by Kaylea Cross
“This is all so fast. I swore I’d never let myself do this again. But all I know is, when I’m not with you, you’re all I think about. You matter to me. I don’t want to be without you.”
He drew back, gave her a smile that eased the anxiety curling in the pit of her stomach. “You won’t be without me, because I’m not going anywhere.” He stroked his thumb down her cheek, his expression more tender than she’d ever seen it. “I love you, and always will.”
She exhaled a shaky breath, covering a wince as her incision pulled. “So where do we go from here?”
“Home.”
A smile spread across her face. She loved that he already considered her place home. She wanted to be his home. His safe place. Forever. “I like the sound of that.”
“Me too, angel eyes.” He dipped down to kiss her forehead. “Me too.”
Epilogue
This was their first holiday season together as a couple, and so far, it was everything Avery had ever dreamed of and more.
“We’re finally alone,” she said to Mason, stretching her arms over her head as she lounged on the living room couch in her new satin robe. She’d left it open before coming in here, revealing the new, matching pink lingerie set she’d put on underneath.
Seven weeks had passed since the night Shannon had come after them. Her wound and hands were all healed up, and life was finally back to normal.
They’d just finished cleaning up after hosting Thanksgiving dinner here with Nina, Tate, Rylee and Tala. Avery had taken a quick bubble bath before putting her pretty new things on. The tree they’d all decorated together glowed softly in the corner, and the fire in the hearth gave the room a cozy atmosphere while the rain lashed the windows and pounded down on the roof.
“Think so.” Mason carried two mugs in, the room filled with the sound of the rain on the roof. Ric trotted after him and went over to curl up on his bed by the fire with a contented groan, his eyes half-open.
“I love our friends, but I wasn’t sad to see them leave.” She wanted as much time alone with Mason as possible.
Now that he and Tate were ramping up the final stages for Rifle Creek Tactical, she didn’t get as much time alone with him, especially on weekends, when she helped as well. Soon enough they would have all kinds of socializing to do, between various holiday events with her family, and both Braxton and Tala planning to be here for the Christmas holidays. Maybe it made her selfish, but Avery wanted to have Mason all to herself while she could.
“Careful,” he said, handing a mug to her. “Let me know if it’s too hot for your hands.”
They were still sensitive to heat, especially her palms. She took it, inhaling. “Mmm, hot cocoa? With marshmallows. Yum.”
“Mmhmm,” he agreed, setting his mug aside as he knelt beside the sofa and placed a tantalizing kiss just above her navel, then over to the newly healed scar at the right side of her waist. He curled his hands around her hips, his palms warm from the hot drinks, his tongue caressing her skin just above the edge of the pink lace between her thighs.
Avery sighed and sank a hand into his hair, thankful to be able to run her fingers through it again without bandages or protective gloves in the way, and traced the fingers of her other hand over the JTF2 emblem on his right forearm. “Just thought I’d let you open a present early.” She’d finally gotten the green light from the doctor this morning, so they could finally have actual sex again. Hence the fancy lingerie.
Avery couldn’t wait to have him inside her again. They both needed it.
Mason looked up at her, his blue eyes glowing like flame. “Just one?” His fingers trailed ever so gently over the front of her panties, making her tingle and bite her lower lip.
“This outfit counts as one present.”
“Best present I’ve ever gotten,” he rumbled.
She’d gotten a pretty great present today herself, along with Thanksgiving dinner shared with her dearest friends. Tate had informed her that asshole Mr. Zinke was enjoying an extended stay in jail because his wife had decided to finally press charges. Not only that, she had also filed to divorce his abusive ass. Karma was so epic sometimes.
Avery liked to think she was enjoying the fruits of her own Karma too, totally free from the past with a new life, and a wonderful, caring man to share it with.
Mason was currently kissing his way up to her breasts as his fingers stroked the lace between her legs gently. Teasing her. Getting her all hot and wet because he loved revving her up almost as much as he loved exerting control in bed.
He put his talents to good use, taking his sweet time in teasing her, stripping off the lingerie inch by inch to replace it with his fingers and tongue.
She was breathless and pleading to come when he finally turned her over to drape across the padded leather arm of the sofa. She gripped the edge of it and let her head fall back as he surged into her from behind, working her body with steady, measured thrusts while his fingers stroked her clit, taking them both to heaven and back.
When they’d both recovered a bit, he stretched her out on her back once again and came down on top of her, lying together in a contented heap. Avery stroked his hair and back as the rain continued to fall outside their cozy cocoon.
Mason groaned and started to ease off her. She opened one eye when he reached down beside the sofa for his jeans, and let out a soft laugh. “Are you looking for another condom?”
“Soon. But no,” he whispered against her lips, then eased off her. Cool air washed over her without his body heat to warm her, but the fire kept the chill away.
He took something from his pocket and turned back to her, and her heart stuttered at the look on his face. So earnest. His eyes intense.
