by Aliyah Burke
-Sean
He had to read it two times before it sank in. I can’t believe she was going to marry Forrest. Hell, I can’t believe he didn’t marry her. Serefina Imee LeBenoit—her entire name was beautiful. As was she. Worrying his lower lip, he got to his feet and put the book back in the box and placed it back on the closet shelf. For a moment, he entertained the idea of going down and confronting her but he restrained it. That was not the way to handle it. I think this explains why she’s avoiding relationships with DEA.
Not that she needed another DEA man in her life. As far as Taber was concerned, he would be the last one. No need for another man regardless of his job. Serefina was his. And he had no plans of letting her go.
With a deep breath, he headed back down to see her hanging up the phone. The look on her face identical to the one when they’d first met. Business. At her feet sat a large black duffel.
He stepped forward and stared down at her. He reached up with one hand and curled it alongside her jaw. “Shania and I slept together. Only once. We were really good friends, though.”
Serefina blinked and shrugged. “I didn’t ask for a rundown of your relationship with her. Nor do I need names of women you’ve slept with in the past.”
He could see past the bland tone. The look in her eyes was one he’d come to realise meant she was purposefully keeping him at a distance. “I know you didn’t. I wanted you to know. I didn’t kill a spurned or old lover to keep you from finding out about her.”
“Again, I didn’t ask. And I recall with startling clarity how definitely you stated no woman would ever own your heart. I’m assuming one did at one point then hurt you in some way. Either way, it’s your business, Taber. I’m leaving. Let’s go.” She grabbed her bag and walked out.
He followed and crowded her towards his truck. A short stare-down had her sighing heavily and walking around the back of the truck. She snorted and shook her head. He smiled, knowing full well what had caused it. His bumper sticker read—I’d rather be Cummin than Strokin’ it.
“Where am I headed?” he asked as he started down her driveway.
There was no answer and he turned to sneak a peek at her. Her full lower lip caught between her teeth and she rolled it slightly. Pulling his gaze from her enticing mouth, he dropped it down. One hand flexed in a fist, only to relax and do it again.
“Serefina?”
She never looked at him just continued to stare at something only she could see. “Head to Utah, we’re shootin’ for Wasatch-Cache National Forest area.”
Northeast Utah. He nodded. After a brief moment, he stole a glance at her. Her expression was drawn and she appeared lost in thought. Was she thinking of Sean? Did she miss him? Why else would she still have the binder? It had, after all, been over six years from the date of their planned wedding.
“Do we have a plan?” he asked while shifting and putting them on 25 North.
“Find him and kill him.”
He couldn’t help but agree with her assessment of what to do with Dillard. Weaving in and out of slower moving vehicles, Taber licked his lips and stole another glance. She’d barely moved.
“Tell me about Dillard Thurgood.”
“I already told what I know to your people.” Frustration drenched her words.
“I know, but I didn’t hear it nor did I read your reports. Tell me everything you know about him.”
As the miles passed, she did as he’d asked. He continually found himself impressed by the details she spouted off. There were no notes, everything came from memory, and he knew she wanted this man. He would bet Thurgood was the one case she couldn’t forget and wouldn’t until it was solved. Preferably to her satisfaction.
He left the interstate four hours later and pulled into a gas station. Stopping by the pump, he smiled at her when she glanced at him before jumping out. Serefina returned his smile—a small one—but it was a smile just the same and he’d take it. He climbed out, leaned against the side of his truck, and watched her walk inside. She had such a natural seductive stride, he couldn’t help but to be mesmerised. Her hips should have been outlawed the way they moved. The shorts and shirt she wore did absolutely nothing to help cool his ardour for her.
With a low groan, he ripped his gaze from her intoxicating figure and filled the truck with diesel. Somewhere along the line, Serefina had come to mean everything to him. It didn’t make sense. There hadn’t been the typical courting between them. Hell, they argued a lot of the time. But, beneath it all, he knew she was the one for him.
I just have to get her to see it as well.
Tank topped off, he headed to the store. The second he stepped inside he found her with his gaze. She stood by the coolers, head tipped to the side and stared at a selection of water. With a nod to the employee, who was a younger woman, he made a beeline for Serefina.
Behind her, he could smell the light citrus scent which remained around her at all times. He tugged playfully on some of her hair, a ready smile in place when she glanced at him.
“Water givin’ you trouble?” he teased.
“If it is?”
“We could buy it all and drink it, just to prove a point.”
Her chuckle warmed him. “What point is that? Nawh, I just got a bit lost in thought. Are we ready to go?”
“I’m always ready for you, angel.”
Lust slammed him when she dampened her lips. Serefina faced him totally and he held his breath when she reached out with one hand and trailed it down the front of his shirt until she reached the waist of his jeans. Back up those fingers skated, ever so slowly, and he felt himself continue to harden. Her eyes stayed on her hand and he swallowed hard when her touch sank into his hair.
“I love your hair,” she murmured.
He loved her touching it.
Hands on her curvy hips, he drew her in close and lowered his head. Brushing a kiss over the tip of her nose, he rubbed slightly against her, to demonstrate how she made him hard as a rock.
