by Dee, Bonnie
He could compel the ticket agents to check their passenger list as the passengers picked up their tickets and boarded the plane. Nowadays, airports like Kerry did visual confirmations as part of the increased drug surveillance programs in Ireland. If anyone boarding fit Nolen’s description, they’d know where and when he was landing.
And be ready to capture him.
Or kill him.
He shrugged into his borrowed shirt and repositioned the sling.
He wondered what Gabe and Brigid were doing?
Then he heard a steady thumping from the room above.
And he knew.
* * * *
“We’re screwed. I can’t get in touch with my contact in Interpol.” Gabe ran his fingers through his hair. “Can you believe it? He’s out on a case and can’t be reached!” He paced back and forth. “This throws a monkey wrench into everything.” He sat down on the edge of the bed next to where Brigid lay on her side, his head drooping. “It’s as if Nolen put a hex on our attempts.”
Brigid scrunched over and sat behind him, resting her head on his shoulder. Pressing her breasts against his back, she draped her arms in front of him. “You’ll think of something, darling. I know you will.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek.
Gabe shifted, brought her onto his lap, supporting her with one arm. “You’re right. I will think of something. Perhaps this?” His face dead serious, he unbuttoned her blouse, revealing her snap-front bra. She looked up at him, waiting to see what he’d do next.
Snap.
He uncovered her breasts and her nipples pebbled under the intensity of his gaze. He cupped first one lush globe, then the other, fondling them, kneading them. He pinched her nipples until they tightened.
He smiled. And bent to suckle the aching points. She moaned and arched her body. Her arms encircled his neck, anchoring her to him. He let his hand drift down to her flat stomach and the top tab of her jeans.
Snap.
And he undid the top snap, slid open the zipper and slipped his fingers beneath her lacy thong. His nostrils flared as he inhaled the heady scent of her arousal and felt her trembling. He had to touch her. First one, then a second finger dipped between her blonde curls.
She was wet and warm, ready for him.
She closed her eyes and moaned out his name and shifted restlessly as he explored her core. She tightened her muscles around him and bucked. He delved deeper, moving his fingers rhythmically mimicking what he wanted to do, needed to do.
“Brigid…”
Her eyes flew open and she bit her lips and moistened them. “Gabe?” She gasped. “Yes.”
He shifted her to a sitting position and pushed her hair back away from her face. His thumbs brushed her cheeks. His gaze never left hers as he brought her mouth closer and closer.
“I want you.” He kissed her lips lightly. “I need you.” He deepened the kiss, his tongue darting between her lips. “I love you.” He crushed his mouth against hers, their tongues twining, their breaths mingling. He devoured her, nipping her lips, tasting her, his tongue outlining the curve of her jaw.
He carried her down to the mattress and drew off her clothes, tossing them on the armchair. He stood, pulling his T-shirt over his head and throwing it on the chair with her clothing. He kicked off his loafers and shucked off his slacks and jocks.
He was hard, his cock jutting. He moved to the bed and stretched out next to her, facing her on his side. “We haven’t much time.” He idly stroked her nipples before he trailed them further down to her swollen folds. He watched her intently as he inserted first one then two fingers inside her and touched her clit with his thumb. He pressed down and she jolted against his hand.
Her breathing ragged, she gasped out his name. “Gabe! Now! In me, now!”
He pushed her onto her back, straddling her and thrust deep, filling her.
She moaned and arched beneath him, wrapping her arms and legs around him. Her breasts crushed against his chest. He heard her sharp intake of breath as she called out to him. “Yes. Oh, God, yes!”
He rocked her, slowly at first, but it wasn’t enough. Brigid’s nails dug deep into his back and she writhed beneath him. “More! Don’t be gentle! I want more!”
Gabe opened his eyes and looked down at her. Her lips were bruised and puffy, her cheeks flushed. She gazed unflinching at him. “Don’t hold back, darling.” She licked her lips. “I can take anything you give me.”
He nodded. “Then take it all.”
His thrusts became deeper, stronger, harder, faster. He rose onto his knees, grabbing her by her hips. He ground against her and drove into her, moving frantically.
