SAFE AT LAST: A SLOW BURN NOVEL, BOOK #3
They say young love doesn’t last, but a girl from the wrong side of the tracks with unique abilities and the hometown golden boy were determined to defy the odds. For Zack Covington, Anna-Grace—his “Gracie”—was the one. But one night forever altered the course of their future; when a devastated Gracie disappeared without a trace, Zack was left to agonize over what happened to the girl he loved. As the years passed, his desperate efforts to find her uncovered nothing.
Now working for Devereaux Security, he stumbles across a painting featuring a special place only he and Gracie would know. The image is too perfectly rendered for it to be coincidence. His Gracie must be alive. When he comes face to face with her, he is shocked—and heartbroken—to discover the wounded shell of the girl he once knew and still loves. Her psychic gifts are gone, and worse, she believes he betrayed her all those years ago.
Zack has enemies, and once his weakness is discovered, Gracie becomes a target for revenge. He’ll have to save her before he can earn her trust and her love. And he vows they’ll never be torn apart again.
REVIEW
When I signed up to review an ARC of this book, I had not read any of this series. I was gifted the first two books in the series in addition to the ARC so that I could do my review. When I started book 1 in the series, I had no idea how much I would wind up loving all 3 of the books in this series! Each of them are great and I can’t wait to get more!
This book focuses on Zach. I had been intrigued by Zach since he first appeared in the series. It was obvious that he had been hurt in his past. Finding out his story was an emotional ride. Especially when you bring Gracie’s side of the story into the picture. This couple had enough trauma to last them a lifetime! The question became, could they ever find their way back to each other?
Zach loved deeply and you could feel his emotions throughout the book. This was a book about emotions, suspense and love. It is not a heated read but a deeply emotional read. I loved it from beginning to end!
PURCHASE LINKS:
SAFE AT LAST
Chapter 1
Zack Covington simmered with impatience as he waited for the go signal from his teammates. He didn’t exactly know what was going on in the basement of the McMansion—one not unlike he’d once dreamed of building for the girl he’d planned to spend forever with—but knew it wasn’t good. Sometimes bad lurked in seemingly benign locations. People existed in denial it could happen in their little corner of the earth. How very wrong they were.
It was a lesson he’d learned the learned the hard way. Coming from a small town nestled against the shores of Kentucky Lake, he’d thought—just as most of its citizens, likely—that they were impervious to bad. And Zack? He was more confident than most, because his father was the chief of police, and he’d grown up knowing his father’s job was to ensure the safety of the town, regardless of size.
But he’d damn sure failed when it came to Gracie. Everyone had failed her and Zack had lead the pack. His father’s refusal to use county resources on someone who didn’t belong anyway had caused a rift between him and his father that to this day hadn’t been mended.
It never would be.
Zack sighed as he contemplated the stately homes, the expensive cars, swimming pools behind high privacy fences and the immaculately landscaped yards. The white collar families who resided in the gated community that boasted top notch security would be horrified to know that evil lurked in their midst. The irony of it all, was that the affluent neighborhood had recently been voted the safest and most desirable communities to live in the greater Houston area. Hell, it had scored in the top five in the entire state of Texas and in the top twenty for the whole country. So yeah, these people were utterly convinced that they were safe.
But he knew better. Inside was a child. Just a baby. Well, not so much a baby as she was only two years younger than his Gracie. Goddamn it. Not here. Not now. It was no time for the past to intrude. Besides Gracie was hardly the beautiful, innocent sixteen year old girl he’d loved over a decade ago. She’d be twenty-eight now.
If she was even alive.
And she wasn’t “his” Gracie anymore. She wasn’t his anything.
Maybe he hadn’t been able to save Gracie. Maybe he’d failed her. But over his dead body was he going to fail this young girl whose dreams were as big as the sun. Not when the two most important people in her life—or at least should have been the most important—had failed her in every possible way.
Alyssa Delacroix had been a very promising ballerina at a very early age, a fact her mother had taken pride in when she’d participated in kindergarten recitals, received high praise and glowing local and state accolades. Later, when the demands of her training had encroached on both mother and father’s social lives, Alyssa had fallen far down the list of their priorities.
Until the father had received pointed threats, aimed at Alyssa.
The Delacroix’s had five children with Alyssa being the middle child, with two older brothers and two younger sisters. When Howard Delacroix had called in DSS, it had disgusted Zack that the man seemed irritated, not that his daughter was being threatened, but that he wasn’t the subject of the threat. It was a blow to his ego that evidently he was not as important as his
daughter.
Pompous, arrogant pig who had no business having children. His wife was no better. Zack could only dream of the life they had—a life he once thought he would have—a houseful of children. Happy. And yet the couple was more concerned with their social standing than the care of their children.
They’d hired a nanny and it was the nanny who attended all sports events, dance recitals and provided the love and support the parents should have. And now she was dead, shot when trying to protect one of the younger Delacroix children when masked men had burst into the auditorium where the dance recital was being held, cut the lights, causing instant chaos when gunfire erupted.
The father? Had dropped like a fucking coward, hiding behind his wife, while the nanny had saved his son. Zack would like to put a bullet right between the asshole’s eyes for that alone.
The only reason Howard and Felicity Delacroix had even been there hadn’t been to see their daughter shine. They’d attended solely because the CEO of another oil company also had a daughter performing and Howard was in negotiations to merge the two companies because the competitor was looking to retire and Howard wanted to take over both companies and expand his “empire.” Hell, he and his wife hadn’t even sat with their children, leaving the nanny to tend to them while they sat a row back talking business while their daughters’ performed.
The target had been Alyssa. And Alyssa had been Zack’s responsibility. Hell, she was all of DSS’s responsibility, but Zack had been the closest, and in the clusterfuck that had ensued, a hysterical woman had blocked his pathway to Alyssa, a mere foot away, getting shot in the process and Alyssa had been abducted in a professionally executed hit.
This was no amateur operation, and Zack had to wonder why someone would go to such lengths to kidnap the child of a high profile oil mogul when the man took absolutely no security precautions, and if any research on Delacroix had been done at all and ransom had been the aim, he would have been the obvious choice.
He’d give up a hell of a lot of money for his own life. But for his children? Even Zack knew the answer to that, and he’d only briefly made the man’s acquaintance. He’d despised him on site because he grudgingly had to part with some of his precious money to protect his daughter for “appearance’s sake.” After all, it wouldn’t do for it to get out that a father had ignored threats to his child, and above all else, Howard Delacroix had an ego the size of the state he resided in.
When the silence through his earpiece continued—and he’d already waited an interminable amount of time—Zack lost what was left of his patience. Fuck it. He was going in. The Delacroix’s may not give two fucks about their daughter, but Zack did, and he wasn’t about to sit on his hands when each passing second could mean the difference between life and death.
Stealthily, he crept toward the window of the guest room. DSS had pulled the floor plans of the housing developments—they were cookie cutter houses after all—and quietly inserted his knife around the edges and bottom of the window to loosen the panes. Only when he was able to slide the window upward, did he whisper into the com, “I’m in.”
