Burn: Book 3 (The Heat Series) Read online

  Burn

  Book 3

  MJ Masucci

  Contents

  Title Page

  Want A Free Book?

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Epilogue

  Keep In Touch

  We’re Not Done

  Beloved - Part 1

  Want A Free Book?

  BURN

  By

  MJ Masucci

  2017©MJ Masucci

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental. Although every precaution has been taken to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein, the author and publisher assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for damages that may result from the use of information contained within.

  All Rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without prior written permission of the publisher, except in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

  ISBN 978-0-9985662-4-5

  Cover Art by Kellie Dennis at Book Cover by Design

  www.bookcoverbydesign.co.uk

  This book is dedicated to my husband, Lawrence. Without his love and support, this work would not have been possible. Thank you, my love.

  I would also like to thank my dear cousin, Rachel. You always throw me a lifeline when I need it.

  Want A Free Book?

  Get First Spark-A Companion Guide, The City That Sparked The Story of Ava and Xander

  Visit www.mjmasucci.com

  Would You Be Kind Enough to Leave a Review of My Book?

  Reviews are the air that I breathe. Without the feedback you provide, I would not be able to improve my books, nor would I be able to make my new books better.

  Reviews are also what make others buy my books. I bet that you read some reviews before you purchased this one. I appreciate and welcome any and all feedback.

  Thank you,

  MJ Masucci

  Chapter 1

  Ava stared at the television as the report about the escape continued. The three prisoners were being transported to another prison. A car had pulled in front of the van causing a rear-end collision. There was a shootout, and two corrections officers, as well as their police escort, were killed. The damaged car was left at the scene, and the prisoners escaped. They could be anywhere—he could be anywhere by now since this occurred hours ago.

  She hugged her knees to her chest as the anxiety began to creep inside her. Xander was away at a college friend’s bachelor party. He would be back in New York this evening. She didn’t want to worry him during his travels, so she chose not to contact him.

  Ava got up and checked the locks on her door, sliding the often unused security chain into the slider. She knew that he would have to get passed the front desk, but at this point, he was out for revenge. He had cursed and pointed at her in court as he intensely stared while stating that her days were numbered. This was before the bailiffs dragged him off to serve his sentence at an upstate New York prison. He struggled with them trying to get to her. Her father held her close, trying to offer comfort as they hauled the guilty man through the doors of the courtroom.

  Ava paced the hallway while continuously counting off the minutes until Xander would be home. Just when things were finally going right in her life, Liam had escaped. He had more than seven years left to serve, now more once, he was caught - if he was caught.

  Liam was cunning and smart. Xander had been able to find out that his time in prison was being spent teaching other inmates, but Xander’s contact felt that Liam’s altruism had ulterior motives. He was spending time with kidnappers, murderers, and rapists. During a cell search, the guards had located a pad with notes, a disturbing primer of violent crime. When they questioned him, he said that he was taking notes for a thriller he was planning to write while incarcerated. Even so, they confiscated the notes and gave him back the rest of the pad.

  Ava grew tired of walking and sat on the couch. She felt nauseated and curled her body into the fetal position. The clock read 5:26 PM. Xander’s plane was due to land in six minutes, and it would take him another hour to get to her apartment from the airport. She rocked herself until she fell asleep.

  “Ava? Sweetheart? Why is the chain on the door?”

  Xander continued to knock until she woke up. Her heart pounded in her chest as she became aware that he was at the door. She quickly rose, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes as she removed the security chain.

  Xander came in with a bouquet of coral colored tea roses and his suitcase. He handed the flowers to her, and she crushed her body against him while starting to sob. He dropped his suitcase and held her tight to him, realizing that the tears were not because she was happy to see him, but that she was in distress. She clung to him, sandwiching the roses between them.

  He grasped her arms and pushed her back from him so he could look at her face, the tears streaming down her cheeks. “Sweetheart, what’s wrong?”

  He waited for her to answer and when she didn’t reply, he pulled her to the couch.

  “I can’t help you if you don’t tell me.”

  “He’s out.”

  Xander felt a chill go up his spine and he asked who she meant, though she could only be referencing one person. He waited for her to say his name.

  “Liam.”

  “Fuck! When?”

  “He escaped this morning,” she murmured.

  “He fucking escaped?” He ran his fingers through his hair several times then removed the roses from her hand, putting them on the coffee table.

  “Come here,” he said as he held his arms out for her.

  She crawled onto his lap and clung to his neck while he wrapped his arms around her. Xander rocked her as her crying became a whimper then stopped. He pulled his handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped at her tears and nose.

