Joseph

by Kris Michaels

  *

  Joseph left Gabriel in the communications office after he had gotten the information he needed from Jared. The plan had a chance of succeeding. The earth, moon, and all the planets had to align correctly, but it was the best chance at ending Morales’ reign and keeping Ember safe. He had seven days of meds and a psych eval before he would force himself to leave her.

  Joseph had stopped by the small pharmacy before he headed back to the house. He had plans for his woman tonight. He heard them before he saw them. The Ember and Keelee sat on the porch swing and laughed riotously. He paused and chuckled at the overt mannerisms of the two women in front of him. They both had evidently been drinking. Joseph looked at the setting sun. Drunk at six thirty? How the hell did that happen? Better question—why were they drunk? Her beautiful auburn curls bounced around her face. The woman’s body should have been illegal. Her curves killed him. And that ass? God, he’d crawl on his knees for ten miles behind her just to enjoy the view.

  He sauntered forward until Ember saw him. Her face lit up. “Joey! Hi! Do you know Keelee? Keelee, this is Joey.”

  Keelee broke into giggles and pushed Ember, nearly upending her from the swing. “Yeah, I know him. He’s a King! That makes him my sister’s brother-in-law.” She stopped and looked over at him with an entirely befuddled look on her face. “Right?”

  Joseph couldn’t help the smile that pulled on his lips. “Surprisingly, yes. How about I help you ladies into the house?”

  Ember scoffed at him. “No, you’re the injured one. We should be helping you into the house.” Joseph stretched forward and steadied Ember as she stood.

  Keelee sniggered. “Nah, I’ll sit right here. Besides, Clint is supposed to come by tonight.” She scrunched her nose in distaste. “He jus’ wants to date me ‘cause he’s after my daddy’s ranch. Not happening no matter how lonely I get.”

  Ember pulled her arm from Joseph’s hand and teetered over to Keelee. She dropped to her knees in front of the other woman and gently patted her knee. “You gotta knock down the walls, Keelee. No more walls. We clear?”

  Keelee smiled sadly and nodded. “No more walls. Gotcha.”

  Joseph tried valiantly not to laugh at the women. He helped steady Ember when she stood up. She spun and leaned into him grabbing his belt loops and plastering her soft voluptuous body to his. “No walls, Joey. Can’t have any walls or it jus’ won’t work.”

  She ground her hips into his hardening cock and purred. “You don’t want any walls between us do you, Joey?”

  Sweet Jesus, how could this woman want him? And why in the hell was he looking a gift horse in the mouth? He reached behind her and cupped her ass pulling her tighter against him. “Walls are the last thing I want between us, baby girl. How about we go upstairs and make sure those walls stay away?”

  The short trip from the porch up the stairs took far longer than Joseph wanted. A drunk Ember proved to be very talkative and seemed to have grown four or five extra sets of hands. Not that he minded that little addition. By the time he finally wrangled the woman into her bedroom any curiosity about the wall comment was a thing of the past. Her naked with his cock buried in her was the only thing that mattered. He was able to rid her of her jeans and panties before she started to giggle almost uncontrollably.

  “Baby girl, we need to talk about your drinking problem.”

  Ember’s eyes grew large before she burst out in a laughing fit. “I don’t have a problem drinking. I managed just fine. I drank. I got drunk and now I’m really horny. Is it okay for me to want you, Joey?”

  Was it okay? Hell, yeah. The things he wanted to do to her? Damn, it was a good thing she wanted him. Otherwise things could get awkward. He removed her shirt as he nipped her neck and kissed her on that sensitive spot just under her ear. With a shiver, her body molded into his. Her little moan when he got rid of her bra, ramped his need up ten or twenty notches.

  “Wanting me is perfectly okay, baby girl.” He pulled away and lifted her chin up looking at her intently before he spoke. “I don’t wish to take advantage of you. Make no mistake, I want you, but you’ve been drinking. I need you to look at me and tell me this is what you want. That you want me to take you.”

