“Yep. Darker and more dangerous than yours. Protective and possessive. An absolute.” He pushed away from the wall and reached for her arms. “Mine’s tinged with your light now and has been since the first time I kissed you. No matter what, green eyes. You live here.” He patted his chest over his heart. “I love you, Piper.”
She faltered. “I’ve never trusted a man before.”
“I know.”
She lifted her chin. “I trust you.” Moving where she wanted, she stood flush against his chest. “I love you, Jory.” Stretching up on her toes, she slid her mouth against his. Life was too damn short for uncertainty or taking things slow.
A sound of welcome rumbled up from his chest. A sound of home.
He tugged her into him, a haven of warmth and safety. And electricity. Taking over the kiss, he delved deep, giving her everything she could ever want. Home. Security. Love.
Life was good… and they now had time to live it.
CHAPTER
31
SHANE DEAN SHOOK water from his wet hair and crossed into the bedroom, his heart thumping hard in a second. Josie sat cross-legged on the bed, her face scrubbed fresh in the shower they’d just shared. He’d taken her twice, and now, seeing her there, he hardened again.
“You’re gorgeous, Angel,” he said.
She rolled her pretty eyes. “You’re insatiable.”
“Yep. So are you.” He tuned his extra senses into the sounds of the house, relaxing when everything came back familiar.
“Is Mattie okay?” Josie asked.
Shane rubbed his chin. “Yeah. He and Laney are chatting it up in their bedroom.” Shane’s hearing was strong enough when he wanted that he could actually listen in on their conversation, but he gave them their space. “Discovering we might have other brothers out there hit Matt hard. We’ll have to track down the lead and see if it’s true.”
“What about you?”
He shrugged. “I’ll get worried when we find out if the file was true or just Madison messing with us.”
Josie nodded and rubbed a bruise on her arm. “The kids had fun playing ball.”
“So did you.” He reached her and studied the bruise. “But you got hurt.” Damn it. How had he let her get bruised?
She rolled her eyes. Again. “It’s a small bruise from sliding into second. You’re just mad you didn’t get me out.”
Truth be told, he’d fumbled on purpose because she’d been so damn cute sliding. “You were too fast for me.”
“Right.” She smiled up at him—his perfect, stubborn, beautiful angel. “Having the kill chips out is so surreal, I’m not sure what to do with myself now.”
He chuckled. She knew better than to open herself up like that. So he set a knee on the bed and flattened himself over her, careful not to squish her. “Well, I’ll see what I can come up with.”
Her pretty blue eyes sparkled, and she slid her hands over his bare shoulders. “You know what I meant.”
He did. Having the chips out didn’t even seem real to him yet. Having a house full of grandparents and kids didn’t seem real, either. “You know how much I love you, right?”
Her smile softened, and her eyes darkened. “I do know. I love you, too.” Amusement curved her lips. “According to Grandpop Jim, we’re the only ones here not living in sin.”
Shane chuckled. “We’re an old married couple, are we?”
“Sure.” She wiggled her butt in a way that enticed him. “Do you think we’re safe here?”
“I promise we are.” There wasn’t anything he wouldn’t do to keep her safe and happy. “Trust me.” Years ago, when he’d met her on a mission, he’d promised her forever. The words were a cover, the meaning behind them absolutely true. Now, he had the chance to make it happen. “Forever, Angel.”
Matt Dean leaned against the headboard, his arm around a snuggly woman. Laney placed her hand over his heart and her head on his shoulder.
Pure trust.
She caressed him. “Are you sure you’re all right?”
He tightened his hold. “I’m fine. I don’t mind losing a game of baseball, especially when Jory kept making up new rules.”
Laney snickered. “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.”
He sighed. “I know. There was always a possibility of more brothers out there, considering we were created in a lab. Finding out that they might exist isn’t a shock to me. Stop worrying, sweetheart.”
“That’s my job,” she said lightly. “Now we have grandparents, kids, and a whole lot of brothers in love with pretty great women. I know you, and I understand how you take responsibility for everyone. For safety, for protection, for their lives.”
Yeah, but he didn’t have a life without them all. Not one he’d want. “This is the good stuff, Laney. The responsibility is part of what we want and need.” Plus, it wasn’t like he was alone in this. He’d trained his brothers until they’d nearly dropped, and they could take care of themselves and anybody they loved. “By the way, you were pretty damn amazing taking out those chips the other day.”
She shrugged. “No biggie.”
He loved it when her words were country and her infliction all Ivy League. “The best moment in my entire life is when you found me in that alley,” he murmured, brushing her hair off her shoulder.
She patted his chest. “Mine was the first time you kissed me.”
“That made you mad.” He smiled.
“You’re dangerous when you kiss.”
Hell, he didn’t know how to be anything but dangerous. “I appreciate your moving to Montana and putting up with my, ah—”
She chuckled and threw a leg over to straddle him, her palms flat against his chest as her butt settled on his thighs. “Your possessiveness? Bossiness? Extreme need to keep me secure and safe?”
His lids half lowered. “Yeah. That.” Reaching for her waist, he tugged her closer, moving her along his shaft. Fire shot through his skin.
