Consume (Se7en Deadly SEALs Book 6) Page 3

  She smiled when her eyes met mine, and I took her hand. “You look beautiful.” I leaned down to kiss her, but the officiant stopped me.

  “You can kiss her after the wedding.”

  As he performed the ceremony, Mia’s eyes were locked with mine.

  “Have you written your own vows?” the officiant asked.

  I took Mia’s hand. “Mia, I have loved you for what feels like my whole life. I humbly give you my hand and my heart as I pledge my faith and love to you. Just as this ring I give you today is a circle without end, my love for you is eternal. Just as it is made of incorruptible substance, my commitment to you will never fail. We will not fail.”

  Mia choked up as I placed the ring on her finger. “Grant, I promise to love and care for you, and I will try in every way to be worthy of your love.

  I will always be honest with you, kind, patient, and forgiving. But most of all, I promise to be a true and loyal friend to you. I love you.”

  “Do you, Grant Joseph Carrion take Angelita Mia Cruz to be your lawfully wedded wife?”

  “I do.”

  “Do you, Angelita Mia Cruz take Grant Joseph Carrion to be your lawfully wedded husband?”

  “I do.”

  “By the power vested in me by the state of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss your bride.”

  I grabbed Mia and kissed her passionately. She was mine, forever. No one, not even Joaquín, could ever tear us apart.

  5

  Mia

  My husband threw me over his shoulder like his sea bag and raced up the stairs to the hotel room, too impatient to wait for the elevator. My husband. Grant’s new title seemed so foreign to my tongue. He’d been my boyfriend, my ex, my target, and just briefly, my fiancé. And now, he was mine, until death due us part.

  Grant flashed the key over the door sensor and carried me over the threshold. I gasped when I saw the room. Rose petals strewn in a heart on the bedspread, champagne on ice, and chocolate-covered strawberries on a shiny silver platter.

  After my heartfelt vows to Grant, I silently made another vow to myself. Tonight, I would celebrate our love, our marriage, and our future. I would put aside my reservations about how rushed this wedding had been, about all my doubts and uncertainties. Because no matter what thoughts culled in my head, I knew that I loved Grant unconditionally. And I was thrilled to be his forever.

  Grant tossed me on the bed, which sent up a waft of rose-scented air, and he climbed on top of me.

  “You’re mine now, Mrs. Carrion. Mine until the day I die. I’d do anything for you.” His hand tugged at my hair, and he pulled me into a kiss. As his beard scraped my face, his tongue penetrated my mouth, aggressively tasting me, giving me a preview of what was to come.

  He’d kissed me thousands of times before, but never like this. Savage, raw, unbridled. It was as if now that I was his forever, he was holding nothing back with these kisses. There was no more uncertainty about how much we loved each other.

  I savored this kiss, but he wasn’t the only one with surprises. I pushed him off me, grabbed his tie, and pulled him to sit in a chair.

  His lips upturned in a smile, and his deep green eyes danced with fire.

  “I just realized that you didn’t get a bachelor party.”

  He licked his lips. “You’re all I need, baby.”

  Damn straight. I wiggled my hips and slowly peeled off my dress, revealing a white corset, garters, thong, and stockings.

  Grants pupils dilated as I prepared to give him a private dance, but unlike last time I’d danced for him, this time he could touch me. I grabbed my phone and played a song. Once the haunting beat began, I lowered myself onto him.

  I slowly unbuttoned his shirt, and took a moment to appreciate the beauty of my husband. His broad shoulders, his intricate ink, the bulge of his biceps, his hard cock pressing through his pants.

  He licked his lips. “I should’ve booked a room with a pole.”

  I switched into my best Ksenya accent to have some fun. “I want it to be pleasing to you.”

  He let out a laugh. “Come here, baby.”

  His strong hands stroked my curves, settling on my hips, as I ground on his lap. His fingers kneaded my ass as I nibbled on his ear lobe. His scent intoxicated me, so masculine, so viral.

  I twisted, giving him my back, and his lips kissed my neck as his hands cupped my breasts, rubbing my nipples until I moaned. Our bodies moved in rhythm to the music, and I got off on teasing him.

