Cold as Ice

By Maggie Adams

He wants her to be his lover...she wants to be his forever.

Nick Coalson is abrasive, arrogant, and an absolute dynamo in the bedroom. Problem is, he knows it.
Rebecca Morgan is sweet, shy, and immensely attracted to Nick, but he's trouble in tight jeans and she knows it.
When Nick Coalson saves Rebecca Morgan from an assassin’s bullet, he sets his sights on the shy partner of a detective agency. But he mistakes her kindness for weakness, and learns the hard way that although she may seem submissive, she’s a voluptuous bundle of intelligence and determination.
Rebecca tries to hide her feelings for Nick because he’s the kind of man that makes a smart girl do stupid things. After a sensual encounter, Nick grows distant, stating he wants a lover, not a wife. Rebecca realizes she’s going to need to keep her wits about her if she wants Nick forever because it’s too easy to lose herself to his dominant personality.
When a stranger offers to help her win Nick, she accepts although she wonders what’s in it for him. But Nick thinks it’s too late for his love when he witnesses a tender moment between Rebecca and another man. His head tells him to step aside, but his heart aches for her tender touch.
And as the killer closes in on the Coalson family, Nick wonders if it will be too late to save not only their love, but their very lives?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Maggie Adams
• Release date: May 8, 2017
• ISBN: 9781370270781

Maggie Adams

Maggie Adams is an internationally known contemporary romance author. Her first book in the Tempered Steel Series, Whistlin’ Dixie, debuted in Top 100 for Women’s Fiction, humor, on November 2014. Since then, she has consistently made the best seller 5-star list with her Tempered Steel Series.  She also writes erotica, paranormal romance, young adult romance and women’s fiction. Maggie’s books can be found on eBook and paperback on her website and all book sites. When she’s not writing, she can be found dancing, singing and cooking (usually all at the same time), and spending time with her family and friends. .

Book preview

PROLOGUE

Ben Yates was dead. Hank Coalson stood alone in the old cemetery, staring at the large hole being filled by the workers. He craned his neck to see the burled walnut casket barely visible now. Tears welled in his eyes once more, and he swiped at them with an angry hand. His sorrow was deep, but his rage took precedence. Rage at the person responsible for this. Rage at the utter uselessness of the police force in his hometown now. But mostly, rage at himself. He had caused the chain of events that had led to his best friend’s death.

It was his fault Ben was dead.

A gust of wind hit him in the face, and he burrowed deeper within his coat. It was December, almost Christmas. He thought of Ben’s wife and children, their grandchildren. Now, no matter how hard they tried, Christmas would be, at best, bittersweet. The friends and community would rally in support at first. But after a few years, life would continue without Ben. Maybe an occasional thought in passing, a memory, or an event he would have been at because he loved this community. Eventually, though, he would be forgotten. They all would. And this fuckin’ horrible time in the history of the town would be replaced with new memories, new events.

Mr. Coalson, the sun’s about down. We’re finished here. Hank heard the cemetery worker’s words. He knew he should be heading home, but he didn’t want to move. To leave would put the final action on Ben’s life.

Sir, would you like us to call Mac or Mrs. Coalson?

Hank glanced down at the small man in the thermal coveralls. His hat was in his hand, a sign of respect. For the life of him he couldn’t remember the man’s name. Ben Yates was dead. The thought sliced across his brain again, but he buried it deep. Just like Ben. Thank you, but no. I had to see it through to the end. He was my best friend.

The man nodded in understanding and took his leave. Hank watched the men gather the tools in silence and head toward the truck. He heard the roar of the engine and the gravel crunch as they made their way out of the cemetery. He was finally alone with Ben.

He stared at the flowers and the fresh mound of dirt. He felt the bile rise in his throat, but he willed it down. His fault. All his fault. Hank shivered. He was so damn cold. But not as cold as Ben. He was dead. Cold as ice, dead.

His control broke, and he fell to his knees, sobbing out in pain and sorrow. He laid his head on the mound of dirt, his tears making muddy rivulets on the fresh earth, strong fingers digging into the mess, desperately trying to rid himself of the guilt and the anguish.

If only I had known, Ben, how all this would have gone down, I would have turned myself in, faced the consequences. It was self-defense, but I was young and scared, for both me and Ginny. I thought I was doing the right thing, calling you to help me bury the man that had tried to kill us, but in the end, he won. His psycho son has seen to that.

I killed you, Ben, just as surely as if I had been the one to shoot you in the back. His son is taking out his revenge on me. He’s going to keep on killing all those I love until there is no one left but me.

I’m sorry my friend, my brother. I caused this, but I couldn’t let them take my Ginny.

He didn’t hear the crunch of the leaves behind him or the soft voice calling his name, but her touch, yes, he felt her touch on the back of his head. He turned his face and through his tears, he saw her. His Ginny. His wife of over forty years.  She moved his muddy arm to encompass her and she hugged him tight. She knew he didn’t need the words. He simply needed the comfort. Squeezing her to his chest, her tears mingling with his, they held each other and said a final goodbye to their beloved and trustworthy friend.

We will make this right, she whispered to him.

