Killer Colton Christmas

by Regan Black

  But Felicity changed all that.

  He still wasn’t sure how it had happened. What was it about this woman that had affected him so deeply? And how had he not felt his protective barriers weakening? How had he missed the signs?

  She was in his arms, and for the first time in his life, he was truly naked with a woman. It frightened him, this potent intimacy. His first instinct was to retreat, but his pride wouldn’t let him shy away from this new experience.

  Every touch, every brush of skin against skin—it was familiar and yet strangely novel. He took his time discovering Felicity’s body, learning what made her sigh, what made her writhe, what made her moan. It was an exploration he never wanted to end. But all too soon she pushed him down on the bed and rose over him, a sensuous smile on her face as she whispered something about payback in his ear.

  His brain took a back seat as Felicity set about licking and teasing and caressing every inch of his body. She was enthusiastic about giving him pleasure, a fact that surprised him a little. His past lovers had tended to assume that his satisfaction was a foregone conclusion. But not Felicity. She did everything in her power to heighten his arousal, to make him feel like the center of her world. It was a heady rush to know this strong, confident woman was so dedicated to his enjoyment, and he felt both awed and humbled to be the focus of her attention.

  Dario placed his hands on Felicity’s shoulders and pulled her back up his body. Her flushed cheeks and mussed hair were nearly enough to send him over the edge, but he bit the inside of his cheek to stay in control.

  His chest was so tight with need he couldn’t speak. Instead, he gently guided her onto her back and positioned himself between her knees. But just as he was about to enter her, he realized what was missing.

  “Oh God,” he whispered hoarsely.

  “No condom,” she said, apparently reading his mind. “I’m on the pill.” She sounded a little hesitant, though, as if uncertain that would be enough.

  Relief flooded through him. “I’m clean,” he blurted out, seeking to reassure her. “I got tested after my last relationship, which ended six months ago. But I’ll run downstairs and get condoms if it will make you feel safer.”

  Her eyes shone with an emotion he couldn’t name and she smiled at him. “It’s okay. I trust you.”

  Those three words knocked the breath from his chest, and Dario could swear he felt his heart actually swell with emotion. He moved slowly, joining their bodies together with care, determined to savor every aspect of the experience as their relationship changed forever.

  Felicity gasped and moved with him, her hands tightening on his shoulders. Encouraged by her response, Dario increased his pace until soon, they were both clinging to each other, panting with exertion and emotion.

  He felt her clench around him, heard her call his name through the pounding of blood in his ears. Only when he was certain she was truly satisfied did he slip the reins of his self-control and allow his own pleasure to lead him to release.

  The moment seemed to go on forever, stretched between them and suspended in time. He gave himself fully to Felicity, body and heart. But instead of leaving him empty, he felt more complete than ever.

  He lay next to her on the bed and gathered her boneless warmth in his arms. She snuggled against him, emitting a sigh of feminine contentment that settled over him like a soft blanket. Filled with a bone-deep sense of peace, Dario drifted to sleep.

  When he woke in the morning, Felicity was gone.

  Chapter 10

  Felicity stared at her computer screen, wondering why she’d even bothered to come to work. She wasn’t focused on the case—no matter what she tried, she couldn’t keep her thoughts organized enough to make any kind of progress.

  She’d been distracted for the last three days, and it didn’t take a rocket scientist to know why.

  Sleeping with Dario had been a mistake, but she couldn’t quite bring herself to regret it. The sex had been amazing, a mind-blowing experience like none she’d ever had before. But more than that, she’d felt deeply connected to Dario on an emotional level. She’d meant to keep things purely physical, to give in to hedonism, enjoy their chemistry and move on. But her heart hadn’t been content to stay on the sidelines.

  As soon as she’d opened her eyes the next day and seen his sleeping face, she’d known the truth. She was falling in love with Dario Ortega, and if she didn’t extricate herself soon, she wouldn’t be able to stop it.

