Cuffed & Claimed

by Lori King

  * * *

  They walked back out to find Royce standing near the fireplace where he’d stood only a short time ago dressed all in black, while the men he’d met while pretending to work for the Navy stood glaring at him.

  “Has Royce told you anything of importance?”

  “If you mean has he explained who the hell you were, then the answer is no. Has he showed us his middle finger repeatedly, then yes? If I didn’t think I’d be in a shitload of trouble, I’d show him what he could do with that finger,” Kai growled.

  Royce raised his dark brows. He and Kai could almost pass for brothers, only Royce had about forty pounds of muscle on the SEAL. Not to mention the fact his partner was deadly with or without a gun.

  Once he got confirmation from Royce that they could share a little information about their mission, he could see each man become more rigid.

  “So, Dex was just in it for the money?” Kai blew out a frustrated breath.

  Hailey nodded. “He told them I knew more, which is a lie. I don’t know if he thought he could get more money out of them, or what. I think he’s the one who tried to kill me and either got scared, or had a bit of a second thought at the last minute. He truly wasn’t the greatest shot on the best days.” Although she knew he’d tried to kill her, it still hurt to know one of the men she’d worked with for years would barter with her life.

  “CIA, I never would have pegged you for that. I mean, shit.” Coyle shook his head.

  Maddox shrugged. “That’s good. It’s not like we walk around with it on our shirts. This is classified information.” He stumbled a little.

  “Hey, I think he might need some medical attention.” Kai grabbed him before he fell.

  Hailey was on his other side. “Sit down before you fall down.”

  “Only because I think you may be right,” he muttered, allowing them to lead him to the leather sofa.

  “Well, shit. Looks like we’ll be taking you to the hospital. Can’t have you passing out on us. Load ‘em up boys.” Kai clapped his hands.

  Maddox squinted up. “I just need to rest a few.”

  “He’s probably lost too much blood from being shot twice and neither time did anything but grunt and keep moving.” Hailey glared at him.

  Royce pushed away from the fireplace. “Damn, always gotta be the tough one. Alright, let’s do this.”

  * * *

  Between Royce and Oz, they maneuvered him into the Bronco with Hailey sitting next to him. They looked like their own little convoy as they headed back into town, leaving his family’s home once again with death and bodies inside.

  “I’ll make sure it’s closed up and properly cleaned,” Royce said from the front seat.

  Maddox looked at the brick ranch and shook his head. He couldn’t imagine ever coming back there to visit, let alone live. He’d make sure the government got rid of the property quietly.

  The way the men all got out, setting up a defensive perimeter, had the good folks of Omaha’s General Hospital gaping at them. Maddox could only imagine what they probably looked like with several of them in camo, while he and Royce were all in black.

  A quick call to the right people, and they were rushed through without incident.

  “Damn, being CIA must be nice.” Oz leaned against the wall.

  Glaring at the men who didn’t seem in any hurry to leave, Maddox lifted his middle finger. “Don’t you have a ship to be on or some shit?”

  Sully shook his head. “Nah, we are good on air, land, and sea. Besides, we’re your protection detail until you’re released.”

  Hailey smiled. “I think I like that.”

  “Hales, come here.” He held his hand out. Imagining her with the other man had him seeing red.

  “What’s wrong? Are you hurting?” She ran her hand over his head.

  “Oh, I know that look. Boys, I think we should step outside.” Royce motioned toward the door.

  8

  It had been over a month since Dex had been killed and she’d last seen Maddox. Hailey wasn’t sure what to think, other than he’d changed his mind. After the other men had left the hospital room, he’d told her to give him a kiss. Then, when she’d tried to pull away, he’d explained she was his. Nobody else’s but his. Her heart had skipped a beat, and she’d said it went both ways. His hand had gone to the back of her neck and held her so they were looking eye to eye. His growled words of only his and of course he was hers, had her covering his mouth with a soft cry. If she could have, she’d have climbed onto the bed with him as the heat had exploded between them. Royce’s knock to let them know he was being discharged was the only thing that kept her, and him, from acting on the impulse.