The old brass bed beneath them thumped against the wall as Gabe’s movements grew sharper, shorter and even faster until he threw his head back and came with a groan, his seed spilling into her as her core clenched around him in her pleasure.
They collapsed onto the bed, their skin, sweat slicked, their hearts still racing. For a few moments, the only sound in the room was their harsh gasps.
She reached out and touched his shoulder and he turned to look at her. His eyes were steady, his mouth a grim slash in his face.
His beloved face.
He opened his mouth to speak and she shook her head. “Don’t make any excuses for something we both wanted.” She moved her hand lower to his cock, satisfied and at rest. “I love how you make love to me.” She smiled and stroked him. “I think we should bottle it.”
He gaped. “Wha—what?”
She rolled on top of him and slid down until she was level with his penis. She blew on him, arousing him again, and cupped his balls. She watched as he grew harder in her hands. “The Irish air.” She squeezed. “It seems to have had an invigorating affect on your…” She grinned. “Vigor.”
And she took him in her mouth, licking his awakened cock. Her tongue swirled around his thickness while his fingers gripped her hair.
He grunted in unison with her suckling and tried to speak. “It’s, ah, your, damn, tongue! No more! I want to be in you again!”
He pushed her off and flipped her onto her stomach, lifted her ass and drove into her. No holding back. Now that Brigid knew what he was, what they both were, there was a growing openness between them. A growing passion he could sense.
She was his. She had put her past aside. She must have.
He held her tighter; moved faster; came harder. And renewed his vow to keep her safe from all harm.
* * * *
“Ethan? Yes. We’re almost ready. We’ll meet you in the dining room in a few minutes.”
Brigid lifted her head from the pillow at the sound of Gabe’s hushed voice. She shoved a disheveled hank of hair from her forehead and yawned. “Why didn’t you wake me?”
Gabe continued packing his travel kit, zipping it up before he answered. He kept his face averted, responding to her reflection in the mirror. “I wanted to be dressed before… Damn it, Bridge.” He whirled around to face her. “I can’t keep my hands off you! You were teasing earlier, but…” He moved over to her and sat on the side of the bed. He grabbed her shoulders and drew her close to him.
The quilted coverlet slipped, revealing her breasts and a love bite near one taut, pink bud. Gabe looked down, releasing her as though she were a red-hot poker and pushed her away. “Shit! I keep telling myself I won’t hurt you.” He grabbed his laptop and moved to the door. “I told Ethan we’d meet in the dining room. Get dressed. I’ll see you there.”
“No! Don’t you dare leave like this!”
She gathered the quilt around her and stalked over to him. “It’s a love bite, for God’s sake! I admit you’re usually a bit gentler, but who was egging you on? Did you think I didn’t like it? I loved it! I’m glad you’re not treating me as if I were made of crystal and would shatter if you let go of your self control.” She stood up on tiptoe and brushed her lips against his. “It gets me hot.” She grinned. “Ignoring the fact that we face a Destroyer and a Master Demon who wants to ru
le the world, this is the best sex we’ve ever had.”
“Did I disappoint you … before?”
She shook her head. “Of course not, but I’ve felt sometimes as if you were holding back a bit. I don’t ever want you to make love to me without giving me everything.” She leaned her head against his chest, her hands caressing him. “I wish I could convince you that it’s what I want. I wish we had more time.”
Gabe put his arms around her and rested his chin on top of her head. “We’ll have time. I promise you.” He smiled, more relaxed than he’d felt in days, and smacked her lightly on her behind.
She yelped.
Gabe smirked. “Go get dressed. We’ll be in the dining room.”
* * * *
“So, what do you think, Gabe? Will it work?”
“It will have to. We’ll go to each of the gates and you can have a go at using your Singer skills to convince the ticket agent to text me if someone fitting Nolen’s description checks in. They’ll give me the seat number and the connecting flight number and destination.” Gabe nodded. “Good job.”
“Brilliant!” Brigid smiled. “Once we have Nolen’s destination, we can plan on intercepting him, right?”
