Ultimate Courage

by Piper J. Drake

  “Hey, Cannon.” Rojas waved the man over. “You owe me from yesterday.”

  “Huh?” Cannon walked over. Luckily, the man still had his shoes on.

  “Do me a favor and take Souze out to do his morning business. When he’s done, he can come back here and hang out over in the corner while you guys train.” Rojas turned to head up the stairs. Cannon was a capable handler for a little while. Souze would be fine.

  Cannon called a question after him, but he didn’t answer. He didn’t care what anyone thought, and possibly he’d be right back down in about thirty seconds. But he was hoping not.

  He knocked on the door and heard a very muffled surprise squeak. After a few seconds, Elisa opened the door, her hair in adorable disarray. Her eyes were narrowed. “Did you forget something?”

  He cleared his throat. Not exactly the reception he’d been hoping for. “Did I do something wrong?”

  Her cheeks colored, and she looked anywhere but at him. “No. You just have…interesting timing.”

  Oh, now there were some possibilities.

  “Well, if I’m timely, maybe there’s something I could help with.” He smiled, nice and slow, enjoying the way her gaze zeroed in on his mouth when she finally looked at him.

  “I do not need help getting my shirt off.” The words tumbled out, and her eyes widened as she clapped a hand over her mouth.

  It surprised a laugh out of him. “If you don’t need help, can I watch instead?”

  She narrowed her eyes again and uncovered her mouth, which was good because he liked looking at it and imagining naughty things. “Almost every time I’m about to take off my shirt, you’ve managed to knock on the door.”

  “I am sincerely sad I wasn’t aware of this situation.” He took a chance and stepped forward. She gave way, letting the door open and allowing him inside the room. “Is there any way I can make it up to you?”

  Heat flashed in her eyes, and her lips parted. His groin tightened in response, and he decided it’d be good to lock the door after he closed it behind him. Uncertainty flickered across her expression then and he froze.

  Reining in his raging hormones, he said slowly, “Any time you want things to stop, I will. I promise. I won’t be angry. I will back off.”

  She swallowed, and a fraction of tension left her shoulders. “I don’t want to lead you on.”

  “I want to be here.” He smiled, gave her time to gain confidence again. He found her grumpy morning personality hot, challenging, fun. “We go as far as you’re comfortable, and I will consider myself a lucky, lucky man.”

  The heat came back into her gaze, and she licked her lower lip. “I was going to take a shower.”

  His cock came to attention immediately. “That is a great idea.”

  And none of the knuckleheads downstairs would hear a thing. Not that he cared for himself, but for her sake, they didn’t need to know what was going on or even that she was up here. Not this morning.

  He waited, though, and thought he might strain a muscle holding still until she took a hesitant step, then another toward him. He held out his hands to her, and she placed hers in his, gently tugging him toward the close privacy of the bathroom.

  Closed inside, he’d normally chafe at the tiny room, but right now he was completely focused on Elisa. She was facing him, searching his eyes with her cloudy blue gaze. Emotions swirled in a maelstrom through her, and he figured she could ask him to stop at any moment. Until she did, he wanted to give her as much pleasure as he could.

  He reached out to touch the hem of her shirt, but she beat him to it and pulled the tee off in a smooth motion. His knees almost buckled on seeing her smooth shoulders, ivory skin, and very pretty breasts. He’d figured she hadn’t had a bra on under her tee, but suddenly having her right there, exposed to him, was a sight to feast on.

  Pulling a few brain cells together was almost painful, but he did and realized she was nervously waiting for him. So he figured fair was fair. Moving slow, he stripped off his T-shirt, too, taking his time so she could get an eyeful.

  And she did. Her eyes widened as she caught sight of the workout holster he wore strapped around his torso, but she didn’t back away. Instead she watched him closely as he removed it and set it carefully on the floor next to his discarded tee. Then he straightened, and her gaze followed him. She stared, taking in his chest and abs, before reaching out and running her hands over him. Her touch sent shocks of heat coursing through him and he closed his eyes to just enjoy it at first.

