Protecting Fiona (SEAL of Protection Book 3) (13 page)

Dude picked up where Benny had left off. “So yeah, Tex is one of the best computer hackers I’ve ever known. If it involves anything electronic, he can hack it.”

Fiona had no idea why they were telling her this, so she just nodded.

Seeing Dude was confusing Fiona and not getting to the point, Cookie took over the conversation. He turned in his seat and took Fiona’s other hand in his. He waited until she looked up at him.

“What the guys are trying to tell you, and screwing up, is that I asked Tex to look into your finances and circumstances back in El Paso.” At Fiona’s indrawn breath, Cookie continued quickly. “You’ve been gone for one hundred and four days. You don’t have any money in your bank account. Tex hacked into the University’s computer system and found that you were officially taken off the records as an employee and your landlord assumed you’d left without notice and re-rented your apartment to someone else.”

There was silence in the room after Cookie’s blunt words.

Finally Fiona whispered, “What?”

“I want you to come back to California with me.”

Fiona just stared at Hunter, trying to digest what he’d said. Ignoring his last statement, she asked in a shaky voice, “Can they
do
that?”

“Fee,” Cookie’s voice was tortured. “Come here.”

Fiona nearly shrieked when Hunter unexpectedly reached for her and pulled her out of her chair and into his lap. She closed her eyes to try to keep her tears from rolling down her face. It was no use. She sniffed once, then felt Hunter put one hand on her head and push it into his chest. His other hand clamped around her waist and pulled her into him. He held Fiona secure in his arms and let her cry.

Fiona heard a chair scrape against the floor and then felt another hand on her back. She turned her head to see Benny kneeling by the chair.

“You were an at-will employee at the University, hon. Unfortunately, legally they
can
hire someone to take your place.” He went on, obviously answering her earlier question. “Tex is trying to track down your stuff. Your landlord had to do something with it. If it’s still around, Tex’ll find all of it for you. As for your bank account, most of your bills were being auto-drafted, and when your money ran out, they started bouncing. But don’t worry; Tex is taking care of that for you as well. You won’t owe anyone a dime once he’s done.”

Cookie nuzzled Fiona with his chin and she turned to look up at him. “Come back to California with me,” he repeated, this time he ordered the words instead of asking them.

“But…”

“No, no buts. You heard what I told you last night. I wish I could say I’m sorry you lost your job and lost your apartment, but even if it makes me a dick, I’m not, because that means you’re free to come with me, to be with me, to start over in California. I’ll be honest, until we talked to Tex, I had no idea how I was going to let you walk out of this house and away from me. I have to go back. I don’t have a choice, but I knew you had a life. If you can honestly tell me you want to go back to El Paso, I’ll help you any way I can. But know that I don’t want you to. I want you with me.”

Fiona tried to focus on what Hunter was telling her. She’d heard him last night, but she obviously didn’t
hear
him.

“I’m scared.”

“I know you are, Fee, and that’s why I’ll be right there with you. Trust me.”

Without pausing, Fiona immediately returned, “I do. Jesus, Hunter, I think I trust you more than I trust myself right now.”

“Then come with us. Let me introduce you to Caroline and Alabama. Let the rest of my team get to know you. You’ll come to trust them as much as I hope you trust me.”

Dude cut in, he and Benny hadn’t left the room. “You have choices, Fiona.”

“What the hell, Dude?” Cookie barked out immediately, tightening his arms around Fiona protectively and glaring at his teammate.

“She has to know she has options, Cookie. If you really want her to go with you for the right reasons, you have to tell her all her options.”

“Tell me.” Fiona was ninety nine percent sure she wanted to go to California with Hunter, but Dude was right. She needed all the information she could get so she could try to make the right decision.

“Your bank account can have as much money as you need by the end of the day. Don’t ask how, just know that Tex can make sure you have the money you need in order to rent another apartment and get settled again. He’s probably already arranged to get your car out of the impound lot where it was towed from the airport parking lot. If you want to keep working for the University, Tex can arrange that too. While they were legally in their rights to replace you, it’d be a public relations nightmare if it came out you were kidnapped and the school dumped you. They’ll be begging you to come back and work for them once Tex gets done with them.”

“He can do that?”

