Chapter 36
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
B rock forced himself to slow down, even as he tightened his hold. The scent of strawberries surrounded them, sliding beneath his skin to caress each nerve, throwing his heart into the thundering range. He enjoyed playing with her, the challenge of it, and the memory of his prints on her sexy ass would stay with him for a long time.
He liked his marks on her.
His cock hardened to a steel rod in his jeans, demanding relief. Raw need and lust pounded through his body, just for her. He’d known he was falling desperately for the stunning agent, but he’d thought they couldn’t work unless he figured out who had helped Hank die.
He didn’t know, but had faced the reality earlier that he had to find out so he could help whichever brother needed it.
Ophelia moaned against his mouth, and he caressed her breasts, spending time with each nipple and giving her a small pinch. Her gasp sounded sweet, and he turned his attention to the other nipple, knowing just how much of a bite to give her.
His girl liked a little bit of pain with her pleasure. They were absolutely on the same page there. He stroked her inner thigh, smiling when she arched her sweet body toward his hand. Leaving it tantalizingly close, he sucked her bottom lip into his mouth and then leaned back to look into her sapphire-colored eyes. “We’re doing this, Ophelia.”
She blinked, nearly naked on his lap, and then grinned. Lust glimmered in her eyes and tightened her delicate jaw. “Yeah. I got that.” She smoothed her hand down his bare chest and hummed in appreciation.
“No.” He tangled his fingers in her hair, fisting the silky mass. “You and me. No more games, and no more playing around. We’re giving us a shot.” Controlling her head, he kissed her again, sweeping his tongue inside her mouth and tasting strawberries. He didn’t care how he sounded. She’d given him this, and she’d given herself. He wouldn’t lose her now. No matter what. “Understand?”
Her hands halted, and she flattened them on his chest. Confusion mixed with need in her expression. “Brock, there’s too much between us. You’re not telling me the truth.”
He jerked slightly, tugging back her head and enjoying her quick intake of breath. “You and I are separate from all the bullshit in our lives.” The woman had a right to make her own decisions, especially one this absolute. Even so, he didn’t have it in him to play fair, so he left his fist in her hair and his fingers on her trembling thigh. “This is your decision.”
“What?” She blinked and dropped her gaze back to his mouth.
He tightened his hold until she couldn’t move her head and watched as her eyes widened in surprise and then need. “If you want, I’ll take you back to Flossy’s right now.” He’d have to keep watch to make sure she stayed safe. “But if you stay, you’re all in. No more hiding behind a cold case, no matter what we find out. No more trying to stay emotionally absent. You decide to remain with me tonight? You’re staying and seeing us through.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip, looking both scared and hopeful. “Brock, that’s crazy.”
“Maybe,” he allowed. “But it’s absolute. I give you my word that I don’t know who shot Hank, killed Tammy, or destroyed that EVE victim who disappeared. Regardless, all of that stays separate from us. From you and me. No matter what we find out, we’re in this together. I don’t do the dating game—or any other games. This is it. I feel it, you feel it, and you’re no coward. In or out, Olly?”
She took in a deep breath and exhaled, so much cautious hope in her eyes that it looked like she might refuse. “I’ll do my job, and if that means arresting one of your brothers, it’s going to happen.”
“That’s fine. We’ll deal with it if it happens. But we’re solid regardless.” He’d have to find a good lawyer.
“I don’t see how, but I’ll give it a chance. Okay.” She steeled her shoulders, even though he still controlled her head. “All in, then.”
His body settled, and his mind cleared. “Good choice.” Then he kissed her again, giving her all of him. Somehow, kissing her felt like a new experience. No question remained—she was the one for him. Liquid flames spread through his veins, gliding like century-old wine throughout his entire body. Need pounded harsh and wild in his groin. Nerves fired down his spine, up his legs, and right to his balls with a fiery demand. He finally gave her what she wanted, sliding the pads of his fingers across her sex and dipping into her panties.
She moaned into his mouth, and he scraped his thumb across her clit, setting her off. The climax took her hard and fast, and the second she relaxed, he pressed two fingers inside her, prolonging the waves consuming her body.
