“You aren’t any use to her if you can’t be calm.” Jade pitched her voice low, for their ears alone.
“I am calm.”
“I tried talking to her, but she wasn’t interested.”
“I imagine she’s pretty talked out.” He couldn’t deny the satisfaction that it was him she turned to. “What’s next for her?”
“We’re looking into protective custody.”
“Permanently?” If she went into something like Witness Protection, he’d never see her again.
“Hopefully not. Daniel can’t have that many backup plans, and having been thwarted twice, he’s going to start splintering soon. We’ve notified the entire region to be on the lookout for his signatures.” She shook her head. “I don’t remember the last time we had a killer with two clear signatures like this. It’s highly uncommon.”
“What do you think about the Killer Club connection?”
“What we’ve been able to dig up on his Internet activity is nothing like what we ran into in Oklahoma. I’m not convinced he’s connected.”
“Have you found others?” This was a can of worms. Travis couldn’t afford to think about it. Not when Bliss needed him.
“Some.” She nodded. “That clown that kept popping up for a while is a good suspect. Crimes like his are clear copycats, which seem to be that group’s MO. Daniel is...different. If there’s ever been someone like him, it’s a hell of a long time ago.”
“Back to Bliss, where will you move her?”
“Can’t tell you that. Unless you plan on going with her.” Jade’s left brow arched ever so slightly.
The idea was tempting, but he had a duty to Aegis he couldn’t turn his back on. They’d given him a life and opportunities when no one else would. He couldn’t leave them.
When he didn’t answer, Jade continued, “She’ll go back to Vegas under protection, probably put her up somewhere for a few days until long-term arrangements are made if we don’t find Daniel. Maybe you could stick around.”
“Maybe.”
Jade checked her phone. “You should go up now.”
He nodded and headed for the stairs, taking them two at a time. The need to be near Bliss was eating him up. He paused outside her door to knock, and then opened the door.
Bliss sat in the middle of the bed. Plastic bags were strewn around, and instead of jeans, she wore pajama pants and a knit hoodie. A single red and green bag sat in front of her, out of place and festive.
“Here.” He handed the soda to her and ripped open the candy bar.
She took the drink and chocolate he offered without comment.
“The sugar sometimes helps the chemical fallout.”
“Thank you.” She patted the bed next to her.
He sat and offered her another piece of the candy bar. She took that as well and pushed the bag toward him.
“Merry Christmas.”
He stared at the gift, a knot of panic lodged in his throat.
“I didn’t get you anything,” he said. When was the last time anyone had given him something for Christmas? Sure, he and Emma traded cards, usually with a gift certificate, but that was about it.
“It’s a gift. You don’t have to reciprocate. I just...wanted to do something for you. It’s a lame thank you, so you don’t have to keep it.”
He handed her the rest of the candy and carefully pulled out each individual piece of tissue paper. The scent of leather clung to the wrappings. What the hell? And where had she found the time? He peered at the black lump at the bottom of the bag.
“I have a receipt around here if you want to take them back,” Bliss said.
Travis reached in and pulled out a pair of black leather gloves. Not the cheap kind that would flake and peel with a little use, but the real deal.
“You said your hands were cold yesterday, and I just thought it might be something you could use.” She kept rambling on, tearing the candy wrapper into little pieces. “I’m sure you have gloves, but whatever.”
“Thank you.” He slipped his left hand into a glove. They were snug, just the way they were supposed to be. “I don’t think anyone has ever given me something this thoughtful.”
“You don’t have to—”
“I’m serious. I usually spend Christmas on the job or by myself. This is nice. You didn’t have to do this, Bliss.”
“I wanted to.” She wrapped her arms around her legs.
“Thank you.” He gestured to the bags. “What’s all this?”
“Jade got me a few things.”
“I got it all wrong, didn’t I?” He sighed and took the glove off, setting them carefully on the night stand.
“No, but you got a bunch of my dirty clothes.” She chuckled. “There’s a washer and dryer, but no detergent downstairs.”
“Figures.” He sighed and stretched out next to her, his back to the headboard.
“I kind of want to know how you decided what to pack.” She chuckled.
“There wasn’t a lot of thought to it. I grabbed things, threw them on the bed. I know I knocked some stuff over and just tossed it in, too.”
“Ah, that makes sense then.”
“What?”
“The bags.”
The way her smile made her eyes light up, he wanted to capture that memory for all time. He reached out and cupped her cheek, relishing her warmth, the kindness she showed him. Except now he was staring, and she’d said something.
“Sorry, what?”
“Nothing. Doesn’t matter.”
“It does. What did you say?”
“I was just saying that it made sense why you shoved some of my, ah, bags into the duffle.”
“Bags?” He had to think that one over for a moment. “The bags.”
Those bags.
“Yeah, that was kind of funny to find last night.”
“I just thought you might need them? I’m not that thoughtful. It was really an accident.”
“Why would I need a vibrator with you around?” She smirked, and he was reminded all over again why he’d first found her so intriguing. It wasn’t often people argued with him, and she hadn’t backed down one bit.
