Fire and Ice (Guardians) (15 page)

Jack gave her that look.

Maia rolled her eyes. "For food. Jeez!"

***

The upscale restaurant was a softly lit, white-linen-covered table, opulent extravaganza. It specialized in modern European cuisine and was always packed with the local gentry or the affluent vacationers who owned million-dollar ocean-front mansions. The Maitre d' led Jack and Maia to a secluded table in one of the numerous rooms that comprised the dining area.

It was Thursday, three days after the detective's visit and Jack figured it was time to take Maia out on a real date. They had settled into an easy routine at the stonehouse. They ran on the beach in the mornings, then Jack hit the gym while Maia practiced some yoga. They would shower together—sometimes having sex in the shower—and then they would do their separate thing. He would check in at work and she would check in with Viktor or do more remote surveillance and analysis of the data coming in from AGS. If their schedules worked out, they would have lunch together but sometimes she would get too engrossed in the control room and wouldn't come out for air until Grace sent some food down to her.

Usually by 3pm they'd both be free and they would go to the weapons room and fire a couple of rounds at the firing range. Then they would hang out on the patio and chat or hang out in the kitchen to talk to Grace. The moment the housekeeper left, they'd be on top of each other.

Jack couldn't deny he had a combustible chemistry with Maia. The sex was incredible. Every time he thought it could not get any better, it did. She was like a drug: every time he took her it sated him momentarily only to stoke his hunger for the next time. There was no end in sight.

He had a little more than a week left with her. He hadn't exactly been eavesdropping on her conversations with Viktor but he occasionally used the control room the same time she was there. He had picked up on enough specifics to conclude that whatever was going down in Baltimore was happening in nine days.

Chaining her to his bed sounded like a brilliant plan, but somehow his housekeeper might not approve. He had to let her go.

Maia had not wanted to go out to dinner tonight, but Jack was able to lure her with the idea of butter-soaked dishes. One thing he had discovered about her was that her stomach was her weakness and the richer the food, the farther she fell. She was so different from most of the women he had dated who wouldn't order past the salad menu.

She looked breathtaking in a little black dress. It was one of the dresses he'd bought
 
for her (well technically Laurie had picked it out). He didn't exactly know what the cut of the dress was called except it hung indecently low in the back and definitely didn't allow her to wear a bra. He had half a mind to call and cancel their dinner reservation and fuck her right at the bottom of the stairs where she stood.
 

"I don't know how I can keep my hands off of you all night," he had whispered into her ear as he helped her into a light evening coat.

"Why Mr. McCord, I would be disappointed if you did," Maia replied saucily.

Now, looking at her from across the table, he took in her exquisite face. Her clear blue eyes sparkled, her red hair cascading in waves reminded him of old Hollywood glamour and her red-tinged pouty lips, so soft and magnificently kissable under his mouth, had felt fantastic wrapped around his cock early that morning.

Fuck, he was getting hard under the white tablecloth.

The waiter arrived, handed them their menus, and asked, "Can I get you started with some cocktail?"

Jack grimaced at the word cocktail but managed to say, "A Manhattan for me, Maia?"

"I'll have a Kir Royale, thank you," Maia replied. When the waiter left, she leaned in and asked, "Are you okay? You look like you were in pain."

"I'm fine," he said, his voice strained.

Maia smiled then leaned back in her chair. He heard her kick off a shoe and then felt her foot on his crotch.

"I think Mr. McCord, that you've been having very naughty thoughts," she said her eyes hooded with some enchanting light.

"Maia," Jack warned, but his eyes closed at the sensation of her probing foot. It would not be amusing to blow his load under the table of a fine dining restaurant.

"Ooooh, bad, bad, bad, Jack," Maia purred. She took pity on him and removed her foot and leaned forward and whispered teasingly, "Were you remembering our early morning nookie?"

"I disapprove of calling it that, but yes," Jack said then whispered thickly, "You, madame, are in for some hard fucking."

Maia's eyes widened at his sexual threat and before either of them could say anything else, the waiter returned to inform them of their specials.

