by Shayla Black
“Faster!”
“Not until I make you come,” he gritted out between clenched teeth. “Once you’re there…”
Couldn’t he feel her tightening around him, clamping down on him? Her folds swelled. The need ratcheted up so hard and fast Karis found herself wrapping her arms and legs around him, pressing her lips across his bulging shoulder when she wasn’t panting in his ear.
God, this need felt as if she hadn’t had sex in four years instead of four weeks. She rocked under him, lifting and rolling with him, welcoming him deeper than ever. He gave more. Need gripped her. She was going under again. Holy hell, no man had ever driven her to two monumental orgasms in under ten minutes. A few had even spent hours trying to get one from her and left empty-handed. But Cage touched her in every way, even her heart. It swelled and beat and filled as he did the same to her pussy.
As she sat on the precipice of orgasmic bliss, Karis sank her fingers into his shoulders and squeezed hard.
He read her signals. “Oh, cupcake… Yeah. Give it to me.”
Then he pistoned into her faster. The ache grew to something that nearly engulfed her, gnawed at the last of her composure, and now threatened to swallow her whole. Her body pulsed and jolted as she cried his name, giving him every bit of her bliss.
And her heart.
Yes, she’d feared this man would steal her heart on New Year’s Eve, but now it was official. She loved him. Actually loved him. She’d been infatuated with guys enough to know the difference. She’d seen her mother “fall” enough to know when it wasn’t real.
Her heart told her this was love.
As if he felt it too, he groaned as he emptied inside her with short, sharp thrusts and buried his head in the crook of her neck. When he came up for air, he looked right into her eyes. “I love you.”
She smiled at him. “I was…um, just thinking the same about you.”
His grin overtook his whole face. “Were you now? You sure you don’t need round two in order to know for sure?”
Karis loved the way he played in bed. She loved the way she felt cherished when she was with him. Heck, she loved everything about him.
She slapped on an answering smile. “You know, I just might…”
* * *
Can a man die of happiness? That question circled Cage’s brain as he lay beside Karis. She’d tangled her arms and legs up with his, resting her head on his arm. Her lashes swept dark half-moons over her cheeks. Absently, he brushed his fingers through her silky hair as she slept.
The two days of sex, sun, and talk they’d shared had been amazing. Idyllic. Exactly what he’d needed to be sure Karis was his future. They might be opposites, but they had a surprising amount in common. They wanted the same things out of life—marriage, family, happiness. She was still a little skittish, and he understood with her background. But he also wasn’t giving up. Cage intended to leave here knowing Karis Weston was his.
What he didn’t like was how quiet Miguel had gotten. Maybe the asswipe would just go away since Cage had made it clear the waiter couldn’t fly under his radar anymore. But his gut told him Miguel wasn’t a quitter. He was even more convinced after Trees called back to say that several past female hotel guests had registered complaints about the wannabe Romeo’s forward behavior. And what do you know? Several had reported their passports stolen, too. No one had fired the little shit because the manager of the property, Raul Nabaté, was his uncle. And no one had caught Miguel red-handed.
Cage intended to change that.
With any luck, Karis’s new passport would come in today so they could get out of here, go home, and start their future. He was still plotting the best attack plan—besides beating the devil out of the prick—when his cupcake stirred beside him.
“Morning.” Karis stretched with a smile. “What should we do today? Yoga class starts at ten. Interested?”
Cage kissed her forehead. He already knew from inquiring that Miguel was due to report to work at the same time. That would be his best opportunity to resolve Karis’s Latin-lover problem. If his hunch wasn’t right, Cage would have another man-to-pipsqueak chat with Miguel after he filed a formal complaint with hotel management and hoped they did something this time. But he’d rather not leave anything to chance.
“Nope, but you go ahead. I’ll check on your passport while you’re downward dogging. If it’s ready, I’ll see about getting us some flights home. If not, we’ll grab some beach time.”
“Then a sultry siesta?” she suggested with a wink.
