Her Master Defender (The Masters Men Series)

by Kerns, Sandra S.

  “I’m a redhead, safe isn’t in my vocabulary,” she said giving him a friendly poke in the ribs.

  “I’ve noticed,” he said with a chuckle. “I’ve no doubt you drove your parents crazy growing up.”

  Copper couldn’t hold back her laugh. “Mom would throw her hands up and say I was just like my aunt Effie. Dad would go ballistic, but after the explosion I’d see a sparkle in his eyes. I think he liked my high-spiritedness as he called it.”

  “Of course he did, you’re just like him. I bet if you asked his parents what he was like as a kid, it would be a lot like you were.”

  Copper snuggled closer as he spoke and his arm went around her shoulders again. She liked that, she also liked what he said. Resting her head against Dos’ shoulder she thought about it.

  “We had a lot of fun whenever dad was home. We’d go camping and hiking or just mess around in the backyard. Every day was filled with adventures. And mom was right in the middle of it, which always amazed me.”

  “Why, she didn’t like those kinds of things?”

  “No, she did. It’s just most of the time she was being a mom. You know, making us do our homework, griping about messy rooms, grounding me for staying out too late, that kind of stuff.”

  “I seem to remember my mother doing a lot of that, too. I think it’s in the by-laws.”

  His teasing manner surprised Copper. She hadn’t seen this side of him before, relaxed, joking, easy. She liked it.

  “Probably,” she agreed. Dos had started stroking her arm again. She figured he didn’t even realize he was doing it, but it felt good so she stopped talking and enjoyed it.

  After a short while his hand stopped moving and his breathing was slow and steady. Copper stayed where she was soaking up his warmth afraid if she moved he would wake up and leave. For just a little while she wanted to pretend they were two normal people with no one after them.

  She watched the snow fall and listened to the fire crackle and Kismet snore at their feet. In the peacefulness she thought about the brothers and their vow. She also thought about her own.

  Talking with Dos had made her realize she’d been wrong about her mother. Oh, Copper was certain her mother was happiest when her father was home, but she hadn’t been unhappy when he was gone. She’d missed him, sure. But her mother had always made certain life was good and fun and filled with love. She had always talked of their father with love and pride, never complaining because he wasn’t around. She just made sure to love him all the more when he was home.

  A smile spread on Copper’s face. How could she have been so blind? How could she cross an entire group of men off her list of possibilities because of such a foolish belief?

  Easing herself up, she looked down at Dos’ sleeping face. He looked so peaceful. He was always so intense. It was a joy to watch him rest. It warmed her heart to know she’d had a part in giving him this time.

  As she watched him she noticed his jaw start to tighten. He’d warned her sleep wasn’t necessarily restful for him. Though he’d slept several hours last night she had no doubt that was rare. Not wanting his half hour or so to be wasted she decided to wake him up slowly.

  First she lightly stroked his jaw and saw some of the tension ease. When she removed her hand the tension returned. Looking at his eyes she saw rapid movement behind the lids.

  “It’s okay, Dos. We’re home,” she said brushing his hair back from his head. Scooting closer she cupped his face with her hands. She kissed him lightly then using her thumbs started massaging his jaw then over his cheekbones all the time watching his eyes. Moving her hands down the side of his neck she felt some of the tension release. His head turned to one side as he relaxed. Copper swung her leg over his body straddling him to give her better access to his neck and shoulders. Still using light pressure she continued down the tight tendons cording his neck.

  The man needs a serious massage she thought moving down his trapezius muscle she applied a bit more pressure. His head moved back to center and a soft moan escaped his lips. Copper froze.

  “God, that feels good,” he said without opening his eyes.

  She resumed. Knowing better than to say I told you so she chose a different topic. “You were dreaming but I didn’t want to wake you up.”

  His eyes opened and captured hers. In his intense gaze Copper saw fear though he guarded it well. His hands closed over hers stopping her movements. “Dreaming?”

