Protective Instincts (13 page)

* * * *

Brit moved her cheek to ease the tickle. Moonlight slipped through the curtain of the hotel room to paint the naked chest beneath her face. Sam's scent triggered her memory. What he had done for her last night had been wonderful, selfless.

Had she fallen asleep atop the man or had she moved in her sleep? Hoping to avoid waking Sam, Brit slid a naked leg along his hairy one. Even in sleep, he reacted to her. She didn't remember removing her jeans, hadn't expected to fall asleep.

What I could do to him while he sleeps
. She slid her hand down his taunt stomach. Moving the sheets, she enjoyed the feel of him beneath her hands. From the indentations where his legs joined his torso, she moved down muscled thighs.

Spying his morning woody, she wondered at what she'd missed by falling asleep. Not this time. Her chest tightened as she moved down to his bulging calves and back up toward his growing hardness. Thoughts about what she wanted to do to this man were interrupted by a deep rumbling from his chest.

Working her way around his arousal, she smoothed her way back up a firm, flat abdomen, following the line of dark, curling hair as it fanned out to cover his nipples.

"Oh, God," Sam's voice was hoarse.

When Sam's mouth was in sight, she moved to straddle his waist, then kissed his beard-stubbled face. When he would have claimed her lips, she kissed his cheeks, the corners of his mouth. When her tongue made contact with the seam of Sam's lips, he opened and captured her questing mouth with a hunger.

Brit sheathed him within her, in a slow, deliberate move designed to drive him crazy.

His moan escaped into her mouth. Her muscles clinched around him.

His hips pistoned, setting her on fire.

"Sam, oh, Sam!"

"Yes!"

He filled her and sent her over the edge.

Sam's voice rumbled. "Take me, take me, now, will be my favorite words, Teacher,"

"And I get to be on top?"

He grinned. "Maybe I'll get to make love to you, next time."

* * * *

Jail. Douglas wanted to let loose but he couldn't allow that. He had to stay in control to be safe.

His mother would probably laugh and say she'd told him he'd end up this way. She threatened him with beatings when he was young and with an eternity in Hell when he'd become too big to hit. Well, age and nature had put her in a mental Hell and he'd helped by putting her away in a cheap nursing home.

He'd used the pay phone to call the teacher bitch. Either she wasn't answering her phone or she'd taken off. She was probably with the interfering man who was always around. She should be scared shitless. She should be hiding from the world.

For the first time he had failed, not once but twice. He had to get out of this dump, surrounded by losers. He'd go crazy locked up for much longer. He had a reputation to save.

So far, he'd been able to fend off the jail animals so horny they'd screw anything or anyone. One stupid bastard guard left him alone with a telephone in the clinic. He'd looked like he expected something personal in return. He'd accepted money.

The cigarettes he'd bought with money from his lawyer had been a good investment. Some of these jerks would sell their souls for a smoke. Nasty habit!

He nearly gagged at the odor of the food tray. He shoved it to the floor. Damn! The food in this Hellhole was pig swill.

Pacing the perimeter of his damned cell wasn't helping, but he'd managed to convince the other men around him he was a loony. Anger, frustration, and hate were his companions and they made it difficult to think straight enough to plan his escape. He had to get out of here. He had a job to finish.

* * * *

Morning came all too soon. Brit awoke slowly. Sam's arms and body enfolded her. His arm lay heavily around her waist. His warm hand on her breast brought back memories of wonderful, hot, sex. A hairy leg covered hers, trapping her with its weight and security. A hot chest blanketed her back and a hot, hard, appendage pushed against her bottom.

Brit ached in places she had forgotten she had and it was a glorious morning. If she lived to be one hundred, she'd remember the first time she'd made love with Sam Samuels.

Staying right where she was appealed to her until she felt a twitch against her derriere and a hand moving on her breast. Her whole body tingled. Her toenails tingled. Her hair even tingled. Turning in Sam's arms, she looked into his eyes.

Dark stubble covered his cheeks. He would have looked formidable, but a lock of black hair hung over his forehead, obscuring part of an eye. So endearing, so sexy. Turning her face to nuzzle his neck she inhaled his musky scent. It was hard to tell where his scent ended and hers began, but the effect was as overwhelming as feeling his chest against her breasts, his legs rubbing against hers, his erection begging for attention. It definitely had her attention now.