“I’ll alert a team of Protectors. Unfortunately, we probably won’t be there to see him captured.”
“What if they can’t contain him?” Ethan asked. “The man still is awfully powerful.”
Gabe smiled. “As I said earlier, we have ways…”
Ethan choked on his tea, then sobered. “If we miss him?”
Gabe sighed, shaking his head. “We’ll have to wait until we get back to New York. I have equipment at our town house and I know the KOTE tech support will be thrilled to get their hands on Nolen’s hard drive.”
“Meanwhile,” Brigid said. “You’ll have to use some of that mojo to conceal Gabe’s spear and my bow and quiver from being confiscated by some guy in a security uniform.”
Ethan smiled. “I have ways…”
Brigid threw a hot, fluffy scone at him.
Gabe stood. “Okay, guys. Let’s get to the airport and do what we have to do.”
“I’ll meet you guys at the car. I still have to finish packing. Gabe, can you take care of the room for now? I’ll pay my share once we get to the airport and I can get my hands on some money. I can use a cash machine there.”
Gabe shook his head. “Forget it. I’ve plenty of funds available. After all, this is an official mission.”
* * * *
“We’re here.” Gabe parked the car in the short-term parking lot and they headed toward the terminal, going over the plan as they walked.
Brigid wore a straight, tailored, hunter-green skirt and cream-colored silk blouse. She’d pulled her hair back into a sleek, French chignon and carried a briefcase purchased in town. Gabe and Ethan, wearing dark, blue blazers and ties, looked like typical civil servants.
Ethan stopped to adjust his sling, taking advantage of the moment to admire Brigid’s smoothly moving ass, and then hurried to catch up with her and Gabe. “Must admit, I thought you’d take longer to pick out new clothes. In my experience, women have an awful time making up their minds.”
Gabe shook his head. “Not Bridge. She’s in and out of a store in a half an hour. It only took her one day to decide on the wedding rings.”
She shrugged. “I know what I like. If I don’t see it, I move on. No use wasting time on something you’ll probably return.” She smiled at both men. “It was a wonderful idea to wear clothing that looked at least semi-official. I’m sure it will make it easier to influence the employees to accept Ethan’s control.”
“It still takes some getting used to,” Ethan said. He looked at Gabe. “It’s hard to believe that my powers are stronger than Nolen’s.”
“Get used to it. A Speaker can only affect a human, but a Singer’s ability affects Terrans and humans alike.”
They entered the terminal and walked to the first of two airline counters. An attractive young woman dressed in an apple-green uniform looked up as they approached. “May I help you?” She said in a soft, Kerry accent.
Ethan noticed her nametag, and responded, putting all he could into willing her to believe him. “Aye, you can, Eileen.” He lowered his voice. “I’m sure you’ve heard of the drug trafficking prevention programs. We received a tip that a major drug dealer is going to be leaving Ireland through one of several airports under an assumed name. We do have a description of the person.”
“Before you go any further, sir, I’ll have to see some credentials.”
Ethan nodded and produced his driver’s license while Brigid took out a sheaf of blank papers from her briefcase and gave them to her. “Here you are. I’m sure you’ll find everything in order. No need to talk with your supervisor about this.”
The agent swept her gaze over all the mock documentation and returned them with a smile. “What would you like me to do?”
Gabe passed over a single sheet describing Nolen’s appearance.
Ethan offered her a business card with Gabe’s cell phone number and continued his instructions. “You’re not to interfere or indicate in any way that you recognize the person. Just text the seat number, the name he’s traveling under and the flight information to this cell phone. Do you understand?”
She nodded.
Ethan smiled. “Excellent. We’ll be waiting to hear from you. Thank you again for your cooperation.”
The second agent received the same compelling effect of Ethan’s powers and instructions.
“Well, that’s over. Let’s go back to the car and wait for the call. Well done!” Gabe clapped Ethan on his wounded shoulder and he flinched. “Sorry, man. I forgot.”
Ethan smiled. “It’s actually feeling a helluva lot better. Look.” He raised his elbow and Brigid gasped.
