Page 33 of Falling for Fallon

“I have plenty of information to start.Let me review everything and brainstorm with a friend in Montana.If Tobi hasn’t pickled Jen’s brain, I will bring her in as well.She thinks laterally and views the world differently than most people.I know it drives Sam and Sage crazy at times, but she’s often remarkably helpful sorting through puzzles.”

“Well, good luck with that.When I came in a few minutes ago, she was dancing naked on the diving board.When Sam tried to pull her back onto the pool deck, they both ended up in the water.”Fallon looked up to see a man grinning at her despite his remarks being directed to Carl.”Everyone around them laughed, leaving Fallon curious about the inside joke.Her expression must have given away her confusion because the man gave her a quick wink.“My brother isn’t as much fun as I am, Fallon.I’m Sage McCall.It takes both of us to keep up with Jen.”

It was easy to see the man was crazy about the wild child he’d married.It hadn’t taken Fallon long to see Jen was a free spirit who marched to a beat only she could hear.The women she’d met all seemed to share the same independent mindset.They might be sexually submissive, but that appeared to be where they drew the line.In the short time she’d been in Texas, Fallon was quickly falling in love with the state.The wide-open spaces, clean air, and friendly people were just a few of the things she loved about the Lone Star State.

Fallon was so lost in her own thoughts she didn’t notice Silas and Carson leading her to the elevator.The doors sliding closed caught her attention a heartbeat before a stinging swat lit her ass on fire.

“Fucking hell.What was that for?”She’d barely spit the words out before another swat rocked her up onto her toes.“Damn it, stop that.What’s wrong with you two?Why don’t you just tell me what I did that seems to have incensed you to the point of physical violence.”

“Don’t confuse a couple of swats with physical violence.You know enough about the lifestyle to recognize the difference.Your accusation is unfounded.Remember our conversation about situational awareness?Being aware of your surroundings is important, Fallon.You did not know we’d led you into the elevator, did you?”Without waiting for her to respond, he continued snarling, “This is exactly the type of safety issue we’ve been talking to you about.”Carson’s voice was tight with frustration, and if she was honest with herself, Fallon knew the first swat was to get her attention, and the second had been a warning about her language.It was ironic because she rarely cursed, but something about the situation rattled her enough to make her behave inappropriately.

“You’re too smart to talk like a drunken sailor, Cher.It’s beneath you.”Carson’s comments were more effective than a swat ever could be.Her parents had often said the same thing to her.They’d encouraged her to speak professionally from the time she’d started junior high school.When her friends were using language as a way to rebel, she’d been reminded cursing was a sign of laziness.Using slang words others coined didn’t show mastery of expression because it was little more than mimicking others.

“I’m sorry.You’re right.”Sighing as they walked through the apartment, Fallon could tell she’d surprised them.She wasn’t sure what they’d expected, but an apology was clearly not on the list of responses.“This will probably come as a surprise, but I don’t usually curse.It was something my parents discouraged and a habit I’ve always tried to avoid.The first swat surprised me, and I reacted before stopping to ask what I’d done wrong.In my defense, I’m usually keenly aware of my surroundings.Living in the city makes you hyper-aware.I’ve let my guard down since arriving in Texas because I feel safe.”

Both men turned to face her, their expressions softer than they’d been a few seconds earlier.It didn’t surprise her that Silas was the first to speak.He seemed to take the lead when situations required a more delicate approach.

“Sweetheart, that’s one of the biggest compliments you could have paid us.Knowing you feel safe with us is exactly as it should be, and we should have spoken to you before reacting to your blind obedience.Knowing you’d simply followed with no awareness of where we were headed is worrisome when we haven’t figured out why Hagen Brody is making such an effort to determine your location.”

“No one understands why he has made no attempt to contact you.Why hasn’t he called your cell phone?The security staff has been monitoring it continually since you arrived, and the only calls have been spammers.”

“He doesn’t have the number.”Silas and Carson stared at her as if she were speaking a foreign language.

“You were dating, and he didn’t have your phone number?”Carson clearly found the idea completely unbelievable.“How did he contact you?”

“When I threw the phone he’d given me off a bridge, I didn’t keep the number.”Smiling to herself, she shrugged.“You have no idea how good it felt to heave that damned phone as far as I could manage.I knew he was tracking the phone when he was right behind me as I left the city.There was no way he could have known I’d changed cars unless he was using the phone.”The two of them blinked at her in confusion.She didn’t pause long enough for them to ask questions before continuing.

