Renegade
Page 18
“I have no idea, Lynnie. At the time, he said we weren’t allowed to contact anyone yet.” Skye tried to calm down her friend, but she was way too fired up to allow that.
“After everything I’d been through…we’d been through, to help solve his case… After all those nights, those amazing nights and sweet nothings were just that to him…nothing.” Tears pricked her eyes. “He just runs out the front door without a damn word, and he calls you.”
Skye’s cheeks turned pink. “He didn’t give us any details. He raved about how hard you worked. I could hear it in his voice, Lynée. He’s nuts about you.”
Anger and agony fused together in her brain, and she just couldn’t take it anymore. She shook the tears from her eyes, only to have more replace them. “I have to go.” She stood and raced to grab her coat and purse.
“Please, don’t leave like this,” Skye urged. “You need to calm down before you get behind the wheel.”
Reed stepped toward the door—maybe to block her way or maybe just to open it for her—his face full of concern.
“No!” she fumbled with putting on her coat. “I should’ve known better. He was only here for the case, and the second we solved it, he was literally kicking up dust under his boots as he ran off.” Tears spilled out of her eyes, and she brushed them angrily away, fighting with her zipper. “There is no such thing as chivalry. There is no such thing as true love. It’s all fake!” She yanked on the clasp, and it ripped off. “Ugh! I hate this stupid coat!” Tears streamed down her cheeks.
“We’ll get you a new one,” Skye urged, and grabbed for her own. “Let me drive you home. Please, sweetie. And more importantly, you know true love is real. You’re surrounded by it every day. In all those books, those biographies, documentaries…there’s a whole section for romance.”
The words snapped her out of despair and fully into the realm of disgust. “This is not a damn romance novel, Skye Winters, no matter how many you read. This is real life. Tragedies and disappointments.”
She whirled and reached for the door.
Reed stood in front of it, determined not to let her pass.
“Move aside, Reed Monroe, or so help me God, I will bash you across the head with my purse.”
With sunken shoulders, he opened the door and let her go.
Lynée leaned over a child, maybe five or six, fixing the angel’s wings, so they flared out more. She smiled and gave the boy some encouraging words.
From the shadows in the back of the church, Jace witnessed the simple interaction. His heart swelled with so much tenderness, he could have fallen over with a single breath of frigid wind from outside.
After essentially decimating the Cabello Cartel and shackling Phil in cuffs, Jace should be happy. Proud and accomplished. A career-catapulting bust. Instead, a gaping-damn-hole was left where his heart barely beat.
There was only one thing that could fill that hole. The gorgeous strawberry-blonde in a red Christmas sweater with fake elf legs dangling from the front. When he’d gone to her house to find it empty, and done the same at Skye’s home, he knew his last two choices were either the library or the church.
Jace’s attention snapped when the audience applauded. Kids rushed from the stage to behind the curtains, some grabbing props that threatened to accidentally knock other children in the head. It was pure chaos. But in the midst of all that, he could feel nothing but love. Which scared the shit out of him.
There was no way she’d take him back. Not after what had happened.
The way he’d left Lynée was an asshole move. He could see that now. Even his mother had scolded him at Thanksgiving. He’d just up and left without a single word, his mind too focused on his rage and what steps he had to take to protect the evidence. To coordinate a joint raid with Mexican officials. Then he’d felt too damn guilty to call her and explain.
He’d vacillated for several days, each moment the truth of what he needed to do staring at him hard. He’d forgotten that in his world of disappointments and desperation, there had to be light to keep him from giving into despair. Innocence was what he needed. Crusaders fought for what was good and just. That was where real power came from. Lynée was his power. The living embodiment of what he fought for.
A plastic roll-cart bumped him from the side.
“Goodness, sorry,” Wanda called from beside him. “I can’t steer this thing worth a darn.” The older woman looked frazzled.
“No problem. Why don’t I help?”
“Oh, Jace.” Her eyes widened. “I didn’t recognize you without your beard.”
He rubbed his chin, the skin feeling like a hairless kitten. He hadn’t felt his bare jaw in years. He turned his attention to Lynée.
In a flash, her head lifted and met his gaze. Her eyebrows lifted, and a touch of pink graced her cheeks.
“This is for the final act,” Wanda stole his attention. “If you could just wheel it over there.” She pointed to the side wall, and as Jace pushed the cart, he could feel Lynée’s eyes on him.
“Perfect.” Wanda went to help the next little one with her costume.
Jace approached the woman he loved slowly, abundantly aware of how quickly this could blow up in his face. “Hi.”
“Hi,” Lynée began softly. Then her words took on a stronger edge. “How long were you standing there?”
“Miss Lynée, my crown is bent.” A young boy cut in, holding his plastic crown, his eyes filling with tears.
She took the crown and adjusted it. “No problem, Jason, look. All fixed.”
