His face was inches from mine. Glorious heat radiated from his body, and I longed to be closer. Warmer. Talk?
He seemed to accept my silence as permission to speak. “Alright, Your Honor, you are judging this case based on faulty evidence.”
His voice sounded tired and husky. Sensual. Since I couldn’t trust myself to reply, I raised my eyebrow in question.
“You allowed events that you witnessed to discredit the facts that you know.” He tapped my head and smiled. “Since physical evidence is non-existent, we must rely on facts. Fact one,” he held up a finger, “no matter what you saw, or what you think you saw, I love Ashley. It took me a while to realize that, but I get it now.”
My head swam from the steel-earth-musky scent of Connor. What had I seen? Had there been something that made me question his love for Ashley? I envisioned the night he told me she was his daughter, remembering the love in his eyes as he watched her sleep.
“I acted with her best interests in mind,” he insisted. “As her guardian and a soldier, I did what I believed to be right. I went with Gina to get her away from you guys. Which leads us to fact two,” Connor held up a second finger, “Gina Thompson is a soul-stealing, life-leeching, black hole from whom there is no escape.”
My laughter surprised even myself. It seemed to bubble up from my toes, delighted by such a precise description of her.
But then Connor smiled at me and leaned even closer. “Fact three,” a British accent accompanied the third finger. His eyes stared into mine, seemingly searching. He tucked a stray curl behind my ear, trailing his thumb down my cheek and under my chin. His touch sent shivers down my spine and paralyzed me. My brain kept screaming at me to run, but my body wouldn’t move. Breathe, I reminded myself, but I couldn’t. I was the prey caught in Connor’s trap. He’d completely immobilized me and now I was helpless against his advance. “I love you Liberty Collins.”
He was so close; only inches away. My heart stopped. His mouth—his perfectly shaped lips—approached. Closer. Closer. My eyelids lowered in surrender as his lips pressed gently against mine. Whiskers tickled my skin. His strong, firm body pressed against mine and my hands jumped at the opportunity to explore the lines of his chest. Then they moved to his arms. Then his back. His curious tongue explored my mouth while I memorized every muscle in his upper body. The pain of my swollen, split lip no longer held me back. I needed more. Greed overwhelmed me, promising me bliss if I could just get closer. More.
It isn’t real. The thought blindsided me, like a hot shower suddenly turning to ice. I jerked away from him, ashamed and mortified at my behavior. Connor watched me, his steady and intense gaze turning my knees to Jell-O. The corner of his mouth curved into a smile, then he slid behind me, placing his back against the tree.
“Come here,” he said, pulling me to him. Warm arms wrapped around me. I rested my head on his shoulder and breathed in his delicious scent. Knowing I was playing with fire, I closed my eyes and simply existed in his embrace.
Connor’s chest rumbled with laughter. He pulled my chin up, forcing me to look at him. “You scared me. I thought I’d lost you.”
Lost me? You never had me. I let out a deep breath and looked away. Being in his arms felt so good. But I knew that every second I spent with him would only add to the inevitable pain of leaving him. Can’t work. Won’t last.
“What?” He unwrapped his arms and looked down at me. “Don’t you love me?”
“I can’t. I know you, and I won’t be just another notch in your headboard. I’m not that girl, Connor, not even for you.” I blew out a breath. A strong breeze rushed by, robbing me of the body heat I’d borrowed from him. “I have to be true to who I am, and the person I am doesn’t mesh well with Washington’s most eligible bachelor.”
He scowled. “That’s not fair. I was given that brand a long time ago.” He shook his head. “I’m not that person anymore.”
I studied his features, longing to be back in his warm embrace. “Okay, fine. I don’t know you. How can I love you, when I don’t even know who you are?”
“I’m not asking what you know in here.” He tapped my forehead. “I’m asking what you feel in here.” His finger meandered down my hair and traced circles over my heart.
