Haven of Nightmares (Littlemoon Investigations Book 5) (19 page)

       
         
* * *
  L   i   t   t   l  e  m  o  o  n  * * *

Tori pulled on her husband’s t-shirt and a pair of shorts. With all the shit going on in that haunted building, she wasn’t sleeping naked.

If she did, and they had to race out of there, that would be very awkward. The last thing she needed was to flash their employees, or the dead.

Maybe it was weird, but now that she knew what else existed out there, why take a chance?

When she turned around, finally ready, Julian was watching her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked. “You look like you’re ready to stroke out.”

“What was up with you and the detective today?”

“Pardon?”

“You two were very friendly.”

Tori knew Julian would always be suspicious and jealous. His past girlfriend made sure of that. How she handled it now was going to be the difference.

If she got defensive, he would too. There was a right and wrong way to handle this, and Tori was ready to navigate this minefield.

“I liked him. He had a good energy.”

“Since when do you have the ability to do that?”

Tori crossed the room and sat beside him. “You’re in the mood to have a fight, aren’t you? I can feel it. I’m not going to let you provoke me into one, Jules. I’m too tired.”

He sighed, knowing she was right. “I’m sorry. I lost my head there for a second.”

Tori kissed him on the cheek. “He’s just a cop, Julian. You’re my all. I love you more than anything.”

“I’m afraid.”

“Of?”

“You’re getting stronger. There’s going to come a point when you don’t need me anymore. You’re going to wake up one day and be over this.”

“Be over it? My marriage? Our family? This child we created together? Now you’ve made me sound like Shelby, and that hurts.”

“I didn’t mean…”

“Stop. I can’t do this, Julian. I can’t pretend that I don’t see you getting worked up, and I can’t pretend that it doesn’t hurt that you’re so untrusting of me. I’m going to go brush my teeth and get some sleep. I’m exhausted, hurt, and angry.”

She headed for the bathroom they shared without looking back.

He’d screwed this up.

He hated that he made her feel like the woman who left her and Trey as children. It wasn’t his intention, but it had happened anyway.

This had to stop.

Going over to the radio, he whispered Trey’s name. When he didn’t answer, he figured he was on his own. Finding a radio station, he let the soft music play.

When Tori came out of the bathroom, her hand was on their child, and she had tears in her eyes.

He’d really hurt her.

His soldier girl didn’t cry easily.

Crossing to her, Julian pulled her into his arms. As she leaned against him, he swayed to the gentle music. Instead of fighting, Tori rested against him.

“I’m scared too,” she whispered.

“Of what, Victoria?”

“I don’t know what I am anymore. I used to be a soldier, and then I became your wife and partner. Now I’m seeing things, and I feel like I’m out of control. I feel lost in all of this.”

He lifted her chin so they were eye to eye. Stormy blue and gold flecks met in quiet understanding. “You’re first and foremost my wife and mother of our child. The rest doesn’t matter. It’s our job. If we lost it tomorrow, we’d still be okay. You’re my other half, Tori, and I’m sorry that you’re afraid. I promise to help you through this.”

“I’m not attracted to the detective. I’m attracted to you, Jules. It’s the hair, those eyes, and how sleek and built you are. Fifteen lives from now, it will still only be about you.”

He spun her out, and then brought her back into his body with very little effort. It was proof of what they had. His tough girl trusted him.

“What are you doing?” she asked, starting to smile. It was hard to be angry when Julian was holding her.

“I’m romancing my wife. It seems that we don’t have any ghosts spying on us.”

Tori didn’t tell him how wrong he was. The room was filled with them, and they were curiously watching them.

Yeah, he didn’t need to know.

Why freak him out?

“Romance, huh? Would this by any chance be naked romance where I get all hot and bothered by my sexy husband?”

He grinned. “Hell yeah, it is. What other kind is there?”

Tori laughed. “Well, Mr. Littlemoon, romance me.”

He didn’t hesitate. Before she could say another word, his mouth was sealed to hers. Julian’s hands found her hair, burying themselves in the silky red strands. Tori was growing it out, and he loved it. When she braided it, down her back, he wanted to get all Native on her.

Sue him.

It was an Indian thing.

She clung to him, her arms around his neck. As they swayed to the music, his mouth devoured hers. Where Tori thought it would be slow and romantic, it wasn’t.

It was heated and fast.

Funny, she was in the mood for that. Julian knew her well after all. The man was her other half, and here was the proof.

He walked them backward toward the bed, and as he did, he was yanking her shirt from her body.

Screw slow.

Julian wanted her to shout his name.

Repeatedly.

As he tugged her free from his clothes, Tori’s hands went to the buckle of his pants. With a flick of her wrist, he was free. Gently, she stroked him first through the material, and then skin on skin.

He moaned in pleasure.

This was what his dreams were made of, and she knew it. When she whispered sexy things into his ear, Julian shook.

Tori didn’t hesitate to catch him off guard. Jumping up, she wrapped her legs around his hips. As always, he caught and held her. Tori never had to worry about him dropping her.

Julian would always keep her safe.

“God, more,” he muttered as she began nibbling on his ear and throat.

Tori gave him what he wanted. Pulling his lips to hers, she made love to his mouth.

It stole his breath.

