Cross My Heart, page 9
Waving to Killinger after the debriefing, Lucas and his roommates finally headed to their shared apartment. Each went to their room and crashed. A knocking on the door a few hours later got him up. Groggy and cranky, he walked to the door and yanked it open.
“What?”
It was Sabrina. The model.
She smiled at him and reached out for his chest. He grabbed her wrist before she could touch him.
“Don’t.” He dropped his hold. “What are you doing here?”
“I’ve been waiting for you to return.”
“Now, you remember you speak English? I thought you wanted me dead because I ruined your night of drinking.”
She shrugged and gave a smile. “I always have spoken English.”
“Good, then call your people and get out.” He swung the door shut in her face and stumbled back to bed. It was too fucking early to deal with this. He needed more sleep.
And the one woman he wanted wasn’t this one.
Lucas wanted Cyn.
* * * *
He woke later and heard music on in the living room as the smell of hamburgers reached him. Stomach growling, he rolled to his feet and took a deep breath. He paused by his full-length mirror and stared at the new scars on his body.
I won’t be winning any beauty contests, that’s for sure.
Rubbing his chest, he walked to the bedroom door in his workout pants and made his way back out to the living room. Trey sat on the couch, dressed much like he was, in a pair of pants.
They exchanged chin nods and all his relative relaxation vanished the second he saw who was in the kitchen. Sabrina.
“What the fuck is she still doing here?”
Alberti appeared from behind the fridge. “She wanted to thank us and offered to cook some food. Said she was waiting for you.”
“Yeah, I slammed the door in her face and went back to bed. Guess that wasn’t a clear enough hint.”
The doorbell pealed, and Trey got off the couch. Lucas scowled at the beauty who was trying to act coy.
“She didn’t mention that,” Alberti said.
He snorted. “Not shocked by that.”
“I know you were just tired, sweetie. That’s why I came back. Look, I’m making us all dinner. We can sit down and talk about this.” Sabrina sashayed toward Lucas.
He narrowed his eyes at her, but she continued to approach.
“I hope you made enough for one more.” Trey’s announcement hit the moment Lucas felt the air change.
His skin pebbled as it did in the presence of one woman only. Cyn. He whipped to the door and saw her standing beside Trey, her dark gaze skimming the room. He wasn’t able to understand the myriad of emotions presented on her face, but his gut told him this wasn’t for the best.
Sabrina looked at her and sneered. “You are Trey’s girl?”
Fuck.
Chapter Twelve
Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.
– Lao Tzu
Am I Trey’s girl? No fucking way. What the fuck is going on here and who the hell is the skank moving up on my man?
Jealousy thrummed through her veins as the woman continued to move closer and closer to Lucas. To be fair, he looked like he wanted to be anywhere but where he was. Then again, that could be because he’d gotten caught.
“Trust your gut.”
Words from her family.
She’d never once got the player vibe from that man there. She knew from Liev that he shared an apartment with Trey and Alberti, whom she also liked, but it was more than possible she was one of theirs.
Yet the bitch continued encroaching on Lucas.
“No.”
All four of them stopped and looked to her at the single strong word she issued.
The dark-haired, svelte woman appeared shocked.
“No what?”
“I’m Lucas’ woman.” She cut her gaze to him. “Not Trey’s girl.”
Relief moved over Lucas’ face while disbelief hit the woman’s. She narrowed her gaze and muttered something highly unflattering in Italian.
That does it.
Stepping forward, she held the dark, soulful gaze of the bitch trying to encroach on her man and answered her comment, fluently in Italian.
Each of the guys froze as the conversation moved back and forth between them. All the while, Cyn positioned herself, so Lucas was behind her. He immediately pressed closer to her, and she could feel his heat against her back.
Sad, how that made her feel like things were right.
“We’ll be back,” Lucas interrupted, lifting her off her feet into his arms. He carried her down the hallway.
She held her tongue until he placed her on the floor of his room and closed the door behind them. He reached for her face, and she dodged him. His eyes sparked with anger and a bit of hurt.
“Cyn.”
“Want to tell me why that woman out there is telling me that she’s your girlfriend?”
His jaw clenched along with his fists.
“Do you believe her?” The words were forced by his teeth.
Cyn tossed her hair back and lifted an eyebrow. “Don’t put this to me. Answer the fucking question.”
Lucas got right up in her face and backed her against the wall. He took her hand in his and covered his cock.
“This was about to crawl up my ass when you walked in. That woman has nothing I want, never did. But the second you are in my thoughts, this is what happens. As for her, there’s not much worth telling. She was a job, and the job went sideways. We had to protect her, so we did. She has money and feels that makes her entitled to get whatever she wants and take the rest. She might want me, but I don’t and won’t want her.”
He bucked his hips, driving his hardness into her palm as he braced his hands on the wall either side of her head. Lucas didn’t release her gaze.
Cyn flexed her fingers along his shaft and purred as she got below his waistband, finally having skin on skin contact.
“Still doesn’t tell me why you were entertaining her looking like you just rolled out of bed.”
Each thrust of his hips drove his dick through her grip, and she loved it.
