Hale Series Boxed Set

by Marie James

  “Your friend that visited you in the hospital?” Ian asks in recollection.

  “Yep. I’ll email you her information.” Alexa offers.

  Ian nods in appreciation. I know how much of a relief it will be when he finds someone he trusts to take over that workload.

  Chapter 7

  Kaleb

  It’s late by the time we make it home from Ian and Lorali’s. After hours just hanging out in the pool talking we played a few hands of poker. It’s the first time I’d played poker with Ian in months. It, of course, had a totally different feel with the girls around than a poker night with just the guys.

  Josie decided it was time to go once Alexa, after a few glasses of wine, suggested the next hand include strip poker. I agreed with her quickly and Ian and Lorali started yawning, suddenly too tired to play anymore. Garrett sure as hell has his hands full with that hellcat but he and Alexa seem like they were made for each other.

  “Mariposa?” I whisper in Josie’s ear after tugging the truck door open in the garage. She doesn’t even stir.

  She’s fallen asleep on the drive home so I reach in and sweep her up in my arms to carry her to bed. I run my nose along the curve of her jaw. She’s practically weightless and incredibly tiny in my arms; and I can’t wait to be able to carry our child exactly the same way.

  I lay her softly on our bed and slowly begin to undress her as gently as I can. I know she’s tired just being pregnant but coupled with a full day in the sun she has to be exhausted. I slip her shirt off and unhook her bra. I run my fingers down her arms taking the lace lingerie with them; my need to touch her is palpable. A trail of goose flesh follows my fingers down her arms. Unsnapping her jeans I tug them down her hips, leaving her green silk panties on. I kiss the top of each of her feet as I free them from the legs of her skinny jeans.

  I see her shiver and I’m hit with a pang of shame. I’m standing here undressing her slowly, torturing myself; all the while she’s cold and uncomfortable. Way to be a dick, Perez.

  I tug the blankets over her legs and pull it up to her chin. She immediately snuggles into their warmth. I turn to leave the room and hear her voice.

  “Baby?” The sound of it soft and comforting.

  I turn back to her and stroke a blond wave of hair from her cheek so I can look into her sleepy eyes. Love. Her amazing blue eyes shine with love for me.

  I gently kiss her lips. “I’ll be right back. I have to feed Mia and let her out to use the restroom.”

  She nods her head gently in understanding. “Love you,” she whispers as her eyes drift closed once more.

  “Te amo, Mariposa,” I declare, my lips brushing her forehead.

  ***

  “I need you,” I hear as Josie’s breath ghosts across my cheek and her tight, silky core wraps around and sinks down on my engorged cock.

  I go from deep sleep to wide awake in the span of less than a second. I was having what I thought was a dream of her stroking my length. I never saw her face in my dream but her touch is something that has been ingrained and seared on my brain since day one.

  I open my eyes to find her on her knees, bouncing up and down my erection vigorously. I reach up and grip her hips to slow her movements. I was so close to orgasm in my dream it’s about to come to fruition embarrassingly fast.

  “Fuck, Josie,” I pant out. “Slow down.”

  She whimpers when I hold her hips static, preventing her from moving. I reach my hand between her legs and sweep my thumb over her engorged clit. She responds by clamping her hands over her full breasts. Her hips begin to buck as she gyrates her hips against my thumb.

  She throws her head back and moans loudly and I feel her insides grasp at my length repeatedly. Thank God!

  I lift her hips up and slam her down twice and then I’m releasing into her. She gives me a sleepy grin and collapses on my chest. I think we’re both back asleep before our heart rates return to normal.

  ***

  My vacation ends Monday at four in the morning with a phone call from the county jail forcing me to unwrap Josie’s delectable body from mine. I love being a cop but I wish criminals would take a damn day off once in a while.

  I grin as she grumbles when I try to maneuver myself out from under her. I lift her arm from my chest as she squeezes me harder and growls.

  “Did you just growl at me?” I lean in to kiss her and she just grumbles into the mattress. I sweep her wild, sleep tussled mane of gorgeous blond hair out of her face. “I couldn’t hear you, Mariposa.”