  Ember’s green eyes opened and searched his face. “I’m feeling real good Joey, but I’m not so drunk I don’t know what is going on. I want you. I want you the way you like to take me. I like it when …”

  Her face turned a deep red with the heat of embarrassment. Ember pulled her chin away in an apparent attempt to try to escape his gaze.

  He grasped her chin and pulled it back to him. He wouldn’t let her hide. “No looking away from me, little one. What do you like, Em? Tell me everything you like.”

  He held her gaze and waited wondering if she would tell him. Finally, she whispered, “I like you doing those things to me. I like it that you’re strong and that you take me—that you don’t give me a choice. You make me feel so good when I give you what you ask for. I like the harsh way we make love. I like it when you tell me you’re proud of me. I love you, Joey and I don’t want anyone else to be your baby girl.”

  Well shit. You asked, King. Time to man up and tell her the truth. “You make me very proud Ember. I have never called anyone else baby girl and I never will. Only you.”

  He lowered his mouth and took hers. No gentleness. He didn’t want gentle. His demand was nothing but raw possession. She opened to him allowing him to take what he needed. And God did he need. “Turn around and bend over. Grasp the edge of the bed.” He waited until her gorgeous body was bent in front of him. “Spread your legs. More. Good. Stay there. Don’t move.”

  He ran his hand down the hot skin of her back. Her muscles shivered at his touch. Joseph retrieved a small tube he’d acquired at the pharmacy from his clothes before he knelt behind her. His hands ran up the back of her thighs before his mouth followed his hand’s track. She jumped and moved her legs. Joseph slapped the inside of her thigh. “Do not move again, little one.”

  His hand separated the folds around her labia. He blew over her hot glistening sex. Her hips squirmed slightly against the sensation. Slowly he started his trail of small kisses interspersed with sharp bites along the inside of her thigh. Her body trembled by the time he reached the apex of her leg. With both hands, he spread her sex open wide to him. Unable to hold himself back any longer he stroked one side of her with his tongue. Her clean, sweet taste was an unbelievable aphrodisiac.

  He began to torture her with long, languid strokes of his tongue that never quite reached her clitoris. Her body wept with need and he gladly lapped up every bit of her essence. Ember’s low throaty moan and the nearly constant shivering of her muscles urged him on. He lifted on his knees and moved away from her heated center to circle her small tight opening with his tongue. Her body tensed abruptly and her head jerked up. Kissing the soft skin of her ass, he whispered his words against her. “This body is mine to do with as I wish, Ember. Be a good girl and make me proud and I’ll take you to heaven, baby.”

  Her head dropped back down between her arms. “Perfect, baby. So good.” He lowered his head and circled her pucker with his tongue pushing in slightly, nipping around the edges of the sensitive nerve endings. One hand found her vaginal opening. He entered her with his fingers at the same time as he circled pressure on her clit. She bucked back against him, her actions begging him for release.

  Joseph speared her puckered circle repeatedly with his tongue and loosened the tightness slowly. Her body clenched and her breath caught. She teetered precariously on the edge of orgasm. Joseph stood, centered himself and thrust deep into her. The head of his cock hit her cervix. Ember choked off a cry and whimpered as he bent her further changing his angle so as not to injure her. He liked inflicting pain, but he would never seriously hurt her. He set a sharp, rapid pace, pumping her with fierce intent. Her channel clenched tightly around him as her hips moved in an orgasm-driven reaction. He felt the tight squeeze of her walls, but he refused to
be pulled over the edge. No, he wanted more.

  He stilled and unscrewed the cap of the lube spreading a thick line along his fingers. He used his slicked fingers to open her virgin ass while his cock remained buried in her. He thrust two fingers into her. She didn’t even try to muffle her cry. He slapped her round buttock cheek with his free hand leaving a bright red handprint. “I love the sounds you make, baby girl. I want to hear them.” His fingers scissored working and stretching the straining ring of muscles opening her further. The insertion of a third finger and more lube forced a deep groan from her.

  “That’s my baby girl. Let me take what I want.” He lifted his hand further, placing two fingers in her mouth. “Suck them.” Her hot wet tongue swirled the cream covered fingers and her suction pulled her taste from his skin. “Can you taste how good your cream is, baby?”

