Crave (Talon Security #1) (7 page)

I sat at the bar picking at my breakfast, feeling overwhelmed and alone. Brad’s place felt so cavernous and foreign. That juxtaposed with everything that had happened in the last week had me grappling for a lifeline.

I picked my phone up, dialing before I changed my mind.

“Samantha, is that you?” my mother’s startled voice greeted me. She was surprised to hear from me, which wasn’t a shock since we rarely talked—despite my efforts to the contrary.

Just the sound of her voice had the back of my eyes pricking with unshed tears. She’d offered me so little comfort in my life, and yet my body still reacted to her voice as though she could soothe even the deepest wounds. “It’s me. How are you?”

“We’re fabulous!” she crowed. “We just arrived at the Grand Canyon. It’s so gorgeous here. Your father has already taken about a zillion pictures.” She laughed before continuing to prattle me with the details of their latest adventures.

I fought to get a word in edgewise. “Sounds fun,” I managed when she paused to take a breath. The desire to share anything of consequence with her was rapidly waning.

“How are you and your brother?” she asked breezily.

“We’re okay. Had a bit of an incident,” I hedged.

“An incident?” she asked distractedly. “Paul, just a minute, sweetheart. I’m talking to Sam,” I heard her tell my father. “Yes, Sam,” she emphasized, as though she needed to clarify her daughter’s name.

I rolled my eyes, pushing the cereal around in my bowl.

“It’s okay, Mom, everything’s great. You guys have fun.”

“Oh, okay, if you’re sure. Glad you called, sweetie. Talk soon!”

“Yeah,” I muttered.

My face flushed with embarrassment and disappointment. Why I had reached out at all was beyond me. I took a deep breath and instead picked up the phone to text someone who would actually come through for me.

Hey, traitor. Dinner tonight?

I felt better already as my text fired off to Caden. Truth be told, I’d already forgiven him for inviting Sid the other night. That didn’t mean I wasn’t going to fuck with him a little bit.

His response came back almost immediately.

I’ll make it up to you with my stellar company.

Right
.

I’ll be even more entertaining if there’s something other than a paleo meal in my belly. CARBS PULLLLEASE.

I laughed out loud. Obviously, Cade had been spending a lot of time with Sid, who was meticulous about his diet. Cade’s favorite was spaghetti. It didn’t get much easier, but he loved it.

Done.

And just like that I was reminded that sometimes friends were better family than blood could ever be.

****

“Is that a dog?” Cade exclaimed when he arrived at my temporary place later that night.

“I think so.” I shrugged with a smile, offering him a beer. “She’s used to being held, but I’m making her walk a bit.”

“Uh, right.” He chortled. “This place is crazy,” he marveled, looking up at the ceiling and surrounding opulence.

“I know,” I agreed, smiling at my friend. I’d missed him. Sometimes Caden could be like a big kid, but his heart was just as big. With his chiseled jaw, lean muscular frame, and beautiful tattoos, he was handsome too. I just didn’t see him like that; I never had.

“As promised, carbs a la spaghetti.” I made a sweeping gesture toward the plates I’d dished up. “I even made garlic bread.”

“Awesome.” He shoveled in a huge bite, groaning in appreciation.

I took a bite of my own dinner instead of asking the question on the tip of my tongue. I wanted so badly to ask about Sid, but I didn’t want to put Caden in the middle of our mess. Instead, we kept the topics light and far from anything having to do with Sid.

It wasn’t until we were watching a movie and drinking beers that he cleared his throat. “He’s pretty fucked-up, Sam.”

I had to force down the beer I’d sipped with an audible swallow. “Oh yeah, how’s that?”

“He’s not sleeping well. He’s working constantly, trying to find those assholes. He misses you.”

“Do you need another beer?” I asked by way of answer.

He made a growly sound of frustration and shook his head. “Look, as shitty as things might seem right now, I’m glad you guys are getting some of this out,” he said as I tried to look busy digging in the fridge.

