by J. Woods
“Brie and I would like to thank all of you for taking the time to share this special day with us. But I would especially like to thank my wife.” Brie felt all eyes land on her but in that moment all she could see were the pools of blue that kept her from looking anywhere else.
“I need you to know that what we have, the vows we said today - it won’t be broken. And I can confidently promise you that because I continue to fall in love with you, every single day with every moment, every breath, every heartbeat.
“I thank God every day that you walked into that bar and let me buy you that drink. And I know, if I’m lucky and I get forever, it still won’t be enough.
“So if we could all raise our glasses to my beautiful wife and to the hope of beyond forever.”
The words ‘beyond forever’ rang as a chorus throughout the room at the same time Brie was out of her chair and jumping into Max’s arms.
“You’re too damn charming,” she murmured. “And I love you. Well beyond forever.” She gently nipped at his lower lip before throwing all her building hunger for him into one kiss. “When can we leave?”
“Whenever you want,” he told her, his voice husky with desire.
“Now?” Max threw his head back with laughter.
“Absolutely,” he agreed. Just as she was about to pull him away Roxy grabbed her hand and led her to the dance floor.
“It’s our song!” she squealed through a haze of champagne bubbles. Brie gave into the familiarity of the tune after she realized her best friend wasn’t about to let her loose just yet. She noticed Max watching her, the want in his eyes wrapping around her and causing a flutter of anticipated excitement through her.
An hour later she managed to find her way back to Max after she’d been officially escorted around the dance floor by Max’s dad, his brothers and an uncle or two.
“I’m tired of sharing you,” he growled in her ear.
“How are we supposed to do this, I’m in a huge white gown.”
“And you’re going to stay in it. I’ve been deciding on the different ways I can get you out of it and where I’m going to start first. Don’t worry, this is my job baby. This is what I’m good at.”
And good at it he was.
Max had found an employee only door that lead them directly to their waiting car without being spotted. It was a short drive back to their home - a designation Brie would never tire of saying. She had immediately moved into Max’s new house as soon as they were released from the hospital. It helped that her apartment had been trashed from Vasquez’s man and she literally had nowhere to go. Her life in the past two months had been restricted to say the least, always under the watchful eye of Max or one of his brothers. She knew it was necessary but she was starting to feel caged, she would be happy when this would all be over and she had been reassured that she wouldn’t need to be a prisoner in her own home, constantly watching over her shoulder for the man who was currently haunting her dreams for much longer. They had received information of Vasquez’s whereabouts and she knew Max was thirsting for blood. He was always playful, always mischievous and charming but she was learning very quickly when someone had intent to harm her or their son he became a machine, dark and ominous - dangerous. He was a protector through and through and he was the man of her dreams. And now a man she could call her husband.
When the car pulled into their driveway, Max commanded her to stay in the car and she watched as he walked around, opened her door and proceeded to lift her into his arms.
“You only have to carry me over the threshold,” she told him through her giggles.
“I know, but I want to start here,” he murmured. Leaning in she started to trail her lips from his jaw and down his neck. She smiled against his skin when his step faltered against her touch. “If you keep that up, we’re not going to make it over the threshold.”
“I don’t care about the threshold, Max. I want a bed... and my husband. Now.” His growl made her giggle as he quickened his steps until they stepped inside. Not letting her down he almost ran to their bedroom, tossing her on top of the mattress and quickly stalking overtop of her, slamming his lips down on hers. As his tongue played against her own, she felt his fingers grip the hem of her skirt, his palm seeking the bare skin of her legs as she gripped his tie and pulled it from his neck after stripping him of his jacket. She smiled against his growing grin, knowing they were acting like a bunch of teenagers and it was their first time. Their movements weren’t quick enough, their hands too slow for what they needed in that moment.
“Okay wife,” he murmured. “Tell me how to get this dress off you.”
“Zipper down the back. But first, husband, I want this shirt off of you.” Gripping the fabric, she pulled hard and listened to the buttons fly across the floor exposing the hard chest and the rippled abs her mouth watered for.
“Feisty little thing you are.”
