Scarlet Nights (Edilean 3)

When she was near to peaking, he pulled her up, never breaking contact, and lay her down on the rug on the bathroom floor.

His thrusts were hard and fast, and went deep, deep within her. This time, she felt his climax as strong as her own.

Minutes later, they were in the tub together. Mike’s back was against the far end, and Sara was leaning against him. She kept glancing at her ring and looking at what she could see of Mike. Two weeks ago all she’d known of him was that he was Tess’s “mysterious brother.” When she’d first seen him, he’d been coming up through her bedroom floor, and she’d been terrified.

Now she was married to this man. There’d been no mention of love, and if it hadn’t been for her, she wouldn’t even have had a wedding night.

What she wanted now was a honeymoon.

“Are you looking forward to going home for a week?”

Mike was soaping Sara’s arms. He’d already poured perfume into her freshly washed hair and the scent was intoxicating. “No,” he said absently.

“But you must want to see your friends.”

“Yeah, I guess. Gym buddies and guys on the force.”

“What about other people you don’t work with? Just friend friends?”

Mike chuckled. “My life isn’t like yours. I go away on undercover assignments that last for years. I’ve worked in LA twice and once in Iowa and—”

“Iowa?” She turned to look at him. “Surely they don’t have crime in Iowa!”

Mike laughed at her joke. “Evil is everywhere, even in sweet little Edilean, Virginia.”

Relaxing, she leaned back against him. “No friends, no place to live. It doesn’t sound like a true home.”

Mike kissed her earlobe. “I make do with eighty-degree winters and palm trees blowing in the breeze.”

“And nightclubs with gorgeous Cuban girls?”

Mike nuzzled her neck. “I never noticed them.”

“Mike, I was thinking. Maybe—”

“No.”

“No to what?”

“No, you can’t go with me to Fort Lauderdale.”

“I didn’t ask you if I could, but now that you mention it …”

“I have to work. I’ll be at the office at seven and won’t leave until ten at night. You don’t realize how big this case is. The Feds are—”

“Did you tell them to get dogs for Mr. Lang?”

“Yes. I’ll probably bring them back with me. They’re Airedales.”

“So you found a breeder?”

“It’s Florida, so of course we found a breeder.”

“Did I ever tell you I’ve never been to Florida? Joce grew up in Boca Raton and she’s told me wonderful things about the place.”

“No, you can’t go,” Mike repeated. “When I get back I need to let everyone in this town know that we’re married. Luke said there are games at the fair, so I’ll need to win them. That’ll draw lots of attention to us. Then—”

“Ha!” Sara wasn’t happy about being left behind. “The Fraziers always win the games. There’s the cable toss, where you have to throw a telephone pole. I’ve seen Ariel’s oldest brother, Colin, lift the front end of a pickup truck.”