In the Still of the Night:Sexy Romantic Suspense (Book 2 The Blonde Barracuda's Sizzling Suspense Series) (5 page)

“No, that’s not why. It was… because I… I—”

Lexie hesitated, then stopped. She shook her head and looked away, refusing to meet his hard stare, not wanting him to see the tears in her eyes. To her surprise, Jake reached over and pulled her next to him. He took the pillow away from the front of her and held her against his chest. He tipped her head back, forcing her to look at him.

“Listen to me, Lexie. Just to be clear, I do not think that either you or Ming is responsible for what happened to that poor young woman. The person who killed her and all those who exploited her are responsible. And you’re right. I do know why you didn’t call me. You knew I would be angry with you, because I thought we had agreed that we would discuss potentially dangerous things like this. I thought that you trusted my judgment. Trusted that we can discuss these things and even if we don’t agree, at least I’ll know what is going on. So, yeah, I will admit that when Dan called, my first reaction was to be mad as hell that you hadn’t told me about these missions. But my next reaction and the message I left for you that you obviously haven’t picked up, is that I worry about you, Darlin’. Not because I don’t think you are capable, or that the work you are doing isn’t important. No, dammit! It’s because if I had my way I would wrap you up in a protective shell and take you out only to feed you and make love to you. Do you understand me, Lexie, what I’m trying to say? You think I don’t know how hard this hit you? How much it hurts to know that yet another young woman has been killed?”

Lexie didn’t know how she could burrow any deeper into Jakes arms but she tried. Just when she’d convinced herself that there was no way she could ever make him understand her, he went straight to the heart of what was bothering her the most—the horror of the woman’s death, and that she might inadvertently have contributed to it. She knew she should have called him. The problem was, as Master Wan could tell him if Jake hadn’t already figured it out, Lexie lived by the rule, ‘Do it and explain later.’ And she wasn’t a team player—she never had been. It was one of the biggest conflicts she and Jake had. He was accustomed not only to working with a team, but always as the leader, the commander. Lexie had never taken orders from anyone. She valued her independence above all. She knew it was an issue that would continue to bedevil them. But at least for tonight, she was grateful that he was holding her and not insisting she make promises they both knew she wouldn’t keep.

Jake held her in his arms, aware of the emotions obviously tormenting her. The poignant sighs, the slight shivers, even a sound suspiciously close to a sob, wracked her slender body. He gave her what she seemed to need the most at the moment. Strong arms and no advice. In the seven months that he and Lexie had been together, Jake’d learned a lot about what to do and what not to do if he wanted to have any influence with her. Sure as hell, confronting her head-on didn’t work! May as well toss a load of C4 in the room, that was how volatile both her temper and fierce need for independence were. The problem for Jake was that he’d been in the Army too long and at too high a level not to assume command. Exactly the wrong strategy with Lexie. He snorted to himself. Thank god he’d spent his adult life ordering other strong men around, because if all women were as hard to corral as this feisty woman he had tucked against his side, he’d have left the military years ago and taken up rattlesnake wrestling.

But there were times dammit, and this was one of them, when he needed to assert his authority, put on the controls. Dan Rourke had spent twenty minutes describing the growing violence affecting young Korean streetwalkers in the District. The problems were getting worse. The ongoing abuse and exploitation was bad enough. But now in the last month alone, they had fifteen unsolved murders. All young. All Korean. And all of whom could be traced to the massage parlors in the District. The escalating violence upped the ante for the police. Politicians were beginning to squawk. Not that they were willing to do anything about it. Rather it was more convenient to blame the police for not solving the murders. The fact that the women were more afraid of the police than they were of the pimps and massage parlor managers was only part of the ongoing frustration for the authorities.

Dan’s concern that was now tearing at Jake’s gut, was Lexie’s notoriety. She was known throughout the City as a crusader. She even had a nickname—The Blonde Barracuda. While for the most part she was admired as a courageous and effective advocate, she was also a lightning rod. A beautiful blond curvaceous crusader made for great copy and even better television. It also made her a target. Not so much from the massage parlors or even the pimps; they were dangerous but not organized. The real danger was the owners of the parlors—many of whom were part of syndicates that operated in cities across the country, and the world. Shadowy figures that didn’t like public scrutiny, especially when that scrutiny came in an attractive newsworthy package like Alexis Beloi.

