Undercover Elite (Undercover Elite Book 2) (8 page)

Thorn

Man, she is pissed and it’s sexy as hell. If I didn’t know any better I might think she’s mad at me for disappearing ten years ago. She is definitely seething with all the fiery anger of a woman scorned, even though she was only fourteen when her dad and I parted company. Someday she’ll realize I never meant her any harm, that my contract with her father had simply run its course. The only time I saw her dad in the decade that followed was a couple years later. Dr. Fairchild had upgraded to a bigger house in a gated community and wanted a security system installed. I took care of it while Windy was away at a summer camp for the week, something about forensic science, I think. My girl had the bug even then.

Now that I’ve seen her in the flesh, I’m not backing off. Way back when, she was the daughter of a client and I looked out for her. I was there because her father asked it of me. But now? She’s a grown-ass woman, more than old enough to take me on. As far as I’m concerned, this is our time now. I’ll be damned if I’m going to let that pompous boss of hers wine and dine her right into his bed. The thought of another man touching her eats at my guts like acid. Yeah, I’m back and this time it’s not as some kindly uncle; she needs to understand I’m a man and I’m taking what’s mine.

Cash is right; if I expect to get anywhere with her I’m going to have to man up and make it happen. I guess it’s a good thing that’s the only way I operate. The protective feelings I always had for her have been kicked into high gear now, and I’m practically vibrating with an overwhelming sense of primal ownership. Based on her responsiveness to my touch just now, I think my girl may still be carrying a torch for me. I can work with that. I hope she won’t need much persuading, but if she does, I’m happy to oblige.

We pull in to the gated community and weave our way through the neighborhood to the Fairchild home. Dr. Fairchild has done well for himself. This place definitely qualifies as “palatial.” I know this house as well as I know the
Undercover Elite
compound, having memorized every inch of it during the security installation.

I jump out of my SUV to catch up to her as she takes the sidewalk to the front steps. I wonder how she’ll react if I tell her how hot she is when she’s pissed. She’s putting some extra sexy in her walk and I’m enjoying the view. I grin at the thought of her putting on a show for me as she struts up those steps – I’m just not sure if
she
realizes she’s doing it.

She never even acknowledges me as I bound up the steps behind her and we make our way into her bedroom. She points at the boxes lined up against the wall.

“Start loading them in your SUV,” she says dismissively as she reaches for a suitcase on the bed.

Oh, no, baby; I’m here to help but I’m nobody’s butler to order around.
I take slow, steady steps over to her, standing so close behind her that I can feel it when she starts breathing faster, deeper. I run my hands along her ribs until they come to rest across her flat stomach. “You’re awful bossy. Say please.”

“What are you doing here, Thorn?” she asks weakly.

Time to show her.

Before I even have time to think about what I’m doing, I lock my hand in the long hair falling down her back and spin her around, pulling her tight against me. She opens her mouth to spout more bullshit, and I take full advantage of that situation as I tug on her hair and cover her mouth with mine. My whole fucking body is electrified as I slide my tongue against hers and she melts against me.

Yeah, I’m not going anywhere. This time I’m here for the long haul.

Windy

His mouth crashes down on mine and his tongue probes as if he’s exploring every inch of my being. My knees go weak as I melt into him. He takes his free hand and places it at the small of my back, supporting me and pulling me into his hardness. Thorn is back, but this time he’s crashing over me like a tsunami, washing away my ability to think. All I can do is feel. I wrap my arms around his neck and press my breasts against his warmth. I’m in so much trouble and I know it. As I pant and pray for strength to remain standing, I am consumed by a hot, visceral, bone-shaking need for this man. I feel the walls I’ve tried to erect against him come crashing down around me. He pulls back and I open my eyes, getting lost in his heated gaze as his arms tighten round me.

“I’ll say it as many times as you need to hear it. You need to accept the fact that your life has changed, and I’m not talking about your apartment or your job. I’m back and this time I’m not leaving. You’re not a kid anymore, and I’m not some crush you daydream about.” Without taking his eyes from mine, he very deliberately curves a hand over my breast, massaging my flesh and running his thumb over the stiff peak. “What I am is the man who’s going to protect you from here on out. This isn’t child’s play, Windy. I’m staking claim on you, girl, here and now. It’s done, and there isn’t a damn thing you or your daddy can do about it.”

He plants a hard, closed-mouth kiss on my lips before releasing me, his smoldering gaze lingering on my breasts and my swollen lips. Not a word is said as he lifts a large box with ease and makes his way down the stairs.

What the fuck just happened?
Thorn is acting like a jealous boyfriend. I’m staggered by the fact that he just declared that was he
staking claim,
as he worded it. He might as well have branded me with all the heat he poured into that kiss.

Right now the best thing to do is focus on getting my stuff moved into the apartment -- just as soon as I can get my shaky legs to cooperate. As Thorn said, we’re losing daylight. I hate to admit it, but I’m glad I’ve got a muscle man escorting me to my new home the first night. The reality of what I’m getting ready to do is setting in and I’m a little bit more nervous about it than I expected to be.

We finish loading the boxes in silence and once again he follows behind me in his SUV as I make my way downtown. I’m grateful our apartment has a garage because even at dusk with just a few street people starting to wander around, it isn’t somewhere I want to leave my car parked on the street.

Melissa comes out and starts helping us unload boxes. She waits until he’s out of earshot before she grabs my arm and hisses in a stage whisper, “Who’s the hottie?”

