Chapter Five

Clint searched his phone for the number of the coffee shop just as he and Kurt walked into the alley. They’d left the compound by the hidden exit before making their way to town. It appeared no one had spotted them and, with the protesters drawing attention to themselves in town, Clint and Kurt did their best to remain unseen.

He hit Connect and waited for someone to pick up the phone.

Sara answered with a friendly ‘hello’ and he felt immediately calmer. He had worried about how she was doing. The perfect morning had been spoiled by the arrival of Dan Carter’s people.

“Hey, beautiful,” he greeted her.

Kurt smirked beside him, and Clint turned away.

“Clint!” The relief in her tone was evident.

“Come open the back door for us,” he requested.

“You’re here?” she asked. “Is that safe?”

He chuckled. “Well, it would be better if you would come open the door.”

“Oh!”

He shared a look with Kurt as they heard the lock being undone and the door opened. Sara stuck her head out with the phone still held up to her ear.

“Hurry.” She motioned them inside.

Once they were through, she slammed the door closed and locked the dead bolt. She threw her arms around his neck. “I was so worried about you! That man! He said he was going to get you and I—”

“Hey! Hey! It’s okay.” He wrapped his arms around her waist and held her tight. “What man? What are you talking about?”

She shuddered and he pulled away enough to look down at her face. Something had happened and he clenched his jaw in anger.

“These guys came into the shop earlier. They were…horrible—well, one guy, anyway—and he said to give my boyfriend a message,” she explained.

Kurt stiffened beside them.

“He said to tell you that he’s coming for you. Gonna take you down like the animal you are. Those were his exact words,” she finished.

“Hey.” He caressed her cheek. “I’m okay.” He wasn’t surprised that they’d contacted Sara. Without him out in the open, Perry’s group didn’t have any other avenue. Maybe he could talk Sara into closing the shop for a few days. That’d been Kurt’s idea, but Clint doubted she would.

She nodded, then closed her eyes while leaning against him.

“What else did they say?” Kurt asked. “What did they do?”

They were still standing in the dark hall. Sara looked toward to the front.

“I…I don’t want to leave Cecil alone. That man, he kept calling Cecil ‘pretty boy’, and I didn’t like the way he was looking at him.”

Clint pressed his lips together. The times that Clint had been coming into the shop showed him Cecil was a great kid. It was also obvious how protective Sara was of him. “Let’s sit out front and have some coffee and talk,” he suggested.

“Out front? Are you sure? What if those men return?” Sara tugged where her hands were wrapped in his shirt.

He kissed her forehead. “Trust me, baby. Come on.” He led the way down the hall and when he pushed the swinging door open to enter the front of the shop, Cecil looked up.

“You okay?” he asked.

Cecil bobbed his head up and down.

“Okay, let’s get a couple of coffees and sit.”

Cecil rushed over to the counter and started lining up cups.

Kurt moved to the closest table to the counter and sat in the chair that faced the front door. Clint sat beside him and angled his chair where he could cover the back. Sara sat next to him and he couldn’t help but run his gaze over her.

“Hi,” he said.

She smiled. “Hi.”

Cecil cleared his throat and set the cups of coffee down. “Here you go.”

Clint lifted his cup and took a drink. “Oh, man, I needed a cup of the good stuff.”

Kurt grunted in agreement, then turned toward Sara. “Tell us everything.”

He listened as Sara told them what had happened from the moment the six men had entered the shop until they’d left.

He picked up on the two names that were provided. Rudy and Colt. Since Colt had already given them the names of the men he was hanging with, it matched everything they knew. So, Colt and his group had arrived in town. She’d also been curious why Colt had been acting different. Clint didn’t tell Sara about Colt because they were in public, but he’d make sure to mention it later. She needed to know they had an inside man and that Clint would never let anyone hurt her.

“Kind of stupid to give us a warning,” Clint shared with Kurt.

“Yeah,” Kurt concurred.

“Stupid! They threatened you!” Sara cried.