  Her moan reverberated around his fingers. “That’s right. Don’t stop.” He released his fingers from her hot back channel and pulled her against him. He withdrew his cock from her cream soaked pussy and immediately moved up pushing through the painfully tight ring of muscles guarding her entrance. He held his hand over her mouth, quieting the cry his entrance forced from her. Her ass was so damn tight he knew she was reeling from the burn of his cock impaling her. The intense pleasure of her constricting hot ass almost forced a climax before he seated himself completely. Joseph thrust up burying himself in her and stilled until her body loosened. He could feel her shudder as she struggled to adjust to the fullness of his girth. She whimpered and tried to pull away from him. Her movement echoed deep in his balls. God, the ache to come nearly overtook him. When he regained control, he slid out a scant inch only to press deeper inside her. His hand muffled her gasping cry keeping the delicious sound for himself. God, the grip of her tight body and those sexy as hell little cries. So damn good.

  “That’s right, baby. This luscious body is mine. I’ve wanted this ass for over sixteen years. You’re so damn tight. God you feel better than I ever thought you could.”

  He moved in and out of her vise-like confines and groaned against her neck. “So fucking good baby girl.”

  His hand lowered from her mouth to her mound where he worked his fingers through her folds finding her weeping hot sex. “Oh hell, yeah, you like it too, don’t you, baby?” Her ‘yes’ fell in a guttural sob. He concentrated on bringing her to another orgasm while trying to hold off the molten lava of his own. Her body spasmed. Her muscles clenched with a gripping intensity around his cock and when it did, he erupted inside her again.

  Joseph held her tight against his chest while they both pulled ragged lungfuls of air. When his cock softened and slipped from her body, he gently maneuvered her forward toward the bed. Once he got her situated in the middle, he went into the bathroom and cleaned up, bringing a damp cloth back to care for her. Joseph threw the towel toward the bathroom before he lay beside her, careful not to pull any of his repairing wounds. He ran his fingers through her silky red curls.

  “You’re a gift.”

  Ember turned towards him and snuggled close to his chest. Her muffled voice responded, “I’m not sorry I told you I loved you, Joey. I do.” She lifted up on her elbow and looked down at him. “I used to think love came with a white picket fence. Now I know it comes with an expiration date. It hurts, Joey, not being able to have a normal relationship.”

  He could see her internal battle and the hurt that drifted across her expression. He lifted a hand to her cheek and moved her curls from her face. “Who gets to say what normal is, little one? Who gets to decide what love is or how long it lasts? Who can say with absolute certainty that love is only traditional sex between traditional couples? I believe God made each person unique. Who’s to say each person’s reality of love can’t be unique too? Does what we do and what we have right now, at this moment in time, make you feel good?”

  He watched as she searched his face before she lowered her eyes and nodded. “I’ve never done the things I’ve done with you. I love the way you make me feel. I love it when you use my body to make us both feel good. But, I’m not going to lie. I want forever.”

  He pushed a random curl away from her face and pulled her closer. “Forever is the one thing I can’t give.”

  Chapter Fourteen

  Ember sat quietly on a bench outside Dr. Cassidy’s office at the clinic. In her opinion, Guardian’s mental health expert had come way too early to conduct his sessions. Ember’s head ached miserably. When she woke this morning, a bottle of water and two aspirin were on the bedside table. Joseph taking care of her, no doubt.

  Her head did ache, but worse, she couldn’t find a comfortable position to sit. Every time her body moved, her aching muscles reminded her of last night, of Joey. A smile lingered on her face as the warm feeling once again flushed through her body. She had told him she loved him. The freeing sensation that hit her last night still lifted her like a kite on a strong wind. Her heart soared with buoyancy until reality crashed around her. He would be gone soon. Gone from her life—forever. How could she possibly deal with that?

  Keelee’s advice landed right on target. She would never regret letting him know her feelings, no matter the personal cost. She sincerely hoped that somehow her new friend would be able to tear down the walls in her own world. Ember slowly leaned back against the back of the couch and closed her eyes.

