Seal'd to Her: A Billionaire Second Chance Romance Read online

  His brown eyes flashed surprise behind his black glasses because he’d listened to many drunken tirades about the woman beside me. Luckily, Ethan was a professional and recovered quickly.

  “Good to meet you Jaya. I’m Ethan Gellar, I handle all the tech and gadgets you work with. Plus government contracts.”

  “Nice to meet you Ethan. This is a pretty impressive setup you guys have. Congratulations.”

  And just like that she’d won him over. “Colt when you have time we need to talk about Japan.” The Japanese government was offering us a ridiculous sum of money for a piece of tech and Ethan didn’t want to sell his baby, no matter how many zeroes they offered.

  “I’ll get with you later,” I told him and guided Jaya down the hall. “Let’s eat.”

  She looked up at me, confusion and mistrust swimming in her big green eyes, pink lips parted on a gasp. “I’m not hungry.”

  “Of course you are. Come on.” I grabbed her hand in mine, not paying any attention to the looks of my employees as I pulled her away. I had a feeling she would try to wiggle out of lunch so I’d planned ahead.

  “Where are we going?”

  “You’ll see.” I pulled her down the long corridor that lead to many of the main rooms for surveillance, planning, conference calls and training sessions. Downstairs was a weight room but that’s not where we were headed. Instead I took her to one of the subterranean levels so we could enjoy our working lunch.

  She gasped as we stepped off the elevator, staring around at the cement and glass that surrounded her. Six-inch-thick doors led into eight different rooms that were used as bunks, panic rooms and classified planning missions.

  “What is all this?”

  I leaned forward and whispered in her ear, letting my lips brush against her. “This is the safest place in the city.” Jaya could lie to herself all she wanted, but her body told the truth. She was still affected by me too.

  Taking a step back she looked up at me. “Care to elaborate?”

  I pushed open one of the doors and nudged her inside. “This is a bunk room and a panic room. Each of these rooms has their own oxygen supply, enough to last about fourteen days. Food and water, one change of clothes for up to six people and a satellite phone.”

  Her blonde brows arched high. “Planning for the end of the world?”

  “We have quite a few lucrative government contracts and this is where we discuss them, but this is also an easy way to protect clients because no one knows it exists.”

  I’d made sure of it by purchasing the building and adding these floors. Without filing them with the city. State and local government workers were the easiest to bribe and my clients were heads of state, billionaires, industry titans, pretty much the exact kind of people susceptible to kidnapping. And worse.

  “Come on.” I grabbed her hand again and took her to the room set up for us.

  The door opened and her stomach growled. In true Jaya fashion, she didn’t flush with embarrassment, she just laughed and moved inside.

  “Okay so maybe I am a little hungry.”

  “Let’s eat then.” She sat down and I took the seat beside her. “I got a little bit of everything because I didn’t know what you might like.”

  She shrugged. “You could have asked.”

  “And give you a chance to come up with a reasonable excuse to get out of lunch?”

  She sighed and pushed her plate away. “I’m not trying to be rude Colt. But I was pretty clear about what I expected when I accepted this job.”

  Yeah she had been, and I fucking hated it. “I know. But I can’t let you ignore me.”

  “Why?” Her voice sounded pained, like it fucking hurt that I wouldn’t leave her alone.

  “Because Jaya. I’ve been missing you, and you’ve been hating me for leaving to pursue my dreams.” Her eyes widened in surprise and she shook her head, unwilling to hear me. “Yes. I was in love with you.”

  “So much you just had to leave me, right?” A hand went up quickly to stop my words. “No, don’t answer that. It doesn’t matter.”

  “If I hadn’t joined the Navy, hadn’t become a SEAL then I wouldn’t have any of this. This is what I’m supposed to be doing with my life Jaya, but that doesn’t mean I don’t regret how we ended. Not a day has gone by that I haven’t thought of you. Of us.” I smacked a palm against the table. “This was supposed to be our future dammit!”

  Her eyes had darkened and turned emotionless, her spine ramrod straight, and I knew for now she was lost to me.

