by Lia Davis
“You can’t own people. And everything you’ve done so far is against the law.” Tessa watched the crazy bitch stop pacing and glare at her.
“Shut up!” Amber held her head and shook it back and forth.
She didn’t seem to know what do. It was like she was confused. Tessa figured she’d keep her talking until Hunter came home. Hunter. She didn’t want him to come in with Amber armed. “Hunter doesn’t love you.”
Amber sent her a sharp glare. “Hunter does love me, and if he’d have admitted that to himself, he could have saved his sister.”
Ice-cold dread froze Tessa to the bone. “What did you do?”
“I kidnapped his sister to make him notice. Everyone searched. I hid her away too good for even the police to find. When Hunter left for Texas and didn’t come back, I killed her. He came back home then.” Amber waved the knife wildly in the air as she explained.
“Why?” Tessa asked on a sob. Amber was beyond crazy.
“Why what? Why did I kill her? Because he loved her. Just like he loved that man in Texas. Took care of him, too.”
Jake. Tessa’s heart hurt. Amber didn’t know Jake was alive. “You can’t kill people. It won’t make him love you.”
“Oh, you’re wrong. When he has no one else to love him, he’ll have to turn to me for comfort.” Amber smirked. Then she slowly walked toward Tessa. “You seem to be very special to him. I’ll have to make sure your death is slow and painful.”
Psycho.
The bitch was psycho.
The sound of the front door opening and then shutting made Tessa’s chest tighten. Then Hunter’s voice flowed into the living room, and she wanted to yell at him to go. “Amber, I know you’re here. Where’s Tessa?”
Amber smiled. “So concerned about you.” Then she whirled around just as Hunter entered the living room. “You never ask how I am. She doesn’t matter.”
Hunter flicked his gaze to Tessa, sorrow and worry heavy in the depths of his eyes, before addressing Amber. With annoyance in his tone, he asked, “How are you?”
“No. Say it like you mean it.” Amber pointed the knife at him and advanced.
Tessa tried to work her hands free of the ropes. “Amber, don’t hurt him.”
Amber jerked her gaze to Tessa, her lip curled. “Shut up!”
“Hey, Amber.” Hunter touched her forearm. “Don’t pay her any mind. Just give me the knife, and we can go somewhere. Just me and you.”
Mistrust shone in her dark eyes, his disbelief evident by the way she tensed. “You’re lying. I saw the two of you together with Jake. I have to admit, I was surprised to see Jake alive. You know, he was supposed to be in that house fire.”
Tessa gasped a sob. This crazy bitch had killed Jake’s parents all because she wanted Jake out of the picture. “You’re nuts. No one will ever love you.”
“I told you to shut up!” Much too fast, Amber threw the knife.
Tessa screamed and tried to dive out of the way, but she was too late, too encumbered by the chair. The knife sliced a deep cut in her arm then bounced off the sofa behind her and clinked to the floor. Blood ran down Tessa’s arm as pain seared.
A moment later, Amber screamed as Hunter tackled her to the ground and pinned her arms over her head while Jake tied her hands together.
Where did Jake come from? Tessa wondered as dizziness blurred her vision.
“I’ve got her legs. Go check on Tessa,” she heard Hunter say.
She closed her eyes a moment before Jake caressed her cheek. “Tessa. Are you okay? Shit.”
Opening her eyes, Tessa smiled weakly and tried to tell him that she was fine, but it came out as a mumble. He left, and she closed her eyes again. So sleepy.
A cold rag jolted her awake. She stared at Jake as he cleaned her arm and then wrapped it with kitchen towel. Glancing to Hunter, she snarled at Amber as he tugged her by the elbow to a stand. He then pushed her to sit in a chair.
Outside, the sounds of sirens blared.
“You’re going to be okay,” Jake whispered then kissed her on the forehead.
She sagged into him once he’d untied her and inhaled his scent. “Where’s Hunter?”
“I’m here.” He slipped an arm around her waist from the other side.
A feeling of security filled her, and her heart bloomed with love.
