As far as WITSEC-generated identities went, this one wasn’t bad. He got to use his knowledge of science and anatomy, and he found he was pretty good at teaching. He’d spent the last year being a substitute, and he’d been hired for a permanent position a few weeks ago. In the fall, he’d have his own classroom.
She spun slowly, a smile curving her lips and fire smoldering in her eyes. “Brandy Lockmeyer. I’m a retired FBI agent. Now I’m messing around with writing crime fiction. Or maybe mysteries for young children. I haven’t finished a story yet, but there’s time. I’m not going anywhere.”
His mind raced, but the one thought that rose to the surface screamed at him that she’d given up a lot to be there. She’d retired from a job to which she’d dedicated her life, and she’d called in a big favor to find him. Then she’d moved herself two states away, to the middle of nowhere, on the chance that he hadn’t moved on.
He hadn’t. There was no way anyone could hold a candle to his Firebrand. Nobody could make him feel the way she did. He’d love her for all of eternity.
Playing the game, he spread his palms wide. “You said you were new in town. How about I show you around?”
“That sounds nice.” A small smile curved her lips, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes.
He couldn’t stand this distance between them. The words he’d thrown at her had been cruel, but they’d been true. Both of them had been playing a role. Neither of them had been themselves, not completely—not even when he’d held her in his arms. He took one step, his long legs erasing the three she’d taken.
The height difference left her staring at his chest. She inhaled, and he recognized the subtle way she was trying to control her nerves.
“Firebrand?”
Her tongue slipped out, moistening her lips before disappearing, and when she responded, her voice came out in a breathy whisper. “Yes?”
“I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too.” She tilted her face up, finally meeting his gaze. Her voice was low and gravelly. “I’m so glad you’re not mad anymore. I don’t know what I would have done if you still hadn’t wanted to see me.”
The image of her face, determination mixed with the pain of his rejection and the blood running down her cheek, danced in his mind’s eye. She had a small, white scar under her eye, a souvenir from that night. He traced his fingertip over it. “I’ve dreamed about you every night for the past year. Thought about you every single day.”
A sheen wet the mossy color of her eyes. Those eyes. He’d missed staring into them.
“I thought I’d never see you again.” He still wasn’t sure this wasn’t a dream.
She sniffed, and a fat tear rolled down her cheek.
He wiped it away with his thumb.
“It took a while to wrap up the investigation. I couldn’t leave until it was done.”
He only knew his part in it for sure, but he imagined the scope of the investigation was far wider than what had happened at Willowlands. “I didn’t expect you to leave. Brandy, I’m sorry about what I said. You’re good at your job, and you love it.”
Her lower lip trembled. “I’ve spent my life serving my country. It was time to walk away, to do something for myself.”
The depth of her courage—something he’d mistaken for foolishness—left him breathless. “You didn’t know what you’d find here.”
“I was looking for peace and quiet.” Her gaze wandered, skating down his shoulder and to the side. Trees and water reflected in her irises. “It’s both of those things here. Plus, my parents and brother live two hours away. They’re thrilled about the change of pace in my life.”
Grasping her chin, he steered her attention back to him. “I can’t decide whether I should ask you out or ask you to marry me. And I want very badly to kiss you.”
She inhaled a ragged breath. “I know how you feel.”
Caving to the most pressing need, he wound his arms around her, drawing her soft curves against his hard body. He used her ponytail to angle her head where he wanted it, and then he brushed his lips against hers. With a soft moan, she parted her lips. Slowly, by degrees, he deepened the kiss. He didn’t want to rush this. He wanted to savor every single millisecond of this sweet bliss.
Gretel jumped up, her paws scraping his thigh as she tried, unsuccessfully, to get between them.
When it ended, he held her trembling body against his.
“You should ask me out.” She pushed against his chest lightly, loosening his hold, and then she stepped back. When her gaze met his, it was full of strength and resilience, with a healthy dollop of arrogance. “I’d like to get to know you, Andre Corona—the real you. And you should get to know the real me.”
From the start, he’d loved her inner strength. “How about we jog to the nature center and get some ice cream? They make it fresh right there.”
