Absolution (11 page)

A knock sounded at the door, and she jumped
to her feet. Her father had men stationed outside her apartment, so
the chances of it being a murderer were slim…but then again, it
hadn’t stopped the Cartel before.

Her voice shook as she inquired, “Who is
it?”

“It’s Joseph. Can I come in?”

She sucked in a deep breath, and once again
wiped her hands on her pants. How were they so darn sticky? “Um,
yeah. Hold on.”

Rushing to the door, she smoothed her hair
and unlocked the bolt. When she opened the door, she fought the
urge to fling herself into his arms, forcing a calm expression to
her face, despite her racing heart.

He studied her from head to toe, clearing his
throat and shoving his hands into his pockets. After several
moments passed, he said, “Are you going to let me in, or what?”

Eva realized she blocked his way and stumbled
backward. “Yes, of course. Come in.”

She smiled at the guards and shut the door
firmly. After a moment’s hesitation, she locked the deadbolt again
for good measure. She faced him and strode to the couch, perching
on the edge. Her fingers shook, nervousness threatening to overcome
her, so she sat on them. Joseph had made it clear he was done with
her. She didn’t need to embarrass herself any further.

“Um, sit.”

He grinned and sat down beside her—far too
close. He smelled of aftershave and Old Spice deodorant. And his
warmth beckoned to her. She groaned aloud her frustration, shifting
on the couch and feeling incredibly turned on. He toyed with a
piece of her hair and her scalp tingled, sending shivers down her
spine.

“You look gorgeous, even with a broken
nose.”

She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I’m sure I look
fabulous.” Avoiding his gaze, she stared down at her lap. “I mean,
um, thanks. I’m sure I look horrible, but it’s nice of you to
lie.”

He scooted closer. When he tugged on a lock
of her hair over her ear, she trembled.

“No, you’re still the most beautiful woman
I’ve ever seen. Will ever see.”

With a sigh, he released her hair. He rubbed
the back of his neck, and she glanced up in time to see his jaw
flex. Could he be nervous, too?

“So, what did I leave here? Your father said
you had something of mine?”

“Oh, right.” She cleared her throat and
motioned toward the table in front of them.

He glanced where she’d indicated and returned
his attention to her, staring at her face a mere second before his
gaze shot back to the table. With a muttered curse, he reached out,
grabbed the jewelry case, and tucked the box inside his pocket.

“Did you look at it?” he barked, his cheeks
red.

She shook her head. “No, of course not. It
didn’t seem right.” She blinked back tears and looked out the
window. “I just thought you should have it.”

His arm resting against hers tensed, and he
shot to his feet. His sudden movement drew her attention.

“Right.” He rubbed his jaw. “Well, I guess
that’s it. G-good luck with your move. And with, uh, life.” He
rolled his shoulders and looked down at her. Resignation and
sadness stared her down and her heart wrenched. “Yeah. Okay,
bye.”

Turning away, he strode to the door. Tears
slipped over Eva’s cheeks, and she bit her lip. If she wasn’t
mistaken, she’d seen his hand tremble. He never showed any signs of
weakness.

“Wait!” She rose, taking an awkward step
toward him only to stumble. She caught herself on the arm of the
couch. “Can I ask you something?”

He stopped, but didn’t face her. “Yes?”

“Was it…
is
it…a ring?”

“Does it matter?” He pivoted to her, a frown
wrinkling his brow. “Either way ends with me leaving and you
moving. You made it quite clear what you wanted of me a few days
ago.”

“I…I was scared. I didn’t mean—” She flailed
her arms, struggling to find the right words.

“What?” His eyes narrowed, and he stalked to
her. “Don’t fuck with me. Do you want me to stay or go?”

“Stay!” she cried. “I want you to stay, damn
it!”

He swept her into his arms. “Do you believe
me now?”

She nodded, tears running down her cheeks.
“I-I should have listened to you earlier. I shouldn’t have told you
I didn’t want you anymore. I was just…scared.”

He smiled, kissing every inch of her face.
“God, I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

He kissed her forehead—a little too close to
her nose—and she flinched.

“Ow.”

