by Kells, India
However, everybody knew Killian had too much training to touch anything without his mistress’s consent. When and how had he been poisoned?
At the same time, Wolf and Alex were working on the computer side of things, trying to find out where the email had come from. The initial assessment made both men frown, meaning it would take some time.
Cleo, the trooper she was, remained at the agency too, but Mason could see how broken she was. It was obvious she was riddled with guilt. He wished he could whisk her away and make her forget everything, but there was too much work to do, and nobody would move until they had news from Caitlin.
Returning to his office, Mason was distracted by his cell phone buzzing in his vest. Making sure to close his door, he saw it was Mercy.
“Hey! You alone?”
That question didn’t bode well for Mason. “Yeah. I’m in my office with the door closed.”
“I heard about Killian. Any news yet?”
“No, nothing. I’ll call you as soon as I have information.”
“Thanks. I wasn’t calling about that, though. I found Spears and he’s in Miami.”
Everything in Mason went still before rage slowly took over his body. Only experience and logic made him keep his head when everything wanted to punch the man who’d put fear in the young Cleo. “Where is he?”
“He’s at Mercy Hospital. I’m really starting to hate the name of that hospital.”
That wasn’t something he expected to hear. “How come?”
“Spears isn’t here as a patient but came with his sister. She’s having treatment for some kind of cardiac problem. I still need to investigate. I don’t know yet if it’s a cover or if Spears even knows Cleo is here. I’m going to hang around until visiting hours are over and follow him. See where he’s staying. I’ll keep you updated.”
“Want me to come to you, Mercy?”
“No need for now. I’ll follow him at a distance. If he does anything stupid, gets close to your apartment, Cleo’s place, or the agency, we’ll know.”
Mason would have preferred being in the middle of the action, but he understood it wasn’t needed for now. “Okay, call for back-up if you need it and send me pictures of the man. I want to know what he looks like. And why he chose Miami to treat his sister.”
“I’ve already sent everything to Malco. Mercy is renowned for its cardiac surgery, but the coincidence doesn’t jive for me. Malco will do some research on that and join me later. Better to have two sets of eyes in this case.”
His anger took a step back as he realized Mercy had everything under control. ”Thanks, Mercy.”
When they disconnected, Mason took a few deep breaths, calming himself. He had to stay in control of himself, if only for Cleo’s protection. Shaking his head, he was ready to jump back into other parts of the investigation when running footsteps came from the main hall. Hand on his gun, ready for anything, Mason opened his door to see Shane and Emme, as well as the rest of the team, crowded around Cleo’s desk.
The violet head turning to look at him reassured Mason instantly. She came to his side and linked her fingers with his. It was the first time she’d come to him willingly, especially when the other members of the team were around.
Shane spoke. “I’ve heard from Caitlin. Killian has been stabilized, but he had indeed been poisoned. The vet told her it’s not a current product, so we’ve asked him to get a blood sample and send it to a lab I know. We should get the results soon.”
Cleo’s hand jerked in his grasp before tightening. “It’s my fault.”
Shane reacted before Mason could open his mouth. “Cleo, stop it. You didn’t poison, Killian. Some asshole did, one who thinks he has power over you and can hurt you. Don’t ever blame yourself again. You have an entire team that cares about you and has your back. Killian included.”
Cleo relaxed a bit as the other people present in the room stepped closer in silent agreement. Wolf smiled and winked at her. “And you take care of the money. That makes you the most important and feared member of our team.”
Alex rolled his eyes, elbowing him, but everyone laughed, which defused the intense situation.
Shane shook his head as he addressed the team once more. “I want each of you to be extra careful. We’re not certain where the threat is coming from yet. James, I want you to go to the clinic too. Killian isn’t being released yet, and Caitlin is staying with him. Cain will need back-up. As for the rest of you, go home and rest. It’s been a long day, and we need fresh eyes in the morning. Mason, before you leave, can I have a word?”
Emme went to Cleo as Wolf and Alex disappeared into the conference room with the others. Mason winked at Cleo before following Shane into his office.
His boss was curt and to the point. “Any news on your front?”
Mason sighed. “I’m running something on the side. Mercy is on it with Malco. I don’t know if it’s a solid lead or not, but it’s a potential threat from Cleo’s past. Otherwise, Alex and Wolf are on the computer side of things. Speaking of computers, boss, we need somebody with better skills to help. We manage, but it’s taking us way more time than it should.”
Shane nodded. “I’m looking for someone, a specialist, but it’s not easy. We need to trust that person with our lives, and hackers are flighty and dangerous. If we include one in our team, they have to be the best without any shadows in their past that could become a threat.”
Mason couldn’t agree more, but it meant in the meantime, they had to make do with what they had.
“I’m assigning Nick and King to your building. And before you say it’s unnecessary, Nick’s already found a couple of entry points that may be problematic. It’s only an extra precaution so you can focus on the investigation and protecting Cleo. It’s non-negotiable.”
Mason nodded. He wasn’t about to turn down help or any advantage he could get until he knew without a doubt who was threatening the woman in his life.
* * *
Mason had been silent the moment he’d left Shane’s office, as if his mind was processing too many things, like an overheated computer.
