by Katie Reus
They’d never spent much time apart. “I hate this.”
“Yasha’s dead, we have nothing to be afraid of anymore.” Alena wrapped her arms around Nika in a tight hug. “I need to get away from here but I’ll call you as soon as I’ve landed. I just need to be alone right now,” she whispered before letting her go and heading for the plane.
Nika watched as her sister boarded it. They’d never spent much time separated before but in her heart she knew it was for the best right now.
She jumped as she felt Declan come up beside her. He threw an arm around her shoulders, the gesture protective and comforting. “Are you going to be okay?”
She nodded and stepped deeper into his embrace. “Yeah. So, where do we go from here?”
“I left breakfast to stop you so how about we start there?”
“That works for me.” When she grinned, it lit up her entire face. Declan’s stomach tightened with need as they headed back to his vehicle. If she smiled at him like that more often, he’d be likely to do any damn thing she asked.
As they reached the SUV, she jerked to a halt. “Crap. You know I love you too.”
The vise around his chest loosened and dissipated completely. He hadn’t given her a chance to respond because he’d been afraid of her answer. “I do now.”
Epilogue
Two months later
Nika didn’t hear him approach. He was too stealth for that. But Declan’s shadow crossed over the cabana lounge chair she was sitting cross-legged on, hunched over her laptop. “Hey, babe,” she said without looking up. She was almost done.
“I don’t even garner a kiss?” he murmured, sitting on the end of it.
“What…oh, yeah.” She made a kissing sound as her fingers flew across the keyboard, but still didn’t look up, just kept him in her peripheral. She’d been working on this project for a month straight and was finishing up a couple last minute things. If she met his gaze she knew what would happen. They’d end up naked and she’d never complete this.
Declan laughed, the sound rich and deep and warmed her straight to her belly. God, she loved the man.
“Done!” She pushed her laptop away and looked up to find him watching her intently, those dark eyes so captivating she still got lost in them more often than not.
“Are you really done?” His voice was wry, his lips curved up just the slightest bit.
She shrugged. “Mostly. A few coding things I need to tweak but you’re here and…” Blinking, she glanced around their pool area. “Jeez, what time is it?” The sun was close to setting. She hadn’t realized how late it was.
“Time for you to come join me for dinner. I got takeout from your favorite place.” He smoothly moved her laptop to sit on the adjoining lounge chair. Wearing black slacks and a button down pale blue shirt that was open at the collar with his tie loosened, he looked delicious. And he was all hers.
That familiar hunger pooled inside her, heating her up. “How about we postpone dinner?” She reached out and tugged on his tie gently, pulling him toward her. Her nipples hardened against the built in cups of her summer dress.
He moved like a sexy, lethal predator, settling between her legs as she opened her thighs for him. She wrapped her arms around him and met him for a lazy kiss. She loved his taste and everything about him. Moving in with him had been surprisingly easier than she’d imagined. They both worked hard so he understood her hours, just as she did his. And he understood her need to work so much which she appreciated. After the insanity of the last couple years, all the planning and traveling with her sister, she loved putting down roots and having a sense of normalcy.
Mainly she just loved Declan. He was helping her with her gifts too and on the sly, they’d helped the police with a couple cases. But she didn’t want to think about any of that right now.
“I need to ask you something,” Declan murmured, dropping kisses along her jaw as he made his way to her ear.
“Hmm?”
He ran his hands up her arms to where they were linked behind his neck and pulled them apart. When he guided them above her head, she shivered as his fingers skated up her arms, wrists, then linked his fingers through hers.
She automatically arched into him then froze when she felt a ring slip over her left hand ring finger.
Declan lifted his head back to look down at her, his dark eyes sparking with all sorts of emotion. Love, lust and a little bit of worry. “Marry me?”
Nodding, a smile split her face. She didn’t even glance at the ring, didn’t really care what it looked like at the moment. “Yes.” Grabbing his face she met his mouth in a hungry frenzy. “Yes, yes, yes,” she said in between frantic kisses.
She already felt so linked to him, on so many levels, but she couldn’t wait to show the world that he was hers and she was his.
Thank you for reading Retribution. I really hope you enjoyed it and that you’ll consider leaving a review at one of your favorite online retailers. It’s a great way to help other readers discover new books. If you would like to read more, turn the page for a peek of some of my other books. And if you don’t want to miss any future releases, please feel free to join my newsletter. I only send out a newsletter for new releases or sale news. Direct link: http://eepurl.com/jEABv
Sneak Peek of
Hunter Reborn
Moon Shifter Series
Copyright © 2015 Katie Reus
As she tried to decide where to go a blur of fur hurtled through the air at her. Before she could move, the all-white wolf slammed into her, tackling her to the ground. He rolled their bodies so he took the brunt of the fall.
