A Lover for Beth: Part II

PROLOGUE

Zander and Beth finally found their way back to each other, secure in the love that they shared. Then an unspeakable tragedy shakes their foundation, putting them right back where they started - on the brink of divorce. Only when she's kidnapped by three prison escapees - one hell-bent on the most ruthless kind of revenge - does she realize the grave mistake she's made. ...

“Looks like someone is out for the count,” Zander said an hour later as Beth held their nearly asleep son in her arms. “And I’m not too far behind him.”

“Oh no you don’t mister! You will not fall asleep on me. This night is just getting started,” Beth countered. “I’m going to put him down for the night and then it’s time for mommy and daddy to have some grown-up fun.”

“What? Well you are full of surprises. I’m never one to turn down some grown-up fun with my sexy wife, but honey you must be tired. I understand if …”

“No, you don’t understand Zander,” Beth cut in. “I know what you’re going to say, and I appreciate it. But I don’t want to turn into one of those couples where the baby comes along and we don’t have time for us – for our relationship, especially as we got off to such a rocky start in our marriage. I mean, I asked you for a divorce when I was nine month's pregnant for heaven’s sake! I'm not trying to go there again.
***

“Hmmm,” Zander said, rolling over the next morning and palming the lushness of his wife’s full breasts.

“What a way to wake a girl up,” Mr. Escatore, Beth said sleepily.

“Oh that’s only the beginning,” he said, slipping one hand between her legs.

Beth tightened her thighs to stop his roaming touch. “You sir, are insatiable! I thought I wore you out last night.”

“You did,” he said. “And because of it, I slept like the dead and am fully refreshed and ready to go this morning. Now open up to me woman!” Zander threw one leg over her, pinning her on her back as he looked down into her face.

“I’ll breathe morning breath on you if you don’t let me up right now,” she said. “I want to check on Little Z.”

“Of course you do, but I just wanted to give you a taste of what you’re in for when you get him all settled,” he said, stroking the bud between her legs to life as she relaxed her constricted thighs. The familiar stirrings of passion were strong.

Beth loved making love in the mornings. “I can’t believe how quickly you turn me on,” she said, rising to get out of the bed. “Let me get my little man settled, and then I’ll be back to take care of my big man,” she said.

“How about we both get him settled,” Zander said, hopping out of bed. “I love how he springs awake each morning. He’s so curious. Those little eyes look around as if he knows what he’s looking at.”

“He is a happy, curious child. Makes me wonder what he’ll be like when he grows up,” Beth said, wrapping her robe around her. As she entered her son's room, her second sense kicked in. She’d been a nurse for almost ten years and she could feel when something was wrong. She rushed to her son’s crib …
***

“Get up bitch!” the familiar voice snarled, dragging her by the hair out of bed. “It’s time we got reacquainted. Or shall I say, fully acquainted.” Beth screamed, her hands automatically going to her head to mitigate the hold he had on her handful of curls. “Ouch!” she said, stumbling from bed, grateful for the covering of her simple cotton night gown.

“You haven’t even begun to fathom pain,” he said, licking the side of her neck. Beth wanted to vomit. Through her terror, she willed her mind away from fear and toward survival. If she was going to get out of this alive - and back to her what she hoped was still her husband - it was going to take a miracle.
***

Don't forget to look for Part I of this multi-cultural series right here on Barnes & Noble.