Training Rain Read online

  Jess kissed her neck, and a ripple of excitement spread down her body, increasing the tightness building at her center. He kissed her collarbone, shoulder and lower to her breast. His tongue teased her already sensitive nipple before he pulled it inside his warm mouth and tugged hard.

  Rain clutched at his shoulders, digging her nails into his skin while the sensations he created engulfed her. “Jessé… I… You.”

  He looked up. “What is it, cher?”

  He went lower, kissing her abdomen and dipping his tongue inside her bellybutton. A shock of sensation ricocheted from that sensitive hole directly to her clit. She screamed his name and clutched his thick hair.

  She forced herself to focus on the words she wanted to say. “You…you haven’t come. I want to g-give you pleasure.”

  He slid down the bed to the bottom, pushed her knees up and over his shoulders and blew cool breath across her wet folds. Her body jerked and she lifted her hips as if begging for more and belying her words.

  “You do give me pleasure and I will come before the night is over. First I’m going to take care of you. Don’t fight me. You know you need it.”

  He was right. She did need more. Would it ever be enough? Could a person die from desire and orgasm? A ripple of hysteria threatened to overcome her.

  Jess slid his tongue between her folds and every other thought flew from her head. Slowly he licked from just below her pussy, along her wet slit to her ultra-sensitive clit. He suckled the bud, and she bucked against his relentless mouth. He slid one long finger inside her and continued to lick and suck while sliding his finger in and out. A second digit joined the first and the beginning of her rapture prickled deep inside her.

  She clawed at the blanket beneath her and tossed her head from side to side. Her hips had a mind of their own and bounced up and down with the rhythm Jess had set. Rain’s body tightened to the point of pain and then erupted with extraordinary pleasure. She screamed, twisting and pulling away. Jess held her firmly and continued to lick her clit as her canal tugged at his fingers. Wave after wave assaulted her as if it might never stop.

  A second orgasm followed the first. Her knees clamped down on his neck, but he didn’t seem to care as he continued with his mouth and fingers. She pressed her feet flat on the bed and as the third wave descended she lifted up and away from him. “No more. I can’t.”

  In an instant he was beside her, pulling her into his arms. He held her while the remnants of the most powerful orgasm of her life dissipated to sweet relief. “That’s what I needed to hear, cher. That was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen or felt.”

  At that moment she realized she had never shielded herself. She’d been so overcome by sexual need she’d forgotten to put up her defenses. Once she built up her barrier, she immediately missed Jess’ presence inside her aura.

  “That was…” She took a breath. “I have no idea what that was.”

  He relaxed his hold and kissed her forehead. “How do you feel?”

  “Better.” It was the truth. She still wanted to have Jess inside her, but it was not quite so imperative to her existence.

  He rolled so that he was once again on top of her, but with most of his weight resting on his arms. Rain wrapped her legs around his hips and lifted until her wet center met the tip of his cock.

  Jess groaned deep in his chest. “Are you sure? I can wait if you’ve had enough for tonight.”

  “Don’t be so nice. Make love to me.”

  His eyes closed for a moment. Was he trying to regain control? Did Jessé McMean lose control—ever? When his eyes opened he reached for the bed stand and another condom. He had to adjust his position for a moment while he rolled the rubber over his thick cock, but then he returned to hover just short of her waiting pussy. “Can I ask you something?”

  She raised her hips again and skimmed the head of his cock ever so slightly. “Hmm?”

  “Do you know the difference between making love and fucking now?”

  A string tightened in her belly. Renewed desire flushed her cheeks. “I think so.”

  “Tell me.”

  Part of her wanted to hold the words inside, protect herself, her heart. Jess had saved her. Not just from men with guns or a half-life on the reservation. He’d kept her safe when all of her barriers were down. She trusted him. “When it’s you and me, even when we fuck it’s making love.”

  She was trapped in his gaze and he pressed forward, filling her completely. They both groaned and neither moved for a long moment.

