Shepherd’s Watch: Guarded

by J. Hali Steele

  In and out, again and again, he took her with his mouth and tongue until she cried out in release. “God, I’m coming.”

  Her pussy grew even wetter as cream slipped from her channel and into his mouth. Wade licked and sucked until she stopped wiggling beneath him. “My turn,” he mumbled. Dragging her to a sitting position, he pulled her from the counter and eased her around to face it. “This is how I want it.” He yanked his zipper down and shoved his pants over his hips. That’s as far as they got.

  There was no stopping the animal now; it stirred restlessly inside. Forcing her further over the counter, he nudged his dick into the crease of her ass. “Shit, baby, tell me where to find some lubricant.” Pulling away, removing his pants from the ridiculous puddle they now formed around his ankles is not what he wanted to do, but he wouldn’t hurt Jetta.

  “No, I want it like this.” Hazel eyes glared at him over her shoulder.

  Christ, he loved this woman. She wanted him raw, and if he had to guess, Jetta wanted it hard and fast. Just the way he wanted to give it to her. Love? Where the hell had that come from?

  It was true. The woman had tied him in knots and lashed him to her side. Wade would guard her for the rest of his life. And like it. There was no letting her go now.

  * * *

  Jetta had pierced him with a look that dared him to stop. She wanted to feel Wade deep in her ass, every inch of him. Her vagina contracted as she watched him spit into his hand. He stroked the length of his cock, then pressed it between her ass cheeks, letting the pre-cum wet her more. “Fuck me,” she cried out. The flared tip nudged at the rosette, and she sighed, relaxing her muscles to take him. Her hips were high in the air and ready for the big cock behind her.

  A low growl rumbled from his throat. “Damn, I want you.”

  “Take me, hard.” He eased the head in and waited just a moment for her to adjust to his size. Jetta pushed back and took the rest. “Yes!”

  His hands closed around her waist and he began to fuck her. Long, hard thrusts in and out. Just how she wanted it. Jetta bent over as far as she could, and shoved as much of her butt up as she could to take all of him.

  Wade’s nails dug into her waist as he dragged her back each time to meet his strokes. Pain and pleasure. Enough to start another orgasm. “Tight, so fucking tight.” He ground the words out.

  Jetta moved one hand down between her legs where she plunged two fingers into her pussy. She was so wet the noise excited her even more, making her slam back into his driving cock. The scent of their lovemaking poured around the room, sending her over the edge. “Ooh, please, please,” she begged.

  He moved faster, shoving harder into her ass, filling her in a way she’d never felt before. “You like it hard, baby?”

  His cock seemed to grow thicker with each stroke, and Jetta loved how it rubbed the inside of her anus. When he bent and nibbled at the hideous scars, she dropped her head to the counter and pushed her fingers faster in her pussy. She pinched and pulled her clit, worked the bump buried in her soaked folds.

  Jetta was tumbling headfirst in love with Wade. He’d unlocked a place inside her heart no one had ever breached. Quickly driving the thought away, she concentrated on pleasure, but he’d stopped moving and his thickness pulsed inside her. “Don’t stop.” She put her hands on the counter.

  “Turn around, see me.” He leaned with his face beside her.

  She twisted her neck to look at him. The raw lust in his brown eyes sent a shock wave up her spine. Buried there was something else, something wild and dangerous. Something Jetta needed. “I’ve never wanted anyone the way I want you.” She spoke the words so softly, she wasn’t sure he heard.

  “Mine. You belong to us.” Wade pulled his cock out until just the head was inside her. “No one else will ever touch you again.”

  Breath hitched from her throat when he slammed back into her. Using both hands, she braced herself against the counter as he plunged in and out of her, taking what he wanted. Over and over again.

  In a storm of pain and pleasure, she fell forward as the orgasm ripped through her, plummeting from her pussy. She came so hard, moisture slid out and soaked the inside of her thighs.

