Protected by Shadows (3 page)

“Can you just answer a simple question?”

Man, she wanted to trail her fingertips along that shadowed jaw and do her best to take the pain he tried so hard to hide from his eyes.

“Of course I can, darlin’,” she drawled, thickening her accent. “I think it should be questioning whether or not I will.”

“Lexy.” A growled word.

And what a growl. It was like he’d reached beneath her panties and played with her clit. She shuddered before lowering her leg and sitting up, putting her lips right by his.

“Val.”

His eyes narrowed and she hid her grin. He hated that nickname.

“Answer me.”

She tucked some hair behind her ears and canted her head. “I’ll answer if you tell me what’s up with this.”

She reached out to touch the ring that dangled from the gold chain around his neck. He never took it off, so far as she knew. He had her wrist clamped in his callused hand before she even made contact.

“Don’t.” His hazel eyes were hard as granite and his voice threaded with danger. He’d completely shut down.

A chill settled over her, but all she did was shrug. “Guess you won’t know then.” Time passed with them locked in that stare.

Knock. Knock. Knock
. “Room service.”

Tugging free of his hold on one hand, she pressed against his chest with her other. “Move.” He did and she headed for the door. She took the time to shore up her emotions and keep her own hurt inside. It would never do to admit she felt for him, or allow him insight into that knowledge.

“Thank you,” she said, signing her receipt after her food had been wheeled in.

“Ma’am.” The man took his leave and she lifted the lids one at a time and groaned with anticipation. They’d offered scones and bagels at the morning meeting, but she loved her big breakfasts and had decided to wait until she returned to her room.

Large fluffy waffles, scrambled eggs, potatoes, crisp bacon—she wouldn’t touch limp—savory sausage links and a bowl of fresh fruit. Topped off with orange juice and aromatic coffee. She was more than just content. Yep, she was officially in heaven.

Ignoring the scowling man by the window, she chewed on a slice of bacon while turning on her music. Loud. She danced back to the cart and wheeled it to the table where she sat and began to enjoy the delicious food.

She had one foot on the chair, propped beside her other thigh. As was her wont, her mind drifted to work. More specifically, this conference. Her good mood vanished along with her music and she glared over the rim of her coffee mug to the man who’d committed the offense.

“Turn it back on.”

“It’s obnoxious.”

“So leave.” She stabbed a piece of sausage and ate it then washed it down with more coffee.

“I want an answer.” He moved toward her, every inch of him predatory.

She hated how quickly she responded to him. Both physically and emotionally. Mug down, she reached for her phone and sent the command for more music. She smiled as White Snake resumed, filling the room.

Valentino paused before continuing to her. When he placed his large hands on the table, she stifled a whimper and took another bite of waffle. It wouldn’t do for her to recall the pleasure he’d brought her with those hands.

“Tell me.”

She ate some egg and tipped her head back while chewing, taking her time. Once she’d swallowed, she put her fork down only to shake her head and pick it up again.

“We fuck when we meet, Val. Nothing more, nothing less. That is the extremely clear, very defined definition of our…whatever this is. An arrangement, I suppose. It’s physical, not personal.”
Never personal. He’s made sure of that.

He reached for her final piece of bacon and she snatched it from his grasp. His gaze narrowed.

“Should have ordered something if you were hungry.”

He sat, dragging the chair closer until one of his knees touched hers. “All this because I won’t tell you about the ring?”

Yes.
“No. All
this
because, again, it’s physical not personal. I don’t ask you who or how many you’re fucking, and you don’t get to ask me.”

The music changed to KISS and she wondered how much more of this she could really endure. She focused on her waffle and ate another bite, determined to enjoy her breakfast. Valentino watched her the whole time, body rigid and tense. While she did what she did best—pretended it didn’t bother her in the slightest.

After she’d finished, she put everything back on the cart and rolled it out into the hall, smiling at the staff member who went past. Stepping back into the room, her gaze located Valentino. He had put on his shirt, though it hung open as if to welcome the sun against his skin. Perhaps it was for her. She wasn’t bashful and looked to her heart’s content.

“Come here.” He gave his order in a low tone.

She obeyed and stood before him, digging her toes into the plush carpet. He was silent as he stared at her and she waited for him to say what was on his mind. He didn’t. He cupped her cheeks and allowed his thumbs to skim over her lips, his eyes almost gentle.

She found herself mesmerized, holding her breath so as not to break the spell. Her fingers itched to touch him, smooth across his well-defined torso. But she didn’t move.

His phone rang and dispelled the intimate moment. He dropped his hands as his expression grew cold, distant and calculating. Her sigh was full of regret and she stepped away while he answered his phone.

Worrying her lower lip, she stared out over the amazing landscape.
I need to stop this and stop allowing him to get any deeper beneath my skin.
Even as she thought it, she knew it would be the biggest challenge ever.

He left the room and moments later she heard the shower kick on. She nearly followed him in there, just to appease her unrelenting hunger for him. Forcing herself to stay put, she grabbed her information packet, sat in the sun and read. Five minutes later, a knock came on the door and she answered it.

Three other female vets stood there. “Come with us, we’re going shopping.” They all spoke together and she knew it was planned.

After grabbing her card and purse, Lexy accompanied the women to the elevator. In the back of her mind she wondered when she would see Valentino next.

“Damn, he’s fine.” Kristen nudged her as they walked across the lobby.

Lexy looked at the man and blew out a breath. Hellfire and damnation. “Wow.” It was the only word she could get out. Tall, well-muscled and large.

“His muscles have muscles,” Lisa remarked.

