9781618854704HolidayGemBeckNC (10 page)

“
Will I be in the way?”

“
Never.
Get dressed and come down
.”

“Gemma’s on her way
down,” Seamus told the men, both present and over the connection. “I won’t hide
anything from her but let’s try not to scare her. Got it?”

Grunts of agreement followed.
This had turned into a dangerous mission and much depended on it if what Caedon
had dug up was right. Already Lucas and Granger were on their way. Caedon and
Madden would be following shortly, leaving behind only the Santucci security to
watch over the compound hidden within the Santucci Vineyards. Of course, Valentino,
Madden’s father, as well as Anton would be there should anything happen, but
all their instincts said the battle would be played out in the small town of
Pontedra, Italy. Having the full TEU team on the mission clearly spoke to that
potential danger.

“We have a solid plan,”
Lucas, the second-in-command spoke, “with the intel gathered overnight by
Caedon, we’ve been able to determine an exact location and watch for movement.”

“We know there are
currently at least twenty men in the building with Donovan. And we got a
definite sighting of Van. He’s unharmed and just like we
thought,
it’s obvious they believe him simply a human.” Caedon’s fingers tapped on his
keyboard while their monitors flashed different photos of the men and Van
exiting a dirty truck and entering the run down building.

Lucas focused them on
their objective, “First priority is getting Van out. Seamus and Madden are
taking point on that. Gage and Granger will be set in the sky with rifles
trained on the location. Take any of the bastards out long-range on the go.
Caedon will be our eyes and ears from the surveillance location. Nico and I
will pull in first and take out anyone between us and Van before circling to
clean up the scene.”

Madden added to the
instruction one final thought, “If Abdul-Nassir is present, kill him. And I
want his body as proof.”

Fuck, Madden was still
furious at the man for using Layla as hostage. Nassir would be lucky if one of
them got to him first. Madden wouldn’t kill him quickly. He heard an intake of
breath at his neck and realized Gemma had snuck into the room. He reached
around and pulled her onto his lap, breathed in her fresh scent and allowed
himself to relax a bit.

While Seamus listened
to Caedon, he also took in her clothing. She wore stretchy leggings with a
large mens’ shirt. He liked seeing the shapely curves of her legs but wondered
about the shirt.

“Who’s shirt?” Seamus
asked with an arched brow. He was certain he didn’t hide his disapproval.

“Mine. I like big
shirts over leggings. It’s comfortable.” Gemma shrugged.

Seamus smiled then.
“Good. You can borrow some of mine anytime you want. I think I’d like seeing
you in my shirts.”

“Wait a minute. That’s
what that look was for a minute ago. You thought I was wearing another man’s
shirt?”

Nicolaus covered his
laugh with a cough. Seamus was smart enough to look contrite. “Well, I – I,”
Seamus stuttered.

“Don’t even bother. I
love even this possessive side of you,” Gemma spoke against his lips before she
surprised him with a soft kiss.

Then their focus was
back on the monitors as new information began streaming live on the screens in
front of them. Caedon had collected any data TEU or the CIA ever had on
Abdul-Nassir and some of it they’d never seen before. Now that they knew these
were connected, Caedon was piecing the situation together and suddenly the
random acts were making better sense.

“Okay. That’s all from
our end for now. Madden and I
are
scheduled out of
here in two hours. We’ll meet the team on location.
Everyone
in position at twenty-two hundred hours.”
Caedon disconnected and the energy
in the room dipped. For a long time, no one spoke.

Seamus stroked Gemma’s back
as she sat curled in his lap. He continued reading from his screen but was so
grateful she was here with him. Being away from her during this period of
Acclimation had been a risk for both of them. As their new bond grew, they needed
to be near one another and to drink from each other as often as possible. Just
the short time Seamus was away the past few days was already upsetting the
balance of their blood levels.

