Clarity (The Admiral's Elite Book 3) (8 page)

An enormous exhale followed by a low chuckle filled the room. “We’re getting old man, look at us sitting around talking about love. Remember when talking about girls was heavier on the X rating? Now we’re like a freakin’ romantic comedy.”  He snorted and Michael laughed. “All we’re missing is the ex coming back just as the couple has it all sorted out.” Ryan flashed his teeth, glancing sideways to catch Michael’s frown. “What? You got an ex I don’t know about? I thought you were more of a ‘meeting the needs’ kind of guy before Becca.”

“Black’s bringing Kenneth back.” His eyes were focused on the toes of his shining black boots.

“Shit,” Ryan breathed, stretching the word like a deflating balloon.

“He’s got Gabs bringing him in now.” Twisting, he set his glass on the counter and leaned back, left hand gripping granite behind him. The other tucked away in his pocket, a makeshift sling of sorts.

“Depending how much trouble he gives her it shouldn’t take more than a few days before he’s here.” That Black kept Kenneth’s return from him stung. He thought he’d been fighting to keep Becca safe, fighting to minimize how much Black knew, let Becca take her time to get stronger before he used her up. It meant all of his objections voiced, punishments suffered, tormented moments were for naught. Black was moving forward with his plan regardless, just using another resource.

“Did she say why he’s bringing him back?” Ryan watched him closely. “Do you know?”

He shrugged one shoulder, grim expression revealing his defeat. “Does it matter? We’re a four-man team, not five. I don’t see this as a good thing.”

Ryan grunted and bobbed his head. “You going to tell her?”

“I don’t know. There isn’t much I can say other than that he’s coming back.” That much was true. Was it better to give her a heads up or let her have a few days more without knowing this good thing they had was going to end exactly as he’d feared all along? They were both quiet for a few breaths.

“So, we’ve got a few days off.” Ryan’s tone lightened. “I know I could use some time out of these four walls. Want to go cause some trouble, the three of us?”

He wanted nothing more than to leave this place. But when he thought of a few days with Becca, raising hell with Ryan Hallbeck wasn’t what came to mind. No, a dark room with no phones and locks on all the doors was more in line with what he was thinking; as far from Admiral Black and the rest of the world as physically possible. A quick scan of the other man’s face revealed tension and desperation in equal measure. Ryan was in pain at the thought of time off without distraction. Michael understood not wanting to be alone with his demons.

“Sure.”

“All right.” Ryan whooped and shoved himself off from his perch, spinning to face Michael. “I’m thinking of heading up the coast. Carmel? Or we could tear it up in San Diego. Some pretty sweet clubs in LA if you want to do more of the nightlife thing.” A troubled look crossed Ryan’s broad, tanned features and he tossed back the shaggy auburn hair that had fallen across his brow. “Clubs are okay, right?” He referred to the mission in Wisconsin when a demon controlling partiers at a club nearly got Becca sent to the hospital for a breakdown and Michael more than casually molested by two overzealous dancers.

Managing to quell the growl that automatically curled his lip at the wildly unpleasant memory, Michael gave him an affirmative nod. “Yeah, we can do a few mellow clubs.
”
A night of wild dancing and partying probably isn’t the best thing for her if she can barely stand
.
Michael attempted to placate himself with a reminder she’d gone for an exhausting run after their misunderstanding earlier; she was looking for some distraction too. “You pick, I’ll check with Becca to make sure it’s okay.”

“Cool.” Lighter at the prospect of blowing off some steam, Ryan put a hand to block an imaginary blow, reaching with his other and starting to dance in a mock fight. Before Michael could say anything, one big fist connected with his right bicep and an audible snap froze Ryan in place. “Holy shit, Mike, I’m sorry man. I didn’t hit you that hard, did I?” His expression was a mixture of horror and disbelief.

Grimacing, Michael clutched his broken, mending, re-broken arm, and swore. “It wasn’t you, Ryan. That was a little handicap from the admiral to keep me from killing you.”

All signs of playfulness were gone in an instant. “We’re cool, right Mike?” That he would even ask spoke to a depth of feeling Ryan didn’t confess often. After he’d changed, begun his transformations into a giant reddish wolf, he left his home and entire community behind. This unit was everyone he knew and cared about, and even if he acted like this was all fun and games, Ryan cared deeply for each member. One moreso than the rest.

Michael stopped grimacing and forced a tight smile. “We’re cool.”

Chapter 6

Two light raps on her door brought Becca’s eyes open in an instant. She lay sideways on her bed where she’d dozed off after her shower. She couldn’t get enough sleep lately and it was getting worse. The fear that she was going backward, that she would continue to grow weaker terrified her. Would anyone be able to trust her, could she trust herself in a fight with a combative shifter or vampire if she couldn’t out wrestle a ten-year old human girl?

“Come in.” Sitting up, she patted her head and felt what had to be an impressive look if her fingers read the lumps right. Falling asleep with wet hair was always an adventure in hairstyling, even with straight hair like hers. A light brown fluffy mess surely awaited her guest. That it would be Michael was a no-brainer. Not after that little spectacle downstairs or how they’d left things. If she’d been able to do any more than stand on wobbly Bambi legs she would have tried to clean up the mess, but she’d barely been able to carry herself upstairs to shower and then fall into bed. Carrying giant table legs and heavy oak boards wasn’t really doable right now.