“We should go, angel, or we’re going to get in trouble for a public display.”
Her eyes sparkled and she pressed a quick kiss to his lips. “Can’t have that, can we?” She patted him on the chest, stepped away from him and grabbed a water.
He snagged one as well and paid for them both before wrapping an arm around her and leading her back to his truck. Instead of putting them back on the interstate, he drove to a hotel and parked. Half of him expected her to protest but she remained silent.
It didn’t take long, and they were in the small room. His eyes landed on the lone bed. He reached for her, only to stop when her cell rang.
The love in her expression when she answered chilled him for a moment. Listening to her thick accent, he sat on the bed with a map spread out before him and plotted the best route to take. Even so, his gaze continued to wander up to land on the woman who stood by the window with a huge smile on her face, despite the late hour, talking on the phone.
Chapter Seven
Serefina couldn’t keep her eyes off him. He drew her attention unlike anyone. Even Sean hadn’t had this strong of an effect on her. Ending her call, she sighed and moved closer to where he sat on the bed and stared at a map. She wasn’t fooled; she’d felt his gaze on her more than once.
“I take it that was a good call,” he commented, placing all his attention on her.
She smiled. “It was. My brother, Solomon. I’m closest to him.” She clipped her phone back to her pocket. “My…my twin, actually. He’s been in the Middle East for eighteen months now.”
“That must be hard.”
“Yeah, it is. But he calls when he can, so that’s nice.”
“I don’t remember seeing a twin in your pictures. Was he not in them?”
Her heart clenched with the pain of memories. “We don’t look like twins anymore. Solomon was the one with the three scars down the left side of his face.”
Taber folded up the map and waved her close. She stepped between his open thighs and
closed her eyes with a sigh when his arms wrapped around her. Why could this man make her feel the things she did? Emotions she’d thought had died and been buried the day she got the letter from Sean on their supposed wedding. Things like happily ever after. A future with someone as opposed to being alone. Hell, Taber even had her thinking about children. Better question. Why did he?
For a brief spot of time, they remained like that. His cheek rested along her belly, her hand stroked the back of his head, and his arms made her feel safe. Then he tugged her back to lay on the bed with him.
Face to face, legs intertwined, they lay there, a single light on in the room. “Tell me something about you, Taber.”
His fingertips traced the contours of her face while his gaze held hers. A faraway look appeared in his eyes before it faded.
“I was in love once a long time ago.”
Her heart tightened. “Was?”
The smile on his face was sardonic. “Yes. She decided she preferred another man to me.” He shrugged a shoulder. “Well, not really, she just wanted us both and couldn’t understand why I wasn’t okay with sharing.”
If you were mine, Taber, I wouldn’t be okay with sharing you. Not even a little. “So that’s why you say no woman would own your heart?”
“Yes.” His brows furrowed slightly. “I got burned badly by her. Discovered them in my bed.”
“Damn.”
His mouth turned up at the corners and she could see he forced the action. “It happens. Just showed me she wasn’t the one who I should be with.” His blue eyes bored into her and she wondered if he wasn’t trying to make a point.
Don’t I know ‘it happens’. “Well, that’s a silver-lining way to look at it.”
“Life’s short, angel. I’m learning one needs to grab their happiness when they find it and not wait around only to play the ‘what-if’ or ‘if-only’ game later on.”
“Good motto.” She moved to lie on her back. “But isn’t that hard with your love ‘em and leave ‘em thing you got going on?”
He chuckled lightly. “Now you sound like sweetness.”
She cut her eyes to the left and found tenderness on his face. “Sweetness?” she asked, pleased at how relatively modulated her tone remained.
“My nickname for my sister-in-law. She used to work for the DoJ.”Sidra Bonnaire Kysenzki had worked for the Department of Justice—Criminal Division.
“And you call her ‘sweetness’?”
“I do.”
Did he have a thing for his sister-in-law? “Nice. But you still haven’t answered my question.”
He rose up over her, his blond hair stroking along her skin. Her breath hitched as she lifted a hand to touch his face. A day’s worth of growth rubbed her palm as he seemed to burrow deeper into her touch.
“No, I haven’t. It’s after midnight, angel.” He nibbled along her lower lip, sending shockwaves of lust through her. “I’ve sat beside you all day with you wearing next to nothing.”
“We’ve only been driving for four hours.”
“And I’ll keep drivin’ for another four, but you have to get naked first.”
Moisture gathered between her legs and she arched against him, desperate for what she knew would come next. Then she stepped back and did as he’d said. Got naked. She was definitely going to miss him when they went their separate ways. A purr escaped her when he cupped a large, calloused hand over one breast.
“Please,” she gasped. A sharp tingle sped through her when he pinched the tight nipple.
“Please what?”
“Inside me.”
Her mind raced with the erotic images of what she wanted to do with him, to him, for him. It didn’t matter. She knew she would give him whatever he longed for. He flexed his hips and rolled the peak in his fingers.
“Soft and slow?” he asked on a thread of dark decadence.
“No. Fast. Hard.” Take me like you’re claiming me as your own.
Thuds filled the room as his boots were kicked off. She squirmed on the coverlet when the sound of his zipper being lowered reached her. Not long after, although it seemed like forever, he settled between her thighs and nudged into her with his thick shaft.