“He’s the muscle my dad recently hired to make me lose my effing mind,” I reply as I roll my eyes and balance a box in my arms.

“Wait, that’s…your childhood crush you told me about?”

“In the flesh.”

“Well, honey, if you don’t want him, he can damn sure protect as much of me as he wants.”

I grit my teeth. I try to backtrack so I don’t look like the jealous girlfriend, “I’m trying to get rid of him, not keep him around.”

“Mm hmm, I just bet you are.”

“Is this where she’ll be staying?” We both look up as Thorn makes his way over to the window, testing the lock. “I see there’s no security system here; I’ll have my guys here tomorrow morning to install one.”

“I can’t afford that!” Melissa squeaks, going pale as she experiences firsthand the force of nature that is Thorn.

“I’ve got it covered, don’t worry about it.”

I bite my tongue to keep from saying something snarky about him coming in and just taking over.

“You guys need a dog, too. I’ve got a friend who works the K9 unit so I’ll be getting you a guard dog.”

Melissa and I look at each other in disbelief. As much as I hate to admit it, everything he’s saying makes sense. The two things he’s mentioned are the best crime deterrents I can think of. For the first time, I’m beginning to wonder if he might be handy to have around after all.

Thorn

For the first time today the girl is at least smiling at me. It makes me wonder what she has up her sleeve.

“Why are you being nice now?” I ask with narrowed eyes.

“I’m just thinking you might be kind of handy to have around with me getting a degree in criminology.”

“Yeah, well, I knew I’d win you over.”

“I didn’t say that.”

I turn to her roommate. “Melissa, I need you to be honest with me, have you had any break-ins here?”

“Not break-ins, just creepy stuff like drunks knocking on the door in the middle of the night. One night someone threw a beer bottle against the side of the building. Most people in the neighborhood know I’m here to help people so they respect me. I’ll be honest; I hear gunshots and fights nearby sometimes. It can be scary being down here in this neighborhood alone.”

“I still have a lot to do to get you two settled in – security system, guard dog. That sort of thing. I’d feel better about things if I stayed here tonight.”

“There’s a spare bedroom.”

I suppress a grin when I see Windy give her friend a dirty look. I guess she hasn’t warmed up to me yet. Looks like I still have some work to do on that front.

“Oh, lighten up, Windy,” Melissa says impatiently. “I’d feel much better with an alarm and a dog. In the meantime, if he thinks you’ll be safer with him here tonight, then I say let him stay.”

Windy cuts her eyes at me smugly. “You don’t have a change of clothes.”

“I keep an overnight bag in my SUV,” I counter equally smugly, arching an eyebrow in victory.

“Fine! Stay, I don’t care,” she huffs, throwing up her hands in frustration.

“You two sound like a couple of kids,” Melissa teases as she rolls her eyes and shakes her head playfully.

“Not a kid in sight,” I say quietly. “Not now.” Though I’m speaking to Melissa, I’m looking directly at Windy. I hear Melissa’s barely audible, “Whoa…” as she gives Windy a wide-eyed look. But Windy doesn’t see her because she’s looking at me. I think I’ve made my point, for now.

I make my way around the building, inside and out, checking various doors and windows until I’m assured we are safely tucked in for the night. I sit at the kitchen table, entering some notes on my laptop and responding to emails. There are no fewer than three emails from Harley, asking about Windy. I can practically see his smug grin from here, the little shit.

After a final check of all the locks, I go back to Windy’s room, where I’m greeted by a sight that melts my heart and hardens my cock: my woman, sleeping peacefully in her bed. A twin bed.

Oh, hell no. Yeah, I’ll be doing something about that. That shit doesn’t work with my plans at all.

I stand beside the bed and push down the urge to touch her. This is the first time I’ve been able to look my fill, so I do. She’s lying on her back in a white tank top, arms resting high on her pillow, her hands relaxed and open by either side of her head. A blanket is draped over her hips, revealing ample feminine curves that make my mouth water and my fists clench. I know from experience now that her breasts are more than a handful, even for me, and I can see enough now to know they’re gorgeous. She rolls over onto her stomach with a sigh and the blanket is off, hallelujah. She pushes one knee out to the side, arching that luscious ass up just enough to tease me with a hint of sweet pussy lips through her thin white panties.

Mine.

I realize I’ve growled the word out loud and freeze as she stirs briefly. I hold my breath, part of me hoping she’ll open her eyes and invite me to join her. But she sleeps, so I stand over her for a minute more, thinking about how quickly things can change.

In the past, wood like I’m sporting at the moment would be a simple matter of a quick phone call, immediately followed by a visit to one of the like-minded and free-spirited Louisville women I’m intimately acquainted with. Pleasure would be given and received, tension would be released, then I’d head home for a good night’s sleep. But no more. The idea of sex that’s little more than a bodily function holds no appeal now.

Shit, Harley’s gonna have a field day with this when word gets around that I’m off the one-night-stand circuit.

But I have bigger plans now, plans that involve the beauty who’s now curled up in a ball in the twin bed. I pull the blanket over her and resist the urge to let my hands wander. Plenty of time for that soon enough, when I’ve got her primed and ready for me.

Then I see a sight that sends my hard-on into the chill zone in a hurry: a stack of blankets and a pillow, folded carefully on the couch in the far corner of the room. I know I’ve given her a lot to think about, and God knows there’s no room to spare in her bed; so I give her the space she obviously wants and resign myself to bunking on the couch. For tonight.

Thus begins my first overnight duty of protecting the woman I no longer see as a child.