Celebrating Love: Saints Protection & Investigations

by Maryann Jordan

  A slow grin curved her lips as her tongue darted out, moistening them. “So, what do you want to do?”

  “I want you…your body under mine…or hell, on top of mine. As long as I’m in you when you come.”

  His words, rough and needy, speared her sex as she rubbed her core on his jean-clad leg, her clit aching for his touch.

  “I feel yucky from the long drive,” she claimed. “But your shower is big and huge and I’m dying to try it out.”

  “I can honestly say I’ve never had shower sex, but I’m willing to give it a shot.”

  “I haven’t either,” she confessed, “but I have it in my books, so—”

  “So, this is research?”

  Giggling, she nodded against his chest. “Oh, yeah. Definitely research.”

  Scooping her up in his arms, he stalked to the master bathroom as she squealed, hanging on as he nibbled on her neck. Twisting his body so he would not hit her head or her feet on the doorway, he settled her down on the thick bathmat. Turning on the water, he looked over his shoulder as she immediately shucked her clothes. With her hands on her hips, her naked body had his cock standing at attention. His eyes landed on the pendant dangling at the top of her breasts.

  Seeing his curious stare, she reached up, fingering the necklace. “Santa gave this to me just before he warned me to leave from a back door.”

  Shaking his head slowly, he grinned in amazement. “If you’d told me this last week, I’d have said you were crazy, but now? I’ll believe almost anything.” As his gaze slid down her body, his lips curved upward. Jerking his shirt off, he threw it on the floor. Her impatient fingers fumbled with his belt as he toed off his shoes. With his cock soon free, she knelt on the bathmat, taking him in her mouth as he slid his pants and boxers down his legs.

  His hands grasped her hair, winding the tresses through his fingers as she licked and gently sucked him into oblivion.

  Bayley looked upward, heady with power as she watched his head fall back, his face a picture of agony and ecstasy. His cock was thick, long veins running down the length. Her fist worked the base as she sucked while moving up and down his shaft slowly. Building speed, she was surprised when he pulled out quickly, stopping her protest when he grabbed her underneath her arms and lifted her up.

  “About to explode, Bayley, and I really want to come inside you.” He leaned over to snag a condom, but her hand on his arm stilled him.

  Seeing his confusion, she said, “I’m on the pill. Have been since college. The last guy I was with was over a year ago. So, I guess the only thing is—”

  “I’m clean,” he vowed. “Got the paperwork, ‘cause we have to be tested with the Bureau.”

  She bit her lip, saying, “Um, I’ve got paperwork too. I get tested at my annual exam, but the report is at my house.”

  He reached up and held her face tenderly in his hands. “Bayley, I trust you. Maybe it’s rash, but I trust you. And I’d really like to feel all of you around all of me, with no barrier.”

  “Come on,” she grinned. “Let’s do our shower sex research.”

  Entering underneath the spray of water, he pressed her back against the tile. “You got a specific way this is supposed to work or are we just going to wing it?”

  With her hands on his shoulders, she said, “In romance books, the guy always lifts the girl in his arms and then enters her with her back pressed against the wall.”

  His eyes filled with doubt but his cock was tired of the conversation and wanted to get back to business. Lifting Bayley was easy and she immediately wrapped her legs around his waist. He pressed her back against the wet tile, but she began to slip down.

  “Here, let me hold on to your shoulders,” Bayley said, feeling her ass sliding.

  Nick lifted his knee to give her balance, but his foot slipped on the wet shower floor, sending sprays of water shooting directly into her face. As she gasped, sucking in a mouthful of water, her hand flailed about, causing him to press her harder against the wall.

  “Nick, this isn’t working,” she wheezed, coughing as she swallowed several times.

  Setting her feet down carefully, he made sure she was steady as he moved so that the water hit his back and was no longer in her face. Staring at each other for a moment, they burst into laughter, water droplets sliding down their naked bodies.

  “Oh, God, Nick. In my books, it’s so easy!”

  “Tell, you what, baby,” he grinned. “How about you face the wall?”

