Her Master Defender (The Masters Men Series)

Home > Other > Her Master Defender (The Masters Men Series) > Page 13
Her Master Defender (The Masters Men Series) Page 13

by Kerns, Sandra S.


  She tilted her head looking between him and the other side of the bed. “I’ll sleep here, but only if you promise to join me. I told you we wouldn’t do anything you didn’t want to, but would it be so bad to hold each other?”

  Humbled by her offer, Dos found his throat choked with emotion making it hard to answer. Yes, it was what he had planned anyway, but her wanting the same thing amazed him. He smiled down at her and that seemed to be enough of an answer. She scooted over and got under the covers. Dos sat up and took off his boots. When he stood and turned to pull the covers down on his side, she already held them up in invitation. He didn’t waste time thinking anymore, but climbed in right beside her, jeans and all.

  Wrapping an arm around her waist, he pulled her close. She rolled to her side and he was amazed at how perfectly they fit spooned together. There was temptation without doubt, but Dos easily ignored it. What truly shocked him was the immediate sense of peace that enveloped him.

  # # #

  Dos woke in a cold sweat. His heart pounded in his chest. His lungs felt as if he’d been running flat out for hours. Panic chilled him as he tried to regain some control over his body.

  It took his brain several minutes to register where he was; his bed, his cabin. Safe.

  With the realization came exhausted relief. His body sagged into the mattress. He glanced at the clock on the bedside table. Midnight? What the hell was he doing in bed at this hour? It was like asking for the nightmares to-- Something stirred beside him stopping his thought. Lifting his head he glanced down and saw red hair. Allowing his gaze to continue downward he saw an arm draped over his middle, then the warmth of a leg over his registered. He closed his eyes as it all came rushing back.

  Copper soft and gentle coaxing him closer. Copper hot and determined.

  God, what had he done?

  Before he could wallow too long, music reached his ears. Then Copper’s hand started moving on his stomach as if looking for something. The music started again.

  Shit, her phone was in his shirt pocket.

  Dos eased her body away and leaned over the bed snagging his shirt from the floor. As the damned March from the Nutcracker ballet started again he glanced at the display. Shit, DAD flashed on the phone’s screen. He vaguely remembered telling the Colonel Copper would call him back.

  The phone rang again.

  Knowing he couldn’t answer it he turned to wake Copper only to find her staring at his back. Telling himself she couldn’t really see anything in the dark room he held the phone out to her. “It’s your father.”

  When she took the phone he started to stand but she wrapped her other arm around his middle holding him in place. He could have broken her hold with ease. He should.

  She leaned her head against his back as she answered the phone, then mostly listened.

  He couldn’t move. No one had been this close to him since he returned to the states. At least not willingly. And no one had actually touched his scars since the gashes had healed and become scars.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t get back to you. We had a, uh, heated discussion about me staying with someone else. But, thanks to my stubborn nature, I prevailed and we went to neutral corners. I must have fallen asleep, it’s been a long day,” she said, before going silent for a minute. “Yes, he’s fine.”

  Her lips pressed against his back. Dos knew she didn’t mean to, but they burned him hotter than any of the brands Cardone had used. Then her finger traced one of the myriad of scars. He couldn’t take anymore.

  Breaking her hold he bent, scooped up his shirt from the floor again and walked to the sanctuary of the bathroom. Once inside, he realized it wasn’t a sanctuary, it was a darkroom. Another reminder of how he’d screwed up tonight. He quickly buttoned the shirt and left by the other door.

  He had coffee brewing before she came out of the bedroom. Dos didn’t turn as she entered the kitchen. He watched the coffee drip willing it to go faster so he could grab a cup and disappear into his office. This time he would remember to close and lock the -- her hand stroked his back. He couldn’t stop his body from jerking away. It was a reflex learned during his capture. Not that he could get far having the counter in front of him and Copper behind. And his reaction didn’t put her off. Instead she wrapped both arms around him, resting her head against his back again.

