Novels by Ray Michael

**Third person** Valerie dragged her heavy eyes open. She blinked a couple of times to clear her vision. The smell of drugs and antiseptic and hospital filled her nose. Beside her, Lucas sat with his eyes closed. Almost immediately she jumped up on the bed. “Let me go,” she shouted, startling Lucas. He climbed the bed and pulled her into his arms. “It's okay, you're safe now,” he whispered softly, planting kiss after kiss on her hair and forehead. Valerie relaxed into his embrace, her racing heart finally calm. A tear slipped from his eyes and he wiped it. He'd thought he'd lost her. “I'm sorry I couldn't keep you safe. I should have anticipated it, I should—” “It's not your fault,” she cut him off gently. “It's not.” Tears trailed down her own cheeks and she sniffed. “What happened to Matthew?” A muscle ticked in Lucas's jaw, he felt Matt had an easy fate after everything he did. "Dead." Valerie let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, her body shaking with relieve

**Third person**“Let's move, slowly,” Matt murmured in Valerie's ears, his hot breath fanning against her skin. His eyes were still locked onto Lucas—who was practically shooting daggers at Matt with his eyes."Matthew, please," Valerie whispered back, her voice trembling. "You don't have to do this. You can still let me go."Matt's jaw tightened, his chest heaving with desperation and anger. "Do you really think I'm stupid?" he hissed. "You want me to let you go? I should just allow you to run into his arms?" He questioned in a mocking tone.“Drop your weapon and surrender,” the police announced again but neither Valerie nor Matt paid any attention. “Best believe that if I do that, then I'll shoot you from behind before you get to him,” Matt added. The chilling sensation in his voice sent a shiver down Valerie's spine.“Man to man,” Lucas began, his voice almost a growl. “What would it take for you to let her go? Anything at all… name it. Even if you don't want to spend a single da

**Third person**It took Matthew half the time it would normally take to get to the bunker. He parked his car at a safe distance before running over to the location. And with each step he took, his mind raced, his heart pounded with anxiety. He couldn't afford to lose her now that he was so close. They'd literally be leaving the country today. Valerie please be there, please be there, Matt murmured, his legs moving faster.A half-relieved sigh left his lips when he reached the entrance and saw that the door was still locked—She was still here. His trembling fingers sifted through his bunch of keys, his breath gaspy and he wiped the sweat on his forehead with the back of his palm.Matt unlocked the door and then pushed it open forcefully. His eyes blazing with anger and anxiety found Valerie immediately. She was curled up at a corner, her cheeks stained with tears and her hands and feet shaking."What have you done??!" he growled, his voice venomous.She frowned in confusion, even th

**Third person**Matt seemed to ponder for a moment before he exhaled deeply. Then he moved over to the table and picked up a small knife. He began cutting the ropes. His jaw clenched at the red mark the ropes left on her skin, a pang of guilt coursing through him. He'd done this to her, he thought. “Do you need me to get you anything from the store?”Finally untied, Valerie examined her free hands and legs, a sense of relief and determination washing over her. “No, thanks.”“I'll be back soon.” He gave her a warning look. “Don't try anything stupid.”She nodded vigorously. “I wouldn't dare.”Satisfied, Matthew turned around and headed out. Valerie had her timid and innocent mask on, until the moment Matthew was out of view.She squeezed her eyes shut and then began counting from one to fifty in her head, giving Matthew enough time to leave the premises. Even with her eyes closed, she could hear the locks click behind him.When she was done, she sprang to her feet, her eyes desperat

**Third person**Eighteen hours had passed since Valerie's disappearance.Lucas stood in the center of his living room, surrounded by computers and anxious faces. His team of experts, handpicked from the best in the business, worked tirelessly to track down any lead on his woman.But so far, neither his team nor the police have been able to come up with anything tangible. There was also no signal from the tracker in Valerie's necklace. Either her kidnapper knew that the necklace was bugged and got rid of it, or they were under water, in a bunker, or somewhere that'll block the signal.One thing for sure; he'd find Valerie and he'd find her soon. Even if it meant turning the planet upside down. She'd be found.News about her and disappearance was all over the media and there was a huge cash prize for whoever brought relevant information on her whereabouts. Lucas ran a palm across his exhausted face. Deep lines creased his forehead, and his jaw was set in a rigid clench. "Broaden the

**Third person** It was almost as if Valerie disappeared just when Elliot blinked. After dismissing the woman who'd come to talk to him, he looked up but he didn't find his boss. Damnit! He'd clenched his jaw and quickened his pace, his hand instinctively resting on the gun holstered at his hip as he rushed outside. Eyes scanned everywhere around but there was no trace of her. "Miss Thorne?" he called out, his mind racing. “Ashley?” He called louder. “Valerie?” There was no response. Immediately, he dialed her number… once, twice, thrice… until it was unreachable. He'd rushed over to some passersby to ask if they'd seen her… There was nothing. Shit! Just then, his phone started ringing. Elliot pulled the device out and stared at the screen, his throat suddenly feeling dry as he registered the caller ID—Mr. Stone. He took a deep breath and then pressed the answer button. ***************************** Valerie's eyes fluttered open, her gaze was blurry and unfocused. She tri

