by AliyahBurke
His fingers never left her body as he tortured her breasts with his mouth and tongue. She came around his fingers.
“Please,” came her request again.
“Please what?” He removed his fingers and brought his hand up to his face, where he smelled her scent. The rich honey and spice of her made him crazy with lust.
She watched him put his fingers in his mouth and lick off every drop of her essence. If possible, her eyes grew darker.
Raven lifted her hips and Brandt didn’t argue. He couldn’t wait anymore, anyway.
With one fast stroke, he sheathed himself completely inside her. His eyes rolled back into his head on contact.
She was so tight, so warm. Her body gripped him like a glove.
Her moan filled the air and he couldn’t have said it better himself.
Slowly he began to move within her. Her muscles tightened around him as he withdrew, not wanting to let go, and caressing as he slid in deeper.
Within seconds, slow wasn’t good enough anymore. Raven arched her hips to meet his thrusts. Her eyes locked on his as his hands bit into her hips with the strength of his grip.
His primal instinct took over and he began to pound into the woman below him. Her body rose to meet his as her hips urged him on, faster and faster.
Every stroke, every withdrawal, got a moan from her. Raven moved her legs from around his waist to hook over his shoulders. Brandt grunted. God, this allowed him to penetrate her even deeper. Holy Christ—he wasn’t going to last long. She came hard around him and he followed her over the pinnacle moments later. The power of his release had him wobbly and he gave her all his weight.
“I’m sorry,” he rasped. “Did I hurt you?”
“No.” She moved so her head was on his shoulder and her arm crossed his chest.
Sated and finally at peace, they drifted off to sleep.
* * * *
Raven woke first. She glanced at the clock before adjusting her line of sight to take in the naked man in her bed.
Every grain of her being wanted to wake him slowly and soar to the peak of pleasure with him again. But she couldn’t. Her heart cried as she realized just how much she loved him and couldn’t do anything about it.
“If only things were different between us, Brandt Fowler.” Even as she knew it was over between them, she couldn’t bring herself to say goodbye.
Saying goodbye was something that a Raptor never did. It was too final. Even if she was no longer truly a Raptor, the code was still with her. She placed a gentle kiss on his mouth and slid out of bed.
She had work to do before tonight and the day was disappearing faster then she had believed it would. Silently, Raven headed for the shower and washed off the last traces of her lovemaking with Brandt Fowler.
Dressing in black pants and a black sleeveless t-shirt, she then put on her tennis shoes. Raven gathered her hair back in a ponytail and walked to the bed. Brandt was still asleep in the room.
Raven hardened her heart and picked up her gun, slipped it in the back of her pants, and clipped her phone on before she walked out of the room. The dogs stayed in the room with Brandt.
Talon met her on the stairs. “Well, I see you’ve done it. Get it all out of your system?”
“Yep.”
“How about a walk around to double check?”
“Sounds good. Let’s go.” They walked out into the afternoon sun.
* * * *
Brandt woke alone. His body wanted more of what it had prior to his nap. But the only others in the room were the dogs.
Reluctantly, he slid from the bed and put on his clothes on. Walked to his room to shower then redressed in clean clothes. He had slept through lunch and so headed to the kitchens.
The house teemed with people he didn’t know and didn’t care to know. The dogs stayed with him and didn’t cause any trouble. Determined to find Raven, he went outside. Looking down at the dogs, he said, “Find Raven.” Both of them took off and he had to run to keep up. He found her with Talon, standing lower than him, and their voices reached him fine on the air.
“Everything ready?” Talon’s voice was low and bordered on personal.
“I sure hope so. I don’t think we could plan anymore. I mean, we know that there is a possibility that someone may know our signals and how we work, so we have to do what we can. I asked for Osprey and Falcon to come as well, so hopefully they will be here tonight. It will be wonderful to see them again. It has been so long.” Raven’s voice was strong.
“Tell me what happened,” Talon said. It was more a command than a request.
“Why?”
“Because all we got was a bunch of garble from Morgan.”
She grunted. “Well, after he dismissed me and ruined my name, I went to be with Seth. Angry, hurt and not sure I wanted to ever see him again. But deep down in my stomach I knew something wasn’t right.”
Brandt began to walk down when she continued, “I headed back to confront him. Jackson was there when I arrived, along with Melinda. I don’t exactly know what was going on, except I saw Jackson grab Dylan and throw him into the wall, hard enough to knock him out.
“I went in through the window and put myself in front of Dylan. Jackson had his knife out and Melinda shot me in the side. She yelled something to him about killing me first and so he grabbed me around the neck and put the knife there.
“Somehow I got to my backup and was able to shoot him. I was about five seconds too late for he had already sliced my neck. I remember both of us falling and I tried to stop the blood from my neck, but it just seemed to be too much.
“I don’t remember much after that except stumbling beside Dylan and hoping that he was alright. I woke up in the hospital later. Never saw him again, until he showed up at the house with Deek and Morris.” Her voice was just bland with no inflection.
“I still don’t understand why you didn’t let us know where you were,” Talon said.
“I had been banned from the Raptors. I was no longer one of you. Besides, you know me, I like my privacy.”
