Bear-ly Human (Bear Claw Security Book 4) (9 page)

She nodded. “All right.”

“You sure nothing else was bothered?” he asked.

“Yes.”

He took her hand. “Okay, for now we have to go out there and pretend like nothing happened, okay?”

She looked up at him. “I don’t know how you can be so calm.”

“I’m not calm. I’m pissed as hell that someone messed with you.” He put a finger under her chin. “But I also know there’s no one that can mess with you as long as I’m with you. So I’m not worried.” Then he kissed her lightly on the lips, sealing his words with a silent promise. Her body melted in against him, and she felt her worries wash away.

“Okay,” she said. “I trust you.”

He cocked his head. “That means a lot.”

She put her hand in his. “Good. Okay. Out to meet the day.”

He laughed and led her out of the room. “Think I’ll make a good sailor?”

She nodded. “I think so. As long as you don’t fall off the boat.”

“Honey, not unless you fall in and I have to go in to save you.”

She snorted. “Honey, I’ve grown up around boats all my life. Unlikely.”

“Well, just know I’ll be there to rescue you if you do.”

She laughed at that and they walked out into the hallway to greet the others.

“Get your swimsuits!” May called out, wearing a colorful cover-up and flip-flops.

Rob checked his watch. “Gotta get out before the water gets choppy.”

Hera gave Herc an apologetic smile. “Here we go.”

“It’s fine,” he said. “It’s always an adventure with you.”

Then he grinned and let her hand go to return to his room. She watched his ass all the way up the stairs, a small grin on her face.

H
ercules had
to admit Hera’s family had some nice ways of doing things. The private pond he’d seen turned out to be more of a private lake, and there was a boathouse on the other side, where a large sailing boat was docked. Plenty big to hold all of them and definitely different than any boat Hercules had been on.

He felt acutely out of place, but at the same time, whenever he looked at Hera, he felt at home again. At peace.

She was relaxing on a padded bench and letting the breeze hit her face and lift her hair as her dad and mom handed out finger sandwiches and little flutes of champagne. Hercules took his and sat next to her, paying no attention to Bentley, who was loudly proclaiming it was about time for a swim.

Without warning, Bentley pulled his shirt over his head, ruffling his short blond hair, and proudly bared his chest, which was broad and showed the signs of someone who’d been carefully hitting the gym.

He looked over at Hera, and then his face fell in disappointment as he realized she was currently busy feeding Hercules a piece of sandwich with her fingers.

Hercules sent a cocky grin to the other man as he slowly chewed her offering and then pulled off a piece of his sandwich and placed his between her waiting lips. Her blond lashes closed softly, and she swallowed and then looked up at him.

Feeding her was a bit erotic. Well, everything with her was a bit erotic.

He heard Bentley clear his throat. “Are we just going to sit around, or are we going to swim?”

Hera looked out around them. “In the lake?” She had on a white crocheted cover-up and beneath it, Herc could make out the tantalizing hints of a dark-blue bikini that highlighted all the right curves. Then again, all her curves were right to him.

Bentley snorted. “Of course.”

“Isn’t it a little cold?” May asked, sitting next to her husband, who was watching the exchange as usual.

Bentley snorted, a sign of disrespect that had Rob scowling, but kept his attention on Hercules and Hera. “You think it’s too cold, John?”

Hercules raised an eyebrow at the water around him. He could remember swimming through water with chunks of actual ice in it. “Nah, looks comfortable.”

“Then why aren’t you in your swim trunks?” Bentley asked with a smirk. “Afraid you can’t measure up? Guess guys with bulk can’t be cut. Don’t feel bad about it,” he said, running a hand over his own abs.

Behind him, Adam smirked.

Dean, who’d been eating a sandwich and sitting by May, narrowed in on the situation with interest. Herc didn’t know why, but he got the vague feeling the other man was on his side. He’d have to look into that more later.

“Don’t feel bad if you’re a little fat,” Bentley said to Hercules, who simply raised his brow again. “Just what happens to big guys when they aren’t active.”

Hercules eyed the other man’s six-pack disinterestedly, then looked at Hera. “Valerie seems to find my body adequate.”

Rob nearly choked on his food, and May had to rub his back. Hera giggled and put a hand over Hercules’s stomach.