  She sat back with a heavy sigh. Maybe it was time to go home. Her family surely wouldn’t roll out all the words of wisdom they thought she needed, and ones she hated, since she wasn’t returning with what they’d call a failure. Her latest enlistment was up. She could move home and start a new life. A life without half her heart. She snorted and turned her computer on. The words on the screen didn’t make sense to her, something that never happened in her line of work as a computer science expert.

  Standing, she went to the wall of windows overlooking Rapid City. Far below she could see people milling about their day, while she felt like her own life was stuck on the hamster wheel. “Time to hop off and quit with the spinning,” she admonished herself.

  “I don’t know, I kind of like it when you’re on top. Well, in my fantasies that is.”

  She spun at the sound of Maddox’s deep voice coming from behind her. He made her breath catch. “What are you doing here?”

  Dressed in a pair of jeans and a polo shirt, she couldn’t remember ever seeing him look better. Every part of her wanted to run into his arms and beg him to hold her, and never let go.

  “I came to see you.” Maddox’s eyes went from her head to her toes, making her glad she’d worn one of her best dresses.

  Taking a deep breath. “Oh.” What the hell did he want her to say? It had been thirty-three days, sixteen hours and a handful of minutes since she’d seen or heard from him, but she wasn’t keeping count.

  “Can I come in?” he asked.

  “Of course.” She gestured to the seat in front of her desk. The cubicles outside her office showed several heads above them staring at her and Maddox.

  “I think they’re curious as to why I’m here.” He pointed his thumb backward.

  His grin did funny things to her belly. “I believe the story was you were injured and released from active duty. You being here looking as healthy as any of us sort of makes that seem odd.” She took a fortifying breath. “What are you doing here, Maddox?”

  He waited until he had the door shut, then went around and closed the blinds, blocking the view from the others. By the time he finished her nerves were strung tight.

  “Why do you think I’m here, Hales?” His tone deepened, and then he was walking around her desk, coming to a stop in front of her.

  With her left hand holding her desk, and the right gripping her chair, she stared at the man she loved beyond reason. “Why don’t you tell me?”

  He pinched her chin between his thumb and forefinger. “You’re going to make me grovel, aren’t you?”

  Licking her lips, she waited.

  A growl escaped him. “I fucking love you. I loved you the moment I walked into this operation thinking one of you were a traitor, and plans started forming of how I’d get you out if it was you. When I saw you on the side of the road and the shit hit the fan, my heart nearly stopped. For the last month, I’ve worked my ass off to get a plan in motion so I could offer you something other than a nomadic life. You deserve more than a man who leaves for weeks, months at a time without notice. I didn’t want to start a life with you, and make promises I couldn’t keep. One that I couldn’t guarantee I’d not come home to. I resigned from my job.”

  She couldn’t believe her ears. Knowing Maddox and the way he’d been, imagining him as a
nything other than what he was didn’t compute. “Why?” The one-word question came out a hoarse whisper.

  “I can’t live without my heart and soul. You are it for me, Hellion.” He didn’t give her a chance to say anything else. The small space he’d allowed was eliminated as his arms snaked around her, lifting her off her feet, bringing her flush to his body.

  In that moment she cursed the form-fitting dress and her inability to wrap her legs around his waist. When they broke apart, they were both panting. “I love you so much it hurts, Mad. For the last month, my world was cold and empty without you. I think JoJo and Blake were ready to hunt you down and either kill you, or hogtie your ass until you came back.”

  Her arms were locked around his neck, hands smoothing over his shaved head. God, she loved everything about this man.

  Maddox laughed. “I’d like to see that.”

  “I’m sure they’d reenact their plans for us if you’d like.” She laughed down at him.

  Maddox’s hands smoothed up her thighs, taking the skirt of her dress with them. He sat her on the top of the desk once he’d lifted it to her waist. “I need you, Hales.”

  “Oh, god, yes.”

