by Brenna Lyons
Sarah met his eyes. She sucked in her breath and touched his cheek with a shaking hand. “Why are you here, Jonas?” Her voice barely registered as a whisper.
“Don’t you know?”
She shook her head, blinking back tears.
Her words in the hospital parking lot taunted him. “I know you hate me…” Had he done anything to dispel that statement? Jonas hadn’t even argued the point. What had that move said to her?
Jonas kissed her trembling lips, a gentle brushing of his body to hers. “Let me show you.” He didn’t wait for her agreement. Jonas stripped his shirt from her and pulled her hands to his jeans. “Do you want me, Sarah?”
Sarah’s fingers fumbled on the buttons, and she made no verbal response, but she stripped Jonas and settled back to run her hands over his chest.
He leaned forward, skating his tongue around one darkened nipple. Jonas caught the hardened peak in his mouth and silently cheered the soft cry that escaped her lips. Her hands stilled, and Jonas peered up at her as he trailed his lips to the other nipple, puckered and waiting for him. Sarah stared at him in wide-eyed wonder, as he sucked in the beaded nipple and flicked the tip of his tongue over it.
Jonas pulled back slightly. “Did you miss me?” he asked. Jonas circled the nipple with the tip of his tongue while he waited for her response.
Sarah managed a jittery nod.
“I dreamed of you every time I closed my eyes,” he assured her.
Her eyes closed, as he started to trace the opposite nipple. His fingers brushed inside the crotch of her panties, teasing at the heat and moisture he’d stirred in her. She stifled a cry, as his fingers slid inside her, and her eyes opened wider than before.
Jonas stared at the swell of their son in longing. He passed by the tempting mound, knowing Sarah would misinterpret the move in her state of mind. Instead, he settled his mouth between her thighs, administering a single lick across her clit that broke her silence.
Her scream of longing stole his breath. Jonas dragged her panties off, noting that Sarah looked shattered by a mere touch. Jonas settled on his back and lifted her until Sarah straddled him, the length of his erection twitching against the heat of her spread over it.
“Do you want me?” he asked again.
Sarah moved against him restlessly. “Yes, Jonas.”
He ground his teeth, trying to control his need. “Forever?”
She stilled, her breath coming in gasps. “You still—” A blush spread from her face down her neck and chest.
“Drop your shield, Sarah.”
She tried to pull away, her expression one of stark terror. “I can’t.”
Jonas locked her to him. “What are you afraid of?”
Sarah shook her head, fighting back tears again.
“Are you afraid I’m angry at what you tried to do? That I’ll hate you for it?”
She slumped, her chin dropping to her chest. “I don’t want to feel that,” she admitted.
Jonas pulled her to his chest, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. “I don’t and I won’t. You said you don’t want that, that you changed your mind.”
“Why would you trust me? You have no reason.”
“You could solve that.”
“How?”
Jonas brushed his hands through her hair, noting her shaking. “Drop your shield.”
“No. I—”
“Remember who I am, Sarah? If I can read you, I’ll know for sure.”
Sarah met his eyes fearfully. “I can’t.”
“I trust you. Trust me. Drop your shield for me. I want you to know how I feel.”
She swallowed hard and shook her head.
“You’re still afraid?”
She nodded.
Jonas eased Sarah to the bed. She started to turn away, but he stopped her, shaking his head.
“No. If I have to do this the hard way, I will.”
“The hard way?” Sarah intensified her already rigid shield.
He kissed her. “Not that way, Sarah. I said I wouldn’t force you, and I won’t.”
“Then what?”
Jonas smiled. Her eyes widened as he ran his fingers in delicious little circles up her inner thigh.
“Give me this much. The rest will come in time.”
Sarah groaned, tipping her hips for him in silent appeal.
Jonas obliged her, inching his hand upward as he kissed her, firing her into a fierce arousal. Sarah wound her hands around his neck and pulled him closer, her hands tightening, as Jonas slid his fingers in her again.
