My mom and I have mended the hurt I caused last week. And tonight I need to let the man I love know he will always be the man I love. That I won’t hold up our lives any longer. My mom was the one who talked me into it. She even took Dane for the night to give us privacy.

  Right now I’m waiting in our room until Zach comes home, which is any minute now. His favorite meal is keeping warm in the oven. I’m a bundle of nerves as what I have planned tonight is completely crazy. How do men do this?

  “Nic, I’m home. Where are you?”

  I peek out the partially open bedroom door. “I’ll be out in a moment. Why don’t you take the casserole out of the oven?”

  “Damn, it smells so good in here.” He moves toward the kitchen, and I step out of the room when I’m sure his back is to me. He opens the oven. “Ooh my favorite. What’s the occasion?” He turns toward me. I’m standing there in a white tulle and lace nightie. It’s sheer and see-through, and he can clearly see I don’t have panties on underneath. The front is in a halter style that ties at the back of my neck in a bow.

  “What the fuck? Baby, what are you doing?” He turns and sets the casserole on the counter before shutting off the oven. When he turns back toward me, I’m on my knees waiting for him.

  Zach moves to stand in front of me. I pull the champagne glass I have hidden from behind my back and hold it up to him. In the bottom of the glass, shining bright with bubbles around it, is the groom band that matches the engagement ring he put on my finger. I moved the promise ring he gave me at eighteen to my right ring finger. He looks at the band and then at me.

  “Will you marry me?” I say.

  He tips his head to the side as he looks down my body. “I asked you first. You already said yes. Are these hormones making you forgetful?” He chuckles as he takes the glass from my hand. Our fingers brush, and just like always, my skin lights up with need for him. My breath catches in my lungs, and I almost forget to answer his question.

  “I want to marry you next week.” I smile at him.

  He gulps the champagne down, and I watch as he cringes when the bubbles tickle his nose. He sets the glass down on the table next to me, then pulls the ring out and slips it on his finger. He then reaches down and lifts me up from under my arms. He pulls me up his body, and I wrap my legs around his hips. My bare core presses against his length through his jeans.

  “Next week? What about Piper?” His voice is filled with emotion and desire.

  “I can’t put our lives on hold for her. We can do a renewal of vows when she comes home.”

  “Yes,” he growls right before his lips take mine. I open and his tongue slides into my mouth. I taste the alcohol on his tongue, and I get lightheaded from the desire coursing through me.

  My back hits the bed; I didn’t realize he moved us to our room.

  “Do you like this?” He waves his hand, indicating my nightie. I shake my head, and he rips it from my body. The delicate material tears as he pulls it away. His mouth descends on my aching breasts, and I arch my back wanting him to take them deeper into his mouth. When he bites down on my nipple, it’s almost too much, and I cry out. He pulls away and stands, watching me as I writhe on the bed with need for him. He strips and is over me before I can get up and help him.

  “Nic, baby, I’ll marry you whenever you want.” He slowly pushes his thick cock into me, and I arch again as he goes deep, forging us together.

  He slowly makes love to me. Worshipping my breasts, neck, and lips with his mouth as he moves in and out of me. My orgasm is building. Zach pulls out and flips me around and slams back into me. I come hard, screaming his name. He moves in and out of me, over and over, prolonging my orgasm until he pulls me up to his chest by my hair. The pain in my scalp ignites another orgasm, and I finally feel him come too. We collapse on the bed in a tangled heap of limbs and sweaty bodies.

  Chapter Five

  ZACH

  It’s been four weeks since we were last in this office. I told Nikki she had three months to plan a wedding. I’m glad we aren’t waiting, but I worry she will regret not having Piper there. So I’m giving her time to change her mind. In my heart, we are already married.