Brit reached down to caress its satiny length. Within moments, she invited Sam inside her body and the glorious morning was off to a spectacular beginning.

* * * *

While Brit showered, Sam called room service for breakfast. Monster demanded Sam's attention and was happy when Sam took him outside to examine the trees behind the hotel.

Sam watched Brit feed Monster from her plate after he'd finished his own. "Aren't you a good monster?"

The time had come for Sam to take Brit and Monster home. He'd have his men recheck her security, as well as his and his parents'. Sean would be on a plane to meet his mother within two days. Sean would enjoy the Spring break with his mother and grandparents in Hawaii. At least Sam wouldn't have to worry about the threat where his son was concerned.

Within an hour Sam, Brit, and Monster paused outside her front door. Her hand shook so much when she retrieved the key from her purse; Sam took it and unlocked the door. He peered into the living room. The police had assured him they'd made a thorough sweep of her entire house. The telephone was bugged and a man was assigned to watch the house.

Monster whined and pushed his way past Sam.

No frantic barking warned of lurking danger. No pain in Sam's gut, no nausea.

Brit peered around him.

The living room seemed normal. Walking toward the kitchen, she wondered what she would find in her back yard. Looking from the kitchen window, she saw normalcy.

"Did you call Drew?"

They moved back toward the living room and the answering machine. Brit prayed there wouldn't be another obscene message.

Sam's hand rested at the small of her back.

"He said we're not done yet."

* * * *

Sam sat in Sean's car, waiting for him to come out of school. The sight in the school parking lot Wednesday afternoon at three fifteen caught Sam's curiosity, as he waited for Sean.

Feeling whimsical, he remembered a bad horror movie. Jean-clad backsides leaning on the front and one side of the faded, brownish, Mustang seemed to belong to topless bodies, Mustang leftovers. Sam couldn't believe he was thinking something so weird. The monster car had its mouth open as if to take another bite of the three scrawny, teenage, male butts. A fourth, more padded and feminine, fanny looked like a tasty morsel for the car, or a hungry man. Now there was a sight to provoke his fantasies.

Short legs, delicate feet in red, high-heeled shoes and were very visible in red hose. The legs strained as the heels were suspended in air. One knee bent, bringing a foot in the air, almost touching her backside as its owner worked to make up for lack of height. Was there anything about this woman that didn't turn him on?

Sam's eyes followed the movement of leg upward to see a red skirt covering the top of shapely legs. The skirt had scooted up with movement, allowing a tantalizing view of lower thigh. The red fanny moved from the car, treating the staring man to the sight of a red sweater scooted up to bare a pale midriff. Sam hoped the teens weren't looking at the display of flesh, however innocently exposed.

Brit was wiping her hands on a rag and instructing her young audience. "Stand back while I try to crank this old girl."

She pulled the sweater down and hiked the skirt up, as she placed her backside on the bucket seat and then swung her short legs under the steering wheel. Leaning forward, she placed a cushion behind her back, then straightened to insert the key in the ignition.

The youths stood with their attention under the hood as they awaited the sound of the engine coming to life.

His perusal traveled from the sexy, dainty slipper, up the leg, to the bent knee, and to the upper legs. Sam imagined running his hands over her thighs, stretching the skirt tight.

A cheer rose as the engine roared to life, snatching Sam's attention. His sweaty palms and dry throat were not caused by fear the car wouldn't start, but by thoughts of what he wanted to start.

"Hey, Dad! Didja see that! The guys couldn't believe a lady teacher could show 'em about cars. Billy's gonna ask her to see if she can start his '68 Mustang. You asleep? You got my new tires!"

"Sorry, son. I was thinking. Didn't you hear wheels turning? It takes a lot out of us geezers to concentrate."
You don't know the half of it, my boy. Thank goodness you don't! Boys probably think their fathers don't get horny.

"After school, Ms. Roberts' car wouldn't start. She got out and raised her hood. I didn't know a woman would know what to do. Well, Billy, Jon, and I headed over to help. By the time we got to her, she was taking the breather cover off and checking the butterfly."

"She did that herself?"