“That’s right,” he breathed. “Just feel.” Remember what being alive is like.
She met his eyes in confusion, as Jonas pulled her hands from his shoulders.
“I want to taste you. That is something I could never do while you were gone. That is one thing no psi talent I have could have given me.”
Sarah nodded, rocking her head back as he feathered his thumb over her clit.
“You are so beautiful.” I have to make you mine again. I can’t live without you.
Jonas slid down to replace his fingers with his mouth. Sarah was hot and ready for anything he wanted, but he wanted her to give herself to him fully and freely. Her taste was wilder than Jonas remembered, heavier in musk. It teased his mind, playing at the last of his sanity.
Her hands grasped at his hair, her breathing coming in ragged gasps. “Jonas, please—” Her shield flickered for a moment before Sarah fortified it.
Damn! So close. Jonas changed his rhythm, groaning into her body as a fresh wave of her musk washed over his tongue.
Sarah’s fingers tangled in his hair, her desperation clear in every movement.
“Tell me, Sarah.” He licked a slow path through her labia and circled her clit.
She screamed and bowed up beneath him.
“What do you want? Tell me.”
“I want—” Sarah met his eyes, looking tortured.
“Trust me.” He buried his tongue in her, drinking in her reaction as she writhed against him.
“I want you to make love to me,” she pleaded.
Jonas raised his head, smiling at her frightened expression. “I thought you’d never ask.” It was the only right answer. If she’d have said have sex instead of make love, Jonas wouldn’t have touched her. He slid up Sarah’s body, pulling her to her side and drawing her leg over his hip. Jonas shuddered and stilled as his cock adjusted to her heat encasing him.
Sarah’s fingers brushed his chest. “What’s wrong?”
He groaned, pulling her hips to him to slide to the hilt. “They lied.”
“Who?”
“Those idiots at Trojan who claim it feels like not wearing anything.” He moved slowly, adjusting to the new sensations. “My God, this is good.”
“Yes. Please don’t stop.”
Jonas smiled as he speeded his pace, matching her breathless cries as Sarah urged him on. He lost track of his plan in his need to come in her, to feel her body react to the warm explosion building in him.
Sarah’s shield folded, her internal muscles gripping him as she screamed out his name and tightened her leg around his hip. As always, her wants and needs assaulted him, and Jonas let them wash over him. The shattered images of sexual fantasies merged with images of a wedding, their son, and other babies they’d have together.
Jonas groaned, his pace furious. “Yes, Sarah. All of that and more. I promise.”
He furrowed his brow. Sarah was using telepathy of some sort, but Jonas couldn’t seem to identify her contact. He linked with her and sucked in his breath at the sensations coursing through her. The physical sensations captured the least of his attention. He zeroed in on the emotions that held her captive, not his own emotions, which were shunted to the back of her mind.
Warmth, comfort, safety, trust—
Trust? What had Sarah said the first day in the kitchen? “He trusts me. I can’t— Julian trusts me.” Her words made sense.
Jonas ran his hand o
ver their son, reveling in the baby’s enjoyment. “Oh, God,” he breathed. “You hear him.”
Sarah sobbed. “You see? I could never—”
“Shhh. Never.” Jonas captured her mouth, connected to Sarah in every intimate manner at once. He tensed, his release rolling through all of them in the physical and in the link.
Sarah’s nails bit his shoulders hard as his heat flooded her. Jonas felt her scream mingle with his own as he surged into her again and again. Sarah’s pleasure mixed with their baby’s contentment and Jonas’ continuing spasms of release, a potent drug that made his senses swim.
He held her to him as he stilled. Jonas threw his head back and roared the loss of their connection, as the last of his control slipped away. He kissed her throat, forcing his hands to ease their grip.
Jonas pulled his head back and met her tear-misted eyes. “I didn’t hurt you, did I?” He hadn’t planned to be so rough with her.
