The Marine (Black Hawke Security #3)

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

brIAR

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W hat does one wear to go for dinner and a sleepover at their ex-boyfriend’s house? The man you spent all of last night with, naked, and screaming.

Good screaming.

It feels like a date.

I guess it is a date.

It would be so easy to lose myself in what we have, but I can’t. Still, just for tonight, I want to let go and be who I dreamed we could be together all those years ago.

I loved that he phoned me today.

What would it be like to be Aidan’s wife?

Today I’ve driven myself insane, going between telling my mother to go take a flying leap, to eloping with Aidan, to watching him fall in love and having to quit my job.

Savannah would find someone else.

But I’m her friend and given where she is in life, having lost her mom and sister and her murderous best friend, that would be cruel.

I just don’t know if I could stand by and watch Aidan be with another woman. I couldn’t. Just like he couldn’t see me with someone else.

So tonight is our last night together.

Then we carry on with our lives and I guess that means working out how we do that while having the same friends.

I rub my hands down my Levi jeans and twist left and right, deciding on the top I’ve paired them with.

It’s a silky cream cowl neck.

Ugh...no, too dressy. I want to look nice, but casual.

Why is this so hard?

I pull it off and toss it on the bed with the seven other tops I’ve already tried on, then walk to my closet and stare at it like a whole new wardrobe of clothing will appear if I wait long enough.

It doesn’t.

Groaning, I head across the room to my set of drawers. I yank one of them open and pull out a white ribbed cotton singlet top. Then pair it with my black leather jacket.

Yup.

That’s it.

I tug on my white Nikes, grab my purse, and head down to my car.

Thursday traffic in Los Angeles is heavy and I’m running about twenty minutes late when I finally arrive. The gates to his home open when I pull up and again, I am in awe of his beautiful property.

Aidan opens the door to my car after I’ve parked, and I glance up, trying not to moan as I take all of him in.

In a pair of jeans, a white shirt, and his olive skin, he looks so handsome and masculine. Wealthy, successful, and powerful.

My thighs press together as the familiar desire flares to life. His dark, serious eyes latch onto mine, telling me he feels it too, and it sends shivers across my skin.

Aidan reaches out his hand, helping me out of the vehicle. The moment I’m in front of him, our mouths crash together, and he takes me in his arms and consumes me.

His entire masculinity devours me. My god, I could lose myself in this man forever.

When he releases my mouth, my eyes pop open and those blue globes of his are shining.

“You look beautiful.” He growls low like a hungry predator. I want to tell him he does too, but that’s seems silly.

“Thank you.” I purr. “What’s for dinner?”

“You.” He kisses me on the mouth once more.

In answer to Trina’s question, there is nothing small about this man. My body might need some recovery time after last night, but I know Aidan can be as gentle as he is rough.

And still pleasure me.

“Or salmon. You choose.” He smirks and leads me inside.

“I’ll take both.”

“Good decision. I’m starving.” Aidan laughs as I take off my leather jacket and accept the glass of wine he offers me.

“So, this is an amazing home.” I sit on the kitchen stool and try not to have an orgasm as I watch him pick up a utensil and start cooking.

Domestic Aidan is just as hot as Marine Aidan, and I’m here for it all.

For one night only.

“Thanks. I moved in a few years ago. Had it decorated.”

“Oh yeah. You didn’t do all this?” I tease.

“Yes. If you consider opening the email and approving the design and paying the invoice,” he says over his shoulder after sliding the salmon into the oven. “Although I did brief them on what I wanted.”

Impressive.

“Well, I guess you could have a black leather sofa, a TV twice the needed size, and a beer fridge.” I chuckle, giving credit where credit is due.

He leans his hip against the marble , picking up his glass of wine and taking a sip. There’s the most adorable humor in his eyes and I am trying really hard not to fall madly in love with him.

“I do. It’s down at the other end of the house.” He smirks. “There’s also a pool table.”

“Of course there is.” I laugh.

I jump off the stool and wander around the living area. It’s got such a homely feel for a man and while he didn’t decorate it, I know the designer would have asked for a brief and given him a few different looks to choose from.

He chose this one.

The sofa is gray, but the cushions and throws soften the space, and the wall art gives it a luxurious and stylish finish.

I walk to the large glass doors, which look out to the yard. There is a pool and garden which needs some care and attention.

“That’s my next project.” Aidan says, coming up behind me. His hand lands on my hip and I lean back into him.

“It has potential.” I close my eyes for a brief moment and imagine living here. Having our friends over for Fourth of July barbeques, Christmas. Getting married.

Having kids.

Making love on the thick white rug behind us.

I turn. “It’s really lovely. I’m happy for you.”

Aidan cups my face and the air grows heavy between us. I know he wants to talk, but I’d rather just enjoy our night together.

