Angry shouts and the squeal of tires heralded the arrival of the police. It would take them a few minutes to secure the rats trying to escape the sinking ship of Black Eagle’s reign.
Ryan watched in silence as Tiberius reached down and grabbed Black Eagle by the shirt, picking him up as if he was a child. As he looked at something over Ryan’s shoulder and smiled, she felt a tremendous wave of relief wash over her.
“Good to see you again, brother. What kept you?”
“Apologies, my prince. I found Glitter, Diamond, and Minx in a holding area below and thought it best to send them home before the authorities became aware of their involuntary participation.”
“How fare they?”
“A bit worse for wear, but nothing a few days under Sugar’s mothering care won’t cure.” Hands on his hips, every bit as naked as Tiberius, Quintus shook his head, sending droplets flying from his shaggy hair, and then he glanced around at the carnage. “I leave you alone for five minutes, and this is what happens?”
“But ... you were ... How did ...? Ah, hell. You’re like him, aren’t you?” Ryan managed to sputter out.
The only indication he had been injured at all were a few quickly fading red areas and slight puffiness where his eyes had been swollen shut. It was a far cry from the broken and bloodied body she had dragged behind that car only a short while earlier.
Quintus grinned. “Detective Winslet, I have no idea what you are talking about.”
Tiberius and Quintus made quick work of Black Eagle’s men, tossing them overboard like chum. The analogy might have been more disturbing if she didn’t have firsthand knowledge of the atrocities Black Eagle’s men had committed. Becoming links in the oceanic food chain was probably their most worthwhile contribution to the world.
“They are coming,” Tiberius said, glancing over the side of the ship as the agents and local police advanced. “How do you wish to proceed?”
That was an excellent question.
Ryan had a decision to make. Did she follow protocol and attempt to explain to her boss everything that had happened, minus the alien stuff? If she spun it the right way, she might even get an interview with Homeland Security out of it. Or, did she follow her heart and take a chance on the quirky but lovable alien who promised a lifetime of love, believed in and supported her, and made her blood sing?
“No pressure,” Tiberius chuckled quietly over their bond.
“No.” She laughed. “No pressure. And no contest.”
“Go on; get out of here,” Ryan said out loud. “I got this. Meet up with you later?”
Tiberius smiled, and she felt his love all the way down to her curling toes. “I’ll be waiting.”
“Oh,” Quintus said, appearing at her side. “I’ll take these, if you don’t mind.” He took both of her guns before he and Tiberius silently slipped over the side, leaving her alone on the deck. She had wanted to protest, but then realized it was better that he had taken them. That way, there would be less evidence tying her to the shitstorm that had just gone down.
Holy crap. Was she seriously thinking of lying to her captain and destroying evidence?
Yes, she was.
Well, she thought with a mental shrug, she could add it to dating a suspect, tampering with evidence, arson, and the use of extreme force.
Badassery, indeed.
“Detective Winslet, what in the holy hell happened here?”
She took a deep breath and schooled her features into a look of innocence before addressing Captain Carter. “I don’t know, sir. Looks like we’re too late.”
Carter’s bushy brows drew down so low his eyes all but disappeared. “You expect me to believe you have no knowledge of what occurred here? That, despite my explicit orders to let the Feds handle it, you just happen to be at Black Eagle’s last known location, surrounded by blood, and you were not involved?”
She smiled sweetly and shrugged. “Yes, sir, I do.”
His jaw ticked. “And the blood on your clothing?”
She looked down, realizing it must be Quintus’s from when she had wrangled him behind the car earlier. Although, some of it might have been splatters from the close-range shots with which she had taken out her would-be abductor.
“I slipped on the deck, sir.”
In a move of perfect cosmic timing, the freighter swayed and Detectives Kowalski and Haines went down on their asses.
“Thank you, Tiberius.”
“My pleasure, little mate.”
She lifted her chin toward her fellow agents and said with a straight face, “Kind of like they just did.”
“Winslet, I don’t know what you’re up to, but I expect a full briefing in my office.”
“I don’t think so, sir.”
“Excuse me?”
