Kincade's Rose--chapter 3--unedited

Happy Monday, Y'all:


CHAPTER THREE

Tyson left her room and headed back to his own hotel. He had always prided himself on being cool, calm, and collected. Five seconds around Ms. Jayde Porter and he was ready to act like a randy school boy.
He took a shower but when he came out of the steaming bathroom wearing nothing except his boxers he found there was company in his room. The two men he had seen in the restaurant and two more he didn’t recognize except from surveillance photos his counterterrorism team had taken. They had him at a disadvantage for three of them were holding guns on him.
“What do you want?” Tyson asked as he carefully moved to where his clothes were laid out.
“Why are you here?” The one without the gun asked.
“Vacation,” he said easily.
“Don’t lie. Go on, get dressed.”
“What do you want?” Tyson tried again.
“Answers. And we will get them. Get dressed.”
Torture. Came to his mind. Slowly he put on his jeans and clean black tee shirt. He sat down on a chair to put on his boots. Damn, he had really stepped into it this time. No SEAL Team Seventeen a.k.a ‘The Megalodon Team’ for backup. No counterterrorism team for support. He was on his own. Or was he?
The image of a sweet sexy woman named Jayde Porter came to his mind along with the words the witch doctor he had met once in a remote village in Africa. The old man had given him a pair of rings—rings Tyson still had no idea where or how he had acquired them for they were solid titanium. The old man had also said, ‘Keep them with you and the woman you are meant to be with will find you. The rings will save you and bind the two of you together for all eternity.’ Tyson knew it was just an old prophecy but still, the idea had potential, especially combined with the vision of Jayde Porter.
Tyson had already been with Carrie so he didn’t even show them to her since he had found her prior to receiving the rings. He kept them on a chain that he wore around his neck. The one time Carrie had asked about them he shrugged it off telling her they were just silver bands. A SEAL thing, an explanation that she bought.
“Let’s go.” The gunmen gestured for him to precede them out of the room and down the hall. “No tricks.”
Tyson wouldn’t risk innocent people’s lives so he walked easily as not to give them a reason to get jumpy. They shoved him, none to gently in the back of a Mercedes with darkened windows and drove.
After a while the car pulled into a police station. Roughly his captors dragged him down a hall and some stairs to slam him into a wall before they shoved him into an interrogation room. At least that is what he believed it to be. Then all of them left him alone for two hours, with nothing to do but sit uncomfortably chained and sweat in the hot box. He knew there was a cut on his head from hitting the wall for he could feel the blood.
When the door finally opened in walked the man who hadn’t had a gun on him in his hotel room. The man had small black eyes, yellowed teeth and a pock-marked face. “What are you doing here?”
Tyson barely blinked. “I told you already. I’m on vacation.”
“Why do you insist on lying to us? Do you know what jails are like here?”
“I’ve done nothing wrong.” Not yet anyway. And he did know what the jails were like here.
“We know who you are.”
“Good, then you know I am here on vacation.”
The man swore and walked out. Tyson swallowed slowly. It was obvious that they wanted him to break from the thought of possibly going to a foreign prison. It was also obvious that the pock-faced man wanted to hit him.
After the man left he heard a motor start and knew that they turned on the heat even higher. He had survived worse than this. He didn’t think they would resort to actual torture for a while at least; it seemed they wanted him to give in.
Another hour passed until that ugly man came back in. “Do you really want to continue this? Just tell us what we want to know.”
“I am here on vacation,” the SEAL insisted.
The man slapped his hands down on the lone desk in the room. “No one with your history comes here alone.”
“I never said I was alone,” Tyson paused hoping he wasn’t about to get her in trouble, but for now she seemed to be his only chance out of this. “I just said I was here on vacation.” He didn’t even acknowledge what they said about his history.
For the first time the man looked panicked. As if maybe he had the wrong guy. But then he recovered. “Who are you here with?”
“My wife,” Tyson said.
“Our records don’t show you having a wife.”
“How is that my fault?” His gaze held the other man’s without fear.
“Who is she?” the man demanded.
“How do I know you won’t hurt her?” Tyson asked. Just so you know I will kill you if you harm one hair on her head. He had to forcibly relax his body so he didn’t give himself away.
