Chapter 6 #2
“Uh, yes, thus the screams, but that was not my fault!”
“I mean you did something to scare her when I went to get her fresh clothes. You said something while I was gone.” The water was still roaring from the bathroom.
Not just the sink, though. Had she turned on the shower, too?
“What did you tell her while I was out of the bedroom?” He’d been gone for moments.
How could his brother screw things up in mere moments?
But Ryan pursed his lips.
Hell.
He loved Ryan. Truly, he did. He’d literally taken a bullet for the man before. He would kill for his brother in a heartbeat. Done. But Nash could still want to kick Ryan’s ass, and he would be kicking that ass if Ryan had said or done anything to hurt Delaney.
Ryan ran a finger over the slightly crooked bridge of his nose. A crook that had come when they were younger and Ryan had caught their sister when Agnes fell out of a treehouse. He’d saved her and received a broken nose as a memento.
Ryan had a tendency to rub that slight crook whenever he felt guilty.
Hell. “What did you tell her?”
A grimace from Ryan. “I offered to step in as her bodyguard.” His hand fell to his side as Ryan gave a brisk nod.
“It’s really the best option. You know the boss is coming in for a personal chat with her.
Using her will be an opportunity that the agency can’t pass up.
Not like we can let Delaney just waltz off into the sunset. ”
Yes, he was aware of that. “You, as her bodyguard?”
“Yes, I mean, it makes the best sense.” Ryan nodded. “She trusts me, she likes me, we don’t have a messy past like you two do.”
Leave it to Ryan to point out the obvious.
“Oh, wait, hold the thought,” Ryan said. “My watch is vibrating.” He tapped the screen of his watch. “Boss is approaching. How about we take this conversation downstairs, hmm? I’m sure Delaney will join us when she is done.” He swung for the door.
Nash stepped into his path. “You did not.”
“Did not…what?” Ryan squinted at him. “Please be way more specific with me.”
“Oh, fuck. You did.” He could see the truth in Ryan’s eyes. “You said something to her about our messy past.”
“Dude. Would I do that?”
“Yes! Yes, you would.” Dammit. “Did you say something about me that made her sick?” Because she’d definitely looked sick before she’d run into the bathroom. “Did you tell her about the missions I’ve worked?” Had Ryan told Delaney about the people Nash had killed?
“I’m not the one sharing CIA secrets. That is you!
” An offended huff from his brother. “I think the sickness part came from when I might have mentioned that her groom was a psychotic criminal who’d left a few bodies across Europe and the US.
But I mean, come on, some things needed to be said.
Just because you were afraid to pull off the band-aid didn’t mean I felt the same way.
Better to just get that hard truth right out in the open so she fully understands the severity of the situation. ”
He grabbed Ryan’s shirt and fisted it. “What else did you tell her?”
Ryan swallowed. His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Our boss will be here soon. We should really get downstairs. Not like she enjoys being kept waiting. You know how Jez gets.”
“What else?”
“I don’t know…”
Uh, yes. He was sure that Ryan did know.
“I guess I could have said something about how I would do the dirty work on the case and stay close to her—”
“You are not doing anything fucking dirty with Delaney. I’ll be the one who is dirty with her!”
“—because she is not going to break your heart again.”
They both blinked as their words collided. Then Ryan squinted.
Nash let him go and shoved back. “You told her that she broke my heart?”
“You’re ready to get dirty with her again?” Ryan whistled. “See, this is why I have to take over. Pretty sure you’re still at least halfway in love with her!”
Oh, there was nothing halfway about it.
“Bro.” A slow shake of Ryan’s head. “There is fucking the woman, and then there is getting fucked over by her.” Blunt words.
And the bathroom door opened.
Because…
Sure.
The door opened, and they both whipped their heads toward the sound. Delaney stood in the doorway, hair wet, wearing jeans, white sneakers, and a soft, blue shirt. No makeup and with full lips trembling. Nash wondered just how much she’d overheard, and he found himself holding his breath.
But Ryan has one loud-ass voice.
