Men of Mercy: The Complete Story

by Cross, Lindsay

  Aaron swallowed, his jaw ticked and he grabbed Celine's finger. “Not if I can't be with you every second of the entire day and night.”

  “Well then, I guess you better stick to me like glue. I am done with this complete waste of time.” Celine spun on her heel and strode off the mat, leaving everyone in the yard staring as she stomped inside.

  Aaron scrubbed his face and then turned to follow her, but Ethan stopped him halfway. The two men talked for a minute and then Aaron changed route. Kate tried to follow his path but Ethan stepped into her line of vision. “Ready?”

  Kate took a steadying breath and nodded. She could do this. Caroline's life may depend on her abilities. “I'm ready.”

  Ethan raised his brows but didn't say anything. Yesterday's lesson had been contentious, with her repeatedly going on the attack and losing. Kate liked to think she was smart enough to learn from her mistakes.

  Noni's advice floated through her mind, followed by how Celine had controlled Aaron completely. Today would be different. Today Kate would win.

  “I think yesterday I approached your lesson from the wrong perspective. I don't want you in the position to physically fight a man twice your size and weight. We need to build on your strengths.” Ethan started to slowly circle her, a technique meant to keep her off balance. Kate stared straight ahead, letting her other senses help her. Ethan continued, “Today, I want to tap into that intelligent mind.”

  Ethan stopped right in front of her, his entire expression locked on hers with intensity. “Trust me?”

  If he'd commanded her, or bullied her, she would have told him to shove it, but Ethan asked for her to trust him. Kate found herself nodding before she finished her thoughts.

  “You are Caroline's bodyguard. You will be with her at all times. It is your job in the event of an attack to protect Caroline and allow the rest of us to handle the threat. Your objective is to keep her safe.” Ethan sized her up, and Kate fought to keep the heat from rising to her cheeks. Every time he focused on her, he made her feel like she was the only person in his entire world.

  “What about protection? If I'm the one closest to her, don't I need to fight off the attacker?”

  Ethan shook his head. “Yes, but I also want you aware of the threat before it becomes critical.”

  Kate raised a brow, “And just how am I supposed to do that if we don't know who or what the threat is?”

  “You are always aware. No matter where you are, you know your surroundings.”

  “Of course I'm aware. My job is catching the details other people miss.” Irritation lined her tone, but she couldn't help it.

  Ethan didn't react at all, instead he clasped his hands behind his back, spread his legs apart and said, “Close your eyes.”

  Chapter 12

  In the military, you didn't question orders, you did as you were commanded. But Kate's naturally inquisitive nature was one of the reasons she was a top analyst and Ethan would have to remember that fact.

  He waited for Kate to roll her eyes, but she simply closed them, following his command. A hum of pleasure slid down his spine at her unexpected acquiescence, as did the rapid rise and fall of her chest and the way the morning sun made her pale skin glow.

  Focus, dammit. Kate's safety was far more important than his base needs. “Tell me what structures are around you.” He decided to start with the basics.

  “The house is to my right, a small barn further behind me and a tan tent to my left.”

  “Good. What about doorways? There could be attackers hiding in there waiting.”

  “The kitchen door and barn door, but it's open. Is that it?” She cracked open an eye.

  “Close your eyes.”

  “Yes, sir.” Her snarky tone made him smile.

  “Now, tell me how many people are in your immediate vicinity.”

  She paused, her brow pulled low in thought. Ethan took the opportunity to motion for Aaron to come forward, silently, behind Kate.

  “Three men, not counting you.” Her lips curled up into a soft smile of satisfaction.

  She was good. Merc and Riser were bent over the table about twenty feet away, studying different documents and maps. Aaron stopped about ten feet behind her.

  “How many of them have weapons?” Weapons, people, suspicious behavior - these were things Ethan took stock of everywhere he went. Like the fact that Aaron had a nine millimeter sidearm on his hip and Ranger had double holsters under his arms. He even noticed a bulge at Riser’s back when the material of his shirt shifted.