“We won’t. Tell us who she is.”
“I will go with you to see her. But I won’t send you alone.” Tyson wasn’t that stupid.
“Deal. Then when she says she isn’t your wife, you go to prison.” The man was positively gleeful.
Tyson nodded as they took him back outside where his hot body eagerly absorbed the cool rain that still fell. They put him back in the vehicle and headed to the hotel where Jayde was staying. Tyson hoped he was right to put his faith in her.
Four men got out of the car and headed for the elevator, Tyson and three others. On the fifth floor he got out and led the way to door 5627 where one of the men knocked, keeping Tyson away from the opening. An action that Tyson hoped wouldn’t be a mistake.
*****
Jayde had just gotten out of the shower. The clock read five till one. She was exhausted, wanting just to climb into bed but her mind wouldn’t slow down. As she wandered around the suite in the thick robe provided by the hotel she heard a knock on her door. She froze with fear then her body flushed hot as she realized it could be Tyson.
The knock came again. “Who is it?” she asked as she walked closer.
“Policía,” a grating voice said.
Police? Her black brows furrowed in thought. “Just a second.” She opened the door a crack, the chain still latched. “Is something wrong, sir?”
“Sí. Can you open the door please?”
“Do you have some identification?” Jayde waited until he showed her a badge. “What is this about?”
“Please,” he said. “Open the door. It is about your husband.”
My husband? “Just a second.” She shut the door, took a deep breath, removed the chain and swung the door open to admit three strangers and Tyson.
Tyson looked exhausted. He still looked wonderful, but he looked exhausted. Then she noticed the blood that they had tried to wipe away. Her dark eyes narrowed, “What is going on here, officer?”
“It’s Captain, Captain Alvarez.”
“Fine,” she snapped. “What’s going on, Captain?”
“Hey, honey,” Tyson interjected.
Jayde gave him a small tense smile as she gripped her robe tighter about her body to try and conceal the trembling. “Captain?”
“This man,” he pointed to Tyson, “claims that you are married. We believe he is a spy. Do you have anything to say? And please, don’t worry we can protect you.”
Jayde couldn’t help it, she choked. “A spy?” she stuttered.
“Yes,” the captain said.
“Can I ask why or how you came to that conclusion?” Her eyes narrowed as she witnessed the look of sick perversion on his face.
“His history.”
Jayde looked at Tyson, who hadn’t taken his eyes off her since he had been shoved into the room. In his eyes she read the same thing she had seen earlier, ‘I will protect you.’ So she did the only thing she knew she could do. Lie. “He is telling the truth. He is my husband.” She was proud that her words were delivered in a clear strong voice.
The captain narrowed his eyes at her declaration. “Please, we can protect you. Tell the truth.”
“I am. This man is my husband.” Jayde walked over to stand next to Tyson placing her smaller body in front of his as if to protect him.
“Forgive me but why then are you in separate hotels?” He seemed smug.
Jayde didn’t miss a beat. “Well that’s easy. We are recreating our first meeting. It was so romantic.” She sighed, a dreamy sigh before continuing. “I was sitting at a table along the beach and then right there before my eyes he stood. I got up to leave and ran right into him. I guess you could say it was love at first sight. I mean it wasn’t here, but I like to travel. It’s just a little harmless role-playing. We check into hotels under separate names, I use my maiden name, and then we meet all over again. Keeps the spark alive.”
Tyson was amazed. Not knowing what to expect he hadn’t begun to hope for this kind of help from her. Despite the seriousness of the whole situation he found himself smiling at her gumption.
The captain scowled even more. “Then why didn’t he just say that three and a half hours ago?” he ground out in his grating voice.
Tyson could feel her body tense even if he couldn’t see her eyes. The captain could and for the second time that night he felt uneasy, had his intel been that wrong? “I’m sorry,” she drawled. “Are you saying y’all have had him in your custody for over three hours? Did you arrest him? Did you read him his rights?” Not even waiting for the man to answer she launched into a tirade.
“So you violated his rights. Do you know how much trouble you are in? You don’t get to do that to an American on a hunch. Much less without letting him call his lawyer.” Jayde even took a step toward him.
