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  Chapter 8

  Dinner progressed with Stefan and Eliana musing over who might be responsible for the attack. Cass toyed with her food, thinking about how close she’d been to being taken—and how close to the end of this assignment she was drawing. The thought of leaving was damn depressing.

  Remy kept a paper pad beside his plate and took notes. “Ransom seems the most likely motive, seeing as how your father’s not involved in any unsavory businesses.” He wrinkled his nose before glancing Eliana’s way. “We checked him out.”

  Eliana nodded. “Yes, my father didn’t make his money through illegal means. He has competitors, of course, but over time, most have found ways to cooperate so they find success together. He’s very open to partnerships.”

  “Like the one he has with Vasili’s family,” Stefan said, bringing up his name for the first time that evening.

  Eliana’s expression shuttered. “Yes, like his partnership with Vasili.”

  “So, this marriage,” Stacia said. “I don’t want to be impolite—”

  “It’s a merger,” Eliana said, her words sounding crisp. “A business deal, yes.” Her gaze flitted to Stacia. “But please, don’t say that in your article.”

  “Of course not,” Stacia said with a tiny frown.

  Cass sighed. The closer to the wedding she got, the more Eliana seemed to be on edge. Cass didn’t know how she’d feel if she knew she was marrying to become a brood mare for some older man.

  “So, not likely a competitor,” Justin said, steering the conversation away. “And likely someone from this city, seeing as they knew the streets well enough to get away so quickly.”

  “Or had a garage near the French Quarter to ditch the limo,” Trigger said.

  “Yeah, we have an APB out on the vehicle, but no one’s spotted it yet,” Remy said.

  “So, a local.” Trigger glanced at Remy. “Any likely suspects?”

  Remy shrugged. “We have the usual street gangs, cartel presence, some wannabe mobsters. Could be any of them. The attack didn’t take a lot of organization, just eyes and ears to notify them when Cass was spotted with Trigger. Anyone could have done that. By the fact they were thwarted so easily, I’m thinking there wasn’t a lot of planning. It might even have simply been a crime of opportunity.” He glanced at Trigger and Cass who sat next together. “I texted the chief, and they’re already canvassing the Market. We’ve brought in a few of the vendors who have rap sheets—basically anyone who might have been agreeable to making a phone call if you were seen. After that article in the Times, they know Eliana’s here and ripe for the plucking.”

  Justin rubbed a hand over his face. “If it was a crime of opportunity, we may never figure this out. However, the investigation isn’t my priority. Eliana’s safety is. We just need to keep on task for the next few days.”

  All the team members nodded.

  Gabe cleared his voice. “Stefan and I will get together after dinner and discuss the shifts, who will be teamed up for a roving patrol. Levi and I will continue our shifts to cover the monitors. He’s on now until midnight.”

  Justin pushed away from the table. “I think we’ve got things covered. I’ll be back in the morning to see how everything’s going.”

  When he stood, Stefan did, too. “I’ll walk you out.”

  “There’s no need.”

  Stefan inclined his head. “I want to speak about Saturday, when we have to convoy to the airport.”

  The two men exited together, which left a pall over the table.

  Eliana’s shoulders drooped. “I’m a little tired, I think I’ll retire early. Get some beauty sleep,” she said, with a little smile.

  “I’ll escort you,” Gabe said. “I need to check in with Levi anyway.

  Her expression brightened. “Okay, then. I’ll let you check all the dark corners—just in case someone’s hiding in my closet or under my bed.”

  Gabe shook his head, looking bemused. His gaze shot to Cass and Trigger. “Good work today. I’m glad neither of you got hurt bad.”

  When they were gone, Remy and Stacia shared a glance. Remy closed his notebook. “If I have any more questions, or if we find anything, I’ll be back,” he said.

  When the room was cleared, Cass stood and began clearing the table.

  “You know, Eliana’s staff will do that,” Trigger said.

