“I’m not feeling well, Suzie, and I don’t want to pass whatever it is I’ve got onto the kids.” She took two steps backward and froze when her phone rang again.
“I don’t know what’s going on.” Suzie started. “But I’d answer the phone, I’m betting it’s Tex.”
Or it could be a murderer. How the heck did he get my number? I want Robot.
What the hell?
Why was Robot her immediate go to thought when she was in danger now? She’d managed to solve her own problems over the years without help. Okay, so this time was different, but she had the police to go to if she needed help.
Erin and Suzie looked at her expectantly as her phone continued to ring. Not answering it would only raise suspicion.
“Hello?”
“Antonia, it’s Tex.”
She turned her back on the girls and took two steps away from them. “Now’s not a really good time Tex, and if it’s you that’s been calling me I’d really like you to stop.”
“Not happening, Antonia. You’re Robot’s woman and like Erin, Suzie and Brielle, I watch over the women of my SEALs. Now you need to get inside. You’ll be safe there.” He didn’t raise his voice as he spoke, just laid everything out as if he were standing right next to her.
“How do you know I’ll be safe here? Being with Erin and the others is putting them in danger.” She hissed down the line. “It’s safer if I leave them.”
“Antonia, do you trust me?”
What type of question was that? She may not have ever met the guy, but Tex was like some kind of guardian angel.
A hand curled around her waist and she jumped at the contact. “Sheesh, Toni, it’s me.” Erin’s familiar voice washed over her.
“Sorry,” she mumbled.
“I don’t know what’s going on, but if Tex tells you do to something, then you need to do it. You know he’s helped find us when we were taken. Trust the guy.”
How had her best friend known those were the exact words he’d spoken to her?
“Yes,” she whispered into the phone, before clearing her voice. “Yes, I trust you, Tex.”
“Good girl. Now get inside. I know you got a call a few minutes ago and I’m trying to trace the origins of it.”
How the hell did he know that?
And what was it about the call that sent alarm bells his way.
She didn’t want to have this conversation with Erin standing behind her. Although, the second she got inside she’d have to answer questions, not only about her and Robot’s marriage, but now about Tex’s call and what it was all about.
Geez, her life was heading down shit creek at a rapid pace.
“Erin, go inside, I’ll be right in, I promise.” She looked her friend dead in the eye so Erin could see she was going to keep her word.
“Fine, but don’t be long.”
The second Erin went inside, Antonia turned her focus back to Tex. “What do you know about the call I got? Why haven’t other calls I’ve received have caused you to phone me right away?”
“Why are you still outside?”
“How do you know I’m still outside?” she countered.
A breath huffed down the line. “Look, what I’m about to tell you remains between me and you, you can’t tell Erin anything. Will you do that?”
“I don’t know, she’s my best friend, we share everything with each other.” Well, not everything, she thought.
“Have you really told her everything? Tex asked.
Was the guy a mind reader, as well?
“Fine, you’ve got me. So yes, I’ll keep whatever you’re about to tell me quiet.”
“Good. When Erin and Italy moved into this house, he asked me to set up a discrete security system in and around the house. He wanted to keep her and Kieran safe when he goes away. I also did the same for Joker at his house—Suzie knows about it though.”
Okay, so he didn’t have super powers, it still didn’t explain how he knew about the call.
“Right, well that’s good. I’m glad Carlos is keeping his family safe. It still doesn’t explain how you knew about my call.”
“As I said before, you’re Robot’s woman, which means I keep an eye on you while he’s away, especially after what happened at your complex. He’s requested me to look into that situation as well.”
It all should sound creepy and in a way it was. A man she’d never met was watching their every move. She wasn’t going to have him following her or tracing her calls. She liked her privacy.
“Seeing as Robot asked you to put me under surveillance without discussing it with me, I’m asking you to stop doing whatever it is he asked you do to.”
“Not happening. And I know you’re probably thinking it’s creepy but, rest assured, I don’t watch your every move. I only do it when the guys go away and even then, it’s not all the time. I do have other things to do. I’m there whenever they need my help, like tracking down guys who arrange for car accidents and then kidnap the occupants of the car.”
Ouch.
If Erin had heard Tex’s admonishment she’d be asking if Antonia wanted some aloe vera, because she just got burned.
“Right. You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“Look.” Tex’s voice softened. “I get you’re going through a whole gamut of emotions, what with witnessing a murder. Please understand I’m looking out of you. I’m going to keep you safe and I will find out the origins of that call. But I need you to stay where you are. I can keep you safe at Erin’s place, not at some hotel or other place you were probably thinking of escaping to. Trust that I’ve got this, Antonia.”
She sighed and rubbed the bridge of her nose. All she wanted was to have Robot’s arms around her. The thought should’ve freaked her out, but it didn’t. She’d been kidding herself to think she wasn’t falling for him. Why deny what was becoming more and more obvious with each passing hour? He made her feel safe. And had from the moment she first met him in Vegas.
“Okay. I’ll stay here.”
