Page 38 of Black Bay Protector
There was a dark walnut desk in the center, with a brown leather button-back chair. Behind that, was a large safe, and somehow, he knew that it held weapons. He closed his eyes and he could almost see the display. A Colt single-action army, a Browning Hi-Power, a Nagant M1895 revolver… but still nothing of the man who owned them except a faint whisper in the back of his mind.
Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined the walls and held an assortment of both fiction – mostly military thrillers from what he could see from the spines – and non-fiction titles that ranged from managing money to Sun Tzu’s military treatise,The Art of War.
Approaching one of the shelves that held framed photos instead of books, the Commander picked up one of them and the air rushed out of his lungs in awhoosh. He was in the photo. An adult, though younger by at least ten years than he was now, and he was standing next to his father. They were both dressed in duck hunter camouflage, rifles in hand, and a black Labrador sat at their feet. He stood a half-head over his father, his arm slung around the older man’s shoulders, and while his father seemed to be gesturing about something with a hand that held a cigar, Grady had a cigar clamped between his teeth, grinning as if he hadn’t had a care in the world…
Maybe he hadn’t then. It wasn’t like he could remember. But fuck, he wished he could remember the day this picture had been taken. Not knowing who you were hurt worse than any injury to the body.
Forcing himself to put the picture down before he crushed it in the surge of rage that washed over him, he left the office. A short, carpeted hallway led to the living room, and the Commander swallowed hard as he took it all in at a glance. Pictures of him and his sister covered the walls and were placed on the mantel over the fireplace. Baby pictures, school pictures, his military photo from basic, as well as candid shots. And amid all those pictures was a triangular-shaped, wood-framed, glass case that held a precisely folded flag. A flag that had covered his casket and had been folded carefully with gloved hands before it had been presented to his mother.
He couldn’t breathe. Retracing his steps, he made his way back to the office, and after quickly resetting the security system, he fled outside.
Bending over, he braced his hands on his knees and sucked in great gulps of the cool night air.
Grady Carter had died so that the Commander could live. He hadn’t had a choice. They hadn’t given him one.
Focus on the mission…
He straightened. They wanted him to be the Commander. It was time to show them just what kind of monster they’d created.
Chapter Twenty
Jacehadbeenquieton the way back to base. Several of his teammates had commented on it. They assumed he was upset about the mission and kept trying to lift his spirits by saying that they’d figure it out, they’d find them, and they’d get the bastards who’d done this. All great. All true if he had anything to say about it, but not what was occupying his mind.
Paige hadn’t said she loved him. He’d told her he loved her – and sure, the declaration may have been a bit spur of the moment but no less sincere for it – and she hadn’t said it back. Instead, she’d said he was amazing. Not the same thing.
Now, he was about to return and he’d have to see the look of disappointment on her face when he told her that they hadn’t found Grady.Shit.He was not looking forward to this.
Exiting the tunnel, he looked past the driver’s head through the windshield and saw the welcome party waiting for them. Paige was standing next to the General wearing a set of blue scrubs the infirmary must have loaned her, and even from this distance, Jace could see the excitement on her face, the eager anticipation as the vehicle approached. How he wished that look was for him. But it wasn’t. It was for her brother. And in a matter of minutes, that look would be crushed under the weight of despair.
This sucked…
As the rig pulled to a stop, the doors opened and they all climbed out. Jace’s expression should have warned her, should have given her an inkling that something had gone wrong, but she must not have seen it. She ran to him, such happiness lighting up her face as she threw herself into his arms and began peppering his face with kisses.
God, it felt so good, so unbelievably nice to be welcomed home like this, but he couldn’t take advantage of her ignorance. He had to tell her.
Gently extricating himself from her embrace, he held onto her upper arms as he pushed her back slightly. “I’m sorry, Paige,” he told her, shaking his head. “We didn’t find your brother.”
A flicker of sadness in her eyes before she nodded. “I know. The General told me. I’m just so glad you’re home safe.”
Jace nearly shuddered with relief and he quickly grabbed her back up into his arms. “We’ll find him,” he told her as he stroked soothing circles over her back. “Lark is going to question Doctor Dietrich again. She’ll get it out of her.”
He felt her nod against the side of his head and then her breath against his ear as she whispered, “I missed you.” Her arms tightened around him. “I love you. I should have told you before you left. I love you so much.”
Jace held her even closer, his relief so intense his knees nearly buckled. She loved him. Paige loved him. He wanted to shout to the heavens, make a public announcement, maybe rent a billboard… But first, he wanted to take his woman home and show her all the ways he was worthy of her love.
He was supposed to meet with the General for a briefing, but the others could handle that. This was more important. His eyes scanned for an available Jeep. Spotting one, he swept Paige up into the cradle of his arms and she laughed merrily as he strode with purpose. While the others hooted and cat-called behind them, teasing him for his impatience, his eyes were only for Paige. He could see the love on her face and it filled his heart to bursting. That look wasn’t for her brother. It was for him, and he wanted to see it every day for the rest of their lives.
A trip that took a matter of minutes felt like it took hours his anticipation was so keen. The sweet, erotic scent of Paige’s arousal kept teasing his nose and his cock throbbed behind his zipper. As soon as he got her behind the closed doors of his apartment, he lunged for her, pulling her fully against him as his mouth took possession of hers. He might have thought he was being too rough if Paige hadn’t returned his hunger in full measure. Her fingers pulled and clawed at his clothes, as eager as him to get naked.
With a hard yank, Jace ripped the front of his shirt open, obliging her. Breaking their kiss, Paige let out an excited little gasp as her eyes drank him in.
Gripping the nape of her neck, he went to pull her in for another searing kiss only for her to twist away with a playful little laugh. Crossing her arms in front of her, she grabbed the hem of her top and whipped it over her head before flinging it aside.
“I want to lick you,” she told him near breathlessly as she pressed her bare breasts against him, her nipples rubbing erotically against his chest. Jace squeezed his eyes shut, dangerously close to losing it before he even got his pants off.
He felt the heat of her breath against his skin and his eyes popped open. Licking her lips, she leaned into him. Her hands stroked his ribcage as her lips fell petal soft on the ridge of his collarbone. Gentle flicks of her tongue interspersed with the soft suction of her mouth as she moved her way across his chest, spending a little extra time at the base of his throat before she moved on.
Her hand moved south, settling over the thick ridge of his erection and she stroked him firmly through his pants.