  “Well you certainly have done well for yourself. But I think we should just get back to work.” Standing she pushed back her chair and waited for me to move.

  I stayed, chewing the dipped Italian roast beef with delicious spicy peppers. “Then you should sit down and eat because this is where we’ll be working the rest of the day.”

  I must be a sick bastard because I felt immense fucking pleasure at the way her skin paled and her shoulders slumped.

  “Fine.”

  Yeah, I was an asshole and I damn proud of it.

  Jaya

  Whoever came up with physical therapy must have been part of some Venezuelan torture squad because I felt utterly drained. Exhausted, and in so much pain I could hardly see straight. But it was only Wednesday afternoon and I still had hours of work left to go.

  Today was the last day of training so if I could just get through the day, I wouldn’t have to spend hours and hours alone with Colt. The man drove me insane. He was everywhere, always smiling at me and touching me in those soft gentle caresses, those familiar brushes that drove me crazy. Made me want him. And then his scent! Why did he have to smell so damn good? I couldn’t escape his smiling, smoldering blue eyes. Whenever I closed my own, his eyes were there, splitting me open and making me relive the past.

  The worst part? I really liked the man he’d become. Colt was smart and ambitious, determined and dedicated to his company and employees. It was clear to me that they both liked and admired him, which made it hard for me to hang on to my anger.

  And Sharpe Focus, hell it was everything a security firm should be. Impressive, diverse and fully competent. In moments of quiet contemplation, I could admit to feeling proud of all that Colt had accomplished, but I also felt envious. The death of our love, for him, had been for the best because it allowed him to continue on his set path and achieve his goals. For me it was a pain I could never escape. Instead of continuing my education or joining the FBI as I intended, I got my degree and took the first law enforcement job I found.

  Look how that ended up.

  I took a few deep breaths as I entered the tall grey building that housed Sharpe Focus and smiled at the pretty middle aged office manager.

  “Hi Ann. I got you a nutmeg latte.” The woman helped me a lot over the past few days and I knew she rarely left her desk.

  “Oh bless you Jaya!” She grabbed the cup with both hands and took a long, soothing sip. “So good.”

  Did I enjoy anything like that anymore? I knew I didn’t, but I knew Mom was right about one thing. I had to try to enjoy my life again. Not that I enjoyed it before. I enjoyed my job because I was damn good at it but my personal life had been a disaster since, well always.

  “Do you know where I’ll be this afternoon?” I couldn’t waste time thinking like that. I needed to learn this job and put some distance between me and Colt.

  “Colt wants you in logistics.” I doubt she meant it to sound as dirty as it did, but damn it gave me thoughts. Dirty thoughts I shouldn’t be having.

  “Thanks,” I told her and made my way to the elevators. The first floor was for client meetings but I was headed to the third floor.

  “Jaya, wait up!” I turned and found Ann breathless and smiling. “I have your badges and everything so you can come and go as you please. Colt will do your bio and hand scans, just remind him.” She left and I stepped inside the waiting elevator, using the time to toughen myself up. To steel myself against the onslaught of emoti
ons Colt caused in me.

  Colt was already inside the main logistics room waiting for me. Alone. I could stand for hours watching his strong, impressive profile. But I wouldn’t. That way lie madness.

  “Hey Boss.”

  He turned and smiled and I dug my fingernails into my palms to stop the way my heart, my body reacted to him. “Jaya. How was therapy?”

  “Shitty, but I made it through so let’s focus on that.”

  “I am glad to hear that. Come have a seat and we can do a few practice runs.”

  He showed me the different software programs used and what each team would need based on the job and it all seemed easy enough even though it wasn’t in my skillset.

  “Why do you think I’d be good at this Colt?” I could do it, of that I felt confident. But I needed to know why he thought so.

  “Easy. You’re organized, borderline anal retentive. Your bossy as hell and you’ll do whatever it takes to get shit done.”

  A smile played on my lips at his accurate assessment, but I didn’t want him to see how his compliment affected me.

  We spent the next few hours setting up logistics for fake jobs until Colt felt certain I knew exactly what to do and who to call if I didn’t.