  Wade’s fingers dug deeper into her sides as he went up on his toes behind her and bellowed, “Mine!” The sound bounced from the walls as a warm stream of cum filled her ass. Pumping easier and slower, he didn’t stop until he was empty. Falling over, he rained kisses up and down her back, stopping only to tenderly lick the welts she’d carry for the rest of her life. “Shit,” he mumbled. “I’m so sorry.”

  He pulled out, and Jetta slipped toward the floor. Wade quickly caught and lifted her, carrying her through the kitchen to the bathroom upstairs.

  Once there, he sat her on the commode until he had the water running and its temperature regulated. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, baby.” His fingers were warm as they brushed over the new bruises on her sides.

  Jetta pressed her fingertips against his lips and looked deep into his eyes, searching for that dangerous man she’d glimpsed earlier. “You’ll never hurt me.”

  She believed those words with all her heart.

  Chapter Five

  Stretching lazily against the cool sheets, Jetta winced. Folding back the cover she couldn’t contain a smile. Wade was rough and she liked it.

  Her joy was brief when she remembered another event from last night. Wade had wanted to take a walk and he insisted on going alone. Waiting for him to return, Jetta looked out the front window and saw the humongous German shepherd on her porch. The animal’s ears pricked up and he turned to stare at her.

  Its eyes were deep brown and filled with… damn, if they didn’t appear lustful. As though the creature wanted to eat her alive. She’d wondered where Wade was, but decided to go to bed instead of waiting for him. Jetta felt much safer distancing herself from the dog.

  This morning the house was quiet with no sign of him having been in the room. The man had a special scent, one that engulfed her when he was near. It made her all hot and bothered. An odd idea popped into her head and she couldn’t rid her mind of it. The shepherd’s eyes looked like Wade’s. Stupid.

  Slipping from bed, she stretched her limbs before grabbing her robe from the back of the door. Padding softly down the length of the hall to the steps, she heard a noise. Jetta reached the landing and saw that the front door was ajar, and a tapping sound reached her ears. She froze.

  It was the shepherd and its large head poked into the doorway, looking right at her. Watching her from there, the animal didn’t venture any further inside.

  Shit. Where was Wade? If she ran back to her room, would it bound up the stairs and beat her down the long hallway? Her legs began to tremble. Sure the dog smelled her fear, Jetta tried to slow her rapidly beating heart. Deep draughts of air into her lungs seemed to help. With legs like rubber, she couldn’t run now if she had to.

  The dog took two more steps into the lower hallway.

  Peering around the landing, she spotted a heavy lead vase on a small table. Inching closer, she grasped it by the lip. She had to time it just right or it was over.

  The animal’s large head shook and sniffed the air while it continued staring at her. The sound of tires on gravel snatched the shepherd’s attention. When it took a step back and swiveled its head to look outside, her reflexes took over. Now.

  Hurling the vase down the stairway, she grazed the animal on the hip. With a yelp, it fled through the door. Nails scraped across the porch, and she saw it run toward the trees lining the yard. Jetta practically jumped down the whole flight of stairs. She skidded with a thud into the door, banging it shut.

  “Wade?” Ren’s voice. So Wade was out there too.

  Air hissed in and out of her nose. Shaking like a leaf, she clutched the robe around her and raced up the stairs back to her room. The door shook the hinges when she slammed it. Hurrying over to the window, she moved the curtain and peeped out. “Get a grip,” she told herself. Jetta t
hrew the curtains wide and looked in every direction. No sign of the dog.

  She relaxed a tiny bit as she watched Ren walk around the car, his eyes searching the edge of the wooded area. His unexpected smile, accompanied by a wave when he glanced up at her, pissed Jetta off. Bastard. Was he here to collect the Watch’s animal? Jogging into the trees, she lost sight of him. “Hit that ass good,” she muttered.

  No sooner had the words left her mouth, remorse flooded her chest and heat flared in her face. She fought with herself not to leave the room, to run down the steps and out the door in search of the dog. She worked hard to dispel the overwhelming feeling. Why in God’s name did she want to comfort an animal she feared?

  And why hadn’t Wade come into the house? Jetta rubbed her cold arms as fear crept back over her. It was different, something she couldn’t quite pin down. She shook herself and tried to put everything back in perspective. Okay, so the creature hadn’t made a move toward her, but what if it had? Her insides churned at the idea.

