by Jade James
Dios, he missed everything about her. From the stimulating conversations he used to have with her, to the secret fetish he had with her breasts, he missed out on everything. Sorrow filled him as regret came tumbling next.
He couldn’t live without her, not now, not ever.
It seemed like ages ago since he had taken his time and praised her body, making love to her with a slowness that stretched the pleasure out. He loved to ensure her that she was perfect in his eyes in all ways.
If he had a chance to turn back time, he would. He missed her with a fierce ache and he couldn’t wait to begin to show her. Lincoln didn’t know of his decision, yet, to remain in New York with her. It didn’t matter. In time he would, and Devin wasn’t going to let anything like their careers get between them again.
* * * * *
Miranda kept her eyes closed and her body relaxed as the vehicle sped up. A strong familiar masculine scent assailed her, making her stomach clench with need. Before she fainted, she had thought Devin a dream, but with his unique scent filling the car, she now knew for sure he was real. She pretended to sleep as she gathered her thoughts and senses. There was only one reason why he would be here. He was somehow connected to Mark. Not too many people besides the CEO of her corporation knew where she was.
She opened her eyes and sat up as her gaze briefly collided with his. Those chocolate brown eyes always did something for her. Devin’s deep mesmerizing gaze held hers before briefly turning back to the road. He was even more handsome now. The military style hair cut and goatee fit him well, giving him a more rugged, masculine look. Devin was the epitome of what a real man should be like—strong, sexy and rough. Miranda knew he favored jeans and T-shirts, but could still look just as sexy as he did now, dressed in gray slacks with a white button-down shirt.
“What are you doing here?” Miranda squeaked. She swallowed despite her dry throat, and then she licked her lips.
“I take it you’re not as happy to see me as I am to see you, querida.”
You’re wrong. I’m so glad you’re here. “You were the last person I was expecting to see,” she replied, ignoring his term of endearment. “Where are we going?”
“To a secluded cabin,” he drawled.
Miranda closed her eyes for just a quick second, and savored his rich, deep, satisfyingly male voice as she squeezed her legs together, hoping to ease her throbbing clit. Sex had never been a problem between them. He was beyond satisfying to her...had always taken her to ultra hot ecstasy each time.
“Where’s Mark?” She continued to ask her questions, hoping to distract herself from him.
“He’s on his way back to Lincoln, probably with his head between his legs. Damn son of a bitch should have known better then to leave you alone.”
“Did you fire him?” she whispered disbelievingly. “I don’t know why he wasn’t there when I needed him, Devin, but I’m sure it wasn’t worth you firing him.”
“I don’t have the authority to fire him, querida, but believe me.... If I did, his ass would be out the door. Lincoln assigned Mark and me to watch you. I found out this morning what had happened to you and took the first plane out. Mark’s job was to not let you out of his sight. He failed. No excuses.”
“So, John hired the Spectra Group? Lincoln sent you?”
You wouldn’t have come back if it wasn’t because of your job. Miranda left the thought unspoken as she tried to hide the hurt that thought caused. She turned to the window, hoping the beautiful scenery would relieve her pain.
“I know what you’re thinking, querida.”
“You do?” She fought the need to turn toward the sound of his voice.
“You forget, amor. I married you...lived with you for over a year. And in that time, I came to know you inside and out. It was time for me to come back home, Miranda, pero no te olvides tu eres que mi dejaste.”
Do not forget, you are the one who left me, her mind translated automatically.
Miranda faced him. He wasn’t staring at her, but she could see by the way his hands tightened on the steering wheel, he was reigning in his emotions.
He’s right, she thought. Devin didn’t contact her, but she also made no effort on her part to try and reach him.
No one had the luxury of turning back time. There was nothing she could do. Changing the past was an impossible thing. She sighed, tired both physically and mentally. All she could do was hope that their future had not been shattered by their past.
“Stay down,” Devin yelled at the same time the rear window exploded, spraying pieces of glass inside of he car.
Chapter Four
Miranda screamed and dove for the floor, despite renewed pain in her ankle caused by the sudden movement. Devin pulled out his gun, unlocking the safety just as the gray SUV pulled up beside him.
Instead of taking a shot, he swerved his own car, slamming it into the vehicle beside him. The SUV slowed for an instant, before speeding up once again. Devin veered off the main road, hoping to lose whoever was after them. The gray vehicle followed and showed no signs of giving up. Thank god there weren’t too many cars in the left or right lane.
Devin threw a quick glance at Miranda who was on her knees on the floor of the car. He turned just in time to see the SUV speed up beside him. The window lowered, and Devin saw the hint of metal glinting in the reflection of his own window.
