The Killing Times (An FBI Romance Thriller (book 1)) (45 page)

“I don’t think so, she’s laughing
right now.”

“Give me twenty minutes.” He disconnected the phone.

“You know that only crazy people do things like this in the middle of a murder investigation, and at night.”

“Yeah, but you’ll never forget our anniversary now
will you? Think of the story for the kids and how we met and a week later we were hitched.”

Elizabeth laughed and warned him, “You may not want to lead in with that one
. I’m pretty sure it’s against the rules of parenting to promote a week of dating and sex then marriage, especially if you have girls.”

Blackhawk
was going to agree but his phone rang. “We’ll be there,” he said, hanging up the phone.

“Let’s go
! We have to make it to the courthouse in thirty minutes. There’s a federal justice waiting to marry us.”

“I have to wear something other than this,” she said laughing.

“Dress fast,” Ethan said excitedly. He was about to get married to the woman of his dreams, literally.

                            *   *   *

Doc Trudeaux sat at his desk in the ME’s office. It was later than usual for him, and he rarely stayed late. Salem was usually a slow death town. Maybe they would have an older person pass, or a car accident, but more often than not he was out the door by six every day.

But today
he was bothered.

Elizabeth LaRue went back up north, and she didn’t even tell him she was going. Not th
at he was her father, but still he had been a surrogate since his best buddy Charlie had died. It stung a little and the deputies were being misleading on purpose. It made him want to know what was going on. He was still part of this, and he needed to know.

Looking
at the clock, it was late, but he was going to call her anyway and check up on her. Charlie would want him to make sure Elizabeth was safe. As he dialed and waited, it rang the customary six times and went right to voicemail.

“Lyzee, I’m worried about you. Give me a call when you get this. I went by your house,
and it’s a hive of activity but no you. I’m concerned. Thanks, Doc.” He hung up the phone and grabbed his keys.

Hopefully she would get back to him soon
, and then he could finally stop worrying.

                            *   *   *

Elizabeth stood in the ladies room, as her best friend helped her get dressed. She fixed her hair as she stared into the mirror. “I can’t believe you got a proposal, and then married in under two hours. This only happens with you, Lyzee!”

She laughed
as she checked out the long white dress. “I’m more than surprised myself, and the fact you just knew someone that owned a dress shop willing to open this late at night.”

“You look gorgeous, Lyzee. I
’m so happy for you!” Her friend began to cry. “I’m sorry. I’m just hormonal,” Livy sniffled, wiping her eyes. She was so glad she could find a babysitter for the impromptu wedding.

“Am I doing the right thing, Livy?”
Elizabeth suddenly hoped she was, but needed someone to reassure her. Both her mother and father were gone; Gabe and Livy were her surrogate family.

“How does it feel
in here?” Livy tapped her best friend over the heart. “Because that’s all that matters, the rest will work itself out, promise.”

“I love him and I know
it’s crazy. I barely know him, but I just feel…”

“Safe? Protected? Loved? Home?” she added for her friend
completely understanding. When you knew, you just knew.

“
Yes, it’s all that and so much more too.”

“Then it’s right, don’t over think it. If you were making a mistake, Gabe or I would stop you
, not help you rush into it. Gabe is super protective of you, like a sister, and he trusts Ethan. So do I,” she pulled a necklace out of her pocket. “Here, borrowed and blue,” she draped it around her neck. The stones matched her eyes.

“It’s gorgeous
!” Elizabeth touched it lovingly. 

“Do you have a wedding band for Ethan?”

Elizabeth did something she swore she never would. She slid the wedding band that had been half the set to her parents, off her thumb. “Yeah, I do.” She handed it to Livy to hold until the judge needed it. Gone was her ring Blackhawk had given her, It too was waiting, but with Gabe.

“I’m glad I got to see this,” she sniffled. “Now let’s go get hitched,” said Livy, taking her friends hand and walking out to meet the men.

It was time!

Ethan Blackhawk stood with his boss; he had put on a tie,
a fresh black dress shirt, and was ready. His heart was pounding in his chest, and he couldn’t help but feel incredibly giddy over the entire thing. He was about to get married, and it just didn’t seem comprehendible.

“Scared?”
questioned Gabe, who was watching him play with the knot of his tie nervously.

“Know that feeling
right before an assignment, after you review the files and are going in to do the job?” he answered, knowing his boss would understand.

“Yes, I vaguely do,”
Gabe replied, grinning. He remembered what life was like in the field, once upon a time.

“It’s that feeling I have. It’s
nervous anticipation.”

“But does it feel right?” he asked softly, touching his arm. He didn’t want either of them rushing into anything that didn’t feel one hundred percent right.

“Completely.”

Before Gabe could
impart any words of wisdom, the ladies room door opened and both women stepped out. He studied the man’s face and grinned satisfactorily.

The look said it all.

Blackhawk watched speechlessly as she walked toward him. Elizabeth was more beautiful than he ever thought possible. She wore white with her hair in an intricate twist down her back. His eyes went to the pretty blue stones hanging around her neck and he noticed they matched her eyes.

“Elizabeth,” he whispered.
The smile on her face gave him peace, and he knew instantly that they were doing more than the right thing; they were completing what was meant to be.

The judge stepped out of his chambers, “
Ethan and Elizabeth, are you both ready?”

Both nodded and followed him.

