Dangerous Attraction: Part Three (Aegis Group) (13 page)

“Your family might kill me.”

“What? No. Mom wasn’t serious. She was just stressed earlier. She’ll love you.”

“No I mean about getting married tonight. Wouldn’t they want to be there?”

“Probably, but this is about us, not them.” Silly man making valid points and crap. But, he was probably right. Her parents, and especially Wendy, would never let her live it down if she got hitched without telling them. Considering the circus that had been Wendy’s wedding, Bliss was still going to be in the doghouse over a small, fast affair.

“Bliss, I’m not going to marry you and piss off your family.”

“Fine.” She rolled her eyes and flopped on the bed next to Travis.

His hand coasted over her thigh toward her inner leg. Her body hummed with awareness of his every movement. She held her breath...

“At least wait until the morning,” he said.

“What?” She dragged her thoughts up, out of the gutter and looked at him.

“There are places that do appointments, right? We could just do something convenient for them, like after breakfast.”

“Seriously?”

“I am if you are.” He squeezed her leg.

“Really?”

“Yeah. I’m not a good person. I’m not going to keep telling you no when I want you with me.”

“Okay. Let’s do it.”

She kissed him, dragging him on top of her.

There were things to figure out, people to text—and crap, where were they going to get rings and clothes and stuff? But first, the engagement sex. Because they were engaged, weren’t they?

Travis swiped the fancy handkerchief over his brow. Shit, this was almost as bad as being in the sandbox. The tux was a little tight across the shoulders and every time he took a breath he was sure the thing was trying to suffocate him, but Bliss had assured him he didn’t look like an ass before disappearing with her sister to go do...bridal things. Whatever the hell that meant.

His phone vibrated against his thigh. He dug it out of the impossibly deep pockets.

Ethan.

“Hey, man.” Travis glanced over his shoulder into the foyer. People were starting to arrive, most of them with a slightly befuddled expression on their faces.

He didn’t blame them. It was pretty damn surreal to him, too.

“You’re doing this?”

“Yeah.” Unless Ethan had a good reason why he shouldn’t. Nah. Even then, Bliss was worth it. But maybe he should have taken her up on her midnight wedding idea instead of waiting until ten the next morning.

“Well shit. They’re about to roll me into the common room. I guess Zain got the feed hooked up to the projector in there.”

“Fuck. Why the hell would he do that?”

“Because we all want to see you sweat.” Ethan laughed. “I guess it’ll be too late to throw you a bachelor party when you get back.”

“Yeah, too late for that.”

Five people in black filed into the small wedding chapel.

“Got to go,” Travis said.

“Remember, the ring goes on the left hand.”

“Fuck you.”

He hung up, cutting off Ethan’s laughter. Bliss’ family, and friends he didn’t know, but the feds? He hadn’t expected to see them. He strode across the chapel and shook Ryan’s hand, glancing down the line at the rest of his team.

“Congratulations are in order.” Ryan grinned, the first unrestrained expression Travis had seen on the man. Then again, Ryan was clearly a family man.

“Thanks. I think. I thought you would be on your way out already.” Travis shoved his hands in his pockets. He hadn’t bothered to tell the FBI team because he figured they would be in the air, and why would they care?

“I’m pretty sure Wendy’s screaming woke us up at—what was it?” Connor glanced at Jade.

“It was a little after one.”

“Nearly gave me a heart attack.” Benjamin grumbled.

“Anyway, we couldn’t leave before Elvis sang the vows.” Connor grinned. Despite how they’d butted heads, the Irishman was an okay guy.

In small doses.

“Everyone.” A woman in a pale purple dress, and her hair up in a beehive stood at the chapel’s entrance. “Please find your seats. For those watching at home, the service will begin in five minutes.”

Shit.

Travis swallowed around the lump in his throat.

It was too late to leave, and he’d promised to talk things out with her before he did anything. Like run away from their wedding.

Their fucking wedding.

He was going to be sick.

She had no idea what she was getting herself into.

