5. Skills
Chapter five
Skills
Owen
I've been doing security since the day we stepped out of the Army almost eight years ago. It’s not that dissimilar. We protect people, only this time, we get paid very highly to do something we love. It’s on our terms. We pick our clients, we even have a waiting list for those who want our more specialised services.
We needed an out after what happened to our unit on our last tour. Myself and Leon took Cole and Ethen with us when we quit the forces. They were all that was left of my A-team when we were in Afghanistan. They're my A-team here too. There was no way I could leave them behind. Not after that.
Others have joined us over the years and we have bases all over the UK and abroad now, including a special unit we co-work with when shit gets bad.
The day we handed in our uniforms, I knew we needed to stick together. That shit, the dark stuff, the stuff you try not to focus on, it can creep up on you and knock you on your arse quicker than a sniper's bullet. I should know, I was that sniper.
We stick together, that's our rule. If you work for us, you're all in. Brothers in every sense of the word.
We had it all lined up, ready to just walk into. The office/warehouse, the contacts, all the gear we would need to work private security. Myself and Leon worked hard to get it all together. We used all the resources we had to get the contracts ready and signed for when we needed them.
When we told Ethan what we wanted to do, he gave us the financial backing we needed; he comes from a very wealthy family. Told us to get what we needed, and he’d join us. His words were, if we were going to do this, then we needed to do it right. What surprised us the most was his grumpy arse had the contract drawn up to say the company was split equally between the four of us. We’ve never looked back.
Jack was one of our first clients. We met a few times over the years. When we were on R most of them good.
“I’m heading to sort it out now.” I’m unable to hide the grin on my face and am happy Leon can’t see it. I hang up. I’ll deal with him tomorrow. As of now, I have a free night I didn’t know was coming, now we have the B-team on Millie and Jack. I know how I plan on spending it. In between the thighs of a woman I can’t get out of my head.
After what we did last night, my dick has been thinking about her nonstop too. Every move, every moan. As soon as she opened that door last night, the way her fingers spread over my chest, the instant heat. Fuck, I knew she wanted it just as much as I did. When she looked at me, those ice-blue, almost violet eyes had me.
My cock twitches at the memory, at the anticipation of what tonight could bring. I’m hoping for rounds two, three and four. She told me she doesn't want a relationship. I’m okay with that and will respect it as much as I can, but there are many things I’m willing to give up, and Charlie is not one of them. I won’t let what we have be a one-night stand. She deserves more than that after what her ex-husband did to her. I want more. I just don't know what that looks like for us yet. But fuck me, it was the best sex of my life, with a woman who ignites every part of me.
Grabbing the food and beers from the front seat of my truck, I climb out, shutting the door behind me. The back door to the shop is just ahead. Walking towards it, I push... Unlocked. S haking my head, I’m frustrated because anyone could just walk in. Proving my point, I walk right in. I’ll need to have a word with her about it. Maybe install a latch. A bell, or even a camera, or a combination of the three would work best. I’ve got a few back at the office. I’ll link it up to our system so she doesn’t have to pay for anything. I’ll fit them for her next time I have a few free hours.
Protective much?
I already know the layout of the shop. I couldn’t help myself. This shop is big and the apartment upstairs has the same footprint. It’s a big space, other than the flower shop she planned to open, it makes me wonder what she has planned for the extra space.
Placing the food and drinks in the kitchen, I hear her voice float through from one of the smaller rooms back here. I follow the sound, leaning against the doorframe, watching as she talks to herself, sticking the colour swatches to the wall while tossing the ones she’s not so fond of to the floor.
She’s wearing a matching set of dark pink leggings and a sports bra, showing off just how toned she is. The contrast against her pale skin is striking.
Charlie’s deep in thought and she’s not noticed me yet. I can’t take my eyes off her; the way those leggings hug her arse, and the gap of bare skin between her top and trousers. Those places I would willingly trail my tongue over. I swallow, knowing how good she feels in my hands. Having those legs wrapped around me. She might as well be naked for all that she’s wearing. I fucking love it and hate it at the same time.
Thoughts of peeling them all off slowly and savouring every touch race through my mind. Each delicious part of her creamy skin, to taste her on my tongue, swallowing down every bit of her I could.
Stepping forward, I move in and catch one of the cards she doesn't like before it hits the floor.
