Protected by Shadows
A Totally Bound Publication
Protected by Shadows
ISBN #
9781781848470
©Copyright Aliyah Burke 2013
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright November 2013
Edited by Rebecca Douglas
Totally Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2013 by Totally Bound Publishing,
Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a
heat rating
of
Totally Burning
and a
Sexometer
of
2.
This story contains 272 pages, additionally there is also a
free excerpt
at the end of the book containing 9 pages.
In Aeternum
PROTECTED BY SHADOWS
Aliyah Burke
Book three in the In Aeternum series
She’s everything he wants and all he knows he shouldn’t have. When danger strikes, will he give it all up or is he doomed to live the rest of his life without her?
Valentino Cassano is a man who lives in shadows, lies and secrets. He works for a group that he can’t tell anyone about. When the ugliness from that world affects the woman he’s had a thing with for a few years, he refuses to let her face it alone.
Lexy Camden loves her life as a veterinarian. However, when everything gets turned upside down and Valentino inserts himself into her routine for more than a few days, things get complicated…fast. The feelings she’s been ignoring for so long won’t give her a moment’s peace.
As the danger escalates, and part of Valentino’s past comes out, will they have a chance to be a real couple or will it all be shattered with the simple pull of a trigger? Valentino has lost a lot and has no plans to do so again. Now if he can just convince Lexy to give him another shot…
Dedication
Thanks to everyone who asked me for Valentino’s story. I hope y’all enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it. To my husband who never fails to support me with my dream. I love you. And, as always, last but never
ever
least to those who have served or are serving in the armed forces, my thanks for your unending sacrifices you make to keep us safe.
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
Ferrari: Ferrari S.p.A.
007: Ian Fleming
Mossberg: O.F. Mossberg & Sons
Mitsubishi Spyder: Mitsubishi Group
Chevy Tahoe: Chevrolet, General Motors
Hello Kitty: Sanrio Co., Ltd.
Keurig: Green Mountain Coffee Roasters, Inc
John Deere: Deere & Company
Pepto-Bismol: Procter & Gamble
Panera: Panera Bread
Chrysler 300: Chrysler Group LLC
MASN: MASN Sports
Chevy 2500: General Motors Company
Glock: Glock Ges.m.b.H.
NCIS
: CBS Television Studios
Catwoman: DC Comics
Underworld
: Screen Gems
Coke: The Coca-Cola Company
Tomorrow
: Chris Young, Frank J Myers and Anthony L. Smith
Walther PPK: Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen
Mercedes-Benz: Daimler AG
Sherlock: Arthur Conan Doyle
Heckler & Koch, MP-5: Heckler & Koch
AK-47: Izhmash
Jaguar F-Type V8 5: Jaguar Land Rover Ltd
SIG: SIG Sauer Inc
Smith & Wesson: Smith & Wesson Holding Corp.
Dukes of Hazzard: Warner Bros Television
Muzak: Muzak Holdings
Chapter One
Somewhere deep in the Alps
Valentino Cassano downshifted and allowed the car, a smoky black Ferrari, to drift around the tight corner before shifting again. The beautiful scenery whizzing by meant nothing to him. He focused on the same thing he always focused on when not working. Hell, even times when he did work.
Lexy. Alexsa Camden.
She had taken front and center stage in his thoughts ever since the first day he’d met her. A spitfire. A Southern spitfire.
Nothing mattered. Not the fact he had killed a man less than ten minutes ago. Nor that men would most likely be trying to find him to make him pay. He could care less. Came with the job.
Ahead, a few cyclists had him easing off the accelerator. They dropped back and made it easier to pass. He waited until they maneuvered the next corner before gunning it and flying around the small group.
Valentino slowed down and followed the speed limit as police cars approached in the other lane. They raced up the road, lights flashing and sirens wailing. He surreptitiously checked his rear view as he trailed behind an old split-rail truck hauling livestock. Chicken feathers blew by like falling snow. Unfortunately, the smell wasn’t equivalent.
Whipping around the truck, he continued on his way to the quaint village nestled in the Swiss Alps. While not as busy in the summer as it was come winter, there was still hustle and bustle…enough for a tourist to just be another tourist and not stand out.
Parked at his hotel, he unfolded his body from behind the wheel, tugged on his suit jacket and headed in after closing the door. He gave a sharp nod to the female concierge as he strode through the tiled lobby. A blush skated up her cheeks, yet he never slowed. She held no interest for him, despite her numerous and blatant advances during the course of his stay.
Today he was checking out and heading to Eiger. He’d always wanted to see the north face in person. Now seemed the opportune time. Pushing into his room, he briefly paused and took a habitual cursory glance about. Nothing appeared out of place, but some practices had become ingrained over the years. At the closet, he withdrew his suitcase and began packing. As he closed the lid, his thoughts returned to Lexy.
The steam rolled around them as the hot water cascaded down from multiple showerheads. Her back to the tiled wall while he thrust in and out of her slick pussy. Hard. Fast. Deep.
She had her legs wrapped tightly about his hips and she undulated against him, taking his cock in deeper. Her fingers tangled in his hair and he buried his face along the graceful curve of her neck.
He kept one hand splayed on the wall and one gripping her ass. Her moans were throaty and each one made him harder. He couldn’t get enough. Therein lay the problem, it would
never
be enough.
Her hair was plastered to her head and her skin was flushed from the combination of heat and passion.
“Oh, God,” she groaned, flexing her internal muscles around his cock.
His reply was just as guttural—it flowed up from deep in his chest, as he continued to drive into her. She pulled his hair, raking her nails along his skin causing stings of pain. It urged him on. Harder. Faster. Deeper.
His release barreled down upon him.
“More!” she cried, her back bowing. He tried to hold off a little longer. It wasn’t going to work. Fire flowed through him, edging along his need to conquer and possess this woman. Her vaginal walls flexed again and his roar raced free to mix with her cry of pleasure as they crested together.
The phone rang, shattering his memory like a bullet to glass. Wiping his face with one hand, he blew out a frustrated breath. Lust rocketed through him. His cock strained against his slacks, wanting out. Craving release. Even his palms were sweaty as he reached for the phone.
“Hello?”
“A message for you, sir, at the front desk. Would you like it brought to your room?”
“No, thank you. I’ll pick it up.” He replaced the receiver, stared out of the window then headed for the door, bags in hand.
“Your message, sir.” The man slid it to him as he signed his bill.
“Thank you. Have them bring up my car.” He walked to a chair then sat, bags at his feet. No one was behind him and he opened the envelope before pulling out the single sheet of paper.
Zurich
That was the only word. He stifled a yawn and put the paper inside his suit coat pocket. He wasn’t going. Not this time. Somehow, he would find a way to stay away.
“Your car is ready, sir. May I take your luggage?”
“Of course.” He pushed to his feet and left. Soon he was driving away. Utilizing the hands-free feature of his phone, he said a name and waited for the call to connect.
“Yes?” The male voice was deep and gruff.
“Done.”
“Any problems?”
He shifted gears and the car responded perfectly, leaping forward with more power and speed. “No.”
“We’ll be in touch.” The call ended.
Tossing the phone down, Valentino tried to let the beauty of his surroundings sink in, but it seemed a fruitless endeavor. Not even when, much later, he sat at a bar staring out at the north face of Eiger did the majesty register.
“Finally made it to the Eiger, I see.”
At the deep Southern drawl, Valentino glanced up to spy Beau standing there. Beauregard Lee Jackson, to be precise. A drink in his hand, the man flashed a grin before sitting down beside him.