“Oh yeah,” she said on a groan of contentment as he stretched her completely. Her skin tingled with anticipation and it was as if she floated on cloud nine.
“I agree, angel. I agree.”
Taber slipped his hands under her hips and lifted. Her eyes rolled back when he began driving home, hard, into her. Deep strokes. Hard thrusts. Nothing on the earth could possibly feel as right as it did when she was joined to this man. It was more than just physical. He touched her on a whole other level that, until him, she’d not even known existed. It didn’t matter if it was fast or if Taber drew it out nice and slow. The difference she now experienced was because of the man himself. And she let herself go, trusting that Taber would lead her to where she needed to be.
* * * *
Serefina stirred and slowly opened her eyes. Everything was sore. Turning her wrist, she activated the light on her watch and saw it was barely after six. They’d made love most of the night, on the bed, the floor, and even against the dresser. She was sore. Taber’s strong arm hooked around her waist, anchored them together. With reluctance, she began to slide out. He tightened his hold and shifted behind her.
“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked with a rasp.
“It’s after six.”
His breath warmed her ear and she squealed when he spun her around quickly and kissed her. He stabbed deep into her mouth and coaxed her tongue out to play. Her pussy grew wet all over again.
“I’ll ask again,” he drawled, breaking off the kiss. “Where do you think you’re going?”
“Do you really plan on staying here all day?”
He leaned closer and brushed his stubble along her bare shoulder. “Without a doubt. Haven’t you heard that song by James Otto?”
“Who’s that?”
“Country singer, angel.”
“Nope. I never listened to country until you put it on in my house.”
He tsked. “Well, he has a song titled ‘Just Got Started Lovin’ You’.”
The very idea sounded appealing. “Sing it,” she said.
And he did. His deep voice tugged at every nerve and synapse within her. Good Lord, I think I’m beginning to realise why people listen to country.
She melted when the words began to sink in. He spoke of how loving her was going to take forever and how he’d just gotten started. That there was no point in fighting what they felt for they’d never win that battle. How they should stop all the resisting and give in. He knew she didn’t want to leave so come back and let him hold her for he just got started loving her.
There was more but it fell on deaf ears. Taber rolled her over and slid home in a single stroke.
“I…I think I like this James Otto,” she said, panting as he moved within her.
He stopped and scowled down at her. The early morning light allowed her a peek at his face. “Angel, mentioning another man’s name when I’m sunk deep within you, not what I want to hear.”
“Serefina,” she whispered, craving the sound of her name on his lips.
“What?”
“You always call me angel. Call me Serefina.”
His expression softened. He slipped his shaft within her then he lowered his mouth to hers. “Serefina LeBenoit, there is no place in the world I would rather be than where I am right at this moment.” A tender kiss. “And he was right about one thing, I did just get started lovin’ you. My angel, Serefina.”
He engulfed her and she surrendered, eager for his touch. Taber moved them from the bed to the floor. On her hands and knees, she moaned when he entered her from behind and thrust hard. His large hands grabbed the sides of her hips, digging into the flesh. The floor and the worn carpet offered no give and she screamed in pleasure as he worked her up into orgasm after orgasm. It was past noon before they sur
rendered to the exhaustion hunting them. This time when she woke she was alone in the room.
With slow movements, she sat up, keeping the white sheet over her. Taber was nowhere in sight so she got to her feet and took a quick shower. He had returned when she stepped from the bathroom. Her skin burned from the heat his gaze poured into her.
She bit her lower lip and smiled. “What?”
He flashed a sexy grin. “I’m thinkin’ things that would keep us from leaving yet another day.”
“We need to get going.” Not that she wanted to but they had a fugitive to apprehend.
With a smooth push, he got to his feet and prowled towards her. Her insides turned to jelly and she fought down the waves of desire for him. Each second she spent with him, she knew it would be that much harder to leave.
“We do. Come on,” he muttered, right before he gathered her close and covered her mouth with his until her toes curled and her heart beat all out of control. “I’ve got some food in the truck.”
Together, they grabbed their bags and exited the room. Not much later, the powerful diesel charged up the interstate. The country music filling the cab didn’t bother her in the slightest. In fact, she caught herself listening to the words and finding it enjoyable.
Taber stared at Serefina from beneath lowered lids. Not that it mattered—she, for one, drove, and for two, he wore sunglasses. But still, he watched her like she wouldn’t know if she turned her head in his direction. It had surprised him how fast he’d tossed her the keys when she offered to drive. No one, not even his brothers, had been allowed to drive his truck. But all Serefina had to do was give him a soft look and he was toast.
They’d been at a truck stop for a short break a while back, and he couldn’t begin to say how arrogantly proud he’d been to see all the men who watched her stroll by and jump up easily into the diesel and drive away. He should’ve known she wouldn’t have a problem driving his truck—her Xterra was a stick shift.
So he’d grabbed a nap, and now, he remained in the same position watching her. Country still played on the satellite radio and he fought off a smile. The only sign she may be a bit nervous was every so often she’d drop her hand to the shifter and caress the knob.