DEAN WINCHESTER in one random episode per day āø 040 /364 02.01 IN MY TIME OF DYING
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DEAN WINCHESTER in one random episode per day āø 040 /364 02.01 IN MY TIME OF DYING
The Interview
You're working at Vought Tower in the HR department, thinking you'll be there forever. But then an unexpected email shows up summoning you for a job interview. For your dream job. As Soldier Boy's personal assistant. (Pretty much just an excuse for Soldier Boy smut.š)
Pairing: Soldier Boy (Ben) x Reader
Word Count: 2808
Warnings: Just dirty talk and smut š
Dividers by @firefly-graphics
You donāt know if youāre more nervous or excited. Maybe a little scared?
You are on your way to the top levels of Vought Tower for an interview. A completely unexpected interview for a job you didnāt even know existed. You were used to being a drone in the HR department, figuring youād be there until you were old and grey and ready for retirement.
But an email you had received the day before had requested your presence to interview for the position of Personal Assistant to ā wait for it ā SOLDIER BOY. THE Soldier Boy, the superhero you had idolized ā and fantasized about ā for years now.
There was no information in the email to explain why youād been selected for the interview ā actually, there was no information except the time and place of the appointment. So here you were, getting off the elevator and walking down the hall to Soldier Boyās private quarters.
You had barely slept last night, trying on practically everything in your closet until you finally settled on your favorite skirt, a short grey plaid with little pleats. You matched it with a pale lavender blouse made of some silky, clingy material that always made you feel rather elegant. (Maybe a little sexy, although you never thought of yourself that way.)
You knock on the door, barely breathing as you wait for an answer. You are trembling a little, your adrenaline probably through the roof, but you could hardly turn down an opportunity like this, so you scold yourself internally to suck it up.
Then he answers the door.
Your eyes travel up from his chest, slowly over the beard, and the lips (okay, they might have lingered just a bit there) and then to his eyes. They are shining with a touch of something you canāt name at the moment as a slow smile spreads across his face and he steps back to let you in.
You hand him the folder youāre carrying as he turns around, and he takes it with a raise of his eyebrow.
āWhatās this?ā
You clear your throat with a nervous smile. āMy resume. I thought you might need it to see my qualifications.ā
He smirks, his eyes lingering on yours for just a moment before they begin a slow trek down your body. āOh, youāre qualified. Or you wouldnāt be here.ā
You wait for his eyes to raise back to yours before you speak again, a little unsure of yourself. āSo ā what would my duties be?ā
He smiles briefly, gesturing towards an ornate desk of polished oak sitting in in a small, open office space to your right. āMake and keep track of my appointments. Answer the phone and take messages. Maybe run a few errands. Set up travel arrangements. The usual.ā
āI can do that,ā you answer, feeling slightly more confident. Your current job is more complicated than that.
He takes a step closer, and youāre mesmerized by the green of his eyes as he stares down at you. āOh, I bet you can do a lot of things.ā Youāre not sure of what to say, but he goes on without waiting for a reply. āIāve seen you around. And Iāve caught you watching me, havenāt I? I know Iāve been keeping an eye on you. Especially when you wear that skirt.ā He nods at the skirt youāre wearing today, and your face grows warmer by the second at his attention.
āI ā I ā I didnāt mean to stare,ā you stammer softly.
His voice is deep and warm, you can almost physically feel it, and the smile on his face clearly communicates his intentions. āOh, donāt be shy, beautiful. I donāt mind a little hero worship. Someone like you stares at me, it just gets me hard.ā You blush at that, ducking your head to hide your embarrassment, but he tucks a finger under your chin and tilts your head up, forcing you to look into his eyes. The tip of his tongue teases at his upper lip before he puts his hand flat at the base of your throat. He moves forward, forcing you to move back as he advances until your back is against the wall.
That smile never shifts as he moves his fingers up to gently grip your jaw before bending to seal his lips over yours in a searing kiss. His free hand is braced against the wall next to your head, his body hot and firm as he moves closer. He raises his head slightly, his breath warm on your face as he nudges his nose against yours.
āYou afraid of me, princess?ā
You look into his eyes, their green irises growing dark and intense, and shake your head. āNo. Just⦠you make me nervous.ā
His smile widens into a grin. āNo need to be nervous. I just want to make you feel good. Which will also make me feel good, of course.ā
He could crush you with one hand.
But instead, his fingers gently and persistently brush across your nipples as he watches your face. His expression is slightly superior, his lips curved in an amused, enigmatic smile, watching your eyes flutter and your teeth bite at your lip as he teases you, the hard nubs easily visible even through your bra and blouse. He pinches them between his thumbs and forefingers, bending to kiss you again as you gasp, his tongue plunging between your lips as he growls softly.
He kisses you until you put your hands flat on his chest and push, desperate for air. He lets out a low chuckle, letting you catch your breath as he works the buttons of your blouse free and jerks it open. He stares at your breasts heaving beneath the purple lace bra you had put on that morning, letting you catch your breath.
āSexy,ā he rumbles, then impatiently tugs your blouse free from where it is tucked into your skirt and shoves it down the length of your arms to let it drop to the floor. He slips a hand behind your back and unclasps your bra with practiced hands, then slips it off as though he is unwrapping a gift.
āMmmmm. Those tits could be on the cover of Playboy.ā He just stares down at you, that lecherous gleam in his eyes, until he sees your shoulders twitch inward as you feel the strong urge to cover yourself. āNo, no, donāt you hide, beautiful. Youāve got nothing to be shy about, believe me.ā
He reaches for your hand, one eyebrow cocked authoritatively, and you give it to him, trembling a little with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. He leads you over to your desk, turning to plant one hip on it before he turns you around, pulling you back between his knees. He unfastens the button of your skirt and slides the zipper slowly down. āI think we should take this off, because Iād really like to see you wear it again.ā
The fabric slips down the length of your legs, and he holds onto your hand to steady you as you step out of it. He bends to pick it up and lay it aside, then pulls you snug between his strong thighs. His fingers play along the top edge of your panties, purple lace to match your bra. āLove a girl who wears sexy underthings. So far this interview is going very well for you.ā
You turn your head and look up at him. āThis is the interview?ā
A soft laugh rumbles in his chest. āOh, I already knew you were fully qualified to be my assistant. But all work and no play ā thatās not a good thing, is it? I like to play. And I think you are the perfect candidate for both.ā He slowly slides his hand down until it is nestled between your thighs, gently massaging your pussy, stealing the air from your lungs as your head drops back against his chest. His hot breath ruffles your hair as he brings his lips close to your ear. āFeel good, princess?ā His middle finger curls, pressing against your entrance as he hums in approval at the wetness already soaking through your panties, sending goosebumps skittering over your skin. āDoes, doesnāt it? Imagine how much better itāll be when youāre all full with my bigā¦ā He moved his hand up to rub at your clit, forcing a moan from your lips. āHardā¦ā He ruts against your ass, the constant friction on your clit making your body flush hot, and he whispers the last word into your ear - āCock.ā
Heās done playing with you with a barrier in the way. He pulls his hand back, then shoves it down into your panties, your mouth dropping open with a gasp as he glides his fingers through your folds. āWell, arenāt you all buttery down there. You like me talkinā dirty to you?ā He slips two fingers up inside you to the last knuckle, and you whine. āOr is it just exciting being all stripped down naked getting finger fucked in your new office?ā He spoke in a low rumble next to your ear again, those thick fingers stroking into you. āI mean, what if somebody walked in here and saw us? Oooh, yes, youāre squeezing my fingers so hard, that excites you, doesnāt it? Dirty girl.ā
Heās slipped an arm around your waist to hold you up, since your legs have completely given out. Your body is shaking, your lips pressed together to try and hold in the whimpers forced from your throat as he rubs relentlessly at the sweet spot inside you. He leans in and bites at your neck, jamming his fingers up deep and hard, and you feel as if you are exploding from the inside out.
You canāt smother the sound you make as you come, your cunt quivering and squeezing around his fingers, and he laughs softly. āThatās my girl, letās get messy,ā he growls, and he keeps stroking into you until you begin to relax, his arm the only thing keeping you from sinking to the floor.
His fingers pulling free from you send a shudder through your body. He puts them in his mouth and sucks them clean, humming with appreciation. He turns you around, looking down at you with that ever-present cocky gleam in his eyes as he runs a thumb across your bottom lip. āYou still with me, princess?ā You blink slowly and give him a wan smile, nodding. āGood girl,ā he says, then moves aside and bends you over the polished surface, his hand flat on your back, guiding you, before hooking his fingers into the top of your panties. āIāll buy you new ones, donāt worry,ā he says, then rips the lace apart, tossing it aside. He rubs his palm over your ass, gives it a squeeze, then slips his hand between your thighs, rubbing a knuckle through your slit, front to back and up again to nudge at your sensitive clit, a gentle tease that makes you squirm. āYou ready for me to fill you up, pretty girl?ā His hand leaves you, the rustle of fabric and the sound of his zipper filling the silence before you feel him, hot and rigid, sliding through the slick between your thighs.
Your cunt clenches around nothing at his touch, and a soft whimper escapes your lips. That low chuckle sounds above you, and he reaches down to take hold of his cock and notch it into your entrance before pressing forward, slow but relentless. The stretch is intense, and when he bottoms out, you shakily exhale the breath youād been holding.
