He stared at her like she had two heads. “Over my dead body is that happening, Callista. This changes everything, and you know it.”
She stopped him right there. “We have no choice. We’re doing this for Nate, Maura, and Luke.”
Damn it!
Quinn knew his wife wouldn’t give up on this one.
CHAPTER THree
Monday Night
W hile everyone cat napped, Nate had some paperwork to do. Most of it was of a personal nature. He was making sure his will was up to date just in case anything happened to him while they were moving Avalon. It was important that he leave the letters for the people he loved, and ensure that his niece was taken care of in his absence. While he didn't have a wife and kids, he would make sure that his sister’s children had a good education.
Then his memory would live on.
As he sat behind his desk, he heard the soft footfalls coming down the stairs and into his living room. From where he sat, he could see the entire room. When she moved effortlessly around in the dark, he couldn’t look away.
Avalon looked like a ghost.
Her hair floated free around her body, and she’d changed out of her jeans into some soft white dress. It flowed around her body, giving her the aura of an apparition.
It was so damn hot.
Nate actually had to blink a few times just to make sure she wasn’t a figment of his imagination. It wasn’t lost on him that he’d never seen a woman wandering his home, and he’d never been compelled to follow either.
She was familiar to him, but still held some mystery. Here was peace, and somehow, she found her way into his life. Just with her around, the darkness that chased him abated.
It was a little breathing room for him, so he didn't feel quite so lost. Now, she was wandering his living room, and he was compelled to get closer.
As he moved to the doorway, he noticed how beautiful she really was. Her features were completely calm, and her body was lax. It was like she was flowing across the room—not walking.
As she headed toward the kitchen, Nate wanted to approach her, but he didn't want to scare her. For a second, he contemplated going back into his office. He had no right to want her. She was his responsibility.
When his brain lost, and his need won, Nate silently crept up behind her.
“Hello, Nathaniel.”
He didn't understand how she heard him. He was barefoot, and his floors didn't creek. Instead of questioning it, Nate decided to go with it.
“Avalon, are you okay? Do you need something?”
She smiled at him. “Actually, I’m restless. I was trying to be quiet and not wake you if you were asleep on the couch.”
How could he sleep with an angel wandering around?
“I was working in my office on some paperwork.”
“Your will, huh?”
He didn't move.
“I’m sorry, but your aura gives you away. You were thinking about death, and I can pick it up.”
He wasn’t going to go there.
“Would you like me to make you something to eat? I make a mean omelet.”
She noticed the line had been drawn. He wasn’t going to say anything about his will. Since he wasn’t going to die, it didn't really matter. “I appreciate that, but I really could just use some tea. Before I get moved, I always feel discombobulated. I’ve just memorized the layout, and now I’ll have to relearn a new place.”
That had to be hard on her.
Nate never realized how much he took for granted because he could see.
“I’ll make you that tea. Why don’t you have a seat?”
Avalon held out her hand, wanting to feel his fingers against hers. Maybe it was silly, but she loved how he felt. His big warm hands gave her chills. “If you take me to the counter and put everything out, I can do it.”
Nate didn't mind touching her. He was curious. In all honesty, he wanted to see if those little licks of electricity would be there again.
As soon as her hand went into his, there they were. He helped navigate her into the kitchen. As his free hand found her hip, his body actually ached.
Shit!
This was a really bad sign. He’d wanted women before, simply to get off, but nothing felt like this.
Suddenly, he realized neither was talking. Nate knew he needed to cover for the lull in conversation. “This has to be scary for you,” he offered.
When he moved Avalon to stand in front of the stove, placing her hand on the teakettle, and then her fingers on the burner knob, Avalon enjoyed the scent of his cologne.
He smelled amazing.
It was better than in her dream.
“It is and it isn’t. I know when I’m in danger and when I’m perfectly fine. I can pick up auras. Like now, yours is a very pretty shade of blue, but there are licks of black around it.”
He watched her make the tea.
“What does that mean?”
Avalon blindly stared into his face. “It means that you have a strong personality, and you’re a strong proponent for justice. You work very hard to achieve your goal, and you’re dedicated. Once your heart is set on a path, you rarely give up.”
Okay, so that sounded like him. “And the black?”
“It chases you, Nathaniel, and you’re scared.”
He heard the change in her voice. The soft whisper was gone, and something more was there—like she had gone into a trance.
“You worry about it overtaking you. Your aura is stained with blood and pain. Every day, it creeps closer to your heart, and you fear that one day, it’s going to overtake you.”
He didn't speak.
Either Avalon had a direct line into his head, or this aura thing was real.
Then like a snap, she was back.
“Are you okay?” he asked, brushing some blonde hairs from her cheek. It was chilly, and he was curious.
“I’m good. I’m really sorry about that. The first couple days with new people are hard until I figure out if I’m safe with them.”
“And with me?” he asked.
“I generally know that when someone has a brilliant blue aura, I can trust them. I’m very safe with you, Nathaniel.”