  Her eyes sparkled as they widened slightly, lust deepening the blue. Turning slowly, she presented her back to him, her heart-shaped ass drawing his attention. With a slight wiggle, she placed her palms on the wall, bending slightly.

  He ran his hand from her neck, down her spine, over the globes of her ass, before sliding them up to her front, cupping her breasts. Tweaking her nipples, he elicited groans of pleasure from her lips. Stepping close, his cock nudged her entrance. Using his fingers to spread her folds, he slipped inside her sex with ease. The feeling of skin on skin, the friction of movement, had them both panting.

  The angle shot jolts of electricity through her, causing her core to tighten as she raked her fingernails along the hard tile. Holding on to her hips, Nick pumped in and out, knowing he was close. Sliding one hand to her front, he fingered her nub, feeling her fall apart in his arms. With a few more thrusts, his neck muscles tightened as he groaned, his orgasm sending shock waves through his spine and down his legs. Collapsing against her back, he held them up with one hand on the wall beside her head as his other arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her close.

  The water was cooling, so he turned it off, holding on to her as they stepped out onto the bathmat. Grabbing a towel, he began to dry her off, batting her hands away as she reached for the cloth.

  “I got you,” he said. “Let me take care of you.”

  Resting her head to the side, she smiled as he slowly and carefully dried off each inch of her body. As he finished, he bent to take her lips in a whisper-soft kiss. Pulling back slightly, he said, “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

  “For giving you to me. All of you for all of me. I’ve never experienced that before. Not like that.”

  “I’ve never wanted to be with a man without a condom before,” she admitted. “I can’t even say exactly why this felt so right.”

  With his arms wrapped tightly around her, he kissed the top of her head, leaving his lips against her hair. “ ‘The greatest joy is flying off into the star-filled night sky, into the unknown.’ ”

  Leaning back, she peered up at his face, her brows lowered as she pondered his words.

  Shaking his head, he said, “That was something Santa said to me while we were at the inn. I didn’t understand it at the time and, to be honest, I was thinking about my job. But now, I realize his words are right for us as well.”

  “So, we were flying off into the star-filled night sky?” she asked, her lips curving into a wide smile.

  Capturing them in a kiss, he murmured, “Oh, yeah. Definitely flying.”

  19

  Nick’s boots clicked on the floor as he stalked down the hall to his office. Passing by Margery’s desk, he stopped, accepting her greeting.

  “How’s your uncle?”

  “Think his old ticker’s gonna keep him going for a while.”

  She patted his arm, peering into his eyes. “Good…I’m glad, Nick. I was praying for him. Well, for both of you.”

  Lifting an eyebrow, he asked, “You think I needed those prayers too? Things that bad around here?”

  Pursing her lips as Mike walked in, she said, “Things seem to be changing, Nick. It’s not the way it used to be. Cases are getting reassigned on the whims of some of the bigwigs. Mike and I just try to stay in our little cubicles, doing the technical investigating. But for those of you on the front lines? It’s getting crazy.”

  “This got anything to do with Richard?”

  “According to Harlan, Richard’s got a
bee up his shorts when it comes to you. Personally,” she said, patting his arm, “I just think he’s jealous of your investigative successes.”

  Nick observed hesitation in her eyes and he tilted his head in silent question. Margery shot Mike a look before she plunged ahead. “You need to know that Richard has reassigned Mike and I to a different case. He says there’s nothing here to connect the nightclub snatching with the Russians and since…uh…well, in his words, ‘you’ve fucked up the investigation’, he’s moving on.”

  “Fuckin’ hell,” Nick cursed, his hands on his hips as he turned and faced the wall for a moment until gaining his composure. Sucking in a deep breath through his nose before letting it out slowly, he said, “I need you two to know that I may not be staying with the Bureau. I’m looking at options to make sure that I can continue to work this case.”

  “You’ve got to do what’s best for you,” Mike agreed. “Just don’t get burned waiting too long. I’d hate to see you go, but watch your back.”

  Holding on to his temper, Nick acknowledged Mike’s words with a head jerk as he continued to his office. Sitting at his desk, he stared into space for a long time, before picking up the phone.

