Forever Guarded

by Kathleen Brooks

  “He was the worst,” Jace agreed. Piper silently agreed too.

  “Aiden,” Piper said, drawing his attention away from the older women, even though he’d been watching her since she stepped away to go talk to her brother and sister. “You know my brother, Jace. This is my little sister, Cassidy.”

  “Pleasure to meet you,” Aiden said, shaking her hand. “Piper has told me a lot about you.”

  Cassidy turned to Piper and mouthed marry him before turning back to Aiden. “I know I’m looking forward to hearing more about you and how you and my sister met and started dating.”

  Piper didn’t have a chance to respond as the nurse came hurrying back out. Everyone stood and waited. “Your newest Davies is here!”

  28

  Piper looked down at the sleeping bundle in her mom’s arms and for the first time in her life she wanted one of her own. She looked up and caught Aiden looking at her thoughtfully.

  “She’s beautiful, Mrs. Davies,” Aiden said, handing her the teddy bear. Tammy squeezed his hand and smiled up at him and Piper as if she knew something they didn’t.

  “Oh Mom, she’s adorable,” Cassidy gushed.

  “I did play some part in making her, you know,” Pierce said.

  “I know, sweetie. And you did good,” Tammy said, holding out her hand for her husband to take. Piper saw the strong bond between them and felt Aiden shift so he was standing behind her with his hand on her shoulder.

  “The doctor said your mother did better than any twenty-year-old,” Pierce said with pride.

  “Honey, why don’t you take her and introduce her to her family?” Tammy said as Pierce bent and gently placed the newborn in his arms. He turned to his mom, Marcy, first and knelt down to place the baby in her outstretched arms.

  “Mom, meet your granddaughter, Cricket Davies.”

  * * *

  Within thirty minutes, the entire town of Keeneston had bribed their way into the room with pies, cookies, cornbread, and casseroles. Aiden never asked to leave. He was having too much fun. Instead, he spent the time talking to everyone, laughing with Jace and Cassidy, telling stories with Dylan, who somehow never told one of his own, and hanging out with the rest of her extended family. Grandpa Jake laughed at the stories of the Lynton goats as he cradled his newest granddaughter in his arms.

  Piper put her hand on Aiden’s arm as he talked to her cousin Sophie. “I’m ready to sneak out and let my mom get some rest.”

  “Whatever you want, babe,” Aiden whispered back. He turned and said goodbye to Sophie. Before they left, they made the rounds once more. “Mrs. Davies, Cricket is perfect. Congratulations.”

  “Thank you, Aiden. Why don’t you hold her?”

  Pierce didn’t give him a chance to say no. Piper’s little sister was placed in his large arms. Her sleepy eyes batted open, and she grabbed his finger. How could someone so small change your whole life? But he saw it. He saw it in the way this child had an effect on everyone in the room. She was born into something big. Something loving. Something filled with people who wanted to help her live her best possible life. And he’d be damned if he didn’t feel the same way. He wanted to be a part of this kid’s life too. And when he looked at Piper, he knew he wanted to experience this with her as well. Someday he hoped to be holding their daughter in his arms.

  “Hello, poppet,” he whispered to her. “You be a good girl tonight and let your mum rest.” He kissed her forehead gently and handed her back to Tammy.

  Piper kissed her mother and father and started out the door before Tammy called out to Aiden. “Yes?” he said, turning back to her.

  “You’re part of the family now. You have all the blessings you need. But most importantly, treat my daughter well. Don’t make me get out of this bed and smack you for blowing the best thing that will ever happen to you. I expect an engagement, a wedding, and a grandchild. Little Cricket needs family to play with after all.”

  “I’ll see what I can do about that,” Aiden said with a wink.

  “What the hell happened?” Aiden turned to the door to see Draven holding his head and leaning against the door.

  “You slipped and hit your head. The nurses took excellent care of you,” Piper said with a straight face.

  “Is little Draven here?”

  Tammy grinned and called Draven over. “Meet Cricket.”

