Taken (Sinful Series - book 1)
Chapter 24 - Brunch

Landon

His body was still running on the adrenaline from the night before. Enhanced interrogation was a messy business, which he normally did not practice. It wasn’t the gory he found distasteful. He disliked the nature of the work. There was no finesse and no challenge, just century old psychological warfare games. The only concern was not to break the detainee too soon or to lead him or her to parrot back whatever you wanted to hear just so the torture would stop.

Landon had treaded lightly. He had given a quite extensive presentation of all the tools in his enhanced interrogation bag. Although some pain was inflicted during that initial display, it was the bare minimum. It was an introduction of sorts, a way to set the tone for the upcoming days or nights. Not knowing when the next session would begin installed compliance no torture could do. Anticipation and presumption of impending torture worked far better than actual physical pain.

Shower and a nap later, Landon was at her door.

“I’m coming, damn it. I am coming.”

Landon heard Violet’s voice before she yanked the door open. When she saw him, she blinked trying to focus. Landon used that short moment to allow his eyes to roam over her little figure. Her hair was an untamed mess; her face held an imprint of a pillow, while her voice was still heavy with sleep. Her faded t-shirt caught his attention as her body stretched the worn fabric, making it almost impossible to ignore her shapely body. Violet quickly caught on his stare, and she proceeded to fold her arms in front of her, casually preventing further observation of her braless situation. Landon’s eyes roamed down to a set of loose pants and ended up at her bare feet. Her toes were painted with red polish, making her appearance far more sensual than what it was. His sleeping beauty had awoken his beast. Landon’s fingers itched to straighten her hair, and feel her breath on his skin.

“Good morning,” Landon told her putting a hot cup of coffee in her hands.

Coffee was the non-negotiable requirement to start the day. He quickly made his way pass the doorstep and in her home. Violet did not attempt to stop him, but snatched his left hand just as he walked passed her. She pushed the door shut without looking at it, while her eyes dropped down to his watch.

“It’s not even 6am?” Violet grunted. “No. I am not awake. I need at least couple of more hours of sleep. For your safety, you know.”

Landon chuckled. She had a way with words like no one he knew. He found her concern about his safety endearing, and downright sexy. Or was it her cuddly appearance.

“I wouldn’t mind a nap myself.” He agreed.

“Aren’t you supposed to be fresh as a pumpkin and watch over my beauty sleep?” She narrowed her eyes at him, studying him.

“Sure,” Landon replied. “I’ll watch you with one eye, while my other eye rests.”

Landon doubted he could hide the effects of his late night favor for Alpha Rossi. He prepared himself for the inevitable question. It always came in one shape or another. What he didn’t expect was laughter.

“Guess, you’re not a morning person either. I am going to bed.”

‘Well that was new,’ Landon thought.

“Lead the way,” Landon decided his answer should be just as genuine as her reply was. Besides sleep sounded good to him. More than good. He explained himself further as her eyebrow shot up, “Purely professional. There is nothing inappropriate about sleeping in one and the same room.”

“Oh, really?” Violet questioned him reminding him just how good she was at interrogation.

“Of course. But I’ll consider it a personal favor if you have mercy, and do not require of me to sleep on the floor. I am not the young pup I once was,” Landon tried persuading her to allow him in her bed. Now that was way out of line into the very shady unprofessional category, but Landon was not going to be the one to reveal that intel.

“Are you telling me I should have selected someone younger to watch my back?” She quickly retorted. Landon was surprised at the comment as he was fully expecting her to either cave in or show him the door. This third road left them in uncharted territory of what was appropriate for their relationship. “A latest version, so to speak,” Violet compared him to technology, which threw him off completely.

“Do you seriously want to work out all the kicks until it is perfect? Please,” Landon sounded like the condescending jerk she thought him to be, then continued proudly informing her, “my software has been up and running without a glitch for years.”

“Fine. No floor for you. I have a sofa.” Violet didn’t give up easily.

Neither was Landon.

“And I know for a fact, a bed is comfier.” Landon could see the smile she tried to suppress and used the opening. “Come on, you won’t even know I am there.”

“Whatever. I can’t be bothered arguing while I am so sleepy,” Violet gave up rather easily. There was an undeniable attraction between them and he was glad she was also affected by it.

“Nothing comes between you and your sleep, Sleeping Beauty.”

“Just make sure I don’t sleep through the alarm.” Violet grunted and slipped under her covers.