  Her touch was featherlight, and he couldn’t keep his hands to himself anymore. Opening his eyes again so he could see as well as touch, he started at her shoulders, caressing and learning the ultra-softness of her skin. The sight of his darker, tanned hands on her pale skin was only one contrast of many, and he wanted to explore them all with her. He moved his hands down her back until he settled his grip in the small of her back and gently pulled her close.

  She closed her eyes as he did, splaying her hands across his chest and tipping her head back in invitation. He bent, brushing his lips over the temptation of hers and going lower to press his lips to the hollow of her throat. She uttered a tiny gasp and he smiled as he licked at her pulse point with the tip of his tongue. Encouraged by the sound, and planning to experiment to hear even more, he licked again. Just a flick against her skin. Fine tremors ran through her when he did and he experimented, kissing and licking his way up the side of her neck to her ear before he captured her earlobe and sucked gently.

  He liked her little moans, guessed she didn’t realize just how responsive she was, and delighted in the way she responded to the barest of touches.

  She was gasping when he finally settled his mouth on hers, teasing her gently with his tongue until her fingers dug into his chest. Desire flared as she did and he struggled to keep his grip on her firm but not painful. Then he deepened the kiss to match her hunger and sent them both drowning in the heat of it.

  She tore free of his mouth, tilting her face up to look at him, her eyes stormy and wild. Her chest lifted as she tried to catch her breath, and he gave her the moment, easing his hold on her until she leaned back against the bathroom counter for support. Reaching into the shower, he flipped on the water.

  She’d gathered herself during the brief respite, and he was very happy the hunger was still in her gaze. Biting her lip, holding his gaze, she hooked her thumbs in her oh-so-loose sweat pants and pushed them down off her hips, revealing very pretty blue lace panties.

  He groaned. “Do you want to keep those?”

  Her eyes widened. “I need to take them off to shower and…other things.”

  He leaned forward, bracing his hands on the counter at either side of her hips to keep them busy until he could clarify. Her breath puffed hot against his collarbone, and his scrambled brain registered how petite she was compared to him, how well she’d fit tucked against him. “If you want to keep them, tell me. Otherwise, they’re going to end up in pieces.”

  Her lips shaped a very lovely O for a moment, and her answer came in a bare whisper. “I don’t have many pairs right now, and I kind of like these.”

  “I like them, too.” He knelt in front of her and very carefully slid them down. “Let’s put these someplace safe. Okay?”

  She lifted each foot for him as she gave him a breathless agreement.

  Panties safely tucked into his pocket, because they could totally get lost in the bathroom, he returned his attention to her very lovely legs. She had slender ankles and muscle to her calves and thighs. Like she’d been in shape for a long time and only recently had gone sleek. He alternated between running his hands over her skin and gripping the muscles of her calves, the backs of her legs, until she was the one clutching the edge of the counter.

  When he thought he might have some sort of control, he discovered a very hot secret. She kept herself immaculately groomed. Shaved. He pressed his mouth to the smooth lips between her legs. She sucked in air and held it.

  He
traced the edges of her labia with a gentle finger. “Breathe. We don’t want you passing out.”

  “No?” she whispered.

  “Uh uh. You are not going to want to miss this.” He leaned forward and tasted her.

  A whimper escaped her throat, and he smiled as he spread her for better access and took a long lick, then another. She trembled for him.

  “You taste so good, Elisa. So, so good.” He feasted then, licking and sucking as she gasped and tried to muffle her moans. The muscles in her thighs strained, and he gripped one thigh with his free hand to hold her open to his teasing.

  He continued to torture her in the best of ways for as long as he could stand it, but he couldn’t wait much longer. He slid a finger inside her and groaned as her wet heat clamped tight around him. He used his thumb to rub over her clitoris as he gently moved his finger inside her. He looked up the length of her body; she had her head thrown back, abandoning herself to the sensations he was giving her. Oh god, he shouldn’t have looked up at her.