I press my body into his and his thumb rubs over my cheekbone.

“I’m not letting you run away this time Briar. I am keeping you.”

I close my eyes, willing the tears away.

“Aidan,” I whisper.

“You are meant to be mine. You always have been.”

I slip out of his grasp, and he follows me back to the kitchen. I don’t know if I can do this. My feelings are taking over my logical thinking.

When I turn, he’s behind me.

Our eyes lock, and he slides his wine beside mine on the counter and steps in closer.

My heart thumps inside my chest.

“I’ve loved you for an entire lifetime.” His finger trails down my neck and along my shoulder. “I think you have too, Briar. Is it me you want to wake up to?”

Yes.

“Is it me you want pleasuring you?” His finger trails over my skin, between my breasts, and my nipples pebble.

Yes.

“Is it me you want filling your pussy when you need to come so bad you are out of your mind?”

Y—

Suddenly, he lifts me up onto the kitchen counter and my breath catches. His eyes lock with mine as his fingers brush over my core.

“Please.” I hear myself whimper.

Aidan unzips my jeans as he bites my nipple through the cotton T-shirt I’m wearing.

Oh god.

Then he tugs my jeans down and my panties go flying with them.

“All I’ve thought about all day is being back between your pretty thighs,” Aidan says, pressing me back on the cold marble.

I’ve never felt so wanton and sexy in my life as his mouth descends over my mound and sucks on my clit.

“Fuck, Aidan!” I arch, but his palm slaps over my stomach and holds me firm.

Lick.

“I told you I was eating you tonight.”

Suck.

“Jesus,” I cry, trembling.

Then his fingers slide inside me and I lose almost all consciousness. All I can feel is him and the pleasure flowing through every inch of me.

“And I’m going to feast,” he says, and I feel the liquid before I realize what he’s doing.

I sit up and watch him pour wine over my pussy and begin to lick me more.

Holy hell.

His eyes hold mine as he slides his tongue through my folds and sucks hard on my clit.

“Do you like the play, Briar?” He asks as a strawberry appears in his hand. Next minute it’s sliding through me and pressing at my entrance.

“Fuck, god, oh fuck.” I shudder.

“Because when you are mine, we will be playing a lot. I can pleasure you beyond your wildest dreams.” He sucks on the strawberry, then takes a bite.

I’m so close to coming it’s insane.

Aidan tugs me closer to the edge and leans over me, circling the wet strawberry over my lips.

“Taste yourself, sweetheart,” he orders. “Take a bite of the strawberry with all your juices on it.”

I’m going to die from pleasure with this man.

I open my mouth, and he presses it inside, watching my every move. I closed my teeth down around it and the tart taste of my sex merges with the strawberry.

“So fucking sexy.” Aidan groans, closing his eyes.

Then he’s unzipping and shoving deep inside me.

“Mine.” He growls as I hold on to his shoulder and feel him bury his cock to the hilt. “This naughty little cunt is mine, and this time I’m stealing your heart, too.”

God.

This is what I feared.

Aidan isn’t making love to me, he’s claiming me. His thrusts are rough and hard, driving me to the edge of my orgasm.

When he grips my chin and smashes his mouth down on mine, I feel his body stiffen, and his come fills me.

Luckily I’m on the pill. Not that I’d ever want anything between us. The thought of being pregnant with his child is something I’m not even willing to contemplate.

It’s a dream I could never have.

One I don’t deserve.

We lay on the counter for moments after, panting and letting our heart rate normalize.

“Well, now, I’m hungry.” I smile at him.

Aidan pulls out, then lifts me and places me on my feet. “Good, because I need you on your knees and licking me clean.”

My eyes widen as I find myself lowering and taking his thick, heavy cock in my mouth.

And I do what he asks.

I lick every inch of him.

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W E EAT AN hour later , and when the dishes are stacked away, we glance at one another and know it's time to talk.

Really talk.

No more sexual distractions.

I have to set the boundaries for us both. To protect us.

My focus has to be on divorcing Kael and getting my life back together.

Too much has happened between Aidan and me. My mother would never accept him.

I can’t keep seeing him or we will get stuck in this forbidden relationship that will only hurt us both all over again.

“Thank you for dinner. It was amazing.” I hang the tea towel up and turn around, taking in his huge sexy frame as he leans against the wall. “Both courses.”

“You can have it every night if you play your cards right, Ms. Sutton.”

I smile sadly. “Aidan, I’m married.”

“Hmmm. About that.” He pushes off the wall, takes my hand and leads me over to the sofa.

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AIDAN

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W E AGREED IT would be better if Briar didn’t know about her husband yet.

She’s not an operative, but tomorrow at Ryder’s wedding, she’s going to be an unsuspecting one.