He ignored the curses of Dane, heard an “about time” muttered by Eliza, while Capshaw and Renfro said nothing at all.
Zack slid into the bedroom with ease and quickly drew his gun with silencer attached with one hand and reached for a flash bang grenade with the other. He knew the layout by heart having studied it until it was ingrained in his mind.
The house was eerily dark when he slipped from the bedroom, but in the distance, the sound of a television could be heard. His partners could cover the front. His aim was the lower level and he honed in on his target with absolute focus.
A shadow appeared in his periphery and he immediately flattened himself against the wall just as a man rounded the corner, heading directly toward Zack. A quick assessment told him this wasn’t a resident of the house. He was dressed in fatigues and a black shirt, a shoulder harness holding a pistol and several Kevlar knives secured to his waist. What the fuck did these jokers want with a fourteen-year-old girl? Were they running some sort of human trafficking ring? And if so, why the one girl? There had been over two dozen girls between the ages of eight and eighteen at the recital. In the utter chaos that had ensued, they could have grabbed several others.
Zack yanked his gun up just as the other man spotted him and did the same. But Zack had the element of surprise and only the thud of a dead body falling broke the quiet.
“One down,” Zack said quietly into the comm. “And these guys are trained. Watch
your sixes.”
“Goddamn it, Zack,” Beau hissed. “Wait for back-up.”
“Alyssa may not have time for back-up,” Zack bit back, moving toward the stairway at the end of the hall.
He paused at the top and peered downward, his ears straining for any sound to indicate movement up the stairs. What he heard froze him to the core.
Soft weeping. The sound of pain and despair. And it broke his heart.
Resisting the urge to rush recklessly the rest of the way down the stairs, he forced himself to take it step by step, making sure he made no sound as he descended when his every instinct was to charge in and take out the fuckers who’d taken and hurt an innocent child.
He paused at the bottom because there was only a small area between the bottom of the stairwell and the wall. He would have to round the corner to enter the larger area of the room. Where Alyssa was being held. Where soft weeping could still be heard.
He couldn’t lob the flash bang grenade, because it would be devastating to Alyssa, and she could be executed in a split second once her kidnappers were aware they’d been found. As schooled as Zack believed them to be, they’d likely been exposed to them before—and trained to withstand the effects while adequately defending themselves. Or taking out the enemy.
Inhaling a quiet breath, he gripped his knife in his left hand and curled his fingers on his right hand around the stock of the pistol, just brushing the trigger. The sight that greeted him would live with him until his dying breath.
Alyssa, bloodied, bruised, pale with shock, eyes glazed with pain and the sheen of tears was manacled to the brick chimney base. It was like something out of a medieval horror movie.
But worse was seeing who her tormentor was.
Zack didn’t move. Didn’t so much as breathe, praying the girl holding a knife to Alyssa’s neck wouldn’t be alerted to his presence and slice through the delicate skin.
“Why are you doing this to me, Lana?” Alyssa whispered, choking on her tears as she stared dully at her tormentor. “I thought we were friends!”
“Because with you out of the picture, I’ll be the best. Not you,” the teenage girl hissed. “It’s always been about you. I’m sick of hearing about how great Alyssa is. How talented. How you’re destined for stardom. What does anyone say about me? Runner up. To you. Always second place. Now I’ll be the star and no one will even remember your name.”
Jesus. Zack recognized the girl. She’d performed just before Alyssa, and obviously displayed talent, but from the moment Alyssa had taken the stage, it had been equally evident that Alyssa had clearly outshone the other girl.
The sheer hatred for Alyssa was obvious in her rival’s voice. The malicious triumph in her voice sickened Zack. A thin rivulet of blood slipped down Alyssa’s neck and she gave a small cry, more of distress and fear than of pain.
What was more horrifying was that there was no way this girl could have pulled off a plan so flawlessly. Nor would she have knowledge of such men capable of executing a professional hit. Which meant her parents not only knew what was happening in the basement of their home but had likely masterminded the entire event.
Zack had to act fast. He was very good at reading people and he didn’t doubt for a second that the jealous teenage girl would kill Alyssa if he didn’t step in now. In no way did he want to kill a teenage girl, just a child—but no, this was no child. She was a cold-blooded psychopath who thought nothing of removing someone she perceived as competition.
And then the decision was ripped from him when Alyssa glanced past her captor and betrayed his presence by widening her eyes in alarm. Thankfully, the girl lowered the knife and turned, perhaps thinking he was one of the men who’d abducted Alyssa. But when her gaze settled on him, she raised the hand holding the knife, her expression so vicious it gave him chills. Then she turned,
clearly directing the knife toward Alyssa’s chest.
It all happened in a split second, and yet it was as though everything was in slow motion.
Alyssa screamed, straining sideways to avoid the wicked edge of the knife. Zack fired, his aim precise, penetrating Lana’s arm just above the wrist, causing the knife to drop. Lana’s scream mimicked Alyssa’s own and yet the obvious pain the bullet wound must have caused didn’t deter her from her determined vendetta.
She lunged at Alyssa, scratching furiously at Alyssa’s face while her other hand hung uselessly at her side.
Goddamn it!
Zack hurled himself forward, grabbing a fistful of the hell cat’s hair and yanked her back. In his ear, two voices were demanding a status report. He ignored both, more worried about defending Alyssa from further harm if someone not on his team came down the stairs.
“I’ll kill you!” Lana screamed, turning her fury on Zack.
And just as suddenly, her anger turned to triumph as she turned a spiteful look in Alyssa’s direction.
“You’re too late anyway,” she said smugly.
Zack didn’t pause to consider what the crazy ass girl meant. He shoved her down into a nearby chair and handcuffed her uninjured wrist to the arm. This time it was she who gave away the presence of another. Relief flared in her eyes and Zack immediately dropped and rolled toward Alyssa, placing his body between her and any possible threat.
His gun was up and he didn’t hesitate when he saw a man who was similarly attired as the one Zack had already taken down on the upper level. He didn’t have time to go for the kill shot but put a bullet in the assailant’s upper leg. Judging by the blood pumping from the wound as the man went down, it was likely Zack had hit his femoral artery. If that was the case, the man was
finished and would bleed out in a matter of seconds.
Still, not one to assume anything, he took aim and put a second bullet through the downed man’s neck.
“Goddamn it, where the fuck is everyone?” Zack demanded, addressing his teammates for the first time. “Alyssa’s in the basement and two of the kidnappers are dead. Anyone care to offer some back up here?”
“Well, if you’d been a little more patient, you’d have gotten your back up,” Dane said dryly.
“If I’d waited any longer, Alyssa would be dead right now,” Zack snapped.
“We’ve cleared the main level,” Eliza broke in. “On our way now. And Zack, this is some fucked up shit we’re dealing with.”
“You don’t even know the half of it,” Zack said grimly.
