Cherished: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella (26 page)

Damn, but she always knew he was smarter than anyone gave him credit for. She was fairly certain she didn’t react to it at all. “Who is that? Are you talking about that guy who comes in from time to time? The one with the Southern accent? Why would I work for him?”

“Avery, would you please take the baby?” Jesse asked.

Avery stepped up, giving Phoebe a little smile. “Sorry. Li and I should probably move the kiddos. I think Grace is going forward with the party after Charlotte stops yelling at Ian. We’re pretty sure the cake won’t last so this shower is happening. If you think about it, it’s really kind of fitting. Shower and an interrogation. It welcomes Cooper to the family properly.”

Li had Carys and Tristan in either arm. He stopped in front of Jesse. “You need some backup?”

Jesse’s face was perfectly stony as he shook his head. He didn’t even look Li’s way, his eyes steady on her.

Pissed. This was what Jesse Murdoch looked like when he was pissed. She’d never seen this side of him. He was usually so casual, so tender and polite with her. When she’d first met him she’d spent months studying him and trying to figure out who the hell he was. She’d envisioned him as hardened and cynical, as though she would be able to see his darkness immediately.

She saw a little of it now. She was shocked to find out it didn’t have the effect on her she thought it would have.

Jesse was always sweet, tender. When he looked at her with such softness on his face, she couldn’t help but think about Jamie and the way he’d been.

She wasn’t thinking about Jamie now. Her body tightened at the way he leaned over, his eyes hard and that sensual mouth of his a flat line. He put both his hands on the table and squared his shoulders.

“What is your mission?”

A simple enough question and she wished she could answer him, but that answer led back to the one question she had to ignore. “To keep McKay-Taggart’s books in tip-top shape.”

“Do you think I can’t handle you, sweetheart?” The words rolled from his mouth, dark and deep and rich.

Was this the man who spent his nights at Sanctum? She knew what happened there. There was no question in her mind when she dismissed him for the night, he went to Sanctum, and she’d come to loathe the place though she’d never been inside. All she could see was Jesse finding the affection and comfort she couldn’t provide. She’d closed her eyes more than once and been able to see him making love to another woman, but she’d never really seen him like this. She’d expected he was just as sweet when he made love as he was with her.

What if he was dirty?

“Do you think if you put me off enough I’ll walk away and let you be? The time for that is over. It was over the minute you pointed that rifle at my chest. I know I’ve been following you around like a pathetic moron for months, but that’s over, too. It’s going to be my way all the way from here on out.”

Her heart was thumping in her chest, her body warming. Arousal. At least she remembered what to call it. She’d felt it with him before, but Jamie always hovered between them. When Jesse would reach for her, she would see Jamie’s sweet face and back away. Jesse wasn’t reaching for her now. He was clearly drawing battle lines, and something about it called to her. A primal energy started to run through her system.

“Your way?” Her voice deepened, her body prepping for battle. This was what she needed. She needed him to see the real her. She needed to test herself against him and find out who was going to come out on top.

“Yes. Mine. I don’t suspect you’ll like my way so it would be easier to just give me what I want and we can go our separate ways.”

She didn’t want to go her separate way. That was the whole the problem. The idea of even spending a couple more hours with him tempted her beyond belief. Even if he spent the whole time interrogating her.

She let go of trying to play sweet Phoebe Graham and allowed Phoebe Grant to surface for the first time in a long time.

Phoebe Grant was what Jesse would very likely call a brat. She wondered how Jesse would handle Phoebe Grant. “Bite my ass, sweetheart.”

A little thrill went through her spine as his eyes flared, emotion showing for the first time since he’d walked into the room. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

He strode to her, his boots sounding even on the carpet. He scooped her up and tossed her over his shoulder, her ass high in the air.

Phoebe worried she’d bitten off more than she could chew.