“Is there any other kind?”
Karis laughed, and he held her close as they dipped in for a quick shower…that turned into a deep, slow orgasm. Then they grabbed some breakfast from the buffet, and Cage started feeling her out on the subject of a deeper commitment. He was getting green-light vibes when she suddenly looked at her watch.
“Damn. I’ve got less than ten minutes until class starts. I need to go.”
“I’ll walk you there and meet you when it’s finished.”
She stood and kissed him slowly. “I’ll thank you properly later.”
“I’ll definitely look forward to that.”
As their embrace ended, he saw Miguel in his peripheral vision. The asshole hadn’t missed their exchange. And since he was wearing his starched uniform, he must be on duty. Perfect.
After a glare Miguel’s way, Cage escorted Karis to the yoga studio, then dashed through the lobby and exited the hotel, catching a taxi. He had just under an hour to dig up some answers.
Since Trees had hacked the resort’s entire file on Miguel Nabaté, including his home address, Cage intended to make full use of the information. No, he wasn’t playing by the rules…but neither was Miguel.
Hoping the guy lived alone, he exited the taxi in front of the old, blue-stucco apartment building. “Wait here.”
When the driver nodded, Cage sought out apartment 201. It took less than two minutes to find the door, pick the lock, and begin sifting through the cluttered space. Cage thanked his police training. He’d searched hundreds of locations and had a nose for contraband. He’d find whatever Miguel had stashed here. Maybe he should feel bad about the illegal search and seizure. But he didn’t—in the least.
What a fucking slob. Cage grimaced at the nasty pad just before he struck gold. Inside the drawer of a dresser, he found a half dozen passports, all reported stolen—including Karis’s.
“Gotcha, you motherfucker.”
Shoving them all in his pocket, Cage rearranged the apartment exactly as he’d found it, then locked the door behind him. A glance at his phone told him he had thirty minutes before Karis’s yoga class ended. She would be safe with the others until then.
Jumping back into the taxi, Cage urged the driver to floor it to the hotel. Everything was going according to plan…
Until he returned to the resort’s yoga studio and found Karis gone. With the class in session, he couldn’t ask anyone questions.
Cursing, his heart pounding, Cage dashed to their room to see if she’d returned there. Empty. Nor could he find her in the gym, hanging around the lobby, or by the pool…
Don’t panic. Don’t panic. He repeated the litany over and over. It didn’t help.
When he poked his head into the restaurant where Miguel worked, he couldn’t find the creeper there, either. That made Cage’s gut tighten with worry even more. When he stopped a pair of waitresses to ask around about Miguel, they shrugged, swearing they hadn’t seen him in a while.
Son of a bitch. Raking a hand through his hair, Cage forced himself to think. Where would Miguel have taken her? He’d have many options, and the resort was too big to search quickly without help.
Hotel security. Cage sprinted to the guard station and found a strapping guy in a pseudo-police uniform, baton at his side, shiny shoes gracing his feet. His name tag proclaimed him Mateo. Yeah, this guy was mostly for show, but he had a gleam in his eyes like he was itching for real action.
Cage rolled
the dice and hoped for the best. “One of your waiters, Miguel Nabaté, has a habit of stealing women’s passports so he can strand them at the resort and seduce them. The guy took my girlfriend’s passport a few days ago.” He tossed the collection of official documents he’d collected at Miguel’s apartment on the counter. “And now she’s missing. I need help finding her ASAP. He’s potentially dangerous.”
The guard flipped quickly through all the passports and swore. Face tightening, he barked a few words of Spanish into the walkie-talkie sitting near his elbow. After a few static-filled replies, Mateo regarded Cage with fury.
“Mr. Nabaté has been warned repeatedly that his nephew is a liability. Everyone on property is looking for Miguel now. A scan of the employee parking lot indicates his car is still here. No one has seen him leave the property. Where did you last see your girlfriend?”