“Good, now tell me about the call.”
There was no censure in his tone, and for that she was grateful. “I don’t know who it was, but I think it had to do with the murder I witnessed. All they said was to keep my mouth shut or I’ll pay.”
“Damn, I suspected it wasn’t a friendly call. I’m betting a burner phone was used to make that call. Leave it with me and when I know something, I’ll call you back. Don’t ignore me and save my number.”
“Will do.”
“Good, now get inside. Remember not only am I keeping you safe, I’m keeping your guys safe as well.”
Antonia had no idea what he meant by that, but she was learning not to question the man called Tex. “Thanks, Tex. I’ll talk to you later.”
She disconnected the call and took a deep breath, centering herself before walking into Erin’s house.
Chapter 9
Antonia jerked awake, her heart pounding against her ribs. She blinked a few times and slowly the furniture in her room began to take shape. It should’ve been reassuring, except there was something that didn’t belong. A figure sat on the edge of her bed.
“It’s me, T.” The softly spoken words floated over her before she had the chance to open her mouth and scream.
“Robot? You’re back.”
He chuckled. “Yep, in the flesh.”
Antonia didn’t think, she just threw the covers back and launched herself at him. Sighing when he’s arms closed around her and held her tightly against his hard body. She was immensely glad she’d given him a key after the whole witnessing a murder episode.
She inhaled deeply, and his fresh pine scent filled her senses, calming her jangled nerves.
It had been two weeks since the team had left for their mission. Two long miserable and stressful weeks. Whenever the guys had gone away before, she worried about them, sure. But this trip was different. Before she hadn’t believed she had the right to worry about Robot. Now, it was even worse. It was as if a switch
had been turned on inside her ever since she found out they were still legally married. She’d spent the whole two weeks worried about him.
Where was he?
Was he okay?
How much danger was he in?
During the weeks he was away, whenever her phone rang, she had another reason to jump at the sound of it. It could’ve been the creep that had called her the first day Robot had left. Or it could’ve been someone from the base informing her he’d been hurt or worse killed. Although the only way she’d probably hear about him being hurt was through someone else. As far as she knew listed next-of-kin were the ones notified immediately. And she wasn’t that.
But, thankfully, the only calls she received were from the girls or work related.
After the first night at Erin’s Tex had assured her if she wanted to return to her apartment she could because he could access the security system and monitor the comings and goings. So, she decided to go back to her place, and slowly everything was returning back to normal.
The murderer still remained at large, but the police had informed her they were getting closer to finding the culprit.
Work had been crazy busy which she was grateful for. She’d been helping the new girl, Lonie, who started the day after Robot had left on his mission, settle into her position as assistant to the marketing director. She’d almost convinced herself the call had been a wrong number and the person was trying to threaten someone else. Until she’d gotten home that night and found a note in her mail box. A note that wasn’t postmarked. A note stating they’d found her and she needed to watch out.
She’d picked up her phone to call Tex, but her hands were shaking so badly and her heart pounded loudly in her ears. She decided to take a few minutes to calm herself. It was after eight when she’d gotten home, so she’d gone to her room, turning on every light as she went. After changing into her pajamas she’d climbed into bed, phone on her side table. She’d lain back against her pillows, closed her eyes to center herself and the last thing she’d expected to do was fall asleep, but she had.
And now her man had returned.
“I’m so glad you’re back,” she whispered into Robot’s neck, clinging to him and never wanting to let him go.
Robot tightened his already tight hold on her and she loved every second of being so close to him. “Me too.”
She needed his kiss. Needed the reassurance that, even though he felt real in her arms, she wasn’t imagining it.
As if he had the same idea, his lips found hers and she sighed into his embrace. They fell back on the bed. Her hands bunched up his t-shirt and slipped beneath the cotton so she could touch the warm had planes of his stomach.
It wasn’t enough, she needed more. She wanted it all with him. She wanted to feel the power of his strength as he entered her. Experience the total abandon she’s only ever felt when he’d been inside her. Beside her. Over her.
She wrenched her mouth away from his. “I can’t do this anymore, Robot.”
His body went still then he went to move away, but she pressed her fingers into his back to keep him close.
“Can’t what, Antonia. You can’t do what anymore?”
In the darkened room his face looked more handsome than she ever thought possible. But there was hint of uncertainty in his features, like he didn’t know what she was going to say next. She framed his face with her hands. “Deny my feelings for you. I need you. I want you, Brendan. I want it all.”
His eyes widened at her words and she worried she’d been too hasty in blurting out her feelings. Then his lips stretched into a beautiful smile and her heart melted. “All, as in you, me and no clothes?”
She laughed at his explanation. “Yes.” To prove her point she reached down and pulled her nightgown over her head.
A few moments later Robot’s shirt and jeans joined her nightgown then they were back in each other’s arms. Lips devouring as their hands roamed over their bodies. Her fingers reacquainted themselves with the ridges and valleys of his body. Her breath caught in her throat when his lips clamped over her nipples. She arched her back to give him more access. Heat swelled through her and coalesced between her thighs.