Satisfied that he’d encounter no further nasty surprises, Zack picked himself up and quickly freed Alyssa’s wrists, using the key lying on a table just a few feet away. As soon as she was free, she threw her arms around him and sobbed into his neck. He closed his eyes, cupping the back of her head as he gently stroked her hair.
“It’s all right now, sweetheart. You’re safe now.”
“No it’s not,” she said with gulping sobs. “It’ll never be all right again.”
She clung tightly to him her grief causing a knot to form in Zack’s throat. The world was filled with all kinds of sick, twisted fucks, but even this had the power to surprise him. That someone so young was so evil and…sick. He didn’t have words.”
“Can you get up or do you need me to carry you?” Zack said, using a soothing, calming voice. “How badly are you hurt?”
At his question, she completely fell apart, her cries so hopeless that it enraged him that such innocence had been destroyed. But even then, he wasn’t prepared for her answer.
“She broke my knees,” Alyssa sobbed. “She made it so I’ll never dance again. Dancing was all I had and now it’sgone. She was supposed to be my friend. We were going to room together, go to the same performing arts academy. Oh God. What if I never walk again?”
Zack went utterly still with shock. As gently as he could, considering he was shaking with rage, he pulled her away, just enough that he could evaluate her legs. He hadn’t seen them before. He’d been too focused on Lana and the knife she’d held and the fear in Alyssa’s eyes.
And what he saw horrified him.
The leotards she’d worn in her recital were torn and bloodied, impossibly stretched by massive swelling caused by trauma to the kneecaps. He’d never felt so sick in his life. Not since the day…
He shook his head, refusing to go back to that time in his life. There was a young girl who needed him right now. He was all that had stood between her and death. And to her, such a devastating injury was tantamount to death.
He very carefully slid one arm underneath her thighs, above the backs of her knees and below her behind and the secured his other arm around her upper body, hooking it underneath her armpit.
“This will hurt, honey, but I have to get you out of here and to a hospital where it’s safe. Perhaps your injuries aren’t as severe as you fear.”
Devastation and doubt were clear in her tear-swollen eyes, but she clamped her lips shut and leaned into him, not uttering a single sound as he lifted her and carried her past Lana who was still handcuffed to the chair.
“What about me?” Lana shrieked. “You shot me!”
Zack turned his cold gaze on her, ensuring Alyssa’s head was tucked firmly beneath his chin, her face buried against his neck so she would no longer have to lay eyes on her torturer.
“Sue me,” he growled.
KEEP ME SAFE: A SLOW BURN NOVEL
By Maya Banks
When Caleb Devereaux discovers his younger sister, Tori, is kidnapped, he quickly turns to an unlikely source for help: Ramie St. Claire, a beautiful and sensitive woman with a psychic gift for finding answers others cannot. The two quickly find out their chemistry is undeniable and an intimate relationship follows.
While Ramie can connect to victims and alert authorities to their locations, her ability comes with a steep price. Every time she uses it, she experiences the same torture as the victim. Helping the infuriatingly attractive and impatient Caleb find his sister nearly kills her. Even though his sexual intensity draws her like a magnet, she needs to get as far away from him as she can.
Deeply remorseful for the pain he has caused, Caleb is determined to make things right. But just when he thinks Ramie’s vanished forever, she reappears. This time she’s the one in trouble and is in desperate needs of his help. Caleb will risk everything, including his heart, to protect her from a relentless and cruel murderer, who will stop at nothing and no one until he gets to Ramie.
REVIEW:
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I loved this book. I loved Caleb and how protective he was of his family and of Ramie. I loved how he didn’t let his family influence his feelings for Ramie. This book was very intense from the very beginning. The psychic element was so intriguing. There were twists and turns that you would never expect. Great book! |
IN HIS KEEPING: A SLOW BURN NOVEL
By Maya Banks
Arial knows the rules that keep her safe. She’s been following them since she was a little girl: Do not tell. Do not show. But in a moment of terror, facing an attacker intent on taking more than just her life, she has no choice but to unleash the psychic powers she’s been hiding since childhood.
Now, with Ari’s abilities revealed, a bigger threat looms – something that makes her question everything she thought she knew about her parents and her secretive upbringing. But this isn’t a fight she can face on her own.
As the head of Devereaux Security, Beau Devereaux is no stranger to the bizarre. But when he takes on a new client–a beautiful young woman with an extraordinary gift–Beau isn’t prepared for the extent of his attraction to her. What began as a simple assignment quickly turns personal as he discovers he’ll do anything it takes to protect Ari, the woman he loves.
REVIEW:
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Thanks to the author, I was allowed to read a complimentary copy of this book. This series is awesome and I love this book as much as the first one. This book is full of hotness all the way through. It is also full of plenty of suspense and action. It is all pulled together with the love felt by the couple. Great book! |
PURCHASE LINKS:
KEEP ME SAFE
IN HIS KEEPING
SAFE AT LAST
About the Author:
Maya Banks a #1 USA Today and New York Times bestselling author whose chart toppers have included erotic romance, romantic suspense, contemporary romance, Scottish historical romances. She is the author of the Breathless Trilogy, the KGI novels, the Sweet series, and the Colters Legacy novels. She lives in the South with her husband and three children and other assorted babies, such as her two Bengal kitties and a Calico who’s been with her as long as her youngest child. She’s an avid reader of romance and loves to dish books with her fans and anyone else who’ll listen! She very much enjoys interacting with her readers on Facebook and Twitter as well as in her Yahoo! Group.
To learn more about her please visit her online at www.mayabanks.com or at www.facebook.com/AuthorMayaBanks
Twitter: @maya_banks
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GENRE: Erotic Romance
THE RIGHT KIND OF LOVE
(Blue Hearts Series Book One)
SYNOPSIS:
Damaged, but not broken, Sydney Summers picks up her life and moves halfway across the country.
After a tragic event that has rocked her to the core, she is determined not to let it taint her future. Her entire world is turned on its axis when her new roommate isn’t the person she thought they would be. Making the best of the situation, like she always does, she trudges forward and learns that, although life may not seem perfect all the time, it can end up being pretty damn good.
Damien Blue, a tattoo artist by day and a musician by night, is a man-whore. With a revolving bedroom door, he knows no limits when it comes to women. Then he meets his game-changer. Everything he knew before is completely and utterly turned upside-down when he can’t keep the one woman he thinks is too good for him from his mind or his heart.
When fate rears its ugly head again, will they be able to come together as one, surviving their hot and cold relationship? Will Sydney be able to let go of her past and fight for their future?
Together, will they be able to find The Right Kind of Love?
Right Kind of Love
Chapter One
One Month Later
With one broken rib, a healed black eye, and a busted lip, I drove into Vegas. What I saw had my belly full of butterflies and a huge smile on my face. I’d finally made my way from Detroit, Michigan to the glamour and glitz of Las Vegas, Nevada. I needed a new start to my life after what I’d endured, which I tried not to think about, because I wasn’t going to let that vile bastard rule my life. Yes, I was now damaged, but I wasn’t broken. A fresh start away from the memories and those familiar things was what was needed in my life. Plus, I didn’t want to be anywhere near the bastard.