  Dos fought the desire to cover her hands on his stomach. He forced his hands to remain flat on the counter.

  “Dad said to tell you he’ll call later,” she said, hugging him then releasing him and moving to lean against the counter beside him.

  Yeah, probably to rip you another one. “About?”

  She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know,” she said covering a yawn. “Checking in, I guess. You have another cup handy?”

  Dos pulled a mug from the cabinet in front of him, filled it and handed it to her. That’s when he noticed she had on the t-shirt he’d missed when he picked up his clothes. Seeing those long bare legs and bare toes had his mind going down a road he didn’t want to travel again.

  “Oh lord,” she said, pulling Dos’ gaze back to her face.

  “Sorry, strong coffee is one of few vises I can still handle. I’ll make another pot.” He reached to pull the carafe out, but her hand covered his. Looking at her face he saw her shake her head.

  “Not necessary. I’ve had this before, just not in a long time. You’ve definitely been around my father too long.” She sipped again and this time her face didn’t look quite as shocked.

  “It’s really not a problem to make another pot,” he said, but she shook her head again. That mussed copper hair flowing over her shoulders called to his fingers. Dos felt his hand rise to touch it. Instead he reached for his mug.

  “The extra octane’s probably a good idea. I need to get those pictures developed. Dad’s not convinced the guy in his pictures is the same one I saw.”

  “I didn’t recognize him as one of Cardone’s men. There’s just something about him. Without a clearer shot of his face I can’t be sure. My guess is he’s working for someone else. Someone the Colonel or I might recognize. Or there’s still the possibility he just knocked you over as a way to check you out. In which case, I want to know who he is so I can let him know what I think of the way he treats women.”

  She grinned as she pushed away from the counter. “Yep, that’s pretty much what he said. Well, except for the part about the guy wanting to check me out. Are you sure you weren’t listening in on my conversation?”

  “I would never--"

  “Relax,” Copper said cutting off his words. “I was teasing, big guy.”

  Dos stared down at her. She’d turned to face him placing her hand on his chest as she spoke. He knew she could feel his rapid heartbeat. The intensity of her gaze told him she was thinking the same thing he was. He wanted her.

  “If I didn’t have to get those pictures done I swear I’d be dragging you back to bed,” she said, a second before reaching up and kissing him.

  Dos grasped her hand from his chest and broke the kiss, though his body fought him. Was he mistaken? Had they done more than sleep. He could never be sure he didn’t forget things with the damned virus messing up his head half the time.

  “We didn’t . . .” was all he got out, unable to voice his fear.

  One corner of her mouth quirked up, as she stepped away from him. “No, we didn’t,” she said, with a smile. “You did however hold me and gave me the most fantastic dream I’ve had in a very long time.”

  She wiggled her eyebrows at him before turning and walking to the bathroom.

  Watching her butt as she sashayed across the floor, desire coursed through his veins. The sex-deprived part of his brain had almost bought her reasoning about the virus last night. The logical part wasn’t as quickly changed, though doubt had been firmly planted. Hell there was DNA in saliva and they’d certainly swapped plenty of that. And she was right about others coming in contact with his blood. The guys that rescued him from Cardone’s b
ase had definitely gotten some on them and they were fine. There were still other reasons he and Copper shouldn’t be together. One biggie being her father was his C.O.

  Ex-C.O., remember?

  Dos fisted his hands at the reminder that he’d be under another’s command soon if they didn’t discharge him first. Every muscle in his body tensed. It wasn’t an attack. This was something he could handle.

  Chapter Nine

  Copper stretched arching her back before flipping on the light switch. She’d developed the roll of film she’d finished shooting just before the jerks tried to break into her house. Since that one had been half done before the guy tried to get her camera at the benefit she reasoned it was more likely whatever they were after was on that one.

  She glanced at the prints she’d hung on strings over the bathtub. There were several with the man she’d seen on Dos’ computer. No one else jumped out at her as being out of place. Hopefully Dos would recognize someone so that spending the last, she glanced at her watch, forty-five minutes in here hadn’t been a complete waste of time. She knew where she really wanted to be.

