The Line: The Complete Series

by Nikki Rose

  He ripped my gym shorts and panties down past my knees in one rough motion. He didn’t even bother removing them completely, he just turned me around to face the wall and pushed me against the firm padding. I barely registered the sound of a condom packet ripping before he was at my entrance.

  This is how it was between us. We spent so much time having to repress our attraction when my dad or his people were around that once we were together there was no time for slow and easy. We were desperate for one another. We needed the connection like a drowning man needed water.

  One hard, sudden thrust and he filled me completely. His throbbing shaft stretched my insides to their limits and I cried out at the exquisite fullness. His hand reached around, cupping my throat while his other hand steadied my hips for each violent thrust.

  He pumped his hips hard and fast at a relentless pace. Sex with Chris was animalistic, need-filled sex. That ‘I have to have you now’ kind of sex that was filled with desperation and urgency as if he might die if he couldn’t be inside me and I felt the same way.

  My nails drug down the wall as the ecstasy built. The orgasm that built up inside me was unlike anything I’d ever felt before. It wasn’t a slow build, it was fast, hot, and so intense I wasn’t sure if I could handle what was coming.

  Chris swelled up inside me and I knew he was close. That only added to my pleasure, pushing me closer to the edge.

  “Yes, yes, Chris, Oh G—”

  My insides tightened and violently shook, squeezing and milking him until he came with a loud animalistic roar. He bit down hard on my shoulder to muffle himself but with enough restraint that he didn’t break the skin and his fingertips dug into my hips with bruising force.

  He thrusted a few more times, dragging out my release until my knees buckled. He wrapped me in the strength of his muscled arms to keep me from falling. His body still pressed me into the padded wall, stabilizing me and he trailed soft kisses down my shoulder and spine. Once my legs had gained some of their strength back, Chris pulled back cautiously, testing my strength. He helped me pull my panties and shorts back up before scooping up my shirt and tossing it to me.

  “I think it’s time to hit the showers after that workout.” He smiled at me with that cocky, satisfied smile that I’d grown to love and leaned against the wall with one arm. He pressed his lips softly to mine and lightly trailed his nose up mine. All urgency was gone, both of us sated—for the moment.

  “Join me?” I pleaded.

  Chris’s brows narrowed. It was the first time I’d ever suggested taking a shower together. “For a shower?”

  “Mhm.” I leaned against the wall to help my legs hold me up while he disposed of the condom.

  “That sounds great—”

  “Caroline? Chris? Are you guys down here?” My dad’s voice echoed down the long hall, heading toward the gym.

  “Shit, my dad’s home.”

  “Quick, get on the treadmill.”

  “What? Why?”

  “You’re all sweaty. Do you really want to explain to your dad how you really got that way?”

  “Shit, your right.” I listened to Chris, hopping on the treadmill and cranking it up to a fast jog and he rushed over to the weight bench.

  “Chris? Caroline?” My dad opened the door to the gym and called out our names again.

  I hit the off button and the treadmill slowly came to a stop. “Oh, hey dad. Finally, home?”

  “Yeah. I was searching everywhere for you two and was starting to wonder where everyone disappeared to.”

  “Sorry, I didn’t hear you.”

  “That’s okay. I didn’t mean to interrupt your workout.”

  “Oh, I was just finishing up anyway.”

  “Okay, well why don’t you two hit the showers then we can have some lunch together?”

  “Sure thing, dad. Meet you in about twenty?”

  “I’ll tell Ms. James.”

  CHAPTER 16

  Chris

  I finished my shower and made it downstairs to find Director Applegate sitting alone at the kitchen table sipping on a glass of water while Ms. James prepared something for lunch that smelled fantastic. I assumed Caroline was still in the shower since women always seemed to take so much longer than us men.

  “Chris. Come. Sit. Lunch is almost ready.” The Director seemed cheerful and smiled as he motioned me over.

  I strolled into the kitchen and ran my hand through my still damp hair before taking a seat with him. “So, Director, any news on the hacker front?”

  “Unfortunately, no. It seems all chatter has been silenced or they found our way in and have been taking countermeasures to keep us in the dark. Either way, there’s nothing.”

  “Damn. I know this has to be frustrating.”

  “We’ve tried compiling a suspect pool but it's not like we are short on enemies. Any one of them could have hired a hacker to do what they needed done which means we can’t limit the suspects to only those who have the hacking capabilities.”

  Ms. James brought me a glass of lemonade and I thanked her quickly before continuing with the conversation. “Eventually they will have to poke their heads up and when they do, we will get them.”

  “I just hate that you are stuck doing protective detail indefinitely while we sit on our hands and wait for them to make a move. I realize you weren’t thrilled with this assignment to begin with and on most days I’m sure it’s slower than what you are used to but I wouldn’t trust my daughter’s safety to just anyone. I hope you can see that the fact that I chose you for the assignment says a lot about my opinion of you as a man and as an operative.”