  She turns her head only slightly, “I asked if you wanted me to make you a lunch,” she mumbles from the corner of her mouth.

  “I have a better idea. Why don’t I come home and have you for lunch?” Her offer to get out of bed and take care of me, even when I know it’s probably one of the last things on Earth she wants to do right now has me rock hard.

  She moans softly and I can feel her weight shift under the covers, no doubt she’s rubbing her thighs together.

  “Keep it warm for me,” I plead before kissing her head one last time and hitting the shower.

  The drive to the county jail was quick since no one in their right mind is up and about this early in the day. Once I arrived I checked into the front desk and met up with the patrol sergeant who’s doing me a solid by letting me come in and talk with a guy I’ve been looking for.

  Felipe Espinoza is a middle level man with the Cortez Cartel. He has a misdemeanor warrant out of Denver PD for a domestic assault on a girlfriend last year. He was booked, released, and blew town all on the same day when the girlfriend signed an affidavit of non-prosecution. He’s a smart player and knows exactly how to play the game. I don’t expect him to say a thing but I’m also not going to turn down the chance to speak with him.

  I step into the interrogation room just as Marco Hernandez is cuffing him to the table. I recognize Marco as the jail sergeant that was in charge the day Blake Evans was murdered in the jail bathroom. Blake Evans is the bastard that not only almost killed Alexa when he shot her, but set into motion a series of events that ended with Josie being kidnapped and starved for nearly three weeks; which consequently also ended with the death of three people during the shoot out during Josie’s rescue.

  Without making eye contact Marco slithers out of the room without so much as a nod of his head acknowledging my presence. I have the utmost respect for all people in law enforcement but that guy rubs me the wrong way. He seems like the type of guy who cuts corners and doesn’t give a shit about his job, and that mindset gets people killed.

  Felipe Espinoza is a weather-worn man, with a paunchy gut, tattoos on his neck, and a front gold tooth. He seems dirty with greasy hair and a sneer which would make almost any man think twice about crossing him. Not the type of man I’d want to meet in a dark alley, but I have a job to do.

  I lean against the wall from him with my legs crossed at the ankles and my hands resting in my pockets. I’m going for nonchalant but I get the feeling that Felipe has seen the inside of an interrogation room many more times than I have.

  “What’s the Cortez Cartel doing in Denver?” I ask finally breaking the silence.

  Felipe doesn’t respond and he actually seems to be looking through me rather than at me. I know he’ll never answer my questions which pisses me off even more considering I had to leave Josie alone in our warm ass bed for this bullshit, for that alone I want to slam his head into the table.

  “Only two people above you in the cartel and your ass gets stopped for running a red light because you can’t pay attention enough when getting road head?” I bark out a laugh. “Cartel’s really scraping the bottom of the barrel these days I see.”

  He sneers at me, his menacing gaze holding mine. Hello, Felipe glad you could join me.

  “I’m here on a misdemeanor warrant, Detective.” He spits my title out like it’s a hunk of rotten meat in his mouth. “I’ll be out of here in less than forty-eight.”

  I laugh again and see the flash
of confusion on his face when I don’t take the bait.

  “You’re right about that, Mr. Espinoza.” I agree with him quickly. “Less than forty-eight actually. Transport is already being setup for later this afternoon.” He narrows his eyes at me and I continue. “Denver only has you on a misdemeanor, but SoCal has more than a dozen federal charges waiting for you. “You’ll be eating breakfast at MCC San Diego tomorrow.” I unfold myself from against the wall and smile. “I’m sure the Denver charges will be left pending indefinitely.”

  I hear him mutter “Puñeta” as I turn and walk out of the room. Fuck is right Mr. Espinoza.

  I close the door behind me and grab the first uniformed deputy that I see. “Let Hernandez know Espinoza is ready to go back to his cell.”

  “Marco just left,” He informs me. “Said he had food poisoning or some shit.” I glare at him. He was literally just in the interrogation room and seemed fine with me.