  My poor girl has been an emotional wreck. I don’t know if she’s pregnant, but I can’t watch her go through this another month. I know it can happen the first month, but some couples take several rounds. Those partners deserve medals. I don’t know how they do it. One day she loves me and the next she’s mad at me. She tries not to show it, but I still see it. The last week though has been the best, and if her hormones did this all the time, I would be happy. She can’t get enough of me. Nic has fucked me multiple times a day, everywhere. We’ve almost been caught by every member of the team, Dane, and even her mom. She even tried to get me to ride in the back of the SUV with her and ride me with Luca driving. I declined because there is no partition, and he would have seen too much of her. She and Luca have been working together searching for Piper.

  I’m glad they finally found a common ground where they could work. She’s still upset with him for what he said, but she knows he regrets it. Maya and Joshua still don’t know how close he and Piper became, but I think they are figuring it out on their own.

  “Mr. and Mrs. Scott,” the nurse calls our names. And just like the last time, my chest swells with pride. She has Nikki stand on the scale, give them a urine sample, and then takes us to a patient room to wait for Jen.

  I watch as Nikki fidgets on the exam table. I know she’s nervous about this appointment.

  “Baby, I don’t care what she’s going to tell us when she comes in here. I love you, no matter what.” I reassure her as I move toward her. I spread her knees and stand between them, lifting her chin so I can see her eyes.

  “I know.”

  I lean down and kiss her lips. It moves from a sweet kiss to fire instantly. She wraps her legs around my hips, holding me to her hot core. She’s in a long flowy dress that I push up so I can get closer to her. Nikki’s hands are in my hair, pulling on it, making me want to take her right here.

  “Well, that’s a good sign, but I don’t want to see your ass, Zachariah,” Jen quips from behind us, and I pull my lips from my girl. I can’t step away from her yet. “I’d offer to step out until you are decent, but I’m afraid you’d take care of it another way. And my hubby doesn’t like me seeing that except when he’s doing it to me.” She chuckles, and the thought of Ian kicking my ass takes my wood down some.

  “How about you both follow me?” she says, and I swing around concerned.

  “Why?”

  “What’s going on, Jen?”

  We both ask her at the same time.

  “I need to get another ultrasound,” she answers as she turns her back on us.

  I help Nikki from the table, and we follow Jen into the ultrasound room.

  Once Nikki is situated on the exam table with her panties removed and a drape over her legs, Jen sits down and looks at us both. She’s hiding something, I can tell. Her eyes are dancing and she’s practically bouncing in her chair.

  “I’d like to do a couple of the ultrasounds myself, but I want the tech in here too, if that’s okay with you?”

  We both agree. I’m hoping there’s good news. That the hormones are working and we don’t have to do another round. We can just take our time, continuing to do what we do, making love.

  “Jen?” Nikki questions, but we are interrupted when a tech moves into the room.

  “Okay, let’s get started.” The room darkens, and the tech moves next to Jen’s shoulder. Jen puts a condom on the probe and lubes it up. I’m standing there holding Nikki’s hand, feeling her tremble. I look down, worried about her.

  After a few moments, Jen holds the probe in place and says, “I see two little sacks. Fraternal twins.”

  Her words hit us both at the same time. “What?”

  “Congratulations. You’re pregnant.” She laughs, and Nicole starts crying. I lean down and kiss her lips as tears come to my eyes too.

  “Wait! Did you say twins?” Nicole tries to sit up.

  “Whoa there, Nikki, settle down.” Jen and the tech ease her back down.

  Twins. I’m struggling to breathe. My chest is constricting in a way it’s never done before. I can’t breathe. My vision starts to blur.

  “Grab Daddy, he’s going to lose it.” I hear Jen’s voice as if she’s far away.

  “Zachariah Dane Scott, don’t you dare faint. You did this to me.” I hear Nic’s voice as she screeches, and I lock the joy and terror back. Twins? I reach for her, taking her face between my palms.

  “I love you, NicNak. Thank you.” I kiss her again. “I can do this.” I sigh as I pull away from her.

