Chapter 21
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Blink was having a hard time being away from Josie. He’d almost lost her. She’d been taken from right under his nose. He’d known that those fucking bitches were behind her disappearance. Even though Tex hadn’t found any evidence, he’d known .
But even being right didn’t make what happened any easier. Hearing Josie describe what Gen had said about her future had him wanting to puke. The thought of his Josie being forced into sexual slavery was horrifying.
And that scene at the house, when her captor had that gun against her head and was threatening to shoot her…Blink’s life had flashed in front of his eyes. A life without Josie was cold and barren, and he wouldn’t have been able to rebound if she’d been murdered in cold blood.
He and his teammates were about to make their move, to tackle the guy, when Josie had screamed. Blink would never forget the sound. It would haunt him to the end of his days. It sounded as if all her terror and anger and anguish came forth from her soul. The scream echoed around the quiet neighborhood as if a dark entity had come for vengeance on everyone’s evil deeds.
But it had also been the distraction he and his teammates needed to be able to take the asshole out. As he shoved Josie away, they’d been able to tackle him before he could shoot them—or Josie.
Still, every time he looked at the woman he loved more than life itself, he was reminded of that damn revolver pressed against her head. The burn mark from the hot barrel on her temple would eventually fade, but Blink would never forget the despair and helplessness he’d felt during the short standoff.
To both their surprise, he was having a harder time with what had happened than Josie. She claimed it was because she knew he would find her, would come for her. But even though he had no doubt of who was behind her disappearance, he hadn’t been as sure about the outcome. And knowing he’d searched that damn house and missed her, ate at him.
He’d been so close to her. If he’d only looked a little harder, hadn’t given up so easily, she wouldn’t have had to go through what she did. Wouldn’t have been almost shot. It would be weeks, maybe months, before Gen, Millie, and the asshole they hired would face justice. But at least they’d be spending the time until then behind bars, as a judge had denied them bond.
The detectives wanted to find the people above the guy who’d come to collect Josie. Wanted to shut down the entire sex slavery ring, but that was much harder than it seemed .
The woman named Bree was in the wind, as well. Smiley hadn’t been able to find her, even with Tex’s help, and it bothered him more than he let on. Two weeks had passed since the incident, and he’d spent both weekends in Vegas, cruising the streets, visiting hospitals and calling women’s clinics, attempting to find any sign of her. With no luck.
Today was the first day Blink was supposed to work a full shift on base. He and the rest of the team had a briefing to attend and an upcoming mission to plan. Josie wouldn’t be alone, but even knowing she was spending the day with Jessyka and Benny wasn’t enough to let Blink relax.
“She’s okay,” Kevlar said quietly during one of their breaks.
Blink sighed. “I can’t stop thinking about going home and finding her missing, like last time.”
“You texted her?”
“Only about a hundred times today already,” he said with a small snort.
“Do it again.”
“She already thinks I’m paranoid.”
“Yeah. But she also probably needs to touch base with you, as much as you need to do the same with her. I know you said she’s taking things really well, but you both went through something traumatic. It’s not causing any harm to check in. For either of you.”
Blink didn’t need any more encouragement. He’d been trying to hold himself back from texting her… again …for the last twenty minutes.
He shot off a quick text and waited anxiously for her response .
Josie : I’m good. Jessyka is trying to teach me how to make some fancy mixed drinks…it’s not going well.
Blink smiled at her note. She didn’t sound upset that he’d texted her for the umpteenth time.
Blink : You partaking?
Josie : A chef can’t make master status without tasting her creations. :)
Remembering the last time Josie had alcohol made Blink’s cock twitch. They hadn’t made love since she’d been kidnapped. Her shoulder had been sore for a long while, and all Blink wanted to do was hold her as close as he could against him all night. But for the first time, sexual desire rode hard and fast through his body.
“That smile must mean she’s fine, huh?” Kevlar asked.
“Yeah.”
