Under Pressure [IAD Agency] (Siren Publishing Classic) (11 page)

She was startled as Sal rushed over to embrace her in his massive arms. Her arms wound around his waist, and she held on, letting the security of her brother’s love wash over her. This was what she needed, she thought on a sigh.

“I’ve missed you, Sal.”

Pulling back, Sal looked down at her face and wiped away the tears that she didn’t even know had fallen. “Oh, baby, I’ve missed you, too. I’m sorry I was gone, honey, but I’m here now. I love you, little sis. Anything you need, I’m here. He will never hurt you again. I swear it on my life.”

“Sal, it’s not your fault or anyone else’s but Victor. He’s crazy. It’s as simple as that. I love you, Sal, and I don’t blame you for not being here, but I’m so glad you’re home. Why don’t we all have dinner tomorrow night at Mama and Papa’s to celebrate?”

“Sounds good. I know you’re probably tired and want to get some rest. We can all meet tomorrow and discuss plans for your protection and what to do next.”

Bella wordlessly cringed while looking at Sal.
Here it comes. He is going to try and lock me in a room or have me trailed by bodyguards.
“Sal, I’m safe. Tony and Danny have helped me get my life back and have made me feel safe again. I don’t need any more protection. I won’t let you put me under lock and key. I just want my life back to normal.”

“We’ll see.” Sal’s harsh frown dared her to argue.

She threw her hands up in surrender and shook her head. “Whatever. I’m too tired to deal with this tonight.” She was immediately comforted as Jason ran his hands lightly over her shoulders.

Sal looked like he wanted to argue but conceded when he noticed the exhaustion on her face.

Trying to help, Liz announced she had to go and offered to give Danny a ride back to the bar.

“It’s late. I’ll drive you both back. Just leave your car here,” Sal ordered.

“Thank you, but no. I drove here, and I need my car tomorrow morning. I’ll be fine.”

“I can drive you back in the morning.” Sal frowned.

“Don’t be silly.”

“It’s not silly, it’s late, and I said I’ll drive you home,” he snapped.

Her cool blue eyes frosted over, and a delicate eyebrow rose.

“Listen up He-Man, I said I don’t need you to drive me anywhere.” Dismissing him, Liz got up to hug Bella close, saying she would call her tomorrow.

She also surprised Jason by leaning up to press a small kiss on his cheek before turning and sweeping by Sal without a second glance to go get her jacket.

“He-Man? Did she just call me He-Man?”

“Kind of fits,” Tony agreed.

“Bro, are you trying to piss her off or what? Or has your memory just tanked? You can’t just order sweet little Lizzie around without getting her back up.” Danny shook his head as he surveyed his brother sadly. “Looks like I need to give you some pointers on how to handle the ladies again. Obviously you’ve gone without for too long. We’ll get you right in no time.”

“I don’t need shit. And not everyone wants to be a man-whore like you.” Sal growled.

Danny smiled. “I love the ladies, and the ladies love me. What’s a guy to do?”

“Umm, get tested regularly?” Tony quipped, moving safely out of striking range.

Liz scoffed from where she stood by the door. “You guys never change. You’re lucky I love you, Danny. ’Cuz even though you’re like a brother to me, I wouldn’t wish you on any woman.”

“Aww, sweetheart, you wound me.”

Liz rolled her eyes. “All right, Don Juan, I’m ready to go. Let’s get a move on or this
lady
will be leaving your ass here.”

Danny winked at them. “See, she can’t help but mention my ass.”

“More like you are the ass,” Liz fired back, smiling.

Bella’s lips quirked up as she tried to muffle her laughter.

Danny kissed Bella on the cheek and hugged her. He turned a telling glance to both his brothers then glared at Jason before he quickly followed Liz out to the car before she left him.

Sal continued to stare at their retreating forms until the door closed before swinging his frown back at Bella and Jason. His hard eyes bored into Jason as he tried to size up the other man. “You can catch a ride back to the compound with me, Mac.”