  “Seems pretty straightforward. How long will I have to get them done?”

  “As soon as the dates are nailed down, the logistics will begin and continue until our team lands back here.”

  It sounded intensive, but this job was just the distraction I needed in my life, even if my boss was the biggest distraction of all.

  “Okay. How many jobs are usually going at once?”

  He looked away as he answered. “Anywhere from ten to thirty.” He grinned at my astonished look. “I told you we’re growing fast.”

  “That’s warp speed Colt!”

  That infectious grin crossed his face, caught me so off guard I didn’t notice his hand brushing my cheek until the smooth warm skin tingled. “Ah, my little Star Trek geek.”

  Why did he have to say it with such affection? Everyday around him was a struggle and when he was sweet it reminded me too much of the boy I’d loved with all my heart, which forced me to think about him. About everything I’d lost.

  I glared at him but the twitch of my lips gave me away. An escaped yawn served as a much-needed reminder that these long days were kicking my ass, and that I wasn’t at one hundred percent yet.

  “Sorry. What’s next?”

  Inky black brows rose in surprise. “Seriously Jaya? You can barely keep your eyes open. Let’s go. I’ll walk you to your car.”

  “No need,” I shot up, swayed a little from the pain before rooting my feet to the ground. “I sold my car before coming home so I’m taking the train. See you in the morning.” I barely made it to the door before Colt’s hand wrapped around my bicep and stopped me in my tracks. “What?”

  “I’ll take you home. Come on,” he said as he herded me to his office and then down to the parking garage. His hand stayed on my arm and it was too much closeness. Hell the day as a whole had been too much damned closeness and I needed a break before I did something stupid. Irrevocably stupid.

  “Thanks for the ride.”

  “Anytime Jaya,” he said, leaning close and pressing his body into mine as he pulled open the door on his black SUV. I knew what was about to happen and I couldn’t bring myself to stop it. Blue eyes smoldered as he licked his lips and lowered them to mine.

  I should have stopped it but Colt’s mouth had always been one of my favorite things about him. And fuck me, he still knew how to use it. Soft and gentle at first, his mouth made love to mine. Licking my lips until he entered on a gasp and I welcomed him in, running my good hand through his close-cropped hair, loving the way the sharp edges felt against my hand, the way his mouth felt against mine. Then he angled my head, deepening the kiss until it burned so hot I felt sweat forming on my forehead, between my breasts. The kiss was a mix of past and present, good and bad, wanting and needing. Love and hate.

  I leaned back and accepted everything he gave me, pressing my hips gently against his, moaning into his mouth at the feel of his cock so hard behind his zipper. So lost in the kiss I didn’t realize my hand was trailing up the ridges of his abs, the smooth skin covering hard muscles of his chest. He gasped and pressed his cock harder against me when my nail scraped his nipple.

  “Fuck, Jaya,” he whispered and nibbled my ear.

  Shit this felt so good. Better than anything I’d felt since the last time I was in Colt’s arms. And that thought pulled me up short and I broke our connection. My gaze landed on his chest, and sure enough I had opened all the buttons and let my hands roam his body.

  “Shit. That shouldn’t have happened.”

  He trapped my hand on his chest with a smug smile. “Should have happened sooner.” Leaning in and giving me another whiff of his earthy masculine scent that screamed sex, he whispered, “And I can’t wait to do it again.” He punctuated his words with another press of his hips, another fiery kiss that left me breathless and aching. “It’s been too long Jaya.”

  Fuck yeah it had been too long. But it would be even longer. Like forever. I pushed at his chest and used my good arm to push up into the high seat of the SUV. I glared at him when he slid behind the wheel.

  “I’m only accepting this ride because I’m exhausted. Don’t read more into it,” I warned with as stern an expression I could muster given my current state of arousal.

  Colt, in response, only smirked.

  The bastard.

  ***

  The only thing I hated more than waking up early was moving, and today both were in order so my mood was angry with a side of annoyed. Still, I smiled when I found Mom had left me two mini breakfast sandwiches in the warming oven.

