A Thug's Love

A THUG’S LOVE by

BL Bonita

TORRID BOOKS www.torridbooks.com

Published by TORRID BOOKS www.torridbooks.com An Imprint of Whiskey Creek Press LLC Whiskey Creek Press PO Box 51052 Casper, WY 82605-1052 Copyright  2012 by BL Bonita Warning: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 (five) years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

Names, characters and incidents depicted in this book are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of the author or the publisher. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. ISBN 978-1-61160-411-5

Credits Cover Artist: Gemini Judson Editor: Sara Kent Printed in the United States of America

Other Books by Author Available at Torrid Books: www.torridbooks.com More than Gold Jewel in the Wild Avia’s Secret Love Thy Soldier

Dedication For all the bad guys out there who deserve to be loved, too.

Chapter 1 Beads of sweat slithered down Chase Carter’s temples. He rubbed his forearm over his face and cursed. His jeans clung to his legs and the fresh t-shirt he’d donned this morning was already soaked, clinging to his back and armpits. He hated the smoggy, energy-sucking weather in Toronto midsummer. It made his job a bitch to deal with. He flicked the butt of his cigarette onto the driveway then checked his watch. He was five minutes early but he couldn’t risk being seen hanging around Eddie’s front door for too long. Darting a quick glance around, he saw nothing to give him pause, and slipped in without knocking. The moment he set foot in the front hallway, he drew back in disgust as the distinct odor of crack smoke hit his nostrils. The air was so thick with it he figured he’d be blasted before he finished his business and got out of here. Judas Priest’s Turbo Lover screeched through blown speakers. The lights flickered. He made his way into the living room and halted as he took in the disaster before him. Liquor and beer bottles dotted the floor. Various stains— he didn’t want to know of what—covered the carpeted floor. The sickening odor of booze, sweat and crack made his stomach turn. Crack pipes and empty baggies lay scattered 1

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over the glass coffee table with remnants of blow dusted across the surface. He shook his head. Some people never learn. For a man to say he couldn’t pay his debts but could get his friends drunk and high was a big slap to Vinny Carbone’s face, and Chase knew how often Eddie supplied his buddies. It was his job to have eyes on everyone. Clenching his fist, he vowed Eddie would get a rude awakening. Not only was Vinny like a father to Chase, he paid him well, and for that, Chase promised to always deliver an asswhooping when called upon. He retreated back to the hallway near the stairs and did a double-take at his reflection in the floor-length mirror. A long time ago, as a young man fresh out of college, he had once been clean-cut with a bright future ahead, until he started with the wrong crowd. Now his shaggy dark hair hung to his shoulders. Broad and sculpted from years of fighting, he looked much different in his mid-thirties than the lanky kid back in college. Now, he stood six-foot-four, built for his job—solid, unflinching, and dependable. But it was his eyes that told his story. Dark eyes as emotionless and lifeless as a corpse’s. Those who knew him were well aware that what they saw in his eyes reflected a life of violence. He took the stairs two at a time to the second floor, unheard through the screeching music below. A red glow emanated from Eddie’s bedroom. He jerked the leather gloves from his pocket and slipped them on, the tight leather gripping his knuckles like a dangerous promise. Adrenaline swept through him. He was ready to deliver a promise and a threat, but when he rounded the corner and peered through the bedroom door, rage burst inside him. 2

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Vinny’s daughter lay unconscious on Eddie’s bed…and she was tied up. Without hesitation, he shoved the door open, violently smashing it into the wall. At the foot of the bed, with his hands about to pull down his pants, Eddie scrambled back in surprise and disbelief. Chase quickly glanced over Sam’s body as he clenched his fists, then he fixed a deadly glare at Eddie. Obviously knowing he was destined for a beat down, Eddie grabbed a hardcover book and threw it at him. Chase sidestepped and the book hit the wall behind him. The corner of his mouth tipped up and he shook his head at Eddie. “What are you d-doing here?” Eddie stuttered. “I still have two days left.” Chase punched the palm of his hand, thrilled to see Eddie’s deflated reaction. The loser slunk into the corner of the room as tears filled his eyes. “Two days don’t mean shit to me, Eddie.” He briefly glanced at Sam who lay there, unmoving. “What the fuck is she doing here?” Eddie shook his head and pursed his lips. At that moment, Sam groaned and tried to move. As Chase bent down to check on her, Eddie took his distraction as a means of escape. He lunged for the door, but Chase quickly stepped back, blocking his exit and seized his throat. “I’ll take the money now, before you blow it up your nose.” “Okay. Okay. It’s under the bed,” Eddie cried, struggling to loosen Chase’s grip on his throat. Chase pulled Eddie down to the floor as he searched beneath the bed. He found the briefcase and pulled it out. 3

