JOSS: A Standalone Romance (Gray Wolf Security) (8 page)

“I should have seen the writing on the wall. I knew she was miserable. But I thought, if we could just get through the first year. But then we got the news that Aiden had been killed in action in Afghanistan…”

I sat up, shocked to hear those words. I knew he’d tried to tell me before, but I’d never imagined that his brother was one of the fallen. My unit was lucky to have only suffered one casualty during the two tours I served. It was a miracle, really. Some units lost as many as five or six men. I knew that Ash’s Green Berets lost five men his first tour. It saddened me to know that Carrington’s life had been touched by a fallen hero.

He brushed his thumb against my cheek—almost as though he was trying to wipe the emotion out of my eyes.

“My father was almost fanatically proud of my brother. When he saw that coffin taken from the plane, his heart just couldn’t take it. He had a fatal heart attack in his sleep that night. We buried them together.”

I kissed him gently because it seemed like the only comfort I could offer him. Words, even if I could speak, failed me.

“Six months later, I was burying my wife, too.”

I shook my head, almost unable to wrap my mind around it. What had happened? How could one person face so much pain? I touched his face and saw the mask come up. He didn’t want my sympathy. He pinned my hand back against the mattress, forcing me away from him even as he leaned over my body. His chest pressed my breasts flat, his weight both reassuring and suffocating. He stared into my eyes as if he was trying to read my thoughts just by looking at me. I wanted to tell him what I was thinking; I wanted to share not
pity
, but
understanding
. But then he kissed me and my thoughts shifted, my body coming alive again with his touch.

“What is it about you?” he asked softly, a rhetorical question, as he ran his hand slowly over my hip, tugging my leg over his own hip. “Why do I want you so insatiably?”

I kissed his neck, nibbling at sensitive places that made him moan deeply as I moved across his shoulders. I wanted him to know the feeling was mutual. I hadn’t thought it would be possible for me to desire anyone new. But there was the same something about him that
I
couldn’t ignore.

He kissed me again, rolling on top of me, sliding inside of me as he once again pulled back and looked into my eyes.

“I will hear you say my name someday,” he whispered. “Someday soon.”

A part of me desperately hoped he was right.

At the Compound

Kirkland sat in a chair beside David, watching the video feed that came from Carrington Matthews’ house. He could see Joss curled in a lawn chair, watching father and daughter toss a bright pink ball with some Disney character on it back and forth on the bright green grass of the backyard. There was no sound on these feeds. David declared that it wasn’t necessary for the purpose these cameras served, adding that he felt that the clients didn’t need that deeper invasion of their privacy to be kept safe. Yet, Kirkland desperately wished there was as he watched Carrington call something to Joss.

However, he didn’t sound to see the disappointment on the child’s face when she rushed up to the deck to give Joss a hug, causing Joss to turn away, actually jumping out of the chair where she was sitting to avoid the child’s loving gesture.

He could see the guarded look in Carrington’s eyes when he collected the child, whispering something in her ear before sending her back out to the lawn. Then he pulled Joss close, his fingers moving a few hairs that had gotten loose from her ever-present ponytail away from her eyes as he whispered something to her. She nodded, looking up at him with an adoration that even the black-and-white video couldn’t obscure.

It wasn’t jealousy. At least, that’s what he’d been telling himself all week. He’d made a pass at Joss when she first came to the compound, and he’d respected her resounding “no.” Actually, she tossed him over her shoulder and buried her knee in his chest. He was to treat her like the men on the team was the message he got from that. And he had. She was his friend. His comrade in dangerous situations. And they’d saved each other’s asses more than a few times. However, he was deathly afraid she was headed for the kind of danger he couldn’t save her from this time.

It wasn’t like Joss to let anyone get under her skin. Kirkland hadn’t known her when she was in the Army, but he’d heard stories. She was one tough bitch, someone who’d earned his respect on reputation alone. And that was no easy task. Kirkland didn’t trust. He had learned a long time ago that he was better off believing only in his own abilities. If he sat around waiting for someone else to come save his ass, he’d be dead by the time they arrived. He had been his own worst enemy in the Green Berets, but he’d survived. He didn’t need anyone.

