Retribution (Secrets & Lies #3)
Lauren Landish
Introduction
Melissa
I spent years shutting myself off from the world, haunted by the tragedies of my past… until Nathan Black comes along.
Tall, built like Adonis, with jet black hair and startling green eyes, he makes me go weak in the knees. He saved me from sure death, and I’m grateful for that. But I want more. I want him.
I’ve never had a crush before. This desire is stronger than any pull I’ve ever felt. I’ve never even been with a man. But I want him to be my first.
The way he looks at me, I know he wants me too. But he’s holding back. He thinks he’ll corrupt me—that he’ll take me to hell with him.
But I’m done with being scared. When I’m with him, nothing else matters. I want him. At any cost.
Nathan
I was a mercenary. A killer for hire.
I used to crave the need to put men in the ground. But I no longer get that rush. I’m empty and hollow from years of spilling blood.
I was just going through the motions. Collecting money and earning my one-way ticket to hell.
But meeting her, everything changed. Her psychotic father wants her dead, and he has no problems killing anyone in his way. But her gorgeous blue eyes beg me to save her and feel me with a desire that I haven’t felt in years.
But I can’t give in. Not yet. I have to save her. From the man that wants her dead. And from the dirty things I want to do to her.
**Retribution is a full-length romance with an HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger! While not required, it is recommended to read Book 1 & 2 first to get the full story.
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Book 1 - Revenge.
Book 2 - Retaliation.
Book 3 - Retribution.
**It is recommended to read Revenge and Retaliation before to get the full story.
Prologue
Nathan
My cock instantly hardens. I don’t think 'Lissa knows what she’s doing. She’s too innocent. My eyes stay focused on her as my breath stills in my lungs. I’m staring at her with intense passion, and we’re practically speaking to either other telepathically.
She’s so perfect. So pure—so sweet. But in this moment, I’m fighting with all my might to not release the beast that is still deep within me. She can’t handle it yet. She’s getting there, but not yet. Her eyes are glossed over with lust. She wants me and I sure as f*ck want her. But I can’t. I have a lot of blood on my hands, and she’s taking me on the road to redemption. She needs me to be gentle, and if a man like me can have happiness again, I’ll be what she needs me to be.
She stops in front of me and sits on her knees, propping herself up on with her hand on my inner thigh. I take in a deep breath and keep my expression from giving away how much I want her. I need to be buried deep inside of her.
I break eye contact and look past her into the darkness. I know it hurts her. But she doesn’t know how perfect she is right now. And even now I’m afraid I’ll ruin her. That I’ll break a piece of her she can never repair.
Her hands slide up my leg and I stifle my groan as her fingers barely touch the head of my hardened cock.
Her breath comes in shallow pants. I know I’ll find her soaked for me.
“Nathan,” her soft voice is just above a murmur. I look into her innocent eyes and keep my expression neutral.
“'Lissa,” my heart races in my chest as I look at her. I have to hope that I haven’t polluted the purest and most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.
She smiles and nods her head slowly, keeping her eyes on mine. “I know what I want, Nathan,” she says confidently. She’s a changed woman already. Her chest rises as it reddens with a violent blush that travels to her cheeks. “I want you.”
I throw my head back and groan. If this is what the rest of my life is going to be like, I’m a lucky man.
I reach down and pick her small body up by her waist. She gasps as I take her lips with my own. My tongue licks across the seam of her lips and she parts them for me. She moans into my mouth as my fingers cup her *.
My cock jumps as her arousal coats the tips of my fingers, and with a deftness, my fingers travel along the clasps on the back of her white lingerie. So fitting.
It’s even hotter on her than I could’ve imagined, but it belongs on the floor. I don’t want anything between us. Not anymore. Not now that she’s mine.
I unclip the last one and toss if carelessly to the side.
I look down at her with nothing but desire.
Maybe I still have my special spot in hell on reserve, but for now, this angel is mine. All mine.
Chapter One
Melissa
I'm upstairs in my painting room, which is really nothing more than a large walk-in closet that my brother converted to make more space for me to work. There's even a window to give me better lighting. I'm standing by the window, eyeing my latest piece critically when I see Carson's pickup pull into our driveway. Excited, I put away my paints and head downstairs. I've just been mucking around with a little landscape that I'm doing for fun during the holidays.