“I know you hide your feelings. You are family. All of us are.” He reached out to hold her and Brandt saw red as she walked into his arms. And who the hell is Seth?
“I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you, all of you.” She hugged him tightly.
“Now, tell me about what is going on with the two of you.”
“Two of who?” Raven asked as she stepped back.
“Don’t try to play me. You and that man.” Talon’s voice was sharp and there was a hint of disgust in it.
“Playing big bro?”
“Spill. You know damn well that I am not a brother to you.”
“Nothing. Nothing, he is just an assignment. That’s all. I did what I had to, to make sure he stayed safe.”
“That’s you. Whatever it takes. Even if it goes to the bed.”
Her voice was emotionless as she nodded. “Yep. Whatever it takes.” Brandt couldn’t believe it. How could she say that after what they had shared?
“Well, hopefully it will be over soon.” Talon grabbed her shirt and slowly pulled her closer to him.
“It will, they caught the ring leader and so all we have to do is make it through the night. Then we can leave.”
“Good. Just like always. The Raptors will prevail.”
“Hoo-rah.” Her voice dropped lower than it usually was and had more than a touch of invitation in it. “Come on; give me what I have been craving. It has been so long since I have had your touch.”
“My pleasure, darling. I hated seeing you with him. Got worried there might actually be something to it.” His tone was a smooth as his skin color and just as rich.
“No way. What on earth would make me want a man like him when I have you?”
Her arms stole up and tugged Talon’s head down for a kiss. It was no innocent kiss, but one that had a lot of tongue and lots of hand roving.
Brandt was in shock. She had played him for a fool. What an idiot he ha
d been. Silently, he stalked off, ignoring the dogs that stayed with him. She had made her choice. It wasn’t him.
He headed for the gym where he proceeded to wear out a heavy bag in his frustration and devastation. The hours passed until his father came to get him.
* * * *
Talon pulled away from Raven. “He’s gone, darling.”
She tightened her hold on him, her knees buckling. “God, Talon, I hurt. I didn’t think it would hurt this much.”
“I know, darling. I know. But remember you said it was better this way.”
“What if I was wrong?” The tears fell now and her shoulders shook with the severity of her sobs. “No,” her voice grew strong again, “I wasn’t wrong. He will be safer if he is angry with me and stays away.”
“You loved him?”
“I love him.” Her words spoke.
“Suck it up, Marine. We have a job to do.” Talon did the only thing he knew. Be tough.
Raven took a deep breath and wiped away all evidence of her tears. “Ready.” Her voice was strong once again.
She was ready. There was no emotion left in her face and he stared at a warrior. Ready to do her job, even at the cost of her own life.
“Let’s do it then.”
Raven jogged back up to the house and to her room.
* * * *
Brandt showered and dressed for the party. As he adjusted his tux and walked out the door, he saw the dogs there waiting for him.
Ignoring them, he walked down the steps and they followed only to stop at the entrance to the ballroom and place themselves by a wall, out of the way. They were well trained, he couldn’t deny that.
It was a beautiful room. The ceiling was made entirely of glass so the moon shone down on those inside. The chandeliers were made of crystal and the floor sparkled with the prisms of light from the ceiling. The floors were gray marble and they shone. Every person in attendance was stunning. The women wore amazing dresses and the men were in tuxedos. It was a party for the ages.
Brandt stayed near his father as he made introductions to people that were important to the business. Brandt didn’t care, but he knew it was important to his father and he didn’t wish to disappoint him today.
He tried to block out the hurt she had caused in his heart, but he didn’t seem to be able to accomplish that part. His body knew the second hers had entered the room, for it immediately hardened and wanted to be near her.
He scanned the room and found her. Raven stood alone by the entrance, dressed in a black pantsuit. Her hair was pinned up and out of the way.
He knew that she wore an earpiece for he saw the wire that snuck down into the jacket of her outfit. Her face was impassive and she personified every inch the bodyguard he knew her to be.
Just an assignment. Those three words had torn out his heart.
He knew she watched him. Brandt picked out Talon in the crowd and his anger grew by leaps and bounds.
“Hello, Brandt,” a soft voice reached him. He looked down into a pair of lovely violet eyes.
“Sandy Cocheck. What are you doing here?” He smiled at her. A very pretty woman. And hey, maybe it was time to move on.
“My father was invited and brought me with.” She blinked coyly at him and he found himself wishing that he was looking into a pair of eyes the color of dark chocolate. Angry with himself, he gave Sandy his killer smile.
“Glad you’re here. Care to take a walk with me around the room?”
“I would love to.” She slipped her arm into his and they stepped out together.
* * * *
Raven would never admit the pain she felt as she saw that petite brunette sidle up to Brandt and touch him. As they walked around the room he passed right by Raven so she could hear their conversation.
“Anyway, it is so nice to be with someone who is glad to be a woman. Not one who works hard at doing a man’s job.” His words cut like shards of glass. Brandt, over the head of his companion, shot her a look.
She met his eyes and then went back to scanning the room. Now was work, later she could dwell over the pain his words caused her.