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“What’s the code for the lock? You better hope it’s all in here, or you’ll be seeing me again.” “Please, you got the money, CC. Just let me go!” Eddie’s face turned red and his eyes bulged. If only Eddie would’ve left Samantha alone, maybe Chase would be a little forgiving. He released him, giving Eddie a chance to catch his breath, before he balled his fist and slugged him in the jaw. Eddie flew back, hitting the far wall. A picture fell down, shattered glass scattering along the carpet. Chase grabbed his hair, tilted Eddie’s head back and pounded the piss out of his face. “Never forget me, Eddie. Never forget what you did to Sam.” Every time he pulled his arm back to repeat the blow, blood spattered the drywall. When Eddie’s eyes rolled back, Chase released him. Satisfied he wouldn’t be getting up for a while, Chase grabbed a fistful of sheet and wiped the blood from his gloves, his attention locked on Sam. How did she end up here? She was the boss’ daughter, and if Chase knew anything at all about Vinny, he’d want Eddie dead. But that was a decision he would have to wait for. Sam looked so vulnerable, so beautiful. He moved to the bed and untied her, swearing out loud that he was a fool for caring about her in secret. Women only made life complicated, and yet, he’d always wanted her. He still remembered that night eight years ago like it was yesterday, when Vinny threw a party for his twenty-fifth birthday. Sam had just turned of age and Vinny allowed her to have a few drinks with the guys. She’d made an impression on him 4

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immediately and he had to fight his basic instincts, knowing she was Vinny’s daughter, and therefore untouchable. But after all these years his attraction hadn’t faded. Her smile still made his normally tense nerves break away like a busted dam. Sometimes it made him feel weak and useless, but at least she made him believe that maybe, just maybe, even a bad guy could have a happy ending. Seeing her like this struck a lethal chord in Chase. He’d take pleasure in torturing and killing Eddie for doing this to her. But for now, he had to wait for the order. If he killed Eddie without the go-ahead, that would be disrespectful to the boss. He stared at her soft-looking, dark hair and the pale perfection of her face. Beneath her closed lids he knew well the startling blue-green of her eyes, like the Caribbean ocean. Those eyes, sultry and seductive, made many a man in Vinny’s employ fall for her. Within five minutes he had found her clothes, got her dressed and scooped her up in his arms. He needed to get her out of here and away from danger before Eddie woke up and called his goons. He carried her to his black El Camino parked in the deadend alley beside Eddie’s house. Chase managed to open the door and slide her onto the bench seat, along with the briefcase, just as a familiar, navy blue sedan with tinted windows drove slowly past Eddie’s house. It was a car Chase saw parked at Eddie’s frequently. He crouched behind the passenger door hoping they hadn’t seen him, for most people in his line of work knew what he represented. 5

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The vehicle slowed to a stop. The moment the brake lights went on, Chase slammed the passenger door and jumped over the back box to the driver’s side. He turned on the ignition and hit the gears hard, gunning it onto the main street, right behind the sedan. It was the only way out of there. Sam slid across the seat, her face slamming into his thigh. Determined to lose the other car, he veered around traffic, drove over a sidewalk and sped through a narrow alley. Screams and shouts filled the air as people jumped out of the way. A grocery bag flew across the hood of the car. Sam slid across the seat again, this time hitting her head against the passenger door. “What…what’s happening? Chase?” He couldn’t risk looking at her—the other car was gaining on them. He took a sharp right, narrowly avoiding a delivery truck, then a left and another right, until he eventually lost the other car. “What happened?” Sam’s voice sounded hoarse. He suspected she’d been out for a while. She sat up and gasped as buildings whizzed past them. “Why are you driving so fast?” Chase stayed focused on the road ahead until they came to a red light. He quickly scanned the surrounding traffic. The navy blue sedan was nowhere in sight. “Eddie’s goons showed up. I had to get you out of there quick.” She stared at him suspiciously. “Why?” The light turned green and he eased the El Camino into the regular flow of traffic. 6

