Chapter Ten
My name is Bethany Meadows. My friends call me Beth.
Elizabeth locked her knees and silently repeated that little mantra to herself one more time.
My name is Bethany Meadows. My friends call me Beth.
Two weeks had passed since she’d lost her life—and that was how she thought of it. As far as the rest of the world was concerned, Elizabeth Ward was gone. Vanished. Victor had whisked her away. He’d gotten her out of the police station in Miami and stayed with her even while a US Marshall came to explain the whole Witness Protection Program thing to her.
After the US Marshall had appeared, she’d expected Victor to dump her and walk away…but he’d stayed. Told her that he was handling things personally with her. Since she’d been barely holding her shit together, she’d been grateful to have him at her side. Victor had lingered while she was transferred and, finally, settled along the California Coast.
Wine country. Victor had put her in wine country, and it truly was a beautiful place. Nestled far from the hustle and bustle of the city, the whole area seemed like some kind of oasis to her. When she stared outside of her little cottage, she just saw miles and miles of rolling green space.
No big buildings. No traffic jams that stretched for miles.
Peace. Beauty.
If it weren’t for the fact that she still felt like her heart had been ripped out, she’d almost be happy there.
Saxon. He was the one thing she missed. No matter what she did, she couldn’t get him out of her head. Or her heart.
“Ms. Meadows?” A feminine voice queried, sounding slightly annoyed.
Crap. That’s me. Elizabeth jumped to her feet. She was at the winery because this place…it was supposed to be her new job site. Victor and his Witness Protection buddies had lined up the position for her. She was there to meet her new boss, and she was already screwing things up before she’d even set her eyes on the man.
The redhead was standing by an office door, with a faint frown on her face.
“Sorry,” Elizabeth mumbled as she hurried past her and into the office. “I didn’t…hear you.”
“The four times I called your name?” The woman’s lips curved in a faint smile that wasn’t cruel, but sweetly kind. “Sometimes nervousness can do that to you.”
Her cheeks stained. It’s not my name, okay? I’m still getting used to it. But, yes, she was so nervous her whole body was shaking.
Before Elizabeth could say anything else, the redhead backed away and pulled the door shut. The click of that door closing sure seemed overly loud in that office—and what a plush office it was. She could smell leather in that place and those floor to ceiling windows on the right were amazing. Talk about a killer view. Insanely gorgeous and—
Where’s my new boss?
Because she was standing in an empty office.
Elizabeth inched a bit closer to the big, mahogany desk. She was supposed to be meeting with a Mr. Laurent. Only he wasn’t there and—
“I’ve been waiting for you.” The voice came from behind her and it was a voice that froze her. Deep, dark, seeming to completely overwhelm her because it was his voice.
Saxon.
She wanted to whirl around, but her body had shut down and she couldn’t move at all. It’s not him. Saxon isn’t here. I’m meeting with a Michael Laurent. I want to hear Saxon’s voice so badly that I’m imagining it.
The floor creaked beneath his footsteps.
“Mr. Laurent.” Her voice trembled and she hated that. Elizabeth cleared her throat. “I’m—”
“I know exactly who you are.”
Her eyes squeezed shut. His voice. I’d know his voice anywhere. After all, she heard it every night in her dreams.
“Look at me.”
She didn’t want to. Because then she might see that he wasn’t Saxon.
He touched her, and a gasp slipped from her because she knew his touch so well. His fingers had curled around her shoulder, and when she looked down, she could see the faint scars that lined his knuckles.
“What are you doing here?” Elizabeth whispered.
“Protecting you.”
Those words pierced right through her. They also terrified her. “I almost got you killed before. I don’t want you risking anything else for me, do you understand?”
Silence was his answer, but his fingers tightened on her shoulder.
“Victor said you were dead to me.” Did he know how much that had cut her up? No, probably not. Because this wild tangle of emotions was all just on her side. Get your control, woman!
“I am.”
Then she had to jerk out of his hold. She tried to take a few fast and frantic steps away from him, but Saxon caught her. He spun her around and yanked her right back up against him.
