by Roma James
Had I been dreaming then?
Since it was still early in the morning and I was in bed alone, I was going to assume that part had been real, too.
I got up and stretched, then stumbled out of my bedroom, smiling when I saw Jaeger asleep on the living room couch.
He was clearly meant to be my bodyguard for today.
It said something about how much my life had changed in the previous few weeks that I didn’t even think it was a little bit strange that I had three men who only wanted to make sure I was safe.
Not to mention the fact that I had three men in my life at once.
It hadn’t taken me as long to make peace with that idea, though. Those first kisses—Cody, then Jaeger, then Ty—had sealed the deal, as far as I was concerned. That was when I knew I had crossed the point of no return.
I hadn’t even thought about looking back since then.
“Good morning,” Jaeger’s sleepy voice called from the couch. He slowly sat up and stretched, then ran a hand back through his dark hair. “You’re up early.”
“I have to be at work soon,” I said, not feeling particularly motivated to start getting ready. “I think I’d rather join you there on the couch, though.”
He patted the cushion next to him. “Come on over. I don’t mind sharing.”
I laughed, pretty sure he wasn’t just talking about seating arrangements. Once I was nestled in next to him, his arm around me as I curled up on the cushion, I asked about his job the night before.
“Did you and Cody find what you were looking for last night?”
“Oh, yeah,” he said, grimacing. “It was bad. Garrick Windram will go to hell for what he’s putting those people through. But I hope he rots in a prison cell for the rest of his life first.”
I didn’t know a lot of the details besides the tidbits the guys had already told me, and judging by the look on Jaeger’s face, I didn’t need to know.
Besides, I knew Garrick well enough to believe he was capable of just about anything.
A shudder went through my body as I remembered the last encounter I’d had with him, how he had nearly run me off the road and then had tried to force himself on me.
I had a feeling it was going to be a long time before those memories stopped haunting me.
Jaeger pulled me close, rubbing lazy circles in my back until I had relaxed again.
“Thank you for being here with me,” I said. “I should probably start getting dressed if I’m going to make it into the office on time.”
“Anything exciting on the agenda today?” he asked, standing up first before helping me to my feet. “I’ve got a little bit of work I can do finishing up the kennel, but I think I’m mostly just supposed to be your shadow today.”
I gave him a sympathetic look. “I’m afraid you’re mostly in for a day of watching me do paperwork, then. I have a couple of appointments this morning, and then I need to go take Bailey home.”
“Is that the goat?” he asked.
I nodded. “But don’t worry. I won’t try to run off without you this time.”
He grinned. “I’m gonna have to spank you if you even think about it.”
I felt a jolt of heat at those words, and if I hadn’t already been pressed for time, I might have tried to talk him into a little demonstration—just a taste of what I might be in for with that hypothetical spanking.
“Tempting,” I said, sighing as I shook my head. “You know exactly how to get what you want, don’t you?”
A wide grin spread across his face. “I can’t argue with that.” He shrugged. “But what would you say if I told you that all I want is you?”
I stepped in to give him a quick kiss, then backed away with a smile.
“I’d say you’re in luck. You’ve already got me.”
“She seems to be doing just fine, Bill,” I reached down to scratch under Bailey’s chin as she nuzzled up against my leg. “She sure is a sweetheart.”
“Thank you, Grace,” Bill said, his eyes full of emotion. “I’m sorry that it’s been such a hassle.”
“No hassle at all,” I said, smiling. “She’s always such a joy, I’ll never get tired of seeing her—just hopefully under less worrisome circumstances next time.”
“From your lips to God’s ears,” Bill replied, looking up at the sky for a moment. “She sure gave me a scare.”
“Well, everything should be back to normal now, but call me if you have any questions, okay?”
“Thanks, Grace.” He waved as I walked back to the truck where Jaeger was patiently waiting. “Take care.”
“You too, Bill.”
It made my heart happy to see Bailey scampering around his legs as he walked back toward his barn, and I was still smiling when I climbed into the passenger side of the truck.
“Looks like you made that goat’s day,” Jaeger said.
Chances were good that he was being sarcastic, but lately I just couldn’t be sure. But even if he hadn’t actually meant that as a compliment, I was going to take it that way today.
He might be able to push my buttons most days, but it was just too nice out, and anyway, I could see right through that tough-guy, bad boy exterior now.
Jaeger might talk a good game, but he was really a teddy bear under all the sarcastic remarks and smart-ass jabs.
I waved to Bill and Bailey one last time as we pulled out of the driveway and onto the road that would take us back to the clinic. Jaeger had insisted on driving today, saying something about how he wished that asshole would try to run him off the road.
And even though if I was being honest, I’d have to admit that thought scared the hell out of me, I wasn’t in such a hurry to get back behind the wheel after my last run-in on this road.
I looked over at him, wondering if he felt on edge about possibly running into Garrick out here, but if he was nervous at all, he certainly didn’t show it. He used his thumbs to drum along with the radio against the steering wheel and tossed me a sexy wink when he caught me looking.
If I had made Bailey’s day, Jaeger had made mine.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked me, quirking an eyebrow as he stole a glance in my direction.