“I said, I don’t think so.” She pulled out her badge and tossed it on the deck at his feet. “With all due respect, sir, I quit.”
Epilogue
“Tiberius, stop taking my bras out of the bag!” Ryan commanded.
Her insatiable mate grinned at her unrepentantly. “I assure you, mate, you will not need them.”
“We’re going to a tropical island, not a nudist colony!”
“What is this nudist colony you speak of?” he asked her curiously.
“If I may, my prince,” Quintus interrupted from the doorway of Ryan’s bedroom. “A nudist colony is a place where the inhabitants forego clothing, preferring to remain in their natural state.”
When Tiberius turned his attention back to her, her body warmed under his lascivious gaze.
“Sounds intriguing.”
Ryan shook her head and waggled her finger in front of his face. “No. Besides, do you really want other men to see me naked?”
Tiberius growled his displeasure. “No one shall see you bare except for me.”
She pointed her finger at him. “Quid pro quo, buddy. I don’t want any woman looking at what’s mine either, so keep your pants on until we get where we’re going.” Ryan grabbed the bra out of Tiberius’s hand and put it back in the bag.
“Since we shall be enjoying our—what did you call it? Ah, yes, vacation—on my private island, that shall not be an issue.” Tiberius reached in the bag and removed the bra, tossing it across the room. “In fact, you will require nothing beyond suitable traveling attire.”
She gaped at him. “You have your own island?”
“Yes. Did I fail to mention that?”
“Yes, you did.”
“Oh. Well, I do. Or rather, we do. There is no place better suited to acclimate you to the true beauty of the ocean and all it has to offer. Or to have my wicked way with you whenever I so desire,” he added.
“Again, I say, quid pro quo.” She sat down on the bed. There was no sense packing clothes she wasn’t going to wear. “Any more big surprises I should know about?”
Quintus laughed. “Princess, you have no idea.”
“Princess?”
“Well, you are the mate of an Aequorian prince.”
“Right.”
Tiberius had tried explaining all that between marathon sessions of sexing her up, but it was so easy to get distracted.
“He’s a prince, and you’ve both been exiled from some water world planet in another galaxy.”
“Technically, only Tiberius was exiled,” Quintus clarified. “I just came along for the ride.”
“Uh-huh.” She turned back toward Tiberius. The fact that she was neither shocked nor surprised spoke volumes. “And exactly why were you exiled again?”
Tiberius reached out and tugged her onto his lap. Despite the fact that they had made love less than an hour earlier, she felt the hard press of his arousal beneath her bottom. Apparently, Aequorians were not only super strong and fast and able to breathe under water, they also had incredible stamina and remarkable recovery time.
She wasn’t complaining.
“Because Fate needed me here. To meet you.”
She wiggled her bottom, enjoying th
e bolt of lust that seared through her. “Good answer. You are going to explain everything once we get there, right?”
“Everything.”
Reassured, she kissed him back before pulling away to gather the rest of her things.
“It’ll be good for us to get out of town for a while anyway. My former boss is driving me crazy. He’s even gone as far as to threaten me with a subpoena.”
Tiberius cocked his eyebrow at her. “This does not worry you?”
“No. He’s got nothing. No witnesses. Plus, no evidence means no case. Getting rid of that surveillance footage was a brilliant move, by the way.”
“It was Sugar’s idea. She can be quite devious when it comes to protecting those she cares about.”
“I know just how she feels. Remind me to thank her when we get back, will you?”
“Speaking of that; when do you expect to return?” Quintus asked from the doorway.
“Not for several weeks, at least. We have much to discuss, and much to discover.” Tiberius rose. “You should come with us. The human authorities may continue to prove troublesome.”
“I can handle them.” Quintus shrugged. “You and your mate need this time to strengthen your bond.”
“Does that mean you approve?” Ryan asked.
“All I wish—all I require—is that Tiberius is happy. You make him happy.”
“Wow, that almost sounded like a compliment.”
“I almost meant it as one,” he shot back.
Tiberius sighed, but he was smiling. “You will oversee everything?”
“I will,” Quintus promised. “The new and improved club should be completed by the time you return. In the meantime, everyone has been relocated to the luxury hotel you purchased.”