It quickened hers.

This was what they needed. That simple reconnection of mate-to-mate, lover-to-lover, and husband to wife.

Tumbling onto the bed, Julian made sure Tori landed first, and he braced himself over her. He was focused on the little life growing between them.

“I love you both.”

Tori’s heart skipped.

“We love you too.”

In that span of one heartbeat, Julian struck, freeing himself from her hips to yank her shorts down her body.

Tori gasped. “Julian!”

“I want to hear you say my name over and over again,” he admitted. “I want you to know that we’ll be one forever.”

Tori went to agree, but he already had his mouth devouring her. She gasped in pleasure as he strummed, teased, and drove her right to the edge.

Her body was tingling in release as he shoved her over the edge in one hell of a fast orgasm.

Only, he didn’t stop.

The second one he took his time, exploring, tasting, and enjoying his wife.

Tori moaned, her body arching so he could fully feast on her. As his hands wandered, playing with her breasts, she was in heaven.

Yeah, score one for the pregnant woman. Her husband still wanted her.

When she tripped again, Julian slid up her body, leaving a trail of kisses along the way. As she surfaced, he grinned wickedly.

“Hey, honey. Was it good for you?”

She was going to wipe the smug off his face.

Pushing him with her hand, she decided to show him what good felt like. She’d be the one smirking in the end.

Sliding down his body, she knew he was watching her with those sexy eyes. So, she teased him, barely making contact with his erection.

She licked.

Nipped.

Ran her finger down it.

“Victoria Rose, you’re being mean.”

That’s all he had to say.

She took him in her mouth and drove him insane. She loved the breathy pleading from her sexy Native.

His moans and begging were a beautiful thing.

“Tori!” he hissed as she ran her teeth across the length of him. “Don’t stop!” he begged.

She gave him what he wanted.

It wasn’t Tori who moaned and shouted a name—it was him. Julian was a man on the edge, and here was the proof.

“If you love me, you’ll ride me hard,” he begged.

Sliding up his body, she grinned wickedly. “Today’s your lucky day. I happen to love you a great deal.”

As she perched herself over his body, Julian watched, torturing himself, as she slid down his dick.

“Oh, holy shit,” he muttered as she moved so slowly that he thought he was going to explode from that alone.

Then, when he thought he couldn’t take it anymore, she struck, riding him in abandon.

Julian almost came again. It was a hard fought battle. Instead, he held on, praying for control. Tori’s hair was moving around her, her full breasts were bouncing, and his erection was sliding all the way into her body.

He was screwed.

Literally.

“I’m not going to last,” he muttered, feeling the pressure and heat building.

He was going to explode at any second.

“Come for me,” she whispered, between bounces.

It was all too much.

Julian could feel Tori’s body milking him in release, and he didn’t hold back.

With a shout of her name, he emptied into her in a long hard wave of heat.

He went deaf.

Dumb.

Blind.

And stupid with love.

Finally, Tori broke the silence. “Wow, Mr. Littlemoon, way to romance your wife. You made her do all the work.”

He laughed. “I think I failed on that one, but I would like to go on record and state that I intended to go slowly as I made love to you. It looks like my plans were foiled by a wild woman.”

“I think you just blamed me for being too sexy.”

Tori laid her head on his shoulder as they caught their breath.

“I love you, Victoria, and I’m sorry I made you feel sad. I only want you to know that my life is blessed because of yours.”

She nuzzled his cheek.

“I meant what I said. You’re my heart, Jules. There won’t be anyone else, and I won’t ever hurt you like that.”

“I know. I was just irrational. This whole case has me tied up in knots.”

“I know, babe, and if it makes you feel any better, you’re not the only one. Mattie and I had a talk.”

“Really?”

She told him all about it.

“What advice did you give her?”

“To jump in with both feet and her eyes closed. That’s the best way to go under.”

He stared at her. “You’re a trouble maker. Roman is a mess.”

“She’ll fix him.”

Tori didn’t have any doubt in her mind. She thought about their relationship. Love definitely conquered all. Tori was about to tell him that when he pointed at the bed and practically growled at something that he couldn’t see.

“Bethany, get off!” he scolded.

It made her laugh.

“Julian, she’s not a pet. You can’t order her off the bed like some overgrown cat. She was a person at one time, and if you ask nicely, she’ll do what you ask.”

Somehow, he didn’t believe that at all.

The ghosts liked messing with him. This was typical antics to make him freak out.

“I can toss holy water at her and douse our bed in salt if you think that’s a better option.”

She stared at him.

Then she started laughing.

“Bethany, can you get off the bed,
PLEASE
?” she asked, showing the right way to do it.

“I have to share my wife, I’m not sharing my bed too, Victoria. There’s a line. She’s over it.”

When Bethany tugged on the sheet, trying to pull it off his body, Julian pointed at the empty space before him. “Bethany! I swear I’ll…”

He knew he had no options.

“Fight nice, children,” Tori said, sliding back down to get comfortable against his body. When her hands began wandering, running across his abs, he glanced over.

“Are you trying to distract me with sex?” he asked, his voice going all warm and husky.

“Yes, is it working?”

He rolled, pressing his wife back into the pillows. “Yes, distract away.”

It was the least she could do.

So, Tori did.