Chapter Sixteen
The click of the lock snapped him awake. Despite recognizing the sound, he tightened his hold on Celeste. She snuggled into him in her sleep, her fingertips pressing into his back then relaxing. Carefully, he pulled a strand of hair away from her temple, needing to see her face even if it was shadowed. If the dark circles under her eyes were any indication, she hadn’t gotten any rest until now. Part of that might be her thinking about the future. He should have talked to her, let her know he’d be there for her. For the baby. But all it took was her letting her guard down for him to falter. She’d let him see the vulnerability in her eyes, the need, and he’d become the man she wanted, not the one she deserved.
He groaned inwardly, knowing he may have just taken a giant step backward. The thought prodded him out of the nest he’d made from sheets and towels. As careful as he could be, he scooped her up to a near sitting position and headed to the door.
“Rio?” Her voice sounded groggy and confused.
“Shhh.” He stepped out to the hallway. “We’re getting you to bed.” Turning, he pushed the bar on the door with his lower back. As expected, it gave way. He scanned the yard, finding it empty, and saw the door to the sleeping quarters propped open. Parker. Hours ago, he’d been ready to tear her a new one. But having Celeste’s hand slide up his bare shoulder made him all kinds of forgiving. Still, he’d stop by as soon as he finished rounds.
The door to his room stood open, the bathroom light keeping them from complete darkness. He strode in, crouching to lay her gently on the bed. His bed. Then a sobering thought hit him, pulling at something inside him. He’d brought this beautiful woman “home”.
Celeste curled her fingers around his neck, bringing him in for a kiss. Her lips were soft, giving. And what should have been a quick brush before he left to finish out the night, turned long and sweet. Her warm hand slid up his side to splay along his back, urging him closer. Without opening her eyes, she coaxed him for more. Nipping at his lip. Parting her own. Letting him have all of her.
He stretched out beside her, his knee going between hers, moving up her thighs with more patience than he thought he had. She shifted, pressing them together from where they kissed to where her toes played against his shin. Her purr, deep and throaty, left him dizzy with a realization. Miss Celeste, his angel, wanted to be taken. Not fucked. Not hot and sweaty sex. She wanted touching. Kissing. Making love. And, most importantly, she was the one making the first move. He couldn’t have left even if he wanted to.
They were close, with only the cotton of his shirt between them. His instincts yelled rip it off. Then the rest. Because where one of them was bare the other was covered. But the simple act of holding back fueled the pleasure he was experiencing. New sensations, completely foreign. His skin so sensitive he felt like they were melting together wherever they touched. He wanted more. Needed more. Needed her with an edge of desperation now that he knew what it was like to be inside her with nothing between them.
Cupping the back of her knee, he ran his hand along her thigh. Caressing her soft skin. Fanning across well-defined muscles until his fingers reached her bottom. He pushed past, palming a cheek, following her hip’s movements when she nudged his erection.
Desire shot through his body, making him pull away so he could drag in a breath. Celeste kissed his jaw, her hand coming around to caress his chest. He continued his progress. Fingertips tracing the curve of her spine, finding spots to kiss, curves to run his tongue over. And all the while he watched the shirt bunching at his forearm as his thumb drifted up, revealing inch after inch of beautiful skin.
Although they’d had sex, several times, in multiple positions, this was different. Every curve was highlighted in the dim light. His to have and explore. An unveiling of her body. For him. Had he ever had a present while in the orphanage, this is the anticipation he imagined he would have felt.
Celeste leaned away, wiggling to draw the shirt over her head. Fully awake and completely naked, she reached down, working her fingers in his waistband to push down. He didn’t need any convincing. Getting up, he kicked off the boots and the rest of his clothes. She bit her lip, watching his every move. His cock jutted out, so huge and hard he could feel his blood pulsing. Something inside drew him toward her. Urged him beside her to end the torture. But he’d wait, anxious for the things he still wanted to do.
Cupping her waist, he joined her on the narrow bed, sliding up until his elbows settled on the mattress. Her belly quivered, and her muscles tightened with every kiss he dropped. She arched, offering up her luscious breasts for his pleasure. Rio swallowed hard, his mouth watering at the thought of the coming play. Instead, he took a detour, finding the pale line at her side where the sun hadn’t touched her skin. He followed the trail with his lips, leading to the edge of her breast, where he ran his jaw across the firm contour. When he reached the tip of the triangle, he stopped, dropping a kiss, then another at the plump swell before teasing her nipple. He kissed the pink ring, a light touch of his lips, before choosing the next spot, while his cheek barely brushed the stiff point.
