Page 78 of Throne of Secrets

Ethan blinked his eyes a couple times and wiggled his nose before nodding. “Yes.”

“Why? What makes him do that? I mean, why me? Why them?”

Ethan shook his head. “That’s for the experts to determine.”

Star narrowed her eyes at him. “You know more than you’re telling me.”

Ethan sighed and rubbed his chest. “He picked his victims.”

“How? What did I do?”

“You found the body.”

“Huh?” She shook her head. “Explain this to me like I’m two because I’m feeling pretty stupid right now.”

“He chose his next victim when the body he dumped was discovered. The person who discovered the body was his next victim.”

Star blinked and shook her head. “Why didn’t the cops put that together? That’s pretty easy, right?”

Ethan shook his head. “Not when the person who found the body and the person who reported the body found are different people.”

She sat up and turned to look at him. “Didn’t I say explain it to me like I was two?” Ethan sat up and pulled the sheet up over his lap. Good, now, she wouldn’t be distracted. Right, so not the case. Focus, woman. “I’m waiting.” She crossed her arms as he explained what he and Max had uncovered.

“So, he’s been turned over to the police? He’s in jail, right?”

“Baby, I swear to you, he’s never going to hurt anyone again,” Ethan confirmed.

Star closed her eyes and said a thankful prayer. “So, this is all over.”

“For you, it’s all done.”

She cocked her head. “What does that mean?”

“Well, when I didn’t know who’d taken you, I may have broken into the Mafia’s club and pistol-whipped one of the guys who you accidentally recorded.”

Star’s mind kind of broke when those words were spoken. “Come again?”

Ethan lifted an eyebrow and asked, “What part didn’t you understand?”

“The part where you put your life in danger with the mob! Why would you do that?”

“Because I had to find you.” He grabbed her neck with his hand and pulled her toward him. “I couldn’t lose you. Not going to happen. You’re stuck with me.” His eyes bored into hers. The intensity and the honesty were so vivid. He laid bare his truth.

She licked her lips and nodded. “I want to be stuck with you. I’m just so afraid you’ll think I’m too much trouble and leave.”

Pulling her down on top of him, he kissed her until she could feel all of those hard muscles under her. His hands framed her face. “Never. I’ll never think that.”

“Promise?”

“With all my heart.”

He kissed her until she was breathless and then rolled her onto her back. She could have died three times over as he kissed down her body. The out-of-body experience when his tongue and lips found her core was mind-bending.

Her skin tightened, and electricity danced along her nerves. She felt every kiss, every touch. Ethan was so gentle, slow, and devoted to making her crash over that bliss-filled wall. When she did, he held her tight against his body and waited for her to come back to herself. His cock was diamond hard and hot. She kissed his chest and then went lower and lower. “Babe, you don’t need to?—”

She ringed the top of his shaft with her tongue. His body tensed and the muscles of his legs popped under her hands. “Oh shit. Fuck, babe.” The moan was delicious to her ears. She made him feel this way. Her. Star. The one with a curse. Fuck the curse. She slid her mouth down over the top of his cock and sucked. His legs vibrated under her hands. She squeezed the muscles and lifted before she went down again.

Was she good at what she was doing? Probably not, but Ethan didn’t seem to mind. She made sure she kept his cock wet and used her lips and tongue to tease him. His hands found her hair, and he held her still as his hips moved. She looked up at him. His back was arched, his muscles pumped, and his head thrown back.

---