His hands roam over your skin, from your shoulders slowly down your back, then settle possessively on your hips. āSuch a sweet, tight little pussy.ā He bends over you, his voice rumbling in your ear. āIām gonna wreck it, baby girl.ā
You wrap your fingertips around the edge of the desktop as he begins to move, his grip tight on your hips to hold you in place. Each thrust is hard and deep, pausing to relish the sensation of your cunt squeezing around him while heās buried inside you. He grinds into you, pushing impossibly deeper, then pulls back and growls, āHold on,ā before thrusting into you, startling a muffled cry from your lips. He rails into you faster and faster, his grip on your hips bruising, and you clutch at the desk for dear life as you try to control the noises he drives from you with each powerful stroke.
The tension inside you is building to towering heights, and you stutter out his name in desperation, āS-S-Soldier Boyyyyyā¦ā He laughs, shifting one hand underneath you to rub firm circles on your clit.
āCall me Ben ā much easier to scream.ā
And you do. You wail his name at the top of your lungs, not caring anymore if everyone in Vought Tower hears you. Your vision whites out for a moment, and you lose your grip on the desk, electric jolts of pleasure pulsing through you as Ben wraps an arm around your waist to lift you slightly as he lets himself go. His release fills you with heat, and you shudder as he finally slows, then stops, letting you down to sprawl on top of the desk again as he pulls himself free. He hikes his pants back into place and smooths a hand over your ass, giving it a little smack to startle a squeak from you.
Heās wearing a very self-satisfied grin as he lifts you to your feet, sweeping you into his arms and dropping down into the desk chair sitting nearby with you in his lap. āGotta say, very impressed with your ā uh ā resume,ā he teased as you looked up at him with a fuck-drunk smile.
āI got the job?ā
He laughs. āYou already had the job. Just wanted to check out the perks.ā
You bite at your lip, your eyes fluttering closed as he squeezes at your breast and toys with your nipple. You sigh and look up at him with a languid smile. āI like the perks. Very good perks.ā
He laughs softly. āThatās my girl.ā He runs a finger across your lips, then bends his head to kiss you, stealing your power of speech for the next few minutes. He looks down at you with a cocky smirk as he lifts his head again, giving your nipple another tweak that shocks a funny little noise from you. āOk, princess ā Iāve gotta get going. Due at an event, have to give the masses a chance to meet their hero.ā He lifts you to your feet and stands. āYou can take a shower before you leave, if you want. Down the hall. And Iāll see you at nine in the morning.ā He grins. āYou could show up like this if you want. But it might draw some attention when you walk through the halls.ā
A few weeks later -
The office cell phone rings, and your eyes fly open as you pant for air. Ben looks up from between your knees, his eyes shining with amusement. āGonna answer that?ā he asks, and you shoot a glare his way, but you canāt suppress a smile. Another deep breath to calm yourself - and the intense throbbing between your thighs ā then you reach for the phone, finally answering on the fourth ring.
āYouāve reached the office of public relations for Soldier Boy ā Americaās first hero. How may I help you?ā You listen to the voice on the other end of the call, a request for an interview. āTwo oāclock?ā You glance down at Ben, who tilts his head to look at the clock on the wall, then shakes his head, trailing his fingers up and down your inner thigh and grinning at your shiver. āIām sorry, heās not available then. Four?ā This time he squints his eyes thoughtfully, then shrugs and nods. āYes, that should work. Can you text the address to this number, please? Thank you, have a great day!ā
āGreat work under pressure,ā he says with a quirk of his brow, āIāll make a note of that for your job evaluation.ā You shake your head at his smart-ass grin. āNow, where was I?ā The vibrator buzzes back to life, and a jolt zips through you as Ben moves it back to your clit, making you stiffen up and then slump down into your chair. Your hips buck up but he holds you in place, his eyes glued to your pussy as your cunt clenches around nothing, his fingers teasing at your entrance and then raising to his lips as he tastes you. The phone begins to ring again, but he doesnāt stop. āLet it go to voice mail,ā he orders, and you let out a low moan.
āOhhhhhhh, Benā¦ā¦ā
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Credit (x x )
Written for @storytellers-contest-tjac . Beta-read by @zepskies - thank you so much, Alex! And thank you to my bestie, @jensensgotyoudean - for your advice and ever-present support! Love you, mah Liz! š Quotes on the header and at the end of the fic are lyrics from Silver Springs by Fleetwood Mac. Dividers by @firefly-graphics.
Reenie Green is a close friend, and when you end up in a dangerous situation through no fault of your own, she calls the Shaw brothers, Colter and Russell, for help. Russell has always worked under the self-imposed rule that you do the job, then walk away. But since he met you, he's having a hard time letting this one go.
Pairing: Russell Shaw x Reader
Word Count: 13,339
Warnings: Emotionally abusive, controlling relationship; Smut; Angst
Russell helped himself to another beer, plopping down next to the small table in Colterās trailer. He leaned back against the wall, stretching his long legs out on the bench seat with a sigh. Personally, he didnāt know how his brother spent so much time in this tin can, but to each his own.
Colterās phone began to ring, and Russell craned his neck to peer over at the screen. Reenie. He grinned to himself and grabbed the phone, swiping to put her on speaker. āReenie! Howās it going?ā
āRussell? Why are you answering Colterās phone?ā
āWell, he happens to be in the shower at the moment, and I saw it was you, so ā figured youād want to say hi, anyway, right?ā
Reenie could picture the cocky smirk on his face clearly, but she didnāt have time for their usual back and forth. āThis is serious, Russell.ā
He sat up straight, his demeanor immediately shifting. āOkay, got it. What do you need?ā
āMy client is in big trouble. Well, my friend ā havenāt convinced her yet to be my client. Not the point.ā She took a deep breath to calm herself before she went on. āThe point is, sheās been kidnapped. Her brother called me a few minutes ago. Heās a computer whiz ā a former hacker, actually ā and some very bad people have been trying to recruit him. Heās been staying clear of them, but last night they took his sister, and theyāre threatening to hurt her or kill her if he doesnāt do what they want him to do.ā
āDoes he know where theyāre keeping her?ā
āTheyāre holding her at his house. Heās afraid if he shows up there, theyāll force him into doing what they want and kill them both.ā
Russell nodded, teeth worrying at his lower lip. āHeās probably not wrong. Can you send us the address?ā Colter was out of the shower now, listening with a concerned frown as he stood there, towel around his waist.
āI will. Can you help?ā
Colter looked at his brother, then nodded. āYeah. Send us whatever info youāve got. Weāre on our way.ā
Your eyes opened reluctantly, drifting closed again a few times before you managed to keep them open. Your head was pounding, your body ached, and ā you were cold. Awareness slowly seeped in, and you managed to hold your head up, taking in your surroundings. Your pulse began to race as you realized you had no idea where you were.
You tried to move, but your arms were bound behind you, around the pole that you were propped against. It felt like a zip tie, and it dug painfully into your wrists as you tested it. The light was dim, but you could see that you were in a large, mostly empty room with a concrete floor. It was chilly against your legs, and you realized you were wearing the camisole and shorts that you had gone to bed in. No wonder you were cold.
The thought of shouting for help crossed your mind, but you quickly discarded it. The foggy memory of rough hands dragging you from your bed and covering your face with a rag told you the response wouldnāt be a friendly one. You could faintly hear male voices upstairs, and the sound of a TV. You bit your lips together, fighting panic and the tears that threatened. You needed to try to stay calm, be observant, and do what you had to do to make it through whatever was happening.
As your eyes adjusted to the darkness, you made out the shape of a bike against the far wall. Back in the corner was an old foosball table, a baseball bat leaning against it. It seemed familiar ā and your eyes widened as you realized where you were ā in your brotherās basement. You rested your head back against the pole and closed your eyes, a sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach. So Grant was in trouble, and you were obviously bait ā or leverage.
You sat there for what seemed like forever, no indication of the hour, no windows to give a hint of what time of day it was. You had tried to work your hands free, but your wrists were rubbed raw and you had finally given up. No one had even bothered to come down and offer you water, or to take you to the bathroom. You had an awful feeling that they werenāt planning on keeping you alive.
A loud knock from the floor above startled you from the doze you had slipped into, and a loud, cheerful voice joined the other male voices you had heard previously. āHey, is Grant around? Thought he might wanna join me and my brother to watch the game and have a few beers. Hi, Iām Russell, I was Grantās roomie in college. I could tell you some stories.ā
Your head hit the pole behind you with a dull thud, disappointment sinking the hope that it had been a rescuer knocking at the front door. A tear slipped down your cheek as you closed your eyes. Maybe Grant was already hurt, or dead. Maybeā¦
Your eyes flew open wide with panic as a large hand covered your mouth, and you began to struggle, terrified. āShhhhh!ā A whisper next to your ear made you freeze, your body trembling with fear. āIām not gonna hurt you, okay? My nameās Colter. Iām here to help you. But you have to stay quiet. If they hear usā¦ā You nodded, your heart pounding in your chest as his hand moved slowly away. āIām gonna cut you loose.ā
You felt the tension loosen on the zip tie around your wrists, and Colter moved around in front of you. āDo you think you can walk?ā You nodded again, reaching for his hand as he pulled you to your feet, letting you stand for a moment to get your bearings. āWeāre going up the back stairs and out the door. You get in the back seat of the pickup and lie down so no one can see you.ā He gave your hand a squeeze. āJesus, youāre freezing.ā He stopped, taking off his jacket and helping you slip your arms into the sleeves. It was huge on you, but the warmth felt like heaven.