  “Oh, a girl! Dravina would have been good too, but Cricket is cute. Like a little insect she is.” Cricket chose that moment to spit up some of the milk she’d just had all over Draven’s shirt.

  Draven couldn’t believe he was wedged in the back of a car between three old ladies. And not one of them grabbed his royal member. What was wrong with them? It would be worth the humiliation, though. He was twenty minutes away from seeing the one woman who blew his mind. Or at least he hoped he’d see her. The Rose sisters assured him that everyone would be at the café. And when they pulled up, it did seem that most of the town was still there.

  Through the large windows he saw the two FBI guys from earlier talking to the waitress and the cook. Then he saw the nerdy guy with his eyes staring at Nikki’s enormous boobs. He remembered her name. When she’d leaned in and talked dirty to him, his royal member had shrunk and gone into hiding.

  The car stopped and Aniyah got out and went straight into the arms of her Sugarbear. Apparently he was some kind of law enforcement. The Rose sisters gingerly emerged from the car along with Marcy. Draven was finally able to get out of the car and get a good look inside. There she was. He didn’t know what this feeling was. His royal member wasn’t the only thing pounding. So was his heart.

  Draven opened the door to the café and Nikki shoved the poor nerd out of the way and stuck her body on his like a leech. “Oh, your majesty.”

  But Draven ignored her. The woman who made him feel things he’d never felt before wasn’t paying him any attention as she sat at a table of her friends. She didn’t pay him attention last time either. It’s what drew his attention to her. And when he’d tried out his best lines on her, she’d rolled her eyes and turned her back on him. But not tonight. Tonight would be different.

  Nikki’s hand cupped his member, and she purred as she rubbed her body against his. “I’m sorry, that’s not for you,” Draven said, pulling her hand away. “But you’re the lucky woman tonight sitting with him.”

  “Dudley?” Nikki replied.

  “Yes. Didn’t you know? He saved everyone tonight with his chemistry genius.”

  “He’s a nerd,” Nikki said as she reached down to grab his butt. “I don’t do nerds. I do kings.”

  Draven lowered his voice. “You don’t know about nerds?”

  “What about them?” she whispered back.

  “They’re very attentive lovers. So much so, I’ve had lessons from them in the oral arts,” Draven lied. Until that moment, he’d always been a very selfish lover. But looking at the woman across the room made him want to get on his knees and pleasure her all night long. Their last encounter had been brief and accidental, but it had left an impression on him.

  “Really?” Nikki asked as she looked back at Dudley.

  Draven shrugged. “Don’t take my word for it.”

  “You’re really going to pass this up?” Nikki asked, pressing her mammoth mammaries against his chest.

  “I am. But I’m doing you a favor since I consider you a friend. The nerd will worship you instead of you worshipping me.”

  Nikki looked back at Dudley once more. “I didn’t think about it like that. I like the idea of being worshipped. Thanks, buddy.”

  Draven let out a breath as Nikki rushed back to the table and ran her hand down Dudley’s chest. The man looked as if he’d expire on the spot with pleasure. Draven smiled to himself. It looked like all those diplomacy tips Queen Suri and Princes Mo and Zain had given him really did work. Feeling unsure for the first time in his life, Draven walked to the table of women. They stopped talking as he smiled down at her. “Hello.”

  Aiden an
d Piper moved as one. They didn’t say anything as their eyes locked. Aiden brushed aside a strand of her hair as he moved above her and kissed her. They’d made love every night for the past couple of days. Well, night, day, it didn’t matter. What mattered was they were so in sync it should be frightening, but Aiden found it exhilarating.

  Sometimes they were fast, hard, against-the-wall encounters when they just couldn’t stand another second apart. And others, like now, he enjoyed savoring every achingly sweet and slow moment. They had helped her mother get settled with Cricket. Answered all the questions about Phobos, who was currently being held at a secret government location as Rahmi and US agents worked to bring down the rest of his organization. And now it was time for Aiden to go back home later tonight. He was flying out at midnight.