Cleo wasn’t dumb, the way he’d closed up meant he was on to something, and she noticed him looking at her, opening his mouth as if to speak before stopping himself.
Distracted, he informed her about having Kingsley and Nicholas on security duty, looking around until they were safely locked inside his apartment. Even then, his attention went straight to his phone. Something was going on, and she wanted to know what it was.
Leaving him to his calls, Cleo went to the bathroom and turned the shower on. The blistering water was heaven and helped her clear her head. From the moment the stalker had attacked her, Mason had become her protector. But he had still been open with her, telling her about the investigation. Until this morning. It wasn’t much of a stretch to guess the reason why. He was an investigator, every piece of information he had, everything he suspected could link to her stalker, he would use to keep her safe, and that included the information about Jeffrey Spears.
Cleo realized she still feared the man, but even more now that Mason had become such an essential part of her life. Until now, until him, she hadn’t had anything to lose.
Every time they were together, Mason inched his way deeper under her skin and inside her heart, in a way she’d never thought she’d be lucky enough to experience.
Almost disappointed he hadn’t joined her in the shower, Cleo dried herself as her eyes fell on her bag. There could be a way to make him take a break. Brushing her hair until it shone, she put on a green satin slip adorned with black lace and looked at herself in the bathroom mirror. The color was bright and despite her initial reluctance, went perfectly with her hair. It gave her a fae, almost ethereal, look. With the fluttering of satin caressing her body, she opened the door and followed the sound of Mason’s voice still on the phone.
Most of the lights in the apartment were out, and he had drawn the curtains over the windows. Mason was on his phone, p
acing and nodding, and for a moment she watched him as she stood in the corner out of his line of sight.
He had removed his jacket and rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt over his thick forearms. He still sported his holster, and that gave him an air of danger she rarely saw in him. He often smiled at her, but when he was deep in an investigation, it was as if he had a different persona. His intensity made her skin burn. He finished his call and turned, his eyes finding hers and it was like he’d been punched in the gut. His entire body came to a halt and tensed, his eyes turning to embers as he detailed her body.
Heart jumping, Cleo smiled, and without a word, she turned and swayed her hips as she walked toward his bedroom.
As she hoped he would, he followed her. She was turning on the lamp on the nightstand when the door clicked closed, making her heart race with excitement.
Slowly pivoting to face him, she saw Mason leaning against it. ”I thought you’d like to see some of the lingerie you paid for.” Looking down, she cupped her breasts before letting her hands slide over the shiny fabric in the soft light. “It fits nicely, don’t you think?”
When she glanced at the man before her, it was evident her teasing was getting to him.
“I think you look like a fucking fantasy and I’m afraid to wake up.”
Cleo moved closer and put her palms over his heaving chest. “Maybe you’re right; maybe this is only in your head. So, just for the sake of discussion, what would I do in this dream of yours?” She let her hands drag down over his stomach until she hooked her fingers over his belt buckle. “No suggestions? I have an idea or two if you don’t.”
Before he could react, she fell to her knees and undid his pants before pushing them down. His erection bobbed up and with a wink, Cleo licked him from root to tip. The shudder that shook his body made her squeeze her thighs together. Lavishing him with her tongue as he grew harder, Cleo switched it up and swallowed the length of him before he could react.
Mason’s voice echoed in the room as he cursed, and his hands fisted in her hair. “Look at me, Cleo.” The demand was terse, his voice gravelly, making her instantly comply. She’d noticed how his English accent got stronger the closer his emotions were to the surface.
Her eyes didn’t leave him as she lost herself in him. His grip on her hair stayed gentle, only supporting her head as she started to suck. Her hands ran over his legs, enjoying his body, caressing the skin and muscles within reach, even sliding her palm over his abs.
Eyes hooded, full of lust, his body moved to the same rhythm as her mouth.
Determined to make him see stars, she swirled her tongue over him, sensing the speeding pulse, but Mason had another plan in mind. Before she could react, he pulled her up, and taking her in his arms, he tossed her on the bed. Giggling, Cleo bounced as Mason shed his clothes at lightning speed. Gloriously naked, with the expression of a man on a mission, he towered over her with such intensity, she started to slide back, her core tightening in expectation.
Mason grabbed her ankle and pulled her forward. “You’re not going anywhere.” And with his other hand, he pushed the satin slip over her thighs.
Cleo was caught in his hungry stare, widening her legs in a plea, her hips undulating on their own. He’d only touched her foot, and she was ready to combust.
Once more, he pulled her toward the edge of the bed, lifting her legs up. She shivered knowing nothing was between them. At first, she thought he would just take her, but his hand started tracing her sex. The touch was light, way too light for her, more of a tickle before he traced her entrance. “You’re so wet, so warm. Is it for me, Cleo?” Nodding, Cleo tried once more to push her hips up, silently begging. “Take it off. I want to be the only one touching you tonight.”
Mason continued to caress and tease her as she wiggled to remove the slip. As she stretched to pass it over her head, his fingers started circling her clit, and she cried out.
