Love Is In the Air Volume 1

by Susan Stoker

  I don’t get the chance.

  The grand, sky-high doors swing open to Westminster Abbey and in steps my bride.

  Her veil shields her face, but her white-blond hair hangs loose in clear defiance to the tradition of having it tucked up with pins and diamonds. My breath catches and my entire body goes perfectly still as she begins the long walk down the aisle.

  The irony kills me.

  Here I stand, a groom to a woman who doesn’t want me while a man—my best friend—remains on the sidelines, wishing that I could give him more than I have. More than I can.

  I am bound to them both.

  And, in turn, I belong to no one.

  Thank you so much for reading Bound To You!

  * * *

  Now, I’ll admit freely that there is clearly more to this story, and don’t worry—I’m giving it to you! (If you’re new to me, hello, my name is Maria, and word count limits are not my friend).

  * * *

  Starting this Friday, I’ll be dropping weekly installments in my newsletter and on my website’s blog (on Sundays). You can sign up by tapping here so that you don’t miss a thing!

  * * *

  Curious to know more about Henry Godwin and the spy ring, Holyrood? Three hot brothers await you in the Broken Crown series. Be sure to start with Road To Fire, which is available on all platforms. Fair warning: you will become addicted.

  Also by Maria Luis

  NOLA Heart

  Say You’ll Be Mine

  Take A Chance On Me

  Dare You To Love Me

  Tempt Me With Forever

  * * *

  Blades Hockey

  Power Play

  Sin Bin

  Hat Trick

  Body Check

  * * *

  Put A Ring On It

  Hold Me Today

  Kiss Me Tonight

  Love Me Tomorrow

  * * *

  Blood Duet

  Sworn

  Defied

  * * *

  Broken Crown

  Road To Fire (Saxon & Isla)

  Sound of Madness (Damien & Rowena)

  A New King (Coming Spring 2021)

  * * *

  Check out Maria’s Freebies! (Available at www.marialuis.org)

  Breathless

  Undeniable

  The First Fix

  Kissing the Gentleman

  An Oath To Take

  * * *

  Join Book Boyfriends Anonymous, Maria’s Facebook reader group.

  Hawk’s Haven

  PJ Fiala

  1

  Hawk tapped the green icon on his phone, watched as the call connected, and put the phone to his ear. The ringing on the other end of the line filled his ears.

  "Hawk, my man, what's up?"

  "I’ve been on a lot of missions lately and I’m beat to be honest, how about you, Wayne?"

  Wayne Ramirez was Hawk's good friend from his military days. Hawk didn’t see Wayne often since he still lived in Georgia, but they stayed in touch. There always was a ready laugh and a cold drink available at Wayne's house.

  "I thought I'd take my wife on a delayed honeymoon. And the first thing that popped into my head was to call you and get directions to that little place with the waterfall you used to take chicks so you could get laid."

  "I never thought I'd see the day you would get married again, Hawk. Although I don’t know why she married you.”

  Hawk grinned as Wayne laughed on the other end of the line.

  "It’s been amazing. I think you should be looking for a wife. Seriously, give it a try."

  "Naw, I'm good, Bro. So, besides the waterfall, where are you taking this gorgeous wife of yours for your honeymoon?"

  "We're headed to Florida and as long as we're going through Three Rivers, thought I'd show Roxanne where I grew up. It’s ironic that you and I grew up in Georgia fifteen miles apart, but we had to go a thousand miles from home and meet in basic training. Anyway, before I bring her home, I thought I’d take advantage of that secluded spot to show her I can also be romantic."

  "Romantic? Good God, you are a changed man. Never thought I'd see the day."

  “Fuck off.”

  Roxanne had said he was romantic many times, but he didn’t believe her. He was a 6’8”, muscular, tattooed man who worked in a field that was dangerous and serious. He wanted to set that aside for their honeymoon and be a romantic husband.

  "It's about 10 miles off of Ramsay Road."

