Cut to the Chase (21 page)

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aul couldn't get Mia and Henry to Chase's penthouse fast enough. The text Mia received had changed everything. The five of them needed to process what they had learned and formulate a plan. He finally stopped for a breath as he set their bags down and engaged the highly sophisticated security system. Chase's housekeeper had been gracious enough to wait around for them to arrive and give Paul a quick tutorial and, more importantly, the code which would activate the alarm.

With a giant bag of dog food in one hand and two matching stacked bowls in the other, Paul walked Henry into the kitchen and fixed him dinner. Henry wagged his tail and looked up at him, as if needing permission to attack his bowl of kibble. “Go ahead, buddy,” Paul said, patting his head. Henry was crunching away when Paul exited the kitchen to join Mia.

She was staring at her phone while her thumb scrolled away. “Did he contact you again?” he asked.

“No,” she said. “I was just checking to see if we missed any calls from Erin, Chase or Uncle Drew.”

“Don't worry. They should be landing soon,” he said. He walked over and took her into his arms. “I missed you today.”

He felt her relax a little, despite discovering less than two hours ago that her life was in grave danger. Paul wanted to kiss her, feel his tongue slide over warm, lush lips and enter her, but decided to abstain. She was most likely feeling vulnerable, or at the very least, worried that she might be the bastard's next victim.

Paul was content to just hold her in his arms and breathe in her heady scent, until she looked up at him and kissed him with so much passion that he was struggling for air. “Don't let him get to me,” she said, between kisses. He felt her tears against his cheeks and though a part of him thought he should stop, the other side of him believed she needed this, to feel claimed by him. That no one else could ever touch her.

“You're mine,” he said, his voice gruff and demanding. He covered her mouth with his and moaned. She fisted his hair and pulled him into her. He had to have her again, feel her come around his cock as she quaked with pleasure. He picked her up, carried her into the first spare room he could find, and kicked the door closed behind him.

Paul released her and pressed her up against the door so her back was to his chest. His hands slid to her waist and he ground his erection into her. “Yes, Paul…I'm yours,” she whimpered, backing into him, making the friction unbearable.

With those words, he removed her blouse and yanked up her skirt, exposing white silk panties. “God, you're stunning,” he said, taking her in. With her standing there in black strappy heels with just a thin square of fabric covering her sex, he was seconds away from losing it. “So perfect,” he said.

“I need you, she said, flinging her head back and giving him her neck to taste. He trailed his lips along her skin and thrust against her. “Now,” she groaned.

Paul was taken by surprise as she turned and fell into his arms. They landed on the floor and within moments her panties were gone and his pants were unzipped, his boxer briefs pulled down far enough to take her. But she had other plans. With her sexy heels still on, she mounted him and sheathed his cock with her warmth. He was prepared to see a slight wince, residual discomfort from the night before as he entered her. But all he saw in her hooded eyes was desire and intoxicating need. “Slow, baby…I'm not going to last,” he said, rolling his hips to meet hers.

And just when he thought he had never experienced such beauty, she reached in front of her and unlatched the front clip of her bra. Her breasts spilled forth as she met him thrust for thrust. “Paul…I…” she moaned, riding him hard.

As much as he loved watching her bob up and down on his cock, her breasts lovely and unbound, he wanted to give her what she had asked for at the onset. Still connected, he flipped her onto her back. He entwined his fingers with hers and pressed her hands at either side of her head. “I got you, baby,” he said, gliding in and out of her tight heat. Her tears had receded and she looked at him with hunger and another emotion he prayed he was detecting correctly. But he didn't want to scare her and unload feelings that she might not be prepared for or even want to hear so soon. “I'll take care of you,” he said, between pants. “Always.”

“Yes…take me!” she screamed. She was so snug around his cock, squeezing him relentlessly, taking everything from him…including his heart.

Mia knew that reality was going to set in very soon. But for a few more minutes, as she lay in Paul's arms on the plush carpet of one of Chase's many rooms, she could pretend that everything was as wonderful as she felt at that moment. She rested her head on his muscular chest and shamelessly took the opportunity to run her fingers delicately along his tight abs. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw his semi-erect cock twitch at her touch.

She wanted him again, to feel his hands caress her as if he worshiped her body. Although he had touched and entered her with ravenous desire, he had remained gentle and…loving. Which left her feeling both frightened and euphoric. What if he didn't feel the same? What if loving her was just…too much? A burden with years of baggage and inexperience.

Paul's cell phone broke the silence and he sighed. With one hand pressed firmly between her shoulder blades, he reached over and shook his previously discarded jeans until his cell fell from one of the pockets. “It's my sister,” he said.