  He was the worst possible choice. After all, he was only in town until his brother’s wedding. Then he would be leaving again, taking off for greener pastures and other beautiful women. Felicity knew that, and ignoring those facts was only going to end in heartache.

  So she’d slipped out of his arms and left, hailing a cab back to her apartment, where she showered alone, her tears mingling with the water.

  She’d spent the past three days avoiding Dario, working from home or at a nearby café, ignoring his calls. It was the coward’s way out, but the thought of explaining her reasons for leaving made her stomach cramp. He was so much more experienced at keeping things casual—if he heard she was having trouble keeping her heart under control, he’d probably run for the hills. The last thing he wanted was for a woman to try to tie him down.

  Not that she would. Felicity still had her pride, after all.

  “Can we talk?”

  His voice cut through her thoughts and sent her heart pounding. Oh God, he was here! Standing in her office doorway holding two cups of coffee and wearing a friendly smile. Her first instinct was to run, but she couldn’t very well shove him aside and race past. She took a deep breath and forced herself to calm down. She was an adult, and a professional, not to mention a marine. She could handle an awkward conversation.

  “Of course.” She gestured for him to come inside, and he approached her desk, setting one of the cups in front of her.

  “Peace offering,” he said quietly. Then he settled in the chair across from her desk.

  When he didn’t speak, Felicity decided to take charge. “Any new findings?”

  He tilted his head to the side, and for a second, Felicity wondered if he was going to respond. “I checked over the network,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “There’s no evidence Livia’s hack made it past our individual computers. Adeline’s system integrity appears to be intact, so you don’t have to worry that Livia is watching your every move.”

  Felicity nodded. “That’s good.” One less thing to worry about.

  True to his word, Knox Colton had set up regular patrols of her parents’ house. They had returned from their cruise late last night and had taken the news of Livia Colton’s threats in stride. Felicity was still concerned for their safety, but she felt better knowing the police were keeping an eye on her folks.

  “Why did you leave?”

  She’d expected the question, but she hadn’t thought he’d ask it so suddenly. “I—Ah, I had to get back to work,” she fumbled.

  Dario’s hazel eyes pinned her. “That’s crap,” he said. “I’ve spent the past few days giving you some space, but after what we shared together you owe me an explanation. Why did you run out on me?”

  Felicity’s heart pounded in her chest and she ran her palms down her thighs to dry them. “What we did was a mistake,” she said simply. “We never should have slept together. We should have kept things on a professional level and not brought sex into the equation.”

  “Is that all it was for you?” His eyes glittered with an emotion she couldn’t name. “Just sex?”

  “You’re the one who likes to keep things simple,” she fired back. “You tell me.”

  A muscle along the side of his jaw ticked and she knew her barb had struck a nerve. She considered apologizing, but decided against it. Better for him to walk away angry than to know how much
she was coming to care for him.

  “I hate to disappoint you,” he said, his voice tight, “but that wasn’t just another roll in the hay for me. And I don’t think it was for you, either.”

  Felicity dropped her gaze but said nothing, not trusting herself to speak.

  “I think you’re scared,” he continued. “And you know what? I am, too. But unlike you, I’m not willing to walk away so quickly. I think we’re good together, and I think we have a chance. I’m not going to pretend we don’t simply to make you feel better about leaving me without even saying goodbye.”

  She felt her cheeks warm as shame rose in her chest. Dario was right—she should have at least left him a note. Sneaking out had been a low blow, and no matter how scared she was, Dario hadn’t deserved that.

  He stood abruptly and placed his hands on the edge of her desk, leaning forward slightly. “I’m not giving up on us yet, Felicity,” he said quietly. “I don’t know what’s gotten you so spooked, but I’ll be here when you decide you want to tell me.”

