Heat: An Alpha Male Criminal Romance (A Hotter Than Hell Novel Book 1) (35 page)

Moon is my best friend and Gomez comes in second. Gomez thinks I’m the shit. I think of him as the brother I never had. He travels with Moon to New Mexico. We’re looking for a person to be my Gomez. I want a woman and Moon wants a man. He’s a chauvinist in this one thing, and Gomez is on his side. For now, Moon’s security takes turns driving me around. They grumble unless we’re heading to the escort offices. They enjoy talking to the ladies.

I don’t ask questions about Moon’s other business. I dream that someday, that end of things will disappear. Moon has legitimate businesses that make him a lot of money. I make decisions on many of the charities Moon supports. He looks the other way when I give to police causes. I don’t care. I will always believe that there are good cops.

As we take the last turn in the road, Moon squeezes my thigh. I helped him find this place. It’s beautiful with rambling decks that wrap around all three stories. Two of his men live here full time. They live above the garage and make themselves scarce when we’re in residence. The house has a lot of security features, so we’re as safe as we can be.

It’s February and the Phoenix weather is beautiful right now. It will be hotter than hell in a few months. That’s why we bought this place. It’s our getaway when the heat’s too much. For some reason, Moon insisted we come up this weekend. I’m not exactly fond of the heat, but I absolutely hate the cold and Flagstaff is damned cold in February. I gave in because I miss Fred. He’s the goat who didn’t have a name. When we bought the cabin, Moon had an outside pen built and surprised me. Have I mentioned that I’m in love? Yes, with Moon too.

Flagstaff is a two and a half hour drive from Phoenix, and we don’t need to pack luggage because we keep a complete wardrobe here. It consists of jeans, shorts, and tees for both of us. We do have a few winter items because Moon insisted on it. No business suits for him, though. Those were my terms.

Moon just returned from a two-week trip to New Mexico. He arrived home at ten in the morning and we took off shortly after that. I told him I could drive, but he just gave me one of his lip quirks. I watch him as he drives. I don’t like the weary expression on his face.

After we arrive at the house, we walk in holding hands. He spins me around so I’m facing him the second the door closes. The man loves his wall sex. I also notice that he no longer looks tired.

I’m laughing. At least I don’t have on my boots. I kick my pumps off as Moon slides my shirt over my head and tosses it on the floor. “If you push me through the glass, I’ll never forgive you,” I say as I breathe into his mouth because he’s already kissing me. Our front door is partial glass and I’m worried we might break it.

“I thought we could try the couch,” he replies and leads me in that direction. The couch is comfortable, but the fact that he wants couch sex surprises me. At least until Moon bends me over the back, locks my fingers into the cushions, and pulls my leggings and underwear down my legs so my ass is displayed. His fingers dig into my waist and his cock slides home. Couch sex has just replaced wall sex as far as spectacular goes. This position does it for me. I was jacked for sex when Moon arrived home three hours ago. Sitting beside him in the car was pure torture. He nips across my shoulders and down my back. I go to my toes as he drives in and out. This isn’t slow like when he wants to make me wild. This is crazy fast with animal grunts. Fucking that shows how much Moon missed me. It’s rough and quick. It takes little to get us both off. This happens each time we’re apart.

That evening, we’re lying naked on a blanket in front of the fireplace. Moon fills two champagne flutes and hands one to me. We’re curled on our sides, his body behind mine. “Is this a special occasion?” I ask.

“Sí, Señorita Kinlock. Te cararias conmigo?”

As promised, I’ve been taking Spanish lessons. I suck at speaking it, but my understanding is growing. Or at least I thought it was. I don’t think he asked what I think I heard. Moon disentangles himself from me, stands, and walks to his discarded clothes. I watch his sexy stride and enjoy looking at his naked ass.

He returns with a small velvet box.

Oh my fucking hell. Moon—naked—takes a knee as I scramble to come to mine. He opens the box and an exquisite, large solitaire diamond is resting inside.

“Will you marry me?” he repeats in English.

“Sí, sí, sí,” I say as I launch myself at him and we tumble to the blankets. He laughs as I rain kisses over his face. It’s that beautiful sound that overwhelms me each time I hear it.

He has somehow managed to hold onto the ring box in my enthusiasm. He lifts my hand from his chest and slips the ring over my finger.

“I love you,” I tell him as I lean in and kiss him again.

“Te amo,” he says. He rolls us over and kisses me deeply. Tears stream from my eyes. I will have this man for the rest of my life.

And he will have me.

Chapter Forty

Two months later…

Moon

I WAS A YOUNG
boy the first time my father told me how beautiful and captivating my mother was. He met her in a bar in Mexico City, where she worked as a waitress. He said the men watched her carry trays of drinks as she dipped, swirled, and sashayed through the bar. Their eyes were hungry as she smiled and laughed, evaded slaps to her ass, and admonished those who crossed the line.

Hours later, my father knew it was time to drag himself away. He also knew he was in love for the first and last time. She brought his check, he paid, and she handed him a slip of paper. In very precise English it read:
I am off in one hour and will meet you at the back door
.

He crunched the note in his fist and walked out. He thought himself a stupid man who would most likely be robbed and left for dead because such an amazing woman could not be interested in him. He had an hour to consider how stupid he was. He met her anyway.

