by Morgan James
Afraid my heart might burst from my chest if I tried to put my feelings into words, I dug my nails into his shoulders and dragged him back to me. He claimed my mouth once more, tongue sweeping over mine, sucking and licking every inch of my mouth. His muscles contracted as he pulled out, then slammed back in, taking my breath away.
“Oh, God!”
Surrounded by the heat of the fire, Eric’s body wrapped around mine, I began to spiral out of control. A low buzz filled my ears as electricity zipped along my nerve endings. My legs tightened around Eric’s waist as he thrust hard and deep, sending me over the edge with a ragged cry. His pace increased, and he pumped in and out several more times before pulling out and letting out a soft groan as he came.
He lay heavily on top of me, and I turned my head to speak against his ear. “I love you.”
They were the easiest three words I’d ever said.
SOFT, WARM LIPS BRUSHED the back of my neck, and I shifted in Eric‘s arms. “Again?” I grumbled without heat.
His deep, rusty chuckle vibrated through me. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
I grinned and rolled toward him, love filling every inch of me as I stared into his hazel eyes. “You’re going to be the death of me, you know that?”
“As long as you’re by my side, I don’t care when or how I go,” he replied.
This man never ceased to surprise me. I pressed my palm to his cheek. “I love you.”
His arm tightened around my waist and pulled me closer, as if he could meld our bodies into one entity. “Love you, baby. So much.”
Sometime in the middle of the night, Eric had scooped me into his arms and carried me to the bed in the loft upstairs. Our lovemaking that time had been slower, more tender and loving. I couldn’t decide which was my favorite. He wrought so many emotions in me, and I knew I wanted to spend a lifetime sorting through them.
We still hadn’t talked much about the events of last night, but I knew I’d have to get it over with sooner or later. When Eric drew a deep breath, I knew my time to address it was right now.
“I hate to do this, but I guess now’s as good a time as any. I need to head down to the station in a few to file an official report, and I’ll need your statement.”
I tipped my chin up to him. “Any chance we can come back here after we’re done?”
A sexy grin curved his mouth. “I suppose I could find a couple reasons to take the day off.”
One hand wandered to my breast, his thumb circling my nipple and drawing it out to a tight peak; the other went to my bottom as he rolled to his back, pulling me astride him. I leaned forward, dangling my breasts in front of him like an offering, and he palmed them in his hands. “Looks like I have two really good reasons right here.”
I rotated my hips against him, his erection already straining and hard, eager to be inside me. “When did you say we have to leave?”
“That’s the advantage of being sheriff,” he remarked as he lifted my hips and guided his cock to my slick entrance. “No one will notice if I’m ten minutes late.”
I sank down on top of him with a hiss. “Can we make it thirty?”
Chapter 38
Eric
Jules lay draped over me, still firmly in my embrace. I wasn’t sure I’d ever let her go. Maybe if she asked nicely... but I seriously doubted it. After we’d filed Jules’s official statement this morning, I’d taken the rest of the day off. The guys all understood, and after everything that had happened, I needed the reassurance of her body next to mine.
The results had come back this morning on the shell casing we’d found from the shooter’s spot on the mountain. It was, in fact, a positive match to Josh. If only we’d gotten that report yesterday. It could have saved so much heartache.
From what I’d been able to piece together, Josh had been waiting for Jules when we got home yesterday evening. He’d called in the domestic dispute as a diversion, then sneaked into the house behind her. The garage door had a sensor on it that would prevent it from closing if something was in the way. I imagined that Jules had hit the button to close the garage, then entered the house, never realizing that the door hadn’t closed the whole way.
I fought a shudder and hugged her more tightly to me. Our chests rose and fell in tandem, my heart beating in rhythm with hers. This thing between us was so much more than sex. It was more than mutual attraction. A lifetime ago, I thought I loved my ex-wife. That was nothing compared to the way I felt with Jules. This love was pure and unadulterated, and she meant more to mean than anything in this world.
But with love came the inevitable fear and anxiety. Would she ever give me a glimpse of her past? My heart stuttered in my chest, and I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. The last thing I wanted was to drive her away; but I had to know.
“Jules?”
“Mmm?” She sounded sleepy and sated, and it sent my pulse racing. I loved her so damn much, it hurt.
“You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”
Her muscles tensed under my touch, and she took so long to respond that I was afraid she wouldn’t. “I know.”
“You ever going to tell me?” She knew what I was asking; there was no mistaking it.
Another long pause, then— “Someday.”
Her voice was soft, reserved, but I heard the truth beneath the surface. Someday, when she trusted me, when she was ready, she would open up and tell me everything.
I nodded, my chin brushing the top of her head. “I’ll be right here until that day comes.”
She was silent for a long moment. “I promise I will. Soon.”
I hoped that was true, but I wouldn’t push her. I pulled her close once more and pressed my lips to her hair as she nestled her head against my shoulder. “Love you.”
I decided it didn’t matter, because in this moment, everything was perfect. Jules was here in my arms, and that was enough for now. All I wanted was to hold her tight and never let her go. And that’s exactly what I did.
Also by Morgan James
Quentin Security Series
The Devil You Know – Blake and Victoria
Devil in the Details – Xander and Lydia
Devil in Disguise – Gavin and Kate
*Each book is a standalone within the series
Frozen in Time Trilogy
Unrequited Love
Undeniable Love
Unbreakable Love
Bad Billionaires
(Novella Series)
Depraved
Ravished
Consumed
*Each book is a standalone within the series
Deception Duet
Pretty Little Lies (July 2020)
Beautiful Deception (September 2020)
Standalones
Death Do Us Part
Escape
About the Author
Morgan James is the bestselling author of contemporary and romantic suspense novels. She spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book, and she loves all things romantic, dark, and dirty.
She met her own husband when he crashed a friend's wedding (Just kidding. Kind of...) and they've been together ever since. They currently live in Ohio with their two kids and an adopted mutt that sheds like crazy.
Here are a few fun facts: She can swear like a sailor. She loves to bake but hates to cook. She loves a man in uniform. She pulls inspiration for her stories from real life. Her husband is the absolute best, supplying her with infinite one-liners. Like her characters’ dialogue? There’s a good chance that those conversations have really happened!
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