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Adored: A Masters and Mercenaries Novella

Masters and Mercenaries 8.5

By Lexi Blake

Coming May 12, 2015

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A man who gave up on love

Mitch Bradford is an intimidating man. In his professional life, he has a reputation for demolishing his opponents in the courtroom. At the exclusive BDSM club Sanctum, he prefers disciplining pretty submissives with no strings attached. In his line of work, there’s no time for a healthy relationship. After a few failed attempts, he knows he’s not good for any woman—especially not his best friend’s sister.

A woman who always gets what she wants

Laurel Daley knows what she wants, and her sights are set on Mitch. He’s smart and sexy, and it doesn’t matter that he’s a few years older and has a couple of bitter ex-wives. Watching him in action at work and at play, she knows he just needs a little polish to make some woman the perfect lover. She intends to be that woman, but first she has to show him how good it could be.

A killer lurking in the shadows

Assigned to work together on an important case, Mitch and Laurel are confronted with the perfect opportunity to explore their mutual desire. Night after night of being close breaks down Mitch’s defenses. The more he sees of Laurel, the more he knows he wants her. Unfortunately, someone else has their eyes on Laurel and they have murder in mind.

Ripper

Hunter, A Thieves Series, Book 1

By Lexi Blake

Coming January 20, 2015

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Kelsey Atwood is a private detective with a problem. She came from a family of hunters, growing up on the wrong side of the supernatural world. Tracking down bail jumpers and deadbeat dads may not make her a lot of friends, but it’s a lot safer than the life she turned her back on. She was hoping to escape from the nightmares of her past, but her latest case has brought them right back to her door.

A young woman has gone missing, and she didn’t go willingly. When Kelsey discovers that the girl is actually a shifter, she knows she should drop the case and walk away. But this shifter was a sweet kid, and she’s in serious trouble. More females are missing and the evidence points to a legendary killer. Bodies are piling up, and her case is becoming center stage for a conflict that could shatter the fragile peace between wolves and vampires.

As the hunt intensifies, she finds herself trapped between two men—Gray, a magnetic half-demon lawman, and the ancient vampire Marcus Vorenus. Both men call to her, but when a shocking secret about Kelsey’s family is revealed, it could ruin them all. To stop the killer, she will have to embrace the truth about who—and what—she truly is.

* * * *

Gray sat down on the bed again, reaching out to take my hand. I wouldn’t give it to him so he settled his palm on my knee. “Have you ever made love, sweetheart?”

It was an utterly ridiculous question and I felt my face heating up. “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not a virgin. I’ve had sex before.”

“With anyone who gave a shit about you?’

Anger replaced the embarrassment because he’d hit the nail on the head and I didn’t want to face that fact. I no longer cared if he saw my tits. I pushed his hand off me.

“Fuck you, Gray,” I said with every intention of getting out of the house. It didn’t matter that it was the middle of the night and I didn’t have a car. I would risk it.

His face became a mask of implacable will. As I started to get up, his hand shot out and grabbed my ankle. Before I knew what was happening, his full weight pinned me to the bed and he used his hands to twist something around my wrists. It happened so quickly, I couldn’t stop it. My hands were bound tightly together with what looked like black lace.

I stared up at the sight of my hands, too shocked at the moment to be truly pissed off. “Are those my panties?”

“They are indeed, sweetheart.” Gray didn’t move, continuing to use his two hundred twenty pounds of pure muscle to hold my one twenty down. He leaned slightly to the side, and I heard the nightstand drawer open. His erection was even harder than it had been before, and I hadn’t thought that was possible. He twisted his hips to grind against my pelvis and I couldn’t stop a little gasp of surprise. That felt really good. “Those are your pretty little panties and these are my handcuffs. Regulation Ranger issue.”

He snapped one around the material between my wrists and the other he clipped to the wrought iron in the headboard. He got off the bed and those violet eyes of his stared down at his handiwork.