Mia nodded and started to pull away from him in order to give him some privacy, when he gripped her tightly and held her to his chest. “I have nothing to hide…stay,” he said, kissing her just above the ear. “Besides, my sister will know we are together the moment she lays eyes on us.”

Mia didn't hear too much after that because all she could think about was how her Uncle Drew was going to react. Much more than an uncle, she suspected he would be protective, wary possibly, of the fact that her and Paul's relationship could have evolved so quickly. She got a sickening feeling in the pit of her stomach. Mia thought back to her high school days, especially during her sophomore year when she had finally sprouted boobs, when her uncle had taken the liberty to threaten any boy who dared to look below her neck, and cringed. There was no way her uncle was going to be pleased or embrace their newfound romance.

“They just landed and should be here soon,” Paul said, tossing the phone on his heap of clothes. He rolled her onto her back. And as much as she enjoyed being beneath him, watching the muscles in his arms flex as he dangerously hovered just above her, she knew that someone just as deadly was going to be assessing Paul's motives and what he intended for his niece.

“Erin isn't the only one with rock-solid intuition. My uncle has made a career of reading people and he will know that we…that I…” Mia wanted to believe that she couldn't find the words to finish her thought. But she would have been lying to herself. She knew exactly what she wanted to say and it scared her to realize just how deep her feelings ran.

“He'll know that you what, Mia?” he asked, linking both her hands above her head with just one of his. With a hint of a smile, he looked into her eyes, as if daring her to answer his question.

“That we…are together,” she said, her voice cracking. Although it wasn't what she had intended to say, it was a believable lie and from the look on his face, he appeared satisfied with her response. “We are together…right?” she asked.

She hadn't thought about asking him that, but she had to say something. And now that she had, she regretted her assumption. God, what the hell was she going to do if he wasn't on the same page with her or didn't feel even a tenth of how she felt about him?

“Oh, we're together, Mia. I meant what I said. You're mine, now.” He lowered his head and kissed her. “Mine,” he said, before peeling himself away, erection and all. Mia just stared and watched him dress. For years, Mia had considered herself an independent woman with no need to find that elusive “other half” that she had heard other women talk about in regards to their relationships with men.

Mia played the last word in her head over and over again and was amazed at how wrong she had been about herself. As Paul growled that she was his now, claiming her as his own, Mia felt her heart leap within her chest.

B
etween Erin's good instincts and what he had seen in the park that day, Chase had a feeling that Mia and Paul's relationship had changed significantly while they were away. And as he exited the elevator with Erin at one side and Andrew on the other, his feeling that Paul and Mia were more than friends was confirmed. Chase saw Paul's hand leave the small of Mia's back so she could give her uncle a hug. Paul took that opportunity to embrace his sister and welcome her home. Erin squeezed him tight and said through a few tears, “I missed you.” Chase couldn't help but notice that Erin was a bit more emotional than usual, which wasn't at all a surprise under the circumstances. Still, it bothered him to the core to know she was worried all the time.

The vision of Erin and her brother made him remember just how important family was, what he had been missing since his father had died. Chase couldn't imagine Erin wanting to live far away from her brother; their bond was too strong and it was obvious that frequent family gatherings were a necessity. He would take that into consideration when mapping out where they should live.

Mia released her uncle and walked over to him. She appeared nervous as she said, “I hope you don't mind dogs, Chase. I didn't want to leave Henry.”

“I love dogs,” Chase said, bending down and stroking the tuft of hair between Henry's ears. “He is most welcome.”

Mia smiled and was then immediately accosted by Erin, who was smiling now…and looking a bit mischievous. “We need to talk,” Erin said, taking her by the hand and leading her into their bedroom. Their bedroom. He loved the sound of that. Everything he had was hers. But their bedroom was about to change. While they were away, Erin had mentioned that his New York penthouse didn't feel like
him
. And she was right. Nothing in the elegant space, except for his office and the nursery, screamed his name or hers. He planned on rectifying that, especially since he now knew with absolute certainty what she wanted, where she saw herself living and raising a family. But for the time being, until their living nightmare was over, the penthouse would just have to do.

Chase was happy to see Erin looking and hopefully feeling better. Although she had been her loving and beautiful self for most of the afternoon prior to Paul's disturbing phone call, she seemed more reserved than usual, as if something, other than the obvious of course, was weighing on her. Chase was thankful that Erin and Mia had made themselves scarce to indulge in some girl talk about things that weren't as heavy.

