Page 31 of Deadly Lies

I kissed her as I slowly entered her, my woman. She felt like happiness and heaven, all wrapped in one. Our fingers interlaced as we made love, every thrust bringing us closer to each other.

Ever since my divorce, I had drowned myself in meaningless sex. But it had felt empty. Sex between two people who truly cared for each other, who weren’t just using each other to get off, but were genuinely devoted to each other, was the most incredible high in the world.

Could Ash and I really make this work? After what we had been through, I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else.

Ash was close, her breath quickening. I placed my hand under her ass and guided her movements.

We stared into each other’s eyes as we came together in complete bliss.

17

Ashley

MITCH HAD BEEN SO TENDER last night; I had never seen that side of him in bed.

Our relationship had always gone from such incredible highs to such dark lows. I doubted there was any chance for normalcy. Plus, I had never, ever wanted to be in a long-term relationship with a SEAL.

And though we’d started fast, I intended to go slow once we were home. I needed my space. Mitch was like a drug to me—I couldn’t think straight when I was around him.

We met Grant and Mia for breakfast. Sienna still seemed okay, though reserved. I wondered if her kidnapping would have any long-term effects on her. I made Mitch promise to put her into counseling when we got home, and he agreed.

We walked to the cute downtown of Tiburon and stopped at a great café. Grant and Mia seemed distant. Over the past few days of getting to know Mia, I had grown fond of her. I actually hoped that we could be friends. Real friends.

I needed one.

Hmm. Then maybe I should be one.

Mitch ordered us coffees. When mine was ready, I grabbed the mug and stood next to Mia, who was still waiting on her oat-milk latte.

“Hey, are you okay?”

Mia nodded. “Yeah. Why?”

“You and Grant look distant.”

“Yeah, we’ve been fighting. He’s on this no-Joaquín kick. I just am over it.”

“Well, I don’t blame him. He doesn’t know the new evidence.”

“Right. Maybe I should tell him.”

I took a sip of my latte. “Yeah, you should. I told Mitch.”

“I will. I just want proof, you know? So he can’t argue with me.”

That made perfect sense. “Well, let me see what I can do.”

I logged on to my NCIS email. I had emailed yesterday to get the logs. But instead of the logs, I found something else.

My DNA.

I quickly glanced at the results. Mia was not my sister.

I knew it was too good to be true. At the time that I thought it was a possibility, I hadn’t been excited. But now, I had secretly hoped she would be mine.

I had to accept that I would never know what had happened to my sister.

Mia’s latte was ready. “Did you get it?”