Celebrating Love: Saints Protection & Investigations

by Maryann Jordan

  Patting his shoulder, Santa replied, “For me, the greatest joy is flying off into the star-filled night sky. That’s where I find the wonders of life. You should try it. Saint Nick…it has a nice ring to it, don’t you think? You just might find everything you’ve been missing.”

  Nick’s chest heaved as Santa’s words hit him…seriously hit him.

  “Hey, Nick…how’s Bernie?”

  Nick jerked his head around, seeing Bayley walking straight to him, her eyes searching his face. Her smile drooped slightly as she placed her hand on his arm.

  “Is everything all right?”

  “Yeah, yeah,” Nick assured, reaching up to take her fingers in his grasp. “I saw you reading to the kids but didn’t want to interrupt, so I was just talking to…uh…”

  Shifting her stance, Bayley looked over his shoulder. “Talking to who?”

  “Santa,” Nick said, twisting his head, seeing no one standing next to him. Whipping his head around, he realized he was all alone by the doorway.

  16

  “Are you about finished playing with your food?”

  Bayley had watched Nick for the past ten minutes as he moved his southern fried chicken around, eating only a few bites. He was distracted and even more tense than usual.

  “Sorry,” he said, a slight blush rising on his face. “I guess I’m not good company.”

  “What’s on your mind? Bernie?”

  “No…well, yes…sort of.” Rubbing his hand over his face, he cursed, “Damn, I’m not even talking in complete sentences.”

  Giggling, Bayley said, “Hey, you’ve earned the right to babble.” Gaining his incredulous expression, she said, “Switching cases, for someone like you, must have been hard.”

  Nodding slowly, he admitted, “Just seems like things are changing at work and I’m trying to figure out how to stay satisfied in my job.”

  “ ‘It’s what’s in yourself that makes you happy or unhappy,’ ” she quoted. Grinning, she confessed, “That’s from Agatha’s, A Murder is Announced.” She speared another bite of chicken and added, “You know, hearing about your uncle was so unexpected. And now you’re stuck at a holiday resort with a bunch of elves and a goofy woman.” She waved her hand around at the heavily decorated restaurant.

  His lips curved as he shook his head slowly. “Don’t throw yourself into the mix of the craziness of my life right now. You might have been unexpected, but I’m hardly stuck with you.”

  “Oh, yeah? How would you describe it?”

  He watched as the lights hanging from the surrounding trees sent slivers of colors over her blonde hair. Her eyes sparkled with an ever-present glow that he had never experienced until meeting her. “Beautiful…I’d describe you as beautiful. Inside and out.”

  Her mouth opened and closed several times, unable to come up with a response to his simple, yet heartfelt, compliment. Blushing, she nodded toward his plate. “Go on, eat up. I can’t wait to try their dessert. I’ve heard the Brandied-Candied Cake is divine.”

  He watched the color stretch from her chest up toward her hairline, the blush in the evening light making her more alluring than before. He fought the urge to lean over and trail his tongue along her blushing skin. With a mental shake, he dropped his gaze back to his meal before thoughts of devouring her took over.

  Soon, she began moaning as her lips closed over the fork containing a bite of dessert. “Oh, my God, mmmmmmm. This is so good. Here, have a bite.”

  Nick stared at her face, almost orgasmic, and all attempts at not wanting to throw her over his shoulder and disappear upstairs flew from his mind as the blood rushed to his cock. She was holding her fork out to him, the moist cake tempting, but not as tempting as her. Unable to stop himself, he leaned forward and slid his lips over the tines, pulling the cake into his mouth. Hearing another groan, he realized it came from him. He had no memory of ever taking a bite of food off someone else’s utensil—much less fruit cake, which he did not like—until now. And both were delectable.

  Chewing, he watched as she took another bite, staring at her lips and wanting them wrapped around his swollen erection. Tired of battling his desire and growing feelings for her, he stood suddenly, his hand outstretched toward hers.

  Eyes wide, her gaze jumped from his hand to his face before a smile slowly curved her lips upward. Placing her hand in his, she moved from her chair, allowing him to lead her toward the elevators.