  “Well, you better. We have no choice now.” She laughs at me.

  The whole way back to the compound, I sit next to her, holding her hand. I can’t wait to find out what we are having. I’m going to make her move up the wedding though because I won’t wait to make all three of them mine. Jen said everything was looking good but wanted to see us next month. She wants to check on Nikki and keep a close eye on her because of the previous abdominal surgeries from the attack.

  My girl is brave, but I can tell she’s scared. Luca must feel the thickness of our emotions because he doesn’t try to make small talk and he doesn’t take us to the office. Instead, he takes us straight to our home.

  “I’ll pick up Dane from school and take him to the gym,” he offers, and I thank him. Nic moves like she’s in a fog toward the house without acknowledging him. I watch her as she paces the kitchen. She keeps looking at the bottle of whiskey on the shelf that she uses for making hot toddies. She ends up grabbing a glass and filling it with water. I’m standing on the other side of the island watching her take it all in. Finally, I’ve had enough, and I move around to stop her pacing.

  “Nic, are you okay?” I tilt her chin up toward me.

  Her emerald eyes are shiny with tears. “I’m scared I won’t be able to carry them both.”

  “Baby, we will do whatever Dr. Jen wants us to. She said let her worry and you relax. So let’s do that. You go get changed and we can watch mindless reality shows.” I should be at the office with everything that is going on.

  Someone who works for us has been feeding information to Sir. Only the core members know about this, as well as me because of my position as the sniper. Nikki doesn’t know that technically we are at DEFCON 3, as the US government says. As I’m thinking that, both our cell phones ping with an incoming text.

  Maya: Office. Now.

  It’s a group text, meaning we aren’t the only ones out of the office.

  Chapter Six

  NIKKI

  As we make our way to the office, my hand drifts down to my still flat stomach. Am I crazy for doing this now with Sir after us? And I know there is something going on the team hasn’t told me. Zach and the main team have been in meetings for over a month now.

  We step into the office, and I see my mom. She knew we had an appointment today. She smiles at me expectantly. I want to tell her our news, but I hold off because I know Maya wouldn’t want me to hold up the meeting. When we step into the main conference room, Maya follows behind us and the big doors shut. I watch as both Bekah and Timothy, the team computer techs, work on their computers.

  “We are as secure as I can make us,” Timothy says.

  “I’m scanning the room now,” Bekah adds, and I look between them and the group around the table. Everyone who is a member of the team and currently on the compound is here. After a moment Bekah signals Maya, and Maya looks down at the table before she stands. Joshua does the same from his end of the table. They both lead us, not one or the other but both. I can see that both are tired, worried about something.

  “It’s time we had this conversation with everyone here. About a month ago we found out there is a mole within Securities International. I trust all of you and doubt it’s you. Bekah has scanned you for listening and tracking devices,” she says, and tips her head to Joshua.

  “I trust all of you too. I’ve bled with several of you, served with you, and even entrusted my family in your hands. I don’t doubt your trust, but until further notice, you are to only contact the New York office with one of us present. You are not to leave the compound without a full two-man team. No one is going on assignments until further notice.”

  “What about the members out there?” Zach asks, and I know he’s worried about Andy. I slide my hand into his. “What about Piper?” he asks the question I was worried about.

  “Duchess?” Joshua asks, and I turn to see Mikayla standing against the far wall. She’s got a car seat with her two-month-old son in it.

  “I’m in contact with Piper’s detail. She’s safe.” That’s all she says about my daughter.

  “Andy has his mom and went to ground to protect her. He went silent. We won’t hear from him until he’s sure they are safe. His mother was targeted,” Maya supplies, and I can’t hold in my gasp. Tori is a nice woman. She helped my mom when she needed a job, and I grew close to her after Zach and Andy were hurt.

