Protecting Tessa (Special Forces: Operation Alpha) (Brotherhood Alliance #6)

Chapter 23

23

T essa leaned back into the booth, closed her eyes, and sighed. Her body finally began to relax. The murmur of conversations and clinking of dishes filled the ale house.

It had been a long and exhausting day. The event had been a success and raised a substantial sum for the shelter. Relief and pride mingled as she replayed the day in her mind.

The whole time, Tessa’s emotions ran the gamut from nervousness that something—everything—would go wrong. Then to euphoria as she mingled with attendees. Back to nerves, and curiosity—like who was Simone?

It wasn’t unusual for her to pick up new jobs at events, but this was a little different.

She only knew a few people in Haywood Lake, and outside of her friends, most of the ones she knew had no idea she was an event planner.

For sure, it was a mystery. Her name was never mentioned, but maybe one of her friends told someone. However, if talking to Simone led to a few paying jobs, she would do it.

After hours of endless conversations, she was finally sharing a quiet meal with Ford. Their talk flowed easily, covering the event, the Brotherhood, and the food.

She’d even seen a different side to him tonight. He engaged and laughed more than ever before.

“I’m stuffed,” Tessa said, rubbing her belly. “That Hot Chick…” She started giggling again. “That sandwich was delicious. Were you satisfied with your Big Clucker?”

Ford just shook his head. “You’re not going to let that go, are you?”

She wiped a tear from her eye and chuckled. “No.” But her laughter gave way to a huge yawn she couldn’t suppress.

Ford chuckled. “Come on, sleepyhead. Let me get the bill, and I’ll walk you home.” He glanced around for the server.

Tessa opened her mouth to protest, wanting to split the bill, but her funds had dwindled so fast she didn’t have the extra cash.

She sighed. “I’ll get the next meal.”

Ford’s brown eyes zeroed on her. “Tessa, if we are out together, I will always cover the bill. My father instilled that in me when I was little. My mom never paid when they went out. It was his way of showing respect.”

Tessa frowned. Was his mother afraid to spend money? Kept in the dark about finances? The thought unsettled her. That wasn’t the way she wanted a relationship to be.

“No,” Ford answered, interrupting her thoughts.

Had she asked that out loud?

He smirked. “No, you didn’t say anything,” he continued. “But you furrowed your brow.” The server came over, and he asked for their check and handed her his credit card.

“My mother was in charge of everything in the house except paying in restaurants. That was one small way my dad could show how much he valued her. He used his own money to pay for our meals when we went out, separate from the household funds.”

“Well, then,” she said quietly, “thank you.”

“You’re welcome. But you never have to thank me.”

Ford signed the bill and stood, reaching for her hand. “Let’s get you home before you fall asleep.” He opened the door for her, then positioned himself beside her, nearer the street. Now that Tessa thought about it, that’s what all the guys in the Brotherhood did. It was respectful, but also, in their own way, they were protecting the ones they loved.

They stepped outside into a cooler but still pleasant night. The sound of laughter and conversations faded as they drew closer to Tessa’s apartment. The moon was bright and high overhead, and Tessa glanced up at Ford. He looked so strong and sure of himself. She felt safe.

Tessa had her keys out but lingered at the bakery door, glancing at Ford. He slipped his hands into his pockets, but his gaze was anything but casual as he looked at her.

Her heart pounded. The tiredness she felt at the bar slipped away. An unspoken question lingered in the air and a promise of a future.

“Do you want to come up?” she asked. Please say yes. Tessa wasn’t sure why it was so important that he said yes, but there was that spark again.

Ford raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure?”

Tessa nodded. “Yes. I mean, if you want to.” She swallowed hard. “Unless you’re too tired.”

“I’m not that tired.” His lips curved into a knowing smile.

She opened the door to her apartment, and Ford followed her up the stairs. They stepped inside, and Tessa looked around. She was glad that she picked up this morning.

“Can I get you a cup of coffee or something stronger?” she asked.

“Coffee’s fine,” he replied, settling on the couch.

Tessa busied herself in the kitchen trying to ignore the sexy man sitting in her living room and the way her palms were sweating. It was so weird considering they shared a cabin for several weeks and she never felt like this.