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Anger simmered in his blood at the state he’d found her in. Eddie was too close to raping her. He gritted his teeth, but he kept his gaze focused on the road ahead. “What did you see, Chase?” He glanced at her for a second and let out a shaky breath. “Your father ordered me to collect on Eddie, and I found you naked on his bed, with him very close to getting it in…” He wished he could block out the memory. “What were you doing there?” She sat silent for a moment, probably letting his words sink in. “He picked me up in the club. We had a couple beers then I…don’t remember anything after that.” “He had you tied to the fucking bed, Sam. Probably gave you roofies. I didn’t want to leave you behind, although I debated for a moment.” He gave her a wink, hoping to lighten the mood a little. He needed to think of something else before his rage got the best of him and he did something stupid. “You debated?” She slugged him in the shoulder, nearly making him t-bone the car in the next lane. “He didn’t get the chance to do anything drastic. The fucker was still dressed when I came through the door.” Chase felt the heat of her stare across the front seat, and it unnerved him. “What did you do to him?” she asked. He glanced at her sharply. “I put him in his place.” She smiled shyly and it made sitting next to her even harder. Fucking around with Vinny’s daughter would be the biggest mistake of his life, especially after the situation he’d found her in. Still, Sam was a little piece of heaven in his ruckus hell. 7

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“Where do you want to go, home or the club?” “I want to go to your house.” He glanced at her in shock and eased off the gas. “I don’t think so. Vinny would have my balls—” “My dad trusts you more than anyone,” she pleaded. “Besides, he wouldn’t want me at the club or home alone after something like this. And if Eddie sends his guys to find me, then what? How would you feel then?” Chase cursed under his breath. She was right. If Eddie wanted revenge, he’d probably take it out on her first, and he wouldn’t allow that to happen. Sam unhooked her seat belt and slid closer, placing her hand on his crotch. He gritted his teeth and focused on not swerving off the road. “What the hell are you doing, Sam?” She leaned close and whispered in his ear. “I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do.” Hell. He turned the wheel and parked the car at the curb, right in front of an elementary school. When Sam noticed school kids playing outside, she pulled back, with her eyes narrowed. At least she had enough sense not to torture him in front of children. He stared hard at her, wanting so badly to take her in his arms, at the same time, wishing he’d never found her in Eddie’s bedroom. He itched to touch her, to make her his, but Vinny wanted great things for his daughter. And great things didn’t include one of his men. “Have you ever wondered why I’ve never dated anyone, Chase? Why I’ve always found a way to be near you at the club, or my house?” She looked down at her lap while he stared at the top of her head, at how soft her pretty hair looked. 8

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“There I was, in love with you from afar while you took easy women to your house all the time.” When she looked back up at him, tears glistened in her eyes. Chase swallowed and looked away. He didn’t want to hear that. All this time, while he secretly wanted her, she wanted him as well. Vinny would kill him. Nobody was good enough for his daughter, and Chase respected that. “We can’t—” “Why not? You’re only four years older than me, you’re my dad’s number one, and he loves you like a son.” He clenched his jaw until he thought his teeth would crumble. “Why would you take home girls who don’t mean anything to you?” He looked at her, really looked at her. “It’s easier than the alternative.” His mind made up, Chase turned north onto the Don Valley Parkway. He ignored the bad feeling in his gut over taking her to his place, but he’d give her anything she wanted, even if it put him at risk. “What’s the alternative, Chase?” “Taking home a woman I’d die for.”

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Chapter 2 Sam stared at Chase’s profile, sensing his discomfort at having her with him. Taking home a woman I’d die for, repeated in her mind. Those words were music to her ears. She caressed his erection. From the first moment she’d met him, Sam knew she’d marry him one day. Chase was sexy as hell. Tall, well-built, with a brooding expression like an outlaw from the old west. It made her ache for him. For too long she’d avoided men because none of them compared to Chase Carter. Even knowing the risks involved in his line of work, she knew that he could take care of her, in more ways than one. And she wasn’t too clueless not to notice how he gazed at her. She unzipped his jeans, reached inside and gripped his thick rod. Chase tightened his grip on the steering wheel. “Fuck.” “Have you ever thought about me doing this to you?” She crouched down on the seat and pulled his cock out of his jeans, guiding it to her mouth. With a tentative lick, she tasted him, flicking her tongue over and around his bulbous head. She’d dreamt of this for so long, and now she had him right where she wanted him. 10

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“Stop,” he groaned, shifting in his seat. “You shouldn’t be doing this, especially after what almost happened today, Sam.” She smiled, even though he couldn’t see it. That was the Chase she knew—protective of her even at a moment like this. He may have found her in a bad way, but at least she had no memory of it. All she knew was that Chase had saved her from something horrible, and she loved him. She wanted to please him, wanted to show him how much his pleasure would make her happy. “I’ll stop when I’m damn well ready. Tell me what you did to Eddie.” She took his shaft all the way into her mouth and flexed her throat muscles. A heady, hot ache blossomed between her legs. She wanted his cock inside her, wanted him to forget his responsibilities and make her his. Chase groaned, his pelvis softly rocking, pumping himself deeper. “I pounded the piss out of him for you.” Sam squeezed his shaft at the base while she continued working her mouth up and down. His body tensed and she felt the car sway on the road. She knew he was close to release. “Was there a lot of blood?” “Yeah…” “Mmm. Did it turn you on?” Maybe it was the excitement of him fighting for her, or maybe knowing their relationship had just reached a new level, but Sam continued stroking him, harder, more forcefully as she impaled her mouth on his thick cock. Her panties were soaked and she wanted so badly to straddle him and ride him until she screamed. But that would have to wait till later, if she could find a way to make him give in. 11