  “I’ll let them know to get someone down to get him.” I nod at him. Better.

  Chapter 8

  Josie

  The suggestion of wedding shopping last week was terrifying until Ian offered the help of Ramon, his bodyguard. I’ve had a hard enough time alone in the house while Kaleb has been at work this week. I’ve practically barricaded myself in our bedroom, as far from the front door as possible. I even lock the bedroom door and Kaleb has to knock when he comes home for lunch. I haven’t left the house except with Kaleb and I’m a little more than mildly apprehensive about him not being with us today.

  When I agreed to go wedding shopping with Lorali and Alexa I didn’t even consider that Kaleb would be home and I would be gone. He has been my lifeline lately and I’d much rather be wrapped around him napping in our bed than doing any sort of shopping. I know I need to get out and get back to some form of normal life but my hands start sweating and my body trembles when I just think about it.

  “I can’t wait to marry you in a few weeks,” Kaleb says as he kisses my shoulder.

  I’m in front of the bathroom mirror in nothing but my bra and panties pulling my long hair into a messy bun.

  “You sure you’re okay with a small wedding?” He’s agreed to every suggestion that I’ve had about our nuptials, but I wonder if he would have a difference of opinion if he didn’t think I was so fragile.

  He grins at our reflections as he wraps his arms around my waist. “I don’t want you to take this the wrong way.” My body stiffens at his warning. “I’m less concerned about decorations and location and more looking forward to our first kiss as husband and wife.”

  “Really?” I whisper my body relaxing.

  “I mean don’t get me wrong, I can’t wait to see you walking down the aisle to me, but I’m most excited about getting my ring on your finger.” He runs his nose along the column of my chin, his hot breath sweeps across my shoulder eliciting a wave of goose bumps down my body. “I need to know you’re mine.”

  I hum my approval. “I’m yours now, baby,” I assure him as I swivel my hips against his towel covered erection.

  “Are you nervous about today?” He asks as his hand drifts over my lace covered center. I nod slightly because honestly I am. “Let me see if I can relax you then?”

  He turns me in his arms and gently glides me backwards until my thighs are touching the sink and then he pulls my panties to the side and sinks two fingers in deep. “I wouldn’t want you leaving here nervous.” he pants in my ear as I moan from his touch.

  “So wet for me already,” he murmurs against my neck. “So greedy. You’re clenching around my fingers already.”

  My eyes roll in my head as he begins to stroke that delicious spot he always gravitates to. My legs begin to tremble and I’m near collapse as Kaleb runs his other arm around my back and lifts me to sit on the edge of the sink counter.

  “Still nervous?” His eyes are dark green and his mouth is slightly open to allow for harsh intakes of breath and I love that he’s just as affected by me as I am by him.

  I nod my head and bite my lip; toying with him.

  He grins salaciously and drops down to a crouch between my legs. “Let’s see what we can do about that.”

  My head hits the mirror at my back when my body arches into his mouth. I pull my legs up and place them on his shoulders; his ears and the scruff on his cheeks deliciously abrading the delicate skin on my inner thighs. I pick up my hands from down by my hips to grip his head, the action causing me to lay further back. I hiss at the shock of cold of the mirror against the heated skin of my back.

  Kaleb continues to flick and tease my outer bundle of nerves with his tongue while his fingers probe and torture my core. I’m breathless and teetering on the edge of no return when he pulls his mouth away.

  “Kaleb,” I beg as he also pulls his fingers from me and rubs my slickness on my swollen tissues.

  “I crave you, Josie,” he admits with a gentle kiss against my body giving my sensitive clit one final lick before moving his face further up. “I love you, baby,” he whispers against my lower tummy, a declaration to our unborn child.

  When he fully stands the towel around his waist falls to the floor and my eyes gravitate to the thick, proud erection jutting toward my center. My tongue sweeps my lower lip just before he leans his mouth down to mine. Slowly he feeds himself into me and I wrap my arms and legs around him.