According to Dan, there were increasing rumbles from trustworthy sources that the underworld felt Lexie needed to be ‘neutralized.’ An ominous enough warning—but considering the sources, it was terrifying. Jake had spent most of his flight to San Francisco struggling with how to protect Lexie without infuriating her. It wasn’t an easy tightrope to walk. But then there wasn’t much about this young woman that was easy. Which only made her more enticing.

Jake forced himself to shove aside his trepidation. Not let it color his first night with Lexie in over two weeks. He’d missed her in a way he hadn’t known was possible. All of his adult life he’d been a magnet for women, and the attraction was mutual. He liked women. The way they walked, their curvy bodies, their come-hither smiles. But the women in his life had been plural. At thirty-seven years old, Jake had had a sum total of three monogamous relationships lasting longer than a month. But the number of women he’d fucked in the last twenty years counted in the hundreds. Until Lexie. He hadn’t been able to figure it out. He’d fallen for her the first day he met her. The memory was crystal clear. She’d taken on a room full of cops and Army brass, castigating them (himself included) for not finding her brother’s murderer. Jake grinned, remembering the police chief muttering when she left, “The least she could have done after she cut off my dick was to leave it in one piece. Maybe I coulda had it reattached somehow.” Appreciative groans and uneasy laughter had greeted his off color remark. The reaction was an acknowledgment of the truth of his words. And the relief from the others that it was the chief who’d attracted her greatest fury.

Jake fell for her and fell hard. It wasn’t just her extraordinary body or that glorious mane of gold-streaked hair. Or her flashing gray/black eyes. All of that contributed. She was a stunning woman. But it was her vulnerability, wrapped in an iron strong will and feisty outrageousness, that captured him. From the moment he met her, he knew if he had one role in his life it was to protect this woman. For a simple reason. She was his. And his alone. No other man would ever touch her, and God help anyone who thought they could hurt her.

Lexie shifted, and nudged her knee against his thigh. His ever-ready prick took note and let him know it had been way too long since he’d been buried inside the sweetest most erotic place in the world. And when Jake’s prick spoke, he listened. Hell yeah, and why wouldn’t he? There wasn’t anything he’d rather do. In addition to being thoroughly in lust with this woman, there was another reason why Jake couldn’t get enough of her. It was the one area of their relationship where Lexie didn’t dispute his authority. Jake was a dominant man and a hard, hungry lover. He wore that label proudly. Knowing Lexie’s early life, he’d never thought he’d be able to love her the way that he craved. But from the first time they kissed—hell from the first time they thought about kissing—she was as insatiable as he was. She responded to his demanding initiatives eagerly, often surprised by his unusual requests… but never resistant. She followed his lead, obeyed his commands as a lover that she wouldn’t tolerate in other areas. Damn, she argued over whether half a bagel was enough sustenance for a 12-hour day. But let him take out his handcuffs and just the clinking sound alone made her cheeks flush, her chest bloom like the sweetest rose, and it was all over.

Leaning down, Jake scraped his beard stubble against the sensitive place on her throat just below her ear and whispered, “Darlin’, remember how I told you that I’ve been dreaming about finding pleasure places on your body that you didn’t know existed?”

She shivered and gasped when he stroked along the inside of her thigh.

“Well, Darlin’, I’m thinking that if we are gonna make it through all those places in the next fifty years, we’d best get started.”

Her voice was as husky as his. “Where did you have in mind, Jake?”

He threaded his fingers through her hair and pulled just hard enough to elicit a whimpering moan. He tugged her head back, opening her throat to the gentle scrape of his stubble.

“Before I tell you that, Darlin’, I have to see if my baby is ready for some serious loving.”

She murmured, her voice thick with desire. “Have I ever not been?”

He laughed a low sexy chuckle. “You’ve got something there. But honey, I’d be remiss if I didn’t do a quick once-over to make sure you’re as hot for me as I am for you—before I start really pushing you. For example, I need to take a look at these gorgeous breasts of yours and see if they are as responsive as I remember.”