  Felicity watched him walk away, his back straight and head held high. Her heart ached to know she’d hurt him; that had never been her intention. She’d truly thought she was protecting herself and that he had seen their encounter as nothing more than a pleasant diversion. Part of her was thrilled to know her developing feelings weren’t all one-sided and that Dario cared for her, too. But his words echoed in her mind, putting a damper on her emotional celebrations.

  I’ll be here when you decide you want to tell me.

  “No,” she whispered sadly. “You won’t.”

  * * *

  Dario parked in the gravel lot of Hill Country, Jade Colton’s operation. He was there to talk to Jade about her bids on the neighboring property, in the hopes of getting more information that might shed light on the mysterious disappearance of her paperwork. He probably could have taken care of everything when he’d spoken to her over the phone, but given the tension between him and Felicity right now, he’d wanted to get out of the office, if only for a little while.

  Damn stubborn woman! He’d seen the look in her eyes and known she had feelings for him. But why wouldn’t she admit it? He’d practically bared his soul in her office, hoping that his confession would make her feel safe enough to express her feelings, too. But she’d remained silent, staring up at him with those big scared eyes that reminded him of a doe ready to bolt at the first sign of danger.

  Well, he wasn’t going to give her an excuse to run. Her disappearing act had stung, and he couldn’t pretend it hadn’t hurt to wake up and find her gone. But he wasn’t going to hold it against her. He was feeling overwhelmed, too, and he knew they probably both needed time to process the changes in their relationship. Normally, he bailed at the first sign of trouble. But not this time. Felicity wasn’t a fling—she was a woman he wanted in his life long-term, and he was going to do whatever it took to make her understand he truly cared for her.

  He headed for the door of the main ranch house but a gust of wind carried the sound of a woman’s voice. Redirecting, he followed the noise to find Jade in the pasture to the side of the ranch house, standing between two horses. She didn’t see him; she was busy running her hands over her mount, checking the cinch of the saddle and the placement of the stirrups.

  “Hello there,” he said, careful to keep his voice calm and level so as not to spook the horses.

  She glanced up. “Howdy,” she replied.

  The horses flicked their tails, their ears pricking forward at his appearance. Dario walked forward until he stood next to one of them, and the animal stuck its nose against his stomach, clearly searching for a treat.

  “Sadie,” Jade scolded affectionately. “You big flirt.”

  Dario ran his hand down the side of the mare’s face, enjoying the feel of her velvet-soft coat. “Sorry, pretty girl,” he said quietly. “I didn’t think to bring any apples with me.”

  Sadie snorted, her breath warm and damp against his skin.

  Jade turned her attention to the other animal, and Dario shifted to watch her work. “Did I come at a bad time?” he asked.

  “Not at all,” Jade replied. “I was hoping we could maybe take a quick ride while we talked. Are you up for that?”

  “Ah, okay,” he said, a bit taken aback by her suggestion. “But in the interest of full disclosure, you should know I haven’t been on a horse in years.”

  Jade chuckled. “That’s okay. I’ve got Sleepy saddled for you. She’s a sweetheart, and she hasn’t been above a trot in ages.”

  Dario eyed the brown mare with concern. She looked sturdy enough, but he wondered if she was too old to carry him. “Are you sure I won’t hurt her?”

  “I’m positive,” Jade assured him. “Sleepy is fully capable of running—she just can’t be bothered to do it.”

  “Sounds like a horse after my own heart,” he quipped.

  It didn’t take long for Jade to finish her checks, and the two of them mounted and set off. It was a beautiful day for a ride, and as the sun warmed his back, Dario felt some of the tension leave his muscles.

  The trail sloped gently as it meandered through a stretch of tall grass. They crossed a babbling brook and stopped to let the horses take a quick drink. Jade nodded to the land on the other side of the fence standing about fifty feet away. “That’s the property I was hoping to purchase.”

  Dario nodded, taking in the green expanse, dotted with a few trees. “I’m sorry about your bids,” he said.