“Nothing,” I lied. “Just… stuff.”
“What kind of stuff?”
“How do you know I was even thinking about anything?” I asked, dodging the question.
“You had that look on your face,” he answered, giving me a half-shrug. “That look that is sort of a smile, but sort of dreamy, too? Like you’re watching a movie in your head or something.”
I laughed. That had to be the strangest, yet most accurate description of a facial expression I’d ever heard. Still, there was no way I could tell him what I’d really been thinking of.
His ego would swell way too much to know that he was the reason I looked like I’d been watching a movie in my head.
“You’re just not gonna tell me?” he asked, jutting out his bottom lip in a ridiculously exaggerated pout.
“Nope.” I shook my head. “And no amount of pouting is going to change my mind.”
He huffed out a short breath, but was betrayed by the corner of his mouth twitching up into what would have been a smile if he hadn’t been pretending to be upset.
“Fine,” he said. “If you won’t tell me, I’m just going to assume you were thinking about me.”
I laughed again. Even though he’d hit the nail on the head, I still wasn’t giving in. “What makes you so sure of that?”
“Well, I was thinking of you, so… it only makes sense that you must have been thinking of me, too.”
I was pretty sure there was some flawed logic in there somewhere, but it was sweet of him to say that, so I wasn’t going to argue.
And I still wasn’t going to give in.
“Turn left on this road up ahead,” I said, pointing at the dirt road that veered off from the main highway.
His brow furrowed. “But that’s not the way back to the clinic. Do you have an
other client we need to see?”
“Not another client,” I answered. “Just turn left up there. You’ll see what it is soon enough.”
“You’re being awfully mysterious today,” he said, shooting me a sideways glance. “I’m not sure if I hate it or if it’s turning me on. Maybe both.”
“Probably both,” I agreed, smirking as he made the turn. “Now, up ahead there will be another left turn, and you’ll take that. Just past that big pile of gravel.”
The look of confusion on his face deepened. “A quarry?” He sighed. “I know what it is. You got mad because of that goat comment, and now you need a place to dump my body.”
“I knew that wasn’t a compliment,” I said, rolling my eyes. “But no, smart-ass. That’s not why we’re here. You can go ahead and just park anywhere.”
He stopped the truck and turned off the engine, then turned and looked at me with the same confused expression he’d had since I had first suggested turning off the main road.
“Okay. We’re here.” He looked around out the window at the enormous piles of sand, rocks, and gravel in front of us and shook his head. “I guess I’m ready to go chisel rocks or whatever it is you’ve got in mind.”
“Just follow me,” I said, opening the door and jumping out. “We’ll be there in just a minute.”
“We’re not there yet?” he asked, jogging over next to me. “You’re really not doing much to convince me this isn’t actually a plan to get rid of me, Grace.”
“I haven’t totally ruled it out,” I teased. “But I would miss looking at you, so… you’re probably safe for today.”
I led him around the base of the biggest rock pile, stopping once we’d made it all the way around the front of it.
“We’re here,” I said, pointing at the large man-made lake that was situated between three mountainous gravel mounds.
He blinked. “Are we… fishing?”
“Do you see a fishing pole?” I laughed. “Use your imagination, Jaeger. What do you think we’re doing here?”
“I honestly have no idea,” he said, giving me a blank look. “I don’t even have a joke this time.”
“We’re going to have to work on that imagination,” I said, tossing him a wink. “But I’ll go ahead and give you a hint.”
I took a few steps toward the water and lifted my top up over my head, tossing it behind me as I turned to look back over my shoulder. “Getting any ideas yet?”
“Oh, fuck yeah I am,” he said, shrugging out of his shirt as well.
I got to the edge of the water, then turned to face him, stripping off my pants and then slowly adding my bra and panties to the growing pile of clothes at my feet. “I thought it might be fun to go for a little swim before we have to go back to the office.”
He had already shoved his pants and boxers down, and was stepping clear of them as he nodded. “I like the way you think, Grace.”
Jaeger’s cock was already hard, bobbing out in front of him like a divining rod as he closed the distance between us and pulled me in close for a kiss.
“I really, really like the way you think,” he repeated, rolling his hips and grinding that hot cock against me.
Taking his hand, I led him into the water, both of us sucking in a sharp breath as we quickly waded in deeper. I stopped when the water reached my breasts, then turned and wrapped my legs around his waist as I held onto his broad shoulders.
“Not a bad way to spend the afternoon, is it?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Not bad at all.”
Putting his hands on my hips, he positioned me a little lower, until I could feel his hard cock parting my lips and easing inside me under the water.
“Yes,” I moaned. “That feels so good.”
He kissed me deeply and hungrily as he slowly began to thrust in and out, sending water splashing up between our bodies. I leaned my head back, dipping my hair into the cool water and gasping as he bent forward and sucked one of my nipples into his mouth, teasing the hard pebble between his teeth.
“Jaeger,” I panted. “Oh, God!”
My whole body tensed each time his teeth grazed me, and all the while he was steadily fucking me harder, faster, deeper, until I was already on the verge of coming undone.