Why had she spent so much time denying herself this—being held in Robot’s arms? Kissing him. Touching him.
Nothing felt better to her in this moment than having this man worship her.
His tongue trailed a wicked path down her body. Her skin tingled in anticipation of where he would taste next. She lifted her hips, hinting as to what she wanted next.
“All in good time,” he mumbled against her inner thigh. He was so close to where she wanted him to be. All he had to was move a little to his left and she’d be happy. But the man had other ideas.
He peppered kisses along her the back of her knee, venturing down to her ankle before starting the slow journey up.
Antonia couldn’t take much more of this. All he was giving her were simple caresses, yet her whole body was aflame. Ignited in a way only Robot created within her. Her legs twitched beneath his hands and when his lips finally closed over her clit she moaned long and loud.
“Yes, there. Feels so good.”
His fingers gripped her waist, holding her in place. The gesture was totally unnecessary as she had no plans to go anywhere. She was right where she wanted to be.
Robot worked his tongue in and out of her. His fingers tweaked her nipples increasing the sensations flowing through her until she couldn’t think. When he inserted two fingers along with his tongue, it set her over the edge. Her orgasm ripped through her and she cried out his name as her body bucked against his mouth and fingers.
Her body rippled with shudders of release when he kissed his way up her belly, swirling his tongue around the swollen peaks of her nipples.
“God, you’re going to kill me,” she groaned as yet another delicious shiver coursed through her. Even though she just orgasmed, it wasn’t enough. She wanted more. “I want more, Robot. All of you. Inside me.”
She pushed on his shoulders and he rolled to the side, releasing her. Antonia reached over his body, her breasts brushing against his chest as she opened the top drawer of her side table and grabbed out a strip of condoms. She rested on her haunches and ripped one of the foil squares off, tossing the rest on the table.
“You ready for round two?” she asked.
He growled and grabbed her around the waist, hauling her against his body. “Round two? T, we haven’t even finished round one.”
She sighed when his lips crashed over hers. Her fingers found his and together the ripped the packet open then she helped him roll the condom on.
He rolled her onto her back and positioned himself between her thighs, the head of his cock nudged the lips of her pussy. She couldn’t wait until he plunged hard inside her.
“You are so beautiful, T. I’ve missed this,” he whispered as he entered her. Her eyes closed as she relished in having him back where he belonged—deep inside of her.
Neither of them moved, their soft breaths were the only sound in the room. Antonia trailed her fingers down his spine until she connected with his taut ass and pressed the hard flesh while lifting her hips at the same time.
This time Robot took the hint and began to move. Slow, measured strokes in and out. Their lips and tongues tangled as he increased the pace, until she had to wrench her mouth away so that she could breath.
The nerve endings at the base of her spine prickled as sensations built inside of her. The electricity generated between the two of them filled her body, energizing her. She lifted her hips and met his hard thrusts, grinding against him to increase the pleasure building within her.
Her fingers tightened their hold on his ass and her back arced up as her second climax hit her. Robot pounded into her, prolonging her release then when he joined her, her inner muscles pulsed around him.
Breathless, he collapsed on top of her and she never wanted him to move.
Robot didn’t want to move. He had Antoni
a back in his arms and he never wanted to let her go.
The past two weeks had been hellish and now he fully understood what Italy, T-Rex and Joker experienced when they were away from their women. It made no sense to him. He’d been away from Antonia since she’d blasted back into his life and he hadn’t had any issues. His focus had totally been on the mission and had never wasted a second on thinking about his home in Virginia.
What made this trip so different?
Why had he found his mind wandering when it shouldn’t have been?
Fortunately, the one time he had drifted off and almost got into trouble, Italy had been by his side and pulled him back. His friend hadn’t said a word to him, just smiled knowingly. He hadn’t even bothered to tell Robot to fuck off because there was no point.
Robot grimaced as his soft flesh slipped out of Antonia. “I’ll be right back,” he said and kissed the side of her head.
“Okay.”
He disposed of the condom and washed his face. As he padded back into the bedroom and saw she’d snuggled down into the blankets. Her eyes were shut and she looked so contented. His heart skipped a beat and his hands curved into fists as he recalled the text message he’d read earlier. Tex had informed him that she’d received a threatening call from a burner phone the day he’d left. He also mentioned there had been a suspicious person hanging around her apartment complex the last couple of days.
Upon his return, his initial plan was to see her first thing in the morning, but after those messages, he decided he was going straight to her place as soon as he was debriefed. He didn’t give a fuck what time of night it was.
Robot walked over to the side of the bed, he’d do anything to keep her safe.
Anything.
He’d scanned the area for the car Tex had described—a late model Chevy Impala sedan, black of course—when he’d arrived, but the area was empty. That didn’t mean they wouldn’t be back. He had no plans on letting Antonia go anywhere without him.
Commander Black had given them all a couple of days off. Italy and Joker were more than happy with that as they’d missed their girls and kids.
Guarding Antonia Page 9
