Nothing To Lose: A Grey Justice Novel (49 page)
Read Nothing To Lose: A Grey Justice Novel Online
Authors: Christy Reece
“We never talked about it, but I figured you had your stuff put in storage.” He shrugged. “I wanted to give you back as much as I could. Most of the stuff I had moved to a storage facility about five miles from here, but I had a few things delivered I thought you might like.”
“How did you know where to look?”
“Not too many people in Houston have the name Casper Scooby.”
Casper the Friendly Ghost
and
Scooby-Doo
had been her favorite cartoons when she was a child, before she’d lost her parents. When she had arranged for her house to be emptied and her things stored, she had used those two names as much for comfort as anything else.
“There’s so much you know about me. Things I barely remember myself.”
“There’s a whole lot more I want to know…if you’ll let me.”
“And there’s tons more I want to know about you.”
Wickedness in his eyes, he held open his arms. “I’m an open book. Come read me.”
She flew toward him, and he caught her close, capturing her mouth with his. How she loved this man who had loved her for so long, searched for her, and helped her find justice for Thomas.
His lips, tender and passionate, stayed on hers as he swept her up and carried her into the bedroom. Laying her on the bed, he settled beside her and propped himself on one elbow. His eyes roamed over her, loving, adoring, the need in them sending a flood of heat through her bloodstream.
Surprising her again, he said, “I also picked up some law school brochures. I know it’s two years later than what you had planned, but I thought you might want to go back.”
Oddly, that wasn’t something she had even considered. Two years ago, going to law school had been a dream come true. Now, her priorities had changed…her entire life was different.
Before she could thank him and explain that she had different goals now, he went on, “And I know we haven’t talked a lot about our future together…I understand if you need time, but—”
“No.” She pushed hard at his shoulders so he would move back. When he did, she switched their positions so that he was lying down and she was over him. Nick needed to hear these words from her as much as she needed to say them. He was looking up at her curiously, maybe a little confused. And it hit her hard—he really had no concept of how wonderful he was or how deeply she loved him.
“I don’t need time, Nick. I don’t need things…all I need is you.”
“You lost so much. I just want to give you back as much as I can.”
She shook her head, unsure if she could ever express adequately how she felt about him. “I love you, Nick Gallagher. More than I ever thought possible. You’ve given me so much already. Friendship, a shoulder to cry on, passion, laughter, peace, security. Without your love and support…” Her heart so full she could barely speak, she continued thickly, “You gave me my life back.”
“How so?”
“I was in a vacuum, just existing. My life was empty. Then you showed up, all grumpy, grouchy, grim.”
“Hey!” he protested.
“Incredible, wonderful, considerate, gorgeous, and deliciously, fantastically sexy.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
She slowly unbuttoned his shirt, spread her hands on his warm, hard chest and closed her eyes at how exquisite he felt beneath her fingers. She wanted to explore every inch of his amazing body, give him everything he needed, wanted. All of herself—body, heart, devotion, love, tenderness, loyalty—everything she had now belonged to Nick. She was totally and completely his.
With delicate precision, she licked the raven tattoo on his chest, tracing the edges with her tongue. A shudder went through him, and she smiled her delight. The times they had made love before had been all about her pleasure or satisfying a hunger. Nick had always been the giver…she had been the taker. Today, she wanted him to understand she loved and desired him…the man. Not just for what he had done for her, but because he was an amazing, wonderful, complex and utterly beautiful man. Perfect for her in every way.
His voice grumbled beneath her mouth. “Like the tat, huh?”
“Like the tat, love what’s beneath it.”
“Oh, you mean my manly chest?”
She smiled against his skin. “Oh yes…definitely your manly chest. But more than that, I love your beautiful heart.”
He pushed her away slightly to look up at her, clearly surprised. “No one’s ever told me that before…that I have a beautiful heart.”
“Good. I like being the first.”
His eyes darkened with emotion. “You were my first for a lot of things.”
Unable to stop herself from kissing that beautiful, unsmiling mouth, Kennedy pressed her lips to his. With a groan of approval, he pulled her close and opened his mouth, allowing her inside. In seconds, clothes disappeared and sighs, soft demands for more, sobbing gasps of pleasure, whispers of fulfillment that only lovers can hear and understand, filled the room.
Wrapped in Nick’s arms, secure and content, tears flooded Kennedy’s eyes. How blessed was she to have had the love of two phenomenal men? Thomas had been her first love, and she would treasure her memories of him for a lifetime.
Nick would be her last love. Husband, lover, partner, friend, and father of her children. Her future, her life. Forever, for always.
Thank you for reading
Nothing To Lose, A Grey Justice Novel
. I hope you enjoyed it. If you did, please help other readers find this book:
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Acknowledgements:
Special thanks to the following people for helping make this book possible:
My husband for his loving support, gifts of chocolate, and numerous moments of comic relief.
My mom who housed me during the hair-pulling parts of writing this story. And to Billie and Marlin for opening their home on the river for me to finish the book.
Joyce Lamb for her copyediting, great advice and input.
Marie Force’s eBook Formatting Fairies, who answered my endless questions with endless patience.
Tricia Schmitt (Pickyme) for her beautiful cover art.
My first readers, Anne, Crystal, Jackie, Kara, Hope, Kris, and Alison, for their insight and wisdom. And one more extra special thank you to Anne for going above and beyond!
And, as always, thank you to my readers. Without you, this book and all the others, past and future, would not be possible. You make my dreams come true!
About the Author
Christy Reece is the award winning and New York Times Bestselling author of dark and sexy romantic suspense. She lives in Alabama with her husband, four precocious canines, an incredibly curious cat, a very shy turtle, and a super cute flying squirrel named Elliott.
Christy also writes steamy, southern suspense under the pen name Ella Grace.
You can contact her at
[email protected]
Praise for Christy Reece novels:
“The type of book you will pick up and NEVER want to put down again.”
Coffee Time Romance and More
“Romantic suspense has a major new star!”
Romantic Times Magazine
“Sizzling romance and fraught suspense fill the pages as the novel races toward its intensely riveting conclusion.”
Publishers Weekly, Starred Review
“Flat-out scary, and I loved every minute of it!”
The Romance Reader's Connection
“A brilliantly plotted book. Her main characters are vulnerable yet strong, and even the villains are written with skillful and delicate brush strokes haunting your mind long after the book is done.”
Fresh Fiction
“A passionate and vivacious thrill-ride! … I feel like I’ve been on an epic journey after finishing it.... Exquisite.”
Joyfully Reviewed
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