“Hell yeah,” Benny told her seriously. “We don’t know how he can do the things he does, but we’re just damn glad he’s on our side.”

Cookie turned Fiona’s head back to him. “As much as I want to beat the crap out of Dude, he’s right. You need to know you can go back to El Paso and get your life back. If you choose that option, just know it won’t be the end of us. I’m not letting you go, no matter what you decide.”

Burying her face into Hunter’s chest, Fiona whispered, “Really?”

“Really. I already told you you’re mine. It doesn’t matter if you’re living in Timbuktu, Texas, or in the same house as me.”

Fiona looked up at Hunter and nodded.

Apparently that was all the reassurance the guys needed. “I’ll call Tex and tell him to get us home,” Dude said decisively as he got up from the table.

Benny also got up off the floor where he’d been crouching, and started gathering the dishes from the table. “I’ll clean this up. Tell Tex we’ll be ready to go this afternoon.”

Cookie stood up with Fiona in his arms and without a word, headed for the door. Benny watched with a small smile as they left.

Fiona shut her eyes and enjoyed the feeling of Hunter carrying her. She kept them closed until she felt him bending over. She finally opened them to see he’d brought her back to the room they’d slept in the night before. He carefully leaned over and placed Fiona on the mussed sheets, then put both hands next to her shoulders and loomed over her.

“I need to touch you, Fee.” Before she could say anything, Cookie continued. “We won’t make love; I know that’ll take time. You need to heal physically and mentally before we go there, but I have to hold you. I have to feel you against me. You said you trusted me before. Please, let me show you that trust isn’t misplaced. Let me show you how much you mean to me.”

Fiona could only give him a small nod. She wanted to feel him too. As much as she wanted to be ready to take him inside her, she knew Hunter was right about her mental state. It was way too soon.

She watched as Hunter stood up and put one hand behind his head and yanked his T-shirt off over his head. Fiona would never understand how guys learned how to do that. Throwing his shirt behind him carelessly, Hunter began to unbutton his pants. He never took his eyes off of hers.

When Fiona began to sit up to take her shirt off, Cookie quickly said, “No, let me. Please.”

Fiona lowered her hands back to her sides and continued to watch as Hunter stripped off his clothes.

Cookie kept his eyes on Fiona’s face as he unzipped his pants and lowered them. He was hard. There was no way he could control his body’s reaction to Fiona lying on a bed in front of him.

“I don’t want you to feel vulnerable, Fee. I’ll do whatever it takes so you’re comfortable with everything we do.” Cookie put his thumbs in the waistband of his boxers and quickly stripped them down his legs and off. “Scoot over.”

Fiona knew she was blushing. Hunter was the sexiest man she’d ever laid eyes on. He’d stripped off all his clothes so she’d feel more comfortable, but she wasn’t sure that was what she was feeling. She wanted to touch him. She wanted to lick him. She wanted to snuggle in next to him and never let go. Fiona scooted over in the large bed and watched as Hunter climbed in and reached for her.

Cookie tried to control his lust. Having Fiona in bed with him, awake and willing, was almost more than his libido could handle. He’d never felt this hard and aroused in his life. Before reaching for Fiona, he needed to hear the words from her.

“Tell me you’re okay with this, Fee. I need the words.”

“I’m more than okay with this, Hunter. I want to touch you.”

“I’m yours. Do whatever you want.”

Fiona reached a shaky hand toward Hunter. He was lying on top of the covers, completely bare. His chest had a light smattering of hair and she could see scars covering the surface. Fiona lightly placed her fingertips on one of the worst scars. Hunter sucked in a breath and Fiona yanked her hand back.

“I’m sorry, did that hurt?”

Cookie grabbed her hand and pressed it back to his chest. “Hell no, it didn’t hurt. Your hands on me are a dream come true.”

Fiona let her hand wander over his chest, fascinated at Hunter’s reaction. She kept her eyes above his waist for now, but watched as goose bumps rose over his body. As she stroked his scars, his nipples stood up on his chest. She had no idea a man’s nipples got hard like a woman’s. Without thinking, Fiona leaned down and took one in her mouth.

“Jesus, Fee. God yes. Shit, that feels so good. Suck hard…just like that.”

Fiona could feel herself getting wet. She’d never gotten excited in the past without having a man’s hands directly on her, but this was Hunter. He was completely different from any man she’d ever been with.