“I did just roll out of bed. I’d woken and found she was out there with Trey and Alberti. I’d answered the door and found her there earlier, slammed it and crawled back to bed. Alone. I don’t want her, never have. Never will. I want you, Cynzia. She was there when I woke, they let her in.”
His muscles flexed. She licked her lips. The air around them, grew hot and thick.
“Let me touch you, baby. Please.”
“You are. Or is this a different cock pushing through my hand?”
“That’s you touching me, not me touching you. Because my hands are up here by your head. I want them on you. Not here.”
She hummed and nodded. His calloused hands skimmed along her cheeks and neck before he hauled her close and took her mouth. He was large and strong, making her feel small and protected. Lucas pushed one hand into her hair, gathering the strands in one fist. His other hand clamped around her throat, the move possessive, and she loved it.
“I need inside you.”
The growled admission was akin to electrodes being placed on her synapses. She shook with need as her pussy wept.
Part of her thought about refusing. There were people out in the living room area. Two of Lucas’ friends and one a woman she didn’t want anywhere around him. All of that didn’t matter. What did, was this man and how he made her feel.
“Yes.”
“Get out of your pants.” His voice got lower and stroked deep in her, making her shiver in anticipation.
She toed off her shoes and listened to him, shoving pants and underwear down her legs as best she could. Lucas didn’t remove his hands from her neck or hair and his gaze never wavered from hers.
He fucking branded her.
“Take my cock and guide me home.” He bent his knees as she fisted him a bit, rubbing the precum over the head of his thickness. She whimpered when he pushed against her opening.
“Tell me you missed me.” His fingers flexed against her throat.
“I missed you, Lucas Hoch.”
His smile was wicked. “Missed you too, baby.”
He thrust up, filling her with one smooth stroke, lifting her on her toes.
“Fuck yes!”
She agreed one hundred percent but couldn’t manage to find the words. Wrapping her arms around him, she dug her nails into his shoulders as he fucked her. That’s what it was. It wasn’t gentle or tender.
The hand around her neck didn’t move but his other did, exchanging hair for her breast and pinching the nipple. Moans rose and fell, turning to cries and even screams.
“Come for me, baby.
Lucas watched her eyes, loving how they deepened in hue. She obeyed, coating his cock with her cream as she opened her mouth in a cry. One he didn’t even attempt to mask.
Did he want them to know what they were doing in here? Fuck yes. He was stamping his name all over this pussy and ass, making sure everyone knew that she was taken, and he was not available in the slightest.
“Lucas!” she panted as he continued to pump into her, riding out the fucking tight grip her pussy had on his cock.
“Not going anywhere, baby. We’re not done.” He growled low. “Mine.”
She smiled.
He released her breast and supported her around the middle as he walked them to his bed. Following her down, he loved how she immediately wrapped her legs high around him, tugging him close once again.
This time, however, he unwrapped her from him and pulled out of her slit. She watched him, eyes drifting down to his still-hard cock that was covered in her essence.
He shoved his workout pants down the rest of the way and kicked them free. Grabbing her legs, he yanked her closer to him at the edge of the bed.
“Hang on, baby.”
Her lips curved, and he knew he was fucking gone for this woman. Cock lined up to her pussy, he drove home and smiled as her back bowed, and she cried out his name once more.
Fucking. Gone.
* * * *
An hour later, he and Cyn had showered and were walking up the hallway to the living room.
Trey and Alberti lounged around on the couches, smirks on their faces.
“Where is she?” Lucas wrapped his arm around Cyn’s waist, holding her close to him.
“She stomped off after the first of the extremely loud volley of cries came from your bedroom.” Trey waggled his eyebrows at them.
Cutting his gaze to Cyn, Lucas watched her carefully to see if she was embarrassed. She didn’t bat an eye.
“Oh, sorry. I’d thought I was keeping it quiet.” She glanced at him. “I thought it was quieter than the previous times.”
He chuckled and brushed their lips together. “Fucking rockstar, baby.”
Alberti sat up. “I’ll make us something to eat.”
Cyn shook her head. “I’ll do it. I know I’m hungry.” She squeezed his ass. “Anyone with allergies?”
Trey popped up. “Nope. Whatcha making?”
She shrugged and moved closer to him. “Not sure. What do you lot have in the way of food?”
His best friend slipped his arm through hers and together they went to the kitchen, laughing and whispering like they’d been friends forever. Alberti walked to Lucas and crossed his arms with a sigh.
“You have it bad, don’t you?”
“Fucking head over heels in love. Dad always said he knew Mom was the one from the moment he met her. I’d always figured he was blowing smoke up my ass.”
Alberti chuckled. “Not so much anymore?”
“Not even a tiny bit.”
“Happy for you, man. Sad, but happy as fuck for you.”
Lucas pulled his gaze from the kitchen and glanced to his friend. “Sad? Why sad?”
“No more living with the two of you. Pretty sure she’s not going to want to room with us three.”
“We haven’t made any plans yet, Alberti. Don’t go giving away my room yet.”
