by Michelle Kee
All she could do was nod. Though she mourned the loss, he released her. Of course it was only long enough to strip herself and then himself. Once naked, Krista found herself hoisted into his arms yet again with her wrists pinned to the wall and his mouth over hers. She screamed when she felt him thrust inside her.
"Fuck. God woman you're so wet for me."
"I'm always wet for you Ethan. God I love you."
No more words were spoken as he began moving inside her. One of Ethan's hands gripped her hip and the other pinning her wrists above her head as he drove inside her. He felt unhinged. Like the only thing that matter was this moment. Him and his woman coming together in their love and passion for one another. He hissed when he felt her short nails digging into the wrist of the hand that pinned her wrists. She was close.
"That's it baby. You're so close. Come for me Krista. I want to feel it."
Ethan watched his woman shatter in his arms as his own release peaked. As she screamed his name, he moaned hers. Ethan stood on shaking legs, holding her to him as their bodies rippled for the intensity of their orgasm.
***
Hours later Krista sighed contently in Ethan's arms. "I think we set a record."
Ethan chuckled and kissed her temple. "I'm not sure if a three-hour fuck session is a record, but I'll look in the morning."
Krista laughed and snuggled closer as the storm outside the house raged on, her head lying over his heart. "So, how was your day?"
"Productive. At least we know this fucker hasn't tracked any of our family or the other vehicles at Blackout. But that's another problem for another day on how the hell he got that tracker on my bike to begin with."
"We'll find out. Let's try to get some sleep. After this week we'll both be busy getting ready for the release."
Krista felt a purely feminine thrill shoot through her when Ethan pulled the sheets over them tighter and tucked her tightly into his side. She had never been a cuddler, except with Ethan. He was the only man she had ever cuddled with and the only man she ever wanted to. With those thoughts, she slipped into a dreamless sleep.
Chapter 24
The two weeks leading up to Krista book release were crazy to say the least. As Ethan and Blackout finalized the security for the event, Krista worked on the finalization of her big reveal to her fans. If she were honest with herself, she was nervous about what would happen when she dropped the bombshell that Kris James was in fact Krista Jameson.
Though one big thing had happened in those two weeks. Only a few days prior, Ethan had called her downstairs. She had been upstairs in the guest room that she had commandeered as her writing studio and walked downstairs. She found Ethan standing in front of his office with a huge grin. Krista leaned back in her chair and smiled as she replayed that day.
***
"Why are you smiling like the cat that got the cream?" She asked.
"I have a surprise for you. Close your eyes." He grinned.
Rolling her eyes and sighing, she closed her eyes. She felt Ethan move behind her and lay his hands on her shoulders. Gently he urged her forward. She heard him opening his office door and the door swinging open. She took maybe ten steps into the large room. Instantly the smell of wood and leather invaded her nostrils. She loved the smell of his office.
She knew the wall to her right was nothing but one long bookcase. Though she never understood why he had such a beautiful piece when he wasn't an avid reader. Ethan had told her with a shrug that his grandpa had always told him a true office/study should always have one wall to be filled with books. Of course, his wall was very sadly pretty barren. She hoped to start filling it.
With her eyes closed, she pictured the rest of the office. Dead ahead of her, about two feet or so was the large wooden desk Ethan used. His iMac screen front and center with the Mac Pro off to the left corner. Behind his desk was the beautiful French doors she loved that led out onto a deck that overlooked the backyard. The left wall was bare except for one painting of Lake Travis from the hills above.
"Okay, open your eyes." Ethan told her.
Slowly she opened them. When she did, they widened in disbelief and she felt her mouth fall open. She now understood the phrase "jaw it the floor". Her head swiveled to look at Ethan, in front of her, back at Ethan, then back in front of her. Her hands flew up to cover her mouth as she literally gasped.
"How...when...I don't understand." Krista breathed.
Ethan's arms slipped around her waist as he chuckled. "Before we left for New York I recruited your dad, my dad, Grant and Gage to help me get it out of your house. It was looking a bit worn so I had it restored to its original glory."
"Oh Ethan." Krista said, feeling her voice catch.
In front of her, where Ethan's desk had been just the day before sat her grandfather's desk. The massive oak and cherry desk had been in the family for generations. It had sat in her grandfather's office at the Senate for nearly thirty-five years. When he retired, it had been in his study at his home. When he died, it had been passed to Krista. Now, said desk was in Ethan's home and looked as if it had just been completed.
"Krista, I know how much you love this desk. You used to tell me that every time you would visit your grandfather, you felt so calm sitting at it. How you felt centered." Ethan replied resting his chin on her shoulder.
Krista turned in his arms, cupped his face and kissed him. "Thank you. Oh thank you Ethan. When Cain told me my house was gone..." She paused and swallowed the lump in her throat. "I thought I'd never see it again."