“So you can just put that shirt back on, Bentley, if it’s a contest you’re wanting,” Herc said.

Bentley folded his arms. “Isn’t anyone going to swim?”

Dean stood. “I could go for it.” He pulled off his tee and revealed a row of tight abs. Now that Hercules looked, the other man was probably what women would consider fairly handsome, but he was proud to see Hera didn’t even look him over.

As Dean walked to the edge of the boat and prepared to dive, Hera put a hand on Hercules’s arm.

“Want to go in?” she asked.

He looked down at her cover-up, unable to deny he wanted to see her swimsuit. “Might be a good day for it.”

“You’re going in?” May asked. “But it’s cold.”

Rob laughed and put an arm around his wife. “You didn’t always think it was so cold, back when we used to swim in it.”

She flushed, and her husband held her tighter.

Hercules cocked his head.

“Has your family always lived here?”

Rob nodded proudly. “Every generation. And it’s my hope Valerie will settle here, too.”

Hera was quiet at that and just leaned in against Hercules. Was that what she expected, that he would stay here with her like a kept man?

He shook his head, banishing the thought. She’d told him she had no expectations. She only wanted them together. They would have to work out how that could happen.

He heard a splash and saw Dean had jumped in. He looked over and saw the brown-haired man surface, treading water with a little shiver. “Not bad,” he said, waving at them. “Come on in.”

Hercules glanced at Hera, who made as if to pull off her cover-up.

He put a hand out to stop her. “Don’t.”

She looked up at him curiously. “Don’t you want to swim?”

He shook his head. Not with Bentley.

She ran a hand over his abs, whispering only for him to hear. “You know you could put him to shame…”

“I don’t care what anyone thinks but you,” he said, running a hand over her hair.

“You know what you two should do?” May called out, standing with a flute of champagne in her hand. “You should take a dinghy out and show Hercules our other little pond.”

Hercules’s eyes widened. “Other pond?”

Rob nodded. “On the other side of the estate. You could take a golf cart over there.”

Hercules looked at Hera.

“Isn’t anyone getting in?” Dean called from the water.

All eyes turned to Bentley, who stared Hercules down. “Who are you, anyway?”

Hercules was quiet, folding his arms over the white T-shirt he wore over his swim trunks. “No one who has to answer to you.”

Apparently, the thought of Hercules getting alone time with Hera was too much for Bentley to stand, and he walked forward, past Hera, and jabbed Hercules in the chest.

Rob stood, a look of warning on his face, but Hercules remained calm, appraising the other man.

“I don’t know of any banker named John in my circles. So how else could you know Valerie?”

Hercules let his lip curl at the other man. “I don’t think you want to run in my circles,” he muttered for Bentley’s ears only. The other man’s face went pale. “And if I were you, I’d stay out of my fiancée’s room, too.”

Bentley blanched. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Hercules narrowed his eyes on him, trying to tell if he was lying or not. He looked around to see the family’s stares on him, but it didn’t look like anyone had heard him. He put a hand out and pushed Bentley back easily.

“I think I’ll take your advice, May,” he said as Dean pulled himself back onto the boat and took a towel from a waiting May.

“Thanks for lunch,” Hercules said to May, who just nodded, confused by what had gone on between him and Bentley.

Hercules had a bad feeling about the other man. He just knew he was up to something.

No man should act that interested in another man’s fiancée.

He took Hera’s hand. “Come on. Let’s go.” They faced the water and then jumped in together and swam to where it was shallow enough to stand.

He put an arm around her and then swept her into his arms, and she shivered slightly. “Cold?” he asked, wrapping his arms around her.

She nodded. “Better than being on that awkward boat, though.”

“Would you really want to stay here?” he asked. “For life?”

She thought about it until they reached the shore and he put her down, rubbing her arms for heat. “I don’t know,” she said, leading the way to a small shed at the side of the house. There were spare towels there, and she wrapped one around herself and handed one to him. “I know my parents would like it.”

He pulled her against him, trying to get them both dry. “What would you like?”

She shook her head. “I’m all they have. Who else would take over Dad’s company?”

“Could you run it remotely?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” she said. “I mean, you have to understand they’ve done everything for me. I don’t know anything about your family, so I don’t know if you understand that, but it’s true. They’ve been good to me. I owe a certain duty to them.”

