Jason (Kings of Guardian #4) (23 page)

“Baby, you don’t have to do this.” His cock perked up, and if it could have, it would have knocked his ass out. Yeah, it cost him to say those words, but hell… he meant them.

Her hand snaked out and grabbed the base of his shaft. Jason jerked into her warm, tight hold. The tension in her stroke pulled a deep groan from somewhere inside him.

“This is mine, and I want to taste you.”

Faith held his gaze with hers until her tongue circled the head of his cock. His eyes crossed, rolled into the back of his head and exploded when she deep-throated almost his entire length on the first attempt. His arm shot out to the shower wall to steady himself, and the other hand held her head, not forcing her to stay, but encouraging her nonetheless. Finally, she pulled back. Her tongue swirled his crown, and she took him deep again. This time, her lips reached the base of his shaft. He felt his cockhead push down her into throat, the tight grip unlike any other sensation. Faith pulled away slightly and moaned. The resulting vibration went straight to his balls, and it was everything he could do not to explode down her throat. Jason stepped back and pulled her up.

His arms banded her tightly, and his kisses branded the delicate skin on her neck. He pushed her back to the wall and grabbed her ass, lifting her to his waist.

Faith’s gasp echoed around the stone-lined walls of the shower. “You make me feel so small, so… incredibly safe.”

“I’d do anything to protect you. I love you.” Jason growled his words into her neck.

***

Wrapped in his arms, Faith pressed closer to the rock-hard muscles of the man who held her like she was the most precious thing in the world. Need surged through her in a force stronger than anything she’d ever felt before. She needed to show him she loved him as much as he loved her—to somehow be worth the sacrifice he’d been willing to make. Every fiber in her body was pulled tight with the unquenchable desire to be his everything, because that was what he was to her.

She felt him guide his shaft under her. His huge mushroom crown slowly pushed in, sending tiny shivers of pain and pleasure through the fabric of her body. Heavy plates of muscles rippled under her hands as his back flexed and his body moved deeper into her core. His sure hold on her crushed her nipples against his coarse chest hair. With each thrust into her core, the abrasive rub of his chest against hers doubled the sensations her mind strained to process. But she couldn’t. The fear of the day, the relief of having him home again, the gut-wrenching knowledge that her past had once again reared its ugly head, all combined in a tidal wave of emotions.

Desperate to get closer, be closer with Jason, she clawed at his back. His hissed response and sharp thrust spurred her further. She kissed his neck and sucked the salty skin into her mouth. The mark she’d leave didn’t matter. Her need to devour and be devoured by him remained her only concern.

“Ahh!” She pulled away from his neck to gasp or scream or… hell, something. His cock was pounding inside of her now, the heat and hardness pushing her closer to that sexual ledge. “More. Please… Jason… more.”

She grasped his shoulders when he shifted her weight. With his hands under her arms he bounced her on his cock. Sharp pulls of pain, mixed with delicious, desperate, building need. Her breath exploded out of her lungs at each percussive thrust. Jason’s lips found hers. His tongue invaded her mouth with the same possessive thrusts as his cock. The exquisite cornucopia of overwhelming sensations concentrated deep within her and exploded. White and red spots filled her vision. Jason’s kiss swallowed the scream that his lovemaking ripped from her. She clung to him. His motions shuddered and became jagged as he came, pushing himself deeper while trapping her against the wall and his body. He pulled away from her lips and growled a guttural sound as his hips stuttered through the finale of his orgasm.

She pushed his wet hair back from his face. Jason’s eyes opened, their vivid green not quite focused. Exertion or satisfaction flushed his face. He was absolutely beautiful, and he was hers.

Slowly, he lowered her to a standing position, still trapping her against the travertine wall. She ran her hands up and down his back, feeling the muscles jump and contract under her touch.

They held each other as they came down from the delicious high they’d chased together. Jason’s soft caresses and lingering kisses told her as well as his words how much he loved her. Her past had conditioned her to believe no one would love her. Theo had shattered that assumption when he pulled her out of the cesspool in Detroit. Jason’s unconditional love was a blessed gift, one she’d cherish forever.

They cleaned up and toweled off. She could see the exhaustion etched in the lines around his eyes. They pulled on pajamas and fell into bed moments before Jason snagged her waist and tucked her into his side. He sighed, “Love you.” His words carried on an exhale into the stillness of the room. She smiled into the darkness at the small snore that immediately followed.

***

“Hey, what’s wrong, little man?” Jason’s voice woke her with a start. The bed dipped as Jason moved. She lifted her head to see over his shoulder. Reece stood at the side of the bed with his hand on Jason’s arm. The nightlight from Reece’s room illuminated their bedroom.