“Hey!” Clint grasped her hand and pulled her closer. She slid into his lap. “We know what we’re doing,” he assured her.

“But—” she started to argue.

“Sara…” He cupped her cheek. He hated to see the worry on her face. “This is what we do. We protect people. If they’re after us, then we know everyone else is safe.”

She rested her forehead against his. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“It won’t,” he promised.

She sighed but nodded. “I trust you.”

“You don’t seem surprised that these men came looking for you,” Cecil accused.

“We’re not,” Kurt responded. “We’d already heard that there were men headed this way. We’ve got it handled.”

Cecil shook his head. “Hope so, man. That Rudy guy…” Cecil shuddered. “He gave me the creeps.”

“Hey, kid,” Kurt said. “You be careful. Watch your back and don’t go out at night alone. They aren’t after you, but don’t take any chances. Don’t try to engage them for any reason.”

Cecil smiled. “I’m no hero. I’m not going to draw attention to myself, trust me.”

“Good.” Kurt reached for his wallet and pulled out a card. “That’s my number. You see anything that makes you uncomfortable, call me or Clint. One of us will be right there.”

Cecil looked reassured and slipped the card into his back pocket. “Thanks.”

“Same with you.” Clint kissed the tip of Sara’s nose. “They obviously know about us. I don’t want you to take any chances.”

She shrugged. “I doubt they’ll try anything against the sheriff’s daughter.”

He grasped her chin and made her meet his gaze. “I mean it, Sara.”

“I promise I’ll be careful,” she offered.

It wasn’t the assurance he wanted, but he decided not to push it for now. “Okay.”

Kurt stood and motioned Cecil away from the table.

Once they were alone, Clint dipped his head and placed a kiss against her lips. “Last night and this morning?” he started. “Those were some of the best moments I’ve ever shared with anyone. I want more of them. Which means you need to let me handle this and not get hurt.”

“I understand,” she replied. “I want more, too.”

“I’ll let you know what’s going on. I’ll try to stop by tonight.”

“Yeah?” She wiggled on his lap.

His cock hardened. “Oh, yeah,” he responded before kissing her deep.

She hummed and opened for him. He ran his hands down her face, around to caress her neck, before he dug his fingers into her shoulders.

She moaned into his mouth.

“Damn, honey,” he said when they broke apart. “We’ll have to pick this up later.”

She looked up at him, her face flushed. “Later.”

He stood but couldn’t resist one more kiss. “Call if you need anything,” he ordered, then squeezed her hand and followed Kurt through the swinging door to the back.

Kurt stayed silent as they made their way back out to the alley. Once out into the bright, cool day, Clint pulled on his sunglasses.

“Ready to hunt?” Kurt inquired.

“Oh, yeah,” Clint chuckled. “Let’s get this party started.”

* * * *

Sara stepped out of the front door of her shop with Cecil and locked up.

The protesters were still out on the street. Several of them were giving interviews to the reporters who stood with cameras and microphones. Those people didn’t even live there!

“Look around,” she said softly to Cecil. “You see the creeps?”

Cecil was quiet a minute before she heard his breath catch. “Yeah,” he murmured. “In front of Walker’s Second-Hand Clothing.”

Walker’s was the clothing store most of the older residents shopped at. It was across the street and two doors down. She put her arm through Cecil’s and pulled him with her. They had to dodge through the protesters that were still gathered.

“Don’t look at them. Don’t respond,” she told Cecil as some of the crowd yelled.

They reached the front of her cousin’s store and she pushed Cecil toward the door. She glanced over her shoulder and saw that they were being followed.

The men weren’t exactly hiding, so she figured they didn’t care if they were spotted.

The candle store that her cousin Linda owned was one of Sara’s favorite places. She loved the smell, but it was the homey feel that made the store one of the most popular in town.

Not only did Linda sell homemade candles, she also sold local art. The art was a combination of every imaginable way people expressed themselves. Sara had several pieces in her home.