He nodded. He couldn’t really understand. Not at all. But he appreciated her loyalty. Just another factor to plug into the impossible equation he was trying to make work so they could be together.

He had to figure it out.

He took her hand, and she led him to another small outbuilding at the back of the house, where several golf carts were stored.

Hera got on one and gestured for him to join her, and then they took off out into the sunlight, Hercules holding their towels.

He looked behind him to see the other lake disappearing in the distance as they wound along a small path in the forest and came out to a sun-soaked clearing on the other side. And another pond.

“Wow,” he said.

“We’ll have privacy here,” she said, stepping out of the cart.

“I like that.” He took her hand as they walked toward a small dock at the edge of the pond, where a small two-person craft floated.

“A ride, my lady?”

She laughed. “Sure.”

He swept her off her feet and into his arms and carried her down the dock to place her in the boat. She looked up at him as he got in, being careful not to let his weight tip it over.

Then he got the oar and started to row them out onto the pond. She looked around them and let out a little sigh at the ripples spreading over the surface around them.

“What a beautiful day,” she said.

He agreed. Mostly because she was there. The sun was drying her cover-up, and he was wanting to see what was under it. “You can take that off now.”

“Oh?” she asked playfully, reaching for the hem.

He nodded vigorously.

“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours,” she said.

He whipped his shirt over his head, baring his torso, and enjoyed the mouthwatering look she gave him. “You’ve seen it before,” he said. “You saw it last night.”

“I was a little distracted,” she murmured.

Then she pulled off her cover-up, and his whole mouth went dry. It was one thing to see her in the darkness; it was another to observe every curve in the light.

“You’re gorgeous,” he said, moving forward to sit in front of her, one hand on either side of the boat to keep them from tipping.

“Thank you.” Her eyes were a vibrant blue in the sunlight.

He put up a hand to cup her face, loving the feel of her soft skin.

“Hercules,” she said tentatively.

“Yes?”

“Where would you want to stay, if you could…”

“No question,” he said. “Near Bear Claw Security. I love it there.” He let out a pent-up breath. “Do you think you could ever live out there?”

She nodded. “I think so. Why? You thinking future?”

He nodded. “I can’t help it with you.”

She put a hand over his, and they just stayed like that for a moment, letting the breeze move them over the lake, out to the middle where it was quiet and there was no one around them. No one who could get to them.

“If I kiss you here, no one will see us,” he said.

She nodded, tilting her face up to his. This was so different than when they’d been in the service. They had all the time in the world and all the peace and quiet. He stroked her hair back with one thumb and then took her mouth with his, just holding their lips together for a warm moment.

The cool breeze around them contrasted the soft warmth of the kiss, the feel of their bodies so close together, the gentle contact through which every feeling could be communicated.

I love you
, he tried to tell her.
I impossibly love you
.

H
er hand came
up to bury itself in his hair, yanking slightly in a way that stimulated him.

I want you
, she seemed to reply.

He looked around them and saw no one in sight, so he put a towel beneath them and lowered her into the dinghy with him so they were side by side, rocking with small waves, hidden from he world.

Just how he liked it.

He brushed her hair aside again, and she smiled. If only the guys at Bear Claw could see him now, they’d tease the life out of him. But the joke would be on them, because he’d never been so happy.

He knew he shouldn’t, but the more he did what he knew he shouldn’t, the happier he seemed to be.

He cupped her breast, almost bared by the bikini, and she arched back. He gently pushed aside the fabric and took her nipple in his mouth, suckling it. She was as sweet as he remembered, and her legs entwined around his, holding him tight. His hand covered her wet nipple as his mouth moved to the other, gently biting and licking that one as well, until he could tell she was building to a silent frenzy.

Only the rapid breaths from her full lips gave her away, and he covered her lips in a kiss to still even that as his hand dipped down between them at the juncture of her legs. He brought a finger up lazily to play at her apex, and she squirmed and let out a little squeak against his mouth. But then she pressed closer to him, asking for more. She didn’t even have to say anything.

His hand moved under the material, and he sucked in a breath as he felt her. Already hot and wet for him. He dipped inside for a second and then ran it over her tight little button, letting her writhe and bite down on his lower lip.