But Joss was different. One of the first cases they worked with at Gray Wolf involved a drug cartel, ironically the same drug cartel that was after Matthews’ little girl. They came after Joss with big firepower, wielding machine guns in downtown Los Angeles. Kirkland was her backup, but he somehow got himself pinned down in an alley. He would surely have been in the morgue that night, but Joss drove the client’s car down the alley and smashed right into those fools. They never saw her coming.

Joss saved his ass, and he wanted to save hers. But she wasn’t letting him.

“We might have an issue,” Ash said, joining David and Kirkland at the workstation.

“What’s up, boss?” David asked, using his cane to stand. It was still a little strange for Kirkland to see David out of his wheelchair, let alone standing. But he was impressed.

“Emily called and said that she’s gotten intel that the Bazarov Cartel is planning a hit on Matthews Shipping at the Port of Los Angeles. Looks like they’ve decided that if he isn’t going to go into business with them, he’s not going to have a business at all.”

Kirkland crossed his arms over his chest. He knew he should care, but he didn’t. What was it to him if this guy Joss had let into her bed lost his business? He doubted it would hurt his bottom line any, these people born with silver spoons up their asses. Yet, he was a client.

“What do you want to do?” David asked, as he typed something into his keyboard, bringing up video of empty offices and even more video that looked like it was at the Port of Los Angeles itself.

“You’ve already hacked their security cameras?”

David nodded. “Routine.”

Kirkland knew that, but it still irritated him for some reason.

“We need to let Joss know,” Ash said. “And the client, of course. He has his own security down there, I’m sure. Emily also going to send some undercovers down there to see if they can catch them in action. If they can, it might ratchet up their move against Matthews’ daughter, so I might have you,” he said, gesturing toward Kirkland, “give her a hand.”

“No problem,” Kirkland said. “I’ll head over there now.”

At least that way he could keep a closer eye on her.

Carrington

I couldn’t stop watching her. I loved the graceful way her body moved. I ached to see that smile on her lips. And the way she tugged at her ponytail when she was nervous was endearing.

Endearing. When did I start using words like that?

I tossed the ball to McKelty, almost wishing it was time for her to go to bed. Then I felt guilty. I adored my daughter, really I did. But the only time I got alone with Joss was when McKelty was asleep in her own bed. Or, at least, when we thought she was asleep in her own bed.

We’d almost gotten ourselves found out this morning. Joss woke early, as she usually did, and was sneaking out of my bed before my alarm went off. However, the movement of her body, even as slight as it was, woke me.

“Stay,” I’d said. “We could take a shower together.”

She smiled softly, as she leaned close to me. We kissed for a long second, but then she pulled back and gestured to her naked wrist. Not enough time.

“I don’t care,” I said, sliding up into a sitting position and drawing her close, my hand sliding over her bare ass. “McKelty won’t be up for another hour.”

Joss hesitated. We’d been sharing a bed for almost a week now, sneaking off together the moment McKelty’s head hit the pillow each night. We even found time to have a quickie on Saturday afternoon while McKelty was taking a short nap. Yet, Joss still hesitated until my fingers found that place deep between her legs that made her bones melt.

She made an okay signal with her fingers, but touched her wrist again.

Okay, but quick.

I nearly pulled her shoulder out of socket as I dragged her quickly across the room to the master bath. There was a walk-in shower with marble walls that I had put in last year. It had five showerheads and was a luxury I only managed to enjoy on the weekends. However, I was looking forward to enjoying it with Joss.

I pulled her inside and turned on the water, immediately pushing her up against the wall. She was startled by the cold marble, jerking a little, this comical expression bursting over her gorgeous features. I laughed, and she slapped my arm, wagging her finger at me like a teacher scolding a child. She moved around me, took the bar of soap from its little shelf, and held it under one of the showerheads to get it good and wet. I turned my back to her and her soapy hands immediately began to give me one of the best rubdowns I think I’ve ever had. I’ve only been to a handful of masseuses, but I think she could make a pretty good living at it. She had magic hands.

Then I turned around and her hands immediately found my cock, sliding easily over its length. I groaned, and she smiled almost innocently up at me.

