Page 52 of Deadly Forever

Fifteen

James’ mouth washot on Mandy’s before they even reached the door that led from the garage to the main house. The electricity between them sizzled and James had no intention of missing his moment.

It took Ally and Mandy longer than they expected to steal a glass from Kaspar without him noticing, mostly because the bartender kept snagging it before they could. They finally prevailed, though, and then James and Jake couldn’t get them out of the brewery fast enough. James had a feeling that Jake and Ally were doing the same thing now that they were alone, although he refused to dwell on it.

“What’s all of this?” Mandy asked, breathless as James wrapped an arm around her waist and used his hand on the railing to nudge them up the circular stairway that led to the second floor. “Are you marking your territory or something? Did seeing me pretend to flirt with another man get you going?”

“You get me going regardless,” James panted, taking a moment to let his eyes roam over Mandy’s body. Her dress was hiked high on her thighs and his wandering hands had the top askew. He was right about her not wearing a bra. “I love you, wife.”

Mandy’s eyes widened at the heartfelt expression on his face. “I love you, too.” She ran her finger down his cheek. “It’s my favorite time of the day when I get to hear you say it, though.”

James cupped her head and tilted it back so she had nowhere to look but his face. “I promise to tell you every single day for the rest of our lives.”

“You should make that one of your vows.”

“It’s just a reality of life, baby,” James said, slamming his mouth against hers. Mandy melted against him and James took a moment to bask in her warmth before returning to his previous task and maneuvering their fused bodies up the narrow staircase. By the time they hit the bedroom, they were sweaty and out of breath. “Prepare yourself, love of my life, it’s going to be a long night.”

“What about the fingerprints?” Mandy’s eyes were heavy-lidded and tinged with lust. “Will you have to leave once Maverick runs them?”

“Nothing in this world will make me leave you,” James said, his expression fierce. “I will never spend another night away from you. I promise.”

“Another vow,” Mandy teased. “I’m not sure you can keep that one, though. You can’t control everyone and everything else in the world. You can only control yourself. I think you can only promise to try not to spend another night away from me.”

James shook his head, frustrated. “Are you really getting into a semantics argument with me right now?”

Mandy shrugged. “Is it firing you up?”

James grinned. “You have no idea, wife. Prepare yourself. I’m about to burn your socks off.”

“Oh, don’t stop at the socks,” Mandy teased. “I was kind of hoping you would warm up something else.”

“Your wish is my command.”

MANDY WASheavy on James’ chest when we woke the next morning, her blond hair spread out like a flaxen halo. James took a moment to study her. He loved how she looked when sleeping, the peaceful way her lips curled causing his heart to warm.

James lightly ran his fingers over her bare skin. She drooled in her sleep, which meant his chest was wet, but for some reason he found the act endearing. He liked that she felt so safe in his embrace that she could completely let go and enjoy her dreams. He would never change that.

The first time they made love James was convinced it was a mistake. She touched his heart from the moment he laid eyes on her. She wasn’t the gawky teenager he remembered. She still had a crush on him, though. It survived ten years and numerous other relationship hijinks, although none with people who meant anything to either one of them. As adults, though, the crush took the form of combustible chemistry.

James broke her heart when he slipped out of her apartment that night. Guilt ravaged him, but he was convinced he never wanted to settle down. He knew if he touched her even one more time he wouldn’t be able to let her go. He felt that to the very core of his being … and he was right.

Grady watched her from afar that day. Her eyes were red and puffy and she seemed defeated. James hid in his office, ashamed of what he’d done, and hated himself for hurting Mandy when he’d fought so hard to do the exact opposite. Finally her anger got the better of her and she found him. She proceeded to fire him from watching her – even though she wasn’t paying for the services the company provided – and his heart broke at the thought of never seeing her again. He chased her down, let her slap him (because he deserved it), and then declared he was done running.

The second the words left his mouth he felt better. It was if the weight of the world disappeared from his shoulders and all he had left was this woman and the way she filled his heart. He was officially off the market from that moment on. He never looked back and he never once regretted following his heart.

“What are you thinking?” Mandy murmured, her eyes remaining closed. “I can hear your mind working. If you’re trying to figure out a way to do it again, you have to wait until I have food. I’m weak from how long we went at it last night.”

James grinned as he stared down at her, his hands gentle as they stroked her skin. “I was thinking that I can’t remember how I lived before you came into my life.”

Whatever she was expecting him to say, that wasn’t it. Mandy rolled up her head and locked gazes with him, her blue eyes clouded with sleep as she forced the cobwebs from her mind. “Is that what you were really thinking?”

James nodded. “I remember everything that happened before you, but I cherish everything that happened after.”

“Oh, I think I’m going to cry.”

James made a face when he realized her eyes were flooding with tears. “Don’t cry, baby,” he groused. “I hate it when you cry.”

“Sometimes I cry for good reasons,” Mandy reminded him. “I think loving you is the best reason.”