Chapter Fifteen
Gabe braced his hand on the tiled shower wall, watching Felicity through the glass shower door peeling off her clothes. With each inch of skin that she bared, more need gripped him.
When she slipped in behind him, the breath roughened in his throat. She plastered her body against his, lips brushing his shoulder blade.
“I was wrong about Wollstonecraft.”
He stilled, turning his head slightly to hear her low voice over the trickle of water. “What do you mean?”
“I thought that a strong woman didn’t need anyone. I was wrong. A strong woman accepts the help and advice of people who care about her. You’ve been worried about me since someone broke into my shop, even when I acted like I was fine.”
“I only want you safe.”
She nodded against him, her lips skimming his shoulder again. She pushed her breasts against him, and the world narrowed to heat and skin and the desperate need to connect again.
He turned and caught her against him, water running over them in hot rivulets. Her mouth opened under his, the kiss needy and her hands roaming up his chest to lock on his shoulders.
He lifted her easily, and she wrapped her legs around him. He pressed her to the tile with water pounding around them, drowning out everything except her gasp as he joined her in one slick glide.
With a growl, he nipped at her throat and lost his mind at the tight clench of her pussy around his cock.
“You’re mine.” She rocked into him.
He sank deep once more. “You’re mine. I love you…so…damn…much.” He swirled his tongue through her mouth on every heated word.
Her head fell to his chest, nails digging into his back as they moved together in a fierce, fast rhythm. Their sounds of pleasure mingled, growing more intense as his orgasm coiled in the base of his spine, and her inner walls flexed around his length.
When she shook apart with ecstasy, he swallowed the sound she made in a kiss that nearly buckled his knees.
In one hard nudge…then two…he let go, filling her in long streams that seemed to have no end. Their kiss slowed. He opened his eyes to find her stare fixed on his face, eyes shimmering.
They stayed under the spray for a long moment in the swirling steam. He loved her like this—open and trusting him.
“You don’t need to ignore all the Wollstonecraft teachings, bookshop. Her words helped shape you—along with a million others. But let these words shape you too: I love you.”
Her eyelids fluttered, dipping low over her smoldering blue eyes. When she opened them again, sparks of love captured his heart, tethering them together.
They stepped out of the shower still touching—her hand sliding down his arm, his fingers skimming her hip. She looked stunning and perfect wrapped in a towel with her cheeks flushed and her damp hair curling at the ends.
He just pulled on jeans when his phone buzzed on the counter.
Unknown number.
He was about to ignore it when the preview text made his pulse jump.
Need you to pick up an incoming vet at DEN. Transport him to BH therapy program. Sensitive. ASAP.
For a second, Gabe stared, his heart thudding. Instructions to pick up a vet at the airport and take him to the ranch.
He didn’t have all the Black Heart contacts in his phone yet, and he knew from the few days he spent in the office that some of the guys rotated devices.
Carson had told him numbers were constantly changing with burner phones, but Gabe didn’t have them all memorized yet, since he’d only been in the office a few times before Carson placed him in charge of Felicity’s safety.
This was exactly the kind of directive he hoped to receive, showing that he was part of the team, not a guest who rolled in after a midnight drive.
Felicity came up behind him, slipping her arms around his waist. “What is it?”
Gabe turned, pulled her close and brushed his lips over her temple. “Text from one of the Black Heart Security team. I’m supposed to pick up a veteran and transport him to the ranch.”
“That’s really important. Do you want me to come with you?”
“No. It’s best if I meet him alone. But if you don’t mind packing up our stuff, I’ll be back for you before checkout.”
“Of course.” She gave him a look that he’d seen on his sister’s face a time or ten. A look of pride that made his chest tight. She went on tiptoe and kissed him. “I’ll handle things here. Be careful.”
“Always.” Part of him didn’t want to leave her, but he wanted this. To help the team. Wanted to help another vet begin his own healing journey too.
Within half an hour, he pulled into the airport parking. The place buzzed with chaos of people rushing with their rolling suitcases and the flat, mechanical voice over the intercom. Gabe had received a new message during the drive, and he glanced at it now.
Terminal East. Passenger pickup. No name given for privacy.
He texted back. How will he know where to find me?
Stand under the monitor with the arriving flights. I’ll let him know.
He located the closest monitor near the gate of arrivals, scanning the faces coming off the plane. He watched for a man carrying himself with a military bearing. Straight posture but possibly an injury like he often saw in the therapy program. He was confident he’d know the guy when he saw him.