"It took everything in me not to tell you that it was safe. This morning when you went with Lance to get your mom, I called the guys and had them help me get it inside. I hope you like it's placement, 'cause that thing is a bitch to move."
Krista threw her head back and laughed. It was then she noticed something. The left wall that had been bare but for the painting, now housed Ethan's desk. That made her heart melt. He wanted them to share the office. Wanted them to work together even though they did different types of work.
"I only have one request for this office."
"Anything baby."
She pointed to his bookcase. "Together we fill that. Just like your grandpa said it should be. I want it filled with books you like, books I like, books on guns, I want that case to be bursting and just screaming ETHAN AND KRISTA."
Ethan kissed her. "Yes. I want this whole house to scream ETHAN AND KRISTA. This is OUR home baby."
***
Still smiling, Krista rose from her desk, left the office and headed to the kitchen for coffee. And so it had begun. Already they had started making plans on small renovation projects for the home. Despite having only officially moved in the night they returned from Jerry's funeral, Ethan's home had felt like hers. She supposed it was because this was where Ethan was himself.
She nearly jumped when her phone rang. "Hello."
"Hey baby."
"Hey. Well, how's it going at Blackout?"
Ethan sighed tiredly. "It's going. We've got everything finished and we're en route to Capital to go over the place again. I'm not taking any chances."
She sighed. "I wish I could say you're over reacting but we both know that's bullshit."
"Yeah. So, Stacey is arriving this evening right? And tomorrow is when you plan on doing the dry run deal with the speeches and such right?"
"Yep. I offered to pick her up at the airport, but she said no. We're meeting tomorrow morning at ten."
"Okay, me and Gage will be there and I think Cain and Jimmy will be joining us too. After you ladies are done, I'll be heading back to Blackout to meet with Wilson and Wilkes to give them the final plans for their guys. Gage will be with you and Stacey. Are you telling her tomorrow about you being Kris James?"
"I am. In fact, when I go, I will be going as myself. Now, in two days at the event I will arrive as Kris James and make the reveal during my speech." Krista answered, walking back into the office.
"Okay. We just pulled up. I sh
ouldn't be much longer, maybe an hour or so. Then I’ll be heading home so we can go meet our moms for lunch."
"Call me when you're on your way home. I'm gonna try to get some more writing done. I love you."
"I love you too. Oh fuck off Tony!" Ethan yelled.
Krista could hear Tony and the others laughing in the background before Ethan hung up. Laughing herself, she turned her attention back to her screen and began typing away.
***
Ethan stepped out of the bathroom and found Krista sitting on the bed pulling on her tennis shoes. As if sensing him watching her, she looked up and flashed him a beautiful smile. Returning her smile, he moved toward the bed, leaned down and kissed her. When he pulled away to get dress, she reached out and slapped his naked ass.
"Hey!"
"What? You think only you can slap some ass Ethan?"
"Keep it up with that smart mouth and we won't make it to lunch."
Krista merely laughed before exiting the room. Shaking his head, he moved to his closet and pulled out a shirt and jeans. He was still adjusting to the fact that he was not only living with Krista now, but that she had agreed to marry him.
It wasn't that he was opposed to marriage per se, but until he had been reunited with Krista, he just never gave it much thought. First, it had been more a matter of his career in the Marines and then after that was done, he hadn't met anyone who sparked his interest. Oh sure he had dated a few women but only with Krista did he feel this deep connection. The one that made his mind, body and soul scream MINE.
After pulling on his boots he walked downstairs. Krista was standing at the window looking out over the yard. He slipped his arms around her waist and held her close. She sighed and leaned back into him, her hands covering his.
"You ready baby?"
"Yep. Let's get going or our moms are gonna be pissed if we're late."
The two hopped into Ethan's truck and took off for the café. Ethan admitted to himself he was a bit nervous about this meeting. Despite he and Krista voicing their wished on the wedding, Debbie Jameson and Ruby Blackstone were putting up a strong opposition. He pulled into an empty spot next to his mother's car, put the truck in park and let out a slow breath.
"You're a little nervous too huh?" Krista smiled.
"Hell yeah I am. Look, I love my mom and I love yours, but those two together are scary when they have their minds made up." Ethan said.
Krista reached over and took his hand in hers. "Ethan, they mean well. We both know that. However, we need to stay firm. This is OUR wedding and we know what we want."
This was one of the things Ethan loved about Krista. She was always able to calm him. He leaned over and kissed her. "You're right. Okay, let's get this over with."
Hand-in-hand the couple walked inside. Ethan quickly spotted Debbie and Ruby sitting at a booth toward the back. He couldn't stop the smile as both women began waving energetically at them. He and Krista just chuckled as they slid into the booth across from their mothers.
***
"You look tired Ethan." Ruby pointed out.
"Ma." Ethan sighed.