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His balls tightened and his foot hit the gas pedal, just before Chase let out a pain-filled groan. Sam milked every last drop and swallowed it all, enjoying the taste of him. She gently tucked him back in and zipped up his jeans, giving him a victorious grin as she sat back up. Chase stared at her, as if seeing her for the first time, then shook his head. “If your father finds out—” “He doesn’t have to. Not yet.” She stared, in awe with his handsome face, even as the muscles in his jaw flexed in his usual annoyed way. “You protected me from Eddie today, so I’ll protect you from my father.” As she settled back on the seat, Sam realized they were now a good distance out of the city. “I thought you were taking me to your place.” “I’m taking you to a place nobody else knows about. Not even your father.” Happiness rose within her. The fact that he was taking her to a private location made her feel important. “Eddie’s going to suffer for what he did to you.” She nodded, having no need to argue that fact. When she’d joined Eddie’s crowd she saw with her own eyes how his life was ruled by the drugs he used and sold. He let her into his realm and was good to her, but today he would’ve raped her. It proved how crack could make a good person into a monster. “He’s been taking advantage of Dad for a while now. I know it, but I never had the heart to tell him.” Soon they turned onto a gravel driveway that looked like it hadn’t been driven on in twenty years. The narrow road was long and winding, nestled tightly in the trees. Branches 12

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scraped along the old Camino. At first she thought they’d taken a wrong turn. “I wonder what would’ve happened if you hadn’t shown up—” “Let’s forget about that,” he said harshly. The car stopped at a bend in the road, where a rope hung across two trees with a ‘No Trespassing’ sign. Chase got out of the car and loosened the rope on one side, letting it fall to the ground. A disturbing thought came to Sam’s mind as Chase got back in the car and drove it forward, that this could be the ideal place to kill someone. In the middle of nowhere, surrounded by thick bush. With the sign strung back up across the road, they continued down the long driveway. Each passing second Sam found it more difficult to breathe. She felt safe with Chase, but the eerie vibe of the setting made her uneasy. After the next bend, the thick brush parted into a clearing and Sam’s jaw dropped. She almost laughed out loud at the tiny, red cottage with colorful floral baskets hanging beneath the eaves. “Really, Chase? Flower baskets? Did you make them yourself or buy them at a nursery?” He chuckled as he parked beside the cottage, and fixed her with a disarming grin. He lifted his hands palms up. Sure enough, she saw dirt between the cracks of his skin. “Didn’t I ever tell you that my mother was a florist?” She raised a brow and let her gaze roam around the yard, halting at a wood chipper and a shed with giant padlocks. “Um, are the wood chips for the flower baskets too?” Please say yes. His long silence made her neck hairs stand up. 13

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“Wood, bone, it’s all good fertilizer,” he said. She sucked in a sharp breath. Although she was well aware of what her father and his people represented, he’d always kept her hidden from it. Seeing that wood chipper and the scary-looking shed made her more than a little nervous. Chase smiled devilishly before he opened the driver’s door and stepped out. She stared at him through the windshield as he came around to the passenger side. No other words were exchanged as they entered the cottage. He clearly lived a simple life. The cottage was an openconcept with a tiny kitchen separated from the living room by a dining table. In one corner of the living room stood a fourposter bed with a loveseat at the foot of it. A television on a corner unit faced the loveseat and bed. Between the kitchen and living room was the bathroom. That was it. Sam wandered around awed by the beautiful view he had of the lake as the sun slowly drifted beneath the horizon. “You don’t have any pictures on the walls.” How sad that his life lacked the comfort of family and friends, or even a lover. And it struck a chord inside her that his apartment in the city was the same way. Empty walls for an empty man. “Who needs pictures with this view?” he said behind her. Sam glanced over her shoulder. “What about—” Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. He had his back to her while he changed shirts. She stared, mesmerized by the play of muscles as he pulled the dirty t-shirt off and flung it on the couch. “What were you saying?” Before he turned around and caught her staring, she turned her back to him and forced herself to stare at the lake, 14