Love. Yeah, she’d fallen for her best friend and her contractor. They were hers as much as she was theirs.
A knock on the door indicated that the police had arrived. Hunter left her and Jake to answer the door. Tessa sighed, so not wanting to deal with the waiting and the questioning. All she wanted was a hot shower and to spend the next week wrapped in her men’s arms.
But she didn’t always get what she wanted.
When Hunter came back to sit next to her, she took his hand and Jake’s and pressed them together. “I choose you both. I’ve never felt what I feel now. With anyone. I think I’m falling in love, with both of you, and I want to see where this goes.”
Hunter kissed her quickly on the lips. “After this is over, we’re taking you home and pleasuring you until you can’t stand.”
“Well, then. The police had better hurry.”
Chapter Thirteen
It was finally Valentine’s Day, and for once, Tessa was happy to celebrate it with, not one, but two men. Hunter and Jake had made good on their word to pleasure her until she couldn’t stand after the incident with that crazy bitch, Amber.
She was surprised they’d let her attend her own Valentine’s Day Party.
Avery entered the kitchen and smiled at her. “Where are the guys?”
Good question. Tessa hadn’t seen them since she’d gotten home that morning. “Not sure, but I can guarantee that they’re up to no good.”
“Yep. You’re probably right.”
Annoyed, Tessa studied her twin for several moments, considering what she could throw at her that would hurt but not kill her. Avery was keeping information from her. “Spill.”
Avery shook her head just as the doorbell rang. “Ah! Saved by the bell.” She darted off to answer it.
A moment later, Tessa heard Kenton’s and Aimee’s voices. A smile formed, and Tessa rounded the corner from the kitchen to greet them. “You guys made it.”
Aimee instantly hugged Tessa. “Yes, and I’m glad to be home. Don’t get me wrong, Hawaii is beautiful. If you get out enough to see the islands.”
Tessa and Avery giggled at the pointed look Aimee gave Kenton. Tessa took the bottle of wine Aimee carried. “I’ll put this on ice.”
Aimee nodded while Kenton took her sweater, then guided her into the living room.
When Tessa returned to the living room, Hunter and Jake were there. Hunter grinned at her, both his hands behind his back. Suspcion crawled up her spine. She’d have to learn how to stay ahead of their plotting. Then again, she was beginning to like their surprises.
Crossing the room to them, she pointed to Hunter’s hands. To her right, Avery sneezed. Tessa glanced to her sister, curious. Avery waved her off. “I’ll be fine.”
What? When she returned her attention to the guys and demand they tell her what was going on, the sight of a French bulldog puppy with a bow in Hunter’s arms froze her in place. The dog was white with large black spots. His oversized ears framed his round face with the smashed-in nose.
Tears stung her eyes as she reached for the puppy. That was when she noticed the key hanging around its neck. “What’s this?”
Jake smiled and scratched the puppy’s head. “It’s a key to Hunter’s place.”
Hunter cupped her cheek. “We’d like you to move in with us. At my place.”
Oh. Oh! She hesitated for a brief moment, not knowing how to answer. She wasn’t good at making on-the-spot decisions without a plan.
“Say yes,” Avery called from across the room. “And take the puppy with you. I mean, he’s adorable and all, but I like to be able to breathe.”
“So, what do you say?” Hunt
er asked, drawing her attention back to him.
She glanced at Jake and then down at the puppy. A smile tugged at her lips. “Yes, I’ll move in. With all of you.”
The guys hugged her tightly. “Happy Valentine’s Day,” they said at the same time and kissed her temples, one on each side.
Her heart swelled. “Happy Valentine’s Day.”
The End
Get updates on releases via Lia’s newsletter
http://bit.ly/LiaDavisNewsletter
About the Author
In 2008, Lia Davis ventured into the world of writing and publishing and never looked back. She has published more than twenty books, including the bestselling A Tiger’s Claim, book one in her fan favorite Ashwood Falls series. Her novels feature compassionate yet strong alpha heroes who know how to please their women and her leading ladies are each strong in their own way. No matter what obstacle she throws at them, they come out better in the end.