“Travis, you okay?” Jade tilted her head sideways.

“The nerves are normal. Take deep breaths, don’t lock your knees, and just look at her.” Ryan twisted his wedding band, a far off look in his eye.

“Thanks. Excuse me?”

He didn’t wait for another word, just pushed past the small crowd and into the foyer. The air was warmer out here and sunlight streamed in through the double glass doors. A couple random people milled through the shop at the front of the chapel, but no one paid him any attention.

Travis could save Bliss the disappointment now and leave. She’d hate him for skipping out, but it might be the best thing for her. He had more baggage than anyone, she just didn’t know it yet. He didn’t know how to be in a healthy relationship. Even what he had with his sister or the guys he worked with wasn’t what he’d call good.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and jabbed at Bliss’ contact.

It didn’t get through a full ring before she answered.

“Are you planning to leave me at the alter?” Her tone was teasing, light-hearted.

He blew out a breath.

“Are you sure this is what you want?” he asked.

“You’re having second thoughts.”

“It’s not—no, but, you don’t know what you’re getting yourself into.”

“I know we’re both going to have a big reality check. When we wake up from this, yeah, there’s going to be some rough times ahead. I’m not stupid enough to think that love fixes everything, but I’m willing to work at this. If you don’t want to, or if you want to put it off, tell me now before they put this veil thing on because it’s going to hurt. Pretty sure they used a whole can of that Aqua Net stuff on my hair.”

He chuckled, and his world shifted back into focus.

“I’ve never...I’m going to need a lot of patience. I’m going to screw up a lot.”

“And that’s fine. We’ll talk about it. We’ll do better. You’re already doing better. You’re still in the chapel, right?”

“Foyer. Chapel is too loud. Everyone was staring.”

A man in a glittering white jumpsuit exited a back office and paused in front of a mirror. Elvis weddings were a much bigger thing than he’d realized. When in Vegas...

“See, already doing better. So, are we getting married or what?”

“Yeah. And forget the veil.”

He hung up the phone and the sick sensation vanished. One more swipe with the handkerchief and he was himself again. This was where he was supposed to be.

“Mr. Ration, ready to make a bride a wife?” The Elvis impersonator gripped his hand and pumped it.

“I am.” And he was, damn the nerves and doubts.

“Good, good. Full room today. We’ll wait for the signal, then go up like we practiced earlier.”

Travis nodded and checked his phone one last time.

A text from his sister Emma filled the screen.

Break a leg, bro! We r watching.

Everyone was here. Or close enough.

His blood family, his chosen family, and the people who mattered.

“That’s us. Come on, let’s get this show on the road.” Elvis slapped his shoulder before leading the way into the chapel.

Travis kept his gaze straight ahead, all the way to the platform at the front of the room and stood on his mark. Elvis said a few words, people snapped pictures, but none of it really mattered. He bounced his knee, just enough to feel the ring in his pocket and stared at the double doors that now stood closed at the end of the chapel.

Finally, the music started and Elvis began to sing.

Travis stopped breathing. The attendees stood as one, turning toward the doors. Elvis hit a higher note, the song lost on Travis, and the doors opened.

Bliss and her father stood at the end of the red carpet, and he’d never seen anything so beautiful in his life. His future wife. His love. His heart.

T

ravis jogged up the porch stairs, keeping on the balls of his feet and avoiding the squeaky board. Bliss wasn’t expecting him home until tomorrow morning. These moments, coming back to the little two-bedroom house they shared, were the best. Second only to the hours of lovemaking that followed. Things weren’t perfect, but they were making the best out of what they had. And it was a hell of a lot more than he’d ever expected.

He disabled the security through his phone app and let himself in the front door. For a second, he stood on the little rug and listened. Music played softly from the spare-room-turned-office, and over that he could hear her humming.

There wasn’t an aspect of his life Bliss hadn’t touched. From redecorating the boring house to his taste in food and music, she’d changed him. For the better. His life wasn’t just work anymore. And though the long hours, days, and sometimes weeks apart sucked, he always got to come home to this.

