Jason (Kings of Guardian #4) (6 page)

“Before we go any farther, you need to know I was the reason your brother died.”

Faith usually had a good grasp on reality. With what she’d been through in life, she made damn sure she didn’t get caught by surprise. But this? She looked away from the man across from her. Of all the things she’d thought he’d say, that wasn’t one she’d have guessed in a million years. She got people, understood motives better than most, and could read aggression and malice a mile away. After living with it for the first sixteen years of her life, her radar picked up the smallest indications of cruelty and she steered a wide berth around those particular types of assholes. Jason King
did not
send up any warning flags. What he’d just claimed and what she’d seen of him, how he’d treated her when she’d brained him… soaked him. He definitely wasn’t a violent man.

Drawing a deep breath, she turned back to him. She needed a moment without the overpowering man in front of her. “I’m going to go check on Reece. When I come back, you are going to explain what you mean by that.”

Faith rose from the table, the delicious food completely forgotten. She clicked on a lamp in the front room on her way through. Since Jason had arrived, it had gotten dark. Reece was asleep on her bed. His fever was still low grade. Faith turned off the television and called Tippy out of the room. She opened the side door to the trailer and let him out into the yard to do his business. Her mind chewed on the words her brother’s teammate had dropped. What did the man do to cause her brother’s death, and if he, in fact, did contribute to his death, why in the name of all that was holy was he confessing to it so long after the fact?

Two plus two did not equal four in this circumstance. He needed to explain and she needed to give him the chance to do so. Tippy scratched on the outside of the door, rousing Faith from her thoughts. She let him back in and he immediately went back to his boy.

Jason sat on the sectional. His elbows rested on his knees, and his head hung between his shoulders. Faith stood at the end of the hall, taking in the man’s mannerisms. Whatever he had done weighed heavily on him. Faith teetered between wanting to tell him to get out and needing to know why he felt it so necessary to come to her and confess his involvement. She’d lived in a viper’s den. She knew cold-blooded killers. Her gut told her this man wasn’t one. She’d stake her life on it.
Well, being alone with him in your trailer would play right into that little bet, wouldn’t it, Faith?

She drew a long breath to calm herself and sat down across from him.

“How are you responsible for Theo’s death?”

He lifted his pain-filled eyes to hers and spoke quietly. “I was the team leader. It was my responsibility to ensure my men were safe. We were in a hostile environment. I didn’t react fast enough. I failed him.”

Faith scrunched her eyes closed tightly. What in the hell was this man talking about? “Okay, just hold on a minute. His team leader’s name was Doug. I met him. Big guy, built like Theo and you. Nice, too. I think you need to explain this a little better for me. Where was Doug?”

“He died in a car accident just before the team was set to deploy. I’d been training with them for over a year, to keep in shape and to keep my skill set sharp. The team approached me and asked me to step into Doug’s shoes. I did.”

“So you didn’t kill Theo?”

Jason stood and walked toward the kitchen. It only took him three steps. He dropped his hands to his hips. “I failed to see an imminent hostile threat. I instructed the men to stand down. We were outmanned and outgunned. The man who held us just fired. No warning. He killed your brother in front of me. No prelude. He just killed him as if he didn’t matter.”

The anguish in the big man’s voice pulled Faith off the chair. She walked up to him, stopping less than six inches in front of him. “But you didn’t make him join Guardian. You didn’t make him take on the missions.”

“He took my orders.”

“That he willingly took. I know the plane went down. They told me—”

“How he died?”

“They told me he survived the crash…”

“They didn’t tell you how he was killed?”

“No, they told me he survived the crash. You didn’t force him into the airplane or push him out of the aircraft without a parachute. Believe me, he knew the risks. He talked about it with me. Guardian was his way out of a hell we both existed in. The money he made there helped get Reece and me out of a dangerous situation, too.”