āThank you,ā you whispered hoarsely.
āOkay, here we go. Whatever happens, you go straight to that truck and get inside, right?ā You nodded in reply, and he took hold of your hand again, leading you through the room with the help of a tiny flashlight. You recognized the short flight of steps up to the back door, and you followed him out, the grass cool on your bare feet as the two of you made your way to a large black truck. He opened the back door and helped you inside, and you laid down on the seat as he had directed, nervously waiting for what would come next. After all, as much as you appreciated the rescue, you didnāt know this man any better than the ones who had abducted you in the first place.
He climbed into the driverās seat, sending a couple blasts of the horn into the otherwise still night, making you jump. āRussell, come on ā weāre gonna miss kickoff!ā he shouted out his window, then lowered his voice to speak to you again. āMy brother is inside, he was our distraction. Weāre friends of Reenieās, she sent us to help you.ā The mention of Reenieās name sent a wave of relief through you, and you began to breathe a little easier.
A couple of minutes later, another man climbed into the pickup, turning his head to glance into the back seat as he closed his door. Colter spoke your name quietly. āThis is my brother, Russell. Weāre gonna take you to the motel, your brotherās there waiting for us.ā
āYes ā okay ā thank you,ā you managed to say as the truck started up, and you headed down the road.
After a few minutes, Russell turned around to peer into the back seat. āYou can sit up now if you want. Weāre clear.ā You raised yourself up slowly, wrapping the borrowed jacket tighter around you with a shiver. Russell looked at his brother, his voice a little impatient. āTurn up the heat, man ā sheās freezing back there.ā Then he turned his attention your way again, reaching across the back of his seat to hand you a bottle of water. āHere.ā He flashed you a quick smile when you thanked him, and he watched as you drank, your eyes closing in relief as the cool liquid soothed your parched throat. āBetter?ā
You nodded, putting the lid back on the bottle. āThank you. Thank you both.ā
āAre you injured? Did they hurt you?ā He asked softly, and you shook your head. His eyes never left you as he spoke, and you couldnāt help but notice how attractive he was, even in the dim light ā dark hair, a neatly trimmed beard, beautiful eyes. āI know youāre scared, but I promise youāre gonna be okay. The police will meet us at the motel, and they said theyād contact your husband, let him know where youāll be.ā
His brows drew together at the expression on your face, the expression you were too tired and traumatized to disguise. āEverything okay?ā
You took a shaky breath. āYeah. Yes, Iām fine. Itās just ā heās going to be so angry.ā
Russell studied your expression, taking a beat before he responded. āIām sure he is, but youāre safe and Iām sure thatās the most important thing to him, right?ā
You let your gaze slide away from his, staring out the window as you gave a vague nod in answer. Russell shot a perceptive glance over to his brother, silent communication between the two of them.
You had just dozed off in the back seat of the pickup when it pulled up in front of the motel. You yawned, letting Russell help you out of the truck. āWhere are we?ā you asked, still disoriented as he escorted you to the door with a gentle hand on your back, pulling keys from his pocket.
āMy motel room. Your brother is inside.ā He let you into the room, fairly large with a worn hide-a-bed couch on one wall, a king-size bed and the usual tiny table with two chairs next to a counter with a coffee maker and mini fridge.
As soon as you stepped inside, Grant jumped up from the couch and grabbed you in a hug. āAre you okay?ā Grant was shaking as he held you, his voice breaking as he spoke. āThis was because of me, Iām so sorry. They were trying to force me to hack into some companyās financials, I⦠I never thought theyād involve you. Iām so...ā Russell draped a blanket around your shoulders as you moved back from your brotherās embrace, wiping tears from your cheeks as you interrupted.
āNot your fault, Grant.ā You sat down next to your brother, pulling your legs up underneath you and pulling the blanket tighter around you as he put an arm around your shoulders. Russell left the two of you to talk quietly, heading over to make a pot of coffee.
A couple of hours later, you headed back to the couch after being questioned by the local police. You let your head drop back, your eyes squeezed shut as you wished for the ordeal to be over. Reliving everything for the police was bad enough, and Vince, your husband, hadnāt even gotten there yet. You were dreading that, already knowing what his mood would be when he arrived.
āYou doing okay?ā Russellās voice made you open your eyes and sit up straight, inhaling and expelling a deep breath. He was hunkered down in front of you, his eyes watching you closely.
āHanging in there. Just wish this was all over.ā
He gave you a kind smile. āYeah, I get that, youāve had a rough day. Your husband should be here shortly, and once the cops talk to him, he can take you home.ā Russell watched as you tried to control your expression. āListen ā none of my business, but I noticed you havenāt been too excited at the thought of your husband showing up. If you need help ā just say the word. We can get you somewhere safe.ā
You looked into his eyes, yours welling with tears that you managed to keep from spilling over. āThank you, but Iām fine. Just really tired, and not looking forward to his temper when he hears about all this. I didnāt mean to make you thinkā¦ā
Russell shook his head. āNo problem, I get it. But if you ever do need help ā call Reenie and let her know. She knows how to find me.ā He put a warm hand over yours in your lap and gave it a squeeze, then rose to his feet and walked away. And the next moment, the hurricane that was your husband blew through the door.
āYou!ā Vince pointed an accusing finger at Grant, who was sitting at the table with an officer. āThis is all your fault!ā He stormed directly over towards his brother-in-law, who rose to his feet.
The police officer stood up as well, stepping forward with a hand out. āSir! Iām gonna have to ask you to calm down and stop where you are.ā
Vince glared at him defiantly. āThis piece of shit got himself in a bind, and got my wife kidnapped. Lucky she wasnāt injured! Or killed! You stay the hell away from us from now on. Stay away from her, you understand me?ā He turned on his heel and came towards where you now stood near the sofa, shoving a bag at you. āHere, get some clothes on. Iām taking you home.ā
You took the bag and headed into the bathroom to change, your gaze never leaving the floor. Russell took a couple of long strides forward, his eyes narrowed in anger. āHey ā Vince, is it? You might want to take it easy on her. Sheās been through hell in the last 24 hours.ā
Vince turned to look at him, his jaw raised as he stared back at Russell with contempt. āAnd just who the fuck are you?ā
āMy brother and I are the ones who found her and got her away from her kidnappers,ā Russell said quietly, crossing his arms across his chest.
Vince sighed. āOh. I see. So how much?ā
āHow much? We werenāt working for you. Grant hired us to find his sister.ā
Vince let out a derisive snort. āYeah, like he has any money. Whatās the bill, Iāll pay it.ā
Russell sighed. āNo thanks ā weāre good.ā
Your husband took a step closer, an insolent expression on his face. āWell, then, Mr. Weekend Merc, maybe you shouldnāt try to tell me how to take care of my wife.ā
Russellās eyes went cold, a humorless smirk curving his lips that would have sent a chill up the spine of any man with half a brain. Colter moved forward, putting a hand on his brotherās shoulder. After a second, Russell gave a barely perceptible nod, sucking his teeth as he turned and walked back towards the coffee pot. Colter looked impassively at Vince, then turned away and joined Russell.
A moment later, you walked back into the room, dressed and with Colterās jacket folded over your arm. Vince grabbed your arm, growling, āCome on, letās get the hell out of here.ā
āJust a minute,ā you said softly, pulling away.
āTime to go home,ā he argued, and you looked at him, snapping a reply.
āGive me one minute!ā He glared after you as you walked towards the Shaws, handing Colter his jacket. āThank you.ā Colter nodded with a smile, and you turned your attention to Russell. His expression softened as he looked back at you. āThank you both.ā
Russell looked steadily into your eyes. āRemember what I told you.ā You bit at your lip with a nod, finally pulling your gaze from his as you turned to join your fuming husband at the door. He practically shoved you out, the door closing hard behind you.
Russell turned to look at Colter, his jaw working. āThat guy is twelve kinds of wrong.ā
Colter nodded. āYeah, youāre right. But thereās nothing we can do unless she wants help, Russell. And you always tell me, when the jobās done, walk away.ā
āYeah. I know.ā Russell grabbed the coffee and filled his cup. He could still see the look in her eyes ā the attempt at courage failing to completely mask her apprehension. She was afraid, trying to pretend that everything was fine. And in spite of his usual self-imposed rules, he was going to have a hard time walking away from this one.
Russell sat next to his campfire, enjoying the warmth of the sun, a bottle of his home-brew in his hand. He stared into the fire, his inner voice reading him the riot act for still sticking around. It had been three weeks, and you hadnāt reached out to Reenie for help. Colter had given him a hard time as well, and he knew he had it coming, but he couldnāt seem to get you out of his mind. There was still the nagging feeling in his gut that you were in trouble, and that his particular set of skills might come in handy.
And then there were the dreams. The first time, he dreamed he was back in the motel room the night theyād rescued you. Only this time he was comforting you, sitting with his arms around you, and you were crying softly on his shoulder. After that, there had been another, starting the same way. Only this time it changed ā his lips on yours, his hands roaming, your skin soft and warm under his touch. He woke up breathing hard, his heart pounding, his cock hard and throbbing, and he had jacked off imagining sinking deep inside you and making you come, hearing you cry out his name.
