by Unknown
It was at that moment that Matty came around the corner, pretending to be entranced in a book and stopped short of us. “Hey, how goes it?”
Tommy halted, pulling me into his side as he had ever since middle school and I went willingly, as I had ever since middle school. I was a damn sucker.
“It goes. Got the all clear on you…Captain America.” He half-heartedly chuckled and Matt put on his grin that I knew meant he was hiding a whole lot of curse words running through his head. It’s funny how men always think they’re being crafty or secretive but the women who love them, know them, know what’s happening just the same.
“Great. A lot faster than I thought it would take, honestly, but that Luke is something, huh?”
“Oh yeah, he is. You have no idea the connections and brain power he has.” Tommy volleyed.
I shifted next to him, pretty much just to remind them I was still there.
“I am pretty sure I have an idea now. So, we’re good?”
Tommy mulled on it a minute and nodded. “Yeah, we’re good.”
Matt shook his hand, kissed my cheek and walked out.
What weirdo’s men are.
“You know, I’m just not even going to ask.”
“Probably best for now.”
I nodded and walked ahead of him, towards the back staircase. I felt Tommy get close up behind me and it took my breath away when he swept me off my feet in a bridal carry.
“Gotta start practicing. Y’know, for the honeymoon and coming home after that wedding our mothers are putting together at your command.”
Jeez, with the “practicing”.
I choked on a laugh, “Yes, because you might not be able to handle all 140 pounds of me.”
“If you weigh 140 pounds, I am the stay-puff marshmallow man.” He chuckled, nuzzling my neck. I couldn’t help it, I tilted my head to a better angle so he had better access. I may have even made a little whimpering sound.
Thunder clapped outside and my insides melted a little, mostly because he was nipping and licking in all those delicious spots that really got me going but also because he knew the rain would make me good and horny. In about half a millisecond I was going to practically beg him to take me on the stairs when Tommy came to a complete halt, halfway up. With his mouth already pretty much attached to my ear, he hardly made a sound at all when he told me to not make a single noise.
Silently I prayed that it was just Matt moving around, but I knew my luck better than that. Someone was at the top of the stairs and they were not invited. Tom shifted me ever so slightly as he slid a hand to his back and pulled out his glock. The very moment he chose to continue up the stairs, thunder struck again and the lights flickered off and stayed out. I refused to think that the lights could have gone out for any reason, other than the storm. But let’s be honest here, that was naïve and pretty stupid of me to pretend. For fuck’s sake, not only were we sitting ducks but now we were blind sitting ducks. Giving myself a mental shaking, I perked my ears up and tried to keep calm for Tommy – let’s be honest, we all know I’m flipping the fuck out inside.
My hip started vibrating and it took me a full minute to realize it was his phone going off. Surely with the lights out, everyone was trying to connect. That could be used to our advantage. I slid my hand down between us and grabbed his phone, since he kind of had his hands full with my ass and all. I leaned into him and put the phone between our bodies, in a lame attempt to block the light while trying to dim the brightness. You never realize how bright those damn screens are, even fully dimmed, until you really need not draw attention to yourself. On the screen of his phone was a text from his brother asking why he went dark and another three buzzed in at that second asking what was going on and informing him that they were on the way over locked and loaded.
Thank God.
I let Tommy read the screen and he nodded. Ever so slowly, he set me on my shaky feet and kissed my lips, hard, demanding. I knew what that meant and I really couldn’t do a thing to change it. My orders were to do exactly what he said (without him actually saying), follow his lead and not give off a lick of sound. He slipped in front of me and keeping one hand on me, led me forward, up the stairs. Every few seconds I got the heebie jeebies and checked behind us. Yep, still alone, so far.
Alone was better than surrounded, right?
Moving painstakingly slow, so as not to chance any boards creaking, we reached the top and the rummaging had already stopped. Tommy cocked the glock and cleared the landing in one swift and silent move. Nodding, I moved up staying behind him and looking around frantically. Any second now, I expected ghost face to pop out – I would only be okay with that, if he started yelling, “Wazzzzuupppp”.
