by AJ Summer
“What are you talking about?” I'm so confused right now. I've just made a big decision in my life.
Joey lifts me into his arms and cradles me close to his chest. He smells different. He smells like ... like I want to say, Rhuine. And that's the only reason I don't fight him. Because, for just a little while, I want to cling to that smell. I want it to enfold me, seep into my bones and stay there as a reminder, forever.
“You are a very selfish person, for an angel, Madi. Always were. Taking stuff that didn't belong to you, breaking your little brother’s stuff. Fooling around with your friend’s boyfriend.”
His voice gets a harder edge to it when he says the last part, but I’m way past caring. Even though I should, because there is no way Joey would know these things. And I'm pretty sure he just called me an angel. I'm no angel. I can already see myself in solitude for the next five years if he takes me to Nurse Theresa for my little stunt tonight.
“But when you stayed by Stan's side, you changed that.” Somewhere in the distance I hear a bell toll. “You made a choice. You thought of someone else for a change. And then with Evie.” The bell tolls again. “Do you know how much you've helped her these past few days? She's eating, Madi. Did you see that? She’s even singing again.”
I didn't notice the eating part. I wasn't even paying attention. I was so wrapped up in my plan of ending my pointless life, I didn't see any of that. Except for the singing part. Evie is the one who helped me. Not the other way around. If it wasn’t for her, I’d never gotten so far as to finish Rhuine’s story. I would’ve ended my life the first night I got back to my room.
“And then with yourself. Deciding that your life is worth living.” Is that what this feeling is? Self worth? Because I finally realized that I’m worth fighting for? Even if I’m the one doing all the fighting. Sure Rhuine came back for me, he died for me. But if I don’t love myself, why should he? A third bell tolls and I look around for the source of the sound. There's no church towers near Green Hill.
Joey carries me out of Green Hill and when I look back at the mental hospital, the one wall is overgrown with black roses. The vines snake up on the side where my room is and the dark flowers cover every inch. I can't even see my old window.
“The roses?” I gasp, staring at the old building. They were definitely not there before.
“I've always had a thing for black roses.” He chuckles and keeps on walking.
A soft meow comes from the tree next to me and I look up to see Ranga staring back at me. It almost looks like the crazy cat is smiling.
“Come on, Ranga,” Joey calls and the orange cat jumps down to strut his cocky walk in front of us. He doesn't even look sad anymore. Was the whole scene in my room an act? The bell tolls again. How many is that? I've lost count.
“Where are you taking me?” I wriggle a little in his arms as he walks towards the rusty gate. Joey kicks it once and it sways on the top hinge.
“We are going home.” His breath is warm on my face, too warm. He walks us through the loosely swinging gate of Green Hill like it’s a normal walk in the park for us. The ‘No Trespassing’ board clangs loudly when he kicks it out of the way.
“Most of the time, these Meth-heads don't know what they’re doing. They can pretty much get away with anything,” Joey says on a wink. That little dimple is out again, probably because of the shocked look on my face, and, even though I'm not bleeding anymore, I feel light headed. It's too much. My mind reels as it rushes to add all the missing pieces to the puzzle. Eventually it decides to just stop. I finally give up and snuggle deeper into his warm chest. I should be worried, nothing makes sense, but for the first time in a year, I feel safe. The heat coming from him seems to intensify with every step he takes. He growls low in his throat when I lay my hand over his heart. It's steady thump matches mine perfectly. The familiar growl sends a shiver up my spine. My heart gives an unusual happy lurch and the heart beneath my hand responds with a jump of its own. It has found its missing piece.
“Happy Birthday Madeleine.”
“Happy Birthday Rhuine.”
My reply is almost robotic, like it's been drawn from some distant part of my brain, a part that remembers that this angel has a duty to fulfill. Three acts of kindness to prove that she was worthy of the angel that saved her. To prove that I deserve to be his mate, and that I deserve the heart Rhuine gave up in order for me to live. In exchange, I had to show that I was worthy of such love. We might have missed our mating day and spent a year apart, but we've paid the price, we did the time. My body relaxes further in his strong arms, embracing the unspoken promise that “soon” has finally come.
I close my eyes and let the feeling of peace take me away. And as the image of Joey being shot and dying in that ambulance starts playing in my mind, I know exactly why Rhuine has been keeping an eye on me from Joey’s body. Joey did die, and Rhuine came back in his place. I might not have known Joey, but I know in my heart that he was a good guy. Rhuine couldn’t have chosen a better person to come back as. Why did he try to rob a toy store? No one knows, but we are crazy right? So we can pretty much do whatever we want.
As Rhuine continues to carry me down the street, with that crazy cat following us, I don't care where we’re going, but I have a pretty good idea. As long as I'm with Rhuine, what does it matter?
I'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.
