Corps Security: The Series

by Harper Sloan

  “You try having two newborns and a kid who thinks waking up before the roosters is a brilliant idea.”

  “Yeah, I’ve got one of those kids. Nate was up at five this morning. He isn’t even old enough to know what the hell is going on, but I swear that kid ran right into the living room and started tearing shit open.”

  We laugh and continue talking for a few minutes before he gets silent.

  “So . . . Izzy gave me my gift.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah . . .” He trails off, and I’m not really sure what I’m supposed to say here. Obviously he’s calling because he wants to tell me what she got him, but I’m not sure what it could be that warrants a call at seven in the morning.

  “I reckon next year I’ll get a taste of the early rising kid while trying to keep a baby asleep.”

  It’s early, but it’s not early enough that I don’t catch his meaning.

  “No shit? Congratulations, brother! Another little Reid, huh?”

  “Best feeling in the world, Greg. Once Izzy held those little angels of yours in her arms, she dragged my ass home and told me she wanted another baby immediately. So I guess in some weird way I should say thanks for turning my wife into a baby-craving sex maniac.”

  “HA! Well, I’m happy I could help you out.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Feels good, you know? Having our kids so close together. Going to make for one hell of an interesting future, seeing these kids grow up together.”

  “As long as you keep reminding Nate to stay away from my girls, we should all just be fine.”

  We joke back and forth before hanging up. I take off back down the hall and into the girls’ bedroom. Looking over the crib they’re still sharing. I see identically beautiful faces staring up at me. It causes my heart to skip a beat and a smile to pull at my lips.

  “Good morning, my lovely little ladies! I just talked to your Uncle Axel, but don’t you worry. I reminded him that you aren’t ever going to be dating so I’m sure he’s talking to Nate right now about that.”

  They keep looking up at me, and I smile, rubbing their heads before going about our routine. It takes me longer than Melissa, mostly because I don’t have that magic touch it seems only mothers possess. I keep reminding them that they aren’t ever going to date and they’re going to stay daddy’s little girls for the rest of their lives.

  It isn’t until later that night that I think about Axel and Izzy’s new little baby coming, and I smile when I wonder about the chances that they would have a girl. Knowing Axel and his extreme protectiveness over Izzy, it’s going to be funny as hell to watch him with a daughter.

  “You ready for bed?” Melissa drops down next to me and reaches over to turn off the news.

  “Beauty, if you’re coming with me, then hell yeah. Way I see it, I’ve got about two hours before someone is waking up for more food. That’s a lot of time to spend between these legs.”

  She smacks my arm but doesn’t waste a second, jumping up and rushing to our bedroom.

  I don’t get two hours that night. Nope, my girls decide to sleep a little longer. I spend the next four hours worshiping my wife and remembering each and every time just how lucky I am to have this life.

  15 Years Later

  Cohen

  “I can’t believe you’re leaving tomorrow. At least Lyn and Lila are driving now, so it won’t be so bad not having you around to take us places.” Danielle looks over at me from the other side of the couch, giggling softly and knowing damn well she’s going to miss more than my driving them around.

  I throw the game controller down next to me and look over at her. God, she really is beautiful. I should feel guilty feeling these thoughts about her. She’s my little sisters’ best friend, practically family. Hell, her brother IS my best friend. It’s a line I shouldn’t cross. God, that makes me feel like such a sicko. I feel like all I do lately is remind myself I shouldn’t be lusting after her. She’s just about to turn fifteen and I’m leaving to start my freshman year at the University of Georgia.

  But I can deny it all I want. There’s a connection I’ve always felt between us—wanted or not.

  There’s nothing normal about what I feel for Danielle Reid.

  “So that’s all I am to you? Huh, Dani? Just a ride from point A to point B?”

  She blushes, and I swear I feel it all the way to my dick. I should be ashamed for feeling this way about it. For craving this girl as much as I do. I should be out running around town and sinking inside of all the chicks who want to send me off to school in style.

