by Cara Carnes
“She’s a strong woman with a hell of a support system,” Jud said. “You will see her through this. We all will.”
“She’s never held Jessie,” Vi whispered. “Now our little nugget is about to come into the world. I can’t imagine how hard it is on Rhea.”
“Viviana.” He kissed her forehead and squeezed her tighter. “I love how protective you are of everyone you love, but you can’t fix this. Not alone. We’ll get her through it. That’s what family does.”
It’d taken her a long, long time to fully grasp the concept of family. “Never knew a love this strong existed until you, Judson.”
“Viviana,” he whispered. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I’m scared,” she admitted. “I can’t shake the feeling something terrible is about to happen, and I have no idea how to stop it. Zoey is so angry we’re green-lighting Addy and her team on the auction.”
“If you want to pull the plug on Addy and Kristof, say the word. I’ll handle him,” he growled. “I’ll find out what the bastard did to Addy while I’m at it.”
“No, Addy says it’s okay. We’ve got to trust her to handle it.” The female operative was one of the strongest, most capable people Vi had ever worked with and was trained from an early age to do anything necessary.
Something happened with Kristof.
But what?
There’s history between him and me. Leave it be. I’m okay.
There’d been a time not long ago that Vi knew everything about her friends. Mary, Bree, Rhea, and Addy had been her entire world outside work. What else didn’t she know? What had she missed?
“Calm, Viviana. Rhea and Addy will be okay,” he promised.
Nights like this pre-Jud, when her mind refused to shut down, she’d spent countless hours quilling, spinning her fears and darkest thoughts and deepest dreams into intricate designs she shared with no one. It’d been a while since she fed her worries to strips of paper and hid them away in her closet. The man holding her tight against him took every worry and vanquished it.
“Love you, Viviana.”
“Love you more, Judson.”
15
It was past midnight when Rhea and Bree stumbled into their cottage. Exhaustion dragged them toward their bedrooms, but Rhea’s brain continued its mental gymnastics. She’d done her part for the neutralizing agent. The next phase, where Bree turned the compound into a viable weapon in assorted dispersion methods, was underway.
Thoughts, ideas, fears, and what-ifs twirled and flipped and vaulted in Rhea’s mind until she growled in frustration and got out of bed. She padded over to her closet, pulled out her cello, and headed down the hall.
Cool air greeted her when she deactivated the alarm and exited the cottage. Insomnia had plagued her for a while. She’d had an occasional bout of it during Mary’s and Vi’s troubles, but it’d unleashed full force on her since Cuba.
Music was the only solace on particularly bad nights, but playing cello in the wee hours of the morning was a good way to irritate friends and protective commandos. HERA was one hell of a system, but she narced on everyone. The slightest squeak, and whichever operative was on security detail would know. She had come face-to-face with Cord and Nolan on many a night since Cuba.
There were few places on The Arsenal’s compound for her to play the cello and not disturb someone or set off HERA’s protective radar. One was on the vacant second-floor detainment area, which was conveniently soundproofed. But the last thing she wanted tonight was to feel trapped.
Contained.
Fresh air was needed more than anything. She inhaled the crisp country air. The faint scent of manure and grass mingled with lumber. She passed the makeshift supply yard, which had been set up in and around the new barn.
She slipped into the structure, which now housed several horses recently acquired as part of the Warrior’s Path Project. Equestrian and canine therapy programs would be underway within the next few months from what Dylan and Jesse had shared.
She bypassed the newcomers in their stalls and headed toward Peanut. Mary, Dylan, and Riley visited the beautiful horse the most, but Rhea snuck out on occasion and shared her music. When the darkest thoughts stole the breath from her lungs, the only thing that helped was inhaling the country and playing the cello.
Her appointed concerto chair—a hay bale across from Peanut—was prickly, scratchy, and exactly what she needed. She dug her tiger-slippered feet into position along with her cello. Eyes closed, she let the notes come as they wished.
No judgment.
No plan.
No expectations.