“Hey, cuz. Hey, Cecil,” Linda greeted as they stepped inside.

Sara waved and pulled out her cell phone. Cecil headed to the register to start talking to Linda. Sara went to where she had programmed Clint’s number into her phone and pressed the Call button.

He picked up on the second ring.

“We’re being followed,” she told him after he answered.

“I know. I’m watching,” he replied.

Of course, he was—she should have figured that. But it did make her feel better that he was there. Even though he was the real target.

“Good job ducking into the store there. Are you safe inside?”

“Yeah, it’s my cousin’s shop,” she explained.

“Okay, good. Kurt and I both have eyes on our visitors. Once you leave there, I want you to head to the sheriff’s office. We’ll stay right behind you. Don’t act like you know anything is going on.”

She sighed and rubbed her forehead where she was starting to get a headache. “Okay.”

“Kurt’s calling your dad,” he continued. “We’ll have him take you and Cecil home. Once you get there, lock your door and keep your phone close. I’ll call up to the compound and make sure one of our guys is watching the house. I don’t think they’ll follow you home, but we’ll be careful.”

“All right.” She tried to take deep breaths and calm her pounding heart.

“Nothing will happen to you. I promise.”

“I’m taking Cecil home with me. He lives in an apartment right off Main Street, but I don’t want him alone,” she said.

“Good idea,” Clint told her. “You two stay together. Go to the sheriff’s office and meet your dad. I’ll be watching, honey.”

“Thanks,” she said. “Thanks, Clint.”

“No problem. I’ll talk to you soon.” After he hung up, she felt ten times better. She joined her cousin and Cecil and they talked for a couple of minutes. She bought some candles so it looked like they had entered for a reason before she and Cecil headed toward the door.

She explained to Cecil what the plan was and he grinned.

“You sure my being there won’t ruin your”—he cleared his throat—“plans for the night?”

She hip-checked him as they went outside. Cecil’s laughter made her feel lighter.

They kept their heads close together and spoke quietly as they made their way to her dad’s office.

“God, I wanna look so bad,” Cecil confessed.

Sara giggled. “Me, too.”

It was hard to resist. She was so damn curious to see if the men were still there, if she could pick Clint out of the crowd. They made it into the sheriff’s office and, when she stepped inside, she could see that it was packed. The deputies seemed harassed and had their hands full with several people yelling about their rights. Her dad stepped through the crowd and motioned them forward.

She ducked between people and they rushed into his office.

“Pieces of shit,” he muttered, slamming the door closed.

Sara swallowed back her laugh. It took a lot to get her father to go off, but when he did, it was always astounding.

“We’ve wasted an entire day arresting these idiots for one petty crime or another. Did you know they knocked down old lady Carmen when she tried to chase them off her property with a broom?”

“Damn it,” Sara cursed. Anna Carmen was the oldest resident in town at ninety-three years old. She was a spirited woman and Sara loved her. “Is she okay?”

He grinned. “Takes more than that to keep her down. Boy, was she pissed, though.”

Sara could only imagine. “I’ll call and check on her tonight.”

He nodded. “Kurt called and updated me. Do you think you’ll be okay at home?”

“Yeah, Clint was going to have someone watching the house.”

He looked surprised, then nodded. “He’s a good guy. Really good guy,” he said.

Sara smiled. “Yeah,” she agreed.

“Well…” He cleared his throat. “Let’s get you two home, then.”

They followed him through the side door out of his office and into his truck. They stayed quiet during the drive. Her dad darted looks to the rearview mirror every few seconds.

He pulled up in front of the house. “Stay in here while I check everything out,” he ordered.

“But, Dad…” she argued, but one look and she closed her mouth. She knew that look.

He climbed out of the truck, slammed the door, then walked up the porch to the front door and used the spare key he carried to enter.

He was only gone about five minutes or so, but it seemed much longer. Her hand was on the door handle just in case.