When Cage explained, Mateo called to speak with the yoga instructor. The exchange was brief, and when it ended, the guard nodded as he hung up. “Your girlfriend stayed for roughly half the class, then excused herself because she received an urgent note. The instructor did not know what it said. I will access the camera feed in the common areas to see if I can ascertain what happened next.”
“Great. Can I help?” Cage flashed his Dallas PD badge.
Mateo was taken aback, but shrugged. “Of course.”
After a quick troll through the security footage, they finally spotted Karis leaving the yoga studio. She paced down the hall, then passed through the lobby. She didn’t glance twice at the elevators, but dashed through the double door outside, toward the ocean, looking frantic. She paused on the back patio and looked around, glancing at the note in her hand.
Miguel wandered into the shot a moment later, said something in her ear, and patted her on the back. Seconds after, she went limp in his arms. Then the dirtbag dragged her behind a bush and down a little-traveled path, out of the shot of the camera. The time and date stamp said that had happened twenty minutes ago.
Cage’s heart stopped. He’d gone out of his way to reconnect with her after their New Year’s fling. They’d cleared the air and gotten truly close. It couldn’t be too late. “What’s down that path?”
The guard shrugged. “A liquor storage shed for the bar.”
“Take me there.” It wasn’t a request.
Mateo didn’t hesitate. He bellowed into the walkie-talkie, then strapped it to his belt before leading the charge out the back of the resort.
The crashing waves of the ocean and the sound of his pounding heart were all Cage could hear—until they were mere feet from the shed. Then Karis’s scream of terror split the air.
Breaking out in a cold sweat, Cage lunged for the door and tried to rip it off its hinges. Of course, the bastard had locked it.
“Get me in there,” he growled at Mateo.
But the tall guard was already shoving the key into the lock and wrenching the door open. Cage shouldered the guy out of the way and found Karis trapped in the corner, holding the strap of her torn bikini with one hand and threatening Miguel with a hefty bottle of booze in the other.
Cage saw red. Karis was his. No other man would ever touch her, especially against her will.
Miguel whirled to the sound of the interruption with a snarl. Cage charged him and grabbed the waiter by the back of his stiff jacket, punching him in the jaw. “I warned you. Back away from my girlfriend.”
“Cage!” Her voice trembled.
He wanted to go to her, comfort her. First, he had to deal with the threat.
“It was a simple misunderstanding,” Miguel backpedaled. “She said she wanted a tour of the private areas. I misinterpreted her request and—”
“Fuck you. I found the passports you’ve stolen from other women in your apartment. Security knows. Your uncle soon will, too. You’re going down. And you’re not putting another finger on my woman—or any other—for a long while.
Miguel sputtered and blanched. “No. No, I—”
“Shut up, asshole.” Karis swung the bottle and broke it over his head.
The scent of cheap gin doused Miguel as he crumpled to the ground.
It was over. Thank god.
“We apologize profusely, señorita,” Mateo said as he motioned to his peers to take Miguel’s inert form from the shed.
Karis looked away from the sight, flinging herself against Cage with teary eyes. “Thank you. The note said you were hurt and needed me.”
“Miguel tricked you.”
She nodded. “I feel so dumb. I didn’t think. Thank you for coming after me…”
He cradled her face in his hands. “I always will. I love you, cupcake. You okay?”
“Yes.” She hugged him, silently assuring him. “You got to me before…”
Cage knew all too well what Miguel had intended. He’d seen the angry lust in the man’s eyes. He’d seen that same look in others he’d arrested, too. He held her as tightly as he dared, grateful she was safe in his arms.
“I’m so damn glad.” He caressed her back with a soothing touch. “I found your passport. You want to go home?”
Obviously, there would be a security interview, police reports, and other official stuff first. But Cage was determined to get her on a plane tonight.
She nodded, tears spilling. “Yes.”
“You got it. Would you…um, want to move in with me when we get there?” As soon as the words slipped out, Cage almost groaned aloud. Could his timing be any worse?