“Make no mistake,” he told her, his voice a hard growl, “Saxon Black is dead. Saxon Black, Saxon Marshall, Saxon Smith…every fucking alias I used when I was undercover with the FBI—they’re all dead.”
His body was pressed tightly to hers. She could feel his muscles, his strength. There was no sign of pain on his face. But the last time she’d seen him, Saxon had barely been clinging to life.
Because of me.
“You already know I was working my last case for Vic down in Miami. I was set to start a new life,” he told her. “This life. I picked the place. I planned for years. Hell, I bought this place with the money I earned working jobs you don’t ever want to know about.”
The winery was his? She shook her head. “They sent me here—”
“Vic sent you to me.” His gaze was so dark as it spread over her face and that was when she realized—
He’s different.
It wasn’t just the suit he wore, one that looked as if it had been custom made for his muscled frame. Or the new cut of his hair—a cut that swept back his thick hair—hair that appeared so much darker now. The new style and darkness somehow made his face look less rough and dangerous, and more sensual, elegant.
When she stared up at him, she wasn’t seeing the deadly lover who’d saved her before in Miami. She wasn’t really sure who she was seeing at all.
Michael Laurent?
He’d just rattled off too many other aliases for her. The guy had spent his life undercover. Who was he, really?
And did it even matter?
Because right then, she was so freaking happy—she threw her arms around him and held him as tightly as she could. Tears wanted to fall from her eyes, but Elizabeth blinked them away. “I was so afraid you’d die.” She would never forget those terrifying moments on that chopper. She squeezed him even tighter. “Oh, God, I was scared—”
And he was kissing her. Kissing her hard and deep and wild. Kissing her like Saxon—her Saxon. He lifted her up against him, held her easily, and the tight band around her heart—the band she’d carried for two, long weeks—finally seemed to ease.
Her hands were around his neck. His hands were on her hips. He was walking with her in his grasp, still kissing her, still driving that wonderful tongue of his into her mouth, and she wanted to devour him right then and there. She. Wanted. Him.
Saxon put her on the desk. Shoved paperwork aside and pushed right between her legs. The skirt she’d been wearing hiked up, and his hands—those rough, callused hands—curled around her thighs.
“Fucking missed you…” he rasped against her mouth. “Missed…fucking…you…” His right hand rose and curled around the crotch of her panties.
It felt like everything was moving at super speed, one hundred miles an hour—two hundred—and she didn’t care.
Saxon. Saxon!
He ripped her panties out of the way. Tossed them aside. Then his fingers were pushing into her sex.
Her hands slammed down behind her on the desk. Her head tipped back as she tried to gulp in some desperately needed air. Her heart was thudding in her chest and her sex—it was closing greedily around his fingers.
His thumb pressed to her clit. Stroking her so perfectly. One night, but he’d learned her body’s secrets. He knew exactly what to do in order to make her—
“Not yet, baby,” he said as he pressed hot, open-mouthed kisses to her throat. “I need to taste you first. All of you.”
Then he was on his knees before her. His hands pulled her to the edge of the desk. Her skirt was up high, exposing her fully to him. Saxon glanced up at her. Licked his lips. Then he put his mouth on her sex. No hesitation. Just taking. With his tongue and his mouth and his fingers.
Pleasure hit her, slamming through her whole body as the orgasm rolled over her and had her gasping his name—and pressing her sex even closer to him.
The contractions of her sex wouldn’t stop. The pleasure wouldn’t end and he was rising. Unzipping his pants. Positioning his cock and then driving hard into her.
Her breath caught at that deep plunge. And time finally just—stopped.
No more super speed. There was only stillness. A moment frozen as she stared into his eyes. Elizabeth saw the need, the dark, fierce passion reflected in his stare.
He bent his head and kissed her. Her hands rose and curled around his shoulders even as her legs locked around his hips. She wanted to hold him as tightly as she could. To never let go.
The pleasure hadn’t ended, and when he started thrusting, moving in a rhythm that was hard and demanding, a moan pulled from her lips. Her sex was swollen and sensitive, and every movement of his body had her aching.
He was kissing her neck again. Kissing that spot along the column of her throat that made her quiver.