I had thrown fifty small pieces of folded up paper, each with a name of a city and state, into a hat.
WhatI drew out of the hat was good ol’ Vegas. I couldn’t believe I actually was making the move. But a clean break and change was exactly what was needed.
I was driving down Tropicana. I had my dog, Zeus, at my side, and a smile on my face. Life was definitely better. I was taking in the beautiful huge Palms Hotel. It was all lit up and inviting with signs flashing and the big Playboy sign on the side. I couldn’t wait to visit. What twenty-two-year-old wouldn’t want to live a life in Vegas? I was determined not to fall into a habit of partying and going to the casinos, because let’s face it, that would mean we clearly would have a problem, Houston. But I would at least go out and have some fun, do a little gambling, and hit some clubs. It was my goal to hit all of the buffets. My stomach rumbled at the thought.
I wanted to stop off and visit all of the hotels. However, I had to make my way to my new apartment. I was running a little late. I had emailed my new roommate to let her know I was going to be there in the afternoon, but the sun was setting as it was evening now. My belly started to rumble again. I was starving. Once I was settled, I would have to find something to eat.
Luckily, I had landed a job before I moved. Until I established my clientele, I wouldn’t be able to afford to live on my own, though. Cosmetologists could make a killing, but it was only if you were in the right place at the right time. Bangs Salon and Spa was very reputable and had a steady stream of customers from what I was told. When I’d
looked up their website, and then had done the phone interview, I was more than impressed.
My living arrangements left me a little nervous. I’d gone through an apartment finder for a roommate. From the pictures, the place looked amazing, but I still didn’t know how I felt about living with a stranger. Since I was fairly outgoing, I knew she and I would have no trouble making fast friends.
As I pulled through the gates of the complex, I noticed the beautiful Spanish-tiled roofs on the stucco buildings, ginormous palm trees, and a pool that looked like it belonged on its own oasis. I couldn’t wait to throw on my bikini and get some much-needed sun. It was a far cry from Detroit.
I parked my car in front of building B, got out of my black Jeep Liberty, and cracked the window. I didn’t want my little guy to die from the heat. “Zeus, I’ll be right back, buddy, I’m gonna go meet our new roommate.” I gave him a kiss on the nose and then shut the door. The apartment placement said small dogs were fine, but I still had trepidations about my roommate actually liking Zeus. He was such a good dog, and I couldn’t imagine going anywhere without him. I’d gotten him a few years ago after my mom had died. My stepdad worked nights so Zeus kept me company when I was home alone. And then when I had moved in with Bee, my best friend, she was all about Zeus.
I grabbed my phone out of the pocket of my black skinny jeans and pulled up the information about the apartment. Yes, I was at the right place—Ovation Apartments building B. Now I just needed to find apartment 215, which I assumed was on the second floor. I made my trek from the parking lot, crossing over to the sidewalk where I
noticed beautiful green grass and shrubberies with flowers lining the walkways. This place was pretty damn nice. It would be my own personal paradise. I made my way up the stairs and found 215.
Time to meet my new roomie.
I lifted my hand and let out three distinct knocks. The door swung open to a woman scantily dressed with platinum blond hair, caked on makeup, and long legs that stretched far outside of her very short mini dress.
“Who the fuck are you?” the woman asked me. She couldn’t be over twenty-five and had quite the attitude, but if she could dish it, I could dish it right back. My mother never taught me to sit in the back of the bus. She taught me to stand up for who I am.
“Well, who the fuck I am is Sydney Summers. I’m looking for Dana Blue. Is that ‘who the fuck’ you are?” I pumped out my hip and popped my leg for extra measure.
She looked down at me because, let’s face it, I was a shorty at five foot. “I think you must have the wrong place.” And with that, she slammed the door in my face.
What a complete psycho bitch.
Taking my phone out of my pocket again, I looked at the information and then confirmed it by looking at the door once again. Yes, I was in the right spot.
Fuck her. So I was going to be living with a psycho bitch.
Gathering my wits, I brought my hand to the door and knocked once again, but this time I didn’t get in three knocks.
The door swung open and this time, a guy answered. I looked up at him and my breath hitched. He was gorgeous. He was well over a foot taller than me with hair that was longer on the top and shorter on the sides, giving him the look of a toned-down version of a Mohawk. He had brown hair and brown almost black eyes, the color of the blackest espresso I’d ever seen. From the looks of him, he seemed like he was a regular at the gym, and have mercy from beyond, from his black short sleeved shirt peeked out all sorts of tattoos. He was breathtaking. Not the typical kind of guy I would go for, but there was just something about him that screamed raw sex appeal. I was slightly shocked that he didn’t immediately intimidate me after what I’d been through. But there was something about him that spoke to me. I knew he was safe. I’m usually a good judge of character when I first meet people. Usually. Wes had proven me wrong. But fresh start, new beginning, right?
Clearing my throat, I gave it another try. “Hi, I’m looking for Dana Blue.”
He took his long fingers and scratched at his completely messy hair. “Well, I’m Damien Blue and you must be Syd?” He looked puzzled.
I stuck out my manicured hand. “Hi. Yeah, I’m Sydney Summers.”
“Not to be blunt here, but I wasn’t expecting a fucking female. I thought you were a dude?”
“Since we’re being honest here, I wasn’t expecting a fucking male.” Take that. Oh, my God. Clearly, this apartment search had royally fucked up in a huge way. I was expecting a female roommate and he was expecting a male. I would have to call them and get to the bottom of this and to see if they could pair me up with someone else.
He opened the door further and the psycho bitch from earlier stepped out and ran into me, shoving me aside.
She didn’t say sorry or excuse me. She wrapped her arms around his neck and jammed her tongue down his throat. “Thanks for today, Damien. Call me when you want to hook up again.” And she turned toward me scowling, dismissing me as she walked on her red sky-high heels down the steps. I was a huge shoe connoisseur, but I would never wear anything that high and lethally dangerous for my health. I would fall and break my flippin’ back.
Damien resumed looking at me. “So now that that little distraction is out of the way, let’s resume our conversation.”
Little distraction? More like a psycho on stilts.
“So where were we? To be clear, the name is Damien not Dana. My last name is Blue, and I was expecting a dude named Syd.”
“Well, clearly, they got their wires crossed and made a mistake. I’m indeed a Sydney, as in a female. Let’s move past this. I’ll just leave and go find a hotel to stay at until the Apartment Search people can get this situation sorted.” Hopefully, they would be able to find me something else.
“Nonsense. Let’s try this again.” He stuck out his large hand to me. “For the third time, the name is Damien. I live here and I’m expecting a new roommate. I had thought I was going to have a dude as a roommate, but we can make this work.” His lips upturned and he gave me a megawatt smile, showing off his very white and perfect teeth.
Holy fucking shit.
