TooDangeroustoLove

by AliyahBurke

  Brandt couldn’t keep his eyes off her. The conversation was hard for him to follow since all he saw was the woman with skin the color of brown sugar who sat further down the table from him.

  Raven wore a baggy knit white top and black jeans that were a little too big for her. They settled around her hips and brought his mind to the beguiling picture of her standing naked for him. Her hair was loose and it covered the left side of her face.

  “Thank you for dinner, Mr. Fowler. Brandt, are you planning on going out tonight?” She looked directly at him when she asked her question.

  “No. I’m not. Don’t worry, I won’t try to sneak out.” He gave her a small smile.

  “I’m not worried. In that case. Goodnight.” She rose smoothly and walked out of the room.

  Brandt and Talon spoke for a bit about the party the next night, before Talon cried off and headed for bed. Brandt went looking for Raven. He knocked on her bedroom door and there was no answer.

  With a smile, he gathered a blanket and jogged down the back steps to head out to the lake, where some sense told him she would be. Waiting. For him.

  He ran the whole way until the moonlight shone down upon her silhouette as she sat by the lake. Her dogs lifted their heads and did nothing as the light glinted off their eyes.

  “Good evening, Brandt Fowler.”

  “What is this?”

  “What is what?”

  “This. Whatever it is that is going on between us.” He spread the blanket down and smiled as she accepted his hand in standing to move to sit on the blanket.

  “I have already told you. There is nothing between us.” Her gaze stayed focused on the lake.

  “Bullshit,” he growled. “What about today? In your room? What was that?”

  “That,” she paused, “was a mistake.”

  “No. I won’t accept that.” He turned to her and forced her chin around to look at him. With the moonlight, he noticed her wince of pain. “What happened to you?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Where did you get your bruise?”

  “Don’t worry about it.”

  “I’m not letting this go, Raven. Not after today. I want you so bad I can taste it. I smell you every time I take a breath. The faintest scent of peaches reaches me and I get hard, thinking that you are coming close to me. I hear your voice and my body trembles with anticipation.”

  “So all I am is the basis of lust? Do you think that we can get it out of our system?”

  “You mean like a one-night stand?” He was astounded.

  Her eyes stayed on his. “Look, you’re right. There is something there. As much as I am trying to ignore it, it’s not working. I don’t want this to interfere with my job. So, I figure if we just get it out of our systems, then things should be just fine. Right?”

  “Right,” he said in a slow drawl. That wasn’t what he wanted. He didn’t want a one-night stand, not at all. He wanted all of her, for all time.

  “Good. Well, maybe after the party or something. We can figure it out later.” She relaxed and he couldn’t understand it. Her gaze returned to the shimmering lake.

  “No. Damn it, no! Not all right. I don’t want a one-night stand, Raven. I won’t have a one-night stand, not with you.” He caressed the back of her neck and smiled as her shoulders fell back and a low moan escaped her.

  Before he knew what hit him, Brandt was flat on his back with Raven pressed tightly against him. Her tongue traced his mouth before descending into it and teasing his own. Hands ran up under his shirt, nails scraping his skin and bringing a moan from him.

  Brandt was in heaven, or was it in hell? He wasn’t sure what was going on, all he knew was that his body thrummed with a need that almost made him believe he was going to explode.

  Her pelvis ground into his and she pulled herself closer as her lips melded to his. Nails drew blood as it seemed she tried to crawl inside his very skin. Just as suddenly as she had jumped on him, she pulled away.

  “In that case, I’m sorry as well, for I cannot afford to get involved with you. That was all I could offer. I’ll see you later, Brandt Fowler.” One more fast, hard kiss was all he got before he found himself, on a blanket, with a raging erection and the woman who gave it to him long gone.

  A long string of curses left his mouth as he tried to regain control of his body. This was unbelievable. “Of all the stupid, idiotic. . .” he broke off as he realized it was pointless.

