Hardwired (The Brotherhood Series) Read online

  Luke finished off his bowl of spaghetti and ended up eating another one. Bella had requested spaghetti the night before, stating she was sick of fast food. It made Jen feel good that Bella liked her cooking enough to miss it. Cooking wasn’t something she really enjoyed doing, but she could manage a few things. Before she and Luke had mostly just eaten out, or he had cooked a lot. Something as normal as Luke eating a meal she fixed felt like such a big deal to Jen now.

  “You’re thinking very loudly, my Ahava.”

  “Sorry. Just nerves I suppose.”

  “It’s more than that. Tell me.”

  “Once that plane takes off, I want to leave the past behind. No talk of revenge or finding out who did what. If we’re going somewhere safe where they can’t find us, then I want to just leave it all back here.”

  Luke looked at her, setting his bowl down on the coffee table between them. His silence spoke volumes about what he was thinking. Jen knew he was breaking down what she had said and wrapping his mind around what she meant.

  “If I can’t give this up, you don’t want me to come.”

  “Luke, I want you. For me, it has been and will always be you, but Bella has been through too much. If you think for one second you’re going to have to execute some kind of retribution, then I don’t think you should go. We run the risk of you bringing the fight to our door. Bella’s seen too much already.”

  “You’re a good mom,” Luke said after a few beats of silence.

  “And you’re a good dad. I hope you understand what I’m saying.”

  “I do. I want you and Bella more than anything else in this world,” he took a pause, which made Jen’s heart break,” but knowing someone took you from me, I don’t think I can let that go.”

  Jen wanted to beg him or find a way to argue her point until he changed his mind, but she knew it was all pointless. There was no man more stubborn than Luke.

  “Do you still not know where the plane’s taking us?”

  “No.”

  “Will you ever be able to find us?”

  “There is no one on this Earth who can keep me from coming back to you.”

  She wondered if he realized the words were the last ones he had spoken to her before he left them for five years. They had haunted her so many nights, and as he said them out loud again a shiver ran up her spine. She wanted to soak him in just the way he was, in case she was once again left with nothing more than a memory. His dark hair was unruly from unconsciousness, and he had a scruffy face. That was Jen’s favorite; remembering the way it felt on her skin made her cheeks flush. He had a black tank top on that showcased most of the tattoos decorating his arms and shoulders. His jeans had a way of fitting him just tight enough that only the top part of his briefs peeked out. That had always tempted her.

  What had started off as a nostalgic once over, quickly turned heated. Luke’s gaze darkened when her eyes finally met his after her thorough inspection. Then he took his turn. Jen had on a plain black shirt and a pair of blue jean shorts. His eyes hung on her breasts where the fabric pulled tight over them. Then he moved further, and as his gaze hit her shorts, Jen fought the urge to spread her legs slightly for him. Luke smirked as if he could read her mind.

  “I always loved your legs. They feel amazing around my waist, like you were made for me to be between them,” he purred.

  Luke jumped up then, his eyes losing their lust covered haze, and becoming panicked, almost sick looking. Jen stood up and moved around in front of him. He stepped back from her.

  “Luke, are you okay? Should I get Dean?”

  “No, I’m fine-it’s just- I have to tell you something. I didn’t know, I mean I had no memory of you. None of it ever meant anything, and now I just feel… dirty,” he rambled on until Jen put a finger to his lips to silence him.

  The thought had crossed her mind a couple times, but in the grand scheme of things it seemed so irrelevant to her. Had there been a man who had done anything for her, she probably would have slept with him. Five years was a long time to go without.

  “Luke, that doesn’t matter. Do you love any of those women?”

  “No, God no!” He exclaimed looking horrified.

  “You’re here with me right now, aren’t you?”

  Luke nodded.

  “Do you want to touch me as bad as I want you to?”

  She lifted his hand and placed it over her breast. Luke needed no encouragement to knead it softly. He used his other hand to pull her closer to him.