Want to know more?
I’m the monster under your bed.
The skeleton in your closet.
I’m your deepest, darkest secret.
Your worse damn nightmare – I’m it.
I’m the guy your mother warns you about – the one who steals your innocence and never looks back.
You see that cat over there?
The one with the wild eyes and rusty orange fur. That cat has been my eyes and ears for a very long time. But not anymore.
Now it’s my turn at a better ending to my story.
Happy-ever-after’s are over rated and I’m going to show you why…
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Sneak peek following…
Madi is sleeping soundly, there's this cute smiling thing going on with her face. She looks ... happy, and just a little bit crazy, smiling like that in her sleep. Nothing like the crazy chick I saw the first time I walked into Green Hill though. And definitely nothing like the hopeless chick I'd been watching last night.
“Hey,” Madi murmurs from the bed. She tucks a few strands of hair behind her ear before folding her hands under her cheek. She smiles up at me with this innocence that does unexplainable things to my body. The faint flicker of heat starts around my eyes, fuck.
“Hey,” I greet back, sitting forward in my chair, leaning my elbows on my thighs. I just need a minute. Deep breath.
I watch her face as I move to my feet. The heat turns into a tingle, my baser instincts fighting for control. It's just my body's way of protecting itself. I'm nervous, fuck I'm nervous. I close my eyes briefly, deep breath. When the burning subsides I open them slowly. I've worked hard to learn to control it. I don't want Madeleine to see anything but me. I need her to see me. Just me, no mind control.
Madi's eyes widen slightly when I lean over her to cup her cheek in my hand. Her skin is warm and smooth to my touch. Her blood rushes to the surface, closer, even her life source needs to be closer to me. Her lips part and she exhales softly. She's so damn beautiful.
“I'm going to make you happy.”
Even I can hear the conviction in my voice. The rough growl around the syllables make it sound more like a threat than a promise. But Madeleine doesn't seem to care. Her eyes soften and a small smile forms on her rosy pink mouth.
“I know,” she answers, pushing the tip of her little nose harder against my mouth.
She wraps her arms around my neck and her fingers sneak into my hair. Damn that feels good.
There isn't a
price in the world I wouldn't pay to stay right here with her. I’m going to make her happy, I'll fight for her with everything in me. Because just like her, this is exactly where I belong.
Tainted Hearts #0.5
Bound by birth - Separated by consequence
KYLE
I can’t paint for shit. I can’t carry a tune to save my life. But I have a story.
A story that started out brave. A story that started out humble. A story of total destruction.
What would you do to save your family?
My decision was easy, the consequence was death.
I am Kyle but most people know me as the RUNNER.
How did this start?
Seven days. In Seven days I changed my world and the world of everyone I loved.
MIA
I could tell you a story about love and sunshine and of all being right in the world. But I won’t because that isn’t my story.
My story is so sweet it will make your teeth rot. My story is so real it will make you believe in fairy tales. My story will rip your heart out and leave you bleeding all over the pages.
Outcast, rebel, misfit, all those words applied to me. Until I met him.
I fell in love once.
All it took was seven days. Seven days and my heart turned, twisted and thumped right next to his.
But not all stories have a happy ending….
Guard My Heart is book one in the Tainted Hearts Series. It follows the twins Kyle and Mia through seven days that changed their lives forever.
Tainted Hearts #1
run/rən/
Verb
Move at a speed faster than a walk, never having both or all the feet on the ground at the same time.
run•ner/ˈrənər/
Noun
A person who smuggles specified goods into or out of a country or area.
run•ning/ˈrəniNG/
Noun
because if you don't I will find you, and you will wish you'd done it a little faster, a little better, because there's nowhere on earth I won't find you...
CHOICES
You make the right choice, you win.
You make the wrong choice, you lose.
You let someone else choose for you, because there really isn’t any other way to do it and they own you.
I’ve worked for Reno Parker for six years.
And shit just got bad.
I’m going to the place I thought I’d never see again.
I’m going home.
Do I want this new responsibility? No.
Do I need it? Yes.
Will someone else choose for me? Never again.
And to finally crash this impending train wreck, there's a girl messing with my head.
Are you ready for another seven days?
To the two amazing ladies who made this book possible: SDJ and Megan Keith, THANK YOU!!!
I might have written the words but the rest is all you. Thank you so much for all the time you spent on this book, I’ll never be able to show just how much I appreciate it, ever!
SDJ a special thank you for, For Rhuine’s cover, you did good, my friend – I really do love it.
Megan for the formatting and editing. Wow, I owe you the biggest chocolate ever made!
The wonderful ladies of Forever Me Romance, Tash and Rose, for once again putting up with me for another release day blitz and my endless questions. Thank you!!