“And I suppose that is you?” The captain asked.
“No, my father has his own law firm. He would be the one to deal with international law. He is very good at his job. And don’t think I didn’t notice the blood on his head, if y’all injured him…” she warned.
The captain blanched. “I am still not sure all is as you say it is.”
“And.” She tossed at him, her curvaceous body trembling with anger at their treatment of the man behind her.
“We will leave you alone, after one thing.” The one thing the captain didn’t want was snooping lawyers. Nosy Americans were not good for business, his bosses wouldn’t like that.
“That would be?” Tyson asked.
“You renew your vows here.” The challenge was extended. “With one of our priests and then just sign another certificate and we will leave you alone.” Captain Alvarez expected the young American woman to refuse to get married. All they knew about the American male was he worked alone, so if he really was married this was all a big mistake.
“You want us to renew our vows?” Jayde questioned. Her heart in her throat. What did she get herself into? And was it really fear that had her heart beating so fast or the fact that she could pretend that the hunk of a man behind was her husband?
“Of course, it will just be a little thing.” With a wave he sent one of the men off. “I think it will just ease my mind a bit.” He smiled evilly. “Consider it our way of saying we are sorry for the misunderstanding.”
“Sure. When?” Jayde said.
“Now.” The captain said not liking how easily she agreed.
Jayde inhaled sharply, a sound that Tyson heard. He touched her back in silent support. “Honey, we don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.” He offered giving her a chance to back out, knowing full well that the certificate would be proof they were honestly married. “I know renewing our vows under these conditions was not what you had in mind.”
That’s putting it mildly. With a gentle smile she turned to face the man she had known for less than twenty-four hours. “What difference does it make what the situation is. We are just renewing what has already been said.”
“Good,” the captain exclaimed. “The priest will be here momentarily.”
“Just a minute!” Jayde screeched. “I am not; I repeat not doing this in my robe. So you have to leave so I can change.” At his hesitation she glared at them.
The captain took Tyson with “so you can’t make plans.” As he was shutting the door Jayde yelled, “Flowers! I want flowers also.”

Twenty minutes later, Jayde stood next to Tyson in front of a Catholic priest reciting her vows, holding a bouquet of mixed flowers the captain had brought for her. Tyson looked down at the woman who had just saved his bacon. She wore a knee length fuchsia skirt and black silk blouse, no shoes and her hair was still damp around her shoulders. Her brown skin was makeup free and he smelled the faint scent of baby powder. She had removed her earrings but the necklace was still in place. He heard her muttering under her breath the word ‘rose’.
The priest asked for her full name and the captain interrupted saying he wanted to hear it from the groom. So Tyson answered. “Jayde Rose Porter.” And got a huge smile from the woman he stood up with. Oh she was good. The captain was looking on her identification card and frowned as he saw Tyson was correct.
When it was Jayde’s turn to supply his name, Tyson panicked. How would she possibly know his name? But without missing a beat she said, “Tyson Randolph Kincade.”
Too soon it was time for the rings. Tyson produced two from his pocket. Simple bands made of titanium. He slid the ring over her ring finger on her left hand as he said his vows.
“I, Tyson Randolph Kincade, take thee Jayde Rose Porter to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or worse,” he sent her a wry smile, “for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health, to love, honor, and cherish. Forsaking all others till parted by death. This is my solemn vow to you.” By the time he finished talking the ring was sitting snugly on her finger. The witch doctor’s words rang in his ears again as the ring fit her perfectly.
Jayde repeated the same thing as she slipped the ring on his finger. She noticed she was shaking. So did Tyson and all he did was lace their fingers together and gave her some of his silent strength. Somehow it was enough for she felt herself relaxing.
So while the priest smiled and said they were now husband and wife, Jayde was still in a state of shock until she felt her new husband’s lips on hers. Now she was in heaven, eagerly she leaned into him taking all of what he gave her.
When Tyson pulled away both of them were breathing hard. The priest shoved the certificate at them and took one copy for himself after they signed it. Then everyone else left the newlyweds alone.
The door shut and the room was silent as Jayde and Tyson stared at each other.