I looked over at him in surprise.

“Because even before shit went down between you, it wasn’t always fun living with the tension, you know?” he added.

I nodded. “I get it. I’m sorry, Cade.”

He shrugged. “Better late than never.”

That was all we said about Sid. I was proud of myself for not trying to pry more details out of him.

When the movie was nearing its close, the doorbell rang. I stiffened before realizing it must be one of Travis’s guys.

I looked through the peephole and quickly spun to holler at Cade, “Did you do this?”

He wandered into the entryway, looking confused. “Do what?”

I growled, yanking the door open. “What are you doing here?”

Dressed in his security-issue attire, Sid looked like a total badass. He was also beautiful. He walked past me like he owned the place. “I’m your detail.”

“My whatta?” I sputtered, closing the door behind him.

“I’m your security, Sam,” he informed me, his hands on his trim hips.

“No, you’re not,” I retorted impatiently.

“Uh, guys, I’m just gonna…” Cade trailed off in an uncomfortable tone.

“You’re not staying here.” I glared at Sid.

“…go,” Cade finished. He opened the door, and with a quick wave disappeared.

Typical. Whenever there was a fight brewing between Sid and me, Caden had a habit of making himself scarce.

“And Travis knows this?” I demanded incredulously. Seriously, was everyone conspiring against me?

He nodded. “He knows.”

I was going to kill my big brother.

CHAPTER 7

W
e stood staring at each other in a silent standoff that I knew I wouldn’t win. Trixie wiggled against my foot, wanting me to pick her up, and I relented.

Sid’s brows rose in surprise. “You don’t like dogs.”

I shrugged. “Maybe not, but I think I like her.”

He nodded thoughtfully before his gaze turned upwards. “This place is insane,” he commented, his eyes fixed on the high ceilings. “I’m going to do a walk through.”

“Well, do my room first, because as soon as you’re done that’s where I’ll be. With the door locked,” I hollered after him as he started to wander off.

“We’ll see,” he muttered, ignoring my request and heading upstairs first.

Figured.

I headed to my room anyway, intent on getting ready for bed and determined to ignore his presence.

Why was he there?

I yanked my sleep clothes out of my suitcase, pulling my T-shirt over my head just as Sid opened the door and walked into my room.

I let out a shriek, holding my T-shirt over my bra-clad torso. “What the hell! Sid, don’t you knock?”

“Nothing I haven’t seen before,” he replied steadily.

I held his gaze. “Yeah, well clearly you didn’t like what you saw, so let me spare you any further pain by telling you to get the hell out of my room.”

He stepped closer, his presence swallowing all the air in the room as I fought to breathe. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, Sam. I want you to hear this. No, I need you to. That night—it had everything to do with me and nothing to do with you. It’s haunted me for months, the way I acted, especially when being so far away just made me want you more than I already did before—if that was even possible.”

“What?” My demand was breathless as I stared up at him in surprise.

He offered a sad smile. “When I left your room that night, I had every intention of coming back. Christ, my hands were shaking like a fucking teenager’s,” he added ruefully. “But when I got away from your gorgeous smell and your taste, I was flooded with this overwhelming reminder about how much was at stake.” He shook his head. “Sam, next to Caden, you’re my best friend. I work for your brother, for Christ's sake, and my job is dangerous. I started to freak about all the risks. Not to mention all the shit in my head from the war. It was the ultimate irony that my dog tags were right next to the condom box.” He chuckled darkly before raising his haunted eyes to mine. “I have so much darkness inside me. I’ve seen terrible fucked-up things. I felt like a deer in headlights when you came in with your lips all swollen from my mouth. Your skin had that gorgeous blush. I was terrified that if we went any further, it’d destroy what we have forever.”

I simply stared at him, unsure what to say, completely flabbergasted by this turn of events.