  The phone on her desk rang with the shrill tone that indicated an intra-office call. She pressed her forehead to his chest. “That would be my boss.”

  He tugged on the hair at the back of her head. “You should answer it, then.” Fire danced in his dark eyes.

  She slipped the headset on over her head. “Hailey here.”

  “I see you’ve got a visitor. Why don’t you take the rest of the afternoon off?” Amusement laced her director’s voice.

  “Thank you, Sir.” Hailey took the device off, then repeated what was said.

  “How long before you can leave?” His fingers traced the seam of her panties.

  Her hand covered his. “Right now.”

  He took a step back, helping her get off her desk and ease the dress back into place. “Let’s go, then.”

  After shutting down her computer, she opened a drawer on her desk and pulled out her crossbody bag.

  “Where’s your backpack?” he asked looking at her with a curious expression.

  “I only carry it when I ride my bike.” She touched his arm at the look of pain that crossed his face.

  * * *

  Maddox screwed his eyes shut, a shudder wracked him. “Don’t remind me. How did you get to work today?” Moving around the desk, he loved watching the way she glided around the small space, like a graceful ballerina. Damn, he had it bad.

  “I caught a ride with JoJo and Blake. Did you drive here?” She came to stand in front of him.

  “Does a bear shit in the woods?” He smiled.

  Shaking her head, she tapped a message into her phone. “Alright, they are informed.”

  “Good,” he said then scooped her into his arms, making her gasp.

  “What are you doing?” she asked, her head turning toward the door as they stepped into the hall.

  He laughed at the shocked expression on her face. “I believe it’s romantic for a man to sweep his woman off her feet and carry her off. There’s even a movie where the hero does it, and everyone cheers as he carts her off to the stunned disbelief of all those around.”

  Her laughter had many standing up to see what was happening. “That was An Officer and a Gentleman, and he was the Navy pilot, while she was a local girl out to catch herself a husband.”

  He looked down. “Same concept, Hales. Only I hope to catch myself a Navy girl to be with me.”

  Hailey’s arms around his neck, and then her head nuzzling his throat had him sporting wood as he carried her through the building, but as the saying goes, he gave no fucks. With the woman in his arms, he truly would make an ass of himself every day if it meant she’d be with him.

  “Take me away, Maddox, I’m yours to do with as you please,” she said into his ear.

  “Wait till I get you to my hotel suite, and I’ll have you repeat that.” He licked the shell of her ear.

  * * *

  The ride to his hotel was the longest he’d ever made, but with Hailey’s hand securely in his, he made it in less than ten minutes. He handed the valet the keys, then walked swiftly to the bank of elevators, barely saying a word to Hailey. If he stopped to look at her, he feared he’d kiss her. If he began kissing, then they might end up getting arrested for public indecency. The one thing he did do was hold her hand in his. If he could, he’d have her handcuffed to him for the next fifty years or so.

  “You know, Maddox, if I didn’t feel your love so strongly, I’d be worried at your silence,” Hailey murmured from beside him at the door to his suite.

  The light turned green, and then he was ushering them inside. As soon as the door shut behind them, he had her against the wall. “Fuck, that was the longest fourteen minutes of my life,” he groaned against her mouth.

  His fingers found the zip on the side of the dress, and worked it down. “Need you, Hales.”

  Her breath was ragged, but she nodded. The dress slithered to the floor, leaving her in a cream colored bra and white panties.

  “Hey, only women planning to get laid wear matching bra and panties every day.” She put her hands on slim hips.

  Maddox shook his head. “I love you. These need to go. They offend me.”

  A quick flick of his fingers and the bra was added to the pile of clothes, followed closely by the scrap of silk and lace. Standing in nothing but the spiked heels, he let his gaze eat her up. For over a month he’d done nothing but think of her, wishing she was next to him, day in and day out.

  “You are even more gorgeous than I remember.” His index finger traced one pink nipple, watching it harden under his ministrations.

  “You’re a little overdressed.”