How was I ever going to live with a guy, not to mention one that was so freaking attractive? I really was rather done with the male species. Let’s be real here—after what I had been through, I didn’t really trust them. The one person I had trusted almost half my life had turned on me, which is how I ended up in a vulnerable situation and
facing a roommate that wasn’t a female.
What the hell?
I stuck my hand out once again. “Sydney Summers. It’s a pleasure and I appreciate you letting me stay. Although, once I get settled, I’ll see about finding another roommate.”
“We can make this work as long as you don’t cock block me.” He was serious as a heart attack. What kind of mess have I gotten myself into?
“Well, if you are referring to cock blocking as in you and me, then you need to get your facts straight. I don’t date or do anything else with men, for that matter.”
“Whatever you say, sweets.” Sweets?
“The name is Sydney not Sweets.” I deadpanned.
“Well, sweets, are you going to stand there all day or are you going to come in and see your new home?” He waved a hand welcoming me into his, or shall I say our, apartment.
I walked in, but then I turned back to him and met his deep black eyes. “The name is Sydney.” I gritted through my teeth.
Holy hell, this place was nice and actually immaculate. For a guy, he ran a pretty tight ship when it came to tidiness. He would probably be less than thrilled with me because I was such a slob. But so be it. He wouldn’t be in my room to see what it looked like, and I would do my best to keep our shared living quarters clean.
I took it all in. Beige walls surrounded me. There was a one-butt kitchen, as my aunt Theresa would call it, off to the right with black speckled granite countertops, cherry cabinets, and stainless appliances. It had a breakfast bar with chrome and red padded bar stools pulled up to it. Next to the kitchen was a kitchen table set with four chairs.
Connected to the eating area was a huge family room. On the wall, facing the entrance into the apartment there was a fireplace and above it had to have been at least a sixty-inch flat screen TV. Placed in front of the TV, there was a black leather sectional couch and a slate tiled coffee table. To the right was another door, which I could only imagine
led to the deck that I saw at the front of the apartment when I was walking in.
“Well, I see you’re checking it all out. Do you want me to show you your room, and then I can help you get all of your things brought up here?” He turned on the TV and classical musical blasted through the room.
I gave him a funny look because he didn’t fit the classical music type. “You like classical music?”
He winked at me. “I like all sorts of music. I’m actually lead guitarist in a band. I sing as well, but the guitar is what my world is built around. You should come hear us play sometime. We play at some of the different hotels on the strip and bars off the strip, too.”
“Cool, I’ll think about it.” And I would. I loved music. I was a sucker for it. Plus, I could only imagine what his voice sounded like. He had such a rich, deep baritone voice. Lead guitarist and vocals. Damn, that sounded hot. But I wasn’t going to let myself get carried away with that thought. Men were on the list of no-go for me.
He led me out of the family room and down a hall.
We passed a built-in desk where he had a very nice desktop computer set-up. We came to what appeared to be a long closet door. “Right here’s the laundry.” He swung open the doors and showed me a front loader washer and dryer.
“Nice machines. You’re all about the good shit when it comes to appliances in this place.”
“Thanks. I don’t mess around when it comes to furnishing the house. I work my ass off to have the things I do and having a roommate now will help me stay on top of the bills.” He shut the doors.
We walked further down the hall and approached two doors. He gestured to his left. “This is my room on the left and here is your room on the right. Don’t ever come into my room unless I tell you it’s okay.” He opened the door for me. “Oh, and in front of you is the guest bath.”
“Geez, Damien, chill the hell out. I told you I wasn’t going to cock block you.” I walked into my room to get away from the player. I’m surprised his dick wasn’t giving the tour. He was hot and that was about all he had working for him in my book. I was a bit intimidated by men at this point, after what I’d been through, but I had to remember to be strong and to not let my past control my future. I wouldn’t allow myself to live in fear. Of fear of what happened with Wes.
I took in the room. It was fairly large and actually had a king-sized bed. Wow, I wasn’t expecting such a luxury. “Um, a king-sized bed?”
“Yeah. That’s what my brother had and he didn’t take it with him.” He winked. What is up with this guy? Did he have a twitch or something?
“I guess I’ll be going to Target after I get everything settled. I only brought bedding for a double.” I sighed. I was so tired from all of the driving; that was the last thing I wanted to do along with unpacking all of the shit and lugging it up a flight of stairs.
“It’s cool. I’m off tonight, so I’ll take you there so you can get what you need.” He walked further into my room and opened a door.
“No, that won’t be necessary. I’ll drive myself.” I looked through the door and saw a toilet with a shower tub. “Nice, I didn’t realize I had my own bathroom.”
“Yeah. Both of the rooms have their own baths. They’re both set up like masters.” He waggled his eyebrows at me. I could only imagine what went on in his master. My momma, who passed away not many years ago, had better be watching over me, because I honestly didn’t know what the hell I was getting myself into with having a male
roommate.
“That’s awesome, Damien. This place is really nice. I appreciate you letting me stay until I can work something else out. But I’m gonna give it to you straight. Don’t ever come into my room without knocking first—ever.” I hoped like hell that the door had a lock on it because if it didn’t, I would be for sure picking one up while we were at Target.
“Point taken. I get it. You don’t want me in your room, and I sure as hell don’t want you in mine.” He gestured toward another door. “Let me show you the kick-ass closet.”
I walked over to where he was standing with the door opened and walked in. Damn! It was freaking huge! Like, bigger than my closet back at home. It was lined with lots of shelves and racks for me to hang clothes. At the bottom, there were cubbies for me to put shoes in. I had definitely hit the jackpot. If only I were living with another
female. At that time, my stomach betrayed me and grumbled really loud.
Damien turned to me and looked down at my stomach. “You hungry?”
I bit my bottom lip and then released it. My damn stomach had to choose that moment to growl. How embarrassing. “Yeah, I haven’t eaten all day.”
“Well, let’s get all of your shit up here, and then we can go get something to eat and hit Target. Sound good?”
“Sure, I suppose that worked. Shit, I need to get Zeus. Poor baby probably needed to do his business.” I started walking out the door, and he placed his hand on my arm to stop me. I pulled my arm away and looked back over my shoulder. “What?” I hadn’t been touched by a man since that night, and it had taken me completely off guard.
“Who the hell is Zeus?” He crossed his arms across his chest.
“Zeus is my dog.” I smiled just thinking about my little guy. At least he was here with me.
“You brought a fucking dog? I honestly don’t know if that’s going to work. There won’t be enough room in here for all of us.” He gave me a questioning look.
“Chill, Damien. It will be fine, come meet him. I assure you that you’ll think he’s cool.” If he didn’t let me keep my dog, the deal was off. I would have to find another place and fucking fast.
“All right, lead the way to your car so I can meet this Zeus.”
