by Morgan James
Afraid my heart might burst from my chest if I tried to put my feelings into words, I dug my nails into his shoulders and dragged him back to me. He claimed my mouth once more, tongue sweeping over mine, sucking and licking every inch of my mouth. His muscles contracted as he pulled out, then slammed back in, taking my breath away.
“Oh, God!”
Surrounded by the heat of the fire, Eric’s body wrapped around mine, I began to spiral out of control. A low buzz filled my ears as electricity zipped along my nerve endings. My legs tightened around Eric’s waist as he thrust hard and deep, sending me over the edge with a ragged cry. His pace increased, and he pumped in and out several more times before pulling out and letting out a soft groan as he came.
He lay heavily on top of me, and I turned my head to speak against his ear. “I love you.”
They were the easiest three words I’d ever said.
SOFT, WARM LIPS BRUSHED the back of my neck, and I shifted in Eric‘s arms. “Again?” I grumbled without heat.
His deep, rusty chuckle vibrated through me. “Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
I grinned and rolled toward him, love filling every inch of me as I stared into his hazel eyes. “You’re going to be the death of me, you know that?”
“As long as you’re by my side, I don’t care when or how I go,” he replied.
This man never ceased to surprise me. I pressed my palm to his cheek. “I love you.”
His arm tightened around my waist and pulled me closer, as if he could meld our bodies into one entity. “Love you, baby. So much.”
Sometime in the middle of the night, Eric had scooped me into his arms and carried me to the bed in the loft upstairs. Our lovemaking that time had been slower, more tender and loving. I couldn’t decide which was my favorite. He wrought so many emotions in me, and I knew I wanted to spend a lifetime sorting through them.
We still hadn’t talked much about the events of last night, but I knew I’d have to get it over with sooner or later. When Eric drew a deep breath, I knew my time to address it was right now.
“I hate to do this, but I guess now’s as good a time as any. I need to head down to the station in a few to file an official report, and I’ll need your statement.”
I tipped my chin up to him. “Any chance we can come back here after we’re done?”
A sexy grin curved his mouth. “I suppose I could find a couple reasons to take the day off.”
One hand wandered to my breast, his thumb circling my nipple and drawing it out to a tight peak; the other went to my bottom as he rolled to his back, pulling me astride him. I leaned forward, dangling my breasts in front of him like an offering, and he palmed them in his hands. “Looks like I have two really good reasons right here.”
I rotated my hips against him, his erection already straining and hard, eager to be inside me. “When did you say we have to leave?”
“That’s the advantage of being sheriff,” he remarked as he lifted my hips and guided his cock to my slick entrance. “No one will notice if I’m ten minutes late.”
I sank down on top of him with a hiss. “Can we make it thirty?”
Chapter 38
Eric
Jules lay draped over me, still firmly in my embrace. I wasn’t sure I’d ever let her go. Maybe if she asked nicely... but I seriously doubted it. After we’d filed Jules’s official statement this morning, I’d taken the rest of the day off. The guys all understood, and after everything that had happened, I needed the reassurance of her body next to mine.
The results had come back this morning on the shell casing we’d found from the shooter’s spot on the mountain. It was, in fact, a positive match to Josh. If only we’d gotten that report yesterday. It could have saved so much heartache.
From what I’d been able to piece together, Josh had been waiting for Jules when we got home yesterday evening. He’d called in the domestic dispute as a diversion, then sneaked into the house behind her. The garage door had a sensor on it that would prevent it from closing if something was in the way. I imagined that Jules had hit the button to close the garage, then entered the house, never realizing that the door hadn’t closed the whole way.
I fought a shudder and hugged her more tightly to me. Our chests rose and fell in tandem, my heart beating in rhythm with hers. This thing between us was so much more than sex. It was more than mutual attraction. A lifetime ago, I thought I loved my ex-wife. That was nothing compared to the way I felt with Jules. This love was pure and unadulterated, and she meant more to mean than anything in this world.
But with love came the inevitable fear and anxiety. Would she ever give me a glimpse of her past? My heart stuttered in my chest, and I swallowed hard, my throat suddenly dry. The last thing I wanted was to drive her away; but I had to know.
“Jules?”
“Mmm?” She sounded sleepy and sated, and it sent my pulse racing. I loved her so damn much, it hurt.
“You know you can talk to me about anything, right?”
Her muscles tensed under my touch, and she took so long to respond that I was afraid she wouldn’t. “I know.”
“You ever going to tell me?” She knew what I was asking; there was no mistaking it.
Another long pause, then— “Someday.”
Her voice was soft, reserved, but I heard the truth beneath the surface. Someday, when she trusted me, when she was ready, she would open up and tell me everything.
I nodded, my chin brushing the top of her head. “I’ll be right here until that day comes.”
She was silent for a long moment. “I promise I will. Soon.”
I hoped that was true, but I wouldn’t push her. I pulled her close once more and pressed my lips to her hair as she nestled her head against my shoulder. “Love you.”
I decided it didn’t matter, because in this moment, everything was perfect. Jules was here in my arms, and that was enough for now. All I wanted was to hold her tight and never let her go. And that’s exactly what I did.