“Good. I’m glad. None of us ever want to see you fall back into that depression you were in before joining the team. You need to text her, do it. Need to hear her voice? Call her. I guarantee she won’t get mad. She needs it as much as you, even if she won’t admit it because she’s trying to prove how strong she is. How unaffected she is by what happened to her. She’s definitely affected. How could she not be? ”
Blink had been feeling guilty about needing to be around Josie so much, about needing to make sure she was safe. And while Josie insisted she was fine, she hadn’t protested his hovering. Which made him think that Kevlar was onto something. “Thanks, Kevlar.”
“Any time,” his team leader said. “We have another hour or so of this briefing left, then I’m thinking you can head home early.”
Blink wanted to take him up on the offer, but he felt bad because he definitely hadn’t been holding his own on the team lately. He shook his head. “It’s okay. I need to do my fair share of the work.”
“You don’t get it, Blink—this is what a team does. What friends do. They hold up the weak members until they can stand on their feet again. And I’m not saying you’re weak, simply that you need a little more support right now. We’ve got this. We’ll bring you up to speed tomorrow about the mission. It’s not as if we can plan everything in a couple of hours. Take the time you need to come to terms with what happened. Go see Josie.”
“Thanks. If it’s really all right, I’ll take you up on that and head out after we’re done here.”
“It’s really all right. Remi’s going over to your place tomorrow. She told me last night that Josie started taking some captioning jobs again, right?”
Blink nodded. They’d argued about it. He thought Josie should take more time off, and she’d insisted that working kept her mind occupied…that she actually enjoyed it, and her shoulder was feeling good enough to type. So they’d compromised, and she was working part time for now. Blink had a fe eling that wouldn’t last long. His Josie was stubborn; it was one of the many reasons why he loved her so much.
“Cool. Remi enjoys working at your place. Apparently, she likes not feeling alone while she works, but she’s still able to get lots of drawing done because Josie doesn’t talk her ear off while they’re both working.”
“Josie loves having Remi there. And Wren too.”
“Right. So let’s do this, then you can head home,” Kevlar said.
Blink couldn’t keep himself from sending one more text before he headed back to work.
Blink : I’m getting off work in about an hour or so. You want me to come by Aces and pick you up? Or will you get a ride home?
Three dots immediately appeared as Josie typed a response. He loved that she never made him wait for her to text back. Those dots made the tightness in his gut relax, knowing she was there, responding to him, was something he needed these days to keep from freaking out.
Josie : Benny said he’d take me home. And…yay! You’ll be home early !
Blink couldn’t keep the smile off his face. He loved that Josie didn’t feel awkward about letting him know she was excited to see him. Kevlar’s words sank in. She was probably feeling a little unsettled herself after everything that happened, and keeping an open and constant line of communication was as important to her as it was to him.
The worst part about coming home every day was the moment Blink approached his apartment door. He and Preacher had reinforced it, making it impossible to kick in, even with only the chain on, but the feeling of dread remained every time he walked up to the door.
He was relieved to see it shut and locked as normal as he stuck his key in the lock. “Josie?” he called out as soon as he entered, as he did every time he came home.
This time, there was no reply.
Immediately, Blink tensed. Memories flooded him of the last time that had happened and he’d found Josie missing
“Josie?” he called again, louder and a little more frantic.
“In here!” Blink heard her say from the back of the apartment, and he immediately breathed a sigh of relief. He had no idea how long it would take for his anxiety to ease in regard to Josie’s whereabouts, but it was obvious today wasn’t that day.
It was too early for her to have started dinner, but it was equally unusual for her to be back in their room in the middle of the day. If she wasn’t working at the kitchen table, usually she was on the couch, watching TV or texting someone on her phone or simply reading a book .
He walked faster than normal as he headed for their bedroom. He pushed the door a little harder than necessary and it bounced against the wall when he stepped inside.
It took a moment for his brain to understand what he was seeing. He kind of thought Josie would be on the bed with a headache, or maybe her shoulder was hurting again.
Instead, she was propped up on some pillows, smiling at him, wearing a tiny piece of white lingerie.
“Hi,” she said a little shyly. “I never did get to model what I ordered for you…before. I thought today was a good day to do that.”
Blood rushed to his cock. The vision of the woman he loved on their bed, one knee bent with her foot flat on the mattress, the other angled outward, basically putting herself on display for him, made him dizzy with lust.