  Twice in one day. Must be a new record. And with the same woman. He had never struck out like this before. Hell, he had never struck out period. But that wasn’t the bad part. He wanted her; this was more than just physical. The physical desire was definitely there, but there was also a need to be with her on a deeper level.

  As he folded up the blanket he realized that, if she would agree, he would marry her tomorrow and spend the rest of their lives trying to understand her. He was so turned around inside he didn’t know what to do.

  All he knew was he wanted her, lusted after her, desired her and needed her. By his side. To be with him. No one else but him.

  He began to walk back and saw that the dogs were with him. One on each side, they strode with him. He felt a sense of contentment as he headed for the house. She did care, no matter how she tried to play it off. Soon, she wouldn’t be able to escape.

  He entered into the house the same way he left. The back. The dogs stayed with him, even to his room. As he reached for the knob he heard the growl. Both dogs had lowered their heads, emitting a very low rumble, but he heard it. Even if he hadn’t, both dogs were leaning on his legs prohibiting any forward movement on his part.

  He knew something was wrong. Without conscious thought, he walked silently past his door and entered Raven’s room. The room was dark and he heard the muted noise of a person grunting.

  The condition she’d left him in put his mind to the worst possible scenario. She was horny and went to Talon to take care of it. Instantly he was furious and so he hit the lights, all ready to fight the man he found her with.

  What he found was a furiously blinking Raven. She had been doing pushups in the dark. Sweat ran down her face. Her feet were on the bed and her hands were placed on two chairs, her body taut between the two.

  She looked up at him and asked, “What are you doing in here, and shut off the lights.” He shut the door and turned off one set of lights, leaving a faint glow surrounding them in the room.

  “Your dogs growled at my door and so. . .”

  She was off the bed in seconds. Her gun was in her hand as she moved silently to the balcony.

  Her hand pushed a button on her phone. “Intruder in Brandt’s room. Meet me there.”

  After she hung up the phone she turned her gaze to Brandt. “Stay here. Stay low and with the dogs. If they growl keep them between you and the door and balcony. No matter what. Stay here.”

  Brandt felt his heart pounding in his chest. And this time it wasn’t a good thing. He was worried for her, scared. She didn’t seem to be, she was all business. “Stay safe,” he said, half question half beg.

  “I will. Stay here.”

  * * * *

  Raven slipped out of her room and onto the balcony, wiping the sweat from her face. She took a deep breath. From there she did some fancy footwork and got over to his balcony.

  She heard the noises. Someone waited for him. Maybe two. She scanned the dark using the glasses Morgan had provided. There’s one. Over there another. And another. Make that three.

  She slid Brandt’s balcony door open and slipped inside, closing it behind her.

  Her body attuned to all noises, she found where they were hiding. Two by the door and one hidden in the closet. She moved toward the closet. Luckily, she had spent time getting to know the layout of his room.

  The timing was perfect; she heard movement outside the door and knew that Talon had arrived. The man in the closet cracked open the door and that was all the opportunity she needed.

  Lightning f
ast and deadly silent, she struck. With a single move, she rendered the man unconscious. As she lowered him to the floor, she took one last look with her glasses on then removed them. Not that she needed the advantage the glasses gave her, for her own eyes were amazing.

  With less than a whisper she tensed beside them, waiting for Talon to make his move. The door flew open and crashed into the man that stood behind it.

  “Right,” she yelled as she went for the man that had been behind the door.

  The fight was over in seconds. The intruders were held under her watchful gaze as Talon called Morgan. Talon took the men, with the help of some other security personnel, to wait for Morgan’s sweeper team to arrive.

  The second they disappeared down the back stairs she went back to her room. Brandt was still where she left him, her dogs guarding him even as she walked into the room, until she released them with a single word.

  “What happened?” Brandt asked as he rose to meet her.

  “There were three in there. I don’t know how they got past me, unless. . .” She dropped the sentence as a thought hit her. “Damn, we have to get him out of here. Stay here.” She bolted from the room and down the stairs.