  "Okay, so I get off the highway onto Ramsay, which way?"

  "So, you take a right on Ramsay Road, and then drive about seven miles. After that, you have to park and hike the last three miles. But it's so worth it."

  "Okay. Text me the exact location. And I'll stick it in my GPS, and thanks for the directions. Remember if you’re in Indiana, you better stop and see us in Lynyrd Station. Gotta run, got packing to do. At least I've got to watch Roxanne pack."

  "You've got it bad, man."

  “You haven’t seen my wife in person. It’s not a hardship at all.”

  The line went dead, and Hawk smiled to himself. This was going to be wonderful. He was going to surprise Roxanne with this little jaunt to a hidden sanctuary of relaxation, romance and bonding. They'd had very little alone time with one mission after another, teammates’ pregnancies, weddings, and whatnot. They lived together with most of his teammates in a huge, southern mansion that had been converted to serve their needs. But that meant, not much time alone and if they wanted to be alone, they had to stay in their rooms.

  Hawk walked into the bedroom, a broad smile on his face as he watched his wife, neatly fold and lovingly smooth his shirt, pants, and other clothing and gently lay them in the suitcase.

  She looked back at him. "What are you looking at?"

  "You. I love watching you."

  She gently shook her head, "Well, grab your boots or whatever you're bringing for shoes and let's get rolling. I'm a little afraid your phone will ring and you’ll be called out on a mission. I have another attorney in the office covering my cases. So, I’m all set. I've really been looking forward to this."

  "I know, this is why my phone is turned off and I'm all yours now for the next week."

  She hummed. "Sounds fantastic."

  Roxanne put the last stack of clothing into the suitcase, zipped it up and smiled at him. "All set."

  Hawk set the wheels of the suitcase on the floor and lifted the handle. He bent and kissed his beautiful wife, placed his hand at her lower back and ushered her out the door.

  2

  Roxanne enjoyed watching Hawk drive. His strong features and usually stern face put people off except when he smiled. He had a great smile. He didn't invite conversation willy-nilly. But he listened when someone had something to say, especially if they wanted his thoughts. He was a quiet man. He enjoyed a good time, but he hated too much goofing around by his teammates. He was a more staunch and solid man than a goof-off. That was one of the strong appeals to her, he wasn't someone who was flippant about things. But, he was a good man. He was loyal and true, and she always felt loved and safe with him. He was perfect for her.

  He slowed the SUV, Roxanne’s Ford Explorer, and hit the left turn signal to exit the highway. Glancing up at the road they were turning onto, her brows bunched together.

  "What are we doing here? I thought you grew up in Three Rivers. Isn’t that where we’re going?"

  "I've got a surprise for you first." He turned and winked at her, a small grin on his face.

  "But, you didn't mention this."

  "Luna, that's why it's called a surprise. You’re going to love it."

  Roxanne loved when Hawk called her by the name her grandfather had given her because he said she reminded him of the moon presumably because of the color of her hair.

  He continued down the narrow two-lane road for a few miles. The scenery was lush and green, the trees full even though at home the vegetation hadn’t quite bloomed yet. It was warmer h
ere in Georgia and the sun shone bright in the sky.

  Soon the road narrowed to nothing more than a footpath and Hawk turned her vehicle into what looked to be a turn-around spot, put the shift lever into park and turned the ignition off.

  "This is where we get out and walk."

  "On foot?"

  "How else are we going to walk, silly? We have about a three-mile hike. And then we'll get to our destination. I think you're gonna love it when we get there."

  "Okay. Well, at least I'm dressed in jeans and tennis shoes and a light sweater. So, I should be able to manage three miles."

  "That's what I love about you. You're always ready for anything."

  Roxanne opened her door and got out of the Explorer. Looking around, she marveled at the beauty of the area. They weren't quite in the woods yet. But they were just a few feet from the trees which looked dense. The air smelled fresh and clean, though there were a few bugs buzzing around here and there. Likely more as they began walking into the woods and stirred them up.

