Guarded Heart (14 page)
Authors: Anya Breton
He grunted but didn’t argue.
“I was wrong about Irvin and Mira. I’m sorry I made you
think the worst about your uncle.”
“It’s what Rangers do,” he said with little emotion. “You
look at all the suspects with a neutral eye.”
“But my eye isn’t neutral. I know it’s awful, but in the
beginning I hoped someone close to you was at fault so you’d see once and for
all that people aren’t inherently good. But you aren’t the one who believes
people are inherently…anything.
I
am. I thought everyone was selfish and
only good to others if they got something in return. But you…everything you do
is for someone else. You’re the most selfless person I know. You know there is
good and bad in people. Yet you choose to see only the best.
“I made you question everything you knew and suspect the
people you love of doing the worst thing imaginable simply based on biased
hunches. You were miserable because of me…because I made you believe your uncle
was capable of harming you. I’m truly sorry for that.” She pulled in a long
breath after her rambling confession. “I love you, Morgan. Neptune knows I
don’t deserve you. But if you’ll let me, I’d like to see what could be between
us…if anything. If you don’t want to try, I’ll under—”
Morgan shut her up with a kiss—a devouring embrace of mouth,
tongue and body. Slowly, deliciously he began moving inside her. The unhurried
thrusts brought tears to her eyes. It wasn’t an answer but it wasn’t a
rejection.
He loosened his kiss until she could see his face. She
forced herself to hold his intense gaze. Brook went breathless from the warm
emotion swirling in it and brushing her consciousness without an empathic link.
She felt it because it was extreme—his
love
was extreme.
Brook smiled. She laughed giddily when his eyes crinkled as
he smiled back.
Morgan drove deep, wiping away the happy expression with the
surge of desire that flashed sensations to every tiny cell. She fell onto the
bed, unable to muffle the gasp that emitted from her lips. He withdrew his
cock, groaning as he did only to slam forward again. The bed creaked and
squeaked as though keeping time.
His fingers slipped through her hair, stroking the edge of
her ear. The gentle motion drew an unexpected shiver of sweet warmth. Only
Morgan could manage to be an aggressive and tender lover at the same time.
The frantic fuck on the floor of the bathroom had nothing on
this. There was no contract stating this was against the rules. This wasn’t
lust born of the forbidden. This was simply right.
Morgan took her by measures. Each steady stroke and small
caress stole more of her unguarded heart and soul.
He paused and lowered himself, stretching against her body.
Morgan wrapped his arms beneath her shoulders and tugged her close. He pressed
a kiss to her cheek and whispered that she was beautiful. And then he drove
inside her at a pace that shamed all others.
Brook clung to him, unable to do anything but let him lead.
Their moans echoed against the borrowed walls. Her vision blurred as the wicked
pressure built deep within.
At last the tide of sensation swept across her, searing and
marking each place it touched. She was his. Always. And she cried his name out
so everyone in the hotel would know it.
He rolled her over, drawing her into the circle of his arms
even as they panted together, sweaty and sated. “So you love me?”
Brook punched him in the arm. “I believe you said it first.”
“We said it at the same time,” he said. “An amazing
coincidence. If I hadn’t known better, I might have thought you’d magicked it
out of me.”
“I wouldn’t use an empathic link on you without your
permission.”
“I didn’t say you’d used
Water
magic on me.”
Brook lifted onto her elbow so she could look down at him.
“What other magic would I use?”
“Your feminine wiles.”
She snorted, unladylike. “I don’t have those.”
“No? So standing at my hotel door all dolled up and wearing
that slinky dress wasn’t feminine wiles? You know I can’t resist you in
something silky.”
“I thought you’d let me in because of dinner.”
Morgan gave her a bruising kiss. Perhaps a punishment for
fibbing. But it warmed her insides all over again. The organ thickening against
her thigh reminded her that he could be ready for a second go any moment now.
Ah, the beauty of sex with her own kind.
“You mean the dinner still on the floor over there?” Morgan
remarked.
She nodded. “Yes.”
“The one I have little interest in because I’d rather eat
you?”
Brook found herself smiling again.
Morgan’s expression went sober. “You weren’t the only one
with bias, you know. I didn’t think you were capable of smiling and laughing
and I
did
think you’d cause more trouble in the covens than you’d help.
