Hale Series Boxed Set

by Marie James

  I fold my arms across my chest. “You going to stay in bed all day?” I lick my lips and glance at his cock, waggling my eyebrows at him.

  He grumbles and slides out of bed, walking the few steps to the pile of clothes we left last night. “You’re evil you know that.” He slides his sweats on, the soft fabric doing nothing to restrain his erection.

  I grin big as he notices his problem. Grumbling again he tucks it behind the elastic of his pants. “We’re alone right?” He inclines his head towards the door.

  “You don’t want Josie to see the tip of your big cock?” I tease him.

  He narrows his eyes at me before slinking towards me. The sure sway of his hips forces me to swallow roughly. He nuzzles his nose along my cheek. “You’re the only one who gets to see my big cock, Alexa.”

  I moan seductively in his ear and scrape my nails down the back of his neck, turning the game back on him.

  He growls and wrenches away from me, walking towards the bathroom bitching about cold showers and blue balls.

  I’m still laughing as I head towards the kitchen for some coffee more out of habit than necessity; I slept better last night than any other night in my life.

  I stop short when I see Josie at the table, knee pulled up, head lowered toward her laptop.

  “Hey,” I chirp, trying to hide the surprise at seeing her here. “Not feeling well?” I inwardly hope we didn’t keep her up all night and she couldn’t work due to fatigue.

  “I feel fine.” She throws a questioning look my way.

  I shrug. “Just thought you’d be at work.” I make my way to the already full coffee pot and get a cup from the cabinet.

  “Oh! It’s a bad weather day! We didn’t use them all so we get today off.” I nod my head. Funny how I forget about those types of things now when I counted down the days to them in high school.

  “So,” she prods. “Garrett.”

  “Yeah,” I respond, looking back at her, unable to hide the grin on my face. “He’s in the shower.”

  “You guys make up?” She whispers.

  “He loves me,” I whisper back.

  Her gasp is the exact same response I had when the words fell from his lips.

  “Alexa!” She jumps up like a school girl, bouncing and clapping her hands before reaching out to me and hugging me tight.

  She settles down just in time for Garrett to join us. He doesn’t look shocked by her presence so he must’ve heard our little party before making his way to the kitchen. I can’t help but look down to the front of his sweats, smiling at the faint outline of his soft cock.

  I hear him cough and he narrows his eyes at me when my gaze meets his, telling me to behave in mixed company. I shrug my shoulders as he shakes his head.

  “Coffee?” I point towards the full pot.

  “Please.” He mumbles and I turn around and reach over my head into the cabinet for another cup, smiling when I hear his sharp intake of breath knowing he is looking at the curve of my ass exposed from my tiny shorts.

  Before I can pour him a cup a sharp knock at the door draws all three of our attention.

  “Wonder who that could be?” Josie questions as she turns and heads to the door.

  Curiosity getting the better of me I follow behind her. Garrett trails behind as well.

  Josie stands on her tip toes and looks through the peep hole. She gasps and turns, leaning her back flat against the door. I can’t read the look on her face so I tug her away from the door and look for myself.

  I giggle now knowing why she reacted the way she did.

  I reach for the knob and Garrett grabs my hand preventing me from opening the door, uneasy after being unable to read Josie’s reaction. I wink at him and tug the door open.

  “Detective Perez,” I acknowledge him and pull the door open, the sight of Josie straightening her back and trying to hastily fix her hair catching my eye.

  “Alexa,” he nods my way. “Mr. Hale,” he holds his hand out to shake Garrett’s.

  “Garrett.” My lover corrects the golden skinned narcotics detective.

  “Sorry to bother you so early…” His gaze finally lands on Josie who was attempting to hide behind the door; his gloriously green eyes shine and his face softens at the sight of her.

  Josie is standing timidly to my right occasionally glancing towards Kaleb, the flush of her cheeks deepening by the second.

  “What can I do for you, detective,” I offer as a reprieve for Josie. I haven’t heard from anyone about the case since I completed the photo lineup right after getting out of the hospital.

  Kaleb clears his throat and slowly turns his attention to me. I can’t help but grin. Once his eyes meet mine, I grin at him and wink.

  “The District Attorney’s Office is working on getting Blake Evans’ case ready for the grand jury and they want you there to give your victim impact.”

  I take a step back, feeling Garrett’s hard chest behind me. I reach down for his hands, hoping it will calm the sudden tremble in mine.

  “Your testimony is vital for the case.” He reminds me. The same words he used at the police station a few weeks ago.

  “Okay.” I respond weakly.

  He reaches into the inside pocket of his suit jacket and I get a glimpse of his leather shoulder holster and large, black gun. The sight terrifies me and if it weren’t for Garrett holding me, I’d crumple to the floor.

  He hands me a folded up piece of paper. With trembling hands I unfold the paper and notice it’s a subpoena. I honestly didn’t have a choice. I raise my eyes and glare at him.

  He clears his throat, obviously uncomfortable. “The prosecution prepares subpoenas. I’m only the messenger.” He insists.

  I grin at his insistence. I know he’s only doing his job.