  Her smile dropped into a frown and she chewed her bottom lip, leaving Ethan staring at her mouth once more.

  “Who's armed? Who poses the most significant threat? To you and your HVT?”

  “I don't know.” She opened her eyes, the confidence from earlier suddenly shaken. She’d been so sure she already knew everything, that she just needed a bit of brushing up on her skills. But Ethan had taken her complete self-confidence and replaced it with the knowledge that she did need him and did need to listen.

  Ethan didn't like that vulnerable look one bit. He eased closer, drawn to her, to the need to touch her. “You’re doing really well. Now, we're going to practice this over and over until you get comfortable.”

  “You think I've got enough time to learn?”

  “I think you'll surprise yourself.”

  Ethan caved to his need and touched her shoulder, a move that to anyone else would look like a confidence booster, when in reality it was because he couldn't stand not to. And this time, Kate didn't jerk away.

  Heat trailed from her shoulder into his fingers, up his arms and spread wide and deep across his chest. Kate trusted him.

  Damn. She was relying on him to teach her the skills needed to save her life. He should be clamming up but he felt taller, more confident, and suddenly Ethan wanted nothing more than ever to live up to the expectation he saw in her gaze.

  “Aaron, get Celine back out here. She's gonna be our Caroline. I want Kate to practice with a body to protect.” Ethan stepped back, breaking that precious contact, and vowed he'd do whatever it took to ensure Kate was ready.

  “Dude, she won't listen to me,” Aaron protested.

  “Tell her it’s life or death. She'll listen.” Grey seemed to just appear on the mat out of thin air. “And tell her to bring the shoes.”

  Aaron groaned and headed to the house, his feet literally dragging in the grass. “You’re gonna owe me big time for this.”

  “Kate, you’re doing really well. I think with the rest of the week to practice, you'll be more than ready.” Grey's voice was steady with confidence.

  “Thank you, sir.”

  “Ethan, when you finish, come find me.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Grey went back to the tent, joining Ranger at the table. The back door slammed shut and Celine emerged, dangling a pair of heels from her fingers, with Aaron trailing behind.

  She went to Kate and held out a hand. “Mr. Grey over there wants you ready for the wedding night.” Celine extended a pair of what had to be five-inch nude heels.

  “And those are supposed to help me how?” Kate didn't take the shoes.

  “This is what you'll be wearing with your dress. Give me your sneakers and put these on.”

  “You're serious?” Kate turned to Ethan, her eyes wide. “I can't wear those. How do you expect me to run?”

  Ethan shrugged, “Orders are orders.”

  “You don't understand. I don't wear heels.”

  “And what's wrong with my choice in shoes? They're gonna make your legs look drop dead gorgeous,” Celine said.

  “Not when I fall on my ass,” Kate said.

  “Well you can't wear tennis shoes to the wedding, especially if you’re posing as Caroline's stylist. You'll stand out like a sore thumb,” Celine said.

  “She's right. You need to blend in.” Ethan scratched his beard, drawing Kate's attention. “Like me.”

  “You're kidding, right? You can't co
mpare having a scraggly beard to wearing those torture devices.”

  “Oh, honey, you'll get used to them as quick as you can turn around. I swear,” Celine dangled the shoes a little higher, as if baiting a fish.

  Kate raised her jaw and Ethan instantly recognized the stubborn set. “What if we compromised? Celine, do you think you can come up with something a little bit shorter?”

  Celine frowned, obviously not happy with changing her plans, but nodded. “I guess I can make a run to town and find something a little lower.”

  “Kate, will that work?” Ethan asked.

  “I can do three inches, tops,” Kate said.

  “I can work with that. Maybe we can find some cute wedges.”

  “Good. It's settled. Let's continue in your tennis shoes for now. Tomorrow though, I want you in the shoes you'll be wearing at the wedding. When I train for missions, we always simulate them as close to real as possible,” Ethan said.