"Yeah, she sure did. When that didn't work, she put a screwdriver in to hold it open and she started the thing. We put the cover back on for her and screwed it down, so she could go home. Wait 'til I tell Angela. She won't believe it! Dad! Are you listening?"

"Yes, son, I'm impressed."
To think I used possible car trouble as an excuse to follow her home?

CHAPTER NINE

Breathless, Brit grabbed the phone. Caller ID showed Sam's cell phone number.

"Where were you?" Sam's voice exploded through the phone. "It's after seven and starting to get dark."

"What?"

"I called and the machine took my message."

"Bad answering machine. I'll have to fire it," Brit laughed. Monster licked her hand.

"No, I mean, it's not self-defense night or group counseling night and you hadn't mentioned plans to go anywhere or I would have come to take you."

"Calm down, bodyguard." Brit rubbed the big dog's head. "We had the most wonderful sex I've ever experienced but you don't have to know my every move."

"Sorry."

"I know. Monster took me for a walk. He's been so good and I really needed to walk some kinks out. I also took five minutes to water my lawn and flowers. So shoot me."

"Don't even joke about it. Someone wants to do bad things to you. I worry about you. Why don't you let me move into your guestroom as soon as Sean leaves? I promise to behave."

"In your dreams, pal." Brit laughed, holding the receiver between her shoulder and chin. She washed her hands then opened the freezer. "Sam, I'm fine." Monster nudged her as she dropped ice into her glass. She glanced out the window, hiding behind the curtain, as she often did. Strange noises made her jump more than normal. She'd never admit that to Sam.

"What about staying with my folks. At least there would be two men to guard you when I can't."

"We can't put your folks at risk, too. I don't think so."

"At least let me take you to dinner."

"Sam, I told you this would be a busy week." She poured cola over the ice in her glass." I don't have time to go out or have company. I have papers to grade. We let Sean leave early, but Spring break doesn't start for me for another couple of days. "

"Come on, hon, you have to eat. I'll just bring over take-out and leave as soon as we have eaten."

"I'll have a sandwich and keep working. I don't have time for more," Brit muttered to the dial tone.
The man hung up on me
. "I won't let him in!" She took a long swallow of her drink.

Thirty minutes later Brit sat on the floor in her living room, surrounded by stacks of folders. There was too much to do and too little time. Monster lay on the carpet with his chin on a stack of reports. At least she hadn't heard from the stalker lately. No nasty notes, no garbage on her porch or in her yard and no threatening phone message. She had been careful to let her machine screen her calls before she answered them.

So far, her attacker hadn't graduated to using her e-mail yet. How long would it take for him to start that? Could he get her on line address at home or at school?

Sam's visits to school didn't help her sanity, nor did his nightly phone call. Even after he was gone, his image was not. The teachers' lounge buzzed every time he or his offerings appeared at school. The roses he had delivered at school caused a stir. A handsome man like Sam visiting her on campus and bringing candy caused an even bigger stir. He was watching out for her, making sure she was safe. Memories of their time together kept her mind in turmoil and her hormones near the surface. She needed some measure of control over her life.

Monster raised his chin off the reports then bounded toward the door. "Damn!" Brit said as the doorbell rang. "I'll ignore him. I told him not to come. Now he's banging on the front door." She lifted folders from her lap, scrambled to her feet.

"Ohhh!" she moaned when her stiff muscles resisted her attempts to make them move smoothly. "I'll shoot him!"

A peek through the peephole told her what she already suspected. Opening her front door, she faced the long body leaning against the doorframe. The lazy grin on his face would've warmed Brit's heart, if it hadn't already stirred her blood
. God, whatever is in those bags smells better than any sandwich I could make. The man does not play fair.

Monster did his begging doggy act, welcoming Sam with generous slurps.

Sam waved a sack in front of her nose. He extracted a ham bone from another sack and tossed it toward the kitchen. Monster caught it in midair. Opening the food bag Sam peeked inside, then gave an appreciative whiff. "Well, if you're not hungry, maybe I should take this delicious smelling food home. I could save or throw away whatever I can't eat."

"You don't need to go that far," Brit paused. "We can eat in the kitchen, but you promised to eat and leave and I plan to hold you to your word."

