Chapter 15
“Why the fuck isn’t there any information in your files about this guy?” Sebastian yelled at the screen that had been set up in the conference room.
“I understand you’re upset, Sebastian, but Ms. Sullivan’s revelation is a big break in our case. There has been chatter of someone in the organization who carries out these acts, but no one has ever had a name to put with the whispers. The only thing we knew is that he was nicknamed ‘the surgeon’ and that he’s absolutely ruthless. The photos I’ve seen from what this guy does is…horrific. I’ll be notifying our agents inside the organization at their next check-in.”
“And when is that?”
“Later this week.”
“It’s not fast enough. She’s in danger, now. More women in this county are in danger.”
“We have a protocol to follow. I will notify them as soon as possible, which is in just a few days. Until then, take Ms. Sullivan out of Texas, like you plan to, and wait for me to contact you again with an update.”
“Fine. But I want a phone call or video conference the second you are done updating your agents.”
“I’ll speak with you then.”
Agent Wilson ended the video call and Sebastian blew out all his breath. He felt like he was making the right decision to take Emma out of Texas, but what if it wasn’t enough?
Sebastian rested his elbows on the table, placing his head in his hands and tried to think through each possible outcome of their trip to Colorado. If he planned for everything before they went, he’d have a better chance of keeping her safe.
But as he closed his eyes, his mind didn’t take him to Colorado. No. He didn’t want to be back there, back in the desert.
The smell of smoke and copper filled his nose, and when his eyes looked up, dust was so thick he could barely see a foot in front of himself.
Where was his team? His head hurt. The ringing in his ears was so fucking loud. Louder than the screams coming from the side of the building. Where were they? This wasn’t supposed to happen. He needed to get to them. Sebastian stumbled, his knee giving out before he’d even put all of his weight on it. Someone was calling out his name…
“Cap? Hey, Cap. Come back, man. Come back.”
“Stone?”
“Yeah,” Stone answered as he tried to get to his feet. “No way, bud. Sit down.” His friend pushed on his shoulder, forcing Sebastian back into the chair in his conference room. The conference room at Montgomery Equities. He was in Bell Ridge. This wasn’t war, it was his mind playing a trick on him.
“Here, drink.” Stone handed him a glass of water. “How long have you been having flashbacks for?”
“That’s the first one I’ve had in almost two years. I don’t know what happened.”
Stone nodded, still watching him closely, his eyes never leaving Seb. “It’s not surprising that everything with Emma triggered it.”
“I guess. All I care about is keeping Emma safe. My brain just took me back to the last time I failed at protecting the people I care about.”
“Cap, I don’t know how many times you are going to need to hear it, but I’ll say it every time you need to be reminded. What happened to Luke and Ryan that night wasn’t your fault. The team decided to act on intel that we believed was valid and vetted. It was not your decision alone that led us into that ambush.”
“Tell that to their wives,” Sebastian sighed. “Tell that to Luke’s son who now has to grow up without his dad. I fucked up, Stone. What if I do it again, and it cost’s Emma everything?”
“If you are going to keep Emma safe, you need to let go of the guilt you’ve been carrying ever since that mission went to shit.”
* * *
“How are you feeling?”
Gray eyes filled with concern were searching her face for an answer. The only problem was, she didn’t really know. Exhausted? Overwhelmed? So unbelievably guilty she wanted to go crawl into her bed and never move again? She’d had to explain everything from a time in her life that she just wanted to forget. Well, almost everything. Her biggest secret was still tucked away in her heart, aching to be set free. But it wasn’t something that would stop them from catching Marco, or, at least, that’s how she was justifying keeping it from Sebastian.
“I don’t know. I’m wiped out from everything that happened today. Maybe I’ll just sleep on the flight. Would that be okay?”
“Of course, Em. But wait until we take off. Once we’re at cruising altitude, you can stretch out on the couch.” Sebastian nodded to the three seat leather sofa that sat along the opposite side of the plane.
“Did you know?” Her voice was quiet, and she wondered if he’d actually heard her.
“Did I know what?”
“That I wasn’t always Emma.”
He sat silently for a moment before finally nodding.
“Why didn’t you say anything to me?”