  “Let me cleanse you,” she whispered, seconds before kissing him.

  Chapter Forty-One

  Luke

  He was lost in a euphoria of emotions. He felt guilty and dirty for all of his partners from the past five years. Jen was being too understanding; it made him uncomfortable. For once, he would have rather her get angry and lash out. It’s what he deserved.

  A very different thing was happening, though. Her tongue pushed passed his lips to mate with his, driving all other thoughts out of his mind.

  “Where’s our room?” He asked, through panted breaths.

  Jen turned and held his hand to lead him to their room. Luke watched the way her ass flexed with every step. The woman oozed sex appeal with her shapely body, but the most attractive thing about her was that she knew how to move it. Her hips had a sway to them that was natural and as seductive as the tones of an old blues song.

  He closed the bedroom door behind him and leaned against it. Jen turned to him and finished her walk to the bed backwards, her eyes remaining on him. There was a large sliding glass door off the back of the bedroom that led to a deck. The sun filtered in on Jen, illuminating her beautiful golden skin. His skin tingled, itching for her touch. Luke was determined to go slower. She was a woman meant to be savored.

  Jen slowly undressed. With every piece of clothing she tossed on the floor, he grew harder. He rolled his shoulders. Jen reached behind her back and undid her bra, then she grasped the straps and eased them down her arms, at a painfully slow pace. Her fingers drifted over her breasts seconds before they were revealed to him. They continued on their path stopping to trace the top of her panties before slipping them down her perfect legs.

  “Get on the bed,” he ordered her.

  Ever the eager lover, she slid herself onto the bed, adjusting herself so that her legs were spread for him. Luke stalked toward the bed, his eyes blazing so hot with desire, he felt like he would burn down the room. He ditched his shirt on the way, and undid the button on his jeans, allowing himself a bit more room. Then he knelt at the opening of her legs on the bed.

  Her hands were fisted in the covers at her sides.

  “Touch yourself,” he hissed.

  “I want you to do it,” she said with a small pout to her lips.

  He lifted an eyebrow at her comment. Luke wasn’t a dominant by any means, but Jen had never questioned him in the bedroom before. She was a fierce woman, though, so he didn’t take her submission lightly.

  “I won’t be slow or gentle, Jen.”

  “Have I ever asked you to be either of those things?” She asked, taunting him with a devilish smirk.

  Luke grabbed her thighs, digging his fingers in her delicate flesh, jerking her down so that she was fully spread for him. He leaned up and took her nipple between his teeth, gently at first teasing it with the tip of his tongue. Jen gasped, arching into him. Jen finally grabbed the hair on the back of his head, dragging him up to her lips. He drank from them, taking the love she offered him there.

  When she released him, he dragged his tongue over both of her nipples as he moved down her body. He blew a long breath out over her womanhood once he was there, watching the goosebumps race up her body. She shuddered and moaned, letting him know she still liked it. Luke slid two fingers into her, slowly easing them in and out as he watched her writhe against his hand. His thumb circled her clit, giving her just enough, but not what she needed to find her orgasm.

  The delayed gratification had always been
Jen’s favorite. Luke loved that he remembered everything she had once enjoyed and could give them to her again. His pleasure came from giving her release. He felt her tighten around his fingers, and knew she was throbbing with need. Luke finally dipped his head down and used his tongue to bring her the rest of the way.

  Jen’s fingers dug into his shoulders as she screamed his name. That was another thing about Jen, the woman wasn’t a quiet lover by any means. How she had managed to stay quiet in the motel bathroom he would never know. Luke got off the bed long enough to ditch his pants. Then he immediately covered her again with his body. She was so wet, he slid in without any assistance. Once he was fully embedded in her, he felt a rush of emotions wash over him.

  The deeply ingrained desire to claim her was the strongest it had ever been. He pulled out and thrust back into her hard. Jen’s wrapped her arms under his, her fingers digging into his back, careful to avoid the more sensitive area where his hard drive was. Luke braced himself with his hands on the headboard as he set their pace. It was hard and full of passion as she gladly accepted everything he gave her. She met his every thrust.