Violet

“Vi.” Landon’s voice much closer and deeper than she remembered.

“Ah?” Violet hummed.

“It’s nine o’clock,” Landon tried.

“10 more minutes.”

“Snooze?

“Snooze,” Violet grunted and fell back asleep. “Landon.”

“Hm.”

“Why are you under the cover?”

“I was cold,” Landon replied.

Violet tried to push him out of her bed, only to shriek as her hand hit his bare chest.

“You better not be naked,” Violet told him.

“Relax.”

Violet shot her feet to kick him, only to land on his muscular thigh, “Where are your pants?”

“Would you stop wiggling?” Landon told her his hands quickly restraining her feet, trapping them in their current position.

“Landon!”

“Please don’t say my name like that,” Landon sleepily groaned.

“Explain yourself.” Violet demanded.

“I didn’t want wrinkles in my shirt as we are going to your stupid brunch. My jeans aren’t clean enough for the bed. See, I am just being a considerate bodyguard.” Landon quickly summarized.

Considerate boyfriend, the thought came uninvited in Violet’s mind. Last time she checked bodyguards didn’t sleep over and they most certainly did not undress.

“Considerate my ass!” Violet blurred out.

“A fine ass it is,” Landon gave her his opinion only to receive another kick in the shin. Or at least she attempted it, as he quickly restrained her.

“Bodyguards guard. They don’t sleep over.”

“They also get paid.”

“You mean gigolos,” Violet retorted.

“Oh, that naughty mind of yours,” Landon chuckled, pushing her feet down and bringing his hand over her waist, pulling her closer to his body and whispering in much deeper voice, “I can make you feel good.”

“Yeah, right, not gonna happen,” Violet pushed against him, rolling on her side, looking up a Landon, while his hand held her in place. “Get dressed.”

Landon sure looked relaxed like he belonged in her room. In her bed. The thought made her smile, until Landon chose to stretch. His muscles coiled as her comforter dropped. Violet appreciated the front seat view of such perfection.

“You know it’s not too late to call and cancel?” Landon offered, interrupting her thoughts of putting that sculptured torso to a test or two.

“Your first day on the job and you’re already slacking,” Violet sighed.

“It’s just Jack,” Landon shrugged, defending his reluctance to get going.

“So what’s the deal with the two of you?

“What did he tell you?” Landon’s surprise reached the corner of his eyes.

“Landon,” Violet stressed on his name. “Why do you hate him?”

“I don’t hate him. I just don’t like him.” Landon rebutted.

“Tomato-tomato.” Violet told him pronouncing the word differently.

“Fine, but only because you allowed me to sleep in your bed,” Landon told her then continued, “Jack was my ticket to starting over after the rejection. The bastard refused to help me disappear. I trashed his place. He hired Glenn as if he would be able to stop a repeat.”

“He wouldn’t because…” Violet pressed.

“He’s related to my mother’s side of the family. Guess, he did not want to upset her.”

“Oh,” Violet replied.

“Thankfully there’s no family resemblance,” Landon continued, making her laugh.

“Do you think he is spying on you?”

“I know he is,” Landon smiled at her question. “He does not approve of us being around each other.”

“But yet here we are,” Violet summarized.

“Indeed. In bed of all places,” Landon replied wiggling his eyebrows at her. Violet rolled her eyes at him in reply.

“Your pants aren’t the only thing that is dirty,” Violet pointed out.

“I ride…” Landon started only for Violet to giggle, blush covering her cheeks. “Very mature.”

“You keep saying things like that.”

“We seriously need to work on your dirty-talk, if you consider riding a bike dirty.” Landon teased her.

“I admit defeat,” Violet confessed. She had to admit even if it was only to herself her dirty-talk was the size of her pinkie toe, while Landon definitely had game.

“It truly sucks how society holds a double standard for mateless wolves. You flirt and gracious Goddess, a mating is considered implied.”

“As if that’s all we think about.” Violet started and as his smile fell she asked, “You do?”

“It must be awful nice to have that kind of unconditional understanding, support and love,” Landon said with longing in his husky voice.

“My experience is limited, but it did not feel anything like that,” Violet wondered why talking to him always brought up these embarrassing confessions. “It’s not the peaches, crème and roses that all mated wolves rave about. In fact, it’s just like any relationship. You’ve gotta put the time in to make it work. It was my mistake.”

“Hold on, Karim didn’t just reject you?”