She lifted her hand and caressed his cheek. He turned into her hand and she saw the glimmer of moisture on his lashes. The absolute desolation he felt radiated around him. Faith pulled him down into a hug, trying to ease his pain.

“It was my fault. You lost your brother because of me.”

“What penance are you paying? Why are you blaming yourself for events you had absolutely no control over? From what I can see, this isn’t your cross to bear, Jason.”

“It is.”

“You are not to blame. I lost a good friend that day. Theo was my half-brother. We have different mothers. His mom tried to keep him away from our father. But when Theo found out he had a sister, he came back for me. He moved me here to Savannah, helped me get this trailer and supported us until I found a job. He wanted to give me more money, but I needed to be able to fend for myself, to prove I could. I will always miss him, but I know he wouldn’t have wanted to die any other way than in the line of duty. He loved what he was, what he did. You could see it when he spoke of his teammates and of the importance of what they did.”

Faith felt the hard clenched muscles in the man’s back relax slightly as she spoke. His hands rested on her hips, warm and heavy. “Why haven’t you bought a house with the insurance money Theo left you?”

The question stopped her tender strokes to his back. She pulled away and angled her face so she could see his eyes. “Theo didn’t leave me any money.”

Jason straightened to his full height. “He had half a million in insurance. Every team member does.”

“He left it to Reece because that was the safest. He set up a trust that can only be accessed by Reece when he turns twenty-one. It is set up that way for his protection. I never saw a penny of money from Guardian, and I really don’t need anything. I have a job, some savings, and Reece and I are okay.”

“That doesn’t make sense. Why wouldn’t you use the money to make life easier for you?”

“Some things aren’t up for discussion. This is one of them.”

“You’re right. I shouldn’t have asked.”

Faith reached up and caressed his cheek again. “It’s just… Well, let’s not talk about that.” Faith saw a quick glimpse of surprise in his eyes before the heated lust-filled look he’d given her at the table reappeared. She leaned into him, running her hands up the man’s hard chest.

*

“This isn’t the reason I came here.” Jason had to make sure she knew that before he gave in. Something told him if he didn’t say it now, he wouldn’t get the chance.

“I know, but it’s one heck of a reason to stay.”

Faith’s body felt so damn good against his. Soft, decadent and so fucking sexy. She fit against him. He lowered his lips toward hers as he pulled her in. The rush of her hot breath as he pulled her tight and the small gasp she exhaled went straight to his cock.

A mere whisper of contact sent sensation exploding to every nerve ending of his body. Heated need, desire… fuck, even lust, fought against whatever shreds of professionalism remained. He pulled away and searched for a sign from her. Did she really want this? Him?

Faith’s fingertips touched his bottom lip as she spoke. “Whatever this is, I’d like to pursue it.”

The look of hesitation in her eyes gave her away. “I sense a ‘but’ to that statement.”

“But, my son is asleep in the next room.”

Jason lowered his forehead to hers. “Then sit with me on the couch. Let me hold you, touch you. I want to get to know you, Faith…”

Her low, sultry laugh sent more blood to his already rock-hard cock. “Turnabout is fair play, because Superman, I think you may be my kryptonite.”

“Believe me, I’m not a hero.”
More like a walking disaster with anger issues
.

“Good. I’d rather have a real man. Perfection is overrated.”

“I’m as far from perfect as you can get.”

“That makes two of us.”

“You feel damn close to perfect to me.” Jason stepped backward, tugging Faith with him. When his calves hit the couch, he pulled her down on top of him. Her little squeal when they fell brought a smile to his lips. He lifted her over him and cupped her neck with his hand. Her eyes sparkled. The blush on her cheeks and the smile on her lips sucked him in like quicksand. Unable to resist, he pulled her down to him and sipped at her lips. He needed to taste her, to absorb the wonderful sensations between them. It had been so damn long since he felt this light.

