9781618854704HolidayGemBeckNC (7 page)

“We’ve got nothing to answer that. I’ve
made contact with our CIA connection and he’s looking into it to see what they
have but the original
intel
came from them so I’m not
sure they’ll get anything else useful for us.”

“We go in blind?” Seamus
questioned.
 

“’We’ is relative.” Madden’s voice
chimed in. “Seamus, you’ll stay there with Gemma while we send Nicolaus with
Gage. They’ll drive in since it’s likely an air evacuation will be suspected.”

“No,” Seamus stated emphatically. “He’s
the closest thing I have to a brother. I can’t just sit here.”

“You have a mate now, Seamus, a mate
that is going to help sustain our race. You cannot be away from her.” Madden’s
voice was firm but Seamus wasn’t prepared to let this go.

Just as Seamus was prepared with his
response-an ultimatum-he felt a soft hand at his back and smelled the lavender
scent of his mate surround him. Taking a breath, Seamus centered himself and
then heard Gemma speak.

“Madden, this is Gemma.”

“Gemma, it’s good to hear your voice.
I’m sorry we’ve thrown off your plans. Layla tells me you dislike that but it
couldn’t be helped. We’re going to get you home for the Winter Solstice. It is
my vow,” Madden’s softened voice surprised Seamus but no more than what Gemma
said next.

“Thank you, Madden. It seems my need for
so much stability might not be so strict now that I am mated,” Gemma paused to
smile at Seamus and look around at the others standing silently in the room,
“And as much as I don’t want to be away from Seamus, he needs to go on this
mission. We will be okay for fifty-two hours without feeling the effects of not
exchanging blood.”

Madden sighed. Seamus sighed. Of course
his mate would know such things. Goddess, he loved this woman. Fuck. Seamus
loved his mate. Having sensed his revelation, Gemma squeezed his hand and
smiled at him before she continued, “He needs to do this. I fully understand
the risk, Madden, and I am requesting this on behalf of my mate.”

Madden sighed louder this time. Seamus
knew he was going to acquiesce to her wishes. “I see it isn’t just my mate with
these special persuasive skills.
Very well.
You both
understand the risk so we’ll proceed.”

“Thank you again, Madden,” Gemma’s voice
was sugary sweet and left Seamus beaming as his mate wrapped his boss around
her finger, “Please send hugs to my sister for me. I’m going to find these men
something to eat while you make your plans.” Gemma kissed Seamus’ cheek and
floated out of the room. His mate was amazing. She’d need to teach him how to
get his way with Madden someday.

“Alright then.
Look at your screens as Caedon flashes up what we’ve been able to see.” Madden
shifted the focus onto the mission and the men got busy planning.

“Nicolaus will stay back with Gemma.”
Nicolaus rolled his eyes as Madden spoke, “Don’t think that’s a light
assignment, Nic. As more of the sisters find mates,
there’s
been rumors
building about the prophecy. Soon we’ll be likening them to
celebrity in our society. We’ve tried to minimize any talk from here. All
Sinsters have been asked not to share the news outside their close circle.”

“Gotcha, boss.
I’m good,” Nicolaus confirmed.

“Can I suggest expediting the mission by
Seamus flying us mid-way? Then we’ll drive the rest of the route,” Gage
suggested. Seamus nodded his head in approval. Gage, the youngest of the three
Santucci sons, tended to take orders well but didn’t often speak up. Seamus was
impressed he’d engaged.

“Good idea, little bro,” Madden agreed.

“Okay, guys. I’ve got the tracker on
Donovan placing him in a small village just over the mountain from where he’d been
left. All vitals register healthy. Nothing unusual to explain what happened,”
Caedon gave the details he pulled from his digital readout.

“Good news is that he still has that
chip implant,” Seamus said.

“Remind me to give Caedon a raise
someday for having each of us implanted with these chips. Here I thought he was
just being paranoid after finding out his parents had been kidnapped,” Madden
added.