  “They will be searching for him. He isn’t going to be free for long.”

  “I’m not sure that they are going to catch him so easily. He revealed to me when he attacked us that he had plenty of money stashed away. If that’s true, then he will be able to hide. He’s smart, Xander. I don’t want to underestimate his intelligence.”

  “There will be a manhunt. He would need to get here without being detected. It’s over two hundred miles. Please try not to worry.”

  She shuddered in his arms.

  “Come. I haven’t seen my best girl for almost four days, and I don’t want to talk about Liam.” But in the back of his mind he knew that if this
psycho weren't caught, he would try to hurt Ava and maybe him, again.

  He kissed her cheek and then moved her hair to kiss her neck.

  “How I missed your scent and your beautiful neck.”

  “Is that all you missed?” She sighed as he continued to kiss her.

  “Of course not, but I can be here all night talking about your body, not to mention that beautiful mind of yours.”

  She reached over to the coffee table and picked up the roses.

  “Salmon?”

  “Coral. Didn’t you notice that I sent you a different color each day?”

  “I did. I know what the other three colors mean,” she said as she typed into her phone.

  “This says coral is for desire.”

  He looked into her bright green eyes and nodded.

  “I always desire you. I missed you,” he whispered.

  He tipped her chin up and kissed her full red lips passionately. His tongue probed her mouth, and she sucked on it. Ava ran her hands through his hair and pulled.

  “Hey, easy.”

  “Sorry.”

  Xander hugged her tightly then got up to bring his suitcase to the bedroom. She followed him in as he opened it to take out some clothing.

  “I need a shower. I feel all sweaty from the plane ride. Do you want to join me?”

  “I’m tired. Do you mind if I don’t?”

  “No. If you’re tired, get into bed, and I’ll be there soon.”

  He went down the hall, and she heard the water start. She wanted to be close to him, but she was nervous about Liam. Her mind kept drifting to what he said to her in court and the evil look on his face.

  She went into the bedroom, pulled back the covers, changed into one of Xander’s t-shirts and got in bed. He came in a few minutes later wrapped in a towel, which he took off to put on a pair of boxers. She watched him intently because she couldn’t resist. He spied her looking.

  “See anything you like?”

  “I always do when you’re around.”

  He could see her brow was furrowed as he approached the bed and sat down next to her.

  “Please, sweetheart, don’t worry. He knows they’re going to be looking for him and only a fool would come into the open.”

  He stroked her hair, and she closed her eyes as she felt them start to tear. He leaned down to kiss her cheek and then went to the kitchen.

  “Do you want a glass of wine?”

  “I could use one.”

  He came in the bedroom with two glasses of white wine and put hers on the nightstand. She sat up and took a sip of the cool liquid letting it slip down her throat, deciding to try to get her mind off that criminal.

  “So, how is Bobby and what did you do while you were down there?”

  “It was crazy. It made me realize that I don’t want to have one of those silly bachelor parties. They all got drunk the first night. I stuck to a couple of beers. So the next day they spent a good amount of time in bed. I went sightseeing because I was bored waiting for them to get up. That night they did it all again. Then last night, they went to a strip club. They had a private room with several dancers.”

  Ava felt her stomach start to churn. He promised he wouldn’t go to a strip club with them.

  “Before you ask, no, I did not go to the club with them. I told them it wasn’t my thing. I wouldn’t disrespect you like that. You are the only naked woman I want to see.”

  She inwardly breathed a sigh of relief and then felt guilty for not trusting him. They promised to trust each other, but there were times she had doubts.

  “I know. You promised me you wouldn't.”

  “Ava, do you think I would promise you and then go behind your back?”

  “No, I don't.” She felt an argument brewing. “I don’t want to fight. I need you to cuddle me.”

  He placed his wine glass on his nightstand and slipped into bed next to her, pulling her into his arms. He began kissing her ear and sucking on it.

  “How I missed this. It wasn’t the same without you next to me in bed.”

  He continued and sucked on her earlobe then gently bit down on the soft flesh of her shoulder.

  “You smell so good,” he whispered. “I want to make love to you.”

  Her belly clenched, and she pressed her legs tighter together.

  He slipped his hand under her shirt to cup her breast and rub her nipple. Ava arched her back to fill his hand, and as she did, she let out a small moan. He pulled on her shoulder so she would turn on her back. She reached between them and felt his erection pressing against his boxers.

  “My, you are ready for action.”