I’ll admit, I’ve been naïve plenty of times and let people take advantage of
me. I needed an outsider’s point of view to see that Mira wanted more from me
than I was willing to give. And I wouldn’t have believed anyone in my covens
capable of what Norman Foster did. I’m sorry, Brook.”
She remained silent, unsure where to go from there. He knew
she loved him but he hadn’t responded to her yet. Was he avoiding the topic?
“When do you leave for your next job?” he asked.
“About that…”
Morgan winced. The emotion that had clogged her throat
immediately deflated. He thought the worst.
“I’m taking a break,” she said.
His expression was neutral. “For how long?”
“I don’t know yet. I have some things to take care of
first.” Things like finding out where they stood.
“It will be hard,” Morgan said. “Trying to make something
work when you’re off sleeping on the floors of other priests for weeks on end.
But if you’re willing to try, I’m willing to try.”
Brook bit her lower lip to keep from laughing. “About that…”
“Again with the
about that
? Just put me out of my
misery.”
“I got a promotion.”
“You’re a Master level Ranger now? Congratulations, Brook.
You deserve it. You’re very good at your job.”
She tried not to hear the echo of the insult he’d hurled at
her days ago.
“Yes, I’m Master level now but that’s not the promotion I
mean. I’ll be the new head over the Great Lakes Region Rangers. The home office
is in Michigan. That means we’ll be working together quite a bit.”
Morgan jostled her as he shot upright. “You’re replacing
Master Dover?”
His incredulous cry and gaping mouth made her stifle a
laugh. “Yes. He retires next month.”
“Then…you won’t be doing jobs all over the country?”
Brook grinned. “I’m still the best Ranger in Neptune’s
Rangers. But…no. Jobs all over the country will be rarer with the promotion.”
“Does this mean you’re moving to Michigan?”
She bobbed her head. “I hope you won’t mind the commute to
pick me up for dates.”
“Commute? You think I’ll rebuild a house in Gary when I
could buy one in Michigan instead?”
Brook grabbed hold of his cheeks so she could lay a big wet
one on his mouth. “Speaking of lake houses, Judy booked the cabin of love for
the whole week. We could go back down there.”
“Cabin of love?” Morgan laughed heartily. He entwined his
fingers in hers and then rolled onto his back, taking her with him. “Who came
up with that moniker?”
“I did. It worked, you know. I did fall in love with you
there.”
“Then we’ll go back to make sure it sticks for good.”
“Just as soon as you eat dinner.”
“You have yourself a deal, Master Calder.”
“Oh, I do like the sound of that.”
“Then you’ll adore it when I’m shouting it next time I come
inside you.”
Brook slipped down his torso so she could peel off the used
condom. She slithered off the bed, hurrying to the dinner bag so she could hunt
for the stack of condoms hidden beneath the Styrofoam containers. Brook let the
line of foil wrappers flip down as she strolled back to the bed.
“You came prepared,” Morgan said with a wry smile.
“I was determined.”
He groaned and curled a finger at her.
Brook smiled, truly happy for the first time. Dinner could wait.
The cabin of love could wait. And her promotion could wait. She was exactly
where she needed to be. She’d spend the next twenty-four hours showing Morgan
that
he
was exactly where he needed to be.
The End
Anya Breton is a web monkey, Apple fan girl and crazy cat
lady who is mildly obsessed with rubber chickens and wholly believes that Peeps
are evil (yes, the marshmallow candy). She was born in New England into a
family of weirdoes. Being an only child, she quickly learned to amuse herself
with quirky pastimes. It was inevitable that she'd turn to reading and writing.
After writing fanciful (and sickeningly sweet) love stories, Anya branched out
into erotica, paranormal romance, young adult and urban fantasy. She currently resides
in the American Midwest with her cats and a good man!
Anya welcomes comments from readers. You can find her
website and email addresses on her
author
bio page
at
www.ellorascave.com
.
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Anya
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Ellora’s Cave Publishing
Guarded Heart
ISBN 9781419948756
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Guarded Heart Copyright © 2014 Anya Breton
Edited by Kelli Collins
Cover design by Syneca & MichelleB
Cover photography by Rassstock/shutterstock.com
Electronic book publication April 2014
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