by Marie James
“No, Lor.” I watch her face fall. “I’m not going to impose on your day. It’s already bad enough your baby sister got pregnant and is having a shotgun wedding.” The words are out of my mouth before I even think about them and they cause me to realize just how much shame I’m harboring from doing things out of the order of social norm.
“Josie, stop!” Lorali hisses. “Do not talk like that. You guys love each other and from the way you were before you were taken, we all knew you guys would fast track things even if you didn’t get pregnant.”
“He moved you in his house in less than twenty-four hours,” Alexa adds.
“Daddy is mad,” I add.
“Daddy,” Lorali says drawing his name out. “Is upset because he regrets not sticking around to make sure you were safe before going back to Fort Collins.” She clasps my hand in hers. “Just like guilt is eating Kaleb alive because he feels responsible for your kidnapping.”
I start to cry at the idea of the two most important men in my life struggling with guilt over something that was beyond their control. “There was no way for them to know,” I sob.
She squeezes my hand tighter. “I know that, and you know that but you’ll never get those two to understand it; they’ll be fine with time.”
“And you’re knocked up so that will be the happy ending to all of the trauma everyone has been through.” Leave it to Alexa to tell it like it is!
Chapter 38
Kaleb
Josie had to stay in the hospital for three more days and was miserable the entire time. She couldn’t stand that everyone was hovering over her and I could tell she was ready to throw everyone out of her room when she realized we had all made a pact that she would not be out of sight of at least one person from the group for no longer than the time it took for her to shower in her room. I swear Alexa and Lorali would make horrible police officers; they can never keep their mouths shut.
We’ve been home for two days and aside from our brief trip to the doctor to check Josie’s baby hormone levels this morning, we haven’t stepped outside. Mia has taken to following Josie around the house and whimpering if she’s left on the other side of a closed door. The Chief has allowed me to take some extended vacation time and I have no plans on letting Josie out of my sight anytime soon.
I see Josie yawn as she turns the page on her newest pregnancy book. I swear she’s been devouring all the information that she can since she found out. She started in the hospital and hasn’t slowed down yet.
“Let’s go take a nap, my love.” I pull the book from her hands and lay it upside down on the table, making sure her spot is saved.
She nods and squeals when I sweep her up in my arms and carry her to our bedroom like the bride I hope she will be very soon. I lay her down gently on the bed but she rolls over and slips off the other side. I angle my head in confusion.
Realization hits my cock the second her eyelids dip and she runs her tongue over her bottom lip. If I had any doubt about what she’s doing it’s extinguished the second she whips her tank top off and slides her yoga pants and underwear down her slender legs.
The irritated spots on her hips and legs are beginning to fade and it looks like they will all heal without scarring. I know she’s been worried about it, but she came back whole to me and I love her regardless of if she came back with permanent war wounds.
“You’re over dressed,” she whispers as she seductively climbs on the bed and crawls to the center of the mattress.
“That so?” My voice is hoarse and full of lust. She nods and traps her bottom lip between her teeth. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“Yes,” she says as she slowly lowers her hand down her stomach.
I’ll never be able to resist her if she dips her-“Fuck,” I groan as she slides her delicate finger through her folds and directly inside of her. “I don’t want to hurt the baby,” I say in a last ditch effort to wait longer.
“You won’t,” she assures me as her eyes drop to my waist. The sweats I put on after we got back from the doctor this morning are doing nothing to hide the throbbing erection that’s tenting them.
“I don’t want to hurt you, Mariposa. It feels like forever since we’ve made love. I don’t want to lose control.” I have to be honest with her because the very last thing I want to do is take her too roughly. She’s been through enough.
Her smirk seems out of place until she pulls her fingers from her body and slides off the bed in front of me. She raises her glistening fingers to my mouth and I moan as her taste hits my tongue.
She slides her free hand around and grips the nape of my neck, forcing my head forward until I’m at eye level with her. “You won’t hurt me. I’m sure of it, but if you’re not then we just need to make some adjustments. Get on the bed, Kaleb and hold your hands over your head.” She pulls her fingers from my eager mouth and kisses my mouth passionately.
Just before I slide on the bed she reaches around my waist and rips my sweats down; my erection freed and bobbing under its weight. I nearly come when she wraps her tiny hand around it. The light slap on my bare ass has me moving forward and climbing on the bed.
Once settled I look back over to her and she’s climbing on the bed holding my handcuffs.
“Josie,” I whisper as she inches closer.
“Officer Bennett,” she corrects. “You’ve been a naughty boy, Detective Perez. Are you ready to be interrogated?”
I shake my head, but hold my hands out and allow her to cuff them over my head to the headboard. I’ll feel better with her in charge. “I’m not going to be interrogated. I plan to corrupt you, Officer Bennett.”