Seamus kissed the top
of her head. “I have to finish reading this information and then I’m all yours.
We’ll have some breakfast and then find our way back to bed.” He thought he’d
spoken soft enough but by the groans he got from Gage and Nicolaus, he guessed
they’d heard. Gemma giggled and sat up to look at him.

She placed her tiny
hand against his cheek and gave him a smile that lighted his world. Her eyes
remained sad though, and his likely mirrored the sentiment. Saying goodbye to
her for another day would be painful, but he’d prepare her again as he’d done
before he left the last time. Seamus could feel through their bond that Gemma
was afraid; not for
herself
, but for him. She was
aware that this mission was far more dangerous than the first. And he couldn’t
do anything to reassure her but to remind her that the Valendite Breeds were
stronger than anything they would come up against.

* * * *

When Gemma had sensed
Seamus in the house, instant relief had flooded her. She was anxious to get
downstairs to see him. Her hands trembled even now as Seamus’ emotions mixed
with her own in an amazing symphony of relief. Here in his arms, she knew he
was safe. Thank the Goddess, her mate was safe.

After the conference
with TEU finished and he held her in his arms while he continued reading, she
couldn’t stop herself from touching him. When she placed her hand on his cheek
and he smiled down at her, she kissed him with all the need that had built
while he was away. Gemma needed Seamus and she couldn’t seem to hold it back.
Once she’d had that one kiss-that single touch-she couldn’t get enough. Despite
being in front of Nicolaus and Gage, Gemma demanded his attention. She licked at
his lips until he gave in, picked her up and walked out of the room with her in
his arms.

“We’ll join you for
dinner before we need to head out.” Seamus spoke to the other men before
marching them directly back to her room. Gemma was now more than pleased with
her clothing choice now – easy off, easy on.

Placing Gemma onto the
bed with a bounce, Seamus followed down immediately on top of her and took her
lips. His lips were soft, a gentle touch against her mouth with no insistence,
none of the quick heat she’d become used to with Seamus. It was a tender and
reassuring kiss. She felt their connection pull and their thoughts touch as the
relief he was in her arms again washed through her. Gemma’s body melted against
him and absorbed everything Seamus gave to her.

When he pulled away,
there was a furrow between his eyes. “What do you need, beautiful?”

“You.
Just you, Seamus,” Gemma responded. She watched him through her lowered lashes
for a reaction and returned his smile when she saw him grin from ear to ear. Seamus’
smile never failed to make her feel treasured.

“I can tell by the look
on your face, you have no idea what a compliment you just paid me. No woman has
simply wanted me and nothing else without another agenda,” Seamus stroked his
fingers through her hair, massaging her head before using his grip to tilt her head
to the side and expose her neck. He ran his index finger up and down her
throat. “I need to drink from you.”

“Yes,” Gemma answered
in a breathy voice as she tilted her head even further. His words settled over
her and she wanted to show Seamus she gave freely to him. She belonged to him
now. Goddess, she truly was his.

As if reading her
thoughts, Seamus spoke into her mind, “
You
are mine, beautiful Gemma, my Snow White.
” He ran his lips against the skin
of her neck and she shivered.

“
Yours, Seamus
,” Gemma replied as he held her head still with his
hands in her hair. She whimpered ever so softly at his tightened grip on her
hair. His hunger pounded in his blood and through their bond.

Seamus leaned into her
neck to breathe in her lavender fragrance. He scraped his teeth up and down her
neck and across her shoulder before finding that perfect spot over her
life-sustaining vein. Then he growled as he sank his teeth into her neck
without preamble. His need was simply that great. Gemma could feel it inside
him and it thrilled her. Seamus’ need to reconnect with her was as great as her
own desire. The deep pulls caused all thought to vanish.