  As soon as the doors closed, he took a step away, his mind fighting with his heart.

  “No,” she ordered, plastering her body to his, forcing him back against the wall. Lifting her hands to his cheeks, she rubbed her thumbs over the stubble along his jaw before moving them over his lips. Standing on her toes, she leaned in until her mouth was a whisper away from his. “Don’t fight this anymore.”

  With her name escaping his lips in a groan, he closed the distance, latching onto her mouth like a dying man searching for air. Noses bumping, they moved, sucked, licked as their tongues met and tangled.

  The doors opened but they paid no heed until the clearing of a throat sounded behind them. Laughing, Bayley pulled Nick out of the elevator leaving an older couple smiling in their wake.

  He fumbled with the card lock, but as soon as the door to their room opened, he whirled her around, pressing her back against the wall. His hands framed her face as he held on, angling her mouth for maximum contact, sucking her tongue into his mouth. Her breasts squashed against his chest and his swollen erection pressed into her stomach.

  After a moment…or an eternity, he lifted his head and gazed at her kiss-swollen lips, now red and slick, and her lust-hooded eyes, the sky-blue now stormy with need. Her eyes slowly focused then narrowed in confusion.

  “No, Nick, please don’t pull away from me. Not now. Not when we want each other so much,” she begged, her fingers grasping at his shirt.

  “Shh,” he said, his hands pulling her from the wall and into his chest. “I’m not stopping…I’m just making us more comfortable. I don’t want our first time to be—”

  “I don’t care,” she cried, “Our first time can be hanging from the ceiling for all I care.”

  Chuckling, he stepped back, pulling her along with him until the back of his legs hit the mattress. Standing next to the bed, he slid his hands to the bottom of her shirt, snagging it and slowly peeling it up over her breasts and her head, before tossing it to the floor.

  Dropping his gaze to her pert breasts, rising and falling with each ragged breath, the lace barely covering her nipples. Sliding his arms to her back, he unhooked her bra, letting it fall to the floor, allowing her nipples to harden. Pebbled with the cool air across her naked skin, he reached up and cupped her breasts with both hands, tantalizingly slow before slightly pinching both nipples and giving a little tug.

  A groan escaped her lips as the sensation zinged from her nipples to her core, sending shock waves to her sex. Throwing her head back, she clenched her thighs together to try to appease her body’s desire for friction. Soothing his palm over her nipples decreased the sting, but continued to send shocks of desire to her core.

  Her fingers fumbled with his buttons, finally managing to pull his shirt off his shoulders. Forcing his arms down, she hated to lose the connection, but wanted to feel his bare chest against hers. His shirt joined hers on the floor and, pulling her close, he flamed their desire as skin met skin.

  Slipping her skirt over her hips it puddled around her ankles, leaving her clad in only silky panties. “You’re over dressed,” she whispered, her fingers now tugging on his belt. Pulling it loose, she unzipped his pants, freeing his thick cock. Wrapping her delicate hand around its girth, she felt the groan rumble in his chest as her hand worked him.

  Whirling around, he backed her against the bed, pushing her down onto the mattress, hating the loss of her hand on his cock. Grabbing a condom from his wallet, he shucked his pants after toeing out of his shoes, flinging his socks and boxers across the room before looming over her
almost naked body. Snagging his fingers into the scrap of lace at her hips, he drew her panties down her legs, leaving her bare beauty open for his admiration.

  Crawling over her, he kissed her calves, up her thighs, moving his mouth over her mound, eliciting groans from her lips. Lapping, first her folds before moving over her clit, he loved the taste of her. Pulling her folds apart with his fingers, his tongue delved deeper.

  Replacing his tongue with his fingers, he sucked on her clit while scissoring his fingers deep inside. He slid one hand up to fondle her breast, pulling lightly on her nipple.

  Her hips rotated upwards pushing into his face as she felt her core tighten. Feeling the delicious pressure building in her core with the scent of arousal in the air, she desperately sought her release. With another simultaneous tug on her nipple and a suck on her clit, his fingers buried deep, she came, convulsing against his face. Exploding, as waves of bliss pounded over her, she threw her head back, allowing the sensations to carry her away.

