by Nicole Vidal
She raises her eyebrow at family dinner.
“Don’t worry, my family and Jake’s have all been vetted thoroughly.”
I shift closer to him, pushing myself up so we’re looking directly at one another. “Yes, Connor, I’ll go home with you after my show on Saturday.”
The heat in his eyes changes from simmering to boiling in an instant. Cupping my face, Connor kisses me hard. His kiss is hungry and possessive. Can’t say I blame him; I feel it too. Within a second, I’m flat on my back and Connor is hovering over me. You would think the sheer size difference between us would give me pause. It doesn’t. Connor will never hurt me. The pressure of his kiss decreases as he slowly lowers himself on top of me. I have never seen a more beautiful specimen of the male species. His arms are taut, which tells me he isn’t completely resting on me. As if he read my mind, Connor slides an arm beneath my waist and rolls to his left. My legs fall to either side of him.
“I was fine,” I murmur.
He nods. I snake my hands beneath his shirt and along his flank before lowering my lips to his. His hands slide up my thighs and grip my hips. I moan against his mouth. He stills beneath me.
I break our kiss and look into his eyes. “Did I miss something? You did ask me on a date, right?”
“Yes, I did.” He blows out a breath, tightens his arm around me, and pulls up to sitting.
This position with me in his lap and my legs around his back isn’t any better if he wants me to ignore how his length feels against my core. So damn good!
“What’s wrong?”
“I haven’t been in a relationship in a long time.”
“Is that what this is?” I ask jokingly.
He doesn’t take it that way. “I don’t share. Ever.”
I cup his face in my hands. “You think I do?”
His body relaxes a tiny bit.
Leaning forward, I press a kiss to his lips. “I haven’t been with anyone in way too long, and I’m not suggesting that for tonight. I realize how fast and slightly reckless this is considering why you’re here, but I want you.”
“I want you, probably more than I should at this point. I never felt a spark like when we met ever before. I refuse to mess it up.”
Slowly I open the top two buttons of his shirt.
His breathing grows shallow.
“Do you want me to stop?” I see him thinking, not about me or us but about my safety.
In his mind, he’s rechecking the locks on the door. “No, absolutely not.” He leans back on his elbows.
The further I get down the column of buttons, the more of his sculpted chest and abs are on display for me. I pepper his pecs with featherlike kisses, moving outward toward his shoulder. Below his right collarbone is a scar. It’s a lighter color than the rest of his skin with a thin line extending on either side. I press a kiss there and move down his flank. I would expect to find his chest covered with tattoos, but I find only one. There’s a purple heart with the initials MM in elegant script near his rib cage. I press a kiss there and drag my tongue inward. I revel in his abs tightening as I move. I kiss along each dip and ridge of his expertly honed eight-pack as I climb up to his lips.
With my lips sealed over his, I grasp the flaps of his shirt and tug him back up to sitting. His hands slide up my thighs and rest on my hips. The light brush of his thumbs against my already aroused core makes my inner muscles clench. I grasp his wrist, unbutton the cuff, and repeat on the other side. I slide my hands up his arms, slip my hands beneath the shirt, and push it to the floor.
“My turn, beautiful.” He slides his hands over the curve of my hips and dips them beneath the hem of my shirt. The warmth of his big, calloused hands gliding along my skin sends shivers cascading over my entire body.
I reach down and draw my tee over my head, casting it near his shirt on the floor. Once he reaches the top of my back, his fingers round the cap of my shoulder. He draws the strap of my burgundy lace bra down my arm, followed by his mouth. His touch makes decadent sensations skitter through me. Even more wetness pools between my thighs. Almost involuntarily, I rock against his hard length. That feels so much better than doing it myself.
His hold on me tightens as he dips his head and draws his tongue around my nipple in a mind-numbing circular pattern. The moment I’m used to his deliberate movements, he nips me. That single act increases the wetness at the apex of my thighs even more and wakes the need that has been building since we met.