  Hell, I’m no damn saint, which really makes me feel like I’m never going to be good enough for Dani.

  Plus, her father would kill me.

  Not just kill me. He would kill me and my family would never find the body.

  Yeah, Axel Reid is a man who I’ve always known would tear apart anyone who tried to touch his daughter.

  “No, Co . . . You’re more than that. A lot more than that.” She blushes again and looks away quickly.

  Uh, say what?

  “Dani? I’m no good at reading between the lines. I might have two little sisters, but unfortunately they never taught me much about how y’all’s minds work.”

  She looks over at me, her green eyes bright with emotion, and clears her throat a few times, pushing her long raven hair behind her ears before talking. I can see the nervousness rolling off of her tiny body.

  “Can I be honest with you, Cohen?”

  “Oh course, Dani. You know that.”

  Her eyes widen when she hears my sisters start yelling from upstairs. It won’t be long before they fly down the basement stairs to where we’re sitting like two twin tornados of sass.

  “If you don’t want those two overhearing you, now would be a good time, Dani.”

  She blushes more. “I’m going to miss you, Cohen. I know you don’t look at me like I look at you, but one day, you’re going to come back and I’ll still be waiting for you. Waiting for you to see me like I see you. Mark my words, Cohen Cage. One of these days, you’re going to be mine. And until you’re ready . . . I’ll be here. I’ll be waiting.”

  Before I can even get a breath in my lungs to respond, Frick and Frack come running into the room, talking about who knows what. I just sit there frozen, my jaw slack and my eyes on Dani. Before I know it, they’re pulling Dani off the couch and running out the back of the house.

  What the hell just happened?

  The End

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  I’m going to keep this short and sweet this time. (Yeah, right!)

  First and foremost, to my husband and daughters. Thank you for putting up with my own special brand of crazy while I’m in the middle of writing a book. You put up with a crazy messy house, my moments of complete space-outs and comatose mornings after bring up all night working. I don’t know what I would do without you guys.

  To the best damn PA in the world, Danielle Calcote. Without you, I honestly don’t know what I would do. You keep me from needing one of those fancy straight jackets. #SJ Thank you, from the bottom of my cold heart, for everything that you do for me day in and day out. Don’t let this go to your head . . . but you pretty much are always right. (I can hear Lara yelling at me now for feeding that ego)

  Mickey Reed—Girlfriend, you are a gem! You took me in, fixed my mess, and handed him back with a beautiful bow. Your notes are invaluable and I’m looking forward to where we go next. Now, forgive me for not letting you edit this. ;)

  To my betas, my team of kick ass ladies that help make my books better and better. I love you ladies more than you could ever know. Danielle, Debi, Amber, Elle, Becky, and Lara. THANK YOU, I love you all!

  Katie Mac. I’m not really sure I could ever thank you enough. You held my hand and love me like one of your own. I love you to pieces.

  Melissa Gill—I still don’t know how you can handle my insane mind. LOL! I’m so lucky to have you as my graphic queen. All you need is a few seconds chatting and you
deliver an image/design like you plucked it straight from my head. And you put up with my crazy PM’s throughout the day and all hours of the night. Hehe! <3

  Brenda Wright, Oh, B! Book four and you’re still by my side and I know I’m lucky as hell to have such a great friend in you. You never stop showing me just what it’s like to have a real friend willing to drop anything to help. I love you!

  Angela, Katie and Kelly—Really . . . do I need to express the ways I love you? HA! You girls have been with me from the beginning and beyond that. I couldn’t imagine doing this without y’all and our daily messages . . . and facebook stickers, those really are a must.

  Debi Barnes, Jessica Adams, and Julie Bales—thank you for letting me pick your brains about twins! <3 <3 I’m sure it’s completely normal to get random messages asking about your sex life while pregnant! (Julie—I totally love you in a way that is probably lesbehonest.)

  Heather Horton—You made preemie research so much easier! Thank you for sharing your story with me!