  “Don’t worry you didn’t divulge any military secrets,” she said hoping to allay his worry. He released her hands dropping his to her thighs. She tried to concentrate on massaging his shoulders again but the heat from his hands not to mention his intense searching stare, made it difficult at best. When he rested his head against the ottoman and closed his eyes again Copper felt relief. Not that the desire that had started to build eased. “If you took your shirt off this would feel even better.”

  He opened one eye.

  “What, it would,” she said, watching him close his eye again.

  “It feels any better we’ll be in trouble,” he said as his hands gently squeezed where they rested on her thighs.

  “I wouldn’t call that trouble,” Copper said leaning forward to brush another kiss across his lips. “I’d call it a great way to spend a snowy afternoon.” Gliding her tongue across the seam of his lips she felt the pressure on her thighs increase. She slid her hands from his shoulders into his hair as he returned the kiss. Deepening the kiss she inched her body closer to his. His response to her move was evident where her own heat was growing.

  Dos forced himself to break the kiss. “Copper, we can’t do this,” he breathed as she leaned her head back offering her neck. He didn’t deny himself tasting the delicate flesh exposed. Damn she tasted good.

  “I think we’ve already proved we can,” she said kissing him again.

  Heaven, he thought taking control of the kiss. That’s what this was. He’d died in his sleep and God was giving him a little taste. Not that he believed for a moment he belonged here. He had done too many questionable things in his life. Still, he’d gladly die for a few more minutes loving Copper.

  Where the hell had that come from, he wondered, breaking the kiss and pulling back. He watched her eyes open slowly. What he saw in those bright loving eyes told him where he really was, hell. He knew he should push her away. He should keep his distance, both emotional and physical. Instead he cupped her face with his hands brushing his thumbs over her cheekbones.

  “If I had time left to love someone it would be you, but I don’t. We both know that,” he said. Dos leaned forward as he pulled her closer. As his lips brushed hers his heart clutched in his chest. It was the first time in years he realized he still had a heart. He kissed her again. This time his heart burst shooting warmth and desire through his body. When he released her lips she smiled.

  “Let’s pretend you do for just a little while,” she said before nipping his earlobe.

  Even though he would regret it later he couldn’t resist her fantasy. Hadn’t he recently wished for it himself? To be just a normal man, no subterfuge, no danger.

  Turning his head Dos covered her mouth with his. He kissed her hard as he brought his knees up and pressed her back against his thighs. Releasing her lips he kissed a trail down her neck while his hands worked their way under the sweatshirt Gina had loaned her. Her skin burned against his palms as he slid his hands over her stomach.

  Reaching around her he pulled her close suckling her breast through her bra while he freed the hook at her back. As it fell loose he pushed it and her shirt over her head. Staring down at her bare breasts his mouth watered. When her hand pulled his head to her he didn’t resist.

  Lifting her as he took her other breast he laid her on the rug. He made short work of the snap and zip of her jeans. Slipping his hand inside her panties he groaned when he found her heat. His erection pulsed with need against her hip.

  He had to slow down. Had to think. Had to st--

  Copper
’s hand wrapped around his hardness through his lounge pants. “God, woman,” he growled then took her mouth kissing her as if she were life itself. His finger dipped inside her heat mimicking his tongue. His only thought was to please her. He could feel the passion building in her, then she covered his hand with hers stopping him.

  He looked up at her wondering what was wrong.

  “Together,” she said breathlessly as her hand slipped inside his waistband.

  The touch of her skin on his heated erection near drove him insane. “Keep that up and it won’t be together,” he said covering her hand. She pulled her hand away and started to shimmy out of her jeans. Dos reached over his shoulder to pull off his shirt. As he touched the waistband of his lounge pants he came to his senses remembering the condom. He pulled it out and tore the wrapper. Copper took the condom from him and rolled it over his erection. Dos felt a groan work its way from deep inside him as he fought for control.