  Roxanne reached into the SUV and grabbed her purse. And her phone. And then waited for Hawk.

  Hawk had exited the vehicle and raised the back hatch door. He moved things to and fro as it seemed he was searching for something. While she waited her attention was on the area around them. Birds were singing. There were wildflowers growing intermittently along the footpath. She walked to the back of the vehicle and leaned against the side of it watching Hawk rummage around. He finally pulled out a duffel bag, slung it over his shoulder and winked at her. He closed the hatch, took her hand, and said, "Get ready for your big surprise, Luna."

  Fighting the urge to ask a ton of questions, she tried instead relaxing her mind and living in the moment. It was something she hadn't managed to accomplish since her parents were murdered last year.

  As they hiked, her skin grew damp and she was grateful she had a cami on underneath her light sweater. So, she pulled the sweater off and tied it around her waist. Her wavy, silvery-white hair was in a single braid down the middle of her back. She was happy she'd managed that this morning she was so anxious to get on the road.

  She glanced up at Hawk and his lips turned into a sexy grin. His eyes landed directly on her boobs.

  "Hey buddy, eyes up here." She giggled as she pointed to her eyes.

  He slapped her on the ass, and said, "keep moving."

  She happily walked along with her husband. He was so sure of himself. And she could tell he was very proud of this surprise he had planned, but she was getting a little hungry.

  Remembering the duffel bag he had slung over his shoulder, she said, "You don't happen to have any food in there, do you?"

  Hawk chuckled a deep manly chuckle, the kind that made his chest rumble.

  "When I told you I had a surprise for you, I told you you'd love it. You need to trust me."

  "I do trust you." This was going to be fun. After all, they were on their honeymoon. They didn't have a set schedule, and they'd get where they were going either today or tomorrow. It didn't matter. It was their honeymoon, and their time was their own.

  The sound of rushing water reached her ears, and the aromas from the rushing water were amazing. The air was getting a little heavier and her skin dampened even more. Sweat trickled down her temple and she swiped it away quickly trying to focus on enjoying her husband. The rushing water grew louder. A few more steps and, finally, through the trees and the tall grass she could see it. A huge waterfall that appeared to reach the sky gushed down the jagged sides of a mountain. It’s beautiful and fluffy white rushing water crashed into the river below. The splashing water created the rippling of the river, which then flowed lazily by once out of the force of the falls. She felt Hawk take her hand.

  "Oh my gosh, this is simply gorgeous."

  He chuckled again. "It is. I've actually never been here myself. I've just seen pictures. And I have to say the pictures, didn't do it justice."

  "How did you find out about this place?"

  "My friend, Wayne Ramirez, used to bring women here, when he was younger.”

  "It’s fantastic.”

  "Roxanne, I wanted to give you a romantic week, and this is the perfect time. After all, it’s not that far from where I grew up. I didn't know when we'd get back down here again."

  They walked along the edge of the water less than a half mile down the river. There they found a serene spot, a little cove carved out of the trees, as if Mother Nature knew this would be a place couples would seek out. Hawk stopped and looked into her eyes. "Perfect."

  He bent down to kiss her lips. Just a soft kiss, which quickly turned into deeper kiss, then rapidly turned into Hawk, grabbing her ass and pulling her into his body.

  The feel of his body next to hers always surprised her at the emotions it elicited from her. Nothing could be better.

  3

  He owed Wayne Ramirez a big thank you. This was beautiful. Wayne was always more interested in telling the guys what he was going to do here rather than telling them exactly how beautiful it was. Hawk pulled a blanket from the duffel bag and laid it on the cleared area of the cove that they'd found. He motioned to Roxanne for her to sit down. He knelt alongside her and began searching through the cooler he had in the duffel bag.

  He pulled out a bottle of wine and some cheeses that he had prepared. Actually, Mrs. James had packed everything for him. There were a variety of crackers, grapes and sliced apples. He glanced at Roxanne's face a few times as he was unpacking things. As her expression registered surprise with each item, he pulled out of the duffle, his grin grew larger. His surprise continued to keep giving.

