Lust & Lies Box Set-Sexual Awakenings, Excess, Predator & Prey

“How long have you been using? Be honest.”

“Years.”

“Jesus, Amber, after—”

She pulled the hair away from her face as she glared at me. “I appreciate the maternal concern and all, but do I really need to point out now is not the time.”

“No, I guess—”

Before I had a chance to register what was happening, I was pulled out of my car by a dark shadow. I struggled and reached for my gun as the words he spoke knocked the wind out of me.

“Taylor Ellison, do you mind telling me what in the FUCK IS GOING ON?!” I paused in my struggle to look into the eyes of my lover and sagged in relief against him.

We walked a small distance away from the Chevelle as Daniello eyed Amber in the front seat.

“Your sister,” he concluded as I turned to face him and nodded.

I breathed in his scent that felt unnatural in the environment we were in and looked him over in the contrast of my headlights. He was dressed casually in jeans, a black T-shirt, and boots, and looked absolutely beautiful. I realized again that I had missed him and knew that was dangerous. The how and why he was here as he stood in front of me were far too much for me to wrap my head around. I hadn’t noticed the Glock in his hand until now, but the curiosity written all over his face was the most intriguing.

As much as the time didn’t call for it, all I wanted to do was melt into his arms, kiss him endlessly, and fuck him until I was covered in the smell of his soap.

Then I realized the SUV that had just saved my ass belonged to him.

“I thought you weren’t going to save me anymore.”

He grinned, suddenly amused as he answered me. “A woman brave enough to step out in front of a moving car full of bad guys while she fires a magnum deserves some help.”

I smiled back as we both chuckled together inappropriately.

“Who the fuck are you, Taylor Ellison?” He didn’t want an answer as he stepped toward me with kind and ever amused eyes.

“Who the fuck are you?” I countered, just as intrigued.

“Amon Daniello Stamatio Di Giovanni.” I cupped my mouth to stifle my laughter.

“I know it ridiculous,” he smiled.

“It’s ridiculous. Or it is ridiculous.”

“I save your life, and you still correct my English.” He gripped the back of my head, pulling me an inch from his lips. “I fucking need to feel this mouth.” I moaned in agreement as his lips crushed mine in a need-filled kiss. I opened for him and gripped his huge biceps as he pulled my taut body to his. Just as I was about to start begging to shed clothes, he pulled away.

“Come, I will take you back to Charleston.”

“I can’t leave,” I confessed, staring at the sharp grass between our feet. “I have to finish this. I can’t have it following me home.

“And what is this?”

I looked up at him with the truth. “A fight I started a long time ago.”

“Tell me,” he urged, taking in our surroundings. We were in the middle of nowhere, the Chevelle lights seeming to beam on forever in the distance. I wasn’t sure what else Laz had planned, but I knew staying idle like a sitting duck was asking for trouble. Sweat began to cover us both in the humid summer air.

“We have to get out of here. I don’t know how many more there are coming.” I paused, knowing my next words would anger him. “Thank you for the help, but you can go. I’ll see you back in Charleston.”

He stiffened, indignant. “I just shot three men trying to kill my woman.”

I couldn’t help but smile again. “And you were upset they were going to beat you to it?”

He looked down at me with intense eyes as he brushed the wind-blown hair from my face. “I saw the blood on your kitchen floor. I did not like the way I felt.”