Lady Guardians_Forgiven

by Reana Malori

  Biting her nails as she thought about the situation, she almost jumped out of her skin when her phone buzzed again. Blocked number. Damn, she didn’t want to answer but knew that she needed to. Taking a few breaths, she swiped the screen to answer the call.

  “Hello,” she answered, hoping it was anyone else besides that computer-generated voice. No such luck.

  “You have no choice, Geneva. You know how to get us what we want.”

  Interrupting the voice on the other end, she yelled, “I can’t help you. Stop calling me. I have no idea what you and Dave had going on, but leave me out of it.”

  “Geneva…Geneva…Geneva. You will get us what we want or we will come for you. Be ready to get back to work soon.” Again, the phone clicked and the line went dead.

  “Fuck,” she screamed into the room. Whatever the hell Dave was into had now come to her doorstep and she wasn’t cool with that shit at all. Thinking about everything she’d figured out based on the missing funds, the checks to the dummy corporations, and the numerous accounts she now knew were just a cover for the illegal dealings Dave had going on, she had a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.

  “Arrrgggghhhh!” she yelled out when the phone began ringing again. Getting angry at herself for acting like a typical woman, she snatched up the phone, not bothering to pay attention to the screen. It didn’t say Blocked this time, but it was an unknown number. Positive it was the computer-generated voice calling back, she went on the defensive.

  “If you don’t quit calling my damn house, we’re going to have issues. I don’t know how you got this number, but if you call me again with another threat about some bullshit money, you’ll regret it.” All bluster, because what the hell was she going to do against criminals of this caliber, but it sure felt good to say the words.

  The voice coming through the phone was not the one she expected. “Hey, baby, it’s me. Reed. What the hell is going on? Why are you answering your phone that way? Actually, don’t answer that. Tell me your address. I’m on my way.”

  Well, shit. Wasn’t she trying to get away from Reed? “No, don’t do that. It’s fine. I think it’s a prank caller.” And there she was again, doing stupid shit that she always hated to see in books and movies. Downplaying a serious situation that would only get worse if she didn’t tell someone about it. This is the kind of shit that got people killed in the movies.

  “A prank caller? Whatever they said had you riled up pretty good to make you answer your personal phone that way. You know, I was calling to ask you out to dinner tonight. But now, I think you should come to my place or me to yours.”

  A smile came over her face. “Dinner? Tonight?” Maybe their weekend meant more to him than she assumed.

  “Yeah, tonight. I thought I’d gotten you out of my system, but clearly, you’re still there. I want to see you again. Spend the night with me.”

  Walking into her spacious kitchen, she listened to his words and bit her bottom lip in need. She wanted to jump at the chance to see him again, but wasn’t sure if that was the best thing. It had only been three days since they’d first met, but she could already tell he’d gotten under her skin. His smell still lingered in her nostrils. Manly. Crisp. Tantalizing and sexy. Her body still bore results of his special brand of lovemaking. Love bites covered her breasts. Abrasions from his beard covered her inner thighs. Her pussy was sore from his neverending need to be inside of her body every hour of every day this entire weekend. By all accounts, she should be done with him. Her desire for him should have abated at this point. But it hadn’t. If anything, she wanted him even more.

  “Don’t you have things to do today?” she asked, hedging her bets that he would pull back his request.

  “Anything I need to do, I can do from home. Remember, I run my own shit. I can do whatever the fuck I want. My clients are just fine. You, on the other hand…well, let’s just say, my keys are still in my hand and I’m headed out the door. Either I’m coming to your place or you’re coming to mine. One or the other is going to happen. The choice is yours.”

  Panic tore through her. Could she really invite this man into her home? This was insane. Then again, she’d invited this man into her body all weekend. Done things with him she’d never done with anyone else. Allowed herself to truly be vulnerable with another human being. And this after only knowing him for a day. Now that he wanted to protect her after she answered the phone swearing hell and fury to an invisible enemy, she wanted to be shy. Geesh, she needed to get a grip. That was it, no more chick flicks for her. Those movies were rotting her damn brain.