  "You surprise me, Mr. Delany. I'm rather speechless."

  Chuckling, he leaned in and kissed her lips. He loved her lips, the way they felt against his, soft and moldable.

  "That was the plan, Mrs. Delany."

  She jokingly scoffed. "You wanted me speechless?"

  "Only in that doing so meant I'd surprised you in a good way. I've wanted to surprise you for a long time."

  Her head cocked to the side. "I believe the night we met was the surprise of a lifetime."

  "That it was."

  He made himself more comfortable next to her, pulled out two wine glasses, wrapped in bubble wrap, also compliments of Mrs. James, and Roxanne giggled.

  "Oh my God, bubble wrap?"

  He opened the bottle of wine, screw top, not cork, which was also carefully selected for this event and smiled as he poured them each a glass. Setting the wine into the cooler, he picked up both glasses, handed Roxanne hers and then tapped his gently to her glass. "Here's to a lifetime of happiness, surprises and more alone time together."

  "I'll definitely drink to that."

  Taking a drink of his wine, he set the glass on a flat spot of the blanket and proceeded to nibble on the goodies he'd brought.

  Roxanne leaned forward and began eating and they both sat in comfortable silence as they enjoyed the sun shining on their faces, the sound of the river flowing past and the birds singing above.

  Something jumped from the water and Roxanne laughed.

  "A fish! Did you see that? A fish jumped." She laughed and it was pure joy to listen to her.

  He chuckled but kept eating. He was hungrier than he thought.

  "Another one." She shrieked. Clapping her hands together, she sat mesmerized, scanning the water to see if she could find another one.

  They cuddled together for an hour, enjoying the scenery, the area, and each other. He felt his body relax into the moment and he promised to do more of this with Roxanne. They both went non-stop, she with her law practice, he with GHOST. As a civilian special ops team member, he was often on the road and in harms harm’s way. He kissed her lips softly. “I promise you we will take more time for days like this. We need this, you and I and there is no one I’d rather spend time with than you.”

  “Oh, wow, Hawk. There’s no one I’d rather spend time with than you.”

  He started repacking the food and R
oxanne looked at him and a sad smile appeared on her face.

  "Is it over so soon?"

  "I'm afraid so, Luna. You do still want to see where I grew up, right? It’s about six hours to Florida, so we have a few hours to drive yet today. More importantly, I'd like us to get back to the SUV before dark, so we don't get lost out here."

  Roxanne began helping to pack up. "Good point."

  After everything was tucked neatly into the cooler, he picked up the blanket and wadded it up.

  "No, don't do that, let me fold it, Hawk."

  She folded the blanket neatly and they tucked it into the duffle alongside the cooler. He hefted the duffle over his right shoulder and took her right hand in his left. They began walking along the river toward the waterfall and the footpath that brought them here.

  They stopped before turning onto the footpath and Roxanne took pictures of the area. They took a few selfies with the waterfall in the background and then a close-up. They were striking together, that was apparent, albeit different. He was dark and broody. She was angelic, her silvery-white hair flowed over her delicate shoulders, her blue eyes light and serene. He was a lucky man.

  Arriving at the SUV 20 minutes later, he clicked the fob in his pocket and the hatch didn’t lift as they approached the rear.

  Confused, Hawk walked to the back and lifted the hatch with the handle. He set the duffle inside and closed the hatch. Walking to the passenger side of the vehicle, he pinned Roxanne against it, pressing his body into hers. Her reaction was to wrap her arms around his waist and pull him closer. Her head leaned back against the SUV, and he dipped his head down and kissed her lips. This time, he deepened the kiss, allowing his tongue to slide inside her mouth and taste her fully. She tasted like delicious wine. Her mouth was warm and inviting and he found his breathing beginning to grow ragged. Maybe they could have sex right here. His cock thickened between them as the thought popped into his head.