His phone rang, Reenieās name flashing across the screen, and he shook his head to clear it before answering. She barely gave him time to say hello before she blurted out, āRussell ā she just called. She overheard ā never mind. She ran, sheās in trouble, you need to pick her up. South of you, mile marker 132 on Highway 39, sheās hiding in the trees. Go pick her up, Iāll meet you back at your campsite with some clothes and things.ā
āOn my way,ā he responded, ending the call and stuffing the phone into his pocket. He tossed water over the fire, ditching his beer in the trash can on the way to the car, sending gravel spitting from the tires as he took off.
There had been nothing but trees for a couple of miles when he reached the spot Reenie had indicated, and he pulled over, stepping out of the car, eyes scanning the area. He called your name softly, watching. āItās Russell Shaw. Reenie sent me.ā
You peered carefully from behind a tree, then ran towards the car, looking over your shoulder as you reached it. āGet in,ā Russell said, āweāll talk later.ā You nodded, climbing inside, and he looked around carefully for signs that youād been followed before getting behind the wheel. He looked over at you, his brows drawn together in concern. āYou okay? Youāre not hurt?ā
You glanced his way, clasping your hands nervously in your lap. āIām okay.ā He nodded, turning to make sure the way was clear and making a wide turn to head back to his campsite.
Russell pulled to a stop and got out of the car without a word, heading straight to his tent to break it down and pack up his belongings. By the time Reenie pulled in, he was loading everything into his trunk, still without saying a word, and you were wondering if youād done the right thing calling for his help.
Reenie pulled a large suitcase out of the back seat of her BMW, pulling it behind her to Russellās car. āBrought you some clothes and essentials to get you by. Russell, you keep her safe.ā
Russell closed his trunk, coming around to take the suitcase and shove it into his back seat. āYou know I will.ā He climbed back behind the wheel and gave Reenie a nod. āIāll be in touch.ā You hugged her, whispering your thanks, and got in the passenger side, trying to stay calm in spite of not knowing what was coming next. Russell waited for Reenie to head down the drive, then followed behind, turning in the opposite direction on the highway. āOkay,ā he said, glancing over your direction, ātell me what happened.ā
Several miles and two small towns later, Russell reached for a remote and pulled into a small garage attached to a modest-looking ranch-style house, the door smoothly lowering behind you to hide you from the world.
You had told him about the phone call you had overheard, Vince on the phone with someone, you didnāt know who. āYeah, the kidnapping should have worked, but I guess Grantās more stubborn than I gave him credit for. Stop worrying, I found somebody else. Weāll have that money by the end of next week. No, she has no idea I was behind it, donāt worry about her. She believes what I tell her, and she does what sheās told. I already took care of those two fuck-ups, they wonāt be talking to anybody.ā
Russell had listened intently to everything you said, nodding quietly once in a while as you told your story. You had overheard that conversation and you knew you had to get away. You had sneaked back upstairs, put on your shoes and a jacket, grabbed the burner phone Reenie had given you for emergencies, and gone down the back staircase and out the back door. It was a couple of miles through the woods to get to the highway, and you ran until you were out of breath, then slowed to a hurried walk, determined to escape the man you thought you knew.
āHeās not the man I married, I know that. But I never thought he wasā¦ā
āAn abusive murdering asshole?ā You had shot Russell a sideways glance, and he had cleared his throat uncomfortably. āSorry.ā
āDonāt be. Itās true.ā Tears stung your eyes as you looked down at your hands. āI feel like such an idiot. Reenie has been trying to convince me for months that I needed to leave him, but I just...ā
āNone of this is your fault. You know that, right?ā
You hadnāt answered him, just stared out the window for the rest of the ride. Russell was quiet after that, his focus on the job ahead. And this was a job, he reminded himself ā he needed to keep his head on straight. The last thing she needed right now was to get involved with someone like him, so whatever feelings were invading his subconscious, he needed to ignore them.
Russell led the way into the house, dropping your borrowed suitcase near the couch and doing a quick walk-through before coming back to the room. You looked at him, confused, and he let out a rather sheepish little chuckle. āSorry, itās a habit to make sure the house is clear. Which it is. So, get settled in ā Iām heading out to get some supplies, but Iāll be right back.ā
You nodded, and he headed back to the garage. You stood there for a moment, unsure of what to do. Your whole life had been turned upside down in the space of a few hours, and you had no idea what was coming next.
You finally took a deep breath and ventured into the next room. You explored the small house ā a bedroom, bathroom, cute little kitchen with a breakfast nook, living room with a huge sofa, recliner on one end and chaise lounge on the other. There was a medium-sized flat-screen TV, a few DVDs on a shelf below.
You took the suitcase Reenie had brought into the bedroom and opened it ā she had been very generous. It was bulging with clothes and lingerie, along with some toiletries, a few mystery/thriller novels, a deck of cards ā everything you would need to get you by until you could get your own things. Whenever that would be. You felt a clutch of panic at the thought of your unknown future, closing your eyes to fight it back. You were safe for the moment, thatās all that mattered.
A little later, your phone pinged with a message from Russell that he was back with the groceries. You met him at the kitchen door, relieving him of one of the bags in his arms. He thanked you with a smile, and the two of you unpacked and put away the food he had purchased. āThis is ā a lot. I mean, how long do you think weāll be here?ā
He glanced your way, then went back to putting milk and eggs in the fridge. āHard to say for sure. It depends on how long it takes the cops to finish getting the evidence they need to put Vince away.ā
You stopped what you were doing and braced your hands on the counter, your eyes filling with tears as the weight of everything that was happening suddenly hit you like a blow to the chest. Russell closed the fridge and put a hand on your shoulder, speaking softly. āHey.ā
You looked up into his eyes, a tear overflowing and trailing down your cheek. āI canāt pay you. I ā I donāt have anything. Everything belongs to him. I donāt know how Iāll pay for you for all of this,ā you said, sweeping your hand, thinking of the house, the groceries, Russellās time.
He gave your shoulder a gentle squeeze. āDidnāt ask to be paid. I told you if you needed help to call. Iām just here to help.ā He was really looking at you now, not the barely glancing, distant contact youād had with him since he picked you up. The kind look in his eyes made you suddenly feel not so alone. āSo are we good?ā
You took a breath and blew it out slowly, finally nodding. āYeah. Weāre good. Thank you, Russell.ā
His lips curved in a soft smile. āGood. So, Iām starved, and I got us one of those giant frozen pizzas with cheese in the crust ā sound okay?ā You nodded with a slightly watery smile and went back to unpacking the groceries as he turned on the oven.
You spent the rest of the evening mostly in companionable silence, eating pizza in front of the TV with a How I Met Your Mother marathon serving as background noise. Russell thumbed through the old magazines you had found in a drawer of the TV stand, and you started in on one of the books Reenie had included in the collection of treasures she had sent.
When you were yawning and reading the same paragraph over and over again, you finally gave in and headed for bed. You said a quiet goodnight and walked to the bedroom, closing the door behind you. You didnāt think youād be able to sleep, but you dozed off almost as soon as your head hit the pillow.
You woke suddenly, a feeling of dread in the pit of your stomach. The room was pitch black, so you grabbed your phone, the screen lighting up the space, your heart lurching in your chest as you spotted a figure standing near the foot of the bed. You lit the flashlight on your phone and aimed it that direction, then screamed in terror. Vince was standing there, a sneer on his face, a gun in his hand.
āHey, hey!!ā The light went on and a hand grabbed your shoulder, shaking you. Russellās voice was calling your name as you scooted yourself up as close to the headboard as you could, your feet scrambling to try and push you farther, your eyes wide with fear. āYouāre okay, it was a nightmare.ā You stared at him, shaking, whimpering and pointing.
āHe was right there! He was going to kill me!ā
āI promise you, thereās nobody here but you and me. You were having a nightmare. Youāre safe, I promise you.ā He reached out take hold of your hand. āThereās no way in hell he will ever get close to you. I wonāt let him, trust me. You trust me, right?ā
You nodded, trying to calm yourself, still trembling and your heart still trying to escape your chest. Russell sat there with you until your quaking subsided, and you looked up at him as he ducked his head to peer into your eyes. āYou okay?ā
You nodded again with a sigh of exhausted relief. āIām sorry. It was so real.ā
āNothing to be sorry for.ā
You looked at him again, feeling embarrassed as you spoke again. āI feel like a child, but I donāt think I can sleep in here. I donāt want to be alone.ā
Russell smiled as he looked down at you. āI get it. Why donāt we grab your pillow and you can sleep on the sofa. Iām sleeping in the recliner, so Iāll be right there in case you get spooked. Sound okay?ā
He helped you gather what you needed, and soon your bed was all set up on the couch. You settled yourself on your pillow, wrapping yourself in the blankets and yawning as your body finally calmed itself. āI usually leave the TV on with the sound real low, will that bother you?ā he asked as he took his seat in the recliner again.
āNo, it might actually help me sleep,ā you said. āThank you, Russell.ā
āAny time.ā
The next morning you woke to the smell of fresh coffee brewing and bacon frying. Apparently Russell was an early riser. You got up from the couch and gathered your bedding, heading for the bedroom to get dressed. A pair of leggings and a big sweater seemed cozy, and after hitting the bathroom and combing through your hair, you made a beeline for the kitchen and the coffee pot.