Tyson saw the tirade forming on her lips and stopped her with a finger across his mouth and a silent head shake. Warily, she stayed silent, for about five seconds.
“Well honey,” she stated. “Not exactly how I anticipated our vow renewal to go. But I suppose another year, another surprise.” She arched a brow at him, crossed her arms and tapped her bare foot on the floor, bringing his eyes to her lapis blue toenails.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “This isn’t exactly what I had planned either.” He turned on the stereo system to find some romantic music and adjusted the volume to cover their voices. Taking a hold of her arm he steered her gently towards the bed and sat beside her as she turned angry eyes on him.
“Start talking,” she seethed. Her face was flushed with anger, her eyes sparkled and Tyson realized again just how truly beautiful she was. “I would almost think you had this planned, where did you get the rings?”
“Look, I am so sorry about this whole thing. I didn’t mean to get you involved.” He said and at her look of disbelief he continued. “I am currently—or was—working for a counterterrorism unit for our government. Those men are drug runners who supply, buy and sell information to terrorists. When I got injured they put me on leave and I ended up down here. I noticed at dinner two of those guys watching me. After I got back to my hotel room they showed up with those other two men and took me with them. To be questioned.” Tyson watched as she narrowed her eyes in disbelief.
“I know it was wrong of me to bring you into this, but it seemed to be my only option,” he paused. “The rings belong to me. I wish I could tell you more but I can’t. Please trust me. I am not a spy; they didn’t want you to trust me. Just for a little longer, trust me. I am one of the good guys.” He didn’t want to tell her that the rings sealed their fate together, for all eternity—that might just freak her out.
Jayde just shook her head. It was just too unreal for her to stay angry. But she did hear the faint plea in his statement, and she knew he wasn’t a man that asked for assistance much. “Okay Tyson. I will go along with this for a while. For some reason I do trust you, not sure why but I do.” She reached out and touched his arm, ignoring the feel of desire his body on hers gave. “So where does this leave us?”
Tyson released a huge breath that he didn’t realize he had been holding. She was going to go along with him on this. She trusted him, a proud smile grew on his face. “Well, I have to place some calls to some people in the states and then I think I owe you some more explanations.”
She nodded as she stood up. “I think you do.”
“Thank you for trusting me.” His eyes were gentle as they looked upon her dark beauty. Damn, I have never seen a woman like her before in my life. Although a world traveler, he had never known a woman to affect him this way.
“Well,” she said with a forced lightheartedness, “if a wife can’t trust her husband then who can she trust?” Then she turned and walked into the bathroom shutting herself off from him for a bit.

Jayde just needed some time. She changed her clothes quickly as she put on her originally intended clothing from her shower before things went crazy. She put on a pair of men’s pajama bottoms and a cutoff sweatshirt.
She leaned on the marbled bathroom countertop and looked in the mirror at her reflection. Running the cold water she splashed some on her face and used the thick absorbent towel to dry her face off. She continued to stare. What had she done? What was her family going to say? Would she even tell them? Doubtful.
Standing there she noticed something about her reflection that she had never seen before. Her hands still held the towel in front of her face but now she detected something different, the glittering of silver on her left hand. Her wedding ring.
She put down the towel and held her hand up, palm towards her face and looked. The ring shone brilliantly against her dark skin. And it looked like it belonged there.
“Well, my family was always after me to do something. I guess getting married is something. Besides, it won’t hold up once we get back to the states,” she spoke to her reflection. “I could always put it as helping my country.” She smiled and saw that she looked almost happy. She was glowing.

Jayde walked back out into the main part of her suite and found Tyson on the phone. He looked up as she entered and sent her a soft smile along with a gesture she took to mean ‘just a few minutes’. She nodded and took a seat on the chaise lounge in the room, closing her eyes as she listened to the comforting rumble of his deep voice mixed with the seductive music that played in the room and the pounding of the rain on the windows.
Tyson watched as his new wife settled herself on the lounge; she looked so delectable lying there with her eyes closed. He understood that she must be exhausted, nothing like this was ever easy and she was holding herself together admirably.
