“I’m missing something,” she admitted. “Sam is somehow connected to this and I’m missing something that ties it all together.”
It was Sean who took a step forward and cupped her shoulders.
“We’ll figure it out, Chloe,” he said softly.
Talon took steady strides to stand by her side. His muscles were taut as he stared intently at the other man. “Yeah, we will,” he stated with authority.
Chloe looked between the two men and shook her head before she allowed herself to lean into Talon’s side.
“Take me home, Talon,” she said wearily before reaching for Sean’s hand. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Sean. Thanks for calling me.”
He clasped her hand in his as he brought her fingers to his lips to give a gentle kiss to her knuckles. “See you tomorrow, Chloe.”
Talon’s low rumble had both their gazes turning to him. Chloe raised a brow in question as she looked into piercing blue eyes that never strayed from Sean’s. What the hell?
Sean returned an almost identical piercing gaze before finally taking a step back and extending his hand. “Sean O’Connor.”
Chloe quickly realized the two had never formally met. “Talon, this is my friend, Doctor Sean O’Connor. He runs the clinic and has agreed to assist us in our investigation.” She turned to Sean, who hadn’t yet dropped his hand. “Sean, this is Talon. He’s,” she hesitated, “an old friend who is also here to help my team.”
Talon saw the tilt of Sean’s lips at Chloe’s hesitation and the use of the term “friend”. He saw a confidence in the man’s eyes, in his stance, in his very demeanor. Yet another man who was close to Chloe, another man who had kissed Chloe. Talon wanted to punch the man in the face. He fought the urge and instead lifted his hand to shake and was met with a firm grasp. Talon gave a single nod, which Sean returned, then he released his grip, turning Chloe to the door to leave.
Chloe let him lead her out but looked over her shoulder just as they were at the door. “Night, Sean. I’ll see you in the morning.”
She was smiling to herself on the quiet drive home. Maybe I’ll get another kiss out of this. She was still smiling when she turned to see Talon’s chiseled profile, the muscle in his jaw working furiously. Oh yeah, definitely another kiss.
Chapter Sixteen
Chloe let them in the front door and reset the alarm before moving through the house to the back deck. The sun had set, the moon casting rays of light over the water below. The boys were still there, waiting on word of her meeting with Sam. She watched them for a moment before opening the doors to the back.
“Hey, Chloe-girl,” David greeted her. “What happened at the clinic?”
Talon was right behind her. She could feel his heat as he followed her outside. He hardly spoke on the way home from the clinic. She could feel the tension pouring off him. Was he upset as a Coteri warrior that someone had attacked a helpless female? Did she do something to bring on his anger once again? Or was his ego tweaked because of Sean?
Damn, the man made her crazy. She needed some space, some time to get her emotions in check where Talon was concerned if she had any hope of keeping her heart out of the equation. She moved to the cooler and took out two bottles of water, handing one to him absently as she moved farther away to sit next to David on the cedar bench. The blazing fire pit created a comfortable warmth in the chilly night air.
“Sam was attacked outside the gym we go to,” Chloe began hesitantly. “She got away with a few bumps and bruises but she’s pretty torn up about the whole thing.” She paused and looked to each member of her team before she continued. “She mentioned her attacker looked like all of you. Big. From her description, I think it was the same man who attacked me outside the clinic parking lot. She also thinks it’s the same man who originally attacked her in Seattle several months ago.”
Silence met her statement as Chloe took a long drink before meeting the eyes of the men she had come to trust. Confession time. “Sam told me in the parking lot, before I was attacked, she believed I was in danger. She told me she gets these ‘feelings’ sometimes, particularly about danger.” She paused and looked plaintively at each man. “At the time, I assumed her ‘feelings’ were just a result of her attack. Now I’m not so sure.”
She let out a heavy sigh. “And tonight at the clinic, she told me she had that same feeling again, a feeling of me being in danger. I don’t know if these ‘feelings’ of hers mean anything or if it’s just trauma-related.”