A third booming touchdown of thunder nearby, had me jumping and almost completely masked the sound of the front door opening downstairs. Welp, my courage was officially dried up and my pants soaked; okay, not really, but close. Chancing a glance down the stairs one more time before we moved away from them, showed me a figure moving up them. Thankfully, before I could scream, kick or run, Matt’s face was illuminated by a mini flashlight he flicked to show his face and cut back off. Two big strong men versus this one whatever-he-thought-he-was certainly made me a bit more at ease. Two steps forward and the lights popped back on causing me to actually jump this time.
Tommy tugged on my arm and pulled me back to his side, kissing my temple. Matty moved up to my other side and they conveyed something to each other just by a single look.
Both men moved forward, sandwiching me between them and clearing each room of the upstairs. Midway down the front stair case, Mike, Noah, Candace, Dillon and Peyton came rushing in the front door. All of them were soaked and had guns drawn.
“There was someone in here.” Tommy said at the same time Candace announced “Your power was manually cut.”
Insert gasp here. A shiver racked my body unconsciously causing Tommy to wrap both arms around me and tug me into his chest. “I will not let anything happen to you.”
I nodded, knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that he would die for me, but maybe more importantly, he would kill for me and he wouldn’t pay a second thought to it.
“Dillon was doing a perimeter check looking for the cut lines when we got here.” Mike informed us.
“Thanks Dilly.” I half-heartedly smiled at him, still totally freaked.
Another one of those cryptic looks was tossed around the room and all but Dillon, who was still looking at me, nodded. Their damn silent communication was not only beginning to make me understand how people felt around me and my twin, but also was really pissing me off. I wasn’t some frightened child – okay, I was a frightened adult, but I digress – they should just speak openly and tell me what was happening.
“I was just sitting in a post to the south when I saw the lights go out and headed straight over.”
“Well, we appreciate it. Really. I was terrified.”
“I don’t doubt it.”
“Whoever did this is still close, we need to have Alpha do a sweep and run all the tape.” Peyton stated.
“Luke is still trying to figure out what in the hell hit the systems. Video’s been down since a week ago and apparently no one noticed til’ yesterday,” said Candace.
She shot a sour look at Dillon. He blushed and gave a slight shrug.
“My fault. I should have paid closer attention. I’m paying for my mistake.”
“Better you than Taylor.” Tommy said.
The tense silence was so heavy, it weighed me down and made me even more uncomfortable. You could hear crickets.
“Let’s get back out there and do another pass, to be sure there’s nothing we missed. Matt and Noah, clear the bottom floor and triple check all locks, latches, windows, you know the deal.” Mike ordered.
Everyone moved and that left us sitting on the stairs, shivering. Okay, I was shivering, but I don’t see what difference it makes. Tommy picked me up again and carried me to our bathroom where he lit a
ll the candles and drew a bubble bath. There just wasn’t any fight left in me, tonight – might as well give in.
“Extra steamy, please.”
“Don’t you worry about a thing. I can handle drawing you a perfect bath.” He said, matter-of-factly.
“Well, well, well. I will see, won’t I?”
If I was trying to put on a brave face and hide my fear (and exhaustion) the best way to distract both of us was pretty simple and damn fun. Knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was safe whenever Tommy was around, I strip teased him and sauntered over to his looming frame; running my finger across his chest before climbing into the most perfect bubble bath of my adult life.
There was moaning, for sure. He shucked his clothes in almost record time and amended my statement, “We will see.” Tommy climbed in behind me and set the jets to orgasm-mode. I was officially in heaven and was not planning on leaving anytime soon.
Funny how life likes to bitch slap you and turn everything to shit when you find a comfortable place to rest. You know what they say, tell your God your plans…
Around my third orgasm was when my heavenly utopia turned to absolute hell.