“Is that so?” I lave the tip of her breast as she reaches behind me to adjust my arms. My cock jumps at the guttural sound she makes at the contact. She arches her back and pushes her breast further into my reach.
“Mariposa,” I whisper against her breast. She pulls away and looks in my eyes. “Stand up. I need to taste you.”
“Who’s in charge here?” Her voice is playful but she gasps as I lean in and nip her breast with my teeth.
“You are, of course,” I wink at her. “Stand…please.”
She complies, but does so as slowly and seductively as she possibly can. I rattle the cuffs against the head board and look up at my hands and groan. I look across the bed and yep, there on the bedside table is my watch which just happens to have the hidden key compartment in it. I am literally at her mercy this time.
Her gaze follows mine and she smirks as she realizes what the watch means. She’s so fucking smart and that is one of the sexiest things about her.
“Please,” I beg again just as she stands fully in front of me. I strain my neck forward and my own little piece of heaven is mere inches from my face and just out of my reach.
Having pity on me she shuffles her feet forward and holds onto the very top of the head board as she shifts her hips resting her center right in front of my mouth. I attack her, licking and sucking her lips and swollen clit into my mouth, nipping at the inside of her thigh when she tries to close her legs.
She comes violently and without warning and I lap at her until the surfeit of sensation causes her to rip herself from my mouth. We’re both panting as she sinks down on my lap and rests her head on my shoulder. I nuzzle my nose into her hair, content on her being against my body.
She hums low and the sound echoes in the form of a twitch in the ignored and engorged head of my dick, which happens to be situated between our bodies. She giggles and reaches her hand between us to lightly stroke up and down my length. The cuffs rattle against the headboard again and a moan comes from deep in my chest.
She nips my ear. “Want my mouth on you?”
She tightens her grip and deepens her strokes. I lean my head back. “No, I want to be inside of you when I come. I won’t last if your lips are on me.”
“You sure?” she asks as she begins to shift her weight away from me, preparing to lean her hot mouth to my cock.
> “Later,” I promise her.
She straightens back up and holds my volatile cock in her fist as she slowly sinks down on to it.
“Fuck,” I hiss. She’s tighter than I remember. In an effort to distract myself from the sudden heat that’s enveloping me I bend my head down and lap at her breast, pulling her tightened nub into my mouth. She groans and begins to bounce erratically up and down my length.
Her plans of teasing and seduction flew out the window the second I dipped inside of her. I love her like this, wild and out of control, but if she keeps it up I’ll blow before she even gets close.
“Play with your clit, Josie,” I command as I shift my hips back in an attempt to prevent her from going so deep, which is a sure way to make me come.
I flick my tongue harder against her perfectly pink nipple as she begins to sweep two fingers against the hardened nub at the apex of her thighs.
“Oh God!” She screams
“Please, Josie!” I beg and explode. I feel her insides clench just as the second pulse of come jets out of me! “Thank fuck!” I scream.
She collapses against my chest and I can feel our combined juices as they slide out of her and snake down my still tight balls. It seems like forever before our breathing calms and our raging heart rates slow.
“The cuffs,” I remind her. “I want to hold you.”
She grumbles against my chest and I can feel her smile against my pectoral but she shifts her weight to get my watch from the bedside table causing me to slip wetly out of her. The cold air of the room hits my scorching hot cock and I miss her warmth immediately.
It only takes what seems like twelve hours before she can figure out how to extract the key from the side of my watch.
“Having trouble, Officer Bennett?” I say, trying not grin at her.
She reaches up to uncuff my hands. “Shut it, perp.” She whispers in my ear.
Once my hands are freed, I wrap my arms around her still too skinny waist and hold her against me. This may be the first time we’ve made love since she was rescued but we have been tangled around each other for the past forty-eight hours.
“Shower with me?” She asks against my chest.
“Every day, for the rest of your life.” I whisper against the top of her head.
Acknowledgements
This is always the hardest part…not because it is difficult to thank and appreciate people, but because there are so many people that help to make any one book come to fruition.
First and foremost I want to thank my husband. Not only is he one of my editors but he also sits down with me and helps me work through my story line and come with plausible ideas for the books. He’s my rock and I couldn’t ask for a better man to support me dreams as an author and too help raise the two boys I love dearly but don’t always understand that even though I’m here some days I’m actually not.
My bestie Jody Lynn is always supportive and around to help work out plots and twists. She edits and reedits, providing recommendation as to where I can add more or when things don’t make sense.
I’m forever grateful to my beta team who help me any chance I ask and who pimp me without provocation. Tammy, Brenda, Jessica, and Diane….these books wouldn’t be a success if it wasn’t for you ladies.
I want to thank Kari Ayasha of Cover to Cover Designs for the incredible book cover. You are always on point and I love your creativity. Huge thanks to Enticing Journey Book promotions, Bare Naked Words, and Give Me Books for their promotional expertise and help getting the words out about Hot as Hale.
