Thane
Taking Ronan by the hand as we walk through my house feels surreal. Amazing, but still not quite believable. I lead him directly back to the master bathroom. I’ll admit that while I kept the dimensions of the house spacious and reasonable, I splurged in this one area.
Put another way, my shower is run by a touchscreen and has a steam room function.
Between the laughter and the amount of wine he consumed at dinner tonight, he’s as relaxed and happy as I’ve ever seen him.
Standing at the entrance of the shower, I take my clothes off and gently remove his while he leans his forehead against my chest. I set the shower to something steamy and relaxing and walk us in. He lets out a satisfied moan as the hot water cascades down onto his tight body. I grab one of the farmer’s market soaps and suds him up all over, slicking my hand over every curve and plane. He moans, relaxing into my body. I wash his hair slowly, sensually, then race through my own soap and shampoo routine.
Drying us off, I walk us into the bedroom. I pull one of my big T-shirts over him, and it hangs on him like a dress. He’s adorable as he rakes his hands through his wet hair, separating out the coiled locks. I guide us both to my enormous bed and lay on my back. He immediately snuggles into my side, his head on my chest, his hand on my belly, and his knee hooked over mine.
Within seconds, he’s breathing steadily against my chest, and I have to laugh. I reach over and turn off the light, quickly following him into dreamland.
* * *
After the sweet and wonderful evening we just had, a buzzing phone at four-thirty in the morning is most unwelcome. It is, however, the buzz pattern I set for DB’s call, which means I’m dragging my jeans up over my boxers as I answer the phone.
“S’up, boss?” I ask, pulling a warm Henley over my head. I have to assume whatever I’ll be doing, it’ll be outside in the chilly early-morning weather.
“Comms.”
“Got it.”
I end the call and dig out the new comms Jake gave us after the weather on the last op pretty much fritzed everyone’s equipment.
Tapping my ear, I whisper, “Go for Thane.”
“I’d congratulate you on having to whisper if this call wasn’t designed to fuck up your morning. Need you to go out to the center. Blake showed up thirty minutes ago and was sniffing around, asking the night manager all kinds of questions.”
“Shit, boss.”
“Yeah. Thankfully, Edison from the Wimberley crew was there, and Blake left after they stonewalled him. Edison doesn’t think he knows for sure that the girls are there. Still, it looks like he’s leaving no stone unturned, and we can’t risk him going back with reinforcements. He already knows too much.”
Ronan stirs on his side of the bed, looking so delicious and cozy that it kills me to leave him here.
“You’re not leaving me here. I’m going with you.”
I want to reject his offer out of hand, but I’ll get there before anyone else, and while Edison and I make a formidable team, Ronan has an impressive set of skills.
“Fine. But I hope you know I hate this.”
He nods, stretching as he stands, revealing his cute, naked bottom. I groan and get the rest of my layers on. He pulls on his jeans, commando-style, slips into his boots, and lets my large T-shirt hang on him as he grabs his side arm and comms from his ratty old backpack.
“You know the guys are going to know what happened when they see you in my T-shirt, right?”
“What are they going to know, exactly? That we had sex, or that I’m yours?”
I growl as I drag him to the front of the house and wrap a scarf around him. “That you’re mine, and that it’s nonnegotiable.”
He smiles as he puts on his coat. “Good answer.”
We hop in my car and wind our way through the hills, taking the back roads to the resource center, getting there before anyone else. All is quiet and dark, save for the light at the entrance.
We agree that Ronan should stay in the car while I go to meet with Edison. Just as our contact opens the door, a truck I don’t recognize pulls into the parking lot at a high rate of speed.
“Shit, that’s him,” she says, her voice shaking.
Edison’s right there, and he turns to her. “Lock this door, go to the back, make sure everyone’s doors are locked, and lock yourself in your office. Someone from our team will come get you as soon as we’ve got him squared away.”