Then he swirled over her again, tighter this time, harder, and she pressed her hips against his, sandwiching his hand between them. But he didn’t let up. His finger slowly fell into a rhythm. Over and out. Over and out. She rocked against him, her breathing growing more frantic as her lips pressed against his, as her tongue fought his for dominance, and little growls of impatience emanated from her.

He bit down on her lower lip just enough to make her squirm and bite back, and then his hand picked up the pace while his other hand ran over her shoulder, her back, her breasts, her waist, and then cradled her head as he kissed her.

And then, with a long, hard stroke of his finger, she came in his arms, gasping his name, screaming quietly as if she had to let it out but couldn’t because they were more or less out in the open. He kissed her again, taking in every one of her words of pleasure, enjoying the feel of his own name on her lips, written against his with each movement.

As she came, her hips thrust into him, letting him know exactly what she wanted. But he hadn’t brought protection, and besides, he didn’t want to test their luck with someone coming, so he simply replaced her bikini and gathered her against him, cradling her with his body so she didn’t have to feel the hard floor of the dinghy.

Her hand wandered down over his abs and then his trunks, but he shook his head and stopped it by putting his hand over her own. “Not now.”

“What about you?” she asked, looking up into his eyes.

He gazed at her eyes and then at the blue sky they matched and just sighed. “I got everything I wanted,” he said simply. “Just rock with me now.”

She didn’t seem to have a problem with that and simply lay next to him and watched the clouds roll across the sky.

They stayed there for a long moment.

But as the clouds covered the sun and the sky began to get darker, an uneasy feeling wound through him. He looked down at Hera, peaceful with her afterglow and content to be with him, and was glad to see she didn’t seem to be sharing his tension.

But at the same time, with the gentle rocking of the boat and the way the light waned, something bothered him. He put an arm up under his head and wondered if he was simply tired.

“You want to take a quick nap?” she asked, putting a hand on his chest and stroking gently.

He nodded. The trip had been taking a toll on him, and he hadn’t slept well the night before. A nap with the woman he loved, here where they were safe from the whole world, sounded perfect. “Will the boat be okay?” he asked.

“Sure,” she said. “We won’t hit the shore, I think. If we do, no big deal.” She gave him a pleasant smile, and he wished he could just be as normal as her.

“Okay,” he said, putting an arm around her. “Then I’ll rest for a moment.”

He closed his eyes to the blue sky overhead and drifted off quickly to the soft murmuring of her voice. Words he couldn’t make out if he wanted to.

And then the blue sky disappeared. Something stabbed his arm and light flashed, and then there was darkness all around him. He didn’t know where he was. He thrashed violently and felt hands on his arms, pulling him down. Shouting. People calling him a monster.

He fought back. He wasn’t a monster. He was a person. He didn’t understand. He wanted out.

He roared and saw a creature he didn’t recognize in the glass in front of him. Saw people running.

Then another jab in his arm and everything black. He jerked and felt the bottom of his world drop out from under him.

A loud splash and then cold water everywhere, drowning him. He thrashed and then felt arms on him.

“Hercules. Hercules, wake up! Wake up!” He opened his eyes and pushed himself back. Then he realized they were on the shore, and Hera was sobbing. The boat was capsized nearby.

She put a hand over her face. “Why won’t you tell me what’s happening?” she asked brokenly. “Why do you keep having nightmares? Why can’t you tell me?”

He looked up at her, breathing heavily, realizing with horror that he could have hurt her when he overturned the boat.

He heard the whir of motors and realized her family was coming toward them.

He looked blearily at Hera’s dad, staring wide-eyed and leading the charge. As they came close, Hercules pushed to his knees and put an arm round Hera protectively. He still felt out of it but had to make sure she was safe.

No, they were here at her home. She
was
safe.

But not with him.

He looked at her dad, who came to a stop in front of them, putting his hands over his knees as he wheezed, trying to breathe.

“We were just going to come see how you two were doing, and then we saw the boat go over. At first we thought you were just having fun, but then we saw Valerie dragging you to shore…”

Hercules saw the disapproval in Rob’s eyes as he watched Herc hold on to Hera.

He slowly let go of her, pushing her toward her father. She was still looking at him with shocked eyes. He didn’t want her to look at him like that. Not with pity either.

He stood slowly, feeling an ache in his body he always connected to the tension of reliving those awful years in that basement.