Surprise ricocheted through her. When he shifted to human form and she found herself pinned underneath the Adonis-looking shifter with blond hair and dark eyes she immediately struck out at him. Weak or not, if this male had killed her parents she’d gut him.
Claws and fangs descended, she slashed at his middle, ripping open his stomach.
“Damn it, Larissa!” He managed to grab her wrists in an impossibly tight grip and hold them above her head, but she didn’t stop.
It vaguely registered that he said her name in a familiar way. As if he had intimate knowledge of her. Kicking and bucking against him, she kneed him hard between the legs as she twisted around to bite his forearm.
The second his blood coated her tongue, a familiar sensation flowed through her with shocking intensity. The taste made her think of raw, earthy sex. She stilled underneath him. He remained on top of her, holding her, and when she met his gaze she could sense his wariness. But he wasn’t trying to hurt her. And he hadn’t been attacking her, just pinning her down and taking her blows.
She tensed when she heard someone nearby, their footfalls soft against the snow, barely indiscernible. The male heard it too and lifted his head, but he never took his dark gaze from hers. “Stay back, I’ve got this.”
“Why do you taste familiar?” she whispered, battling confusion. His blood was still on her tongue and it made her think of dirty, sensual things that shocked her. Even more shocking, she wanted to drink from him.
The male’s eyes bored into hers. Intense. Heated. “Because you’ve tasted every inch of my body, drank from me, defied your coven to be with me.” The longing in his eyes pierced her. He meant every word he was saying. He wasn’t lying. Or he didn’t believe he was lying.
If it was true, she didn’t remember any of it. She fought a shiver. Everything in her brain was muddled and the pain intermixed with desire she saw in that dark gaze was too much. She was so fucking confused right now and sensing his pain hurt her. Even if she didn’t understand why, she felt his agony bone deep and she desperately wanted to comfort him. She swallowed hard and resisted that urge. “Why can I feel your pain?”
He loosened his grip, freeing her wrists. But he didn’t sit back. Just placed his hands in the light layer of snow on either side of her head, that gaze locked on hers. “Because we’re bondmates.”
Sneak Peek of
&nbs
p; Under His Protection
Red Stone Security Series
Copyright © 2014 Katie Reus
“You are going to love what I got her,” Julieta whispered to Lizzy.
They were sitting next to each other at Mina’s bridal shower. Mina Hollingsworth, soon-to-be Mina Blue. The sweet artist was marrying former pro-football player/former Marine Alexander Blue and she was one of the nicest people Julieta had ever met.
“I take it you went off the registry,” Lizzy whispered back before taking a sip of her mimosa.
“Just a bit.” She held back her grin as Mina picked up her next gift. The black and white damask bag with a bright pink stripe across the top was distinctively from Julieta’s store.
“I know who this is from,” Mina said, already blushing as she delicately pulled the paper stuffing out the top. Her face split into a wide smile as she pulled out the sheer white, delicate lace lingerie babydoll halter. The back had ruffled layers to create a small bustle and above that in bright pink hand-done stitching were the words ‘property of Alex’. Mina’s fiancé might have mentioned something to Julieta about this.
As Mina pulled it out and saw the back she started laughing, her cheeks flushing an even darker shade of pink. “Did Alex ask you to do this?” she asked.
Julieta just shrugged and pursed her lips together as she fought a smile.
Mina turned it around for the twenty other women to see. Everyone started howling and talking about how much their significant others would want them to get one. Julieta ignored the small pang in her chest. For a bridal shower this one was very small and considering how wealthy Mina was, she was surprised it wasn’t bigger. But maybe she shouldn’t be. The woman was incredibly picky about who she was friends with—because she wasn’t sure who she could trust—and she had guards around her most of the time. All the women at the shower were either married or engaged, except two of Mina’s friends from California.
Being single had never bothered Julieta before. The last three years she’d been working like mad to get her business off the ground and now that it had and she was doing well, she had more time on her hands. She had a lot of friends and a huge, loving family but the truth was, she was lonely. When she’d first started her business she’d actually had a serious boyfriend. They’d been together the last two years of college, but once she’d started working long hours he’d decided he couldn’t handle it. He’d said he wanted her to be successful and would support her, but in the end it had all been lip service. She was glad she’d found out before they’d taken the next step, but it still stung when she thought about how badly things had ended between them.