“I didn’t know until you mentioned your step-father. I had Gage run a check on his name and that’s when he confirmed you’d changed your identity. I didn’t think it was anything beyond you wanting to get away from him, and for it to be harder for him to find you if he went looking.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you the whole truth.”
“You don’t ever have to apologize for trying to keep yourself safe. I wish you had trusted me sooner, but you did what was best for you and when it really mattered, you still put your trust in me and the guys. That’s all I could ask for.”
They fell back into silence as Emma stared out her window. Ten minutes on the tarmac and it was wheels up as they climbed higher and higher into the sky. It felt surreal to be back on Sebastian’s plane. The last time she’d been there, they were on a date that turned out to be so damn romantic she could barely force her head out of the clouds to protect her heart.
Now, she was back, running from a man who wanted nothing more than to see her suffer. But thankfully, she had Hawk and Gage with her this time, too. Out of all the men who watched over her, only Gunner remained a mystery. There was heartbreak behind his eyes, and she was naturally curious about what put it there. It never seemed appropriate to bring it up, and now that he was staying back in Texas while she went to Colorado, it looked like she might not get the chance to before this was all over.
God, she hoped everything would wrap up in a nice, neat little bow while she and Seb were away. How had she gone from trying to despise the steely gray eyed hunk to feeling so incredibly safe with him? There might not be anyone else in the entire world that she felt as safe with. When she’d shared about her step-father after the attack in her apartment, she never imagined how much he’d step up to protect her. And she was so damn grateful for it.
Sebastian’s hand on her arm broke her from her thoughts.
“Everything okay? You’re biting your lip pretty hard over there.”
“I’m just thinking about how this all could be wrapped up in the next few days. It almost seems impossible. Could it really be this easy? To just run away one last time and then be free of him forever.”
“I hope it will be. You deserve to breathe and to stay in Bell Ridge if that’s where you decide you want to be.”
“I love it there so much. It’s honestly the first place I’ve lived since my mom died that really felt like it could be home. The first year, I thought for sure he was going to find me right away. But as time went on and I never heard from him, never felt like he was around, I grew complacent. I should have known it wouldn’t last.”
“Hey,” Sebastian laid his hand on top of hers. “We’re not letting him take anything from you again.”
“I know you’ll try. And that’s more than I should even ask from you.”
“You’re not asking. I’m making sure it happens. Marco is a bad guy. I don’t want him anywhere near you. I protect what’s mine. End of story.”
Her heart skipped a beat. There it was again. She was his. The way he declared it with such a casual air about him made her squirm in her seat.
“I think I’m hearing things. Probably from being so exhausted. Did you just say that I’m yours?”
“Yes.” Sebastian opened the newspaper that lay draped on the table in front of him.
“Excuse me,” Emma pulled down the paper that was covering his face. “That is news to me. Don’t you think we should have discussed this?”
“What’s there to discuss? I know you feel whatever is going on between us, Sprinkles, don’t deny it. The tension, it’s almost unbearable sometimes. I can’t wait for the string to snap.”
“And just what do you think will happen when the string snaps? Do you think I’m just going to fall on my knees and beg you to do ungodly things to me?”
“Em, if you’re down on your knees, I’ll be the one begging for you to do ungodly things to me.”
“You wish.” She unbuckled from the chair and walked over to the sofa, pulling the large blanket down over herself. As she closed her eyes, she scoffed at his declaration. Except, the throbbing between her legs betrayed exactly how she felt about him. Maybe going to Colorado alone with Sebastian wasn’t the safe choice. Not safe for her heart, anyway.
But then again, she wasn’t truly alone with him. Gage and Nash would be there. She’d just have to make sure she planned accordingly. If she was never alone with Seb, she wouldn’t have to worry about giving in to temptation. Pulling the blanket over her head, she let out a wild yawn and tried to calm her mind.
It must have worked because the next thing she knew, Gage was gently shaking her shoulder to wake her up for landing. It was dark out by the time they were in the car, turning off the highway to begin their slow drive up the winding roads. Emma only saw a few lights on the way, showing just how remote the safe house was.
Sebastian’s hand had been on her thigh since they left the airport, with Gage driving and Nash grumbling about riding shotgun. His hand tightened as Gage slowed down, turning into the forest.