“I thought you liked the variety?”
“I do.” She rested her head on her steepled knees. A bit of hair swept across her cheek, pointing at her mouth he wanted to kiss. “What’s next?”
He rested his head against the wall and blew out a breath.
Way to kill the mood.
“Depends if they find Daniel.”
“If they don’t?”
“Protective custody of some kind.”
“Just me or my family?”
“Not sure, but you and Wendy are the main concerns.”
“How long will you be around?”
“I’ve got a job that starts end of next week.” It was a short gig. Any other guy could take his place if it came down to that, but he’d volunteered, knowing many would still be packing in the quality family time. Screw it. “I’ll stick around as long as I can, if that’s what you want.”
“I’d like that, but I don’t want you to get in trouble because of me. I know this is just a job and whatever.” She shrugged.
He stared at her. The words he needed abandoned him. How did he make her understand how special she was to him?
“Or not. You don’t have to.”
“Bliss, I want to. It’s just hard to use the right words.”
“Oh. Can you use some of the wrong ones and see if I can figure it out?”
“I can’t help but think this is my fault, and you’d be a lot better off without me.”
“I’m going to disagree with you. Without you I’d never have found Wendy.”
“I know enough about killers to know that my actions have little to no bearing on what Daniel is going to do. But I can’t shake the feeling that if I hadn’t spoken to you, you’d be alright.”
“I’d be worse. I’d be grieving my sister.”
“And this is better?” He reache
d out and ran his fingers across the bruises circling her wrist.
“Better than losing her? Yes.”
He shook his head. No one had ever cared that much about him.
“You saved Wendy, and you saved me. Without you, I’d be a lot worse off.” She grasped his hand and laced their fingers together.
He’d promised himself to give her space, to step back and let her go, but he wasn’t that strong. She was this bright, beautiful thing that had become snared in his life, and he couldn’t resist her pull. Everything about her was good, so different from him. No one had ever called him good at anything, except killing and keeping clients alive.
If he were really a man, he’d get up right now and walk out the door. Bliss was stronger than she realized, and given a little time, she’d be okay.
“I’m...” Words stuck in his throat.
Bliss’ face was the only thing he could see. When had she gotten so close?
“Travis?” She licked her lips, and he stared in fascination at the glistening skin.
“Yeah?”
“Make love to me?”
10.
Travis’ ears rang with her request.
“Make love to me. I want to feel something besides fear and helplessness. Please.” Her voice broke and she blinked a single tear.
“Shh.” He cupped her cheek and wiped the tear away. “You never have to ask twice, darlin’. Stay right there.”
She could have asked him for anything, and he’d have broken a dozen laws just to make her happy. Pleasing her, stroking her body to orgasm was no trouble at all. He wasn’t a man used to soft lovemaking, but for her he could be whatever she needed.
He got up out of the bed and flipped the lock on the door with shaking hands. It wasn’t much to keep anyone out, but if Jade or another agent came knocking it might give them pause before entering.
Travis turned toward the bed and paused. The other night he’d been pushed by a sense of need so sharp and deep that it might have been a dream. This time, he wanted each moment filed away in his memory so that Bliss would always be part of him.
She sat where he’d left her, legs still pulled up. If he didn’t know better, this could be a moment taken from any normal day. What would it be like to come home to Bliss every day?
He should say something, but again, the words he needed were gone.
Bliss grabbed the comforter and flipped the bags off onto the floor. She glanced up at him, an uncharacteristically shy smile pulling on her lips.
He grabbed the hem of his shirt and tugged it up. The bed creaked as he tossed the garment off. Bliss stared at his chest, her brow slightly wrinkled. He wasn’t perfect. Scars and incisions marked his body from head to toe, writing the story of his life on his skin.
“Do they hurt?” She flattened her palm over a long line just below his ribs.
“Nah.”
“I hate knowing you’ve been hurt.” She took a small step closer and covered an old bullet wound with her other hand.
“Part of the job.”
She kissed the jagged scar along his sternum where a man had tried to knife him. His knees went a little weak. Her tongue licked across his skin and his balls throbbed. Damn, but she was something else.
This was supposed to be about her, and he was the one getting all the attention. It just wasn’t right.
Travis cupped her face using both hands and nibbled her lower lip, drawing it in between his, sucking the taste of her into his mouth. She groaned and her hands slipped around his waist. He tilted her head to the side and deepened the kiss, stroking her with his tongue, inviting her to come out to play.
He slid his hands down to her ass, squeezing the round globes. She fit his hands so well. He rocked his hips against her, and she groaned into his mouth. The only hardship about taking her to bed was his impatient cock.
She wiggled her hands between them and rubbed the length of his erection. The denim was a cruel barrier, but this was not about him. He stepped back, breaking the kiss as she got the button through the tab.
Her cheeks were flushed and her lips swollen. It was a primitive satisfaction to see her turned on because of him.