  “Does that mean I'll be doing a run through in a dress, too?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Chapter 13

  They set up the scenario like a small cut out from the wedding, with Aaron, Ranger, Grey and Ethan surrounding her and Celine at her side. Kate kept herself between Ethan and Celine.

  “The bad guy isn't always the most obvious person in the room and you have to be prepared to react, because no matter how hard I train you, and I'm gonna train you hard, you may miss something and you have to be prepared for that.” Ethan ripped a gun out from behind his back and leveled the pistol straight at Kate's head.

  Her heart stopped for a split second and then fired into overdrive. Kate shoved Celine away and ducked sideways, slammed her palm into his wrist and rolled her body around him. She grabbed the barrel of the gun, squeezed his pressure point with her other and ripped the pistol from his grip. Ethan didn't hesitate, but countered with a leg sweep and knocked her to the ground. The pistol went flying and Kate scrambled to her feet.

  “Good, you've managed to disarm me. What's next?”

  She didn't know. Her mind whirled, the possible scenarios playing out like broken movies in her mind. Kate lunged and Ethan moved to the left so that she stumbled past him. “Wrong move.”

  Kate spun to see Ethan holding Celine, arm raised to strike. “What did you do wrong?”

  “I attacked,” Kate's frustration only fueled the need to do it again.

  “Wrong. You didn't think. Remember, your best weapon is your intelligence. Again.” Ethan released Celine back to Kate's care and she immediately shoved the girl behind her.

  “I thought you were supposed to be teaching me,” Kate ground out between clenched teeth, her chest heaving.

  “It's called immersion, and this is how you learn to focus.” They continued the slow circling, Ethan jumping into a false lunge, but Kate held back, refusing to take his bait.

  The next time Ethan dove, he kept coming. Kate felt the moment her training kicked in. She sidestepped his lunge and threw a double-fisted punch down on Ethan's back, using all her weight to drive him to the ground. Unfortunately, that seemed to be exactly what he'd expected her to do. He circled around, hooked an arm around her waist and pinned her to the ground. “I read your moves before you even acted. You can't be that obvious or your enemy will do the same thing.”

  Kate heaved, her breath sawing like hot coals in and out of her chest as she tried to ignore the sinking sensation that she was in way over her head. That was twice now Ethan pinned her down, easily trapping her against the mat beneath his rock hard body. She couldn't focus on anything, her normally controlled mind in chaos from his nearness, her body heavy not with pain from the impact, but with pleasure. “Get off me.”

  She bucked against him, felt the obvious swelling in his pants press against her stomach and she froze as every ounce of awareness pooled there. Ethan's gaze bored into hers and she lost all ability to think. She'd never reacted so strongly to a man. Why now? Why him? How was she ever going to concentrate on her training if all she could think about was jumping his bones?

  He lowered his head within an inch of hers and said, “Your enemy has you pinned to the ground. For all you know, his partner has already made off with your target, what do you do?”

  His voice came out cold and distant, but Kate felt just how hot he was. If he could shove his feelings aside, so could she. She was a fast learner.

  Kate softened and tilted her chin down to stare up at him through lowered lashes. “Ethan?”

  His gaze went dark and he focused on her mouth. She licked her lips. “I can’t think with you this close,” she whispered, skating the fine line of control and desire, fighting the urge to give in and lift up and take his lips in the scorching kiss they demanded.

  If possible, his ice blue eyes turned to midnight. She sensed the moment his training fell to the onslaught of desire. Desire they both felt.

  Her carefully crafted plan to seduce him into distraction backfired and she found herself reaching for him instead of tackling him. God, she wanted him more than anything she’d ever wanted in her entire life.

  A tremble worked through him and she felt it all the way to her core. Unbidden her fingers traced his jaw, his beard abrading her already sensitive skin. But it was his mouth that held her captive. She wanted to taste him. To find out if her dreams were as sweet as reality.

  Ethan ducked his head and breathed out her name, “Kate.”