  Dr. Erin Ricker—Thank you!! I love that I was able to get help from you with my doctor research! Who would have thought, 28 years ago playing Barbies and listening to Paula Abdul that we would be here! HA! Thank you so much for helping with all the medical questions!!

  To the bloggers, reviewers, authors and readers that take the time to read my books. Every review, message and post means the world to me and I can’t thank you enough for continuing on my crazy train. <3 <3 <3

  My street team, for believing in these boys and me. You’re pimping and encouraging means the world!

  Chelcie, I love you. So much. True friends are hard to find, but we found each other and I’ll be forever thankful for that.

  To the girls of the IRAC. Do I have the right words to express my love for you? Nope, I do not. But, I will say that our group is amazing and each day you ladies show me just how lucky I am to be apart of it.

  And to everyone that loves Greg, Melissa, AND especially Cohen Cage as mush as I do . . . This book is for y’all.

  My readers rock . . . I’m so blessed to have y’all in my life and I can’t thank you enough for loving my Corps Crew as much as I do. Until next time . . . MUUUUAH

  COOPER PLAYLIST

  Tears in Heaven by Eric Clapton

  What Now by Rihanna

  Beam Me Up by P!nk

  Slipped Away by Avril Lavigne

  All of Me by John Legend

  Kiss Me by Ed Sheeran

  Small Bump by Ed Sheeran

  6’2 by Marie Miller

  Breathe You In by Dierks Bentley

  Hey Brother by Avicii

  Rude by Magic!

  Broken Ones by Jacquie Lee

  How Long Will I Love You by Ellie Goulding

  Wherever You Will Go by Charlene Soraia

  To Angela Druck, Kelly Knott & Katie Benson.

  You ladies have been with me from day one—before Axel was even a thought—and I know without a doubt that I wouldn’t be here without you.

  So . . .

  I love you.

  And . . .

  Thank you. For everything.

  PROLOGUE

  Asher

  “Come on, Coop,” I whisper. It’s dark in the closet, but I can still make out his huddled form in the back corner. “Come on, Coop. Please. Mom will be back soon and you know she’s gonna be mad if she hears us.”

  I shift my body so he can see the cracker box I grabbed from the barren kitchen. Mom never brings us food anymore. I’m lucky that my best friend, Joel, lives close and shares his snacks with us or we wouldn’t eat.

  He doesn’t ask questions.

  Not anymore.

  “I’m scared, Ash.”

  I ball up my fist when I hear his broken and weak voice. My brother is so small. I just turned ten last week, but I’m bigger. I know Coop is small because he is always scared. Too scared to come out of the closet our mom always makes us stay in.

  “We gotta hurry. Move over, ‘kay?”

  “’Kay.” His weak voice cracks.

  “Are you still cold?” I question.

  “Yeah,” he replies weakly.

  When I get to the back of the closet, closing the door tightly behind me, I reach out and hand Coop the box. It only has seven crackers in it. They’re old, and I had to get a few roaches out of the box before I brought it back. Coop doesn’t like the bugs that live in the kitchen.

  “Don’t you want some?” He holds the box my way, and even though my stomach rumbles, I shake my head no. “You need some too, Ash,” he tries again.

  “I’m okay, Coop. I had some before I brought them back. You gotta hurry before mom gets home, okay?”

  He nods his head and starts to eat sluggishly. I grab one of the bottles of water Joel gave me last week and hand it to him. His head falls to rest against my shoulder while he takes turns eating and drinking slowly.

  He’s getting weaker. He couldn’t get up this morning to go to school. He just kept sleeping, so I stayed home. Mom didn’t even notice. I could hear her throwing up this morning. She’s always throwing up. And drinking the nasty stuff.

  I don’t know how long we have been sitting here when I hear the front door bang shut and the sounds of feet stomping around the house. Coop drops the crackers and pulls his legs up to his chest.

  “Zachariah Cooper! Where in the hell are you, you little shit?!”

  Oh crap. This isn’t going to be good.

  “Ash,” he quivers.