Tonight’s concerto played mournfully, then in outrage before drifting into fear mingled with desire. The latter was unexpected, but Rhea should’ve known her subconscious thoughts, the ones that guided her playing, would include Fallon.
Horses whinnied from the barn’s other entry. Pale light flashed within the inky darkness on the other side. Her heartbeat quickened but she continued the melody. Lost within the whispered pleas and secrets buried in the notes, she played.
Anticipation pebbled along her skin as her breathing quickened. Her body awakened to Fallon’s presence like it always did. She finished the final chord and peeked to her left.
Arms crossed, right foot kicked back and resting on a post at knee level, Fallon watched. No. Listened.
“That was beautiful,” he whispered. “You would’ve been a great addition to an orchestra.”
“This is the only orchestra I need. Far realer than the London Symphony.”
He motioned toward the horse moving along the front of his stall. “Peanut is clearly a fan.”
“He has particular tastes,” she commented as she set her cello in its case and stood, now aware of the threadbare t-shirt hanging down to her knees. Why hadn’t she put on shorts or a robe before leaving the cottage? “I wasn’t expecting company.”
“Come here, Doc.” He whispered the order but closed the distance between them, as if not trusting her compliance.
Fallon clasped the back of her neck with one hand while drawing her against him at the waist with the other. She sank into the kiss, a carnal fusion of mouths and tongues that cast a shockwave of desire along her skin.
“Fallon.” She growled his name like a curse when he severed the kiss too early. She grabbed his shirt, yanked.
Hunger reflected in his gaze as he tossed the shirt aside. Their mouths collided. A yelp escaped her when he lifted her up. Legs wrapped around his waist, she writhed against him and deepened the kiss. The rough jeans rubbed between her legs when she thrust against him.
He groaned and moved backward.
Rhea swallowed and peered down at Fallon, who halted at the hay bail.
“Stop me now,” he pleaded.
Heat fanned through her palm where it rested on his bare shoulder. She leaned down and trailed kisses along his throat, pausing to pay homage to the damage there. Remembering his hearing damage, she shifted sides.
“I want you inside me, Fallon Graves.”
“Doc,” he growled. They turned. He sat on the makeshift seat. She writhed against him as she straddled his thighs.
The prickly hay scraped along her knees, but she didn’t give a damn. Fallon grabbed the bottom of her t-shirt and pulled it over her head. Halfway.
“Beautiful,” he whispered as he held her cloth-pinned hands over her head and kissed a trail from her neck and down her chest.
She wiggled and squirmed against him until he released her arms. Warmth enveloped her hardened nipples. He toyed with one while sucking the other.
Flick. Lick. Tug. Suck. Pinch.
Repeat.
Moans escaped Rhea. Fallon alternated attention from one to the other. She squeezed his arms, ran her hands through his hair, then sank her nails into his skin. Damn the man.
“Fallon.” Urgency filled her voice as she yanked on his hair.
He chuckled and grazed her nipple with his teeth. “I’m taking my time with you, R
hea.”
Her breasts ached for more attention. Arousal pooled between her legs. She writhed against him, then pulled away. Need incited the rebellion. Fiery awareness flickered within her when she claimed his mouth in a slow sweep of her tongue along his lips. She drew the plump lower lip between her teeth and nipped.
Amusement rumbled from him as he smiled into her kiss. Playfulness danced within his eyes. “You can’t distract me from tasting you.”
He trailed kisses along the column of her throat, across her chest. Shock dragged a gasp from her when he dipped beneath her panties and ran a finger across her. Need shot through her when he grazed her clit, then thrust into her wet pussy.
“Lie back for me, Rhea. Let me taste you.” Fallon coaxed her backward until her back rested fully on the makeshift bed. All thoughts of the uncomfortable hay vanished when he knelt between her spread legs and pulled the panties off.
“Fallon, you don’t have to…”
He licked along her slit.
Rhea tried to move her legs, but Fallon pinned her with ease. He teased and flicked. Between his fingers and mouth, her entire body awakened beneath the cascade of pleasure building within her.
