by Tigris Eden
“Before you go caveman on her Draven, maybe I should be the one to take the assignment. Your head’s not in the game.”
Draven almost punched Royce in the face but couldn’t because the object of his desires was a sickly shade of green. He hadn’t tried to scare her, but she looked like she was about to pass out. Dravaggio was there to steady her fall as she collapsed into his arms. He moved to help when Gabe came up to restrain him. Why was everyone acting as if he was going to hurt her? Her face ashen and her skin pale, he could smell her anger as it clawed at his senses. It seemed she was comfortable with the others in the room but not him. Why?
“Hey man, let her have some breathing room. Christ I see why you went after her all those years ago. She’s quite the looker. But dude, she’s someone’s mother now. Do you really want to go there right now man?”
“Full of insights Gabe. I would have never pegged you as the relationship counselor.” This came from Royce. Dravaggio was still bent over a particularly pale Jesminda when Draven walked pass Gabe and over to her. He offered his hand to pull her up. She refused him the first time, but he held his ground. He didn’t want to scare her, but wasn’t backing down either. They would have some sort of closure.
“I’ve got her.” Dravaggio said.
She seemed to stiffen further as the men crowded closer. Damn, she was like a scared cat. One minute she was holding her own quite well, and the next, she was in no condition to be near any of them.
“Give her time.” Royce quietly said. He began to back out of the conference room, motioning with his hands for everyone else follow. His teammates were heading toward the door when her hand shot out and grabbed his wrist. He wasn’t going to manhandle her. She’d initiated contact and he calmly stood there as she gathered herself and got to her feet. The connection of skin-to-skin uprooted his gravity, sent his body hurtling over the edge. He took a measured step back. Did she feel it? Did her center become unhinged? His sure as shit did.
“Jesminda,” Saying her name was a soothing balm to his lips. “I am more than capable of handling the assignment. Before you speak against the captain’s decision, know I am the best man for the job.”
She eyed him wearily as she adjusted herself and sat in a chair. Gabe was there a second later with a cup of water in hand and gently grabbed the back of her neck. She didn’t flinch when Gabe touched her. She calmed instantly. Gabe had a way with all walks of life didn’t matter if you were human or not. But when he began to massage her neck, a feral growl crept up his throat at the intimate contact. He should be the one soothing her, not fucking Gabe.
She eyed him sideways even as Gabe eyed him intently, daring him to voice his concerns. Royce entered the room and took the seat on her other side, forcing him further down the table. That was not where he wanted to be. He wanted to sit next to her. He wanted to be the one soothing her, she’d reached for him. Not the others. She wasn’t the strong woman she used to be. Someone had caged her, and tried to break her. There was fire there, but barely. And Draven was going to see to it the fire burned once again. Even if it wasn’t for him. The captain looked at his men and gave him a very disappointed look. He knew that look. It meant the captain was changing things up. Normally it would be an admirable thing, but not if it meant he wasn’t the one protecting Jesminda. If that was the case then the captain was going to have an up close and personal meeting with Draven’s fist.
“Draven I’m going to have you partner with Royce on this. I know you all are used to working alone, but in this case, I think a team effort is in order. The three of you will need to head out this evening. Ms. Zealand needs to pick her daughter up from her friend. Then it’s your job to bring her back here so we can make plans to secure them a safe place, and locate Marcus.”
Dravaggio stood and walked out of the conference room. Jesminda grabbed her purse off the table and walked on unsteady legs over to Gabe, who’d retreated to the back of the room and thanked him for the water. He didn’t like her around any of the men. His inner beast didn’t understand he was with someone else. Didn’t want to agree with him on anything. Draven untied the rubber band that held his hair in place. The moment it was free he pulled both hands through the waves and grunted. Shit just kept rolling downhill from here. Melissa said she was coming into the office, and her office was right down the street from his. She always stopped by; she’d reason they could ride home together.
When she arrived, things would go from shit, to fucked. She was a possessive wolf.
* * * *
The water was soothing to her throat. She needed something stronger than water, but it accomplished her main goal. She needed to relax, these men were not going to hurt her, and regardless of what Marcus had put her through she was stronger than this. Agent Stone, Draven, took his hair down and she had to turn away from its silkiness. It was more beautiful than she remembered. A bit shorter, his hair was more controlled less of a mess. She watched as he raked his fingers through, turning his head this way and back as if there was some internal struggle. Her daughter had that same mane of hair. Faith’s green, gold eyes sparkled with mirth and mischief. The thought made her heart ache. Draven Stone was going to meet his daughter. Finally.
He wore black BDU pants with a gray shirt that stretched across his muscled chest. He looked older, more settled. The seriousness was still there, more defined by time. His muscled arms led to veined hands, and she almost sighed. She found manly hands extremely sexy. She watched as he grabbed a cell phone from his pocket and dialed. Gabe took that moment to distract her by asking her a question; she had to ask him to repeat.
“I asked if you were hungry.” The smile he gave her was flirty but passive. He was charming and handsome. The laugh lines around his face were welcomed. He wouldn’t try to hold her down with protocol or issues. Jesminda was going to answer Gabe, but Royce walked over and interrupted the conversation.
