TooDangeroustoLove Read online

  His father was in the breakfast room when he walked in. “Where is Raven?”

  “At the gym. Where were the two of you last night?” his father answered.

  Without another word, Brandt headed that way. As he approached he heard grunts and other guttural noises. There was a man and a woman in there, that much he knew.

  “Is that all you got? Come on, baby, give it to me. Give it to me the way I know only you can,” the unknown man said in a deep timbre.

  “I’m not sure you will be able to handle it anymore. Are you sure this is what you want?” That voice belonged to Raven, he knew for a fact. Only this time he heard teasing and affection in her voice. Affection for another man was not what he wished to hear from her.

  Brandt had come to the decision that Raven and he belonged together. The thought had been floating in the back of his mind since what seemed to be the day he met her. Her personality was something he needed. She brought him to life.

  The kiss they had shared last night had clinched it for him. He needed this woman. He wasn’t sure why yet, but he was working on it.

  “You know I want it. It has been so long since you have given it to me,” the strange man spoke again.

  “You gonna give it to me back?” She teased whomever she was with.

  “Oh yeah, baby, nice and hard.”

  “Bring it on, boy,” she said, and that was the last thing he heard from them. After that, there was the sound of flesh meeting flesh.

  Anger filled his body at what he thought was going on in his weight room. Bolting through the door, he stopped short. The vision that met his eyes was not the one he expected.

  Raven stood in the middle of the mat dressed in a white sports bra and a pair of black shorts. The person she faced was tall, as tall as Brandt. He was the color of rich chocolate and very muscled. His head was shaved smooth and he was dressed only in a muscle shirt and a pair of shorts.

  They were fighting. They moved towards each other like water, then clashed. Punches were tossed, kicks thrown. They went on and on like that. Raven went flying over his head and crashed to the mat below. Brandt lunged forward, only to stop as she swept out one toned leg and brought the man to the floor as well.

  The second he was down she was on top of him. He maneuvered out of her grip and grabbed her, pinning her arms to her sides. Like an eel she slipped out, rolled up and grabbed his neck with her legs, entrapping his face right between her thighs.

  He pounded on the mat three times, and as she laughed she moved down so she was sitting on his chest. Both of their firm bodies drenched in sweat as chests heaved with exertion. Strands of Raven’s hair had escaped its bun and halfway covered her face as she bent down to him and put their faces nose to nose.

  His voice was loud and teasing as it reached Brandt. “You know that anytime I would love to be between your legs like that, darling, but damn, do you have to squeeze so hard?”

  “Getting weak on me, old man? I thought you liked it hard.”

  “Oh, it’s hard alright. But you already know that.”

  “That I do, that I do.”

  “Am I interrupting?” Brandt snapped in an angry voice.

  Raven tipped her head to the side and looked directly at Brandt through strands of her hair. He stood there with clenched fists.

  “Good morning, Brandt Fowler. Didn’t expect to see you this early.”

  “That much is obvious. Get off of him, Raven. Now!”

  Brandt saw before him a couple that looked very good together. His eyes raked in her form, everything from the bottom of her wrapped feet to the top of her sweating head.

  Her midriff was bare and he noticed her six-pack. Never had a woman looked so damn sexy to him. On the small of her back, he noticed as she turned away from him and headed to where the towels and water sat, was a tattoo. It was the outline of a swooping bird of prey. A raptor.

  When the man walked after her, he noticed the same mark on his shoulder. They walked back over to him as she wiped the sweat from her face.

  “What’s with the early morning attitude, Ice?” she asked as she stopped in front of him.

  He completely ignored the tall man beside her, but knew he was being watched by him. “What the hell is going on here? Why are you wearing this and why, or rather, who is this man that you had between your legs?”

  The man beside Raven chuckled. “Don’t tease him, Raven, he is liable to attack me and then I would have to hurt your boyfriend.”

  “He is not my boyfriend.” There was a definite attitude in her words.

  “Uh huh. You forget, I saw that kiss between you two last night.” The man pushed her with his shoulder and stuck out his hand to Brandt. “The name’s Talon. I’m here to go to work with you.”

  “You work with her?” Brandt couldn’t deny the skepticism in his voice.

  “A long time ago I did. I came in solely to work with her again. She needed my help and so here I am. I won’t let anything hurt her. None of us will.” That was imparted with the first hint of hostility that he had heard from the large man.

  “Brandt, meet Talon. Talon, this is Brandt Fowler.” Raven stayed close to Talon when she made the introduction. That changed when Brandt grabbed her arm and hauled her up to his side.

  “Shake hands, gentlemen.” They did. But Brandt kept one arm around her, securing her to his side.

  “What were you two doing?” he asked.

  “Working out. I have to stay in shape, you know.”

  “I would have worked out with you.”

  Talon snorted. “No offense, man, but I don’t think you would be able to give her the workout she needs.”

  Brandt’s eyes narrowed in challenge. “What do you know about the workout she needs?”

  “Boys, I need a shower and we have to talk. Let’s go.”

  Talon and Brandt walked on each side of her, but Talon said something to her in another language.