Brit marched from the room. Her ponytail swished with the determination of a soldier, whipping against her neck. She turned and almost got a nose full of paper bag.

"They gave me utensils at the restaurant. I knew you were too busy to wash dishes. Sit while I get everything ready."

Sam laughed when her growling stomach announced how hungry she was.

She opened the refrigerator and withdrew two store brand colas.

They sat down to the feast in boxes he had spread out on the table.

"Caffeine and sugar to keep me awake." She shrugged.

Sam sat in the chair beside her and opened the container of Hot and Sour Soup. Stopping her hand from reaching for a spoon, Sam dipped the one he held and filled it with the delicacy before heading it toward Brit's mouth.

She opened her mouth. When her plump lips caressed the spoon, his cock jumped to attention.

The jolt Sam felt at the sensual contact made him swallow, almost convulsively, as his eyes met hers. The deep amethyst he saw pooled there, told him she had felt the same desire he had. As he opened his mouth, her lips parted to welcome his kiss. His promise to let her work made him end the kiss. Of course, if she begged him to stay, well ….

She wiped her mouth and met his heated stare. "Good soup!"

"Best I ever tasted!" Sam drawled, arching an eyebrow. "I haven't tasted the soup by itself."

"You should try it."

Sam waggled both brows.

"The soup, you idiot." Brit laughed, then grabbing an egg roll. She bit off a hunk and began to chew.

"Have some Cashew Chicken and rice." Watching the woman eat made Sam think of other things. His promise was hard to keep but he really intended to let her work in a while. How could eating egg rolls look so sexy?

Her blush was a dead give-away he was making her hot.

"Sam, were you hungry when you ordered all this food or were you planning to feed an army?" Brit leaned back.

The hand that rubbed her tummy did not go unnoticed.
Oh, dear,
green eyes stared at that area.
Why did I do that? Why do I care that he's staring at my stomach? He can't be hungry after all he ate, not even for sex. I know I don't have the energy for that kind of activity. Liar! Go home, Sam! Please!

"You must've been hungry, Teach. You ate your share. Of course we'll probably be hungry again in a couple of hours."

"Thanks for supper, Sam." She stirred. "Now you really must go so I can get back to work. I'll be up for most of the night finishing these papers." Grabbing his arm with both hands, she tried to steer him toward the hall.

He followed her into the dimly lit hall only to stop suddenly and pull her into his arms. His sudden move caught her off balance and gave him an edge.

Her mouth opened in surprise and Sam came right in.

Even if he had intended to ravish her in the hall, the feel of his muscular arm beneath her hand was torture, after the meal they had spent watching each other. His hands seemed hungry for the feel of her. They were touching to their fill. His mouth devoured, as his tongue ravished her.

Brit meant to push him away, but a chemical reaction closed off the passages needed for her body to respond to the messages from her brain. It had to be a chemical reaction or lack of oxygen. Her body refused to listen. Her hands explored while she clung to the wall of heated flesh and bone and muscle.

The loud ringing of her phone finally pulled her back to reality.

Monster pushed at Brit and Sam. He ran to the phone, then back to Brit. She was still slowed by a cloud of desire. Breathing so hard she had trouble answering.

"Hello," Brit was barely lucid. "Julie?"

Julie's voice was strained. "Is something wrong? I'm coming over right now!"

"No, nothing's wrong."

"Well, you sound funny."

"I was getting something from my car. I ran in from the garage when I heard the phone." Watching the way Sam leaned back against the wall distracted her. He raised his brows and batted long, thick, black eyelashes.

"I was wondering if I left my red sandals at your house. I can't find them here."

Brit wanted to smack Sam as he held a hand to his ear while gesturing with the other hand. "Your red shoes? I don't know. I'll look and bring 'em with me tomorrow if I find them."

"You'll let me know if they aren't there?"

"Yes, yes, I will."

"You'd let me know if something were wrong, wouldn't you?"

"Sure thing, pal. Bye."

Brit's eyes still felt heavy, like a woman ready to make love, but her resolve returned. The pesky man grinned when she tried to swat him.

He took both of her small hands into his large callused ones. He turned both palms up and placed a kiss in each. Then he began to nibble on a finger.