After ordering appetizers, Jack went with the veal chop house special while Maia ordered a sole meuniére. A sommelier later returned to recommend the wine to go with their choices.

"It's Friday tomorrow," Jack said. "I don't have much to do except check some emails. Do you want to go sailing with me? The weather's going to be a balmy 75F. Given this time of the year, I suggest we take advantage of it."

"Oh, Jack I would love to go," Maia enthused, her whole face glowing.

"Can't believe it. Jack McCord?" a vaguely familiar voice said to their side.

A tall, reed-thin blond woman approached. Jack groaned inwardly. Vanessa was one of his ex-girlfriends.

Vanessa was escorted by a tall, distinguished-looking
 
man in his 50s.
 

"Haven't seen you in a long while," she said in a tinkling voice. Jack tensed as his ex gave Maia a very rude once-over. "I see you've moved on to redheads. Never thought they were your type."

"Vanessa!" her partner exclaimed, aghast.

"I wasn't aware I had a type," Jack replied frostily.

"Blondes, you always preferred blondes. Oh, Jack, have you met Harold Jameson?" Vanessa continued. "He's a developer here in the Outer Banks and owns a couple of premium properties by the beach. Harold, this is Jack, an old, old friend."

"Pleased to make your acquaintance, sir," Jack said politely. Harold, however was staring openly at Maia much to Vanessa's and Jack's irritation.

"Since Jack is too rude to introduce us, I'm Maia."

"I can understand why he would be reluctant to introduce as exquisite a creature as you," Harold said smoothly as he grasped her hand and kissed the back of it.

Maia visibly preened while Jack started fuming.

"Let's go, Harold, I think our table is ready," Vanessa said as she tugged her date away, realizing that she might end up with competition.

Jack's eyes followed the couple for a beat before turning back to Maia, frowning at the card she was fingering in her hand.

"What's that?" Jack asked even as he knew.

"Harold's business card. He's one smooth operator," she replied in amusement.

"That sonofabitch," Jack muttered as he made a move to stand up.

"Jack," Maia said as she reached out to rest a hand on his arm. "He's not worth it. Would you ruin our first date?"

 
"You get propositioned all the time, don't you?" he realized wryly.

"Well, didn't you?" Maia replied. "I seem to recall I was bleeding from my leg and had just taken two bullets through a vest when you lewdly suggested our present arrangement."

"Touché," he grinned. Yes, he was such a hypocrite.
 

Their food arrived. They enjoyed their dinner with no further interruptions. Jack watched Maia gush over the buttery sole meuniere. It was so erotic to watch her moan with pleasure over her food. He could see why she ignited the way she did during sex: she was sensual by nature and embraced her carnal desires with gusto.

After finishing off dessert which was an indulgent affair of chocolate, they lingered over coffee.

"So what made you quit the Navy SEALs?" Maia asked.

It was Claire, he wanted a civilian life with her. Oddly, Jack didn't feel the familiar twinge of pain in his chest whenever he remembered his dead fiancée.

"I wanted a civilian life with Claire," Jack said and saw Maia's face wince.

"Don't," Jack said as he reached for her hand. "It's okay. I can talk about it. It was not an accident, it was the Colombian drug cartel. That's how I met Derek. A buddy of his was also a victim, and Derek was able to request use of resources from AGS to help us isolate the two drug lords involved. We took them down."

"I'm sorry, Jack," Maia whispered.

Jack nodded and then taking both of her hands, said, "I really want to help you with the Russian, babe. I'm not a district attorney or a singer in a rock band. I'm an ex-Navy SEAL. I can hack it. If the AGS can ask Derek for help, they can also ask me."

Maia looked at their clasped hands and then back at him. "I appreciate the offer, I really do. But one thing we sacrifice to be a Guardian is our relationships. Viktor has no family, I have no one except for my foster parents. Derek has none either—haven't you wondered why he is still single? In some way we are our own family."

"I know what's at stake, I've experienced it first hand," Jack informed her through clenched teeth.

"There are worse things than suffering a direct loss of a loved one," she said sadly.

"What do you mean?"