She returned with two steaming mugs, handed one to Ford, and sat next to him on the couch. For a moment, neither spoke, the tension growing heavier with every passing second.

“Tessa,” Ford said, breaking the silence. “Why did you invite me up?”

Tessa turned to look at him, her face flushed. “Because I realized I didn’t want the night to end yet. I really like being around you.” She fidgeted with her hands. “And maybe … maybe because I wanted to.”

Ford placed his cup on the table and repeated the action with her cup. He leaned over, wrapped his arms around her waist, before pressing his lips to hers. The kiss was soft at first, but Tessa quickly deepened it. Ford gently pulled her onto his lap and continued kissing her. Finally, they broke apart, Ford’s breath coming in uneven bursts. “You don’t know how long I’ve wanted to do that,” he murmured.

Tessa’s heart skipped. She smiled. “I think I have some idea.”

Ford rested his forehead against hers. “I’d love to continue kissing you, but I would prefer to take it to the bedroom.”

“Hmmm.” Tessa pretended to think about it for a nanosecond. “Then what are we waiting for?”

In one swift motion, Ford stood and cradled Tessa in his arms. She gasped as he carried her toward the bedroom and gently lowered her onto the edge of the bed, his intense gaze holding hers.

“I need to hear you to say the words before we go any further,” he said, his voice low and rough.

Tessa reached up, brushing a hand on his cheek. “I want this. I want you.”

That was all it took. Tessa’s breath caught as he pulled her up into his arms, capturing her lips with his. The kiss escalated from tender to off-the-chart sexy. His hands slid to her back, slipping underneath her top to caress her shoulders. His touch ignited desires she couldn’t contain.

Tessa tried to unzip his pants, but he murmured, “Not yet, sweetheart,” in her ear.

His hands traveled to her front, slipping down her bra as he caressed her breasts before removing it and her top. Taking a step back, Ford let his eyes roam her body. “Beautiful.” Then he leaned over and kissed each breast before crouching down, tapping each leg so he could remove her shoes. With that accomplished, he unzipped her slacks and slid them down, leaving Tessa in nothing but her panties.

“Hmmm.” He looked her up and down and licked his lips. “Perfection. But let’s lose those panties.”

Tessa slowly removed her panties, making a show of it, and stood before him, feeling vulnerable yet sexy as his eyes devoured her body. Then he stepped closer to her. His lips trailed from her mouth to her neck, down to her breasts. His tongue swirled, nipped, flicked and caressed her nipples. Her legs trembled as she tried to pull him closer.

“Sweetheart,” he said, pulling away from her. “I’ve waited for this moment for a while. It’s going to take me time to get to know your body. So, lie down on the bed and trust me.”

Tessa tilted her head and murmured, “I will as soon as you take off your clothes so I can see you.”

In the blink of an eye, Ford was standing in front of her, gloriously naked. Tessa expected he would be built, but nothing prepared her for the muscular man in front of her. Broad shoulders, well-defined abs, and a happy trail that ended at oh my God —a pulsating, engorged cock pointed at her.

“Wow!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with awe. “Not too shabby.”

He arched a brow, and his eyes twinkled. “Glad to hear.”

Tessa giggled, but her laughter was short-lived as Ford followed her down onto the bed, capturing her lips once again. Then his hands began their exploration. His lips left a trail of heat from her mouth to her neck and lower as he acquainted himself with every inch of her body. Moving back up, he teased one of her nipples while kneading and pinching the other. Tessa arched beneath him, a soft moan escaping from her lips.

“You’re so responsive,” he murmured, his breath hot against her skin. His lips continued tracing a path down her stomach. Tessa’s breath hitched as Ford paused between her thighs. His hands slid up her legs. “Spread for me, sweetheart.”

She opened her legs. “Beautiful.” He positioned himself in front of her pussy and lifted her knees. Then he leaned in and kissed and sucked her pussy until her body trembled and a mind-blowing orgasm overtook her.

