Paradise Ties: A Fortis Security Novella: Book 8.5 Read online

  Dane nodded. “A-fucking-men!”

  The five of them continued to watch the men as they collected their bags and moved outside just ahead of them. An almost physical sigh of relief went through the group as the men got into a taxi and headed in the opposite direction to the Paradise Bay Resort.

  “Thank fuck for that,” Zin said and walked away to catch hold of Celeste who’d gotten bored with them talking bad guys and had joined Lucy and Skye. Even before Skye had married Nate, another of the Fortis guys, she and her son Noah had been accepted into the group with open arms. Skye’s marriage to Nate had cemented their place within the group.

  As Dane boarded the coach and settled in beside Lauren with Aaron in his arms, he sighed with deep contentment. He was finally going to make Lauren his wife. He’d loved her since he’d first watched her heart-shaped ass walk up the stairs to her flat. They’d survived untold horrors together, and his love for her had only grown after the birth of the twins. He welcomed the sleepless nights and now she would become his wife and carry his last name.

  Aaron, who sat on his knee, patted Dane’s face, putting sticky fingers all over him. “Buddy, you’re a messy little toad.” His voice was warm as he growled the words, making his son giggle. “Oh, you think that’s funny, huh?” Aaron just laughed harder as Dane lifted him and blew a raspberry on his belly. The giggle was infectious, and Dane smiled at his son as he pulled his hair and wriggled with glee.

  “You’ll make him sick,” Lauren cautioned.

  Dane looked up with a devilish grin. “No, I won’t, will I buddy? You’re made of sterner stuff than that.” Aaron seemed to sense his mood and clapped his hands together, a trick he had recently learned from Lucy. “See, he likes it.”

  Lauren rolled her eyes. “On your head be it.”

  After a short drive they arrived at the Paradise Bay Resort. Dane had seen some fantastic parts of the world in his military travels and he’d also seen some shitholes, but this place was beyond anything he’d expected. He could see why this island was Kanan and Roz’s sanctuary. He was surprised they were staying at the hotel and not in their beach shack, but Roz had said she wanted to be with her family, and that included them. He’d been touched by that, by the strong, cold woman he’d first met who’d changed so much since she found love again with Kanan and their girls.

  As he juggled Aaron on his hip and went to check-in, he saw Will smirk. He didn’t react, even though he sensed something was up.

  He was greeted by the receptionist, who was smart and professional in her uniform. “Hello, sir, how may I help you?”

  “We have a room booked under Bennett.”

  He watched as she clicked a few keys on her computer before nodding. “Ah, here it is, one of our Luxury Suites—The Presidential Suite no less.”

  Before he could protest the mistake, Dane felt a hand land on his shoulder and turned to see Will and his girlfriend Aubrey smiling at him. “A wedding present from us both.”

  Dane wasn’t sure what to say. The suite must have cost them thousands of pounds, and they had already paid for them to fly first class.

  “Will, that’s…” He stopped and got his shit together. His friends were the best, and they were family. “Thank you. I don’t know how to thank you.”

  Will chuckled. “No need. We’re family, right? We do things like this for each other.”

  Just then Lucy came barrelling over and threw herself in Will’s arms as Jace kissed Aubrey’s cheek.

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Lucy emphasised each thank you with a kiss to Will’s cheek, making him laugh. It seemed that he and Lauren weren’t the only ones to get an upgrade. Will had obviously upgraded Lucy and Jace to one of the other Luxury Suites the resort boasted. If he remembered correctly, there were four in total.

  “I just want you guys to have a good time and relax. Or, as much as you can with toddlers,” he said, chucking Aaron under the chin.

  “But if you need a babysitter then just shout. We’d be happy to have these guys so you can have some time alone,” Aubrey added.

  Dane was protective by nature, but he’d trust any one of these people with his kids’ lives.

  “We may just take you up on that,” Lauren said, as she slipped an arm around Will and hugged him in thanks.

