Jade sniffed and lifted her tired eyes to Lindy, who had picked up her briefcase and was quietly making her way to the door.
“Lindy,” Jade called out. “I...I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you. I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry...”
Lindy shook her head and gave her an assuring smile. “It's good to yell. It's okay to yell, and it's okay to be scared, Jade. In fact, it is right to be scared,” Lindy said firmly. “If you're scared, you'll do something to arm yourself, defend yourself. Don't ignore your fear. Your instincts are usually accurate. The detectives are right. You should be on your guard, and you should be guarded...”
“I'll guard her,” Dylan said immediately.
Lindy stared at him for a moment, then nodded. A small, knowing smile played on her lips as she opened the door.
“Looks like you've gotten yourself a great bodyguard, Jade. Dylan's the best!” Lindy said, breaking into a sly grin. “He'll take very good care of you. Won't you, Dylan?”
Jade gasped when Dylan glowered and growled at Lindy. She couldn't understand Dylan's reaction at all. “Dylan!”
But Lindy's grin only grew wider and she nodded smugly to herself. “I knew it!” Lindy said.
Knew what?
Jade blinked and stared from Dylan to Lindy. Lindy was an expert, a professional behavioral analyst. She could pick up subtle cues and signals, and read body language pretty accurately. She was also mated to a Black Bear. She knew how the Black Bears usually behaved.
So what was so unusual about Dylan's behavior? And why did Lindy seem so thrilled?
The door closed softly, but not before they heard Lindy's delighted, gleeful chuckle. “Oh, just wait till I tell Bax!”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Dylan shot to his feet and started for the door. He had his hand on the door handle when he felt Jade's eyes on his back. He could feel her shock and bewilderment, and he forced himself to calm down as he turned to face her.
Jade's eyes and mouth were rounded, and he saw shock and confusion in her blue eyes. He was scaring her with his strange, inexplicable behavior.
“Ah...I...” He stepped away from the door and stuffed his hands in his pockets.
“Y-you look mad...at Lindy,” Jade stammered.
“I'm not mad at her.” Dylan raked a hand through his hair. “It's just that...if she tells Big-Mouth Bax, the whole clan will know. And...”
“Big-Mouth Bax?” Jade had to laugh. “Is that what you call him?”
Dylan shrugged. “I call him a lot of things.”
“But Lindy is Baxter's mate. They won't keep anything from each other,” Jade said simply.
Dylan growled and stared at his watch.
Sure enough, his watch beeped as if on cue.
It was a message from Ethan, his alpha. Dylan's face was caught in both a smile and a scowl when he read the message.
Ethan had given him the assignment. He had been officially assigned by the Group as Jade's bodyguard.
Dylan knew that the Black Bears Group usually didn't send a senior lieutenant to be anyone's bodyguard. A junior Black Bear would be able to do the job competently.
Dylan took a long breath as he recalled those wide-eyed looks the Black Bears had given him just before the ambulance doors slammed in their faces. His attention had been solely on Jade then and he had ignored his clan completely. That had never happened before. He never ignored his team members. He always looked out for them and did a headcount before and after each mission. His team would realize that he was acting way out of character. He thought he'd heard Baxter's low chuckle as he rushed headlong into the ambulance to be with Jade. Disconcertingly, Baxter's and Lindy's chuckle sounded exactly the same. Did mates laugh the same way?
Dylan muttered an oath. Just what had those two told their alpha and the rest of the clan?
“Eh...is everything okay?” Jade asked, looking worried.
“Yeah.” Dylan cleared his throat. “I, um, got the job. I am officially your bodyguard.”
“You...don't look happy about it,” she mumbled, squirming.
“What?” Dylan spluttered. “No! You...I...I want to be your bodyguard!” he blurted out at last. “And I'm not letting anyone else take this job! No male is going to be hanging around you and watching you and scenting you and being so damn near you all the time!” Dylan found his hackles and bear rising at the very thought of another male being so near Jade and watching her, observing her movements and getting to know all her habits and quirks so intimately.
