So Branson offered her a new life with him, essentially offering her a marriage of convenience. Using his son like a fucking carrot.
Too bad, she’s mine.
“Would you all give me a few minutes with Cassidy?”
Not breaking eye contact with Cassie, Trevor waited as everyone moved out of the lounge. She was pale, having lost a significant amount of blood. His stomach twisted painfully that he’d missed the signals and put her in danger again.
Cassie—his sweet Cassie—bit her bottom lip and picked at the edge of the bandage until it frayed. She knew he’d heard the contents of the letter. She no longer met his gaze, rubbing the edges of the blanket nervously with the wrist of her unbandaged hand.
“I want to thank you—” she began before he cut her off.
“Don’t thank me, Cassie.” He paced toward the door, then turned back to face her. “Don’t thank me. If I’d done what I should have, you wouldn’t be hurt.”
Her soft voice broke his heart. “You don’t know that. He was willing to do whatever it took to get me. Apparently, I’m worth a lot of money to someone.”
“Cassie…”
“Trevor, you don’t have to say anything. I don’t blame you.”
“Are you considering Branson’s offer?” His heart thudded loudly in his ears as he waited for her response.
“It’s not your concern.”
“The hell it isn’t!” She wasn’t going to dismiss him from her life. He wouldn’t let her. He couldn’t let her.
Her eyes widened with surprise.
“I want you to listen to me for five minutes. Just let me have my say. Then you can tell me to go to hell if you want.”
The five seconds he waited for her to nod were the longest of his life.
“Okay. I’ve been an idiot. I know that.” He paced away, avoiding her gaze, afraid of seeing her anger or worse, indifference. “You know I’m a Paranormal. You know I’m able to disappear from human view. But my biggest secret is that I’m a Watcher.”
She confused him when her only response was to raise an eyebrow.
“Is that another word for Bigfoot or Sasquatch?”
He firmed his jaw, pride straightening his spine. “Yes. We prefer Watcher. We are very secretive for obvious reasons.”
“Because you are hunted by humans.”
Again, a statement, not a question. More curiosity and acceptance than surprise or disgust.
“Yes.”
“At least you finally told me.”
“What do you mean, ‘finally?’”
A sad smile crooked the corner of her mouth. “I’ve known since the day of the attack at the school.”
“I don’t remember shifting that day.”
“It was only a split second, but I saw you shift when you were shot.”
“You came to me, while I was bleeding out on the floor, knowing what I am?” Shock flashed through him like the time he’d grabbed an electric fence.
“I didn’t care.”
“Didn’t?” Past tense. Damn it. Had he fucked up too many times for her to forgive?
Cassie’s eyes filled and her lower lip wobbled, but she didn’t answer. Anger he could take, and preferred, but her silence and tears stabbed at his heart.
“Oh, baby, you’ve known all along and didn’t say anything?”
“I was waiting for you to trust me enough to tell me yourself. But you never did,” she whispered, her words spilling out slurred. She turned her head away, sobs racking her body.
An idiot. He was an absolute idiot not to see his future right in front of him from the beginning. Somehow, he had to make her see. On his knees, he gently tipped her chin so that she had to look at him.
“I’m so sorry, baby. I should have told you. I was afraid you’d see a freak, not a man with another side to my soul.”
Her eyes glistened with unshed tears and her lower lip trembled. Was she still considering Branson’s proposal? Or opening her heart to him?
Come on, Greene, time to lay it on the line.
“I love you and want you in my life. I need you in my life and I can’t imagine living without you. Please give me a chance.”
Gently, he pulled her into his arms, holding her as she cried, every tear a spike in his heart because of the pain he had caused her. On the floor, with Cassie in his lap, he enfolded her, waiting out the storm.
Finally, she eased back, sniffled and punched him in the shoulder.
He shouldn’t have, but he couldn’t help the smile that broke free. A frown creased her brow as her eyes narrowed. “You think this is funny?”
A chuckle burst forth, followed by outright laughter. He shouldn’t be laughing, but he was relieved that she felt some passion for him, even if it was anger.