“Stay down, Miranda,” he repeated to his wife as he saw movement from her direction. With practiced ease, he held on to the car’s steering wheel with his right hand and lowered the window with his left. He took the gun lying on his lap, and aimed for the SUV’s front tire.
After two shots in succession, the tire popped, the rim grating on the asphalt pavement as the SUV swerved and hit a barrier on the side of the road. Devin glanced in the rearview mirror at the vehicle as smoke erupted from the front of it, covering his view.
He pulled onto the highway, darting glances at the rearview mirror to ensure that no one else was following them.
“It’s safe to sit up now. Are you okay?” He studied her. The bump on her head was still red, her features were pale, and wariness showed in her eyes.
* * * * *
“Why didn’t you pull over? We need to find out who’s after me.”
“Finding out who’s after you is third on my list, Miranda. Keeping you safe is first.”
Miranda couldn’t help but ask what was second. “What’s the second item on your so called list?”
He gave her a quick glance. “Seeing if there is anything left in our marriage to save.”
She shivered nervously. “Why no calls or letters?”
“You wanted space. Perhaps we both needed it…though I think it stretched for much too long.” Miranda felt the tears rise in her eyes. Too much pain stood between them.
She felt numb, trapped in a surreal life she had no choice to live. But in a few days, she was taking charge of her future, and she intended to fix what broke their relationship.
She shifted in the seat, catching a glimpse of a wooden structure out the window. A brown, two story cabin peeked at her from between trees that were so large they almost shielded the entire home from her sight. As they neared, however, she caught glimpses of windows, wide and long. The home had a very rustic appeal.
“Whose cabin is this?”
“Mine.”
“You bought a cabin?”
“After you left. It was a spur of the moment thing.”
“This cabin…no one will find us there?”
“No one knows about it, except Lincoln.”
“You know I have to be back in the city in three days.”
“I’ve read the file, Miranda. You will be back in time to put in the codes. I commend you for the work you’ve done.”
“I only did what needed to be done, Devin. Someone had to. After the failure of last year’s distribution, and the outbreak of several forms of flu, the government needed someone to step up. I still can’t believe someone wants me de
ad over this.”
“No one is going to die, least of all you. We will see this through together. You will succeed.”
“What happens after the codes are put in?” She couldn’t stop herself from wondering if they really had a chance.
“That will depend on us, but I won’t be leaving your side anytime soon.”
Her heart soared with hope.
He was doing so much for her, and she had not thanked him or showed him any appreciation in return. Miranda reached over, placing her hand on his muscled bicep. His arm tightened beneath her hand.
“Thank you for being here. You reassure me in so many ways.”
Devin spared her a glance, giving her a sexy wink before turning back to the road. “You can give me a proper welcome later, amor.”
Miranda snatched her hand back as his words burned through her, causing her stomach to clench and her pussy to cream at his implied meaning. She could feel the lust, simmering low between them, waiting for the right time to erupt.
“What’s the plan now?” she asked, trying to change the direction of her thoughts.
“We are laying low for three days. I had no time to get you any clothes, so you can borrow a few things that I have in the trunk. They won’t fit, but they’ll cover that luscious ass you have well enough. Course, if you want to walk around naked, querida, that is your prerogative.”
Miranda blushed, staring at him a brief moment before returning her gaze to the view out the window. “Your clothes will be fine,” she whispered.
“That’s a sight to see.”
“What is?” she asked, not daring to turn to him.
“The red blush staining your cheeks. I still have an affect on you.”
You always will, she thought as she stared at the passing scenery.
His deep laughter vibrated through the car. It was a sound she thought she would never hear again and, in that instant, she knew that leaving Devin was not only the ultimate sacrifice, but also the biggest mistake of her life.
* * * * *
A billion dollars at stake, and his operatives failed. Why Khalib had left her alive the first time with just a warning was beyond him. Khalib only needed to finish the deed, ensuring Miranda was dead. So what if there were other motorists who might identify him; Khalib should’ve finished his assignment the first time. But no, he’d backed off and been forced to follow up the warning with a visit to the hospital. And now he was dead.
When news of Khalib’s death had reached him, he had Khalib’s driver follow Miranda and Devin with orders to kill them both and, if possible, make it look like an accident. It would have been the perfect death, a tragic car accident ending the reunion of two lost lovers. The perfect crime scene, and no one would have ever gotten their hands on the codes. But damn it, nothing seemed to be going right.
Now, he needed to hire someone else to find her before she could put in the codes. A hard task indeed, especially with the security firm hired to protect her.
This was the first time he was in a position to make one billion dollars. The Arabian government’s offer for half now and half when the deed was done had tempted him beyond his self control. Although he already made a six-figure salary, that much money in one lump sum was too much of an opportunity to miss. A few more phone calls and he would know where Miranda was and, if he had to dirty his own hands just to make sure she was dead, he would do it.
