Page 16 of Cullen
“I’m starving.”She laughed and told him she thought he’d be saying something romantic.“I thought that I was.I know for a fact that I burned enough calories that I won’t be able to move without hurting myself.”
“I’m hungry too.I’m betting that we could have a little picnic in the bed and not care about crumbs.”He got up and proved that he was weak with the calories that they’d burned.He held onto the furniture that was closest to him as he made his way to the dresser where the things were.
Emmie knew better than to move; just sitting up in the bed cost her a great deal.As soon as he started eating the grapes that were on the trays, she made herself a salami and cracker sandwich and ate it whole.She really was hungry, she realized all at once.
They talked about their day while they fed one another.She told him that she was now on two of the committees that his mom was on and that she was looking forward to being on more.She toldhim that she’d heard from her boss.
“He fired me today.I find that I don’t really care.I should have been back to work a few weeks ago, but since I didn’t call or let them know that I needed an extended leave, they terminated my contract.I’m all right with that, too.They’re going to mail me my things from my desk to here.I’m glad.I love it too much here to want to leave.”He told her how much fun he’d had working with Waylon.“He’s the funniest of all your brothers.You’re so serious when I first met you, but now you seem to have loosened up.”
“That’s because of you.You’ve made me into a better man.One that is less stressed all the time, too.”She thanked him, and he grinned at her.“I’ve been hard on myself for a lot of years.Who knew that it would only take the love of a woman to make my life a good deal better than it’s ever been.”
When his cell phone rang from somewhere deep in his clothing, they both ignored it.He told her that if someone wanted to get in touch with him, his family knew how.As soon as they were finished with the trays of food, nearly eating all of it, she declared that she was exhausted and wanted a short nap.He agreed.
After taking what she’d call a power nap, they made love again.This time it was softer and fun.When he told her she had the best breasts of anyone he’d ever seen, he told her that when he was his beast, he had large breasts.Laughing between sex with him felt like it was something she could get used to.By the time she was too tired to even move, they snuggled deep into the covers and fell asleep holding each other.She closed her eyes and fell right to sleep, knowing that in the morning she was going to be as sore as she’d ever been.And she had court tomorrow too.
Waking up enough to go to the bathroom, she couldn’t believe that it was only one in the morning.Of course, they’d been in bed since about eight, so she wasn’t surprised to figure out that she’d been asleep for only a few hours.Limping back to the bed, Cullen got up after she was in bed and made his way to the bathroom too.She was happy to see that he was limping too.
When the alarm went off at six so that she’d have plenty of time to get ready for her day in court, she turned the water on to the highest setting and decided that she couldn’t get it hot enough to work out the soreness of her body.Once she got out and started to move around, she felt better, but she was still sore.Cullen joined her in the bathroom just as she was drying off.
“I was hoping for a little shower sex, but the thought of trying to get you to come again has me regretting even getting out of bed.”She laughed with him.“I’m about as sore as I’ve ever been, and I thought I was in good shape.”
“You’re in better shape than I am.”She dressed in her brightest dress and put on sandals to go with it.She was going to be cheery today, even if she had to put on a fake smile while she was at it.“I’m nervous about today.I hope things go well.Your dad said that I don’t have anything to worry about, but I’m still worried.”
“If my dad says not to worry, you can bank on it that you don’t.He’s been at this for a long time, and I know that he’ll get whatever is needed for the kids to be safe.That’s all I’m concerned about right now.”She said that she was as well.“I’m glad we decided not to have them there during the trial.There is no telling what they’ll say about them being their children.You just say the things that dad told you, and it’ll be over before you know it.”
“Why do I get the feeling that you’re not going to be there with me?”He said that the phone call last night was from the president.“Of what?And where are you going?”
“The president of the United States.I told you that I still do jobs for him.He’s called me out for this mission, and I’ll be gone for a couple of days.”She asked if he could tell her what he was doing.“No, I’m sorry.I will tell you all about it when I get back, but not before.I don’t want you in harm’s way.”
