by Fall, Carly
Holly didn’t meet his gaze as she turned around and climbed out. He followed, hating himself for giving in to his base urges. He never should have kissed her. To her, he was her superior. It had been wrong.
“You don’t have any jumper cables,” she said as he emerged. “We’ll just have to leave it here.”
He nodded and strode over to the car. She followed and they both slid in. He stared out the windshield, feeling the coil of self-disgust building. “Holly, that never should have happened. I’m sorry.”
“Justice—”
“No!” He slammed his fist against the steering wheel. “We won’t speak of it again, and it won’t happen again. It was unprofessional and wrong.”
“But—”
“No.”
She remained quiet and left him alone with his thoughts. Those two men had access to the main part of the bunker, an area Holly had never been allowed in. He should have kept up his charade and confronted the men. Now, he had to lie to Holly further about why he didn’t, and frankly, not much came to mind. In a nutshell, he’d screwed this one up big time.
They rode in silence to the house, Justice consumed with self-hatred as he tried to invent more lies of why he had hid from the men. When they pulled into the driveway, he glanced at the clock. At just after five, his stomach howled with hunger, but he didn’t feel comfortable eating with Holly. Hell, he didn’t feel comfortable being within the same seven-thousand-square-foot house, or however big this thing happened to be. He’d rather starve and hope the feeling of unease passed by tomorrow.
She followed him into the house and he headed for the stairs.
“Justice?”
He looked at her over his shoulder.
“I didn’t think what happened between us was wrong. It felt right to me.”
Without a word, he hurried down the stairs and shut his bedroom door.
Lying down on the bed, he stared at the ceiling. He recalled the short interaction in the small space, how her cheek felt soft under his touch, and the way his fingers grazed over her ribs. As her slim, strong arms held him close, he’d felt better than he had in two years. She’d breathed life and hope into him with that kiss, and he didn’t think he’d ever be able to let that feeling go. His negative emotions of his situation had disappeared—gone were the anger and loneliness he’d been carrying. All that mattered had been Holly.
Now, guilt seemed to be his companion. He felt he’d taken advantage of the situation, but it had been impossible to stop himself. He hated all the lies he’d told, the lies he’d have to continue to tell. With each one, the weight on his shoulders grew heavier.
Yet, as he replayed those precious few moments over and over in his mind, his hunger for food dissipated, yet the craving for Holly increased two-fold.
Chapter 32
Holly lay in bed staring at the wall. She brought her fingers to her lips, the kiss burning her in her mind, his touch setting her skin on fire.
For those few moments, it seemed the world had disappeared. Her claustrophobia had vanished, as had the weight of guilt and responsibility regarding her brother’s death. The men outside didn’t exist. All that had mattered had been her pulsing need for Justice to touch her more, for him to engulf her with his huge body. She had wanted nothing more than to fade away into the bliss she had felt those precious minutes.
She stood and pulled off her yoga pants, but kept her tank top on. Her panties remained slick with her own essence, and she lay back down on the bed again and tried to think of other things, tossing her covers aside.
Why hadn’t Justice just confronted the two men? And why had he said that the kiss had been wrong? It had to be because of his rank over her—that’s the only thing she could think of. If she reported his behavior, he could get into a lot of trouble. However, she’d never do that. Perhaps he was married? Oh, God, no. She didn’t want to get mixed up with a married man. However, he didn’t wear a ring, and if he had a wife, why didn’t he go home to her instead of staying with Holly?
So many questions. Perhaps he’d cool down overnight and she could find out her answers tomorrow, and hopefully, they’d also hear from his friend.
A light knock on her door startled her. He didn’t wait to be invited in, but slowly opened the panel and stepped in. The light on her bed stand cast the room in a muted glow. She sat up, her heart beating wildly. He stared at her as he clenched and unclenched his hands at his sides. He wore his camouflage pants; yet, he’d removed his shirt and shoes. His wide, dark chest heaved, and his jaw worked as if he ground his teeth.
He made no apologies for entering without being asked, nor did he try to hide his gaze as he looked over her body, taking in every inch. Goosebumps traveled over her skin at the stare and her mouth became dry. Her breath came in short spurts, as if the room didn’t hold enough oxygen.
Finally, he looked her in the eye.
He walked toward her until he stood directly in front of her. He didn’t bother to try to hide his erection that could clearly be seen beneath his pants.
“Did you mean what you said?” he asked, his voice gruff. “That it felt right?”
She nodded, unable to speak.
His balled his hands into fists. “I can’t stay away, Holly.”
Her heart beat wildly, her stomach fluttered, and her body hummed. Oh, how she wanted this. How she wanted to be with Justice, to feel him inside her, on top of her, to completely forget everything her life had become, even for just a little while. She needed relief from the guilt that ate at her, the anger that came and went, the sadness that never seemed to give her a break.
She lay back on the bed, her gaze never leaving his. “Then don’t.”
He took her outstretched hand, and she gently pulled him toward her. As he settled his weight on top of her, she loved the way his huge body fully covered hers. He placed his elbows on each side of her head and threaded his fingers through her hair as he stared at her, his jaw still working.