Michael’s dimmer than usual blue eyes found hers immediately upon entry. The tension around his mouth as well as the way he scanned her as thoroughly as he could without asking her to put on a hospital gown didn’t escape her notice. “How are you feeling?” He held up a hand, palm out then pointed at hers, which now bore not a mark nor did her knees. He used the same hand, odd. Most people did that little maneuver using one hand for each gesture. Michael’s dominant hand remained firmly in his pocket.

“Fine,” a yawn escaped before she could stifle it. Becca waved it off. “My run really took it out of me. I’m fine, seriously.” Stubborn yes, stupid no, Becca didn’t wade back into the fight where they’d left it before her little fit. Michael would tell her what he could, when he could. Being with him meant accepting the limitations Black’s rule over him held. Considering the burden that heaped upon Michael, Becca forced herself to let it go. She could manage her frustration. She could manage anything for him. “So...a couple of days leave. Do you have plans?”

“Funny you should ask.” Some of the tightness in his features faded and the corner of his mouth turned up. His relief they were past fighting easily read. “We were thinking Carmel or maybe LA.” He caught her raised brow. “Ryan,” he started then shifted uncomfortably.

Smiling, Becca felt the residual animosity dissolve. She had brothers and was constantly surrounded by male pride in the military. She knew that look. “You two made up and you don’t want him to be alone because he’s sad?”

He grinned and Becca felt something in her heart shift. He was a good man and they were all lucky to have him to soften the blow of serving directly under Admiral Black aka King Asshole Extraordinaire.

“Busted,” he replied softly with a grin.

She patted a spot on the dark blanket covered mattress beside her and Michael, shutting the door behind him, walked past her to take a seat on her other side. Her hand slid into his of its own accord. Some little motions had become habit for her. “Has he talked to her at all since they broke up? Lik
e
reall
y
talked to her?”

A small shake of his head landed several black waves on his pale forehead. God, he took her breath away. She had trouble concentrating sometimes when he was just being him. No wonder she couldn’t function when he really turned it on. As tired as she was, a part of her, a part demanding attention at that very moment, wanted to forget all the talking. His thumb rubbed the back of her knuckles, reigniting the flame that hadn’t quite gone out when he’d left her so suddenly downstairs.

“You know Gabrielle, she’s doesn’t want to talk unless it’s work, so no, they haven’t.” His voice was gentle, gliding over her skin with the same effect on her heart rate as his touch.

Becca’s breath hitched and she leaned in without thinking, so close their noses nearly touched. Her eyes closed. “I don’t know how she can stand seeing him like this. She’s just so cold, I don’t get it.” Mind going fuzzy, she tried to hold onto her train of thought. “She couldn’t always have been like this. Didn’t you say she used to be a nurse?”

Michael eased toward her, lips brushing lightly against hers. She closed her eyes, letting his whispered kisses draw her in as her head began to spin. A warm puff of air against her jaw warned her a heartbeat before his tongue slid along her neck. Becca moaned. A soft chuckle sent a shiver through her body, her nipples tightening under her shirt. Michael continued to touch her only with his mouth, the one hand holding hers continued to stroke the back of her hand, unchanged in its pace. Slow and steady, he touched her, tongue slipping down the gentle curve of her throat, teeth scraping lightly on flesh. Goosebumps rose on her arms. The sensitive places he had yet to touch ached for his attention and she shifted on her seat bones, giving herself some friction a bit lower. Tipping further and tossing her hair out of the way with a flick of her head, Becca offered yet more of herself and felt her breasts rub against his shirt. A small sound escaped her parted lips and Becca reached a hand out to touch his flat stomach. Slipping it down, she let her fingers spread out until they found what she sought through the fabric currently stretched to capacity. His growl rumbled against her chest.

Becca shuddered. She stroked him through his pants. “Michael.”

That one whimpered request was his undoing. Moving shifted, looming over her. His sheer presence pressed her to her back and her eyes opened. Blue irises were barely visible, outlines growing black as his natures fought for control. Becca’s hand slid up his abdomen to his chest, glorying in the strength she felt there. Power Michael could use to kill one-handed or hold himself poised above her while he loved her so completely. Wanting both hands on her, teasing and touching to match his mouth’s tormenting efforts, Becca reached out to guide the non weight-bearing arm to ease her discomfort. Her fingers touched his elbow and slid up, wrapping around the back of his arm. Michael’s body stilled but Becca, too lost in their heat to stop and analyze, pulled.

A cool breeze against her skin emphasized the fact that she was suddenly alone and Michael was now standing by the foot of the bed. One hand was wrapped protectively over the arm she’d touched and fangs distorted his upper lip, several crimson drops stood out on his chin. Her hand automatically went to her lip and came away red. So distracted was she with what he was doing to her elsewhere, she hadn’t felt the bite. Her eyes rose to meet his, pausing at the way he protected the arm, remembering how he’d been guarding it since he’d come to her.

“What happened?” She was panting, her words soft though the anger already building behind them was anything but. “Did you and Ryan get into it again?” Her eyes narrowed. “Di
d
h
e
do this to you?” They both knew wh
o
h
e
was.

“I’ll be fine by this time tomorrow.” He squeezed out through gritted teeth, his struggle obvious. The physical pain he was in was compounded by the anguish he clearly felt at having accidentally nipped her.

Protectiveness wasn’t strictly a vampire thing. Becca stood, clenching her fists at her sides. She struggled to keep her voice down. No one here could know what she did about the admiral’s hold over Michael’s tongue. “What won’t you tell him? What won’t you let him ask of me? Please Michael, whatever it is he wants, I’ll do it.” Tears blurred her vision and choked her words. “I can’t watch him hurt you anymore.”