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the shoreline, anything to get her mind off his delicious body. “Uh—family. You don’t have pictures of family?” He stood directly behind her now. She could feel his presence. Slowly, she turned, unable to tear her gaze away from his body. Before he’d put on the new shirt, she had seen the scars on his back. Bullet and stab wounds. She hated knowing he’d endured such pain, and she wanted to reach out and skim her fingertips over each and every scar. God, she wanted him. She wanted to make love to him and forget that she was Vinny Carbone’s adopted daughter. His lopsided grin made her heart pound. “I don’t advertise my family with my line of work. I keep my pictures locked away so nobody can see their faces and use them against me.” She nodded sadly, completely understanding his need for privacy. “How do you do it? How do you stay so strong?” “It’s all I know.” He looked at her sharply, his dark eyes unreadable. “There’s something I need to tell you, Sam. Please, take a seat.” She sat down on the loveseat. Chase joined her a moment later after grabbing a couple of beers from the fridge. He handed her a cold one and she took it gladly. Sam waited with bated breath as Chase seemed to fight with some inner demon. His eyes seemed to say so much without revealing anything at all. That was one of the things that intrigued her about him. He was very mysterious, quiet, and didn’t say much without good reason. His bulky frame took up most of the love seat as his jeanclad thigh touched hers. A bulky arm settled behind her on the back of the love seat, making her feel like a little person next 15

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to a giant. His imposing size was just another thing she loved about him, for only she knew that no matter how deadly he was to others, he could be a teddy bear too. She’d taken care of him when he was wounded a few times, cleaned the blood from his face after a fight. She often wondered if the dangers of his job excited him, for it took a special kind of man to hunt people down and kill them, if that was the order. She’d seen enough movies to know how crazy that kind of life was, and even though her father kept her away from the family business, she’d seen and heard enough to know a few details. Like when her father was mad, somebody usually died, and not in a quick, painless way either. “I—” He looked around the room uncomfortably. “I don’t know how to say it.” When his eyes finally caught hers, a shiver of excitement raced through her. And she knew, right then, right there, what he wanted to say. “You love me, don’t you?” Maybe it was the way he seemed to distance himself from her, or maybe it was the lonely look in his eyes, she couldn’t be sure, but never before had she wanted so badly to wrap herself around a man and comfort him. “I wanted to kill Eddie today.” “I know.” She didn’t want to talk anymore. She wanted to put today behind her and start something fresh, new, with him. She turned on the couch to face him, cupped his face in her hands, and brushed her lips provocatively across his. Something between passion and sympathy erupted inside her, knowing how much she loved him and how much his job took a toll on his heart and his body. He may not act like he suffered, but deep down, she knew his work was hard on him. 16

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His big hands swept down her back, making her skin tingle. It was as if his touch made her come alive after lying dormant for so long. Sam tasted him with her tongue as she pressed her body against his. In return, he pulled her onto his lap. It felt right being in his arms, held by such a big and dangerous man who was at least a foot taller than she and outweighed her by a hundred pounds. “I’m not good with this…with relationships,” he said between kisses. “It’s okay. I know you better than you think.” Although his body was hard, his skin felt soft and supple, bronzed from working in the sun without his shirt. Intrigued, Sam skimmed her fingers over his nipples, enjoying how they hardened beneath her exploring touch. She delicately brushed her fingertips over the scars she’d seen earlier, making his body tense. “Tell me what I want to hear, Chase,” she whispered, holding him close. “What if the day comes and the chance is taken away from you?” “Don’t talk like that. I’d never let anything happen to you.” Sam pushed back, boldly gazing at him as she pulled off her t-shirt and unhooked her bra. With her breasts free, the moment turned explosive as Chase sat forward and cupped them, kneading them with his strong hands. He groaned while she moaned, caught in a fiery moment of passion. Instinctively, she gyrated on his lap, sparked by the turgid form of his cock. She ached to have him inside her. “Lay back,” Chase urged, holding her as she lay back over the coffee table. 17

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He pushed her forward, and with agonizing slowness, slid her khakis and panties off. All thoughts of the previous hour vanished as he moved down, sliding his tongue over her wet pussy lips. “You’re a dangerous woman, Sam. Always getting yourself into trouble.” She whimpered as his mouth moved over her like he owned her. She reached out, running her fingers through his soft hair, her hips writhing, her body tingling with need. The power of his exploring tongue felt like something out of this world. He circled and flicked her clit in a smooth rhythmic motion, making her shudder. Within moments, her body tensed and she cried out, gripping his head to hold him there as she gave in to the sudden and intense orgasm. Chase groaned, eagerly tasting her sweet release. Still trembling, Sam pushed up from the coffee table as Chase settled back on the love seat, pulling her with him. He captured her mouth in a breathtaking kiss as his hands massaged her back and skimmed down to possessively cup her ass. “My turn,” she murmured. Sam boldly gripped his cock and squeezed it, delighted by his deep groan. Smoothly, she shifted down his lap to kneel on the floor. She gazed up at him, seeing the raw desire in his dark gaze. She unzipped his jeans as he lifted his hips to yank them down. She stared at his cock, the sheer sight of it making her pussy ache to take it in. As she took his cock in her hand, softly pumping it, Chase closed his eyes and let his head fall against the back of the couch. Sam kissed his thighs, nipping them 18