“I can’t help it,” she whispered. Just as she was about to lean in and take her taste she found herself lifted effortlessly and tossed around so her back was facing his front. His fingers deftly unzipped her before he turned her around and watched as the white fabric fell from her body leaving her clad in a sexy white corset and matching panties.
“Hell, you are so fucking sexy,” he told her, his voice husky with a growing desire. Biting her lip she moved to her knees and away from him, her inhibitions taking over as she started to bare herself to him. Even two months after having a baby, Max stared at her like she was the only woman on the face of the planet. He stared at her like she was a beauty he had never seen before, a rarity made only for him.
“Take your pants off,” she demanded. Smirking at the dare he didn’t argue and she watched as he stood before her, gloriously naked, a pool of black at his feet.
“Okay wife, enough teasing.” She felt the flutter of excitement deep in her belly as he pinned her down with his weight. Every time she was with him he gave her a fantasy she didn’t know existed. His lips whispered over her skin, down her neck to her collarbone as he gripped the flimsy fabric of her panties and somehow with a gentle roughness tore them quietly from her body.
“Perfect,” he breathed as he looked down her body. Continuing his assault, his mouth travelling over every inch of skin, her fingers delved into his hair, her body becoming only fiery sensation. Moving down her body, she involuntary arched her back to get closer, wanting his perfect lips and skillful tongue everywhere. Nipping at her hip bone she let out a whimper of pleasure as his teeth grazed her skin before gently kissing away the small sting. She felt the warm breath he blew over her center and she desperately wanted to beg, to plead with him to give her exactly what he was teasing.
“Look at me, baby,” he coaxed gently. Opening her eyes she met his, the almost transparent blue now darker with the passion that travelled between them. Gripping both her hands, his fingers entangled with hers as his head bent down, his mouth covering her core taking her to an ecstasy only he could provide.
“Max,” she begged, starting to feel her body quiver, her eyes still locked with his. It was surreal, a new intimacy they hadn’t yet shared. Knowing she was close he increased his movements, sending her into a tailspin of pleasure. Her climax washed over her; distantly she heard herself cry his name and before she could take her next breath he was overtop of her and inside of her setting off or maybe continuing the endless detonation. Throwing her arms around him, he felt like the only thing that she could hold on to in the infinite pleasure that surrounded her. She felt him pause above her, his muscles tight underneath her fingers and she knew he was precariously close to the edge. Pride washed over her knowing she was responsible - he was hers. Leaning down he slanted his lips over hers in a kiss that touched her soul.
“These last couple of months,” he started, quietly as he leaned his forehead against hers. “They have been new and fun and adventurous. But this... me being inside of you - this is what I missed.” Before she could form an answer around her speechlessness, Max
started to move, his hips plunging against hers. Her ankles tied at his back she effectively wrapped herself around him as he continued his most fantastic onslaught of uncontrollable rapture she had ever experienced. She knew what he meant when he’d admitted that he’d missed this. She had too. In the past two months they had abided by the doctor’s orders and abstained from sex but they hadn’t given up pleasure. This though, it felt like in this moment he controlled the beat of her heart, that his soul entwined permanently with hers as her body tightened around his. His groans sounded in her ear and it was the dominant demand to come that she could only submit to.
Falling limp against the pillows behind her she refused to disentangle herself from him as he buried his face in her neck. Working to catch their breath, she felt her eyes roll when he started a slow, sultry assault, his teeth grazing her neck before his lips soothed away the welcoming sting. His hand travelled down her leg and with both hands ensured his lips were on hers as she poured everything she was feeling in that moment, everything he made her feel - sexy, cherished, loved - into that one kiss.
“We’re married,” she whispered, almost in awe.
“Hell yeah we are - you’re mine, and now I have the paper to prove it.” Gripping his hair tightly, she pulled his head back so she could look into his entrancing eyes.
“And you’re mine.” She watched the playful spark light his blue depths before he leaned in and took her bottom lip between his teeth.