Cassie hit him again and again and all he could do was laugh and let her expend all her anger on him.
Suddenly she was laughing, too, though she kept punching him.
Relief and passion flooded him. No longer was he laughing. Pulling her close, he brushed her mouth with his.
She sighed.
His heart stuttered in his chest. Oh, by the gods, let me not mess this up!
When her lips parted, inviting his invasion, he growled and his tongue swept in. He found her just as hungry as he was and let her take the lead. His hands tangled in her hair while her lips traveled along his jaw and his neck then nipped at his earlobe.
He wanted her. Now.
But not here in this public room.
Gently, he pulled back and cradled her face in his hands. Searching her passion glazed eyes, he waited until they cleared and focused on him.
“Cassie. I need you, baby.”
A seductive smile curved her kiss-swollen lips and she tried to pull him back into her embrace. “I need you, too.”
He held her at arm’s length. “No, I mean I need you in my life forever.”
She frowned.
What is she thinking? Maybe she doesn’t want to be mated with a freak…
“Be specific.”
He frowned and cocked his head at her. “I want you to be my mate.”
Several moments ticked by.
“Is that what Paras call a spouse?”
She sure knew how to tie him in knots. Could he survive a lifetime of such treatment?
Hell, yeah!
“Yes. We mate for life. If you prefer, I can call you my wife.”
Her brilliant smile eased the tension in his throat and he released the breath he hadn’t been aware he’d been holding. Leaning in, she kissed him gently before snuggling against his chest. She belongs right here, in my arms.
Her voice was muffled against his shirt, but what he heard caused his soul to sing.
“You can call me your wife with my family and your mate with your family.”
He pressed a kiss to her hair. “Will you do it now?”
She jerked slightly but didn’t move away from the haven of his embrace. “Here?”
By her husky response, she sounded scandalized but not unwilling. His blood surged in his veins at her misconception. “No, baby, not mating in the sexual sense. Though I’d like to make that happen as soon as we get to someplace private.”
He moved back so he could look into her eyes. I love her so much. Let this be easy for her, he prayed. The ritual involved releasing one’s soul to mate with another’s, physically close to death. He’d heard of humans who had almost died because they’d panicked.
“When we mate, it’s our souls joining. You have to trust me.” He caressed her cheek. “Will you?”
She nodded, fresh tears shimmering in her eyes.
“Are you afraid?”
Her watery smile dispelled his fear. “No
. I just never thought you’d want me, need me.” She touched his stubbly cheek with the fingertips of her uninjured hand. “What do I have to do?”
He couldn’t help but smile. Always brave in the face of the unknown.
“I’ll kiss you and you will lose yourself in the kiss.”
“I can do that.”
“Then, allow your soul to float free. My soul will find yours and unite.” Serious, he gazed deeply into her eyes. “You may feel lightheaded or even that you can’t breathe, I’m told. But I’m here. You’re safe with me.”
She nodded as he took one hand in his and grasped the forearm of her bandaged hand. “I know.”
Slowly, he lowered his head, his lips grazing hers at first. Then he deepened the kiss. She took a deep breath. In his mind’s eye, he walked into a fogbank. He searched for her. He found her in a shimmering golden light. He embraced her, their souls touching, uniting.
She relaxed against him. Their mating had been gentle. Exactly the way he’d wanted.
Breaking the kiss, he leaned back to gaze down at his mate. A soft smile curved her lips and her lashes fluttered open to reveal eyes full of love.
“So, when do I get to meet your family?”
No one made him laugh like she did. “Is tomorrow soon enough? I’m sure they’ll let us take the ferry back to the mainland, then we’ll head home.”
She snuggled against him as he lifted her and headed for the lobby. “Where are you taking me?”
He kissed her gently as he strode past the group of cheering staff members, grinning at their congratulations. “To get started making our own family.”
About the Author
Carolyn Spear, a mother of two and wife of one, lives to read, garden and explore. She channels characters’ stories to share with others. A strange combination of small town girl, travel enthusiast and geek, she is thrilled to be a part of the shared world of the Wiccan Haus.
Guarding His Heart Page 7