  “I can come get you and carry you to the courthouse if you need me to.” He offers.

  My body registers a low growl from Garrett. “I’ll make sure she gets there, detective.”

  Kaleb nods and reaches into his back pocket and pulls a few business cards out. I almost laugh knowing what is about to happen.

  “Well,” he hands me a card. “Call me if you need anything.” He reaches a card out to Josie and I see him wink at her. “My cell number is on the back.”

  He pulls his empty hand back, gives each of us a sharp nod, and exits the apartment.

  “Alexa?” I hear Josie’s feeble voice behind me. Without a word or look in her direction I hold the card over my shoulder and giggle when I feel her rip it from my fingers.

  I turn and walk back to my room, shaking my hands at my sides as I walk, attempting to rid myself of the nerves I’ve just been struck with.

  “What was that all about?” Garrett wonders, hiking his head towards the kitchen.

  “Josie?” He nods. I huff on another giggle. “She has the hots for the detective.”

  “She barely acknowledged him…” he drawls, stating the obvious.

  “Yeah, that’s Josie!” I sit down roughly on the bed.

  Garrett moves across the room, climbs on the bed, and pulls me across his body. “You going to be okay dealing with all of this?”

  I pull my head back and look in his eyes. “Are you going anywhere?”

  “Never.” He whispers against my lips before kissing me passionately.

  A note from Marie James

  This entire experience has been a whirlwind. By the time Coming to Hale was released Begging for Hale was nearly done as well. As I write this book 3, Hot as Hale is more than half complete (apparently it is more difficult to write when you are completing a book as well as promoting another!

  I still work full time and if it weren’t for the flexibility of my job, I’d NEVER be able to get anything done! My amazing husband has supported me every minute, giving words of encouragement and sometimes just downright bitching at me for not having it done faster! His support and guidance in all of this has been amazing and I’m blessed to have him. My children are too young to even understand my writ
ing (Thank God!!!) but they know when I am in the process of it that I’m happy and doing something I love!!

  My bestie Jody has been my biggest fan from day one and has also helped with edits and scenes throughout out the entire series. She’s invaluable to me and I’m more grateful than I can ever express!

  A few people I have met along the way that had they not jumped in and helped a brand new Indie Author out, I would have never survived. Shout outs to Author Kimberly Bracco, Christy Prichard, and Tammy Becraft. These ladies have been there anytime I had questions or needed support in the industry or even an ear to vent and bitch about the minutia of the process. I’m honored to know you guys!!

  Hot as Hale

  By

  Marie James

  Hale Series Book Three

  Copyright

  Hot as Hale

  Copyright © 2015 Marie James

  Editing by Jody Lynn and Mr. Marie James ;)

  Cover design by Kari Ayasha of Cover to Cover Designs

  EBooks are not transferrable. All rights are reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be scanned, uploaded, or distributed via the Internet or any other means, electronic or print, without the publisher’s permission.

  This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer’s imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale, or organizations is entirely coincidental.

  Prologue

  Kaleb

  “I can’t get enough of the way you smell,” I whisper into Josie’s neck.

  Rolling over and finding her asleep in my bed makes this the best day of my life so far. I hope it gets even better, I think, as I nip the bottom of her ear lobe and picture in my mind all of the things I’ve been fantasizing about doing to her.

  Somehow I’ve managed to help her overcome her shyness because nothing says ‘take me’ like her stark nakedness and the low moans coming from her throat. I lick her pulse point below her jaw as my empty hands fill themselves with her ample breasts. I pull my hands free as I bend my head down to watch my thumbs persuade her soft pink nipples to hardened peaks.

  “Josie,” I whisper reverently as her beautiful body responds to mine in all the right ways.

  My eyes meet hers and I swear I’ve died and gone to heaven. I know how cliché that is but seeing her beneath me, sprawled out on my bed, with her innocent eyes looking back at me is absolute nirvana.

  I slowly replace my hands with my hot, eager mouth and moan at the feel of her pebbled flesh against my tongue. After nipping at her right breast I shift my mouth and pay equal attention to its twin. I kiss down her slender, flat stomach and smile against her flesh as it jumps and trembles at my touch.

  I spend half a second dipping my tongue into her bellybutton; that’s all the restraint I can manage because even now I can sense the tantalizing smell of her arousal. I run my nose and release a hot breath against the soft golden curls at the apex of her thighs before slipping my tongue into her folds. I hear her whimper deliciously and buck her hips forcing more of herself into my open mouth. Heaven.

  Placing my hands on the inside of her thighs I push her legs further apart and place them over my shoulders.

  “Mmm,” I murmur against her entrance just as my tongue makes its inaugural dip inside of her quivering depths. Short of sinking into her I don’t see how this moment can get any better.

  I have to wrap my hands around her stomach to keep her from rotating her hips so I can continue to feast on her. The excessive churning on my mouth tells me she’s hungry for more. Locking my mouth on her clit I release her hip with one hand and slide two thick fingers into her core.

  A long moan and the tight clenching of tiny muscles in her core tell me I’ve just taken her over the edge. I lick, nip, and bite her clit until she stops squirming and releases a sated moan from her lips.