She relaxed when he came back out onto the porch and waved at them.

Both Sara and Cecil climbed out of the truck so they could hurry inside.

“Lock the door,” her dad ordered.

“Yes, Dad.”

He leaned over and kissed her cheek. “Love you. Keep your phone with you at all times.”

“Love you, too,” she told him.

Once he had started down the steps, she closed and bolted the door.

She turned around to Cecil, who was standing in the hall. “Movies and popcorn?”

Cecil grinned. “I pick the first one!”

* * * *

The six men split up after Sara had left the sheriff’s office with her dad. Clint expected at least one group to follow her, but while he followed three men around town, Kurt called him and informed him that the other group was hanging around the woods by the compound.

Clint’s group contained their contact to Colt and two other young men. They walked behind the protesters, hung around the park and basically didn’t do a whole hell of a lot. He had called Sara and checked in with her. All was fine there. The Alphas had had no problem sending one of the guards to watch her place, so that made him feel better.

But he was bored.

Not that he was looking forward to any trouble, but he wished they would get on with whatever the plan was. He would much rather spend his time getting to know Sara than stalking a bunch of humans. He was leaning back against one of the alley walls, keeping his eye on the men, when he saw Tony and Austin walking around in the park.

Colt stiffened when he spotted the two men.

Tony and Austin were in jeans and T-shirts, heads down, blending into the crowd. Clint wasn’t sure what was going on, but he didn’t like it. Tony was one of the most public faces the shifters had. If even one person recognized him, there could be a riot. Clint straightened and moved closer to the edge of the crowd. If there was trouble he wanted to be ready. Austin and Tony had almost reached Colt and the other men. Clint watched Tony meet Colt’s gaze. Tony was even so bold to wink.

Colt looked furious.

Austin and Tony passed by without a word to any of the men. Clint shook his head. Man. Tony and Austin had balls of steel. He followed their movements until they were back to their SUV and had climbed inside. He wasn’t sure what that appearance had been about, but he planned to ask later when they all met up again. He turned his attention back to the three men he was supposed to be watching. They had settled onto a bench in the park. Clint relaxed back against the building.

Clint remained there for another hour before one of the men’s cell phone rang and he motioned the others to get up. They strolled away from the crowd and Clint followed discreetly behind.

In the parking lot, they climbed into a truck. Clint ducked behind another building as they drove past him going toward the edge of town.

He called Kurt.

“They’re on the move,” he told his friend.

“My three just left also. They didn’t touch the fence, merely took pictures of the compound from outside. Not much they could have seen with the trees blocking the house,” Kurt informed him.

“Huh.” Clint didn’t get what that would accomplish. Wouldn’t that have been their first move? What the fuck was going on?

“I sent one of the younger guards in wolf form to see if he can follow them. Hopefully they’ll stay away from town and he can see where they are meeting up,” Kurt added.

“I’ll head back to the compound then,” Clint told him. “Hey, what were Austin and Tony doing in town?”

“Tony?” Kurt questioned. “I can see Austin chancing going in town—his Pack didn’t go public so no one would recognize him—but everyone knows Tony’s face.”

“That’s what I was thinking,” Clint agreed. “Still, no one reacted to him.”

“Well, we’ll find out. But right now the Council is in meetings. So why don’t you head over to Sara’s and check on her?” Kurt suggested.

Clint wanted to see Sara and that sounded like a damn good idea. It was still early evening and she had been up later than normal with him the night before.

“You know what?” he said to Kurt. “I’m gonna do that. Call me if you need anything, though.”

“Will do, man,” Kurt responded. “But get some rest. Tomorrow, if they don’t make a move on us, we’ll force their hand. We need to end this shit and get these people out of here.”

Clint couldn’t agree more. They exchanged goodbyes and Clint pocketed his phone and walked toward his truck where it was parked close to Sara’s shop’s alley.