“Couldn’t…let you go…” Another hard thrust. “Fucking…couldn’t…” And, if possible, he got even bigger inside of her. He’d stretched her so much that there should have been pain, but there was only pleasure.
Only Saxon.
He withdrew, plunged deep, and she opened her mouth to scream because the release was that violent.
“Bite me,” he ordered her. “Now.”
And instead of screaming, she found her cry muffled against his shoulder.
Then she felt him coming inside of her. Hot jets that told her—
“Saxon?” Her head lifted.
His eyes were a burning darkness. So complete and total. “Mine,” he whispered.
He kissed her once more.
***
It wasn’t the first time that Victor had been in a maximum security lockup. And he knew it wouldn’t be the last either.
He sat at the narrow table, his hands in front of him, no weapon at his side, and he waited for Luther Bates to make his grand entrance into the room. He knew the devil would want a deal. There was no way the guy would just smile and say, “Sure, buddy, I’ll call off the hit. The woman will be free and clear. No problem.”
Because shit like that just didn’t happen in Victor’s world.
There were only two good things in Victor’s world…those were his two friends. His only family. Jasmine and Saxon. He’d do anything for them.
And that’s why the hell I’m here. Saxon wants the hit taken off Elizabeth, so I’m going to make a deal with the devil.
The door opened. The prisoner shuffled in, moving very slowly because his hands and feet were shackled. The garish orange garb he wore made Luther Bates look even paler…or maybe that pallor was due to the fact that the guy was being kept in solitary confinement for twenty-three hours a day.
Luther had used a shiv on a guy one week before. Even in prison, he still had to be a bad ass.
“What the fuck do you want?” Luther demanded.
There was a guard at his side.
“A few minutes of your time,” Victor murmured, “and by the way, you’re welcome for the little break from solitaire.”
The guard pulled out a chair for Luther. The fellow didn’t shove the prisoner down. If anything, he was too solicitous as he seated Luther. A quick glance showed Victor that there was plenty of fear in the guy’s eyes. Right. The fellow would know that Luther’s reach went far beyond the prison walls.
“I don’t know you,” Luther said as his beady eyes swept over Victor. “And trust me, asshole, you don’t want me as an enemy.”
Victor pulled out his FBI identification and put it on the table.
Luther frowned then said, “Oh, so I guess you’re already my fucking enemy.” His face twisted with disgust. “Like I don’t have enough of you dumbasses breathing down my neck every single day—”
“Maryann Ward.” Deliberately, he threw out the name of Elizabeth’s mother.
Luther’s eyes narrowed. “Why are we talking about the dead?”
“Because you took out a hit on her.”
The guard shuffled back a few feet.
Luther glanced at the guard, then turned his suddenly sly stare back on Victor. “I think you’ve got some bad information, Mr. FBI Agent.”
It was Victor’s turn to look at the guard. “Leave us alone.”
“I-I’m not supposed to—”
“I’m an FBI Special Agent. The prisoner is shackled. You don’t have anything to worry about.” Victor pointed to the door. “Stay right on the other side, if that makes you feel better.”
The guard was sweating. And wavering.
“Go,” Luther growled.
The guard scrambled to obey. When the door clanged shut behind the man, Luther sighed. “We’re lucky the kid didn’t just shit his pants.”
“He’s terrified of you.”
Luther grunted. “Yeah, cause he’s smart. He should be scared.” Luther paused and his green stare swept over Victor. “And you should be scared, too.” He leaned forward and looked at the ID that was still on the table. “Agent Monroe.”
“I don’t scare easily.”
Luther cocked his head as he studied Victor. “How long you been with the FBI?”
“Long enough.” Victor wasn’t in the mood to be interrogated. “Maryann Ward,” he said again.
“That woman was a lying bitch. Made me think she wanted me, gave me some bull about finally leaving her husband and running away with me.” Anger flashed on his face. “I trusted her with all my secrets, and she betrayed me.” His shackles rattled. “I don’t take any betrayal, not from anybody.”
“Is that why you put out the hit on Maryann and her family? To pay them back for the betrayal?”
Luther smiled, and it was a chilling sight, “I don’t know anything about a hit.”