“Tippy got scared.” Reece grabbed the blanket and tried to pull himself up the elevated bedframe.

Jason palmed Reece’s bottom and pushed him up onto his chest with no apparent effort. “He did? What scared Tippy?” Jason’s hands ran up and down Reece’s back. The little boy relaxed on Jason’s massive chest and tucked his head under Jason’s chin.

“Maybe he had a bad dream.” Reece’s voice wavered. Faith reached out and took Reece’s hand in hers. Jason adjusted his arm and she laid her head on his shoulder so she and her son were face to face. He wiggled his fingers in her grip and she lifted them to her lips to kiss the tips.

“Maybe. What do you think he dreamed about?” Jason’s soft voice rumbled in that deep, raspy way that had become imprinted in her heart.

“’Splosions. He got scared ‘cause he doesn’t want this house to blow up, too.”

Jason’s hand stopped momentarily and then resumed rubbing the little boy’s back. “How about we tell Tippy that he never has to worry about explosions again. I can promise him that.”

“You can?”

“Yes, sir, I can.”

Reece shook his hand free from her grip and lifted up onto his elbows. He stared at Jason hard and asked, “We gets to stay here and you’re going to be my daddy, right? ‘Cause you love us. Right?”

“This is our home. You, me and Mom will live here as a family. I do love you, buddy, and I am so proud to be your daddy.” There was a catch in Jason’s voice that brought tears to her eyes.

“Tippy can stay, too?”

“Of course.”

“Can we sleep with you? Tippy’s still scared.”

“Is he?” Jason guided Reece back onto his chest.

He let out a contented sigh and breathed, “Maybe a little.”

“Go to sleep, buddy. I’ll protect you.” Jason kissed his head.

“Momma and Tippy, too?” The question ended in a huge yawn.

Jason turned his head toward her and smiled. “Always.”

“But I have everything I need for tomorrow. The dress, shoes, even a purse. Tori helped me pick them all out before we flew out here. I don’t understand what you think I’d need.” Faith smoothed the silk skirt she was wearing and messed with the hem. Tori swore the two-piece suit looked good on her. She wasn’t buying it. The clothes were way tighter than she usually wore.

“Stop fidgeting, you look beautiful.” Jason cupped her chin in his massive palm and lifted his thumb to caress her cheek.

Instant denial flew to her lips, but his green eyes held an intense honesty that she couldn’t evade. Instead, she swallowed the lump in her throat and gave him a small smile. “Thank you.”

She licked her lips and watched his eyes drop to her actions. His low growl spread a warmth inside her that she vowed never to take for granted. “We could go back to our hotel and order room service.”

Jason lowered as she leaned up. He dropped the sweetest, lightest kiss on her lips before pulling away. Faith chased his lips, lifting on her toes to do so. His low chuckle turned the attempt to prolong the kiss into an embarrassing moment. Faith could feel the rush of blood to her face.

“Hey, no… I want you, baby. I’d love nothing more than to stand here and kiss you all night, but then they might get upset.” Jason tilted his head and sidestepped to his right. She followed his gesture and gasped.

Faith spun toward Jason and bounced on her toes to kiss him on the cheek. “Oh, my God! Thank you!” Her squeal turned heads but she didn’t care. She ran as fast as she could in the heels and skirt she was wearing to Helena and fell into a familiar, warm hug.

“I’m so glad you’re here!” Faith reached over and brought Cal into the hug too.

“Like I’d miss my BFF’s wedding day? Hell no, child!” Helena wiped none too delicately at the tears that streamed down her face. “Good thing I don’t wear makeup, girl, or we’d have to take a trowel to my face and re-plaster it!”

“You don’t need makeup, babe, I love you just the way you are.” Cal kissed his wife’s cheek and made her blush.

Cal leaned in and gave Faith a kiss on the cheek too. “Good to see you looking so happy.”

“I am so happy! I’m afraid to do or say anything to jinx this.” Faith felt Jason slip his arm around her waist and leaned back into his solid body.

“Girl, you are not ten, life can’t be jinxed. You are beyond blessed. Enjoy it, you deserve him. And you, mister.” Helena lifted a finger, shaking it at Jason. “Thank you for the plane tickets and the tickets to this show!” Her smile beamed across her face. Faith felt Jason tense, and his terse “Excuse me?” set the hairs on the back of her neck on end. She twisted to see his face.

“The tickets. Thank you,” Helena repeated.

Jason glanced at Cal, pulling Faith into his side. He scanned the crowd as he spoke. “I didn’t send any tickets. I didn’t know you were in Las Vegas until Helena’s message came through Guardian’s switchboard.”