  * * * *

  Raven showered, and when she came out of the bathroom Brandt was sitting in a chair beside her dogs. She wore only a robe, that same little floral one she’d worn the other night.

  His presence flustered her but she didn’t let him in on the secret. “What are you doing in my room?”

  “We need to talk.” His eyes were glued to her silk covered body. She could read the heat and desire that swirled there.

  “About what, and why couldn’t it wait until after I am dressed?” She moved to the closet and removed some clothes.

  * * * *

  He rose, unable to keep his hands off her any longer, then put his body between her and the closet. He reached for her and pulled her to his body.

  “Raven,” he muttered, his lips capturing her soft ones. Her clothes fell to the floor of the closet as she reached up to entwine her arms about his neck.

  Her body arched closer to his. Little whimpers began in the back of her throat. The smell of peaches filled his senses as they melded together.

  He moved his hands down her body and captured her buttocks. Slowly, ever so slowly, he inched the silk robe up her body. Then he stopped and slid his hands down to firm thighs, where he started to move the robe up again.

  As his hands moved up, the robe went with, exposing more of her body. He untied the sash, opening the robe. Brandt pulled back and stared down at her body. Her head had fallen back as she stood exposed to his gaze.

  She was magnificent. Her firm breasts begged to be touched and her stomach was flat with good muscle tone. His gaze dropped lower to see a nicely trimmed bush between her legs. He swallowed hard as he realized what she was offering to him.

  As his head lowered to accept the bounty she presented, he knew he was finally going to get to taste what he had longed for, for so long.

  As his mouth grew closer, her nipples tightening with need, a knock came to her door. “Raven? Raven, are you here? It’s Mr. Fowler.”

  * * * *

  That was worse than a bucket of ice water in the face. She stiffened
and moved like lightning, dressing in no time.

  By the time she opened the door, she had composed herself. Judson Fowler and Talon stood there, waiting to come in. She stepped back, allowing them entrance, doing her damnedest to ignore the knowing smirk on Talon’s face.

  Brandt sat at her desk by her computer and appeared utterly bored with the entire situation.

  “What’s going on here?” Judson asked suspiciously.

  “We are going over the plan for the party.” Not even a tremor lined her voice.

  “That’s it?”

  Her eyes bored into his blue ones. “What exactly were you expecting to find, Mr. Fowler?”

  “Is there anything going on between you two?”

  “No.” She answered at the exact time that Brandt said, “Yes.”

  Talon raised his eyebrow and looked between them both.

  “Well, which is it?” Judson questioned.

  “There is nothing between us, but since he told Sherri that there was, we have had to keep up certain appearances. That is all.”

  “You’re right. I forgot. There is not a damn thing between us. Excuse me, I’m going to eat and then I have to get to work. Talon, I believe you are with me.” Brandt left the room, slamming the door behind him.

  Talon shared a silent look with Raven before exiting the room as well, leaving her alone with the father. “I have some more work to do, Mr. Fowler.”

  “I just wanted to let you know that after the party we may still need a bodyguard for him. I am willing to pay whatever the cost.”

  “My contract is to stay until the threat is gone. There is one more person out there and we believe that he will show his face at the party tomorrow night. If that is the case, then I will take my leave after that. I am sorry, but I will not take on another assignment.”

  “I could speak with the admiral and—”

  “No, Mr. Fowler. The admiral does not control me. I say what work I will take, not him. Don’t ever forget that. Good day.” She opened the door and stood silently as he walked out of her room.

  Raven got in a good nap that day; with Talon watching over Brandt she had no fears. She took her dogs and went shopping. She needed to get something else for the party tomorrow. She drove into the city and hit the mall. If she was lucky this would be over before the dog show even happened and she could be back home.

  Finally, after getting what she wanted, she headed back to her car. The dogs were antsy so she drove to a park and allowed them to run free for a while.

  She sat on an old wooden bench that was full of scars and writings. Her mind wandered as she thought about the closet with her and Brandt.

  So close, she had come to giving in. She had, in fact, and who knew where it would have ended if the interruption hadn’t come. Probably on the bed, naked and legs entwined.

  She shivered as she rose and whistled for her dogs. As they came at a run she noticed a man watching her out of the corner of her eye. He kept pace with her as she walked toward her car. There was something about him that made her uneasy, and yet also something that was almost familiar about him.

  From a distance, she saw a group of thugs on and around her car. Six in all, and they were a mix of races. Her eyes picked out the leader in a second, but her senses stayed in tune with the man that lurked to the side. A motion sent her dogs out wide; they stayed low and hidden but were ready.

  “Excuse me, gentlemen, that’s my car you are sitting on.” Her tone was smooth, not nervous at all, as she strode up to them.

  “Well, the six of us say that it belongs to us now. What do you say to that?”

  “I say you are wrong. Get off my car, I have to go.”

  “Now, now, pretty lady, we just want to get to know you better.”

  “Well, I have no desire to get to know you better. Leave my car.”

  “I don’t think so.” The leader rose up from the car; he stood about four inches taller than she did. “I think that my men and I would like a turn with you.” There was no way that she didn’t know what that meant.

  “I don’t think so.” It had begun to grow dark and she really wasn’t in the mood for this.

