The Grayson Trilogy

by Georgia Rose

  Burying my hands in his hair I pulled him back up, his lips meeting mine hard and hungry. Bringing my hands down to undo his trousers, I felt him ready for me, heard his deep, throaty groan, the sexiest sound in the world as I stroked him. His kisses harsher now, demanding, his breathing deep as he picked me up, carried me to the bed and threw me on to it.

  Fixing me with his darkening gaze, he undressed, far too slowly, keeping me waiting as I craved his touch, then crawling across the bed and over me; his lips traced their way up my body until he reached my neck. He stretched out deliciously alongside me and I reached for him, his skin warm and smooth against mine, his lips running along the contours of my jaw, finding my mouth. He twisted over, pulling me on top. Then feeling his hardness against me and aching to have him inside, my back arched as I slowly took him in, revelling in the feeling I moaned as I slipped down on to him. I stopped for a moment, settling and luxuriating in the sensation, taking him deeper, feeling his hips hitch as he grew restless beneath me. Then I moved, slowly at first, feeling the whole length of him, then faster, harder, heat building, skin slick, as I felt him under me raw, powerful and wanting more as we drove against each other. Our pleasure peaking, almost unbearable in its intensity, then crashing over, like water breaching a dam, and left trembling in its wake I cried out in sweet relief as waves pulsated through me, and I clung to his body damp and shuddering in its own release as we held each other tight. Our breathing slowing, heartbeats steading as eventually I brought my face to his. His lips now soft and gentle.

  I sat up a little, my hands on his chest as I looked down at him and smiled, his hands on my hips kept me in place, as his gaze trailed down my body. “I liked the lingerie.”

  “It had the desired effect.”

  “It was a great added extra...but I only need you to have that effect on me.” Just as well, I thought, it really wasn’t my style. He sat up, our bodies close as he bent his head to kiss my breast. His tongue flicking across my nipple focused my attention as his arms came round me again.

  I hadn’t had much sleep but woke to light at the windows, the hazy grey of early morning rather than day. Slipping from underneath the covers I went to the window, picking up his shirt and putting it on to look at the view. I heard the first bird calls responding to the start of a new day. Trees surrounded us, but as the ground fell away to one side I could see the roof of the Manor in the distance. Looking down, I watched three deer moving slowly, carefully below us, one leading, antlers held proudly.

  I felt out of sorts. It wasn’t unusual these days, and it was hardly surprising given the lack of sleep and the excesses of yesterday: too many nerves, too much food, too much drink. I leant up against the window, my bottom perched on the sill, looking back towards the bed as I watched my beautiful husband sleeping, relaxed and peaceful. His sheets had been pushed down, one arm was bent, his hand lying across his bare stomach, the other flung out towards where I’d been lying.

  He’d done well yesterday. I knew he was a man of deep commitment who took vows and promises seriously, and I knew he would do everything he could to abide by those that he’d made to me. On the other hand I also knew of his desire to protect me, and yesterday these traits of his had been in direct opposition to each other. I’d been surprised that he’d told me anything of the conversation about the ballistics report, but to give him his due that was part of his new open and honest policy. However he hadn’t told me everything in his equal need to protect, concerned that in the state I’d been in recently this would cause me more worry.

  I thought back to the fragmented conversation I’d strained to hear. Carlton’s “What does that mean?” Trent and Cavendish answering, almost speaking in unison, “It means there was someone else on the estate, someone unaccounted for.” I’d known the purpose of the ballistics report was to match the bullets and casings found against the weapons used both by them and us. That had been done, but it seemed there was one anomaly: the man at the stables. I presumed they meant the man who had stepped out in front of us in an attempt to prevent us from leaving the yard; the man who had called out to the other group in the jeep; the man who had died in front of us, a bullet in his head. Everyone on the estate denied taking that shot, and now that had been proven. No one on our side had fired it, and it was unlikely one of them would have taken out one of their own. Conclusion – someone else had been on the estate that night, someone who had done this one thing and nothing more to assist either side; done this thing that allowed us to escape but had left no other tracks behind. Someone who was neither on our side nor on theirs? I pondered on who this guardian angel could be but could find no answer, and I vowed to speak to Cavendish about it. He must surely have an idea as to who would be watching over Grace and the children.