Chapter 17
Tommy’s shrill generic ringtone on his throwaway shouted out from the pocket of his jeans, carelessly thrown in the corner of the bathroom farthest from them.
“Ignore it. They can leave a message.” Taylor panted, straddling Tommy.
Before he had the opportunity to answer her, the ringing stopped and he focused his attentions back to her nipples.
A moan rumbled from her throat and his cock jumped, still embedded in her wet folds.
“There’s no way you can go again. If I have one more orgasm, not only will I scream the walls to dust but I’ll shatter from the inside out.” She whispered, completely consumed and sated.
Tommy made a popping sound as he released her nipple and looked up at her, grinning like the Cheshire cat. “The whole shattering from the inside out is, I’m pretty sure, the definition of an orgasm. The screaming the walls to dust, is very much the goal and challenge accepted, baby.”
He was already hard again when the phone rang out once more.
“That’s the third call and I don’t even know how many messages – I have to check Tay.”
“Three?” She grunted.
He pulled out but she didn’t protest further as he set her gently on her ass at the other end of the tub.
Water sloshed as his giant frame climbed out, strutting over to the clothes pile they’d created. There wasn’t an ounce of fat so he really had nothing to be ashamed of in his nudity. Tommy frowned at the screen, swiping his finger across it to pick up the call.
“Tommy.”
“Taylor’s dad crashed but they were able to bring him back. He’s awake and boy does he have a lot to say. Get to the hospital, five minutes ago.”
The line disconnected but Tommy was already moving to throw his clothes back on.
“Who was that? Is everything okay?” Taylor asked quietly, eyes closed and lounging out in the Jacuzzi tub. She clearly hadn’t watched his phone exchange, if you could call it that, because she was still serene where he had turned coolly turbulent.
“I don’t want to worry you Annie, but I need you to get up and get dressed. We need to head to the hospital.”
Tommy was certain he had never seen his little wife move so fast in all his life. She was dressed and running for the door in two minutes flat; her hair flew in several different directions, still soaking wet and dripping down her back.
“Pick it up, Kane, we’re moving.”
“Moving Drill Sergeant!” He laughed half-heartedly, unable to hold it in.
Tommy reached her at the top of the stairs and swept her up in his arms as he ran down the stairs eliciting a squeal/scream from Taylor who was clutching his shoulders in a vise grip.
“I won’t drop you – you know that.”
“Yes, but I wasn’t expecting it.” Taylor huffed out, wrapping her legs around his waist, despite chiding him. “I can walk you know.”
“This is faster.” Tommy lied, needing her as close to him as he could get. The past hour wasn’t enough for him and he knew he was fucked; he needed it all from her. There was no way he was going to let her walk away when this was over – and it would be over…soon.
As they reached the front door, Matt was opening it from the outside and stopped at the site of their rapid approach.
“Mike just called and asked me to stick it out here with Taylor.” Matt kept his eyes locked with mine and I knew that walking into that hospital was going to devastate Taylor; they weren’t leaving me much choice one way or the other. Pain was going to be inflicted tonight.
“The hell I will stay here. That’s my dad.” Taylor shouted, growing angry.
“Baby, Mike wouldn’t ask if he didn’t think it was best.” Tommy started.
She growled at him before opening her mouth and shoving against his chest, her feet now on the floor.
“No one asked me a damn thing.”
Tommy gently applied a commanding pressure to her shoulders and lifted her, turning, and set her back from the door.
“I’m sorry.” That was about all he could manage before going all kind of caveman.
“Watch her.” He said, turning his gaze back to Matt before practically sprinting out the front door and slamming it behind him.
“NO! This is bullshit!” Tommy heard her screaming from behind the front door, making a run for his truck. The hairs stood on the back of his neck and his body ran cold, his gut telling him something was not right. He was being ripped in two different directions and he had to trust his brothers knew what they were doing separating him and Taylor right now. The only thing making his mind lay at a relative proximity of ease, was knowing that Matt would lay his life down to protect Taylor – he was a protector and defender of the innocent, whether it was his job title or not anymore. You can’t fight what’s in your blood.