  “Like this,” he says as he untwines my legs and places my feet on the counter, my legs spread wide. I move my hands back down by my hips for balance. His cock at my core is the only point of exquisite contact between our bodies.

  We both bend our heads down and watch as he glides inside of me. I moan as he slowly finds the end of me and withdraws. His hips begin a slow, torturous rhythm and the fire he’d been stoking rages to life once more.

  “Harder,” I beg.

  He grunts as he cups my ass in his huge hands and lifts me off the counter, my legs instinctively wrapping around him. Within seconds I’m bouncing up and down his length, my arms gripping his shoulders.

  “Yes,” I praise him as my core prepares for release. Less than a handful of thrusts later and I’m shoved over the edge of reason. “Kaleb!” I shout as the throbs turn to a full blown explosion.

  He’s patient with me and gently thrusts in and out of me, draining each aftershock from my body.

  “My turn,” he says as he places me on my feet, turns me around, and folds me over face down on the counter. I’m wound tight again the second he slams into me from behind.

  Both of his hands grip my hips as he pistons in and out of my body. When his orgasm finally hits he’s holding me up and my toes are not even touching the floor. The throbbing spasm of his length inside of me sets off another explosion in my core and I’m a whimpering mess by the time he pulls out and carries me back to the shower.

  ***

  “I’m glad we’re doing this,” I say to Alexa and Lorali through the curtain as I slip a dress with an empire waist over my head. I really like this one and the price is better than the others I’ve tried on today.

  Kaleb gave me his credit card as I was leaving the house and told me to have fun with it but I feel awkward about it. I know we’re getting married but I feel selfish spending his money on clothes and a wedding when we have a baby coming. We haven’t spent time talking about finances or the specific logistics of being a family.

  I shake my head as I step out of the dressing room, trying to clear the self-doubt and shame that hits me when I think about how everything in my life has happened all at once.

  “Yes!” Alexa encourages me and Lorali gasps and brings her hand to her throat.

  “It’s perfect Josie,” my sister says with a huge smile.

  I do a little spin. “I think so too,” I agree with her.

  “What about shoes?” Alexa asks. “I have a perfect pair of Minolos!”

  I clear my throat to begin explaining about our wedding. “I’m planning to wear flats because we’re getting married at the house.”
>
  Lorali beams. “Kaleb’s back yard is perfect. His view is amazing, an excellent back drop for a wedding.”

  Alexa nods in agreement. “Guest list?”

  “Family and a few close friends.” I tell them as I swish the dress around my hips in front of the mirror. “Super small. Maybe thirty people tops.”

  “Is that what you want?” Leave it to Alexa to not beat around the bush. I love and hate that about her.

  I meet her eyes in the mirror and smile. No sense in being dishonest. “It is now.” I shrug my shoulders.

  “What does that even mean, Josie?” Lorali crosses her arms over her chest.

  I sigh and flop down on the couch in the small dressing room. “It means that I never pictured myself being pregnant when I got married.” I fiddle with the hem of my dress. “I never saw myself getting abducted either.”

  “Oh, Josie,” Lorali says as she sits beside me and takes my hands in hers.

  I smile at her. “What I pictured was finding the perfect man who treats me like a princess and loves me unconditionally, and I found him. I always thought I’d be courted and wooed and then I would get married and plan a family. I never thought I’d fall in love in less than a week and get pregnant practically the first time we made love.” I raise my head and in this exact moment let go of every ounce of shame I have about my situation.

  “This may not seem like a fairy tale to others, but this is my fairy tale. I just didn’t have to wait months and months like others do to find my true love and happily ever after.” I grin at both of them.

  “I totally get it,” Lorali agrees. “It was pretty much that way with Ian and I…well except for the baby part.”

  “Same here with Garrett,” Alexa concedes and I know she’s talking about the love aspect of it and not marriage or children.

  I slap my legs and stand up, ready to continue on with my day. I pull the tag from under my arm and wince slightly. It’s less expensive than some of the other ones but I’ve never spent five hundred dollars on a dress before.