Ryan smirked. “Including Betty?”
“Ah, yes, well, I admit, I have become rather fond of her company.” Quintus’s lips curled up at the ends. Ryan was sure there was a lot more going on there than either Quintus or Betty would admit.
“Ready, mate?” Tiberius asked.
“I guess.” She slipped her hand into his as they walked toward the door. “I just can’t believe I’m mated to an alien, you know? It’s like something that happens in some fabulous, romantic sci-fi movie.”
Quintus chuckled. “And what would this movie of yours be named, Ryan Winslet?”
Tapping a finger to her chin, she thought about everything she and Tiberius had been through since the moment they had met. All the uncertainty, the adventure and, of course, the best sex of her life. More importantly, he had become the one man she would willingly give up everything for.
Tiberius squeezed her hand, making her aware he had heard her thoughts.
She gazed up into those dark eyes so filled with love, and for the millionth time, she thought about just how damn sexy he was.
And that was when she knew.
She winked at her mate, then turned back to Quintus with a smirk and said, “Close Encounters of the Sexy Kind!”
Abbie Zanders
Abbie Zanders loves to read and write romance in all forms; she is quite obsessive, really. Her ultimate fantasy is to spend all of her free time doing both, preferably in a secluded mountain cabin overlooking a pristine lake, though a private beach on a lush tropical island works, too. Sharing her work with others of similar mind is a dream come true. She promises her readers two things: no cliffhangers, and there will always be a happy ending. Beyond that, you never know...
For more information on Abbie Zanders:
https://abbiezandersromance.com
Or you can send Abbie Zanders an email at:
[email protected]
Other Titles from Abbie Zanders
Callaghan Brothers Series
Dangerous Secrets
First and Only
House Calls
Seeking Vengeance
Guardian Angel
Beyond Affection
Having Faith
Bottom Line
Forever Mine
The Connelly Cousins
Celina
Jamie
Johnny
Michael
Covendale Series
Five Minute Man
All Night Woman
Cerasino Family
Just for Me
Just for Him
Kindle World Stories
Protecting Sam
A Timeless Love Series
Maiden in Manhattan
Raising Hell in the Highlands
Mythic Series
Faerie Godmother
Fallen Angel
The Oracle at Mythic
Wolf Out of Water
Contemporary Romance Standalones
Celestial Desire
The Realist
Letting Go
Two of a Kind
Paranormal Romance Standalones
Vampire Unaware
Going Nowhere
Falling for the Werewolf
A Very Beary Christmas
Stories written as Avelyn McCrae
Black Wolfe’s Mate
A Warrior’s Heart
The Jewel
Jessie Lane
Jessie Lane is a best-selling author of Paranormal and Contemporary Romance, as well as, Upper YA Paranormal Romance/Fantasy. She lives in Kentucky with her two little Rock Chicks in-the-making and her over protective alpha husband that she’s pretty sure is a latent grizzly bear shifter. She has a passionate love for reading and writing naughty romance, cliff hanging suspense, and out-of-this-world characters that demand your attention, or threaten to slap you around until you do pay attention to them.
For more information on Jessie Lane:
http://jessielanebooks.com
Or you can send Jessie Lane an email at:
[email protected]
Other Titles from Jessie Lane
Regulators MC Series
(co-written with Chelsea Camaron)
Ice
Hammer
Coal
Ex Ops Series
Secret Maneuvers
Stripping Her Defenses
Mission Delivery
Sweet Agony
Sweet Recovery
Sweet Eternity
Bullets and Bluebonnets
Big Bad Bite Series
Big Bad Bite
Walk On The Striped Side
Big Bad Bite Returned
The Demon Who Loved Me
Standalone Stories
The Alpha’s Secret Family
Purrfect Santa
(co-written with Chasity Bowlin)
Hot Fur the Wolf
Kindle World Stories
Lone Wolf Wanted
Sassy and a little Bad-Assy
Bears Do It Better
The Star Series
The Burning Star
The Frozen Star
Close Encounters of the Sexy Kind: In the Stars Romance Page 14
