Page 22 of Untouchable
“You sure you’re up for it?” At his confirmation, the detective comes back over to let us know they’ve located the oldest Marlowe woman and are keeping an eye on her until we can get down there. It’s a delicate situation, and if we want confessions, she can’t just be dragged into a station. I do believe Porter is the key to getting her to open up about all that she’s done.
CHAPTER15
Jossilyn
Sitting on the back porch of Monroe’s house, stars high in the sky, I can almost forget the world is crashing down around me from the beauty alone. It’s been so long since I’ve enjoyed the fresh mountain air at night, with nothing but the chirping of crickets or frogs for company.
Everyone went to bed a couple of hours ago, but my mind wouldn’t shut down enough to allow me to sleep. So I grabbed my laptop, a bottle of water, and came outside to write. I don’t have any deadlines approaching, but I have the itch to write until I’m exhausted or my hands start cramping.
I’ve been going for almost two hours now and have written a few thousand words. I can’t seem to keep my focus on any one thing, but now, I’ve been inspired by a new story—one centered around a woman finding true love in her burly protector.
Sure, it’s been done before. But what better thing is there than a hardened man falling in love with the girl he’s supposed to keep safe? Nothing, if you ask me.
Setting up the scene for my heroine to fight back on the protection after witnessing a mob murder, I decide to add a little flare and make the hero an undercover anti-hero. He’ll be the mafia boss’s son, set to take over the underworld, and winds up falling in love with the girl he was tasked to kill.
I feel the shiver of anticipation in my blood as I furiously type away about her crush on the scarred and tattooed bad boy protector. Of course, she knows he’s not who he portrays, but she’s too curious to call him on it. When he gets sick of her fighting about needing security, he finally takes her over his knee for a harsh spanking that leaves them both wanting so much more.
Do I have a fetish?It’s almost all I can think about with Braxton. I want his handprint on my ass. The crimson burning into my flesh until all I feel is the way his cock grows when he holds me close from behind.
Lord, I miss that man something fierce.
By the time my body begins protesting my prone position, the sun is starting to rise, and I realize I’ve written nearly twenty-five pages. Never in my life have I written a book so quickly. There’s so much more story to tell, so it’s only about a third of the way finished, but I can’t wait to continue.
“Hot shower, first,” I mutter as I save the project and slowly climb to my feet. Setting my laptop down, I wander down to the paddock where Marilyn, the adorable cow Monroe and Shaw adore, is munching on some grass after clambering out of her shelter.
Her curiosity about me has her coming over, and I scratch the soft tufts of hair around her ears, and I swear if she were a cat, she’d be purring. The quiet chirping of birds is a welcome lilt to my ears as I enjoy the precious few moments of serenity, watching the sun slowly rise. It’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed a moment like this, and I’m savoring it.
“Well, good morning! I hadn’t expected you to be out here so early.” Monroe’s chipper voice is excited and welcoming. I shouldn’t be surprised by it because each time she greets me, it feels a little bit more and more like family. Something mine hasn’t been in forever.
“I couldn’t sleep, so I came out to write after everyone was in bed.” I nod to my laptop on the patio lounge.
Her eyes widen as she looks at me and back to the computer. “You were out here all night?” Her amazement is quickly replaced with curiosity. “Can I know what it’s about?”
I give a genuine smile at her question as I begin explaining what I’ve written and my ideas for the remainder of the book. It’s not too often I get to speak about plotting with anyone other than Magnolia or Ena. It’s nice, comfortable, with Monroe.
“I have to tell you, I’ve read your previous books. I’m a big fan; I just didn’t want to freak you out when all you’re trying to do is live your life.” A furious blush works up my cheeks because she’s mostly right, I wouldn’t have wanted the attention.
“Thank you, Monroe, that means a lot to me.” There’s a brief pause before I offer, “Would you like a couple of signed copies?” I still have a few in my luggage from the tour.
Her eyes light up. “I actually have all of your paperbacks, but if you want to sign them, I will not say no.” Taking my hand, she pulls me up the steps to the house, allowing me to grab my laptop on the way. We stop in the kitchen for coffee before she directs me to an office and shows me a full row of my books.
“Wow, you have all the special additions, as well.” I’m amazed. I know readers love to collect books that mean something to them, and I try to create beautiful covers to attract new readers and give the older ones something fresh, but I’ve never seen the collection in its entirety.
“Shaw recognized my indecision on which ones to buy, so he hunted them all down for me for Christmas.” Her love for the man can’t be masked.
Grabbing the cover with Magnolia on it, I smile, thinking about how crazy this image makes Cage. “Her husband both hates and loves looking at this cover,” I grin. “She’s my best friend, and it’s their story inside the book. Of course, their real one is so much better, but Mags loved me writing this for her.”
“She is quite gorgeous,” Monroe comments as she pulls down the illustrated rendition that touts Magnolia’s likeness on the cover. “I think it’s beautiful that this is the only couple picture she’s done.”
I snort at that. “There are plenty, but Cage won’t allow any others to be sold. The idea of another man’s hands on her body sets him off quicker than a volcanic eruption. Obsession is too tame a word for what that man feels for her.”
Sitting on a sofa, Monroe listens to me talk about just how much more intense Cage is compared to the character I wrote him as. Fascinated that she’s not the only one who has an impassioned book boyfriend in their real lives like she does with Shaw.
“There you are,” the man himself growls as he enters the room to find us now on the floor with novels and pens scattered around us as we go through each book, and I point out all my favorite parts and annotate some of them for her.
“I am going to have the most unique Joss Marlowe collection in the history of romance books.” She smiles as Shaw leans down to kiss her.
“Looks like it,” he grins back, pulling out his phone. “You mind, Joss?” I shake my head and lean forward for a few pictures with Monroe. I thought the signings were intimate because most were small, but this is so much more, and I’m loving being a part of something outside of myself.