  Dane got the keys and followed the bellboy to their suite overlooking the beach, following him as he opened the door and stepped inside with their luggage. The interior was magnificent, with white wood-panelled walls leading up to vaulted ceilings. The suite had three bedrooms, an open plan kitchen and dining area, a pool table, and a bathroom that was bigger than most lounges. But it was the view from the raised wooden balcony that took his breath away. It led to a massive plunge pool which was surrounded by sun loungers and rattan furniture. Thick safety glass barriers kept the balcony safe, offering them an endless view to the beach and sea. White sand spread for miles with crystal clear waters that tempted Dane to dive in.

  It was the view dreams were made of. He turned to tip the bellboy, who advised a butler and chef were available to them if they so required, and watched as he left.

  Turning to Lauren, he caught the look of absolute awe on her face as she set Leah on the floor. He closed the door and walked to Lauren, setting Aaron beside his twin before wrapping her in his arms. “Happy?” he asked, already knowing the answer.

  “More than I ever thought possible,” she replied, her voice slightly husky as she leaned into him and rested her hand over his heart. They stood that way for a few minutes, every second forming a memory they’d cherish for a lifetime.

  “Right, let’s get changed and explore. We’re meeting the others for dinner at six, so we have plenty of time,” Lauren said finally, moving towards the master bedroom.

  “I could definitely get on board with that.”

  The smile she threw him over her shoulder was full of promise and he quickly followed, catching her around the waist and nuzzling her neck. “How about we get these two monkeys down for their nap and check out the hot tub?”

  “Now you’re talking my language.”

  Chapter 3

  Jace watched Lucy follow the bellboy into one of the three rooms of the Presidential Suite he and Lucy had been given and smiled. Little did that poor boy know that if he so much as slipped with that dress he was carrying, which incidentally Jace wasn’t allowed to see, he’d probably be skinned alive and boiled in tar. Or whatever the similar punishment was here in paradise.

  Lucy, to his complete and utter astonishment, had become a bit of a bridezilla these past few months. Far from finding it annoying, Jace found it sweet. It had taken him too many years to get his head out his ass and finally make the woman he’d loved for years his. Now in four days, she’d become his wife. He wasn’t sure their relationship could get much better from just a ceremony, but it felt right. It felt like the next step for them.

  He grinned as the bellboy came rushing out of the room, head down, looking terrified. The door closed and he watched as a harassed looking Lucy came out.

  “Luce.”

  “Yes?”

  He stood still as she lowered her bag to the floor to check again that she had the marriage licences. “Yes?”

  “Come here, Luce,” he said softly but firmly.

  “In a sec,” she said distractedly.

  “Now, Luce,” he said, his tone brooking no argument.

  She looked up at the stern tone, one he very rarely used being the more easy-going one of the group. Her eyes went dark at being ordered around but also with something else. Desire was swimming in their depths, and he knew she liked it when he ordered her around almost as much as she hated it.

  “Don’t take that bossy tone with me,” she said, even as she moved towards him and allowed him to slide his arms around her back to pull her curves flush to his hard body. Her arms moved to his chest as she looked up at him expectantly.

  “Everything is going to be perfect. You’ve checked the documents a hundr
ed times, and the dresses and suits, although wonderful, are not what this is about.” He felt her relax a fraction as he spoke, her body leaning into his. “All that matters to me is you and me getting married, declaring our love to each other in front of our friends and family.”

  He felt her sigh. “I know. I just want it to be perfect, Jace.”

  “And it will be because you’ll be there, and you’ve organised this to within an inch of its life. Now it’s time to relax and enjoy. Take each memory and lock it away so when we’re old, we can relive every single one.”

  Her warm eyes softened into dark pools. “Okay, baby,” she replied as her arms moved up to circle his neck. “So…what do you want to do first?”

  He loved the flirty tone in her voice, it made his dick hard. “Um…well, I was just thinking about how hungry I am.”

  Lucy understood his meaning from the way her eyes darkened, and a sexy smile curved her lips before she teased him. “Oh yeah? You want room service? I can call down for some food.”

  Jace leaned in and kissed the side of her neck, biting the lobe of her ear. Hearing her sigh turned to a whimper left him wanting more. “Or I could eat you instead?”