I rock faster against him as he removes my bra completely, adding it to the pile of clothes on the floor.
“Take what you need, gorgeous.”
The friction is driving me closer to a climax. Connor’s skillful mouth switches between my breasts. He draws me against his chest as my release crests. I shudder in his arms and savor the second orgasm I’ve had in years—only one of which wasn’t by my own hand. I lower my head to his shoulder until every single tempting sensation subsides. I press a kiss to the point of his jaw and kiss forward to his lips.
“We should get some sleep. One of us has a performance tomorrow before a packed arena of fans screaming her name.”
I want to make you scream my name.
“Yes, Calliope.”
How does he do that?
“I don’t know, but I want to find out.”
“I know we should get some sleep, but how did you get the scar?”
His face hardens for a brief moment.
“You don’t have to share.”
“I don’t like talking about it; it isn’t pleasant. However, if you can bare your soul to me with your story, you should know mine.”
I kiss his forehead, and his eyes flutter closed. “Do you want to do it another time?”
“No, but you need to put on a shirt,” he replies, setting his gaze on me.
I rise from his lap and pull on his shirt. It’s big, but I don’t care. I have to roll the sleeves, and it hits slightly above my knees. The fact that it smells like him is the sweetest bonus. While I finish buttoning it, Connor moves the ottoman back in its place and settles on the couch. I sit next to him with my legs over his lap. His arm falls over my legs.
He takes a deep breath before speaking. “During our third deployment, Jake and I were in a convoy. Our vehicle had three other unit members. Carter was a young kid from Alabama. He was tall, lanky, and enlisted to get away from his controlling father. Jones was a huge, beefy linebacker of a man, who enlisted when he didn’t make it in the NFL. Adams was a third-generation army legacy with a trust fund. He was assigned to the same unit where both his father and grandfather served. Put together, we were a motley crew of misfits. I have only told this story one other time, and that was to a therapist that the army required me to see before retiring.”
I press a kiss to his cheek. There’s no way this story is going to be easy for him to share.
“We were heading into the city. As we approached the gate, a mortar attack took out the front of our convoy. We were the last vehicle. We moved forward to secure the area but started taking enemy fire. As we fell back, Adams was hit in the leg and chest. I dragged him back to the vehicle. Jones and Carter were firing back at the enemy while Jake radioed for help. After I got Adams into the vehicle, Jake turned to motion Jones and Carter to move. They were shot. I remember it as if it were yesterday. Adams bleeding out, calling for his girlfriend. Jones was motionless, and Carter was in agonizing pain.”
I shift forward into his lap and throw my arms around him.
“Jake and I left Adams in the vehicle and pulled Jones and Carter in. I took a defensive position while Jake maneuvered the vehicle out of harm’s way.” He takes a deep breath and exhales slowly before telling the rest.
“We moved forward and pulled four other guys into our vehicle. After a short drive, we started taking more enemy fire. I took a round in the shoulder. I switched places with Jake and drove the rest of the way to safety where we were patched up.”
I tighten my arms around him and his co
llapse around me. “When is the anniversary?”
“It’s in October.”
“What do you normally do to remember Carter, Jones, and Adams?”
“Jake and I usually meet up if possible and have a beer in their honor. If we can’t meet, we do it over a video call.”
I press a kiss to his temple. “Thank you for sharing.”
“Thank you for asking and listening. We really should get some sleep, sweetheart.”
I stand, thread my fingers in his, and lead him to my bedroom. I snuggle against Connor in the huge bed and fall asleep.
Chapter Fourteen
Connor
I have never shared a bed with a woman overnight. Waking with Calliope tucked against me is unparalleled. It’s definitely a position I would like to be in when this job is done, even if the relationship is long distance. I can’t ask her to move, especially when I could be on a job half of every month.
“Go back to sleep,” she murmurs, still half asleep.
“Can’t. I have work to do, and Christoph will be here in a few hours.”
