stepped inside the tub. The hot water felt heavenly on my skin. I just had to keep my arm semi-dry. The nurses supplied me with a few changes of wound dressing. I needed to take care of that after I was done with the shower. From the small corner shelf, I picked a tiny bottle of shampoo, opened it, and poured half of the contents onto my hair. I worked it into a thick lather and then rinsed it off. Next, I applied a bit of the conditioner to my hair from another miniature bottle and rubbed my skin with a bar of soap. It smelled wonderful—like a rose garden in bloom.

  I closed my eyes and let the water caress my body. It felt amazing, and I realized that I didn’t have a proper shower for way too long. With my good arm raised over my head, I moved my fingers through my hair, making sure all the conditioner was rinsed off. The shower rings made an unexpected sliding sound. I opened my eyes and came face to face with Ethan. A flash of renewed heat ran through my veins, deliciously swirling deep inside my core.

  “I should’ve asked if you needed help.” He nodded toward my injured arm. “But I see you’re managing quite well.” He gave me that gorgeous smile that made his eyes twinkle.

  “I can’t reach my back. Do you mind?” I offered the bar of soap to him and turned around, holding my hair up.

  Ethan inhaled sharply and lathered my back. He massaged the soap over my skin, and it took a lot for me not to turn around and tear his clothes off. He ran his hand down my spine, all the way along the crease between my buttocks. He didn’t end there, but continued his sweet assault until his soapy fingers slid between my legs and gently glided over the most sensitive spot of my body. I bit my lower lip, and my eyes rolled up in a shameless pleasure. By now two of his slim fingers were inside me, pushing deep.

  Without stopping, he lathered my stomach in small, sensual circles. From there, his hand found its way to my breasts. He dropped the soap. It landed with a thud on the bottom of the tub. His left hand continued the exploration of my pussy, while his right hand closed over my breast, fingers pinching and pulling on the already-elongated and hardened nipple. He pressed me to him, sucking on my earlobe and tormenting me with his tongue.

  I moaned his name, and he panted in response. Two fingers kept dipping inside me. They slid out and went back in once more. I was so aroused I didn’t care about anything but Ethan, his tantalizing hands, and his lips on my neck. I realized his hair and clothes were soaking wet, but that only excited me more.

  I turned around and faced him, draping my good arm around his waist. He leaned down until his lips were almost on mine and said, “I wanted to do this for so long, baby. I dreamed of you, thought about you, wanted you every moment of day and night since I laid my eyes on you for the first time. What are you doing to me?” His fingers went back to my clit to deliver more of his sweet torment.

  “What are you doing to me? I’m at your mercy,” I gasped. I kissed him. He opened his mouth just a bit, and his tongue flicked up and down my lips. That was just too much to take. My head dropped back, and I groaned in pure, primal pleasure.

  “I want you. I will have you, and you will love it,” he whispered.

  “Yes.” I managed to breathe out. “I’m loving it already.”

  “This? This is just a simple foreplay. I have so much more I want us to do.”

  My mind halted, and all my senses exploded at that declaration. I spiraled into the strongest orgasm I’ve ever experienced. It was delicious, long, and wild. Ethan was smiling. Water ran down his face, shining on his long, dark lashes, until he blinked it away. He was so wet and so warm. I wanted to wrap myself around him.

  As soon as that thought crossed my mind, my knees buckled, and he caught me. I was momentarily spent, but not completely done. No, I was just beginning.

  Ethan turned the water off and enfolded me in a large, fluffy towel. He picked me up and sat me in his lap. “We need to take care of your arm now.” Slowly, he peeled off the soaking-wet dressing, gently patted dry the skin around the wound, and applied the clean dressing, securing it with a medical tape. “Does it hurt a lot?”

  “No, not too bad.” It hurt, but I could manage.

  He looked at his watch. It was wet, but apparently waterproof. “I’ll give you the next painkiller in three hours.”

  “Okay, doc.” I grinned.

  Ethan rolled his eyes and stood up. He carried me to bed, kissing and running just the tip of his tongue between my lips. I tried to deepen the kiss, but each time he pulled away. That frustrated me and made me want him more. So much more. The desire built up inside me, and by the time he put me down on top of the covers, I was breathing hard and ready for round two.

  He must’ve realized that because he said, “So hungry, so deliciously wet for me.” He opened the towel, and his face registered something like awe. “God, Lisbeth. You’re so perfect.”