“I don’t like this, but I understand.”He kissed her on the nose and told her that he loved her.“Don’t take any chances that you don’t have to.Just come back to me.”
“I promise I will be careful.And I’ll be back before you even miss me.”She told him that wasn’t possible, but he understood.As soon as he left, she felt him gone and was worried about him andwould be until he returned.
~*~
Cullen was going to stop doing missions for the government.He had a mate now and didn’t want to leave her when he had to go out.Not to mention, he was worried about getting killed.Even though he was immortal, he knew that he could be hurt and hurt badly.This was going to be it for him, and he hoped that Jamie understood.
His target was just where he thought he’d be.The restaurant was busy for this time of day, and the tea vendor outside of the place was just where he wanted him.The man had been dealing in guns and ammo for the last six months, and he was there to put a stop to it.
“Stop what you’re doing.It’s a trap.”He looked around for what might be causing Jamie to contact him right now and could see nothing out of place.“Since I know you can hear me, it means you haven’t gotten to the target as yet.Please tell me I got to you in time.”
“I’m fine, but I don’t see anything out of the ordinary.”He told him what would have happened had he killed the tea vendor.“Christ.Why didn’t anyone else know this?Or I’m assuming tell you until now?”
Not only was he expected to come out in the open and kill the vendor, but there was a plant inside the building that was going to blow the vendor’s cart and the entire restaurant up as soon as he took his shot.
“I would have been right in the middle of it all.I’m getting too old for this shit, Jamie.I need to retire to a normal life and have lots of babies with my mate.”He said that he thought that he was as well.“I’m serious.But for now, you tell me what you want to happen, and I’ll do it.I have a clear shot from here that I can take him out, but there are people in the restaurant that will be killed too.”
“They’re all operatives.If you can take the shot from a distance of enough feet that you don’t get even a nail broken, take it.There are ten men in the restaurant who are just waiting for you to come out in the open to take you.Then, when the shit hits the fan, not only will you be killed, but they’ll know that it was us who fired on the place.I’d just as soon not have to deal with things that are going to get us into trouble.”He paused before killing the vendor and stood where he was.He wasn’t going to take any chances of killing the man and then having it come back to be trouble for him.When enough time passed, he moved out of his spot and made his way to his hidey hole.“The vendor isn’t the man we’re after, but one of the men in the restaurant.Can you take the shot?”
“No.There are too many friendlies around that could and would be hurt should something happen.”He had just lied to the president and didn’t feel the least bit bad about it.“I’ll get the man on the inside when you have more intel.This is a cluster fuck, Jamie, and I don’t mind telling you that this is all wrong.There isn’t enough information on the man I need to get right now, so I’m coming home.”
“Good.I like that idea better.You come home, and I’ll see what was going on that had to wait until literally the last minute before I had the right intel.I agree with you, this is a clusterfuck and a half.”He made his way outside of town but knew that he was being followed.He told Jamie.“Could it be from the restaurant?Those men are supposed to have a picture of you so that they get the right guy.”
“I’m going to have to kill a few men here.Then I’m coming home.I can’t do this anymore.Especially if they have my picture now.”He agreed with him but said that they’d talk.“You talk, and I’m going to quit.I have a mate now who is sitting at home worried that I’m going to be killed, even though she knows that we’re both immortal.I just can’t do this anymore.Not and be a good mate to Emmie.”
“You’re too good a man to just be a house husband, Cullen.I need you to do things like this for the country.”He didn’t say anything, keeping his eyes on his prey.“We’ll talk about it when you get back.Just don’t make any decisions right now.You’re upset.”
“Damned right I’m upset.I nearly got myself killed and all for a man who sells arms to the country.We’re not even sure who his boss is.I was simply taking out the middle man here.”He said again that they’d talk.“I have to keep an eye on things here.I’m going to need to protect myself right now.”
