One to Protect (One to Hold Book 3) (3 page)

He’s the one groaning now, and I’m holding on, burning in my afterglow as he joins me, his second orgasm even stronger than the first. One large hand grips my ass, and the other is pressed against the wall behind me as he thrusts again and again, harder and deeper, before letting go with a low moan.

For a moment, he’s still. I’m lying back on the bed, admiring his lined stomach and broad shoulders. His head drops, and I reach for him. With a swift scoop, he rolls us both to the side, and I’m clutched close against his chest, his arms around my waist. His lips press against my shoulder, and I try to remember what we were even saying before on the couch.

He exhales, speaking into my hair. “You have no idea how happy I am to see you.”

That makes me laugh, and I squeeze him tighter. “I think you’ve shown me twice now.”

“I intend to show you several more times before Sunday. I might not let you leave this bed.” His tone sends a thrill to my stomach… which is followed by a loud rumble. We both laugh.

“Baby is not amused. You’d better run get our dinner before he starves.”

He’s up in a flash, pausing to lean back and kiss my forehead roughly before heading to the living room. I admire his tight rear view flexing as he walks out the door to our abandoned dinner. Then he’s back, still sporting a semi along with the tray of food and drinks.

My head is shaking. “You’re insatiable.”

“And you’re gorgeous.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere.” I fluff the pillows and sit back against them while he arranges the tray between us on the mattress.

A quick sip, and he puts the flute on the side table. “I feel bad having cava without you.”

“Mmm, I don’t mind. It reminds me of the night we met.”

“You were the most amazing creature I’d ever seen, sitting at the bar, wrinkling that little nose with every sip.” He touches my nose with a grin. “Adorable.”

“That drink was disgusting. Seven and seven.” I shudder and take another bite of sandwich. “This is much better.”

“I was done for the moment I saw you. I couldn’t stay away.”

Nodding, I swallow my bite. “You were pretty intimidating being so focused, but lucky for you, I wasn’t backing down anymore. From anything.”

He doesn’t speak, instead he traces a line down the side of my face, along my hairline as his lips tighten.

“Or I should say lucky for us,” I continue. “Looking back, it was pretty reckless, actually. You could’ve been anybody.” My eyes roam over his darkened expression, and I put my plate aside. “What are you thinking?”

“I had no idea what you were facing.” A note of anger is in the background of his tone. “What was waiting for you at home.”

My fingers lace with his, lowering his hand to my lap. “We’ve discussed this. That’s all over now. It’s the past. There’s no point letting it ruin our present.”

Being here with him, contemplating our life together, makes it more than easy to forget my old scars. Those are days I can easily let fade into the deep background.

“I know.” He pulls me to him, and I curl into his chest. Showered, stomach full, sexually blissed out, my eyes start to drift.

He might be the one needing comfort, but in this moment, in his strong arms, I’m feeling as safe as a queen—and as sleepy as an expectant mother.

Derek’s arms are tight around me, and his lips press a gentle kiss to the top of my head. It’s the last thing I remember before drifting into happy slumber.

Chapter 2: Special Skills

Derek

Only two hours have passed since I told Melissa goodbye, and already that tightness is creeping across my chest. It’s a mixture of anger and needing her in my sight where I know she’s safe.

She didn’t press the subject, but all weekend I could tell she wanted to know what I was working on¸ what was “bothering me.”

Damn Nikki. If I weren’t so pleased by the luscious surprise of finding Mel waiting for me half-nude in my condo Friday night, I’d reprimand her for keeping tabs on me. I don’t need an office manager who doubles as my mother, or who reports my behavior back to my aunt—or my fiancée.

Melissa stayed to this morning, Monday. She’s so different than when we first met. Even back then she had that confidence, but she’s happy now. She’s also a little rounder, with our baby on the way. It’s a killer combination. I love it, and every time I’d bury my face in a new curve, she’d shriek and complain loudly. I almost couldn’t let her leave.

Smiling at my desk, I look out the window at the bare winter landscape of the courtyard, thinking of her. This morning as I watched her sleep, I couldn’t help breathing a little prayer of thanks. I don’t pray, but with that angel in my bed, how could I not? She was curled up facing me, her delicate hand under her chin and her dark hair spread behind her on the pillow.

It was like our own world, secure and full of love. She’d stirred, and meeting her beautiful blue eyes, another quiet
thank you
echoed through my mind, only this time my memories were on our first encounters. How incredibly sexy she was giving in to me, and how breathless I’d been waiting for her to push me away. She never did.

“How long have you been awake?” She’d touched my cheek then smoothed her fingers into my hair.

“Not long.” I’d caught her hand and brought her palm to my lips.

She touched my brow, smoothing it back. “You’re less tense than when I got here, and now I have to leave again.”

“You forget, I’m trained for periods of separation.” Even as I said it, I knew nothing would make telling her goodbye easier.

She pushed up into a sitting position and moved me onto my back. “So being a Marine means you don’t miss me?” Her elbows were bent, and one cheek rested on her palm.

I couldn’t help laughing at her eyes narrowed in disbelief. I wasn’t fooling anyone. “I miss you like the worst pain in the world. Like the desert misses rain.”

“That’s a song.” She kissed me lightly. “And something you have experience with.”

Catching her neck, I pulled her forward for a better kiss, but she arched away before I could take it further. “I want to know more about your training. What are your special skills? Besides not missing me when we’re apart, of course. Can you fly a plane?”

I shook my head with a chuckle. “Sorry, darling. No piloting for me, but I think Patrick did some flying—”

“I don’t believe it. You know things. Tell me!”

Pressing my lips together, my eyes moved down to her chin then to her slim neck where my heart dangled on a thin, gold chain.
Yes, I know things.