She snuggles deeper into my arms. Even if my body wasn’t already paying attention to the perfect curve of her ass against my rock-hard shaft, it would be now. I shouldn’t, but I move to hover over her.
“Morning, gorgeous.”
She opens her eyes and gazes up at me. “Morning.”
I lower my lips to hers and kiss her lightly before climbing off the bed. “I’ll order breakfast after I dress. Want something different today?”
She always orders an omelet with bacon and fresh fruit. I’m sure it has something to do with fitting into her costumes. “No, the usual is perfect. You should order extra if you think Christoph will want or need to eat.”
I nod and step out of the bedroom. Less than thirty minutes later, I’m ready for the day, breakfast is ordered, and I’m dialing Jake.
“Morning, Connor. Everything okay in LA?”
“For the most part. I’m keeping Christoph here to figure out what’s going on with her transportation service. It makes no sense to me that the driver in Dallas is the same as the one here.”
“No, it doesn’t.”
“Where is Maia assigned next week?” If I’m lucky, she won’t be on assignment the entire time we’re local.
“She’ll be back on Sunday night. Why?”
“I convinced Calliope to come to Maryland with me so I can be home next week. She has ten days off in her schedule. Instead of me staying at her place in Virginia, she’s going to stay at mine.” The security at my condo is off the charts. It’s almost as good as Jake’s at his home.
“Calliope? Not Miss Sutton.”
That didn’t take long. It’s why I have been emailing Jake as much as possible.
“Are you going to need more team members for Boston and beyond, C?”
I can attempt to lie to Jake, but that would be foolish, and I refuse to risk her safety because I like her, a lot. “Probably. However, there’s a more pressing potential performance she is considering.” Without sharing her story, although I assume Jake read her entire file, I give him enough details and a preliminary assessment of what I’ll need for manpower and how long.
“I’ll see what I can find out about the venue and performance. When do I get to torture you? When will you thank me profusely for assigning you Miss Sutton’s file?”
I turn to see her stepping out of the bedroom. Her hair in a messy bun atop her head, she pulled on a hoodie and some fuzzy slippers. You’re behind on the well-intentioned but well-deserved torture. “Thank you, Jake. For the first time ever, I’m glad I didn’t fight you on this one.”
“That’s all? I need more, C.”
“Can’t do it right now.”
Jake laughs. “I see. She can hear you. Fine, I’ll let it go for now. Let’s get back to the true reason for your call. Why do you need Maia?”
I shake my head. “I want Maia and Norah to teach our client some basic self-defense, and I want to be home on Wednesday. Can we move the dinner to the farm?” I haven’t mentioned it yet, but Wednesday is my birthday.
“I’ll talk to Norah and Maia, and we can arrange something. Your condo should be fine. If it isn’t, you can both stay here. We have plenty of space; plus it will give me more evidence to torment you. I’ll move the dinner on Wednesday and Sunday here.”
“I’ll leave it up to her. You’re not angry?”
There’s a strong knock on the door. Calliope moves to answer it. Faster than I thought I could, I step in front of her and shake my head.
“Hold on, Jake. The food is here.” I move to the door and accept our breakfast. “Go ahead, Jake.” I retake my seat.
“Angry, no. I recall very clearly what it feels like to know deep in your soul that a woman is your other half. I’ve been blessed to find it twice. You have been assigned to some of the most beautiful women in the world. I know without a doubt she’s special if you readily admit that you not only need backup and willingly submit to the ribbing you deserve. I’m happy for you.”
She sets a cup of coffee before me and slides her hand down my arm. I mouth thank you before responding to Jake.
“Thanks, brother.”
“You’re welcome. We can talk more about the logistics on Monday morning.”
“That works. See you in a few days.”
I end the call and take the first satisfying sip of coffee. I shouldn’t be surprised that most of her breakfast is gone. I uncover my food and dig in.
“When is Christoph arriving?”
I face her and finish the bite of food in my mouth. “He should be here near ten. Did you get an answer from Olivia about the transportation company?”