“I’m staying here with Bella.”

“The hell you are!” Tony bit out. Sal’s fists clenched, but he forced himself to release them.

Bella held up her hands to both of her brothers. “I want him to stay. Please, just give us some time to talk. Don’t make this harder for me.”

“He doesn’t want to just talk,” Tony spit out. Finally, he sighed, a weary acceptance taking over. “Hell, you were with him last week, weren’t you?”

Damn, her brother had been more observant than she thought. Owning up to it, she stuck out her chin in defiance as she answered, “Yes.”

Sal stood with his massive arms crossed over his chest. “How the hell long has this been going on?”

To her surprise, Tony answered, “I saw them together at the benefit we went to last weekend.”

Swinging around, Sal frowned at his brother. “Why the hell didn’t you do something?”

“Do what?” Tony snorted in reply. “She looked happy with the asshole.”

Jason opened his mouth to answer but never got the chance. Bella took a step forward. It was almost comical how she had placed her petite frame in front of him as if to protect him. “Don’t call him that. Besides, it’s none of your business, Sal. And it’s not Tony’s job to try and keep men from talking to me. I’m with Jason now, so get used to it.”

Both brothers answered in unison.

“Like hell it’s none of my business.”

“Of course it’s our job to keep men away from you.”

Their grumbles were so familiar that she softened her voice. “He makes me happy. Don’t you want me to be happy?”

“Hell.”

“Shit.”

Jason wanted to laugh at the resigned look that both men now wore. Damn, Bella had her brothers twisted around her little finger. He could sympathize.

Sal continued to stare at Jason with a dark look on his face. Jason was one of the best men he had ever worked with, maybe one of the best he had ever known. He trusted him completely or he would never have agreed to work for him, but trusting him with his sister was a whole different matter. He knew Jason was a cold, unyielding man, but Jason would never break his word once given. Plus, the more protection for Bella the better.

Better the devil you know…

“
If you hurt her, we’re going to have a serious problem,” Sal warned.

“I won’t hurt her,” Jason said with conviction, but for the first time in life he felt unsure. What the hell did he know about relationships? But he was damned if he was going to let her go. Hesitantly, Sal nodded and reached out to Bella to embrace her again.

Stroking her hair, he looked down into his sister’s eyes with love. “I’ll see you tomorrow, sweetheart.” After hugging Tony good-bye, he shot one more fierce look of warning toward Jason and left.

* * * *

Bella opened the door to her apartment and pressed in the code for the alarm as Jason silently followed her through the door. Getting around Tony had been awkward since he made no effort to hide the fact that he did not want Jason staying the night. The fatigue showing on Bella’s face was what had swayed him. Bella and Jason had left Tony standing at the bottom of the stairs with his hands on his hips, legs braced apart, like he was ready for battle watching them head up toward her apartment.

Jason watched Bella reset the alarm, automatically noting the number combination for future use. He glanced around the living room, taking in everything he saw. Colors splashed vividly across the space. Vibrant paintings hung on deep maroon walls. He took in the numerous picture frames and knickknacks that made the room cozy, giving it a sense of warmth and welcome.

Pulling Bella close, he hugged her to him. On a sigh, she went willingly into his embrace. His mind was spinning with so many different emotions, he was utterly shocked at how important the woman in his arms had become in such a short time. There was no doubt in his mind, he would kill for her. His hands rubbed slowly down her back in soothing motions.

“Let’s go to bed,” she whispered. “I know we have stuff to talk about still, but not tonight, okay?”

“All right.”

Bella took his hand in hers as she led him to her bedroom. She moved to turn on the bedside lamp, and he stood behind her and inhaled her scent deeply.

Her room smelled so pretty and feminine, so her.