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lightly with her teeth, working her way up to lick his balls while she stroked him. She kissed and licked his shaft, working her way up until she took him into her mouth. He fondled her nipples, tweaking and pinching them as she took him all the way in. She flexed her throat muscles around his head, her hands roaming over the ripples and planes of his torso as she fucked him with her mouth. Her teasing didn’t last long, however, before Chase suddenly sat up and gently pushed her back. “Okay, that’s enough or you’ll get a mouthful.” Sam released him, giving his head one last kiss before crawling up his lap. He guided his head to her pussy, and they both moaned in unison as she sank down on his shaft. Sam let her head fall back while she softly rocked him. “I’ve wanted this for so long.” Mesmerized, Chase skimmed his hands up her waist, kneading her flesh along the way, until he grasped the back of her neck and pulled her down for a kiss. With the other, he gripped her hip and pumped deeper, harder, fusing them as one. Sam cried out and dug her fingernails in his shoulders, holding on tight as Chase pushed up and off the couch. “I want you in front of me.” He unhooked her legs from around his waist and guided her to her knees in front of him. She gripped the back of the couch as Chase took position behind her, rubbing his cock back and forth along her wet lips. She quivered and moaned, pushing back against him, and then he was inside her, deeply, slowly rebuilding the burn of impending release. 19

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Chase swept his hands over her back, then reached round and fondled her clit, his pumps slow and smooth, bringing her to the edge of sexual madness. Holding the back of the couch in a white-knuckled grip, the heated rush of her orgasm made Sam cry out. Tingling from the intensity, she glanced over her shoulder and watched his expression of rapture. “Come for me,” she said. “I want you to come inside me.” He stared at her sharply, his dark eyes filled with hunger and possession. “Are you sure?” “Yes.” Chase closed his eyes and Sam watched, enthralled by his passionate expression, so different from his usual brooding face. She pushed back harder, meeting his thrusts with her own demand. As his breath became short and sharp, Chase opened his eyes and stared at her. She wouldn’t—couldn’t look away, and after three more pumps he let go. He gripped her hips hard and growled, leaning over her back, and cupping her body to his. Breathing heavy, he kissed her back all the way up to her shoulder. “Care for a shower?” They entered the tiny shower together, letting the cool water cascade over them as they kissed and fondled each other. Chase pressed her up against the shower wall, lifting her legs to wrap around his waist as he entered her again, slowly, passionately, like they had all the time in the world. She could stay like this forever. Sam kissed him with all the passion she possessed, as they rocked to a mutual orgasm. They stayed there for a long while, just holding each other, still joined, until the bed could no longer be ignored. 20

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They fell asleep in each other’s arms, the warm summer breeze sweeping through the open windows.

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Chapter 3 Chase abruptly woke up during the night, plagued by recurring dreams of faces in death. He let out a shaky breath and stared blankly at the darkness in the cabin. He was covered in sweat and his pulse pounded in his ears. He reached over to touch Sam, to reassure himself that his dreams were only that—dreams, but when his hand spread across an empty mattress, his worst fears rushed to the surface. He swung his legs over the bed. Once his eyes adjusted to the darkness he stared around the room. No light shone under the crack of the bathroom door. No figure stood in the kitchen rummaging through the fridge. Something wasn’t right. Instinct drove him to reach between the mattresses and pull out his 9mm Glock with the silencer. He mentally prepared himself for the worst as he quickly slipped on his jeans. He couldn’t imagine something bad happening to Sam. Maybe he was overreacting. She could be standing on the dock overlooking the lake for all he knew. Still, something told him she was in danger, and his gut instincts were never wrong. At that moment, he heard a muffled sound outside. He tiptoed to the door and peered outside the panel window. He 22