Naked. I’d been naked before but no one ever made me feel the way Gray did. He studied me like I was a painting he thought fascinating. He’d tied me up so I had no where to run and then he took his time. He caressed me with his stare. The man didn’t have to touch me to make my nipples peak or my skin feel alive. And he didn’t have to say a damn word to make me vulnerable to him. I was laid out and open, and I was fairly certain that even if he’d untied me, I wouldn’t have run. Yeah, that scared me more than I can say.

When he was through with his study, he leaned his big body over and brushed his lips against mine. He didn’t attack or try to prove his strength. He did with his mouth what he’d done with his eyes. Slowly and with perfect patience, he explored. I had no way to protest, so I got to do what I had wanted to do in the first place; enjoy the feel of his mouth on mine. I tried to stay in control all the time, tried to direct the world around me, and now I had to wonder why. Just “being” was a foreign concept, but now I relaxed and let myself be with Gray. The man knew how to kiss. After he’d kissed my lips and cheeks and chin and nose, his tongue ran across my mouth, seeking entry. I gave it with a sort of lazy abandon, giving myself over to this moment out of time. His tongue dove deep, twisting around mine like muscular velvet stroking into me. He held my head in both his hands, keeping me still for his plundering. It seemed like forever before he sat back with a satisfied smile, and one hand reached out to tweak my nipple.

“Do you often tie women up?” Of all the things I’d expected him to do, this was not even on the list. I knew I should be fighting, but this slow seduction was a drug invading my system. I liked the feel of my wrists above my head.

A sensual smile spread across his face and his accent deepened when he was aroused. “As often as they’ll let me, darlin’. I like it. You look gorgeous like that. Later, I’ll tie your legs down. I’ll use silk rope so it won’t harm your skin, but you also won’t be able to move. You’ll be open and I’ll be able to do anything I want to you. I’ll be able to play with every pretty pink part you have, and I will have you screaming for me. You should understand that I’m a man who likes to play with his toys, and you are going to be my sweet little fuck toy the minute I close that bedroom door. I know how strong you are, Kelsey, but you don’t have to be in here. You can relax with me. You can know that I will always take care of you. This first time I want your legs around my waist, squeezing me when you come.”

Every word came out of his mouth like hot silk covering me, and a warm rush of arousal pulsed through my system. I came alive at the thought of him inside me. God, I lusted for this man. Before Gray, I had just wanted the physical release of sex and the nearest available guy would do, but now there was only Gray. I worried no one else would ever do it for me after him. And I worried that I had no idea how to give him what he wanted. Arousal fled a little as doubt came roaring back. I hadn’t made love before. He was right about that. I’d degraded myself because somewhere deep down I thought I deserved it. Gray was offering me something completely different and it terrified me.

“All right, you had your fun, lawman. Untie me.” I gave him my tough-girl voice because I needed to put some distance between us.

He laughed. “That’s not happening, Kelsey. It’s obvious to me you have no idea what you’re doing and I aim to teach you.”

“Go to hell, Gray.” I pulled at the bindings on my wrists. If I was really honest with myself, I didn’t try hard.

His eyes went dark and serious. “I’ll get there, baby, but I’m not going until you understand a few things.” He knelt on the bed and placed his big hand on my belly. I practically quivered at his touch. “I love you, Kelsey Atwood. I love you and I’m going to fuck you.”

“That doesn’t sound so loving to me,” I commented.

He smiled and leaned over. “Only because you don’t know the difference between getting laid and spending hours fucking someone you can’t live without. I’m going to love you until you don’t remember what your pussy felt like without my cock in it.” He trailed his hand down and gently slid his middle finger across my clitoris, parting my labia and delving inside. He sighed. “That’s better. When you jumped on me before, you weren’t even wet. It’s not supposed to hurt. Don’t you look at me like that. I’m not judging you. I’m telling you that I’m different from some guy in a bar. I love you. I’ll take care of you.”

I had two choices. I could fight and he would eventually let me go. Or I could try for once in my lonely life.