The voice in his ear had worn into a faint hum so he had to shake his head and fully concentrate on what his boss was saying to him. Even as he talked his eyes never left Jayde, and he knew the exact moment she fell asleep. Her chest rose and fell in a rhythmic pattern, one arm held a pillow at her side with the other arm lying between her breasts.
Finally his calls had been made. He shut the phone and walked over to where she lay slumbering. Pulling up a straight back chair, Tyson sat down beside her body that was dead to the world. “Thank you, thank you my little rose,” he whispered brushing her hair back from her face. “Thank you for trusting me.” For a few moments he stayed beside her watching her sleep.
Then he became restless. There was so much he wanted to do with her and to her, but he had to figure out a way to keep her safe. Those men were dangerous and now she was his responsibility. It was his fault she was possibly in danger. He snorted with disdain as he amended his thought; she was in danger from them now.
He strode to the window and looked out on the town below. The rain still came down in torrential sheets. Maybe he could convince her to go with him to another place, really act like a married couple. He knew for a fact that they would be watched for the remainder of their time here.
Eyes that had hardened with menace at the thought of someone hurting Jayde softened as he turned away to view the woman he had promised to protect. Tyson walked over to her and picked her up, realizing that she felt light in his arms. In fact she felt damn near perfect. She wasn’t a petite woman, she was ideal. And for the time being she was all his.
He placed her reluctantly on the bed and covered her up with a blanket. Tyson gave her a quick kiss on the forehead and groaned as he realized just how much he would love to explore every nook and cranny of her luscious body. “Damn, I must be some kind of saint,” he said as he shook his head in disbelief. He took a blanket over to the lounge so that he could sleep between her and the door. Tyson knew that he was in for a restless night but he didn’t survive sleep deprivation training for nothing. So he cleaned up the remaining traces of blood on his head and went to bed.
*****
Jayde woke up to the sunlight hitting her eyes. She opened them slowly against the glare. Her movements were slow as she organized her body to get moving. “That was one messed up dream,” she said to the room she believed was empty.
A deep voice rang through the room, “I don’t think it was a dream.”
Jayde screamed and bolted up out of bed. Her legs got tangled in the blankets and she pitched backwards towards the corner of the wrought iron nightstand. She found herself in a pair of strong arms that held her immobile just shy of her banging her head and she discovered herself staring into a pair of hazel eyes that seemed remarkably familiar to her.
“Easy there.” He set her on her feet and still had a hold on her shoulders as he asked, “Okay now?”
“Fine. I’m fine,” she said with an undeniably shaky voice. “Thanks for…that.” She gestured over her shoulder. Jayde sat down on the edge of the bed. “It wasn’t a dream was it?”
“No. Are you disappointed?”
“Well, I don’t really know you. But since we aren’t even in America, I don’t think there will be any lasting damage done.” She smiled briefly. “How about breakfast?” Every time she got nervous she ate, which was why she wasn’t pencil thin.
“It’s on its way up. I ordered a bit of everything since I don’t really know what you like.” He couldn’t help but reaching out and stroking the side of her face before walking away from her.
Jayde tried to calm her rapid heartbeat. She didn’t know this man and now she was helping him out of some kind of mess. What kind she didn’t know and apparently wouldn’t have time to ask since there was someone knocking at the door. She stayed by the bed as Tyson answered it admitting room service.
The man that brought in the cart made Jayde feel self-conscious and so she instinctively moved closer to Tyson. She noticed his understanding look as his arm settled protectively around her shoulder, tucking her close to his side. Aware of the man’s gaze on her she laid her head against Tyson and tried to look in love. An attempt that she had pulled off better than she would ever had imagined.
Tyson tipped the man and walked with Jayde still beside him, to the door and shut it behind the hotel employee, leaving them alone again. “Well, I hope you’re hungry,” he said in a light voice.
“Starved.” And she was. Jayde sat down at the table and stared in shock as Tyson began to fix her a plate. No one had ever done that for her before. He pointed and she nodded or shook her head, once it was filled he placed it in front of her and fixed his own.
“So,” he asked later in between bites of scrambled eggs, “what do you want to do today?”