“No fucking way.” Ryder growled when we told him about the plan.

I felt the same way, but I also trust our team.

There is no way I would put Briar in harm’s way, but their small, private wedding is going to be so well-guarded it’s the perfect opportunity.

“Nothing is going to happen before or during the ceremony.” I told him.

“We’ll grab Johnny Trevis afterward. I’ll brief the police once you’ve said your I dos and they can pick him up.”

“Let’s grab him now.” Ryder shook his head.

We would if we knew where he fucking was.

But we don’t.

“We can’t find him. If we do, of course we will. But we know he’s going to attend the wedding as Briar’s date. So assuming he turns up, this is the best plan.” Josh said earlier tonight.

Now I’ve got my girl in my arms, even if she is sitting stiffly beside me. She was ready to give me a speech and say goodbye.

Wrong.

That is not how this is going down. I just shoved a strawberry inside her pussy and ate it. Then fed it to her. I don’t do that shit with a woman I am not in love with.

I don’t want to touch another woman.

Briar is mine.

But once she learns the truth about Kael, it’s going to be another blow. Another person she couldn’t trust. No matter how she feels about him now.

I don’t know the answer to that last one and I’ll admit it’s been eating away at me.

Their marriage will be dissolved. You can’t marry someone with a fake identification, and it be legit. The law doesn’t allow it.

Not in any fucking state.

Tomorrow she’ll watch us have him arrested and then I’ll tell her everything we know about him.

When she’s safe. Until then, she’s not leaving my side, or she will be guarded by someone in the Black Hawke Security team.

“Listen, I know how this looks—” Briar starts to explain her infidelity.

“Stop.” I lean my arm along the cushions behind her as she sits on the edge, facing me. “I’m not looking for any bullshit excuses, Briar. I came to your house. I let you in last night. We’re both two consenting adults.”

She nods and guilt lines her face.

I grab her hands. “Tell me. Do you love him?”

Her eyes dart away and my heart contracts.

Fuck.

Does she love him? I’ve been trying to convince myself that she doesn’t. But she married him, so of course she did.

I clench my teeth.

“Um, I did once.” Briar clears her throat. “I hate talking to you about this, Aidan.”

Good.

Because I hate hearing it.

“So what changed?” I press and her eyes meet mine as her fingers press into my palm. She’s nervous and uncomfortable, which is understandable, but I need to keep her talking.

“You saw my bruise. You know what happened.”

I lift my unimpressed brows in acknowledgment. She’s right. I know exactly what he’s been doing and that until recently, she stayed with him and allowed it to happen.

I want to shake her.

“When did it start?” Why am I asking her about this? It’ll just make me want to kill the guy when we finally come face-to-face.

“Please, don’t.” Briar shakes her head.

“Why didn’t you leave him when he was hurting you?”

I know this line of questioning is going to upset her, but I need to know.

When her father died, surely that gave her a chance to create a new life for herself. I mean, I fucking walked away so she could.

“I’m not Savannah. I can’t afford a bodyguard.” Briar snaps.

Is she kidding me?

Now I’m getting angry.

“You have us. A whole team of paramilitary guys to protect you. Fuck, Briar. You could’ve asked me when I first saw you at Savannah's house.”

“No, I couldn’t!”

“Yes, you fucking could!”

“And what? Tell you I’m being abused again?” She throws up her hands. “Thanks for killing my dad, but I’m an idiot and ran into the arms of another abuser.”

I freeze.

“I didn’t mean that.” She stops. “I’m sorry.”

My teeth grind together.

Here it is.

The moment we have waited ten fucking long years for. The moment of truth.

How many times have I imagined asking her this question? Over a goddamn million. I don’t want to know. I need to know.

She just said the words and yet I’m such a fucking muck that I ask her plain and simple.

“Do you or don’t you think I am responsible for killing your father, Briar Sutton?” I ground out and we stare at one another, feeling like the floor was about to dissolve under our feet.

Nothing feels solid and real.

This is where our past meets us here in the future with the truth. Our truth. No one else’s.

“Does it really matter anymore?” Briar whispers.

Fuck.

I want her to say no.

I want her to have grown in the past ten years and have become her own person, independent of her mother’s manipulations.

She hasn’t.

I feel like the hope I had earlier is slipping away. Suddenly, there’s one more question I need an answer to. One that, despite the information I have, I need to know now.

Not after tomorrow.

I need to fucking know if Briar Sutton loves me. If she does, like me, there will be no one else for her. Our love, unless it’s one sided and unrequited, is consuming, demanding, and powerful.

There is no space for anyone else.

“Answer me this, then.” My voice is firm as I try to keep my anger at bay.

“Are you divorcing him?”

She looks me straight in the eye for a long moment, then shakes her head. “No.”