Restless, she parted her thighs, her gaze burning into him. The naked promise on her face sent his pulse beating harder. Easing down, he settled low on her body, folding one knee to brace her legs apart. Her fingers dug into his shoulders with urgency. She needed him to get moving. Pulling his hands out from under her, he bracketed her breasts. His thumbs moved along the underside, caressing the sensitive skin, molding her and pushing the peak higher. He wet his lips, bringing them down over her pebbled nipple to dampen the top and bottom before slowly shaking his head. She made a sound of protest that dwindled away when he lapped at the nub. He fastened around it, drawing her gasp. Then he suckled, tonguing her before he gave a hard pull and started again.
“Rio.” His name came out sounding like one of her purrs. She wrapped her legs around him, shifting her hips up. Needing him in the most primal way. He pulled up on his arms, and she released her hold. His cock found her entrance, wet, ready for him. He closed his eyes, savoring the feel of her under him. Holding him. Surrounding him. She was reveling in the taking. Whimpering, her breathing hitching as he buried himself inside her. Her lips dropped to his shoulder, her eager fingers working through his hair and along his back.
He was in no hurry. His strokes steady and firm. He nibbled at her neck, catching her earlobe while taking pleasure in her tight body. The heated skin she’d allowed him to enjoy, the cushion of her breasts and their delicious toppings. Bracing himself, he shifted to a new angle, driving harder despite the bed’s groaning.
Celeste arched against him, her nails biting into his shoulders while her breath slammed past his cheek and temple as she threw her head back with a cry. Her toes curled into his muscles, spurring him on.
He thought he’d experienced everything, knew there wouldn’t be any more surprises in his life. But when a wave of heat blasted through him, stiffening his back and tightening his balls, he went blank. Instinct took over, and his mind settled back, shocked at the emotions rushing through him. At the wonder of this woman and the very possibility that there was one more hard stroke left within him. His body bowed, and he’d swear his vision blurred as he ground into her, her bare sheath gripping, rippling, and milking every last bit of life out of him.
That’s when he knew he’d truly been consumed.
…
An insistent knock broke through her consciousness. Celeste frowned as her dream splintered into odd scenes with a gym, men sounding off in unison, and Rio holding her. Her lids fluttered, and she focused on the unfamiliar surroundings. Standard white walls, a chest of drawers, a desk and office chair, and a stack of books by the lamp on the nightstand. His scent lingered around her. Last night hadn’t been a dream. She was in Rio’s bed, surrounded by his things. Tilting her head, she read the titles. It shouldn’t surprise her to find cartel-based books on Chapo Guzman, El Señor de los Cielos, and the FAO.
“You awake?” Kari poked her head in the door, a curious twinkle in her eyes.
Celeste looked down at herself, her breasts barely covered by the sheet and light blanket. A blush climbed her chest as she pulled the sheet higher, looking around for her—er, the shirt he discarded.
“Well, look at you,” Kari said in a singsong voice. She came in, closing the door behind her while she palmed a bundle as if she carried a football. “I brought your clothes.” She unrolled jeans, a tank, and underwear from her own belongings, setting them on the bed. Seconds ticked by. “Um…” Her brows formed a peak. “Are we good?”
Despite the strong-arm tactics, she’d gone over the hurdle she’d been avoiding. “Yes.” Celeste nodded, sitting up and bringing the sheet with her. “Though I didn’t appreciate the sneakiness.” She flashed her a quick look then fussed with the covers, knowing what she said wasn’t completely true.
“Well, sometimes the kids don’t like Mommy and Daddy fighting, so they take things into their own hands.” Kari winked. “I’m glad you worked things out.”
Celeste groaned. “That may be a little generous.” They hadn’t exactly come to terms regarding what would happen between them.
Kari’s eyes went wide. “You didn’t talk?” She settled at the foot of the bed. “Damn, I don’t know whether to be disappointed, shocked, or impressed.”
Never in a million years would she have expected to be sitting in bed, wrapped in nothing but a sheet, talking about what she’d done last night. “We cleared up a few things.” Celeste pushed her hair behind her ear. “Honestly, what did you expect to happen?”
“I was pretty sure you’d be all right. Even figured one of you might need to be carried out.” The corner of her lips went up. “I’m just glad it was you.”
Celeste scoffed. “Yeah, like anyone could bring down Rio.”
Kari’s smile faded. “Don’t be so sure. You have a lot more going for you than you think.” Celeste frowned. “Rio’s a hard-ass. Always has been. We’ve all had to prove ourselves in one way or another before we got an inch of respect.” Kari exhaled, shifting to face her. “When I first started here he was all medic this and medic that. He wasn’t exactly thrilled to have a woman onsite.” She grimaced. “And it wasn’t until over a year later, when I made a suicide run to get to one of the guys, that I graduated to Parker.” She grinned. “But yesterday, when he knocked the wind out of you, he got the shit scared out of him, and he finally used my name. Oh.” She held a hand to her heart. “And he said please. You have no idea how sweet that sounded.”