“I liked that one,” I say, making her jump as she whips her head around. Her fist is clenched like she’s ready to strike, only lowering it when she sees it’s me. I’m close enough to smell the cherry flavour that’s imprinted on my mind, millimetres away from touching her smooth skin. Her hand reaches her chest, fingers splayed, like she’s trying to soothe her racing heart.
“Owen, you…” Her cheeks flush a pale pink as she takes a slow breath through her peach-coloured lips.
“Made you jump?”
She nods, turning her attention back to the wall littered with colourful cards. Placing the card in my hand on the floor with the others, I stay close to her, my body thrumming at our proximity.
“Why are you here? And how did you get in?” she asks, a hit of indifference in her voice. The pulse in her slender neck races. Maybe it’s because of the memory of what we did last night. Maybe it’s the thought of my mouth on hers. My hand itches to move closer so I can feel the rhythm below my fingers. I like that this is what I do to her.
“I brought us dinner. Figured you’d been here most of the day.”
She turns around, her chest grazing mine. “We,” she gestures between the two of us, “are not seeing each other. You don’t have to bring me dinner. Last night was a one-time thing… a great one-time thing.” Tapping her finger on my lips, she sighs. “It won’t be happening again.”
I really like that she believes that. It’s a lie, but I like that she’s trying to convince herself. Capturing her delicate finger between my lips, I suck, teasing the tip with my tongue. She pulls it out with a pop, and my cock immediately stands to attention.
“What I want is you. Relationship or not, I want you.” It’s the truth. Running my finger down her exposed side, the reaction I'm causing is as clear as day, goosebumps exploding in my wake.
Swallowing like she’s trying to gain some semblance of composure, Charlie turns away from me. “If you must know, I’ve not been here all day. I’ve had a day in the spa up at The Manor, relaxing and enjoying myself after a tough couple of months.” My hand reaches her hip, pulling her back to me, her arse against my crotch. Fuck, she feels good. She sighs but doesn't move away. Watching as she tries to make her breaths slow and even, her fingers fidgeting with the cards she’s holding. I won’t give up, not now I’ve had her.
“You hungry?” I say into her ear, nipping the soft flesh, then tentatively licking away the sting I know I caused. She shakes her head and lets out a breath. When she relaxes into me, I know she’s lost the battle with herself. My hand snakes its way up the front of her sports bra, brushing the exposed skin of her stomach on the way up. My fingers lightly tease her nipples through the thin material. She shivers as I hold her firmly against my chest, my other arm wrapping around her waist.
“Just sex, that's all?” Her hands brace on the wall in front of her, while her hips stay pressed against me, teasing me, when she does the smallest of wiggles. I’m ready to explode from the slightest bit of friction.
“This is not just sex, but for now it’s anything you need it to be.” I’m direct, but I mean it.
“Just sex. It’s all I need right now.”
“Right now?” I question, only half-joking.
“Yes, right now, Owen, shit.”
“Keep your hands on the wall. Don't move.” She does as she’s told, while I unzip her sports bra, letting her breasts free. I cup them as she moans, arching into my touch. My dick's already hard from the sound, begging to be set free of its jean-clad confines.
“I don’t understand… how you do this to me? But I want it,” she says, slightly shaking her head with each word.
Moving my hands slowly down her beautiful body, I feel everything as I go. The soft, supple skin of the breasts, the smooth plains of the flat stomach, and as I dip my hand down the front of her leggings and into her knickers, the small silky patch of hair between her sweet thighs. Her breath catches and her head falls back. “Fucking hell,” I mumble into her ear. She’s wet, so wet… easing my hand back out, a small whimper of what sounds like frustration escapes her lips.
“Patience,” I tell her as I peel down her leggings, taking down her knickers with them. Dropping to my knees as I help her step out of them.
The view from down here is beautiful. She is glistening and I've barely touched her. This is all for me.
I undo my jeans. Taking myself out, I groan at the relief and fist my cock for a moment while I watch her in this position: legs slightly parted, her palms still planted on the wall. She glances back over her shoulder, her eyes widening when she sees how hard I am. She knows she does this to me. Fuck, it just makes me harder.
