16. The Word Is Love
Chapter 16
The Word Is Love
Maya
T his time, it’s Bull who’s up early. The aroma of sizzling bacon and freshly brewed coffee wakes me out of a deep slumber. I don’t remember anything after checking in on Gertie. I look around for my robe and see a note on Bull’s pillow.
Coffee’s ready, babe. Come and get it.
He says he doesn’t do sweet, but he does. That smell of bacon is beckoning. I rush to get ready for work, grabbing a quick shower. I’m about to get dressed when Bull comes into the bedroom.
“I’ll be out in a minute. I’m just going to get dressed.” I reach for a black pencil skirt only to have Bull tug it out of my hand.
“No clothes,” he says.
I gawk at him. “I can’t eat breakfast naked,” I state huskily.
Bull hands me back my robe. “I’ll meet you halfway,” he says with a sly smile.
“I have to get dressed sometime. I don’t think this would be appropriate work attire for a high school teacher,” I retort.
“No fucking way does anyone else get to see you like I do. This is just for me,” he responds quickly.
I humor him and put on my robe. “I’m only doing this because I smell bacon.” I laugh. I brush past him, and his big hand on my lower back guides me out to my small table set for two. There are no candles, but a vibrant bouquet of sunflowers sits in its center. My heart swells with happiness. He places me in my seat and sets down my plate. Bacon, eggs, hash browns, and toast on the side. His is the same, only more of it. “You did this for me,” I say with a lump in my throat. I know this took effort on his part. Not the cooking, but the detail in making it all look nice. He wanted to do for me what I did for him.
“You took care of me. I want to look after you,” he states plainly.
I reach over and squeeze his free hand. “Thank you.” I’m not sure if Bull can blush, but his eyes light up.
He changes the topic. “So, tell me what I did for this Calvin kid. We got sidetracked last night.”
I tell him how Calvin approached me after class and the vibe I got that stuff wasn’t right at home. “I think he plays the jerk to either get attention or to ward people off. But he’s a very smart kid. I know he is, and so is Josh. When I handed him the book and asked him to try again, he took it. Oh, I won’t get my hopes up, but if he comes in with his paper finished, whether it’s great or terrible, it’s an accomplishment. He rarely hands anything in.”
“If he doesn’t hand anything in, how do you know he’s smart?”
I’ve given two quizzes, and he’s aced them both. It’s too early in the curriculum to give a full test, but the average is a B- for the rest of the class. But both Calvin and Josh get A s,” I say.
“Maybe the boys are cheating.”
“I thought of that, but the quiz isn’t written down anywhere. I put the question on the board at the start of it, and they have a limited amount of time to complete it. I even give open-book quizzes, and Calvin and Josh never open their textbook. When those boys saw you, it was like a light went off in their heads. There’s a spark. Maybe it’s because you were straight with them, or just because you are who you are, but they wanted to know more. I told them that your story wasn’t mine to tell, and as you promised, if they earned it, you’d be back.”
“Keep me in the loop. I keep my promises,” he replies. “Eat up, baby. I’ve got plans before you go to work.” I can hear the teasing in his tone. I’m not sure what his plans are, but I bite into a slice of crispy bacon and enjoy the rest of his delicious meal.
After breakfast, I begin to clear the dishes, but Bull puts a stop to that. When I reach for his empty plate, I land on his lap.
“I have to go to work,” I remind him. He looks at his watch, then lifts a brow with a sexy grin.
“You have twelve and a half minutes before I have to let you go, and I intend to use every second of it,” he says. I hook my legs around his waist as Bull takes us over to the couch. He pulls the sash that holds the edges of my robe together and yanks on the sleeves to remove it completely. Before we even hit the couch, I’m completely naked and straddling his thick thighs as he sits with me on his lap.
His hands encircle my waist and lift me onto my knees, his mouth closing over my nipple as he laves it with his hot tongue. Automatically, my fingers thread into his hair, and wetness pools between my thighs.