His home. With his wife.

Travis tiptoed down the short hall and peered into their office. Or more accurately, Bliss’ office. Yeah, he had a desk in the room, but she was the one who worked there five days a week.

She sat bent over his desk, her back to the door, pen in hand, signing—something.

He tapped on the door with his knuckle.

Surprising her only went so far.

There were still nightmares and panic attacks on occasion, but those were fewer and farther between.

Bliss whirled around, mouth open, eyes wide. Her hair was pulled back in a clip, and she wore one of his sweatshirts with leggings and bare feet.

“Travis!”

He grinned and crossed the room in two strides, picking her up for a thorough kiss.

Five days away, forgotten in an instant between her lips.

“What—? You weren’t supposed to be back until—”

“Tomorrow, I know. I decided to hop a commercial flight instead of waiting.” The cost of a one-way flight was nothing in comparison to twelve more hours together. Especially when he was facing a lengthy assignment down in the Keys.

Bliss grinned and he put her down. She kept her gaze on him and pushed the papers behind her.

“What are you up to?” He reached around her and plucked the top sheet off the stack.

“No, just—Travis!” She made a wild grab and only got his forearm.

He wrapped the arm around her and skimmed the letter.

To the governor of Oklahoma.

“What is this?” A chill swept over him.

Was Bliss unhappy? Had he upset her?

She sighed and snagged the letter from between his fingers.

“I didn’t want to show you. I didn’t want to get your hopes up,” she said.

“Why are you asking the governor for a pardon?”

She leaned against his desk and stared up at him.

“It’s the job, isn’t it? You still don’t like it.”

“Its—no. You like what you do. I just—you really want to be a PI.”

He didn’t bother to nod. They’d had this conversation. That career path was closed to him thanks to his felony record, as were so many other options in life.

“I talked to a lawyer. He thinks that there’s plenty of evidence and proof that your conviction could be pardoned. So yeah, I was going to send these today, see what might happen. I’ve got letters to both the governor of Oklahoma and the President. Worst case, they said no, you wouldn’t know, and we keep on making the best of what we have.” She reached for his hand, clasping it between hers. “I just want for you to be happy.”

“Are you happy?”

Above anything else that mattered was Bliss. No, he didn’t want to work for Aegis forever. He’d die doing this job if he stuck it out until he was too old to dodge bullets, and she didn’t deserve that. Truth be told, he’d never considered a way around his conviction. It hadn’t occurred to him, because good things never happened to him.

And then there was Bliss.

She was all the good he’d never had, rolled into one, sexy package.

“Are you mad at me?” She pulled his hand, urging him closer.

He let her pull him between her legs while he paused before answering, rolling her actions around in his head.

“No,” he replied. “Are you happy?”

“Yeah.” Her smile spread slowly across her face. “More now that you’re home.”

He blew out a breath and leaned down to kiss her. She tasted of oranges and tea, which meant they were probably out of food. Oh well, they could order pizza and spend more time in bed anyway.

“Note to self, next time I get a bright idea I don’t want my super sneaky husband to know about, do it right after he leaves. And before I forget, Emma sent over some wedding stuff. They picked a date.”

“Later.”

Travis picked Bliss up, and she wrapped herself around him. There was time to figure out the logistics of a couple trips back to Oklahoma. For now, he needed to show his wife just how good they had it.

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H
e recognizes the darkness in her. It’s in him, too.

Detective Jacob Payton knows the clock is ticking down. Someone is about to die, and his best suspect is also his only source of information. He’s known Emma Ration’s story for years—after all, a brutal serial killer left his mark on both their lives when they were still young. Meeting her is another experience altogether. She challenges his control and entices him in ways no other woman has.

But is she the killer? As the bodies pile up and their passion ignites, Jacob runs the risk of losing his control. Falling for Emma was never in his plan, but now that she’s part of his life he’s not about to give her up. Not even to the FBI on the trail of the very same killer.