“So I understand Jesminda maybe hungry.”
“I never got the chance to answer his question, Royce.” She said his name harsh. He didn’t seem to care just waited for her to continue. “Yes Gabe I am hungry, is there a place where I can get something to eat?”
“Yeah, there’s a cafeteria downstairs. They make and sell just about anything human and non-human. Would you like to come with? I don’t have to man the computers for another hour or so.”
Gabe gestured with his hands as he began to walk toward the opening of the conference room. She was hungry, actually starved was more like it. The trip here hadn’t been pleasant in the least. Now that her eyes were open and she’d taken back her freedom. Jes hadn’t realized how scared she was. At every sound, she’d almost jump out of her skin. It messed with her constantly not knowing what to expect. Belinda’s father was reluctant to put her on the plane. He’d insisted someone go with her. Jes knew she was stubborn but coming here alone was the first step in securing her freedom.
She followed Gabe towards the elevators. There was no use in trying to stay in the conference room looking at the man who seduced her; and the next day ignored her while he had another woman wrapped around him. A vampire. She knew she’d get over him, eventually. How, she wasn’t exactly sure, he’d been her first heartbreak. But two months later, her doctor had looked at her with a bright smile. Finding out you were pregnant was supposed to be a joyous occasion. Women usually didn’t break down in their doctor’s office balling like a mad woman. It wasn’t his fault she’d gotten pregnant. Yes the fuck it is! He’d lied to her, told her he was sterile, and like an idiot she believed him. That wasn’t happening again. She was through with men, of all species. Didn’t matter if they were human or not. Men were off the menu. Period. She smiled. She’d fight him at every turn.
“I know why you’re smiling and I have to say I’m quite pleased. To watch the two of you flounder around in complete darkness. I have the flashlight, but I’m not sharing.” Royce looked satisfied. Jesminda grunted. She didn’t want his stupid flashlight anyway. She would not flounder
, not in the least.
“I have to ask,” Royce cleared his throat and leaned on the side of the elevator wall crossing his arms at his chest. “The small precious cargo you call yours. How do you think our friend is going to react, doll?” Fucking mind reader. He was going to be a pain in her ass. Didn’t he have an off switch?
“I aim to please,” he winked and gave her a devilish grin. Royce leaned over and whispered. “I have the secret decoder ring.” His lips barely caressed her skin as the words danced in her ear. “And no, I don’t have an off switch.”
Gabe grunted at his statement.
“Stop trying to bait me.” She stepped away from him to the other side of the elevator.
Gabe had a wide smile on his face as well and stood with his hands behind his back teetering on the soles of his boots. The elevator dinged and the three of them stepped inside facing the front. As the doors began to close, an intensely angry Draven was peering at them through the glass of the conference room and he didn’t look happy at all.
“You know if you tell him,” Jesminda said under her breath. “I will see to it personally you and your man parts meet with a very dear friend of mine.” Let him read that from her mind and see if he still wanted to open his mouth. She looked him straight in the eyes, amber darkened to deep orange.
“Careful, you might find I quite enjoy a dose of pain with my pleasure. You, my dear, handling my junk brings nothing but salacious intentions to my brain and its receptive pleasure neurons.”
What was with these guys and their subtle and not so subtle come-ons? You would think they’d never been in the presence of a female before. She knew that wasn’t it. Royce tilted the corners of his mouth. The bastard was way too full of himself for his own good.
“I had a very up close and personal relationship with my father so the term bastard does not apply.”
Jesminda grinned. He was funny and he didn’t make her feel threatened. Much. It was Draven that gave her pause for alarm. The door to the elevator swung open and the myriad smells of the food assaulted her on contact. She couldn’t tell if she was going to throw up or die in heaven. The scents twined with each other so much it was like you could see threads of flavor dancing over your head. Gabe led her over to a buffet style serving side. On the opposite side of the room was a similar one, but instead of roast, chicken, salad and other delicious smelling food. That table was lined with a fountain spouting something so red it could only be blood, and raw meat. Further down that same table was a small chicken pen with actual live chickens. Her brain realized they were food, but couldn’t quite wrap around why they were still alive, unless….
“Oh dear God, you mean there are those of you who would rather eat the chicken alive than dead and raw?”
The contents of her breakfast had already decided it wanted front row seats to the floor. She wasn’t a vegetarian or anything she loved meat just as much as the next person. But she didn’t want to witness firsthand the death of a chicken.
“Don’t worry, we have the common courtesy to not eat our food in front of everyone else,” Royce whispered in her ear over her shoulder. “If you look to the door on your left you will see it is marked private, and I know for a fact the walls are sound proof.”
“Really? Soundproof, that’s a relief.”
“You’re telling me, I was so relieved I almost didn’t come out.”
Gabe gave Royce a high five and they both said at the same time.
“Cassandra.” All dreamy eyed and tongues hanging out.
“Yeah,” Gabe answered.
“She has that delivery system of hers down to perfection.”
Delivery system? What the hell was she missing out on? They screwed in the room no big deal. Five years ago, she had screwed in a jungle. Don’t go there. Do. Not. Go. There.