While writing was initially a way escape from real world drama, Lia now makes her living creating worlds filled with magic, mystery, romance, and adventure so that others can leave real life behind for a few hours at a time.
Lia’s favorite things are spending time with family, traveling, reading, writing, chocolate, coffee, nature and hanging out with her kitties. She and her family live in Northeast Florida battling hurricanes and very humid summers, but it’s her home and she loves it!
Learn More About Lia
Website: http://www.authorliadavis.com/
Newsletter: http://bit.ly/LiaDavisNewsletter
Facebook author fan page: https://www.facebook.com/novelsbylia
Facebook Fan Club: https://www.facebook.com/groups/LiaDavisFanClub/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/novelsbylia
Old Flame Burns Again
Angelica Dawson
Chapter One
Valentine’s Surprise
“Ben? Can you come here?”
I looked up from my game and tucked my phone in my jacket pocket. We stood in the bathroom, Diane both in my field of vision and reflected in the mirror. She held her hair up and a chain out to me.
Dutifully, I took the gold thread and wrapped it around her neck. The tear-shaped diamond on the pendant rested against her cleavage. The red dress she wore cut low, snugging under her breasts to emphasize their modest curve.
Diane’s height prevented me from peering over her head, even before she donned her heels. Once those were on, she would look down at me. No, only a sliver of my face peeked around the side of hers. The face I enjoyed seeing most. Her brown eyes, lined in black, shone with the smile that turned up the corners of her full, red lips. Her nose, like the rest of her, was slender and graceful, a lovely line between her rose-tinted cheeks.
It never ceased to amaze me how this woman, who was so beautiful in the early morning, with no makeup and her hair a tangled mess, could improve on it. She did, using light smatterings to draw out the shapes that made her a natural beauty. She would argue against that fact, but I refused to give in. Even if I conceded she were awkward in high school and college—which I didn’t—when I met her, any rough edges had been smoothed away to reveal the woman she was today.
I kissed her neck as I fastened the chain on her Valentine’s gift. We’d put off celebrating my recent promotion, allowing me to both surprise her and celebrate the holiday in style.
My kiss didn’t stop there. The wide neck exposed part of her shoulder too, and I nibbled my way along it, hands sliding down around her hips and pulling them flush against me. My cock throbbed in my dress pants and her shifting against it made me ache.
“Mm, Di.”
She nudged me with her hip instead, bumping my erection just hard enough to make me wince. “We’ll be late.”
“Not if you lean on the vanity.” Grinning, I squatted and drew my hands up the outside of her legs, lifting her skirt to rub myself against her panties.
Craning her neck to look over her shoulder, she smirked. “You really can’t wait?”
“Nope.” I unfastened myself, but didn’t draw down her underwear. “I mean, I’d have to wait through all of dinner.” I reached around to slide my hand over her pelvis and between her legs. “And dessert.” I rubbed her. “And the wine.”
The more I teased her, the brighter her cheeks became. Her hips moved against my hand and she cussed. “Damn, Ben.”
“Yes? You like?” Pushing my fingers under her panties, I stretched them toward her intimate skin.
“Yes, take me.”
Growling into her shoulder, I yanked the panties down. Using my hand for guidance, I rubbed my wet tip against the crack of her ass, burying myself between her cheeks.
“Not there,” she complained as I prodded her ass.
“Not my plan,” I assured her, pushing myself down and forward. “Lean over more.”
She did as I asked, the mirror giving me a lovely view right down the front of her dress. Her black bra cupped her perfectly, just as I wished to do with my hands. Her ass coming up allowed my cock to go down, snagging on her pussy. With a quick thrust, I pushed through her wet channel.
“Yeah,” she moaned, leaning back and driving me deeper.
“Yeah,” I agreed. Slowly at first, I pulled out and thrust back in, never completely withdrawing. After a dozen strokes, I used more speed, more force, watching the pendant swing through the air as I pounded her.