He moved back up her body, his lips kissing each inch of her skin until he reached her lips, and she opened for him, tasting her own pleasure. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. “I want you; I need you,” she whispered against his mouth.

“Shit,” he exclaimed. “I need to grab a condom from my wallet.” He got up from the bed and put it on. Positioning himself between her thighs, he said, “I’ll go slow. If it’s too much, tell me. I need to know you’re okay.”

Tessa smiled. “I’ll be fine. Just do it already.”

“Impatient, are you?”

“Mmmm.”

In a slow, deliberate motion, Ford entered her, filling her completely, then stopped when she gasped. His forehead rested against hers.

“I’m fine,” she murmured.

“You’re perfect,” he replied. Then he moved, each thrust deeper. Tessa matched his pace, wrapping her legs around him to pull him closer.

“Harder,” she gasped.

Ford pulled out, held her legs up with his hands and thrust into her until she thought he couldn’t go any further. There was no stopping him as his movement got more frantic. Her heart pounded wildly.. She screamed Ford’s name as she came, and he followed her a moment later, his breath ragged in her ear.

Their bodies were tangled together as they clung to each other. Ford pulled out of her. His hand brushed her hair from her face and kissed her tenderly.

“You okay, sweetheart?”

Tessa could only nod and smile. “More than okay. That was incredible.”

They lay there for a few minutes until Ford shifted beside her. “Let me take care of this. I’ll be right back.”

Tessa closed her eyes, feeling satiated and spent. Sure, she’d had boyfriends before, but they didn’t come close to what Ford accomplished tonight. She had never experienced two consecutive orgasms before, and none were as intense as these.

Ford got back into bed and pressed a soft kiss on her forehead. They stayed wrapped in each other’s arms for a while until Ford rose again.

“Stay,” she said.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

“Yes. Please.”

“Oh Tessa,” Ford replied. “You never have to say please. I want to stay. I want to wake up with you.” He nuzzled her neck. “I want to make love to you again.” Then he sighed. “But I only brought one condom.”

Tessa laughed. “I think we’ll come up with something to satisfy us.”

He shook his head. “You’re incorrigible.” He kissed her cheek. “Get some sleep. We’ve got all night, and I intend to make use of it.”

A soft sigh escaped her lips as she closed her eyes. She drifted off in Ford’s arms, feeling safe and cherished for the first time in weeks. But safety, she reminded herself, was an illusion. One wrong turn could shatter it.

Stupid woman. Tessa probably thought she was safe.

Malina pulled the hood of her jacket farther down her face. She stepped back into the shadows, her shoes making no sound. The glow from a nearby streetlight flickered and cast an uneven light over Tessa’s car. The darkness made the job easier.

She slipped the tracker from her pocket, its black casing cool against her fingers.

Crouching low, she had no trouble attaching it to the undercarriage of Tessa’s car, the magnet gripping the metal with a faint click, signifying that the device was locked into place. Malina smirked. If only all jobs went this smoothly.

Malina straightened and stared at the darkened windows of Tessa’s apartment. The woman had no idea her every move was hers to follow.

The one obstacle was the friend—no, boyfriend.

He was going to be a problem. Definitely a complication she hadn’t anticipated. His eyes tracked Tessa’s every move at the fundraiser. She’d caught him several times, even watching her as she made her way around.

He was protective of Tessa, and that made him dangerous. She overheard enough at the event to learn that he wasn’t some random guy Tessa picked up. He worked security for the Brotherhood Alliance.

After checking with her contact back in Atlanta, she discovered they were all ex-military, highly trained, and enjoyed an excellent reputation.

Not that their reputation intimidated her. She’d faced worse. People always underestimated her, but brute strength meant nothing against cunning and planning. Malina smiled to herself. She was an expert at turning strength into a liability.

Pulling out her phone, careful to dim the screen, Malina saw the app was already open. A small notification slid down from the top of the screen: Tracker attached, device live. A pulsing red dot showed where Tessa’s car was located.

She tapped the notification, and another alert notified her that the app was ready to track movement. Malina slipped the phone back into her pocket. She blew out the breath she was holding.

She stifled a yawn as she walked back to her car. The thrill of the game was only just beginning.