“Not as of midday yesterday. Let me check my email again. I’ll be right back.” She rises and kisses me before leaving the room.
While she gets her laptop, I polish off my breakfast and prepare fresh coffee for both of us.
She takes a seat on the couch and boots up her computer. I set her cup in front of her. “Thanks.” She takes a sip and opens an email from Olivia. “According to this email, the company that Bruce chose works in all the major cities. She has no idea how or why the same driver would be at the last two stops on my tour. Olivia says it’s hinky.”
I grin. “Both Jake and I agree with her. Please respond to her and let her know I plan to fire the company for the rest of your tour. I’ll personally handle transportation to and from the arenas, etc.”
“Sure.”
“What that means though is after your performance tonight, you will be riding back here with Christoph.”
“Okay. Will you share your plan with me?” Her voice sounds a tad more nervous than I would like.
“Don’t worry. If I didn’t think Christoph was capable of protecting you to the same standard that I can, he wouldn’t work for Blackthorne. If I can’t be beside you, I trust my team to make sure you’re safe.”
She nods slowly, but I’m not convinced she’s comfortable. I trust Christoph. That’s going to have to be enough for tonight.
I take her hands in mine. “Look, I don’t know how the driver will react. I don’t want you anywhere nearby when I question him before firing the company.”
She lowers her head against my chest.
Her response isn’t about trusting me and Blackthorne; it’s deeper. I need to know why she’s upset. I wouldn’t leave her side if it were practical, but it isn’t. “Tell me, please.”
“I was never safe before. Was I?”
Oh hell! I decide the unvarnished truth is the best way to go. “Not completely, no.”
She lifts her head and climbs into my lap. I envelope her with my arms and hold her until she’s ready to move. “Am I now?” She lifts her eyes to mine. The sheer concern behind them is a lot for me to handle. I will lay it down for her, and not only because it’s my job. It’s fast, but it’s how I feel.
“Not yet, but I’m working on it. Brad was the first issue. I doubt he’ll return
. I can’t stop him from buying tickets, but I can prevent his access to you. The transportation company is the next issue, which I hope to handle tonight. There are still two more—Bruce and Mr. Kellerman. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“You really are different, aren’t you?”
“Yes, I am.”
She sets her head on my shoulder, her lips pressed against my neck, and tightens her arms around me again.
I will hold her as long as she’ll have me… a conversation we should have perhaps after this set of shows. “I would love nothing more than to keep you here in my arms indefinitely, but you need to get ready.”
She shifts so she’s looking at me. “Thank you. I’m really thankful I fired Mickey and Bruce chose Blackthorne.”
Me too. “You’re welcome. I am too. Go get ready.”
The press of her lips on mine still makes my head spin. You would think the heat would dissipate; it hasn’t. It gets stronger with each kiss. That initial spark was nothing compared to how kissing Calliope feels now. It will take significant resolve to resist her for another two days, especially since all I want is to lay her out, peel her clothes off, and coax shudders of pleasure from her body. As much as I don’t want to, I pull her lower lip between my teeth as I break our kiss. A deep moan falls from her lips.
“I see you, sweetheart. I want to learn every touch, kiss, and spot that will make your skin erupt with goose bumps.”
Her eyes flash with heat and lust, and it literally makes my chest ache to release her from my embrace. I don’t have long to compose myself. Less than twenty minutes later, Christoph arrives.
“Hey! Thanks for staying.”
He laughs. “You’re the boss. So what’s the schedule for today?”
I share her schedule and the plan for after her performance. He’ll discreetly follow us to the arena with an extra vehicle. My plan is twofold. First, I want to verify that the company’s website falsely advertises its capabilities and for backup, just in case. The website boasts the ability to spot and evade a tail, especially paparazzi. During the performance, Christoph will be an extra set of eyes backstage for me. I plan to follow the same routine I have been, posted stage right and below because I’m uneasy about her being out of sight that long. I would be with any client, but it’s more with her.