  “I’ve never wanted anyone so much.” He pulled back and thrust forward again.

  “Don’t talk.”

  With another drive, he agreed it wasn’t the time for conversation. His slow, steady pace drove her near to insanity. Her body tightened and pulsed with another growing orgasm. How many had it been? How was this possible? She gripped tighter around his hips, pulling him down harder and faster with each plunge. His mouth devoured hers while his tongue mimicked the force of his shaft.

  Her pussy tightened and she screamed, grasping at him as she allowed another shattering orgasm to take her. He thrust against her clutching canal once, twice and he too cried out, his body went rigid while his hips twitched in that final spasm.

  Jess collapsed on top of her before rolling to one side and drawing her against him.

  Pure joy pulled at her lips, but her exhaustion won as her head grew heavy. Jess’ heart beat under her ear and the cadence lured her to sleep.

  It was still dark when she woke up. Fully dressed in jeans and a white tee-shirt, Jess stared down at her with an expression she couldn’t quite translate. His eyes were soft and loving, but his mouth was drawn down and the muscle in his jaw ticked.

  “Why are you dressed?”

  “I took your dog for a walk.” He jerked his head to the left.

  Yas was next to the bed with his big head lying on the edge of the mattress. His soulful eyes focused on her and she reached over to scratch him behind the ear. She stopped and the dog collapsed happily on the floor.

  “You fed him too?”

  “Yup.” He continued to stare at her with that same expression.

  “Thanks. What are you doing?”

  “Trying to decide what to do about you.”

  She sat up, pulling the blanket with her. She didn’t recall having a blanket over her when she’d fallen asleep. At some point Jess must have moved her under the covers, effectively tucking her in. “Must something be done about me?”

  “You are a problem.”

  “Am I?” Her heartbeat tripled. He was going to send her back to the reservation. She blocked her mind from any prying while she tried not to show the devastating disappointment his rejection had on her.

  “I’ve never been in love so I could be wrong, but I don’t think so.”

  “Wait. What?” She suddenly felt as though they were having two different conversations and she had come in on the middle of both.

  “I’m trying to tell you that I love you.”

  “But…”

  He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was soft, sweet and far too quick. “No buts. I love you.”

  “You said you had to figure out what to do about me. That sounds like a big but.”

  “My life is not conducive to a romantic relationship.” His tone didn’t waver. He still sounded as if they were talking about love.

  “I thought we had the same kind of life.” Why couldn’t she stay unaffected? Don’t beg him.

  “I will always be worried that you’re going to get killed. How can I do my job if I’m afraid all the time?” He got out of the bed and crossed to the window. It was dark out and only the bedside lamp lit the room.

  Rain stayed in the bed but leaned against the hard wooden headboard. “I think you just have to get over it, Jessé.”

  He turned at the harsh sound in her voice. “Don’t get mad, cher. I just told you that I love you.”

  She hadn’t really meant to get
angry, but he was being as ass. “No, you are using loving me as an excuse to get rid of me. If you really love me, you’ll man up and learn to deal with the fact that we are in a dangerous profession. People are trying to kill us right now, if we survive, it’s likely there will be others in line behind them ready to try to kill us. Together or apart, we’re in danger. I don’t want you dead. I sure as hell don’t want to watch you die. But I’d rather be with you for whatever time we have than live without you.”

  He faced her, arms folded across his broad chest. “Did you just tell me to man up?”

  She wondered if there was a back door she could make a run for. Had she told him that? She shrugged.

  He laughed and shook his head before returning to stand over her. “I am not trying to get rid of you.”

  “That’s how it sounded to me.” She wouldn’t back down. If she did, she would always be the one to give in. “Either this is an equal partnership or this can’t happen. I want to be with you, Jess. I’m willing to take the risk, but I won’t be told to stay in the background. You told me I had what it takes to be an agent.”