"Well, it's true honey, you're working too hard." Ruby shrugged. Then she looked at Krista. "You look a bit tired yourself Krista."
Krista felt her eyes bulge a bit. "Well, um, we've both been busy Mama Ruby. How was Dallas mama?"
Debbie simply shook her head. "You both work too much. Oh well, in about four days this mess will be over hopefully and then you two can relax. And Dallas was just fine. Jax and Allyssa say hello by the way."
"Yes and then you can focus on more important matters. Have you talked about when you want the wedding?" Ruby asked, pulling out a spiral notebook from her oversized purse.
Ethan groaned. "Mom, Krista and I haven't..."
"Ethan, you are my only son. You and Krista deserve the wedding of your dreams."
"Ruby's right. You two have been head over heels in love since you were both kids. It's about time that the Jameson's and Blackstone's became family."
It was Krista's turn to groan. "Mama, Ethan and I just want something small and simple. Maybe a backyard wedding at his house. We don't need or want a huge deal made about this."
Ruby started writing away. "Hmmm, a backyard wedding? Yes, yes Deb and I could work with that. Ethan's got that beautiful backyard with the creek that cuts through it."
"Oh Ruby, I can picture it now. A white archway covered in lilies, roses and calla lilies!"
"Um, don't WE have anything to say? I mean what if we just want to get married in jeans and t-shirts?" Krista argued.
"Absolutely not! You will have a wedding dress Krista." Debbie stated.
Ethan tilted his head back, running his hand over his face. "Oh for the love of..."
"Are you two going to let us plan ANYTHING?" Krista grumbled.
"You two have enough to worry about. We'll handle the details." Ruby stated, brushing Krista's statement off.
Knowing there was nothing they could do, Ethan and Krista simply sat there like chastised children, eating their lunch in silence as their mother's started throwing out wedding details and ideas. Ethan and Krista simply nodded or grunted in response. Both trying desperately to hold their tongues.
***
Krista and Ethan sat dazed in the truck after their mother's waved bye and took off to start looking for wedding stuff. Slowly both looked at each other. "Well, that went well."
"Like a sledge hammer being used to hang a picture." Ethan grumbled.
"So much for us standing firm."
"Krista, I don't need anything fancy. I just want to marry you dammit. I want you to be Mrs. Krista Blackstone. That's it!"
"That's all I want too Ethan. I don't need flowers, a fancy dress, hell I don't even need a wedding."
Ethan suddenly knew what needed to be done. He started the truck and all but peeled out of the parking lot. After a few minutes, Krista recognized where they were headed. When she did, her face broke out in the most beautiful smile Ethan had ever seen.
"Wait! Before we go where you're wanting to go, we have one stop to make first." Krista said.
"Yes ma'am." Ethan laughed as he swung the truck around and headed back to his house first.
Oh he knew their moms were going to be pissed when they found out about this, but Krista’s mega-watt smile made facing Ruby and Debbie’s wrath all worth it.
Chapter 25
Krista pushed the sunglasses onto the top of her head as she walked into the room where her book reveal would take place the next day. She felt both nervous and relieved. Finally, she could stop having to play dual roles and just be herself. Not that her persona of Kris James wasn't her, it was just one facet of her and now she could share with her friends and fans all sides of her.
"Excuse me, can I help you?"
Krista turned and found Stacey walking toward her. Stacey was about five foot five, with a killer figure. Her auburn locks swept up in a French twist at the moment. The sexy black pencil skirt and violet blouse hugged her curves. Krista had always teased Stacey whenever they went out in New York, that Stacey could have any man she wanted with those kicking curves.
"Hello Stacey." Krista grinned.
Stacey studied her with a frown. After a few moments Stacey's eyes widened as the voice registered. "Kris?"
Krista laughed. "Yeah, it’s me."
Stacey dropped into one of the nearby chairs. "So, this is really you huh?"
"Yep. My real name is Krista Jameson." Krista nodded, sitting next to her publisher. "I will not only be revealing my book but also my real identity tomorrow."
"You're going to what? Kris...I mean Krista...hell, that's going to be a bit weird."
"You can still call me Kris; it was a nickname for me for a long time."
"Kris, are you sure that's smart? What if this guy is here tomorrow?"
Krista let out a slow breath. She had thought of that, so had Ethan and the guys. However, after nearly eight years as an author she just felt th
e timing was right to do this. Even before her stalker made contact she and Jerry had discussed it numerous times. He too had believed that maybe it was time to come out of the shadows and let the real Krista Jameson come out.
"I've thought of that. He already knows who I really am anyway. He started writing my dad several weeks ago. That's why Blackout Security was brought in. My dad didn't know where else to go. Yet we still can't figure out why, if this guy knows who I am, he continued to write to me as Kris James. We, me and the guys of Blackout I mean, are kind of hoping that by revealing myself it will cause him to make a mistake and we can end this once and for all." Krista explained.