He almost burst a blood vessel just thinking about it.
Jade canted her head at him. There was laughter in her eyes, but she managed to keep her face straight. “The Black Bears Group could have sent me a female bodyguard,” she pointed out.
“Yeah,” Dylan snarled, more at himself than anything else. He realized that he sounded possessive and territorial, but goddamn it! She was his, his to protect!
But Jade wasn't fazed by all his growling and prowling. She simply yawned and smiled drowsily at him.
“You should rest,” Dylan said immediately, coming to her side to tuck her in. “You must be exhausted after that long, grueling interview with the police.”
Jade shook her head sleepily. “I feel better after talking to the police, and to Lindy. She's right, you know.”
“About what?”
Her eyes were already closed, but she murmured with a smile, “About you. You—are the best.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Jade clutched the strings of the cheery, colorful balloons and leaned against her brother's arm. The balloons were the only things that Dylan and Luke agreed to let her hold. Her bags, the baskets of fresh fruits and flowers, even her medication, were all loaded onto their muscular arms.
Dylan unlocked the door to his apartment and held it open for them. Luke helped her carefully across the threshold, and made her sit on the sofa. She had finally been discharged from the hospital but Luke and Dylan had firmly told her that she could not go back to her own apartment. It wasn't safe, they said.
Dylan had a spare bedroom, so it was agreed that she would stay with Dylan for the time being.
Jade watched Luke and Dylan pile all the fresh fruits and flowers, stuffed toys and presents on the dining table. In the past few weeks, the Black Bears had visited her almost every single day at the hospital.
They all brought her something. Bouquets, fruits, homemade pies and soups, clothes, stuffed toys, and yes, balloons. They transformed her hospital room into a riot of cheerful colors and floral scents. The Black Bears were funny and entertaining, and they made her laugh every time they came to visit her. She was really glad that her brother had such a wonderful clan of bears behind him.
Jade looked around Dylan's spacious apartment. The décor was tasteful, understated and modern. Dylan lived well, but he wasn't showy and extravagant. His home was comfortable and everything was of good quality. And he was even neater than her. All the books and magazines were stowed in their proper places on shelves and racks, and there wasn't a dirty coffee cup in sight.
“I'll put the flowers and presents in your room,” Dylan told her as he picked up the bouquets and gifts and headed down a corridor.
Luke tugged her to her feet and whispered with barely contained excitement, “Come on! Let's go see your room, Jade.”
“Oh.” It wasn't her room. It was just a guest room. But she gamely let her brother lead her towards the brightly lit room.
She stopped at the door and gasped.
“This...this is...” She pressed her hand to her lips.
Dylan was arranging the flowers on the table and he straightened up abruptly at her voice. He shifted his weight and stared at her as she shook her head slowly.
“If you don't like it...” Dylan began gruffly.
“I...I love it, I do!” she gushed. “Oh my God! You...you did all this, for me? You shouldn't have...gosh! This is amazing, Dylan.”
/>
“It wasn't me,” Dylan said, flushing. “Luke did it.”
“It's him all right,” Luke said, ignoring Dylan's glare. “Dylan got me and a few of our team members to do up the guest room. He's your bodyguard, and he refused to leave your side, so he gave me the key to his place and told me to do it up so it would look like your bedroom back home. I remember you love the color purple, and you had everything in shades of purple in your room. The bedsheets, the lights, the curtains, even your dressing table.” Luke grinned.
Jade could only nod shakily. The frilly curtains and bedsheets were the prettiest shade of lilac. The pillows and lampshade were violet and the table tops were wine-colored. There were framed photographs of Luke and her as kids on her bedside table, and scores of get-well cards.
“My room...” she breathed, touched beyond words.
“This is your room, Jade,” Dylan said. “Everything...” He gestured around. “...is yours.”
“Oh, Dylan, you didn't have to do this. Thank you!” She turned to her beaming brother. “Thank you, Luke, and thank your teammates for me. I really don't know what to say!”