  He hung his head. “You do.”

  “Well then.” She didn’t know when it happened, but at some point she stopped thinking she should go back to the reservation. She knew she could never be happy restricted to a simple life.

  Jess sank onto the bed and put his head in his hands. “I thought I understood you, but you always surprise me.”

  Rain moved behind him and kissed his back and leaned her cheek on his shoulder.

  He didn’t turn around. He relaxed by a fraction. “There’s something I should tell you.”

  “What is it?” She slipped her arms around his waist and his hands clasped hers. He smelled of rain and desire. Her body responded immediately.

  “When we were in the cabin—”

  “Open up.” Will’s voice was accompanied by his pounding on the front door.

  Yas was up and growling before the words were out of Will’s mouth. He took off through the apartment toward the door.

  Jess grabbed his gun from the side table and stood up. He kissed the top of her head and she breathed in his warm scent. “You’d better get dressed, cher.”

  Whatever he was going to tell her would have to wait. She dressed quickly and joined the men in the living room. Will’s smiling face was in direct contrast to his news. “New Orleans is swarming with mercenaries. The good news is the rain stopped.”

  “Do we know who hired them?” Jess asked.

  Will shook his head. He carried a case he placed on the sofa, opened and removed his rifle. He attached a sight to the top and lifted the butt against his shoulder. He pointed the barrel toward the window.

  There was no television in the living room and only the couch and one chair for furniture. It was obvious that Jess didn’t spend much time in his New Orleans apartment.

  Yas padded over to Rain and leaned against her leg. She scratched his head. “It’s okay, boy.”

  Jess started pulling blinds while Will continued to stare through his scope.

  “Maybe we should ask that guy who hired him,” Will said.

  Jess and Rain both rushed to the window and peered out between the wall and the blind. “Is it anyone we know?”

  “I don’t know him. Here have a look.”

  Jess took the rifle and leaned in as if he might shoot. It was probably five hundred yards across the street to where the mercenary stood watching the apartment building. “I never saw him before.”

  Rain saw movement at the opposite block. Another man turned the corner. It was four o’clock in the morning. Not too many people on the street. Her instincts told her that was no partier on their way home from a long night. “I’ve got another at two o’clock.”

  Both men turned. The second operative slipped into the shadow of the building.

  “I think we should assume the building is surrounded.” Will’s voice was still completely casual. He didn’t seem at all concerned or worried about the prospect that they were about to be ambushed in an apartment with only one way out.

  “Get your things. We’re going to the roof.”

  Rain picked up her bag, checked her extra clips and closed her mind against any psi powers.

  Jess went into the bedroom and came out carrying a duffle. “We need to get on the roof and see what we’re dealing with.”

  She didn’t even know what question to ask first so she just kept her mouth shut and silently commanded Yas to follow. Yas licked her fingers and never left her side as they climbed three flights of stairs to the roof.

  All told, there were six operatives surrounding the building. “How many do you think you can take out with your rifle before they know what hit them?”

  Will settled in to a spot in the northwest corner of the flat rooftop. “Three.”

  There was no doubt in the sharpshooter’s voice. Rain wished she felt half as confident. She held a Beretta 92 compact in her hand, her bag was weighed down by the several extra magazines and ammo. Looking over the wall, she saw two men waiting for an opportunity to kill her.

  As if he’d read her mind, Jess knelt down in front of her. “I know you’re not ready for this, but you’re going to have to shoot one of them.”

  She just stared at him. Could she do it?

  “Listen to me. You and I are going to go down to the street. See the guy on the southwest corner? You are going to have to take him out. I’ll get the one at the other end of the street.”

  “And the other?”

  “He’s going to run and we’re going to chase him, catch him and find out who sent him and why.”

  “Okay.” Her voice trembled on just the one word.

  “If you don’t shoot him, he will kill you or me. You understand?”

  “Yes.”