They were both students—she nursing and him on summer break before he entered med school. For two weeks they saw each other, made love, and talked late into the night after she got off work. My father had no trouble talking to me about having sex with my mother, though he never went into detail; he just said I would meet a special woman one day and understand that the gift of her body is holy. Two weeks after they met, she took him to meet her family. They treated him respectfully, but they didn’t like him. The following day, my mother and father applied for her visa. They didn’t care what her family thought. My father understood that no man would ever be good enough for Maria Elana Santos Morales.

He told me the waiting for the visa was the worst months of his life. He started med school back in the states and all he could think about was my mother’s smile, her laugh, her delicate skin and her voracious appetite for life. He said, “Love can take time to develop or it can hit you like a steamroller.”

I thought about his words the day I watched Madison sleep. She resembled my closest friend’s sister, but she was nothing like Theresa. I removed her shoes and pants before tucking her beneath the sheet. I fought it, but couldn’t help bending over and running my nose along the skin at her throat. I breathed in the most delicious scent in the universe. She was minty vanilla mixed with sweet musky sweat.

I watched her for more than an hour worried that I should notify Carlo to examine her. Every so often, she moved and muttered something indistinguishable. I had closed off most of my thoughts about my mother and father for years. For some reason, I sat there and for the first time in years, remembered the good times. Most of my thoughts included my baby brother. I have no idea why I was so drawn to the woman lying in the bed, but I planned to find out.

I know the exact moment the steamroller ran over me. Madison asked me to save a goat. I found that goat a home and then purchased it back for a ridiculous amount of money because I knew it would make her smile. We’ve recently added a new kitten named Phily to our family. No, I don’t care that Madison named her kitten after one of my men. Philip was a good man.

Madison also has Two-dogs. Not literally two dogs, but one badass rescued pit bull named Two-dogs. He’s three years old and follows Madison everywhere. He was our compromise over the bodyguard situation. Madison hired a woman and I had a dog trained for added protection. We’re both happy.

At this moment, I’m in bed with my sleeping bride, and I understand why my father sacrificed his life and died with my mother. Estephon taking Madison was hell. We were within a mile of his location when the video came through. If she had died, I planned to die with her. That’s what love is. All these years I’ve resented my father for leaving me.

I forgive him.

Love is everything.

Holly gets real,

I have a lot to cover so I’ll dig right in. Acetaminophen (Tylenol ™) can kill if the exact dosage isn’t followed closely. Most common in these deaths are mixing Acetaminophen with cold medicine and pain killers. They may all contain Acetaminophen. Please take with caution and know every ingredient of all medicines you are taking. I have detective horror stories which I won’t go into. Knowledge is our friend.

Sancho is a common name around the Hispanic community where I worked as an officer. It was the stand-in for the lover of a married woman. Sancha was used for the lover of a married man. I learned something new each day I patrolled the streets.
Hasta que nos encontramos de Nuevo “Until we meet again.” This translation is for Sally and everyone else who didn’t know what Moon said to Mak the first time they parted.

The Wendell Police Precinct is a figment of my imagination. Sunnyslope is not. It’s a small section of Phoenix known for its eclectic people. Take what you want from my use of the word “eclectic”.

The Arizona Humane Society is located in the heart of Sunnyslope off 13
th
Avenue and Hatcher. I knew it well because my daughter worked the late-night shift, for many years. She was genius at catheter placement for fluids and known as Doctor Amanda. She worked alone except for the occasional emergency crews who brought her animals in crisis. She did everything she could to keep them alive until a vet came on duty in the morning. If she couldn’t save them, she put them out of their suffering. She felt each death deeply. Don’t tell anyone but she also called me to foster animals who were on the short list. Mostly bottle-baby kittens. She’s also owned a team of her own rescues—five-toed cats, 3-legged dogs, and blind dogs. You don’t work that job without a heart of gold and endless love for four-legged friends. I am one proud mom.

I was lucky enough to own two desert tortoises. Mine were pure vegetarians. A friend of mine owned Big and he loved Big Mac’s. Come on, some stories must be told.

I lost my first DUI because of the “vomit in the mouth” defense. Still burns to this day. It also made me a better officer.

A very wise female officer told me the answer to “one of the guys” statements. I never thought like a man or acted like one. A wise sergeant told me this was a good thing because blue needs diversity. I am a woman and damned proud of it. I was “one of the cops” and I’m damn proud of that too.

I saw my first beheading video at the police academy. It was done by a Mexican drug cartel and stayed with me for a long time. Kennedy did not have a change of heart when he told Mak to close her eyes. He treated her like a female because he was an arrogant SOB. Sorry if I led you in that direction. I had an idiot cop tell me to look away from something once. Not only was it ridiculous but dangerous as well. He never made that mistake again.

Hugs to my editing team: Michelle (made me change the first chapter around and it’s a much better book because of it. I won’t mention the other edits that shined. Pat, your fine eye always amazes me. Sally, you’re my fiercest critic and this book won you over. *happy dance* Kathie, thank you for the finishing touches. You ladies fine-tuned this story and I love it.

More hugs to my Wicked Readers Street Team. I don’t know where I would be without you.

To my readers… thank you for continually supporting my work. I’m one of the luckiest author’s alive. Alex Gomez’s book will be next. I have a not so perfect lady planned for him and I can’t wait to share his story. You’ll also get more of Madison and Moon, promise.

Peace and love,

Holly