Breaking the Bad Boy (32 page)

“It was a cougar. She and I met in the middle of the night, and I was terrified. She came right up to me, maybe three feet away, and we stared at each other in the darkness,” he smiled at her. “She made a barking sound and then she turned and walked away and two cubs bounded out of the brush next to me to follow her. Why?” She shook her head and leaned back in the bed putting her arms out to him.

“That’s so beautiful, Buck,” she said and he went to her, and kissed her and nibbled and teased.

He pulled his head up from biting the inside of her thigh. “This is the last one, Duchess; you’ll be covered in black ink if we don’t stop this right here.”

“I thought you were gone forever, Buck, and I know I will never love anyone else, you needed to be represented.”

“I’m so glad you guessed the right animal,” he said grinning.

“Give me some credit,” she said. He laughed.

“And it is really sexy,” he said putting his lips to it, and then moving up her body to her nipples where her took his time tweaking them with his fingers and lips and tongue and finally his teeth. Joss’s back arched and she cried out his name.

“I need you right now, Buck, don’t make me wait a second longer, please.”

“Joss,” he said but she shook her head. She needed reassurance; she needed proof of life.

“We’ll take our time next time, and for the rest of our lives,” they both heard the edge to her voice and he grinned.

“Anything for my Duchess,” he said and he pulled her around on top and she sank down on to him with a happy sigh. He chuckled deeply. “God, I missed you so much.” He moved just slightly inside her and Joss threw her head back in complete and utter contentment. This was exactly what she needed, Buck filling her so deeply that it was just this side of painful. He began to slowly thrust upwards, putting his big hands on her upper thighs, holding her in place, until she bent forward to kiss him and took her mouth hungrily and rolled her on to her back kneeling in front of her.

Joss began to wrap her legs around his waist, but he caught one leg and put it to his shoulder and she brought the other one up, liking his idea. He rammed into her again and again until she saw stars and exploded around him and within three thrusts he followed her over the edge, making a guttural sound in the back of his throat.

“That wasn’t so bad,” he said collapsing half on top of her and catching his breath. She giggled, then laughed. Buck started to laugh, too, and they held each other shaking with the giggles. “I love you, Joss.” He pulled her close and licked her throat, tasting her salty sweat.
 

“And I love you.”

Chapter Twelve

Buck woke early, he had slept hard and well, if briefly, he was just relieved and happy to be with her again, with no one chasing them or trying to hurt her. The cat woke him an hour earlier by jumping on the bed and giving him stink eye. Buck must be in his usual spot. “If I know her, she’ll make room in her heart for both of us, there’s no need to hate me,” he told the cat. Felix looked unimpressed but curled up at his feet.

He lay next to Joss breathing her in and reveling in her long limbed embrace, the scent of her, and the smoothness of her skin. He was relieved that there was still the incredible thrill between them even when they weren’t running for their lives. He knew it would be.

Absently running his hand down her arm and up again with his thumb he didn’t realize she was awake until she reached for his face.

“I’m so glad you’re here. In my arms, on the earth, how long have we got before you leave?” She tilted her head to face him, half on his body. He chuckled a little.

“Ah, have I ever mentioned you were too smart for your own good?” He ran his thumb down her back this time.

“I don’t want it to sneak up on me, Buck. I need to know the end date.”

“No one knows the end date, Duchess. Marry me and we won’t bother with one,” he said.

“Buck,” she said quietly.

“I love you, Joss, and you love me, too. Don’t make me wander the earth without you,” he was starting to get nervous. “I’ve tried that route, it’s no good.”

“If you are sure.”

“Yes, I’ve had months thinking of nothing else. You’ve got me so cleanly hooked I couldn’t keep away if I tried.”

“Good,” she put her head on his chest and heard his heart thumping slow and strong. “I don’t want to live without you.”

“I was an idiot in
Montana
, Joss,” he started. She reached up and touched his lips.

“I blindsided you,” she said.

“That you did,” he smiled at her. “That you did.”