“You’re cruel.”

Her eyebrows rose, amusement curling her full lips.

I could only take it a moment longer. Then I grabbed her and turned her so that her chest was flat against the cold marble. I had to pull her hips out till she was almost perpendicular to the wall, her legs spread for balance, then I bent my knees and slid the head of my cock inside of her. I closed my eyes, another moan slipping from my lips as her body opened just slightly, just enough to welcome me inside of her. She was such a perfect fit, not too tight, not too loose. It was as if her body was made for mine.

I was just moving into a nice movement, a slow roll and then a thrust, another roll, teasing her with little touches on all the places deep inside that drove her wild. The position was amazing, but I wished I could see her face. I loved to watch that look of ecstasy dance over her features. But the way she pushed her hips back against me, the way she made this sort of wiggling move, told me more than I needed to know.

I wanted to make it last, so I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate on anything but the pleasure riding the length of my cock, bursting through the nerve endings in each inch of my spine. I was getting close despite my efforts to hold on. And then…

“Daddy? Are you up yet?”

Joss immediately moved away, pressing herself up against the wall as if she could disappear into it. Her movement caused me to lose my balance, and I slammed hard against the wall with the palm of my hand.

“Daddy?”

“I’m up,” I called over the sound of the water. “Go downstairs and wait for me, McKelty. I’ll be there when I’m done in the shower.”

“Okay.”

Her voice was already moving away by the time that last okay reached my ears. A second later, I heard the bedroom door slam.

“I’ve got to start locking that door,” I said.

Joss looked at me through wide, startled eyes. And then she laughed, this silent laugh that made her eyes dance with amusement. I couldn’t watch her like that and not laugh, too. I drew her to me, trapping her against the wall in front of me, chuckling softly with my forehead against hers. Her laughter died, and she kissed me, reigniting the fire that began to die at the sound of my child’s voice. If she’d caught us…but she didn’t. And now I could watch Joss’ face as her pleasure washed through her.

The memory was still vivid in my mind.

She was sitting on the porch now, a content expression on her face as she watched us. A weariness filled her eyes, as McKelty turned and waved at her. It was becoming an issue, her coldness where McKelty’s natural desire to share affection was concerned. However, I had a feeling it would go away. Soon. I hoped.

McKelty had a way of melting even the hardest of hearts.

I tossed the ball to McKelty again and laughed as it sailed over her head and landed in the rose bush behind her.

“Be careful of the thorns.”

I started toward the deck, telling myself it was time for a break. However, just as I reached the top step, Joss frowned and tugged her cell phone out of her back pocket. I could see the tension in her shoulders as the frown marred those full lips.

“Something’s wrong?”

She nodded, as she met my eye. She glanced at McKelty, then looked at me again. A slight shake of her head told me it wasn’t about my daughter. But what else could it be about?

She stood and handed me the phone.

Bazarov planning hit on Matthews Shipping. Heading over to explain.

“Who is this? Who’s coming over?”

She touched the name at the top of the texting app, but it meant nothing to me. She frowned. She took the phone and opened the note-taking app she’d used with McKelty, quickly writing something before holding it up to me.

Gray Wolf operative. My friend.

I frowned. “You don’t mean that guy that made the scene outside McKelty’s school, do you?”

A bit of caution came into her eyes as she nodded.

“Great.”

I turned back around, my hand pressed to my forehead as a headache suddenly came on. “McKelty,” I said, “why don’t you head upstairs for your bath.”

“But we haven’t had dinner yet!”

“I know. But I need you to go upstairs right now. I’ll bring you a sandwich later.”

Her lower lip immediately came out, her shoulders slumping as she slammed the ball into the grass and marched up the steps as if she was being sent to death row instead of a clean, warm bath. I watched her go, then turned back to Joss.

“What does he mean Bazarov is planning a hit on my shipping company?”

She shook her head. She didn’t know. I don’t know why I expected her to know. I crossed my arms over my chest and studied her, studied the tension in her shoulders and the frown line that had suddenly appeared between her eyes. She was worried. Whether it was the company we were expecting or the news he was bringing, I wasn’t sure. But she was worried and that worried me.