āMorninā,ā Russell greeted you as you filled a mug with the steaming brew, holding it to your nose appreciatively.
āGood morning. Thank you for making coffee. And breakfast, I guess ā do you want some help?ā
He shot a smile over his shoulder. āGot it covered here, but you could make some toast, if you want. Scrambled or fried?ā
The two of you sat in the breakfast nook to eat, Russell scrolling on his phone and you back to your paperback mystery. When you were finished, you chased him out of the kitchen, refusing to let him help with the dishes. āYou cooked, Iāll clean up.ā
āIām used to doing both, ya know,ā he protested, but finally gave in and left you to it. You heard his phone ring as you finished up, and you were drying your hands as he walked back into the room.
āThat was ā uh ā the FBI.ā
Your eyes widened in surprise. āThe FBI?ā
āYeah. Apparently theyāve been investigating Vince for a while now for shady investment practices. They want to send an agent to talk to you, about the phone call you overheard and anything else you might have seen or heard that might help their case. Are you okay with that?ā
You bit at your lip, but nodded in agreement. āI guess so ā I donāt know that Iāll be much help, but if it helps put him awayā¦ā
āColterās in the area, said heād bring her here this afternoon. I donāt want you out in public if we can avoid it, not until heās locked up.ā You glanced at him nervously, and he put a calming hand on your shoulder. āIām not trying to scare you ā I just want you safe.ā
āI know. Thanks.ā
When the doorbell rang that afternoon, you watched nervously as Russell motioned you to stand back, then grabbed his gun from the end table and went to answer it. He peered through the peephole, then lowered his weapon and unlocked the door, opening it and stepping back to allow Colter and a woman in a dark pantsuit to enter. Colter spoke up to introduce you and Russell to the woman, who held out a hand to shake both of yours in turn.
āThank you for agreeing to meet with me,ā she said, aiming her comment at you.
Russell stepped forward. āCan I get a minute before you do your thing?ā The agent nodded, following him into the next room. Even though he kept his voice low, you could hear him, insisting that she keep in mind that you were innocent and that you not be treated like a criminal just because you were married to one.
You glanced over at Colter, blushing a little. āHeās been very protective,ā you said softly, and Colter smiled.
āYeah ā thatās no surprise. Heās been doing it since we were kids. He stood between our dad and me ā or dad and our little sister, Dory ā so many times. Dad had ā well, he had some mental issues. Russ took the brunt of a lot of his crap.ā
Russell came through the door just then, giving you a quick smile and nodding towards the kitchen. āSheās ready for you. If you need meā¦ā
You gave him a grateful smile in return. āIāll be fine. Thank you.ā He moved to the side to let you walk by, watching until you took your seat across from the agent.
āHowās she doing?ā Colter asked quietly as his brother turned to face him.
āSheās scared.ā Russell gnawed at his lip a little, glancing over at Colter as he took a breath and exhaled with a short nod. āBut sheāll be all right.ā
A couple of hours later the interview was over, and you said your goodbyes to Colter and the agent shortly after. You dropped down on the sofa with a sigh of relief, and Russell sat down nearby.
āSo ā howād it go?ā
āShe asked about the phone call I overheard, wanted word for word as well as I could remember. Then she asked about people Iād seen at Vinceās parties, anything I might have heard in passing about specific things that maybe didnāt mean anything to me but might help their case.ā You took a deep breath. āShe said when they arrest him, theyāll seize all of his assets. But she said they found one account that was started in my name before we were married that he hadnāt touched, and she said that will come to me. I remember right before we got married, I pulled my 401K from my job at the bank and had him invest it for me ā he must have forgotten all about it. Itās been sitting there for the last 10 years, slowly growing. So maybe Iāll be able to repay you for all of this after all.ā
He sighed sharply. āI told you, I didnāt ask to be paid. Youāll need that money to start over.ā He lowered his head and looked at you from under raised brows. āI know itās hard to believe, but Iām not hurtinā for cash. So I donāt wanna hear another word about you paying me, okay?ā
āRussell, I justā¦ā
āI mean it. Vince gets put away and you get a clean start. Thatās payment enough for me.ā You looked up into those captivating green eyes, his expression dead serious.
āOkay, okay, subject dropped,ā you answered, and he allowed himself to smile.
āGood. Goddamn, youāre stubborn.ā
You laughed softly, rising to your feet. āYou have no idea. Okay, Iām going to go take a shower ā if thatās allowed?ā you teased, laughing again as he blew out a disdainful breath.
āSmartass.ā
The rest of that night was spent much as the first, eating in front of the TV, and Russell borrowed one of Reenieās mystery thrillers to keep himself occupied. If he was being honest, he just wanted a distraction to keep his eyes from constantly wandering over to you as you read, occasionally trapping your lower lip between your teeth as you got engrossed in a passage. He started to read, but found his eyes drawn back again to the wisps of hair curling against the gentle slope of your neck. Luckily you were an avid reader and didnāt notice his staring, but he mentally shook himself. This was a job, he was there to protect you, and that was all. He forced his eyes to the pages in front of him, determined to keep focused there, even though he would occasionally make sarcastic comments about how unrealistic it was.
Yawning, you finally laid your book aside and laid down, saying a soft āGood nightā to Russell as you settled in. You slept well that night, the sound of the TV in the background and the knowledge that Russell was close giving you the peace of mind you needed to rest.
The next day you were going a little stir-crazy, feeling cooped-up and bored. You aimlessly wandered around the house, looking through closets and cupboards, letting out a happy cheer when you found an abandoned crossword puzzle book in a drawer in the kitchen. You settled on the couch, your legs crossed underneath you, glad to have found a distraction. āWho played Angel Eyes in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly?ā you asked, a thoughtful frown on your face as you chewed at your pen.
āLee Van Cleef,ā he answered. āHow do you not know that?ā
āYouāre the old movie buff. I only know the big ones ā Casablanca, stuff like that.ā
āSo you donāt like westerns.ā
You looked at him, an offended expression on your face. āI like westerns! I love John Wayne.ā You filled in the answer and read another clue. āClint Eastwood western?ā
Russell let out a mock impatient sigh. āObviously you need help.ā He moved to plop down beside you, looking down at the page. āWhere does it go? Ok, got it ā A Fistful of Dollars.ā
The two of you worked your way through the apparently western-themed puzzle together, Russell teasing you about your lack of knowledge on the subject and laughing when you excitedly shouted the answer to an actual clue involving John Wayne. You finished putting the last answer in place and grinned up at him, your smile slowly fading as you looked into his eyes. The air suddenly seemed charged around you, your gaze traveling down to his lips as his tongue swept over them. Before you had time to think, he pushed up from the sofa and stood. His abrupt movement away from you broke the spell, and you swallowed hard, your heart pounding.
āIām gonna go grab us some take-out. Chicken sound good?ā He asked, not looking back as he headed for the door. You agreed, taking a relieved breath as he closed the door behind him, leaving you alone.
You took a shaky breath as you put a hand to your face, your fingers cool against your flushed cheek. āWhat the hell was that?ā you asked yourself out loud. Whatever it felt like, it couldnāt be, that was for sure, you told yourself sternly. Tossing the book on the end table, you determinedly marched to the kitchen to mix up some brownies. Chocolate. You just needed some chocolate.
After lunch, Russell spent most of the afternoon out in the garage, saying he needed to do some work on the car, and you were honestly a little relieved. The last thing you wanted was to embarrass yourself with the man who was protecting you. It was probably just a reaction to him saving you, a rescue crush. And it didnāt help that he was so aggressively good-looking. He was tall and lean, broad-shouldered, handsome as hell. That dark beard made his smile seem that much brighter, enough that it made it hard to breathe normally. And those mesmerizing green eyes ā looking into them was just downright dangerous.
You spent the afternoon channel-surfing, did another puzzle and read your book for a while. Russell was in and out, keeping himself busy with something, you didnāt know what, but you were sure he was avoiding you. Towards evening you headed for the kitchen, thoughts of searching for what to make for dinner on your mind. The blinds on the patio door were open, and you could see Russell adding wood to the fire pit, the flames already started. You watched him for a moment, completely unaware of the fond smile on your face. He looked up as you stood there, motioning for you to come out and join him.
You went to the closet and grabbed your jacket. Surely there was enough space outside that it would be safe to be around him, you thought to yourself, then slipped out the patio door, sliding it closed behind you. āMissing the great outdoors?ā you asked and he grinned.
āI do love a good campfire and some fresh air.ā He reached into the cooler sitting beside him. āAnd a cold beer ā want one?ā
āOoh, yes, please.ā You breathed in, then searched for where the delicious aroma tickling your nose was coming from. āWhat smells so good?ā
āOh, I threw a couple of steaks on the grill, and some potatoes. Hope that sounds okay.ā
āSounds great ā smells wonderful.ā
His shoulders shook with a silent little laugh. āReminds me of that time my brother and I tried to cook over the campfire when we were kids. Almost burned the damn forest down.ā He launched into the story, and before you knew it, you were both talking and laughing, relaxed with each other again. Russell was a great storyteller, and the time passed pleasantly as you ate together.