“If you make coffee, I’ll shower and get dressed and we can go out to breakfast. I’m hungry for the first time in months.”

“I’d like that. All but the getting dressed part,” he said and she chuckled and sat up in bed, he leaned forward and kissed her. When she went to the shower he dragged himself out of bed, pulled on his jeans and went to make coffee when his phone rang.

“Grandfather,” he said warily into it in greeting.

“John, we are outside with breakfast, will you allow us to come in?” Buck’s grandfather asked.

Buck sighed heavily. “I’ll buzz you up, hold on,” he said and pressed the buzzer in the other room.

Buck’s grandfather climbed the steps and came in with another agent holding their breakfast. His grandfather eyed his semi dressed state and made a moue of distaste. Buck ignored him. “Joss is in the shower, I’ll make coffee. Have a seat, I’ll be right back.”

“Splendid, you wouldn’t have any tea, dear boy?”

“I would know the answer to that if I had been here for the past two months, but as it is, I will have to look,” Buck said and went into the kitchen.

A few minutes later Buck’s grandfather was looking through Joss’s bookshelves in the living room and the agent with him was standing by the door. Buck was making coffee and tea in the kitchen. He heard the shower stop and he felt his heart jump knowing he’d see her in a few minutes. Buck waited quietly for Joss, preferring the quiet of the kitchen to his grandfather’s stares. The coffee maker made the sound to indicate it was finished brewing and it drew Joss from her room.

“You made coffee, I love you,” she said coming into the kitchen. “And you made tea?” She was wearing a little black push-up bra and tiny lace panties; her hair was up in a towel. His breath was taken away. She smiled at him and reached into the cabinet for a mug and poured her coffee. “I figured today would be mostly clothing optional. I see you had the same idea.” She grinned at him.

“Duchess,” he said pulling her to him gripping her ass in one hand. “My grandfather arrived right after you got in the shower, and the lecherous old coot is right behind you, staring at your delicious ass,” Buck said.

“The bastard’s here?” She asked Buck looking into his smiling eyes.

“Indeed, don’t hurt him, he’s old,” he said and she turned her head to face him, but Buck held her tightly to him. He was as tall as Buck, and lean, but that was where the resemblance ended. Buck’s grandfather had bright blue eyes, a ski jump nose and white hair in an expensive cut. His suit was tailored to his slim build and he held a cane, but Joss thought it was merely an affectation. He smiled gaily at her.

“That’s a bit unkind, dear boy, I heard voices, I’m eager to meet the woman I’ve heard so much about,” Buck’s grandfather said.

“And spoken to every day for the past two months,” Buck said. His grandfather shrugged.

“But, I’ll wait in the other room until you’re ready, my dear.”

Joss looked at Buck and they both laughed softly. “He’s as quiet as you are. For some reason I thought you got that from the other side of the family,” she said and he huffed out a laugh.

“You won’t hear Winston, either. Get dressed, Duchess, he didn’t come alone, and in my current state I don’t know if I could fight them both off.”

“You could stop the Mongol Horde, Buck,” she bit his nipple and walked to her room with her cup of French Roast.

Buck exhaled loudly and two minutes later she was dressed in
Levis
and a boat necked sweater with three quarter sleeves. Her hair was wet and her feet were bare, and he saw the toe ring and it gave him perverse pleasure to see it. She tossed him his shirt and he pulled it over his head grinning at her.

The old man took her hand. “We meet at last, dear girl; your photographs do not do you justice.”

“Huh. I get that a lot. You couldn’t have told me once that he was all right? Why was it such a big secret, Mr. Buckingham?” She asked. She pointed at him. “You are on my shit list.” Buck damn near spat out his mouthful of coffee.

“Call me Gerard,” Gerard said with a sincere smile. He was half in love with her, too, Buck thought.

“Gerard Buckingham? Sir Gerard Buckingham?” She asked. “Fuck.” Buck was thoroughly enjoying himself.

“Why yes, child,” he said delightedly. Joss looked at Buck and he rolled his eyes.

