Paxton was jerked awake by the hoarse shout next to her. She switched on the bedside lamp.
“Jared?” She touched his arm tentatively as he sat up in bed, his face pale with his eyes locked on the wall. “Honey, you had a nightmare.”
He blinked a couple of times to clear his head before he looked at her. “The same one I’ve had on and off for the past thirty-five years. Always the same... the sight of the shark fins drawing closer and closer and the boat disappearing over the horizon.”
His voice sounded hollow in the quiet night. He had barely slept three hours and still looked tired.
“Go back to—”
“I don’t think I’ll ever forget the feeling of rejection that overcame me as I watched Marco turn that boat around and left me to die.” He ran his hand over his eyes before he settled on his back. “The captain of the fishing trawler that rescued me believed my story that I’d fallen overboard off a freighter originating from China. I had to convince him that I was the victim of child labor. There was no way I was going back to my father, Paxton. No fucking way.”
“I don’t blame you,” she said in a quiet voice, understanding that he needed to expunge the memories from his mind.
“I told the story that I was an orphan, born from an Italian couple during an extended vacation in Beijing. Youngsters who weren't ready to be parents. He believed that I was born to a system that left me easy prey to human trafficking. I had nothing and no one to go back to. I spent fourteen months on that boat building up my strength but I knew it wasn’t how I wanted to spend the rest of my life. The next time we docked in New York, I took liberty and never came back.” He sighed heavily. “There were times over the next eight months that I regretted the decision. Life on the streets in the Big Apple for a fourteen-year-old boy… let’s just say it toughened me a hell of a lot more than Marco Boneiro ever did. Not once during all that time did I think to go back home. I missed my mother and brother but it wasn’t an option. Not for as long as Marco Boneiro was alive. I met George Bates when he returned home from a tour. I tried to rob him but he saw me coming a mile away. He, and his wife, Willow, worked with street kids, trying to turn as many of them away from crime as possible. I resisted them… for months, but George refused to give up. After they adopted me, he told me I reminded him of himself as a teenager. Strong, independent, and willful. They couldn’t have children… at least not at that stage. Long story short, they wore me down and instead of leaving me on the streets to turn into a thug, they offered me an out. I resisted at first. George was a military man and struck me as stern and inscrutable. I was wrong. Stern, yes but understanding-- the best father any kid could ask for.”
He smiled in the dark. “If not for them…” He looked at her. “I might have Boneiro blood in my veins but I am a Bates in every other way.”
“I can attest to that.”
“Come here, my love. I need to feel your heat against me.”
Paxton snuggled against him. He stared into her eyes.
“I love you, Paxton Lee, so much that it scares me.”
Her smile was beatific. “Never be scared of the depth of your love for me, Jared. Embrace it, like I did mine for you. Let our love be the guide to our future, the light we need during times when we’re apart and darkness threatens to overwhelm you.”
“I wasted two weeks chasing shadows that I should’ve spent with you. I realized that you might’ve thought my anger at the time of the raid was aimed at you for being there. It wasn’t. It was fear, my love. The moment I realized you were in Luca’s hands... I can’t begin to tell you what thoughts went through my mind.” He traced a finger over her eyebrows. “And that is exactly why I couldn’t afford to have you there. The operation didn’t matter at that point. All that did, was to get to you, no matter if it meant the entire operation went bust.”
“I was wrong not to tell you, I realize that now but nothing you could’ve said if I had, would’ve changed my mind.”
“But I would’ve adjusted the plan accordingly, Paxton. That is what you need to realize. I trust in your abilities, don’t ever doubt that I do. Overconfidence and impulsiveness are a dangerous mix. The Cobras are classed as one of the best black ops teams there is and that’s because we never go into a major operation blind or without backup. You learned not to become involved with dangerous and ruthless men as an army ranger. Dealing with syndicates and the mafia outside of war countries is no different. I know you never intended to take cases involving hard crime but don’t ever forget your training and what you’re good at.” His gaze remained steadfast. “I don’t want to interfere in how you run the Red Reign PI Agency but you have to make a choice. Either stick to what you’ve been doing to date or expand to include an operational team.”
“You’re right.” She frowned as she pondered his words. “To be honest, we started the agency because we were tired of being in danger. And as exciting as the adrenaline rush was, it taught me one thing.”
“Which is?”
“I don’t want to change what we do. I prefer the intrigue and challenging aspects of private investigation. That’s what we all enjoy. Digging deep to get the intel we need. Uncovering the truth piece by piece. We’ve all had our share of hand-to-hand combat and being shot at. And you’re right. Impulsiveness is my biggest weakness and I have to work on that. I need to remember I’m not a macho army ranger anymore, that I have to consider everyone around me, especially if we ever become involved in a raid again. Just the thought of where Kezlin could’ve ended up if we hadn’t found her... I don’t want that for any of my team, Jared. I love them like family. I need to ensure they are safe at all times. The job has to be what I promised them when we started. There will always be a level of unforeseen danger but nothing hardcore. I aim to keep it that way.”
“Then I’m glad.” He placed lingering kisses along her jaw. “Now... about that meal you promised...”
“Oh! I’ll go heat it up... ahhh, I see it’s a different hunger you wish to feed,” she purred as he pulled her under him and settled between her thighs. The hardness of his arousal teased the wetness of the slit.
“I love an intelligent woman,” he said in her ear as he pushed the blunt tip of his cock inside her hot pussy. “Especially one who doesn't require instructions.” His eyes glowed as he thrust once— hard.
“Oh lord,” she gasped as he settled hilt deep inside her. Her eyes shone with unbound passion as she gazed into his eyes. “And I love a man who knows just what I need.”
“I aim to please, my pet. Now, my little recalcitrant and bratty sub, don’t move. If you do, we go back to sleep. Got it?”
“Of course... Sir!”
“Good. I’m not done talking.”
Paxton stared at him in disbelief. “You want to talk more? Now?” She was struggling to comprehend that he wanted to slam on brakes at such a crucial point. Didn’t the man know how desperate she was for sex? He’d given her a taste of heaven and then disappeared for two weeks. Now, her body was in desperation mode, especially since lust wrapped itself snugly around the nerve endings in her loins causing shards of heat to spike through her core.
“Well, I actually only have one question to ask.” He traced a lazy line over the curve of her breasts, ending with a teasing flick of her nipples. “Hmm... beautiful,” he said, watching them bud into tight little stones.
“Jared,” she hissed. It was rather difficult not to orbit her hips against him. Her throbbing clit demanded release, which increased with every flick of his finger over her nipples. It felt like there was a direct connect between her breasts and clitoris. A devilish glint shone in her eyes as she clenched and released her inner muscles around his hard shaft deep inside her.