Under Pressure [IAD Agency] (Siren Publishing Classic)

him. “Don’t call him that. Besides, it’s none of your business, Sal. And it’s not Tony’s job to try and keep men from talking to me. I’m with Jason now, so get used to it.”
    Both brothers answered in unison.
    “Like hell it’s none of my business.”
    “Of course it’s our job to keep men away from you.”
    Their grumbles were so familiar that she softened her voice. “He makes me happy. Don’t you want me to be happy?”
    “Hell.”
    “Shit.”
    Jason wanted to laugh at the resigned look that both men now wore. Damn, Bella had her brothers twisted around her little finger. He could sympathize.
    Sal continued to stare at Jason with a dark look on his face. Jason was one of the best men he had ever worked with, maybe one of the best he had ever known. He trusted him completely or he would never have agreed to work for him, but trusting him with his sister was a whole different matter. He knew Jason was a cold, unyielding man, but Jason would never break his word once given. Plus, the more protection for Bella the better.
    Better the devil you know…
    “ If you hurt her, we’re going to have a serious problem,” Sal warned.
    “I won’t hurt her,” Jason said with conviction, but for the first time in life he felt unsure. What the hell did he know about relationships? But he was damned if he was going to let her go. Hesitantly, Sal nodded and reached out to Bella to embrace her again.
    Stroking her hair, he looked down into his sister’s eyes with love. “I’ll see you tomorrow, sweetheart.” After hugging Tony good-bye, he shot one more fierce look of warning toward Jason and left.
     
    * * * *
     
    Bella opened the door to her apartment and pressed in the code for the alarm as Jason silently followed her through the door. Getting around Tony had been awkward since he made no effort to hide the fact that he did not want Jason staying the night. The fatigue showing on Bella’s face was what had swayed him. Bella and Jason had left Tony standing at the bottom of the stairs with his hands on his hips, legs braced apart, like he was ready for battle watching them head up toward her apartment.
    Jason watched Bella reset the alarm, automatically noting the number combination for future use. He glanced around the living room, taking in everything he saw. Colors splashed vividly across the space. Vibrant paintings hung on deep maroon walls. He took in the numerous picture frames and knickknacks that made the room cozy, giving it a sense of warmth and welcome.
    Pulling Bella close, he hugged her to him. On a sigh, she went willingly into his embrace. His mind was spinning with so many different emotions, he was utterly shocked at how important the woman in his arms had become in such a short time. There was no doubt in his mind, he would kill for her. His hands rubbed slowly down her back in soothing motions.
    “Let’s go to bed,” she whispered. “I know we have stuff to talk about still, but not tonight, okay?”
    “All right.”
    Bella took his hand in hers as she led him to her bedroom. She moved to turn on the bedside lamp, and he stood behind her and inhaled her scent deeply.
    Her room smelled so pretty and feminine, so her.
    The walls were painted a pale sunny yellow, and the white duvet cover on her queen-size bed was accented with bright flowers. She sat on the side of the bed and held a hand out to him. That was all the invitation he needed as he crossed the length of the room to take her small hand in his. Sitting next to her, he stroked her cheek lightly. She leaned over and kissed him softly.
    Jason cleared his throat. “It’s been a long night, sweetheart. We should go to sleep.”
    Staring into his mercury eyes, she smiled. “I want you, Jason. I’ve dreamed of you, here with me, since that night.”
    Christ, she was trying to kill him. Lust ripped through his entire body making his cock jerk against the fly of his pants. He fought for control over his raging hormones. “I’ve dreamt of you, too. I’m here now, love, exactly where I want to be.”
    She laughed, tilting her head to the side. “Do you know your accent changes? At first I thought you were English, but I can hear the Scot in you sometimes.”
    “Aye, it does, when I get emotional I seem to revert back to the brogue. It doesn’t happen often, hardly ever, but when I’m with you it seems to happen quite a lot.”
    “I love it. I could listen to you talk for hours.”
    Jason frowned slightly. He