  “Now,” she said.

  He looked at her body as she lay back reaching for him. Dos couldn’t resist stroking is hand over her waist and hip. She was so beautiful.

  “Please, Dos.”

  Looking into her eyes again he knew he shouldn’t, but couldn’t deny he wanted it as much, maybe more than she did. He moved over her. All thought disappeared as his tip touched her heat. At the same moment he thrust she wrapped her legs around his waist pulling him full to the hilt.

  Dos was lost in a mine field of sensation and need. He drove into her again and again. Watching as she arched in response. Her beautiful skin shining in the glow of the fire. Her lips swollen and red from his kisses begging him for more.

  With one last thrust he groaned in release.

  Resting his weight on his forearms Dos let his head fall to the floor beside Copper’s. His heart still racing it took several minutes for him to recover. As he pushed up separating their bodies a strange sense of concern filled him. When he rolled off her he looked down and knew why.

  The condom had broken.

  “Shit.” He pulled the worthless rubber off.

  “What?” Copper asked sitting up beside him.

  “The damn thing broke,” he said. Dos stared into her eyes. What the hell was he thinking? He wasn’t a normal man. He wasn’t supposed to be with anyone. God, help him, what could he do now?

  “It’s okay,” she said.

  He shook his head even as she wrapped her arms around him. “How can you say that? You could be infected.”

  She didn’t let go. God the woman was stubborn. He pushed harder breaking her hold and rolling away.

  “We’ve been over this and your doctor scientist guy even said it wasn’t contagious. Besides, I’m sure dad would have warned me away if he didn’t think it was safe. He’s not stupid, you know,” she said rolling to her side and stroking her hand up his chest, “I’m sure he figured something could happen between us.”

  How could she make him so mad and feel so good at the same time? To hide the positive he turned his head and glared at her. “I doubt he expected us to end up in bed together.”

  She shrugged, frustrating him further. “From the way he talks about you he’d probably be thrilled.”

  “Think about it, Copper. Whatever is in me would be in my sperm. If you get pregnant--" she pressed a finger over his lips.

  “I won’t. Besides the fact that I’m on the pill, it’s totally the wrong time of the month, so let that go. I’m not stupid.”

  For a minute he just looked at her. The woman was too much for him to resist. He slipped an arm under her and pulled her close. Hope tried to flare in his mind as rested her head on his chest. “What if you’re wrong?”

  “I’m not.”

  “What if you are?” He felt her sigh.

  “I’d deal with it.”

  Dos thought about her answer for a minute. Dealing with it could mean a lot of things. “How?”

  “Go to the doctor; take prenatal vitamins, schedule Lamaze classes, the usual.”

  The wave of relief that roared through him left him weak. Still holding her he leaned back against the pillows. Despite fearing the difficulties a child of his might have to face he couldn’t imagine aborting it.

  Since when do you want kids?

  Unwilling to debate his subconscious he pushed the thought away. Memories of friends who hadn’t been told of unexpected pregnancies rushed into his mind. Some hadn’t found out until years later. “You’d tell me, right?”

  Her finger that had been drawing circles on his chest stopped with his question. Dos lifted his head from the floor and looked down at her. “Right?”

  “Would you want to know?”

  That brought him to a sitting position. “What kind of question is that?”

  “An honest one,” she said, staring up at him from the floor as his move had put her on her back. “You told me earlier you don’t want any strings.”

  “That’s not what I said, and kids are not strings.”

  Copper smiled up at his flushed face. For a man who swore he didn’t have a heart he sure did feel deeply about things. She decided to push a little further. “What are they?”

  Her question must have caught him off guard. His left eyebrow raised a little as if to say what kind of question is that. But she didn’t offer any explanation.

  “If you ask my mother, they’re blessings. Personally, I don’t know. I don’t have any.”

  “That you know of,” she said. She hoped he was different, but she’d known a lot of military men and women who got around.