Luke made a show of looking at his watch. “Oh gosh, look at the time! I've got to get back to the office. There's a briefing and I don't want to be late. See ya, Dylan.”
Luke gave her a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. “Dylan's a really good guy,” Luke whispered in her ear. He grinned at the expression on her face and promptly scooted out the door, leaving her to gape at the empty doorway.
Jade turned around to give Dylan a sheepish smile. Had he heard what Luke said?
Her brother seemed to be trying to get her alone with Dylan as much as possible. What the hell was that rascal up to? Was he trying to play matchmaker? Luke, a matchmaker? She almost laughed out loud at the idea.
But Dylan was indeed a really good guy. And he was hot.
Jade had never dated a hot, good guy. The good guys weren't hot, and the hot guys weren't good. She just never seemed to have the luck to meet someone who was just...perfect for her. The guys she dated had been bad for her, for her heart and her wallet. They sponged off her, cheated on her, broke her heart.
It had been so draining and frustrating. She had been single for three years now, and frankly, she was beginning to believe that she would remain single for the rest of her life.
If she couldn't meet someone who could treat her right and make her feel alive, she was better off alone.
She never expected to meet someone like Dylan.
Dylan was the whole package. He was smart, kind, caring, incredibly handsome and he had a great bod. When she leaned against him, she could feel his hard, defined muscles and feel the coiled, masculine power within that long, rugged body. He was hunky and macho, but he often surprised her with his wry humor and sensitivity.
There were many sides to Dylan Hart and she had the urge to explore and uncover every one of them.
Jade felt her body heating up as she stared at Dylan and the sudden hot rush between her legs made her gasp and clench her thighs tightly together.
She was getting aroused, just standing across the bed from him.
Dylan's nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply. He seemed to have scented something and his eyes darkened with raw desire.
Jade whimpered as he stalked forward.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
“Jade…
She didn't back away even as Dylan towered over her, staring down at her with hungry, burning eyes.
With a low growl, he grabbed her and covered her mouth with his.
Jade's lips parted immediately and his tongue swept across her lower lip and plunged into her mouth. Jade felt her knees buckle but Dylan caught her securely in his arms and held her, kissing her relentlessly.
His mouth was skilful and demanding, and she surrendered to him willingly, letting him take what he wanted. She kissed him back ardently, reveling in the warm, masculine taste and scent of him.
“Dylan...” she moaned against his lips.
He deepened the kiss as his hand moved up to her breast and cupped it. He kneaded her breast gently with his calloused hand and when he brushed his thumb across her erect nipple, she shuddered and groaned in pleasure.
His fingers undid the top buttons of her blouse and he slipped his hands under her bra. Jade's breath hitched when he peeled the cups of her bra down and flicked his tongue over her aching nipple. Pushing her hands into his hair, she held him to her as he suckled her.
His large hands cupped her buttocks and squeezed. Dylan took her mouth again, kissing her passionately, hungrily, desperately.
His tongue slid in and out of her mouth, mimicking other erotic, carnal acts. He slipped his hand into the waistband of her panties and thumbed her sensitive clit. Jade gasped at the jolt of electrifying pleasure racing through her body.
Dylan's mouth never left hers. He couldn't seem to get enough of her. His tongue tasted her, tantalized her, drove her mindless with desire.
He grabbed her ample hips and ground against her. Jade shuddered when she felt his huge erection between her thighs. When he gripped her hips and pulled one leg up, she let out a cry of pain.
Dylan staggered back, breathing hard. He'd heard her pain in that cry. His tormented gaze raked down her leg, and he swore viciously at himself.
The doctors had removed her bandages but she still sported marks and bruises around her body. Her limbs still ached when she moved them at a certain angle. The physiotherapist at the hospital had told her that she had to keep doing her exercises and she would make a full and complete recovery very soon.
Dylan stared at her flushed face and backed away.