  “Yeah, well, I don’t feel right having someone else clean up after me. I can get them closer to the sink, and they’ll have an earlier night, too.”

  Trigger began gathering dishes alongside her. When they’d cleared the table and deposited everything on the counter beside the sink, the cook waved them out of the kitchen.

  “You want to work out?” Trigger asked as they walked toward the cottage.

  “Not really.” She reached for his hand then leaned against his shoulder as they continued walking side by side. “I’d rather head to bed. That okay with you?”

  He stopped and drew her around to face him. Then he rested his hands on either side of her hips. “I’ve been thinking about it all day.”

  When he kissed her, every worry, even every thought, flew right out of her mind. It was all about his warm lips, the soft suctioning pressure that had her thinking about other places she wanted kissed just like that.

  When he drew back his head, she swayed a bit then opened her eyes.

  “I’m sorry I didn’t do a better job of keeping you safe,” he said softly.

  She raised both eyebrows. “It was my job, too, and we succeeded in exposing a plot—even if it wasn’t a well-thought-out one. I feel pretty good about today.”

  He pressed his forehead against hers. “When that car door opened…” He drew a deep breath. “Thank God, you were quick.”

  She grinned. “Not so bad for a lowly Marine, huh?”

  His mouth twitched. “Hmmm. Do you think I’m an arrogant SEAL? That I think no one’s better?”

  “I know you guys get pumped up telling each other that.”

  “Maybe when I was in BUD/S, but I’m a grown man, now. I know better.”

  “You are a grown man, all right,” she drawled and pressed her belly against him. “I should know.”

  “You do, sweetheart,” he whispered with an answering grind. “You’ve touched it…”

  “Tasted it…”

  “You did have it in your mouth, didn’t you?”

  “Mm-hmm. Finest di—”

  He pressed his finger against her mouth. “Let’s get inside before you talk about him.”

  She laughed as she pulled away, then turned and made a dash for the front door.

  He followed, laughing.

  The moment the door closed, he caught her by the hips and turned her. Then he cupped her ass and lifted her against him.

  She wrapped her legs around his waist. “See? You may be big and brave, but you didn’t plan this at all well. Now, if we were naked first…”

  “What?” he said, bending to bite her bottom lip.

  She pulled her lip free. “You could be inside me. Neither of us would have to wait.”

  “Think a few seconds is gonna slow us down?”

  She giggled. God, she loved that he was playful. “Put me down.”

  When he let go of her bottom, she lowered her legs. He reached for the hem of her shell, but she batted away his hands. “It’ll go faster if we take care of ourselves.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He opened his buttons while he kicked off his shoes.

  “A multi-tasker, I see.” She pulled the shell over her head and tossed it aside then reached behind her to unhook her bra.

  He flung his belt open, unzipped, and pushed his slacks and his boxers down.

  When she was still shimmying out of her capris and panties, his hands were already on her tits, plumping them in his hands.

  Fighting to kick her pants away, she gasped when he tweaked a nipple. “Jesus, Trigger. Do it again.”

  Free now, she reached for him, but he plucked her from the floor, an
d she wrapped her legs around him, again. His cock nudged her center, and she leaned back a little to help him drive up inside her. When his length filled her channel, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and began to nibble at his jaw.

  Trigger took two steps forward and pushed her back against the wall then began to dip and rise, pushing up inside her, crowding her against the drywall while he twisted his hips.

  His cock ground against just the right spot inside her, and she gasped. “Again…”

  “Baby, I love the way your mouth goes slack.”

  She arched an eyebrow. “Do I look like I’m about to start drooling?”

  He chuckled and bounced her on his dick. “No, you’re into it. I like knowing I’m pleasing you.”

  “Trig, you always make the right moves,” she said, leaning toward him and kissing him.

  They moved together and apart, their bodies heating. She clasped him tighter, wanting him deeper. She rubbed the tips of her breasts against his chest, letting them tangle in his chest hair. Her fingers climbed his neck and sank into his hair. “The bed…?” she rasped.