  “You’re the best Mom,” I whispered and took them and a cup of coffee to the balcony for one last look at this beautiful view. The lake below, even on what looked to be a clear and sunny day, was fierce and intimidating. Like the city itself.

  I would miss it here, but having my own space was important and the house I found in Wicker Park had plenty of space. Too much space according to Mom.

  “What does a single woman need with five bedrooms?”

  I didn’t need that many rooms. but I had two stories and a basement for what I paid to rent a two-bedroom apartment in Miami. It was a great deal and it was mine thanks to a quick fourteen-day escrow and a motivated seller. After another cup of coffee to steel myself for one-handed moving, the bell sounded indicating the movers had arrived. I opened the door and froze.

  “Colt. What are you doing here?”

  He snuck a look behind me at the boxes stacked against the wall and smirked. “How are you planning to move with one working arm?”

  “There are these guys you pay to come grab your shit from one location and take it to another, ever heard of them? I believe they’re called professional movers.” I rolled my eyes and went back to my room to get my shoes and kick a few more boxes closer to the door.

  Colt followed as I figured he would. “Why waste money on them when you work with some of the best physical specimens on the planet?” To make his point he flexed his biceps and I won’t lie, I ogled those golden muscles and imagined clinging to them as he slid deep inside my wet, aching body.

  Damn I needed to get laid if Colt had this kind of an affect on me. “Because,” I crossed my arms to remind myself I didn’t want him. “Those specimens might like a day without heavy lifting.”

  Why did it have to be Colt that woke my body up this way? I’d had a few relationships over the years, none of them serious or long lasting, and none of them ever made me feel half of what I felt this past week with Colt. If this didn’t stop we’d find ourselves in bed together soon. And I couldn’t let that happen.

  “Nah. They’re happy to do it, and with our help it’ll take half the time.” When I didn’t respond, he smiled. “They’re downstairs waiting for the okay to come up and start hauling boxes.”


  I should be mad but it would take half the time which meant I could spend the rest of the weekend unpacking.

  “Seriously?”

  “Yep.” Without waiting he shot off a text and walked around me, scanning the room. “What else do we need to do?”

  “Nothing. These boxes are all that I have here and we’ll need to make a stop at the storage unit I rented to hold the few pieces I brought with me from Miami. “I’ll have to buy everything else when I have time.”

  Colt nodded and took control as he always did, directing his men and the movers on packing up the truck, rearranging things at the storage unit and overseeing the unpacking at my new house.

  “Nice place,” he winked when he found me slowly unpacking cleaning supplies in the kitchen.

  “Yeah, thanks,” I grumbled, grateful for the help but feeling pretty damn useless as a bunch of virtual strangers helped move my life. It wasn’t much, just a ton of boxes and my favorite pieces of furniture, a king size four poster bed and a deep blue sectional sofa. It wouldn’t be nearly enough for this house but it was all I needed for now.

  When the movers left, I placed an order for several pizzas, two types of wings, beer and chocolate cake to thank everyone for the muscle. There were people everywhere, lounging against the wall, crammed on the sofa and even sprawled on the floor eating and drinking. Laughing and comfortable with one another.

  “Thank you guys so much, I can’t tell you how much your help means to me. I promise to have a barbecue to thank you properly.”

  “Make sure you make plenty of that barbecue sauce,” Ty, a former Ranger, called with a hot wing sauce smile on his face. I frowned, wondering how on earth he knew about my sauce. “Colt is always complaining about not being able to find good sauce,” he said, shooting Colt a smug grin.

  “Oh. Well in that case I’ll make a big batch.” I found a seat on one corner of the sofa and leaned my head back, closing my eyes for just a moment as exhaustion made my bones feel heavy, muscles sluggish. The next time I opened my eyes the room was empty and I realized I’d fallen asleep. But just as that realization occurred, a noise came from upstairs and I froze, trying to remember where in the hell I put my gun. Wicker Park was supposed to be a decent neighborhood, but that didn’t mean shit to a certain type of criminal.