  “You’re welcome to come here if you’d like. As I mentioned, I’m on administrative leave for a few days. I have to check-in at work today, but I’m not expected in the office. I can make us brunch if you’d like.”

  “Send me your address,” he demanded. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

  “Okay, see you soon.” After they hung up, she texted her address to Reed. Next piece of business was to take a shower and change into more relaxing clothes. She’d call her office once she was refreshed and ready to face the world. Those computer-generated calls bothered her more than she expected. Taking a deep breath, she sent a text to her friend Denise to let her know she was home and safe, and asked her to let Penny and Angela know as well. The rational part of her brain knew her next call should be to the police. Whoever called her and made those demands about wanting their money, they didn’t seem to be playing one bit.

  Would she tell Reed what was going on? Hell, she wasn’t even sure she believed it was really happening to her. This was all too much and she didn’t want to deal with this drama. She couldn’t believe her boss had gotten mixed up in this kind of bullshit and now she was involved as well. If he wasn’t dead already, she’d go to his house and punch him in his damn face. At that thought, she froze. Wait, Dave was dead. They claimed it was suicide, but after those two calls this morning, her mind starting whirring with possibilities. Was it really suicide or had something nefarious happened to him? Damn, she really needed to quit watching those stupid movies on that women’s movie channel. That shit was fucking with her head. Gathering up the things she needed for her shower, she tried to put it out of her head for a few minutes. It would be time soon enough for her to focus on what to do about those phone calls. Maybe she’d tell Reed after all. If nothing else, to see if it struck him the same way it struck her. Just odd as hell and something that needed to be dealt with.

  Thirty minutes later, she was in her bedroom lotioning her body with shea body butter when her doorbell rang. Walking to the door, she looked out the peephole and saw Reed’s tall, muscular form standing outside. Inhaling deeply, she opened the door and plastered a smile on her face. Willing those pesky butterflies in her stomach to simmer down, she opened the door wide for him to enter.

  “Hi, Reed. Come on in.”

  “Hey sweetheart,” he returned, stepping through her doorframe. At six feet four inches and wearing his black riding boots, he towered over her five feet seven-inch frame. He grabbed the door, closing and locking it behind him before he turned to her again. “It’s good to see you,” he said, just before leaning his head down to capture her lips in a soft kiss.

  The squeak in her voice as she returned his greeting was so embarrassing. She was thirty-one for God’s sake. “Have a seat. Make yourself comfortable. I was about to pull something out for brunch, but I didn’t know what you wanted. Are you hungry?”

  “I’m always hungry.” Dropping his black leather bag on the floor, he removed his cut and laid it on the back of her couch.

  “That third door on the left has a few hangers in there. You can hang it up there if you want.” Eyeing him hungrily, she licked her lips as she watched him maneuver around her large living room. When she’d purchased this home, her mind had been focused on having enough space for parties with her friends and when her family came to visit. Now that Reed was in the space, she felt that she’d known a man like him would enter her wo
rld. He was a large man and someone like him needed space to maneuver.

  “Keep looking at me like that and brunch won’t be the only thing I’ll be eating this morning.” His low drawl met her ears and snapped her out of her musings over how well he fit in her home.

  Glancing at him, she gave up any pretense that she didn’t want to be underneath him again. At the thought of having his cock inside her again, or his mouth nibbling on her wet pussy, she gave him a seductive smile. “And what if I don’t?”

  “You’re playing with fire baby. Don’t start something you’re not willing to finish.”

  Looking down, she saw the thick ridge outlined through his pants. Fuck. “I’m not hungry for brunch anymore.”

  Meeting her halfway, he grabbed her around the waist. His hips pressed into her and his hardness pressed into her stomach, causing her channel to clench with anticipation.

  “What are you hungry for baby?”

  “You.” The word burst forward without hesitation.