  A smile curled her lips as memories from being with Dos flooded her mind. A flush rushed over her entire body. Heavens, there was something about him that made her want to cuddle up and forget the rest of the world. With one roll of film done she decided to see if she could convince him to do that. She knew nothing would happen; he was too worried and too honorable to risk it. But being held by him had felt so perfect she wanted to feel it again.

  Picking up her empty coffee mug, she opened the main door to the bathroom. She stepped into a silent main room. Figuring Dos was hole-up in his office she started toward the kitchen. Maybe she’d have more coffee before debating with Major Masters again. A whine pulled her attention down the hallway. Kismet lay with his nose at the bottom of one of the doors there. His tail swished every now and then before he would whine again. She called to him. He glanced at her, but didn’t leave his post. Obviously, Dos had taken priority in Kismet’s world. There was no one else he had ever taken to as fast. Not that Copper blamed him. She couldn’t resist the guy either.

  Copper walked over and rubbed Kismet’s head. “Traitor,” she whispered before kissing his head. She reached up to knock on the door. Before her knuckles connected she heard a painful groan from inside the room. Worried Dos was having another attack she forgot about knocking and burst in.

  She stared in paralyzing shock. Dos sat on an exercise table with weights strapped around his injured leg. “What the hell are you doing?”

  His eyes popped open as his leg fell back down.

  “Get out,” he growled and lifted the weight again.

  Copper ignored his command, pushed the door closed so Kismet wouldn’t get inside, and crossed the room. She caught his foot half way through a downward arc. Pulling the gripper tape apart she removed the weight from his ankle while he stared daggers at her. She kept hold of his foot and probed his knee with her other hand. Glancing up she saw his clenched jaw. “Scoot back on the table.”

  He glared at her and didn’t move.

  “If you want me to let go of your foot, you’ll move.” She remained where she was holding his foot until he slid back on the table so his legs were supported behind his calf muscles. He held himself propped up on his elbows. Copper stepped to the side of the table and leaned on it next to his hip. “Any special reason you’re doing twice the weight that leg should be lifting?”

  “The weight’s fine.”

  God, save her from bull-headed men. Couldn’t he feel the sweat drip from his face? And his chest still heaved from the effort he’d been expending. She realized she was staring at the scars marring it and lifted her gaze. His eyes were guarded. Waiting.

  Copper reached out and trailed a finger down the center of his chest. At the first touch he’d inhaled sharply. “It isn’t as bad as you think.” It was bad, very bad, but not enough to make her turn away from him.

  He reached up and grabbed her wrist stopping her movements. “Believe me; I know exactly how bad it is. I’ve seen the faces, the revulsion.”

  “What do you see now?” she asked leaning closer. He stared at her intently for what seemed a very long time. She started to wonder if he would answer.

  He shook his head and released her wrist. “I see a woman almost as stubborn as me,” he said, then swinging his legs off the other side of the table he stood.

  “Dos, don’t you dare put any weight on that leg,” she said rushing around to the other side.

  He bent down and lifted his brace and cane from the floor before maneuvering himself around on his better leg to sit on a lower bench. “I’m determined to get back in shape, not stupid.”

  “Could have fooled me,” Copper said leaning back against the table. He bent to put the brace on and she got a good look at his back. When he started to get off the table she’d been too distracted for it to register. Now she could see it was scarred more than his front. She wanted to kill whoever did this to him.

  “If you’d throw me that shirt from the weight rack you wouldn’t have to look it,” he said without looking up.

  “If you’ll stop obsessing over it, so will I,” she said, purposely not getting the shirt. He didn’t respond. She figured he didn’t like being called obsessive.

  When he stood she pushed off from the table and wrapped her arms around his waist. “None of it makes me want you any less,” she said. Her words as well as her action surprised him because he stiffened in her embrace. He stared down into her upturned face. She smiled.

  “If you want me right now, you really need help.”