“Is there even a road here?” Emma whispered.
“This is the driveway to the house.”
“I would have never seen that turn off in a million years.”
“That’s the point, Sprinkles.”
Of course it was. The driveway had to be at least half a mile long. She couldn’t even begin to fathom how they maintained it during the winter.
“This is your safe house?” Emma’s jaw was almost on the floor. This certainly wasn’t a simple cabin in the woods. No. The three-story house was more like a multi-million dollar chalet. It was the fanciest home Emma had ever seen. “What the hell do you see in Bell Ridge? Because if I had a home like this, in the middle of the forest all to myself, I’d never leave.”
“I love this place, but it gets lonely being out here on your own for too long. Bell Ridge is still small, but at least they have decent coffee there and I don’t have to try to make it myself.”
“Oh, just decent?”
Sebastian laughed before taking Emma’s hand in his. He apparently had no problems leaving the guys behind to deal with all their luggage as he walked her up the front porch, which was a stunning wraparound filled with gorgeous wooden chairs, through the main floor, where there was an over-sized, sunken living room and into a kitchen she could just about live in. The features of the home were stunning, yet simple, and even knowing that Seb most likely had someone come in and design everything, it still felt like he was in every detail of the place.
“Come on, I’ll show you to your room.”
Emma honestly couldn’t hold in her excitement, and she may have accidentally gasped when Sebastian opened the doors to her room. No, it honestly couldn’t even be called a room. It was a suite…a whole little home on it’s own.
The four-poster bed was massive, loaded with fluffy blankets and a million different pillows, and reminded her of how cozy her bed was back at her apartment, after he replaced her old one. She might just sleep the entire time they were in Colorado. Looking around, she could see a door that led to the attached bathroom, and his and hers closets. Wait…his and hers?
“Sebastian, is this your room?”
“Do you want it to be?” He quirked his eyebrow up.
She stared at him, watching the smirk grow on his face.
“Sadly, no. This room is all yours. I’m just across the hall though, if you need me.”
“A-and where are Gage and Nash staying?”
“In the operations center.”
“And that would be…”
“In the basement.”
Two entire floors of the house separated them from the guys. Emma’s plan to stay away from Sebastian was rapidly crumbling around her.
“I don’t need all this. I can stay down there with them.”
“No can do, Sprinkles. We deal with a lot of classified information and the operations center is key-card granted entry only.”
“Oh,” she swallowed thickly.
“I haven’t even shown you my favorite part yet.”
“How can you pick just one thing about this house that’s your favorite?”
“I know, it’s tough, but there’s a deck that spans the entire length of the house with a very large hot tub if you go out that door right there and down the stairs.” He pointed to a door on the same wall as the bed. “I love to sit out there and watch the snow fall when I come during winter.”
“The deck is two stories on the back? God, this place is a palace! I bet the hot tub is really relaxing.” Why was she rambling so much? She needed to get into her pajamas and go to sleep. Emma really hoped Natalie ordered her something cozy to sleep in.
“Want to try it out with me?”
“The hot tub?” Yeah, that sounded like a recipe for disaster. Sebastian in swim trunks, all warm and wet and close enough that she could touch him…nope. She needed to stay in her room, as far away from Seb as possible.
“I don’t know. It’s been a long day and I’m kind of ready to turn in.”
“Just a couple minutes. It will feel good to relax before you try to sleep.”
It actually did sound delightful, and she could almost feel the heat sinking in to her sore muscles. She had warning bells going off in her mind about regretting her decision in the morning, but that was a problem for future Emma.
“You know what? You’re probably right. Do you think Natalie thought to have a bathing suit sent for me?”
“You don’t need to wear one. We could always skinny dip.” A mischievous shadow danced across his features and her skin flushed.
“Maybe if I was just by myself I would, but with three God-like former SEALs here with me, yeah, no, I think that would be a little too adventurous for me.”
“Well, it was worth a try.” Sebastian laughed as he walked out of her room. “I definitely mentioned you needing a swimsuit as part of your wardrobe. Maybe try the drawers in the closet? I’ll see you out there in five minutes,” he called over his shoulder.