  “Your wish is my command.” His hands gripped her waist tighter, lifting her into his arms. Grabbing her underneath the ass, he turned down the only hallway. “Tell me where.”

  “Last door on the left.” Taking the initiative, she began kissing him along his neck, biting his earlobe and licking the soft flesh.

  “Fuck, baby. I’m never letting you out of the damn bed. I don’t give a fuck how long we’ve known each other. You’re mine.”

  His words struck a chord inside of her and she accepted that his words were true. It had only been three full days since they’d first met, but she did indeed feel like his. His soul called to hers and she answered the call every time. Once they made it to her bedroom, he looked around for a second before grunting low in acceptance. The design wasn’t girlie, but bold and sleek. She’d purchased a cherry wood sleigh bed when she’d been promoted to Controller at her current company. It was her splurge gift.

  Releasing her body, he set her on the thick carpet and her bare toes sunk into the soft fibers. “You’re so damn beautiful. How the hell did I get so lucky?”

  Not sure he truly wanted an answer, she just shook her head and smiled.

  “Undress me. Claim your man, Geneva.”

  At his words, a fresh wave of warmth flowed through her body. All her life she’d been waiting for a man like this. That he came in a package she wasn’t expecting had been a surprise. She expected to fall for someone who wore a suit to work every day, but who put up with her idiosyncrasies and need to ride her Harley until the sun came up the next morning. She didn’t expect or need a man who meshed with her so well. Foolish now that she thought about it, but it’s what she’d been planning for. Someone dull, boring, and who’d give her the required two-point-five kids and white picket fence. She’d give up her Club and settle into a happy life being the happy wife.

  In one moment, the unexpected happened. Reed entered her world. Gave her womanly self-esteem a boost, showed her that her Club wasn’t something to be put to the side. That she could have it all. The man, the Club, her bike, and mind-blowing sex on the regular. All she had to do was open herself up to what was in front of her. Claim her man? Oh yes, she could definitely do that.

  “I’ll claim you. Are you ready to do the same?” she teased. Unbuckling his belt, she slowly pulled it free and began undoing his jeans.

  “Sweetheart, I claimed you three days ago. I’ve just been waiting for you to catch up.”

  Chapter Seven

  “We need to figure out who’s calling you.” Reed relaxed back on the couch, both of her feet resting on his naked stomach as he rubbed one of her legs. His voice may seem calm, but he was boiling inside. He wanted to know who the fuck was calling Geneva and making threats. “I don’t like that they have your personal cell number.”

  She avoided his gaze as she stared off to the side. Oh no, that wasn’t going to work for him. Sure, some may say it was too soon for him to feel this way about her, but he didn’t give a flying fuck. He wanted her and he’d claimed her. She was his and there was no going back. He dared a motherfucker to try and take her from him.

  “Tell me, Geneva. What am I missing here?”

  “I told you everything,” she hedged.

  “Don’t act like this isn’t serious. You know it is. I don’t like that you’re playing fast and loose with your safety. That shit’s not gonna fly with me.”

  Huffing, she cut her eyes at him and he smiled. That’s what he wanted. Fire. Heat. Anger. He needed her to stop trying to blow this off. “You’re not a naïve little girl. You know what the deal is and why they’re calling you. Either you go to the cops or you leave me to handle it.”

  “Don’t even think about it. You are not going to handle it. This is my problem,” she stirred and attempted to remove her feet from his skin.

  “No. You stay right where you are. You’re not hiding from this. This is not your problem to handle alone. Do you really think I’m just going to let you deal with this on your own? That I’ll step aside and let someone threaten you? Make you uncomfortable in your own home. If that’s the kind of man you’re used to, then you’d better get used to something different. That’s some shit I will never allow to happen. If I have to be by your side every fucking day until we know who this is, that’s what I’ll do.”