  A shiver jolted me out of this train of thought and I realised I was cold. I went back to the bed, tossed aside his shirt and climbed in, cuddling up to Trent as he complained, “You’re freezing.”

  “Then warm me up,” I breathed, knowing that would get his attention.

  “That’d be my pleasure.” His arms, my safe place, drew me close as all other thoughts were banished from my mind.

  The End

  Thicker Than Water

  (Book 3 in The Grayson Trilogy)

  GEORGIA ROSE

  A Note from the Author

  A word of warning: I have included an additional section at the end of this novel. No, I haven’t done that thing where the author puts the first chapter of their next book in at the end to tempt you into further purchases, but I have added a little something extra for you. A little something special, if you will. No skipping ahead now, no peeking, you need to approach this at the right speed and it is what I’ve wanted to do ever since I started writing this trilogy. I think it may well be my Marmite moment: you may love it, or the other thing. Who knows? I have been told it is risky, but what is life without a few risks along the way? I hope you enjoy.

  Thank you,

  Georgia

  This book is dedicated to you, and all my other lovely readers.

  I never thought I’d find you so thank you for taking the chance on me.

  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.

  John 8:3

  Chapter 1

  I was in denial.

  Ignoring what was happening to me, I closed down, unable to acknowledge the truth of it. Knowing if I did, if I faced what was coming, if I opened that box, all the evils I’d spent so much time locking away deep inside would be loose once more. I feared what impact they might have on me now, and was afraid of what would become inevitable. It was a foolish way to behave, but that’s what I did and I got on with my life.

  It was early October. Trent and I had been married a month or so, and after the dramas of the summer – Zoe, ‘the incident’, the crazy time we’d had after as we’d rushed towards our wedding, all of that a blur to me now – our life was calm again and I liked that. I liked that a lot, and I didn’t want anything to mess it up.

  I use the term ‘calm’ loosely because it’s always relative to what others might consider it to mean. To us it meant I was back at work, busy with keeping the horses fit and the yard running smoothly. That was calm. It also meant Trent had disappeared off for a week with Cavendish as, after the summer’s excitements and distractions, they’d restarted their efforts to close down the illegal operations of the Polzins’ organisation. For some people this might not seem that calm; for us it was how our life together was.

  We’d had a couple of days as our honeymoon when we’d hidden away from the world in the tree house and spent most of that time in bed, never able to get enough of each other. But with the honeymoon over it was business as usual.

  I watched Trent now as he crossed the yard towards me. Tall, dark and athletic, his hair wild and unruly, he pushed his sleeves up over strong forearms with hands that I wanted to feel on me. As he came closer I was treated to an irresistible smile that lit up his dark blue eyes. H
e leaned down to greet Susie and made a fuss of her as she, hussy that she was, rolled onto her back and bared her belly to him. I put the bucket of water I was carrying into the stable and turned to greet him. As we met his arms wrapped around me and held me close, moulding me to his body.

  “Hello, wife,” he mumbled into my neck. He’d taken to calling me this; I wasn’t keen and was trying to break the habit, but it was difficult to chastise him when he was so enthusiastically happy with life at the moment. He had been ever since I’d said yes when he’d asked me to marry him. I’d made him happy, I knew that. Marriage had been important to Trent – less so to me, but it had made all the difference to him. He was content and settled and he did everything he could to make me feel the same way.

  “Hi,” I murmured back, loving his hug, the feel of his body hard up against mine and his lips as they travelled across my skin, making their way to and eventually finding my mouth. He’d got back the previous night, late, and surprised me. We were both now suffering from a lack of sleep.