“You okay?” Dean asked, stepping forward to lend a hand, but Hercules pushed him away.

Dean wasn’t offended, just gave him room to walk. Hercules looked at Hera again, who wanted to wait for him. He waved her ahead. “Go in with Rob,” he said.

She looked hurt but nodded and let her dad put an arm around her to lead her back to the golf carts.

Hercules still felt overwhelmed by what had happened, what it meant. He saw Bentley and Adam come over the crest of the hill, smirking, and felt the urge to go after them.

He felt Dean’s hands on his shoulders, pulling him back. “You guys head back. I’m going to make sure this one’s okay.”

May looked worried, but Dean waved her off, and Hercules was slightly grateful for the man’s interference, even if he was humiliated by what had happened.

Everyone had seen him put Hera in danger. Everyone had seen her drag him, flailing, onto the beach.

Everyone had seen a piece of his past, whether they knew what it was or not.

It was humiliating, but nothing compared to the sting of knowing something could have happened to Hera.

“Are you okay?” Dean said, sitting down on the grass next to him, gesturing for him to join.

Hercules plopped down heavily. “Fine.”

Dean looked over. He had blue-green eyes that were deep and mysterious. Hercules didn’t know whether or not to trust him. Still, he seemed to be the only one on his side. “Listen, it’s okay. You just freaked out.”

Hercules shrugged.

“There’s no way you’re a banker,” Dean said. “The rest of the people here are in La-la Land. But my best guess is you know Valerie from when she served in the army, right?”

Hercules raised an eyebrow at him. How had he guessed?

Dean just laughed. “It’s obvious to anyone with eyes that you aren’t some Wall Street type.” He gestured to the lake. “So what was all that about?”

“Why don’t you tell me about you first, instead?” Hercules asked.

“Me?” Dean asked. “I’m just a friend of Rob’s. Met him through a shared acquaintance.”

Herc narrowed his eyes. “Right.”

“Anyway, what happened there looked like PTSD. I don’t think you need to judge yourself.”

“What the fuck do you know about it?” Herc said bitterly. “And yeah, it’s PTSD. That’s not what bothers me. It’s that it could have hurt Hera.”

“Hera?”

Ugh.
“Valerie.”

“That’s what she was called in the army, eh?” Dean asked.

Herc nodded. “Don’t say anything.”

Dean raised his hands. “I wanted to come see the estate, but I’m fully on your team. Unlike the other douchebags, I can see when a woman is taken.”

Herc was reassured by that. “Thanks.”

“But I don’t think you’re giving Valerie enough credit. I mean, from what I hear, she’s great with the family business, really sharp with investments, kind to employees. Strong.”

Hercules narrowed his eyes jealously. “Watch it.”

“I’m just saying,” Dean said. “So what’s your actual name, John?”

“You’ll laugh,” Herc said.

“I won’t.” Dean promised.

Herc sighed. He had a feeling he could trust the man. He reminded him of his friends from the army and his friends back at Bear Claw. “My name from the army is Hercules.”

Dean put a hand over his middle and let out a belly laugh. He eyed Hercules’s hair. “That makes so much sense.” Then he grew serious. “And before the army?”

Hercules just shrugged.

“Touchy subject?”

“You have no idea.” Hercules stood and stretched. “Thanks, I feel better now. I’d better go check on Hera.”

“Bentley?” Dean asked. “I think she can handle herself against him.”

Hercules shook his head. “She shouldn’t have to. I’m here to protect her.”

“Ah. I see,” Dean said.

Hercules raised an eyebrow. If Dean was assuming anything, he didn’t let on about it. “All right, we better get back. Before her dad convinces her that a man that capsizes her boat is no good for her.”

“I don’t think her dad could convince her of anything when it comes to you,” Dean said. “I’ve seen how she looks at you.”

Hercules gave the man one last, long stare. “Sometimes I think you’re hiding something.”

Dean just shrugged. “Sometimes we all are.”

And that would be the end of that, Herc figured. “All right,” he said. “Where’s the golf cart?”

They looked around to see no one had left one, and Dean barked out a laugh. “You up for a jog?”

Hercules sighed. “I guess so.” And then he followed the mysterious man back to the house, dreading the interaction that was coming with Hera.