  Nick grinned as he licked her slick folds once more, the taste of her excitement on his tongue and the delightful view of the smile on her lips. Kissing his way up her body, he moved between each breast, sucking then nipping, then kissing to soothe the sting.

  Wanting his lips on hers, she sat up and pulled his head in for a kiss. Warm. Pliant. She licked his lips and he growled his response.

  Taking over the kiss, he teased his tongue slowly into her mouth. Exploring. Tasting. Tempting. Cupping her face with his hand, he ran his thumb over her cheek, the soft skin silky underneath his finger. Determined to make the night last, he moved his mouth slowly over hers.

  Greedy, she grasped his shoulders, feeling the play of muscles underneath her fingertips. Laying her gently on her back, he bore his weight on his forearms, resting them on either side of her head while gently pressing his swollen cock against her pelvis.

  Throughout this exquisite torture, he held her lips, taunting and teasing them with his tongue. She spread her legs so that he could settle between them, his cock nestling into her wet folds that beckoned him.

  He grabbed the condom from where he had tossed it on the bed and rolled it on quickly. Keeping his gaze on hers, he deliberately slid his cock into her waiting body. Inch by tortuous inch. Not pounding. Not plunging. But so slow he could feel every twinge of her body. Memorizing her feel. Reveling in the sensation of her body accommodating him.

  Once buried to the hilt, he slid lazily back and forth. The friction built just as quickly as if he had been rocking into her. Both arms were on either side of her head again, and their eyes never wavered. Over and over he moved until finally the fevered pitch reached its crescendo.

  Determined to hold his gaze, she squeezed his shoulders tightly as her orgasm rushed over her, electrifying her body from her core outwards. Tightening her legs around his waist with her heels against his ass, she pulled him in as he emptied himself into her. His neck was corded with thick, straining muscles until he finally collapsed to the side, taking her with him.

  Eyes still connected. Hearts beating as one. Legs tangled and arms holding tightly.

  An hour later, Bayley lay sound asleep, her head resting on his chest next to her hand. Nick curled his arm around her, tucking her even closer to his heartbeat, the scent of lemons filling his nostrils. Unable to sleep, the advice he had gotten that day echoed in his mind throughout the quiet night.

  17

  “Here’s the key. Make yourself at home and I’ll prepare some tea for us and bring it over.”

  Vera handed Nick the key to Bernie’s apartment then headed off to her own. He opened the door and stepped through, his gaze sweeping the area before allowing Bayley entrance.

  She laughed, “I don’t think the boogie-man will be here.”

  Swatting her ass lightly, he said, “Force of habit.” As she moved into the kitchen to see if there was food that needed to be discarded, Nick stood in the living room and looked around. It had been two years since he had been back to visit Bernie. The neat home appeared very much as had Nick expected—no clutter, no mess, very functional. And yet, with photographs displayed on the walls and end tables, Nick was reminded that Bernie had never had mementoes out before. Stalking over to the wall, he viewed framed photographs of Bernie in uniform over the decades, all with different friends depending on the warzone he was stationed. Having just seen Bernie lying in a hospital bed, he was struck with the difference he found in him in the various photographs.

  “He looks the same, doesn’t he?” Bayley asked, coming up by his shoulder.

  “Huh? The same?”

  “Look at his eyes…the determination. That’s the same look that he has now. Determined to get better and get back on his feet.”

  Staring at the pictures with renewed interest, he realized Bayley was right. The same eyes stared back at him from over the years and he knew then that Bernie was going to be coming home from the hospital. Smiling down at her, he placed his arm over her shoulders, pulling her in slightly.

  Moving toward the sofa, he bent to see the framed pictures crowding the surface. Startled, he viewed ones of him and his parents when he was a child and pictures of Bernie and his dad when they were little. There was even a picture of Nick in high school wearing a baseball uniform.

  He picked up the frame, saying, “I had no idea he’d taken this picture. He came to my games, but I never saw him with a camera.”