“I’ve got a great idea.” A broad smile curved Delaney’s lips and never, ever reached her eyes. “How about neither of you become my bodyguard? Sound good? Fabulous.” Her shoulders straightened. “I’d like to meet your boss, now, please. Thanks so much.”
Nash sucked in a deep breath. “Ryan?”
“Yo, bro?”
“Get the hell out, now.”
Ryan marched for the door. “Getting the hell out, now.” He crossed the threshold and grabbed the doorknob. “Though, I feel duty bound to warn you that you should not do anything you might regret.”
“Shut the fucking door.”
Ryan did. Finally. His brother got his ass out of that bedroom. Nash was alone with Delaney. Alone with the woman he’d loved and lost so long ago. And maybe they needed to clear the air about that time. Maybe he needed to fess up and reveal some long-held secrets or…
“Fuck it.” He surged toward her as she stood there, beautiful and brave and making him ache.
Even as her eyes were widening in surprise, Nash bent toward her. His hand slid under the curve of her jaw. He tipped her head back, and he bent down, and he tasted her.
I missed her.
Too many years had passed.
I craved her.
So many nights when he’d woken up, aching for her. Needing her.
I want her.
He couldn’t let her slip from his grasp again. Whatever he had to do, whatever it took, whatever lines he had to cross, lies he had to tell, or rules he had to shatter, he would do it.
I won’t let go.
Not the hell ever again.
Her hands flew up to curl around his arms. Her lips parted in surprise as she gave a little gasp against his mouth, and, yes, he knew this was the wrong time to be kissing her. The wrong time. The wrong place. The wrong everything.
But he didn’t care.
He had her. He was kissing her. I will be claiming her again.
He thought she might shove him away. Maybe knee him in the groin and tell him not to touch her. She’d already been through hell and what he was doing—these were damn well not the actions of a gentleman.
But Delaney opened her mouth wider.
Her tongue met his. She kissed him back even as a moan trembled from her. She met him. Passion for passion. Lust for lust. Aching need for aching need, and his control snapped.
His hands flew down to her waist. His fingers tightened on her as he lifted her up, and her legs curled right around his hips just like they’d done in the past. A lifetime ago.
And it was suddenly like no time had slipped away.
Like it had just been yesterday when he’d lost his mind and taken and taken and taken her.
His dick shoved forward. He wanted in her.
He wanted to sink into the paradise that was her tight core and feel her hot heaven clench around him.
Nash needed to feel the ripples of her release.
The wet, tight clasp of her body. He wanted her nails raking down his back and her body trembling for him.
He stepped forward. Locked her between his body and the wall even as he kept kissing her. Frantic. Desperate. His heart raced. His muscles tightened. His dick demanded.
Take.
Take.
Take.
“Yo!” A yell from the other side of the door that Ryan had closed not too long ago. “Do you hear me?” He pounded on the door again.
Nash wondered how long Ryan had been pounding.
“The boss just drove up with her guards. They are approaching the cabin right this minute. You and Delaney need to come downstairs, now. Let’s get this show on the road.” Another fierce knock.
Nash lifted his head.
Delaney’s thick lashes flickered as her eyes opened. Her cheeks were flushed. Her lips red and swollen from his mouth. She looked as if she’d just been thoroughly kissed.
I want her to be thoroughly fucked.
Her breath came quickly, and her gaze searched his.
Dammit. “I should apologize,” he began, voice rough, too growly.
She waited.
“But I’m not sorry I kissed you.” Like he could ever be sorry for that. No way. Not in any universe.
“That’s…not an apology.”
“I’m sorry I let you go before.” There. A real apology. One he meant. “I’m sorry it’s taken me this long to find you again.”
Her eyes widened. “Nash?”
“You’re getting a bodyguard.” One thing that was a nonnegotiable point in the upcoming meeting. And another nonnegotiable? “It’s going to be me.” Because no one would guard her body better.
No one knew her body better.
Every single inch. I know every inch of her. I’ve kissed her. Touched her.
And…
He was also more than ready to kill for her.
So, screw Ryan’s offer. When it came to Delaney’s protection, Nash would be the one in charge.