Before she could ask if something was wrong, he cradled the side of her face in his hand, gazing into her eyes. “We’ve been through some tough times together, and we’re stronger for it. I know you’re scared of getting married again and being let down in the end. I know I’m not perfect, and that being with me isn’t always easy. But I’m also the guy who will stand beside you no matter what comes, because I’ll love you for the rest of my life.” His other hand came up, and something sparkled in the light. “Will you marry me, angel eyes?”
Avery gaped at the diamond ring in his fingers, his words choking her up.
Her gaze shot to his, a flood of emotion pouring through her. She’d never expected this. Any of it. Not Mason, and not that she would ever give her heart to someone again.
But he’d won it completely, and she couldn’t have given it to a better man. She loved him with everything in her.
She sat up to reach for him. “Yes.” His strong arms engulfed her, the safest, most incredible feeling in the world. “And I’ll love you for the rest of mine.”
—The End—
Dear reader,
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Kaylea
Excerpt from
Silent Night, Deadly Night
Suspense Series
By Kaylea Cross
Copyright © 2020 Kaylea Cross
Chapter One
Emily Hutchinson grasped her husband’s hand tight as they stepped out of the clinic into the pleasantly cool December afternoon air. A blanket of cloud obscured the sun, and the breeze held the edge of a bite to it. Neither of them said anything on the way to the parking lot,
each of them caught up in their own heads, and right now hers was whirling like a tornado.
Anxiety burned in the pit of her stomach like battery acid, threatening to burn a hole through it. Her doctor had called last week to say that her blood work had come back abnormal, and had scheduled all the follow-up tests for today. Now all Emily could do was wait to find out what was happening.
Luke opened the SUV door for her, grim-faced and jaw tight, the gray light catching on the silver in his stubble. She slid into the passenger seat without looking at him, afraid to in case it made her burst into tears, and ordered herself to get a grip on her fear. He was her rock and the strongest man she knew, but she was his weak point. She had to hold it together for his sake, put on a brave face through whatever came next.
She took a deep, slow breath while he went around to the driver’s side, pushing down the bubble of panic rising inside her. Calm down. You don’t know what it means yet. But damn, she’d been doing so well.
This disease had taken so much from her already. Her uterus and right breast. All the side-effects from the chemo and radiation, the months of fear and uncertainty. Now it seemed it was back for more.
You can’t have any more of me, she told it firmly, a hard seed of anger beginning to take hold. I won’t let you.
Luke slid into the driver’s seat and closed his door, shutting the two of them in and the rest of the world out. She pretended to busy herself with finding something in her purse, not quite having herself together yet, then a big hand reached out to capture her jaw and turn her face toward him.
She swallowed, a spurt of terror darting through her as she stared into those intense, dark-chocolate eyes.
“We’re going to face this, and whatever else comes, together. Hear me? One day at a time, sunshine. We take each day as it comes.”
In other words, don’t leap ahead and think of all the terrible things that could be coming down the road. Which she’d already done, the instant she’d gotten that call from the doctor, and kept circling back to every day since.
She nodded and forced a smile, ignoring the sting at the backs of her eyes. More than anything she wanted to burrow into him and hide in his arms, but even Luke with all his strength and skills couldn’t protect her from this. At least this time she would have him by her side, have him to lean on when it all became too much.
“Yeah,” she whispered, her voice slightly rough. “And just in case I don’t say it enough, I really love you, you know.”
Raw grief flashed in his eyes for an instant before he masked it with his usual strong front. “I know. And I’ll love you until the day I die.”
I know. She gave him another smile and gently pulled from his grasp, clearing her throat as she faced forward once again, determined to focus on something other than the fear that her cancer had returned. Thank God she had something happy to look forward to. “We’d better get going, their flight just landed a few minutes ago.”
Luke started the engine and drove out of the parking lot without another word. She punched a button on the dash to activate the radio, needing some kind of background noise to fill the silence. She had about twenty minutes to mentally shift gears before they reached the airport, northwest of the city.
Except… “Don’t say anything to Rayne and Christa, okay? I want this to be a happy, stress-free visit for them. I’ve been looking forward to this for months.”
He nodded once. “All right.”
“Thank you.” Dwelling on the future was pointless at the moment, she told herself. They didn’t even know what they were facing yet, and wouldn’t until these new test results came back. It was also possible that everything would be fine.
But it’s never been fine before, has it? that insidious little voice in her mind whispered.
She blocked it from long practice and instead concentrated on the upcoming reunion. Their son and daughter-in-law had flown down from Vancouver to spend the holidays with them, and the rest of the crew was due in tomorrow so they could all have an early Christmas celebration together.
It was the first time they’d all been together since that harrowing time in Beirut when Luke had almost died saving her from the clutches of Tehrazzi. That fateful mission had changed her entire life for the better. It had brought Luke back to her, and he’d never wavered in his support of love in the year since.