CAPTIVATED BY YOUR LOVE
(Blue Hearts Series Book Two
SYNOPSIS:
She’s fire and he’s Ice, both demanding and both used to getting their way. Put them together and there is one hell of a storm. Two souls drawn together by an unexplainable force, their chemistry is off the charts it sizzles. Some say what they do best is fight, but they know what they do best isn’t in the fight, but the makeup sex that comes after.
Jealousy and impulsive decisions find Abbee now answering to Mrs. Blue. Can the newlyweds find a way to tame themselves and each other long enough to truly allow love to flourish? Or will a jealous ex and pride be too much to handle? Will they be able to stop fighting with each other long enough to fight for each other? Follow along as Abbee Burkhart and Justice Blue find out why everyone says love is worth fighting for.
Chapter One
Abbee
The sun streamed into my bedroom through my window and it felt like it was beating down on my nose and bronzing my skin. I would never get used to the Vegas heat. But this morning it felt so much hotter than just the sun. It was like the thermostat was turned up to 100 degrees. I was roasting hot but in a good way. I felt a thin sheen of sweat layered on the back of my neck and across my upper brow. Then I suddenly realized it was because I wasn’t alone. So not alone.
The thing is I didn’t remember being out with my boyfriend Jensen last night so I should be
alone. At least one would think. Keeping my eyes screwed shut, I tried to take in my surroundings. The room smelled of sex. Dirty, just like I liked it. But, again, my memory of Jensen from last night just didn’texist.
I didn’t want to open my eyes for the fear in my belly of what I might find. Oddly, I felt a
presence in my front and at my back. Which was a little alarming. Then it hit me. The air rushed out of me and my breathing grew unsteady. Fuck. Fuckity fuck fuck. The memories flooded my head like a typhoon. Shit. What had I done? I was a bad girl and knew exactly what I had done. Although it was very wrong of me to cheat on Jensen, I couldn’t deny that I didn’t like it. Guilt overcame me and my lips turned down into a frown. Damn, I couldn’t be trusted.
It was time to quit playing hide-and-seek with myself. I needed to open my eyes and face what would lay ahead of me. It wouldn’t be a surprise that I would like what I would find. Memories of hot bodies and sweat clad skin sliding against each other filled my mind. I had never had a threesome before. Until last night, that is. I had always wanted to, it was actually written in bold red ink on my bucket list along with a million other wild and crazy things I wanted to do before I died. Guess I can check that one off. I felt a shift to my front and I slowly, ever so slightly, cracked one eye open and got a glimpse and then closed it quickly again. Justice. A smile begged to peek out while my brain screamed at me.
Shit.
Shit.
Shit.
Putting on a brave face and fighting with the butterflies in my stomach, I opened the same eye again and then the other. What I found staring back at me were beautiful blue eyes the color of the clearest ocean or blue sky. He had the goofiest lopsided smile on his face. He took his hand and tenderly rubbed it along my jaw and then brought his lips to mine. I pulled away from him and shook my head with a big fat no. First, I had morning breath. Second, no matter what we did last night, I still had a boyfriend and I could no longer blame anything on the massive amounts of alcohol in my system. He backed off immediately and his lips turned down. I knew I had upset him but I couldn’t worry about that right now. I had to get out of there, out from under his spectacular gaze. Jenson hadn’t done anything to deserve this from me. Guilt racked my chest and it was all I could do to not look Justice in the eyes.
Then I felt hands slip around me from behind and they landed on my waist. Out of nowhere a deep growl rumbled from Justice’s chest and I looked at those blue eyes to see fury marred his face. My stomach dipped again because although I was an independent chick, I kinda liked the idea of someone being possessive over me. I really liked it a lot. I thought it was sexy as hell when a man was that crazy about his woman. I knew from being around him and what Damien and Sydney said that Justice was pure raw Alpha male. He was one of a kind. Bossy, just like I liked.
He shook his head slightly and took a deep breath in, and just like that, his eyes returned to the sexy lust filled depths they had been just moments before.
Then he spoke. “Good morning, Abbee.” His voice was deep and rich and I felt it all the way
down in my southern regions; my pussy grew a little wet and my nipples started to get hard. I also felt something very hard and oh so familiar poking my belly. Damn, I didn’t remember it being so big last night. But it was big. It felt delicious so close to me. What I wouldn’t give to get on him right now and ride him reverse cowgirl. Now that would be fucking hot. Last night was fun. He fucked me six ways from Sunday while I sucked off his brother. I got a little hand action from Reeve at one point too; man do those hands know how to work it. Those boys definitely inherited the big dick gene because neither were lacking. Not that I was taking measurements. Gah, who am I kidding, I was so doing an inspection of the
male variety.
“Seriously, the name is Bee. That is what I go by; please try to use it.” My tone was clipped and my eyes narrowed. The only people who called me Abbee were my parents and even that irritated me. I liked Bee. He cocked an eyebrow at me and I just stared at him, trying to punctuate my point. You didn’t mess with Bee Berkhart. Not in the slightest.
I felt the hands that were around my waist loosen a little bit and then felt a kiss being placed
behind my ear. I shivered from head to toe and the hair on my body stood up. It was soft and very sweet. Then there was that damn growl again and this time I had to laugh. He did sound sexy as hell when he growled and I couldn’t help but love it.
“You two are cracking me up. Justice, you need to chill the hell out. Reeve, enough of the kisses.” He just looked at me, trying to soften his features, but I saw the look in his eyes. It was a look of possession. Like he wanted to own me. And there was the tiniest little part of me that wanted to be owned by him. That is if I didn’t have a boyfriend. Fuck, fuck, shit, shit. I was the world’s worst girlfriend and clearly wasn’t as committed as I thought.
“But, baby, you are mine,” he said to me and then gave me a lopsided smile.
I had to laugh, like full on belly laugh. “Sorry, but first of all I have a boyfriend. Hate to break it to you boys and second, I’m not anyone’s. I’m my own person.” I wanted to remove their hands from me but it just felt so damn good being in our little sexual cocoon. I was lying to myself and them by saying I had a boyfriend. I wasn’t being true to him, not in the slightest, and I was enjoying the compromising position I was in. I was seriously going to hell.
“Last night when I had my cock deep inside of you, you said you were mine.” Damn it. Why did he have to remember that? Don’t you drink alcohol for a reason? I remember those damn shots going down so easily and all the cocktails we consumed. I was lucky I wasn’t bent over the toilet this morning.
“The hell she did Justice. I think you were hearing her say that she was mine. Come by the
hospital and I’ll check your ears for a blockage.” I had to laugh again. If anyone could see us and hear this conversation they would think they just stepped into an HBO comedy special.
“The hell she didn’t. You didn’t even have sex with her so I don’t know what you are even talking about.” Damn men, they were so clearly confused. Or were they? I think Reeve was just trying to get a rise out of Justice which was pretty great. I loved seeing him get his boxers in a twist.
“Dude, you’re the one that didn’t have sex with her. She and I did the deed all night long.” Justice growled again and then pushed Reeve’s hands away from me.