“Devon or Xander didn’t tell you?” Violet sighed. “I had what I would now describe as a one-night stand with my mate. The whole experience hurt like hell in more than one sense. But the most awful and awkward part was feeling him claim his chosen.”

“He claimed you,” Landon quickly interpreted.

“Then changed his mind. Gotta love the Fates,” Violet sarcasm was quite noticeable. “And as if taking him away wasn’t painful enough, it had to all go down in one and the same night. Murphy’s law and all. Boy, does he go around, or what?”

“And here I thought my story was messy,” Landon shared.

“Feeling your mate taking pleasure with someone else other than you is the ultimate betrayal. It’s understandable trying to compare stories and experience. Rejection happens more often than one might infer and for petty reasons. Which brings us back to our fate vs choice discussion from Inferno,” Violet said.

“You remember.”

“Of course. It was an interesting discussion,” Violet told him, before her fingers caught his wrist, rotating it to read his watch. She had to admit even the way his watch looked on his wrist was downright sexy. “We are going to be late if we don’t get up.”

“Who said anything about getting up? I am still waking up.” Landon complained. “You can always cancel the brunch.”

“You realize if I do that, Jack will be pain in the ass to deal with.”

“More than he is now?” Landon groaned then added. “You realize if we go to the brunch, he’d try to stir something either way.”

“Why?”

“Because it’s in his interest,” Landon said and then changed his mind adding, “and that’s leaving all my family drama aside. For starters, you idealize him.”

“I don’t,” Violet protested.

“Of course not,” Landon chuckled. “Not anymore. Because now you have me to fantasize about.”

“You’re full of it,” Violet rolled her eyes at him.

“No. I am just honest. Feelings develop between patient and doctors, victims and first responders…”

“Wow, your Ego.. is just… wow.” Violet responded to his comparison.

“I am saying it’s okay to fall for my charm,” Landon cheekily told her.

“Sure, if it helps you sleep better, Mr. I-don’t-sleep-over.”

“I haven’t technically, I’ve spend the night watching you sleep, and this was a nap.” Landon explained the semantics of it.

“Honey, let me know when you are ready to admit you have the hots for me,” Violet teased him.

“That was cold, V, cold. But also kinda’ hot at the same time,” Landon chuckled then reached over picking her vibrating phone from the nightstand. “Jack.”

Violet sighed looking at the screen and let it go to voicemail.

“We gotta move it.”

“Fine. If I can’t talk you out of it,” Landon groaned but made no attempt to move. “As your bodyguard I will inevitably be the go-in-between. Jack won’t like that. Besides, I can tell you aligning your interest with his is never going to be in your favor. He’d profit the most and just about use you for his goals. Then there is the fact that we are both mateless.”

“Just because we are mateless, doesn’t mean we’d hook up and eventually mate,” Violet told him.

“Way to make me feel special,” Landon jested. “But seriously, in a way it’s convenient. I wouldn’t have to worry about a mate coming in to scoop you, just when I make some progress with you.”

“Progress?”

“I thought it was obvious. I am in bed with you.” Landon told her quickly moving his hands in front of his body.

“Please. I am not going to kick you in the nuts. Relax,” Violet told him.

“I somehow do not believe it,” Landon told her. “So you see, Jack has his own reasons to care for you, I am sure. But right now his loyalty does not side with your well being.”

“And yours do?”

“It’s evident we have a chemistry together. I dig being around you.”

“Oh, so you like me now.”

“Woman, don’t you listen? I told you when I asked you for the job. Personal interest is what motivates people. We all work under the same directive. Maybe different prospective, but still the same impulses.”

“Right, you are here because you want introduction,” Violet reminded him.

Introduction to her most intimate parts. Violet’s cheeks blushed crimson at the thought.

“And you’re here because you need security,” Landon completely missed her reaction referencing their deal.

“Security in bed,” Violet giggled.

“Vi, are you comparing me to a condom?” Landon tried to sound offended but a large smile broke the serious facade he tried to keep. Violet laughed, looking up at him. Her hair spread across her pillow and her cheeks lightly colored in red. She was a temptress, who did not suspect the depth of his attraction to her.

“That’ll be like calling you a dick,” Violet blurred. “And that would be plain rude.”

Landon laughed.

Landon

The brunch was the well planned intervention Landon suspected. Jack repeatedly tried to separate Violet and Landon from the moment they arrived at his mansion. Tried and failed. Landon grinned as Violet was in no rush to go anywhere without him. If anything after their nap this morning, she had been leaning on him much to Jack’s disappointment. Whether she would just step back into Landon’s chest, or bump his shoulder with hers, she constantly kept contact with him.