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saw two figures walking quickly away from the cabin, with a third dragging behind. Sam. How the hell did they get her without him hearing? He knew loving her was trouble. He should never have brought her here, never allowed her to get under his skin. Now he had to get her back, or they’d both be killed. Nobody knew about this place, but obviously he hadn’t lost the car yesterday like he’d thought. Every muscle in his body tensed up, knowing he couldn’t charge through the door and risk them shooting him, or her, but he knew if they’d snuck in here on foot their car had to be parked down the road. Chase slipped quietly out the door, creeping behind them on bare feet toward the trees. He knew his property like his own body, and with Sam making it hard for them to make a quick exit, he easily slipped past them in the dark and made his way through the bushes bordering the road. Twigs stabbed at his feet, but his thoughts were bent on Sam. He’d worry about the pain later. Sure enough, the same dark blue sedan that followed him was parked just beyond the rope hanging across the road. The driver sat behind the steering wheel, his eyes trained on the road ahead. The car was running with only the parking lights on. Chase crept through the trees to the side of the car. Without a moment to lose, he yanked the driver’s side door open. The driver looked up in shock, just as Chase fired a round. Nothing but a tiny thwack sounded as the bullet hit his temple, thanks to the silencer. The driver slumped over in the seat. 23

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Chase grabbed his arm and pulled him off the seat and out of the car, gently laying his body in the bushes beside the road, then took his seat behind the wheel. He knew the driver as one of Eddie’s connections, and that meant Eddie had no intention of allowing Chase to get away with the money, or Sam. Eddie would get his revenge on her for betraying him. This was exactly why he didn’t like Sam being here, but now that he thought about it, she was better off with him where he could protect her. The two men came down the road dragging Sam between them. Through the dim lights, Chase could see her mouth was taped and she was struggling to break their hold on her. No wonder he didn’t hear anything. Now he was glad for the nightmares. He clenched his jaw. There was no way he’d allow them to hurt her, even if she was trouble. He loved her like he needed air to breathe. Chase kept his head lowered as they approached the side of the vehicle. One of the men tried to open the front passenger door. When he discovered it locked he moved to the back door. The rear right door opened and Sam was tossed inside. “We got her. The bitch made it easy on us when she went outside to the dock,” one of them said. Chase struggled to stay calm, even though he wanted to rip their throats with his bare hands. “Let’s go.” The doors shut. Chase locked them with the tap of a button and turned around.

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“You made a mistake coming here, boys.” He aimed his Glock at one of the shocked men and shot him in the forehead. His brains spattered the rear window. Sam’s wide eyes locked on the dead man before she stared back at Chase. He didn’t want her to see this, but he had no choice. “Fuck you, CC. You’re not invincible,” the other man responded with a shit-eating grin. Chase cocked a brow and slammed the silencer through his teeth. With calm only a man like him could possess, he fired a round into the guy’s mouth and watched the smoke exit his nose. Chase immediately lowered his weapon and reached over to rip the tape off Sam’s mouth. He smiled sheepishly, hoping she didn’t hate him for what he’d had to do, but he couldn’t let those men live after seeing this place, or trying to take her away from him. “Did you have a nice walk on the dock, darling?” He smiled at her wide eyes and parted lips. “You could’ve taken me with you, you know.” “How can you stay so calm?” she cried, shoving away from the two bodies and crawling into the front passenger seat. He didn’t answer her, just opened the driver’s side door, then dragged the body from the bush and put him in the backseat with the others. “There’s another one? Oh my god.” She turned her back to the bloody mess and stared straight ahead. Chase got back in and put the car in gear, driving it the rest of the way. When he got out of the car and came around the other side to help Sam, she threw herself at him, hugging 25

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him fiercely. He kissed her passionately, as if tonight could’ve been their last, which was so close to the truth it scared him. “What are you going to do with them?” she asked, looking back at the car. “I’ll deal with them in the morning, don’t worry. Come on now, we need another shower.” He swung her into his arms and carried her into the cottage, slamming the door behind them. Sam wrapped her arms around his neck and nuzzled closer. “I’ve always known what to expect, but to see it happen right before my eyes is, well, overwhelming.” “It’s all part of the job. But more importantly, I’d never allow the woman I love to be snatched away.” She gasped. “You said it!” Sam shrieked with delight, swinging her legs in the air, making Chase stumble into the bathroom. He set her down in the shower and kissed her fears away as he washed the blood and brain matter from her body. He didn’t want to scare her with his twisted mind, but seeing the fear in her eyes and speckles of blood on her body turned him on. After all, danger and death had a way of making a man feel like he had to live and love as if he’d never feel it again. “Whatever happens to us, just remember that I’ll always love you,” he said, looking down at her with all the love a man like him could possess. It felt strangely good to say the words. Sam smiled and dragged him inside the shower. “I love you too. Now shut up and wash me.” **** Sam yawned as she poured coffee into her cup. They’d barely gotten any sleep. A lazy smile curved her lips, remembering how gently Chase had held her as they’d fallen 26