  “Blaise? It’s Nick. I know Bayley called you last night but I wanted to follow up. The trip was good until yesterday when she saw the man who accosted her in the lobby. He did not see her and we made it out unnoticed. Listen, I need to talk to you face to face. Can you meet for lunch?”

  Making the arrangements, Nick disconnected. Pondering his next move, he dialed Jack. “Hey, man. We need to talk.” Coming up with a time to go to the Saints’ compound, he tossed his phone to his desk and looked around. The walls held a few photographs of Nick during his FBI career. Pictures he was proud of. Had been proud of. Rubbing his hand over the back of his neck, he turned to his computer and began to type.

  Lunchtime found him ensconced in a booth at a small Italian restaurant around the corner from Bayley’s shop. Seeing Blaise walk in, he smiled, now recognizing Bayley’s features in her brother’s face.

  Blaise slid into the opposite side of the booth, reaching across to shake his hand. Blaise’s blue eyes pierced his as he said, “So, you got something to tell me?”

  “Damn, man, you don’t mince words.”

  “Didn’t think you did either.”

  Leaning back, Nick nodded. “You’re right. No way am I going behind your back with Bayley, so I gotta tell you that I’m interested. And not just as an agent, but as a man.”

  Weighted silence sat over the men for a moment, before Blaise smiled. “Bayley hinted as much last night, but I really appreciate you coming to me.”

  “You got a problem with me being with her?”

  “Not at all.” Blaise leaned back in his seat, nodding as the waitress took his order. “I’ve wanted Bayley to be with a good man. Someone who appreciates her…uniqueness.”

  “And you think I’m that man?”

  “Nick, what I know about you, you’re as trustworthy as they come. And I’ve never known you to make a snap decision. So, yeah, if you tell me you want to be with my sister, then I know you’ll take care of her.” Grinning, he added, “And last night, she warned me that I’d better not stick my nose in her relationship. Then I got off the phone, told Grace, and she warned me about the same thing.”

  Shaking his head, Nick said, “Your sister’s special, no doubt about that.”

  The two men finished lunch, finding their conversation revolving around the women in their lives and barely touching on the case. As Blaise stood, he shook Nick’s hand, saying, “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You want to join Jack, I’ll be glad to have you as a partner.”

  Hiding his irritation over his job situation, Nick just nodded before he headed down the street to check on Bayley.

  “Nice to see you again. It looks like you’ve begun your book.”

  The dark-haired, pretty woman stood quickly from the table, her hand reaching for Bayley’s. “Please, call me Agnes.”

  Turning to Bruce, with her hand on his shoulder, she asked, “How’s the story going?”

  Bruce began talking but, as much as Bayley wanted to hear about his manuscript, she could not seem to escape the feeling of Agnes’ eyes on her. Excusing herself, she made her way behind the counter, moving straight up to her friend. “Hey, Daphne, has the new girl been coming in a lot?”

  “Yeah,” Daphne replied, wiggling her eyebrows.

  “Come on, what else is going on. I can always tell,” Bayley shoulder bumped her, bringing out a smile.

  “I think she likes him,” Daphne replied, nodding toward Bruce. “She comes in and always sits with him.”

  “Oh, honey,” Bayley hurried to say, “I know you kinda liked him—”

  “No worries,” Daphne laughed. “I did like Bruce, but my new guy is just as handsome.” Looking over Bayley’s shoulder, she said, “Shh, here comes Bruce.”

  “Ladies,” Bruce greeted, leaning his forearms on the counter in front of Daphne.

  “I told Bayley that you’ve been coming in a lot with Agnes,” Daphne said, her smile faltering slightly.

  “Not with her, but when we’re here, she does tend to sit at the same table with me.” Shrugging, he admitted, “She’s okay, but I don’t know how serious she is about writing.”

  “Maybe she just needs more encouragement. I’ll talk to her,” Bayley said. Before she could move, the bell over the door rang and the trio looked up as Nick stalked over to them. Nodding at Daphne, he ignored Bruce as he walked behind the counter, placing his hands on Bayley’s waist. “Hey, darlin’.”