  With an effort, she diverted her mind’s wandering from her personal issues to the door across the hall. Doc had been in with the clinical psychologist for a long time. Chief had already had his session and had called her when he was finished, almost an hour ago. Joseph was scheduled to go in after her. Ember jumped when the cushion suddenly sank next to her. She gasped and hit Joey in the arm. “Don’t sneak up on me!”

  His laughter carried through the small sitting area. “Feisty this morning aren’t you, little girl?”

  Ember immediately blushed as he pulled her onto his lap. She positioned herself to sit on her hip rather than her bottom. He nuzzled her neck and whispered, “Are you sore?” Joseph’s hand moved down to her backside where he held her softly, undeniably claiming what he knew was his.

  Ember melted inside. This massive man, an assassin, who had endured more pain in his life than she could ever imagine, held her like she was a priceless object. The way they made love might be rougher than what she’d once considered proper, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. She snuggled against his chest and rested her head on his shoulder. “I’m a little sore. But I like being reminded of what we did.”

  The door to Doc’s office opened. Ember tried to move off Joey’s lap, but he held her securely. Adam walked out giving both of them a distracted nod before he headed down the hallway and out the door.

  “Good morning sunshine! How the hell are you?” Ember jumped when she saw the doctor who followed Adam out the door. His greeting was the same one he used every morning for a year during their rotations together.

  “Oh my God! Remi Wheeler! What are you doing here?” Ember launched from Joseph’ lap and jumped into the arms of the massive tattooed doctor who loomed in the doorway.

  “I could ask you the exact same question, Red.” He pulled her tight and twirled her around before setting her down and planting a kiss on her upturned lips.

  Ember laughed and turned to Joseph still hugging the newcomer. “Joey, this is Remi Wheeler. He and I were on the same rotations during medical school. We put up with the same doddering old doctors and dealt with the same hospital politics and med school bureaucracy before we went our different ways.”

  The doctor released Ember and held out his hand. “Dr. Jeremiah Wheeler. I take it you two are friends.”

  Joseph extended a hand and grasped the doctor’s. “No, she is more than a friend. In the interest of full disclosure, if you kiss her like that again, I’ll kill you.”

  Holy shit! Ember’s head whipped around at the comment. No laugh followed Joey’s statement. Aggression rolled off him in waves. She had to give Remi cre
dit. He didn’t flinch.

  “Yeah? Well, if you kill me it won’t be sanctioned.”

  Ember watched the two men square off. She moved over and stood beside Joseph. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and tucked her close to his side.

  “True, but the idea of an off-the-books hit doesn’t bother me right now. Make an informed decision, Doc. It may be your last.” Ember trembled at the threat, but Remi threw back his head and laughed.

  “Fair enough. You have no worries. I have a woman in Hollister that would string me up by the balls if I stray off the reservation. Now, since I sense absolute zero trust from you big guy, why don’t we do our session first and if Ember agrees you can sit in when I talk to her about last week?”

  Ember rushed to agree. “That’s fine. I think I’d actually prefer Joey to be with me.” She felt his muscles relax at her response and said a silent prayer of thanks. Remi always could read people.

  *

  Joseph sat in the chair across from the shrink. The dude looked more like a biker. Tall guy, six three, athletic—favoring his left leg—he wore his black hair long and loose almost hiding a snake tattoo slithering up the right side of his neck. Two forearms of very impressive ink were revealed when the doctor pushed his long sleeve t-shirt up toward his elbows.

  “Done measuring me?”

  “Yes.” Joseph had learned early the only way to get a “go” on any evaluation was to be brutally honest.

  “Tell me. What do you see?”

  “Clarify the question.”

  “You sized me up. What do you see?” The man leaned back in his chair.

  “You appear relaxed. You’re not. You limp slightly on your left leg. I would exploit that weakness should I decide to kill you. Your heart rate is elevated. Your repetitious clicking of that pen indicates you’re nervous. Smart man. You’ve read my file, and my relationship with an old friend of yours has upset you. Most likely because of what you’ve learned from that data. You’ve been around hard people. You’re comfortable in that environment. You’re not comfortable around me. Probably because what I do upsets your morals.”