More than Temptation

by Taige Crenshaw

  She walked away. Morgan stared after her and although what she said should have sounded crazy, he knew she was deadly serious. He went inside and closed the door, moving quickly to get to her. She went into the living room and he was right behind her, grabbing her arm. Morgan realised in a second that they were not alone. He’d forgotten she had been speaking with someone he hadn’t seen when she had opened the door. Around the room were those she’d mentioned would detain him and some of her siblings, cousins and friends. Those that were couples were sitting close together or on each other’s lap. They were all staring at him.

  “Look who decided to get his head out of his ass and join us.” Bella moved back by his side. “Get him some cake, Driscoll.”

  “It was my idea that we celebrate so why am I the one serving everyone?” Driscoll rose and strolled to the cake on the centre table.

  “Because you are such a sweet guy,” Spencer said, cuddling his wife Regina.

  “Because when any of us tried to cut the cake, you almost took off our hand.” Julianne leaned against Keenan. “Giving us little bitty slices so you can take the rest of the cake home isn’t a good way of sharing.”

  “Sharing is caring. Except when it comes to Driscoll and his strawberry and coconut cake,” Stuart said cheerfully.

  “What is he celebrating?” Morgan whispered to Bella.

  Bella said in a low voice, “It’s not really his, or anyone’s, celebration. This is more of a planning session for us detaining you. We wanted to make sure we had it down so no mistakes could happen. Driscoll brought the cake, since he decided we needed to celebrate coming to get you. He said ‘Planning detainment is always better with strawberry and coconut’. God, I love that man.”

  “That needs to go on a T-shirt.”

  “And you will be the one buying it for me.” Driscoll handed Morgan a plate with a slice of cake and slapped him on the shoulder. Then he tightened his hold.

  Morgan winced. “Sure. I’m going to make it neon pink.”

  “That’s good. I look good in pink.” Driscoll patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t hurt her again, because if there is a next time, Stuart and I won’t let her cajole us out of our vengeful mood.” He bared his teeth then smiled widely. “I was just getting used to you. Stuart was even thinking of letting you play his drums. And he’s really possessive of those.”

  Morgan glanced behind Driscoll. Stuart, who was sitting on the couch, glared at him and looked away.

  “Don’t mind Stuart, he’s a little sensitive.”

  “Fuck you, Dris,” Stuart said then grinned before frowning at Morgan again. “You’re not playing my drums until you are married to Bella.”

  Morgan glanced at Bella.

  She rolled her eyes. “Cut it out, guys.” She waved her hands. “He was an asshole for leaving, but now he is back.” Bella peeked at him. “Giving him a hard time is my job.”

  “And I’ll gladly take whatever you want me to.” Morgan pulled her against his side then kissed her on the cheek.

  “Your aim is off.” Driscoll tilted his head to the side. “Her lips are right here.” He touched Bella’s lips. “Do you need me to show you, since you seem to have forgotten?” Driscoll grinned, his eyes dancing wickedly.

  “Don’t make me punch you,” Morgan warned.

  “Well I never.” Driscoll walked away and stood by the window. “I’m so offended.”

  “Don’t mind Driscoll, he’s a little sensitive,” Stuart mocked.

  “Fuck you, Stuart,” Driscoll said cheerfully.

  The others in the room laughed. The men bickered playfully back and forth. Bella put her hand in Morgan’s and led him to the armchair. He sat and she perched on the arm and leaned against him. Rightness filled Morgan and he placed his hand around her waist, looking into her eyes. Bella smiled, a soft look on her face. Another body sat on the other arm. Morgan turned his head and scowled as he saw Driscoll.

  “Get off me.”

  “I want to see you kiss her.” Driscoll smirked. “Maybe you don’t remember how.”

  “Behave, Dris.” Bella smacked Driscoll on the shoulder.

  “Fine.” He pouted then bounced slightly. “Guess what, Morgan? I got a dog, a Siberian Husky, and she is so cute. I also bought some more horses for my stables. Hey, you’ve never been to my house to see my stables. Do you ride? Even if you don’t, I can teach you.”