He grabbed the hem of her shirt and tugged it up, breaking her fight with his zipper. His tongue stuck to the roof of his mouth as her breasts were revealed, sans any sort of bra. Her nipples were tight, dusky brown peaks he couldn’t wait to taste again. The sounds she made when he licked them were the stuff of fantasies.
Bliss reached for him, but he crowded her back against the mattress and laid her down. He knelt over her, running his thumbs over her nipples, watching her squirm. She didn’t shy away from his gaze, and more often than not she stared right back at him, owning this beautiful body of hers and the desire she felt for him. He loved the rounded softness of her hips, stomach, and breasts, so different from himself.
“Travis, I want you inside of me,” she said without hesitation.
“Not yet.” He had to put her over the edge first.
She made a frustrated sound, something between a sigh and a growl. He chuckled and kissed the tip of her nose as he shoved his hand past the stretchy waistband of her pants. He cupped her mound, pressing two fingers against her folds. Her mouth opened and her eyes fluttered shut. He parted her folds, rubbing against her. Her hips shifted under him, but he was saving being inside of her for a few moments longer.
He sat back on his heels, tugging her pants and panties down her long legs.
This was what sex was supposed to be like. He’d deprived himself of human connection on a meaningful level besides his friendships. Caring for Bliss, and knowing she felt something for him, too, changed everything. He didn’t just want to please her, he wanted—more. It wasn’t just his dick, it was his heart.
He slid his hands between her knees and pushed them open, going to his elbows. She shifted and gripped the sheets with both hands. There was something erotic about the sight of a woman’s breasts from this angle, especially hers. Later, he’d have to spend more time between them, but her pleasure came first.
Bliss’ mouth opened, and her gaze bore a hole into his skull. She didn’t shy away from what turned her on, which was just that much better.
He licked the length of her slit, tasting the slightly salty tang of her skin.
“Travis,” she drew his name out for several seconds.
He spread her folds, licking her. He thrust his tongue into her pussy. Her hips came up off the mattress, and her knees squeezed his shoulders. The noises she made were even better than last time. Her hand found his hair, and her nails raked across his scalp.
“There, right there.” She gasped.
He slid his fingers into her, curling them against the sensitive g-spot while sucking on her clit. Her mouth dropped open, and her back arched. He felt the spasms of her vaginal wall before her first high-pitched moan. She grabbed a pillow, muffling the sounds of her orgasm while he stroked her, keeping the steady, even pace, milking her for everything he could until she lay slack and boneless against the sheets.
God damn, she was fantastic.
He eased out of her and carefully crawled up to lie next to her. The jeans were on the extreme side of uncomfortable now, but he could manage.
“Oh my God. Oh my God.” Bliss lowered the pillow to her chest and panted.
Travis allowed himself a chuckle.
“Good?” he asked.
She stared at him with wide eyes.
“Good? Great would be an understatement.” She grinned without some of the tension she’d carried earlier.
Bliss rolled toward him and threw a leg over his. He stared at the ceiling and mentally ran through what ammunition he had with him. The state of his razors. Anything but the feel of her breasts against his chest, the still-hard nipples prodding him, or her thigh rubbing up against his balls.
He knew every one of her injuries, had listened as the nurses uncovered them and then again when Bliss recounted the horrors. She wanted release, and he�
��d give her that, but until she had more time to heal, he wouldn’t presume that sex was on the table, no matter what she said.
She kissed his jaw and cupped his cheek, turning his face toward her. He hesitated—some people weren’t fond of their taste on another’s mouth—but she didn’t show any reservation. She kissed him and slid her leg over his hips.
“Careful.” He winced and adjusted his dick with one hand, the other busy copping a feel.
“Sorry.”
Bliss sat up, straddling his thighs. Her smile was the stuff better men wrote songs about. She grasped his zipper and tugged it down. He hurriedly cupped his dick before it got caught in the zipper.
“Hold on.” He grabbed her hands, staying away from her bruised wrists.
“What?” She frowned.
“Just, don’t think you have to.”
She tilted her head to the side.
“I mean, if you aren’t ready,” he said.
“Travis, Daniel didn’t rape me.”
“I know, but it doesn’t mean you’re ready. If you aren’t.”
“I don’t know if I should thank you for being considerate, or slap you for being stupid.” One side of her mouth screwed up.
“No slapping.” He cringed and covered his erection.
Bliss chuckled and ducked her head, kissing his mouth. He couldn’t keep his hands to himself. He palmed her breasts, capturing the hard nipples between his fingers. She groaned against his lips and her eyes parted.
“Are you really turning me down right now?” She stuck out her lower lip.
“No, but—”
She put her fingers over his mouth.
“Nothing good comes after but.”
Bliss replaced her fingers with her mouth while her other hand wrapped around his cock.
“You really want to turn me down right now?” she asked.
“No. I just want what’s best for you.”
“Can you stop being so considerate for a little bit? Are you really going to argue with me about having sex?”
He should.
She’d been through so much.
“No,” he finally said.
She smiled and planted a kiss on his mouth while her hands slid down to cup his balls.
“Any chance you have a condom?” she asked.
Dangerous Attraction: Part Two (Aegis Group) Page 7