  Chest rising and falling in anger, he stared at her with a look meant to convey his unwavering stance on this issue. What kind of man did she think he was? Who had she been dealing with before him? That she actually thought he’d fuck her six ways to Sunday, in her home, hold her at night for three days straight, only to allow her to deal with a crazed lunatic on her own. Now he was pissed.

  “Reed, all I meant was that we’ve only met each other a few days ago. I can’t—no, I won’t ask you to get involved in my issues. This all stems from work, from what my boss did. You heard me on the phone with Mr. Livingston earlier today.”

  “He can’t protect you like I can,” he growled. If there was anyone equipped to protect her, it was him. It was what he did for a living. Protected important people from the dangers skulking around every corner. If he got paid to do it for the rich and important, he would sure as shit do it for the woman who’d slowly crept into his heart in a matter of days. To him, she was more important than any of those motherfuckers who paid him. Sure, they paid the bills, but the ebony goddess sitting across from him was becoming more important to him than taking his next breath.

  “I don’t want you to feel obligated. When I first met you, I didn’t expect any of this. I’m not a shrinking violet. I can take care of myself. Always have. If the situation comes around again, I’ll do it in the future. I don’t need a man to protect me, Reed. This isn’t what you signed up for.”

  “Doesn’t matter what I signed up for. Let me do this for you. Allow me to help you get through this.” God, she was so beautiful. How could he make her see that even if she didn’t need him to do this—to protect her—he needed this for himself? “Yes, we’ve only known each other a few days, but that doesn’t matter to me. I’ve been balls deep in you for days. You’ve screamed my name more times than I can count. My arms miss you when you’re not next to me. You may not need me to protect you, but I need you to want me here.”

  She stared at him as his words faded into the air. Not that he’d admit it, but he held his breath as he waited for her to speak again. Kneading her toes, he waited for her to acknowledge what he’d said. To give him this. Maybe to the outside world, he was someone who didn’t need others. A man who’d lived and died on the battlefield and come home a hardened shell. But for this woman, he’d gladly break apart into pieces if only she’d put him together again.

  “I do want you here. More than you know. We’re just so new. I don’t want to depend on you. Get used to having you around, only for you to leave as soon as it’s all over.”

  He smiled. “I’m not going anywhere. As long as you want me here, I’m here. And even when you think you no longer want me around, I�
��ll do whatever I can to change your mind.” Now he sounded like one of those cheesy ass greeting cards. Who the hell talked like that? Not him. There were women in his past—even some he cared about—and he’d never been this fucking sappy with them. Glancing up at Geneva, who had a soft smile on her face as she watched his hands massage her feet and lower legs, he knew this was different. He’d lose all his cool points for this woman. Sitting here with her, he felt at peace. For the past few nights, with her sleeping in his arms, there hadn’t been one nightmare. No blood. No screams. No visions of his friend crying out in pain, begging for one more chance to hold his wife and kiss his son goodnight. His sleep has been peaceful, quiet, and each time he shifted his position and woken up in the night, he’d pulled her body closer to his. Whatever pull she had on him, was enough to make him stay. Something about her calmed the demons that tore at his soul every night. There was no way in hell he was leaving her of his own volition. And if someone tried to take her from him, there’d be hell to pay.

  “MS. POWERS, this is a confidential meeting. Can your friend please step outside?”

  “I’m not leaving.”

  Geneva rolled her eyes at Reed as he stood off to the side. His eyes scoping the entire room as she sat in one chair, the CEO, John Livingston, sat next to her, the General Counsel sat across from them, along with two of the auditors from the outside firm. “I’d prefer he stay. With the calls I’ve been getting, it’s been a little nerve-wracking. He’s been helping me and providing protection when I’m out and about.”

  “Ms. Powers, do you really think it warrants a protection detail?” This from one of the auditors, a smug looking bastard with beady eyes. Just as she was about to answer, Reed broke his stance and moved closer to the table.

  “Yes, it does. Ms. Powers has been threatened with violence. In addition, the caller has insinuated that her boss’ death,” looking over at Geneva, he raised his eyebrow.