  Only this time he wasn’t going alone.

  Piper clutched his arms as her whole body convulsed, triggering his own orgasm.

  “I love you,” Aiden said, resting his forehead against hers.

  “I love you too.

  Aiden slipped from the bed and looked at the clock. “I’m sorry, love, but I have to run out real quick.”

  “Again?” Piper asked, sitting up and leaning against the headboard.

  “Yes, hopefully for the last time.”

  “Are you going to tell me about these mysterious disappearances?”

  Aiden smiled as he headed to the bathroom. “Not yet,” he called out to her. He heard her protest, but he had a plan and he was sticking to it.

  “I guess I’ll pack while you’re gone.”

  “Good idea, luv,” he said, kissing her after he walked nude into the bedroom.

  “Does this have anything to do with your refusal to talk specifics about our future other than saying you think it’ll work itself out?”

  Aiden didn’t answer as he stepped into his jeans and pulled on a dark green sweater. “I’ll be back soon.”

  * * *

  Piper let out a huff of annoyance. They were so happy, she didn’t want it to end but it must. They were flying into London and then driving to Lynton to get her virus. She had notes of things she wanted to do to fix it. Now she just needed to be here in her lab and run tests on it. Dudley and Sada were meeting her in three days at the Lexington lab and together they were going to solve the problem and launch the most revolutionary medicine known to man. Epidemics wouldn’t stand a chance against her nanotech cure.

  Piper’s phone rang and she answered it as she started packing.

  “Is it true?”

  “Is what true?” Piper asked Abby Mueez.

  “About his penis. What else would I want to know about?”

  “Every story you heard is completely false.”

  “Oh,” Abby said with disappointment.

  “There’s no way they could grasp the full size of it and his ability to use it.”

  “Sweet magnolia,” Abby sighed and then giggled. “So, it’s going well between you two?”

  “Sure is. The future is still up in the air, but he did agree to go to the Daughters of Elizabeth Ball with me for New Year’s Eve. We’re heading back to England in a couple hours. He’ll stay there, and I’ll come back to my project.”

  “Maybe you can get a mold of his penis before you leave,” Abby snorted.

  “Oh my gosh! Who told you?”

  “Both Jackson and Dylan told me. I guess Dylan told Jackson and Jackson called me and then I couldn’t help but call Dylan to rub it in.” Abby cracked up and Piper did too. “That he took a dildo to the face. Oh my gosh, I will forever be in love with Aiden for that.”

  Piper talked to Abby as she packed and finally it was time to go. She was showered and waiting for Aiden when he returned. Much to her annoyance, he wouldn’t talk about where he’d been . . . again. Instead, he hurried her from her house and they drove to the airport. With a sigh, Piper took her seat on the plane next to Aiden.

  “Get some sleep, babe. Tomorrow is going to be a very busy day.”

  * * *

  When Piper opened her eyes, they were landing in London. She was cramped from sleeping on a plane but luckily well rested as they made their way through security and out to the car Eddie had dropped off for them. And soon all her worries were cast away as he drove them toward Lynton. Once they left London, the countryside was beautiful. They talked the entire way and when they pulled into the airbase, Wick was waiting for them.

  “No one has come looking for your—what is it exactly?”

  “A deadly virus that could wipe out the world.”

  “Funny,” Wick said with a roll of his eyes. The commander happily handed off the virus and accepted her thanks for trusting him with it. Probably because several higher-ups in the government had also called to thank him for his vigilant work.

  Mrs. Creed greeted them at the bar and handed over her notes. Now with everything in hand, Piper started to get the itch to get back in the lab. And she would be soon enough. She’d be leaving tomorrow. Alone.

  “Lovey, do you want some fish and chips?” Mrs. Creed asked.

  “Yes, please. I’m starving.”

  “I hope you don’t mind, but I asked Eddie to meet us here for our meeting.”

  “Why would I mind?” she asked Aiden.