“You’re gonna come for me,” he said, as if he’d been reading my mind. “I want to see that beautiful face you make when you come. I want to see it now, Grace.”
I nodded, unable to speak as he thrust into me over and over. God, it felt so good, with the sun beating down on my face and shoulders while the cool water lapped at my breasts. I wasn’t ready for it to end, but I couldn’t hold off for much longer. My climax was already building inside me like a tidal wave, and I was about to lose myself in it.
“That’s it,” he panted. “Come for me, beautiful. Show me that face. Now, Grace.”
I cried out as my orgasm tore through me, his cock thrusting deep one more time as I felt it swell, then Jaeger’s voice mingled with mine as we both came together.
I held onto him for several minutes afterward, not trusting my arms or legs to get me back to shore. I didn’t worry, though.
Jaeger had me in his arms. He wasn’t letting go.
Chapter 15 - Jaeger
It had been a restless two days. We’d all been on pins and needles waiting to hear back from Sam, but minutes had turned into hours and hours had turned into days, and we still hadn’t heard a word.
Even my little secret skinny dipping rendezvous with Grace had only taken my mind off the business at hand for a while.
Okay, so it had taken my mind off everything except her amazing body, and I had been pretty much worthless for the rest of that day and into the next.
Still, that had been the day before yesterday, and I was pretty sure I was going to go stir crazy if we didn’t hear something soon.
Really soon.
“Will you stop, please?” Cody asked, giving me a hard look as we sat around outside our tents. None of us had spoken for… hours? It was too damn hot to do any unnecessary talking, and until Sam called, there wouldn’t be anything to talk about.
“Stop what?” I asked, shooting him the same look he’d just given me.
“You keep sighing. It’s really loud. And dramatic. Nobody needs to sigh that much.”
I sucked in a breath, ready to sigh extra loud, just to piss him off. But I couldn’t make myself do it. I knew he was just as agitated as I was, and getting into some stupid fight wasn’t going to help anything.
Plus, that fucking heat.
We probably would have both died of heat stroke if we had even thought about throwing down.
“I’m gonna call him,” Ty announced, standing up and dialing the number we’d all been waiting to hear from.
Finally.
Why couldn’t he have made the decision to call Sam hours ago? Or yesterday?
But whatever. He was calling now. We’d have some answers soon. Then, maybe we could actually do something besides sit around on our asses all day and wait.
Trying to follow Ty’s half of the phone conversation was maddening. Did the man never speak in complete sentences on the phone? Was it always just a bunch of grunts and one-syllable answers?
No wonder long distance relationships had never worked out for him. I was ready to yell at him after just three minutes.
“Okay, listen up,” Ty said, hanging up the phone as he paced back and forth in front of us. This had to be good. Ty never paced. “Sam is getting ready to mount a sting operation. It’s going to be big—covering all of Garrick’s properties, his warehouses, everything.”
“Fuck, yeah,” I said, rubbing my hands together. “This is the shit I’ve been waiting for.”
“Same,” Cody nodded. “It’s about time we get the chance to go in there and take care of business.”
Ty grimaced. “Yeah… about that.”
I had just been starting to smile, but my face fell at those words. Why did there always have to be a flip side? Why could
n’t we just go in there and bash some heads together? That would be the simplest solution.
And the most personally rewarding, too.
“We’ve been invited as observers, not as participants,” Ty said.
“The fuck does that mean?” I asked, furrowing my brow. “This isn’t some kind of U.N. peacekeeping mission. We need to make this fucker pay.”
I looked at Cody for some backup, but he just sat there, stone-faced and silent.
Fuck.
“It means we have to stay out of the way,” Ty continued. “I know it’s not what any of us would prefer, but Sam made it clear to me that we either go as observers—as government witnesses, essentially—or we don’t go at all. The choice seemed clear to me.”
“What choice?” I muttered, but it didn’t matter. The decision had already been made before Ty had even spoken to Sam. It had been made for us, and we either toed the line or got shut out completely.
Some fucking choice.
“Do either of you know what Grace’s schedule is like today?” Cody asked, finally speaking up as he looked from me to Ty.
“She usually just does half-days on Saturday,” Ty offered.
“We need to see if she has any house calls scheduled,” I said. Standing and looking across the field to the clinic.
“If she does, she’s going to have to cancel,” Cody said. “Or one of us will have to go with her.”
I knew that neither of those would be good options. Grace would never agree to the first one, and the second would mean that one of us had to stay behind and miss the sting operation.
Not that it mattered that much, since we were just going to be observers.
Still, I sure as hell didn’t want to miss the action, and I knew these guys wouldn’t want to, either.
“I’ll talk to her,” I said, already moving in that direction. “We can make a decision once we find out what the rest of her day is going to be like.”
“Okay,” Ty nodded. “Come back and let us know as soon as you talk to her.” He gave me a stern look. “And try to at least pretend to be sensitive when you bring it up. I don’t want her to be upset or stressed out today.”
I didn’t think I needed to dignify that with a response, so I just walked over to my bike and revved the engine.