Ten minutes passed. Then twenty. Then forty.
No one approached him. He scoured the area for any sign of a person who looked lost.
He thumbed out a quick message to the unknown number.
At pickup. ETA?
No response.
A slow tingle crept up his spine.
He waited another ten minutes before giving in to the itch under his skin. Pulling out his phone again, he hit Carson’s contact. The line rang twice.
“Gabe?” Carson’s voice came with a distracted undertone, as if he’d caught him mid-task. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah,” he said slowly, tugging at the brim of his ballcap. “Got a message from one of the team to pick up an incoming vet from the airport. Transport to the therapy program. I’m here, but…who am I picking up exactly? Nobody’s come through.”
A beat of silence.
Then Carson’s tone took on a dangerous edge. “What message?”
A cold brick settled in Gabe’s gut. “Unknown number. It sounds legit.”
“Read it to me,” Carson ordered.
Gabe did.
When he finished, Carson issued a curse. “That didn’t come from anyone on my team. We sure as hell don’t send you in blind.”
The chill in Gabe’s gut turned to ice. “Fuck!”
Carson’s breathing changed, the sound of a man already moving fast. “Gabe. Where’s Felicity?”
“At the Airbnb. I told her I’d be back soon.”
“Call her. Now.”
He was already striding toward the parking structure. The world tunneled into a single, razor-sharp line of purpose. His pulse hammered, and his lungs burned. The familiar surge of adrenaline coiled in his spine.
He dialed Felicity as he yanked open his truck door and jumped in. He slammed the door hard enough to make the windows rattle as the engine roared to life. And in his ear, the phone rang.
And rang.
And kept ringing.
Dread flooded every inch of his body.
“Come on, bookshop. Pick up. Pick up. Pick up.”
It went to voicemail.
He hung up and called again. And again.
Still nothing.
His hands tightened on the wheel until pain lanced up his arms. This was his fault. He’d let his guard down, trusted too easily.
And he’d left her vulnerable.
“I’m coming,” he whispered, voice ragged. He tore out of the airport, weaving into traffic, his mind already racing through scenarios and threats.
One belief throbbed in his chest, low and hard and undeniable.
Felicity was in danger.
And he was going to find her—or tear the world apart trying.
* * * * *
Felicity stood in front of the bathroom mirror, trying to tame her hair into a look that didn’t scream just had frantic shower sex with my very intense ex-Marine boyfriend.
A small smile spread over her face. When she looked at her reflection, happiness glowed back at her.
She ran a brush through her hair, then lifted her fingers to fluff the waves back into place, her thoughts skittering in a dozen directions. So much had happened—the trip to Denver, the safe-deposit box Henry left her, the strange meeting with Andrew, and then that brief clash with Gabe.
At least their argument hadn’t lasted. Neither of them could stand hurting the other, and they were both adult enough to talk it out before it had a chance to become a bigger issue.
She drifted through the house, taking in the cozy warmth of the space while thinking about Gabe picking up that veteran.
Her phone buzzed on the coffee table. She hurried to pick it up, staring at the unknown number on the screen. For a heartbeat, her stomach sank. Could something be wrong with Gabe? Or at the ranch?
She answered.
“Felicity St. James?” The voice was male and congenial. “It’s Andrew. Henry’s nephew.”
She exhaled, leaning against the arm of the sofa. “Oh—hi. Sorry, I didn’t recognize the number. How did you get mine?”
He issued a short laugh. “I rummaged through my uncle’s desk. He had your number in his Rolodex. He was so old-school.”
Some of her unease flowed away, and she issued a small laugh. “Yes, he was.”
“Listen, I’ve been thinking since you left. About what brought you and Uncle Henry together in the first place. The books.”
“That’s true.”
“I realized you love books, and I don’t. I think he would’ve wanted you to have a few more things. I’d like to give you his books.”
Her heart kicked. “Oh, Andrew. I couldn’t—”
“I insist. My uncle would want you to have them.”
Emotion stung behind her eyes. “That’s so generous.”
“Why don’t you swing by and you can look over the collection? The ones you want, I’ll have packed up and shipped to you. The ones you don’t, I’ll donate to the local library.”
“I’d really like to. It’s just…we have to check out soon. And Gabe isn’t ready to leave at the moment…” She trailed off, shooting a look at the bags she had packed and waiting by the door for his return.
“I’ll send a car. It’s a short trip, and you’ll be back before you need to check out.”