ChapterOne
Journey collapsed on top of her husband’s muscular chest, struggling to catch her breath as his intoxicating woodsy scent surrounded her. Despite the morning chorus of birds chirping outside their bedroom window, the house was fairly quiet. The only other sound was the rapid pace of her man’s heartbeat against her ear. It matched the same staccato tempo of her own.
Morning sex was the best.
It didn’t matter if it was a quickie; Lazarus Dimas had a way of putting it on her so thoroughly that each time he was inside of her felt like heaven. There might’ve been a couple of cracks in their marriage, but one thing was for sure, their lovemaking was still as intense as it had been the very first time their bodies joined.
It seemed like they’d been together forever, but it had only been a little over three years since they married. Journey couldn’t imagine building a life with anyone else. Her love and desire for this strong, sexy man grew with each passing day. He and their almost-three-year-old daughter, Arielle, were everything to her.
Still panting, Laz placed a lingering kiss against her forehead, not caring about the beads of sweat littering her hairline.
“I’ll never get enough of you,” he murmured. His deep voice sent goosebumps racing over her heated skin, and the desire to go another round with him bloomed inside of her. “And this sexy body of yours….” His words trailed off as his large hands slid languidly down her back and didn’t stop moving until he palmed her ass.
Journey’s eyes drifted closed, and she moaned as he squeezed and kneaded her butt. She felt his erection growing again inside of her and rotated her hips as passion swirled within her.
“I see you’re trying to get something else started, Detective Dimas.”
Laz chuckled. He was no longer with Atlanta PD; now, he was a personal security specialist with Supreme Security, but she still called himdetectivefrom time to time.
He pulled her closer. “Like I said, I can’t get enough of you.”
Journey’s eyes flew open, and she yelped when Laz flipped her onto her back. Then she burst out laughing. The man was big and strong and handled her as if she weighed nothing.
“Shhh…if you wake up Arielle….” he said, referring to their rambunctious daughter, “we won’t have time to go another round.”
He hovered above her, and Journey smiled while staring into his intense hazel-green eyes. Eyes that she had fallen in love with almost at first sight. He was such a handsome man. His Greek heritage was evident in his olive skin, which looked like he had spent all day in the sun, tanning his body to perfection.
She cupped his cheek, and her dark hand was such a contrast against his skin, like neon yellow paint against a black backdrop.
Journey slid her hands up into Laz’s thick, black hair. He usually kept it short, but he had let it grow. Though it was hanging loose around his shoulders, he usually wore it in a short ponytail at the nape of his neck, intensifying his already badass persona.
“I love you,” she said quietly as her fingers sifted through the soft strands.
Laz kissed her lips. “I love you, too.” He trailed kisses over her jaw, near her ear, and worked his way down her neck.
There was so much Journey wanted to say to him.
Like…I’m sorry.
For the last few months, she’d been consumed by work. Her marriage had taken a back seat to her career—something Laz wasn’t happy about. As an assistant district attorney, her schedule was unrelenting. It didn’t help that she had recently been taking on more challenging cases, determined to win them and shine a favorable light on herself while she considered running for district attorney. She was just waiting for her boss to retire at the end of the year.
Too bad she didn’t have Laz’s support.
His gentle kisses down her body brought her back to the present and sent pleasure swirling inside her. Laz was the most amazing and supportive husband a woman could ever ask for. Until recently. She understood why he didn’t want her to make a run for DA, especially since she kept canceling on him at every turn. Seemed everything lately was coming in second to her career.
Her husband was losing patience.
Her marriage was in jeopardy.
And it was all her fault.
I have to do better. I have to make some changes.
That’s what she’d been telling herself, and she planned to start today. She looked forward to a much-needed family day hanging out with her husband and daughter.
Yes, her career meant everything to her, but nothing was more important than them.
Laz worked his way back up her body, peppering her skin with feathery kisses. “Why are you looking at me like that?” he asked when their gazes connected.