Desire flushed across her high cheekbones. “Since the chips are out, do you think you’ll relax now?”
Man, he wanted to reassure her. To even lie to her. “No.”
She coughed out a laugh.
He shrugged. “We’re safer, but I wouldn’t say safe.” And if anything ever happened to her, he’d be destroyed. “I’ll give you everything I can in this life, Lane. I promise.” While keeping her safe.
“Hmmm.” She played with his chest. “How about a baby?”
They’d never talked about kids. Longevity hadn’t seemed possible, but now with the chips out? “You want a baby?” The idea of a little girl with Laney’s pretty eyes warmed his heart.
She shrugged. “Watching Audrey throw up constantly hasn’t quite won me over, but perhaps? What do you think?” Her chest lifted, and he could tell she held her breath.
He ran his hands down her toned arms, nearly overwhelmed with emotion. “I think we should start trying right now.” Her chuckle as he flipped them over slid through his skin and into his heart. Where she belonged.
Nate Dean tossed the pregnancy book across the room. “This thing doesn’t make any sense.”
Audrey kicked her foot while sitting on the edge of the bed. “Morning sickness is normal.”
“Not all day.” He scrubbed a hand through his thick hair. Feeling helpless pissed him off, and considering he spent tons of time pissed off, he was tired of it. “We have to fix this.” Seeing her in pain cut him deep.
She shrugged, her stunning blue eyes sparkling. “I just finished eating dinner, and I haven’t gotten sick. In fact, I feel pretty damn good.” She patted her belly. “You’re just worried about Mattie, and you can stop that. He’s fine.”
Nate paused and focused on the woman who held his world in her delicate hands. “He’s fine?”
“Sure. You’ve known there could be other brothers, so it isn’t a shock. Yes, Matt feels responsible for everyone, but you all do that. The chips are out, and there’s time to find these other brothers before my p
sychotic mother gets to them.” Audrey glanced toward the door. “Was there dessert?”
“You’re sure? Matt’s okay?” Nate studied her. The woman was a genius and read people better than anyone he’d ever met.
“Yes. Would I lie to you?” Amusement lifted her lips.
He narrowed his gaze. Nobody could lie to him, considering one of his gifts was to discern any falsehood. The woman was telling the truth. “You’re a smart-ass, you know that?”
She shrugged. “Takes one to know one.” Then she patted the bed. “Maybe you should do something about that.”
He grinned. “You sure?”
She lifted a shoulder, pushed off, and bounced toward the door. “If you can catch—eek.”
He easily caught her, wrapping an arm around her waist and lifting her back to the bed. “You were saying?”
She pouted even as he lay her down. “You could at least give a girl the idea she has a chance.”
“Oh, baby. You definitely have a chance.” He tore the shirt over her head.
She laughed, cupping his jaw. “I love you.”
The words were simple, but for him, they dug deep and healed. Every damn time she said them. “I love you, too.”
She shifted against him. “Prove it.”
Now that he could do. His mouth took hers, promising everything he’d held inside for so long. Everything he was.
Jory tucked Piper closer into his side and tuned into the sounds of the house. He’d had to really block noises for a little while, considering there were many private celebrations going on for hours. They’d have to talk about building individual homes throughout the ranch soon.
Piper stirred against him and shoved curly hair from her eyes. “What are you smiling about?”
“I’m happy.” For the first time in as long as he could remember, the rioting in his head, in his chest, had quieted. “You make me happy.”
She grinned and caressed his chest. The woman liked to touch, and she did it naturally and without thought. So it meant more than he could express. Instead, he placed his hand over hers. “You’re going to marry me, you know.”
She stilled. “Marry?”
“Yep.” Sure, it was too soon to ask, and he wanted to give her time to get on board.
“You’re supposed to ask.”
He smiled. “I will. When the time is right.” Man, he’d probably have to ask Rachel for Piper’s hand in marriage, or something like that. When he proposed, and he was going to do it right and big, he’d want an audience. The entire family, probably, so he could share the joy and the moment.
“Humph.” She actually sounded disgruntled. “Did you have a time frame in mind?”
“Nope.” Although they did have a couple of issues to discuss first. “Even though I’m comfortable on the computer, I’m still needed in the field. Especially once we find the other soldiers.”
She blinked gorgeous green eyes at him. “I know.”
“You’re okay with that?”
She shrugged, and kissed his shoulder. “I’m in love with all of you, Jory. The computer geek and the soldier. Nobody says you can’t be both.”
Acceptance. He warmed head to toe. “True.” He rolled them over and settled on top of her.
She wiggled to get settled beneath him. “You’re a hero, Jory Dean.”
Man, was she off base. But he loved the idea that she thought that about him. “I’ll never let anybody get to you, Piper. Nobody will come close.”
She smiled. “I know.” Then she patted above his heart. “That darkness you try to hide so well? That keeps us safe and protected. It’s time to stop worrying about whether you’re good or not. You’re great.”
He studied her. “You don’t mind the darkness?”
“Nope. Can’t think of a hero who doesn’t have at least a little bit.”
Her way of looking at the world, of looking at him, eased a tension through his gut he hadn’t realized had always been there. “You told me the truth,” he said.