She couldn’t remember the last date she’d gone on and unfortunately the last two months she’d spent fantasizing about a certain sexy Red Stone Security employee she kept seeing because of her friendship with Mina. But she couldn’t get a read on the man. He was always so tight-lipped and gave brooding stares when she was around. She was pretty sure he didn’t even like her. Not to mention Mina had mentioned that he was a total player on more than one occasion.
Which made her fantasies even more ridiculous. She wasn’t into playboys or bad boys. So why did everything about Ivan make her wake up and take notice?
“Is that from your new line?” Lizzy demanded, shifting against the loveseat in the expansive living room that overlooked the Miami bay as Mina told everyone to go grab food and drinks.
Huge windows and a bright October day made for a gorgeous view and natural lighting as the women broke up and started to eat and mingle.
“Minus the personalized stitching, yes. And yes, I’ve already saved one for you. I can’t believe you had a baby five months ago. You look amazing,” she said in mock disgust.
“Porter keeps me busy.” Lizzy’s smile turned mischievous which only made that pang in Julieta’s chest expand.
She shoved down those feelings as best she could. “Seriously, do you need to remind me how long it’s been since I’ve had sex…” She trailed off as Ivan appeared from out of nowhere.
Wearing his standard dark suit he looked imposing and too sexy for his own good. She gritted her teeth at his timing because she was pretty sure he’d heard her. He so did not need to know she had no sex life. He nodded at both of them politely. For a brief moment she thought he’d approached to speak to her and her heart rate increased by about a thousand percent. That lasted for all of two seconds. The thought of him approaching her just to chat was as ridiculous as her fantasies about him.
“Hey Ivan, where’ve you been hiding?” Lizzy asked casually.
Since they both worked for Red Stone, though in different capacities, the two were friends. It shouldn’t make Julieta jealous that Lizzy, one of her oldest, happily married friends, was so comfortable with Ivan. But it kind of did.
Acknowledgments
It’s time to thank the usual crowd. Kari Walker, Carolyn Crane and Joan Turner, thank you ladies so much for all your help. This book has been a long time coming and I’m grateful for all your insight. No surprise, I owe a big thank you to Jaycee of Sweet ‘N Spicy Designs for her beautiful design work. This is one of my favorite covers to date. For my wonderful readers, thank you for your continuous support and all those lovely emails, and facebook and twitter messages. You guys rock! As always, a big thanks to my family for putting up with my erratic schedule. To my assistant, Sarah, you keep me sane in so many ways. Thank you! Lastly, thank you to God for everything.
Complete Booklist
Red Stone Security Series
No One to Trust
Danger Next Door
Fatal Deception
Miami, Mistletoe & Murder
His to Protect
Breaking Her Rules
Protecting His Witness
Sinful Seduction
Under His Protection
Deadly Fallout
The Serafina: Sin City Series
First Surrender
Sensual Surrender
Sweetest Surrender
Dangerous Surrender
Deadly Ops Series
Targeted
Bound to Danger
Chasing Danger (novella)
Shattered Duty
Edge of Danger
Non-series Romantic Suspense
Running From the Past
Everything to Lose
Dangerous Deception
Dangerous Secrets
Killer Secrets
Deadly Obsession
Danger in Paradise
His Secret Past
Retribution
Paranormal Romance
Destined Mate
Protector’s Mate
A Jaguar’s Kiss
Tempting the Jaguar
Enemy Mine
Heart of the Jaguar
Moon Shifter Series (paranormal romance)
Alpha Instinct
Lover’s Instinct (novella)
Primal Possession
Mating Instinct
His Untamed Desire (novella)
Avenger’s Heat
Hunter Reborn
Protective Instinct (novella)
Darkness Series
Darkness Awakened
Taste of Darkness
Beyond the Darkness
About the Author
Katie Reus is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Red Stone Security series, the Moon Shifter series and the Deadly Ops series. She fell in love with romance at a young age thanks to books she pilfered from her mom’s stash. Years later she loves reading romance almost as much as she loves writing it.
However, she didn’t always know she wanted to be a writer. After changing majors many times, she finally graduated summa cum laude with a degree in psychology. Not long after that she discovered a new love. Writing. She now spends her days writing dark paranormal romance and sexy romantic suspense.
For more information on Katie please visit her website: www.katiereus.com. Also find her on Twitter @katiereus or
visit her on facebook at: www.facebook.com/katiereusauthor.
If you would like to be notified of future releases, please join her newsletter. Direct link: http://eepurl.com/jEABv
Table of Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Epilogue