Even then, he didn’t release her sweet mouth. Instead, he gently bit her bottom lip, smiling as she jumped. Then he kissed the small nip. Wrapping one arm around her waist, he turned and laid her on the rug, pushing her down and kissing her neck, clavicle, and then her breasts. He looked up to see her dark hair pillowed all around her with the barely there burning embers from the fire he’d stoked that morning illuminating her like a goddess. “You’re beautiful, Ophelia.” And she was all his.
She watched him, her eyes soft, her body moving against his. Reaching for him, she caressed his cock. “I’m on the pill, Brock. And I’m safe.”
“I just had a checkup and am safe.” He couldn’t wait any longer. Steadying himself on his knees, he wrapped one arm around her waist and partially lifted her, flipping her onto her hands and knees. Grabbing her hips, he started pushing inside her. She gasped and arched her back, but he was relentless, finally burying himself to the hilt.
Nothing in the entire world had ever felt so good. Her body pulsed around him, caressing him, clamping on so strongly his fingers dug into her hips. He slid out, torturing them both, and then slammed back in. She moaned his name.
At the sound, he lost control. Gripping her tightly, he pounded into her, his vision going dark. Hard and fast, he went as deep as possible, feeling her all around him. Her body started to quake, and he instantly slapped her ass. Hard. “Not until I say,” he ground out.
She whimpered and somehow tightened even more around him. The woman might fucking kill him. The sound of flesh on flesh and their ragged breaths filled the night, and the smell of wild strawberries surrounded them both. His body heated, and electricity zapped down his torso to land in his balls. She threw her head back, and all that glorious hair fell down her spine.
Her body trembled again, and he could feel her quaking around him. His hand automatically landed on her butt again, and she squeaked, stilling. “Don’t even think it,” he warned, hammering into her even harder. The fire roared for him, and he was almost there. She felt tight, hot, and so wet he never wanted this to end.
Her body clenched around him tighter than any vise, and flames licked through him. “Now,” he ordered, sending her over.
She cried out, her body undulating as the climax took her. Pleasure blasted through him, and he shuddered as her sweet body constricted around his cock with a vicious heat. He emptied himself into her, letting her wring him out. Her body softened and went lax. She murmured his name.
It was absolutely everything.
While he still had the strength, he pulled out of her, lifted her around the waist to spin and toss over his shoulder, stood on shaky legs, and then walked to his bedroom. “Round one is a tie. Let’s see who wins the next few.”
Ophelia finished showering while Brock cooked breakfast, thankful to have a little space. The night had been both wild and incredible, but in the morning light, she felt unsettled. Perhaps a little vulnerable. Or a lot. She’d never felt like that before. He’d been thorough and controlling in a way she wouldn’t have guessed she’d like.
She would’ve been wrong.
Slipping out of the shower, she wrung her hair out, letting the mass dry down her back. Then she borrowed one of his overlarge flannels and padded out barefoot. The smell of bacon hit her first, and her stomach grumbled, so she continued beyond the fireplace to the kitchen, stopping short at seeing both Christian and Ace sitting at the table.
Brock placed a heaping platter of scrambled eggs and bacon on the surface before moving for her. Then, in front of two of his brothers, he curled his hand around her nape, leaned down, and kissed her. It wasn’t a sweet peck or even a good-morning smooch. It was full-on, hot, and possessive.
Her mind spun, and her body swayed toward his. Warmth brushed her front, and heat blasted down her entire body. How she could react to him like this after such a consuming night, she’d never understand. Then he turned her. “Olly and I are together. Period.”
Ace blinked, his eyes bloodshot and his whiskers longer than the last time she’d seen him. “Congrats?”
Christian didn’t blink. Didn’t so much as twitch. His dual-colored eyes narrowed slightly, and his whiskers were neatly trimmed somehow. “She’s a Fed.”
“I’m fully aware of her job,” Brock countered. “But she’s mine. You’ll protect her as such.”
Ace nodded.
“Got it,” Christian murmured, reaching for a mug of steaming coffee in front of him.
Ophelia pushed Brock’s torso to extricate herself. “I don’t need protection from any of you.” When Brock didn’t release her, she elbowed him right between the ribs, feeling vulnerable with her legs bare.