Emma walked into the large closet and began opening drawer after drawer. About halfway through, she found what she was looking for. Shit, could it be any skimpier? She doubted the two tiny triangles on the bikini’s top would cover her nipples, let alone provide her with any semblance of modesty. She was going to kill Natalie when she got back to Bell Ridge. What was her friend thinking?
Frantically, she searched through the other drawers. Silk tops and tight, figure hugging bottoms were plentiful, along with the skimpiest pajamas she’d ever seen in her life. Was she hiding out from someone who wanted to kill her or was she about to be in a sexy photo shoot?
Closing the drawers, Emma searched the shelves in the closet, where she found some old sweats and a few worn t-shirts. She’d wear the tiny bikini, but would happily cover up in a shirt, so Seb didn’t get the wrong idea. Besides, there was no way she wanted him to see her scar.
Satisfied with her cover-up skills, Emma walked downstairs, and into the enormous gourmet kitchen. It might be nice to put together a little snack for everyone. After all, none of them had eaten since before getting on the plane. Emma’s stomach let out a rumble as if to agree.
Plopping her hair on top of her head in a messy bun, Emma opened the enormous refrigerator and peaked inside. She knew Sebastian had a housekeeper who had prepared the house for their arrival, but she never imagined that preparation would extend into a fully stocked kitchen.
Emma quickly pulled out a selection of cheese, fruits, and veggies, and started assembling a snack board. She was so in the zone, she didn’t hear Gage walk into the kitchen.
“Yum. This looks great.” His voice made her jump.
“Jesus, Gage! I know you’re a former SEAL, so you’re used to operating in stealth mode, but maybe make a little bit more noise when you are sneaking up on me if you don’t want to be accidentally stabbed.” Emma waved around the knife she was holding, before turning back to the strawberries she was cleaning.
Gage laughed. “Do you want some wine to go with that hangry attitude of yours? I know where Seb hides the good stuff.”
“Do you even need to ask? Point me to the glasses!”
Gage returned a few minutes later with a bottle of red and a bottle of white. “Wasn’t sure what would go best with all that,” he pointed to the platter she’d assembled, “and I figured you might want to pick before you head out to the hot tub.”
“Are you and Nash going to come out?”
“Nah, we’ve got stuff we need to go through downstairs.”
Damn. There went all the hope she had at any self control. She was about to be all alone with Sebastian in a hot tub. Surrounded by the beautiful forest. Drinking wine. In her itty-bitty bikini. Yeah, she was in trouble.
* * *
The hot water seared into his aching knee. He wouldn’t dream of mentioning it to Emma, but getting down on the floor to help her during her panic attack earlier hadn’t only brought on his own flashback, but had tweaked his old injury as well.
Now, the dull throbbing in his knee was replaced by the punch of desire that hit him right in the stomach as she walked out, her gorgeous pale peach legs sticking out from underneath his old t-shirt. Fuck, she looked perfect in his clothes.
Gage walked out behind her, carrying a tray of food and drinks, and Seb glared at him.
“Enjoy guys. Nash and I will be down in the basement if you need us,” he chuckled as he turned around and went back in the house.
“They should be here, too.”
“No, they shouldn’t,” Seb grumbled, adjusting himself under the water.
“Oh!” Emma exclaimed as she stuck her foot in, testing the temperature. “It’s warmer than I thought it would be.” She slid her body into the hot tub, the shirt soaking straight through. Sebastian couldn’t help himself as his eyes roamed across the fabric clinging to her body.
“Sebastian…” her voice was husky, her eyes hooded as she called to him. That was all he needed. He pushed off from the spot where he was sitting and floated towards her.
“God, Emma. I think I’ve had a dream that started out just like this.” His fingers grazed the top of her thighs as he played with the hem of the shirt she was wearing.
“T-the guys should have stayed up here. W-we can’t. We shouldn’t.”
“You can’t deny this attraction any more than I can.” He nipped at her ear before pressing a kiss to her neck, directly above her pulse point. He laughed as he watched her heartbeat flutter just below the surface of her porcelain skin.
“There’s a camera right there, Seb.” He followed her line of sight.