“Baby,” I breathe. He moves his attention to my other breast, while one hand slides teasingly between my legs. I ride his fingers, edging closer to the precipice of my orgasm, only for his fingers to disappear whenever I get close.
I think it’s time to do a little teasing of my own. I untangle myself from his arms and slide down his body to land on the rug on my knees. I reach for the zipper on his jeans. I meet his gaze and slowly pull down the zipper. Bull doesn’t say a word, but a bead of perspiration lines his forehead, his jaw clenching tightly. I reach inside, wrap my fist around his thick, engorged cock, and take it out. My tongue darts out, and I lick the tip of his clock, then run it over his sensitive slit. I can feel his stomach muscles contract and see his eyes close as I circle the tip of his cock with my tongue.
“Fuck me, baby. That feels so good,” he moans. His sexy sounds urge me to close my mouth around his cock and take him deeper. I taste the tangy saltiness of precum, then Bull groans with desire. He allows me to explore his body with my hands. I run my fingers under his shirt, tracing over his defined abs, then down over his thighs, dragging my fingertips over the denim of his jeans. I cradle his balls, and I’m rewarded with another moan that turns into a roar when I bob up and down, taking in as much of his cock as I can.
I love to hear Bull’s sexy groans. Suddenly, I’m on my back and my legs are spread apart, his hands around my ankles, holding me wide open. Bull looks me in the eye and says, “Tomorrow, you finish what you started, but we only have three minutes left, and I have the need to pound my cock into your tight pussy.” His words are crude and rough, and I desperately want him inside me.
“Please, Conall, give it to me.” I don’t have to ask twice, because with one hard thrust, he’s inside my pussy. It aches so good, I beg him not to stop. He reaches between us to play with my clit, driving me toward my climax as he fucks me hard and fast. My orgasm hits me like a sledgehammer, my body racked with tremors of pleasure. Bull continues to thrust at a frantic pace, until he’s rooted deep inside my pussy, moaning his own release.
He feels so good, and I don’t want to move. I’m not even sure I can. My legs feel like jelly. His lips roam over my skin, his beard rasps softly over my flesh, and I want more of him. I’ve become insatiable. A soft mewl of satisfaction leaves my throat, and it doesn’t go unnoticed.
“Maya, if I don’t let you go, you’re definitely going to be late for work. You may even miss the whole day,” Bull says, his growly voice next to my ear.
I sigh. “It might be worth it.”
He chuckles and moves away, carefully pulling out of me. He’s still hard. How can he be when he just came? “Keep looking at my dick like that, and we’re both going to be AWOL for the next week,” he threatens.
Now it’s my turn to laugh. “You have to catch bad guys, and I have to motivate our youth not to become bad guys.”
He tugs me up to my feet and pulls me tight against his chest, kissing me softly. His forehead touches mine. “Yeah, baby, keep on doing what you’re doing. Good teachers make a difference.”
“So do you,” I whisper. “Now, let me go before I decide that a week on KP for going AWOL is worth it,” I tease.
He kisses me hard and fast once more, then lets me go to get ready for another day. Bull insists on walking me to my car, only after he’s finished the dishes and checking on Gertie to make sure all is well.
He’s my dream man. Good and kind to the core. His rough exterior is his shield. It’s his way of protecting himself. With me, he lets down his guard, and I swear, I’ll never do anything to hurt him because I love him. I want to tell him, but I’m afraid it’ll freak him out.
* * *
Bull
With Maya safely on her way to work, I go back to have a chat with Phoenix. I can tell he’s still here because his truck is in his parking spot.
“Hey, what’s up? Want some coffee?” he asks when he opens the door. He moves to make room for me to come in.
“Nah, I’ve had mine. I checked on Gertie. She seems okay, but we need to get that carpet replaced.”
“She’s stubborn, and she’s got a lot of pride,” he responds, taking a sip from his coffee mug.
“Can we make it a birthday present?”
Kailyn walks into the room. “Her birthday isn’t for months,” she says.
“Early Christmas gift?” I suggest.
“You don’t give a carpet as a Christmas gift. That’s like giving a woman a vacuum,” she replies in horror. Phoenix bursts out laughing, as do I.