  Finally, I turned and knelt in front of him, unbuckled his belt, and took his cock into my mouth.

  “Yeah, baby.”

  He placed his hand on the back of my head, and I licked up his length before taking my husband deep in my throat. I grasped my hand around the base of his cock and glided my lips up and down.

  He let out a growl as my pace increased. Tasting him, sucking him, stroking him with my hot mouth.

  I didn’t want to stop, but he took control back and pulled me off him.

  “My turn.”

  He flipped me around and sat me on his lap, slowly unclasping one hook after another down the back of my corset. Then shifted so I was sitting on the chair with him between my knees as he peeled the fabric from my body. My nipples puckered under his gaze. I was so wet, so fucking turned on, so blissfully happy. Cupping my breasts in his hands, he bit my lower lip and then sucked on my nipple, the heat between my legs begging for relief.

  “That’s it, baby, I want to watch you come.”

  “Then make me,” I challenged.

  He unclipped my garter from my stockings and then removed my thong. As he pressed his hand between my legs to spread them wide, he lowered his head between my thighs and licked my pussy.

  “Oh, Grant.”

  His hand was still working my nipples, and his tongue felt like heaven. When he pressed his fingers deep inside me, I thought I was going to explode, but he pulled back, forcing the heat to simmer inside me.

  “Look at me, baby.”

  His thumb rubbed my clit as he gave me a long lap of his tongue and pleasure pulsed through me.

  But he wasn’t done.

  He pressed his finger inside me again, slowly penetrating me as he sucked on my clit. My thighs squeezed around his face as I came undone.

  I was still breathless as he licked up my body again to my nipples. He lifted me up and carried me to the sofa, where he lowered me on top of him.

  It was too soon—I didn’t think I could possible come again but the urge grew as I rode him, his mouth sucking on my breasts. My head fell back in pleasure, and I took a moment to acknowledge the incredible beauty of our lovemaking. Grant was my first lover, my only lover, and my last lover.

  Grant worked my hips, and I could feel his huge cock pressing against my G-spot. My hunger for him, for this pleasure, built again until I was desperate to come again, come with him. My body tensed, and I was right on the edge, and Grant angled me and kissed me as we came together.

  Our bodies remained intertwined for blissful minutes until he finally lifted me off of him. We climbed on the bed and he kissed me on the head, whispering, “You are my everything,” before we fell into a sated sleep.

  6

  Grant

  Mia was still fast asleep on the bed. I crawled out, careful not to disturb her, and sat on the sofa.

  I clutched my phone, and my heart raced when I saw that I had six missed calls from Mitch. I knew whatever was so important wasn’t a work emergency because I didn’t have a single call from Kyle or Pat.

  I didn’t want to call him back, but I needed to know what the fuck he wanted.

  Our room had one of the rare balconies in Vegas, so I stepped outside and dialed Mitch’s number.

  He picked up on the first ring.

  “Dude, where the fuck have you been?”

  “I’m in Vegas, asshole. I just married Mia. By the way, she told me you kissed her. I’m gonna fuck you up.”

  “Congrats, man.
And forget about the kiss. I was just trying to help her with Joaquín. Nothing happened.”

  “Better not have. You touch her again, and I’ll beat the living shit out of you. Understand?”

  “Yeah, yeah,” he mumbled dismissively. “Look, I’m the least of your problems. When are you getting back?”

  “Tomorrow. Seriously, why are you blowing up my phone?”

  Mitch paused, and his breath seemed labored.

  “April flew out so I could see the kids. Anyway, I finally admitted to her that I was there the night of the party when Mia had been raped.”

  “And? Did she see who went to the room with Mia?”

  “No. She said she and Dara searched around for Mia but couldn’t find her so they left. But when they were leaving, they saw Joaquín drive up, park, and run into the party. They figured Mia had called him to take her home.”

  “Is she sure?” I shook with fury. One horrible scenario popped in my head. A possibility so horrendous that my mind refused to verbalize it. I forced myself to ask Mitch more questions before I exploded. “Joaquín was at the party? You didn’t see him? He was with you that night in Yuma, right?”