Sneak Peek of Beautiful Deception
Chapter 1
Giuliana
I stood at the counter and peered out the kitchen window into the bright morning light reflecting off the heavy layer of snow that had fallen last night, turning the backyard into a winter wonderland. Without warning, a pair of strong arms slipped around my waist.
“Morning, beautiful.”
I leaned into Eric’s warm body and tipped my head to the side, allowing him to drop a kiss on the slope of my neck. “I missed you last night.”
“I know.” I could hear the regret in his voice. “The Johanssons were at it again.”
As sheriff of the small town of Pine Ridge, Eric took his job seriously. He was often called out in the middle of the night and though he had several deputies beneath him, he’d told me once that he felt an obligation to personally see to the citizens’ safety. There was no doubt in my mind that he knew every single resident of Pine Ridge by name, and his protective and caring nature was evident in the way he handled his duties.
“I’m sorry.” I snuggled further into his embrace. “I’d say I hope they’d learned their lesson, but...”
He chuckled, and his warm breath wafted across my cheek. “If they haven’t figured it out yet, I doubt they ever will.”
I wiggled my hips against his and felt the hard ridge of his arousal pressing into my bottom. His hands left my waist and slid down to the curve of my hips, his fingers curling into my flesh and pulling me close. I glanced at the clock and bit my lip. “Don’t start something you can’t finish.”
He growled low in my ear, then nipped the soft flesh, making me jump. “I always finish, and so do you.”
“But I can’t take time to appreciate it properly,” I complained without heat. I shivered as his mouth moved downward, his teeth skimming the cords of my throat.
“Only because I want to make sure you’re properly taken care of.”
It was true; he was notorious for spending an inordi
nate amount of time ensuring I derived as much pleasure from our lovemaking as possible, as many times as possible—and I loved every second of it.
“I would,” I said regretfully, “but I have a meeting with Tony and Mia this morning to go over plans.”
I loved my job at Briarleigh Lodge and Resort, a beautiful retreat for vacationers situated at the top of Mount Washington in northern Montana. Jack and Mia Prescott, the owners, were amazing to work for. Barely ten years older than myself, they were more like friends than employers. When I’d suggested the addition of a spa a couple months ago, they’d immediately hopped onboard. Since then, Mia and I had been working nonstop to get everything ready for its grand opening. It had taken a lot of research and the application of multiple licenses, but everything was finally starting to fall into place.
“What time will you be done?”
I shrugged. “Probably normal time, as long as nothing crazy happens between now and then.”
“Tonight then.” Eric spun me in his arms and stared down at me for a moment. “But I’m not letting you go without this.”
He took my mouth in a hard kiss, his tongue sliding over mine, and my knees went weak like they did every time he touched me. I’d never felt so cherished, so loved, as I did with him. I would forever be grateful that he found me on the side of the road that day nearly three months ago.
Born into the Capaldi crime family, I was a mafia princess and only daughter of the capo of the Chicago outfit. When my father was killed three years ago, my uncle took over, and things changed drastically. In an attempt to align the Italian and Russian families, Uncle Massimo had arranged my marriage to the Bratva captain, Nikolai. My uncle had been abusive and cruel, often locking me away in the dark, stifling closet for hours at a time, but I’d heard the swirling rumors that Nikolai was worse; his first three wives had disappeared without a trace, and I refused to be another statistic. With little more than the clothes on my back, I ran and never looked back. As I stood in the circle of Eric’s arms, I had never been more thankful for anything in my life.
He broke the kiss, and I stared up at him, studying his features. He was a hard man, stronger than anyone I knew, but he would never hurt me. He’d saved me more times than I could count, not only from external threats, but from myself as well. In those early days, I’d been tempted to flee at the first sign of trouble. Eric had slowly coaxed me out of my shell, urging me to believe in him. And I did—I trusted him with my life.
“You okay?”
His brows drew slightly together as he stared down at me, and a smile slowly spread over my face. “Perfect.”
He stared at me dubiously, and I tightened my hold on his shirt where it was still clenched in my fists. “I was just thinking about how lucky I am.”
His expression softened, and he pulled me infinitesimally closer. “You’ve got that wrong, babe.” He dipped his head and brushed his lips over mine, soft and sweet. “I’m the lucky one.”
I leaned into him for a long moment, soaking up the heat and solace his large body offered. His touch was like a balm to my soul. Sometimes in the still darkness of night, when I found myself feeling lost and adrift, I would reach for him. The second my skin touched his, my heart calmed, and my mind relaxed, the connection between us potent and undeniable.
I’d never before believed people who said their partner completed them; now I knew what they meant. It was the physical closeness, that deep level of trust I’d never found with another person. Eric was everything to me, literally the other half I hadn’t known I was missing.
Peeling myself away, I peered up at him. “I should get going.”
“I know.” He framed my face with his large hands and dropped another soft kiss on my lips. “Have fun. And don’t forget about dinner tonight.”