  “I told him he could bring his daughter.”

  “Of course! If I can inspire just one woman to join the science ranks, I’ll feel as if I accomplished something.”

  “You’ll inspire more than one as soon as the world learns what you’ve done.” Aiden chimed in. He put his arm around her as she leaned against him. His mother brought out the food and the three of them talked, told stories, and laughed for an hour before Eddie and his daughter showed up.

  “Oh my gosh! Dr. Piper Davies!” The girl screamed as she looked back to her dad for reassurance.

  “Surprise,” Eddie grinned.

  “You are the best,” she said, hugging her dad.

  “Eddie and I have to talk so you two enjoy yourselves,” Aiden told her.

  Piper watched as Eddie and Aiden walked across the bar to an empty table. She turned to the young girl and smiled. “Come, sit. Let’s talk about my favorite subject in the world—science.”

  * * *

  Aiden shook Eddie’s hand before the two men joined the women at their table. Piper and his daughter were in an animated discussion about mutations when they arrived.

  “It’s time to go,” Eddie told his daughter who groaned.

  “Do we have to?” the young girl whined.

  “Here’s my number and email. I expect to hear from you often,” Piper said, sliding a piece of paper to her.

  “Thanks!” she said excitedly as she left talking so fast to her dad that Aiden couldn’t make out her words.

  “Are you ready?” Aiden asked.

  “Aren’t we going to wait for your mom?”

  Aiden shook his head. “If I only have a night with you, we’re not spending it at my mum’s. I rented a little cottage for us.”

  * * *

  The cottage was beside a stream, surrounded by wilderness. The owner already had dinner cooked and waiting for them in the cottage along with some champagne and wine. And when Piper gasped in pleasure at the cottage, Aiden knew he’d made the right choice.

  “Oh, Aiden. This is perfect,” she said, looking around the cottage. The stone fireplace was lit, dinner was warm in the oven, and the bedroom windows didn’t even need curtains since they were completely alone out here.

  But then her smile fell. “What is it, Piper?” Aiden asked, reaching for her.

  “I’m going to miss you. New Year’s seems likes forever when it’s only six weeks away. Am I silly?”

  Aiden pulled her close and kissed the top of her head as he held her. “No, it’s not silly. I’m going to miss you too.”

  And for the rest of the night, Aiden showed her how much he’d miss her with every caress, kiss, nip, lick, and thrust.

  29

  Five days later . . .


  * * *

  Piper stared at the computer results. Was it really that easy? After only two days of work? Sada and Dudley screamed and hugged each other. She’d done it. They’d done it. They’d taken a look at her notes, made the adjustment she thought of in Bermalia, and FAVOR was perfected.

  It would still undergo years of testing, but it was done. She knew it deep in her heart. This would save millions of lives. Sada wrapped her arms around her, and they jumped up and down.

  “Dudley, what are you doing? Get over here!” Sada laughed as Dudley typed something out on his phone.

  “I’m writing Nikki. If what she did for me helping defeat Phobos blew my mind, I can’t wait to see what she does when I tell her this. It is okay, right?”

  “Right,” Piper laughed. She had no doubt this thing between Nikki and Dudley wouldn’t last, but it was giving him a lot of confidence and Nikki seemed very sated. But she also had a roaming eye. Especially for firefighters.

  “Okay, here I go,” Piper said, sending a secure file to the pharmaceutical company that had provided the grant. She’d already called an armored guard to arrive in an hour to transport the sample to them as well. Piper wanted to scream. She wanted to cry. But mostly she wanted to celebrate with Aiden. They talked or texted constantly, but it wasn’t the same.

  With her work done, she thought about flying to England for a couple days, but Aiden said he was slammed at work. Soon. They’d meet up in Atlanta very soon. Piper, Sada, and Dudley packed up the samples and broke out a bottle of bourbon as they waited for the guards to get there. By the time guards arrived, Piper had video-chatted with Aiden to let him know she’d accomplished her goal and they might have been a little tipsy.