Nox couldn’t bear it. He couldn’t let Jim take Maeve, but he didn’t want her to suffer anymore. Nearly losing her sister had been unbearable.
“Sounds like a bargain to me.” Jim shoved Amy against the wall and she fell to the ground.
“Amy!” Maeve cried, but when she tried to go to her sister, Jim held her fast.
Amy squeezed her eyes shut, and she kept shaking her head. Nox thought she might be having flashbacks to her abduction. He’d seen a lot of soldiers in the field react the same way.
“You and I can finally spend some quality time together.” Jim licked the side of her neck and Maeve shuddered.
“Let her go and deal with me.” Nox’s grip on the gun tightened. Every instinct told him to gun Jim down. But what if the fucker kills her first? He couldn’t take the risk.
“Yeah, let me think about that.” Jim pretended to ponder the question. “No.”
“Ignore him. Promise me something, Nox?” Maeve asked, locking eyes with him.
“Anything.” He’d give her the world, if he could.
“No matter what happens, you’ll get Amy out of here safe.”
“Maeve…”
“Please. She’s the only thing that matters to me.”
His gut twisted. “The only thing?”
“No.” Maeve’s voice was strained, choked by emotion. “But I need you to save her.”
“You have my word. I’ll protect her life with my own.” Nox didn’t even hesitate.
“Well, isn’t this touching?” Jim sneered. “We have to go.” And then he shoved Maeve toward the door.
Nox lost it.
Before he even knew what he was doing, Nox tagged Jim in the shoulder. And then the head.
Amy shrieked, and Maeve grabbed her, holding onto her sister. Together, they crouched, holding each other, crying.
Jim slumped against the desk and blood streaked down his nose. Nox had shot him just above the brow line. It wasn’t a perfect hit, but it did the job.
But Nox kept right on shooting, pumping bullets into the bastard’s chest, his head, making sure Jim was dead.
Nox didn’t stop until he shredded the body.
***
“Well, that was bracing,” Maeve said.
An hour later, Nox and Maeve were seated in her office.
This whole thing had been a shit show.
There was nothing clean or clinical about the way he’d dispatched Jim. It had been personal. Nox had been bloodthirsty, wanting to rip the man apart. His emotions had gotten the better of him.
The police were swarming the halls of Kent Bourbon. The coroner had come for Jim’s body, and the cops were questioning other members of the staff. Amy was speaking with a trauma counselor Huck had called in. Evidently, the therapist would be making the rounds, talking with folks.
“I know. Are you okay?”
She sighed. “I think so.”
Although, Maeve seemed a little freaked. And he couldn’t blame her. Most civilians had never been in a situation like this.
An awkward silence fell between them.
“I suppose you’re used to this kind of thing.”
“Sort of. Although, whenever I’ve pulled the trigger before, it wasn’t personal.”
The outcome had never mattered so much. Shooting Jim had been visceral. For the first time, Nox had taken joy in his work. Riddling the bastard with bullets had been satisfying in a way he couldn’t quite comprehend, let alone confess to Maeve.
“We should probably talk, huh?” Maeve asked.
“Yeah. I guess so.”
Nox was relieved it was over, but he didn’t know where the fuck to begin. Somehow, discussing his feelings with Maeve was more difficult than the hostage situation.
Maeve sighed. “Do you wanna start?”
“No, not really.”
She snickered. “I didn’t think so.”
“Let’s go with an easy topic. Is your company gonna be okay?”
“I think so. I’ve got a damn good proposal. Did I tell you Savvy agreed to be the spokesperson for Kent Bourbon?”
“No. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. At the very least, this advertising campaign should buy me some time.”
“Eventually, they’ll come to their senses.”
“Here’s hoping.” She rubbed the back of her neck, as though trying to ease the tension. “Okay, I’m gonna put this out here. Are you ready?”
“Yeah.” Nox held his breath.
“I like you.”
“I like you, too, but it’s more than that,” Nox blurted out. “You’re beautiful, smart, a damn good kisser. And you’re strong.” Maeve could handle anything the world tossed at her and keep moving forward. He admired her grit.