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asleep. He’d finally told her he loved her, and now they had a future to look forward to, which is something she’d always dreamed of. It would take a lot of patience on her part, knowing the situation would be new to him—his privacy now limited with her in the little cottage. But she was ready for anything and she had enough patience for both of them. She already envisioned how she would redecorate. One thing was for sure, she had to tell her father. He’d always insinuated to Chase that he needed a woman to slow him down, and he loved Chase like the son he never had. Her father also wanted her to find a respectable man who would take care of her. In her eyes, no other man could do it better than Chase Carter. She picked up her cell and dialed home. Her father answered on the first ring. “Samantha? Is that you?” She smiled though he couldn’t see it. “Hi, Dad.” “Oh, thank god. Are you okay? Where are you?” Sam looked out the panel window at Chase hauling the bodies out of the car. “I’m with Chase and I’m okay. It’s a long story, one I know you’ll want to hear.” There was a long pause before he answered. “I heard something about Eddie. Tell CC I expect him here tonight.” “All right. I love you.” “I love you too, baby.” “And, Dad?” “Yes?” “Try to keep an open mind when we talk to you, okay? See you tonight.” She ended the call before he could badger her for answers. She walked over to the window, taking in the view, mesmerized by the panoramic beauty surrounding the cottage. 27

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The morning sun shone brightly over the east end of the lake. Tonight would be an uncomfortable meeting, definitely, but in her heart she knew her father would accept their relationship. She stepped out through the sliding door onto the small deck, just as the navy blue sedan drove quickly over the front lawn, right off the rocky embankment into the water. She took a deep swallow of coffee, watching as the car sank into the blue depths—the lake swelling around it as though the car belonged there. A few air bubbles came to the surface before all was quiet again. Satisfied the car was out of sight and out of mind, Sam wandered back into the cabin to cook a beautiful breakfast for the man she loved. He needed the energy for the long day ahead. As she cooked, a thought crossed her mind. Eddie was about to regret ever messing with her family. And the wood chipper rumbled to life.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR BL Bonita is a Canadian writer, living with her retired USMC captain. She grew up at a tourist resort in northern Ontario, and has always been inspired by nature’s beauty. BL writes multiple categories of erotic romance laced with humor and adventure—a reflection of her own life. And of course, there’s always a strong cup of coffee nearby while the writing bug has her in its fiery grip.

Blurb for Repeat Offender, Book 2 in the Morality of Sin Series: A dealer for the Carbone family and up to his eyeballs in trouble, Dane Cole is lucky to have Eleanor Woods, one of the toughest criminal attorneys in the GTA. She’s smart, loves to argue and is sexy as hell, but when he’s sent to watch her back he doesn’t expect the sudden attraction to be mutual. Elli’s life is simple. Work hard, no play, no men, and keep a spotless house. When Mr. Cole shows up to babysit her, she’s more than a little pissed, even though his playful attitude and smoldering eyes make her wonder what she’s missing. When Dane makes a move on her, so does the man making threats. Her careful life is about to become hectic. She must trust that someone from the wrong side of the tracks will keep her alive…but can she trust him with her heart?

REPEAT OFFENDER Morality of Sin 2 by BL Bonita Chapter 1 “Will the defendant please rise.” Dane Cole stood up as ordered and faced Judge Nelson, the meanest son of a bitch in a judicial robe. Dane’s blood pounded in his ears. His ass was about to be handed to him. This scene may not be new to his twisted life, but every court appearance made even the most violent criminals a little nervous. He’d been in front of the same judge, even sat in the same damn chair more times than he cared to count, but the obvious rage in the judge’s eyes made him fear for his life. He rubbed his sweaty palms on his pants as if that would make him feel better. The judge glanced at the paper in his hands before fixing a cold stare at Dane. “I don’t know how you did it, Mr. Cole, but since the witness has vanished—according to this report—I have no choice but to dismiss these charges. You are free to go.” Judge Nelson slammed the gavel down. The crack of wood on wood clamored off the walls in a glorious echo of Dane’s freedom. He couldn’t help his shit-eating grin. He turned to face his lawyer, the lovely Eleanor Woods. “Thanks again, Miss Woods.” “No problem, Mr. Cole. Just promise me you’ll stay out of trouble this time.” She lowered her head and gave him a discerning look, before shoving her notes into her brown leather satchel. As she turned her back to him and sauntered down the aisle, Dane’s

gaze followed her tight ass hugged so perfectly in that navy pencil skirt. He wondered what she wore beneath her proper lawyer attire—granny panties or thongs? Did her bra match what hugged her below? With all that thick chocolate hair tied back so tight in a bun, he imagined her head must hurt. But it was her calculating hazel eyes that turned him on the most. She was one of the deadliest lawyers in the GTA, and on Vinny’s payroll.

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