Code Name: Genesis (Jameson Force Security #1)(5)

Nope, he slides it right to her core. While the hem of her robe covers what he’s doing, it’s obvious it must feel good because her eyes roll back in her head, which then lolls on his shoulder. Her legs begin to fall open, obviously wanting to give him better access. I jerk my eyes to his face just in time to catch his smirk as he watches me closely for a reaction.

I spin away, mortified and equally pissed off. It’s clear he’s intentionally doing this to make me uncomfortable. I start for the door, unwilling to stand for whatever he’s trying to prove.

“Stay,” he commands and for a moment, I almost obey him. That voice of his… all cultured but incredibly arrogant and demanding. I used to obey him a lot when it came to sex, but I chalk that up to the fact I was just oh so young when we were together.

I’m not young and na?ve anymore, so I keep walking.

I make it to the foyer before he calls out, “Walk out that door, Joslyn, and you know your life is in danger. Your psychopath could be out there right now.”

They are the right words.

I freeze, feeling my shoulders slump in resignation and complete helplessness. Tears prick at my eyes, and I furiously blink them back.

Resignation fills me. Not only am I in a no-win situation right now, but I’m also going to have to accept I’ll be forced to pay more than just money to get Kynan’s help. As a means to make me repent for the wrongs he perceives I did to him, it’s obvious he’s going to humiliate me first by making me stay while he gets the woman off.

But to my surprise, he addresses the woman, “We’re going to need to call it a night, love. Go get your clothes on, then call yourself a cab or an Uber. I’ve got some money in my wallet to pay for it. It’s on the dresser.”

“Sure thing,” she replies. After, there’s only the sound of kissing, moaning, and a deep groan from Kynan. I can only imagine what she’s doing to him, but I refuse to turn around.

Only when I hear the woman’s soft steps on the staircase do I give my attention to Kynan again.

“Take a seat,” he says with a nod at the couch.

My walk is slow and measured. There’s a slight limp I can’t quite cover up because I banged my knee so hard when I was tackled to the floor last night. My entire body is covered in bruises from the fight that ensued as he tried to roll me over. I thought he was going to rape me, but he merely put his hands around my throat and started to choke the life out of me.

When I reach the couch, I sit awkwardly on the edge of the cushion with my hands clenched tightly on my lap, head down.

“Tell me everything,” he says.

Raising my head, I face the man I used to love with every breath in my body.

And then I do just as he commands.





CHAPTER 3




Kynan


I flip the bacon, glancing up from my efforts to look across the kitchen, through the living room, and to the curved staircase that leads to the second floor where Joslyn is still apparently sleeping. I had hoped the smell of food would lure her down, since I don’t relish the thought of having to wake her up. Even the thought of hearing her husky morning voice or seeing her hair mussed from a long night’s sleep would bring back too many unsolicited memories of when we were a couple.

Besides, it’s still super early yet. I get up at five every morning to get in a quick workout, followed by breakfast and coffee. I’m on my third cup now. My stomach is growling because I’ve delayed starting to cook by at least an hour to give Joslyn an opportunity to get some more sleep. She looked bad last night, and she needs the rest.

Just the thought of those marks on her causes fury to swirl within me and I try to push it right back down again. I’ve got no business being enraged on Joslyn’s behalf. She’s nothing but a client to me now. I should only feel a healthy amount of concern for her safety with a pressing need for due diligence to catch this creepy fuck as soon as possible.

That’s it.

Truthfully, she deserves nothing more from me than a professional job well done.

It’s true that once, a long time ago, she had my love and undying devotion, but that was summarily killed when she left me with no explanation and moved to another state to pursue her career. One might think that’s a little harsh of me, because shouldn’t she be able to chase her dreams? And the answer is hell yes. But I’d offered to give up my career to follow her wherever her career might take her, so it was extra crushing when I wasn’t invited along.

The object of my current ire comes down the stairs, and I hate how much I’m attracted to her as she carefully descends by supporting herself with one hand on the banister. She’s now two days post attack from the stalker who managed to break into her house, and I can tell she’s even more sore today than yesterday.

Despite everything, she’s a goddamned punch to the gut. Joslyn is even more beautiful now than she was twelve years ago at the age of nineteen. She’s filled out in all the right places and despite the haunted expression in her blue eyes, her face is a work of art any man would be hard pressed to ignore. Her hair is more of a platinum blonde than when we were together, a color I can only describe as silver moonlight. Granted, it could use a good brushing, but I find the pale color suits her even better except it makes the bruising on her neck stand out in stark contrast.

Those marks, clearly from a man’s hands around her throat, were the first thing I noticed when I laid eyes on her last night. I’d battled a rage so intense I’d almost stumbled down the last two steps when I came down to meet her.