  Needing to kiss and lick every inch of her, he brought his mouth down over hers; his hands smoothed down her back, then lifted her. He began walking into the suite, past the living area into the bedroom. He heard two thuds and knew she’d kicked off the shoes. “We’ll rectify my state of dress shortly.”

  He felt like a teenage boy with his first woman, ready to come in his jeans at any moment. Her slight weight was nothing to him, but he needed his hands free to do all the things he wanted.

  “Show me what you got, big boy.”

  Her impish grin made his entire body come alive even more. “Oh, I think you know what I got.” Maddox put her on the bed and had his shirt over his head in a heartbeat. He pushed his jeans and shoes off seconds later, naked as she was, standing with his hands on his hips next to the bed. “How is that for what I got, Hales?” His voice sounded a couple of octaves lower to his own ears.

  She licked her lips, getting up onto her knees, one hand reaching for him. “Beautiful,” she said, her voice smooth and sweet like the finest whiskey he’d ever drunk, pouring over him like a warm blanket.

  “Touch me,” he ordered.

  Hailey didn’t hesitate, her fingers encircling his shaft. With a sweet little smile, she swept her thumb over the slit and the small bead of come on the tip.

  He held still under her intense gaze, waiting to see what she’d do. Hailey was by far the most complex woman he’d ever known. She was gorgeous, smart, kinky, sexy as all get out, and the most loyal woman he’d ever met. She’d take a bullet for her friends, and wouldn’t think twice about offering the shirt off her back to someone in need. Maddox needed to let her know he would be right there with her, making sure all her wants and needs were satisfied.

  His eyes nearly rolled to the back of his head as she bent and took the head of his cock into her warm mouth. She pulled back, giving the tip an oddly innocent kiss. He brushed her lips with the head, the pushed back inside.

  Her hands shook while she ran her tongue along the length of him, a little moan of pleasure adding to his own came from her throat.

  “That feels good, Hellion.” His voice interrupted the quiet of the room, but there was no mistaking the husky truth.r />
  His heart filled as she peered up at him. He could see she loved him as much as he loved her.

  “Suck me harder, love.”

  She leaned forward, taking him back inside and sucked on the head of his dick. Watching her take him inside her mouth was a thing of true beauty. Her graceful back with her hair hanging loose, and the sight of her gorgeous ass, all combined to have him close to coming.

  He felt a drop of pearly fluid pulse out, and her tongue lick at the slit, a hum of approval at his salty taste had him gripping her by the back of her head.

  “Damn, Hales.”

  Hailey sucked, drawing his cock all the way to the back of her throat. Her right hand cupped his balls while she worked him with her lips, tongue and teeth.

  The last thing he wanted was for their first time in over a month to end with him coming down her throat. He eased back with a groan she echoed.

  His cock stood straight out, begging for her attention.

  Hailey’s eyes roamed over him from head to cock and back. “You okay, Mad?”

  He climbed onto the bed, pushing her to the middle as he went. “More than okay. I’m with the woman of my dreams.” He kissed her neck, then moved down to her perfect pink and brown nipples, making sure to be gentle with them. He licked each, then sucked on them softly. His fingers trailed down her stomach, finding her wet and soft. Kneeling between her thighs, he sank two fingers inside. “I’ve missed this. Missed you.” He curled his fingers, finding her G-spot.

  “God, yes, right there.” Hailey worked her hips back and forth.

  Maddox couldn’t stand waiting another minute. He pulled his fingers out, licking them clean, watching her eyes flare as she tracked his movements. He ripped open a condom he’d left on the end table next to the bed. Years of practice had him rolling the latex on in record time, and then he was lining his cock up next to her entrance.

  She took his breath away, raising her arms in welcome, her body made perfectly for him.

  He stared down, fully focusing on the place where their bodies were joining. “Now, that is a pretty sight,” he gritted out. He loved watching his dick stretch her, filling her paler flesh with his hard darker one, making himself a part of her. “You’re so fucking tight.” The words were ground out.