“Oh, God, yes.” It drove me mad to see how much she enjoyed my cock, how close she was getting to a climax. I would burst any minute, but I wanted to give her all I had. Releasing one hip, I sank my fingers between her pussy lips, rubbing and grinding on her clit.
She let out a series of squealing squeaks, her pussy tightening and rippling, pulling my own orgasm from me. Leaning my forehead into her shoulder, I groaned, my balls emptying themselves into her.
Twisting, she looked over her shoulder again. “All good?”
“Better than good. Whoa.” I shook my head, feeling dizzy, probably because the blood that had left my brain hadn’t returned from my penis yet. Grabbing for toilet paper, I cleaned her first and took a second wad to wipe myself before pulling my pants up again. “I think I can keep my hands to myself through dinner now.”
Di giggled. “I’d hope so.”
“Well, not completely to myself,” I warned, placing my palms on her upper arms and sliding down to hold her hands.
“Where would the fun be in that?”
Considering the time and our reservation, I pushed my urges away. “You’re right about us being late.”
She turned in my arms and pressed her painted lips lightly to mine. “I’m always right.”
Laughing, I let her go. She set about filling her shiny gold purse for the night. I patted my pocket, checking for the phone and keys. Left alone in the bathroom, I straightened my tie and smoothed my dark hair. I wasn’t a model specimen either, my thin facial hair making me appear younger than my thirty years. My blue eyes were slightly obscured by my glasses. Although my jacket didn’t simply hang off my shoulders, it did fall straight, not hiding the lack of bulk beneath it. No one would mistake me for a regular gym-goer. Still, I had to admit that the suit made me look professional.
“You coming?” Di called from the doorway.
I strode to the door and stepped into my shoes, bending to tie them. Unable to resist, I ran my fingers over Di’s ankle above her red high-heeled shoe.
She chuckled and pulled her foot back. “Let’s go.”
Pouting slightly, I rose and tucked her into a hug. She put a finger to my lips, tapping, which made my pout turn up into a smile. I held the door for her, letting her exit ahead of me.
I held the door at the restaurant as well, following her and walking through the lingering scent of her perfume. Inhaling deeply, I sighed, nose filled with the aroma of roses. The odor was compounded inside, several of the flowers on each table and no few bouquets throughout the room.
Stepping toward the podium and maî
tre’d, I didn’t take my eyes off my wife. “Table for Parsons.”
“Yes, Mr. Parson, please follow me.”
I took advantage of the opportunity to pull out Di’s chair and kissed her temple and ear. “You are drawing eyes.” It wasn’t a lie, although most men tried to keep their gaze on their dates, some men and many women craned to see who had just come in.
“Nonsense. Sit.”
I walked around the small table to sit opposite, reaching across to take her hand. My ring sat on the third finger of her left hand. The diamonds there lined the band circling it. Valentine’s Day wasn’t our anniversary, but when it came, it would be our seventh. Seven years, and I could still remember our meeting, our short courtship, and my premature proposal.
Without fear or regret, I proposed after only a handful of weeks. I couldn’t let Di get away. I wanted to spend my life with her, and a day without her was darker and colder. My parents thought I was crazy, and hers weren’t fond of my haste, but neither could keep us apart. Di took a few nights to consider my proposal but did accept it.
I was doubly glad for my initiative when she informed me of her decision to wait until the wedding to have sex. As a virgin myself, I didn’t have any problem limiting myself to caresses and kisses. It did leave me intimidated when it came to the wedding night.
A waiter came to ask after drinks and appetizers, and as he left Di leaned toward me and whispered, “You’re staring at me.”
I chuckled. “Yes, I am. You’re beautiful.”
She blushed slightly and sipped at the water poured by the waiter. Wine quickly replaced it when the bottle came. “I know what you’re thinking.”
“Do you?” I asked, stroking the backs of her fingers with my thumb.
“You’re looking forward to finishing dinner.”
“That is true, but not what I was thinking about. Remember our wedding night?”
She choked on her wine. “My God that was awkward.” She pulled her hand free to hold a napkin to her mouth while she laughed. “You had no idea where it went.”
