Her Master Defender (The Masters Men Series) (16 page)

“Get out!”

Shocked by the force of his voice, she stared for a moment. Seeing him slip one of the strips in his mouth as he continued to glare at her, she decided to give him some space. Picking up the phone she ignored her father’s demands and hung it up before walking toward the door.

“I’ll be right in the kitchen if you need me.”

She knew he wouldn’t answer. His body had already started to spasm. Like before every nursing and therapist instinct she possessed told her to go to him. Her recent peeks into his mental state, told her to just go. Her touch would not help him. It would cause more pain, she was certain of it.

Her cell phone rang before she made it to the far end of the kitchen. She’d been expecting it.

“What’s not his fault? Why am I going to be added to a casualty list? What the hell is going on? And don’t give me any of that classified horse pucky!” she yelled, knowing full well, even without looking at the display it was her father on the other end.

“A man was killed today.”

That stopped her ranting. “Who, a member of his team?”

The silence that greeted that question had chills chasing up her spine. She knew exactly how close team members were. It was like losing family.

“No, they were killed months ago.”

Oh dear God, now she understood the guilt.

“What’s going on there? Is Dos alright? Is he having an attack?” the Colonel asked.

Copper’s eyes narrowed. “Yes. What causes them?” Her father exhaled loudly over the line. This wasn’t good. She glanced at the closed office door. There hadn’t been a sound from the room since she left.

“We don’t know. That’s what the scientist who was killed was working on.”

“Scientist? What does a scientist have to do with Dos? And who wants him back? Whom did he get away from? What is going on, Dad?”

“A mission went bad.”

“I figured that part out on my own.” She rolled her eyes and dug for patience. “What happened to Dos?”

“Officially? Nothing.”

“I don’t give a bull frog’s bugle about official,” she said, though she wanted to scream. Glancing up she saw the office door open. A pale, rung out Dos walked stiffly toward her. “I want to know what happened to--"

He took the phone from her hand. “She’ll call you later,” he said, flipped it closed and put it in his pocket.

Copper stood unmoving under his stare for a full minute. It wasn’t a mean or angry stare. It was as though he was trying to figure out how much the Colonel had told her. She hoped she could learn how to hang up on her father and not have him call back immediately. How did he do that?

“He won’t tell you anything,” he said, before turning to open the refrigerator. Reaching in he took out a bottle of water.

Copper watched him drain the entire contents. That was good. The effects of the attacks she’d seen certainly dehydrated him. If he was smart enough to drink water afterward he would be okay. She waited while he took another one out and started to walk out of the kitchen before she confronted him.

“Why? Because it’s classified, or because you say so? It’s not like I’m going to blab it all over town. I just want to help you.”

Copper stopped short when Dos whirled around at her words.

“I told you no one can help. Now more than ever it’s true. So--"

“Because of the scientist’s death?”

His eyes flared wide at her question. She almost regretted asking, but she needed answers.

“Yeah, so,” he said in a calm deliberate voice, “You’re going to pack and I’m calling Gina to come pick you up. You can stay with her until we catch the guy who’s after you.”

Oh no, no, no, he did not just tell her what she would do again, did he? The man did have a death wish. All her concern evaporated replaced by frustration and attitude. Stepping closer she jabbed a finger at his chest.

“Call Gina if you want, but she’ll be coming to save your sorry butt because I don’t take well to being told what to do and where to go. I’m not in the Navy anymore, buster. I-don’t-take-orders. Got it?”

With each gentle poke of her finger he backed up a step. Oh, she wasn’t dumb enough to think he was afraid of her, or that she was actually pushing him back. No, he was thinking if he let her blow off steam, afterward he could reason with her.

He doesn’t know you very well.

The random thought made her smile and she realized that did make him nervous. She stepped closer. “You want me gone?”

“I don’t want you dead.”

Neither did she, but that wasn’t the question. The fact he hadn’t answered it clearly surprised her. She leaned in close. Even wiped out and nervous he was hot. Bringing her brain back to the task at hand, Copper pressed a hand to his chest then pushed a little. She wasn’t sure who she was pushing away, him or her.

“Who’s to say that my leaving will guarantee I live? I mean a rock could fall off the mountain and crush my car. It happens.”

“Damn it, woman, you’re not taking this serious.”

“I can’t if I don’t know what this is.” Why did men expect you to blithely do as they said without explaining anything? “Let’s start with something simple. Who is the man that tried to take my camera and why is my father sending you a picture of him?”

“We don’t know. The other man in the picture is a big drug lord in South America.”

“And you know this because . . .” He wouldn’t answer her which told her a lot. She knew the army helped with counter-drug operations at times, so what was the big deal? Then it dawned on her. “He’s the mission that went bad.”

Dos couldn’t stop his reaction. His hand crushed the water bottle he’d just opened sending water spewing everywhere. Copper jumped away with a startled yelp. Well, at least it would change their focus for a while. He started to go get towels to clean it up but she stopped him.

“Don’t move. I’m too tired to pick you up if you slip and as stiffly as you’re walking it’s a definite possibility,” Copper said turning and walking to the kitchen counter.

In other words, you’re too weak to even wipe up water. You couldn’t even save your men. You’re only good for use as a guinea pig. A made to order guinea pig.

“Throw the damned towels here!” he yelled, forcing the demeaning voice in his head to silence.

“I can get it,” Copper said calmly walking back.

“I said give them here.” He grabbed them out of her hands when she was close enough. “I can take care of my own mess.”