  A shower would help calm her. When she removed the robe, Jetta glimpsed the bite mark on her belly. Hideous, it still turned her stomach. How could Wade not be repulsed by it? Probably because his back was a mass of scars too.

  Suddenly it dawned on her how little she knew about him, or Shepherd’s Watch, for that matter. Vic trusted them, but did Jetta really want to place her life in their hands? Wade should be here guarding her now. Instead, he was off somewhere and had recklessly left her door open.

  Finished with her shower, Jetta dressed in a pair of dark green slacks and pulled a loose white top on over her damp hair. A shadow of doubt still fresh in her mind about Wade, she had decided to call an old friend of Jordan’s. Maybe he’d know where to find him.

  Jetta hung up the phone, no closer to finding her ex. But the guy took her cell number and promised to call if he heard anything.

  Another call to her office and she learned her purse was found under her car and had been given to Vic who stopped by and told them Jetta was fine. Thank goodness, because with everything going on, she had failed to check in. Something she always told her girls to do. So far, they’d all been lucky.

  It was time to get out of the escort business. There was plenty enough money to live on until she found something she wanted to do. Jetta had invested well. Maybe open a small modeling agency to help young women achieve their dream. She wished someone had been there for her.

  Pacing back and forth wearing a path in the carpet got her nowhere. Cracking the bedroom door, she heard voices downstairs. Shit, they must have come in while she showered.

  When she entered the room, she found Ren, Max and Vic talking with Wade. She tossed an angry glare his way before she spoke to Vic. “Thanks for picking up my purse.” Damn, she knew about Jordan’s visit to her office. The way her eyes searched Jetta’s spoke volumes. So the others probably knew too by now.

  “No problem.”

  Flustered, she turned on Wade. “I hope you’re better at your job than you proved to be here.” Her shrill voice cracked. “Damn dog could have killed me.” Silence hung in the air.

  He fixed her with a hard look. “It would never hurt you. Rest assured, it won’t happen again.”

  “Here’s where you say ‘trust me,’ right?” Jetta couldn’t let it go. A knife could have cut the tension.

  His back stiffened. “Do or don’t, doesn’t matter to me.”

  “You’re a real bastard.” Jetta rushed from the room and out the front door. She needed to breathe, needed to get away from their prying eyes. She stormed across the yard, wondering how she was going to fix the mess she’d gotten herself into. The truth was out. Still, what could Jetta tell them until she was sure what had happened, herself?

  Kicking at tree limbs and stones, she continued rushing down the path, not caring where she was headed. The sound of car engines told her the others were leaving.

  Wade. She’d never get him out of her mind or her heart, yet she struck out at him with venom. Guilt. Jetta should have told him as much as she knew. Too late now. He’d made it quite clear he didn’t care what she felt or whether she trusted him or not.

  Coming to the grassy meadow on the other side of the tree line, she flopped down against a wide trunk. She wished she could remember what had happened in those lost moments outside of her office, but she’d have to live with that. Her loud sigh sent a flock of birds fluttering into the sky.

  Jetta would be glad when this was all over.

  * * *

  Wade stood stock-still as Max and Vic left. He turned and leveled a glare at Ren. “Don’t say a fucking word, it’s not your business. I’m worried about this ex of hers showing up.”

  Ren had come to tell him who the blood belonged to. The detective had discovered he was an ex-boyfriend named Jordan and it had been his Doberman that had been responsible for Jetta’s scars. Evidently the guy had paid her a visit, and after being attacked by the dogs, he dumped her in the alley. That’s all anybody knew right now. Maybe Jetta was afraid to confide in him because she still cared for the man.

  “You’re my brother, and that makes it my business. You have to find a way to tell her or you have to get as far away as possible.”

  “You heard her, Ren. She’ll never trust me.” He rubbed at the sore spot on his ass. “Jetta’s scared to death of dogs, and it’s what I am.”