“Then you moved out and I went overseas. All those months away, Sam. It just reinforced what I feel for you—what I’ve felt for a long time. It’s irrevocable. It was like fighting against a current.” His eyes were bright with intensity as he continued. “I’m done fighting it. I’m done fighting you. I want you, Sam. I’ve always wanted you.”

The room was so silent I could hear Trixie’s tiny claws clacking on the hardwood in the next room.

I didn’t think I’d ever been stunned into silence before. “I—um,” I stammered. “I don’t know what to say. I’m just in such a weird place right now. I feel like this isn’t real or something,” I admitted.

He nodded. “I get it, and I’ll give you your space for tonight, but first I need you to hear this. All those risks—everything clouding my mind that night—it’s gone. Hell, it was gone the minute I had a second to breathe. You’re mine. Mine. When you wouldn’t let me comfort you after what happened the other night, it just about gutted me. Never again.” He shook his head. “I never want you to feel that way again, and I’m willing to do whatever I need to in order for you to see that clearly. There will be an us—the timing of that is up to you.”

With that, he left me standing shell shocked, with my T-shirt still covering my breasts.

The man knew how to make an exit, that was for sure.

****

When I woke up the next morning, it was easy to believe it had all been a dream. That Sid wasn’t actually there. Then I heard the telltale sounds of breakfast being made, and my dream state went to shit.

I bolted upright, my hand going to my bedraggled hair as Trixie came burrowing out from underneath the covers. It took me a few minutes to feel brave enough to face the proverbial music.

Had I known what would greet me, I would have needed a few more hours.

Sid was shirtless, dressed only in sweatpants that hung low on his hips as he stood at the stove making eggs.

He turned, shooting a panty-melting smile in my direction. “Morning.”

“Morning.” I nodded, accepting the coffee he handed me. “Thanks.”

“What’s on for today?” he asked absently.

“I have a meeting with a label in Hollywood,” I explained. “Thank God most of my bruising has healed.”

Autumn’s label had called, wanting a meeting to discuss future projects. Come hell or high water, I wasn’t going to miss it.

“Okay, what time?”

I eyed him speculatively. “Aren’t you switching shifts or something? You spent all night here.”

He offered an indulgent smile. “Sam—when I said I was your detail, I meant 24-7.”

“What?” I exclaimed. “Sid, that’s ridiculous. You have shit to do. A life.”

“Figured I’d have to force things a bit,” he muttered to himself. “Do you want cheese on your eggs?”

“Hold on, force what?” I replied.

He ran a hand over the top of his head. “I know I said I’d be patient. And I will, in terms of you figuring out that I’m serious about us,” he explained. “But with your safety, Sam, I’m not sitting back from that another day, and I’ll fight you tooth and nail on it if I have to.”

“What are you talking about?” I demanded.

“I don’t want you staying up here with anyone but me. Having one of our guys parked out on the street is one thing, having someone staying with you is another, and that someone has to be me. There just isn’t another outcome I’ll accept.”

I stared in shock. “Um, I’m Sam. Have we met?” I demanded incredulously.

He stared at me, his blue eyes shining bright. “Yeah, we have, and in some ways you know me better than anyone. In others, you’ve just scratched the surface, babe. I want us to get to know that side of me together.”

We stared at each other, the energy zapping between us. “My meeting’s at eleven.”

It was one small step forward, but for now, it was all I had. He clasped my hand briefly, giving it a gentle squeeze. “I’ll be ready.”

****

“Sam, we love your material. It’s beautiful, but also original and edgy,” my contact from the label, Tyler, explained later that morning. “We’d like you to write a few songs for our latest talent. His name is Miles Teller. He’s a fantastic up-and-coming solo artist.”

I sat back, shocked.

This was surreal. I’d never dreamed someone would actually want to pay for my music. For a moment, I dared to hope that I could actually make a living doing what I loved.

Typically, only very well-known songwriters were commissioned to write for famous artists. This far surpassed my wildest dreams.