  He wanted to be inside her.

  Standing again, he admired the rosy nipples presented to him for a split second before he took one in his mouth, wrapping his free hand around her waist to steady her. Yelping, she brought her head up and clutched at his shoulder with one hand.

  He continued to move his finger inside her, changing the rhythm of his thumb against her clitoris as she muffled her cries against his neck.

  “Let go, Elisa,” he murmured reverently. “Come for me, because I want to come for you.”

  Her fingers dug harder into his shoulder, and she stiffened. He kept his finger sliding in and out inside her, his thumb rubbing against her clitoris. Suddenly, she bucked against his hand, her inner muscles convulsing around his finger.

  “Easy.” He soothed her as he stroked her through the orgasm, lengthening it as best he could.

  Her eyes were glazed when she finally lifted her head and looked at him. He smiled. “Enjoy.”

  Her smile was sweet, satisfied, as she nodded.

  “Do you want to again?” He leaned forward until his forehead touched hers.

  Her eyes widened. “But what about you?”

  “Only if you want me.” He ran his hands over the curves of her hips, enjoying the fine tremors still running through her. “I’m enjoying what I’m doing to you.”

  She ran her hands over his chest again, tracing her fingers over his abs and along the diagonal lines from the outside of his hips to his groin until she hit the obstacle of his shorts. The tip of his cock was peeking out above the waistband, and she teased him with her fingertips.

  When she looked up at him, her lips were moist. “I want you.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He smiled, helping her undo the drawstring and letting his shorts fall to the floor. Reaching past her into the medicine cabinet, he retrieved a foil-wrapped condom. “Gary and Greg believe in stocking for any emergencies.”

  She gave him a wry smile in return.

  He lifted his eyebrows in a dissembling expression. “Hey, it’s against their rules for any of the guys to just bring any girl up here, but there can always be extenuating circumstances.”

  She ran her nails over his chest lightly and looked delighted when his cock jumped in response. “Like now?”

  “Like now,” he growled back.

  Her gaze found his, clear and sure. “Come inside me, Alex. I want this.”

  He tore open the wrapper and rolled the condom on. Placing a hand on either side of her hips, he lifted her onto the counter and pressed forward between her legs. She reached down between them and helped him fit the tip of his cock into her entrance. Then she held on to his shoulders.

  “Ready?” All he could manage was a strained whisper at this point.

  She nodded. “More than ready. Please.”

  He slid into her, straining to go slow, but she was so tight around him he almost lost it right then and there. Somehow, he kept his control and he was buried to the hilt inside her listening to her moan. He took a breath to clear his head, and another, and then he began to grind his hips into her.

  “Yes. Please, yes.” She grabbed his shoulders again, her inner muscles tightening even further around him.

  “Damn, Elisa.” He drew out of her in a long stroke and drove back inside her. “I can’t hold on.”

  “Don’t. Don’t let go of me,” she pleaded against his neck.

  Never. “I won’t let you go.”

  He picked up his rhythm as his balls tightened, her cries driving him out of control, and moved deep inside her. Suddenly, her hold on him tightened and she shuddered in his arms, her inner muscles tightening impossibly harder around him. He came with her in a rush, buried to the hilt inside her.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Rojas walked down the steps to the martial arts school, workout holster strapped back around his torso and T-shirt in hand, trying to wipe the grin off his face. Heck of a way to start a morning. Elisa had been very happy, too. She’d also recovered her senses faster than he had and pointed out he’d left Souze downstairs.

  So here he was, being sent down to check on Souze while she showered and finished her morning routine. Elisa had also brought up the practicality of them heading downstairs at different times. But she’d sent him off with a sweet kiss and a request for cuddles later.

  Hell, he’d call it whatever she wanted, so long as he got to hold her in his arms again and enjoy the scent of her. Because he hadn’t gotten nearly enough of her.