No, darlin’. We can’t. We can’t bring Ben back, he murmured, tears burning his chapped cheeks.

She took her hand and brought it to his face. Then we will see justice done. For Ben and his family.

I’m thinking of turning myself in. Maybe that will stop him.

No, you will not, Hank Coalson! Ginny pulled away from him. It was not murder, it was self-defense. She cuddled in once again. Besides, do you really think it would stop Pye? He wants all of us dead.

Hank shuddered at the reality of her words. Robert Pye, the son of the bastard that had tried to sell Ginny forty years ago in his child trafficking scheme, wanted revenge for his father’s death. He was determined to wipe the Coalsons off the face of the earth.

Pye had torched Hank’s eldest son’s business and almost killed three of his other sons in the inferno; he had partnered with a drug lord to frame another son; and just a few months ago, the asshole had overseen a con to completely ruin all the family businesses and take the orchard, while framing Hank’s son, Lucky, for murder. I don’t know what we can do, Ginny.

Ginny Coalson caressed the cheek of the man she loved. You’ve risked your life for me, given me more love than I had ever imagined existed. You’re the man who makes my heart complete. She kissed him tenderly and helped him to his feet. We do what we did the last time the Pye family threatened our happiness and our lives. We fight back and win.

CHAPTER ONE

It’s a lovely fall day and we ride along the country road, top down, to take in the beauty around us. Presently, you pull off onto a hidden path in the copse of some trees. You put the car in park and turn to kiss me.

You make me happy, you whisper just before your lips touch mine. Your tongue presses along the seam seeking entrance and I willingly open. You cradle my face in your hands as you explore my lips, sucking, biting, and thrusting your tongue to duel with mine.

I want you… I whisper against your throat as I lick the underside of your earlobe.

Yes, you reply and with one last kiss, we exit the car.

Take off your clothes, you command and I hasten to comply. My sundress pools at my feet and I step out of it and throw it in the wind. You lean back against the hood of the car and unzip your pants, freeing your engorged cock.

I slip out of my bra and panties, my breasts swaying as I toss them away with a laugh. I feel like a wood sprite, and I twirl, naked for your amusement.

Come here.

I step between your legs, bestow a tiny kiss on your mouth and sink to my haunches, spreading my legs for you to see all that I offer you. Arching my back, I thrust my breasts into your waiting hands.

You fondle and pinch me until my nipples are hard nubs and my hand begins to wander down my stomach.

You slap it away playfully. Suck me.

I’m eager to obey and I grasp your hard stalk in my small hand. I can hardly get my fingers around you, but I greedily open my mouth and let your hand guide my head. My lips close over you and my tongue swirls around the head, tasting you, and I scoot even closer. I want to devour you. I manage to take all of you and I still for the moment, just loving the feel of you in my mouth. But you groan and I tighten my lips against you,  pulling back, then pushing forward, faster and faster as my fingers reach down to lightly caress you.

I hear your groan and it releases my own dew. I reach down and finger myself, now so wet, as I continue to suck and kiss your shaft. My fingers find my clit as your balls draw up and you push my hand away, releasing your cock. You pull me up and suck the cream from my fingers, then you slap my ass.

Turn around, you command and I obey, palms flat on the hood of the car, my ass curving out. You slap it again and I feel the sting, then the warmth, spread throughout my body.

Don’t move. You slam into me and I cry out. It feels so good! You’re pounding into me with such force, my back arches even further and I can’t help it, I begin to move.

You slap my ass again, Don’t move! You order as your hips begin to gyrate, hitting my sweet spot and I moan. You do it again and then hold still. I wiggle to get you back.

You’re a naughty brat that won’t listen, you hiss in my ear. You thrust into me again, this time fingering me until I just hit the edge, then you take it away and I cry out.

Without warning, you pull back until you are almost out of me, and then force your thumb into my rosette. The invasion is quick and painless, but the movements now are more intense. This will hold you still…

You continue to fuck me, your thumb moving within my ass, your cock thrusting in and out of me. I’m so close, I’m crying, but you’re relentless and soon my mind is numb from anything but the orgasm just out of reach.

You slam into me once again, and with your free hand, pinch my clit hard. The sensation is too much, and I climax again and again as you pump furiously into me. I feel your hot semen fill my womb, and I moan in delicious ecstasy.

You pull out of me and I can’t help myself. I turn around and lick you over and over again, wanting every last drop of our pleasure. You finally pull me up and kiss me tenderly, handing me my sundress, my bra and panties forgotten.

Hold up your sundress, you command as soon as I put it on, and I shiver as you sit back on your haunches. Seconds later, I feel the touch of your tongue on my still sensitive clit and you take me to heaven……again.

Rebecca Morgan came awake with a shout of ecstasy. She quickly covered her mouth, saying a prayer her sister didn’t hear her scream. She glanced down at her t shirt and panties, rubbing her legs, feeling the wetness there.

Dammit! she muttered, throwing her blanket away from her body. She stomped into the shower. Damn Nick Coalson and his on again – off again relationship shit. I’ve had it! I can’t even sleep without dreaming of the bastard taking me. How the hell am I supposed to function when I don’t even know what I did wrong?

She shed her clothes and