  “Thank you, sir.” The Director’s compliment hit me like a sucker punch to the gut. I wouldn’t trust my daughter’s safety to just anyone. His words were like a knife in my chest as guilt washed over me so heavy that I feared my body would crumple down to the floor from the weight of it. Here he was going on and on about his trust and his opinion of me as a man and an operative all the while I'm sneaking behind his back sleeping with his daughter. I tried to hide my upset by taking a drink of my lemonade just as Caroline came in. I glanced in her direction and forced a smile that didn’t reach my eyes.

  She walked in and the smile on her face almost broke my heart. She was so happy but how could we continue to sneak around behind her father’s back? I couldn’t do it. I had to figure out a way to tell him the truth that didn’t involve me getting fired or him shooting me. My only hope was that when I told him, he’d remember his good opinion of me and be happy that Caroline and I got together—but who was I kidding? I wasn’t the type of man men hoped for, for their daughters. I had a long rocky past with women and I was never one for commitments.

  Caroline took her seat and Ms. James brought us our lunch which had lost all its appeal. I took a bite just to give my mouth something to do but it was flavorless.

  “So, honey, what do you have planned for the day?”

  “I’m not sure yet." Caroline glanced over at me, hope filling her expression and I knew she was wanting us to spend the day together but I couldn’t find words so I kept my head down, focusing on my food instead.

  “Did you have anything in mind for today, Chris?” She directed the question right at me so there was no way of escaping the situation. I had to say something even though my mind was still flooded with guilt.

  “I—uh. Actually, sir. I was needing to see if there would be any way of me getting some time off today.”

  “Of course. I ripped you right out of your life without even giving you the usual twenty-four-hour notice to get your affairs in order we offer to those leaving the area and here we are stateside and I haven’t even given you time off. Why don’t you take the day off? I can run things from my study with conference calls and video chats.”

  “Are you sure, sir?” A new wave of guilt hit me. Now only was I betraying him by sleeping with his daughter, I was ducking out from my job to run from the issues I’d created.

  “Absolutely.
I insist.”

  “But you were hired to protect me. Shouldn’t you be here for that? What’s more important than your job?” Caroline’s voice was desperate as she tried to keep me there. I was sure she could tell something was off and I’d have to talk to her at some point about it all but first I needed some time to figure things out for myself and know how we were going to handle the situation.

  “Caroline. I’m disappointed in you. You are always fussing and complaining that I put my work above everything. I’d think you of all people could appreciate Chris wanting to take a little time away from the job for a personal life.”

  Caroline was fuming but she did well not to show it. If it weren’t for the little micro-expressions I’d been trained to spot I might have never known. Luckily the Director wasn’t paying such close attention to her or I had no doubt he would have picked up on the same things.

  I felt bad for upsetting Caroline. I was falling fast for her and the last thing I wanted was to hurt her but my mind was too flooded with guilt to think of how to handle things with her at the moment too.

  “I was thinking about going out with Derek tonight.” I froze mid-bite at Caroline’s announcement. What was she thinking? She hadn’t even mentioned Derek’s name in weeks. Not since we’d become close but suddenly, she has plans to go out with him? Just the thought of the two of them together made me want to put my hand through a wall.

  “Derek?” The Director sounded shocked but I was looking at Caroline. A small growl rumbled in my chest. I hoped the Director didn't hear.

  “Yeah, we haven’t had much time together since I’ve had to have a bodyguard shadowing me.” Caroline rolled her eyes at the growl and turned to talk more directly to her dad.

  “I wasn’t aware that you were still seeing that boy.”

  “We’re keeping things casual.”

  “Casual? What exactly does that mean?”

  “That means he’s getting all the benefits without an actual commitment.” I blurted out. I downed the rest of my lemonade and wished it was whiskey instead.

  “I don’t like him. Why do you insist on involving yourself with a guy like that?”

  “I have fun with him.” Caroline sighed and took a sip of her lemonade.

  “He’s trouble, Caroline.”

  “I'm not planning on marrying him. We are just hanging out and having a good time.”

  “That’s what I’m worried about.”

  “What?”

  “The having a good time part.”

  “Dad...”

  “I know. I know You’re a grown woman who can make your own choices but I’m your dad and I’m going to worry about you as long as I’m breathing.”

  “I know. And, I love you for it.”

  .

  “Since I gave Chris the day off, I’ll need you to wait until tomorrow to go out.”

  “I don't need Chris there all the time. I’ll be safe.” I finished my last bite of breakfast and tossed my napkin beside my plate.

  “If you’ll excuse me? I have some things to take care of.” I did my best to not sound irritated but failed miserably. I rounded the table and carried my dishes to the sink to rinse them.

  “Caroline, you still have people after you. We can’t risk it.”

  “Dad...”

  “It’s just one day and it will give your old man peace of mind.”

  “Fine.” She signed “I think I’m going to lay out for a little while and get some sun. I’m too pale.”

  “You already have a beautiful natural tan, just like your mother.”

  “I’m just going to stay out a short time.” She stood and rounded the table to kiss her dad on the cheek.

  My temper was getting the best of me but I couldn’t let it show. She was back to being that spoiled little girl again.

  “Just don’t get burnt.” I bit out a she left our sight heading upstairs to change.

  “I won’t.”