  Morgan looked past him to the others. “Okay, which one of you spiked Driscoll’s drink with alcohol? Because he is obviously intoxicated.”

  “Idiot.” Driscoll poked him in the shoulder.

  “You know Dris doesn’t drink.” Spencer shook his head. “He’s just happy you’re back. He was bemoaning how he doesn’t have anyone who can give him some competition at poker. ‘Not much, since Morgan will lose anyway, but at least it would be fun as I clean him out’.” Spencer put up his hands. “That’s his words, not mine.”

  “Really? Maybe I’ve been practising and I will clean you out instead,” Morgan said.

  “Where are your cards, Bella?” Driscoll rose and cracked his knuckles. “It’s on. Who wants in on this?”

  “Cards are in the family room,” Bella said.

  Many people stood and followed Driscoll out of the room. Morgan glanced at Bella, not wanting to leave her. She pressed a kiss against his ear.

  “Go ahead. I’m going to be here.” She slid off the chair.

  Morgan stood and hugged her before heading off after the others.

  * * * *

  Hours later, Morgan stood in the doorway, watching Driscoll and Stuart.

  “We’ll see you tomorrow for your first riding lesson,” Driscoll said.

  “Don’t make us come and get you,” Stuart warned.

  “See ya, Bella,” both men called into the house.

  “See you guys tomorrow,” Bella returned from the living room.

  “Night.” They headed down the steps.

  Morgan closed the door and locked it before going to the living room. He paused in the doorway and stared at Bella.

  “You’ve been busy.”

  “Took you long enough to see everyone off.” Bella patted the quilt she had placed on the floor by the seat under the bay window.

  Morgan dimmed the lights and went to join her. He stretched out beside her and reached for her. Bella stopped him with a shake of her head.

  “Talking first.” Bella gently stroked his hair back from his forehead. “You need to get it out.”

  “I’m fine, Bella.” Morgan shifted to sit forward.

  “Remember, number four.” Bella rubbed his back.

  Morgan took a shaky breath. “Fine. What do you want to hear? That when I saw you lying there with all that blood on your face, I flashed to all the scenes I’ve been at in my job. Some when we couldn’t save the person hurt. Or possibly you want to hear when I saw the fire I knew I had to move you and feared that doing so would make your injuries worse or possibly kill you.” He clenched his fist as his voice broke. “Or that I wanted it to be me hurt instead of you. That I was railing at God for taking you from me just as I found you.”

  “Morgan.” Bella shifted to her knees and held him.

  He pulled her into his lap so she was straddling him. “I was so afraid, Bella. I felt so powerless.”

  “I know.”

  He looked at her. Bella’s eyes were glassy with tears and they fell down her face.

  “When the car hit us, my last thought was you. I feared you would die and I prayed that you wouldn’t. I felt powerless too.” Bella sniffed. “When I woke in my hospital room and was finally coherent, all I could think of was you. That if you had died, I wouldn’t survive it.” She closed her eyes briefly. “When I heard your voice, it was like I had been given a chance I’d thought was lost. But I knew something was wrong, Morgan. You were trying to be normal, but I knew something wasn’t right. Yet when I asked, you would not talk to me. I was powerless against that too. I hated the feeling. Then you left and it was as
if you were taken from me even though you lived.”

  “I’m sorry, Bella,” Morgan said, regret filling him.

  “I know you are. I could see it in your face when you came to the door.” Bella touched his face. “Communication is important and in the future we will need to communicate better.”

  “We will. I will,” Morgan promised. “Forgive me.”

  “There is nothing to forgive. We’ll chalk it up to your having a brain fart.” Bella stroked along his hairline. “You look so tired. Have you not been sleeping?”

  “Not very well. I’ve got used to sleeping in bed with you.” Morgan rested his head against her chest. “I love you, Bella.”

  “I love you, Morgan.” She tilted his head and pressed her lips to his.