“My gorgeous wife,” he murmured. “Don’t think I’m done with you yet.” Still inside of her, he lifted her up, her legs still wrapped around his hips so she was sitting in his lap. The urgency was gone in his movements, replaced by slow, lazy strokes that ignited the yearning hunger within her. Her quickened breaths soon turned into gasps of pleasure as he whispered his love to her, their bodies damp with sweat in the heat of their desire. She had never thirsted for anyone, never craved or wanted like she did Max. And with a unanimous crescendo, her explosion demanding his, they fell back onto the mattress, exhausted and sated. She heard Max’s breathing immediately slow, sleep dragging him under. They had been in such a state of thrill and excitement they hadn’t drawn the curtains. Staring out into the dark night, the stars shone down over the serene ocean below. Their romance had been a whirlwind, both fast and slow at the same time. It was sparks and fireworks and her new little family was something she would fight for, every day. He gave her a perfect son, a carbon copy of himself and she didn’t think she could ever love something so fully but every time she looked at Jacob, she found it hard to breathe, the wonderment too grand to comprehend.
As she listened to her quiet house, there was no danger, no outside world - in this moment it was only her and Max, adorned in just their wedding rings as she lay in the safety of his arms. And as he instinctively pulled her closer, the beat of his heart against her cheek, she allowed the victorious smirk to cross her lips secretly. While she didn’t agree with the sentiment of taming the playboy - she knew beyond anyone, Max Savage was an untameable entity - his heart belonged to her and only her. Because she held his promise of beyond forever.
Epilogue
Nate tore open the small envelope in his hands. Pulling out the card, he read the gratitude of his brother and his new wife for the gift he had given them - a honeymoon to Bali he and his brothers had decided together on. Staring at the photo on the front of the card, he smiled at the happiness that was palpable, even though the camera lens. His brother stared down at his bride, her smile radiant while she held their son who even at a young age was the exact likeness of Max. He still couldn’t believe it, the day that Max Savage, Vancouver’s playboy settled down and hung up his title. He stared at the rest of the family who flanked each of their sides, the laughter that showed as they cheers’d in the background to the happy couple. He saw the smile on his own face and new the effort it had taken to put there. He was happy for his brother, knew the love that Brie had filled his wild heart with, it was the emptiness in his own he was trying to battle. Putting the card away he opened the file that sat in front of him.
Staring at the photo of his target, her long dark hair a contrast to her pale skin and light green eyes. Her lips remained in a firm, disinterested line as she stared at the person behind the camera. Something inside of him wanted to see her smile. Her life had been made up of mostly nightmares, one no girl should have to go through and he was about to add another layer of hell. But he wouldn’t allow anyone else to take this mission. It was one they had been working on for months, the biggest, heaviest mission Savage Security had ever taken on and this was one that would pave the way for their name as one of the best in the future. Working closely with Ashbrook and his connections at the CIA, he hadn’t said anything but they’d heard through connections of their own the CIA was looking to recruit and they had one name in mind, Detective Peter Ashbrook.
Staring out the window he weighed his options; he had one mission, one responsibility and it was the heart of the entire mission - gain information from the daughter of one of the most elusive and wanted criminals by the CIA. They needed Libby West, she held information about her father that was critical for taking him into custody and Nate demanded he be the one to obtain it with strict instructions - by any means necessary. He wasn’t sure what he was feeling when staring at the unusual beauty before him, maybe it was the distance in her eyes or the Cole’s Notes of her background check or maybe it was the hunger he felt at just the sight of her.
Coming off of a relationship that completely messed with his head, Nate made a vow to swear off relationships and the games that came with them. So as he closed his eyes and focused solely on the mission ahead, he buried the stir of desire at just the thought of his intended target.
The End
For news on upcoming Savage Series novels, click here to be directed to http://caesarsandstraws.com/
The next books in J. Woods’ Savage Series:
SAVAGE SCHEME
A Savage Series Novel #3
Nate & Libby
J. Woods Copyright 2014
You wonderful, wondrous thing you!
Thank you to my wonderful editor - Sara at Serendipity Editing and her brilliant refining mind - http://serendipityediting.com/
Thank you to Lan Gao and her extraordinary creativity for designing the cover art.
About The Author
J. Woods is a Toronto based writer, mother, and non-conformist. She lives between the space of her green tea and humming laptop when she isn’t chasing after her free spirited daughter. She has studied too many things to count including radio broadcasting and entrepreneurship. Grasping at sanity, she realized writing stories about her insane thoughts was easier than explaining them to a doctor. Not to mention cheaper.
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