  To be honest, he should try not to imagine what she was doing up there at the moment, but as he heard the water for the shower turn on, again, he couldn’t help picturing water running over bare, cream-colored skin. And he very much liked the taste of her skin.

  Maybe it was because he was already trying to banish thoughts from his mind. Or it could’ve been the blind foot of the stairway and the way it got darker right at the landing. But he suddenly became aware of the sounds of people moving quietly beyond the door leading out to the main portion of the school.

  He froze on the steps, listening harder.

  More than one person waited beyond the visual obstruction, closer to three or four people. None of them were verbalizing and all of them were moving with muffled steps. Attempting to conceal their approach, possibly.

  He was walking into an ambush.

  His heart started to pound hard as adrenaline coursed through him, heightening his senses and response time. He embraced the boost as he drew his handgun. He’d need both to get himself through the next moments alive.

  Damn it, he’d give anything to know where his rifle had gotten to.

  There’d be a fraction of a second, if he was lucky, when he broke through the door and threw himself clear. He might be able to take out one, possibly two of the people waiting for him before the others got their shots in. If they were seasoned soldiers, he was a dead man. But if they were civilians turned insurgents, he had a chance. They wouldn’t have the same firing discipline, might not be ready to take a human life. And if they didn’t shoot to kill, he would most definitely need to take them out. Because left to continue as they were, they would eventually kill someone else.

  He opened his mouth, tasting the air. It was wrong somehow. The ever-present dust and dryness were absent. The sounds of vehicles driving by and the random noises of a town living in fear were off somehow.

  Didn’t matter. He needed to focus on the immediate vicinity and clearing downstairs before the person he was protecting walked down into this trap. No time to radio CC. Don’t want to risk the threat hearing the click. Slow first step. Steady heel-to-toe pressure to keep the weapon steady in one hand while reaching to check belt clip for flashbangs out of habit. Never have them when needed.

  Something cold nudged his hand hard, and he jumped, bringing his weapon to bear on the thing that’d snuck up on him. For several long seconds he stared at Souze down the sights of his handgun.

  Souze.

  The German Shepherd Dog stared
back at him, dark eyes calm.

  Oh God, what was he doing?

  His hands trembled as he flipped the safety back on and holstered his firearm. He sucked in air as he leaned against the wall in the stairwell and sank down along it until his tailbone hit the step under his ass.

  He’d had an episode. A thing. Whatever the fuck they called it. There’d been no warning. Suddenly, he’d been back overseas and treating everything the way he would’ve if he’d still been in a combat situation. He’d had nightmares before, been caught up in memories during the day even, but nothing as bad as this.

  Those people he’d heard downstairs, beyond the door, were students of the school. Advanced martial artists come to train. Some of them were amateur fighters on the circuit. One or two were professional MMA competitors, competing in the organizations based out of Philly or Atlantic City.

  None of them would’ve been able to react fast enough to him bursting through the door firing a gun to survive.

  It would’ve been a bloodbath.

  And maybe he would’ve come to his senses in the midst of the carnage. Or worse, he could’ve continued out the front of the school into the very public area, continuing to think he was in a combat zone.

  Souze stepped forward and stuck his cold, wet nose right into Rojas’s face.

  “Ugh.” Rojas pushed Souze’s muzzle away, but the GSD returned and got in his face again. “I’m okay. I’m back. It’s fine.”

  He pushed himself up to stand. The dog was responding to his agitation, and he was damned lucky Souze had responded at all. It wasn’t in the scope of the dog’s training.

  Rojas stared down at the dog, then buried his hand in the thick fur along the back of the dog’s shoulders. Souze’s eyes closed in response to the good scratching Rojas gave him, leaning in as Rojas moved his hand up to massage around the base of the dog’s ears.

  “Thanks, buddy.” Rojas could only imagine what would’ve happened if Souze hadn’t been there. None of it was good. “I owe you. Big time.”