"Having someone you love tortured right in front of you, to coerce you to make a choice you don't want," Maia whispered, her eyes losing focus

"Maia?" Jack froze as he watched her descend into her own private hell. Was that what had happened to her parents?
 

"They cut us up, my mother and I," she continued as he gripped her hands convulsively when he realized what she was telling him. His sudden movement snapped her out of her reverie. Realizing what she had just said, Maia tried to collect herself.

"They're ruthless, Jack, these people that are after me. Your parents are well-known public figures, they're easy targets."

Jack barely heard what she was saying, he was still absorbing what he had just learned. Jesus Christ! Maia was tortured when she was twelve? He was trying hard to control the rage rising within him. An overwhelming urge to protect her consumed him.

"Jack?"

"Maia, do you want to go for a drive?" he asked trying to appear calm. God knows he was reeling and needed some fresh air.

"I would love that."

"I should've stolen the keys to this instead," Maia declared as they cruised along highway 12 in Jack's Mercedes SLS. "Can I drive?"

"Not a chance," Jack retorted, grinning.

They had been coasting on the Outer Banks arterial highway for the past 45 minutes, just taking in the crisp night air. Jack had regained his composure. He'd decided he was getting into Maia's business whether she liked it or not. He was going to assess what exactly was going on and whether Derek was going to be getting involved in this. He also needed to figure out if there would be any threat at all to his parents and Brett.

"Although, I may take a trade," Jack said wickedly.

"For what?"

"You'll see."

He turned into the road leading to the Corolla lighthouse. The lighthouse was surrounded by a wooded area and was the perfect place for what he had in mind.

Parking the car under a massive pine tree, moonlight speckled the car with whispers of flickering light.

"Come on." Jack got out and loosened his tie. He walked over to the passenger side and
 
tugged a hesitant Maia out of the vehicle. He immediately sidled her up against the hood of the Mercedes.

"What are you up to, Mr. McCord?"

"Payback for teasing me at the restaurant."

His mouth descended on hers, plunging his tongue deeply through her lips. Her dress had been driving him crazy all evening. He finally dipped his hands behind the low back of her dress, grabbing her ass and palming it fervidly.

"Someone might see us!"

"Don't fucking care," he replied thickly.

Turning her around, he gently bent her over the warm hood of the car, keeping one hand on her back to hold her down while his other hand worked on the buckle, button and zip of his slacks.

"Jack!" Maia hissed. She tried to push up but his hand kept her in place.

He bent over her and reached his hand between the apex of her thighs and nearly came undone when he felt the warm gush of her arousal.
 

"You're wet, babe," he said hoarsely as he tore her panties off and started nudging the head of his erection into her entrance. "I want you so fucking much."

Her answering moan made him lose control as he slid into her. He pumped in a steady rhythm, wanting to relish the moment, prolonging the pleasure.
 

But Maia had other ideas. She was greedy and spurred him on. "Harder, Jack. Harder."

He withdrew then flipped her around, lifted her up on the hood, spreading her thighs around him and slamming back inside her. Their grunts and moans echoed in the light rustling sounds of the fall foliage. He pounded into her, loving the feeling of being buried deep inside her, the feeling of her spasming around his shaft as she came and finally his own release as he climaxed to new impassioned heights.

***

Jack hit the mat with a grunt. Maia was ecstatic: she finally managed to throw him over. For a big guy he was surprisingly fast and nimble on his feet. He had the advantage of strength over her, so Maia was hoping to use her speed against him. They had decided to skip their morning run in favor of sparring in the gym after Jack had made some chauvinistic remark that prompted Maia to announce that she was going to kick his ass.

Apparently Jack wasn't kidding when he said he could take her in a hand-to-hand confrontation. Each offensive of hers was met with a counter-move that had her kissing the mat. Each attack on his part overwhelmed her defensive maneuvers and also had her kissing the mat. It took seven rounds, but Maia finally spotted an opening when she managed to lithely evade his strong arm to grab it and twist it under him to flip his entire body with the help of his momentum.

She immediately landed on him, her thighs squeezing his neck.

"Game over," Maia crowed triumphantly.