Dead Little Darlings
Page 20
A man who didn’t steal lives or exact cruel punishments.
I tore my eyes from her then ran to save the baby. I had to take the newborn to the church. Give her a chance for a good life.
I couldn’t hurt the little girl who’d seen me. She was innocent. She hadn’t yet sinned. She didn’t deserve to be punished.
That night I passed the torch to someone else. Another Punisher who would exact justice for those the system failed.
I would watch the little girl as she grew up though. Make sure she didn’t tell.
I knew her mother. Where she worked. Where they lived. How her mother guarded her and worked hard to keep her safe and raise her right.
The terror in that little girl’s eyes haunted me though. She was my hell. My punishment.
She was also my chance at redemption.
For her, I vowed never to hurt another person in my life.
Marilyn shivered, too stunned to speak. She looked up at Ryker with tears swimming in her eyes. “He saw me. He watched me.”
“And you stopped him, Marilyn. Don’t you see?” He rubbed her arms. “You were afraid he got away with more murders because you didn’t come forward, but he didn’t.”
The guilt that had eaten at her slowly dissipated. Confusion followed. She wanted him to be all bad. Had seen him as a monster.
But he had been torn.
Still, it didn’t excuse cold-blooded murder.
But . . . was he so different from the Keepers? And who had taken up the reigns of the Punisher once he gave them up?
“Are you all right?” Ryker asked softly.
She released a weary breath. “I will be.”
He feathered a strand of her hair behind one ear. “You are amazing, honey. We make a pretty damn good team. You and me.”
“You think so?”
“Yes,” he said gruffly. He took the page Eaton had written, put it back in the baggie and in his pocket. Then he took her hand and led her to the bedroom. “I almost lost my mind when you were missing. It only reinforced what I’ve been thinking.”
“And what is that?”
“That I can’t live without you,” he said in a raw whisper. “That we belong together.”
She looped her arms around his neck and kissed him again, her guilt and anguish slipping away as he stripped her robe. “I think so, too.”
He wet his lips hungrily. “Maybe we should consider making a permanent arrangement.”
Marilyn’s throat thickened with emotions. “Ryker?”
“I love you, Marilyn.”
She swallowed hard. “I love you, too.”
“Then marry me,” he murmured.
Marilyn pressed her hand against his cheek. “Yes. But only if you promise to make love to me tonight.”
He scooped up and carried her to bed. “Tonight and every night from here on after.”
Seconds later, their lips and bodies melded, fiery passion exploding between them. He kissed her bruises and planted sweet tongue lashes along her sensitive skin, suckling her nipples until she begged for more. He slid down her body, teasing her with kisses along her belly then her inner thighs. She clawed at his shoulders, urging him to make love to her.
But he wanted to give her pleasure first, so he raked his tongue along her inner thighs then dipped it inside her heat. She was wet and tasted like passion and desire, stirring his hunger, and he teased her until she cried out his name as her orgasm rocked through her.
His own need escalated, and he rose above her and thrust inside her. This time when he joined his body with hers, it felt different, not just physical. Their love intensified the erotic sensations pummeling him, and made him feel closer to her than he’d ever felt to anyone.
She whispered that she loved him again, her breath bathing his neck. Her soft husky voice triggered his own release, and he thrust deeper. She wrapped her legs around him, clawing his back as he drove them both over the edge.
He held her tight, loving her as their bodies quivered in the aftermath of their lovemaking.
When their breathing finally slowed, he rolled her sideways and looked into her eyes. “Did you mean it when you said we could make it permanent?”
“I meant it,” she whispered.
He snagged his jeans from the floor and removed a velvet ring box from the pocket. Marilyn’s breath gushed out as he opened the box to reveal a sapphire and diamond engagement ring.
“I got sapphire because it’s your birthstone, and the day you were born was the best day of my life.”
Tears filled Marilyn’s eyes. “I don’t know what I did to deserve you.”
“You are just you,” he murmured. “The woman I love.”
She kissed him, then pulled back and watched as he slipped the ring on her finger. “One more question,” he asked softly.
Their gazes locked. “I told you everything,” she said. “No more secrets.”
He wiggled his brows in a teasing gesture. “You didn’t say if you wanted children.”
Marilyn cradled his face between her hands and looked into his eyes. “I would love to have a baby with you, Ryker.”
His heart swelled with love, and he closed his mouth over hers and kissed her again. Marilyn was going to be his wife, his friend, his lover, and the mother of his children.
“Speaking of mothers,” he said. “Mine wants to meet you.”
Marilyn laughed. “Do you think she’s ready to have me as a daughter-in law?”
Ryker feathered a strand of hair from her forehead. “Of course she’ll love you because I do.”
Marilyn looked skeptical, but he would keep reassuring her until she believed him, just as he’d reassure her of his love every day for the rest of their lives.
Acknowledgments
I have several people to thank for helping this project come to fruition:
First, Dayna Linton for her help in doing all the things I can’t do—formatting the book, connecting me with a new artist, and for getting the word out on social media! You are a godsend!
Also, thanks to Kim Nadelson, the fabulous copy editor who helped fine tune the manuscript, for forcing me to add more romance, and for always encouraging me to make my book better.
To Lisa Russo Leigh for proofreading, line editing, and her words of praise for the story.
And last but not least, to Jeffrey Olsen for creating a beautiful cover.
Also, thanks to the readers of the KEEPERS series! Happy Reading!
Other Books
If you liked Dead Little Darlings then please write a review on Amazon! You can also contact Rita at www.ritaherron.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter @ritaherron!
The Keepers Series
Pretty Little Killers (Book 1)
Good Little Girls (Book 2)
Little White Lies (Prequel to Dead Little Darlings – Book 3)
Dead Little Darlings (Book 4)
The Manhunt Series
Safe In His Arms (Book 1)
Safe by His Side (Book 2)
Safe with Him (Book 3)
The Graveyard Falls Series
All the Beautiful Brides (Book 1)
All the Pretty Faces (Book 2)
All the Dead Girls (Book 3)
The Slaughter Creek Series
Before She Dies (Prequel)
Dying to Tell (Book 1)
Her Dying Breath (Book 2)
Worth Dying For (Book 3)
Dying for Love (Book 4)
The Demonborn Series
Heartless (Book 1)
Mindless (Book 2)
Soulless (Book 3)
Rita’s Lighter Side
Marry Me, Maddie
Sleepless in Savannah
Love Me, Lucy
Husband Hunting 101
> Here Comes the Bride
There Goes the Groom
Single and Searching
Under the Covers
About the Author
USA Today and award-winning author Rita Herron fell in love with books at the ripe age of eight when she read her first Trixie Belden mystery. But she didn’t think real people grew up to be writers, so she became a teacher instead. Now she writes so she doesn’t have to get a real job!
With over ninety books to her credit, she’s penned romantic suspense, romantic comedy, and YA stories, but she especially loves writing dark romantic suspense tales set in southern small towns.
For more on Rita and her titles, visit her at www.ritaherron.com. You can also follow her on Facebook and Twitter @ritaherron.