But as he turned his attention to Paul and Andrew he noticed that maybe it was wise to give them some alone time as well. The look on Paul's face was one of stone as it had to be to defend himself against Andrew's piercing glare. “Come on, Henry,” Chase said, hustling from the room and giving them the privacy they apparently needed. Although Chase knew that Andrew and Paul needed to get their feelings off their chests and identify the elephant in the room, it wouldn't be easy. Chase wouldn't be at all surprised if a punch or two were thrown. From what Erin had told him, Mia was like a daughter to Andrew. And from the looks of it, the typically reserved, even-mannered ex–secret service agent…was pissed.

Alone, but not knowing for how long, Andrew cut to the chase and asked the only question that truly mattered. “Are you in love with her?”

Paul Whitley had never been one to cower or pass the buck. Hell, it had taken some restraint to not congratulate Paul when Andrew had learned that he had severely beaten the man who violated his sister. Andrew respected how loyal Paul was to his sister, how he would put everything on the line for her and more. But all that respect could be thrown to the wayside depending on Paul's answer and his intentions in regards to Mia.

“Yes, I am,” Paul said, not hesitating.

Andrew just stared at him, waiting for Paul's steely gaze to waver. But after several moments of uncomfortable silence, it was clear that the conversation wasn't going to progress unless he took the initiative. “It's been less than two weeks. I can't imagine…”

“And I can't imagine my life without her in it,” Paul said, cutting him off.

Andrew's intention was to bait Paul and get him to react with raw emotion, because that was where the truth lay. With his fists clenched at his side, his tone no longer businesslike, the reserved lawyer long gone; Paul was exposed and giving Andrew exactly what he wanted.

“You know what Mia means to me, Paul.”

“And you know by now that I protect those I love…no matter the cost.” That was the defining moment. Andrew could have either viewed him as the man who had flown into a rage, leaving a man to bleed to death or he could see him as a man that would risk everything for someone he loved. The first option would suggest that Paul was impulsive and a danger to his niece. And the latter, well, he might as well have been talking about himself. Because if it had been him in the cemetery that night, he wouldn't have just kicked the shit out of him. He would have finished the job and would have slept soundly every night thereafter.

Andrew looked past Paul and saw Mia and Erin spilling out into the hallway giggling like two teenaged girls. The sight was refreshing, giving him a different perspective. For the first time in years, Mia looked happy, resembling the carefree girl she had been before her mother and father had died. Was it possible that Paul had helped her find her smile…the very one that could brighten a room and make everyone in it stop and stare?

But Mia's easy smile faded as she looked from him to Paul. “Everything all right?” she asked.

In one extended and very-much-needed glance, Paul and Andrew had a conversation that only they were a part of. Andrew gave Paul a nod and Paul returned the gesture. The conversation was over for now. Remarkably, there were more important things to address, such as the man who was stalking not just one but two women they cared for.

But apparently Mia wasn't finished. She looked right at him and said, “Erin, Paul, can you give us a minute?”

Paul didn't move or take that opportunity to avoid what Andrew suspected would be a very awkward conversation with his niece. Begrudgingly, he had to admit that Paul had just scored a few brownie points with him for not bailing out. The only thing that finally got Paul to leave Mia was his sister. With some gentle coaxing and shameless pleading, Erin worked her magic and forced her brother out of the room.

“So he told you that we are…together?” she asked, struggling with the last word. From her stammer, Andrew concluded that Paul had neglected for one reason or another telling her the depth of his supposed feelings for her.

“Yes,” he said. Paul looked down at the woman who would always be his little girl. She may have only been his niece, for his brother had doted on her like any proud pop, but with no children of his own, Andrew's heart had been claimed by Mia from the day she was born. Andrew couldn't imagine anyone being good enough for his niece. It wasn't just a case of having impossible standards. It was the simple fact that she deserved perfection, love with no restrictions and loyalty beyond measure.

“Paul won't hurt me, Uncle Drew,” she said, walking toward him. “I trust him, which, as you know, isn't easy for me.” Between the deaths of her parents and her short and often-disturbing career as a profiler, she had every right to be leery of people, forever questioning their intentions and analyzing what truly made a person tick. “And as much as you may not want to admit it, you trust Paul too.”

Mia reached out and touched his arm. He placed his hand over hers and said, “I trust him to keep you safe. But can I trust him with your heart?”

“I don't know where Paul and I are headed…and I like that. But if I fall, if things don't work out, then…”

“I will catch you,” Andrew said, embracing his brother's child. She was so special to him, precious in every way. How the hell could he blame Paul, or any man for that matter, for appreciating her for the lovely person that she was? “And protect you.”

Mia squeezed him tight and said, “I was hoping you would say that.” She then stepped back and said, “I'll need all the protection you can give me…and so will Erin.” Her voice went from youthful to serious in less than a second, which was where the night needed to go.