She ran her hands up his torso, feeling the ridges of muscles throughout his back, unable to look away from his dark gaze. As he lowered his head to hers and their mouths met, everything in her world disappeared as she concentrated on the intense feelings running through her, the way her body heated with need at his close proximity.
Lacing her hands around his neck, she held him close, never wanting this feeling of being in a cocoon of lust and desire to end.
He moved off her and lay next to her, their bodies pressed chest-to-chest. As he ran his hand up her leg, she shivered at his touch and closed her eyes while she inhaled deeply. He didn’t wear cologne, but had the distinct aroma of raw male, a slightly musky scent.
His lips met hers again, his tongue diving into her mouth. She palmed his cheek, feeling the tickle of his beard against her hand. Throwing her leg over his waist, she pressed herself into him, seemingly unable to get close enough.
He tentatively laid his hand on her waist, then slowly slid it up her tank top. She moaned as he cupped her breast, his thumb grazing over her nipple, bringing it to a hardened peak.
Longing to feel her bare chest against his, she sat up and quickly pulled the tank top off, tossing it to the floor. Her chest heaved as he stared at her breasts.
“Beautiful,” he murmured as he ran his palm over her right one. “Such perfection.”
She lay back down and he rolled on top of her again, the skin-on-skin contact causing her to whimper with need. He brought his mouth to her nipple, suckling it gently as tremors vibrated throughout her body. Sliding her hand down the back of his pants, she cupped his buttocks and spread her legs, pulling his erection into her core. Damn clothes.
As if he read her mind, he got off the bed and unbuttoned his pants. They dropped to the floor, and he stood before her completely naked, his long, thick erection jutting from his hips.
He bent over and hooked her panties with his forefingers, slowly skimming them down her legs, then dropping them to the floor. Standing at the edge of the bed
, he kneeled down between her legs, then lay on top of her again. She felt the tip of his cock at her slick entrance.
“Show me,” he whispered. “Show me what you want me to do.”
She reached down between them and ran her hand over the thick shaft, then cupped his balls. He closed his eyes and groaned, his whole body trembling. She placed him at her core again and wrapped her legs around his waist, urging him forward.
He gasped, then kissed her. Closing her eyes, she relaxed and allowed her body to get used to the invasion, as it had been six months since she had been with a man.
She ran her hands over his back and moved her hips. He followed suit, their bodies writhing together in harmony.
Closing her eyes, she became consumed with the energy building within her, needing the release it promised.
He rolled onto his back and pulled her with him. She planted her hands on his chest and ground her hips to his.
So close.
His hands gripped her waist as his hips crashed into hers. Her toes curled as the release within her built, her breathing ragged as her heart pounded. A moment later, she threw her head back as her whole body seemed to explode from the inside out. Bright lights shone beneath her eyelids and she couldn’t contain the scream that escaped her throat.
Her body trembled with waves of pleasure as her core pulsed around Justice’s shaft. She opened her eyes as his grip on her tightened, and he slammed his hips up one last time, his back bowing off the bed.
A hoarse cry left his throat as he came, his seed spilling into her. She collapsed on top of him, feeling as though she’d just run ten miles. Sweat coated her forehead and her heart felt as though it may beat out of the front of her chest.
Her ear lay over Justice’s heart, his drumming at a high rate as well. His thick arms wrapped around her, and she shut her eyes.
When her breathing finally evened out, sleep moved in quickly. She slipped off of him and nestled her head on his shoulder and placed her arm over his waist.
“Don’t leave,” she whispered right before sleep claimed her.
Chapter 33
Justice stared into the dark, his eyelids heavy. Holly’s breath tickled his skin, but he didn’t dare move.
Shutting his eyes, he tried to wade through the mix of emotions that swarmed within him.
He never should have come to her room. Yet, he was very happy he had. His first sexual experience with a human female had blown his mind. He never could have imagined it to be so intense, so incredibly gratifying. He’d been hesitant that he wouldn’t perform correctly even though he’d been schooled in all things human before being sent to retrieve the Saviors. Still, he’d let her take the lead. He hadn’t been lying when he’d told her to show him what she wanted done.
The guilt of his actions lay just outside the boundaries of bliss they’d created. The lies, the deceit … if he stood in Holly’s shoes and ever found out about any of it … he’d be angry beyond words, probably a little frightened and very hurt.
Don’t leave.
He didn’t think he could, even if he had wanted to.
As the sweat dried on his body, he felt the chill in the air. He pulled the comforter from Holly’s side over them.
His mind whirled with thoughts of what tomorrow would entail. Would they have sex again? Would Holly think it had been a mistake? Would things be awkward between them?
He pushed the thoughts aside.
Whatever tomorrow brought, he’d deal with it then. However, for now, he wanted to remain exactly where he lay, both physically and mentally.
Chapter 34
“Did you reach him?”
Blake shook his head and sipped his coffee. “He’s still not answering the damn phone, Noah.”
Noah sighed and sat down at the table in the War Room. “Do you think we should go to the house and check on him?”