He knew the way to her house now with no problem. Just like the night before when he’d shown up in wolf form, he parked a block away. This time he stayed in human form and snuck around the back of Sara’s property. He was almost to the edge of her yard when he heard the low command to stop. Nice! He was proud of the guard.

The cocking of a gun was loud next to his ear.

He raised his hands and turned to the guard. “Hey, Ryan.”

Ryan Bishop was one of the full-time guards at the compound. Clint and Ryan had become fast friends and he enjoyed working with him. Ryan dropped his gun and grinned. Clint had a feeling the other man had known that it had been him he’d pulled his gun on. In fact, Ryan had probably been waiting for the opportunity. They shook hands.

“Everything cool here?” Clint asked.

Ryan nodded. “Sara and Cecil have been inside all day. I think they’ve been watching movies or something. They haven’t even tried to go outside and no one’s come close to the house, although a deputy car passes by every hour.”

It didn’t surprise him that Sara’s dad would also send out a patrol to watch over his daughter. He slapped Ryan on the back. “Well, thanks, man. I appreciate you giving your time to watch over them.”

“I didn’t mind,” Ryan assured him. “I’ve lived here a long time. I like those two.”

Clint picked up a little unease from Ryan. “You okay, man?”

Ryan nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, man, I just…” Ryan blushed and looked away. “The kid? Cecil? He’s…”

Clint waited.

Ryan shuffled his feet. “I’ve tried to talk to him a couple times. He’s real shy. Young, you know, only twenty. I was worried about him, that’s all.”

Clint understood. Oh, boy, did he understand. “It’s okay if you’re interested in him. He’s a good guy.”

Ryan shrugged. “Yeah, I know. He’s still a good six years younger than me and I don’t want to make him uncomfortable, or anything.”

Clint smiled at his friend. “Six years isn’t much. Why don’t you ask him out?”

“I couldn’t… I was going…” Ryan trailed off. “Don’t worry about it, man. I’m glad I could make sure he and Sara were safe.”

Clint would let it go for now, but he hoped Ryan would make a move on Cecil…if Cecil wanted him to. Maybe he could drop some hints of his own.

He motioned to the house. “You can head out. I’ll be here unless something else happens.”

“I don’t mind sticking around for a little bit,” Ryan told him.

Clint nodded. He hadn’t expected another answer from Ryan. “Sounds good. Give me a holler if you have any problems out here.”

He walked away with a half salute to Ryan and pushed open the gate. All was quiet as he strolled up to the back door. He knocked and when Sara came into view, he waved.

She smiled. Such a beautiful welcome. Sara hurried to the door and turned the deadbolt to let him in.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close. Their lips met and he kissed her with all the passion he felt. She moaned and he settled her against his chest as he slowed down his lips.

Aware that Ryan could probably see them, he backed off and looked down at her.

“Everything okay here?” he asked her.

She nodded. “Yeah.” She ran her hands over his chest. “Cecil and I spent the afternoon watching movies. I was about to start dinner. Can you stay a little while?”

“Yes, I’ll be hanging around if you think you can stand it,” he teased.

She slid her hand down his stomach to cup his erection. He couldn’t stop the thrust up into her hold.

“I think I can more than stand it,” she assured him.

The wicked look in her eye almost burst his tight control. Knowing Ryan was outside and Cecil was just in the other room was the only thing that stopped him lifting Sara onto the counter and having his way with her. He cleared his throat and stepped back. She laughed, a soft, musical sound that made his cock twitch where it was trapped in his jeans.

“Bad girl,” he kidded.

“Oh, I’ll show you later how bad of a girl I can be,” she promised.

Clint dropped his head back and groaned. “Trying to kill me.”

Sara shook her head and scooted around behind the kitchen counter. She pulled out a pan before turning to the fridge. “Chicken okay?”

Clint nodded. “Sounds great.”

She grabbed a bottle of beer and waved it at him.

He made a give me motion with his hand and she passed it over to him.

“Is it safe to come inside?” Cecil called from the other room.