  “What makes now different than before?”

  “Not only do I look awful, I’m pretty sure I smell that way, too. So, let’s go look at that film, so I can take a shower.”

  “I finished one roll,” she said. She let the topic of his scars go for now and released him then walked to the door. “The last one I took. I had just taken about half of it when the guy tried to take my camera, so I figured what they wanted must be on that roll.”

  As she opened the door Kismet rushed in. “I don’t think he liked being left in the hallway,” Copper said when Kismet poked his head into Dos’ hand.

  Dos scratched Kismet’s ears. “Hey, boy. Sorry, but I didn’t want to bean you with a dumbbell.”

  Copper noticed Dos had pulled his t-shirt on before leaving the room. His limp was definitely more pronounced. “You should really get off that leg and put some ice on your knee.”

  “I’ve got to shower before that. Let’s see if there’s anything on this roll of pictures, or if you need to do the other roll.”

  Copper agreed it made sense rather than have to set the whole thing up twice. She followed him to the bathroom. “I hung the ones with the guy I recognized near the front.”

  Dos grabbed a hand towel from the rod and wiped his face and hair before looking at the pictures. He didn’t rush through them, checking every face in every shot before moving on. After three he hadn’t seen anyone besides the bastard that tried to take Copper’s camera and they still weren’t great shots. Maybe they’d been wrong and the photos had nothing to do with the break-ins. Maybe the guy had just wanted her camera.

  “Do you have a magnifying glass or something?” he asked without looking away from the fourth photo.

  “In my backpack, just a minute.”

  Dos sat on the closed toilet still staring at the picture. It was another shot with the same man, but more of a full on shot. The guy wore the same cap as he had in the picture talking to Cardone, but this time he was looking up so his nose and eyes were more visible. The beard covering most of his face made it hard to be sure, but that same sense of recognition pulled at Dos. As he continued to stare it got stronger. Like the man was mocking him. It couldn’t possibly be whom he thought.

  The magnifying glass appeared in front of him. Taking it he set the picture on the tank and held the glass over the man’s face. “Son-of-a-bitc
h.”

  “What is it? I mean who is it?” Copper asked from behind him.

  “I need to talk to the Colonel.” Picking up the picture he started to stand, but smashed his knee on the toilet paper holder. Dropping the picture and magnifying glass he fell back onto the toilet grabbing his knee. “Aughhh!”

  “Hold on, I’ll get ice then you can take something for pain and you’re going to bed.”

  “Can’t, gotta talk to the Colonel.” Dos said, though the white hot spear of pain in his knee made it difficult to speak. “If you get my crutches I can get to the office.”

  “No, it’s one in the morning. Whatever you want to tell him can wait. Look at yourself,” she said. “You can barely speak you’re in so much pain.”

  Forcing deep breaths into his lungs, both to help with the pain and to calm his tone, he looked up into Copper’s concerned face. “I promise. This can’t wait. I need to talk to him and I need to do it on a secure line. Afterward, I’ll shower, and ice my knee, promise.”

  “And take something more than aspirin for the pain.”

  “I’ll think about it,” was as much as he would agree to. Lord knew he didn’t enjoy the pain, but he didn’t want to be zombied out if there was trouble. The image in that picture said there would definitely be trouble. She left the room and Dos leaned over to pick up the picture. The choice turned out to be a bad one.

  Big surprise. That’s the only kind of choices you make. Staring at it he felt himself start to drift back to his capture, but he couldn’t pull himself back.

  Garrett sat across the room strapped to a chair. His head hung down as if he were unconscious, or dead. Cardone pressed his fingers to Garrett’s neck. Turning back to Dos he smiled, “He’s still with us, Major. He’s tougher than your other men were. By now they would have been dead.”

  “Leave him alone, you bastard,” Dos yelled.

  “But I’m not done yet,” Cardone said. He placed the point of a knife just below Garrett’s ear and dragged it down his neck. Blood dripped from his neck and chest. “You know this is just the beginning.”

 

‹ Prev