  Wiping my drenched mouth on the inside of her thigh I kiss up her body, her amazing breasts garnering the most of my attention as I make my way back to her mouth.

  I sit back on my knees so I can see as well as feel the very second my now painfully throbbing cock slips inside of her. Just before I breech her I hear my phone ring but there is nothing in this world short of this bed catching on fire that is going to keep me from sinking inside of Joselyne Bennett.

  The ringing stops and I look up to Josie’s eyes, deciding that the look on her face when I take her is more important than the sight of the act itself. And she’s…on the phone?

  Are you fucking kidding me?

  Not only is she on the phone but it’s like I’m not even in the room. Although she has a phone to her ear the ringing begins again. I close my eyes in absolute frustration at this entire fucked up situation and when I open them again I’m sprawled on my bed in my dark bedroom, rock hard cock in my hand.

  Fuck. The dream. Again.

  Chapter 1

  Josie

  The only possible thing that could make a left over bad weather day better is an impromptu visit from the sexiest man that I have ever laid my eyes on.

  Denver Police Department Narcotics Detective Kaleb Perez didn’t show up on my doorstep to see me, but that didn’t stop me from getting an eyeful while he was here. Ogling him every time I see him has become one of my most treasured pastimes.

  Alexa was shot in the back during a liquor store robbery three weeks ago. The shooter ended up being a former informant of Kaleb’s and that’s how he was involved now. I feel like a horrible friend for not comforting Alexa when she was just handed the subpoena, but Garrett was wrapped around her and I felt like an outsider.

  They just got back together yesterday after a horrendous three weeks apart and I didn’t want to step on any toes. She seemed to be in a great mood before he showed up and if the giggling and the deep timbre of Garrett’s voice coming from her bedroom was any indication, she, in true Alexa form was taking this in stride.

  I smile down at the business cards in my hand as I make my way into my bed room. I tug open the small drawer in my bedside table and place both Alexa’s card and mine with the other four I have collected over the past couple of months.

  My roommate Alexa and my older sister Lorali insist that Kaleb likes me and I’m sure he does, if the way he smiles and winks at me is any indication, but I refuse to call him. He’s the man and I’ll never be caught chasing after him.

  People would classify me as quiet and timid and I would agree. My heart races uncontrollably when I even think about him. When I see him, I can’t even speak. The one time I did dial his number to place the first call to him made my hands shake so much I couldn’t even manage to hit the green circle on my phone.

  I’m hopeless. I can admit that. I would say I have no shame about it and I’d love nothing more than to spend some time with him, but if he doesn’t make the first move I guess I’ll be stuck in limbo.

  My ringing phone makes my heart race, and my face drops when I see it is my sister Lorali calling.

  I clear my throat before answering. “Hey, Lorali.”

  “Josie?” Lorali questions.

  “Yes.” I answer.

  “Why does your voice sound funny? Are you getting sick?” If only I were.

  “Nope.” I reply, sitting back on my bed with my back against the massive pile of pillows at the headboard.

  “What’s going on?” she prods further.

  “Kaleb just left,” I smile wide when I hear her sharp intake of breath.

  “You called him?” she shrieks in my ear so loudly I have to pull it away from my face.

  “No!” I huff indignantly. “I didn’t call him! He came by to give Alexa some papers for a court hearing.”

  “Oh no. H
aving to do with the shooting?” I can hear the background noise surrounding Lorali fade out like she’s heading to an area with more privacy.

  “Where are you?” I look at my watch. Ten in the morning. What in the world is she doing?

  “Meeting with the wedding planner.” I hear her pull the phone away from her ear and inform Ian she will be right back.

  I huff loudly in the phone.

  “I called to ask if you and Alexa want to come down.” She replies clearly sensing my frustration.

  “I’d love to, but I think Alexa will decline.” I smile, knowing if I opened the door to my room I’d be able to hear her ‘other plans.’ ”

  “Josie, we’ve got to get her out of that apartment. She’s going to waste away!” I laugh. “It’s not funny Josie! She’s been holed up for weeks!”

  “Lorali! I’d be more concerned about dehydration at this point!” My entire body is shaking with laughter.

  “What are you talking about? Have you been experimenting with weird chemicals again? You’re not making any sense.” She sounds indignant and slightly pissed at my reaction.

  I have to consider for a brief second that she doesn’t know about Garrett and her getting back together. “Well…” I reply, waiting for her to calm down. “Garrett came over last night…”

  I pause, loving the feeling of knowing something she doesn’t since it doesn’t happen very often.

  “And…” She prompts.

  “They made up!” She’s shrieking in my ear again, causing another round of holding the phone away from my ear.

  She eventually calms after I hear her call out to Ian and tell him. “About fucking time,” he grumbles on the other end of the line.

  “Okay,” she’s calmer now. “Tell me exactly what happened.”

  “He showed up about nine last night. I don’t know much because I answered the door and left them alone. But when I got up last night to get a bottle of water from the fridge,” I lower my voice before continuing. “I heard moaning coming from her room.” I know my whispering voice is barely audible and she better have caught it the first time because I won’t repeat it.