He didn't know what to say. Her words pleased and torment him at the same time. While he wouldn’t let anyone hurt her, he couldn't help but think of himself as some older predator who was after the sweet, innocent lamb. He was almost sixteen years her senior, and had no business thinking about her like this.
He released her fingers and took a step away from her.
Sensing how uncomfortable he’d become, Avalon changed the subject. “Would you like some tea?” she asked, unwrapping a teabag for herself.
“Sure. That would be nice.”
As the water heated, he was curious. “I hope this doesn’t offend you, but I need to ask something.”
“You want to know how I can see when I’m clearly blind,” she stated, her eyes locking onto his.
“Yes.”
“I have some peripheral, and the rest is shadows. I can tell that you’re in front of me, and I know it’s you because of your aura and scent.”
“So if you turn sideways, you can see me?”
“Not the way you can.” She could feel his disappointment. Honestly, she didn't need to see him. In her dreams, Avalon had taken the time to memorize everything about him. He was handsome, strong, and she lost her heart in that moment.
“Oh.”
Yes, he was disappointed.
“If you let me touch you, I can ‘see’ you.”
He didn't mind. Once, Nate had seen a blind woman using her fingers to map out someone’s features. It didn't bother him at all to have her hands all over him. In fact, that sounded amazing.
Avalon put down the teabag and rounded the corner. When she was standing between Nate’s legs, she reached for him. At first, her hands found his forearms. Slowly, she slid them up until she found his shoulders.
“What do you see, Avalon?” he
asked, trying to keep his body at bay. It wasn’t easy. Here was a gauzily dressed angel, feeling him up.
Nate wasn’t a saint.
“You like to work out,” she stated.
Nate was having a difficult time breathing. She smelled like flowers, and her fingers were making him crazy. Just that light touch was enough to drive him wild.
“On occasion, I do go to the gym.”
From his shoulders, she moved to his neck, and then to his face. As her fingers ran across the stubble, she smiled. Avalon could feel the pulse at his throat, and it was erratic.
Funny, so was hers.
“You’re nervous,” she stated. “Why?”
“You’re touching me.”
“I can stop.”
“Please don’t!”
Avalon moved her one hand back down to his hand and lifted it. Gently, she placed it against her throat, just over her pulse. “I’m nervous too, Nathaniel.”
His heart skipped at that simple action. He wasn’t sure what it meant, but he loved the way her petal soft skin felt under his fingers.
Jesus!
He was going right to hell. He was picturing her beneath him in bed. It was so wrong of him. She was too young, too sweet, and too dangerous to his heart.
“You have really strong cheekbones,” she offered, letting her fingers slide across them once more.
Nate didn't move.
He couldn’t.
She was enthralling him. The simple glide was destroying his control. How was it possible that he’d just met her, and yet he felt like they shared something so very intimate?
He didn't understand.
She was a puzzle.
As her gentle fingers moved across his lips, Nate struggled not to kiss them. Everything in him was poised to do just that. His brain was going haywire, and he longed to pull Avalon into his body and spend the next hour getting lost in her.
He forced himself to relax.
‘I need to focus on work,’ he thought. ‘She’s young and innocent,’ he said to himself. ‘She’s a job!’
It wasn’t working.
Nate actually ached to taste her.
Avalon could feel how his legs tensed as she moved closer. Her thighs brushed his, and it felt amazing.
“Avalon.” Surely, he needed to stop this. Nate couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t clear the island and take her on top of it.
She ignored him. Her hands moved into his hair. It was like she was memorizing every inch of him.
He nearly moaned.
“You’re very handsome, Nathaniel. With your black hair and icy blue eyes, you’re amazing to look at.”
He missed that she could describe him. His body was too busy going into overload. Instead, he moved his face closer to breathe in her gardenia sent.
Instinctually, he wanted to tell her she was beautiful. He desperately wanted to return the sentiment, but the words seemed to be locked inside him. He wondered why he couldn’t get them out, when he so clearly wanted to share them. Maybe it was her hands destroying him or her standing so close to his body.
Whatever it was, Nate was struggling to understand it all.
“Thank you for letting me ‘see’ you, Nathaniel. I’ll never forget what you look like.”
Funny, she was burned into his mind too.
He began losing the war. His lips moved closer and closer until he could feel her breath on him, and she had to know he was right there.
“The kettle,” she whispered right before it began whistling.
It broke the spell. Nate took his hand off her throat.
Jesus!
He was screwed.
Turning, Avalon moved back to the stove. As she reached for it, her fingers passed through the steam.
“Ouch!”
Nate rushed to her side. “Did you get burned?” he asked, taking her hand in his.
“A little.” She didn't want to admit that he’d distracted her so much that she’d been careless.
It wasn’t like her.
Immediately, he pulled a first aid kit from the cabinet, and used the spray on her burnt fingertips.
Avalon let him cater to her small injury. She was right about him. He was someone who would protect her. This was proof enough. Not many people would be making such a big deal over a little steam burn.