Gemma’s body trembled
under the touch of his tongue as he lapped along her skin. He drank deeply and
as he swallowed her blood, she couldn’t hold back her moans of pleasure. She
rubbed herself against him to try to relieve the pressure she felt at her core,
but with every thrust, she only burned for more. She knew they were both at the
point of explosion when he finally released his suction, moved to nibble on her
lips, and then used his tongue to soothe the sting. There was no holding back
her moans of pleasure as they continued to drown out even her own thoughts.
Gemma gave herself enthusiastically over to her mate. Never again would he feel
unwanted.

Gemma felt his muscles in
his upper chest bulge as he shifted her and stood. He removed first, her clothes
and then his own with nothing but a thought. His intuitive Valendite powers were
damn sexy. Combined with his physical strength, he had to be unstoppable. The
thought that he could overpower her thrilled her. Knowing he made her feel
safe. Seamus looked down on her with his normally glassy green eyes, now
clouded over with lust. Gemma’s body shook in anticipation of what was to come.
She needed the connection being skin-to-skin gave them.

Taking in his corded body
as he stood before her, Gemma couldn’t resist looking down at his long cock. It
was leaking pre-cum. The thought made her instinctively lick her top lip. And
damn the man but he noticed and grinned. Seamus brought his hand to his shaft
and fisted it. He moved his fist up and down with a force that made Gemma think
of him inside her. Then he slowed and she noticed his breathing was nearly as
ragged as her own breaths.

Gemma moved to the edge
of the bed and found her way to his cock. She surrounded it with her warm
mouth, slowly brought it in and out of her mouth and massaged his sack with her
fingers. She pushed forward to bring his cock more fully into her mouth,
allowing it to touch her throat so she could swallow around the head. Gemma
wanted Seamus to lose control. She wanted to be the one to cause it.

Bringing
his cock fully out, Gemma smiled up at him. She licked her lips and looked up
at him from under her thick lashes. Gemma had definitely found something she
very much enjoyed doing, especially as she watched Seamus lose his control and
melt into her touch.

“I
want you to come in my mouth,” she said with a deep, sexy voice that made his
cock jump in her hand. “I love your taste.” She hardly recognized herself in
this moment but she was feeling too good to be embarrassed.

“Beautiful,
I don’t want you to have to do that,” he said.

“I
won’t ever do anything I don’t want to do. I promise you. Now stop thinking and
feel. Feel my emotions and you’ll know I want this as much as I can feel you
want it,” Gemma said before she dipped her head again and took him completely
into her mouth. Faster and faster, she pulled him in and then out of her mouth.

Gemma
admired his cock as she pulled him almost out of her mouth again, freeing the
pulsing length of his erection. It was magnificent with thick veins ridged
along the length and running around the fullness of his cock. It was warm to
touch but made warmer still by her mouth.
 
The steel hard shaft under a soft layer of
skin felt like the richest velvet on her tongue.

Seamus
couldn’t fight her anymore-what man would-and released the control over his
body. In this moment, he belonged to her. She reveled in the power of the act
as she watched him throw his head back in pleasure. Gemma felt the muscles in
his thighs quiver. She would make certain he didn’t regret allowing her this
moment.

Using
her tongue on the underside of his cock, Gemma found a sensitive spot that made
him groan in pleasure each time she stroked it. She used it to work him into an
erotically pleasing frenzy. As his moans grew louder, she began rhythmic pulls
on his shaft and she knew he was reaching his orgasm. She continued to take him
deep, savoring the taste of him, the feel, and the sounds. In this moment, he
was everything that surrounded her.

Seamus had another idea
and pulled himself out of her mouth. “Let me come on your breasts. I want to
mark you.”

Unsure and not able to
fully understand, Gemma simply nodded her head and watched him. His eyes now
nearly glowed yellow. Gone was her fun-loving mate and in his place was this
sexual beast holding back and doing everything he could to ease her. Seamus,
even overcome with his own needs, took the time to be sure Gemma was
comfortable. She saw his desire. She could nearly feel it in the air, but he
put her first. Gemma liked it; she liked it a lot.