First, they signed the papers and officially filled out their marriage license. When that was complete, they readied themselves for the important part.

Their marriage vows.

The judge went through the formalities, and then allowed them the time to speak their hearts and share their words. They held hands and Elizabeth went first, looking into his eyes her gaze never wavering.

“I take this day very serious, Ethan Jackson Blackhawk,” she smiled. It was funny she just learned his middle name, and was marrying him at the same time. “I promise you
an eternity of laughter, a future of excitement, and to always make you see life for what it’s worth, joy. I promise to drive fast, make you nervous, and to always be there by your side despite the danger, the fear, or the trouble.”

She held out her hand and Livy handed her the ring.

“This was my father’s wedding band, and he wore it on the day he married my mom, promising never ending love to her. I make you that same vow. I’ll love you unconditionally, for the man you once were, the one you are today, and the one you’ll be tomorrow.” She slid the ring on his finger, and it fit perfectly. It was simply one more sign to her that it was meant to be. “I love you, Cowboy.”

Ethan watched
Elizabeth place the ring on his finger. All the words made his heart skipped in his chest. This woman was his all, and he would spend the rest of his life showing her what a treasure she was to him. Finally, he had love that was his and wouldn’t abandon him.

“Your turn
, son,” said the judge.

“I take this day serious too, Elizabeth Renee LaRue,” he said, wiping a tear from her cheek. “I promise to hold on
to you never letting go, to protect you, and make you feel safe for the rest of our lives. I vow to always look at you with the same love I have now and with the same awe that you watch me with daily. I will forever honor this ring, promising to cherish it and you.”

He held out his hand, taking his mother’s ring from Gabe.

“I held onto this for years, never thinking it would see the outside of the safe, but in a matter of days you made me fall in love. I now believe in fate and know that I had been holding onto it for only one reason, you. I pass it onto you, hoping you will forever wear it until one day we pass both our rings onto our children. I love you, Sheriff.” He slid it onto her finger, and looked over at the judge.

“Congrats kids,” he said, leaning down and signing the papers. “Kiss your bride
! You are now legally married.”

Elizabeth stepped into his arms, and accepted the kiss th
at sealed them together forever. Her hands went to his neck and into the silkiness of his hair, as she enjoyed the feel and taste of her husband.

When they broke apart, they both had tears in their eyes, and love in their hearts.

The drive back home had been full of laughter and joy. Elizabeth held her husband’s hand, and couldn’t help but smile; they now were married
and a couple.

Together they were an
unbreakable unit.

Nothing had ever felt so right
. She couldn’t wait to get home and spend their last night in Georgetown wrapped around him as husband and wife.

“What are you thinking abo
ut?” he asked, almost afraid to ask. He could tell she was lost in a thought, and he hoped it was about them and not what was waiting for them in Salem.

That would come soon enough.

“Sex,” she answered honestly, and laughed at the look on his face. “What? A wife can’t think about sex with her husband?”  She leaned over and kissed his cheek, and for the hell of it nibbled down his neck to his ear.

“Your husband is glad you're thinking about sex, but let’s not die in a car accident
before getting home, so behave.”

She
reached over to loosen his tie. “I’m sorry Mr. Blackhawk, but you're very distracting as you sit there in your tie and wedding ring.” Elizabeth slid it from his neck, watching the vein in his throat throb. Oh yeah, she was going to enjoy tormenting him. They still had a few blocks, and Ethan still had too much control.

“Lyzee, this is a thirty five hundred pound
weapon. There are lots of trees and cars,” Blackhawk warned, but he couldn’t help but think about it. Elizabeth was always spontaneous, and she always tore at his control. Life with her would always be interesting.

“Ethan, I trust you
completely.” As they pulled up to the red light, she tipped his face toward hers and assaulted his mouth greedily. His body tensed in need, and she broke away, just in time to have the light turn green.

The kiss scorched all his senses
. Anyone who said married sex wasn’t as good as dating sex, had it all wrong. He couldn’t imagine it ever not being this hot and combustible. “You’re playing with a very dangerous thing.” Ethan licked his lips and could still taste her on them. It just made him that much crazier and harder.

Elizabeth grinned salaciously
at her new husband. “Here is our problem, Mr. Blackhawk. We have four more blocks, and four more stop lights. I plan on breaking your control, and having my way with my husband. You better either drive faster, or try to not kill us in the meantime.”

Blackhawk looked over at her
fast, only to see she wasn’t kidding. At the same time he could feel her hands unbuckling his belt, and he knew he was screwed. “Lyzee,” he whispered, as she took him in her hand and all the air left his lungs.

“Yes, Ethan?” she asked, laughing and meeting his eyes with complete need and want. “Good thing the windows are tinted,”
Elizabeth whispered in his ear, as she ran her hand up and down his erection.  “I’m going to enjoy this a great deal, husband.”

“Oh God,” he muttered, as she blew in his ear, and then
dropped her head to his lap as she took him in her mouth. “Elizabeth,” he moaned, as she worked him in and out, driving him crazy. He prayed the light would stay green but of course it didn’t. As he slowed the car down, she moved faster and sucked harder, as he swore he was going to explode right there. Ethan’s only saving grace was that it was after midnight on a weekday and the streets were empty.

She broke away
running the tip of her tongue across her lips as he watched. “Home yet, honey?” she inquired innocently, laughter filling the car while her hand continued to stroke him.