Basically, a huge thank you to everyone who’s stuck with me on this wonderful journey. I look forward to travelling the rest of this road with you!
Here’s where to find AJ:
Email - [email protected]
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Check out the first chapter of Eraser, an erotic novella by Megan Keith following…
Copyright © Megan Keith 2014
All Rights Reserved
Mackenzie had worked at the bar for about seven months now. Monday to Friday, five nights a week. It was what you’d call a posh lounge bar. It reeked of sophistication. Classical music or jazz always played softly in the background. The dark wood bar was oversized and designed to perfection, the high gloss stain and shiny brass bar fittings adding appeal to the room. Mirrors along the top half of the walls reflected and made it appear twice as big, the dark wood paneling below made the room extra luxurious. The glasses and bottles decorated it too adding to the stylish image of the bar. Low tables were placed in a pattern across the floor with low brown leather lounge chairs surrounding them. Large chandeliers hung from the high ceiling creating a soft glow to the room.
Mackenzie wore a sophisticated uniform, a black knee length pencil skirt with shiny, black, six inch heels. Dark stockings and a pristine white long sleeve shirt completed the outfit. She wore her long dark hair in the expected low set pony tail. Carrying a silver platter of drinks she made her way to the two business men seated at the table closest to the bar.
“Here you go sir,” she said, placing a bourbon and Coke in front of one of the men.
He continued his conversation with the other man as if she didn’t exist. Which was fine with her, she was used to it. When she placed the second bourbon in front of the other man, however, she felt his eyes on her breasts as she leant toward him. She was used to that as well. Even though her uniform was classy and her workplace was too, there was no escaping wandering eyes, particularly when the tables were set so low and she had no choice but to lean down. Not that she minded that his eyes were glued there, she kind of liked the attention.
Being a business professional, with a wedding ring on, Mackenzie noted, the man reverted his eyes back in the direction of his business associate and continued their conversation. Mackenzie stood and retreated back to the bar. She felt his eyes on her and caught his reflection in the mirror behind the bar as she walked. He was checking out her ass. She couldn’t help the smirk that formed on her lips as she walked away. It was nice to be ogled on occasion, especially by a handsome man.
When she got back behind the bar she hazarded a glance in his direction. He met her eye and she smiled at him causing his mouth to curve into a smile as well, then she went back to work. Their brief encounter was over, she knew, because he was married and she would never go there.
With a sigh, she grabbed a wet rag from the bucket under the counter and started wiping down the already pristine bar, just for something to do and to keep her eyes off the man seated in front of it. She couldn’t even entertain the idea of anything happening with him even if he was attractive and interested, besides the fact that he was married, he was in a deep discussion about some business related topic with the man opposite him and had probably forgotten about her already.
Mackenzie sometimes despised the clients (as she had to refer to them) that came into this bar. It was a high end establishment in the heart of the city. High rollers from the casino next door, successful business men and women, and the wealthy all frequented here. Even the odd celebrity. It was nothing like the seedy bars she had worked in previously, nothing at all. You would never catch men in torn jeans and lumberjack shirts in this place. No honky tonk women in trashy short skirts. No loud rock and roll music. It was a subdued place, quiet, and nothing like what Mackenzie had known before.
She sometimes hated that she was required to address everyone by ‘sir’ and ‘madam’, especially when the snobby women looked down on her, eyeing her with contempt, thinking themselves better than her. She knew some, no all, of them were better than her. They were rich, powerful, and she was their meagre servant. Some days it made her feel bad, but sometimes, like tonight, she didn’t mind it at all.
It was Friday night. The place was quiet with only seven clients currently seated. They had all been respectful to her, well except for the one that ogled her, but even that
was welcomed; there’s nothing wrong with a man checking her out or flirting with her a little. Mackenzie was lacking in the love department. It had been a few weeks since she’d had the pleasure of a man’s company. She was feeling lonely and didn’t mind the attention one bit, even if there was no potential for it to go anywhere.
Friday nights were her favorite night to work. Friday was when he came in. She glanced at her platinum Rolex - one of the perks of the job is that she got paid well and was able to afford such things - and saw that it was nearing half past nine. He would be here soon.
She threw the rag in the bucket and headed in the direction of Alex, the barman on duty tonight.
“Alex, I’m just going to the ladies,” she said quietly as she neared him.
“No worries Mack,” he replied with a smile. Alex was a nice guy, friendly, attractive and unfortunately also married. They worked well together and had become friends in the few months Mackenzie had worked here. He was a fun guy to work with and always gave her a laugh. His wife was one lucky lady.
She slipped out of the back door and down the corridor to the employee’s bathroom. After using the facilities and washing her hands, she stood in front of the mirror and redid her pony tail, checked her make-up and reapplied her lipstick. She wanted to look good for him. Not that he’d probably notice or even say more than two words to her.