“Oh. Sorry.” He examined her nose, his eyes
darkening. “I wish he was still alive so I could go kill him right
now.”

A strange sound bubbled from her throat,
half-laugh and half-groan. “Yeah. Me too.”

He lifted her into his arms and carried her
into the bedroom. The bed had been disassembled, but the mattress
lay on the floor. He laid her gently on it and lowered himself to
cover her body. His weight pressing against her made her heart feel
whole again. She’d missed him so much, even more so than when she’d
kicked him out. Knowing she loved him—and he still loved her—had
made their separation unbearable. She’d never let go of him again.
Groaning, she wrapped her arms around his neck.

He brought his mouth to hers but hovered a
mere breath away. “Are you sure you’re ready? I can wait—”

She grasped his neck and melded her lips to
his. His tongue thrust between her lips, and he cradled her head in
his hands. She tore free, smiling up into his green eyes. “I love
you. There are no doubts.”

Growling, he crushed her lips beneath his,
his hands fumbling with the hem of her shirt. He removed his mouth
from hers long enough to rip the shirt over her head, and then
nibbled on her lower lip before licking the sting away.

“God, I love you,” he whispered hotly in her
ear. Removing her bra, he fondled her left breast while his lips
closed over her right nipple.

Happiness twined with desire inside of her,
making everything in her world shiny and perfect. She groaned and
arched her back, tugging at his hair.

He lifted his head, and scowled. “Ow, that
hurt.”

She rolled him onto his back, straddling his
hips. “Well, I’ll have to make you feel better.”

Smirking, she yanked his shirt over his head
and massaged his auburn locks. Closing his eyes, he sighed. When
she licked his nipple, he jerked, groaning and threading his
fingers through her hair. She treated the other nipple the same
while she dragged her nails down his chest. Moving her hands lower,
she unbuttoned his waistband, fumbling in her haste to peel his
pants off. Once he had nothing but boxers on, she cupped his penis
and massaged him until he squirmed beneath her.

“Eva!” he cried out, hands fisting.

She shot him a grin, slinking down his body
while making sure to trail her breasts along his chest and down his
belly. Releasing his cock from his boxers, she licked the tip,
savoring his moan of delight, and closed her lips around his shaft,
sucking while massaging his balls. When he lurched off the bed, she
held his chest down with her free hand. Strong fingers laced into
her hair and tugged. She stroked her tongue in circles around his
sensitive tip.

“Fuck,” he mumbled, “I need to be inside of
you. Now.” Picking her up, he tossed her onto her back, taking care
to be gentle with her even though he looked as if he would explode
it he didn’t have her that instant. He practically shredded her
jeans in his haste to be inside her.

Once she was naked, he removed his boxers and
stood above her. Her breath caught as his eyes took in every inch
of her body. She held her arms out and, with a wicked grin, he
leapt on her, crushing her lips beneath his and thrusting into her
in one deep drive. She whimpered into his mouth, and wrapped her
legs around his hips, meeting him thrust for thrust until she
tensed and an orgasm exploded through her.

When he left her, pulling from her embrace
and away from her body, she cried out in dismay. He hadn’t come.
Why would he withdraw from her before he’d climaxed?

Rising up on her elbows, she realized he
wasn’t finished. He lowered his head between her legs, stroking her
with his tongue. Pure pleasure made her mewl and dig her nails into
the mattress. He gripped her hips and pulled her closer to his
mouth, unwilling to let her escape his sweet torture. The pressure
built inside her until, with a small scream exploding from her, she
burst against his mouth, sagging to the mattress. Wonder washed
through her, along with love. She couldn’t imagine life without him
by her side. Never again.

Joseph rose above her and brushed her
clitoris as he entered her. She dug her heels into the mattress,
trembling. With a surprised shout, she climaxed again.

“Jesus, Eva. I’m gonna come,” he moaned,
plunging into her a few times before he threw his head back and
came inside her.

She groaned, trailing her fingers over his
back, enjoying the feel of his weight on top of her. His breath
fanned her ear, and she smiled. After a few minutes, he raised
himself on one elbow, studying her expression. “You look awfully
pleased with yourself.”