  “No, I don’t have any. Trying to avoid relationships means flying solo most of the time. On the rare occasions I have succumbed, I’ve been very careful,” he said, turning away. “Until now.”

  She heard his mumble. Sitting up she wrapped her arms around him from behind, fully knowing he wouldn’t like it. She held on.

  “Don’t worry, I promise you’re still safe. I’m not going to tell anyone you’re always in control persona slipped for a minute.”

  “It’s not my image I’m worried about.”

  His serious tone made Copper’s throat constrict. Tears burned her eyes but she blinked them away. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind now that she loved this man. She hugged him tighter.

  “I know that,” she said quietly. “But worrying never made anything better.”

  “Do you always look at the bright side?”

  “I try,” she said running her hands up and down his chest he clasped one of his over them. He pulled her fingers to his lips and kissed them. No one had ever made such a loving gesture to her before. How could he believe he didn’t have a heart?

  “Play time’s over, darlin’. I’ve lazed around too long already.” He grabbed his pants.

  Copper released him knowing to talk about it would ruin the moment. She smiled up at him glad at least he didn’t sound so troubled anymore. When he stood she was tempted to pinch his butt and see what he’d do. Then her eyes traveled down his legs and the reason for his concern registered clearly. Scars from cuts, burns and obvious surgeries marred his muscled limbs. With all he had been through she prayed she wouldn’t add to his list of regrets.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Dos sat in his office feet propped on the desk, head back, staring at the ceiling. Maybe he could find some answers there. Normal channels weren’t producing anything.

  The Colonel didn’t have anything new regarding his secretary’s murder. The snow had slowed down Tres’ search for Garrett and his cohorts. Zip for the home team so far.

  Determined not to let depression take over, he eased his feet to the floor and sat up straight.

  “Okay, where haven’t you looked,” he said to the computer. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Copper in the doorway.

  “Who are you talking to?”

  “The computer, we have a very serious relationship going,” he said. Her easy smile eased his tension as always. He really needed to find some negatives about her, he thought while his ey
es gave her a hungry once over. Stubborn, she was unbelievably stubborn. And smart. Too damned smart for her own good.

  “Keep looking at me like that and I might try to come between you two,” she said.

  “Cute, what have you got there?”

  “Since you ate the small meal so well earlier, I thought another might be in order. And of course, fresh, burn your gut coffee to wash it down.” She set a plate and the coffee beside his keyboard.

  “You didn’t have to--"

  Her finger pressed hard on his lips. “The proper response is, thank you, Copper, that was very thoughtful.”

  When she released his lips he lifted the mug and took a sip to help wash away the tempting taste of her. “Thank you, Copper. That was very thoughtful.”

  “You’re welcome. I’ll let you get back to work.”

  Fighting the desire to follow her, he turned back to the computer. After a few bites of sandwich and half the coffee a question popped into his thoughts.

  How had Garrett connected with Cardone? And if Garrett made first contact, why would Cardone be interested? His network was strong. His drug business stable despite the shipments Dos and his team had broken up. He was damned near untouchable, so why risk taking Dos’ team.

  Though thinking about his time in South America was always risky, Dos knew he had to if he wanted answers. He leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes. He didn’t bother with the early weeks; there was no information there, only pain. He concentrated on the weeks after he thought Garrett was dead. The days when Cardone started using him for a pincushion came in focus.

  The first two weeks or so it had been whatever drug Cardone pulled out of a bag. Most of those days were a haze, like looking through a gauze curtain unsure of what was on the other side. Then, he’d been left alone for more than two days. He remembered counting the times the guards changed trying to keep track of time.

  The next time they dragged him to the play room, and strapped him to the table, Dos’ spongy brain had been clearer. Cardone seemed pleased that Dos could focus.

  “You are in amazing shape, Major,” he said, wrapping his hand around Dos’ bicep and squeezing. “Even after all these weeks and your drug use, you are still strong.”