“Play with those gorgeous tits for me, Rhea,” he ordered. He licked her clit, then plunged his fingers into her. “Ride my fingers. Take them.”
Rhea ground against him and pinched her hardened nipples. Need pulsated within her, a rippling awareness synced with Fallon, the carnal fucking via his fingers and tongue. She grabbed his hair as he took what he wanted.
Her.
Need resonated in his gaze when it locked with hers. He sucked her clit, stroked fingers deep inside her wet pussy. Her body tightened as she came so hard it felt as though her entire body ignited. Fallon continued the onslaught.
“Fallon.” His name escaped in a breathy moan, a plea.
Although she wanted to feel him inside her, she wanted to explore. Play. She’d never enjoyed foreplay as much as she did with Fallon. She grabbed for him when he moved, shifting until he was above her. Heat greeted her roaming touch along his chest. She stroked and teased his skin, but he kept her held in place.
“My turn,” she growled against his throat. “I want to taste your cock, feel you in my mouth.”
“Next time.”
Hell no. Rhea wasn’t waiting to have him. They’d ignored their attraction too long. Tomorrow wasn’t a guarantee, not with the dangers they battled daily. She unbuttoned his pants, slid her hands into them, and grasped his long, hard length.
“Rhea.”
She loved her name from him, the breathy need he conveyed so easily. She kissed him, plunged her tongue into his mouth as she pumped his cock. “Get them off.”
Cool air brushed across her when Fallon shifted away. He returned, claiming her mouth. “We’ve gotta stop. I don’t have protection.”
She wrapped her legs around his waist and ground against the thick, hard arousal. “I’m clean.” He already knew she couldn’t get pregnant.
“Rhea.” He caressed her face, kissing her lips softly. “My sweet, Rhea. There hasn’t been anyone since I met you.”
The admission rolled through her in a feral need to claim what was hers, at least for tonight. She ran her hand down his chest, then guided his cock until it rested at her entry. “Take me, Fallon. I need you in me. Let me have you, at least for tonight.”
“This isn’t just for tonight.” He feathered kisses along her throat, then nibbled on her ear. “I could spend an eternity making love to you.”
“Fallon.” She couldn’t give voice to the doubt drowning the pleasure he incited.
But this was Fallon. They’d always shot straight with one another. He’d understand.
“I’m scared,” she whispered.
His gaze softened as he cupped her face. “Don’t ever be afraid of me.”
“I’ve never needed someone this much. If this ends badly…” She swallowed and stroked his face. “You’re right. This isn’t just tonight and I haven’t had more than casual for a long time.”
“Neither have I.” He whispered the admission and feathered his lips across hers. “I’ve dreamed of someone like you my entire life. Tonight is the start. You and me.”
Fallon took her hand, interlaced their fingers. Their mouths collided.
No. Fused.
Her eyes burned as the sensations assailed her. For once she felt…
Connected.
Each kiss, stroke, and nibble deepened the melding, the fusion of her and Fallon.
A growl escaped him as he took her mouth and surged into her. He stilled, buried deep in her. She relished the fullness, the rightness of him and her locked together as one.
“It’s better than I imagined,” he whispered. Forehead pressed against hers, he sighed and moved his hips. A moan escaped him. “It feels like…”
“Like what?”
“Home.”
Eyes open, she looked up at him and moved, thrusting in a frantic need to continue. Gazes locked, Fallon moved. The slow, deep claiming rippled through her entire body. She kissed down his shoulder, to his chest. She stroked each wound, then kissed.
“You’re a roadmap of pain,” she whispered against his nipple.
“I’d do it all over again because that road led me to you.” He pulled out, then sank deep in a slow glide that cascaded pleasure through her entire body. “Damn. You feel too good. I’m not going to last long.”
“Neither am I,” she whispered in his ear. “Fuck me, Fallon.”
“Rhea.” He growled her name, then thrust harder. Each movement quickened her pulse and dragged the breath from her in loud moans and gasps.