“Are you crazy? You’ll aggravate the bleeding!”
“That’s just it. The bleeding’s stopped. The flesh is healing. It’s still somewhat pink and shiny, but I don’t think I need the sling anymore. Here, Brigid, help me.”
She undid the support, protesting all the while and Ethan slowly straightened his arm, then bent it. He winced, and saw Brigid wince in sympathy. “No, no, it’s all right. If I’m careful, I won’t have to wear this damned sling. Now, let’s get comfortable. We’ll probably have a long wait.”
* * * *
Nolen’s cab pulled up to the baggage area at the airport and screeched to a halt. He opened the door and extended one shapely, silk-clad leg and then the other as he got out of the car.
A porter standing nearby rushed over to offer assistance. “Excuse me, ma’am. Do you need some help?” He reached down and placed a steadying hand on Nolen’s elbow.
Nolen gazed up at him from behind the sunglasses protecting him from scrutiny.
Nolen wet his lips. “Do you mind? The crate in the back contains some rather fragile antiques and it needs to be handled very, very carefully.” He breathed out each word in a deep, husky, sexy voice and directed his will toward the porter.
The man smiled, dazed. “We’ll see to it, ma’am.”
“And my luggage, too? I’m leaving on flight number eighty-one. Why, thank you so much.” Nolen simpered and watched as his luggage and the crate was carefully loaded onto a dolly and several “fragile” and “this side up” labels were slapped on the sides of the wooden container.
He turned to the cabby still seated behind the wheel and leaned down to speak to him. “Forget you picked me up and drove me to the airport. You may go now.”
Nolen looked after the departing car. He had no regrets about leaving his car behind in the city after ridding it of any trace of his use. It made more sense to hire a driver than worry about parking the car in a lot. Besides, this way there’d be even less of his presence at the airport.
He sauntered over to the entrance to the terminal, looking for the first of two airline counters. A perky, young thing in a bright green uniform stood behind one of them, her fingers
flying over her PC keyboard. “Just one minute, please.” She hit the final key and turned her attention to Nolen. “Now, how may I help you, ma’am?”
Nolen leaned over the counter and whispered. “You can say you checked me in.” He directed his powers at her and continued. “Here’s my passport.” He smiled and checked out her name and removed his glasses. “I’d like a seat by a window, if you don’t mind … Eileen.”
Eileen examined the passport with the picture of an attractive older woman. She raised her eyes and, for just a flash, saw a man’s injured face superimposed over the features of the woman in the picture. She blinked, but the image still wavered. Was she going crazy? She must be overtired. She took a deep breath and looked back at the passport, but made a mental note of the name and flight information.
“Here you are, ma’am. Seat twenty-seven by the window. I hope you enjoyed your stay in Ireland and will come back and visit us again soon.”
Nolen accepted the ticket and smiled. “Not in your lifetime.”
And strolled away.
A frazzled, sweating, balding male stood behind the other counter, murmuring under his breath. Nolen cleared his throat, waiting for the man to acknowledge his presence.
“Give me a moment, please.” He kept on muttering, entering a seemingly endless amount of information onto the computer.
Nolen cleared his throat again and spoke in a coaxing tone of voice. “It will only take a few seconds of your time.”
Hearing Nolen’s seductive plea, the agent lifted his head and stared full into Nolen’s face. The man stuttered. “Ma’am?”
“I’d like to book a seat on the next flight out to England and connections to Kennedy Airport. You do have a seat available, don’t you?”
The man nodded, responding to Nolen’s will like a puppet with a hand up its ass. “Of course, ma’am. And the name?”
“Edith Thancas. Here’s my passport.”
The man compared the picture to the woman standing before him and smiled. “May I say, ma’am, it doesn’t do you justice.”
“Why thank you. How sweet of you to say … Timothy.”
Bright pink suffused the face and balding pate of the befuddled agent as he entered the necessary information and gave Nolen his ticket. “Here you are, Mrs. Thancas. Enjoy your flight and please come back to see us again.”