“Shit! I better return the waffle maker I bought,” Phoenix jokes. Kailyn playfully slaps his shoulder and rolls her eyes.
I shake my head at the- cuteness of the two of them together and ask, “What, then?”
“I had a thought. What if we tell Jordan, the owner of the building, that we want to change the carpet and we’ll pay for it? We’ll even make the arrangements to make it easy for him. He can tell Gertie that he’s doing an upgrade to the apartments,” Kailyn suggests.
“I like it,” I say. “You think he’ll go for it?”
“Jordan’s a good guy. He’s got a lot on his plate since he took over for his father. If we make all the arrangements, I can’t see why he’d mind, plus he has a soft spot for Gertie,” Phoenix says.
“I’ll call him today and see what he says,” Kailyn offers. “I’ll let you know if I run into a snag. But I’ll tell him that she needs some samples, then I’ll go pick them up and drop them off for her to choose from and tell her I ran into Jordan on my way in.”
“Pick out what you want for our new place while you’re at it,” Phoenix says.
“Really?” Kailyn asks with a huge grin.
“The new place is ours, and I want it to be what we like. So, yeah, and pick the paint color and all that stuff,” he tells her. Then looks over at me and goes on, “I’m sure my buds won’t mind helping me out.”
“Always, bro. You know that. Wire will come if there’s food, and Rebel will be there because he wants dibs on your apartment,” I say.
“And Falcon will be there because he’s just the kind of guy who won’t let us down,” Kailyn says, which is very true. “Maya and I will make sure you guys stay hydrated and fed,” she adds for good measure.
“Maybe not a great idea. Bull gets distracted when Maya’s around,” Phoenix jokes. “We’ll use her as a reward.”
“Fuck off,” I tell him with a smile. He’s not wrong, though. The image of Maya in paint-splattered coveralls is sexy as hell. I shake the thought out of my head. We have to get to work. “Falcon and Rebel are already on-site, and we need to get them home,” I remind Phoenix.
None of us like it when we’re split up. It’s a shitty feeling. There’s no way we can protect them from this far away, so the solution is to get to the bottom of this conspiracy to kill off Yakubu and Obi and get our brothers home.
“I’ll meet you at Storm,” I tell them and take off.
* * *
Wire’s already sitting in his office, and it looks like he’s already been here for hours. It’s better equipped than the FBI investigative tech offices. There’s a wall of computer screens with information flashing and scrolling across every one of them. Wire’s running multiple algorithms at one time, searching for pattern behavior.
We’re all used to running on a limited amount of sleep when necessary, but Wire can go a ridiculous amount of time without. It’s both unique and troublesome. When we were out in the field, Wire would always be the night guard, then he’d go all day through treacherous territory and not stumble. Then when we got back to base, he’d sleep a full day and night.
The first time it happened, we all took turns checking to make sure he was still breathing. His ability to stay awake is only intensified when he’s working on gathering intel through his programming. Very few men have the technical genius that Wire has. I’ve heard of a couple of guys, but they do their best to stay incognito. One is also an ex-military soldier. The other, I hear, is part of a Mafia family, and neither has ever crossed our paths.
“You been up all night?” I ask.
“Falcon and Rebel are out there, and the faster I work, the faster they come home,” he answers.
I hand him the cup of coffee I picked up for him. “I got you coffee,” I say, taking one for myself and setting Phoenix’s and Kailyn’s aside. He and Kailyn were right behind me and should be coming any minute.
“Thanks,” he mumbles, then takes a sip before he sets it off to the side. “I’ve got the files printed for two of the three sisters and their husbands. The sisters look clean, but I haven’t been able to scan through it all thoroughly.”
“Give them to me.” I pull out a chair and plant my ass at the table where I can spread the files out and start working.
“This is the oldest sister, Naiya, and her husband, Ubin.” He hands a thick folder over to me. “Ubin is a prominent businessman and seems to have the same views as his father-in-law when it comes to politics. They have three kids, all boys and all in their late twenties and working or studying. Naiya and her brother were very close growing up, and Ubin and Yakubu studied in the United Kingdom together. I didn’t see anything that sparked concern.”