Blake shook his head. “No way.”
“Why not?”
“Because he’s fine. We don’t want her knowing anything about us. Besides, I think he’s just getting a little action and doesn’t want to be disturbed.”
“I could go. She’s met me. And how the hell do you know he’s getting action?”
He put down his coffee. “It seems pretty obvious to me. He’s not answering his phone.”
Noah shook his head. “Blake, that could be anything. The battery could be dead, the phone broken … you don’t know.”
“Oh, I know.”
“I should go out there.”
“No, just leave the poor bastard alone. If he’s getting some, the last thing he wants is for your ugly mug to be showing up at the front door.”
They sat in silence for a few moments as Blake pondered the results of the lineage computer program they’d run on Holly’s neighbors.
His phone rang, interrupting his thoughts.
“It’s the devil himself,” he murmured as he picked up the phone. “What up, Justice?”
“Hey. Sorry I missed your calls yesterday.”
“No sweat. Everything okay?”
“Yeah.”
Blake noted the low tone in his voice and he realized Holly must be close. “Are you in a safe place to talk?”
“Yeah, but let’s make it quick. What do you have for me?”
“Two of her neighbors came back inconclusive, Justice.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means that we can’t be certain if they’re Colonist offspring. The information out there on their ancestry isn’t complete.”
Justice sighed. “So now what?”
“Now, we need to see if there’s a way to tie the murder to one of them.”
“And how do we do that?” Justice asked.
“I think I’ll take Jovan and Rayner and go pay our unknowns a little visit.”
“No. I’ll do it.”
Blake sighed. “Justice, let us do that.”
“No. As Noah so eloquently put it, this is my circus. I’ll take it from here and let you know what we find, okay?”
Noah tapped him on the shoulder and Blake waved him off.
“Blake, look at this report that just came over,” Noah whispered as he shoved a piece of paper in Blake’s line of sight.
“Hang on a second, Justice.”
He quickly read the report, the hairs on the back of his neck standing on end. “Holy shit.”
“Exactly,” Noah murmured.
“Justice, there’s been another murder in Holly’s building. A husband killed his wife, but he told the cops that someone else did it and he’s being framed. He’s in jail as we speak.”
“It makes Holly’s story sound a little more realistic, doesn’t it?” Justice asked after a beat of silence.
“Oh, yeah.” Any doubt he’d had about Holly’s tale disappeared.
“What are their apartment numbers?”
Blake gave them to him.
“Listen, I’ve got to go.”
“Justice, I know you’re banging Holly. Just be careful with all that, okay?”
“How can you possibly think that?”
Blake laughed and sat back in his chair. “There’s only one thing that can get a SR44 male all wrapped up for a day so that he doesn’t answer his phone, and that’s a female. They’re pretty, soft, and sex is the best thing on God’s green Earth. I know that, Justice. Just don’t go making any babies or catching any diseases, okay?”
“I’ve got to go,” he repeated and hung up.
Blake stood and stretched his arms above his head, then tossed his phone on the table.
“Don’t break the damn thing,” Noah muttered.
Ignoring him, Blake continued. “Justice is going to look into the crap at Holly’s apartment.”
“We should be doing that.”
“Well, you made it pretty much clear to him that you didn’t want anything to do with it with your circus lecture.”
Noah grimaced. “That was a good one at the time.”
“Yeah, not so much now
. But I think we need to let him do this. We can’t be bumping into each other down there and bringing any attention to ourselves.”
Noah stared at the white screen for a moment, then nodded. “Agreed. For now, just have him keep us posted.”
“Yup.”
Chapter 35
Holly slowly came to consciousness, trying to recall where she was. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept so hard. Glancing at the clock, it read eleven in the morning. Wow. She’d slept over twelve hours!
The memories of last night came flooding back as she stretched. Hesitant to see Justice, she pulled the comforter up over her head and groaned. She’d slept with a superior officer, hadn’t used any protection … and had experienced the best sex of her life.
Go figure.
At least she took birth control pills, but that didn’t protect her against STDs.
What a mess.
What would he say to her this morning? Probably something along the lines that the night had been a mistake, and it wouldn’t happen again. Frankly, it shouldn’t be a recurring event as it seemed wrong on so many levels. He had offered to help her, not screw her.
However, he came to her last night, and he had initiated the kiss that started it all. She needed to make it clear to him that she wouldn’t be reporting their encounters to their superiors. She had just as much say in what happened as he did, and frankly, she had wanted it—every blessed second of it.
She found his hesitancy interesting, and decided that he’d simply wanted her to show him what she wanted him to do to please her.
A shiver ran down her spine just thinking about the night. Her hips ached a little bit as she recalled the passion they’d shared. Even though their sizes sat on opposite ends of the spectrum, it seemed his large body fit perfectly with her compact figure. She recalled the way his fingers had gently caressed her as his mouth had claimed her with open lust and desire. Her heartbeat quickened and she threw off the covers. She couldn’t stay in bed all day thinking about it. She’d drive herself crazy, and besides, she had more important things to worry about—like finding out who’d killed her brother and staying out of jail.