They went to the kitchen and helped, or more like hindered from the amount of times she yelled at them to get out, with the making of food. Lucas sat back a bit and watched her interact with his best friends. They were respectful yet didn’t treat her like they had to use kid gloves with her. Cyn gave as good as she got, and he could see the family dynamic from her house in her behavior here.
Cynzia Cassano wasn’t a pushover.
After breakfast was finished, she even helped clean up. His friends retreated to their rooms to get changed. They were going out.
Lucas gathered her close and kissed her. Loving the way she completely melted into his touch and body, he nibbled her lower lip before breaking the kiss.
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Everything.” He bounced his shoulders. “Accepting Alberti and Trey.”
She smiled and her hooks dug in even deeper. He was fine with that, never wanting them to leave.
“They’re harmless. Besides, they remind me of my brothers and cousins.”
“It’s important to me that you like them and get along. They’re my brothers as well.”
“Brothers from a different mother.”
“Yes.”
He loved that she understood.
Cyn took a deep breath and settled her hands against his chest.
“I need to talk to you.”
“What about, beautiful?” He tucked some of her hair back behind her ear.
“What happened between us.”
Unease peppered him. He’d wanted to forget his stupidity had even happened.
I should look on the bright side. She came here to me. She fucked me. And she’s still standing here, saying we need to talk.
“I was an ass.”
“Yes, you were.” She took a deep breath and walked away from him, claiming a seat at the table.
Lucas followed and sat beside her, angled himself toward her and took her hand in his. “What? We can move past that fight.”
“I know you’re Recon and you do things that normal Recon doesn’t even do. All three of you. I get that and I respect the hell out of all of you for that.”
How the fuck did she get this information?
“And?”
“You have to understand, Lucas. I’m the only girl in my family. I have some female cousins and yes, they get protected the same way I do. And I love it. Love my entire family, but they can be overbearing. And pushy.”
He nodded, moving his thumb in small circles on the back of the hand he held.
“So when you came at me like that, I handled it wrong. But you were also wrong in how you started. I’m not a little girl. I don’t need your permission to do my job or anything.”
Lucas inched his chair closer to her, dragging her nearer as well, positioning her legs so they were bracketed by his.
“I told you I used to work for the CIA.” He nodded. “The flight I was taking one of the times we spoke was to France. I was offered a job with Interpol, and I accepted.”
He stared at her as he thought on words she’d just given him. Logically, he knew he should respond in some fashion, but nothing would leave his mouth.
She flattened her lips, licked them and sighed. “Will you say something?”
“Hell no.”
Devastation filled her gaze, and she slid back from him, pulling free of his hand. “Okay then.”
Lucas couldn’t figure out how this had happened. She’d come back to him, then excellent sex and now… She’d just walked out his door, closing it behind her with a quiet click.
“You really are one of the dumbest humans on the planet.”
Lucas dropped his head on the table, not even wincing from the pain incurred. He shoved back with a jerk and ran for the door, ripping it open. She was gone. Avoiding the elevator, he hauled ass down the stairs, needing to catch her before she left him for good. She wasn’t in the lobby, and he pushed outside. Up and down the street he looked, but he didn’t find her.
Heart on the ground, he realized one thing. He’d chased away the best thing in the world that had happened to him. Not once but twice.
Alberti was right.
Chapter Thirteen
Love is not a volunteer thing.
– Samuel Richardson
The airport bar wasn’t as loud as she’d thought it would be. There were many people speaking low to one another. She loved to people watch and right now she was making up stories for them in her mind. Who was stepping out with who. Which were just a quick pick-up in the airport, and who really knew one another and were just grabbing a drink before the flight. And of course, the alcoholics who were fixtures.
“This seat taken?”
She lifted her gaze to find a stunning black woman there. Whipped milk chocolate was what her skin reminded Cyn of, smooth and no doubt soft. Her hair had some gray in it.
“No, ma’am, please help yourself.”
As she sat, Cyn noticed a badge clipped to her side. ATF.
“Ask.”
The soft drawl reminded her of Louisiana, but she wasn’t positive. “Ask what?” Cyn curved her fingers around her drink.
Her smile was knowing. “You want to know what the ATF is doing here in the airport.”
“Actually, I was wondering why you were in a bar.”
She tipped her head back and laughed. Cyn smiled and sipped her drink.
“I’m only having coffee.”
“Not my place to judge.”
Dark brown eyes met hers, and Cyn could pick out a few faded scars on her face. The woman held out her hand. “Serafina Kyzenski.”
Cyn shook her hand but couldn’t stop her brows from converging.
“Yes,” she said without making Cyn ask, “I’m related to Cort. I’m his sister-in-law. Married his DEA brother.” A shrug. “He’s the reason I’m here. I was in town, and he asked me to come check on you.”
“Mr. Kyzenski asked you to check on me?”
She smiled and nodded. “Sweetie, you’ll come to understand this, your family has just grown. He faced down a DOJ director to protect the woman who is now his brother’s wife because she’d been treated unfairly, and his brother wasn’t there to do it. He likes you and knows of your last op.”