"I know. I'm sorry, sweetheart. I don't know what came over me. My horny body took over. Couldn't help myself. You shouldn't be such a sexy eater. Your tongue kept inviting me to taste and my hormones egged me on."

Putting both hands in the air, with palms toward Brit, Sam signaled surrender. "I'll go peaceably." Sam had backed to the door and placed his hand on the knob.

Brit held her mouth straight and used her best teacher frown to show the man she meant business. She just hoped it worked as well on Sam as it did on her students. If it didn't she was in trouble. Her resistance was definitely low.

"Bye, Sam." She pushed him out the door. "Thanks for supper and
dessert
. Monster, tell the nice man 'bye'."

She leaned against the doorframe, watching him walk backwards to his car. Her arms were crossed as she hugged herself to keep from feeling the loss of his warmth. It didn't help much, but she let him go and turned back into her house to watch his car pull away. From inside the screen door, she watched the red glow from his tail lights disappear.

She locked the door and punched the security code. Back inside, she returned to her place on the floor where she had left the papers.
Now, if I can get my mind back on my work ….

* * * *

Douglas had a plan. He'd complained about stomach pains all day. He just had to convince the guards and the doctors in the infirmary he was sick and helpless. He'd need help to get away, but he could do it. He'd thought about enlisting the help of one of the inmates, but they were all too stupid. Any one of them would screw up and get them caught.

The men who'd paid him to kill the teacher were not pleased. It didn't matter that this was his first problem hit. They were in trouble themselves. He'd had a visitor today. His employer had threatened to hire another killer to off the teacher. That killer would also tie up any loose ends.

Soon they'd begin to sound like his bitch of a mother.

"You're just too stupid, Douglas," his mother had said so often. "You're just like your stupid father."

No, he wasn't like his father. Or at least he wasn't like the man his mother had said was his father. She probably didn't even know who his father was. The man who'd deserted him had been weak and stupid and had left them. He shoulda planted his fists in her loud, lying, filthy mouth.

Heart pounding, Douglas leaned over the open toilet in his cell and wretched and cried.

* * * *

Thursday evening, Sam gripped his phone so hard his fingers ached. "Okay, Drew, I'll calm down." Sam took a deep breath but he still wanted to tear someone apart. "Look, I can't spring something like this on her over the phone. I'll pick her up after school. We'll have a nice dinner out. Then I'll sit down with her and tell her what you and I discussed. If she's as upset about this as I am, we'll need to sort things out calmly."

Sam stopped pacing and sat in his desk chair. He let out a long slow sigh. "I'll have ten days to find out what she knows."

"Maybe she has information she doesn't know she has?" Drew had always been the voice of reason, even as a kid.

"Yeah, I'll ask her if she still has any personal notes of her husband's packed away."

"If she has anything, and I do mean anything, let me know immediately, Sam. Don't tell anyone else, even the local law."

"I'll have her call you."

"Anytime, day or night."

"Thanks brother, I owe you one." Sam sat staring from his office window. He didn't expect to sleep well tonight.

Seeing Sean and Adrienne off to Hawaii for the week of Spring break made him feel better. At least Sean would have a good time, instead of worrying about his teacher and getting in the way trying to help. On the drive to Atlanta to Hartsfield Jackson Airport Sean had been beside himself with excitement. Adrienne had booked them first class tickets. Sean had taken his exams early, so he could leave two days before Spring break.

Sean and Adrienne had promised to let him know when they arrived in Honolulu and then at her parents' house.

Should he worry about his son's safety when he was so far away? No one knew much about the people who wanted Brit dead. He and Sean had seen the attacker. Though he was in jail, God only knew about the scope of his employers' influence.

* * * *

Friday afternoon had finally set students and teachers free of school and each other, for a whole week. Brit didn't think she could have stood one more day of pressure.

"Let's go, Brit." Julie slapped her steering wheel. "I'm ready to hit the road and
blow this burg!
You have everything out of your car and it'll be fine in the garage 'til you get back. Monster's in my back seat on his bed and ready for a ride. Mom's expecting me for supper and yours will be waiting at the door for you."

Brit locked her Mustang and patted it good-bye. Opening the door of Julie's red T-Bird, she slid into the seat, trying to act excited. "Well, what're you waiting for? Let's go."