“Yes, you’re my fantasy right here on this bed. You can’t imagine how many times I took myself in hand in the shower, here and at Alliance, thinking of you like this. I couldn’t think straight I was so entranced by you, Cleo.”
“Mason, please. Please.”
He shook his head, but at the same time, inserted one digit inside her, and then another. “Is that better?” he asked as he gently fucked her with his fingers.
In a tornado of lust, Cleo swallowed hard before speaking. “I want you, Mason. I want your cock deep inside me.”
His jaw clenched for a moment, his erection pulsing until he bent down and took out a condom from his pants. In record time, he sheathed himself and poised his tip at her entrance. Cleo was so twisted with desire, and unable to wait she wrapped her hand around him, trying to take control. Mason smiled, licking his lips as he indulged her by pushing himself just inside her.
Cleo was on the verge of losing any sanity she had left when he finally impaled her. The movement was swift, stretching her in the most satisfying way. Her vision blurred when Mason hooked her legs over his shoulders. Her hands cupped her breasts, pinching her sensitive nipples in order to alleviate the pressure building inside her.
His hips pistoned into her with increasing speed, and it was too much and not enough at the same time. Mason took advantage of her vulnerable position and ran his thumb around her clit a few times before pinching it with his fingers. It was like her body became electrified, and she cried out as pleasure took over her.
Mason didn’t slow down and let go of her legs to cover her body, lapping at her breast before covering her mouth in a searing kiss.
Her legs locked in the small of his back, her hands all over his sweaty skin and she felt another wave of pleasure swelling before she’d even come down off the first one. It was madness, unleashed control in a way that suited her perfectly. Having Mason out of control in her arms, nipping and sucking, grabbing her hips and arms in bruising strength, revealing how much he wanted her was paradise. She felt him slam his cock over and over again inside her, clearly on the verge of losing control himself. The tight coil of pleasure broke, and she screamed his name. Mason’s muscular body tensed and bowed over her as he let himself fall into his own orgasm.
Lungs burning, muscles screaming, and every cell of her body flooded with deep satisfaction, Cleo welcomed his relaxing body into her embrace, burying her nose into his tousled black hair. Surrounded by his scent and comforted by his strength, Cleo’s body softened until the world vanished around her, and she forgot everything but Mason as tiredness finally pulled her under.
Chapter Twelve
Mason had hit a complete dead end. Since the attack on Killian, the last few days had been quiet. Killian was now home with a very protective and vigilant Caitlin looking after him. They still had no idea where the poison had come from, the only positive being that Killian couldn’t have ingested much or things would be very different right now.
The lead with Spears was slow. Either the man was innocent, which he didn’t believe, or he was a smart fuck. Mercy had reported he hadn’t left the hospital except to go back to his hotel and sleep. They couldn’t account for his whereabouts during the attacks on Cleo though. The fact he was now quiet and so was the stalker was not lost on him or Mercy. Mercy was going to continue her surveillance on the man until they were satisfied he wasn’t a threat.
The only good thing was Cleo. She was more than he had ever hoped for, sweet, funny, kind, beautiful, and sexy as fuck. She responded to him as if she’d been made especially for him and the sex was off the charts, better than he’d ever thought possible, it was like a religious experience. He had known he liked her a lot and had been half in love with her for the last year, but now there was no hiding the fact she meant more to him than he could have imagined she would.
He had never felt like this about someone. He wanted to be with her all the time, touching her, laughing with her, talking about unimportant crap with her. She had lightened up around him and seemed to be taking their relationship at home and wo
rk in her stride. She wasn’t hiding what they were, and the team hadn’t batted an eyelid.
When everything cleared up though he would speak with Shane and Emme and make sure it was okay with them. If it wasn’t, well, he would have to cross that bridge when he came to it. He didn’t want to give up this job, he fit here, the team, the flexibility all of it suited him, and he enjoyed it, but he wasn’t giving up Cleo for anyone or anything.
The door to his office opened, and Kingsley Knight poked his head inside. “You have a minute?” The other British operative looked dead serious.
“Yeah, of course, come on in.” Mason waved him inside.
Kingsley took the seat opposite him and leaned back, crossing his arms over his midsection.
“What can I do for you?” He and Kingsley had gotten on well since the first meeting. They were very different, but in some ways very alike. Mason figured the things they had in common was due to them both being English. Kingsley was more relaxed than he was, less of a stickler for things, but both were self-assured enough to know what they wanted. Kingsley had met his wife Sydney, on the first case Alliance had done. The same one which had almost gotten him killed. Mason didn’t hold a grudge though, far from it. He thought a lot of Sydney and she and Kingsley were perfect for each other.
“You and Cleo, hey? I can’t say it surprises anyone. Do you know she sat by your bed 24/7 when you were stabbed? Mercy and Caitlin had to bring her food and changes of clothes.”
Mason sucked in a breath. He hadn’t known that. She had visited a few times as had the others, but she’d never let on. “No, I didn’t.” He wondered what Kingsley was leading up to.
“Knew then she was in love with you. I suspected it before, you two spark off each other like water and lightning.” Kingsley smirked. “I still remember that time she walked in on you in the locker room. I think it was the event that confirmed it all.”