  “Last we heard, she was safe.” Joshua’s commanding voice breaks through my worry. “Taliah had a hit squad come after her, and we just found out a close friend of hers was killed. She wasn’t able to supply too much information, and she is now dark. She has our newest member Quentin protecting her, along with another friend. Noah is securing members of the New York office, telling them to work from home due to needing to exterminate the office.”

  Maya sets her hands on the table and leans forward. “I want to stress I trust you all, but if you need to tell us anything, do it now before Timothy or Bekah find out.”

  Everyone stares back at her, no one saying anything. The phone rings from the center of the table, and we all look at it. Maya breaks the tension by reaching for it and hitting the speakerphone button.

  “I’m returning your call.” A deep voice I recognize with a thick Irish accent comes across the line.

  “Aidan.” Maya doesn’t give anything away.

  “Maya, we are on a first name basis now after our last interchange?”

  “Yes. I need your hacker’s help.”

  “He is still recovering from his injuries.” A couple months ago Aidan’s organization was attacked. “But I have some information for you. Hawaii and Australia, he knows about the Hawaii one but not the other yet.” He hangs up, and I look around until Mikayla catches my eye. She reaches for her son and moves to leave the office.

  “Duchess, does that mean anything to you?” Joshua asks her, and her body visibly tightens.

  “I can’t confirm or deny that. I need to make a call now.”

  Zach reaches for me, pulling me from my chair, and I don’t realize I’m shaking. “Shh, baby. Mik will make her safe. Think of the babies.” His hand brushes my stomach, holding me close.

  “Babies? So you had something to say and didn’t.” Maya jokes, trying to break the tension.

  “We are pregnant with twins,” Zach says. “But it’s early; Nic doesn’t need this stress.” Everyone smiles, but they don’t congratulate us because of the stress of everything else.

  “Good, home for you until further notice. No off-site helping,” Maya says, and Zach lifts me up into his arms to walk out.

  “Wait. Mikayla, please,” I beg her. She stops and turns to look at me.

  “I’ll call you as soon as I know. Aidan won’t hurt her, but yes.”

  “I’m going to Australia. Now,” Luca says and jumps up. “I’ll find her and protect her,” he says as he walks out without waiting for Maya and Joshua to tell him if he can or can’t go.

  “Well, I guess that confirms our suspicions,” Joshua says as he looks at Raul.

  “She won’t be happy to see him.”

  “Don’t warn her he’s on his way. Australia is a big country; he won’t know where to look.” Wes, Mikayla’s husband chuckles.

  “I have to warn my contact he’s on his way,” Mikayla says before she reaches into her pocket for a cell phone.

  Zach takes me home, where he holds me. We veg out after Dane comes home from being with Renee while we were at the meeting. I try to relax and trust that whomever Mikayla has on Piper will protect her. I try not to worry that Sir will figure out where my daughter is hiding or that Luca won’t make it there in time. I fall asleep with Zach’s arms around me, holding our babies, my fingers laced with his.

  I can’t worry about the future. I need to think about today and savor every moment I have with my little family. After surviving explosions, gunfights, and serial killers, I’ve learned to finally cherish this moment. That’s what I’m going to do. Take every day as a new day but pray for the team’s and my family’s safety. Life is as precious as the lives I’m carrying.

  Thank you so much for reading Precious Kiss, part of the Securities International series and a continuation of Justice’s Kiss. You can check out all the books in the Securities International series and my others here.

  About E.M. Shue

  E.M. Shue is an Alaskan award-winning romance author. She is proudly featured in K Bromberg’s Everyday Heroes World, Aurora Rose Reynolds' Happily Ever Alpha World, KL Donn’s Mafia Made Series, and the soon to be released Devil’s Handmaidens MC Collection.

  She published her first book in 2017 after having a dream that later became the Beverley Award winning, Sniper’s Kiss. Since then, she has gone on to win this award three more times with different books and has published over thirty titles.

  Accidentally in Love

  BY: AMY STEPHENS

  Prologue