  There was something powerful between them that never seemed to let him hold back. There had never been any sweet and innocent love making between them; it had always been raw and full of hunger. He felt Jen tighten around him, and her nails dug deeper. Her breath was rushing in and out of her lungs in quick sultry pants that drove Luke crazy.

  A small cracking noise filtered in through the moans and heavy breathing, but Luke ignored it as he pounded himself inside of her. Jen screamed his name with release as the wooden frame on the bed gave way to his brutality and broke. Luke moved fast, swiping Jen up in his arms and rolling off the side, cradling their fall onto the floor.

  Jen giggled as she adjusted herself on top of him. Luke’s adrenaline only fueled his need to find his own orgasm. It didn’t take Jen long to realize it, either. She lifted herself up his length and then dropped back down. Luke grabbed her hips, lifting her with ease and pumping her up and down his length. He drove into her with his hips repeatedly, her skin covering in another round of goose bumps. Luke locked eyes with her, commanding her silently to come again with him. Jen’s mouth dropped open, her tongue darting out to lick her lips. The woman was a seductress. Luke tightened his hold on her hips and pinned her against him as he poured himself inside of her.

  Jen collapsed onto his chest, as they both tried to catch their breath. Luke stroked her back. Everything about her was the opposite of him. She was small and soft where he was large and callous. Her nature was soft and full of light and hopefulness, where he wanted to live in the underbelly of the world enjoying the darkness and the fight.

  She rose up over him again, the sun shining on her, or maybe she was making it shine, he wasn’t sure. He saw her for what she was; she was his warrior of the light. Her softness was his strength, her love was his compass, and she had been and would always be his home.

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Luke

  He and Jen spent the rest of the day together, enjoying their peace. Luke knew it wouldn’t last long. Once they had word that Bella and Jen’s parents had landed safely at their unknown destination, Luke and Jen would have to prepare for their departure. Luke tried to shake the nagging thought of finding out who those responsible for what had happened were, but it seemed impossible.

  There was nothing else in the world Luke wanted more than to give Jen exactly what she asked for. He understood and agreed with her assessment. The problem was that he couldn’t seem to shut that part of himself down. The part that thrived on the chaos and darkness. Every fiber of his being hummed with pleasure over the thought of catching the people responsible and making them pay.

  “You’re tensing up,” Jen commented.

  They were curled up on the couch, eating chips and watching something stupid on television. Luke had no idea what was on; he hadn’t paid any attention. His mind was too busy.

  “I’m just ready to hear something about Bella and your parents.”

  “Me too. Do you really not know where they’re going? I can’t believe not even we can know. I mean we’re going to be right behind them soon.”

  “Your whole life can change in a matter of seconds; trust me on that.”

  “I would die before ever giving up the location of Bella, and I know you feel the same way.”

  “I do, and I believe you, but you also don’t have a hard drive hanging out of your back that allows people to control you. Who’s to say they wouldn’t get it out of me that way and then go after her? We’ll know soon enough.”

  As if on cue, Dean emerged from the room he had been holed up in. Luke wasn’t sure if it was to give him and Jen privacy or if Dean was just giving Luke space.

  “They made it. The plane is on its way back. Kip should be here soon to take us over to the tarmac.”

  “How long of a flight will we have?”

  “Nice try, girlie. I don’t even know where you’re going.”

  Jen slumped back against Luke. He knew she felt hopeless, and for her this wasn’t normal. Luke had never experienced it from the perspective of being a parent with a child somewhere in the unknown before, but he had witnessed the process a hundred times with people he had helped move.

  “When do we leave?”

  “Less than an hour.”

  Dean left them alone again. Jen snuggled deeper into Luke’s chest, with a heavy sigh.

  “We should pack. It won’t be long until we’ll be reunited with Bella.”