She traced a finger along his eyebrow. “I am.
I’m beyond happy. I have you back. No one’s shot at me in the last
week. Life’s good.”

He slid off her.

“Hey, come back!” she protested.

He shook his head and grabbed his pants,
reaching in his pocket. Eva chewed on her lower lip, watching him
strut back to her naked. The velvet box perched between the fingers
of his hand. His muscles rippled as he lowered to the floor on one
knee, and his face held a touch of vulnerability she’d not often
seen on him. He always seemed so sure of himself and what he
wanted. To see him so nervous made her love him even more.

She gulped in air and held it, scrambling to
sit up cross-legged on the bed. Closing his eyes, as if to steady
himself, Joseph flipped open the lid of the box. Eva released her
breath in a loud whoosh at the sight of the gorgeous ring resting
within. Tearing her gaze from the treasure, she witnessed an even
more mesmerizing sight—the love and tears in Joseph’s eyes.

“I know I can be hard to handle. Bossy at
times. An ass at others. But one thing I’ve always been good at is
knowing what I want. And getting it.” He paused and steadied
himself, never breaking eye contact with her. “I had everything in
the world I could ever want. I didn’t realize how much of that
included you until you were gone. I ask you to be my wife, and in
return I vow to be forever faithful. I will never leave you, Eva,
or break your heart. All I ask is for you to wear my ring and love
me in return. Will you be my wife?”

Her love for him swelled, making her laugh in
joy. He’d actually asked her to marry him after all they’d been
through in the past few months. He loved her—needed her. And, God,
she needed him, too. Everything seemed to fit perfectly into place,
all the pieces snug and tight.

Her life had come back together. She could
breathe again.

She burst into tears and launched herself
into his arms. He fell backward, the box holding the ring
skittering across the floor. She kissed him full on the mouth, and
cradled his cheeks with shaky hands to look down into his eyes.

“Yes. I will be your wife! And I will give
you all those things and more. I promise!”

He rolled her beneath him on the cool floor.
Leaning up on his elbows, he placed a kiss on her forehead.
Reaching above her head, he grabbed the box and removed the ring
from it, placing the band on her left ring finger.

She rotated her hand, watching the diamond
twinkle merrily in the light. “It fits perfect. I love it.”

He smiled and kissed her lips. She groaned
and wriggled her hips beneath him, and in one smooth motion he was
inside her once more.

“I get to make love to my fiancée now,” he
whispered in her ear.

She shivered and met his thrust with a smile
on her face. “I love you.”

“And I you,” he murmured. “And I was just
kidding about me being an ass. I’m very easy to live with.”

She burst into laughter. “Yeah. Okay.”

In the warm sunlight, he tried to kiss her
into silence, but he couldn’t stop her infectious laughter as they
made love in front of the closet, where the ring had lay hidden for
weeks.

Diane Alberts lives in Northeast Pennsylvania
with her husband, four kids, and a bird. She lives in the
mountains-but wishes it were the beach. She has been writing since
she was in elementary school, but only recently fulfilled her
dreams of being published in 2011. Enjoys dyeing yarn and knitting
in her “spare” time.

She loves interacting with readers, so feel
free to email her!

Email address: [email protected]

Website:
www.dianealberts.com

Kill Me Tomorrow

A 1Night Stand Story

Jasmine Baruch is a jinn—a supernatural being
who fights demons with fire. While that's difficult enough, she's
got bigger problems. She’s a virgin, and in the jinn culture, that
is sheer blasphemy. Jinn are supposed to be passionate, promiscuous
creatures—everything she isn't. Due to marry the next day, she
takes matters into her own hands by using 1Night Stand. But, like
the rest of her life, nothing is easy. The man chosen for her,
though incredibly gorgeous, is a demi-sanguine; a half-human,
half-demon--her enemy.

Gavin Werbato is looking for an easy night of
sex. Nothing more, nothing less. Instead, he gets a gorgeous jinn
convinced it is her duty to kill him. He can certainly think of
better things to do with her soft hands than murder. He need only
convince her of that…

Can the fire sparked when these beings
collide be controlled, or will it consume their world as they know
it?