  As she twisted her neck to look up at his handsome face, so close to hers, she grinned. “Hey yourself.”

  “I just had lunch with Blaise.”

  Lifting an eyebrow, she said, “And…”

  “He gives his blessing.” Seeing her beam, he queried, “Was there any doubt?”

  Playfully slapping his shoulder, she shook her head. “No doubt from me. He likes you…respects you. Hell, he probably hopes some of your neatness will rub off on me!”

  “Listen, I just stopped by to see how you were doing. The security is in place here, and you’re on the Saints’ grid, so they can see what’s going on at any time.”

  Whispering against his ear, her blue eyes sparkling, she asked, “Are you going back to the office now or can I talk you in to heading up to my office for a few minutes?”

  Kissing her neck, he groaned. “I wish, but I’m heading out to meet with Jack.”

  Dropping her smile, she twisted so she was facing him. “Oh…I take it things didn’t go well this morning at work.”

  Nick held her gaze, relishing the intuition and understanding pouring from her. Lifting her chin with his knuckle, his pressed a chaste kiss on her lips. “Don’t worry about it. I’ve got it covered. I’m heading out now, but I’ll be back to pick you up this evening.”

  Bayley’s dreamy expression stayed on her face as she watched him walk out the door. She never noticed the stare from Agnes, before the dark-haired woman moved to an empty corner, placing a call.

  Am I really doing this? Nick stood on Jack’s massive front porch, looking to the mountains in the background. Sucking in a deep breath, he let it out slowly. Just then the door opened, a serious-faced Jack greeting him.

  “Welcome back, Nick. Come on in.”

  The two men shook hands as they proceeded to the living room. The last time Nick had been in Jack’s house, the room had been full of Saints and some of their wives or fiancés. The now empty room was just as warm, but much more open as Jack motioned for him to sit on one of the oversized sofas.

  “How’s your uncle?” Jack began.

  Nick noted Jack’s full attention was focused on him, giving the impression that he really cared about his relative. Smiling, he replied, “Good. He should be fine and I’ll go back in a couple of weeks to make sure his rehab is going as planned.”

  Silence slid over them before Ja
ck said, “You wanted to meet so, Nick, I’ll let you take charge right now.”

  Clearing his throat, he heaved a sigh. “Hell, Jack, I find myself at a crossroads…one I didn’t expect. But, after careful consideration, I’m at the end of my rope. I’m turning in my resignation this afternoon.”

  Jack nodded slowly, his intelligent gaze steady.

  “I like order…I like piecing the investigations together, but I have grown increasingly frustrated with the politics of the job.” With a rueful huff, he added, “It used to be about doing the right thing and we all knew what that was. Now, that gets lost behind the politics of some of the people in power.”

  “What’s happened recently?”

  “My supervisor has decided he wants me off the kidnapping case. He’s into political gain and not into hard-core investigating. In trying to protect Bayley, he thinks I’ve jeopardized the case. But, to be honest, I think we’re bringing them out of hiding.”

  “So, you’re resigning?”

  “Yes. Not just because of what has happened with this case, though that has pretty much pushed me over the edge. It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a while now, and the time is right,” Nick stated firmly. “And I’d like to discuss coming to work for you. I’d like to stay on this case and bring what I know to your table.”

  Jack smiled widely, leaning back in his seat. “That makes me happy, Nick. I’ve thought for a while that your investigative skills would be a real asset to the Saints. You know who we are and what we do, but how about we go downstairs and let you take a look around. I can answer more specific questions then.”

  Jack led the way down the hall leading from the kitchen. He stopped at a closet door and pulled it open. With a few taps of his fingers on a hidden security pad, he entered the code and the back wall swung open, exposing another set of stairs leading down. Descending the steps, they moved through the door at the bottom, walking into a spacious, open room filled with computer stations and monitor screens on the walls.

  Nick stared at the hub of the Saints’ company space. He knew Jack had built his business from the ground up, filling the space with the latest equipment and the best men he could find, but this was something else. Jack pointed to the bank of computers at which Luke and Charlie sat, greeting him enthusiastically before going back to work.