She huffed out a breath. “I think this is all connected in some way but I just haven’t figured out how yet. They’ve targeted her for some reason. They’ve followed her from Seattle to here and I intend to find out why.” She shook her head, her mind swirling as she continued, almost thinking out loud. “If her ‘feelings’ aren’t trauma-related, maybe this mental gift is somehow the key they’re looking for to further their experiments.”
David scooted closer to her side and stretched his arms along the back railing. “We’ll figure it all out, Chloe. But you might be on to something.”
Chloe continued. “How much do we know about the other victims? Did any of them have special gifts? We need to find out.” And then another idea formed. “Maybe it’s time we turned the tables and use this. With my attack and Sam’s, it’s obvious they want us both. Why not make it a little easier on them?” she mused, talking more to herself at this point.
Every man on her deck went rigid at her remark as she heard the glide of her patio doors slide shut and Daniel joined them. “What the hell are you talking about, Chloe?” he asked heatedly.
She turned to face him with her hands on her hips. “I’m simply saying that we’re missing something, Daniel.” She began to pace again, her thoughts churning. “Sam is fairly certain that her recent attack was from the same man who grabbed her in Seattle. The same man who was probably responsible for my attack in the parking lot.” She sighed as she stopped her pacing and faced him. “If that’s the case, then it’s all connected, Daniel. Don’t you see? We’re missing something.”
Daniel crossed his arms over his chest and took a step forward. “We now know Luca was behind your attack in the parking lot, Chloe. How could he possibly be responsible for Sam’s attack in Seattle months ago? He wasn’t even here at that time.”
Chloe shook her head. “Luca didn’t attack me, Daniel. He orchestrated it. If he could do that, then he could easily be behind Sam’s attacks. I’m telling you, it’s related. I feel it in my gut. I just don’t know how it’s related and it’s driving me insane!”
Daniel approached her then, placing his hands on her shoulders as he looked into her eyes. “You may have something with this, Chloe. The blond Valta did come after you both. I trust your instincts. I do. Let’s dig a little deeper into the info we have on the previous victims and see what we can come up with.”
Chloe took a deep breath before allowing Daniel to fold her into a quick hug. She noted Talon’s rigid stance in her peripheral vision. After a heavy sigh, she took a step back from Daniel and turned to the team. “Okay, let’s go over what we have so far and then figure out where we go from here.”
Chloe was surprised when she felt Talon’s large hand enfold her own. “I need to see you inside for a minute,” he stated calmly as he led her into the house. Once inside, he lifted her into his powerful arms and didn’t stop until he set her down in the kitchen, pulling her flush to his hard body and shielding her from the prying eyes of the men on the deck. She looked into his eyes to find a mixture of fury and heat and her body responded as usual to his closeness. The blood coursed through her veins, her heart thundered in her chest, her nipples hardened into tortuous peaks, and her womb spasmed as she took in his hardened expression.
Talon walked her backward until her back met the hard surface of the refrigerator. His nostrils flared as he braced two large palms against the stainless steel surface on either side of her head, effectively caging her in. His eyes, usually as clear blue as the sea, were now
swirling with dark blue flames that seemed to sear her senses. He didn’t speak as he pressed his hard body against hers then clasped her wrists above her head and held them there in one of his large hands.
Before she could even utter a word he growled, “Damn you,” then lowered his lips to hers in a blinding kiss that obliterated all conscious thought.
His tongue slid smoothly into her mouth, tasting every crevice and igniting her senses like a match to gasoline. There was a sense of desperation, coupled with the lust. He sipped, nipped, thrust and she was instantly lost in the sensation, struggling against his hold with her need to touch him. The kiss was dominant yet sensual, the wet slide of his tongue hitting every nerve ending. She wanted to touch, she needed to touch. Damn this man and what he did to her self-control.