  He shook his head. “Too fucking far,” but he moved back from the wall and turned toward the sofa. When he bent, he laid her back on the seat, hooked his arms beneath her knees, and pounded at her center.

  Cass thrashed her head, side to side, loving everything he was doing, how deep he was, his thickness, the brush of his balls as they slapped against her. She watched him from between her half-closed lids, loving the tightness of his features and the flex of all that glorious muscle as he quickened his strokes.

  From the hard stare he gave her, she knew exactly what he wanted and raised two fingers to his mouth. He wet the tips, and then his gaze followed them as she placed them against her clit and swirled.

  It was hard, bulbous, and so damn sensitive. She whimpered and shook her head, because it was too much, but he slowed his movements, his gaze glued on what she was doing, so she kept circling while her belly and thighs trembled.

  At last, the tension in her core released, and she bucked against him, her hand falling away as he resumed his hammering thrusts, pushing her over the edge into a painfully beautiful pleasure.

  When hot fluid flooded her channel, they both shot each other a wide-eyed look.

  “Fuck,” Trigger whispered.

  “Don’t fucking care,” she said back. And she didn’t. Damn the consequences. She’d accept them, treasure them.

  His movements slowed and finally stilled. He pulled free. Then he bent and kissed her mound. “I’m not sorry,” he said, then looked up at her.

  She gave him a soft smile. “Me neither.”

  He lifted her legs and turned her sideways on the couch, and then crowded in beside her, spooning his belly against her back. He pressed his lips against her cheeks. “I don’t want this week to end. I don’t want you to go.”

  She reached up a hand to touch his cheek. “Maybe…I could stay…a while.”

  His arms squeezed around her. “If you wanted to stay,” he said slowly, “I bet Justin would give you a job. When he hired me, he said he was expanding and needed more operatives.”

  “Does he hire Marines, or just SEALs?” she asked, her head clearing and her mind engaged now. “Does he hire women?”

  “I’ve seen women at the offices; I can’t imagine he doesn’t have female operatives. I don’t know a lot about the ops, this is my first gig, but we could talk with him.”

  She nodded. “I might like to stay. If you think—”

  “Stay with me,” he blurted, interrupting her. “I have an apartment here, but we could find a place together.” Then he groaned. “I’m moving too fast.”

  She laughed, feeling as though a weight was lifting from her chest, because she’d dreaded saying goodbye, and here he was, trying to find a way for them to remain together. “We don’t have to plan the rest of our lives right now. We haven’t known each other that long. You might discover I have some horrible habit that drives you nuts.”

  “I won’t mind it. You can eat crackers in my bed.”

  She turned her face toward his and wrinkled her nose. “I hope you don’t. I don’t like rolling in crumbs.”

  His chuckle shook his chest against her. “I leave my clothes on the bathroom floor.”

  “I’ll put a hamper next to the shower.” She giggled. “I cut my toenails on the side of the tub.”

  He tsked. “That might be a deal breaker there, babe.”

  From his teasing tone, she wasn’t too worried. “We’ll figure it out, I think,” she said softly, because she couldn’t imagine anything being so terrible, they couldn’t work it out. “I’m not much of a cook.”

  “I don’t want you to around to cook for me. Or clean my house,” he cupped her breasts, “but I will have a few rules.”

  His voice had turned a little growly, so she knew the rules had something to do with sex. Smiling, she said, “Rules? I don’t know…”

  “I don’t want you wearing bras in our space. And you have to wear loose shirts so I can slip my hands inside whenever I want to cop a feel.”

  “Sounds, a little convenient…for you.”

  “Huh. To be fair, you can have your own rule.”

  “Okay…” She grinned as she thought about her own convenience. “How about…in our space, you have to free-ball?”

  “So you can reach into my shorts whenever you want?”

  “Yeah, it’s only fair.”

  He let out an exaggerated sigh. “Deal.”