When you finished eating, you set your plate beside you on the bench with a satisfied sigh. āThat was delicious. Maybe you should be a chef when you retire from working security ā or whatever it is that you do when youāre not being my guardian.ā
He huffed out a laugh. āA chef - that was never on my list of things I wanted to do when I grew up. More like astronaut, firefighter, rock star, pitcher⦠the usual. Now ā Iām still searching. I thought about opening a craft brewery, sell my beer and have barbecue, so I guess thatās close. But now? I donāt know. After working with Colter, Iām kind of thinking of going more that direction. Helping people. Who knows?ā He took a swig from his beer and looked at you. āSo what do you want to do when you get back to your life?ā
A log cracked in the fire, and you watched thoughtfully as a spray of sparks floated upwards into the darkening sky. āI used to dream about opening a book store and gift shop, with a coffee counter in the front. A couple of tables, and a few little reading nooks tucked in here and there. That would be nice.ā You glanced back at him, then looked off into the distance. āBut what I really want ā I just want to be able to go for a long walk without my paranoid husband sending security guys after me. I want to be able to eat a meal without someone criticizing me because I might gain weight. I want to be able to wear what I want when I want, and not hear a lecture about how Iām ārepresentingā him. I want to dance because I like the music, not because Iām bait for lecherous old men who might be potential clients.ā You stopped your tirade, letting out a deep breath. āSorry. I guess thatās been bottled up inside me for a while.ā
Russellās eyes were warm and supportive as he responded. āNo need to apologize.ā
You nodded, unable to continue looking at him, a little embarrassed. Russell watched you for a moment, then pulled his phone from his pocket. A fast country beat filled the air, and he set the phone down on the bench beside him, standing up and reaching out a hand. āOkay, letās go ā you wanna dance? Letās dance.ā
You looked up at him, unable to keep the shy smile from your face as you saw the grin on his. āYou dance?ā
He scoffed with a little laugh. āDo I dance? Get up here.ā
You never would have guessed it, but the man could dance. Before long he was swinging you around the patio, twirling you out and back, both of you smiling and laughing together. You danced your way through that song and the next, but then the music shifted to a slow ballad, and you both came to a stop, looking hesitantly at each other. Russellās eyebrow lifted, his expression asking without words, and you gave a little shrug. He smirked, shrugging in reply, and pulled you closer, taking your hand in his and holding it close to his chest as his other hand rested warm on your lower back. You draped your arm over his shoulder, your hand resting at the back of his neck as you swayed together to the music.
The song began to fade away, and you realized you were resting your head on his shoulder, your fingers fidgeting with the soft hair that fell over his collar, and your face grew warm with a blush as you both stopped moving. You took a step back, grateful that it was evening and he hopefully wouldnāt notice the color in your cheeks. āI ā um ā guess I should take these dishes inside,ā you mumbled. You stepped away from him, gathering the dishes and turning to walk towards the patio door.
āYeah, I gotta take care of this fire, Iāll be inside in a minute,ā he answered, his voice sounding just as strained as yours was. Maybe he was just as affected as you were? You chased that thought away with denial as you stepped inside, turning to close the door behind you. He had been polite and kind to you from the beginning, but never more than that. You watched him for a moment as he stuffed his phone into his pocket, then grabbed the bucket of water he had set nearby to put the fire out, his back facing towards you the whole time, and you finally turned away.
You headed for the living room, then turned back, going to the fridge for a bottle of water, your mind reeling with conflicting thoughts. You were attracted to him, you had been from the first moment he looked into your eyes and asked if you needed help. But that was just the trauma, right? You had gone through hell and he was being kind to you, thatās all it was.
You were completely in your own head as you finally closed the door to the fridge and turned, rushing towards the living room, focused on your own thoughts. As you neared the doorway, you ran into a solid wall of man, the bottle of water in your hands flying to the floor and rolling away.
Russell grabbed your arms to steady you as you both spoke at the same time. āShit, Iām sorry!ā and āAre you okay?ā and you wished you could just disappear from view.
He was close ā so close. He smelled like wood smoke and cinnamon gum, beer and something masculine and warm that was just him and had your skin tingling. He looked down at you, his tongue darting out over his lips, his eyes steadily searching yours. He raised his hand, his fingers tracing the line of your jaw gently before he slipped them into your hair, and he leaned in slowly, giving you plenty of time to push him away ā but you had no desire to do that. His well-trimmed beard brushed against your cheek, softer than you expected, but you didnāt have time to think about that because when his lips connected with yours, your brain ceased to function. You could focus on nothing but your heart pounding, your nerves buzzing, you could barely breathe. There was a throbbing between your thighs that made your knees weak, made you want him to throw you down and take you right there on the floor.
It all happened in a matter of seconds, and when he stopped suddenly, his hands dropping to his sides, your head was spinning at the sudden lack of his touch. His breathing was labored, his arms flexed as though they were fighting him to reach for you. He stared at the floor, taking a few breaths before he spoke, his voice husky and quiet. āThis is ā I shouldnāt have done that. Itās a bad idea.ā He tilted his head, a rueful little smirk flitting over his lips. āActually great idea for me. Very bad idea for you.ā
You stared back at him, still stunned and silent. He stepped away, going to retrieve your bottle of water and bringing it back to you. You took it from him with a whispered āThank you,ā and he gave a short, quick nod before turning to walk away.
You heard the bathroom door close, and finally started breathing again. So he was feeling it, too. He had slammed the brakes pretty hard, but he had said it was a bad idea for you. Unanswered questions filled your head ā was he really just holding back because he thought youād get hurt? Or was there something in his past he was worried about you finding out? He seemed like a good man, but you had a feeling there was a history there that he couldnāt easily share. In spite of how you were feeling, you needed to try to get past it and get back to normal, or as normal as things could be for you at the moment. You glanced into the living room, making sure he was still out of sight, and headed quickly for the bedroom, closing the door. Youād just get ready for bed, try to put it out of your mind, and move on. It wasnāt going to be easy, since you could still feel his lips on yours, his fingers twining through your hair.
You changed into a t-shirt and shorts to sleep in, and after a few minutes battling with yourself, you finally grabbed your pillow and blanket and headed out to the couch. Russell was already settled in the recliner, searching for the classic movie channel he liked to leave on at night. You wrapped your blanket around you, snuggling down in your pillow. āReady for lights out?ā Russell asked softly, and you mumbled a āYeahā in reply. He turned off the lamp next to him and left you both in the flickering light of the TV.
You laid there, staring at the glowing images on the screen, pretending to be trying to go to sleep. You were wide awake, unable to stop thinking about that kiss, craving more. It was infuriating, really, that Russell had just walked away like it was nothing and you were left wanting something he was apparently not willing to give, whatever his reasons.
You fought the urge to toss and turn, acutely aware of how close he was, probably watching whatever it was that was on the screen. But your imagination was merciless, showing you the possibilities, teasing you with images and thoughts of erotic touches, of his lips on your skin, of his calloused hands in places that ached for him.
He cleared his throat, shifting restlessly in his seat, and your resolve to act as if everything was fine crumbled. You threw back the blanket, your heart pounding as you crawled down the length of the sofa and straddled Russellās lap. His eyes went wide, your fingers on his lips cutting off his startled āWhatā¦?ā
You stared down at him, slowly removing your hand and resting it on his chest, your voice hushed as you spoke. āI donāt care if itās a bad idea.ā You could feel his heart rate rising beneath your hand, his eyes fluttering shut just before yours did as you leaned down into him, your lips landing on his in a soft kiss.
His hands drifted up to rest on your back, his cock steadily swelling underneath you. You moaned softly, grinding down into him, and he drew back, panting for air as he looked up at you. You kept your eyes on his, sliding back off his lap as he raised the recliner upright, and you took hold of his hand to lead him with you back to the couch. You spread the blanket out as Russell came up behind you, his hands moving to your hips as you straightened back up. āTold myself I wasnāt gonna do this,ā he said softly as you leaned back into his chest. āYouāre making me a liar.ā
You couldnāt help smiling a little before you turned to face him. āYou need to know ā I donāt have any expectations. I know, when this is all over, that youāre going to leave, move on to your next job, and Iāll be going back and try to start my life over again. But Iām not askingā¦ā For some reason your eyes began to sting with tears, and you blinked hard to chase them away. āIām not asking for anything more than you want to give.ā
Russell stared down at you for a second before his arms wrapped around you, the last shreds of his resistance evaporating as he pulled you close. His lips landed soft but decisive on yours, his tongue teasing at your lips, and you opened to him, a whimper in your throat as you slipped your arms around his neck.
After a moment or two, he parted from you one more time, one hand rising to drag a thumb across his mouth as he cleared his throat. āI ā uh ā donāt have a condom.ā
You reached for his hand. āItās okay. Weāre good.ā
āYou sure? Because if youād rather not...ā The tip of his tongue peeked out, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth for a moment. āIād be more than happy to take care of you some other way.ā His thumb brushed over the top of your hand, his words invoking images in your mind that sent a flash of heat through your body.
You finally found your voice, although it was a little breathless and stammering. āI promise weāre good ā but⦠Well, that sounds ā umm ā amazing, too.ā His lips curved in a one-sided smirk as he stared into your eyes. He reached for the hem of your shirt, pulling it up over your head, then did the same with his before he pulled you back into his arms and kissed you again. You buried your fingers in his hair as you leaned into him, breasts crushed to his chest, your pulse racing.
He moved you backwards until your legs ran into the couch, then slid his hands down your sides to your hips, pushing your shorts down until they fell to the floor. You stepped out of them and let him lower you down to the sofa, stretching out with your head on your pillow. He put a knee down between your legs, sliding his palm up the outside of your thigh and guiding it up to his hip as he lowered himself down over you.