“Shit.” He closed his eyes and his throat moved repeatedly. “I hurt you.”
“No, you didn't...”
His chest was rising and falling with his ragged breaths. His amber eyes were swirling with primal lust and pain, self-loathing and regret. He thought he'd hurt her.
Jade moved towards him. “Dylan, I'm not...”
He shook away her hand, grimacing as if she'd burned him.
“Don't.” The word came out hard and sharp, like a slap.
Jade let her hand hover in the air between them for a moment. Slowly, she let her hand drop.
Dylan went to the door.
“I'll leave you to unpack and settle in,” he said without glancing back.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Dylan and Luke took the lift up to the eighteenth floor, where the large conference rooms of the Behavioral Analysis Department were situated. Lindy had called them to let them know that she would be giving the police an updated profile and that she had gotten approval for two Black Bears to attend the briefing.
Baxter had volunteered to stand in as bodyguard while Dylan went with Luke to the B.A.D. If Baxter wasn't happily mated, Dylan would never let him get within a mile of Jade. But Baxter was fiercely devoted to his mate and cub, and Dylan knew that Bax would protect Jade with his life. Despite his smart mouth and bad jokes, Bax was one of their best lieutenants. Fearless, lethal and fist-happy. Neutralize the threat first, ask questions later.
Dylan headed for the seat at the back of the conference room. With his height and width, he didn't want to block anyone's view. This was a very important briefing, and he wanted the police officers present to get all the information Lindy had to give them.
Luke sat beside him and surveyed the room. Then he leaned back and said conversationally, “So. You like my sister, don't you?”
Dylan disguised his spluttering behind a hacking cough. He turned to give Luke his sternest glare.
Luke was unfazed, and undeterred. “It's okay. You don't have to answer that,” Luke said, lacing his fingers behind his head. “Baxter was the only volunteer, you know,” he went on nonchalantly. “No other male dared stand in as bodyguard for you. And the she-bears were all busy placing bets that Bax will get his balls busted. Everyone can see that she's yours.”
&nbs
p; Dylan jerked. “They can?”
“Gotcha!”
Dylan choked out a curse and managed by superhuman effort not to strangle Luke while he was busy chortling and snorting.
Shit, he was getting slow and stupid. Having Jade in his apartment, being so near her every day, knowing that she was sleeping just behind that bedroom door, was driving his bear insane. He wanted to hold her, touch her, kiss her so bad. But he couldn't risk causing her any hurt and pain. Her injuries hadn't fully healed. He had to keep his bear in shackles, which was proving near impossible. He couldn't allow his sex-crazed beast to mount her and pound madly into her. God, he was her bodyguard, but he had to protect her from himself.
It was making him crazy. Crazy and stupid, obviously.
“Jade hadn't had much luck in love,” Luke said, his face serious now. “Those jerks she dated, I'd wanted to punch their arrogant, smarmy faces in. They cheated on her and bragged about it. But Jade told me to lay off. I was a cop then. She didn't want me to get in trouble.”
Dylan nodded but his eyes flashed. He was furious that Jade had been hurt by those scumbags.
“You were my mentor, Dylan,” Luke said with a lopsided smile. “I know you, perhaps more than you realize. I know you'll be good to her. You'll be good for Jade. You're not my mentor anymore. But maybe...” Luke's smile widened. “...you'll be my brother-in-law.”
Dylan mock-punched Luke. “Quit fooling around. Lindy's here.”
“Who's fooling around?” Luke mumbled, rubbing his arm.
Lindy stood at the head of the long table and nodded at all the officers present. Detectives Kai Wong and Gloria Cruz were seated near the front. Uniforms, other detectives and agents from the counter-terrorism and bomb units filled up the seats. The head of the B.A.D., Maximus Bomberg, was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.
Lindy turned to the screen and a list of names appeared. She pushed her spectacles up her nose and launched straight into the briefing.
Bear's Heart: BBW Paranormal Shifter Romance (Bear Heat Book 5) Page 5