Justice wasn’t really wild about the idea of including Reeve, but it did happen. Thank goodness the alcohol had loosened him up because right now he was being a bear to deal with. I know I’m supposed to be moving in with Jenson but last night I flirted my ass off with both Justice and Reeve. And it ended better than I could have hoped for. With both brothers naked in my bed.
Justice was just so sexy and irresistible. It was the way he walked and carried himself with
confidence that was really a turn on. Not to mention I personally thought he was the best looking brother of the Blue bunch. Sure they were all gorgeous, but there was just something unique about Justice. Plus, I was always a sucker for a man in uniform. Every time he had come over to spend time with his brother Damien (my best friend Sydney’s now fiancé) my mouth went a little dry and my heart sped up a little faster and it might have skipped a beat. He was the full enchilada. So damn sexy. But last night at the bar when it was just the two of us talking I had seen a softer side to him that I really liked. It was evident that he wanted to know me better and had really focused on listening to me. Many times I would talk to
Jensen and feel like he wasn’t even listening to anything I had to say. It totally pissed me off but I swept it under the carpet trying not to acknowledge the obvious.
Reeve was a bit more uppity for me. I worked in the hospital so I was familiar with how some of the doctor’s would treat us nurses. Now I hadn’t worked with Reeve. He actually had a reputation of being one of the nice doctor’s but he just wasn’t my taste. At least for more than a single sex filled night. I preferred more of the blue collared kind of guy and Justice was pure, raw, male, blue collar. I wish we had gotten out his cuffs and played last night. Now that would have been something else to check off my bucket list. The things I could do with this man were endless. Gah. What was I saying? I was in a relationship and supposed to be happy. But was I really happy? I had to ask myself that. If I allowed myself to have sex with another man, not just one, but two, was I really satisfied with the man I was with?
The answer was no. I was just happy with the idea of having someone in my life. Damien and
Sydney had one another and I saw how their faces would light up when one of them got home from work or just sometimes it was the simple silence of them snuggling on the couch. I wanted that kind of special for myself. But who was I fooling? Jensen wasn’t that guy. The bad part about it is that I had already agreed to move in with him. When I gave someone my word I always followed through with it. So like it or not, despite my curiosity and slight feelings for Justice, I would be spending my time with Jensen. My stomach sank at the thought. I had signed up for a life that I didn’t know I could live, especially after spending a night with Justice. He treated me like I wanted to be treated and we just clicked. Like really
clicked. We got along really well.
“What the fuck, dude? Not cool.” Reeve slid his hands back around my belly again and Justice removed them again.
“Seriously, you two need to knock it the hell off. It was fun, it was. But I’m not with anyone other than my boyfriend. Yes, that may make me sound like the biggest ho in the world and like a total tramp but last night was just fun.” I looked at Justice and then looked over at my shoulder at Reeve. I took a deep breath. “The thing is I didn’t tell either of you that I was yours. So you two need to get over it.” I was telling baldfaced lies to these men and I prayed that they didn’t see right through me. I had told Justice I was his. And in so many ways, even if I had only spent one night with him, I did want to be his.
“Get over it?” Justice’s eyes blazed with heat. He looked over my shoulder at Reeve. “Reeve, you know I don’t share. Last night was a rare one-time thing for me. Abbee is mine. So you better back the hell off.” Damn he was going all Alpha male on me.
I had had enough. I untangled myself from both of them and sat up. “Okay, boys, I think this little slumber party is over.” My room was in shambles. My bedding was all over the place and I was sure if I looked over the side of the bed I would see condom wrappers. And not just one. My body heated from the thought. What an amazing night. One that I would never forget.
“It wouldn’t be over if Justice shared. You know, Justice, you never shared even as a child. What the hell is wrong with you?” Great, now the brothers were going to end up in a fight over me in my bedroom. Shit, in my bedroom. What was Sydney going to say? I knew Damien would more than likely pat his brothers on the back and give them a high five but Sydney couldn’t know about this–– or could she? She would probably beg me to leave Jensen and go for Justice. Which wasn’t a bad idea. Gah, what was I thinking, it was a horrible idea. I had already planned to live with Jensen. That would be my life. But there was something that kept on pulling me, like an unexplainable force, to Justice. Last night when we were at the bar I felt like he really paid attention to me and got me. He was very interested in what I had to say and treated me with kindness and respect. Sometimes I have to question whether Jensen respects me. He can flat out be mean when he wants to be.
I brought myself back to the situation and listened to them bickering at one another. I could see this going into a full on fight with them rolling on the ground wrestling and blood being spilled. Fuck my life. I had sure made a big mess out of things. The numbers on my clock glowed bright. 8:30. It was early…but not so early I could sneak the guys out. I placed my hands on my temples squeezing my eyes shut and rubbing them gently. I really needed to figure out a way to get the hell out of this situation.
“Fucker, I do share just not my women.” Justice growled again.
“For the last time, Justice, I’m not your woman.” It was my turn to growl back. I was getting
pissed. I wasn’t being a firecracker, I was a fucking stick of dynamite and I felt my face start to heat. When I got mad you better watch out. I would say I had a semi short fuse when it came to bullshit before I would just lose my shit on you. Sydney and I had gotten into it a few times over stupid nonsense but in the end we loved one another like sisters. Jensen hadn’t seen that side of me yet. I felt like I could never truly show the person I was to him. I usually always walked a fine line between what I wanted to be and what I needed to be. It was tough.
I heard my phone go off beside my bed on the night stand. It was the familiar beep I had set
especially for when Jensen would text. Fuck. Fuck. Shit.
“Um, Justice, sunshine, could you please hand me my phone?” He rolled over and reached for my phone handing it to me and then he sat up. I unlocked the screen with a manicured finger and read the message from Jenson. My stomach dropped and I felt light headed yet drowning in guilt.
Jensen: Hey baby missed you last night. I’ll be over to pick you up in twenty minutes we are going out to breakfast.
Fuck.
Shit.
Fuck.
What the hell was I going to do? Not only was I butt naked in my bed with two guys that were fighting, but Sydney and Damien would surely see them leave and then Jensen come over. They would think our house had turned into a brothel. With deft fingers I typed out a reply.
Me: This morning isn’t good for me. I’m actually not feeling very well.
That would buy me some time. I would get them out of the house and then maybe I wouldn’t see Jensen until tonight when I could wash the smell of sex from my body and paint on a different face. And that was what I was doing when I was with him. I wore a mask to try and be the perfect girlfriend. The girlfriend that I knew he wanted.
My phone chimed again.
“For the love of God could someone just make this nightmare stop.” I looked at the text again. Yup, wasn’t getting out of this situation very easily.
Jensen: Be there in twenty better get your ass up and ready. You can be sick later.
He really wasn’t the nicest guy. I felt my stomach drop. How did I ever end up with him? The
thing was I knew there were better guys out there. The way Justice treated me was a good example of that. Reeve had been so sweet and gentle as well. It was obvious they were raised right. I had met their parents and they were good people. Sydney spoke highly of them. I knew in my heart I should be with someone more like them.