He kissed you, deep and hungry, rutting his still-clothed erection gently against your thigh, and the combination was driving you insane in the best possible way. He propped himself up on one elbow, his other hand beginning to roam, and he moaned in appreciation as he brushed a palm over your breast. He gave each one a little attention as he moved his lips across your jaw to your pulse point, then steadily moved down your body, his destination clear.
Your stomach muscles quivered as his lips traveled over your soft skin. Your entire body tensed, frozen in anticipation of what was about to happen. He splayed his fingers over your hips, his thumbs pulling gently at your mound to give him easier access to your swollen clit. He leaned in close to place soft, lingering kisses over your pussy before exploring you thoroughly with his tongue, finally dipping it inside you and then dragging it up and over your clit.
He teased you that way until you were rearing your head back into your pillow, one hand behind your head gripping the arm of the couch and the other clutching at his hair. Then he pulled your clit between his lips, his tongue brushing over it as he worked two fingers inside you, curling them to rub against your walls. When you gasped, he hummed his approval, stroking over that sweet spot heād been searching for, your grip on his hair tightening as he gave your clit a hard suck.
He raised his eyes to look at you, your eyes half closed in bliss, your other hand now tugging and twisting at your nipples. āJesus,ā he swore, watching you for a moment longer before he nuzzled his face against you and sucked hard, pulsing his tongue with the movement of his fingers. Your back arched as you let out a cry, your cunt clutching at his fingers as you came undone, your hips bucking into his thrusts as you rode out your climax.
You watched him through half-lidded eyes as he slowly pulled his fingers free, making you shiver. He sucked them clean, then grabbed a corner of the blanket and scrubbed it over his face before moving up to nibble at your lips. āTold you Iād take care of you,ā he teased, and he grinned as you blinked slowly and gave him a faint smile.
āMmmm-hmmmm,ā you agreed between his soft kisses.
āThis doesnāt have to go any further if you donāt want it to,ā he said quietly, and you opened your eyes to stare up at him.
āDonāt tell me youāre quitting on me.ā The corner of his mouth quirked a little, those green eyes shining down at you even in the dim light.
āOnly if you want me to,ā he answered, pausing as he waited for your response.
āI donāt,ā you said, pulling him down with a hand on the back of his neck to kiss him, a nip to his bottom lip making him grunt a little. āSo stop teasing already.ā
His chest vibrated against you as he chuckled, then raised up to his knees, shoving his clothes down to free himself. He slipped one arm beneath your knee, lifting it to open you up further for him as he settled back between your thighs. He took his time, pushing inside you slow and steady, giving you time, watching your face closely. Your breath was frozen in your lungs as you adjusted to his generous size, finally able to exhale when your bodies were flush and he stopped moving, bending to nuzzle his face into your neck. āMmmm, you feel amazing,ā he rumbled, his lips roaming over the soft skin there.
āGod, so do you,ā you managed before he began to move, melting your words into a moan. The slick drag of him inside you lit every nerve on fire, and you clutched your arms around his middle, digging your fingers into his back. He took his time, in and out slowly, barely inching out at first and building up until he was pulling almost all the way out before gliding smoothly back in to the limit. When you finally relaxed, adjusted to him, he began to ramp up his speed and drove into you faster, harder, until your nails were digging into his back and you wrapped your leg tight around him.
He shifted his hold on your other knee, tilting you back a little farther, your sweet spot now a bullseye with every stroke. He let out a low groan as your cunt began to clench around him, letting go completely and fucking into you hard, wanton sounds forced from you with every thrust. He let out a soft growl, a sound that sent you careening over the edge, your back arching up beneath him as you came with an unearthly howl of his name.
He joined you with a loud groan, cursing under his breath as he fucked you through your orgasm and his, finally collapsing on top of your quivering body. You breathed helpless little whimpers into his shoulder, your arms going limp as he slipped his arm out from under your knee and hugged your thigh to his side. It was some time before either of you moved, spent and contented to stay right where you were.
You had actually started dozing off when Russell moved, and you shivered as he slipped free from you and stood up. He tossed his sweats over his shoulder, shuffling his way to the bathroom, and you let out a sleepy sigh and sat up, reaching down to the floor for a shirt. It happened to be his, but you didnāt mind. When he came back, you stood up to head to the bathroom, but he put his arms around you and kissed you softly, pausing your trip for a few welcome minutes.
You cleaned up and went back out into the living room, smiling as you saw him spreading a clean blanket on the couch. You grabbed your shorts from the floor and slipped them on as you waited, and he turned to look at you with a faint smile as he finished. āWant me to go back to the recliner?ā he asked quietly, and you shook your head.
āNo. Stay with me ā I mean, if you want.ā
His smile broadened, and he plopped down, his back to the back of the couch. āCāmere, you.ā
You laid down beside him, and he pulled the blanket from the back of the couch to cover you both before he slipped one arm underneath your neck, the other around your waist to hold you close as he curled himself around you. Warm and happy, you fell asleep in his arms, the most peaceful youād felt in years.
You woke up the next morning, reluctant to let yourself drift into full consciousness. But the tempting aroma of brewing coffee finally prompted your eyes to open, breathing deep as the sleepy daze cleared from your brain. Russell was humming a little off-key as he worked on whatever breakfast he was concocting that morning, and you smiled to yourself.
You stretched, feeling the ache of muscles you hadnāt used in a while, but it was a good feeling. However, before you went to the kitchen to join Russell, you definitely wanted to take a shower. You threw the blanket off and headed for the bathroom. The mirror was still a little foggy, so Russell had obviously already been in there. Happily, you found a scrunchie in Reenieās bag of toiletries, and you put your hair up before climbing into a hot shower.
You dried off, refreshed and fully awake, wrapping a towel around yourself so you could make your way to the bedroom and get dressed. You stepped out into the hallway, a cloud of vanilla and jasmine steam billowing out behind you. Russellās voice calling your name stopped you in your tracks, and he stepped through the kitchen doorway into the living room, still talking.
āI made breakfast, sausage and stuff, if youāreā¦ā he stopped in mid-sentence, his mouth open as he stared at you. āHungry,ā he finished, then snapped his mouth shut, his lips pursing and brows bunching in a contemplative expression before he dropped the spatula he was holding to the floor. āYeah, it can wait.ā
Before you could react, he had you pinned between the hallway wall and his body, his lips crashing down on yours in a ravenous kiss. You blinked up at him, stunned, as he raised his head, his eyes burning into yours. āI told you this was a bad idea,ā he rasped, closing his eyes for a beat before he went on. āYou are playing hell with my impulse control.ā
You kept your eyes on his as you reached for the snap on his jeans, popping it loose before pulling his zipper down. āLosing control once in a while isnāt such a bad thing,ā you said, watching his upper lip twitch as you shoved his clothing out of the way and wrapped your hand around his hard cock. He grabbed a handful of your towel and tugged hard, pulling it free where you had it tucked in between your breasts. He tossed it to the side and scooped you up, his hands under your thighs, lifting you to his waist. You gasped as his hot length was trapped between his stomach and your already leaking pussy, your arms wrapped around his neck as he rutted against you, coating himself in your juices. Then he lifted you a little, holding you with one arm while he positioned himself at your entrance.
āYou ready?ā he rumbled, his eyes on your face as he waited.
You nodded, clinging tight to his neck as he lowered your body, impaling you fully, a breathless, silent moment before he began to move. Then his fingers dug into your hips as he fucked into you, forcing sounds from you with every powerful thrust as your bodies slammed together. His forehead rested on your shoulder as he focused everything on driving you both over the edge, hard and fast.
He came first, and you followed close behind, resting your cheek on the top of his head as you both panted like you had run a marathon. He finally straightened up, then bent his head to kiss you, slow and deep, before lifting you up and lowering you to the floor. You still clung to him, your legs a little shaky, for a long moment, then gave him a coy smile. āNow I need another shower,ā you said, and he grinned.
āMe, too ā so how about we go clean up, and then we can eat. Donāt know about you, but Iām starved.ā
āSorry you went to all that work, and now itās probably all cold.ā You reached up to stroke his cheek with your fingertips, and you smiled as he leaned into your touch.
āNope. I stuck it all in the oven to stay warm.ā
āSmart man!ā
āIāve been known to have an occasional flash of brilliance. Until you come walking out dressed in nothing but a little towel, and all the blood leaves my brain,ā he teased, and you laughed as he herded you into the bathroom for yet another shower.
The next couple of days were amazing. The freedom of being able to be yourself without a filter, without judgment or disapproval ā it was like you had been set free from years of confinement. The common sense part of your brain knew that this was all temporary, that it would be gone in the blink of an eye when the time came, but you chose to ignore that nagging voice and live for the day.
Russell had lightened up considerably since you had first met him, too. Maybe it was good for him to have a little time away from gunfire and commando tactics. You talked, and laughed, watched movies together, cooked and ate, drank beer by the fire outside, and even danced again.
And you had sex that you knew youād never equal with anyone else. He stopped you in the middle of cooking dinner once, plopping you up on the counter top and stripping your pants off so he could go down on one knee and make you his appetizer.
He pulled you over onto his lap during a movie, taking off your shirt and bra and leaning you back against his chest, teasing and tugging at your nipples. He whispered in your ear in that sinful voice, sweet and dirty, until you were a whining mess, begging him to fuck you.