My breathing quickened. I started to panic, having no idea how to respond. I feared that voicing my feelings for him would enslave me somehow. And the last thing I needed was to be bound to Connor. It didn’t matter that I wanted all the things that any woman wants: happiness, security, love. I knew these were just temporary comforts that came with a price tag I was unwilling to pay.
“You don’t have to answer now.” His shoulders drooped and the circles around his eyes seemed to darken. “It’s been a rough few days, and this is a lot for me to unload on you. Just promise me that you’ll think about it. About me. About us.”
Us?
He kissed my forehead and walked back toward the cave, leaving me alone with my thoughts. My mind raced, replaying our conversation. ‘That’s just a brand,’ he’d said. Brand. Why would he use that word?
“Brands fade, but they never really go away,” I mumbled, taking a step toward the camp.
‘And who are you to limit Me?’
I stumbled as power filled my body. Then the weight drove me to my knees. Tears rolled down my face while my heart flooded with love, peace, and understanding. It was too much. My body felt like it would explode at any moment.
‘I am the Alpha and Omega. Do you not believe I can change the heart of one man?’
I looked around, wondering if he could hear or feel what was happening to me, but Connor continued to walk away, unaffected. The light from the fire framed his body, creating an aura that was almost angelic. With his head held high and shoulders back, his presence was commanding. I could almost see a crown atop his head.
‘That is your future.’
“Connor?” I asked. “You have got to be kidding me. I don’t even like Connor.” But even as I spoke the words that denied my feelings, they intensified. My heart swelled as I stared at him. Oh no.
‘That is your future. Together you will heal My children and restore peace to My land.’
“Me and Connor?” I stared up at the sky. “I realize that Your choices have been somewhat narrowed, but me? Surely You can find someone more qualified for the job. I worked in marketing, remember?” My eyes roved over the camp until they found Connor again. He sat and started talking to one of the soldiers. “But what about Canada?” I asked. “Does it even matter that this is not what I want?”
His laughter swept over me; refreshing and invigorating like aloe on a sunburn. I closed my eyes and let it fill me to the brim. Gone were my aches and pains. The bruises from my body disappeared before my very eyes. I breathed deeply and my ribs expanded without pain. My mind and body pulsed with renewing energy as My Father loved on me.
‘My child, you have no idea what you want.’
LIBERTY’S JOURNAL
~July 4:
On this Independence Day, I have much to celebrate. We’re still alive, still free, and even more importantly, my hope has been renewed. In this time of sorrow, I have been shown happiness. Amidst a world of hate, I have been taught to love. I have learned that nothing is impossible, and no one is beyond redemption.
Jeff has found a new life with the army. He’s been given something to believe in, and people who believe in him.
Ashley is healing. Her strength and resilience amazes me. Every day I am blessed by her presence, and she is my sunshine in times of rain.
Connor is changing. As I watch him evolve into the man and leader he’s fated to be, I can’t help but wonder about “us.” He has given me time to consider the possibility, and I am trying. I’m just not ready yet.
My own life has changed so much. There is no Canada to flee to. No escape from the mistakes we have made—the destruction we have wrought. Our country withers as the Progression thrives. Every day it claims lives, takes “volunteers,�
� and destroys the principles America was founded on. They must be stopped.
As we head south on another mission, I pray for enough strength to be the instrument God requires to help save His people and bring freedom back to His land.
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
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Amanda Washington first put her dreams to paper in 1999. She divides her writing time between two series: Perseverance and Chronicles of the Broken. When she's not writing, she's usually busy with her husband, Meltarrus, and their five boys or hanging out with the Living Hope Church youth group in Vancouver, Washington.
I hope you’ve enjoyed Rescuing Liberty
Please visit:
http://www.amandawashington.net
Find me on Facebook, too!
https://www.facebook.com/AmandaWashington.Author
Other books by Amanda Washington
Chronicles of the Broken Book 1: Deadly Fall
Chronicles of the Broken Book 2: Blood, Fear and Pain
Rescuing Liberty: Perseverance Book 1 Page 23