Blink began to rip at his clothes as he slowly walked toward her, memorizing the moment. He would bring this image of Josie out when he was knee deep in mud in some fucking jungle, or when he was sweating his balls off in a desert. She was his reason for living. For pushing through the hell that were so many of his missions. His reward.
Her small tits were bared as the white bodice framed her chest. It tapered down to a V toward her pussy, making his eyes go between her legs. The smallest scrap of white material covered her opening. All it would take was a flick of his fingers to move it aside so he could get inside her.
A trail of his clothes went from the door to the bed, but Blink didn’t notice. He couldn’t take his eyes off Josie. She was so beautiful…and he’d almost lost her .
He crawled onto the mattress and reveled in the way she reached for him.
“Are you sure?” he whispered as he neared.
“Positive.”
That was all Blink needed to hear. He spread her legs farther apart as he crawled between them. He did exactly as he’d imagined, and flicked the strip of material to the side, baring her to his touch. She was soaked.
“What have you been doing while you were waiting for me?” he asked.
An adorable blush pinkened her cheeks. “Getting myself ready,” she said firmly. “I want you. Now. Inside me. I need you, Nate.”
The tip of his cock was notched between her legs before she’d finished speaking. Blink took a breath, trying to slow down. He didn’t want to hurt her, and the way he was feeling right now, he was bound to.
Then Josie reached up and pinched her nipples as she stared at him.
That was all it took.
The iron control he’d been holding onto snapped.
Blink was balls deep inside her before he took his next breath. She was so damn tight, and just like that, he felt as if he were home.
He’d been desperate to come seconds earlier. Wanted to pound in and out of her, but now he was content to simply be deep inside her body, not moving… living .
“Nate?” she asked, as she attempted to shift under him.
“I love you,” he said reverently, as he stared down at her.
“I love you too,” she returned without hesitation .
Blink closed his eyes, memorizing this moment. Having Josie under him, around him, it was as close as he figured he’d ever get to experiencing what heaven on earth was like.
“Please,” she whispered.
His eyes opened, and for a moment, all he could see was the damn mark on her temple, but then she pushed her hips up, trying to get him to move.
“I need more,” she whispered.
At that, Blink moved. If Josie needed something, he’d give it to her. No matter what it was.
“Yes! Harder, Nate. Please!”
Their lovemaking was frantic and fast, and after Josie came, Blink was still hard. He turned her, taking her from behind. Then he put her on top. At some point, he came, but his dick didn’t soften. He filled her with his come and kept on loving her.
By the time he orgasmed again, the very pretty but flimsy lingerie Josie had worn for him had been torn off and was hanging around her waist, and she’d come for the third or fourth time. The covers were hanging off the bed and they were both covered in sweat. Blink could feel their combined juices on his balls and thighs, and the sheets under him were soaked.
But he’d never been more content in his life. Their lust for each other slaked for now, Blink’s cock still deep inside Josie’s sheath. She was lying bonelessly on top of him, her breaths drifting over his chest as she did her best to regain her equilibrium.
“For the record…I liked the lingerie,” Blink told her.
He felt more than heard her giggle, making him smile .
“Well, too bad that’ll be the only time I wear it, since you ruined it,” she said, propping her chin on his chest.
Blink shrugged. “So order more. A dozen. Two.”
“I just might. You might like a little variety. More color. They have red, black, purple, even?—”
Blink rolled them suddenly, cutting off her words. He reached for the drawer next to the bed, keeping Josie under him. When he returned to hover over her, he clasped a small object in his hand.
“I like you in white. No, that’s not true, I like you in any color you want to wear, and in nothing at all. But white looks good on you. Maybe you’ll wear it when we get married? White, that is, and not the sexy lingerie.” He forced himself to shut up as he held up a ring.
Josie’s eyes widened. She stared at the ring, then at him, then back at the ring.
Her hesitation made Blink sweat. He’d moved too fast. Rushed things between them. Fuck .
“Yes,” she whispered. Then a huge smile crossed her face. “Yes!” she yelled, throwing her arms around his shoulders.
Blink was so startled, he dropped the ring. But he’d find it later. The only thing that mattered right then was that the woman he loved so much it was almost scary, had said yes.