“Go to the jaguar preserve. You remember right, Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary & Jaguar Preserve? That was going to be today’s venture.” She took a long drink of her juice and waited. She wasn’t about to give up going to the one place she had actually come down here to see and was willing to fight for the chance.
“Whatever my little rose wants, she gets.” He silently toasted her, she was still acting like this whole thing was planned from the moment they arrived in Belize. Then just about choked on his juice at her next statement.
“Well, since the whole jig is up, I suppose you should go and get your things to move in here, since I like my room better,” Jayde said. And I have no idea where your room is.
“I suppose so,” he stared at her but she avoided his gaze. “I will do that right now,” he said almost as a question as he wiped his mouth with a napkin.
Jayde still wouldn’t look at him. “Yes. And I will get ready for our day.” She slid her chair back from the table and walked towards the bathroom, her body quivering more and more with every step she took. The door didn’t get a chance to be closed before his hand was there pushing it back open.
“Jayde,” he said as he forced his way into the bathroom. Although his hands have killed, he was extremely gentle as he turned her towards him and brought her chin up to meet his gaze. Tyson felt his heart break as he saw the lone tear begin the run down her smooth face. “Oh Jayde,” he moaned. “What have I done?” He gathered her into her chest and held her against him.
“I’ll be fine,” she sniffed. “I think I am just a bit overwhelmed. Even if we are just acting for these men, I don’t usually have men in my room.”
Tyson didn’t have the heart or balls to tell her it wasn’t an act. They were truly and legally wed, that was a real document she signed and that man had been a real Catholic priest. “I can keep my room at the other hotel,” he presented the option.
“No, I don’t want them hauling you off to jail. You will stay here.” Jayde pulled back from his chest and looked up at him. “Besides, it might be nice to have a husband while I’m here. That way people will leave me alone.” A few of the hotel staff had been hitting on her and it was getting old, Jayde wasn’t a huge fan of attention.
Damn straight they will. “Glad I won’t be too much of an inconvenience to you.”
All she did was smile softly. “Well, you should get going.” She wiped the last remnants of the tear off her cheek. “I’ll be waiting.”
“I hope so.” Tyson couldn’t stop his next movement anymore than he could stop the blood that flowed through his veins. He cupped her face and lowered his mouth to hers.
At the first touch of his lips her knees nearly buckled. Her hands already around his waist moved up to his neck. One of them moaned as their tongues met and danced.
Tyson’s hands moved lower and back up again this time under her cutoff sweatshirt. The feel of her satin skin beneath his hands made him tighten his hold on her body. Her curves enticed him in ways he had never dreamed.
Jayde trembled. All through her body she trembled. In all her life she had never met a man who made her feel this lustful, this impassioned. She gave herself over to the feelings for once.
Tyson felt the change in her response. It was like she was a different person who was clamoring to get into his skin. A small voice in the back of his mind told him not to do this, not to take advantage of the situation, but that voice was outvoted by the lust coursing through his body.
Her shirt was removed baring her full chest to his gaze. His eyes darkened with warm heat as he licked his lips, “You are a work of art,” he whispered. Tyson’s shirt soon followed and he closed his eyes as her hands touched his bare chest.
“You are so strong,” she breathed as her fingers traced his defined abdominal muscles, all eight of them. There was a puckered scar across the lower part of his ribcage that she touched gently. “Where did you get this?”
“At work.” He reached in and kissed her again effectively silencing her, except for the purr that grew from the back of her throat.
Tyson drew her back against the warmth of his body before scooping her up, his hands under her butt and walking forward until she was sitting on the edge of the sink. He kept her legs spread around his lean hips, allowing her to feel just how much he desired her.
Jayde felt the wetness between her legs as she tightened her grip around his waist. It was a wonderful feeling. Everywhere he touched her she felt a burning. Although she wanted to go through that metaphoric gate she still hesitated.
But it wasn’t meant to be, at least not right now. The sound of a cell phone broke through their impassioned state.
Both of them drew back and looked at each other with smoldering eyes. Tyson winced as he heard the sound again but leaned down and placed a long lingering kiss on her swollen lips.
“This will be continued,” he vowed as he backed slowly out of the room before turning and answering his phone.