“Anything significant about the village
he’s in?”

“Nothing.
However, my connection at the CIA is cross-referencing. We need to give him a
few hours,” Caedon informed the team. “I’m signing off but let’s touch base
before you roll out.”

“Then the plan is to leave when the sun
sets tonight. We’ll meet up via links before you roll out. I’m off.” Madden
disconnected and the three men standing in the makeshift office were silent as
they each weeded through the
intel
.

* * * *

Gemma watched Seamus sneak
into her room. She knew they had some time before he had to leave. The men had
filled her in over lunch. Gemma wanted to think of nothing else but Seamus for
the next few hours. She saw how distracted he was. His tension radiated outward;
the negative energy wasn’t going to help him on his mission.

“Lie down and I’ll give
you a massage,” she instructed him.

“You don’t need to…”
Gemma cut him off, pointing a finger at him and then placing her hands on her
hips before she explained.

“Seamus, let’s get
something straight right now. I know I never have to do anything. I know you
will never command me to do anything. That’s why I am willing to choose to do
things for you. Got it?”

Seamus grinned and
nodded his head. Then he took his shirt off. Not able to stand still a moment
longer, Gemma moved towards him and crushed herself against him. She felt his
arousal through his jeans. She couldn’t wait to get her hands on him. First,
she’d start with his chest which was exposed to her touch. Seamus’ skin was
smooth like fine velvet. The muscle underneath rippled as she drew her
fingertips along his torso. Then she guided him to the bed but before she could
press him down, he unbuttoned his jeans and dragged them down his legs. Gemma
was aware he could have simply used his powers to remove them and appreciated
that this was for her benefit. She watched as he slowly revealed his long,
muscular legs. Twisting her fingers, Gemma waited. When at last he was
completely naked, she pounced. Her legs went up and around his waist as she
threw her whole body at him and knocked him down onto the bed.

“Gotcha,” she playfully
called out as she sat astride him.

Quicker than she could
see, Seamus flipped her and laid his body on hers stretched out limb to limb.
“Gotcha,” he mimicked.

“Let me care for you.
Please let me give you this,” Gemma implored him. Seeing she needed to do this
for him, Seamus raised himself onto his knees and crawled to the center of the
bed where he lay down on his stomach. Gemma was once again grateful for this
amazing mate. The trust he gave her filled her with confidence.

She took her lotion
from the bedside table, smoothed it in her hands and began massaging it into
the tight muscles along his shoulders. She grinned when Seamus let out a deep
moan. Adding more lotion to her hands, Gemma embraced this time Seamus allowed
her to care for him. She had the feeling it would often be the other way
around. Her mate was a caregiver. She smiled recalling how well he’d taken care
of her yesterday.

Once she’d come to the
bottom of his back and began massaging the beautifully sculpted globes of
Seamus’ ass, his moans deepened further. In a quick movement, he rolled over
and pulled her down against him. His lips found her jawline first and kissed
their way down her neck. Seamus scraped his teeth against her throat, teasing
at her vein, and a rush of intense need stole her ability to think. Gemma’s
body grew warm. She wanted nothing between them and began tugging at her
clothing.

“Allow me, beautiful.”
With a simple thought, Seamus removed her clothes.

Gemma lay naked next to
him. Her nipples instantly grew more sensitive and the stiff little buds begged
for attention as Seamus ran his hands along her belly, the sides of her breasts
and never quite touching where she needed him. Her mate loved to play. He
enjoyed teasing her. But right now, she needed more and his teasing was driving
her crazy.

“Seamus, please stop
teasing,” Gemma pleaded.

“I like to tease. I
find it’s rather fun to do with you,” Seamus leaned in to speak into her ear.
His breath tickled her sensitive skin and caused her to shiver.

Continuing his
leisurely exploration as if she’d never spoken, Seamus stroked the swell above her
breasts lightly with his fingertips. Gemma tried to adjust her position so his
hands would find the right place on her body. She was insane with need for her
mate. Fully aware he was purposefully playing with her, Gemma wanted to show
him she could play as well. Her life had been always so serious but Seamus made
her want to be fun.