  “This is your damn fault. You keep undressing in the house like you’re a pet or something. Then you try to sneak back in the front.” Ren’s grin aggravated him. “You ever think of using the back door?”

  “Hell, she was asleep, and I didn’t plan to be gone that long.” He walked to the window and stared out. “She’ll never accept what I am.”

  “One thing I remember is Margy telling me she couldn’t resist my smell. Jetta will be going through the same thing. Give her a break. This isn’t easy for them.”

  Wade continued to rub the spot on his ass and hadn’t noticed that Ren moved closer until his brother swatted his butt hard. “Motherfucker! That hurt.”

  A broad smile set on his Ren’s face. “You better tell her soon. Evidently you’re not as fast as you used to be, and the lady’s got quite an arm.”

  “Get out.” Laughter rang through the hall.

  The cars moved out of the driveway and he went to the door. Sniffing the air, Wade headed in her direction. He couldn’t leave her alone out there.

  Reaching the spot where she rested, he gazed at her. Did she smell him? If she did, he had to tell her, but he had no idea where to start. Jetta’s scent aroused his animal and the shepherd’s primal need bore down on him hard. Shit, would he never have peace when she was around? “Jetta?”

  “Before you say anything, I owe you an apology.” She twisted around to look him in the eye. “I was angry because I didn’t know what to say.” Turning toward the meadow, she continued, “You know about Jordan?”

  “Yes.”

  “I can’t tell you anything about that night. I don’t remember. I think he drugged me.”

  Moving near her, he rested with his shoulder against the tree. “How’d you know it was me?”

  “I don’t know.” Her hand flipped through the air. “For some reason I can smell you.” She looked up, a ghost of a smile on her lips. “Don’t worry, it’s nice.” Hazel eyes darkened and locked with his. “Why is that?”

  He pretended not to hear her. “Tell me about Jordan.”

  “Not much to tell. We were lovers a long, long time ago.” Facing the meadow, her voice drifted off. “It was his dog that attacked and scarred me.”

  Easing down beside her on the ground, he reached for her hands. “Jetta, I’d never let that happen to you. Look, the shepherd that’s on the property, he’s special.”

  “I hit him pretty hard this morning. Is he okay?”

  “Yeah, I know, but he’s all right.” His ass was bruised. Ren was wrong. Wade wasn’t slower, he just had problems thinking clearly around Jetta.

  “How’d you know?
” Her quizzical eyes glittered in the sun. “Look, first Vic, now you with how special this animal is.”

  Wade snapped to attention. “What did Vic say about m -- the dog?”

  “After she told me he was special, there was something else about it loving and guarding me even if it kills him.”

  How the hell would Victoria know that? “Just as closely as I would.” Wade pulled her across his lap and pressed a soft kiss on her lips. “I do want you to trust me.”

  “Wade --”

  His mouth covered hers, cutting off the words. He couldn’t fight it any more, he needed her -- and right now. His tongue was insistent, and she responded by taking it in her mouth. Jetta’s arms came around his neck and she kissed him back deeply. Her tongue lashed at his, covering every dark corner of his mouth.

  While he used the hand under her back to hold and caress her, he eased his free hand down her belly to the vee between her thighs where he rubbed with his fingers. Her slacks were damp and that pleased him. Wade was reminded of a volcano, one hot and ready to blow. And she was all his.

  Jetta spread her legs, giving him access to massage her pussy. The heat through the material started a fire in the pit of his stomach and he knew how to extinguish it.

  His shepherd whimpered, it wanted to feel her, taste her. That could only ever happen through Wade who had every intention of giving the dog what it wanted. Breaking their kiss, he told her, “I want to take you right here.”

  Her arms untangled from behind his head and she feathered the tips of her fingers over his cheeks, across his lips. Pulling one into his mouth, he sucked it, savored the taste of her.

  Jetta used the other hand to quickly unfasten her pants. Rising from his lap, she pushed to get them over her hips as she kicked off her shoes.

  The smell of her sex leaked into the air. He wished his face had been buried in her pussy. Ripping his shirt open, he pulled it off and laid it on the ground. Jetta slid her butt onto it after she removed her pants.