by A. C. Bextor
"And I have never wanted anything more than I want you." Clay pulled her into his arms. "But once this happens, you are mine, Julie Daniels."
"I've been yours for a long time, Clay," she whispered against his mouth. "You just never knew it."
Chapter Eight
Since the night of the party, not a day went by without Julie seeing Clay. No matter what they had going on—because they both were busy—they made sure to see each other. Her fear of not having anything in common with Clay had been put to rest. It made things interesting and it definitely never got boring, because they were each trying to convert the other to what they liked.
She had also been taking Jessica over to help Bo learn to read braille. She had a suspicion there was a budding romance between those two, because honestly, it had been almost two months since Jessica had given Bo the book and he still hadn't gotten the hang of braille. She didn't believe that for a minute. Bo was a smart man and picked things up quick.
Taking one last glance at herself in the mirror, she saw the change in her own eyes. She looked happy and content. If anyone had told her two months ago she would be dating Clay Marshall, she would have laughed in their face.
At the knock on her front door, her smile widened. Quickly making her way out of her room, she swung open the door and jumped into Clay's arms.
"Miss me?" He laughed, catching her.
"Always." She nuzzled his neck then took his kiss. "Where we going?"
"It's a surprise," he teased. "Are you ready?"
Nodding, she grabbed her bag. "Not even a hint?"
"No, ma'am." He wrapped his arm around her. Opening the passenger-side door, he lifted her into his truck and placed a kiss on her cheek. Once inside, he started the truck and pulled away from her small apartment building. "How was your day?"
"Busy." Julie scooted closer to him; he put his hand on her leg after shifting into the next gear. "Got a new client today. He's in pretty bad shape."
"He?" Clay glanced at her before looking back to the road.
"Yeah, Todd Frazer." Julie placed her hand on his. "You know him?"
"No, can't say I do," Clay replied, still staring straight ahead.
"Anyway, he was injured at work," Julie continued. "A pipe burst and steam hit him in the face. He received third-degree burns on his head, face, and neck as well as his eyes. Usually when you get flash steam burns to the eyes, the eyelids get the worst of it, but from what I understand, this happened so fast that his eyes took most of the damage before he had time to shut them."
"Is it permanent?" Clay turned into his driveway.
"Yes, it is. He has healed everywhere else, but he is so angry." Julie frowned, glancing around. "Why are we here? Is this the surprise?"
Clay parked the truck and turned it off. "Are you safe?"
Julie turned to look at him. "Well, I don't know," she teased. "Depends on what your surprise is."
"That's not what I'm talking about." Clay didn't smile. "You said this man is angry. How angry?"
Julie knew Clay was remembering Bo's threats against her. She needed to tread lightly, but she wasn't going to lie to him. "Not only did this man lose his sight, his appearance has changed. Of course he can't see it, but he can feel the scars." She turned in the seat to face him. "And his wife of ten years left him, taking their daughter."
Clay made a noise in the back of his throat. "I'd say he's pretty angry." He ran his hand through his hair. "How is he with you?"
"Okay," Julie replied, wishing she had kept her mouth shut.
"Don't lie to me, Julie," Clay demanded, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "Is this man a danger to you?"
"This is my job, Clay." Julie still didn't answer because honestly, she wasn't sure yet. Even though Todd Frazer was a different case than she had ever dealt with, it was a case she would see through to the end.
"I know that, but this isn't easy for me," Clay replied, finally breaking eye contact. "To even think you are in danger drives me insane. I wanted to beat the hell out of my own brother when he threatened you, and at that time I didn't know my true feelings for you."
"I'll be careful, Clay. I promise." Julie climbed across the seat and straddled him, not caring the steering wheel was digging into her back. "But you have to trust that I know what I'm doing.
"Now please, let's not argue." Julie kissed his neck. "Let's have a nice night together."
"Do you have to shower this man?" Clay growled when she nipped his ear.
"I'm not answering that question." Julie used her tongue to soothe her bite.
"I'm an alpha, Julie. You are mine and I protect what's mine." Clay grabbed her hair, gently pulling her head back to look at him. "Get used to it."
Julie moaned, feeling him swell underneath her. "What else does it mean to belong to an alpha?"
"You're about to find out." Clay proceeded to show her exactly what that meant.
★★★
Once they made it out of the truck, Clay led her to the barn where he saddled up his horse, Samson. Once he'd mounted, he reached his hand down to her. This time she took it without any hesitation.