  “Yeah. I told him I was going to go get April and she, Dara, and Mia were at the SDSU Phi Delt party. He must’ve left after me, but maybe he beat me. You know how fast that motherfucker drives. I had no clue—I never saw him there. But, man, now that I think back, the guy I saw in her room—he was Joaquín’s height and build. It was dark so I couldn’t see much, but I think it could’ve been him.”

  I pounded my fist into the wall. Holy shit. Joaquín was the one who raped Mia. It all made sense. He must’ve kidnapped her child . . . because he thought they boy was his son. Proof of his rape. Proof of his crime.

  But the boy was mine.

  Mitch was still talking, but my brain couldn’t comprehend what he was saying.

  Rage poisoned my veins. Mia didn’t have a clue that her beloved brother was a psychopath.

  I had to make her hear me. Make her listen to me. Make her believe me.

  But I knew that she wouldn’t believe me. Couldn’t believe me. It would take more than April’s sighting, more than Mitch’s guess, more than me begging for Mia to see the light.

  She wouldn’t believe Joaquín raped her until he told her himself.

  But that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to try.

  7

  Mia

  I’d been hoping for a repeat of last night or maybe breakfast in bed, but when I woke, Grant had a scowl on his face. And our bags were already packed.

  “Morning, hubby. Do we have to leave so soon? I was hoping we could stay in bed all day.”

  “I have to get back to work.” He came over to me, put his finger under my chin, and gave me a kiss. “I love you. Once everything gets settled, I’ll give you a big wedding, and we’ll go on a honeymoon. But for now, we need to get back home.”

  I understood, even though I was disappointed. I hopped in the shower, dressed quickly, we checked out, and headed back to San Diego.

  Grant remained silent for the first hour of the drive, and the air between us made me nervous. He’d been so warm and loving last night. What had changed?

  I touched his thigh. “Any word from Kyle on Julián?”

  “Nope.”

  I pursed my lips. “Okay. Well next time we see Joaquín, I think—”

  “There isn’t going to be a next time. That’s it, Mia. You’re not going to see him again. It’s final.”

  Anger flushed through me. “You may be my husband, but you’re not going to tell me what I can do and who I’m going to see. Joaquín is my brother, my family.”

  “I’m your family now! I don’t want you to see him. Do you hear me? He’s not even your real brother!”

  “Fuck you! He is too my brother. Biology doesn’t matter. How can you say that?”

  “I’m trying to protect you, god damn it.”

  “Protect me? From Joaquín? Joaquín would never harm me. How dare you say that.”

  Grant turned and faced me, daggers shooting from his eyes. “Damn it, Mia. How can you not see it? Joaquín is a psychopath. You have to trust me, you have to believe me. I love you so fucking much. Please, for once, I need you to believe in me.”

  “You have nothing to prove that he’s a psychopath. Just your crazy theories. You won’t tell me anything, anything about the meeting, any—”

  “He raped you!” My whole world stopped and then tilted so sharply I saw spots dance in my eyes. When Grant spoke again, his voice was a stark contrast to the sudden chaos inside me. “I talked to Mitch. April told him that she saw Joaquín at the party that night, and Mitch said the guy who ran out of your room was around Joaquín’s height. I always thought he wanted you, but I thought I was a sick fuck for even thinking about that.”

  I let out a scream. What the fuck? “How dare you say something like that to me. To use what happened to me as a way to keep me from my brother . . . I can’t believe you. My brother would never hurt me. Never. Especially not that way.” I seethed through clenched teeth.

  “It’s the only possible explanation. He’s obsessed with you. He never wanted us to start dating. And the reason I never asked you to move in back then was because Joaquín was against it.”

  “No,” I said through sobs. “You’re wrong.”

  Grant’s tone dropped and he attempted to grab my hand but I swatted it away. “Baby, please. I know you don’t believe me. But it’s what they saw. I would never ever lie to you and they have no reason to lie to me. It explains why he never told me you were raped after Mitch told him. And why he never told you he knew you were raped.”