Celeste didn’t know what to think, not knowing Rio well enough to judge his reaction.
“You’ve knocked him off his stone throne.” She scoffed. “Did you see his face when we ran him out of the infirmary.” Kari dissolved into laughter, making Celeste smile. “I’ve never seen him looking lost. It’s the total opposite of his usual self, especially since he got back.”
Her chest tightened. “What do you mean?”
Kari sobered, and it seemed like she was choosing her words instead of blurting out what was in her head at the moment. “I get that whatever happened between you didn’t end well. He came back different.” She nodded, as if she’d agreed with her description. “Like he needed to do penance or something. Whatever he’s working through personally, he’s almost run the team into the ground. I’ve treated more guys for sprains, blisters, and heat exhaustion these past weeks than I did the entire rest of the year combined.”
Celeste winced. Had she caused that? “I didn’t expect…” She hadn’t thought he’d be affected. Wouldn’t have felt the same loss and desperation she did after leaving. If she’d known, would she have left with Leonard and the men she thought worked for her father?
“Yeah, I wouldn’t have pictured him flipping out over a woman. No offense,” she added quickly. Then she tilted her head to one side. “But you’re different. You look like you belong here,” she said with a thoughtful note. “In his bed.”
Celeste gave a jerky shrug, pulling her knees up to her chest, tightening her hold around them. The heat of embarrassment spread across her face. Vix nodded, agreeing with Kari as she settled at the foot of the bed. So maybe this was her insecurity rearing it’s ugly head. That’s usually when Vix came to her rescue.
“Trust me.” Kari offered a thoughtful expression. “I’ve known these guys long enough to know when something’s up.” Kari was perceptive enough to pick up on her thoughts. She wrinkled her nose, making a face. “Noooo, nothing like that. Not with anyone here.”
Vix gave a sidelong glance. “I won’t lie; I wondered,” Celeste admitted. “He treats you different.”
“Well, I don’t put up with his shit.” She tilted her head, raising her brows. “But I think it’s the big three. You don’t screw with the guy that signs your check, the one that feeds you, or the one that keeps you alive.”
Celeste loosened the death grip around her knees.
“Can you imagine? Oh, medic,” Kari deepened her voice. “Your stitches, they’re so straight. They drive me wild.” Both chuckled. “Besides, he wouldn’t let me near his cave. I’m sure he’d be worried I’d use his toothbrush to scrub the toilet while he slept.”
“Kari. You’re horrible.” Celeste said in mock outrage.
“Guys like the ones that thrive in this life aren’t for me. I’m a small-town girl who likes the strong, silent type. Give me a cowboy and a little place in the middle of nowhere.”
“So what are you doing here?”
Her eyes clouded. “We’re all out here for our own reasons. Some want to change their lives, some want to save it. Others want to forget it all.”
“Will you leave this place?”
“Eventually.” Kari’s lips pulled into a smile, but the rest of her features didn’t follow suit. “But for now, we need to get you and your man on the same page.”
“Ugh. This is an impossible situation.” She pushed her hair back over her shoulder. “He’s an ICE agent, and you know what my father does.” Even now, having everything laid out for her on a timeline, she still had trouble with Oz’s life.
Kari grinned. “Well, things could be worse. You could be the drug lord.” She gave a narrow-eyed glare. “You aren’t secretly a kingpin, are you?”
Celeste rolled her bottom lip, feeling the corners tilt upward. “No.” She shook her head again. “My father’s made sure I’m not involved in his life. At all.”
“I get you, girl.” Kari shrugged. “You can’t choose your family.”
You certainly can’t. Celeste picked at a snag in the bedspread, pulling the material to smooth out the thread. If she had a choice, would she choose someone other than Victor Ayala and his beauty-queen girlfriend as her parents? Especially knowing her mother, and her own birth had changed her brother’s life.
“Well, I better get going. You need to scrub and be ready to go.” She got up, heading toward the door. “Swing by once you’re done. We’ll have breakfast together before the briefing.”
It wasn’t until Kari turned the knob that she realized she wasn’t going to have an escort.
“Hey,” Kari called from the doorway. “Just remember, he’s a guy, so you kinda have to lower the bar sometimes.” She scrunched her nose, nodding. “But he’s one of the good ones.”
Celeste nodded thoughtfully. One of the good ones… That was the very reason she’d never fit in his life.