Lexy took in the blond-brown hair sticking out from beneath his ball cap, the wide shoulders covered by a blue shirt, his black jeans and cowboy boots. “He ain’t from around here, that’s for sure.”

“American?” Kristen this time.

“Bet my life.” Lexy allowed herself one more ogle and winked at him when he grinned at them before she led her group outside into the morning. Prior to them rounding a corner, she glanced back at the hotel. Valentino Cassano.

“Let’s go,” Lexy said, determined to move on.

Chapter Two

Somewhere in the Southwest Desert

“What good will she be?” Trevor demanded.

“Look at her clients. She takes care of Congressman Letty’s pets.”

Trevor ate a bite of his scrambled eggs. “I fail to see how that’s relevant to me.”

“She also has connections, familiar ones to some members of the Army, near you, who are in charge of the local armory. Not to mention some distant ones to the newly appointed Secretary of Defense.”

Trevor stared at the speaker and knew what the man saw. An intense green gaze. “Really?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Says here”—he gestured at the sheet before him—“she has two older brothers. Why not go for one of them?”

The man ducked his head, cheeks flushing. “I want her.”

“Look at me when you speak to me,” he ordered. The dark head snapped up and the man straightened, almost to attention. Trevor sat forward. “You want her?”

“Yes, sir. I want her to be mine. My wife.”

“Can you control her?”

Trevor stared back at the pictures of her as he waited. Three different ones. Each showed her body, lithe and with body piercings, not to mention a saucy smile that told him she was a spitfire. Stirrings of lust rose within him, which quite honestly came as a bit of a surprise to Trevor.

Black women usually didn’t elicit a sexual response from him. Pensive, he tipped his head to the side. There was no denying it, there was something about her. Perhaps it was the Mossberg pump action shotgun she had pressed to her shoulder. Perhaps it was the fire in her that couldn’t be squelched even through a camera. He didn’t bother trying to explain it,
he
didn’t have to.

“Must I repeat my question, John?”

“No. No, sir. I can control her.”

He had doubts about that, but if she was here and John couldn’t, Trevor had no doubts he could bring her under his rule.

“Very well, then proceed.”

“Thank you.” John left the room and Trevor remained alone to finish his meal in peace.

He picked up the three images of this woman who’d captured John’s attention.
Yes, she could prove most useful.
His cock hardened and he reached down between his legs to rub himself. It quickly became obvious to him that wouldn’t be enough. He freed himself then jacked off at his breakfast table.

* * * *

“Happy birthday to youuu!”

The group drew it out before laughing and watching the two-year-old triplets attack their individual cakes. Valentino stood in the back and observed his family. Parents. Sister. Both brothers. Brothers’ wives and children.

Jaydee and Gio. Halyn and Enzo. And the kids. Everyone was having a great time. They were in his younger brother Gio’s house. It was loud, courtesy of his family. They were Italian—celebrations could easily get out of control.

The two, other than him, who remained reserved were Jaydee and Liev, his sister-in-law and Enzo’s son. Although to be fair, both had changed dramatically since he’d first met them.

As if sensing his perusal, Jaydee glanced up at him from where she sat by her triplets. She didn’t approach him or wave him closer. The contact lasted barely a heartbeat, yet he knew that was about the extent of her showing compassion. Nothing he faulted her for, it was how she was.

His mother approached carrying a plate with a piece of cake. He gave her a smile.

“You look too serious, Valentino,” she murmured, passing the plate along, followed by a fork. “This is a party, son. Would a smile kill you?”

“No, Mama.” He kissed her cheek. “Thank you for the cake.”

“Work troubling you?”

More than she could imagine. “A bit.”

She patted his cheek. “You need to get a new job. All that stress is not good for you. Besides, you travel too much and we don’t see enough of you.”

“I’ll think about it, Mama.” He ate a bite, swallowing at the doorbell’s chime. “Delicious.”

He went to the door and pulled it open. Although he’d partially been expecting her, it was still a blow to see her. Always was. Lexy.

She had a huge smile, which faltered slightly when she saw him. “Relegated to doorman to keep from sucking the joy out of the room?” she asked immediately.

“Hello, Lexy.”

The breeze blew behind her and brought to his nose Lexy’s compilation of scents. A spring rain and fresh flowers.

“You gonna let me in so I can see my godchildren or what?”

She raised an eyebrow at him, her exasperation apparent. He wanted to kiss that ever-present smirk off her face.

“Lexy!” his mother called out. “Come on in, dear.”

Lexy’s smile was pure sin. As she brushed by him, her hand skimmed over his abs, nails raking him. Immediately he reacted and he forced his wayward body under control as he closed the door behind her. He turned to see her walk with his mother to where everyone else was hanging out.

He allowed his gaze to trail over her low-cut jeans and appreciated the way they cupped her ass. How he longed to do that very thing. Her tight long-sleeve shirt, faded and worn, had him recalling how her body felt beneath his touch.

A smile filled Jaydee’s face as the two friends embraced. Then Lexy kissed each of the kids, not minding when they put cake and frosting on her. He moved closer, unsure what to make of his craving to be near her.

She accepted a bit of cake from Dante then stared at him. “Scared of your niece and nephews, Val?” Her Southern drawl fell from her lips all thick and honeyed. It wound around him, making him think things he shouldn’t. Not with where he was at this moment in time.

“No.”

“Lexy.” Jaydee gave her a glare.

“All right. I’ll be good. I’ll cut the baby some slack. He is, after all, not wearing a suit. For once,” she muttered.

Valentino glanced down at his attire. Slacks and a polo. With a strained smile he said, “Need your claws trimmed?”