A frenetic need ignited within her. Her entire body synched with his. Every touch, every taste pulsated awareness beneath her skin. Sweat dampened their skin. His muscles flexed beneath her hands.
“Your touch is like an IED,” he growled. “I swear I’m about to explode.”
“Me too.” Arms now wrapped around him, she sank her nails into his ass and locked her legs around him. “Harder. Take me, Fallon.”
She clung to him, determined to suckle each moment. Sex hadn’t ever been so… raw. All consuming. Nothing existed beyond Fallon.
“Let go, I’ve got you.” Fallon caressed her face and kissed her neck.
She surrendered to the sensations imploding within her. Wrapped up in Fallon’s embrace, she came. Fallon claimed her mouth.
“Rhea.” He thrust one final time, then collapsed against her. Hot breaths fell against her cheek.
“Wow.” Words escaped her as Fallon drew her against them.
Their labored breaths fell in tandem, as though their bodies had synchronized every movement and truly become one. He stroked her face and then interlaced their hands once again.
Home.
The word struck her heart and burrowed in. He’d said she felt like home.
God.
Eyes burning, Rhea was unsure what to do with the intensity. This was about way more than one night. She doubted an eternity of lovemaking with Fallon would be enough.
Holy shit.
Fallon’s labored breaths matched Rhea’s as his mind processed what they’d done. He tightened, but the soft stroke along his chest chased away the nervousness.
The moment he sank into Rhea he’d…
Damn. Fallon rubbed his chest. Had he ever felt this safe? This…
Complete.
“Wow,” Rhea whispered.
“It’s gonna take way more than eternity for us to burn out, Rhea,” he whispered against her cheek. “What we’ve got is an eternal burn, and I’m not about to fight it.”
“Me neither.” Rhea smiled and burrowed deeper into their embrace.
Fallon was lost within the trust, the way Rhea not only met his passion with her own, but demanded more. Of him. He wasn’t some nameless man a woman met in a bar. She wasn’t a one-night stand he’d get up and walk away from.
She mattered.
This,
whatever the hell it was, mattered.
The conversation from earlier jumbled in his brain. Yeah, he’d had problems fitting in with everyone at The Arsenal. He’d kept his distance from most everyone. Rhea was an exception. Several others came in as pale alternatives.
“You’re quiet,” she whispered. “It’s been a while since I’ve…”
“Me too,” he admitted. “I’ve never had anyone like you, Rhea. No one’s ever affected me like that.” He leaned back and wished he’d had the decency to take her to a real bed. “Not sure Peanut enjoyed the show.”
Rhea chuckled. “He’ll survive.” She stroked his jaw and kissed his chest.
“I don’t know how to play this out,” he said.
“Play what out?” She traced a scar down his chest.
He put an arm around her and drew her closer, until her head rested on his chest. “I don’t want to let you go. You deserve better than me. But whatever this is, I can’t walk away from it.”
“I can’t either, even though I know you deserve better than me.” Rhea laughed. “We’re quite the pair. I think I win the prize as the most messed up, though.”
“No way. That’s mine.” Fallon laughed. She understood more than anyone else ever had.
“I called Dad earlier. Rhianna wasn’t there,” Rhea said.
“She good?”
“Yeah, they all are. He wanted me to call back, but it felt too weird.”
“You gonna tell her?”
“Mom wants me to, but she’s almost a grown woman. I’m not sure it’s in her best interest,” Rhea said. “Bree thinks I should tell her. My best friend doesn’t even understand my decision. At least, I don’t think she does from the conversation we had.”
“Is that why you were crying when I came into your lab?”
“Partly. I tried talking to her. You know, like you wanted me to.”
“Fuck, I’m sorry, Rhea. Bree loves you like a sister, though.” Fallon kissed her head and hugged her closer. “You two work it out?”
“Yeah. We always do.” Rhea looked up. “Is it hard? Hearing me talking about the daughter I gave up?”
