Chapter 5
Duncan took her like his life depended on it, relentlessly plowing into her until she was a mindless, panting, incoherent mess.
And she loved it.
“Yes, Duncan, yes.” Solace couldn’t believe she’d gotten actual words out. “Just like that. Just like…” Or that she was already about to…
“Ohhh… Mmm…”
She wanted to scream out her release but had enough awareness of her surroundings to once more bury her face in her arm. All they needed was to have the whole team breaking down the door.
“Angel… So good… So… Ahh…”
The bruising hold on her hips turned into a vice-like grip as he pounded into her—pushing his cock so deep, she swore she felt it all the way to her womb when it pulsed with his release.
“Uhhh…” The sensation sent little bursts of pleasure through her core that just added to her limp, complete satisfaction.
“Ah, damn,” Duncan breathlessly murmured, his fingers gently skimming over her hips. “That’s going to bruise.”
“It’s fine,” she breathed out. “Besides, that’s not my immediate concern.”
“What? What’s wrong?”
She did her best to straighten her grin at his obvious concern, before she felt it was finally safe to look over her shoulder at him.
Damn, he looks good back there.
“Well,” she said, unable to stop from squirming, or from closing her eyes in pleasure when his cocked twitched inside her body. “We’re still, um, connected.” She managed to open her eyes to stare into his frowning face. “And I have you running down my legs.”
“Shit,” he muttered, while pulling away, which was unfortunate.
She wouldn’t have minded staying connected a few seconds more.
But he was already getting to his feet and pulling his pants up with him.
“Don’t move,” he murmured, his eyes clearly fixed on her ass and legs as he fastened his pants and belt.
“Do I have any choice?” She grimaced. Yeah, things were starting to get messy. “But hurry,” she called out to his retreating back heading for the ensuite bathroom.
“Stay still,” he said moments later, before gently swiping a warm washrag up her thighs and then her bared flesh.
“That feels good,” she murmured. Having him clean her so intimately should have been embarrassing, but after what they’d just shared together, it would be silly.
“Finished.”
“Thanks,” she said, trying to stand without tipping over. It wasn’t easy, since her legs remained tangled by her jeans and thong still at her knees. But she needn’t have worried. Duncan’s arms wrapped around her middle and hoisted her up, then held her steady and flush against his body.
I never want to be anywhere else.
“I do not want to be here,” Solace grumbled later that evening, knowing full well everyone on the team would hear her through their shared com links. Dressing in formal clothes wasn’t her cup of tea. Neither was the type of crowd this event had attracted.
Where would she rather be?
With Duncan, of course, and far away from this museum lobby. That was a truth she dared not tell a soul. All they needed was for?—
Hmm…
Several local celebrities and a couple of politicians meandered through the main hall exit, drawing her attention. One in particular caught her eye.
Tolbert Spivey.
Spivey and his wife, Paula, were all but holding court—basking in the limelight provided by the elite members of society drawn to the event.
She doubted their dedication to animals had less to do with charity and more to do with Fallon St. James—former supermodel and rising starlet—who had acted as hostess for the event.
Wherever Duncan was, he was missing quite a spectacle.
The team was also here because of her, but for an entirely different reason. Ms. St. James had managed to acquire herself some not so nice fans. Hence, the need for Noah to act as her date and immediate bodyguard.
She peered toward the now open doors leading to the main hall, willing Noah and their principal to appear, all while curling her toes to get the blood circulating to them.
“These shoes are killing me,” she groused, shaking her left foot out behind her. It had gone almost completely numb. Just then Spivey’s roving eyes met hers. The big, fake, toothy smile she gave him was met with a stoney stare before he pivoted the other way.
Jackass.
“Aww…” Declan’s tone wasn’t unfamiliar. In fact, there was probably a smirk on his face that matched it. “I thought all girls liked to play dress up.”
“Look, Carter, I’d like to see you stand around for three hours in four-inch heels.” She gave her own smirky tone right back. “You know what? I think all of us would like to see that.”
Chuckles came from several fronts through her earpiece, some louder than others, with Garrett laughing from his place in the surveillance/communications van, “Do women’s heels even come in Sasquatch?”
“I might possibly know the answer to that,” came from Chance. “But I don’t wanna talk about it.”
“That you won’t talk about?” Noah muttered. “Good to know for future reference.”
“What?” Chance sounded decidedly offended. “Are you implying I talk too much?” Several, no’s and really’s sounded in her ear, with Chance finishing with, “Well, I don’t. At least not much.”
“Yeah, right,” Noah shot back, before murmuring, “Dove is leaving the lady’s room.”
Dove being the codeword for their principal who had—obviously much to Noah’s embarrassment—taken quite a liking to him.
“Get ready to pucker up,” Chance said. Little did Ms. St. James know, but all the small compliments she’d paid her date throughout the evening had given Chance ammunition for his current mission in life, which was…
Irritating Noah.
“Chance?” Noah’s clearly aggravated tone came through loud and clear.
“Yeah,” Chance answered.
“Sasquatch feet.”
“Huh?” Chance stayed silent for all of two seconds. “Oh, is that going to be my new cue to shut up?”
“If it’ll work,” Noah grumbled, “then yes.”
“Hello, Noah,” came a low, soft, female voice. From her vantage point, Solace peered toward where Noah would be exiting the doors into the outer lobby with Ms. St. James. “You know, I do believe I was the luckiest woman in the room tonight.”
“Oh,” Noah said, his tone even and nonchalant. Probably on purpose. Poor guy had to be cringing inside knowing everyone was still listening.