He smiled as she put it back on his head.
More people came into the large room and filled the seats. The murmurs escalated, along with his heart rate.
She grabbed Jace’s hand and moved them away from the congestion. “How long have you been here?” She stared him down.
Coming from a five-foot-five fireball, he was scared. Actually terrified.
Oh shit. “Just a few minutes.” He swallowed hard. He couldn’t do this here. “Is there someplace we can talk?”
“No. I’m in the middle of something if you can’t tell.” She stretched her arm out before crossing them in front of her.
Wanda stepped over to them. “Lynée, if you need to leave, you can. Sally and I have everything under control. They’re on the final act, and I have no doubt I can get the parents to help clean up.” She nodded and sent an earnest look their way.
“Please,” Jace implored. He had one chance to get this right.
She sighed, her chest falling on the exhale. “Fine. Let’s—” her eyes scanned the space. Kids ran everywhere, getting ready for the final act of the play. “Let’s go outside.”
He followed her toward the door. She retrieved her coat from the hooks off to the side, and he helped her slip it on. Then he held the door open for her. The crisp, cold air nearly burned his freshly-shaven skin. A beard was an advantage in this frigid air. Mother Nature decidedly not making it easy for him.
They moved down the brick steps off to the side by the stone benches. Light snow flurries floated down around them, melting once they reached the pavement.
“I didn’t think I’d see you again.” She looked up at him, again, arms crossed, clutching her coat tight against her.
“I know. I’m sorry about the way I left, and I’m sorry…I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you why I left.”
Her perfect eyebrows pulled together.
He exhaled. “The report you read…Slugger…I knew who that was.”
“You know who the mole is?”
He nodded. “It was Phil.”
She gasped. “Phil?” She reached a hand, touching his forearm. “Oh, no. I’m so sorry.”
He reached a hand clasping her arm in return, longing for that connection to never break again. “I’m the one who should be sorry.” He shook his head. “Lynée, you came into my life and turned it upside down. You were the last thing I expected.” He stepped closer and placed a second hand on her arm. “I was scared because,
well, I felt more myself than ever. Shit, I’m not making any sense.” He ran a hand over his raw chin. Damn, it felt so weird.
She kept her eyes on him, patiently waiting.
He hadn’t rehearsed what he was going to say; he just knew he had to convince her. “Most of my life, maybe all of my life, I felt I wasn’t good enough. That I always had to prove myself.” He shrugged a shoulder. “In my job, my superiors thought I was driven, and I only became more successful. But ultimately, the fear still lingered. Somehow, being with you, the fear fades. Maybe that’s another reason I ran.”
“Is that why you always seem so intense?”
He snorted. “Probably.” He closed the gap, cupping his hands around Lynée’s beautiful face. “I’m sorry I ran. It won’t happen again. Please… forgive me.” He smoothed a thumb over her plump Tinkerbell lips. “Do you think you can find it in your heart to show mercy on me? To forgive me. And to take me back?”
She stared up at him with watery eyes. “Yes,” she breathed.
Sweet Jesus! He leaned down to kiss his Bell, feeling like it was the first time. He prayed he’d get to do this every day for the rest of his life. Their tongues danced together, warming him to his core.
“Bell,” he breathed over her lips.
Her cold hands cupped his face. “You shaved off your beard.”
He closed his eyes and savored her soft skin on his. “I did it for you. Thought you’d like it better.”
Her eyes twinkled up at him. “I was getting used to the beard.”
“I’ll grow it back, then.”
She chuckled. “No rush.” Her arms slipped inside his leather jacket and wrapped around his waist.
“Please let me take you home.”
She looked back at the church, then at him. “Okay. Let me text Skye.”
He waited as patiently as he could. But this new feeling of relief paired with a tinge of fear, even still. Fear that she would change her mind and want to take it back. When she was done, she smiled and took his hand. The fear disappeared.
He led her to his bike in the full parking lot. He popped the seat open and pulled out her pink helmet.
Without hesitation, she let him strap it on her head. They settled on his bike, and the sensation of her arms around him warmed him from the outside in. Amazing how she had control over his feelings. With her, he wasn’t afraid.
The flurries increased, with bright puffy snowflakes falling faster. They all melted as they hit the road, but a light coat covered the grassy areas like a thin frosting.
In the brief minutes it took to get to her house, his nerves climbed to new heights. So anxious to show her how much he loved her.
The second he lifted the helmet off, he claimed her mouth again. He ached for this woman on so many levels.
No sense delaying it. “Lynée, I’m not a flowery guy.”
She chuckled. “I know that.”
Her eyes sparkling at him gave him a confidence boost.
“What I do know is that I love you. I want you in my life.” He pulled the ring from his jeans pocket. “Would you wear this for the rest of your life?”
Her precious jaw dropped, not something he’d seen very often with his Bell. “Yes,” she choked out, a tear streaming down her cheek.