  “I can’t go from several times a night to nothing for the past few days. I had a dream about you, and my underwear was wet when I woke up. I had a good old fashioned nocturnal emission, which I haven’t had in years.”

  Ava giggled, “You did?”

  “Yes, I did. It’s always been you, my Z.”

  His hand stroked her through her panties, and she began to moan louder.

  “Have you gotten yourself off since I have been away?”

  “No. I wanted to wait for you to do it.”

  He got up on his knees and between her thighs, spreading them with his hands. He gently tugged at her panties, which consisted of a string and a strip of cloth.

  “I like these panties because they leave nothing to my imagination. I can see how wet you are.”

  She closed her eyes, and a pink flush settled on her cheeks.

  “Why are you embarrassed?”

  “I’m not.”

  “You are. Your face is flushed. Or is it that you’re turned on?”

  “I think maybe a little of both.”

  He dipped down to lick her through the thin mesh cloth. She could feel the heat of his mouth on her and his tongue as he stroked.

  “I can taste you. So sweet.”

  In one move he tore at the cloth with his fingers and dipped his tongue into her.

  “Oh.” She didn’t even care that he tore one of her favorite panties.

  He sucked at her clit and slipped his fingers into her, crooking them until he pressed against the spot that made her wriggle. He moved his fingers in circles, and as she clenched the sheets with her hands, his tongue moved against her swollen nub.

  “Come for me.”

  She obliged him. As her orgasm took hold, she squeezed his fingers tight as she bucked and arched her back. He slid them out of her and sucked, watching her face soften as she finished.

  He stood up to remove his boxers and then got between her legs again. He moved his erection along her wetness and then he stopped just short of her opening. Her eyes fluttered open as he bent down to suck her nipples.

  “Ready for me?”

  “Yes,” she hissed as he slipped into her.

  He gently worked his hips, picking up the rhythm after she wrapped her legs around his back. He came fast but continued until another orgasm took hold of her, then slipped out and lay next to her. He took her hand to kiss and suck on her fingers.

  “I love you, soon-to-be Mrs. Wilder.”

  “I love you, too, Mr. Wilder,” she mumbled as she slipped off to sleep.

  The next morning, she woke up at four still wearing her shredded panties. She went to the bathroom and removed them, slipping back into bed in just his shirt. Xander was at the edge of the bed on his side, and she reached out to stroke his back. He stirred.

  “What is it? Are you alright?”

  “Yes, go back to sleep.”

  “Why are you so far away from me? You’re at the edge of the bed.”

  She heard the sheets rustling as he moved over to her side and his arms reached out for her. She snuggled up against him and put her head on his chest.

  “I should get up and go workout.”

  “No, stay here with me. You can work out tomorrow.”

  “You’re a bad influence, Mr. Wilder.”

  “I know, but you love me anyway.”

  She
fell asleep for another two hours, and when she awoke, she smelled coffee. Xander was no longer in bed; she stretched and yawned. He came into the bedroom when he heard her, hair wet from a shower and wearing nothing but his suit slacks.

  “Why didn’t you wake me?”

  “You looked so peaceful that I wanted you to sleep.”

  She shifted, and the sheet slipped off her lower half exposing her behind.

  “Oh, baby, that is the perfect way to greet me in the morning,” he said as he reached down to caress her ass.

  “Don’t get me started.”

  “We have to make up for the missed days.”

  She went to shower while he busied himself feeding the boys and pouring her a cup of coffee. He was glad that she didn’t mention Liam. He knew that she was going to worry about him.

  As she entered the office building with Xander, she didn’t see the man wearing the hood in the corner because she was smiling at the man next to her. He watched her as she walked to the elevators. He rubbed his nose, remembering the pain that was inflicted on it. It still hurt, and his breathing was worse than ever. He waited until they entered the elevators and then left.

  Liam removed the hood from his head as soon as he got outside in the late May warmth. His hair was no longer black, but blond. He had dyed it, and the beard that he had in prison was now just a mustache, also blond. He had a long scar on his right cheek courtesy of his first cellmate. The man had tried to sexually assault him on his first night. He fought, and the man backed off. But he waited and got him in the yard with a homemade shank. If Liam hadn’t been quick enough, he would have taken his eye out. Instead, he received fourteen stitches in his cheek, and the man received two months in solitary.

  He made his way out of midtown to a hotel that allowed you to rent rooms by the hour. He could afford to stay in a more expensive place but this was cheap, the water was hot, and everyone minded their own business. He spent the night before listening to prostitutes walk the halls with their johns. He was glad to be out of prison, and when his plan was complete, he would disappear.