Tommy tore into the hospital like his ass was on fire, hoping to hear what was going on and get back to Taylor ASAP. Charlie was waiting for him at the front entrance and escorted him through to the employee elevators.
“Dad’s awake and the first words out of his mouth were, ‘where’s my baby? Yall have to get to her.’”
A chill ran down his spine and Tommy fought to physically shake it off.
While Charlie’s obvious resentment of Tommy was still there, it was a lot less obvious tonight as they rushed to Nicholas’s room without actually running down the halls.
“How? What?” A man who thrives in stressful combat situations should be able to form more functioning, intelligent sentences but it was what it was; his only weakness was exposed to a potential murderer and definite stalker(s). At least when he was under fire in live action in Afghanistan, he was able to work without worrying about her – she was tucked away living where hardly anyone knew her…or so they thought.
“When this is over, Taylor starts back in kickboxing and then Krav Maga.” Charlie muttered to no one in particular.
“Why wait?” Peyton asked, meeting them just outside the room. It was rhetorical and they all silently agreed. They crowded around the bed where Nic was propped up, sipping something through a straw in that cheap mini-pitcher the hospitals give patients for ice. Around the bed was everyone in the Kane and Jameson families minus Dillon, Taylor and Luke.
“Where’s my Annie?” Nic croaked, throat still on the mend after all those tubes.
“What happened?” Tommy urged.
Nic shook his head as he had many a times before giving the boys a good-hearted smack, a warning to wind down the idiocy or disrespect; it was a tool designed to combat the many attitudes and mishaps of a young boy well into manhood.
The tight smile that seemed to hurt his cheeks sat there almost out of habit but it only took a moment before he gave his best explanation.
“I don’t know who it is. What I do know is this – I was workin
g in the barn that morning, moving some bales around to make room for the truck coming in, when something or someone knocked me forward. I smacked my head on God knows what, temporarily putting me out; when I was coming to, I felt a tug on my arm, right here.” Nic pointed a thinner version of his normally muscular hand at his right forearm. “Sumbitch musta stuck me with a needle of something, doc’s say it was uh… potassium something or other.”
“Potassium Chloride.” A voice from behind them all offered. A pretty red-headed doctor that Tommy hadn’t seen before stood about a foot behind them, not interfering and not necessarily eaves dropping either. She made no attempt at moving, only smiled and stood quiet for Nic to finish his run of the events.
“Yeah, well, that. It triggered what seemed to be a heart attack, but wasn’t really. The dose wasn’t strong enough to kill me, but it was administered intra-something, and although it wasn’t extremely strong, it was just enough to put me back out. I had enough time to rear up and knock that mother f…”
“Nicholas Jameson!” Mrs. Jameson warned him to mind his tongue. It was actually kind of sweet. Tommy gave a small smile but encouraged his father in law to continue.
“I grabbed my pitch fork and swept his legs from under him then delivered a nice one, two to his face. When I had come back from being knocked out the first time, my vision was still blurry and the drug didn’t help, so I couldn’t get a good enough look at his face. All I know was that he was alone and hurtin’ when I got my licks in. Probably still has a little limp to his walk.”
“Shit, Unc.” Noah sighed.
“I’m just going to step out. You boys let me know when you’re ready to clean up your mouths.” Mrs. James lifted her pointed chin and patted Tommy’s shoulder as she walked by.
“Doc?” Charlie called.
She made her way over to where Vic just was and smiled kindly again, her lab coat swishing behind her. The new doctor looked extremely young and innocent; she was, if Tommy ventured a guess, somewhere around 5’7 and had a slim build to her, not a lot of curves - she was demure if anything. Flaming red hair with piercing blue eyes, almost as cerulean as Mike’s and skin that was milky but not too opaque.