  “I don’t know. But I’m sure he had a reason. Probably because he didn’t want to upset me. Or he didn’t know how to approach it. And he didn’t tell you because we were broken up. Just stop talking!”

  “No. He was hiding his guilt.” I really, really didn’t want to hear anything else he had to say, but I knew more was coming. “Listen to me. I think Joaquín was the one who took Julián. Remember the missing papers in your storage? He took them. He was the only one who could have. Joaquín took him, because . . . he thought Julián was his son.”

  “Be quiet!” I covered my ears like a child but could still hear Grant’s rambling.

  “And did you ever look into your parents’ death? Did you know the truck that hit them was registered to Rafael? That is not a coincidence. I’m so sorry, baby. It’s true.”

  “No!” I screamed so loud the single word burned my throat. “No. Shut the fuck up. You are wrong. I’ll prove it, I’ll show you!”

  “I’ll stop and give you a chance to try to absorb this. But I love you, Mia. You are my wife, now. The mother of my child. I’ll lay down my life to protect you. But somewhere, deep in your heart, you know what I’m saying is true.”

  After an excruciating four-hour drive in silence and a pit stop to pick up our pets, we were back home in Point Loma. Despite my anger, Grant still lifted me and carried me over the threshold into our home.

  I began to unpack and found the drugs from Rafael still stashed in my suitcase. I had to get rid of these before Grant saw them. I would flush them down the toilet next time Grant left the house.

  I emerged from the bedroom and found Grant just staring at the television, which was off.

  “Can you get dinner? We have nothing.”

  “Yup.”

  Grant kissed me, walked out the door, and left me alone. What a horrible way to start our new marriage. I did not want to spend the rest of my life having to choose between my brother and my husband.

  Then my phone rang. I ran to my purse and picked it up.

  “Hello?”

  A woman’s voice played on a recording. “You are receiving a call from—”

  “Joaquín Cruz,” my brother’s voice said.

  “—an inmate at the San Diego County Jail. Press one to accept this call and two to decline.”

  I pressed one as fast as
I could. “Joaquín? Are you there?”

  “Hey, sis. I needed to hear your voice.”

  An ache twisted in my chest. Nothing has changed. Grant has no proof. This is your brother. “Me, too. I miss you. How are you?”

  He exhaled. “Been better. Just sick of this shit, you know? Any progress getting me out of here?”

  “I’m working on it. Hey, when we were at the jail, you mentioned to Grant that I had an ex named Julián. Why?” I made sure not to ask how he knew about Julián or who he thought Julián was.

  His voice dropped. “Because I wanted you to find him.”

  “And by him, you meant the little boy, right?”

  “Did you find him?” His voice was strange, hopeful and scared at the same time. Maybe I had been right, but it didn’t stop me from wondering why exactly Joaquín had wanted me to find him.

  “I did, but he’s gone. Do you know where he is now?”

  “I’ll take you to him if you get me out of here.”

  My mouth became dry, and I talked rapidly. “Please, I need to find him. Tell me where he is.”

  “Then you know what you have to do. Later, sis.” And with that, the phone went dead.

  Did he really just leverage my son for his freedom? What the fuck? Why wouldn’t he tell me where Julián was? My brain raged against the truth that was right in front of me, scrambling for an answer that fit with what I needed to believe. He had done it to protect Julián. My brother was in jail, the phones were recorded. I had to get him out of there fast.

  Grant was wrong about him. So was Mitch.

  So was April. She couldn’t have seen Joaquín because he hadn’t been there that night. And Mitch himself had told me that he didn’t see the guy—it had been dark in that room—there was no way he could have seen my attackers face and lots of people had the same build as my brother.

  And I hadn’t known that the truck that hit my parents was registered to Rafael. But even if that was true, it didn’t prove anything. Maybe Rafael targeted my father, and when my father was gone, he targeted Joaquín. Blackmailing him. For what? I had no idea, but criminals rarely needed rational reasons for anything. Rafael had probably kidnapped my son to get something from my brother, and once Joaquín found out, he killed Tiffany in a moment of rage. Yes, that made sense if I ignored the fact that there was no way that Rafael or my brother should have known I was even pregnant.