My fingers find her entrance as I stand behind her, pressing my front to her back. Her breath quickens as I sink a finger deep inside her tight, slick warmth I could feel forever. She pushes back against my hand as if she needs more. I add another finger, curling them to find the spot I know will make her come.
“Fuck… Owen... I need more, now,” desperation ebbing from every word.
I love that she knows what she wants and is willing to tell me.
“I going to take my time with you, Charlie.” Moving my hand from her abdomen to find her clit, she bucks into me. It’s so hot the way her hips move, so I give her more. Adding pressure where she needs it.
“Yes… Fuck.” Her walls clench around my fingers and she groans as I pull away from her clit, planting a kiss on her neck as I pinch and tug at her sensitive nipple. I can’t stop the smile that’s tugging on my lips, I’m going to try as hard as I can to persuade this woman to be an ‘us’. I want so much more than she's willing give right now. I can only dream about a life with Charlie in it at this point. Wrapped in my arms, making the best fucking sounds I’ve ever heard come from another person’s lips.
I’ve not moved my fingers inside her yet. They’re still curled at just the right place, letting the anticipation build. I pump them in and out. From this position, I can't see everything, but I can feel it; her heat on me, how wet she is, her body writhing under my touch.
I can’t get enough.
I want to watch her come, taking her hard and fast against the wall. My fingers come back to her clit, circling while the ones inside her move slowly in and out.
“Yes,” she cries as I slide my cock through her folds, coating myself in her arousal. Her forehead presses to the wall as I feel her quiver around my fingers, her climax close. Her hips buck, trying to take what she needs.
“Take it, Charlie. I want to watch you come undone, then I’ll fuck you just like you need me to.” My words ignite her heat, her sweet juices coating my dick as she grinds herself harder against me. Working her hips against my hand and my dick, adding to the pressure she needs. My fingers circle her clit again and again, all while my other hand pumps into her. I watch as her skin flushes deeper, her breath coming in shallow pants, like she can’t get enough air in her lungs. I double my efforts and watch as she falls over the edge; her body, going tense, her walls convulse around my fingers. I don’t let up, working her through it.
“Owen… Ahh… Fuck…” Her head whips back as she almost collapses in my arms.
My name on her lips is something else. Her hands are still braced on the wall and I wrap my arm around her waist, nudging her thighs wider with my knee. Positioning myself at her entrance, I go slowly, pushing inside her. Gasping at the intrusion when I plant myself in deep, feeling her stretch around me. “Charlie.” Staying there for a moment while I savour every second of this incredible feeling of her wrapped around my cock. Her fingers try to grasp the wall. It's agonising, but worth every fucking second.
Coming out slowly at first, then slamming into her, fucking her hard. Her head dips as she takes everything I'm giving her.
She arches her back to get more. My hands come to her hips, bending her further over, going deeper with every thrust. Fuck, how can this be better than last night? But somehow, it is…
“Angel…” I slam into her while taking her nipple and twisting it in between my fingers.
“Owen… Again.” I do it again. Then I feel it. She comes again, this time bigger and better than the last, spasming around my dick, choking it. I can’t hold on. I thrust in one final time before I explode, coming with her and spilling my load deep inside her.
“Angel,” I whisper into the back of her neck as we both fall to the floor, still inside her as she sits on my lap, her body draped back against mine.
I can’t help touching her. My hands wander over her body, sweet, sweaty, and satisfied.
“I’ve been thinking about that all day,” I admit.
“I’d like to say different, but I can’t,” she admits, smiling.
“Um... did you say you bought dinner?” she asks.
“I did. Pizza.” She wiggles her hips. I'm still half hard, almost ready to go again, but she eases off me, stands, picks up her clothes, watching her every move as she heads for the door.
Standing, I make my way into the kitchen, adjusting my clothes as I go. Picking up the now-cold pizza and beer and heading back to what I’m assuming will be her office, and placing them on her desk. When she walks back in a few minutes later, her face is flushed, a beautiful pink tint creeping up her cheekbones and her hair has that just fucked look about it. I decide there and then that I like that look. Flushed and fucked.
“I didn't know what you liked, so I brought a margarita and a pepperoni. Can’t go wrong with either.” Opening a beer, I hand her one.
“Good choice. I like both,” she says, opening the box and grabbing a slice of the pepperoni.
“When do you move upstairs?” she shoots me a look. Her brows pinched together in confusion.