He reacted instantly, sliding his hand down her flank to wrap an iron-hard arm around her waist and jerk her flush against him. “Told you there was no going back once you committed. You agreed. This is how it is, Ophelia.” His arm was rock-solid and kept her in place.
She knew about ten moves that could break the hold and take him down…probably. He was as well trained as she was, if not better, and he had combat experience. In addition, he had weight and strength on his side. “I think this is a private matter.” If she were wearing heels, she’d nail his foot.
Brock shrugged, moving her with his body. “Everything is a family matter, and you’re covered now, sweetheart. Like it or not.” He started walking toward the table, forcing her to move with him, and pulled out a chair. “You need protein.”
She sat, somewhat stunned by the entire situation. Ace handed over a plate and nudged the eggs her way. Christian just watched her over the rim of his mug. Something warm tickled her toes and ankles, and she didn’t need to look down to know that Tika had flopped right on her feet. The entire scene was cozy in a way she’d never experienced. Brock took the chair next to her and started dishing up both their plates while Ace poured them coffee from a carafe in the middle of the table.
Her stomach ached. “I’m probably going to arrest one of you. You get that, right?”
They both shrugged.
“We’ll deal and get a good lawyer. As I see it, you don’t have evidence. Not anything concrete,” Christian murmured.
Brock’s gaze remained serious. “They changed your four flat tires, and the Jeep is outside by the shop. You still have my extra Glock, right?”
“Yes,” she murmured. “Um, thank you for fixing my tires.”
Both of Brock’s brothers just shrugged.
“Too bad Damian’s not here,” Ace said quietly. “He needs to hear your declaration, Brock.”
Declaration? For goodness’ sake. Ophelia bit back a retort.
Christian cleared his throat. “I met with Damian yesterday, and I don’t like his job. He’s up to something, and it doesn’t feel right.”
Brock paused in eating eggs and looked at Christian. “I spoke with him yesterday, as you know. He didn’t say much, but he’s in intelligence.”
Ace rolled his eyes. “Intelligence in the middle of nowhere at a so-called research facility? Even if it’s some sort of former governmental and now private research program, Damian isn’t just in intelligence. He’s higher than that, which most people don’t know. If he’s there, something is off, and he’s probably watching his six every second as he investigates.”
“Do you think his job has something to do with the dead victim wearing the EVE jacket who somehow disappeared?” Ophelia asked.
“No.” Brock scrubbed both hands down his face. “I’m takin’ the sheriff’s job and will start forcing him to liaise with the locals.”
Christian munched on a piece of bacon. “I thought you already took the job.”
Ace snorted. “Yeah, but he didn’t know it. Dumbass.”
Brock tossed his napkin at him.
Ophelia tried not to enjoy the feeling of being included in the testosterone-filled family, but her shoulders finally relaxed. Oh, she wouldn’t stop her investigation, but for the first time, she wished she could believe that a hunter had killed Hank. He had been ill and in pain, and whoever fired the shotgun had most likely been helping him. Murder remained illegal, though. Her entire job consisted of investigating such homicides.
Hopefully, the judicial system would be kind to the killer, which could happen.
Brock gave her more bacon. “Stop thinking so hard.”
She finished the delicious eggs, which had plenty of cheese sprinkled throughout. “No matter what my boss says, I’m not quitting my job, Brock. Regardless of what’s happening between us.”
He partially turned, his green eyes piercing. “That’s fine, so long as you fully understand you’re not quitting us, regardless of your job.” No give showed on his dangerous face. “I gave you an out, and you didn’t take it.”
Her heart stuttered, and an unreal heat washed through her entire body. She barely kept from shifting on her chair.
Christian’s upper lip twitched, almost forming a smile. “When big brother makes a claim, he’s kind of a Neanderthal about it.”
Ace finished more coffee, his eyes sparkling. “No shit. Some people wouldn’t understand that kind of thing.”
Brock took a deep drink from his chipped mug, his shoulders broad and appearing relaxed. “So long as my woman understands me, I’m good. Period.”
Oh, he did not. Ophelia’s mouth dropped open. “You’re about to get an understanding of your own, buddy.”
He gently, too gently, set down his mug and then pivoted fully to face her. “Bring it on, baby. I’m ready for another round.”