Cookie resisted the urge to put his hand on Fiona’s head and press her deeper into him. He hadn’t planned on his happening, he wanted to make
her
feel good, but now that she was touching him, he was helpless to stop her. When she switched to his other nipple he almost lost it.

“Touch me, Fee. God, please.”

Fiona raised her head and looked down for the first time. Hunter was big, bigger than anyone she’d been with. She could see the blood pulsing in the vein on the side of his shaft. Hearing Hunter plead with her was heady, and almost wrong. She didn’t want him to have to beg her for anything. It just wasn’t right. She reached for him and wrapped her hand around him. She swiped her thumb over the tip and smeared the wetness she found there over and around the head.

“Fee, harder, hold me harder.”

Fiona felt awkward for the first time. Hunter obviously needed something, but she wasn’t sure what. “Show me.”

Cookie immediately uncurled his hand from the sheet he’d been holding and wrapped it around Fiona’s on his shaft. He showed her how hard to grasp him to make it as pleasurable as possible. He knew he was much rougher than she would’ve been. He threw his head back and closed his eyes.

Fiona watched Hunter in awe. He was so beautiful. She loved how he took control of his pleasure. Yes, her hand was around him, but he was clearly in charge and showing her how he liked it. When his head went back she leaned down and took his nipple into her mouth again and sucked hard.

Cookie groaned at the feel of Fiona’s tongue on his nipple and when she sucked, he lost it.

“Fee, I’m gonna…” Before he could finish warning her, Cookie felt her teeth bite down on his nipple. He exploded into their hands and thrust up as Fiona continued to grip and stroke him and nibble on his nipple. Cookie shuddered and thrust one more time as another mini-orgasm went through him. He felt completely drained.

Cookie let go of her hand and let his fall to the bed with a plop. He shuddered as Fiona continued to stoke him lightly and finally she let go, only to run her hand up his body until she was massaging his release into his abs.

“You’re beautiful,” Fiona breathed as she stared down at Hunter. Without thinking, only knowing she wanted to taste him, Fiona brought her hand up toward her face.

Cookie caught her hand just as she got it to her face. “You wanna taste me, Fee?” At her tentative nod, he took his free hand and wiped it over his stomach, collecting some of his cum. He bought it up to her face and held one of his fingers out for her. “Taste me.”

Fiona tried not to blush and leaned over and took Hunter’s finger into her mouth. The taste of his salty and earthy essence filled her. She swirled her tongue around his finger, making sure to clean it thoroughly. Fiona watched through lidded eyes as Hunter’s pupils dilated and he drew in a deep breath.

Fiona was surprised when Hunter suddenly surged toward her and took her mouth with his. She wouldn’t have dreamed in a million years that a man would want to taste himself, and she knew he could. Fiona felt his tongue wrap around hers. They both voraciously ate at each other. After several moments of the best kiss of her life, Fiona pulled back. They stared at each other. Fiona looked away first and glanced down. He was still semi-hard. She’d forgotten about the mess they’d made.

“I should get a towel to clean you up.”

“No. Don’t. I want to feel you against me. I have a need to mark you. Does that freak you out?”

Fiona could only stare into Hunter’s eyes and shake her head.

“Jesus, you own me, Fee. Seriously. You’re perfect.” Cookie looked at Fiona for a moment then fingered the hem of her T-shirt. “Do you think you can take this off for me? We won’t go any further. Just your shirt.”

Fiona wanted this. She didn’t hesitate. She sat up and grabbed the bottom of her T-shirt and whipped it over her head quickly so she wouldn’t chicken out.

Cookie didn’t hesitate, giving Fiona a chance to get freaked out, and grabbed her hips and eased her over him so she was straddling his thighs. She was still wearing sweat pants, but he could only stare. She wasn’t wearing a bra, and Cookie had an unfettered view of her chest. Her breasts were perfect. He’d always thought his “type” was a woman with a huge chest, but Cookie realized in that moment Fiona was the perfect size for him. Her areolas were large and took up most of her breast. She had pink nipples that were currently hard and reaching for him. She was a bit small for her size, but Cookie figured once she gained the weight she’d lost while in captivity, they’d grow a size. He didn’t care. The bottom line was that they belonged to his woman, therefore, they were perfect.