  He pulled back and peered at me, frowning as he did so. “You look a bit tired.” Which is just what every woman wants to hear.

  “Whose fault’s that?” I responded firmly.

  “Hmm…” I could feel him studying me closely. “There’s nothing else?”

  “Nothing else,” I lied as I pushed him away from me, feigning a need to get on. He changed the subject, sensing my reluctance to share.

  “So, do you have any plans for later?”

  I’d picked up the emptied buckets from the last stable and went to refill them as I answered. “I’ve got to bring the horses in, get them finished off, then I was planning on heading to the gym. Why do you ask?”

  “I need to finish off clearing my stuff out of the apartment for Carlton and Greene. They’re itching to get in there so I thought I’d do that this evening. Do you want to come over after the gym and I’ll cook?”

  “Sounds good. I’ll see you later.” I leaned over to give him a kiss goodbye and returned to my bucket-filling as he left. I felt him look back at me; I knew he was checking on me, but I didn’t return his gaze.

  I wandered wearily out to the paddock to bring the horses in. There was the scent of autumn in the air: multi-hued leaves ablaze on the trees; the ploughed fields that surrounded the estate, earthy and rich; the woody smoke of a bonfire carried on the light breeze. Monty and Zodiac were already waiting for me so they came in first. After checking them over I put them in their stables for the night before returning for Regan and Benjy.

  I went to get changed for the gym, then sat on the edge of the bed and wondered if I could be bothered to go for the workout. I felt drained, but told myself it was due to the lack of sleep the previous night. Forcing myself to stand, I went downstairs and checked Susie was settled in her basket before grabbing my keys and heading out the door.

  It was already dark, but I walked to the Manor using that journey as my warm-up. After ‘the incident’ when men from the Polzin organisation had entered the estate, I’d been wary for a while, nervous of being out and about on my own, but gradually I’d settled down again. Security was tighter on the estate now, and intel via the security services was monitored for any indication that there was likely to be another attack. Trent had been right. Orlov, an enforcer for the organisation, and Anatoly, the youngest of the Polzin brothers, had retreated back to where they had come from, and so far there had been no further sight or sound of them. Long may that continue, I thought as I strode towards the Manor.

  I walked up to the gym door and steeled myself before entering. I wasn’t up for this, but went in anyway and waved cheery hellos to the few others already hard at work. Carlton and Greene were both there and I stopped to exchange a quick word with Greene, who was on the cross-trainer. She was supremely fit – everyone here worked out, but she took it to another level, rather like Carlton. I suspected they were in some sort of internal competition with each other, honing their bodies, each muscle toned and working to its maximum potential. Definite contenders for the gorgeous young couple awards, should there be such a thing. Greene had once told me she needed to be this fit in order to keep up with Carlton; I really didn’t want to think about that, but the image was reinforced by Trent arranging to move out of his apartment for them. Apparently their bedroom antics were causing problems for the rest of their flatmates; they needed space of their own.

  Greene was going for it now, striding out and making me tired just looking at her.

  “How’s it going?” I enquired.

  “Fine, nearly done. You all right?” Her words, compact, shot out in time with her breaths.

  “Yeah, okay.”

  She frowned, her head tilted to one side as she studied me, not breaking her stride. “You sure? You don’t seem very…up.” I could sense her concern. “You’re not coming down with something?” I shook my head, then felt an arm up and around my shoulder as I was hugged into Carlton’s sweaty body and assailed by the hard-working masculine scent that accompanied it, which wasn’t entirely unpleasant.

  “Hey, how are you doing?” He took one look at me and furrows creased his brow. “You look tired.”

  I glared at him.

  “Don’t tell her that, Carlton,” Greene scolded. “Nobody wants to hear that.” She was starting to slow down and looked at me more closely. Pulling a face, she then commented, “You do look a bit peaky, though. Sure you’re okay to work out?”