Yes, he did. “That hit is still in place,” Victor said, using all his self-control to keep his voice flat and emotionless as he leaned forward. “A kill order went out on Maryann Ward, on Stan Ward, and on their daughter, Elizabeth.”
Because he was watching Luther so closely, Victor saw the guy’s eyelids flicker, just a bit.
“Even after all this time,” Victor muttered. “You still want your pound of flesh. You still want Elizabeth Ward to die.”
Luther stared straight at him.
“I need you to call off the hit,” Victor said.
And Luther Bates did just what he’d expected…the guy laughed in Victor’s face.
So Victor jumped up, grabbed the back of the Luther’s head, and slammed the guy’s face into the table.
When Luther howled, Victor repeated, “I’m going to need you to call off that hit.”
***
He was balls-deep in Elizabeth. Balls-deep and he hadn’t put on protection.
I didn’t mean to pounce on her.
He’d actually planned a whole speech that he’d meant to say to her. But then he’d taken one look at her and desire, uncontrollable need, had struck him like lightning. When he’d pulled her into his arms and kissed her, he’d been a goner. Nothing could have stopped him in that moment.
Not when she’d been kissing him.
Not when she’d been making that sexy little moan in the back of her throat.
Not when she’d wanted him, too.
His heartbeat was still thundering in his ears. His hands were locked too tightly around her hips. He was probably bruising her. Shit, he didn’t want to do that. He never wanted to hurt her. Saxon made his hands move. He put them on the desk and lifted his head.
Elizabeth’s breath came in ragged pants. Her cheeks were flushed, and her eyes glittered up at him.
She’d changed in the last two weeks. Her hair was cut shorter, and that style just made her eyes seem even bigger. The color was darker, deeper. Her clothes were pure fucking sex appeal—especially those killer shoes that she still had on. He loved those heels.
There were some changes there, yes, especially since she’d been so desperate and afraid during their time together. But now…now…
I still want her just as much. No, that was a lie. He wanted her even more.
But he should probably apologize for attacking her like a starving man. He was supposed to be playing the gentleman in this place. The sophisticated businessman.
It wasn’t a role he’d had before. The fighter from the streets, the killer, well, that was the guy he knew. The man he understood.
But Vic told me all along…wear the money. Get the right clothes and have the right power. Then no one will question your past. They’ll only look at your surface and not care about the secrets you keep.
“You…didn’t use anything.” Her voice came out hoarse and soft. He’d missed that husky voice. He’d missed her.
“I’m clean,” he told her and while her voice had been soft, his had been a rough rumble. Way too beast-like.
“So am I.”
But there was another worry. Only he wasn’t actually worried about her getting pregnant with his child. In fact, if she did get pregnant, he thought that would be pretty—
“And I’m covered, with birth control. So you don’t have to worry.”
I wasn’t. Because he was a selfish bastard, and he’d take any tie he could get with her.
But still… “I’m sorry.” The words were rusty. He wasn’t sure when he’d last apologized to someone. “I don’t always…think…well, when I’m with you.” Primal instinct took over. He’d needed her more than he’d needed breath. He’d once told her that if he had the chance, he’d take her…and not a breath.
He’d been dead serious.
She tilted her head back and her hair slid over her cheeks. He was still inside of her and getting harder by the moment. Her sex was pure heaven, so tight and hot, and, over the last fourteen days, he’d tried to convince himself that there was no way she’d been as good as he’d thought. No way. It must have been the adrenaline. The extreme situation. She couldn’t have been—
Perfect.
But she was.
Her hand lifted. Her fingers lightly skimmed over his cheek and a faint smile curved her full lips. “I missed you,” her words were a soft confession.
He put his forehead against hers. Elizabeth’s scent surrounded him, and he knew that he’d made the right choice. The only choice. There had been no way to walk away from her. Victor—tricky SOB—had known that. So Saxon had done the only thing he could…
He had Elizabeth brought to him. To the new life that waited for him.
Desire was sharpening its claws within him again. But…but people were waiting for him. For Elizabeth. He’d really like to tell all those people to screw off.
I need to show Elizabeth what I can be.
So, slowly, carefully, he withdrew from her. She gave that little moan again—the one that drove him wild—and he almost had to drive right back into her.