  Jade’s shoulder jerked up in a shrug. “Not much to be done now,” she said bitterly. “I just wish I knew what had happened.”

  “Do you have copies of the emails you sent to the Realtor?” Dario asked. “I can’t make any promises, but if I can verify you sent the documents, and that the Realtor received them, you might be able to make a case that the land should have been yours.”

  “How can you do that?” she asked, frowning slightly. “The problems started because she had no record of receiving my bid paperwork. It disappeared.”

  “They were hacked,” he said flatly. “I think by the same group responsible for hacking into the Colton, Incorporated, system. I’ve asked the real-estate company to let me access their network so I can look for evidence of the crime. If I can get your emails, I’ll have a better chance of piecing together how they sabotaged your bid.”

  Jade nodded. “I’ll send you what I have. I think there are copies of my emails in my sent folder.”

  “Perfect,” Dario replied. “That should be enough to get me started.”

  They spurred the horses on, following the fence line for a few more miles. Dario was enjoying the ride, but he was also eager to get to work to solve the mystery of Jade’s disappearing files. “Where are we headed?” he asked.

  “There’s a spot I want to check, just a bit farther,” Jade replied. “Some of the hands have reported signs of what might be a squatter on the property, and I want to look around for myself.”

  A tingle of apprehension slid down Dario’s spine. A squatter? That sounded a little ominous. His mind immediately conjured up the image of Livia Colton flashing on his computer screen, followed by the graffiti on Felicity’s car. But he told himself to relax. Not everything was connected to the Colton, Inc., hacking case. A few teenagers had probably shared a bonfire, toasting marshmallows and sipping beer smuggled from their parents’ refrigerators. Nothing to worry about. He and Emiliano had had their fair share of campouts as kids, and they hadn’t always worried about whose property they were on when they’d pitched their tent.

  A few minutes later, they came upon the evidence. Someone had taken the time to dig a small pit in the earth and to line the edges with rocks. A few charred logs sat atop a pile of ashes, and he caught the dull gleam of a dirty spoon, apparently forgotten after a meal.

  Jade dismounted to poke a
round the site a bit. Dario glanced around and caught a glimpse of asphalt through the grass. “Is that a public road?”

  “County service road,” Jade replied absently. “Usually pretty deserted.” She pulled a plastic bag from her pocket and deposited a few cigarette butts inside with a grimace. “Rude,” she muttered, shaking her head.

  “What do you think?” he asked as she mounted Sadie once more.

  “Probably just teenagers,” Jade said. “I’ll have the guys dismantle the fire pit and post a few more no-trespassing signs. Hopefully that will take care of the problem.” She reined Sadie around and Dario did the same with Sleepy. But as the horse turned, he saw a flash of pink in the grass a few yards away. He frowned, trying to find it again. But it was gone, obscured by the movement of the grass as it swayed in the breeze.

  “You coming?” Jade called back.

  “Yep.” He nudged Sleepy, who obstinately refused to pick up the pace. Fortunately, Jade waited for them to catch up before setting off again.

  “Everything all right?”

  Dario debated telling her about what he’d seen, but decided against it. After all, there wasn’t much to tell since he hadn’t really gotten a good look. It was probably some kind of winter flower, or maybe a piece of trash left behind by the teens.

  Definitely not one of Livia Colton’s handkerchiefs.

  The ride back passed quickly, and Jade turned down his offer to help unsaddle the horses. “I’ll take care of it,” she said, waving him off. “After I’m done I’ll email you all the information I have on the bid. Let me know what you discover.”

  “Of course.” He headed down the path, his thoughts still on the abandoned campsite and the flash of pink he’d glimpsed in the grass.

  He heard the crunch of gravel before he saw the lot and drew up short as he spied a man by his car. “Can I help you?” he asked, striding forward.

  The man jumped, apparently startled by the sound of Dario’s voice. “Oh. No, I was just checking out your car. Is this the latest Mustang GT?”