“I’ll make your tea from here on out. I don’t want you to get hurt.” It was true. Nate didn't like the idea that this woman ever felt pain. Her life was hard enough as it was.
“I can live with that,” she stated.
As he placed two bandages on her fingertips, Avalon didn't move. When he brought them to his lips, and gently left a chaste kiss over the top of them, her heart skipped.
“Better?”
She nodded.
Nate knew he was crossing a line, but he couldn’t help it. There was something mesmerizing about her. A part of him knew her. As he moved closer, about to give in to his needs and steal an even better kiss, he heard it.
Someone cleared their throat.
He glanced over his shoulder at Maura, and she didn't look happy. In fact, her body language said it all. Her arms were crossed, she leaned against the doorframe, and there was a scowl on her face.
“It’s time to head out, Avalon. You need to get changed and ready. We’re leaving in thirty.”
Avalon patted him on the cheek. “Thank you, Nathaniel.” With that, she walked away, heading back upstairs. She was so close to feeling his lips against hers, and instead all she was feeling was that ache of loneliness.
When they were alone, Nate opened his mouth to explain his actions.
Maura cut him off. “What are you thinking, Nate?” she asked.
“What?”
“You know what. She’s a child. Maybe she’s twenty five on paper, but she’s not ready for a wolf like you. She’s never been out in the real world. The government took her at fifteen, and she’s been locked in that moment for the last decade.”
That pissed him off.
Of all the things he was feeling for Avalon, he was well aware that he’d never hurt her. It was like his heart was very cognizant of hers. “I’m not a wolf, Maura.”
She laughed. “Yeah, you’re worse, but since my fiancé loves you like a brother, I won’t go there. Avalon is my duty, and I’m going to keep her safe.”
“From me too?”
She ignored his question since the answer was uncomfortable and put them in a bad position. “You can’t get attached to her. She’s nothing more than the job. You have to stay emotionally unattached, or it’s going to get you both killed.”
He was aware but for some reason, Nate didn't think he could do it—not with Avalon. Anyone else he could walk away from without batting an eyelash, but this felt different.
“I’m aware, Maura.”
The Marine stared at him.
“She burned her fingers, and I wanted to take away some of the pain. It’s my job to protect her too. Don’t read into it too much.”
Yeah, Nate was trying to convince himself, and he was seriously failing.
It was a good thing Maura couldn’t read minds.
“I’m going to say this once, and only once,” Maura said, picking her words carefully. “Don’t hurt her. Avalon is sweet, and up to this point, her life has totally sucked. What she doesn’t need now is some FBI Casanova making her think that she’s going to be rescued. This isn’t a fairy tale. This is her reality.”
Yeah, and it sucked.
They both knew that.
“And if I ignore your nicely worded threat?” he asked. Nate wasn’t one to take orders. Instead, he liked to think he knew what was best for his life.
“If you hurt her or make her cry, I’m going to boot your ass back to Elizabeth Blackhawk. I don’t care if you’re my fiancé’s best friend or my family. It’s my job to protect her, and I’m going to do that, no matter what the threat.”
Nate let it go.
He didn't know why the conversation pi
ssed him off, but it did. Nate didn't like that the woman was essentially telling him to get away from Avalon.
He would if he could, but this was bigger than them both, and he knew it.
“Now, we need to get ready to go.”
He left her standing there. Heading back to his office, he pulled out the copy of his will and signed it. All the while, he was thinking about the blonde woman upstairs.
And what he should, or shouldn’t, do.
Funny.
This mission wasn’t as cut and dried as he originally thought. Suddenly, it was getting messy.
Real messy.
* * * C a r t e r - G a i n e s * * *
Fredricksville
The entire trip back to the cottage had been one argument after another. Quinn wasn’t excited with the idea that his wife was planning on some breaking and entering the next day. In fact, he hated it.
When she was insistent on doing it, he suggested that he and Jagger handle it.
That went over like a ton of lead balloons.
Now, they were at a stalemate.
This was getting dangerous, and he wasn’t going to let his pregnant wife play Nancy Drew. Quinn wasn’t out of his mind.
Not yet.
As he parked next to the new vehicle in the driveway, Quinn was too worked up to even pay it any attention. He had questions, but there were other issues that needed to be handled.
Mainly, his wife.
Inside the cottage, they found Jagger chilling out on the couch. He was holding a beer in one hand, and the TV remote in the other.
It immediately irritated Flynn. The Marine looked so calm, and he was the total opposite.
“Welcome back. Did you find out anything interesting in town?” he asked.
Apparently, the man was off duty.
“We learned something disturbing. The first person on our list to interview is dead.”
“Oh, is that good or bad?” he asked.
“Well, since she was killed in her home, I’m going to say that’s probably bad,” Quinn stated.
Jagger thought about it. “When did it happen?”
“The woman in the store said it was last week. The funeral is tomorrow. That’s when I’m going to break into her house and look around. If we’re lucky, it’s still a crime scene.”
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