He kissed you awake in the early morning, the two of you making out like teenagers, the sex slow and lazy and perfect.
But late that evening, his phone rang, and you felt your stomach drop. It was over.
He hung up and turned towards you, teeth denting his lower lip before he met your eyes. āThey just arrested Vince. Heās being charged with murder and your kidnapping, along with all the financial shit. They found the bodies of the two that grabbed you buried in the woods north of your brotherās house. Heās never getting out.ā He sighed, watching your face. āYouāre free. You can finally live your own life.ā
You dropped down onto the sofa, nodding, your voice barely audible. āYeah. I guess so.ā
He sat down beside you, reaching for your hand, which was trembling a little. āYou okay?ā
You blew out a breath, still afraid to look at him again, your emotions too close to the surface. āI will be.ā
āWeāre supposed to meet Reenie and that FBI agent at the house tomorrow at nine. Your brotherās coming, too. Theyāll help you get your stuff together before the FBI seizes Vinceās property.ā
You nodded, then sighed, raising your head to look up at him. āOkay. Back to reality.ā
He pulled his hand away, putting it to his chest in mock offense. āLike Iām not real?ā he scoffed, and you smiled in spite of yourself.
āRussell, youāre the realest thing thatās happened to me in the last few years, trust me.ā
He grinned, standing up. āWant a beer before we crash for the night?ā
āYeah. I could use one.ā
You watched him walk to the kitchen, an ache blooming in your chest. He was right. It had been a bad idea. But it was too late, and this was going to hurt like hell.
Russell came back with beer for the two of you, and you did your best to act like everything was fine as you talked and laughed half-heartedly at the sitcom on the TV. It was already late, and you wished you could just start the day over again. You took the empty bottles and carried them to the trash in the kitchen, stopping to stare out the patio door for a moment.
You felt Russellās presence behind you before he spoke. āShould have had a fire tonight, huh? Didnāt knowā¦ā
āThat we wouldnāt have another night.ā You sighed, and he put a hand on your shoulder.
āDo you want me to sleep in the recliner tonight? I mean, making a clean break mightā¦ā
āMake it easier?ā You looked up at him. āOr maybe we should just enjoy the one night we have left.ā
His eyes were shining, soft in the dim light as he looked down at you. āNot gonna lie, I was hoping youād say that.ā His arms surrounded you, pulling you close as he bent to kiss you, your hands clenching fistfuls of his t-shirt as you leaned into him.
At least youād have one more memory to take with you.
You woke early the next morning, reluctant to open your eyes and face the day. Russell, of course, was already awake and had coffee going, so you forced yourself to get up, grab your clothes, and take a shower. Every task was an effort of will ā all you really wanted to do was roll up in your blankets and refuse to move.
You stood beneath the hot spray, eyes closed as you washed your body, remembering every moment of the night before. You had taken things slow, exploring each other as if you were sharing secrets no one else would ever know. You had memorized every tattoo, every scar on Russellās body, reveled in the sensation of the muscles in his back rolling and straining beneath your fingertips as he fucked into you, riding the waves of pleasure he invoked with his touch. He had sent jolts of white hot fire through your veins as he marked you, sharp teeth and soothing tongue, on your breasts, the soft flesh of your lower belly, and the one he made on your inner thigh right next to your pussy had almost made you come. You hung up your towel and ran your fingers over the bruises as you stood in front of the mirror, wishing you could make them stay forever.
When you walked into the kitchen, Russell mumbled a āMornināā from the breakfast nook, and you answered him softly. He was quiet, scrolling on his phone, not chatty as he had been the last few days. He was distancing himself, you could tell, and it felt like the first day you had been here all over again.
You drank your coffee and stood to go and pack. āDonāt bother with the blankets or anything,ā he said, āColter and I are coming back later to clean out the house.ā
āOkay. Thanks,ā you answered, leaving the room, suddenly needing to be as far away from him as possible. This didnāt seem to be bothering him one bit.
By the time you got packed, it was time to hit the road. Russell took the suitcase from you and opened the door, and you started out. āOh, wait,ā you said, turning back and going to the end table next to the sofa. You opened the drawer and grabbed the crossword puzzle book. You didnāt look at him as you headed back to the door ā he didnāt need to know you wanted it because working that puzzle was the first time there had been sparks between you. He probably wouldnāt understand, anyway.
You climbed into the passenger seat, he got behind the wheel, and you left the house behind, watching out your window as you passed it by. You had barely spoken to or looked at each other, and the silence in the car was oppressive. Several miles went by that way until you couldnāt keep your hurt contained any longer.
āI should have listened to you. You were right. It was a fucking bad idea.ā You took a shaky breath. āIt must be nice.ā
āWhat?ā
There was a bitter edge to your words as you answered him. āThe way youāre able to shut off your feelings. Itās so easy for you, like flipping a fucking switch.ā
Your resentment hung thick in the air, and after a few seconds, you assumed he wasnāt going to respond. Then Russell spoke softly, his voice taut. āWhat makes you think itās easy?ā
There was a note of hurt in his words, and you wished you could just take everything youād said back, but it was too late. None of this was his fault. You had pushed the issue even after he had tried to take a step back, and you had no right to attack him for it. But you couldnāt find the right thing to say, so you just finished the ride to town in yet more silence.
When you pulled up in front of your former home, Reenie, your brother, and the FBI agent who had interviewed you were standing near the front steps talking. āIāll grab your bag,ā Russell said, and you said a quiet āThank youā as you got out of the car.
Grant met you halfway, hugging you with a smile. Russell brought your bag over, and Grant took it from him. āThanks, Iāll put this in the trunk.ā
Reenieās observant eyes shifted from Russell to you and back again, Russellās gaze sliding away from hers to the ground near his feet. Colter was leaning on his truck, parked out on the street, and lifted a hand in greeting. āWell, I guess I should get going. Colter will bring me back to pick up my car after we finish up at the house.ā He looked at you, but you barely glanced his direction. āTake care of yourself,ā he said quietly, and you nodded in reply. He bit at his lip, then gave a little nod and turned to walk away.
You finally raised your eyes, watching him until he was halfway out to the street, your heart finally forcing you to call out to him. āRussell! Wait.ā
He stopped, turning slowly as you rushed out to meet him. āRussell ā Iām sorry. I shouldnāt have said those things, I didnāt mean any of it.ā
āDonāt worry about it. I get it.ā
You shook your head, your eyes stinging with tears. āNo, you didnāt deserve any of it. In fact, I need to thank you.ā He started to shake his head, and you grabbed his hand. āNo, listen. I need to thank you. Not just for the rescue. Russell, you saved me. You made me feel again after years of being numb. You made me feel like myself again. I needed someone, and you were there for me. Iāll never forget it.ā
He looked into your eyes, his jaw ticking as he stared at you for a moment. Then he cradled your face in both hands, bending to kiss you, his lips clinging to yours for a long, bittersweet moment before he let you go, brushing a tear from your cheek before he dropped his hands to his sides.
āIām gonna miss you,ā you said in a wavering voice, watching his face as he held his emotions in check.
A brief, sad little smile flitted over his lips, and he dipped his head in acknowledgment. āMe too, sweetheart.ā He reached out to give your hand one more squeeze before he turned and walked away.
You watched as he and Colter got into the truck, raised a hand to wave as they did the same, then drove away. You finally turned and walked back to the house, walking straight into your brotherās arms. You shed a few tears on his shoulder, then raised your head with a heavy sigh. āOkay. Letās get this over with.ā
A few miles down the road, Colter glanced over at his brother, who was staring silently out the window, dragging his fingers absently through his beard. āWanna talk about it?ā
Several moments passed before Russell took a deep breath, exhaling hard before he spoke, his voice subdued. āDid you ever meet somebody who makes you wish like hell you could be what they deserve?ā
Colter cleared his throat as he looked steadily at the road. āYeah.ā
Colter never mentioned you when he and Russell called each other or got together. He figured he probably came closer to understanding his brother than just about anyone, and he knew Russell wouldnāt ā or couldnāt ā talk about it anyway.
Yeah, Colter understood Russell, as well as anyone probably did ā except maybe Reenie Green. Russell stayed in touch with her, like he always had, the two of them exchanging banter and joking insults. But when the conversation slowed, when that moment of silence sat heavy between them, Reenie would speak softly. āSheās safe, Russell. Sheās happy.ā No details, which was good, because Russell didnāt want details. He probably couldnāt handle details. And then theyād end the conversation, like they always did, until the next time.
He still dreamed about you. He could still hear your voice, your laugh. He still woke up some nights feeling the softness of your skin on his fingertips, the scent of your hair and the taste of your lips lingering. And he still told himself your life was good, was better without his past, his baggage weighing you down.
You deserved a fresh start, a new life. He could handle being haunted by your memory. He was used to being haunted by his past.
Time cast a spell on you but you won't forget me I know I could have loved you but you would not let me
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Aww thank you mah Riz! Iām always here for you šš
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20 years late is still fashionably late, right? So I just finished season 1 of Supernatural and dare I say I have a favourite brother š«£
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Someone who gets it. Gets sarcasm, gets high-brow humor. Ultimately, someone who you can pal around with and also be intimate with. Someone who can laugh at your jokes ā it may sound cheesy, but someone who can be your best friend as well as your lover.
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