“Your photographs don’t do you justice,” she said and he laughed. Buck’s grandfather was one of the biggest players in DC! “Please, take a seat,” Joss looked at the agent at the door. “Would you like some coffee?”

“No, thank you, ma’am,” he said giving her a shy smile. Sir Gerard was not amused and the agent’s face resumed its former lack of expression.

Joss went into the kitchen and poured him a cup anyway. “What do you take in it?” She asked the agent.

“Just black, ma’am,” she put the cup in his hand and he winked at her. “Thank you.”

“Let’s eat, I took the liberty of bringing you breakfast, so that we may speak in private,” Sir Gerard said.

They went to her dining room and sat. Joss moved the museum map she had been using to plan where to put the pieces of the next exhibit off the table and sat next to Buck. Buck put his hand on her thigh and squeezed gently. The food Sir Gerard brought was a blend of egg dishes, fruit and pastries. Joss focused on the fruit, and Buck loaded her plate with the eggs and pastries, too.

“Stop,” she said to him.

“You’re too thin,” he said.

“I didn’t know there was any such thing,” she said.

“I like something to hold on to,” he said.

“There is always
something
to hold on to,” she said and Sir Gerard cleared his throat.

“I have a plane to catch in a few hours, so I’m afraid I have to ignore the usual protocol, and cut right to the chase, as they say.” Sir Gerard said.

“You were not invited, Grandfather, you’re lucky we were out of bed. We’ve been kept apart for months,” Buck was just getting going. “Why did you lie to me about her?” Sir Gerard arched an eyebrow.

“Why did you believe me?”

“You really are a bastard,” Buck began but Sir Gerard raised an imperious hand.

“Dear boy, save me your rants, if it weren’t for me you would never have met the lady,” Sir Gerard waggled his eyebrows. Buck sighed and turned to Joss and kissed her lingeringly.

“Buck,” Joss said admonishing him mildly, touching his cheek.

“I should tell you to come back in two months,” Buck said to his grandfather but still gazing at Joss.

“Ah yes, two months. Two months ago you had a very trying few weeks with my grandson. By all accounts you met each challenge with calm capability. I, myself, watched you take your polygraph and pass it impressively despite the emotions we tried to stir in you. I’ve never seen anything quite like it.”

“You were behind the glass? I could hear you laughing in Agent Bun’s earpiece.”

“Yes, child, you say the most remarkable things, you are very insightful, and remarkably amusing under duress,” he grinned at her and then looked at Buck to let him know that he was privy to something Buck was not. Joss wondered how they managed to not kill each other when Buck was thirteen.

“I was there for the first two polygraphs, but then I was called away. I did see the video of the other two. And I apologize for the line of questioning, but you, child, were an anomaly. You were covered in your lover’s blood, not knowing whether he lived or died, and having just slain your mother, but there was nary a blip on the readout. My own grandson can’t even do that.”

“Maybe I was in shock,” she said.

“Indeed. For the first one, perhaps, but I think not. Do you remember saying something when Agent Abrams left the room?”

“Did I say something out loud?”

“Oh yes, child, you certainly did,” he smiled charmingly. “Shall I tell you both what it was?” Buck and Joss looked at each other and Joss nodded. “You said, and I quote: ‘You bitch. Come on, Buck, fight for me.’ Delightful.” He looked at Buck. “You are a lucky man, John.”

“I know.” He looked at Joss, squeezing her hand in her lap.

“You also told me you weren’t afraid of me. You looked me right in the eye despite it being one way glass. I had to go in the room to see for myself, it was chilling, to say the least.”

“Now you know how charming I am…The focus of that questioning and the subsequent questioning was the Frenchman’s gold, why is the FBI interested? If it were real, and on my father’s property, wouldn’t it belong to him? Or at the very least the French?”

He avoided answering the question. “I suppose, since it is a myth, we’ll never have to worry about the question of ownership.” Joss smiled at his evasion.
He questions the ownership
.