Dangerous Attraction: Part One (Aegis Group) (12 page)

He snagged his jeans and underwear from the top of her laundry hamper and stepped into them. The silence had the hair on the back of his neck lifting.

The sound of a feminine sniffle sliced him to the bone. He turned and froze. Bliss sat with her back to the white headboard, the sheets clutched to her chest and her face turned away from him.

Was she crying?

That wasn’t what he wanted.

For a second he stood there and watched her hand disappear behind the curtain of hair. She sniffled again, the sound muted this time, but he still heard it.

“Bliss?” He set one knee on the bed. When she didn’t respond, he crawled across the bed to her. “Please don’t cry. I don’t know how to fix that.”

“Go away.” She grabbed the pillow that still bore the indention from his head and clutched it to her chest.

“Bliss...I don’t know how to make you understand.”

“It was a big mistake. I get it.” She stared at the far side of the room, resolutely not looking at him, but he could see each tear trickling down her cheeks. They hurt worse than any bullet he’d ever taken.

“No, that’s what I...God damn it, Bliss. I’m a felon. Did you know that?” He bit the inside of his cheek and waited for her to slap him.

Her brow wrinkled and she glanced at him, a frown curling her lips downward.

“I’m a felon. A serial killer murdered my dad’s family. I was kicked out of the SEALs, and now the only thing I’m good for is as a human shield or the FBI’s blood hound. I’m fucked up, and you want no part of this.” He jabbed a finger at his chest.

It was the rough, unvarnished truth of his life. Since the moment he’d been conceived, the bastard son of the Ration Survivor, his life was shrouded in darkness. His own mother couldn’t stand to look at him. Why should Bliss have to accept what the woman who birthed him could not?

“I don’t even know where to start with that.” Bliss stared at him, which was better than avoiding him, except now he could see how red her eyes were.

“I’ve done hard time.”

“For what?” One brow arched, as if she didn’t believe him.

“Kidnapping a kid.” Each word was a nail in his coffin. People got crazy when it came to kids, his prison time was proof of that.

“You kidnapped a kid? Why?”

It was Travis’ turn to stare at her. Why wasn’t she calling the cops on him? Wouldn’t a normal girl do that? What rational woman let a felon into her home, much less her bed?

“Because his mother threatened to kill him and herself.”

“And you went to prison for that?”

“Yeah.”

“You shouldn’t be jailed for that, you should be...I don’t know, given a medal. You seriously went to prison for that?”

“A year and some change in FTC.” He leaned against the headboard next to her.

“A year?”

“My sentence was longer, but it was reduced.”

“I can’t believe that. What happened?”

“You should kick me out, you know that?”

“Let me get this straight.” She wiped her eyes. “A lot of bad stuff has happened to you, and you think—what? It means people should stay away from you?”

“I’m not a normal guy, Bliss.” He couldn’t translate the darkness that haunted him into words.

“I think you’ve had some shitty luck, and if you’re afraid of more bad stuff happening, go on.” She gestured to the bedroom door.

“I’m not afraid.”

“Poor word choice. The big, bad SEAL would never be afraid.” She didn’t flinch away from meeting his gaze.

He could almost taste the sarcasm dripping from her words. Why was she so calm about this? Didn’t she know he could kill her in a dozen ways without breaking a sweat? Not that he would, she was too precious to be harmed. She should have someone in her life to be there for her, protect her if it came to that. If Travis ever met the guy, he’d be hard-pressed to not punch his lights out, even if it was what Bliss deserved.

“You’re still here,” she said after several moments.

“I’ll leave.”

“If that’s what you want to do.” She broke their eye contact and stared at the wall again.

“Damn it, Bliss, that’s not what I want to do. It’s what I should do. I can’t promise you anything. I won’t even be here by the end of next week.”

“But you’ll be here for a week at least?” She reached for his hand and threaded their fingers together.

“That’s the plan.” He stared at their joined hands. The simple act of acceptance floored him.

“I’m okay with that. I like you. I’d like to see you again if possible.”

“You should kick me out.”

“Why? Because you’ve been dealt a shitty hand? I don’t think that stuff is contagious. Besides, it’s made you a strong person. I can’t imagine what it’s been like for you.”

“You deserve someone better.”

“Better than the guy who saved my sister and Christmas all in one day?” She elbowed him and a smile spread across her face. “You’re pretty awesome.”

He knew he needed to say something, but his mind was at a stand-still.

Once, he’d gone rock climbing while in Utah, and he crossed a precarious bit of rock. For a few seconds, if his weight had shifted even the slightest bit, he’d have fallen to his death. From the way he held his breath to how his stomach was tied up in knots, this moment was every bit as uncertain. It wouldn’t be his death if he fell, but he didn’t know what awaited him.

“Travis?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m not like Wendy. I’m not looking for a man to take care of me, if that’s what’s bothering you. I’m happy where I’m at.”

He leaned toward her and fell off the mental cliff into the unknown. Bliss met his kiss, her hand cupping the back of his neck and sliding up into his hair. He meant to be gentle, but she nipped his lower lip. Arousal thrummed through his veins. He shoved the pillow aside and dragged a giggling, squirming Bliss across his lap until she straddled him.

