Perfect was an illusion created by people with unrealistic expectations, and the past two years had certainly cured her of unrealistic expectations.
Wade tried to pull away again. “Bess—”
“Nope.” She pushed one heel into the mattress and shoved hard. The surprise attack worked in her favor, and Wade ended up rolling with her, landing on his back, her knees on each side of his hips. The condom sat at his side and she snagged it, ripping the foil open with her teeth, damp hair falling in her face from the roll across the mattress.
She felt a little wild.
And a lot powerful.
This giant man was beneath her. At her mercy. Cock thick and ready. Eyes dark and filled with need that spoke of more than a physical desire.
Bess sheathed his straining length, and before he could protest, pushed up to her knees and sank down over him, head falling back as he filled her.
His hands gripped her hips, fingers pressing into the soft flesh that had rounded out since their first meeting. “You are fucking magnificent.” Wade’s eyes roamed her face, her body, his hands following along as they moved over every bit of her as she pushed up and down, riding him with a mindless desire to chase the sort of feelings only he’d ever been able to rouse.
“You feel so good.” She pressed her hands into his chest, head falling forward as she found her pace. Bess rocked against him as her body shook, struggling to move as unbearably intense pleasure fought its way through her.
“That’s a girl.” Wade’s grip on her hips tightened and he lifted to meet her. “Take what you want.”
His deep voice pushed her higher. The words of encouragement and praise getting more broken. More rough.
“You’re so fucking perfect for me, Bess. I knew it the minute I saw you. Knew you would ruin me.” The thrusting of his hips carried more force and less control. “And you did. You fucking ruined me.”
The tips of her fingers bit into the skin of his pecs as she fought to keep her balance.
“There would never be anyone else like you. I knew it. I knew what we could have had if I wasn’t what I am.” His hands slid from her hips to her breasts, each one finding an already tight nipple and rolling it between his fingers. “I couldn’t bring this life to you, Bess.”
She squeezed her eyes shut as the truth settled around them.
Wade would never have brought the danger of his life to her.
She straightened, making herself find his eyes. “I’m here anyway.”
He pulled her body down, holding her close. “I swear I’ll keep you safe, Bess. No one will hurt you. Not ever.” His hips pistoned up, slapping against her as he held her tight against his chest, fucking her from his place beneath her. “I will kill anyone who even fucking tries. No one will take you from me. Not now.”
She would have told him the same thing except her throat wouldn’t work, her lips couldn’t form words. All her body could do was ride the wave of pleasure that chose that exact moment to crest and crash, taking her under with a force that stole her breath.
“That’s it, Sweetheart. Come for me.” His voice was barely a growl in her ear as he filled her over and over, stretching her climax out until there was no sound. No light. Nothing but the way he made her feel.
With a low groan and his hands wrapped tight in her hair, Wade shoved deep into her, his powerful body jerking in time with the twitching of his cock as he spilled into the condom between them.
Bess went limp. Sagging against him, her body completely spent from something that was so much more than fucking.
Wade’s arms held her close, wrapped around her back as he buried his face in her neck, the rhythmic sound of his breathing lulling her into a state of relaxation that could only be felt when a person was completely satisfied.
And when they felt completely safe.
For the first time in a very long time, she was both of those things.
CHAPTER 17
BESS BARELY SHIFTED, curling a little tighter against him.
He’d been avoiding getting out of bed for almost an hour, lying awake with Parker asleep on his chest and Bess sleeping at his side.
But it was time for Parker’s medicine, and it only took one time missing it for Wade to realize how quickly his son’s fever would spike without it. Apparently cutting teeth was no fucking joke.
Wade carefully eased from under the covers, holding Parker gently as he scooted away from the woman who unknowingly gave him everything he’d been too scared to want.
Parker stirred, whimpering softly.
“Shhh. I know, Buddy.” Wade padded barefoot across the bedroom rug, silently opening the door before slipping out into the great room where most of the team was already milling around.
Dutch was at the counter of the open kitchen, scooping coffee into the filter of the 12-cup maker Harlow was filling with water.
“You guys seem to be working together a little better this morning.” Wade adjusted Parker so he had a free hand for medication administering.
Harlow’s curly hair was wild and unruly, and a shadow of make-up smudged the space just below her eyes. “It’s for the greater good.” She already had a cup in her hand, one finger tapping the black ceramic side as she watched the coffee drip into the decanter.
“Here it’s always for the greater good.” Shawn was already dressed, outfitted in his normal khaki pants and button-down shirt. He was as capable as the rest of Team Rogue, and had stepped in on more than one occasion when they needed another set of hands on a job, but Shawn was the only one of them who also possessed the skills needed to juggle the accepting and scheduling of new clients. “Remember that.”
“Is it?” Wade sucked the required amount of sticky red liquid into the plastic syringe. “We aren’t always on the side of good, Shawn.”
The line they walked could go either way depending on the client. Sometimes they worked for good, like Bessie’s case. Other times...
There was no good side. Only bad and worse.
“It is now.” Shawn pulled a bowl of fruit salad from the fridge and set it on the counter before popping off the lid. “For a long time we took anything and everything that came our way to prove we could.” Shawn popped a chunk of melon into his mouth and continued talking as he chewed. “And I don’t know about you guys, but I got nothing to prove anymore.”
“Maybe that you have some manners.” Harlow elbowed him out of her way. “Chew with your mouth shut, caveman.”
Shawn grinned at the back of her head as she forked some fruit into a bowl. “I am so damn glad we found you, Harlow.”
The hacker who saved their asses continued scooping fruit into her bowl. “I bet.”
“I’m serious. Not many people can hold their own with us, and you fit in perfectly.” Shawn waited for her to face him before continuing. “Come work for us.”
Harlow pulled a grape off her fork with the tips of her teeth, staring at Shawn as she chewed and swallowed. “I’ll think about it.”
Shawn smiled. “I appreciate it.”
“Whatever.” Harlow turned away from him, her eyes landing on Parker. She tipped her head to one side so it was even with how Parker’s rested against Wade’s chest. “You don’t look like you feel good.”
“He’s teething.” Wade’s heart broke a little when his son’s lower lip pushed out. “Bess says this is how it always goes.” He carefully wedged the end of the syringe between Parker’s pouting lips and slowly pushed the plunger, watching to be sure the toddler didn’t spit it back out at him. It happened in the middle of the night, and ended with both of them needing fresh clothes and a wipe down before going back to bed.
Parker took the whole dose like a champ before resting his head back on Wade’s chest.
“That’s some rough teething.” Harlow placed one hand on Parker’s back. “His little eyes are glassy.” Her brow pinched. “I’m so sorry you feel so bad, sweet boy.”
“Coffee’s done.” Dutch stepped in beside Harlow with th
e full pot of coffee, waiting while Harlow finished cooing at Parker before pouring the first of the steaming-hot liquid into her cup.
A sacrifice that wasn’t lost on Wade. Maybe it was a peace offering. Harlow would make Dutch’s life a hell of a lot easier if she stayed on at Alaskan Security.
But the first cup of coffee on an early morning was a hell of a sacrifice, especially for Dutch, considering half his blood was probably made of the stuff.
“Charles is coming here this morning to go over what he came up with for you and Bess. Give you two a few options on how you could proceed with things.” Shawn held out his own cup as soon as Dutch was finished pouring Harlow’s.
“Fuck you.” Dutch poured the next bit into his own mug before passing the pot to a grinning Shawn.
Shawn filled his cup then passed it down the line. “I think we need to have a meeting as a team when this is all over. Decide exactly where we want to go from here.” His eyes lifted to Wade over the rim of his cup. “I think you’ve given the guys a lot to consider.”
“How’s that?” Wade rested back against the counter, cradling his son.
Shawn’s gaze fell to Parker. “I think you showed them we might all be reaching the point where we want a little more from life.”
Harlow suddenly straightened, smiling brightly. “Good morning.” She took her untouched cup of coffee and rushed around the island separating the open kitchen and great room. “Here. You look like you could use this.” She shoved the mug into Bessie’s hands.
“Thanks.” Bess sipped at it while Harlow smoothed down the strands of her blonde hair.
“Looks like you slept good.”
“I did.” Bess wiped at the corner of one eye. “I haven’t slept through the night in freaking forever and it was fantastic.”
“Kids’ll do that to you.” Harlow finished rectifying Bessie’s wayward locks and stepped back. “I think yours is feeling a little crappy this morning.”
Bess moved past Harlow, heading straight for where Wade and Parker were propped against the kitchen counter. “Is he doing any better?”
“I just gave him his medicine.” Wade watched as she stroked their son’s head. “He doesn’t seem to be any worse, but he’s definitely not any better either.”
Bess frowned. “Usually the fever doesn’t hit him quite this hard.” Her palm pressed against Parker’s forehead. “Hopefully it’s because he’s getting a few at once.”
“Could he be sick?” It was a concern Wade had been reluctant to voice, as if not putting it out there could prevent it from being the truth.
Bessie’s hazel eyes lifted to meet his. “I hope not.”
“If he is, we will deal with it.” Wade reached for her with his free arm and pulled her body close, holding her tight as he pressed a kiss to her forehead. “We will do whatever it takes to make sure he’s okay.”
Bess nodded, staying quiet for a second before straightening a little as she looked at the faces in the room. “Don’t you guys have other jobs?”
Shawn shrugged. “I thought it was important that we all be here.” His eyes barely flicked to Wade and Parker before moving back to Bess. “I had one other job on the books, but moved it to one of our other teams.”
Bessie’s head barely tipped to one side. “Why?”
“Lots of reasons.” Shawn swallowed down the last of his coffee.
“What else is happening that I don’t know about?” Bess pushed against Wade, her eyes snapping to his. Accusation sat in their almost-green depths.
“You know everything Wade knows, Bess.” Shawn studied her for a minute. “You’re perceptive as hell, you know that?”
Bessie’s eyes narrowed on him, sitting squarely on his face and staying there. “Doesn’t take a lot to see you’re not telling me something.”
Wade glanced from Bess to Shawn. He hadn’t realized Shawn was keeping something. Didn’t have a clue the other man was withholding information. Not until Bess suggested it.
Now it was written all over his face.
“What’s going on, Shawn?” Wade pulled Bess closer, held Parker tighter.
Shawn shook his head. “Relax. It’s got nothing to do with your family.”
The relief Wade should have felt was washed away by a more powerful emotion.
Peace.
Your family.
He’d never had a family. He had his mother. That was it. He’d grown up as the man of the house in a world that no child should have to experience. But it was the best his mother could give him.
And he’d done everything it took to get them both out of there. And he had.
But it all came at a cost. One he thought he was happy to pay.
Until he met Bess.
“After Charles leaves I’m calling everyone in for a meeting so we can go over some things.” Shawn topped off his coffee. “I think the direction of the team is beginning to shift and I want us all to be on the same page.” Shawn backed toward the office. “Charles should be here in a few so you might want to be ready.”
“Understood.” Wade watched him go before leaning into Bessie’s ear. “I can take care of Parker while you get dressed.”
She pulled her eyes from where they still followed Shawn. “What do you think he’s keeping from everyone?”
“I’m sure it’s not a big deal.” He was not sure of that at all, but the last thing Bess needed was more to worry about. He’d lied to his mother a thousand times as a kid, always to protect her from the truth. Whether it was not having enough money to buy lunch, or how the electric bill was paid once he was old enough to earn money himself, Wade always told his mother only what he had to.