“Yes, Sprinkles. There are cameras all over this place. The house is very secure.” His fingers made their way under the fabric covering her and tickled across the skin of her belly. He felt her quiver beneath his touch.
“A-are they watching? Nash and Gage?”
“If they know what’s good for them, then no. They will give us privacy.”
“I’m not weak, Sebastian.”
His eyes grew wide as her hands landed on his shoulders. She pressed her body into his lap and smiled.
“I know you’re not.”
“I’m sick of feeling like I have no power.”
“You have all the power right now, Sprinkles. Every single drop of it is all yours.” Her hand ran over his chest, swirling over each defined muscle on his torso. As she touched the outside of his hips, Sebastian raised his hand to cup her breast.
“No.” The breathy command had him halting his movements. “You said it. I have the power. I’m the only one who gets to touch right now, Sebastian. I have the power.”
Fuck.
* * *
She didn’t wait for him to argue, slipping her hand beneath the waistband of his swim trucks, gripping his firm length in her hand.
The sharp inhale of his breath had her body on fire. She leaned in and kissed him as she stroked him slowly, from base to tip. The way his whole body shook beneath her touch made her feel incredible. So much of her life was out of control, but this? This she could control. There was no worry that he’d feel her scar, because she’d demanded he not touch her. There was just an insatiable fire in his eyes that she was determined to turn into an inferno.
“I want to touch you, Em. Your perfect breasts, teasing me through that wet t-shirt. I want to suck on them until you are screaming out my name. I want to touch between your legs and see how wet you are for me.”
“Fuck, Seb. Your dirty talk is amazing.” Emma clenched her legs together, so unbelievably turned on by the filthy things he was saying. Her hand continued to stroke his length, her mouth watering at how hard he’d become under her touch. She watched the way his face relaxed and his breath hitched at the way she touched him. And when it seemed like he was just about to reach his release, her hand slid off.
“What…”
“I’m going to let you finish that tonight by yourself,” she laughed as he groaned. “But first, I’m going to give you something to think about while you do.”
Emma moved to the opposite side of the hot tub and slid her hand down her body. Spreading her legs apart, her hand easily found the throbbing spot between her legs.
“Fuck, Em. You are going to make me explode just from watching you do that.” His hand slid over his erection and she shook her head.
“No, Sebastian. No touching, remember the rules?”
“Fuck,” he groaned as her pressure increased on her clit, causing her back to arch off the wall of the hot tub. “You look so beautiful like that, right on the edge of ecstasy.”
“Seb,” she whispered. “Tell me how you would touch me…”
He licked his lips. “I’d lay you down on my bed and strip you out of that wet shirt. My hands would be tied up touching those perfect breasts, my fingers swirling and pinching your rose-colored nipples. And my mouth would ache for a taste too, so I’d sink my teeth into them and take a bite for myself.”
“Oh god,” she moaned as her own pace picked up. Emma lifted a hand to her breast and played with her peaked nipple, imagining every sensation wasn’t due to her own touch.
“That’s right, beautiful. I’d touch them just like that. Then, I’d slide down your perfect body, licking every inch of your skin until I landed right between your thighs. I’d lick you until you screamed out my name Emma…”
Oh fuck, she was so close. Her hand was now moving frantically, chasing the heat that was growing in her belly so fast she thought she might burst into flames.
“I bet you taste like the most delicious vanilla cupcakes, Em, and I’d feast like I’d never had a bite to eat in my entire life. And when I felt your legs shaking around my head, I’d sink my teeth into your delicious clit and moan as you fell apart around me.”
That did it. Emma felt the lava in the depths of her belly spill over, her eyes clamping shut as the most amazing burst of fireworks exploded in her vision. It took her several deep breaths to float back down to earth, and when she finally opened her eyes, she almost melted into the water.
Sebastian’s eyes were the darkest she’d ever seen them, filled with lust. He licked his lips and the most insanely tempting smile spread across his face. She moved towards him, allowing nothing between them to touch as she pressed her lips to his.
Even though her body was still buzzing from her orgasm, Emma forced herself to step out of the hot tub, wrapping a towel around her body before she looked back at Sebastian. “Enjoy your shower tonight, Suits,” she teased as she turned away from him.
The groan that followed her back into the house had her laughing all the way back to her room.