Lyra’s lips were still parted minutes after he'd left. She closed her mouth and clicked her tongue. Smug bastard.Her eyes shifted back to the open homepage on her screen—charity organizations that supported burn survivors—and bookmarked two more.Somehow, her focus shifted again.Lyra paused and fanned her burning cheeks with her hands. What did he mean by ‘after that night’? It's not like she'd done anything too drastic. Rolling her eyes, she lifted her cup of coffee and examined it. “Which side did he drink from?” She murmured to herself, tilting the cup and turning it until the light caught the rim from different angles. When she finally found the spot, she placed her lips over it and drank. Her phone buzzed with a new message, snapping her out of the madness. She shook her head. What's wrong with her? Why was she doing this? The message was from Tyson. He'd shared his live location with her. Almost immediately, another message came in. It was a video—It showed Tyson's fa

Lyra stared at him for a second, stunned. Then she marched across the room. “Why are you drinking from my cup?” She snapped, snatching it from his hand.That only earned a small chuckle from him. “Are you shy? You weren't like this last night.” His gaze dropped to her hand, and he noticed the ring catching the light. Something flickered in his eyes at the sight and his chest tightened with warmth. “You're even wearing your ring,” he said, looking up at her. “I must've done something right.” Lyra blinked, suddenly taken aback. “I’ve been wearing it since Monday!” She rasped. “Daphne removed it when we were leaving the bar because she didn't want me to lose it.”He smiled. “Of course.”Lyra ground her teeth, embarrassed. Tyson didn't believe her and it almost felt like the more she tried to explain, the more amused he seemed. She let out an exasperated breath. “Why are you even here?” “To pick up where we left,” he said. His lips twitched as her brows rose in alarm.He almost laughed

*Please don’t go. I need you.*Extreme regret washed over Lyra and she squeezed her eyes shut. Those words kept playing on an infinite loop in her head, tormenting her soul.Her gaze was fixed outside her window. She watched the way people moved in and out of the building, the way they went about their businesses, carrying on with their lives… without having to think about… She exhaled. How many times would she embarrass herself in front of Tyson?Last night, she'd pretended to be asleep when Tyson came home. And even this morning, she'd left very early to avoid running into him. How long would she keep finding herself in situations like this?That night flashed through her mind again and she cringed. Yet the more she thought about it, the more her cheeks burned. She could still remember the way his hands felt on her skin. The heat in her core as he caressed her breasts. Kissed her…For a moment, she wished he didn't leave. She wished he stayed. She wished he didn't hold back.Tyson

Lyra’s mind raced as she watched the door creak open. ‘Do something. Do something. You can't face him,’ rang in her head like a bell. And without thinking, she slipped back under the covers and pretended to be asleep.Finally, she heard footsteps enter and approach her bed. She squeezed the sheets and held her breath. “Mrs. Wilson?” May’s voice called. Lyra exhaled and removed the covers. Sitting up, she glanced around like she was expecting someone else. May moved to her bedside and dropped a tray that held water, a cup and a teapot. “Mr. Wilson said I should give you this when you wake up.” She gave Lyra water and painkillers. “I've come around a couple of times but you were still asleep.”Lyra swallowed it without speaking. Then May poured tea into the cup and handed it to her. “Where's Tyson?” Lyra asked, taking the cup.“Mr. Wilson left for work early.”Lyra nodded and brought the cup to her lips but she didn't drink immediately. She inhaled deeply, allowing the ginger-scent

Lyra knew what she was doing, but she couldn't stop. The alcohol had made her bold, doing what she'd always been too much of a pussy to do.Maybe it was entirely the alcohol. Maybe it wasn't. But it didn't stop the burning hunger in her, the throbbing heat in her core. She craved his touch, craved his hands on her… in her.Tyson's gaze lowered to her chest. His eyes traced every curve, every swell, the tip of her nipples like he was trying to memorize every inch of her.A pulse ticked in his jaw and she could also see the fight in his eyes. Like his restraint was warring against the need within him. Like he was calculating—weighing the options, checking the risks. His eyes darkened, something fierce and feral swirling in them. Then, as if the final thread of control snapped, he leaned forward. His hand slipped into her hair from her neck, grabbing a fistful of hair and yanking her head backwards.Pain flared in her scalp softly, but she barely registered it before his mouth descend

Daphne tore her eyes off and moved them to Tyson's retreating figure, watching him disappear into the mansion. Then she was about to turn, pretending she didn't recognize the man standing in front of her. The man from that steamy night in the club's restroom. She hated when she met her one-night stands, and in situations like this no less. Why was he connected to Lyra and Tyson? The world was really too small a place. Anyways, no biggie. Just like the others, she only needed five minutes to get rid of him for good.“I'm Dale,” he said, extending a hand to her. “Mr. Wilson's assistant.”Her feet stilled and she took his hand, forcing a polite smile. “Daphne.”“Beautiful name,” he said with a knowing look. “You're Mrs. Wilson's best friend?”“I am. And I must get going right about…” She glanced at her phone. “ Now."“Are you free tomorrow evening?” He asked instead.Her brow raised—curious, amused. “Why?” “I want to take you to dinner.”He’d said it so suddenly that Daphne almost s