“Yes.” The emphatic nod of her head backed up her answer.
He hesitated. Since everything between them was going surprisingly well, maybe he should go for broke. “How about if we got married, too? Maybe it’s too fast but I know how I feel about you.”
“Yes.” Karis pressed a kiss to his lips.
The grin that crossed his face spread through his whole body. “Really? You want to marry me? You’re not just saying yes on autopilot?”
An adoring smile creased her face. “I know what I feel, too. You’re the love I’ve been looking for since I stopped believing in fairy tales. I’m not saying yes on autopilot. I really would love to be your wife.”
“Well, all right! Let’s go home, get a ring on your finger, and start our lives.” He helped her attach her torn strap, then took her hand in his and led her outside.
They emerged into the waiting crowd of security. The police took Miguel away, and his uncle frowned fiercely, shaking his head.
Once the red tape was behind them and they were waiting at the gate for their flight home, Cage kissed her softly. “Hey, fiancée. I love you.”
She cupped his cheek, looking deep into his eyes. “You’ve made the dreams I stopped believing in come true. I love you, too.”
Cage knew he’d never get tired of the view. “And just think, all the cupcake I want for the rest of my life. Hmm. I’m hungry right now…”
Karis laughed as they boarded the plane to start their perfect future.
Read on for excerpts and more by Shayla Black!
DEVOTED TO PLEASURE
Devoted Lovers, Book 1
By Shayla Black
Coming July 3, 2018!
The first in an all-new sexy contemporary romance series from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shayla Black.
Bodyguard and former military man Cutter Bryant has always done his duty–no matter what the personal cost. Now he's taking one last high-octane, high-dollar assignment before settling down in a new role that means sacrificing his chance at love. But he never expects to share an irresistible chemistry with his beautiful new client.
Fame claimed Shealyn West suddenly and with a vengeance after starring in a steamy television drama, but it has come at the expense of her heart. Though she's pretending to date a co-star for her image, a past mistake has come back to haunt her. With a blackmailer watching her every move and the threat of career-ending exposure looming, Shealyn hires Cutter to shore up her security, never imagining their attraction will
be too powerful to contain.
As Shealyn and Cutter navigate the scintillating line between business and pleasure, they unravel a web of secrets that threaten their relationship and their lives. When danger strikes, Cutter must decide whether to follow his heart for the first time, or risk losing Shealyn forever.
MORE THAN WANT YOU
More Than Words, Book 1
By Shayla Black
Now Available!
Click HERE to purchase!
A sexy, and emotional contemporary romance series by Shayla Black…
I’m Maxon Reed—real estate mogul, shark, asshole. If a deal isn’t high profile and big money, I pass. Now that I’ve found the property of a lifetime, I’m jumping. But one tenacious bastard stands between me and success—my brother. I’ll need one hell of a devious ploy to distract cynical Griff. Then fate drops a luscious redhead in my lap who’s just his type.
Sassy college senior Keeley Kent accepts my challenge to learn how to become Griff’s perfect girlfriend. But somewhere between the makeover and the witty conversation, I’m having trouble resisting her. The quirky dreamer is everything I usually don’t tolerate. But she’s beyond charming. I more than want her; I’m desperate to own her. I’m not even sure how drastic I’m willing to get to make her mine—but I’m about to find out.
This book is the first in the More Than Words series. The books are companions, not serials, meaning that backstory, secondary characters, and other elements will be easier to relate to if you read the installments in order, but the main romance of each book is a stand-alone.
This book contains lines that may make you laugh, events that may make you cry, and scenes that will probably have you squirming in your seat. Don’t worry about cliffhangers or cheating. HEA guaranteed! (Does not contain elements of BDSM or romantic suspense.)
* * *
“This will be our last song for the set. If you have requests, write them down and leave them in the jar.” She points to the clear vessel at her feet. “We’ll be back to play in thirty. If you have a dirty proposition, I’ll entertain them at the bar in five.” She says the words like she’s kidding.