“Thanks. I’m pretty impressed too. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have Amy back.”
Nox steeled himself. “I think I might be falling for you.”
She said nothing at first, as though blown away by his confession.
“I’m falling for you, too.”
He gulped. Now for the big question. “What do you want to do about it?”
“I don’t know.” Maeve shrugged. “I’ve never been somebody’s girlfriend.”
“I’ve never been a boyfriend either. Maybe we could learn how to do this together. What do you think?” Nox held his breath, waiting for an answer.
Maeve leaned in and kissed his mouth sweetly. “Let’s give it a try.”
Epilogue
Three months later…
Maeve woke up to the sweet and salty smell of bacon and hot coffee.
Mmm coffee. The rich scent tickled her nose and teased her out of bed.
She snatched up Nox’s flannel shirt and hastily buttoned it on her way to the kitchen. She found him standing by the stove over a hot skillet. He was bare-chested, wearing a pair of hastily thrown on jeans. His hair was tousled, and she’d left a bite mark on his neck.
Is there anything sexier than a man who makes a girl breakfast?
“Damn, you look amazin’ in my shirt.” His gaze raked over her, missing nothing.
Unable to help herself, she stood on tiptoes and kissed him.
Nox dropped the spatula and wrapped his arms around Maeve, kissing her until she swayed in his grasp. She was deliciously sore from their session last night and eager for more.
Maeve could never get enough Nox.
For a hot second, she considered postponing their meal if to satisfy another hunger, but her rumbling stomach quashed her libido for the moment.
Nox swatted her ass and then poured her a cup of coffee. She took a sip and stood next to him. Somehow, sitting even six feet away at the table was too far.
“Are you cooking for an army or what?” Nox had made a huge breakfast complete with buttermilk biscuits, hash browns, thick-cut bacon, scrambled eggs, and some damn fine coffee.
“I figured you’d be hungry.” And he was right.
“So, how are you enjoying your vacation so far?”
“Oh, I’m takin’ in the sights and sounds.” His grin was wicked.
They were staying at the cabin for a week. Maeve hadn’t brought her laptop or briefcase with her. She had her cell phone, but only for emergency calls.
Maeve had spoken with the board and laid out her plans for the future. She’d told them about her ambitions to increase their sales, along with the marketing plans. Having a bonafide country star promoting their brand helped.
She’d purchased some shares from other board members and Deville had backed off for the time being. For now, the board hadn’t made a move against her. And since their sales were up, Maeve figured she and Amy were safe.
“Yeah? And do you like what you see?” Maeve raised a brow.
“Always. And as soon as I feed you, I’m takin’ you back to bed for the rest of the day.”
“Sounds like a terrific plan.”
Yup, things were going well.
Amy had gone to a trauma counselor, and she seem
ed to be doing better. After she’d graduated from college, Amy moved back into their family home. Maeve wanted to keep a close eye on her, while she adjusted to working at the company. She hadn’t started dating again, but Amy was hanging out with her friends.
Amy had started learning the ropes at Kent Bourbon, and Maeve was confident she could handle the next few days by herself. Besides, Maeve was only a phone call away, if she needed something.
Nox dished up the food, and they ate in companionable silence.
He’d opened up to her in the past few months. Nox let her know what he was feeling and thinking. It was a struggle, but he was making an effort for her. She couldn’t ask for anything more.
Besides, they were insanely compatible in and out of bed. Neither one of them was overly sentimental, and they both loved their jobs.
In short, they were the perfect match.
“Stop looking at me like that,” Nox growled.
“Like what?”
He leaned closer. “Don’t act innocent with me. You know exactly what you’re doin’.”
She raised an eyebrow. “You’ll have to tell me.”
“Temptin’ me.”
“Is it my fault you can’t keep your hands to yourself?”
They locked eyes, heated and hungry. The tension between them sizzled.
In the bedroom, Nox was the boss, while they maintained a partnership everywhere else. While they hadn’t formally moved in together, he slept over at her place, more often than not. They hadn’t made any firm plans, but things were definitely on the right track.