  Morgan shuddered. He was home, where he belonged, with her. She kissed him with a gentleness that undid him. The tears he’d held back burned his eyes and he let them fall. Bella moved down his face, kissing the tears then kissed him, again stroking her tongue deep into his mouth. Morgan held her tight and lay back.

  Bella straddled him and her gasp filled his mouth. Morgan pushed her dress up and put his hand inside her underwear. Bella widened her legs and made some space between their bodies. He moved his hand in the front of then slid his finger between her soft lips. Her wetness made him groan. She clenched her pussy on his finger rocking against it.

  “Morgan,” she moaned.

  He withdrew and pushed off her underwear. Bella sat back and opened his belt then button before lowering his zipper and pushing his boxers off to release his member. She pulled a condom out of her pocket.

  “Where did you get that?”

  “Like I said, you took a while to get rid of everyone. I got prepared.” Bella smoothed the condom on his length.

  She lifted herself up then, holding him, she sank down onto him. Morgan moaned as she enfolded him into her welcoming heat. Bella seated herself, squeezing him inside her and moaning. He cupped her ass and guided her on him as she moved in a slow motion. With each movement, the sensation of coming home filled him even more.

  “If you ever leave me again, I will hunt you down.” She punctured each word with a thrust of herself on him.

  “I won’t leave you,” he said, groaning. “Oh God, Bella. You are it for me. I don’t ever want to be without you again.”

  She tightened and continued to rock against him. Morgan stared at the fierce look on her face, enjoying being where he belonged—with her. Bella’s intense look made his heart race and his cock harden even more. He knew the expression and she was about to drive him out of his mind.

  “Yes, Bella.” He sat up, grabbing her and pushing into her.

  Her moan rose as she pressed downward.

  Bella was overcome with all that was this man who had her body, heart, and soul. Morgan held her tight and she loved the power of his touch. She kissed him, moving faster on him. He countered and the glide of his cock inside her filled her in all the right places. He fit her not just sexually but in all the ways that made them a couple. A couple she would do everything in her power to make sure succeeded in their relationship.

  “I love you, Bella.” Morgan’s whispered words were a balm to her soul.

  The weeks of uncertainty that had followed his leaving faded as she looked into his eyes. In them, she saw her future and knew that they would be side by side forever.

  “Love you, Morgan.” Bella kissed all over his face as she continued to move.

  Morgan kneaded her butt and thrust into her. His hard shaft filled her deeper and deeper. The need she knew he would fulfil rose inside her and she kissed him. Morgan met her foray with one of his own. Pleasure curled deep in her belly. Bella arched, grinding down and clenching then shaking as she went over the peak of release. Morgan tightened his grip and grunted as he too came. He shook, holding her hard against him. Bella pulled away from their kiss.

  “Morgan.”

  “Bella,” he replied.

  Morgan slumped back and took her down with him. She lay against his chest, breathing harshly, listening as his heart raced and his chest rose and fell under her. She kissed his chest softly and closed her eyes.

  “Are we really going riding tomorrow?” Morgan asked, trepidation in his voice.

  “Yeah.” Bella smiled. “There is no need to be afraid of going riding.”

  “I’m cautious. Not afraid. Horses are so much bigger than us. If you think of it, how would you feel about someone getting on your back and saying giddy up.”

  “Hmmm… It would be according to the context.” Bella lifted her head and grinned. “If I rode you and cried giddy up, then that could be fun.”

  “You did not just say that. That is just wrong.” Morgan stared then started to laugh.

  Bella joined him. After a while, they calmed.

  “I’m still not going riding.”

  “Come on,” Bella cajoled. “You’ll like it. Expand your horizons and try new things.”

  “Shit, don’t say that. When you say that, I know I’m going to end up doing it.” Morgan sighed.

  “You will.” Bella laughed. “But I’ve never led you wrong with new things.”

  “You haven’t.” Morgan smiled. “When I do do something I think I will hate, I do end up loving it. You’ve never led me wrong. I love having adventures with you. I expect we’ll be having them for many years to come.”

  “Yep.” She placed her hands on her chin. “Our first adventure started over a candy.”