His jaw locked as he pulled down her skirt. Her panties were shredded, so those weren’t going to be much good. I’ll buy her a dozen more. Because that sexy scrap of lace had made him see red for a moment.
She sat on the desk, not moving, just watching, as he re-arranged his own clothes.
Saxon went to the bathroom attached to his office and came back with a warm cloth for her. When he carefully brushed the cloth over her sex, she gasped and her eyes flared wide.
There was growing desire in her eyes.
Like I could have ever walked away from that.
He discarded the cloth and tried to remember the speech he was supposed to say. Saxon cleared his throat. “You, ah, you told Victor that you couldn’t trust anyone else,” he pushed the words out. “But you can trust me.” Always. “I’m here, and I’ll stand between you…and everyone else.”
She slid off the desk. Her knees seemed to wobble and he reached out to her, but she steadied herself. Elizabeth gave a hard shake of her head. “I don’t want you risking your life for me! You were already nearly killed—” She broke off as an expression of horror flashed across her face. “Oh, no, your injuries! I forgot about them because we were—” Her hand flew over her mouth. “I’m so sorry,” she mumbled behind that hand. “Did I hurt you?”
He laughed. Saxon just couldn’t help it.
She stared up at him, her hand falling away and her beautiful eyes widening even more as their eyes held.
“Oh, sweetheart,” he managed, “don’t you think any pain was worth it?”
Elizabeth licked her lips.
I’ve got plans for that mouth.
“You didn’t hurt me,” Saxon assured her. He could have been shot again, and, when he’d been in her, Saxon didn’t think he would have felt the pain.
Her gaze lowered. She seemed to be looking for his wounds. The wounds didn’t matter. They were just scars now, more to add to his growing collection. He had so many, inside and out.
“I couldn’t stand it,” she said, “if something else happened to you because of me.”
Right. Time for them to get a few things clear. He caught her chin between his thumb and forefinger and made her look up at him. “Never again,” he told her, voice harsh and cold but she needed to get this message.
Elizabeth blinked.
“You never, ever try to give your life for me, do you understand?” That was an exchange that would not be made.
She started to shake her head.
His hold tightened on her. “I’m not worth it.”
Oh, hell, he’d meant to say—
“You are to me,” she whispered back.
There was a knock at the door. A quick glance at his clock showed him that it was time for the tour of the facility. All of the new staff members were being taken around, including Elizabeth.
“We have to go,” he told her. But he didn’t want to go anyplace. He wanted to stay right there and fuck her again. Endlessly. And because he did, he leaned forward and kissed her once more.
The knock sounded again. “Sir!” It was the voice of his new assistant, Vanessa League. “Sir, do you need more time?”
Hell, yes.
“You’re really my boss now?” Elizabeth’s voice was as soft as a breath.
His fingers slid away from her chin. “I’m Michael Laurent.” His gaze searched hers. “Michael Saxon Laurent.” Because he knew how the game was played. When you picked a new identity, you were supposed to keep your new name a bit close to the name you’d used before. That way, you would actually respond when people were talking to you.
Soon enough, he’d be telling his new acquaintances to call him Saxon.
And as for Elizabeth…
Bethany was close to her former name, but to him, she’d always be my Elizabeth.
He headed for the door. When he opened it, Vanessa flushed and wouldn’t quite meet his eyes. Hmmm…he’d tried to be quiet in there, but maybe he hadn’t been quiet enough.
Because if she said or did anything to make Elizabeth feel uncomfortable, then he’d just be finding a new assistant, ASAP.
“We’ll be right out, Vanessa,” he assured her. “We’re just finishing up.”
She gave a quick nod before hurrying away.
Saxon closed the door.
“She thinks I just had sex with the boss!” Elizabeth’s voice was horrified. “Wait, I did just have sex with the boss!”
He glanced back at her. “And tonight, when I get you alone, you’ll get the chance to scream for me once more.”
Her lips parted. “I don’t…the others out there…they don’t know…”
“Fuck what they know.” On this, they needed to be clear. He stalked back toward her. “You are mine, Elizabeth. And I’m not letting you go.”