Cookie picked up her hand that had caressed him earlier, and placed it on her own right breast. He made sure Fiona wiped his release on herself. Then he took both her hands in his and placed them on his hips.

“Hang on, Fee. Don’t move your hands. I won’t go too far, I promise. But I need to do this.” Cookie didn’t wait for her to agree, but maintaining eye contact, took both his hands and smoothed them over his belly, collecting his essence that she’d coaxed from him earlier. Once they were coated, he brought them up to her chest slowly and touched his woman for the first time. He finally broke eye contact and looked down. Cookie caressed and massaged Fiona, all the while branding her with his scent, with his very being.

“You’re mine, Fee. No one else will touch this. No one else will get to see this. I’ll protect you with my life if I have to. You’re safe with me. Mine. You’re mine.”

Fiona couldn’t hold back her sob any longer. She’d realized what he meant to do the second he put his hands on himself, and she wanted it. She wanted to feel him on her skin. It was as if his hands and cum washed away the feeling of the kidnappers’ hands on her. When he’d said she was his, she lost it.

Fiona collapsed on top of Hunter, knocking his hands off of her chest in the process. The feel of his chest against hers only made her sob harder. She’d needed this kind of connection for so long. She vaguely felt Hunter’s arms against her back, pulling her into him and soothing up and down her spine. Fiona wasn’t afraid of Hunter, she wasn’t afraid of what his hands would do to her. Being in Hunter’s arms felt right.

After a long crying session, Fiona picked her head up, but Hunter wouldn’t let her separate their bodies any more than that. She looked into Hunter’s eyes and said what was in her heart. “Yours.”

Fiona watched as Hunter’s lips curled up in a satisfied smile. “Damn straight.”

She smiled back, feeling content for the first time in a long time.

“Do you want to shower or sleep?”

“Do we have time?”

“Yes.”

Showering meant washing his scent off. The decision was easy. “Sleep.”

“Damn, woman.” Cookie breathed, putting his hand on the back of Fiona’s head and pulling her back into his embrace. “I love that you don’t want to wash me off. Sleep then. We’ll shower when we wake up. After we shower, we need to be heading out. You
are
coming back to California with me aren’t you?”

Fiona could hear the insecurity in Hunter’s voice and hated it. She didn’t want him to be insecure about her or the relationship they were obviously starting. She hurried to reassure him. “Yes. If I have to start over I’d rather start over in the same place where you are so we can see if whatever this is…” she gestured between them, “…will last.”

“Oh, it’s gonna last, Fee. You’re not getting away from me,” Cookie said it with a smile, but he obviously meant every word. His sincerity rang out loud and clear in his voice.

“Thank you, Hunter.”

“You don’t have to thank me, Fee.”

“I know you think that, but I do. I’ll never stop thanking you as long as I live.”

“As long as you aren’t confusing what we have here, with gratitude.”

Annoyed, Fiona propped herself up. “Seriously? After what just happened? You think that was a thank you hand job?”

“Shhhhh. No, I don’t think that.” Cookie put one hand on the side of her head and stroked her hair. “I just…hell. I’m gonna sound like a teenage boy here, but I just want you to be with me because you want to, not because you don’t feel like you have another choice or because you’re grateful.”

Seeing Hunter insecure and unsure was actually kinda cute, even if she didn’t like being the cause of it. Fiona knew it wasn’t something she’d see very often. It was her turn to reassure him. She brushed her hand over Hunter’s head to the back of his neck and put her forehead against his. “I’m here because I can’t imagine being anywhere else. Even when I was out of my head with the drugs, I think I knew you were here next to me. Well okay, maybe not when I crawled out the bathroom window. But I hoped you might ask me to go home with you even before I knew about my job and apartment.” At the look of satisfaction in Hunter’s eyes, Fiona giggled. “Does that make you feel better?”

“Yeah, sweetheart, it does. Now, come down here and close your eyes. We’ll have to get going here soon enough, but for now I just want to lie here and enjoy being with you.”

Fiona closed her eyes as he asked and settled against his chest. They were sticky and it was a bit uncomfortable, but it was real, and it was a part of him. She’d stay right where she was forever, if it meant he’d be there with her.