I took her arm and led the way inside, feeling almost as if I was marching like McKelty had done. There was another closed-circuit television behind the bar. I walked over and lifted the roll away door that kept it hidden most of the time, watching as an older model Corvette pulled up to the gate.

“I would guess that’s your friend.”

Joss was out of the room before the words were fully out of my mouth. I followed after pushing the button that would open the gate. She had the door open and was about to step out when I grabbed her arm and pulled her back inside.

“Tell me there’s nothing going on between the two of you.”

She rose up on her tiptoes and kissed me on the corner of my mouth before shaking her head. She punctuated it with a movement of her hands, waving them outwards in a cutting gesture.

“Nothing?”

She made the movement again.
Nothing
.

I cupped her jaw and lifted her mouth to mine, kissing her with more passion than her gentle kiss had offered. She responded warmly, moving into my body without a shred of doubt. It was that kiss more than her gestures that finally convinced me.

I stepped back just as we heard his car slide to a stop in the driveway.

Joss rushed out ahead of me, greeting our guest as he came around the front of the car.

“Hey, je t’aime,” he said, a slight accent slipping with the French endearment. “How are you?”

She nodded, a big smile on her face. He slid his arm around her shoulders and looked up at me, his eyes narrowing slightly as they approached.

“Mr. Matthews,” he said, quite formally and without the charm he’d offered Joss.

“I’m afraid I didn’t quite get your name the last time we met.”

“Kirkland Parish.”

“Parish. French?”

“Yes.”

He didn’t offer more, and I didn’t ask. I simply stepped out of the way and gestured for the two of them to come into my home. I walked behind them, watching as Kirkland whispered something in Joss’ ear. She didn’t seem to mind or object to whatever it was he was saying. And that annoyed the crap out of me. I wanted to separate them and shove my fist against his nose, but—of course—I didn’t do that.

These people were here to help. I had to keep reminding myself of that fact.

Joss gestured for Kirkland to speak once we were in the living room. She had moved away from his touch, and he didn’t seem to appreciate it, though he made no attempt to touch her again. She sat on the edge of the couch cushion, and he took a perch on the arm of a club chair. I stood just inside the archway, watching with my arms crossed over my chest as I leaned against the wall.

“Ash spoke to Emily,” he said, glancing at me. “Emily Warren is our Los Angeles Police Department liaison.”

I just nodded.

“Emily overheard chatter that the cartel is going to hit Mr. Wonderful’s”—he was talking solely to Joss now—“shipping crates at the Port of Los Angeles sometime in the next few days. She’s got people out there, and Ash is sending a team under David’s direction.” He focused on me again. “We assume you have a security team?”

I inclined my head slightly. “I do.”

“You might want to call them and give them a heads up.”

“Does this mean that they’ve taken their focus off of my daughter?”

Kirkland seemed irritated that I was asking questions.

“For the moment, I suppose,” he said.

I looked at Joss, and she nodded almost unperceptively, making a small gesturing encouraging me to leave the room. I was reluctant to go, unhappy with this guy’s attitude. However, Joss could handle herself. She’d certainly proven that to me.

I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and began to dial when movement on the stairs caught my attention. I looked up—just in time to catch my daughter’s stricken face as she turned and rushed back toward her room.

“Damn,” I muttered under my breath as I rushed after her.

I found McKelty in her bedroom, properly bathed and dressed in her nightclothes. She was lying on her bed, her head buried in her pillows.

“Hey,” I said softly, sitting beside her and rubbing her back the way I once did when she was an infant, “what’s going on?”

“I heard that man,” she said, her voice muffled by the pillows.

“What did you hear?”

“The bad men are back.”

I sighed, leaning down so that my lips were close to her ear. “Nothing is going to happen to you, McKelty.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I’m your daddy and I’m not going to let it.”

She peeked at me. “Do you promise?”

“I promise, baby.”

She hesitated, but then she came out from under the pillows and threw her arms around my neck. I held her close, my soul always soothed by the feel of my daughter in my arms. But this time there was an undertone of uneasiness.

Could I keep that promise?