“I love ice cream.” She wound Gretel’s leash around her hand. “Let’s walk, though. We can talk, and maybe we can hold hands.”
He took her other hand, and the three of them strolled toward the path. Hope, unfamiliar yet comforting, knit together the chasm in his heart.
Doms of the FBI
Many of the FBI agents mentioned in Re/Deemed have their own love stories.
Malcolm Legato was the first Dom of the FBI in Re/Bound. You can follow his adventure and get in on the ground floor of his romance with Darcy. The couple also have a free short story out there called Malcolm’s Promise.
Keith Rossetti, Malcolm’s best friend, falls for Katrina in Re/Paired. Katrina, Mal’s sister, is the only woman in his life who is off-limits. They pair up again in Re/Captured, which takes place a few years after Re/Paired.
Jordan Monaghan is the sexy Daddy Dom hero of Re/Defined. If you’re craving more of a Daddy Dom fix, fall in love with Jordan and Amy. This is where The Eye explodes onto the scene.
Liam “Dare” Adair and Jed Kinsley didn’t set out to share a woman. Watch them compete for Tru’s affections while they go after The Eye in Re/Viewed.
Jesse Foraker, a member of the mercenary force SAFE Security, is mentioned in passing. You can get to know Jesse in the Mercenary Hearts Trilogy as he and Jessica both fight for love against forces that threaten to destroy them both.
More about Doms of the FBI: https://michelezurloauthor.com/doms-of-the-fbi/
More about SAFE Security/Mercenary Hearts: https://michelezurloauthor.com/safe-security-mercenary-hearts/
Michele Zurlo
Michele Zurlo is the author of the Awakenings, Doms of the FBI, and the SAFE Security series and many other stories. She writes contemporary and paranormal, BDSM and mainstream—whatever it takes to give her characters the happy endings they deserve.
Her childhood dream was to be a librarian so she could read all day. Some words of wisdom from an inspiring lady had her tapping out stories on her first laptop, and writing blossomed from a hobby to a career. Find out more at www.michelezurloauthor.com or @MZurloAuthor.
Lost Goddess Publishing
The Doms of the FBI Series
Re/Bound (Doms of the FBI 1)
Re/Paired (Doms of the FBI 2)
Re/Claimed (Doms of the FBI 3)
Re/Defined (Doms of the FBI 4)
Re/Leased (Doms of the FBI 5)
Re/Viewed (Doms of the FBI 6)
Re/Captured (Doms of the FBI 7)
Re/Deemed (Doms of the FBI 8)
The SAFE Security Series
Treasure Me (SAFE Security 1)
Switching It Up (SAFE Security 2)
Unlocking Temptation (A SAFE Security Short)
The SAFE Security Trilogy: Mercenary Hearts
Forging Love (A SAFE Security Novella: Mercenary Hearts prequel)
Drawing On Love (Mercenary Hearts 1)
Broken Love (Mercenary Hearts 2)
Shards of Love (Mercenary Hearts 3)
Awakenings
Letting Go
Owning Up
Serving Sophia
Wanting Wilder
Mina’s Heart
Paranormal by Michele Zurlo
Dragon Kisses 1-3
Blade’s Ghost
MM Romance by Nicoline Tiernan
Nexus #1: Tristan’s Lover by Nicoline Tiernan
Nexus #2: The Man of His Dreams by Nicoline Tiernan
Anthologies
BDSM Anthology/Club Alegria #1-3 by Michele Zurlo and Nicoline Tiernan
New Adult Anthology/Lovin’ U #1-4 by Nicoline Tiernan
Menage Anthology/Club Alegria #4-7 by Michele Zurlo and Nicoline Tiernan
Discovering Desires Anthology by Michele Zurlo
Bear’s Cove Series (MM/MPreg) by A. J. Stone
Dak’s Omega
Tanzil’s Second Chance
Perfect Blend: Kofi’s Omega
Swept Away
Draco International (MM/MPreg) by A. J. Stone
Amaricio’s Omega
Koren’s Omega Neighbor
Zeke’s Reluctant Omega
Re/Deemed (Doms of the FBI Book 8) Page 26