He slid it on her finger and kissed her madly. The neighbors may be watching, but they better get used to it. He’d give her thousands more of these no matter who was watching. He led her inside. Strangely, walking through that door and into that room felt like home. Now he only had one thing on his mind.
He took her hand, freezing from the motorcycle ride through the snow. He cupped her dainty fingers in his palms, and breathed into them, warming them up.
“Jace, I love you.” Her voice was breathy like she’d been holding in the words and too afraid to speak them aloud. He knew that feeling. He wanted to make sure she never felt afraid around him, ever.
He raised his gaze to hers, her smiling face so beautiful it stole his breath.
“I love you, too.”
He slipped off her coat then his jacket. Hands roaming her body, he, not-so-discreetly, started working on shedding their clothes.
She lifted her eyebrows.
“Bell, I can’t wait another minute.”
Her pants hit the floor. She jumped into his arms and crushed her lips to his.
His dick pressed against her center, causing her to moan. One of the most beautiful sounds to his ears. He spun her to the closest wall, working on his jeans.
Gingerly, he slipped a finger under her panties, testing her. She was already wet and swollen.
“Jace,” she begged.
“Bell, what do you think if I don’t use protection?” He freed his cock from his garments.
She stared at him. “Really?”
“Your call, sweetheart. You want babies. You’d be a brilliant mother. I’d love to give you babies. As many as you want.”
Tears flooded her eyes again. “Yes. I say, yes. Make love to me, Jace.”
He kissed her fiercely, then moved to her cheeks to kiss away her tears.
Keeping her gaze, he pulled her panties down and slowly pushed inside. Her channel was so slick, so hot. Without the protective layer of a condom, the sensations wrapped around his dick heightened the pleasure. He had to grit his teeth to keep from coming right then. “I can’t wait to see your belly swollen with my baby. Bell, I want to give you the world.”
Her eyes fluttered closed as he pulled back and pushed in deeper. As he picked up speed, her precious mouth formed an O, and she panted the closer she came to her orgasm.
“How does that feel?” he rasped. Please let it feel as insanely incredible to you as it does for me.
“So warm,” she panted. “So sensitive, I don’t know if I can…”
“You can, sweetheart. You’re so beautiful. I love you, Lynée.”
“Ah, Jace. I love you.”
With just a few more thrusts, she cried out, her eyes closed and her cheeks flushed. Her sweet channel squeezed around his cock, milking him over and over until he couldn’t hold back.
He released inside her, giving over every ounce of power left in him. This incredible woman was now his; he was now hers, in every way. They belonged to each other. For eternity.
He held her tight against the wall, catching his breath, before sliding them down to the carpeted floor of her living room. This was just the beginning. They had years and years of more escapades against doors, kitchen counters, on sofas, and in the bedroom. He could hardly wait.
He wrapped her in his arms. Their gazes locked; nothing needed to be said. The moment was perfect.
Lynée spoke softly. “So, are you moving in here?”
“Yes, unless you want another house.”
“When do you want to get married?”
“Immediately.”
She lifted her eyebrows. “Okay,” and grinned. “What about your job?”
“I resigned.”
She sighed. “What will you do?”
“I don’t know.” He couldn't help but grin at her millions of questions. She would make a good agent.
“The sheriff is retiring. Could use an experienced man with plenty of talent to replace him.”
That sounded like something Jace would enjoy. Definitely a break from the grind of the DEA. Plus, he could be home with his new family every night. That would be the best thing in the world.
He rose and slipped off her glasses, resting them on the coffee table. Then he lifted his fiancée over his shoulder and made his way to the stairs.
“Jace! Put me down.” She swatted his ass.
“Not gonna happen, Bell. I have some lost time to make up for in pleasuring you.” Time that would start now and take decades to finish.
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The End
Thank you so much for reading Renegade!
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Mia London & Susan Sheehey
Cascade Mountain Manhunt Series
Runaway
Renegade
Other Novels By Mia London
Sweet Escape Series
Dry Spell
Hot Spell
Cold Spell
* * *
Undeniable Series
Undeniable Fate
Undeniable Love
Perfect Series
Perfect Seduction
Perfect Surrender
Life To The Max
Wanton Angel (Prequel to Life To The Max)
Beyond Lace (Hard Men of the Rockies 4)
* * *
Accidental Tryst
Other Novels By Susan Sheehey
Sweet Escape Series
Dry Spell
Hot Spell
Cold Spell
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Royals of Solana Series Boxset
Prince of Solana
Jewel of Solana
Crown of Solana
Royal Wedding novella
Knights of Texas Series
Tell Me What You Want
Tell Me What You Crave
Tell Me What You Need
Tell Me What You Feel
Audrey’s Promise
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Summer Heat: Imperfectly Yours Anthology
Mia London
Mia London loves to write.