  She opened her phone and pressed the walkie-talkie part and shouted to Talon, “We need the butler.”

  “Find him,” was the response she got back.

  “Done.” The phone was clipped to her belt as she let loose a low whistle which brought Jax bounding down the stairs to respond to his mistress. Hella stayed.

  “Let’s go, Jax. Find Butters.” It was a command they had been working on and so far, he had done just that. The dog lunged off and she ran after him. They headed for Butters’ room and, with a sharp kick to the door that sent it flying inward, she sent him in with one command, “Search.”

  The room was empty, but Jax had picked up on the scent. They were headed for the door. Once out on the lawn she saw a car speeding off and knew who it was. “Damn it.” She grabbed her phone and pressed the button for the walkie-talkie. “Talon. Jax is coming to you. Butters just left, I’m in pursuit. Will be on the bike.” She didn’t wait for a response, just ran to the garage with Jax beside her.

  As she reached her bike she looked at her dog. “Go to Talon, Jax. Go to Talon.” He whined his displeasure but after a quick lick with his tongue he bounded off. She slid across the seat of her crotch rocket and started the engine.

  She peeled out of the garage and took off in the direction she had seen Butters going. The faint sound of Talon’s yelling by her waist reached her ears and she risked a wreck as she pulled it from her belt and put it up to her ear. “What, Talon?”

  “Get back here. We need you here, not out chasing the butler.”

  “Why?”

  “Morgan has some questions for you.”

  “Tell him to stuff it. I’m going after Butters.” She ended the communication and revved the engine. There were faint lights in the distance and so she moved her bike faster and gained on it.

  As they approached the city, the lights identified the car for her. It was Butters. He was driving erratically, and as he tore through the town she knew he had finally panicked.

  Once they had passed out of town she edged up closer to him and realized that she really had no way of getting him off the road without help. After all, she was on a motorcycle and he was in a car.

  They came rapidly to a sharp corner and she watched him lose control of his car. It careened around and around before slamming into a grove of trees. Before his car had stopped, Raven had stopped her bike and was running down the hill to where his car was headed.

  Somehow the man made it and struggled out of his vehicle, then began to run. She followed him, gaining on him every step of the way. Her heightened sight sense allowed her to pick a clear path in the night from the faint light of the moon. As she tackled him to the ground she saw too late that he had a knife.

  He sliced across her side, cutting deep. She inhaled sharply, nearly losing her grip on him. But as they say, once a Marine always a Marine. She was tenacious and held on, driving them both hard into the ground.

  Blood seeped out of her wound and it stung. But she had her man. She was done playing games. Her knee in his back, she called Talon. When he answered she said, “Got him. Need a bird; I saw his car hit a tree. My bike is parked by the road, use its tracker.”

  Head spinning, she rose and turned to Butters. He looked angry and began to yell at her.

  “You stupid bitch. Had to go and ruin everything, didn’t you? Bitch. You’ll pay for this.”

  “Shut up.” She cracked him with the butt of her gun, knocking him unconscious. When his eyes rolled back into his head, her hand snaked out to grab his shirt, and she began to drag him back towards the road.

  It didn’t take long for the chopper to reach her. Talon jumped out and ran over to her.

  “What the hell happened here?”

  “He had a car accident. Take him to the bird and give him to Morgan for questioning, and some medical attention. I gotta get some sleep.” A glance at her watch reminded her it was nearly two in the morning.

  “Ride back with us.”

  “No, I will ride. Did Jax find you?”

  “Like clockwork. I left him with Hella and Brandt, who, by the way, is still waiting for you in your room.” He nodded once and turned back to the waiting bird.

  Some of the others with him came back from searching the car. A few of them were carrying papers in their hands. All of them looked at Raven and nodded but none spoke.

  After the helicopter took away the men, she walked slowly to her bike. She put her hand on her side and sighed. Well hell. Maybe she should have taken the offer of a ride back.