  Her hands in his hair as she pulled his face to hers so she could kiss his mouth, was his answer. Lifting her by her ass cheeks, he wrapped her legs around his waist, so his hard cock was against the heat of her pussy. The coral summer dress she wore didn’t hide her wetness as he walked her back to the master suite, hardly noticing the spectacular view of the sea or the lush luxury of the room. All he saw was the California king bed and the woman in his arms.

  Jace stopped at the side of the bed, tasting her as she swirled her tongue with his, the tight points of her nipples pressed against his chest. His hand slipped between them as he rubbed her clit through the wet fabric of her panties. “Fucking soaked for my cock, aren’t you, baby?”

  His only answer was a moan as her head went back and he lost her mouth. He bent and bit lightly on the nipple poking through the fabric of her dress before pushing the material down and sucking the hard bud into his mouth. He teased and licked until she was moaning against him. His hand teased the lips of her pussy, not giving her what she wanted just yet, making her reach for his mouth and his cock.

  “Jace,” she begged as he dropped her to the bed. He loved the passion in her hooded eyes, seeing her dark hair spread out like an angel, feeling her body need his touch. Leaning in, he started to slowly undo the tiny buttons that ran from the low neckline to the hem of her dress. He kissed his way down over her chest, licking and sucking on her delectable tits, teasing her until she gripped the comforter.

  “You like that, baby?”

  “Yes.”

  The husky moan was the most erotic sound in the world to him. Smiling, he kissed the smooth, muscled skin of her belly down to her hips. His dick was solid just from just kissing this woman. Nobody in his life had affected him the way she did.

  Easing the satin thong down her legs, he chuckled as she kicked it away to speed things up. Done with teasing and wanting to taste her, he ducked his head and licked her from bottom to top, making her arch her body. He sucked her clit into his mouth and toyed with it as her hand landed on the back of his head, making sure he didn’t move. He had no intention of moving until she’d climaxed and seen stars. Her legs began to shake as the whimpers became throaty moans and she was pushing her pussy into him.

  Sliding his hand up her soft thighs, he pushed two fingers into her warm, wet pussy and felt her clench around him. Turning his fingers, he rubbed her G-spot as he sucked her clit into his mouth and bit down lightly on the swollen nerves. Her ass came off the bed as she screamed his name and her orgasm flooded through her until all that was left were tiny tremors. Pulling away, he crawled up her body and was instantly drawn into a soul-searing kiss.

  “I fucking need you inside me, Jace,” she said and pulled at his shirt with desperate hands. Full of need himself, he stood and shed his clothes as she shrugged her arms out of the wrinkled dress.

  Completely naked, he took his cock in his hand and stroked it slowly as she watched him from the bed, her hungry eyes following every stroke. He was sure he could come from that look alone. “Touch yourself,” he demanded, his voice gravel.

  She moved to do as he asked, slowly stroking her clit as she kept her eyes on him, her lips slightly parted. Putting one knee on the bed, he rubbed his cock through her wetness, pushing her fingers out of the way as he grazed her clit. Then he slammed into her, stilling as he bottomed out and she groaned in pleasure.

  “Okay?” he asked, wanting to make sure she was okay but struggling with the desperate need to fuck her.

  “Perfect,” she said, a grin on her lips.

  Then he fucked her slow and deep until they were both panting. Jace linked his fingers with hers over her head as he brought them both to climax. His vision swam as he came hard, flooding her pussy. They had long since stopped using condoms as Lucy was on the pill, and he loved the freedom of feeling her bare.

  Stilling, he collapsed against her and felt her arms come around him, holding his head to her breast as they caught their breath.

  “Thank you,” she whispered.

  He looked up, confused. “Don’t have to thank me for fucking you, baby. That is my pleasure.”

  The smile reached her eyes as she shook her head. “Not for that. For reminding me what this is really about. I got so caught up with making things perfect for us all that I lost sight of a few things.”