The walls were painted a pale sunny yellow, and the white duvet cover on her queen-size bed was accented with bright flowers. She sat on the side of the bed and held a hand out to him. That was all the invitation he needed as he crossed the length of the room to take her small hand in his. Sitting next to her, he stroked her cheek lightly. She leaned over and kissed him softly.

Jason cleared his throat. “It’s been a long night, sweetheart. We should go to sleep.”

Staring into his mercury eyes, she smiled. “I want you, Jason. I’ve dreamed of you, here with me, since that night.”

Christ, she was trying to kill him. Lust ripped through his entire body making his cock jerk against the fly of his pants. He fought for control over his raging hormones. “I’ve dreamt of you, too. I’m here now, love, exactly where I want to be.”

She laughed, tilting her head to the side. “Do you know your accent changes? At first I thought you were English, but I can hear the Scot in you sometimes.”

“Aye, it does, when I get emotional I seem to revert back to the brogue. It doesn’t happen often, hardly ever, but when I’m with you it seems to happen quite a lot.”

“I love it. I could listen to you talk for hours.”

Jason frowned slightly. He didn’t talk much, and he was struggling to find something to say.

Bella laughed at his expression. “I didn’t mean now, silly.”

Tonight had been so surreal. She could hardly believe that she was sitting here in her bedroom with Jason. He was so big, so strong, so handsome that he took her breath away. With the knowledge that he knew everything about what had happened to her, a peace settled over her. He knew, and yet here he was. He knew, and he still wanted her. Nothing could have assured her more than seeing him look at her with the same desire she had seen before he knew the truth about her.

Taking a deep breath, Bella rose from the bed to stand in front of him between his knees. She grabbed the hem of her shirt in her hands and hesitated. Jason’s gaze was tender and encouraging as she gathered her courage and pulled it off, baring herself to him. She held her breath as Jason’s eyes swept over her.

She was perfect. Her full lush breasts were practically spilling out of a delicate lace bra she wore. He knew just by looking at her that she would fit perfectly in his large hands. Her creamy skin made him itch to touch, but his gaze moved lower. His hand reached out to brush up against the scars marring her lower abdomen where the knife wounds had healed but still puckered her skin. She sucked in a sharp breath as his fingertips made contact with her skin.

He looked up quickly but relaxed again when he saw no fear in her gaze. “There’s my brave, beautiful lass,” he murmured, pulling her closer to him so his lips touched each scar on her trembling stomach. Her hands came up to lace into his hair, holding his head to her as a shudder racked her body. She pulled the tie binding his hair back as she sank her hands into his raven locks and ran her fingers through.

He leaned back to look into her eyes as he reached around her back to unclasp her bra. His eyes had darkened with desire, and they held her mesmerized. His breath was let out on a groan as the satin and lace slid off to expose her bare breasts to him. “So pretty, sweet lass, you’re beautiful.”

Her generous breasts fit his hands perfectly as he rubbed his thumbs over each pert, rosy nipple. They were tight, exposed to the cool air, and Jason wanted to suck them in his mouth. He leaned forward slowly and stroked his tongue over her right nipple, making it tighten even more like a ripe berry ready for plucking. He did the same to her other breast and wanted to growl with satisfaction when he felt her body shudder again. She was breathtaking, so strong, so brave standing before him, baring herself to him.

He was hard as granite, his cock all but screaming for release from the confining pants he wore to sink into her heat over and over again, but he contented himself with continuing to run his hands up and down her back while he laved her nipples with soft kisses.

He wanted to chase her fears away, completely ashamed now at how he had taken her that first time. He had a lot to make up for. He wanted her to shake with need for him. He needed her to be soaked with her own cream before he slid himself into her soft flesh. He remembered how hot and wet and so damn tight she was.

Her petite body deserved to be worshiped from head to toe. He wanted to pleasure her over and over again until she could barely remember her own name, but not tonight. Looking back up to her face, he noticed the fatigue warring with the desire in her eyes. He needed to go slow. She needed him to go slow.

His muscles tightened as he restrained himself.