  “It’s only been today, and I miss her. How are you feeling?”

  “I feel fine. There’s something about ice cold water that makes your body snap back.”

  “I was against the idea. I should probably apologize to Dean, I screamed at him…a lot.”

  Luke shot her a wink. It didn’t shock him at all that Jen had gone toe to toe with Dean as if he wasn’t a trained Frog Man. Even though Dean had taken the to the intelligence side of things for Luke, that didn’t mean the man wasn’t lethal. There had been no other operative that Luke would have rather had fighting alongside of him besides Dean.

  “He can take it.”

  “I remember when you went through Hell Week, telling me about the night swims in freezing cold water. I would think being that cold would make you not be able to focus at all.”

  “Maybe for some, but that’s why there are less than ten thousand men who have been strong enough to earn the title of Frog Men. The cold water feels just as natural to me as anything else. I can zero in on my mission once that water washes over me.”

  “You’re going to miss it aren’t you?”

  “Not as much as I have missed you.”

  “I’m sorry you can’t have both. If I could make it so for you, I would.”

  “You have given me the world.”

  The faint sound of a car pulling in tugged at Luke’s ears. He kissed Jen on the temple as he moved her so he could go ensure that it was just Kip. The young soldier stepped out of the blacked-out SUV and headed toward the house. Luke had known Dean for years and had never realized that he had a cousin in the Navy.

  When Kip came through the door and saw Luke he saluted him.

  “At ease, New Guy.”

  As soon as his hand dropped down, Luke grabbed Kip’s left shoulder and pinned him to the door, with his forearm across Kip’s neck. Most men would have probably just asked the kid some questions, but Luke wasn’t most men. He was prepared to kill the young man on the spot if he so much as flinched.

  Luke stared at Kip, but the young man held his gaze with ease. He felt Jen approach before she spoke.

  “Luke,” she sighed.

  Kip’s eyes still never wavered from Luke’s. Finally satisfied, Luke released Kip who didn’t even seem fazed by the exchange. Dean walked in, easily sensing the tension in the room.

  “I’m going to go pack our things,” Jen said, giving each man a pointed stare.

  It was a silent
demand for them to all behave while she was gone. Jen didn’t have to say much to assert herself, she ruled the roost. It was her softness that commanded authority. Everyone around her flocked to her gentle aura and longed to bask in its glow.

  “How’d it go, Kip?” Dean asked, once Jen was out of sight.

  “All clear there and back.”

  “They won’t have given up that easily, and I can’t imagine we have much time before they trace my handiwork back to us.”

  “We just need to wait on that plane. I think it’s safer to make the move now and set up a new series of signal bounces; give them a fresh path to trace. That should buy us enough time to see these two off.”

  Luke wasn’t accustomed to not being the one calling the shots. Kip was young, but he spoke like a seasoned operative.

  “How old are you, Kip?” Luke asked, unable to shake the paranoia creeping up his spine.

  “Luke, I think he’s more than proven his loyalty and capability,” Dean growled.

  “I don’t know if those two things can ever be adequately proven anymore,” Luke countered, shooting a disgusted glare to Dean.

  “Fuck off, man. You think you’ve got it all figured out? You fucking won. You’ve got the girl; you’ve got a free ride out, so don’t start spouting shit to me. I helped you get here,” Dean spewed taking a threatening step toward Luke.

  Luke felt his adrenaline spike, but there was no chip to either enhance or dwindle it. It was his own surge of adrenaline. He ached for the cracking of flesh and bone under his fist; he was apparently hardwired for that all on his own.

  “Go five years not knowing you had a wife and child while everyone else did, then come at me with your shit,” Luke hissed, taking a step closer, putting himself and Dean almost nose to nose.

  “I may sit behind that computer, but I can, and will, kick your ass.”

  “I wish you fucking would.”

  “My God just whip ‘em out and start pissing everywhere, why don’t you? You two back up and put your peckers away,” Jen scoffed returning to witness the heated exchange.