Her lips opened and automatically his hips bucked, grinding his erection into her as his tongue plunged deep into her mouth. Faith moaned and shuddered in his arms. Holy hell, the screaming need he felt for this woman. This was more than him wanting to get off. He wanted… Faith’s hand traveled down his chest, past his waist and cupped his hard-as-steel cock, and it was Jason’s turn to moan.

She pulled away and smiled down at him. “Oh my, you are a big boy, aren’t you?”

He couldn’t help it; he laughed as he flipped her underneath him. He held himself off her with his arms but lay cradled between her gloriously long legs.

“Proportional, I’d say.” He dipped to taste the curve of her neck, the woman’s scent and taste surrounding his senses.

“Then I have to believe, someday, I might be a very happy woman.” Faith’s chest rose, arching toward him as his lips traveled across her neck and down to the exposed flesh of her chest.

“I want you.” Like there was any doubt, but Jason’s urge to make it clear forced the words.

“You can have me. Just not tonight. I’ll get a sitter. We’ll… Ahh!” Jason smiled against her breast. He’d pushed aside her shirt and licked under her bra, swiping her nipple. He did it again and she cupped his head, holding him against her. No further encouragement needed, Jason pushed her bra aside and feasted on her soft, succulent skin. The nipple pearled tight under his tongue. He used his teeth to worry the pebbled skin. Her hips bucked under him, grinding her core against his weight. He pushed his hips into her on her next upward thrust. The sound of their mutual moan filled the room.

“Momma?”

Jason and Faith froze at the exact same second, whipping their heads toward the hall where Reece stood rubbing his eyes.

“Hi, baby.” Faith pulled her shirt down and scrambled to sit up. Jason lifted off her and rolled to his side, lying the length of the couch behind Faith. He wasn’t bending to sit up. That wasn’t happening for a hot minute, not with his cock as hard as a crowbar.

“Were you playing?” Reece walked over to the couch and climbed up, but instead of sitting on Faith’s lap he settled in between them and closed his eyes.

“Yeah, baby, grownup games.” Faith’s eyes rounded and her smile brightened the room. Jason chuckled at her expression and answer.

“Okay. Can I stay?” Reece turned to his side, cuddling closer to Jason. The little boy’s head dropped on his arm. Jason fucking melted. The flush of fever on the little guy’s cheeks, coupled with the kid’s complete innocence, sucker-punched him in the gut. Got his attention and held it, but he was damned if he could figure out why.

Faith scooted down on the sofa and ran her hand through Reece’s hair. She looked up at Jason with a questioning look.

“Sure, buddy. You can stay.” Jason’s whisper brought Reece’s eyes open.

“I’m glad you like us, Superman.” His eyes drooped again, closing as his little body twitched with sleep.

“I’m glad he likes us, too.” Faith whispered her words while staring at Jason.

He smiled back at her. What he was feeling right now? This was something he never imagined he’d want to feel. This wasn’t him needing to get laid. It wasn’t about his past, about Theo or about Guardian. The feelings he had right now had everything to do with his present. Jason lifted Reece’s head and ran his arm under Faith, too, allowing her to snuggle closer.

“Is this okay?” Faith’s whisper drifted over to him.

“Nowhere I’d rather be.” His hushed answer wasn’t a line. It was the truth.

“You’re making me believe in fairy tales, Mr. King.”

“I’m no Prince Charming.”

“And I’m no Cinderella, but I’d dance with you and I wouldn’t run away at midnight. You’ve seen most of my ugly step-sister reality already.”

“Most?” Jason caught the wistfulness in her voice.

“A lady has to have some secrets.”

“A few are authorized.”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For being as wonderful as I thought you might be.”

“When you take off those rose colored glasses, my reality won’t be pretty.”

“Tell me about you.”

Jason focused on her face. Her eyes were a dark chocolate brown sprinkled with tiny gold flecks. Beautiful, really.

“You first.” He’d already talked too much about himself. He could find out everything about Faith with one phone call, but he didn’t want to learn about her from a background investigation.