He rose over her, bracing himself on his arms as he looked down at her. Those blue eyes met his and she smiled as her hips rose to take him. One thrust and she came again as he drove deeply into her. She felt so good, so tight and so good. Plumbing her depths again and again, stroking, driving deeper, ever deeper. She tightened, tightened. His mouth closed on her breast and she quivered and arched and he exploded within her as her legs locked around him. They shook together, clinging to each other.
“God, I love you,” he said, looking down into her beautiful blue eyes, at her softly swollen mouth, the arching eyebrows so dark against her white skin.
Her hand was trembling as she lifted it to touch his face.
Cupping her cheek in return, Matt kissed her gently, lovingly, as he lowered himself to her side and drew her close.
“Stay with me. Marry me.”
“Yes,” Ariel said, smiling radiantly.
“Darrin and I talked. We have a job for you here if you want it. Doing what you and I have been doing but more legitimately. The family business, you might say and keeping it in the family. We’ve needed someone with computer skills.”
She started to laugh, “Yes, okay, yes.”
Matt smothered her with kisses, covered her with kisses, curled her within the safety of his arms and swore he would keep her there forever.
Chapter Twenty One
The hot breeze lifted her thick black waves, blowing it back from her face and her dress against her body so it clung to the rich curves of her. The sunlight glowed on her white skin. She seemed to reflect the light as she walked out of the airport. If anything she seemed to shine even more brightly than Matt had ever seen her. Her skirt swirled around her shapely white legs. Ebony and ivory. Except for her brilliant blue eyes and the touch of rose in her lips and cheeks.
“She’s beautiful, isn’t she, Darrin?” Matt said.
Smiling, Darrin said, “You’re besotted, son but yes, she is.”
She wasn’t expecting him, she didn’t know he’d come back early from his last investigation but he was hoping to surprise her.
It was instinct, or proximity, something. A sense of him. Ariel looked up and saw him.
His golden hair was tousled by the breeze, his brilliant green eyes lighting up as he saw her. Her heart caught at how gorgeous he was. The sun glowed golden on the clean lines of his face, the straight nose, the firm lines of his mouth. He had dressed up somewhat, wearing a pair of crisp black jeans, a white shirt, a black denim jacket and his best boots. She smiled at how well they suited his long legs and broad shoulders.
“Matt!” she shouted and then she was running down the steps toward him.
He was out of the car and striding to catch her up in his arms, fill them up with her. Her arms twined around his neck. His mouth was locked on hers, devouring her, one arm curled around her firm bottom as he lifted her up, burying the fingers of the other in her hair to pull her mouth to his and savor the taste of her.
Ariel was hungry for him, desperate for the feel of him. Trying to crush her mouth on his, her arms were tight around him to feel his strong body against hers again. Indecorous it might have been but she wrapped her legs around his waist as he crushed her against him.
He carried her that way back to the car.
“God, I missed you,” he said.
“I missed you, too,” she said, as he reached for the door handle then swung her around to settle her in his lap before he closed the door.
Definitely against all the driving codes but he’d pay the fine. Darrin had already moved into the driver’s seat.
“Hey, sprite,” he said, grinning.
She leaned across to give him a kiss on the cheek. “Hey, boss.”
Darrin was definitely a much better boss than her last. Not to mention father-in-law.
Settling back in Matt’s lap she draped an arm over his shoulder as he stretched the seatbelt across them both. He wrapped his arms around her.
“I thought you weren’t due back for another week or so,” she said, looking over her shoulder at him.
“I wrapped it up as quickly as I could, I missed my bride.”
He was so aware of her firm bottom in his lap.
She smiled radiantly. “I missed my husband.”
“We knew that you wouldn’t want to miss this, either,” Darrin said, gesturing, as he found a place to park.
Ariel untangled herself as Darrin gave her a hand out of the car.
The three of them walked to the edge of the small crowd. In the grand scheme of things, it wasn’t a major event for most people, except for all those who’d lost their life savings. Mostly those who could afford it the least.
The formal press conference by the Attorney General regarding the case against Genesis, Marathon, et al. The sun glittered off booms and microphones, beating down on the mass of reporters and passersby on the shallow steps. A hot breeze blew hard, making the flags snap and the chains holding them ring against the poles. There was a low murmur from the crowd, a restless sound and the whirring of cameras.
A tall barrel-chested man, the Attorney General stepped up to the podium to announce the indictments against Marathon and Genesis, their corporate officers and the charges against Genardi and Lovell. Those charges included murder in the second degree for Thomas Genardi in the death of William Parkhurst. Genardi had been careless in a lot of ways.
Once questions were raised about Bill’s death, they were able to prove that both Bill and Genardi had been in Marathon’s San Diego office on the night of his death. That had led investigators to a memo from Genardi to Lovell noting that Bill had accessed certain files in the computer, raising a red flag within Marathon, with a request from higher ups to ‘take care of the problem’. It was enough to use as leverage against the stooges. The assault and kidnapping charges against them for the events at the ranch convinced the stooges to testify against Genardi and Lovell in exchange for a deal.