  I blushed, unsure of what to say to this. I didn’t know how not to sound overmodest or overconfident. I didn’t feel confident for sure. My body used to look so much better before I lost all that weight. My normal softness and the curves were replaced with the ugly, sharp angles. How could he really think that the skeletal me was perfect?

  “I’m not. I’m too skinny now.” I hid my face in the pillow.

  “Would almost perfect sound better?” He laughed.

  “Do you like skinny women?” I taunted.

  “No, I like real women, with curves—big curves.” The twinkle in his eyes was back.

  “Then what’s so perfect about me? I’m too skinny now,” I argued.

  “Now—maybe. But I can clearly see that your body is amazing.” Ethan hovered over me, with his arms on each side of me, dripping water on my skin and the covers. His muscles bunched under his wet t-shirt. “Don’t worry. I will fatten you up.” He grinned. “You’ll eat lots and lots of bacon and ice cream.”

  I swatted him on his shoulder. He leaned down and kissed me. I opened my mouth to let his tongue skillfully slip in. I already knew Ethan could kiss like no other, but now, lying in bed under him, naked, and already granted one powerful orgasm, I experienced that kiss on some completely new to me level. He licked deep inside my mouth, swallowing my moans.

  He withdrew from the kiss, gently biting my lower lip and then moving lower—onto my breasts. His mouth closed around one nipple, sucking and licking, biting, and pulling. The array of sensations I experienced from this couldn’t possibly compare to anything I’ve ever known. My body responded to everything he did; to every touch, every breath, and every word.

  He sucked on my nipple, tugging on it with his lips, and then letting go off it, flicking it with his tongue. My hand went to my other breast, but he quickly intercepted it. “It’s my job. Yours is to experience the pleasure and wait for my permission to touch yourself,” Ethan playfully scolded me.

  But then, he moved to the other breast, while spreading my legs wide apart with his knee. I happily obliged, tilting my head back and closing my eyes.

  “I like when you do that,” Ethan said.

  “Do what?” My voice sounded strange to my own ears: strained and shaky.

  “When you angle your head back like this and lick your lips. It arouses me.”

  I moaned in response. He gently moved my hand to between my legs. The sweet pressure was too much to withstand much longer. I needed a release.

  Ethan murmured in appreciation and sat back on his heels, watching. The top button of his Levi’s jeans was undone. The bulge in the front was unmistakable. He was hard as a rock. I pleasured myself, wishing these were Ethan’s fingers, not mine. I felt wanted; actually wanted. I didn’t feel like a burden anymore.

&
nbsp; I became to pant, feeling the orgasm building inside fast. I bit my lip. When I started to pulse my hips up and down, Ethan sharply inhaled. “That’s enough,” he barked and seized both of my hands, pushing them to the sides. His fingers wrapped tightly around my wrists, holding me hostage. He bent over my pussy and licked from the bottom all the way past my clit. I cried out. He licked again, increasing the pressure and watching my face. And again. “I want you to come like this. I won’t go any deeper. Can you do that for me, baby?”

  Could I? God, of course! I was dancing on a brink of ecstasy, desperate for release.

  “Can you? he insisted.

  “Yes. Yes!” I cried again when his tongue impatiently lashed at my cleft. My hips shot up and down and up again. “Please, Ethan. Please. I want to come so badly.”

  He smiled against my needy opening and licked once more, slow and sensual. But this time he sucked on my clit and made his tongue vibrate over it. That was all I could take. I cried into the pillow, muffling the guttural sound of my release. I kept coming, and he kept torturing me with his highly adept tongue, his strong hands caging my hips in.

  As soon as I screamed, arching my back, he drove his tongue deep into me, sucking and tasting, devouring me with his mouth. The sensation was devastatingly good. He made me lose it with doing so little. I knew I was for a ride of my life when he unleashed his entire sexual arsenal on me. That excited and scared me at the same time. I wasn’t experienced. He would probably find me dull and uninspiring.

  But before I could worry about that any further, he hovered over me, his hooded eyes boring into mine, a tiny smile dancing on his lips. “I’m gonna get out of these wet clothes and jump in the shower. Take a nap. You’ll need it.”

  What? I will need it? That promise terrified me, but also made me squirm in need.

  Without looking at me, Ethan slid off the bed and, unhurriedly walked toward the bathroom. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He pulled his shirt up and impatiently tossed it onto the floor. I was fascinated with the bulk of strong muscles moving under his taut skin. His back was wide and it tapered down to a small waist and, still-clad in tight jeans, firm butt.