She flattened her hands against his chest and smiled at him. Her cheeks were pink and her eyes sparkled.

It hit him in that instant.

Travis wanted to make her happy.

He didn’t know the first thing about pleasing a woman out of bed. He’d kept his relationships short due to deployment, the nature of his jobs, and his history, but for her, he could be different. It was possible, wasn’t it?

“I—” The sound of Bliss’ phone on the charging station silenced her protest. “It’s Wendy.”

She climbed off the bed and snatched up her phone. He wanted to drag her back into bed but knew she needed to be assured her sister was safe. Bliss yanked on a pair of yoga pants, a sports bra and sweatshirt, as if she were leaving.

“Where are you going?” He picked up one of the cloth bags at random.

Bliss’ cheeks were redder now. She shook her head as the ringtone died.

“I have no reception in here. I have to go out onto the patio to talk to anyone. She knows that. I’ll be right back. Do not open the blue bag.” She pointed at the other bin. “The blue ones.”

“Your sex toys are color coded?”

“Yes.” She laughed and fled the room, taking a pair of house boots with her.

He watched her go, listening for the snick of the latch on the sliding glass doors.

She made him feel things he wasn’t used to feeling. Emotions that had no name. It was unsettling and exciting, but he needed to remember this was only for now. At best, he could give her a weekend or a week here and there between gigs, nothing like what she deserved, but if she wanted him, he wasn’t about to leave.

Travis pried open the blue bag and peered at its contents.

“Fuck...”

Bliss stepped out into the frigid evening air. She should have grabbed a coat, but her skin was so hot she’d mistakenly thought the December weather might make her feel better.

Nope.

She hit redial on her phone and pressed it to her ear, willing Wendy to answer fast. As much as Bliss wanted to know how her sister was doing, she also wanted to get back into bed instead of standing on her concrete slab of a patio.

Travis was nothing she’d expected. He was a wounded hero, and while she wasn’t foolish enough to think she could fix him, she could love the man he was now. If only for a little while.

Even as the thought solidified in her mind, she knew it was silly. She couldn’t love him. Maybe the idea of him, but it was too soon. They didn’t know each other. And yet, she couldn’t deny that her heart hadn’t beat this hard for anyone in her life. Not even the man she’d thought she might marry.

“Come on, Wendy, pick up,” she muttered.

A hand wrapped around her, covering her mouth. Something pricked her neck before she could strike out.

Bliss tried to draw breath, to cry out for Travis, but her muscles refused to work— even her lungs were hard to manage. Her legs gave out, and she hit the concrete. Overhead, the stars twinkled down at her, broken only by the large silhouette of a man.

“You took what belonged to me,” he said.

Oh God...

Bliss tried to lift her arm, to cry out, but her vision hazed. The last thing she saw was Daniel Campbell’s face before everything went black.

To be continued...

Dangerous Attraction: Part One releases November 3
^rd
as part of the Seven Naughty SEALs boxed set. Installments 2 and 3 will release on November 10
^th
and 17
^th
. Both are up or pre-order now.

Sign up for the
New Release Newsletter
at

www.SidneyBristol.com

to get inside scoops and free books.

See where it all started...

Blind: Killer Instincts

Available Now

He 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 ignite, 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.

Jacob must figure out if it’s Emma in danger, or himself. If he can’t uncover the identity of the copycat killer, it could be the end for both him and the woman who has fast become the center of his life.

Blind, a new romantic suspense book for fans of Criminal Minds and The Following, from New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author Sidney Bristol.

Dangerous Attraction: Part Two

Coming November 10
^th

Ex-Navy SEAL Travis Ration is on the trail of a killer who kidnapped his girl. Bliss Giles is everything he can't have, but he's falling for her anyway. He won't rest until he's reclaimed the woman who unlocked his heart. But that will only be the beginning. He knows the real battle will be over her heart and mind, overcoming the horrors she's seen. There's just one thing Travis isn't prepared for. To fall in love with a woman who is now as broken and haunted as himself.

The hunters become the hunted in this tale of serial killers and SEALs for hire. One shattered woman must come to grips with her reality, a determined man out to fix her has to choose to love or run, and a killer is out for more than blood in this romantic suspense serial by NYT & USA Today bestselling author, Sidney Bristol.

Warning: It won't end happily ever after—this time. Get extra batteries, because nothing is safe.

Book List

Aegis Group

Dangerous Attraction, parts 1, 2 and 3

Bayou Bound

Picture Her Bound

Duty Bound

Bound Memories

Bound & Tamed

Other BDSM Titles

Committed

Bound with Pearls

Collar Me in Paris

Festive Seduction

Electric Engagement

So Inked

Under His Skin

The Harder He Falls

His Marriage Bargain

Good Guys Wear Black

Hot Tango

Line of Duty

Standalone Titles

Falling for His Best Friend

Dream Vacation (free read)

How Zombies Stole Christmas

Anthologies

Hot Ink

High Octane Heroes

––––––––

––––––––

S
idney is represented by Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour Agency.

You can find Sidney here:

Website:
www.SidneyBristol.com

Twitter:
@Sidney_Bristol

New Release Newsletter: