Dead Flowers Read online

  “Meaning bulletproof glass on the windows, steel doors, state-of-the-art security system,” I said jokingly… and yet not.

  “And an underground tunnel that links them.” He flashed that wicked bad boy grin again. “A secret concrete room that could have some pretty interesting uses.”

  “Maybe Kevin was right about the biker kink and me investing in fetish wear.”

  His eyes lit up. “Would you really wear leather, latex and chains for me?”

  “Hah! Nice try, pervert.”

  “But you didn’t say no,” he pointed out with another panty-melting grin.

  “Back to the issue… why the secrecy?”

  “It’s something we haven’t tried since I took over as president of the Hombres and we didn’t want word getting out ahead of time that my security team will live in one house. We’ll live in the other. By ourselves.”

  That was a huge concession for him. “Seriously?”

  “Yes.” Martinez trapped my face in his hands. “The reason I haven’t been coming home? This place is too far to drive when I’m tired and I don’t get done with business until three o’clock in the morning. This move in together was supposed to fix that. It hasn’t.”

  “When did you plan on telling me about the new house?”

  His thumbs stroked the hollow of my cheeks.

  Then I knew. “Shit. Please tell me you weren’t planning it as a Valentine’s Day surprise?”

  “Give me a little credit. I know how much you hate Valentine’s Day. That’s why I bought the damn flowers two days before Valentine’s Day. The contractor told me the changes would be done by next week. Then you could start picking all the inside stuff.”

  “You’re letting me pick? You’re not having Little Miss Interior Designer choose like she’s done with everything else?” Wow. That’d come out a little snarky.

  “Big Mike called that one,” he muttered.

  “What’s that mean?”

  “Big Mike said you’d be pissed that I was keeping you in the dark about everything. From the interior changes in the offices, to buying a new place without your input, to hiring Gina. He also said he couldn’t wait to see you blow your top because it’s always so damn entertaining.” Martinez shook his head. “I get that I should’ve told you, okay? The only reason we met Gina in public today was because her car died right at Dunn Brothers and I needed a damn cup of coffee.”

  “Riding in your Escalade to rescue the damsel in distress?”

  He looked annoyed for about five seconds and then he smiled. “Makes me a Neanderthal, but I love seeing that jealous spark, blondie.”

  I rolled my eyes.

  “Besides. I prefer damsels who don’t need rescuing. Like you.”

  “Such sweet bullshit. But I’ll take it.”

  “And?” he prompted.

  “And I’m sorry I didn’t jump your shit before tonight.”

  He gave me that exasperated noise that was half snort/half sigh.

  That’s when I knew we’d be okay. I grabbed the bottle of tequila, but Tony snatched it first. Keeping his eyes on mine, he lifted the bottle and drank. When I held my hand out for my turn, he shook his head. “Let me.”

  He pressed the opening to my lips and tipped the bottle. The amount of liquid he poured in was more than a quick sip and some spilled out the corner of my mouth. It started to drip down my neck and I reached up to swipe it away, but Tony stayed my hand. He grabbed a fistful of my hair and tilted my head back. His hot breath teased the wet section of my skin as he lowered his mouth and his tongue slowly followed the tequila trail up the side of my neck to my lips.

  My entire body vibrated with want.

  “That’s the way to drink tequila. Warmed by your body with your skin as my salt lick.” He nibbled my mouth, those dark hungry eyes burned into mine. “Clothes off.”

  Didn’t have to tell me twice.

  Didn’t have to tell him either.

  Naked, we stood and faced each other.

  Tony reached out and trailed one finger from my lips, down my throat, between my breasts, stopping at my navel.

  I shivered from his touch. I started to step forward, step into him, and he shook his head.

  This round wouldn’t be hard and fast. He took great care with every caress. Rough hands and a soft mouth eking out my sighs and moans. Then we were rolling around on the exercise mat and Martinez ended up on top.

  I didn’t mind.

  He tasted each millimeter of my flesh from my chin to my toes and wouldn’t change the languorous pace even if I begged. Which I did. Shamelessly. The man just chuckled against my quivering lower belly as his hot, wet kisses dropped lower and he settled between my thighs.

  I sifted my hands through his silky hair as he slowly pushed me up that sharp rise and left me teetering on the brink until his relentless, clever mouth sent me tumbling into that vortex of pleasure.

  Then Martinez exuded panther-like grace as he crawled back up my body.

  The reverent touches vanished. Before I could catch my breath or wallow in the scent of his skin, he was on me, in me, and I lost coherent thought. Lost in the power of his passion. Lost in what we were together. Complete.

  Afterward, as I lay face down on the mat, dizzy and sex-drunk, his gentle hands moved the hair from my damp face. He murmured, “So, am I forgiven?”

  “Uh. Yeah.”

  “Good.” He nuzzled my ear and I felt his body readying for another bout. The man had maintained that boxer’s stamina over the years. He could go four rounds in one night.

  Lucky me.

  *****

  About the Author

  LORI ARMSTRONG

  The books in Lori Armstrong’s Julie Collins mystery series have been nominated for and won the Shamus Award, the WILLA Cather Literary Award, the Daphne du Maurier Award and the High Plains Book Award. The first book in the Mercy Gunderson series, NO MERCY, won the 2010 Shamus Award for Best Hardcover Novel and was a finalist for the WILLA Cather Literary Award. Lori lives in Rapid City, South Dakota. Visit Lori at www.loriarmstrong.com.

  Book List

  By Lori Armstrong:

  Julie Collins series

  Blood Ties

  Hallowed Ground

  Shallow Grave

  Snow Blind

  Mercy Gunderson series

  No Mercy

  Mercy Kill

  Silent Mercy (free short story)

  Merciless

  By Lorelei James:

  Rough Riders series

  Long Hard Ride

  Rode Hard, Put Up Wet

  Cowgirl Up and Ride

  Tied Up, Tied Down

  Rough, Raw, and Ready

  Branded as Trouble

  Strong, Silent Type

  Shoulda Been a Cowboy

  All Jacked Up

  Raising Kane

  Slow Ride (free short story)

  Cowgirls Don’t Cry

  Chasin’ Eight

  Cowboy Casanova

  Kissin’ Tell

  Gone Country

  Blacktop Cowboys ® series

  Corralled

  Saddled and Spurred

  Wrangled and Tangled

  One Night Rodeo