  She laughed and turned in the narrow space between the back of the couch and his hard body. “Are you sure you’re ready for this? Me moving in, and so soon?”

  He placed his palm alongside her cheek. “Look, if you lived here already, we’d have all the time in the world to get to know each other—go on dates, go fishing…”

  Her expression must have given her away.

  “What? You don’t fish?”

  “I don’t even eat fish. It tastes…fishy.”

  “You’ll be living in New Orleans. That’s sacrilege.” But he chuckled. “Tell you what, I’ll let you sunbathe while I dip my pole.”

  He said the last words in such a sexy drawl she knew he wasn’t talking about any old fishing pole. “Deal.” And she smiled.

  Chapter 9

  The next morning, Trigger woke before his phone sounded an alarm and quickly turned it off. Then he rolled to his side and went up on an elbow.

  Cass was sound asleep, her mouth open, and a very quiet, very feminine snore sounded with each exhalation. He grinned, thinking it was a sound he could get used to and even enjoy. His little secret.

  The fact she seemed as eager as he was to give their relationship a try made him happy. It also gave him a sense of purpose. Before he’d met her, he’d thought this job with Justin was just a jumping off point to the rest of his life. He’d learn the ins and outs of private protection work, and then move on, travel a bit. But the travel part had always appealed to him because he hadn’t had anything, or anyone, to make him want to nail his ass to one place.

  Cass was his nail.

  The thought made him grin because he wondered whether she’d be up to a little “nailing” before she had to shower and headed to the house. Having a woman around, someone he liked and lusted after, was nice.

  But was what he was feeling more than that? That thought troubled him. A time or two, already, he’d envisioned her as the woman he wanted to settle down with. But since he didn’t have any experience with love, he was a little reluctant to name what he felt as love. After all, they’d only known each other a couple of days. When he thought about how many times they’d made love, he wondered if that ought to be what he counted instead. He’d never wanted a woman so often over such a short period of time before.

  So, rather than waking her up, he decided to ask an expert. Swiping his phone from the bedside table, he padded out into the living room, then decided it wasn’t far enough away and moved into Cass’
s abandoned bedroom, closed the door, and sat on the side of the bed.

  Glancing at the screen, he winced at the early hour, but Rooster was a SEAL, and he’d be getting ready to head to base right about now. He tapped Rooster’s number.

  “Trigger?” Rooster said. “Everything okay?”

  “Sorry about the hour.”

  “No worries. I was just getting dressed. What’s this about?” He paused for about half a second then said, “This about that girl? The billionaire’s daughter?”

  “No. Not her.”

  Rooster chuckled. “But it is about a girl.”

  “Maybe it was a mistake to call you,” he said, knowing he sounded a little ticked.

  “No, it’s not, buddy. Sorry I teased you about her. What’s on your mind?”

  “So, do you think it’s crazy…” He paused, wincing as he thought about what he wanted to say.

  “Trigger, do you think you’re in love with her?”

  “I don’t know,” he said quickly. “Maybe. But it’s—”

  “Too soon?”

  “You think?”

  Rooster chuckled. “You do remember that Casey and I fell pretty damn quick, too.”

  “Yeah, I know. It’s why I called you. How did you know?”

  He heard Rooster draw a long breath. “Well, straight off, I thought she was hot. But as I got to know her, it was more than that. I liked her. Liked being around her. She’s smart. Brave. Fiercely independent. Everything a SEAL would want in a partner. I was afraid of bringing a woman into my life who couldn’t handle the deployments and uncertainty.”

  “So, you knew you were in love with her because she checked off everything on your list?”

  “I knew I was in love with her, because the thought of being without her wasn’t something I was willing to accept. So, buddy, is this a girl you can walk away from?”

  Even if he wasn’t sure of what to label this thing he felt, he already knew the answer to that question. “No.”

  “Then I think you already know.”

  Trigger breathed deep.

  “You didn’t really need me to tell you, did you?” Rooster said, his voice filled with wry humor.