He pinched one soft rosy nipple, then the other, smiling when they hardened to taut, beaded nubs. Lexie shuddered and cried out when he sucked one throbbing nub into his mouth while rolling the other between his fingers and thumb. Grinning at her writhing response, he conceded, “Both of these of these seem to be in working order, but it’s important that I taste them to be sure.” He suckled the sensitive nubs moving back and forth, licking, sucking and nipping at the sensitive tips until Lexie was moaning, begging him not to stop.

He groaned a hard male sound. “Don’t worry, sweet woman. I’m just getting started. But now I need to head for another test ground. Darlin’, another sure-fire testing arena is here between your legs.” Nudging her thighs apart, his dick swelled at the smell of her arousal. “Lexie, the first time I put you on the back of my bike, I smelled that enticing fragrance of yours. It was all I could do to keep from driving into a roadside ditch and taking you then and there. Give those fucking truckers something to really honk about. Damn, your body makes those mudflaps of theirs look downright tame.”

“Do you think it had anything to do with the fact that you handcuffed me to you?”

He chuckled. “Yeah baby, that was the test. When I pulled out those cuffs and instead of running away, you flushed the most gorgeous shade of pink. You put Grandma Winnie Mae’s prize begonias to shame. And, honey, the only thing more arousing than the rosy bloom that took over your body was your tantalizing fragrance. It was a siren call to my dick. I swear he hasn’t been soft since. Imagine that. Seven fucking months with a hard-on. And all because of the way you soaked those panties of yours when I fastened your arms around my belly and took off down the road at 60 miles an hour. And, Darlin’, just so you know, it’s been the best and most exciting ride of my life and I’m not about to stop now.”

“Please don’t, Jake. Don’t ever stop!”

His groan was as heartfelt as hers. “Don’t you worry about that, Darlin’. We’re just getting started.”

Chapter 5

Master Wan beamed with pleasure. His eyes sparkled, unable to hide his relief.

“That is excellent news, Jake. It appears that the spells my wife has been putting on you have worked their magic. In addition to her usual incantations for Jai Li’s and my safety, her prayers have been for you to move permanently close to us. As much as we both hope that you and Jai Li will marry soon, neither of us looked forward to her becoming an ‘army wife.’ Of course I knew that, as with Anthony, you were unlikely to re-enlist, but my prayers have truly been answered, knowing that you will soon be living here in California close to us. I am eager to hear all of your news. You have not only made me extremely happy, but seeing Jai Li’s lovely smile this morning, I am gratified that you’ve brought great joy to the young woman I honor above all others.”

The dignified man held both of Jake’s hands in his, and bowed low—a formal recognition of his respect and affection for Jake.

Jake bowed in return.

“Thank you, Master Wan. You and Madam Juen have welcomed me into your home like one of your family. I appreciate your kindness. Like you, I loved Anthony, and miss him in ways that I know you can understand. Being with you makes me feel as though he is even more a part of my life than when I knew him only as my friend and comrade. Now in your home, I see him as your son and my brother.”

A momentary flash of pain shadowed Master Wan’s eyes, then his lips curled in a soft smile.

“Yes, Jake, Anthony was my spiritual son as Jai Li is my daughter. They both have brought me more joy than any man deserves in one lifetime.”

The older man’s face briefly clouded, and with a slight nod he motioned Jake away from the dojo. They’d been watching Lexie spar with a young man who was a superstar in the national mixed martial arts ranks. Jake knew the pride on Master Wan’s face was mirrored on his own. Lexie graciously acknowledged the boy’s strong moves, but didn’t hesitate to call him on his weaknesses, one of which was clearly that he thought he was the better fighter. Lexie systematically beat that notion out of him, one ferocious strike, one fierce kick after another.

Jake marveled. “She is an extraordinary teacher, Master Wan. So much of your detachment shines through when she works with students. We both know how impatient Lexie is, but she never shows that to students. Clearly that is the model you taught her.”

Master Wan nodded. “Ah, yes. If you think she is impatient now, Jake, you should have seen her at sixteen and seventeen. Once she decided she would no longer be a rude, hostile young girl, she wanted overnight to become a master martial artist. In truth her rise was almost meteoric. Neither Anthony nor I could believe what she learned in the space of a year. I have not had a student with more natural talent. Anthony came close, and I understand from both Anthony and Jai Li that you are as talented if not more so. According to Jai Li, you have the gift of serenity—which we both know has escaped our beloved fighting tornado.”