“Absolutely,” she gave a light laugh, eliciting another round of chuckles in her ear. “No one here tonight was quite as handsome as you.”
“Um, thank you, Ms. St. James.”
Just as Noah uttered those words, the couple exited arm in arm, with both squinting slightly when flashes went off all around. Even from a distance, she could swear Noah’s complexion had darkened quite a bit.
And the woman with him?
The only word that came to mind was, stunning.
From this distance, Solace couldn’t make out the minute details of the woman’s appearance. Like her chocolate brown eyes framed by incredibly long, dark lashes that Solace would bet weren’t fake.
But she didn’t need to be close. They’d all read the brief on the woman, containing not only the specifics of the assignment and the possible danger surrounding her, but also photos of their principal—professional and casual, full body and up close.
Not many women could be considered a natural beauty. But Ms. St. James, with her delicate, heart-shaped face, high cheekbones, full lips, and smooth, creamy, unblemished complexion was the closest she’d ever seen to one.
At the moment, she had what Solace knew to be her waist-length, wavy, sable hair with blond highlights piled atop her head in some kind of impossibly elegant, messy updo. Seeing the other woman’s effortless grace and beauty made Solace feel like a toothless hick.
“Oh, Noah,” Ms. St. James said, her steps matching Noah’s long strides as they crossed the lobby—her tall, slender body almost gliding through the crowd—while she smiled and waved to those gathering around close.
“How many times do I have to say it…” She sidled closer to Noah whose eyes went wide. “It’s Fallon.”
He’s never going to live this down.
Solace was about to laugh, but movement put her on alert. A few people had pushed through the crowd to rush Ms. St. James. If she’d noticed, the rest of the team had as well.
She flashed her gaze toward where Declan was on the move, as were a couple of their on-call operatives.
A quick glance at Noah found he had already pulled their principal closer and turned her body away from who Solace hoped would end up being just overzealous fans, while Chance’s sober words sounded in her ear.
“Time to get to work.”
“Ahh…”
Solace tilted her head back and closed her eyes after letting out that relieved breath.
Kicking off a pair of shoes had never felt so good.
The strappy, black, rhinestone-encrusted dual torture devices had looked so pretty on her feet in the store.
But pretty during a two-minute wear, did not equate to pretty for a several-hours wear.
For the time being, they were about to look even prettier in the back of her bedroom closet.
She pulled the side zipper down on her plain, formal dress and stepped out of it. Now, to get?—
Her muffled ringtone, “Mama” by the Spice Girls, sounded from her bed where she’d thrown the black clutch that matched her shoes. Her mother had impeccable timing. She picked up the clutch and grabbed the phone out of it, then braced herself as she answered.
“Hey, Mom,” she said, holding the phone between her shoulder and ear as she picked up the dress.
“You didn’t tell me you were meeting Fallon St. James,” her mom said, as Solace went to the closet and grabbed a hanger, then carefully slipped the strap sleeves onto it.
“How did you?—"
“I saw you on the news.” Solace’s hand stopped halfway to hanging up the dress and frowned. Well, that wasn’t good. It was always better when the team was not seen. Unless, of course, one of them was acting as an escort, like Noah. “You looked just as pretty as she did.”
Solace flicked her eyes toward the ceiling and resisted the urge to groan.
Here it comes…
The dress had made it to the clothes rack, and she’d just managed to turn toward her dresser to grab something to sleep in when her mom started in on her favorite topic.
“And as pretty as you are, I just don’t understand why you can’t settle down and give me a grandbaby.” She didn’t even bother to take the time for a deep breath before going on. “I think you’re just too picky, because I know all the men you come into contact with can’t be that blind.”
“Mom, we’ve talked about this. I?—”
“Yes, yes, I know. Your career doesn’t allow time for men or babies. Well, other women do it. And sweetheart, you know you’re not getting any younger.”
“Gee, thanks.” She opened the drawer holding all her pajamas and picked out a worn, comfortable set, along with a pair of fuzzy socks.
Mmm… Those are going to feel good.
“Well, you know it’s true.”
“True or not, when I find the right man, I’ll know it.
” Her mother did not need to be told she’d already found him—sort of.
If she did, Mariana Davidson would waste no time in booking a wedding venue and picking out a nursery theme.
Neither of those things were going to happen.
Not with Duncan Sheppard. She didn’t see him being interested in weddings or babies.
She let out a long sigh. That thought didn’t depress her at all.
What they had was just a thing between two consenting adults. And however long this thing lasted, would be however long it lasted. She glanced at the clock. It was going on eleven.
Honestly, she’d kind of hoped she’d have heard from him by now.
Oh, she hadn’t expected an invitation for her to come to his home—at least not much—after they’d finished up the St. James job, which had included the team following her to her hotel and sweeping the room.
But the least he could have done after their little morning interlude was call and say goodnight.
“…know my heart’s in the right place. I just love you so much and want you to be happy.”
She’d let her thoughts wander out way too far. How long had her mom been talking without her answering? At least a minute. But that last part she had to respond to.
“I love you too, Mom. And I know your heart is in the right place.” And Solace truly knew it was. It didn’t mean she wanted reminders that her biological clock was ticking away. “But, please, let me decide when I’m ready for a wedding and babies. Okay?”
A long, exasperated—almost disappointed—sigh sounded from her mom, eliciting a slight twinge in the area of Solace’s heart. The exasperation she could handle. The disappointment? Not so much.
“Mom, I promise if I find the man for me and get pregnant, you’ll be the first to know.”
It wouldn’t hurt for her mom to believe it could happen. Because what good would it do to tell her with the man she wanted for her own, it would never happen.