Clint smirked at Sara as she blushed. “Yeah!” he hollered back at the younger man.

Cecil stepped into the kitchen. “I really can go home,” he said once he was close by. “I’m sure no one will try anything. I don’t want to be in the way.”

Sara raised the knife she was using to cut the chicken into cubes. “You are not in the way! And you are staying the night.”

Cecil’s shoulders dropped and he nodded. Clint glanced out of the kitchen window and wondered if Ryan was watching the boy.

“She’s right, man. We don’t know what these people are capable of and we’d feel better having you safe and secure for the night,” Clint assured Cecil.

“If you’re sure,” Cecil replied and sat on a stool next to Clint.

Sara set a can of Coke down in front of him.

“Besides, I’d like to get to know you, too,” Clint said. He took a long pull of his brew and smiled.

“Me?” Cecil asked, surprised.

Clint nodded. “Yeah, man. You’re like Sara’s family, so we have to get to know each other.”

Cecil beamed, clearly pleased.

“So, tell me about school,” Clint requested.

While Sara cooked, Cecil started talking about the courses he was taking at the local community college. It was nice, the sounds and smells of the kitchen in the background while he sipped on a beer and talked with a very interesting man. Sara moved gracefully about the kitchen, adding a few comments to the conversation but mainly letting the two men talk. He looked up and caught her eye, and Clint knew he was in love. Sara was what he had been searching for without even knowing he was looking. She fit with him. She must have seen something in his expression, because she moved around the counter and cupped his face to give him a sweet kiss before going back to her cooking.

Cecil was grinning at him when he glanced over.

“It’s so good to see her so happy. She always takes care of everyone and…” Cecil paused and shrugged. “Just thanks. Thanks for making her happy.”

Clint patted Cecil on his back. “What about you?”

“What about me?”

“Anyone caught your eye?” Clint hadn’t planned on asking so soon, but the subject had been brought up.

Cecil stiffened and bit his lip.

Sara stilled with her back to them.

“I… I’m not…” Cecil dropped his head.

Sara turned around and Clint frowned.

“I’m gay,” Cecil confessed in a low whisper.

Well, Clint had hoped that Cecil was since he was pretty damn sure Ryan was interested.

“So, are you seeing anyone?” Clint asked again. “Got your eye on someone, maybe?”

Cecil looked up with an expression of shock. Clint smiled and dipped his head to show he wanted an answer.

Cecil shook his head. “No, no one here would…”

Clint shrugged. “You never know. You might want to keep your eyes open, just in case.”

Sara had her lips pressed together and was watching him. He winked and her lips twitched. She’d understood what he meant.

“You don’t mind?” Cecil’s next question caught him off guard.

“That you’re gay?” Clint clarified.

Cecil’s head bobbed.

“Nah, man,” Clint said. He hoped Cecil would relax again. He hadn’t meant to cause him any stress. He had figured the kid had been out. “Got a couple friends in relationships with men. In fact, Kurt’s brother is newly mated to his partner. Know a lot of damn good men that like other men.”

Cecil licked his bottom lip nervously but smiled. “Cool.”

Sara returned to her stove and turned off the burner. She took out plates from the cabinet and pointed to the kitchen table.

“It’s ready,” she declared.

Cecil jumped up and started to grab silverware and napkins while Sara filled plates. Within a couple of minutes, they were all seated at the table with plates full of chicken, pasta and vegetables.

Dinner conversation was light. They talked about the town and the winter festival that would take place next month. As Sara and Cecil described the different attractions, Clint looked forward to seeing them again. He’d attended a few when he was a young boy, but from the sound of it, the festival had grown a lot over the years. Clint would make sure that he took Sara so they could experience the festival together.

Once they’d finished one of the best chicken dishes Clint had ever tasted, Cecil jumped up and gathered the plates.

“I’ll clean up!” he said. “Why don’t you two go relax? I’m going to take a shower and I have some studying to do in the guest room.”

Sara rose and kissed his cheek. “Thanks, hon.”