“The car I’d been driving was registered to me, but he’d bought it, so I knew better than to take it when I left.Heck, the thing guzzled gas like a thirsty camel, I’d have run out of money long before arriving in Texas.I sold it at a small dealership where the owner was so happy to get his hands on a high-end sports car, he didn’t ask any questions.I had enough money to buy the crappy car you saw on the side of the road, but it didn’t leave me enough for motel rooms.I had to decide what was more important, sleeping comfortably or gas money.”She tried to chuckle at her own joke but judging from the dark expressions on Silas and Carson’s faces, they’d failed to see the humor in her comment.Silas shook his head as he took a deep breath.Fallon had the distinct impression he was struggling to bring his frustration under control.

“I feel like this is one of the situations my family referred to when they said you should never discount dumb luck.”

“Hey.Are you calling me dumb?”

“Sweetheart, there is a difference between being dumb and dumb luck.One is a lack of intelligence—I’d never say such a thing.You’re clearly a very bright woman.The other is the luck inexperienced or uninformed people are blessed with when the Universe protects them from their own naivety.Dumb luck lets people stumble blindly through minefields of emotional or physical danger, oblivious to the Universal truth shield surrounding them.”Fallon stared at Silas for several seconds, hoping what sounded like English would eventually make sense.When she heard Carson laugh, she turned to him, hoping he would explain what Silas meant.

“Don’t look at me, Cher.Silas and I have been friends for years, and I still don’t understand what he’s saying a lot of the time.”

“Oh, for heaven’s sake, the two of you act as though I’m speaking some kind of New Age lingo you’ve never heard before.”Silas crossed his arms over his chest in mock frustration as his eyes lit with amusement.

“I can’t speak for Carson, but I’m not entirely sure what you said.I’m glad you didn’t call me dumb.I’d have taken issue with that.As for the luck part, that seems to have started after I met the two of you, so I’m not sure the Universe is protecting me or testing you.”This time it was Silas who was staring, his eyes wide while he tried to determine how much of what she’d said was pure bull shit and how much was a sincere observation.

“Our brilliant woman is perfect.She’s going to meet your hippy speak and raise you a heckle or two of scientific mumbo-jumbo.”Carson laughed at his own joke, making Fallon giggle as Silas rolled his eyes.Fallon felt some of the earlier tension between them melt away as Carson stepped into the kitchen.Pulling bottles of water from the refrigerator, he opened hers before handing it to her.“Drink up, Cher.You answered a thousand questions tonight and barely touched the water we gave you.Hydration is important.As things heat up, you’ll understand why this is something we take seriously.”

Fallon had news for him—she already knew.The other women at the party had laughed when she’d commented how early summer started in Texas.They’d explained in terrifying detail how hot it would get once spring turned to summer.When she’d expressed her surprise, they called the sweltering afternoon sun a delightful spring day, her new friends laughed.

“The ladies at the party mentioned something about summers being hot here.I suppose dehydration could be an issue.”

“Your friends are right.It’s hotter than hell here in the summer, but that wasn’t the heat we’re talking about.Playing can cause dehydration Cher, and we intend to play before sleeping.”Fallon felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment.“Don’t.”Carson shook his head as he lifted her chin with his fingers.“Don’t you dare be embarrassed because you didn’t understand what I meant by heating things up.You have so much going on, I’m grateful you haven’t said it’s too much and folded under the pressure.”

“It’s been a lot, but I’m stronger than I look, and I don’t give up easily.”Fallon paused long enough to pull in a steadying breath before plunging ahead.“Don’t discount my determination when I’ve set my mind to a task… or when I’m going after something I want.You are handling me as though I’m made of spun glass… remember fire tempers steel.I’ve been dodging life’s burning arrows for a long time.I’m… well, I’m tired of holding the shield all alone.”

Fallon saw the surprise flash in Silas’s eyes a split second before Carson pulled her into a bone-crushing hug.“Don’t break her, Carson.Damn.”Silas’s words were tempered by a note of amusement.“We finally find the perfect woman, and you try to snap her like a twig.”Fallon giggled as Carson slowly released his iron grip on her.“Let’s go.You have too many clothes on, and my cock is going to explode if I don’t get inside you.”

Carson leaned forward, putting his shoulder in her mid-section before sprinting to the bedroom.Fallon was laughing so hard by the time he set her on her feet, she could barely stand.

“Clothes off.Now.”When she stood to look at Silas, Fallon was surprised to see he was already naked.His cock was fully erect, standing proudly as it bounced against his lower abdomen.The man was tall and well-muscled.His skin was a golden tan with only a hint of a tan line around his waist.“If you keep looking at me like I’m a snack, this play session is going to be over far too soon, Sweetheart.Now strip, or I’m going to show you how little respect I have for the pretty dress you’re wearing.”

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