Sarah shook her head. “No. I’m fine.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Fine? I think my ego took a shot.”
She blushed. “Better than fine.”
Jonas laughed, his hands roaming over their son. “Yes. You are better than fine. I may have to use the cuffs, after all.”
Sarah’s smile disappeared. “Why?”
Jonas reached over her body and pulled them from the nightstand drawer.
*
Sarah shook her head in confusion. What had she said or done wrong? She stiffened as she heard the cuffs shift against each other. Jonas held them suspended over her, and Sarah stared at them in the dim light, her fear melting into stunned disbelief. She started laughing hysterically, tears rolling down her cheeks as she smacked his arm. They were her cuffs, the ones from her stash of sex toys.
Her laughter choked off as Jonas rubbed the fur lining over one hard nipple, then the other. The throbbing for him started again. Sarah brushed her cheek over the rough stubble on Jonas’ chin, tightening her leg around him and urging him closer.
“Christ, Sarah! Give it a rest. It’s only five thirty. Some of us have to go to work and be productive today.”
She laughed harder. “Go away, Steven. Put your shield up. Just because I’m here doesn’t mean you have to listen in.”
Jonas was suddenly in her mind. “Go to sleep, Steven. I’ll block for you.”
Sarah looked at him in surprise. “You can do that?” She sucked in her breath as Steven disappeared from her mind. She reached out to him, but there was a dead area around her. Sarah pushed at Jonas, needing to escape, feeling the stifling psi wave closing in on her.
Jonas smoothed his hands down her arms. “Shhh. I’m here. If it bothers you that bad, I’ll stop.”
She calmed, the touch on her mind reassuring. “What are you doing?”
“I’m just keeping the peace with Steven. Does it bother you?”
She shook her head. “You’ll stop when I ask?”
“Always. Is it okay?”
Sarah nodded. It wasn’t really like the psi wave. That kept her from reading even people right next to her. She had Jonas and Julian. She could do this. It could even come in handy someday.
Jonas’ smile widened as he resumed his torture of her with the faux fur. “What’s the matter?” he teased as she tensed.
Sarah fought to think clearly. “The cuffs.”
“You’re afraid of being tied up and at my mercy? I seem to recall that you used to enjoy it quite a bit.” Jonas pushed visions of her tied to her bed that first night into her mind, teasing Sarah with what he wanted to repeat.
“I do. It’s just—”
“You thought I’d put plain steel cuffs on you? To keep you here?”
She bit her lower lip and nodded.
“Never.” He ran his hand up her neck to cup her face. “I would never have hurt you.”
“Even—”
“Even then.” Jonas kissed her. “I knew you’d try. I thought I’d have to stop you. I didn’t expect you to stop yourself. I’m glad you did.”
“What do we do now?”
“Do you want to marry me?”
Sarah blushed. “You know I do. You saw.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“He’ll never be safe. Fantasy is one thing, but this is reality I have to deal with.”
“What if I could guarantee his safety?” Jonas offered.
“How? Neither of us is rich. I know what DoPT operatives earn.”
Jonas silenced her with a kiss. “What if we had a job together?”
Sarah backed away, shaking her head. “You’re not recruiting me. We had a deal. You were getting out.” She tried to roll off the bed, determined to get as far away from him as she could.
Jonas gathered her back to his chest. “I have no desire to be a DoPT field operative, and I would never allow you to take that chance.”
“Allow? How dare—”
His mouth came down on hers, hard and urgent. Sarah’s body played traitor to her outrage, leaving her in a confused haze as Jonas rolled her beneath him. He removed her hands from his neck and pressed them into the pillow beside her head, his mouth moving to the spot behind her earlobe and nipping at her gently. Sarah shifted her head, giving him better access as he—locked the cuffs on her wrists.
Sarah’s mind cleared, and she pulled at the cuffs, finding them threaded through two of the spindles in the headboard. Gritting her teeth, she shook the cuffs and glared at Jonas. “Get these off of me,” she demanded.