Chapter Five
He felt his control slip; it was hanging on by a slim thread. The love of his life sat next to him, her sexy peach scent drifting to him.
During the drive, Devin had a hard time reining in the desire to stop the car, pull her across his lap, and fuck her like a madman. His cock ached with the need to be inside her sweet pussy.
The attraction between them threatened to burst free, and Devin struggled to find reasons why it would be best to wait until the assignment was over. Attraction was an amazing thing. Few couples possessed that electrifying bolt of heat that could keep a relationship on fire. Devin knew instantly that the fiery pull was still there between them—a clear indication that there was still hope in salvaging their marriage.
He pulled to a stop in the driveway of his cabin, turned off the ignition, and then pulled out the keys. He turned to her, committing the new Miranda to his memory.
The air in the car suddenly became too hot, the heat sending a shot of desire to his cock as Devin watched her with a hooded gaze. He was fascinated with the way her shallow breathing brought her breasts a little more out. The white T-shirt ended above her belly button, exposing a small amount of caramel skin. His mouth watered, craving a taste of her.
His balls tightened painfully at the thought of how much different her body was and how much fun he was going to have exploring every nook and cranny.
Devin half-turned, reaching over to her, finally giving in to the need to touch her. He placed his hand on her thigh, close to the heat of her pussy. A loud gasp escaped her lips as his fingertip grazed the middle of her jeans. He felt the heat of her cunt seep through. His cock jumped, wanting out of his own pants. But he waited, savoring his first sexual touch with her in years—a marvelous experience even though she was still fully clothed.
“What are you doing?” she moaned, as her body arched a little closer to his hand.
“I was trying to find a reason why it would be better if I waited to touch you, and you know what, querida? I can’t find a damn one.”
His eyes narrowed as Miranda grabbed his wrist, pushing his hand from between her legs. She opened the door, scooting out of the car slowly. Devin opened his door and walked around the car.
“Why did you stop?” Devin suppressed a groan as his dick throbbed with a sweet ache.
“We shouldn’t be doing this, Devin. There are things we need to resolve before we take this a step further.”
“Wrong answer, mi amor,” he growled as he stalked over to her. He didn’t stop until she was pressed back against the car. “Three fucking years, Miranda, with only my hand to keep me company. Did you fuck someone else?”
“That isn’t any of your business,” she replied angrily.
Devin snapped, the last of his control shredding as he grabbed the front of her blood stained shirt, ripping the material into two. She gasped, her hands going to his wrists, but she was no match for his strength. His gaze drifted down to her breasts.
He reached out and touched her nipple, enjoying the way it hardened under his fingers. He thumbed the tip, as she threw her head back. The effect raised her chest higher to him. The sight was a temptation he couldn’t deny.
Devin nudged her legs apart, positioning his rock‑hard dick against her jean‑covered pussy. He rubbed, sending shards of ecstasy through them.
“Did you fuck anyone else while we were separated?” Devin knew the answer to the question. He had no doubts about her faithfulness in their marriage, but that did not stop him from wanting to hear the words come out of her lips.
Dios mío, ayúdeme por favor. God, please help me, she thought. How could she have forgotten the way his hands felt? The way they made her insane. Miranda felt her juices dampen her panties in arousal as his large hands caressed her breast, tormenting her nipple. She fought to respond to the question he had asked her, but all she wanted to do was submit to him entirely and the pleasure he could give her.
“Answer me now, Miranda.”
“No, Devin. I’ve never been with anyone else.” She moaned as she squirmed to get closer to him. Her pink tongue peaked out, swiping at her dry lips.
She swallowed past the lump in her throat. Her eyes briefly searched his, and Miranda hoped that even though the words were not said, that he could just see a little of what she had always felt for him. Miranda couldn’t stop the moan from escaping her lips at the feel of his throbbing cock against her. This man had always been her life, and maybe his reappearance now was a sign that they were always meant to be together.
Devin swooped down capturing her mouth in a fiery
kiss. Hunger flowed through his body as her tongue timidly touched his. She tasted of sweet peaches and shy innocence, a subtle hint that informed him she was unsure of where she stood.
He should have reassured her, but he craved her taste with a desperate starvation. His cock demanded relief as it throbbed for a taste of her cunt and slick sweetness. Visions of her naked body beneath him danced in his mind as he pressed his dick against the softness of her round stomach.
She moaned against his mouth and tangled her tongue with his. Devin took the time to suck and lick her, savoring the taste of her. He clutched her tighter against him, grinding his cock against her belly. His balls were drawn up so tight it felt as if he could come from just rubbing himself against her.