Yet knowing he would
soon be away from her increased her need to be close with him. She needed a
memory to hold onto when he was away. Feeling his gentle touches here, there,
everywhere, and never knowing where to expect them forced all of Gemma’s
attention on the moment. Forgotten was all the trouble surrounding them,
especially worries over the mission on which Seamus would soon leave. The only
focus was on Seamus’ touch. Gemma could hear her own labored breaths as she concentrated
on the feeling he was drawing from her. Finally, his mouth came closer to her chest.
Gemma’s heart rate kicked up when she felt his breath against her moist skin.

“Good, beautiful. Just
feel,” Seamus spoke in between gentle bites to the upper swells of her breasts.
He nipped and licked without touching her nipples until her skin was so
sensitive Gemma nearly screamed in aggravation.

“Seamus, you are not
playing fair. You know I want more. Give it to me. Please,” Gemma begged for
his touch, completely unashamed. She absolutely didn’t care about anything but
having Seamus’ mouth on her nipples. Her infuriating mate knew this and still
he refused her. What was this game? And how could she get even? Gemma grinned
at a thought and waited for her moment of revenge.

“Is this what you
want?” Seamus asked right before he ran the tip of his tongue over her
straining nipples. Gemma pressed her pelvis against him, rubbing along his
thick shaft as he continued to torment her nipples with gentle strokes. Now she
needed more again. Gemma wanted a deeper touch. Seamus brought this desire out
of her. Goddess, what this man could do to her. He brought out her greed for
something entirely different. She was greedy for him because she absolutely adored
him and hoped that would never change.

“I smell your need,
beautiful.” Seamus’ voice was rough and his nostril flared as he took a deep
breath. Then he tugged at each of her nipples in turn while he watched her face.
Gemma could see he was now fighting his own need now to keep their joining slow
this time. But she didn’t want
slow
. She wanted to
push him to the edge, to see his intensity in full force. Gemma wanted every
bit of her mate.

Slinking his way lower,
Seamus pushed Gemma’s knees open and made room to spread
himself
out and place his face at her core. He blew out a breath and cooled her warm
folds. Gemma arched up as the cool air moved across her core and the sensation
rippled up in a direct line to her tender nipples. Gemma held her head forward,
fighting to keep from throwing her head back, to watch Seamus’ eyes as he
looked at this most intimate part of her.

“You are beautiful
everywhere,” Seamus’ voice filled with reverence, “And now I have to taste you.”
Seamus’ words shot through her as his fingers brushed along the outsides of her
folds. He held her legs apart with his shoulders as he used his fingers to open
her. The gentle strokes caused her to tremble.

“Seamus, Oh Goddess,
this is wonderful,” Gemma called out as she dug her fingers into his short hair.
The tiny spikes tickled her fingers but she needed to keep him in place. Gemma
wouldn’t let him stop now.

“It’s about to get
better.” Seamus dropped his tongue to follow along the path his fingers took,
drawing the moisture up along her core and around her clit. Gemma cried out at
the intense vibrations shooting through her core. She moved against his hand,
his tongue. A delicious friction from her thrusts nearly put her over the edge
but Seamus pulled back enough for Gemma to calm.

Seamus withdrew his
fingers, bringing them up to his lips as he raised his head and focused his
sight on Gemma. She saw her juices on his fingers just before he sucked them
into his mouth. She never imagined such a thing; and she certainly wouldn’t
have thought it would be this arousing to see Seamus with her juices in his
mouth.

He reached down again,
his eyes remaining on her, and pumped those same fingers in and out of her
core. Gemma’s back came off the bed when he stroked her clit with his thumb.
Then he circled it until the friction caused her to squirm under his hold. Goddess,
Gemma didn’t know if she could last through this game. She whimpered a plea for
him to allow her to find her release.