“You keep so many secrets from me,” she sighed. “What are you thinking now?”

“The things I know aren’t things you want to hear about.” Reaching over, I slid my palm over the curve of her waist.

She caught my cheeks in her hands and drew my gaze back. “I want to know everything about you.”

For a moment I hesitated. Then my eyes were drawn to the scar, that tiny silver line that starts at the top of her forehead, just above her temple, and disappears into her hairline. “I can kill a man with my bare hands.”

Our eyes met again, and I could tell she knew where my thoughts had gone.

“Have you ever done it?”

When I answered her, my voice was quiet. “I’ve had to kill people.”

She hugged herself close against my chest. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to bring up painful memories. We don’t have to talk about it.”

Wrapping my arms around her, I pulled her up slightly so I could kiss her neck. “Have I told you how amazing you are?”

A laugh bubbled in her throat. “You always say that. I’m not so amazing.”

Rolling us so she was on her back, I looked down into her beautiful face. “You’re smart and beautiful. You’re incredibly busy, but you make time to show up here—”

“When I know you need me.” Leaning down, I kissed her jaw as she continued. “You’d do the same for me. Besides, I can work from anywhere.”

“Then work from here.”

“You can work anywhere, too.”

Our old argument. Neither of us chased it any further—not on our last morning together. We were counting down the hours before we’d be apart again, and instead, I focused on trailing my lips down to her collarbone, past the floating heart, lower to her breasts until we were lost in our special place once more.

Now, sitting at my desk remembering, the only thing strong enough to spoil the afterglow of our weekend is this new case… and her old scar. That damn silver line, a constant reminder of what that fucker did to her. Even worse, it reminds me he’s still out there walking around free.

In my line of work, I know how those assholes are. They all have some fucked up notion their victims belong to them—only them. My fist is clenched on the desktop, and I focus on relaxing it.

Sloan will pay for what he did to Mel. I intend to make sure of it, but she’s right. Letting him spoil our present gives him too much power. I’d rather put that aside, in my “To Do” file, and focus on my weekend with my little family—sheer red lingerie, loads of sex, and nonstop affection—hell, I should have a shitty week more often.

Shitty week…

I turn to my computer and stare at the report on the screen. As much as Mel wants to know, I can’t bring myself to tell her what I’m investigating. It’s not that I want to hide my work from her. She could probably help solve half the cases on my desk. I don’t want her to be afraid, and I don’t have a reason to make her worry yet.

Patrick’s in Wilmington watching over her for me, being the guard he is when I’m not there, and I’ve got tabs on Sloan. We’ll know if he leaves the city or makes any threatening moves. Privately, I wish he would. Nothing would make me happier than taking him out in an act of self-defense. With his record, not a jury in the world would convict.

Nikki snaps me out of my reflections. “I’m headed to the coffee shop. Can I get you anything?” She’s standing at the door in one of her usual, too-tight wrap-dresses.

It takes me back to her first day here, assigned by my aunt Sue’s temp agency. I was still grieving Allison. Three years had passed since my first wife died, but time didn’t matter. I didn’t want a replacement wife or a girlfriend or an outlet or
anything
, and the idea that my aunt might’ve selected this woman for any of those reasons got under my skin like nothing else. I didn’t need help getting over my wife. I had no intention of getting over her ever, and Nikki’s appearance pissed me off.

The reality is, despite her former, inappropriate assertions that I needed to “get laid,” she never once made a pass at me. She’d actually seemed more interested in Stuart, my first partner and Patrick’s older brother.

I suppose after all this time I should put the past behind us. It doesn’t make sense anymore now that I have Melissa. Everything has changed.

She’s waiting, and I exhale. “No. Thank you.” The departure from my usual, impatient tone makes her pause, and I continue. “You’re always thoughtful, Nikki. I appreciate it.”

Her mouth drops open and then quickly closes. “I’m… um… well.” She stops stammering, pokes her lips out duck-face style, then nods. “Okay, then. You’re welcome.”

Turning on a stiletto heel, she heads out of the office, and I grin. That may be the first time I’ve had Nikki at a loss for words.

Back to my computer, I pull up the file I’ve been studying for ten days—the one that’s had me so distracted. I keep telling Patrick we don’t do domestic work, yet I always end up being the one old friends or acquaintances call when they need help.

That’s how it started—a runaway case for a friend of a friend.

I was culling through mug shots of beat-up teens and file photos of dead girls. Patrick would say this is the worst part of our job, but truthfully, I don’t mind it. I can see past the tragedy to my role here, giving people closure. I know what it’s like to need it, and I don’t mind helping people get it.

Then I saw
Jessica Black
. Dead.

The name was so familiar, but I couldn’t place her at first. Staring at the photo, trying to think, I’d been struck by her appearance—fair complexion, petite frame, and long brunette waves. She looked a lot like Melissa—minus my fiancée’s bright blue eyes.

I’d clicked on the thumbnail to read the report. Runaway. Missing five years. Arrested for prostitution several times. Found beaten once. Badly. Now deceased under mysterious circumstances.

Minutes passed as I stared at her photo. Why was she so familiar? She wasn’t from Princeton. Her hometown was listed as Raleigh. Shaking my head and chalking it up to overprotectiveness spurred by her similarity to Mel, I closed the document and went back to searching for the runaway.

Nikki had interrupted me that day as well, stopping in with a BLT from the cafeteria.

“I know it’s your favorite.” She placed the thick sandwich in front of me with a smile. “You need to eat.”

I only nodded. “Thanks.”

She didn’t leave. “Remember the last time I brought you lunch? It was the day Melissa showed up here so angry and unexpected. I was sure I’d never like her, but now she’s the sweetest…”

Nikki continued talking, but I wasn’t listening. Cold realization flashed in my brain like lightening striking a tree.