  He drew closer. She yearned for his touch. His breaths fanned across her face.

  Kate drew in a breath and concentrated on breaking the spell wrapped around them. Focus on the mission. Stay with the plan.

  Kate swung her leg up, threw Ethan to the ground and straddled him, her arm pressed against his throat and the hidden knife she'd had tucked in her clothes pressed against his jugular. “You asked what I’d do? I would use any means at my disposal to neutralize the enemy.”

  Heat sizzled between them, his harsh breaths fanned her across her face as she leaned more of her weight onto him. She expected him to erupt in anger at being bested by a girl, but Ethan shocked her and tossed her assumptions about him and his reactions right on their head.

  He smiled. “That's my girl.”

  Applause broke into Kate's awareness and she turned her head to see Celine and Aaron side by side clapping. Heat flooded her cheeks and she jumped to her feet, putting some much needed distance between Ethan and her treacherous body.

  “You go girl!” Celine whooped.

  “I thought you were supposed to be the instructor,” Aaron said to Ethan.

  Any man from her past would have flushed red with rage, their manliness threatened, but not Ethan. His smile didn't waver, not one bit. And Kate found that achingly wonderful.

  “I'll take her type of instruction any day,” Aaron said.

  Ethan's smile disappeared and his gaze narrowed on his teammate. Kate inserted herself between the two men. “I think we're good for now.”

  Ethan glanced down at her. “You did good, but we need to talk. In private.”

  Kate nodded in complete agreement, only she didn't have much talking in mind. They had to get rid of this tension between them if she had any hope of paying attention the rest of the week. Two days in and she'd nearly seduced him in front of her new boss.

  Chapter 14

  Later that evening, Kate stepped into the bathroom and locked the door. A few minutes later she was undressed and standing beneath a hot shower, praying it would work out the soreness in her muscles.

  She'd worked out five days a week, keeping her muscles toned and trying to stay healthy, but Ethan's training wasn't about health. It was about survival for herself and the person she would guard. And it was brutal. He'd continued to put her on the defense, tossing her to the mat more times than she could count, but each time Kate learned something new.

  The one good thing about their training, she'd been beneath him, body to body, and after giving in to the fact that she couldn't deny the attraction between them, sh
e accepted it and used it to help give her energy.

  Each time he pressed against her, electric heat charged through her body. After being on autopilot so long, almost like she’d been desensitized to other people, reacting so strongly flooded her with vitality. He made her feel wanted, especially when she felt his hard length pressed against her. Outwardly he kept his expression blank, but there was nothing he could do to hide the banked lust in his eyes.

  She'd left him with a promise to meet up later tonight at a bar in a neighboring town. Kate got out of the shower, toweled off and carefully selected her clothing for the night.

  She had no intention of pulling any punches when it came to seducing Ethan Slade.

  * * *

  Ethan nursed a beer at the bar, if he could label the ramshackle shack built on stilts over a murky Mississippi bayou a bar. Somehow the clapboard walls were holding up, although every time the wind shifted, the entire shack groaned. The girl behind the bar had more tattoos than his entire team combined and nearly as many piercings.

  There were two other couples in the bar. The first consisted of a broken down old cowboy clutching a bottle of rot gut and holding hands with a woman with hair so red it had to have come from a bottle. The other couple appeared almost normal, except they kept casting suspicious glances his way and twitching, which meant whatever reason they were here probably wasn't legal. This far out, they could be selling dope or smuggling alligator skin.

  Ethan cast up a silent prayer that the motel room he'd rented wasn't a close relative to the bar. How could he expect to seduce someone like Kate in a shit hole with cockroaches as decorations?

  The bartender stared past his shoulder and Ethan swung around and blanked. Kate strolled across the floor, graceful and predatory, almost feline. She'd let her hair hang long and straight down her back, a perfect touch to the skintight dress hugging her curves like it'd been painted on. And the heels. She'd worn those fuck me heels.