Jonas raised an eyebrow. “We will discuss this.”
“I’ll—”
“No. You won’t. I’ve taken care of that, remember? Even if you did contact Steven, how can he help you? Do you know where we are? All you’ll do is worry him.”
Sarah groaned. “You’re not winning points here, Jonas.”
“Promise me to settle down and talk to me, and I’ll take them off.”
“I’m naked, Jonas. Where am I going?”
“The last time you promised to hear me out, you attacked me and ran from me with no coat despite fair warning that you were in deep trouble.”
“You shouldn’t have brought that up,” she grumbled.
“Sarah?”
“Look where it got me last time. I’ll talk to you. Otherwise, I may spend the next four months cuffed to this bed.”
“You’ll hear me out?”
“Yes.”
“Okay. We’ve been offered a job—the two of us together.”
“Jonas? The cuffs?” she reminded him.
“In a minute.”
“You promised.”
He darkened. “I want to make sure you don’t hit me and run when I tell you what the job is.”
“Oh, hell. You want me to work for the DoPT.”
“Indirectly,” he admitted.
Sarah closed her eyes. “We agreed—”
“They want us to head a new halfway house. It’d be a cross between a foster home and a boarding school.”
She looked at him in confusion. “An academy?”
“Not quite. The psych guys and social workers like what you did at Clinton. The kids are controlled, happy, and have self-respect. Much like the children in your family tend to grow up, I might add.”
“And?”
“They like it enough that they want to segway kids into the population in smaller group homes that can give the kids that one-on-one interaction. They want to entice talents to train young talents to be their own keepers like your family has done for each other.”
“I don’t understand.”
“They want us to take on a test group, the worst of the worst the academies have to offer.”
Sarah hesitated. It was a good idea, but the timing was wrong. “I’m pregnant, Jonas. I don’t know if I can—”
“That’s why we’d do this together. Let me tell you about the test group.”
“Okay.”
“We’d have a group of a dozen, mixed ages, family group. The youngest is six. The oldest
is seventeen. We’d have help.”
“Help? Not guards.”
“No. Our keeper on staff is Evan, if you agree to this. Our original dozen will include some old friends. The idea is that the ones who are trained already will help police the new arrivals.”
Sarah fought for a decent breath. “Jeremy and Alice?”
Jonas nodded, biting back laughter. “And Danny, Tyler, and Cindy. The other seven will be our tough guys. Aaron and Ella are from Trenton. Carlos is from Carver. Paul is from Andrews. Stephanie is from Edison. Parker and his little sister Sam are from Paine. I refused to take Parker unless we kept the family together.”
Sarah fought back tears. “Oh Jonas.”
“We’ll have stun-spray, but we’ll only use it if we have to. We can send a child back for disciplinary at the academy, for specified periods of lockdown—”
“No,” she protested, horrified at the thought of inflicting that.
“Sarah—”
“No. I won’t send a child into iso.”
Jonas smiled. “Neither will I, but the kids don’t need to know that.”
“Are you suggesting that we play good cop, bad cop?”
“Well, we have the cuffs,” he noted.
Sarah ran her foot up Jonas’ leg. “Yes. We do.”
Jonas gave her a hungry look. “No changing the subject. Now, are you willing to see the site we’re considering?”
“It’s in Pittsburgh?”
“Not far outside. It’s a rambling old farmhouse in Somerset.”
“Close enough.”
He sighed in relief. “You’ll consider it?”
“If we set the rules and it gets Jeremy and the others out of Clinton, I’ll do it.”
“It’s a long-term commitment. We’d be taking these kids on for years.”
“Are you trying to talk me into this or out of it?”
“They’d protect you like Jeremy protected you. They’d be big brothers and sisters to Julian.” He ran his hands over their baby.
“You’ll have to marry me. Even foster kids need a stable family.”
“Funny. Your mother told me about the nicest little chapel just before we left.”
“Uh huh.”