“Hell yes.” Nox hauled Maeve out of her chair and kissed her thoroughly, and then dragged her onto his lap.
“Sounds like an excuse to me.” Breakfast forgotten, she tugged at his fly.
“Is there somethin’ you want?”
“Yes, your cock.”.
“Then ride me.”
His hard, thick cock sprang into her hands.
Maeve slipped her shirt over her head, and her breasts bounced free. As she straddled him once more, Nox groaned and leaned in to suck them, grazing her nipples with his teeth. Since she wasn’t wearing panties, Maeve slid down on his dick, seating him fully within her.
And then she rocked against him, making him gasp.
He grasped her ass and held on to it.
“Every mornin’, I want it just like this.”
“Sounds like heaven to me.” Maeve bent her forehead to his.
“I mean it. I’m tired of just datin’. Let’s take this to the next level. I wanna move in together.”
She gasped. “Are you sure your dick isn’t talking to me?” In the heat of the moment, Maeve said all kinds of things. She’d even promised to go to a sex club with him once.
Luckily, Nox didn’t hold her to all of them.
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s part of the conversation, but all of me wants all of you. What do you say?”
Nox bucked his hips, bouncing her up and down, hitting that sweet spot, just the way she liked it.
Maeve threw her head back. “Yes!”
Get an extended epilogue
***
I hope you enjoyed meeting Nox and Maeve.
If you did, would you please leave a review to help other readers find it?
Thanks in advance.
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Black List
Coming July 30th
Blurb
Liar, Liar Pants on Fire
Storm is a former CIA agent. Lying, cheating, and stealing was part of his job description. The moral quandaries never bothered him, until he was asked to turn Lucy into an asset. Despite his reservations, Storm followed orders, and she was forced to help the CIA. Or take a one-way trip to GITMO.
The Walking Wounded
Lucy is a former CIA operative and now works as a bounty hunter. She’s on a personal mission to avenge her best friend’s death when she runs into her ex, Storm, the man who double-crossed her. Lucy can’t forgive Storm, but she can’t forget him either.
Together, they’ll solve a serial killer case. But what happens when buried feelings rise to the surface? And the killer finds his next victim? Lucy.
Black List
Storm stared at the computer screen.
It was a bit after three in the morning, and he was on his fourth cup of coffee. He should give up and get some rest, but Storm pushed on, determined to track a killer down.
They’d just put the Kent case to bed. Amy was home safe with her sister, Maeve, and they didn’t have any other pending files to work on, which meant Storm could take on his own missions.
Since he’d left the CIA, Storm had been surfing the dark web, searching for people who needed his help. It was his way of making amends for the terrible things he’d done.
A snippet of video footage caught his eye on a snuff site.
A young woman hung from heavy wrought iron gates, tethered to the cold metal by a rope, which had probably hanged her.
Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and her eyes had been blackened. Scrapes and bruises covered her arms. Whoever had killed the woman, had roughed her up first.
But what caught his interest was the infinity symbol. It had been carved into her forehead, and in the very center was the letter “V.”
I’ve seen that symbol before on other bodies.
Apparently, Kentucky had a serial killer on the loose.
And Storm was going to stop him.
Black List is coming July 30th
About the Author
Cynthia Rayne is the USA TODAY bestselling author of the Black Star Security Series, Lone Star Mobster Series, and the Four Horsemen MC Series. While Cynthia was born and raised a damn Yankee in Ohio, her parents hail from Dixie, and she grew up on homemade buttermilk biscuits and southern wisdom. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping, reading way too many romance novels, and drinking a truly obscene amount of coffee.
Social Media
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Copyright
© Cynthia Rayne 2018
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review or book discussion, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part is forbidden without the written permission of the author.
Editing
Grammarly
End Line Proofing
Cover Art
RAD
Disclaimer
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and events are the product of the author’s wicked imagination. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental and frankly a bit creepy.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1A
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Epilogue
Black as Night_Black Star Security Page 16