  “Don’t matter, sister. We want it. We take it. That’s the way it is with us.”

  “Not this time. Don’t do something you will regret.”

  “That’s about what I will tell you. Don’t fight us and we may let you live.”

  “Touch me and I won’t promise the same.” Her tone had a dangerous edge to it.

  With a wave of his hand four of the men rushed her. The first to reach her was a stocky white guy with a black bandanna around his head. He wore two sets of brass knuckles.

  She moved and the boy went flying over her shoulder, landing hard and squealing out in pain as his arm had been broken. Poking up through his skin was a jagged bone edge. The other three rushed together. Again, she moved and dispatched her own sense of justice.

  Each of them got something broken. An arm or a leg. The last two men, one of whom was the leader, came at her together. One swung a chain and the other had a set of nunchucks.

  A low whistle from her brought the dogs. They stood beside her. “Be careful with your next move, gentlemen. They are spoiling to get a bite today. It has been so long.”

  “Afraid to face us one on one?” the leader sneered.

  “Sending four men after one woman is supposed to be fair? Well, if you want to battle one on one, then fine. Let’s do it.” Her anger at Brandt’s abrupt leaving had finally surfaced.

  She made a motion with her arms and the dogs dropped instantly. “Who’s first?”

  The man with the chain moved in first. The chain snaked out and wrapped around her arm. Flipping her wrist, she caught it and jerked. The man was surprised and fell forward into her waiting fist. As he crumpled to the ground she made another motion and the dogs rose and stood over the fallen man. The other four lay moaning on the ground.

  “Your turn.”

  “Bitch. I’m gonna bust you up.” He handled his weapon with expertise. He struck first and the force of his blow glanced off her cheek. She was lucky it was an off blow.

  That little bit was enough to make her want to hurt him. So she did. She grabbed him by the arm, and when it was stretched out her other arm slammed into his and they all heard the bone snap.

  Pissed still, she spun on her heel and smashed her combat boot right into his kneecap, dropping him like a bad habit.

  “Listen to me, you fucks. Don’t ever let me hear of you doing anything like this again. I don’t want to have to come back and finish this. Because if I do, make sure you know what you want on your tombstones.”

  She jumped over the door and settled into her car. The dogs followed suit and, as she drove away, she still saw that man watching her.

  It was dark when she parked her car in the garage. Gathering her purchases, she called the dogs to heel and headed for the house. Butters opened the door when she got there and for once said nothing to her, even though she knew he could see the bruise on her cheek.

  Talon was coming down the stairs. “Where have you been?”

  “I took some time. Leave me alone,” she snapped at him.

  “Whoa, take it easy there, Raven. I’m on your side. What’s eating you?” He strode up to her and as his eyes narrowed she knew he saw the bruise. “What the hell happened?” he growled.

  “If you want to help, take some of these for me,” she said as she thrust her packages into his arms.

  “Answer my question, Raven.”

  “Nothing. Nothing happened. Just leave it alone, Talon.”

  They reached the top of the stairs and headed for her bedroom when Brandt came out of his room and saw them together. She didn’t stop, just continued on to her room.

  “Damn it, Raven. I’m not hearing that. Tell me what happened. Now. Who the fuck put that bruise on your face?”

  “Damn it, Talon. It is none of your business. I’m fine. Let it go. For that, let me go.”


  “You will tell me.” His voice dropped to a low growl but he dropped his arms and allowed her to step back.

  “Fine, Talon. I’ll tell. Then will you let it go?”

  “Of course, as long as the answer is agreeable to me.”

  “Damn you, I’m not a child that needs looking after.”

  “That bruise on your face would indicate other. Start talking.”

  Chapter Six

  “I went shopping and afterward went to the park with the dogs. You know, let them run and stuff. Anyway, when I was heading back to the car I noticed a group of guys sitting on the car. Six of them.

  “We had a discussion and I got careless and one of them clipped me with a nunchuck. That’s all. Well, that and the fact that there is a guy following me.” She patted Talon on the arm and continued, “There is something about him. I don’t know, I feel like I should know him or something.”

  “Why didn’t you call me?”

  “Talon, I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.” She pulled her Glock out from the waistband of her pants and tossed it on the bed. “I’ve been grown for a long time now.”

  “I know, darling. I know.” He pulled her into his arms and put his chin on the top of her head. “After we almost lost you, all of us are just a little more worried now. You were among the best and you got your throat slit. None of us knew what to do. We were angry. At the both of you. And upset that you didn’t tell us where you went, but you told Morgan.”

  “I never told Morgan. Seth did. Do you not think I can handle this?”

  “I believe you’re more than ready for anything. I came because I knew I could help you, not because I didn’t think you could handle it. Brandt Fowler is in the best possible hands he could be in.”

  She grunted and didn’t say another word, well aware Brandt had come into the room. Right now, it was easier to ignore that fact.

  * * * *

  Brandt blinked once and left the room. Now was not the time for him to be there. There was a bond between the members of the Raptors and he wasn’t in it. He may not like that fact, but there it was.

  Dinner was served at nine. That was the next time that Brandt saw her. She came down with Talon and sat next to him at the meal.