  She took a roll of wrap from the attached bag on her bike and wrapped it around a large gauze pad, trying at least to stanch the flow of blood. Starting her bike, she turned it around and headed back, for once driving slow and concentrating really hard on staying upright.

  She pulled into the garage and turned off her bike. Raven’s body was so weak. At that moment, she realized that she must be more tired than she had let on. Just needed a good night’s rest, that was all. Rallying her waning strength, she moved up the steps to her room.

  Talon was right. Brandt was in her room, and he was asleep on her bed. Well, she couldn’t do this alone. With a pat for her dogs, she walked over to the bed. “Brandt. Brandt.” She shook his shoulder. “Come on, Ice, wake up. I need you.”

  “I have been waiting so long to hear those words from you.” He sat up on the bed and turned on a light. “Damn, you look exhausted.”

  “I need your help.”

  “What’s the matter?”

  “Come with me.” She took his hand and led him to the bathroom, where she pulled out a bag with antiseptic and needles with thread.

  “What is going on?” His next question was halted when she pulled her shirt off over her head, leaving her standing there in a bra and the gauze around her chest.

  “Cut the gauze and then wash out the wound with this bottle here.” She pointed out which one. “Then you are going to have to stitch it.”

  “Are you kidding me? You need to go to a hospital.”

  “No, listen to me. I’ll be fine. Just stitch me up.”

  “No way.”

  “Come on, Ice, surely you’re not afraid of being this close to my body now, are you?” she teased.

  “No, I love being next to your body. I don’t want to hurt you.”

  “Come on. Just get it over with. There’s something about standing here in my bra that just doesn’t fit right.”

  “Raven?” Talon’s voice came from out in her bedroom.

  “In here, Talon. I need some help.”

  He filled the doorway.

  “Damn, I knew you were hurt. Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Raptor code, baby. I know the rules and I know what I can handle. Now shut up and get in here and sew me some stitches. Ice here seems to only be able to s
tare at my chest.”

  “Very well.” He moved into the room and a smirk passed his face as he looked at Brandt. “You are right; he does seem obsessed with that chest of yours. Not that I blame him.”

  “Just sew her up and leave, Talon. No need to ogle her,” Brandt growled low in his throat. There was a proprietary claim in his grumbling and she nearly smiled when she heard it.

  “Just appreciating what I see, Brandt. That’s all.” There was laughter in his voice as he said it. Talon’s face grew serious as he stitched up Raven. She sat silently through the whole thing. Not a peep crossed her lips.

  When he finished, Talon cleaned up the mess as Brandt brought her a set of clothes to wear to bed. They both turned their backs as she donned her sleeping clothes.

  “Well, get some sleep, Raven. I’ll see you in the morning. I’ll talk to Morgan.”

  “Thanks, Talon. Good night.”

  “’Night, darling.” He nodded at Brandt and silently left them alone in the room.

  Brandt looked at Raven in her ripped t-shirt and a pair of old sweats. Her black hair hung loose and free around her face.

  He stepped towards her. “Come here, sweetling.” His arms settled around her.

  Okay, so she could get used to this.

  “I think I should get some rest.”

  “I think you should.” He didn’t move away from her and she felt him begin to hold up more and more of her weight as her legs slowly gave out. Within moments she was swept up into his strong embrace and he carried her to the bed.

  The blankets were already turned down, so he laid her on the cool sheets. Her head lolled back on the pillow and he figured she was just about asleep. He tucked her in and called the dogs to jump up on the bed to lie beside her. They did willingly.

  “Good night, sweetling,” he said as his lips brushed hers. Once. Twice. And a third time.

  “’Night, Ice. See you in the morning.”

  “See you.” When he rose to leave, however, Hella got up and followed.

  Raven woke to a low growl from Jax. Immediately one hundred percent alert, she stayed as if she were sleeping. From under her thick lashes she saw her balcony door slowly opening, and her body thrummed with adrenaline. She whispered a command to Jax and he fell silent as he snuck off the bed.