“What message?” Helena asked.

Jason started walking backward toward the door, catching his security detail’s attention, putting them on alert. “Cal, watch my six, I got yours.” His warning terrified Faith to the point she tripped over her own feet. Jason’s arm supported her and almost carried her as he continued to back out of the room.

Cal immediately pulled Helena toward the doorway, following Jason’s lead, keeping his attention on the doorway Jason and Faith were backing toward.

***

Jason watched his team deploy through the crowded theater lobby. He carried a Glock 43 on his ankle, nothing more than a close-quarter, last-line-of-defense pea shooter, but a 9mm nonetheless. He hadn’t seen a bulge under Cal’s suit jacket, so if the off-duty cop was carrying, it wasn’t visible.

Faith stumbled. He locked his arm around her waist and lifted her, carrying her weight effortlessly as he backed out of the room. The lobby was a perfect place for an ambush… one entrance, and the only other exit would push them into the theater, where the elevated seating would be a prime location for a shooter to wait.

One of his team spun, jerking before he fell. The muted thud of a muffled shot echoed in the large lobby. A lady screamed and all hell busted loose. He and Cal pushed the women into the corner of the room behind them and a large planter. “Get down and stay down. Do not get up!” he roared as he swept his gun from its holster. Cal pulled a small-caliber weapon at the exact moment another muffled explosion sounded and a spit of dust from the drywall behind Jason puffed into the air.

“Suppressor!” He roared the warning and shifted, trying to locate his target among the throng of people screaming and running for the exits.

He grabbed Cal. “Take the women. Get them out!”

The man was moving before Jason could finish his statement. One of his security detail leaned over his teammate and checked the downed man’s pulse. He shook his head and backed away from the body. His rage boiled. He lifted to his full height and easily identified his target. The man wore a hotel uniform. The gun was currently behind his back, but he could see the end of the suppressor’s barrel.

Just as he found the assassin, the man’s eyes locked on him. A wicked sneer and a flick of the killer’s eyes behind and to the right of Jason was his only indication there was another shooter. He dropped and rolled. The floor exploded several times in rapid succession, sending stinging chips of stone at the exposed skin of Jason’s face.

He lunged to his right and launched a body block at the legs of the shooter, his aggressive move completely at odds with what every other normal human’s reaction would be while in the sights of a weapon. His flying tackle hit the man at his knees, dropping the smaller gunman, sending his pistol skittering across the marble.

He had to trust his team would take out the other shooter, but this bastard was his. All his. The man flipped to his stomach and then to his feet, immediately dropping into a fighting stance. He rolled his bulk effortlessly and leveled his gun.

“On your knees. Hands on your head.” Jason’s aim was direct and at center of mass. If the fucker twitched, he’d be dead. At this range, even his small weapon would do the trick.

The man’s eyes locked on him. He could see the perp run the scenarios. Fucker wanted to run. “I will kill you.”

“Then you’ll never know who sent me.”

“The Russian accent gives that away, ass-wipe.” Jason smiled. After countless debriefings with covert operatives, he knew the tactics the man tried to employ. Keep your mark talking and get him to think of other things besides his own safety.

“Russia is very big. So many peoples.” The son of a bitch had the audacity to smile.

He didn’t respond. Instead, he cocked his neck and lifted an eyebrow. “Knees now or I’ll drop you.”

“You wou—” The Russian’s sudden aggressive movement toward him became the catalyst to break the standoff. He lowered his sights and squeezed the trigger, sending a nine-millimeter slug through the right kneecap of the fucker, dropping the piece of shit. From the screams coming from the man, he’d hit what he’d aimed at. The son of a bitch was lucky. With the smaller weapons, trigger jerk could be such a bitch. He might have pulled his shot high and hit the man in the balls.

He centered his gun on the writhing, screaming man and glanced into the room. His men had the other shooter handcuffed and on the ground. The fucker wasn’t moving—unlike the worm in front of him.

He walked over to the man and kicked him onto his back. “You’ll talk. I have no doubt. Sizning tashkilotingiz mening o’ch omon bo’lmayd.”
Your organization will not survive my revenge
. Jason’s Uzbek was rusty at best, but it was good enough that the motherfucker understood him. The Russian mafia wouldn’t survive his vengeance. The attack on his family would be the beginning of the organization’s end. He’d dismantle the fuckers piece by bloody piece.

“Siz faqat bilmayman, o’lik odamsiz.” The man spit the threat out and Jason mentally translated the words. “I’m dead? I just don’t know it? Really? It sounds as if you have big ideas for such a pathetic errand boy. I don’t have the time or patience to do this the nice way. So tell me, my friend, what else is planned?”

