She was unable to deny him anything. When he lowered his mouth to hers, her nipples rubbed against his chest. He thrust deep and hard and she felt herself coming again.
Her fingers dug into this thick shoulders and she clung to him. He stiffened and groaned, his cock rippling as his orgasm rocked through him. He kept pumping his hips long after they were both spent. Finally, she couldn’t take any more and begged him to stop. Only then, did he collapse beside her, his arm slung over her torso to keep her close.
They stirred a short time later and Marshall tugged the sheet over them. He rolled onto his side, propping himself on one arm. “We can make this work. You can come here between missions.”
She still couldn’t believe Marshall was trying to plan her life for her. She knew it was because he thought what he was doing was for the best. She shook her head. “Not going to work. I don’t want to be away from you for that long.” She absently threaded her fingers through his damp chest hair.
He covered her hand, flattening it against his heart. The beat was strong and steady, like the man himself. “What do you want to do? I can move to wherever you’re stationed if you don’t think me living here would work.”
Love swelled inside her and pushed away the last remnants of pain. Marshall was willing to do whatever it took to make this happen. She couldn’t hold out on him any longer. “That won’t do either since I’ll be living here with you. That is, if you want me to?”
He rolled on top of her, pinning her to the bed. He kept most of his weight on his arms, to keep from crushing her. She caressed the hard edge of his jaw.
“What are you saying, Tabby?”
“I quit. I retired. However you want to put it, I’m out of the business.”
“Why?”
She shook her head and ran his fingers over his harsh features. She loved him so much it made her heart ache. “I couldn’t stay. Not after what happened to you. Not after the betrayal from within. That’s part of the reason it took me so long to get here. It’s not the sort of job where you can give two weeks’ notice.”
“I’m surprised they let you go.”
“Yeah, well, I told them that ferreting out Craver was my last job when I dumped the evidence on their desk.”
His eyes narrowed. “That was dangerous.”
“Calculated. I told them they owed you, owed our entire team. I told them I would be of no use to them because I was moving to Texas to raise horses or cattle or whatever the heck it is you do here. We can grow tumbleweeds for all I care. They got the message.”
Marshall started to laugh. It was infectious and she soon joined him. His mouth curved upward into a huge smile when he finally stopped. “My family is going to love you.”
“I hope so.” That was one thing she was nervous about, but come hell or high water, she was staying.
“Marry me.”
“What?”
“Marry me, Tabby. If you’re staying, I want to marry you. I want to wake up with you each morning and go to bed with you each night.”
This was more than she’d expected when she’d tracked him here, but it was everything she’d ever wanted. “Yes.”
Marshall kissed her then, a deep, tender kiss that touched her soul. It was filled with love and tinged with passion. He rubbed his nose against hers. “Now I’m going to take you. Again and again, until neither of us can walk.”
She looped her arms around his neck and laughed. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
Marshall lowered his mouth to the curve of her neck and kissed her and did exactly that.
About the Author
N.J. Walters worked at a bookstore for several years and one day had the idea that she would like to quit her job, sell everything she owned, leave her hometown and write romance novels in a place where no one knew her. And she did. Two years later, she went back to the same bookstore and settled in for another seven years.
Although she was still fairly young, that was when the mid-life crisis set in. Happily married to the love of her life, with his encouragement (more like, “For God’s sake, quit the job and just write!”) she gave notice at her job on a Friday morning. On Sunday afternoon, she received a tentative acceptance for her first erotic romance novel, Annabelle Lee, and life would never be the same.
N.J. has always been a voracious reader of romance novels, and now she spends her days writing novels of her own. Vampires, dragons, time-travelers, seductive handymen and next-door neighbors with smoldering good looks all vie for her attention. And she doesn’t mind a bit. It’s a tough life, but someone’s got to live it.
N.J. welcomes comments from readers. You can find her website and email address on her author bio page at www.ellorascave.com.
Tell Us What You Think
We appreciate hearing reader opinions about our books. You can email us at [email protected].
Also by N.J. Walters
Amethyst Dreams
Amethyst Moon
Anastasia’s Style
Awakening Desires: Capturing Carly
Awakening Desires: Craving Candy
Awakening Desires: Erin’s Fancy
Awakening Desires: Jackson’s Jewel
Awakening Desires: Katie’s Art of Seduction
Beyond Shadows
Dalakis Passion 1: Harker’s Journey
Dalakis Passion 2: Lucian’s Delight
Dalakis Passion 3: Stefan’s Salvation
Dalakis Passion 4: Eternal Brothers
Dalakis Passion 5: Endless Chase
Drakon’s Treasure
Ellora’s Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis IV anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Jewels of the Nile IV anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails IV anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction III anthology
Entwined Hearts with Nicole Austin, TJ Michaels & Ciana Stone
Jessamyn’s Christmas Gift
Lassoing Lara
Out of Shadows
Project Alpha 1: Embracing Silence
Project Alpha 2: Have Mercy
Project Alpha 3: Sweet Charity
Seeking Charlotte
Summersville Secrets 1: Annabelle Lee
Summersville Secrets 2: Heat Wave
Summersville Secrets 3: Lily Blossoms
Tapestries 1: Christina’s Tapestry
Tapestries 2: Bakra Bride
Tapestries 3: Woven Dreams
Tapestries 4: Threads of Destiny
Tapestries 5: Embroidered Fantasies
Tempting Tori
Three Swords, One Heart
Unmasking Kelly
Print books by N.J. Walters
Candy Caresses anthology
Dalakis Embrace
Ellora’s Cavemen: Dreams of the Oasis IV anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Jewels of the Nile IV anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Legendary Tails IV anthology
Ellora’s Cavemen: Seasons of Seduction III anthology
Enticements
Erin’s Fancy
Feral Fixation anthology
Katie’s Art of Seduction
Overtime, Under Him anthology
Summersville Heat
Tapestry Dreams
Three Swords, One Heart
White Hot Holidays Volume 3 anthology
Discover for yourself why readers can’t get enough of the multiple award-winning publisher Ellora’s Cave. Whether you prefer e-books or paperbacks, be sure to visit EC on the web at www.ellorascave.com for an erotic reading experience that will leave you breathless.
www.ellorascave.com
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