Last but not least I want to thank all my fans and readers who have been on this ride with me. The gals at One Click Addicts have been instrumental in making sure people know about the Hale Series. Also a huge appreciation for the ladies in the Fictional Ho’s room for their continued support.
Of course I can’t end this without giving a huge shout-out to my fellow Smuffins. You ladies keep me sane with the pictures of hot men and have fed my new (not so appropriate) appetite for all things Tumblr.
Thanks! As always, it’s been One Hale of a Ride!!!
~Marie James
To Hale and Back
By
Marie James
Hale Series Book Four
Copyright
To Hale and Back
Copyright © 2015 Marie James
Editing by 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.
Chapter 1
Josie
I lean back on my heels on the bathroom floor. Whoever said morning sickness only happens in the morning was a liar. I knew it was a possibility because I read it in several of the pregnancy books I’ve been scouring. Up until this point I haven’t felt any different. My body has been extremely sore and I’ve been incredibly tired but I just chalked that up to being tied up in a closet for over two weeks.
“Oh, Josie,” I hear Kaleb say softly just as I feel his hand rub small circles on my back. I turn my face to look at him, not able to control the huge grin on my face. “You’re smiling? You just got sick.”
I nod at him and my smile grows at the look of utter confusion on his face. “The books say that morning sickness means the hormones are high, which is usually a sign of a growing baby.”
I pray that it’s true. I was shocked to find out we were expecting. I mean who wouldn’t be. I’ve been on birth control for years to help moderate my cycle and it’s quite possible that we conceived the very first time we made love. I can’t imagine having a baby with anyone else, even though it’s super early in our relationship. What concerns me the most in the whole situation is that the doctors found trace amounts of methamphetamines in my bloodstream. That, coupled with the fact that I’d practically been starved and left to die in my own bodily filth, has the doctors keeping a very close eye on me. My hCG hormones have been doubling like they are supposed to and that is promising. I’ve known for less than a week about this baby and I’m already invested more than I ever could have imagined.
“You okay now?” His voice is full of love and concern. I know in any other situation his actions since we’ve been back home would be considered hovering, but I like that he’s been so attentive. I know it won’t last forever and eventually it will begin to annoy me, but for now it’s just what I need; a loving touch and gentle voice to let me know we are in this together.
I nod my head and let him help me from the floor. A shiver reminds me that I had to run out of the shower when the nausea hit and I’m still sopping wet with shampoo in my hair. I make a quick detour to rinse my mouth and brush my teeth before stepping back into the shower with Kaleb.
I tilt my head back and let him rinse the suds from my hair. The feel of his hands working conditioner into my hair feels wonderful. A low hum escapes my lips.
“Feel good?” He whispers against my neck.
I hum again. I’m exhausted and I’m certain the sex we had moments before getting into the shower cancelled out the nap we took after getting back from the doctor this morning. I do however have enough energy to soap up the shower sponge and run it over every inch of Kaleb’s golden skin.
We spent the next half hour in the shower kissing, petting, and caressing each other. Not one word was spoken as we showed each other
with our hands and mouths how we felt for each other. It was absolute heaven.
The second I walk out of the shower Kaleb is wrapping an incredibly fluffy towel around my shoulders and he guides me to the edge of the tub and uses another equally soft towel to dry my hair.
“You’re pampering me,” I tease.
“For the rest of your life, Mariposa,” he vows just before planting a soft kiss on my temple.
How in the world did I get so lucky? Not taking into account the horror of the past couple of weeks I can’t help but wonder what I did to land not just an incredibly sexy, skilled lover, but a man that seems to want nothing but the chance to please and worship me. I let fear settle in my gut, not able to keep the thought that the other shoe will drop and something tragic will happen. The perfect guy and the promise of a family? No one gets as lucky as I have.
“What’s wrong?” He must have noticed my mood shift. I’m not very good at hiding my emotions.
I don’t want to give a voice to my fears; doing so will give it even more power. “I’m just tired.” I stand from the edge of the tub, making sure that my towel is wrapped snuggly around me as I unwind the cord from the blow-dryer.
I begin to dry my hair and watch in the mirror as Kaleb dries his body. Although he’s so economical about it, for some reason it’s incredibly sexy. I lick my lips and bite my tongue; my body going from tired to needy with a mere glance at his sculpted form.
He looks up just as he swings the towel around his back to dry his shoulders. Noticing the look in my eyes his movements falter and his lip twitches in a partial grin. The sight of his sudden yet still growing erection makes my breath hitch. I shake my head and smile; he’s well aware of how he affects me.
“What?” He asks as he drops the towel and stalks toward me.
I turn the blow-dryer off and place it on the counter just as his muscled chest hits my back. I suddenly regret the towel that is still currently wrapped around me, my body craving the skin to skin of his touch.