  I left the table just after Caroline and stormed off to the guest room to change into my workout gear. I didn’t care that the Director thought I’d already worked out. It was either that or hunting down and killing that bastard, Derek. Caroline didn’t need to be around him. She had barely even mentioned him in weeks. She was only doing that to get my attention. And she got it alright.

  I went down to the home gym and started on the punching bag without even bothering to warm up. Sometimes you just need to hit something and it was either the punching bag or Caroline's little boyfriend.

  I punched until my knuckles threatened to bleed then hopped on the treadmill for a five-mile sprint. I ran until I could see clearly again and the blinding rage faded. Was Caroline just having fun because I was something she thought she couldn’t have? A new way to rebel against her father? If so, I played right into her hand. I was an idiot. I gave the spoiled princess exactly what she wanted and when she got it, she used it to goad me into a jealous rage just for fun.

  “Fuck!” I jumped off the treadmill and started rapid fire punches at the punching bag again.

  I couldn’t even think clearly. That girl had gotten so far in my head. I couldn’t confront her until I calmed the hell down though. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing me all wound up over her. Once I finally talked to her, I’d make sure it was when I was cool, distant. I’d let her see that she meant as little to me as I meant to her even if that was as far from the truth as it could be. I wouldn’t let her know that last night was the single most amazing night of my life and that if I had it my way every day would end just like that and every morning would start with her in my arms again.

  Guilt wrapped around my throat, threatening to choke me when the Director was going on about how I was a good man and how he trusted me. I betrayed him, but that didn’t mean I didn’t want to do it again and again. It just meant I needed to come clean to him and tell him how I felt about Caroline and work my ass off to get his blessing to start seeing his daughter. It’s a good thing I didn’t do that. I would have made a complete ass of myself for nothing.

  I needed a sounding board. Someone I could get all this out to before it came out at the wrong time to the wrong person. I grabbed my phone off the table and hit number two on my speed dial.

  “Wright.”

  “Hunter, hey man. You busy?”

  I heard muffled talking on the other end before he answered. “Nah, I’m good. What’s up? Everything okay?”

  “I need to go out for a bit. Can you meet me for a drink?”

  “It’s a little early for a drink. How about lunch?”

  “As long as you don’t judge me for ordering a beer or five with my lunch.”

  Hunter laughed. “That bad, huh?”

  “You have no idea.”

  I left early to meet Hunter at a local bar and grill we loved to hang out at when we had the time. The hostess led me to a table and I made myself comfortable, ordering a beer but holding off on ordering any food. Hunter wouldn’t even be there for another half hour. I’d just needed to get out of that house as fast as possible.

  At breakfast with Caroline and the Director, I was already having my doubts about the way we were going behind her dad’s back. It would have been different if it was a one and done kind of thing. But I could see us going on like that indefinitely. Then she went and started acting crazy, talking about that asshole, Derek who she had barely mentioned since the night she snuck out with him.

  I thought she was finally getting past that phase in her life and moving on but apparently, I was just another way for her to stick it to her dad. I didn’t know when I started sounding like such a girl about these things. Most guys would love to have a sexy girl, wild in bed, and not looking for a commitment. I used to be one of those guys but after being with Caroline, the idea of being with someone else had lost all its appeal and the idea of her being with someone else—especially Derek had me losing my shit.

  I took a long drag of my beer and looked toward the door as Hunter walked in.

  �
��Hey man, I see you started without me.” He tipped his head toward my beer.

  “We weren’t supposed to meet for another twenty minutes.”

  “Yeah, but I know you. I figured you’d already be here by now.”

  “Can I get you a beer?”

  “Sure, and let's order some food too. I’m starving.”

  “Sure thing.” I waved the young fiery redheaded waitress over to our table and she quickly bounced her way over.

  “Hi, can I get you guys something?”

  “Yeah, if you can bring me another one of these” I held up my beer. “One for my friend too, and we’ll both have the ribeye burger and fries.”

  “Sure thing.” The waitress turned quick on her heel and sauntered off to place our order.

  “Are we too predictable?” Hunter leaned his elbows on the table and made himself comfortable.

  “How do you mean?”

  “You just ordered for both of us without even looking at the menu because we always order the same thing when we come here.”

  “Nah. We just know what we like.”

  Hunter shrugged, accepting my answer and leaned forward. “So, what’s going on? It’s not like you to call me out of the blue sounding like something’s wrong.”

  “Yeah that’s more your forte.” I smirked, trying my best to lighten my mood before diving into what was wrong.

  “Ha. Ha.” He faked a dry laugh but his smile was real. “So serious, what’s up? You okay?”

  “Yeah, no. I don’t even know anymore, man.”

  His eyes widened, picking up on my genuine distress and his voice rose with urgency. “Oh shit. Are you in some kind of trouble?”

  “It’s nothing like that, relax.”

  “Then what?”

  “It’s this girl...”

  “What girl?”

  “The one I’m assigned to.”

  “She still giving you a hard time?” I could hear the amusement in his voice and I wanted to punch him in the throat for enjoying my suffering.

  “You could say that.”

  “Man, like I told you, just do your job, keep her safe. Then, you never have to see her again—”