I felt a presence over my shoulder and then I heard a growl again.
“He’s coming over here now?” Justice asked.
“Damn you. Quit reading my texts will you? Nosey.” I shoved him with an elbow into his gut and I felt a whisper of breath hit my back. I had packed a little mustard into it.
I climbed off the bed and went around to Reeve’s side. He was still lying down just staring at
nothing; probably looking at the ceiling, if I had to guess. His eyes met mine and he smiled. I looked down at myself and realized why. I wasn’t wearing a stitch of clothing. I was butt naked standing before Reeve while he assessed me.
I wasn’t shy about my body. Unlike most women who were modest and self-conscious, I loved my body. Justice and Reeve had been over so much to hang out at the house that I was used to them so there was a comfort there. But he didn’t have to gawk at me. I didn’t have time to worry about him looking at me like he wanted to devour me. I needed to get his ass up and out.
Rolling my eyes at him, I reached down, took his hand in mine and used all my strength to get him up. I wasn’t exactly big so I had to put all my muscles into it. “Alright, Reeve, time to get up and get out. Up you go.” But when I pulled on him he pulled harder, causing me to fall on top of him. My breasts hit his face and I felt him bite my nipple. I quickly jumped off of him but his hand lingered. I slapped it away.
“Stop, now up you go.” But I won’t lie, that little nipple bite made my pussy tingle a little and my nipples grow hard.
“Oh alright. I need to get to the hospital anyway.” Great, one down, one to go. Now I know it
won’t be this easy to get Justice out of here. I had a feeling I was in for the fight of my life.
I quickly made it to the other side of the bed and grabbed Justice by the hand, but when I pulled he did the same thing–– he pulled me down on top of him. Our faces were mere inches apart and my eyes flickered up to his, holding his gaze. I gasped. Being so close to him set my body on fire. I felt it deep in my belly. This man could be my complete and utter undoing. There were so many things I wanted to say. I wanted to tell him to stay and that I wanted to get to know him better. I wanted him to continue to be possessive with me. But most of all I wanted to slip under the covers with him and have my wicked way with him without Reeve. He had been amazing last night and I wanted to experience that again. But I
couldn’t. I was now in the biggest pickle of my life. I was post threesome with two naked men in my bedroom and my boyfriend was going to be here in less than twenty minutes.
I quickly broke eye contact with him. I looked over my shoulder to see Reeve was just slipping on his shirt and already had on his jeans. I thanked God. I turned back to Justice. “Alright you need to get your ass up and leave,” I said rather sternly. If I was going to have any luck I needed to give it to him straight and stay firm.
He just looked at me and then kissed me tenderly on the tip of my nose. I inhaled deeply and felt shivers course down my spine. What he did to me. He was like my own personal aphrodisiac. I was heady with his scent and feeling him all around me as our bodies pressed into one another. I looked to the clock and knew I had to get my shit together. I quickly rolled off of him and this time I grabbed him by the leg.
“Justice, I’m serious, you need to get the hell up.” This time he rolled over and sat up on the edge of the bed. He just sat there staring at me.
“Quit looking at me like that.” Damn the way he was looking at me made my entire body spasm.
“How exactly am I looking at you, Abbee?” He smiled at me, still not removing his eyes from
me. It was like he was seeing inside my soul. Like he knew that I really didn’t want him to leave. It was like he had all of the answers to all of my problems, even the ones I didn’t know I had.
“It’s Bee and you need to get up and get dressed like your brother is. Please and thank you.” I left him sitting there and walked over to my dresser and got a pair of panties out, and then leaned down and pulled open a drawer to get a pair of shorts out. But when I leaned down I felt him at my back his warm cock pressing firmly against me. It took everything in my power not to throw him back down on the bed. I tore myself away from him and went and stood on the other side of the room.
“This, you and me.” I pointed to him. “It’s over. It was one night full of fun. Now it is time for
you to leave.” I huffed out an exasperated breath.
“I’m not leaving. Reeve, suit yourself.”
Reeve walked to me, gave me a hug, and kissed me on the cheek.
“Thanks, Bee, I’ll see you soon.” He opened the door and exited and I prayed he would go
unnoticed by my roommates. I would have a lot of explaining to do. Oh, who was I fooling? The more I thought about it the more I couldn’t wait to tell Sydney. She was going to die, but in a good way. I admired Reeve in the way he was a nice guy and followed my instructions. This is the way things were supposed to go down and apparently he had gotten the memo, but Justice was another story. I took my hands and placed them on my hips and gave him a glare.
“Justice, you have 2.5 seconds to get your ass dressed and out of my room or I’m going to go get Damien and have him remove you.” That was totally an empty threat. I wasn’t going to go get Damien. Plus with the way Justice was built, all fine lines and hard muscles, he could clearly take Damien. He had the perfect body. One that I wanted to lick all over.
He just smirked at me. Fucker. “I’ll get dressed but I’m not going anywhere. I told you, you are mine. When your boyfriend gets here I’m telling him to get lost.”
I huffed out a breath again. I could feel my face heat up as I clenched my fingers into my palms and rolled my head around. I was tight. “Justice, get your shit on and get out.”
“Why the hell are you acting all bitchy to me?” He bent over and grabbed his shirt. Thank God he was finally getting the message.
“I’m not. I just can’t have you here when Jensen gets here.” Damn, I was running out of time and was really going to be cutting this one close. “And I’m not a bitch.”
“Then quit acting like one.” He bent down, picking up his jeans and shimmied them up his legs.
I walked over to my dresser and grabbed a shirt out and threw it on over myself, sans bra. At this rate I was doing good just to get clothes on before Jensen got here. Granted, I smelled like sex. I grabbed a bottle of perfume of my dresser and spritzed myself with it hoping it would help, but all I felt was hopeless at the moment. “Fuck my life, I smell like sex, Justice.”
“You smell perfect, like me.” He walked over and sniffed me. The thing is, I kinda liked his smell on my body. I sniffed one last time and deeply inhaled his scent.
Looking over my shoulder, I noticed Justice went back to getting ready and was slipping on his shoes. I wanted to do a happy dance I was so excited. Hopefully I would get myself out of this sticky-ass situation. He stood up from the bed and walked over to me he slipped his arms around me and brought his mouth to mine. I didn’t stop him this time. Despite my morning breath I kissed him back. I didn’t know if this would be the last time I had the opportunity and I didn’t want to regret it for the rest of my life.
He fisted his hand in my hair and I grabbed him behind his neck, holding on to him for dear life while he deepened our kiss. It was sweet, wet and full of so much emotion. I didn’t want to let him go. I wanted to stay wrapped up in his arms and brave Jensen together. I wanted to tell Jensen that I wasn’t his and that I was Justice’s like I had clearly told him last night. I wanted to be his. To be owned and possessed by him. But I couldn’t.
I was getting so lost in our kiss and thoughts of a life with Justice that I didn’t hear the door crack open.
“Bee?”
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