Later, when Josie was once more draped across his chest, and the lost ring was poking into his ass, Blink stared up at the ceiling with a goofy smile on his face.
“Can we invite your brother? And maybe his pilot friends? I don’t want a big ceremony, but I do want a huge party. I want all my new friends together in one place. Forgetting about the bad things in the world and just enjoying being together.”
“We can do anything you want,” Blink told her, pleased as hell that she’d thought about Tate. He’d been texting his twin more often. Almost losing Josie had made Blink more aware of how fleeting life was, and he needed to know those he loved were all right.
“You know, when I was in that cell, I couldn’t think about the future. Literally, all I could think about was living through the next minute, then hour, then day. My body was trying to shut down, but for some reason I refused to give up. To just lay down and die. Now I know why. It’s because I was waiting for you. You’ve changed my life, Nate, and I can’t imagine you not being in it. I love you.”
This woman. She’d changed his life. “I was the same way,” he admitted. “I spent day after day sitting at Aces, lost within myself. All I could think of was what I should’ve done differently, and how my team didn’t have to be killed or hurt. When I was sent back to the place where it happened, I believed I was meant to be there. At the time, I thought it was so I could do what I should’ve done before, sacrifice myself for others. But now, I realize I was meant to be there to meet you.”
“Nate,” Josie said with a sniff.
“No. No crying,” he ordered gently.
He was rewarded with her small chuckle. Then she said, “That cup? The one I wanted on the shelf on the wall, so we could see it every day?”
Blink frowned. He hadn’t been so sure about putting a reminder of a horrible event on display, but he’d done it, because she’d seemed so adamant. “Yeah?” he asked when she didn’t continue.
“It represents hope to me. Resiliency. Not giving up. That’s why I want to see it every day. To remind me that even when things seem hopeless, they aren’t.”
His Josie. Stronger than anyone he’d ever met.
He lifted his head to kiss her…but just then, her stomach growled. Long and loud.
She giggled. “Ignore it,” she ordered as she kissed his lips.
But he couldn’t. His woman was hungry, and Blink would be damned if he ignored her needs for his own. Lifting her off his cock, he bit back the moan of complaint that threatened to leave his throat. If he had his way, he’d live deep inside her hot, wet heat, but he needed to feed her.
“Don’t bother showering,” he informed her bossily. “Because I’m just going to haul you right back here after we eat. Besides, I love seeing that .” He’d put her on her feet next to the bed, and he couldn’t take his gaze away from the bead of come that was making its way down her inner thigh.
Josie rolled her eyes. “You’re weird,” she complained, as she licked her lips and stared at his erection covered in their combined juices.
Blink walked over to the dresser, ignoring his clothes strewn all over the floor and pulling out a pair of boxers and one of his T-shirts. He stepped into the underwear, then walked back to where Josie was struggling to remove the ruined lingerie from around her waist. When she managed it, he eased his shirt over her head, helping her find the arm holes.
She should’ve looked ridiculous in his shirt, which was four sizes too big for her tiny frame. But he loved seeing her in his clothes. Resisting the urge to kiss her, knowing it would lead to him throwing her back on the bed, Blink reached around her for the ring that was reflecting the sun coming through the window.
He picked up her hand and slid the ring down her finger. The small princess-cut diamond looked amazing. And would look perfect once it was paired with the matching wedding band he’d picked out to go with it.
“Nate, it’s beautiful,” Josie breathed.
It dawned on Blink that this was the first time she was seeing the ring properly, since he’d dropped it before he could get it on her finger.
“ You’re beautiful,” he countered, leaning down and kissing the ring on her finger. “Hamburgers okay for dinner?”
“Perfect,” she said. “Give me a minute in the bathroom and I’ll come help.”
Blink could handle making the meal without help, but he’d never turn down spending time with this woman. Ever. “Sounds good.”
“Nate?” she asked, putting her hands on his chest and leaning into him.
“Yeah?”
“Put on a shirt so you don’t burn yourself,” she said with a smile, then turned and headed for the bathroom. Her giggle echoed in the room around him.
Life would never be boring with his woman. She’d keep him on his toes. And Blink had no problem with that. None.