Additional evidence in the form of a cell phone had been found in Mr. Genardi’s possession. The flurry of calls to a certain number around the time of Bill’s death had been damning. Once the murder charge was laid, Genardi had been more than glad to trade a lighter sentence to turn on Lovell to imply Lovell had ordered it.
There was a burst of questions from the surrounding reporters.
It had been a long investigation but it had started here and here was where they’d decided to finish it.
The investigation proved the two companies had conspired together to defraud thousands, to artificially raise or lower the prices on a variety of commodities, and as part of an enormous Ponzi-style scheme. By their interference and knowledge of the situation, they were able to predict the trends well in advance, thereby encouraging investors to place their money with them, to everyone’s profit. The corporate officers had also profited from their insider knowledge, knowing when to invest their money and when to bail out.
Matt’s arm tightened around Ariel.
“You got him, Matt,” Darrin said, with satisfaction. “You got the man that killed Bill.”
Nodding, Matt said, with a grin, “With a little help.”
The three of them turned to walk away.
Ariel gave Darrin a nudge with her shoulder.
“So, Darrin,” she said, smiling, “Which do you prefer, Grandpa or Granddad?”
Both men stopped dead in their tracks, turning to look at her.
For a minute, Matt just stared at her.
Her smile was radiant as Matt let out a shout and swooped her up in his arms.
“Granddad might do,” Darrin said, considering it. “Granddad might do very well.”
#####
About the author
Valerie Douglas is a prolific writer and a genre-crosser, much to the delight of her fans. A fan of authors from almost every genre from Isaac Asimov to Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, she writes classic fantasy, romance, suspense, and as V.J. Devereaux, erotic romance. Who knows what will pop up down the road!
/> Happily married, she's companion to two dogs, four cats and an African clawed frog named Hopper who delights in tormenting the cats from his tank.
You can find more information at www.valeriedouglasbooks.com
Other Novels by Valerie Douglas
Fantasy
The Otherling series:
The Coming Storm – Elon of Aerilann, Elven advisor to the High Council, helped negotiate the alliance between Elves, Dwarves and men. Suddenly he finds that fragile truce threatened from without by an unknown enemy and from within by old hatreds and prejudice. To preserve the alliance he may be forced to choose between his honor and his duty.
A Convocation of Kings – sequel to The Coming Storm. A shadow has fallen over the Kingdoms and once again Elon, Colath, Jareth and Jalila are called to answer it. One ally is lost but another returns while a terrible tragedy nearly costs them a third. Now a member of the ruling Council, Elon of Aerilann and his companions, Colath, Jareth and Jalila are forced to fight for the Alliance they've given everything to preserve, even as a breath of hope is offered...
Heart of the Gods – Tales of the fabled Tomb of the Djinn and its Guardian have fascinated archaeologist Ky Farrar since a visit to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo when he was a boy.The story of the star-crossed lovers and their battle to save ancient Egypt from the Djinn made him choose his career. He believes he’s finally found it - only to discover the Tomb's Guardian is all too real. And she's as lovely as she is lethal. Ky, however, isn't the only one searching. It's a race to reach the Tomb before the others accidentally unleash what lies within it in their effort to claim the ancient artifacts which lie within - the legendary Horn of the Djinn and the Heart of the Gods..
Servant of the Gods – Orphaned as a child, Irisi became a mercenary to survive. Captured by the Egyptian army and made the spoils of war, she finds herself drawn to their commander. Though the attraction is mutual even he can't save her from enslavement and she's forced to fight in the ring for entertainment. In a desperate attempt to regain her freedom she throws herself on the mercy of the Gods, only to discover that her fate is written in prophecy…
Romance:
The Millersburg Quartet Series
Irish Fling – Ali was the smart one, but brains didn’t stop her from crashing and burning. A desire to connect with her roots takes her to Ireland, and a chance meeting with internet mogul Aidan O’Connell. Even brilliant Ali with her nearly photographic memory doesn’t see the danger lurking when she sees the wrong thing.
Dirty Politics – Returning to her hometown, practical Cam Kenyon discovers her teenage crush Noah Denton is running for D.A. When she discovers that his opponent is going to indulge in dirty politics, she throws her support to him, accidentally resurrecting an old enemy.
Director’s Cut – When bad-boy director Jack Tyler comes to town to rediscover his passion with the local community theater group, teacher and theater geek Molly has to decide whether to take a chance on him. When his past catches up with him and he seems to be returning to his old bad habits, she has to decide whether to fight his demons alongside him.
Two Up – Sculptor and welder Jesse was always the wild child, her only family her three friends. A chance meeting with novelist Mitch Donovan gives her a chance to make a new life. For Mitch meeting Jesse gives him new inspiration, but that new inspiration comes at a terrifying price.
As V. J. Devereaux – available from Ellora’s Cave Publishing
Night Moves
Cherry’s Jubilee
Special Delivery
In the Flesh
Demon’s Kiss
New Releases coming from Alexandria Publishing Group
Glass Block – D. Kai Wilson-Viola
Second Death – Donna K. Fitch
The Devil’s Diary – Paul Kater
The Shadow Bearer – Terry C. Simpson
Table of Contents
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty One
About the author
Lucky Charm Page 31