“Fuck you!” The snarled retort was choked out between ragged gasps for air.

“No thanks. But how about you tell me what you know?” Jason put his foot on the man’s shattered joint and added a slight amount of his weight to the damage. The keening high-pitched wail was sickening enough to turn a person’s stomach, at least until the gunman passed out.
Pity
.

“What you just did? That shit’s not right.” Cal spoke from behind him.

Jason spun, looking for Faith. “Where are they?”

“With about four hundred LVPD uni’s outside.”

He nodded toward one of his security team. “Secure the perimeter, get our people here, now.” To the last remaining member of his team he barked, “Report.”

“Johnson is dead. One to the back of the head. That bastard was the shooter. I saw it happen. That’s the other fucker.” He pointed toward the man cuffed on the ground.

“Give a statement to responding units. Get me Johnson’s contact information. I need to ensure his family is notified.” Jason dropped the clip of his weapon and jacked the slide, extracting the chambered round. He added the bullet to the clip and dropped it into his pocket.

“Seriously, what the fuck is happening here and what was that all about?” Cal gestured toward the unconscious Russian on the ground.

“What? I didn’t kill him.” Jason rolled his eyes at Cal’s indignation.

“But you had no justifiable cause to step on his knee. He wasn’t resisting.”

Jason did a double-take.

“Do you speak or understand Uzbek?”

Cal shook his head. “It doesn’t matter. What you did? That’s fucked up.”

“Not really. Look, I know you don’t have the background on this situation. You know what I do for a living. Trust me, this is an ongoing event and even if it wasn’t, this man just tried to kill us. His people are to blame for the explosion that nearly killed Faith, Reece and Helena. Honestly, I would skin him alive, use every means necessary to extract exactly what information I need to protect not only my family, but every man, woman and child this bastard’s organization enslaves. You’re in the big leagues now, my friend, and this man is the enemy. Time to grow a pair and step up. He was paid to kill us. Besides, he’s lucky I didn’t kill him, because, believe me, I want too.”

“Seriously, bro, doing Vegas for most of the world does not include a shootout… unless you are over at that Wild West casino on Tropicana Avenue, but damn, dude…” Jacob’s low whistle echoed in the vacant theater lobby. “The O.K. Corral’s got nothing on you.”

“Faith and Helena?”

“With Tori and my team. The kids are secure and the nanny and hotel have been assigned extra security. The ladies should be back at our suites by now.” Jacob walked up and toed the unconscious man. He took out his cell and popped a picture before he worked his phone. “Just sent a text to Tori to let the ladies know you two are alright.”

Jacob moved across the room repeated the camera action with the second man. Several EMT teams rushed into the lobby and started working on the unconscious men.

“Get some men here to take over security from LVPD. I want one of my team on each of those fuckers until we get reinforcements here.”

“Got teams inbound. We have several personal security officers we can pull from assets in California if needed. Jade and Jewell are flying in from assignments. We can put them on Faith when you’re not with her.”

Jared spoke as he walked into the room. “Well, when you go to Vegas to get married, bubba, you do it in style, that’s for sure. Bet Faith never forgets the night before her wedding.”

Cal chuckled beside him, and both Jason’s brothers finally gave the man their attention. “Cal Samuelsson. I believe my wife and I are unwitting participants in this plan. We received airline tickets and tickets to this show from a messenger. Helena thought Jason sent them. I didn’t see the note, but I assumed it, too.”

“Cal, these are my brothers, Jacob, who runs Overseas Operations for Guardian Security, and Jared, who is in charge of Domestic Operations.”

Both men shook Cal’s hand. They terminated the pleasantries quickly and looked at Jason. He picked up the story. “I didn’t know they were in town until I received a message from Helena through the switchboard. It said they were in town and looking forward to a night out starting with this show. There was nothing to lead me to believe it was a set-up. I thought they were here to surprise Faith.”

Jacob’s phone buzzed, drawing everyone’s attention. He huffed a lungful of air and flipped in the phone before he pocketed it. “Joseph doesn’t have intel on any Russian assassins currently working in the U.S. He thinks they are probably mob hit men. Amateurs.”

“Amateurs? They killed a man. What the hell would you call a professional?” Cal’s voice cracked.

“In our world, if an assassin had accepted a contract for one of us, we would be dead. Elite assassins kill without collateral damage—clean, concise and completely unexpected.” Jason glanced over at where his man was being put into a body bag. He shrugged against the pain of that sight and watched as the crime scene technicians gathered evidence.