She spied two men she knew well. Each of them walked over and spoke to Raven. “Good to see you again, Raven,” said a tall white man with brown hair in a Marine cut.
“You as well, Falcon.”
“Glad you’re back with us.” This man was Latino with a build similar to Talon’s.
“Thanks, Osprey. You both are looking just as dapper as usual.”
“Well, the wives made us dress up.” At that moment two lovely women came up and smiled at Raven.
“Glad to see you again, Raven.”
“Thanks. You too. Enjoy your evening.”
She nodded before becoming the speck on the wall she was good at being.
With the hors d’oeuvres finished it was time for the dinner. Brandt escorted Sandy into dinner and sat her next to him. Raven stood behind him and had to watch all their flirting.
Dinner was impressive fare. Course after course came out of the kitchens to the plates of the wealthy. God, how she hated her job. Raven never faltered; she knew her job and did it well.
Although her teeth clenched she maintained her outward calm. Morgan called earlier and said they had captured the last of the men that had issued the threats. So after tonight they were done.
Morgan was here—stag, but he was here. The admiral was in attendance as well. Close to nine o’clock, the chimes sounded and caught everyone’s attention.
Judson Fowler stood at the podium and raised his hand for silence.
“Ladies and gentlemen. Tonight has been a long time in the making. My company, Fowler Industries, is about to take over three quarters of the building contracts for the state and beyond. This is a multi-billion-dollar contract and there have been bumps, I will admit that.
“But now, thanks to the help of my staff, the members of the board, and those around me, we are able to bring our type of work ethics to the area and the kickbacks will benefit not someone across the country, or the world. It will come back here. To our state and our towns. We will be successful. I am proud to sign this in front of all of you. Especially my son, Brandt.” He paused and waved his son up. “Come up here and join me.”
Brandt made his way through the tight throng of people, Raven kept pace, staying near.
“One day, Brandt, this will be your business. It is my pleasure to sign this in front of you.”
Judson picked up the gold pen and put it to the paper. Before he could move his hand, a single panel of the glass ceiling shattered and in dropped an unknown object. It hit the floor and exploded, sending flames out towards everyone. Molotov cocktail.
The second the glass shattered Raven moved. She grabbed Brandt’s coattail and jerked him back to the floor.
She covered him and took the main force of the heat from the blast. Chaos reigned and people ran everywhere. Two more fell in.
“Where’re they coming from?” she yelled into her wrist, with her Glock drawn.
“We got the people out here,” a security detail man said. “Secure the area. Anyone hurt?”
“Don’t know. Not willing to leave my package. Doesn’t look like it. I think they fell in the middle of the room where there wasn’t anyone standing at the time.” She dropped her hand back down to touch the man on the floor.
“Are you alright?” she asked Brandt.
“Yes. I think so.”
“Well, let’s get you up off the floor. Slowly.” She barely looked at him as her eyes scanned the crowd, keeping her gun ready.
Brandt rose. “I’m fine.”
Her head nodded as she got her information.
“Got it, Talon. Thanks.”
“I’m fine. Why don’t you go to Talon? I am sure the two of you would like to discuss some more about how you duped the dumb white boy,” he ground out.
“Not now, Brandt.” Raven made a gesture with her hands and the two Marines that he had seen near her approached th
em. “Falcon, Osprey. Keep an eye on him, will you? I have to check on Morgan.”
“Got it.” The men took up positions beside him as Raven moved through the panicked crowd. Slowly the crowd was calming.
“Morgan? Are you all right?” she asked as she reached the man who was still on the floor.
“I am. Where’s your man?” He gained his feet.
“With Falcon and Osprey. I came to check on you and the admiral.” She turned to the older man who still hadn’t regained his feet. “Admiral? Sir, are you all right?”
The admiral was a reed thin white man with a hawklike nose. His hair was white and, at the moment, going in all directions. “Who are you?” he snapped at her.
“Raven, sir. Raven Dare.” She extended her hand and the man took it, although she noticed the reluctance with which he did. Raven had put her gun away and so used her other hand to help balance the man as he stood.
She had her hand on his belt as he stood up and looked around. Immediately he shook off her help and said, “I’m fine. Get off me.”
“Yes, sir.” Raven stepped back immediately and looked at Dylan.
“I’m fine, Raven. Tend to your man.”
“Very well, sir.” She executed a perfect about-face and walked back over to where they stood guarding Brandt. “Thanks,” she said to the two Marines.
Chapter Nine
The men said nothing, just walked off after a sharp nod. People were calm again and the flames had been put out. Judson stood up again and said in a slightly shaky voice, “Well, thank goodness no one was hurt. I had better sign this before it burns up right in front of my eyes.” He did and the remaining patrons clapped and offered him congratulations.
“I hope that you all will stay. My security has informed me that they caught the person responsible for the incident and he is in custody. Please stay, drink, dance and enjoy. The night is young and the weather is nice. This is good, considering the hole in the ceiling.” That got a round of unsteady laughter from those still in attendance.
Brandt stood near her as she talked to some other men. His father went over to her and he followed. “Raven, thank you for protecting my son. Are you sure you won’t reconsider staying longer?”