  “It’s okay. It’s okay.”

  I grab some of the old blankets we sleep on and throw them over Coop. I can hear him whimpering when I crawl over to the door and crack it open.

  I know she’s coming.

  She wouldn’t miss this chance to show Coop how much she hates him.

  But I won’t let her. No. I’m a big boy now, and I won’t let her hurt my brother anymore.

  I hate seeing Coop scared.

  I’m already standing in the middle of the bedroom when she rounds the corner, her yucky clothes that don’t cover her private parts on and her face smudged with old makeup—I know she’s going to be really mean today.

  “Where is that little shit? He didn’t go to school again today. Both of you little shits decided to stay home, and now I’ve got the school poking around, asking questions!”

  She tries to get around me, but with her tall shoes on, she can’t move quick enough. That’s all the distraction I need for her to focus her attention on me and not on Coop. Just where I want it.

  Right before her hand reaches out and slashes against my face, I promise myself that I will never let anyone hurt my baby brother.

  Never.

  CHAPTER 1

  Asher

  “Oh, God. Harder. Please, harder.”

  “Quiet,” I pant.

  “Please, Ash,” she begs.

  After releasing the tight grip I have on her slim hips, I trail my palms slowly up her back, watching the skin my hands pass over break out in goose bumps. I brace my knees farther part, and when my fingers curl around her shoulders, I finally let myself take her hard.

  Take her how she craves.

  It’s a bruising pace, my balls slapping hard against her wet folds and my hips grinding into her ass. I have to close my eyes when I see her turn her face against the pillow, trying to get a better view, I’m sure.

  “Oh, Ash . . . just like that, I’m going to come so hard.”

  “Quiet,” I remind her.

  I need her to keep her mouth shut. I need to be able to take my pleasure and selfishly think about the only person I wish I was driving my cock into. The one person whose touch I crave like nothing else I’ve ever craved before whenever I’m around her.

  “Fuck,” I groan.

  “Yeah. Give it to me, baby.”

  “Not your baby,” I spit out. Fuck no.

  She starts to push up on her knees, meeting me thrust for thrust. I bring one of the hands that I have curled around her shoulder and press down on the s
mall of her back, reminding her of the place she should stay in.

  “Please let me touch you, Asher. Just let me touch you this time.”

  I smack her ass hard. Her pussy clamps down on my cock and she starts to come. Moving my hand back to her shoulders, I thrust a few more times before I feel my balls start to tighten and the warmth—that delicious warmth—travels from the base of my spine, filling my body with the pleasure I’ve been craving right before I feel myself go.

  “Chelcie . . .” I moan.

  With my eyes closed tight, my hands still curled tightly around her shoulders, and my hips locked into place, I empty myself and pray that this time I won’t need her as fiercely as I have for the last few months.

  “What in the hell did you just call me?”

  It takes my fog-filled mind a second to clear before I understand what is being asked.

  The warm body I just took roughly starts to buck, pushing against my hips.

  I open my eyes and the vision that filled my mind only seconds before is completely different.

  The straight, blonde hair is gone, having been replaced with bright-red curls.

  The bronze skin, that lickable and silky skin, was replaced with someone much paler.

  And when she turns her angry eyes on me, it isn’t the deep-brown eyes I’m used to looking back at me with a mix of compassion and kindness. Nope, I’ve got twin green eyes blazing with unmasked fury.

  “What in the HELL did you just call me?” she asks again.

  When I don’t answer her right away, she starts to fight. And I mean fight. I get an elbow to the eye, a foot to the thigh, and worst of all, her nails clip my cheek when she slaps me across the face.

  “I’ve been warming your sheets for the last two months, Asher Cooper, and you just called me another woman’s name? Two months where I thought we were going somewhere and you just did THAT?”

  This is probably when I should calm her down. There is nothing worse than a woman who feels used . . . even if that’s exactly what it was. But being that I’m already halfway to wasted and the majority of my brain is still scrambled from just coming hard . . . I don’t think before I open my mouth.