Jesminda ignored them both and walked down the buffet table picking up slices of meat and cheese and picking up a Caesar salad and a coke. Gabe and Royce followed behind her and each took a chair on either side of her.
“Baby sitting duty doesn’t start till later right?”
“Wrong.” Royce answered. “The captain said we leave tonight. If I know Stone he’s trying to figure out the best way to tell Melissa not only that he can’t make dinner tonight, but he’s leaving on assignment with his ex-one night stand of five years before her.” Royce laughed and swiped a small piece of cheese off her plate and popped it in his mouth. Jes smacked his hand out of the way and crowded her plate. On the other side of her Gabe nudged her playfully.
“It should be very interesting, wanna go watch?”
She didn’t want to know about his current girlfriend or any other woman before or after her. They weren’t even a couple back then, and never would be now. The only thing they had in common was Faith. He didn’t even know that very large detail. She was through with men, through with drama. She just wanted a no nonsense life, and to live in peace, with her daughter. She didn’t even know if she wanted to share Faith with him. Or his floozy of a girlfriend, she was not going to be the baby momma. Oh, calm down! Who says she’s even a floozy? She wanted her inner voice to stop being the voice of reason and be the voice of jealous ex. Dammit! She didn’t want that either. What she wanted was to be rid of the entire situation. The less drama, the better. So what if he had a girlfriend. Not. Her. Problem. Ever!
Royce nudged her shoulder to get her attention and then motioned with his head towards the elevator. Great, Conan the Wolfbarian just showed up.
Chapter 7
Draven walked across the cafeteria receiving the un-friendly look his new assignment gave him. It wasn’t a "you should fall off the face of the planet" kind of look. It was a more of a look of betrayal and hurt. She was in a tough spot and he didn’t want to be the cause of any issues, should any arrive. His wolf didn’t agree, instead a muffled growled became lodged in his throat. He pulled the chair back slowly, keeping eye contact with her the entire time. He couldn’t look away. Not even if he wanted to. His wolf was on the defensive. Didn’t matter she was female or human. She challenged him, and he challenged right back. As he sat, she finally broke eye contact and picked at her food.
“Ms. Zealand.” He used his calm voice when he spoke. He didn’t want to set her off again. “I would like to get on the road within the hour” before he could finish his damn cell phone rang. It was Melissa, again. She hadn’t taken the news of his assignment well. She’d argued someone else could do it. He still hadn’t explained his connection to Jesminda. There were only so many hours in the day and they needed to get on the road. He’d have to explain to Melissa when he got back. Closure is key. You need to handle that now. Not later.
“Stone.”
Royce took the opportunity to smirk in his direction and elbowed Jesminda. Royce and his big mouth. He wanted to have a conversation but not here and not like this. If he got up, he knew it would look bad. How so? All four of them including his soon to be injured ear would be able to hear her scream into the phone.
“You didn’t even say goodbye Draven, nothing.” She was using the pouting voice again. In the beginning, it was cute, sexy even. But now it was a real problem. Especially in front of this unwanted crowd. He started to rise and stand so he could take the call in private. Jesminda arched her brow in challenge and continued picking at her food.
“You should eat instead of being concerned with my phone call.” Draven eyed his friends in challenge when Jesminda’s posture straightened and she pushed her tray away. He pushed it back.
“Melissa, I have work to do, and I’m sorry if I didn’t say goodbye, okay.”
Melissa sniffled a couple of times and then burst out laughing. “I’ll be down in like two shakes, Stephan said you went down into the mess hall so that you could eat something before you and the human,” she tried to sound polite but it came off as practiced, “take off to pick up her daughter.”
He wanted to be honest. He needed to be. Draven never imagined he’d run into her, or that Melissa and
Jesminda would ever meet. Melissa was possessive, and it sometimes bordered past annoying. His mother said she was securing her place by his side. He didn’t see her by his side, not right now. This should have been red light. Was it because he was faced with the past or because he had feelings for someone else? Or it could be he’d known all along. His wolf wouldn’t accept another unless it was her. Fuck, if things didn’t get better and better.
Royce laughed a deep, a heartfelt sound. The table shook from it; Royce picked up Jesminda’s spoon and began rearranging her meats, stacking them on top of each other. “Damn man I can’t wait for the show, Jesminda you have the best seat in the house to….” He looked at his watch, “Friday night smackdown, which begins right after this commercial break.”
Gabe laughed and politely excused himself. He mumbled something about always missing the good shit and he hated manning the computers. He rose quickly, took off in the direction of the elevator. Right on cue it dinged open and out walked Melissa. She walked over to where the three of them were seated. No one mistook her judgment of Jesminda. She took one look, sniffed, and dismissed. Melissa calculated everything, right down to when they should start breeding pups.
Melissa took a seat and carefully as if on accident pushed the table towards Royce and Jesminda. Draven would have never pegged her for spiteful. Apparently, he’d been wrong. Royce stopped it with his hand before it made contact with Jesminda’s stomach and placed an arm on the back of Jesminda’s chair. Royce didn’t care for her either. Royce got along with everyone but not with Melissa.
“Careful, your claws are showing.” Royce drummed his other hand absently on the table.