They rode mostly in silence. A few times, Clay pointed out things. They ended up back at the pond, which she'd named their special place. The moon wasn't as bright as the first night they'd gone there, but there was still a warm glow. He again helped her off the horse, but this time he lowered her to the ground slowly with her body against his.
They walked around the pond, not saying much, just enjoying each other's company. He tried to show her how to skip rocks, but she failed miserably at it. He laughed at her efforts and she threw the rocks at him, which she was much better at.
They sat down next to the pond with her nestled in the V of his legs, his arms tight around her. "It is so peaceful here." Julie sighed, laying her head back against his hard chest.
Clay murmured lazily under his breath. "You have no idea, do you?"
"About what?" Julie closed her eyes, liking the rumble of his chest against her back when he talked.
"How I really felt about you in high school." His answer surprised her.
"Yeah, you felt sorry for the nerdy girl and said hi just to make her day," she teased. But then again, that was truly what she thought.
"No." He turned her to face him. "How could someone as smart as you fall for a cowboy like me?"
Julie just sat there, staring at him with a stunned expression on her face. "A cowboy like you?" Julie whispered. "You were the most handsome cowboy in school, who had any girl he wanted and too many friends to count. You can't expect me to feel sorry for you."
"I didn't want any girl, and one true friend is worth way more than a thousand fake friends," Clay replied, his eyes searching hers. "We were two lonely souls who liked each other, but didn't take that chance."
Julie nodded. "Maybe it was for the best." She touched the side of his face. "It could be it wasn't meant to be at that time."
Clay pulled away from her and stood before pulling her up. He left her, walked to his horse, and opened up the saddlebag. Turning, he walked back to her and knelt at her feet.
"You've seen what I have to offer you, Julie. I have a decent house, but it comes with my blind brother. I have plenty of land filled with horses and a pretty decent business." Clay opened a small box and held it up to her. "I'm not taking the chance of making the same mistake I made in high school. Will you marry me, Julie Daniels?"
Julie didn't even look at the ring; her eyes stayed on his. "None of that matters to me, Clay. I would marry you without the house and blind brother, horses, or land." She wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Is that a yes?" he whispered against her hair.
Laughing and crying at the same time, Julie nodded. "That's a yes, Clay."
★★★
After a very short engagement, Julie stood with her husband greeting and accepting congratulations from those who witnessed their wedding. To say she was excited was an understatement, and it showed in
her smiling face.
"Guess it's a good thing I didn't kill you with the whiskey bottle, sis." Bo laughed as he and his guide dog, Max, made their way toward them.
"Your aim isn't that great." Julie laughed, then hugged Bo tight.
"Congrats to you guys." Bo and Clay shared a hug. "I'll try not to be underfoot too much."
"Oh, and what fun would that be?" Julie laughed. "The only thing changing is me living here now. You better not change a thing, Bo Marshall."
"You'll regret you ever said that." Bo laughed loudly as he turned, walking away with Max leading him.
"You know, you probably will regret saying that." Clay grinned down at her.
"That's okay, I always wanted a brother." Julie watched as Max led Bo straight to Jessica and Diesel. "You think we might be planning another wedding?"
"Between Max and Diesel?" Clay replied thoughtfully, then laughed. "Who in the hell would name a female dog Max?"
"It's probably short for Maxine." Julie glanced around with a satisfied smile. The wedding had been small. Only a few close friends had been invited. The reception was a little larger, which was fine. "And I meant Bo and Jessica. My sister is being tight-lipped about their relationship, but she seems pretty taken with your brother."
"Yeah, well we Marshall men are pretty irresistible," he teased with a wink.
"Oh, is that so." She pinched his arm then laughed when he picked her up. "Is this reception stuff over yet? I'm ready to make you my wife in all ways."
"I think we still need to cut the cake and—" He stopped her with a kiss. "But I think that can wait for a little while."
"Wait here." Clay set her down before walking away quickly. He looked back as he continued to leave. "Don't move."
Julie watched him go, wondering what in the world he was doing. A few people came up to congratulate her, and as she talked she heard pounding. Looking over, she saw Clay on his horse heading her way. Everyone around her moved, but she held her ground with a large grin.
Clay stopped beside her and held out his hand. With tears shining in her eyes, she happily grasped it. He pulled her up, wedding dress and all, placing her across his lap. She heard the gasps and whispers, but ignored everyone except the man who had stolen her heart so many years ago.
"You want to go for a ride, Mrs. Marshall?" he asked with a wink.