  He grabbed her hand and they headed back inside.

  Will called in a low voice, “Three minutes.”

  Jess checked his watch and they ran down the steps with Yas at their heels.

  At the rear door to the square building they waited. “As soon as we hear Will take his shots, we go.”

  Thirty seconds ticked by and time stopped. Pop. Pop…pop.

  Jess ran out the door and she followed, heading in the opposite direction. The man she was after saw her a moment before she got within range. He lifted his automatic weapon and she knew this was it. Rain Silver’s last seconds on the earth.

  The growl from Yas preceded the dog rushing forward toward her mark. His attention was drawn toward the animal. He shifted his aim. He was going to shoot Yas.

  Rain saw his anger-twisted face in the bubble of her sight. She pulled the trigger and he dropped in a heap on the sidewalk. Yas stopped, sniffed the mercenary and growled once before turning back to her with his tail wagging.

  One thing was certain, he was the best dog she’d ever had. Maybe she would feel regret for her actions later. No time. She took off toward the sound of another gunshot, praying that Jess had done as well. Another mercenary lay on the sidewalk dead and Jess was chasing the last, who had run as predicted. She followed, but Yas overtook Jess and leaped on top of their prey. The dog got him on the ground and took hold of his throat.

  Jess was only a second behind. “Good work, Yas. Now leave him.”

  Yas growled but didn’t release the man’s throat.

  Rain slowed to a jog and told the dog to release, which he did before trotting over to her with his tongue hanging out happily. “Good boy.”

  Jess dragged the would-be assassin to his feet just as Will arrived in the car. Yas happily jumped in the back. Rain got in the front, and Jess pushed their captive into the back before getting in after him.

  Will’s grin never seemed to dim. “I called for backup to clean up the mess and talk to the authorities.”

  “Head for Ten. We’ll go to Pierre Part. It’s quiet and we can dispose of this one in the swamp.”

  Will said, “My bag is by your feet, Rain. You can help our gue
st nap.”

  She pulled the small satchel onto her lap and tossed her bag on the floor. She found a plastic case, opened it. Inside were two hypodermic needles. She removed one and pulled the cap off the end. “Leg okay?”

  “Yeah.”

  She didn’t think about what she was doing. Getting up on her knees, she turned around in the seat and stabbed their prisoner in the thigh while depressing the plunger.

  “Fucking bitch.” He lashed out, reaching for her, but Jess’ fist connected with his jaw, sending him back against the seat before even Yas could react.

  The dog growled after the fact.

  The prisoner’s words slurred. “Why don’t you just ask me what you want to know?”

  Jess said, “Because you’re trained to keep secrets. What’s your name?”

  “Donnn…elly…” The word trailed off as Donnelly lost consciousness.

  “Now what?” Rain asked.

  “Now dig a bit deeper in Will’s bag and I’ll bet you find some restraints that I can use to bind Mr. Donnelly’s hands.”

  Rain’s mind reeled with the events of the morning, starting with Jess declaring his love and ending with her killing someone. The vision of that man with a hole in his face collapsing on the ground would stay with her for the rest of her life. Still, she wasn’t sorry she’d done it. He would most definitely have killed both Yas and her if she hadn’t pulled the trigger.

  Jess finished securing Donnelly. “You were amazing, cher. Great work, and you.” He petted the dog’s head. “I’ve seen trained dogs that couldn’t have done better. We are definitely keeping this dog.”

  Even after all the insanity she’d just experienced, the idea that he was calling them “we” and implying that Yas was their pet created a warm bubble in her chest that spread throughout her body. “What’s in Pierre Part?”

  “I have a small place near there, on the Atchafalaya Basin. We can find out what he knows, contact Lakeland and then we’ll know how to proceed.”

  “Do you think we’ll be safe there?”

  The sun was rising and she could see an apology in his eyes. “Not for long. My place is off the beaten path, but they will find us eventually if we stay too long.”