  Just then, a knock sounded at the door and Bayley opened it, seeing Vera on the stoop with a tray in her hands. “Oh goodness, let me take that.” Relieving the tray from Vera, she invited her in and set it down on the coffee table.

  “Here we are, making ourselves at home in Bernard’s apartment. Wouldn’t he just fuss?” Vera giggled, pouring the tea into mugs.

  Nick, glad for the sturdy mug instead of a delicate teacup, smiled. “We never had much company when I was living with Bernie. I take it he’s the same now?”

  “Oh, he likes to grumble whenever there’s some kind of party or little to-do in the clubhouse, but I’ve gotten him to go out. He says it’s just to keep the old geezers around here from trying any funny business with me, but I think he secretly likes it.”

  Bayley snorted at the description of Bernie. “I just met him and yet I can see him dragging his feet and then glaring at the other men looking at you.”

  Vera met her smile before shifting her gaze to Nick. “It is true, that I do like your uncle a great deal. I was married to a wonderful man for almost fifty years, until he died five years ago. I moved in here about year before Bernard did and we became friends. I think he knew I wasn’t at a retirement home looking for another husband and our friendship seemed to keep the other women at bay.” Leaning forward, she whispered loudly, “Some of these women can really work to get their claws into a man, since they are so few and far between!”

  “I’m glad for your friendship with him, Vera,” Nick assured, setting his mug down. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Of course.”

  “These pictures,” Nick indicated with his hand, “how long has he had them out?”

  Surprise crossed her features. “As long as I’ve been coming over. He was…is…so proud of you.”

  Thinking for a moment, Nick offered, “He was a good man to take me in—”

  “He may have taken you in out of a sense of responsibility, but I assure you that Bernard thought you were the greatest thing in his life. Even more than the Marines.”

  Shocked silent, Nick’s mouth hung open. Bernie had mentioned regretting not taking him in right away, that they had needed each other, but he thought maybe the trauma of the heart attack had made Bernie more sentimental.

  Bayley leaned over, her fingers linking with his, a smile offered in comfort. Recognizing the need to move the conversation to a less emotional one, she said, “His refrigerator is good. I bagged up the spoiled veggies and poured the milk down the sink. I placed the garbage bag in his container.”

  “Oh, good,
” Vera said. “I hadn’t even thought about that.” She turned back toward Nick. “Does he know what his rehab will look like?”

  “He and I talked to the doctor this morning. He will spend at least three more nights in the hospital, leaving ICU and being in a regular room starting tomorrow if he continues to progress so well. The hospital will work with the facility’s nursing coordinator here and a home health nurse. If his needs can be met, he’ll come back here, with nursing assistance as needed.”

  “Good, good,” Vera nodded, a small smile playing about her lips.

  Bayley glanced at Nick, her grin indicting what she thought of Bernie’s attentive neighbor. With tea finished, Vera stood and placed the empty mugs on the tray. Refusing Bayley’s offer of help, she said goodbye, leaving the couple standing in the living room.

  “Was there anything else you needed to get?” Bayley asked.

  Jarred back to the moment, Nick dragged his gaze from the family pictures lining the walls, and said, “I need to get some clothes for him to put on when he leaves the hospital. I’ll get sweatpants and some t-shirts.”

  Bayley admired the view of Nick’s backside as he walked down the hall toward Bernie’s bedroom. “Don’t forget underwear,” she called after him. “Everyone wants clean underwear when they leave the hospital.”

  Hearing Nick chuckle from the bedroom, she sighed, waiting patiently until he returned, a small travel-bag in his hand. After returning the key to Vera, he linked hands with Bayley and they climbed back into his vehicle. Back at the hospital, they headed up the elevator to Bernie’s floor.

  “I figure, once things are settled tomorrow, you and I can start the trip back.”

  “Are you sure? I don’t mind staying longer. Daphne says the shop is fine.”

  “I appreciate it, but I’ve got to get back—as long as Bernie is doing well.”

  “Are you worried about the case?”

  Nodding, he admitted, “Not really worried, but I’ve got some decisions to make.” Stepping off the elevator, Nick said, “Come on into the room with me. I’d like you to meet Bernie.”