He pulled his lips from hers, which elicited an unconscious whimper from her. “Damn you, Chloe.” He continued the erotic seduction, kissing and nipping down her jaw to her neck, ending at the most sensitive spot behind her ear as he latched on in a stinging kiss. She leaned her head to the side to give him better access. It felt so good. He slowly licked the sting and continued sucking the tender area. She was ablaze with sensation at his touch. His mouth was destroying her resolve.
“Does every male in your presence have to touch you?” he growled as his lips moved to her collarbone and his hard length ground into her lower abdomen.
“You’re touching me,” she whispered breathlessly as she rolled her hips into his erection, loving the low groan the movement elicited from him. “Quite a bit more than anyone else actually.”
She was pushing him and she knew it. But she also had an idea what would happen if he lost that renowned control of his he was so famous for. And right now, with his lips on her skin, she didn’t want his control. She wanted him crazy with the same lust that was burning like flames through her body.
His lips took hers again in a brief yet blistering kiss before he broke the contact. “Smart-ass,” he murmured roughly, his mouth only a breath away from her lips. “And you won’t set yourself up as bait, Chloe. I know that’s what you’re planning but it’s not gonna happen. No fucking way.” His guttural curse coursed through her nerve endings and his blue eyes flared with both anger and heat before he latched his lips and teeth once again on the tender spot behind her ear.
She knew her neck would be marked and she didn’t care. Chloe felt her knees go weak under his assault. She forced her hands away from his grasp and drove her fingers into his thick locks, pulling free the leather tie that bound his hair. She pulled at the heavy strands and ground into his hips.
“Talon…” she whispered, unable to stop the fiery need flowing through her as one of his calloused hands gripped her hair. His other slid up her shirt and cupped her breast, his thumb raking over her tight nipple.
She cried out at the sensation. She couldn’t think. All she could do was feel, as his lips took hers again in a branding kiss that left her weak and wanting. He bent his knees and ground his hard length into her center, the denim that separated them rubbing against her swollen clit made her suppliant for skin on skin contact. The feelings he evoked in her suddenly had her terrified.
With a will she wasn’t even aware she had, she placed her hands against his broad chest and pushed. “Damn it, Talon. You can’t keep doing this to me,” she whispered hoarsely.
They were both struggling to catch their breath as she met the swirling, lust-filled gaze of his eyes. “Tell me, why now?” She sighed. “Your ego gets stepped on a little and suddenly you need to prove something to yourself?”
She furthered the distance between them, trying to regain some semblance of control. “Look, you don’t own me, you’re not responsible for me, and you’ve made it quite clear what you think of me so just quit with the damn mind games, Talon. I told you before I won’t be another one of your toys.”
She walked into the living room and ran frustrated fingers through her long hair before turning to face him once again. “Despite what you think, I’m not a little girl, I know what I’m doing, and I can damn sure take care of myself so just knock off this possessive act. Because we both know that’s all this really is, an act.”
She took a fortifying breath before moving back out to the deck with her team. Damn this man! She looked around at the men who were all staring at her with differing expressions. She noted Daniel’s look of concern and David’s ire before settling on Tre’s knowing half-grin. He gave her a quick wink before he moved to the cooler to grab two beers.
As Tre started back to his seat, he stopped in front of Talon, who had just joined them, and leaned in close. “Hey, hickey-man. Nice work.” He handed Talon a beer and chuckled.
“Fucktard,” Talon muttered, shoving him in the shoulder before moving to his own seat.
Daniel cleared his throat, bringing everyone’s attention to him. “Look, I didn’t get the chance to tell you what happened with Sam tonight after she left.”
Chloe immediately shifted focus and moved to sit on the lounge chair closest to Daniel. Talon moved silently to stand behind her chair.
Daniel ran a hand through his hair before continuing. “As I walked her to her car, I told her we’d all feel better if she let me follow her home to ensure her place was secure. She told me it wasn’t necessary but immediately became agitated when I tried to insist. She got in her car and tore out of the lot like a bat out of hell. I was able to stay with her for a while but she lost me.”