“Before I answer any questions, you need to answer some of mine first. If we are going to do this ‘friends with benefits’ thing, I need to know a few things.” “I’ll answer anything you want, but some things I’m not allowed to tell you.” I know she has an inquisitive mind. You have to be when you’re an ex-prosecution solicitor; I can only imagine the things she wants to ask me. I need to be at least a little cautious with my answers.
“Umm, okay, how did you get my number?” she asks, tilting her head to one side.
“That’s easy. The same place I got your address, the shop details, floor plans, and some other stuff. I… searched for you on the system I have. It gave me all the basic information I needed to know about you.” I choose my words carefully. I can’t tell her too much about the system I use, which could tell me a hell of a lot more, including money, purchases, every moment ever electronically recorded from her life, and more. But I won’t. I want to hear it from her sexy as fuck mouth first.
“And I know nothing about you, other than your job and what you look like half naked.”
“Well, we can rectify the latter… just say the word and I'll show you what I look like fully naked.” I watch as her eyes sweep over me, but she shakes her head. Moving further away from me.
“It should creep me out that you know stuff about me, but I’m weirdly okay with it… and I don’t know why. What else do you know about me?” She nods, letting me know it’s my turn to speak.
“Okay… I looked you up as soon as Millie got in touch with you. I needed to check you out, make sure you were not a threat to Millie and Jack.” She raises her eyebrows at this, but I carry on. “I know what you used to do. I know you quit your job recently. I also know you were married for six years. Your divorce finalised just over two weeks ago, and that prick cheated on you.” She visibly flinches at my words. “Sorry, that was insensitive of me,” I say, holding my hands up as a way of apology. She nods, but waves for me to carry on.
“I know you have trained over the last few months to become a florist, and have bought this shop and the apartment above to live in. I know you own that Porsche 911 that's sitting outside outright. You’re twenty-nine. I know when your birthday is… and that's it.”
Letting out a breath, she looks like she’s taking it all in before she says, “I think we need to play a game of twenty questions. I’m asking, you're answering.”
“Go ahead,” I reply. I’m not hiding anything from her.
“One…What's your full name? I’ve had sex with you twice and still don’t know if Owen is a nickname or a given name.”
“Owen Archie Stone.” Her eyebrows raise slightly, a small smile curving her lips, letting me know she likes what she hears.
“Two… how old are you?”
“Thirty-two. My birthday is the twenty-second of April.” I smile.
“I don’t need to know your birthday, three…who do you work for?”
“Myself, it’s my business, Cerberus.” She lets out a laugh.
“You named your business after the gatekeeper of the underworld, the Three Headed Hound of Hades.” I shrug. She knows her Greek mythology. Taking another drink, she looks at me for a second before saying, “You intrigue me, Owen Archie Stone. Now pass me some more pizza.” I can see it in her eyes. I'll win her over.
I hand her another slice. “Four… Where do you live?” She’s perching on the edge of the desk now, the flushed and fucked look disappearing before my eyes.
“I have a house on the seafront.”
“There’s more to that. Tell me.”
“Fine, I have a few houses up and down the country. I like to develop them in my spare time.”
“Full of surprises. Five… what else do you like doing in your spare time?” This time my eyes wander over her, and she blushes again.
“You, for the last two days, but otherwise I like to work with my hands. I like to work wood, carpentry.” I watch as she slowly swallows.
“You are good with your hands; I’ll give you that,” she teases.
“Anytime you want them, Angel, just say the word, and they are all yours.” I tug her from the desk and back her up against the wall. I cage her in, my hands on either side of her head when my mouth lands on hers. Fuck, she tastes good. She sighs and pushes me away. Standing back, I smirk.
“Ask me number six…” I wrap my hand around the nape of her neck and let my mouth devour her before dragging my tongue lightly over her flushed skin. Her hands fist my shirt, pulling me closer. “Ask away Angel.”
“Six…” Whimpering as I lick the curve of her neck. “Where are you from?”
“Up north.” she moves her head to one side, allowing me better access.
“Seven… where’s your accent gone?” My lips hover over hers, her breath hot against me.
“Too many years in the army, never went back home.” I kiss her, my lips on hers, my tongue seeking entrance. I want to claim her as mine.
This woman is going to ruin me.