  “You tempted me with a sweet treat.” Morgan rubbed his finger along his cheek. “Then when I came to you and we got involved that became more than temptation.”

  “Yes.” Bella leaned closer. “And we will continue with our more than temptation for a long time.”

  Life with Morgan was going to keep getting more interesting. She kissed him and Morgan rubbed his hands along her back. Resting against him, Bella couldn’t wait to see what other things she could tempt him with, and what he would do to her in return.

  Also available from Totally Bound Publishing:

  Phoenix Intelligence Agency: Indigo Rain

  Taige Crenshaw

  Excerpt

  Chapter One

  Kalina Erutan stood still, imagining herself as part of the landscape. A sensation of fading overcame her, then it was a reality. She’d been displaced.

  This case has tested all my skills, and I’m ready for it to be finished.

  The fugitives she’d been hunting thought they were good—she was better. A fierce smile curved her lips as she heard their quiet footsteps padding towards her. With the intel she’d received, she’d been able to arrive before the escapees.

  They passed, barely a hairsbreadth between them. None looked at her, even though she stood next to them.

  Seventy-seven days of freedom has made them sloppy. Rule number one in combat—Never let your guard down.

  She waited until the last one drew abreast of her, then Kalina moved. Stepping behind one of the men, she quickly laid her finger on the pulse in his neck.

  “Sleep,” she whispered almost soundlessly.

  The man slumped and she caught him, pulling him back with her out of sight while the others continued on, seeming unaware. Smiling, Kalina laid the man on the ground and bound him with her power. She stood, then silently stalked the rest. One by one, she picked them off, laying them down and binding them along the way for the containment teams. Walking slowly, in precise steps, she sneaked up behind another man. He stiffened and turned.

  Kalina faded and watched as he looked around. Must be careful not to alert them I am here.

  The man shrugged, turned and continued on his way. Following, Kalina watched the group standing in the clearing. They were talking and she stopped to listen to their conversation.

  “Armageddon is upon us,” the man farthest away shouted. The rest cheered.

  With a sigh, Kalina shook her head. It was nothing new. People were always trying to end the world or take it over.
At least it kept her working. She didn’t need to hear any more. It was time to end this.

  Stepping forward, she skirted between them, moving into the centre. Kalina dropped her concealment and shock rippled through the gathering. Counting, she noted since she had taken out a few there were only six of the escapees.

  Already having calculated the way she would take them out, Kalina wasted no time. She flicked her baton open and swung, aiming for the one on her right, connecting, hitting across the face before she spun and kicked, taking the one on her left with a back kick. Keeping her leg up, she turned her head and glared at the others. They still watched her. Then their gazes moved to the now prone men. The remaining men and one woman glanced at each other, after that back at her.

  As one, they rushed her. Power filled Kalina and she changed her baton into a whip then extended it into the air to hover above her. Wrapping the end of the whip around her wrist, she kicked up her other leg and used her power to roll herself into the air above their reach.

  She looked down and found them staring up at her. A surge of energy washed over her just before the change overtook them.

  The woman shifted into a golden falcon. One man changed to a grey-coloured wolf and the other into a gold leopard. The last man caught her attention as he’d remained in human form, watching her with a smug grin on his face. Adrenaline overcame the coldness that normally engulfed her when she went on a hunt.

  Kalina ignored the intensity of their gazes, all except the man. She focused on him, instinctively knowing he would be the most dangerous.

  Is he arrogant enough to think he can take me in human form? Or does he believe whatever he is gives him the element of surprise? Foolish man, he has already shown his hand, breaking rule two of combat— Never show your adversary your advantage.

  Her orders were to bring them back alive. She could only incapacitate, regardless of her desires. She still couldn’t figure out why they had sent her, an AA—Assassination Agent—trained to kill what she went after, rather than an EA—Enforcer Agent. The explanations given were weak, yet she’d gone because she’d been bored. The boredom led her to seventy-seven days of tracking hell—for that alone, she wanted to eliminate each of them. But even though she broke orders when it suited her purpose, this time, she would see them through to the letter. It was more a test for herself than caring what anyone else thought.