  That made my mind up for me.

  “Actually, I don’t think I am. Maybe I am coming down with something,” I lied, again. “I’ll give it a miss and go over to help Trent clear out his place for you instead. Bet you’re looking forward to moving in?”

  “Can’t wait,” Carlton replied enthusiastically. “We haven’t had much privacy to date,” and he grinned salaciously at Greene, who rolled her eyes back at him.

  “I’ll probably see you tomorrow then for the big move in.” I smiled at them as we said our goodbyes then shrugged his arm from my shoulder as I turned to leave. Though relieved with my decision not to work out, I did feel a little guilty for copping out so easily.

  I walked across the courtyard and let myself into Trent’s apartment – at least for one more night – and called out to him. I could smell dinner cooking the moment I entered. Nausea tightened my throat and becoming slightly lightheaded I swallowed quickly trying to shake off the feeling as Trent came to greet me. Having visited the gym already he was freshly showered, his hair still wet.

  “I wasn’t expecting you yet, wi…er, Emma. What happened to the workout?”

  I ignored his question, though appreciated the correction, and instead asked my own: “What’re you cooking?”

  “Lasagne, green salad, garlic bread. All your favourite things.” And they were too, usually, but now my stomach turned over, a rush of heat flushing my face. It was the smell. I swallowed again, clearing my mouth, my throat, and crossed to sit down on one of the leather settees in the sitting room.

  Trent watched me carefully. “What’s the matter, Em? You don’t look so good.”

  “I’m fine.” I waved away his concern. “I thought I’d skip the gym, it’s no big deal.”

  “Okaaay, that’s not like you…” He let that hang.

  “I feel a bit tired, that’s all,” I snapped, then hesitated. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to bite your head off. I’ll just lie here while you get dinner ready and have a rest. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

  Temporarily satisfied with this he disappeared into the kitchen. Music played softly and I lay back, concentrating on calming the contents of my stomach. I hadn’t realised I’d fallen asleep until Trent was gently waking me up.

  “Come on, sleepyhead, time for dinner.” He encouraged me to my feet. Shaking myself awake, I followed him into the kitchen. Big mistake. One look at the table, all set and ready to go; one look at my plate; one look specifically at the green salad on my plate and my stomach lurched. Saliva flooded my mouth as the blood drained f
rom my head.

  “Excuse me,” I mumbled and, clamping my hand across my mouth, I ran from the kitchen towards Trent’s bedroom and headed for the bathroom. I skidded to my knees as I reached the toilet, my stomach heaving, my guts contracting as I puked. But despite retching violently, not much came up; I’d not eaten for hours.

  Then, as quickly as it had come on, it was over. I sat back on my heels, wiping away the sweat that had broken out on my forehead, then leaned up against the wall, breathing deeply, my body calming as the shaking subsided. I drew my knees up to my chest, wrapping my arms around them as I hugged them to me, willing myself to hold it together. I rocked slowly, tears forming, knowing I should not be feeling like this.

  “Can I come in, Em? Are you okay?” came from outside the bathroom. Trent didn’t wait for an answer. The door opened wider, then, taking one look, he joined me on the floor, wrapping his arms around me. “Hey, hey, hey…what’s the matter? Are you ill?”

  A tear spilled over, wetting my cheek, and he wiped it away as I shook my head, closing my eyes, wanting to look anywhere but at him.

  “Talk to me, Em, you’re worrying me.” I could hear the concern in his voice and I took a deep breath, blowing it out, hoping it would help me to control myself, and my tears. Then I turned to look at him, hesitating, wanting to put off the moment – wanting to avoid it forever, preferably – knowing that what I said next would change everything.

  It was unavoidable.

  “I’m pregnant.” And I watched his face change, seeing what I knew I would see in it, what I knew I should see in it, never having had any doubt: joy. Pure unadulterated joy flitted through his eyes, lighting him up as if an internal switch had been flicked on.