But his mother was different from Bess. While Bess was resilient and unbreakable, his mother was fragile. Delicate in spite of the strength she showed the outside world.
And treating Bess like his mother wasn’t fair.
Wade leaned closer. “I hope it’s not a big deal.”
Her eyes found his. “But?”
“But I’ve never known Shawn to keep something from us.” Wade held his breath, watching to see how the truth settled with Bess.
“He said it wasn’t about me. Would he lie?” She was working her way through it, trying to decide how she felt about the situation. He loved that about her. Bess didn’t make snap judgments or jump to immediate conclusions. She was careful, breaking down every aspect of a problem and analyzing it, before coming to her own conclusion.
Wade shook his head. “He wouldn’t lie.”
“So if it’s not about me, then it must be about you.” Her lips pressed together, rubbing slowly from side to side. “I don’t know that I like that any better.”
Wade smiled in spite of the fact that she was most likely right. “Sweetheart, I just found you. It will take an act of God to get me away from you and Parker.”
He thought that might make her smile. Might ease the worry in her gaze. Instead her eyes sharpened. Nostrils flared. “I tried to kill him once. I won’t mess up if I get a second shot at that bastard.”
The comment sat wrong. “What do you mean, you tried to kill him once?”
Bess held up her arm, the light catching on the thin, shiny lines across the skin of her forearm. “It’s sort of how I got this.”
“I thought he attacked you?” He read the charges against Chris. It clearly stated assault in addition to kidnapping. Initially Wade thought both of those involved Bess.
“It was more mutual than the charges make it sound.”
“So he kidnapped Parker. You jumped on his car. Then,” Wade eyed the scars on her arm, doing his best not to let the rage biting at him creep into his voice, “you tried to stab him.”
Bess let out a loud sigh. “It was a stupid idea in hindsight, but it was all I had at the time.” She dropped her arms, the fingers of her right hand skimming over the scars she earned protecting her son from a man who was capable of more than she could have ever imagined at the time. “I went a little crazy I guess.” She con
tinued to absent-mindedly stroke the slices. “I was so careful to avoid the glass too.”
Wade tried to hide his confusion. “The glass?”
Bess nodded. “I threw a rock through the window on the door to his house so I could reach in to unlock it.”
“You followed him to his house and then threw a rock through his window. Then went inside and tried to stab him.” Wade was doing his best to follow along, but the story was turning out to be more involved than he expected.
“Well, I followed him to his house and made sure he couldn’t use his car to get away.” Her lips twisted into a little smile. “That’s why he has that brand new SUV. Then I threw the rock and successfully stabbed him.”
Wade stared at her.
Bess stared back. “What?”
“He’s hot and wants to bone again.” Harlow edged in beside them on her way back to the coffee pot. “But he’s sad you don’t have time because you have to get ready to see the lawyer guy who’s coming over.”
Harlow was off-base as hell, but Wade wasn’t pointing that out in front of her. He wanted Harlow on his side, especially considering how much Bess seemed to like her. “She’s right. We need to get ready.”
Harlow’s eyes widened as Shawn stepped into the hall, looking directly at her. “Jesus. I’m coming back.” She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know how you put up with him.” She tipped back her coffee as she made her way to the office where Shawn and Dutch were waiting on her.
Shawn closed the door behind her.
Interesting.
Wade pulled Bess toward the front bedroom. “And she’s wrong by the way. Knowing you put yourself in that kind of position does not make me hot.” The thought of her doing it made him fucking insane actually.
And the problem was there wasn’t a doubt in his mind Bess would do it again if Parker was on the line. “I need you to trust me, Bess.”
She glanced up at him. “I do trust you. I told you that.”
He closed the door to the bedroom as soon as they were inside, turning to face her. “I don’t want you trying to take Chris on like that again.”
Her chin lifted in a move that he knew well and expected. “I will if I have to.”
Loss Recovery (Alaskan Security: Team Rogue Book 1) Page 16