“I’ll look it over with fresh eyes.”
Phoenix joins us a short time later and, after taking Kailyn her coffee, sets up in the boardroom to go through Adaku and Serin’s file. Adaku is the middle sister, and her husband is a lawyer. They have two kids in their teens, still in school and top of their class. They go to all the family events, but basically stay out of the political arena.
It’s hours later and we’re still dissecting the information we’ve received when Kailyn walks in. “I set up in the lunchroom. Let’s go.” I get up, but Wire is still pounding away on the keys. “Wire, now!” Kailyn says in a much louder voice. It’s like he just heard her, turning to face her.
“What was that?” he asks.
“Lunch,” she replies, “Let’s go before the sandwiches get soggy.” She doesn’t move until Wire gets up and she keeps looking over her shoulder to make sure we’re following her. Phoenix is already waiting for us. Wire sits down next to him and takes the food Kailyn hands him, and I take mine.
“How’s Maya doing?” Wire asks before he takes a bite. Kailyn orders from a local delicatessen that makes the sandwiches extra hearty.
“She’s good, and she’s loving the school. Worried about Gertie, though,” I add.
He jerks his head up and looks at us. “What happened to Gertie?”
Kailyn launches into what happened last night and goes on to the current plan to rectify the problem. “I spoke to Jordan, and he’s fine with it, but insists on putting up half. He would pay for it all, but he’s rewiring another building rental and doesn’t want to overextend himself. Jordan’s willing to cut our rent until it’s paid up. I told him absolutely not and that we wanted to do this for Gertie. He really is a very nice man. He was upset when he heard about Gertie.”
“Babe, he’s a landlord, and if he wants to pay for it, then let him,” Phoenix replies.
“Price it out and we can divide it between us. Jordan seems solid, so let’s cut him a break,” I say. “He must be changing out the carpet as he rents the apartments, because I took a look at Maya’s and hers is new.”
“And our new place is going to have new carpeting too. Jordan already said so. If we want an upgrade, then we pay for the difference,” Kailyn says.
“I want in,” Wire says. “And I’m sure that Rebel and Falcon will want to help out too.” I’m already positive they will. They love that old woman.
“Have you been home since you started seeing Maya?” Phoenix asks with a snicker. He knows damn well I haven’t except to change clothes once. I’ve been bringing over a bag since then.
“Leave him alone,” Kailyn says, giving him a stern expression. “You should let two people fall in love in peace. Or don’t you remember Rebel and Bull giving you a hard time and how that felt?”
The word love makes me nervous. I haven’t seen an honest exchange of love between two people until Phoenix and Kailyn got together. Sure, she was married to Cory, but he was already in the unit, and I never saw them together. My parents’ idea of love is so fucked up that if that was love, I didn’t want any part of it.
When I snap out of my thoughts, I find the three of them staring at me.
“You looked freaked out, man. What are you thinking about?” Wire asks.
“I don’t know how to love her,” I grit out. It hurts to say it, but it’s the truth.
“You already do,” Kailyn replies. If that’s meant to ease my mind, it does anything but.
“Hey, look at me, brother,” Phoenix commands. “There are lots of ways to show love. You know you’re doing it right when her face lights up like a Christmas tree anytime your name is mentioned. Or that she holds your hand tighter just for a second right before she has to let go. She waits up for you because she has to see that her man is safely by her side before falling asleep. Kailyn does that for me.”
“Maya does that too.” The words come out in a raspy voice.
“Seems to me like you’re loving her just right, then,” he answers. He smiles, and Kailyn hugs her man. And kisses his cheek.
“Well done, Mason,” she says.
“Okay, we’ve established that you all are in love. Now, can we get back to work and get Falcon and Rebel out of there?” Wire asks.
They all get back to work, and I’m just behind them, but I take out my phone and type a text to Maya before joining them. Love you, baby .
Love you back and more, she writes back.