Tearing several paper towels off the roll, he tossed them down and used his cane to sop up the mess. He repeated the exercise several times before the floor was dry. Walking to the kitchen he got the trash can. Using his cane again he transferred the wet towels to the can, pushed it across the floor to the bar then met her gaze head on.

She stood before him with her arms crossed, her mouth silent, and her brow arched. Fine. She wanted information he’d give it to her.

“Yes, he’s the mission that went bad. He captured my team and me. He tortured and killed each of them and made me watch.”

Her hand covered her mouth as her eyes filled with tears. Good, maybe he would finally get through to her how dangerous being around him could be.

“That took three weeks. Then he focused his attention on me. Each week that passed with me silent, he got madder and meaner. After three more weeks there wasn’t a lot left that wasn’t broken, cut, or burned so he started using me as a guinea pig.” Shoving up the sleeves of his shirt he held both of his arms out for her to examine. Track lines could still be seen these months later.

She reached out and touched the crease of his elbow. It was like a brand to his skin. No one, not even his brothers had seen, let alone touched him there since he left the hospital.

“Dos, I’m so sorry.”

“I don’t need your sympathy,” he said, pushing his sleeves back down to break the skin to skin contact. As soon as it was gone he wanted it back. “I need you to understand how dangerous this is. Cardone pumped me full of more than drugs and we don’t know what that something else is.”

“Hence, the scientists,” she said.

“Yeah. And somehow he’s figured out where I am, and sent someone to kill me or get me back. So, you can see why you need to be somewhere else.”

She stared up at him with those warm caring eyes, even after everything he’d told her. After everything he’d shown her. He felt his will weakening, but he couldn’t afford that. She had to understand. Grabbing her upper arms with his hands he glared down into the startled green pools of her eyes. “I need you safe.”  

And then she did it.

God, why did she have to do it?

Pressing one of her strong, but delicate hands on his chest she smiled and said, “I need you safe, too.”

His heart stopped. God, no, please don’t let this happen, he prayed as she pressed up on tip toes and leaned toward him.

She didn’t close her eyes, but watched his as she closed the distance between them. Dos couldn’t look away. It was as if she looked straight through to his soul.

Your soul is mine.

The memory of Cardone’s voice burned through his mind. Copper’s lips were a breath from his. “We can’t do this,” he said.

Copper kissed his lips. She felt their heat to the soles of her feet.

He resisted.

She persisted.

His need to be close to someone was palpable. And she wanted to be that someone.

Sliding her fingers into his delicious hair, she pulled his head closer. His palms, when he gave in enough to move them from their vise like hold on her arms, warmed her hips. Taking advantage of every tiny victory, she leaned in flush to his body. Relief at his body’s obvious reaction to her emboldened her. She traced the crease of his lips with her tongue seeking entry.

Dos’ fingertips dug into her skin as his mouth opened. Copper wasted no time. Kissing him was heaven and she wanted him there with her. Her tongue slid along his. She shivered with his groaned response. Pressing her luck, she placed her foot between his, forcing him to take a step back.

And then another.

Finally, maneuvering him through the door of his bedroom, she pushed the door closed with her foot.

He broke the kiss.

Copper expected it. She didn’t move; just let his breath wash over her face as his eyes stared down at her in the darkness. His indecision was heartening. Yesterday he wouldn’t have had to think about it. The door would be open and he would be gone.

“Copper,” he said, his voice a rough whisper of denial.

She stroked his face with her hand and smiled despite his negative tone.

“We can’t--"

Placing her finger over his lips, Copper shook her head. “What happens, happens. We won’t do anything you don’t want to do. I want to be with you tonight. Just be with me,” she whispered and brought his lips to hers again.

Never had convincing a man to sleep with her been so difficult. Copper had a feeling Dos was worth the effort. Plus, she wanted him to touch her as much as she believed he needed to be touched. This crazy turn her life had taken out of the slow lane had her needing a rest stop. What better place to rest than in his strong arms?

Feeling those arms wrap around her and hug her close she smiled into the kiss. His hold loosened as he slid his hands down to the hem of her t-shirt. The brush of his finger and thumb over the skin at her waist was like a match to dry pine needles.

Flames of passion and desire licked at every nerve in her body. She wanted him. She wanted him now.

Slow down.

The words burst through her thoughts a millisecond before she started to tear open his shirt. Thankfully, Dos chose that moment to break the kiss and trail more down her throat. Copper used the opportunity to take a deep breath and turn down her internal burners.

His hand pushed her t-shirt up and she lifted her arms. He pulled it over her head. He immediately reached for the hook of her bra, but she stopped him.

“One for me, one for you,” she said, smiling up at his confused expression.

“You don’t want to see this. My arms are nothing compared to the rest,” he said, and started to step away.

Copper grabbed hold of his shirt before he could get out of reach. “I can’t see much of anything in here,” she said, pulling his shirt from his waistband. She knew he only let her unbutton it and brush it over his shoulders to the floor because he had a t-shirt on beneath. But patience wasn’t new to her. She always kept a full supply on hand, despite her Irish ancestry.

It didn’t take but a second for him to pull her close again. His hot hands seared her skin as he brushed, molded and kneaded her body. He touched her everywhere except where she expected.

She felt her breasts swell with the need to be touched. A moan escaped his throat, or was it hers, she couldn’t be sure. Then he stroked a thumb along the underside of her bra.

Going slow was going to be very difficult with his touch turning up the heat of what she thought already a full burn. At least for her. Dos didn’t seem to have any trouble going slow.