She ran her fingers through his hair, her gaze softening. “I did?”
“Yes. The first day we met.”
She eyed his lips. “What did I say?”
“You said you were there to save me.” He lowered his head, and his lips brushed hers. So much love slammed through him, he could barely breathe. So he lifted up and smiled. “You did.”
EPILOGUE
Two Weeks Later
JORY CROSSED HIS arms next to his oldest brother and surveyed the living room. “I think we’re closer to narrowing down the name or names of the other soldiers created by the commander.” One may even be a brother, if the commander’s intel was true.
Matt nodded. “Good.” Then he sighed and surveyed the sprawling family room.
Riley barked and leaped over a pair of boots at Payton Manning, who caterwauled and flew across a table, scattering a candy dish. Grandpops Jim and Earl obsessed over the remote control of the television set and why the second screen refused to come up, while three boys wrestled on the floor in front of them.
Like boys should.
Audrey patted her belly while Josie and Laney flipped through baby magazines, filling out a sheet of paper on what to order on the Internet. If they kept going, the family would need to build two nurseries just for Audrey’s baby.
A box of baby ducks rested over by the far wall with a sunlamp on them. Wade had rescued them a couple of days earlier.
Matt shook his head. “Ducks. We have ducks.”
An aromatic fragrance wafted from the kitchen, where Piper and her mother, the amazing Nana Rachel, cooked something delicious. Piper poked her pretty head out to give instructions on the remote control.
Earl clicked a button, and the entire screen went black. Both men groaned. Piper shrugged and winked at Jory.
Amusement bubbled up through Jory, and he smiled. She was here, she was his, and he wasn’t ever letting her go.
She disappeared into the kitchen.
Shane tapped a hammer on the wall, placing one of Nana’s paintings, while Nate walked by and checked him into said wall. Shane turned and was soon on the ground with Nate, rolling around. The three boys instantly jumped into the fray.
Audrey lifted her feet as they rolled by and then turned to flop her legs over the side.
The cat howled again.
“What the hell did I do?” Matt rumbled, his chin lowering, his gaze on chaos.
Jory shook his head. His gut settled, and his heart warmed. “You made a family. You promised, and you got us a family.”
The dog barked and went after the cat.
“I sure as hell didn’t mean to.” Matt frowned. Warmth and determination filtered through his gray eyes—the look of protection and devotion he’d always worn for his brothers. He’d always have to hold on tight, but this was a good group to shield.
Jory grinned, his shoulders going back. He could accept the darker side of himself, the one he’d fought, because he was needed to protect and defend. He’d damn well do it on the computer as well as in the field. He may be a nerd, but he was a fucking dangerous one. “It is a motley crew.”
Matt snorted. “And they’re all ours.”
Yeah. They were.
Piper poked her head back in to check on the television and give more instructions, Rachel popping up at her side.
The time was now. Jory crossed to Piper and grabbed her, his lips taking hers. He kissed her until she sagged against him, filling himself up with love and woman.
Matt cleared his throat. “Get a room.”
Jory grinned and stared down at the very flushed, bemused, perfect woman. “Marry me.”
Rachel gasped and clapped her hands together, and the rest of the room went silent with held breaths.
Piper blinked and then slowly smiled. “Yes.”
He kissed her again amid hoots and hollers of celebration. Finally. Jory Dean was home.
About the Author
Rebecca Zanetti is a New York Times bestselling a
uthor who has worked as an art curator, Senate aide, lawyer, college professor, and hearing examiner—only to weave all her experience into stories about alpha males and the women who claim them. She is a member of RWA who has won awards for her works throughout the industry, and she has a journalism degree with a poli-sci emphasis from Pepperdine University as well as a juris doctor from the University of Idaho.
Growing up amid the glorious backdrops and winter wonderlands of the Pacific Northwest has given Rebecca fantastic scenery and adventures to weave into her stories. She resides in the wild North with her husband, children, and extended family who inspire her every day—or at the very least give her plenty of characters to write about.
You can learn more at:
RebeccaZanetti.com
Twitter @RebeccaZanetti
Facebook.com/RebeccaZanetti.Author.FanPage
Discover how Rebecca
Zanetti’s thrilling, sexy
series began!
Please see the next page for an excerpt from
Forgotten Sins.
CHAPTER
1
Present Day
JOSIE’S HEELS CLICKED in rapid staccato against the well-worn tiles, the smell of bleach making her stomach cramp. Her mind spun. How could this be happening? It must be some sort of trick.
Someone had taped smiling pumpkins along the hospital walls to celebrate the month of October. Something about their jagged teeth against the dim walls creeped her out. Even as an adult, the sense of helplessness she’d felt as a child in the hospital caused her body to tense and brace to flee from the antiseptic smells.
Several nurses converged behind a wide counter, studying charts. Josie ignored them and hurried down the hall. She reached the last room on the left and ran smack into a uniformed police officer. Bouncing back, she struggled to balance herself in the heels she’d worn to work. The call had come in after dinner, and she was still at the office. As usual. A promotion to vice president was up for grabs, and she was going to get it.