  With his dick still inside her and her words in his ears, Jace felt deep contentment. “That is also my pleasure, Luce. We’re a team and when one of us stumbles, the other’s there to take up the slack or remind us what we’re doing this for.” He kissed her slowly, savouring her taste. “Want to get changed and check out the plunge pool and hot tub?” he asked, breaking the seriousness of the moment.

  “Absolutely. I have nine bikinis to show off.”

  Jace pulled away, instantly missing the feel of her, and walked to the bathroom to clean up and pull on some shorts before heading to the lounge area. Lucy moved up behind him ten minutes later and smacked his ass as he opened the balcony door. He turned and got a glimpse at bikini number one. It was royal blue with a twisted bandeau top and tie-side bottoms that barely hid her gorgeous body. He fucking loved it.

  “You like?” she asked as she sashayed towards the sun lounger.

  He had to swallow hard. “Fuck yeah, I like.”

  Lucy gave him a sexy smile that told him she’d known just how much he would like it.

  He made them each a mojito from the small but fully stocked outdoor bar and handed one to Lucy before taking the lounger beside her. The sun was hot as it warmed his body, not oppressive like the heat in the sandbox that was Afghanistan, but paradise with the slight breeze from the ocean beyond their balcony.

  They sat in comfortable silence, each lost in their own worlds for a while until she snagged his fingers and sighed. He turned to look at Lucy, but her eyes were hidden behind dark sunglasses. He wondered at the sigh but knew she would tell him what was on her mind.

  “Do you think we’d make good parents?”

  The question caught him off guard, and he paused and watched her dip her head, hiding her expression. He pulled her onto his lap and removed her glasses to see her eyes. “Yes, I think we’d be awesome parents. What prompted that question?”

  Lucy shrugged. “I don’t know, being around all these babies has made my body clock go into meltdown.”

  Jace tried to stop his lips from twitching as she tried to downplay what was obviously important to her. “You want to make a baby with me, Luce?”

  Her head shot up, her eyes meeting his. “Yes,” she said cautiously, and he grinned.

  “My girl wants to have my babies.”

  “Do you want that?” She seemed to be cautiously banking her excitement.

  “Do I want the woman I love to carry our child in her body and make me a fathe
r? Fuck, yes, I want that. I was just waiting for you to be ready.” He kissed her softly letting the sweetness overtake him before she pulled away.

  “When shall we start?”

  “Is now too soon?” he asked, not sure how long it took for the pill to stop working.

  Lucy settled into his body as his hands explored the skin on her back. “Well, I can come off the pill as soon as we get home. That way we can enjoy the wedding and I can enjoy the cocktails, and then we can get to the serious stuff when we get back to the UK.”

  “I say that’s a plan.”

  Her arms looped around his as she pushed her breasts against him. “Wanna practice?” she invited.

  “Woman, we just finished fucking and you want my dick again?”

  She chuckled. “It’s the heat and the sun…it makes me horny. Plus, you’re half-naked.”

  “I think we need to buy us a shack on the beach like K and Roz,” he replied as he rose in one smooth motion with her in his arms and raced inside.

  And practice they did, for hours, just to make sure they got it right.

  Chapter 4

  Lucy’s stomach pitched as she rolled to her side, the hangover slamming into her head and making her press her temples to stop it from exploding. Holding her head seemed to stop the tiny little drummers who’d taken up residence, but the nauseous feeling continued.

  Last night had been chaotic, messy, and full of fun and laughter. The Fortis family, as Lucy now thought of them, had taken over the entire restaurant. It had been a loud, enjoyable affair with lots of alcohol flowing, great food, and even better friends.

  Around ten o’clock her dad Colin, Nate’s parents Mimi and David, Ava’s parents Frank and Helen, and Skye’s uncle Reg, who had been some of the ones taking a later flight, took the kids and babies to bed allowing the rest of them to carry on the fun.

  Her Zenobi friends Astrid, Bebe, and Mustique had also arrived, as had Jack, Eidolon’s leader—who also happened to be Jace’s cousin and Will’s brother—along with his explosives expert Liam, and Smithy, one of Jace’s friends from his SAS days. They had staggered into bed sometime around two in the morning, she more than a little drunk but happier than she could ever remember being in her life.