A grin spread over my face. It was our first real date, and I was more excited than I should be. Though we’d been dating for almost two months, things had been hectic and I was glad the holidays were over so we could focus more on our relationship. There was a restaurant at the resort, but Eric had decided we deserved something special, so tonight we were headed down to a steakhouse in Kalispell to relax and unwind.
“I can’t wait.”
I stretched up on my toes and stole one more kiss before pulling away and grabbing my keys from the small table near the front door. Eric’s searing gaze watched me the entire way, sending tendrils of heat curling through me.
God, I loved that man more than anything.
A smile on my face, I hopped down the two wide porch steps and bounded through the powdery layer of snow to my car. The little Cavalier had served me well, but I’d recently considered upgrading to an SUV. Eric had tried to buy something for me a few weeks back, but I’d turned him down. It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate the gesture—I did. But he’d already done so much for me, and I didn’t want to feel indebted to him more than I already did. I wanted him to know that I was with him because I loved him, not because of what he could offer me. More than that, I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it on my own. For the first time in my life, I had a job—one that I loved and that paid well—and I was determined to forge my own path through life.
I hummed a happy little tune as I navigated the short drive down to the lodge, then pulled into the employee lot and put the car in park. For the past couple months, ever since the incident at Eric’s house, we’d been staying in a cabin that had once belonged to Mia’s late father, Bruce. It was empty and they had offered it up, not wanting to part with it. It was one of only a handful of homes high up on the mountain, and Jack and Mia’s place was only a few miles away. It was private and peaceful, and an added bonus was that it was only a few minutes’ drive to the resort.
My gaze lifted and I froze in place as an Escalade slowly drove down the narrow lane of parked cars. The sight hit me with the force of a freight train, bringing with it a thousand memories I thought I’d buried. Horror replaced my earlier joy, turning my blood to ice in my veins. I grabbed the steering wheel, holding on for dear life, ready to throw the car in drive and race away. All black with tinted windows, the huge SUV was the same high-end vehicle my uncle had chosen for himself and his men.
Heart banging against my ribcage, the sound echoing in my ears, I resisted the urge to slump down in my seat and hide away. Had Uncle Massimo finally found me? I held my breath as I studied the driver through the darkened side window. Dressed in what appeared to be a casual long-sleeved shirt, it wasn’t the pristine suit I was expecting of the soldiers who worked for my uncle. Sunglasses and a ballcap obscured most of his face, but he didn’t look familiar.
Thank God.
The Escalade rolled past, and my eyes darted to the license plate affixed to the back of the vehicle. South Dakota. I relaxed my hold on the steering wheel and slowly let out a relieved sigh. I’d half expected to see an Illinois plate on the bumper, some indication that the man had come all the way from Chicago to find me.
I watched as the Escalade stopped at the end of the row. The driver hesitate for several interminable seconds, then turned left toward the visitor parking lot. He was just lost, then.
My lungs deflated as I let out the breath I’d been holding and I pressed one hand to my chest, willing my heart to slow its rapid pace. I briefly closed my eyes and swallowed down the last of my fear. Uncle hadn’t found me yet; he wouldn’t. I’d left literally everything behind—clothes, cell phone, credit cards. I was untraceable and living in a remote mountain town. My fear was unfounded; I was safe.
Shaking off the lingering chill that clung to my spine, I slipped the keys from the ignition then climbed from the car and headed inside. A glance at my watch told me I had approximately forty minutes until our meeting with the supervisor. I jingled the keys as I walked, and I opened the pro shop first.
The manager Jack and Mia had hired would be here shortly, but I enjoyed opening each morning, getting everything ready in the peace and quiet before the bustle of the day began. Onc
e it started, it wouldn’t stop again until after midnight when the restaurant bar closed down.
I booted up the computer and glanced through yesterday’s sales, making quick note of anything that needed to be restocked or reordered.
“Good morning!”
Jenn’s happy voice cut through the still air, and I smiled at her as she approached the desk. “Morning.”
I moved out of the way so she could use the computer to clock in, then she turned to me. “How was it yesterday?”
I handed her the papers. “Pretty decent for a Tuesday.” I checked the clock on the computer. “All right. I’m off.”
With a smile and a little wave, I headed down the long hallway toward the spa. Tony, the supervisor for the addition, stood outside the large oak doors, and he threw a smile my way. Somewhere in his late sixties, he was still handsome, salt and pepper flecking his dark hair. I wasn’t terribly comfortable around most men, but Tony put off a fatherly vibe that had immediately set me at ease.
Mia joined us and for the next two hours, we discussed the progress of the spa. Each room of the facility had been framed in and plumbing and electricity had already been run. They planned to start the drywall next week, then the flooring would go in. The tile we’d chosen for the salon was backordered, but it wasn’t a huge concern, according to Tony. All of the other materials were in the back waiting to be installed, so they could finish the salon once everything else was done.
We thanked Tony, then Mia turned to me, her eyes bright. “I have a surprise for you.”
“Okay...” I drew out the word, confused.
“Close your eyes.” I did as she asked, then her hands landed on my shoulders. “Now turn around three times.”
“What? Why?”
“So you won’t know where we’re going.” Her tone was tinged with exasperation, and I let out a little laugh.