Thankfully traffic was light and they made it to the airport in good time. Now that she’d made up her mind to put everything else aside, excitement bubbled inside her, pushing away the lingering fear and worry as she took Luke’s hand and walked toward the terminal. With all the people she loved best in the world about to be staying in their home, she had lots to occupy her mind and keep her busy. Christmas was her favorite time of year. She wasn’t going to let anything spoil it.
The arrivals terminal seemed busier than normal, no surprise given it was just a few days before Christmas. “Do you see them?”
“Not yet.” Luke wrapped a solid arm around her shoulders and squeezed, and even though he didn’t say anything else, she could hear his silent message. It’s gonna be okay, Em.
She hoped so. And if it wasn’t? She was going to soak up every single moment of joy these next few days brought, and all the days she had left.
“There they are.”
She pushed onto her tiptoes to see over the crowd flowing around them outside baggage claim, then gasped, her heart flooding. A giant smile spread across her face and her feet were already carrying her toward her son. “You’re here!” she cried.
Rayne and Christa both looked up, their faces brightening. It still amazed her how much he looked like his father, except for his hazel eyes.
She flew at them, earning laughs as she jumped into her son’s waiting arms. Rayne caught her with a chuckle and hugged her tight. “Hey, gorgeous.”
Ohhh, she’d missed him. So much. They’d gone way too long between visits, almost seven months this time. “Hi. I’m so glad you’re here.” She pressed her face to his shoulder and hugged him until her arms ached.
“Hey, where’s mine?” Christa said next to him in her adorable western-Canadian accent.
Emily let go of Rayne and reached for her daughter-in-law. “Don’t worry, I’ve still got some juice left in these arms.” She hugged Christa, her heart squeezing at the younger woman’s genuine warmth. She’d fit into their family perfectly, and Emily couldn’t imagine a better, more down-to-earth woman for her son. “I’m glad you’re here too.”
“So am I. I can’t wait to spend Christmas with you guys.” Christa rubbed her back gently, then pulled away to smile down at her, those pretty aquamarine eyes studying Emily’s face. “You look so great.”
“Well, thank you.” But I’m still here, that awful voice whispered out of nowhere. Spreading inside you. You can’t stop me.
She ruthlessly shoved it away. She was done with being a victim, and had too much to live for. If this stupid disease wanted her, it would have to fight her to the bitter end.
She hooked an arm around Rayne’s waist, leaning her head on his sturdy shoulder while Christa hugged Luke. Luke was still a little stiff about it, but getting better. It always amused her to see him awkward with hugs when he was so incredibly affectionate with her.
“Y’all ready to get back to the house and have some good old Lowcountry cooking?” Emily asked. She’d made all Rayne’s favorites, things she knew Christa liked as well.
“She’s been cooking for days,” Luke said.
“So ready,” Christa answered, allowing Luke to take her suitcase. She came to stand on Emily’s other side and linked their arms. “Rayne’s been wondering if you made him coconut cake. Because lord knows I’ve tried to replicate it, but apparently only your coconut cake will do.” She shot her husband a telling look.
Emily peered up at her son as he grinned at her and shrugged. “No one makes it like you.”
“That’s true,” she said, not feeling at all arrogant because it was the truth.
“Tomorrow,” she answered, so happy she could burst. “And I can’t wait.”
****
Joe stepped into the light and folded his arms, standing only a few feet from the prisoner strapped to the chair. The man had already undergone twenty-one hours of captivity and interrogation. He hadn’t broken yet. That was why Joe was here.
“Where is it?” he asked him softly, his breath misting in the cold air. His words carried through the empty room to be absorbed by the thick concrete walls. They were fifty feet below ground here in this secret facility where high value prisoners to the Agency were brought. There were no cameras or microphones down here. And no one would hear his screams.
The prisoner looked up at him through eyes bruised and almost swollen shut. Blood covered his face, his naked body covered with cuts and welts. “Where’s what?” he slurred through battered lips, his words holding the faintest trace of an Arabic accent. Several of his teeth lay on the blood-spattered concrete floor.
Joe kept his expression impassive even as anger pulsed through him. “You know what. And I’m losing patience.” He raised an eyebrow. “You’ve seen what happens when I run out.”
A wheezy laugh answered, followed by a sharp wince as it pulled on the man’s broken ribs. He drew in a shallow breath, his expression hardening, raw hatred gleaming in his slitted eyes. “I have n-nothing to s-say to you.” His remaining teeth chattered, his body jerking with continual shivers.
Oh, you’d better. Joe leaned his upper body toward the prisoner and dropped his voice to a foreboding murmur. “You talked shit about sending those files to someone. That you planned to sell me out, but guess what? It’s not happening. And you’re gonna die either way.” He thought the guy was bluffing—but Joe couldn’t be sure.