Clint trailed after her and they settled onto the couch. Unlike the night before, the fire was lit. Clint settled back against the corner of the couch and pulled Sara into his arms. She lifted her head and they kissed. Soft and sweet since there was someone else in the house, but he was hyper-aware of what would happen once Cecil called it a night. Sara must have felt the same thing since she was whispering very suggestive comments in his ear as she kissed his neck.

Clint’s hands shook and his cock pulsed painfully. He wanted to be inside her.

As soon as Cecil called goodnight, Sara turned to Clint and straddled his lap. “I’ve been waiting for this all day.”

He moaned and dropped his head back when she rocked against him.

“I want to taste you tonight,” she said, trailing her hands up and down his chest.

His shirt bunched under her hands and together they removed the garment.

She traveled lower, licking and tasting his skin. She lapped at the tattoo over his heart while undoing his pants. Kneeling between his legs, she tugged his jeans down and he lifted enough to have her get them off. He shivered when she lowered her head and licked the pre-cum from the tip of his cock.

“Oh, yeah,” he moaned.

She looked up, gaze locked with his and oh-so slowly engulfed him.

He hissed, the feeling amazing. “Please,” he actually whined.

She hummed while sucking him down. She bobbed her head, played with his balls and had gasps escaping from his throat.

Clint had to fist his hands to keep from grabbing her head and start fucking her mouth. Damn, this may be the shortest blowjob in all of history.

Just a touch of her tongue at the bottom of his cockhead and he forgot all pretense of control. He buried his fingers in her hair and plunged into her. He had enough sense to not force his entire length inside. Sara wasn’t complaining, though. She encouraged him with her hands on his hips and tilted her head back to take more.

He howled his completion, not able to tone down the sound.

Sara rocked back on her heels, grinning. “I could do that every night.”

Clint planted a hand on his chest, feeling his heart beating hard enough to worry it might burst through his chest. He didn’t think he would survive that every night.

She laughed and he couldn’t have that. He pushed forward and followed her down onto the floor until she was sprawled on her back with him on top.

“Your turn,” he said and started yanking at her clothes. “Although next time, we really need to try to make it to your room first.”

“Need you now,” she demanded, pulling his head down.

They wrestled until they were both naked and wrapped around each other.

He pushed inside and took her hard and fast right there in the middle of the living-room floor. His knees ached and there would be rug burns the next day, but damn, Sara was hot.

She pushed back against him each time he slammed inside. “Harder—ride me.”

What man could ever resist those words? Not him, that was for sure.

Clint wasn’t proud of the fact he was too damn obsessed with her to have even taken her to bed. Eventually, they were going to have to do this on a mattress.

“Clint!” she called out to him as she climaxed.

He slowed down. Now that he’d brought her pleasure, he could think again. The passionate fog that had clouded his mind lifted and he was back in control. He gripped her hips hard before thrusting gently.

Sara was shaking, almost exhausted. He plunged half a dozen more times then came.

They collapsed down on the rug together. Sara laughed. “I hope no one was watching. Or we just gave one hell of a show.”

Clint groaned. “Fuck! I forgot Ryan was outside.”

She stilled. “What?”

“One of the guards is watching your house. I told him he could go back to the compound, but he said he’d stick around for a little bit. So he might not still be here.”

“Oh, Jeez,” she muttered.

“He’d have made himself scarce once we started.”

“Or gotten off on it. Some people like to watch,” she said. Her face was red with a blush, but she was smiling.

“I don’t think we’re his type. He wasn’t here because he was ordered.”

Sara sat up. “Ryan?” she asked. “I think he comes into the shop.”

“Yes,” he said. “Yes, he does.”

“And when he does, he watches Cecil,” Sara said.

“Does he?”

She laughed. “Awesome.”

Clint agreed. Other than the fucking church Dan Carter had started, things were pretty damn awesome! He had to make sure they stayed that way. Perry Costa was going to get the hell out of his town.