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One month later
KAYLEE WALKED INTO Ford and Clara’s house, smiling. Nick’s arm was wrapped securely around her waist, his teammates and their women all gathered to celebrate. The living room had been decorated with both pink and blue streamers, balloons hanging in a fancy arch above the doorway, and gifts filled a table for the expectant couples.
“I can’t believe you and Anna are having another boy,” Sam said, clapping Jett on the back.
“They’ll keep their mom on her toes,” he said with a grin.
“I knew it was a boy,” Anna declared. “It’s early, but the baby has been kicking nonstop. He’s going to be athletic and unable to sit still just like his daddy.”
“Of course,” Jett joked with a grin, but his hand landed on the back of Anna’s neck, and he ducked down to brush a kiss against her temple.
Clara walked over to their group, rubbing the small swell of her stomach. “And you’re having another girl!” Kaylee said, feeling the contagious excitement filling the room. “Congratulations! That’s so wonderful.”
“Thank you. We’re both so excited,” Clara said.
Ford was right beside her, a huge grin on his face. “Guess I’m definitely a girl dad now,” he quipped.
“They’ll both have you wrapped around their finger,” Nick joked with a chuckle. He squeezed Kaylee’s hip, and she turned to him as the others moved away to talk with the rest of the guests. Nick leaned over, his mouth brushing against Kaylee’s ear, a smile playing about his lips. “You’ve got me wrapped around your finger,” he teased. “Just as long as you remember who’s in charge in bed,” he added huskily.
She blushed, and Nick chuckled and kissed the sensitive spot just behind her ear, making her heartbeat accelerate.
Kaylee had moved in with Nick several weeks ago, giving up her job in Omaha for a new career at Shadow Security. While their rekindled relationship had progressed quickly, it also felt right. She and Nick were truly together in every way. Nick was as bossy as ever in the bedroom, and his bold words reminded her of the way he’d bent her over their bed this morning after she’d showered. As his big hands had pushed up her silk robe, he’d run his hand over her smooth, bare bottom, his fingers sliding to her slick pussy. She’d been wet and aroused in no time, and then he’d sunk his throbbing cock deep inside her, filling Kaylee in the way only he could. As she’d looked to the side, her head pressed down on the bed, she’d seen both of their reflections in the bedroom mirror: Nick, virile and strong, his hard, lean body curling over her own; and Kaylee beneath him, flushed, her lips parted in a perfect O, her body his for the taking.
He’d thrust into her slow and deep until she’d finally cried out his name, her inner walls spasming around him. Nick had practically roared his own release, kissing her thoroughly afterwards while still buried deep inside her body. They’d made love every night since he’d rescued her, but this morning had been erotic, raw, and completely Earth-shattering.
“Maybe we can have a repeat tonight,” he said huskily, seeming to know exactly what she was thinking.
“Yes please,” she joked, and Nick’s eyes heated.
“All right, we’re almost ready to start!” Clara called out, looking around the crowded living room. “Thank you so much to everyone for coming. Ford says he doesn’t mind grilling in the dead of winter, and I’ve been too tired to do much cooking lately. Hopefully a winter barbeque is okay with everyone to celebrate.”
“It’s perfect,” Sam said with a grin. “I’m always ready to eat.”
“We should’ve had Ford bring us donuts,” Anna declared, winking at Clara. From what Kaylee understood, Ford had run out at lunch more than once to pick up treats for his pregnant wife and Anna.
“I’ll put the burgers on in a few minutes. We can’t have the pregnant ladies going hungry,” Ford joked. He looked toward the table of food. “Where’s the appetizer platter?” Ford asked. “I thought Lena was picking it up.”
“I actually don’t think she’s here yet,” Clara said, looking around at their group of friends.
“She left more than thirty minutes ago,” Jett said. “Lena texted me to say she was on her way over.”
Nick’s phone buzzed just then, and as Kaylee saw him frowning, she glanced at the screen.
Unknown: I took back what’s mine.
“What the hell?” Nick asked.
The rest of the team’s phones began buzzing, too, the men grumbling as they received similar concerning texts.
“Has anyone talked to Lena?” Jett barked, and Kaylee looked around in alarm.
“I can’t reach her,” Anna said, looking slightly frazzled. “I just tried her cell and the office. There was no answer. Call her home number.”
Jett was dialing it, muttering as the phone went to her voicemail.
Gray looked down at his own phone as it buzzed, his face ashen. “They took her!” Gray cried out, his voice anguished. “I just got a photo of Lena and a ransom note. That monster took Lena!”
“A ransom note?” Jett asked, storming over to Gray. He already had West on the phone, ordering him to track where the text messages were originating from. Anna started crying, but the rest of the room had momentarily gone stock still.
Kaylee gripped Nick’s hand, terrified. “Is it him? That Ivan Rogers guy? Do you think he came back for Lena?”
Gray scrubbed a hand over his face, horrified, finally meeting Jett’s gaze as he handed over his phone. Jett’s jaw ticked as he stared at the photo, and the rest of the men began to spring into action, hurrying over. Gray cleared his throat, his voice hoarse with emotion. “She’ll never survive being held captive again.”
♦ ♦ ♦
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR reading Nick and Kaylee’s story! If you enjoyed this book, you’ll love Gray. Find out what happens with Gray and Lena!