He shook his head in frustration, then turned to Chloe. “Do you think this is because of the attack and she somehow feared a male coming to her home?”
Chloe pulled her legs under her and grabbed the blanket from the foot of the chaise, wrapping it around her in the chilly night air. “Probably, Daniel. We should have thought of that. Maybe I should have been the one to offer to go with her. I don’t know. I’ll call her to make sure she got home okay.”
As if on cue, Chloe’s cell beeped. It was a text message from Sam.
Thx 4 being there 4 me 2nite. I’m safe @ home but I’ll see u tomorrow @ our scheduled apt time. Ur the best Chloe
“Well,” Chloe stated with relief. “Sam is home safe, so no worries there.”
Daniel moved to the sitting bench and took a seat beside Tre. “I don’t know. Something doesn’t feel right here. Did you notice the black eye?”
Chloe looked at him in question.
“In her recounting of the attack, she never once mentioned getting hit in the face. Something’s off here. I’m with you, Chloe—we’re missing something.”
“She was basically in shock, Daniel. I’m sure she just forgot that part. But are you thinking you agree that maybe I could do something to make it easier to draw the bad guys out of hiding?” Chloe asked hopefully. They were wasting time and the longer it took them to find and shut these bastards down, the more innocent victims would suffer.
A resounding “No!” pummeled the darkness as all the men rose to their feet in unison. Chloe shook her head. There was no use arguing. It didn’t matter what they thought of her abilities or how much they trusted her. No Coteri male, especially a warrior, would allow a female to knowingly endanger herself.
“I know, I know. Intel only,” she muttered in defeat.
* * * * *
Chloe was exhausted. After her confrontation with Killian, Talon’s unexpected kiss in the elevator followed by their next encounter in her kitchen, and finally the drama with Sam, she could barely keep her head up. She reclined on the soft cushioned chaise lounge on the deck, reveling in the silence now that all the boys had gone. She stared at the stars while enjoying the silence and the brisk night air. She marveled at the majestic beauty of the landscape as she listened to the peaceful lapping of the water below. She loved it here. She felt at peace. She felt at home. Then she heard the soft slide of the doors behind her.
Large, strong hands surrounded her shoulders, kneading her tight muscles into utter submission. She lifted her chin to see Talon’s b
lue gaze piercing her own. Mercy, what this man did to her senses.
“Why are you really here, Talon? Tell me,” she asked softly, needing to know.
His hands stilled but didn’t relinquish their hold. “I needed to make sure you were safe,” he answered stoically.
Chloe dropped her chin to her chest and sighed before swinging her legs to the side of the chaise and standing to face him. “If that’s the case, then you can obviously see I’m perfectly safe and in good hands with my team, which means there’s no reason for you to stay here.” She took a hesitant step back from him. Her voice softened. “You can go home, Talon. Go home and protect Mina.”
He stared at her for a long moment. The brilliant blue of his eyes seemed to darken before he stepped closer to her. He placed his large hands on either side of her face as he brought his lips close to hers. “Not happening. Your brother will take care of Mina. I could have lost you, Chloe. I’m staying,” he whispered softly. His lips brushed gently over hers before leaving too quickly.
Confusion warred with need as his hands continued to stroke and caress. First her face, then her neck and shoulders before slowly gliding down her arms. She shook her head even as each touch from his strong, warm hands sent fiery shards of sensation shooting through her system. She had to keep control this time.
She stepped away from his touch. “I don’t understand you, Talon. I was never yours to lose nor did you ever want me. Why now after all these years?” She ran her fingers through her hair in frustration and shook her head.
“I’ve known you my entire life. You’re my brother’s best friend. Until I returned to Germany I stupidly believed at the very least we were friends. But you made it perfectly clear just how you really felt about me during those last conversations back at the castle. Did you think I could forget your words so easily?”
Infinite Surrender: 2 (Blood Feud) Page 17