Even during lunch she had ignored the seating and sat next to Landon, pretending she did not just screw up Jack’s plan of seating her across from him between two of last night’s candidate. If Landon had not been annoyed at the pettiness Jack displayed, he would have taken sick satisfaction in the way that Violet all but ignored them.

“So Landon, how is life? Business?” Jack questioned him, probing about his affairs.

“Never better,” Landon replied looking at Violet just to get back at Jack.

“So you are settling down?”

“For the time being,” Landon shared.

“Good. Good. Good. Hope Tassone is treating you well,” Jack replied.

Landon tried slowing the concealed insult that only Jacob would be offering him employment. He started tapping his foot against the floor in an attempt to remain stoic.

“Or you can always go back north. I am sure your mom would enjoy seeing you after so long.” Jack continued attacking Landon on the family front.

Violet’s warm hand reached under the table and casually landed on Landon’s knee. Her gesture was meant as reassuring but did nothing to calm down Landon. If anything the constriction of his pants made the conversation with Jack even more unpleasant. He decided to allow her to absentmindedly trace patterns over his jeans. It meant Jack would keep his head. Besides if Landon was honest he liked it, and only wished they were alone so he could properly return the favor.

“Violet, did you know Landon belongs to the Red Bloods?” Jack casually asked her, testing the waters of just how much they knew of each other. Before Landon could intervene and tell him to mind his own business, Violet pressed her fingers into his thigh.

“Two Northerners this far south, we were bound to meet,” Violet smiled at Landon.

Landon admired her choice of words which were clearly meant to bite back at whatever Jack thought he would achieve by revealing his pack of origin. Politics that far up north took centuries to change. Even though Shadow waters weren’t exactly friendly with anyone, and kept to themselves, they practiced the old rules of the wild. Their territory was sovereign and they enforced the execution or breeding practices upon those who were unfortunate to replace themselves within the pack grounds. Landon doubted Violet cared enough about her old pack to hold a grudge against his old pack for events that happened before they were both born.

“It’s actually refreshing not having to explain myself,” Landon commented meeting Violet’s eyes with his blue ones. It was indeed remarkable how not only did Violet bail him on the uncomfortable discussion about his family Jack was persistent on brining up. But she also managed to hint of intimacy, which if Landon was to be completely honest, was more than welcomed. Landon kept his focus on her, uneasy pause stretching over the table, as more of their table companions figured the closeness of their relationship. Landon decided to break the silence, before someone ended up popping an aneurism. “Thank you.”

Landon was thankful indeed. Violet had proven again just how good of a therapist she truly was. It was now his time to stir the conversation through the stormy waters. A little finesse could go a long way.

“My pleasure,” Violet replied in accordance to the old northern traditions, but the way she bathed him in her attention brought a whole new meaning to the phrase. The two simple words coming out of her full lips held him hostage. The Goddess only knew just how much he desired to tend to her pleasure. He wanted nothing more than to take Violet on the table, submitting to her allure. He hoped his facial expression conveyed his intentions as soon as the brunch was over. Blood rushed to his groin and he had to uncomfortably adjust his posture to relief some of the constriction.

Jack cleared his throat bringing Landon and Violet back to the real world. Violet’s cheeks colored as she suddenly found her plate most interesting. Landon knew it was a different kind of hunger he had seen in her eyes. Landon smiled and turned to face Jack. He was certainly not prepared to replace his host turning blue.

Violet

Landon quickly pushed his chair back, scrapping the floor and gathering all attention. Everyone at the table looked in shock as Jack turned pale and blue. Violet first thought he was chocking. Everything happened so fast or it was simply her brain chose to freeze at the moment that she did not realize how Landon had managed to end up by Jack’s side. Violet guessed he was the first to break out of the stupor that everyone else seemed to come out of by the time Landon was helping Jack down on the floor, instead of giving him the Heimlich maneuver. It was then her eyes landed on Jack’s swollen face. He wasn’t getting enough oxygen for a whole different reason.

Anaphylaxis.

Violet quickly rushed out of dining room towards his study where she knew he kept an Epi-pen. She was just at the door when it flung open, knocking her head and Glen barreled through with the life-saving drug in hand.

“Go,” Violet encouraged him to stop worrying about her and to deliver the much needed injection to Jack.

It was then that her world turned dark.