"Always," she replied, with a laugh that made everyone who heard it smile.
About Teresa Gabelman
Teresa Gabelman is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Protectors series. When not writing about sexy alpha vampires and the women who drive them crazy she can be found on a lake with a fishing pole/Kindle, at a MMA event or spending a fun evening with family.
Being a full-time writer has allowed Teresa to connect more with readers, which is what she loves most about writing. If you find the time, she would love to hear from you!
Website: www.teresagabelman.com
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Kiss, Interrupted by S.R. Grey
Chapter One
A Splashy Beginning
Thwack!
And with that annoying sound, the back of my T-shirt was suddenly soaked through. It was not an altogether unwelcome development, due to the heat level of a day that felt like the devil himself had delivered from hell.
Heat notwithstanding, I was still less than thrilled to have been targeted by Camp Glen Hollow's water balloon assailant, Seth Darling, a kid who was turning out to be anything but darling.
It was tough enough for me already, feeling like an outsider as I did.
And to add insult to injury, I was a soggy mess of an outsider.
The rest of the camp counselors, all of whom had known each other quite well since, like, grade school or something, got along splendidly.
Then there was me. Brooks Happ, new girl in town, first-time counselor, and a chick trying hard to come out of the carefully crafted shell she'd grown comfortable residing in.
Dammit, I was determined not to piss away the last of the summer days before I had to leave for college. Living life like a hermit, the way I had throughout the last eighteen years, was over.
Still, hoping to live a certain way and pulling it off were two different stories.
As water seeped through the thin cotton of my camp-issued tee, trickling down to my shorts-clad ass, I cursed my well-meaning father.
Thanks, Dad, for encouraging me to step outside my comfort zone. I didn't even like the outdoors, for heaven's sake. And I was known to turn into a blathering fool in social situations. Awkward City, thou art my home. And my destiny, I suspected, over the next two weeks.
I stood there in the middle of the trail, reevaluating my recent decisions. A part of me wanted to give up and go home, but Dad would be so disappointed. Damn. I hated the thought of disappointing the only parent who still cared for me. Mom was a non-factor these days. She'd taken off over a year ago—with the pool boy, no less—and had no more time for me.
I blame her for Dad's decision to leave Phoenix and move to this bum-fuck town in North Carolina. Life had become too embarrassing for him, in a city where so many people knew him. I watched with sorrow as my newscaster dad became the brunt of whispered jokes and lewd comments, most with the subtext of pool boys and cougars.
Thanks, Mom, for turning our lives into a bad cliché.
Well, I wasn't about to embrace another one—shy girl can't make it at camp and runs home to daddy. Nope, no way, not me. This was my chance to become a different person, one more open and outgoing. The complete opposite of whom I'd been for, like, ever.
I knew what I needed—a pep talk from the peppiest person I knew, Lacey Kain.
Lacey happened to be the one—and only—person whom I'd hit it off with at camp thus far. Though, in my defense, it had been only two days since we'd all arrived. In any case, I wanted to talk to Lacey, fellow counselor at this godforsaken woodsy prison.
Er, I mean, great place for a teenager to work while helping others, specifically kids.
I had met Lacey the first day of camp at orientation. We clicked right away, something I'd heard about but never experienced. Maybe it was the cool, misty morning air that had me feeling more alert than usual when I met her. I am so not a morning person. But that morning I was feeling rather lively, and I made a point of introducing myself right away.
Lacey had nodded a greeting as she stood there shivering next to me. Both of us had dutifully dressed in the bright green Camp Glen Hollow tees and matching running shorts that had been sent to us a week before orientation. Everyone else that frosty morning had wisely donned jeans and sweatshirts.
"Crap, is it always this cold in the morning?" I had asked Lacey, quietly, so as not to incur the wrath of the seemingly no-nonsense camp director who was orientating us.
"Uh-huh." Lacey bounced up and down on her Chuck-clad toes, her long, teal-streaked blonde waves bouncing right along with her. "I knew it'd be freezing," she went on. "It was stupid to wear this outfit. It was cold every morning last summer, when my brother and I worked here."
I nodded to the other counselors. "So, why aren't you dressed like them?"
One person clad in warmer attire was a cute skater-looking boy named Tim. He couldn't keep his piercing blue eyes off my new friend Lacey, which was kind of adorable. There was another guy as well—Mike. He was with a girl named Ginny, who was leaning against and snuggling up to him. Mike and Ginny were a couple. I didn't deduce that from all the leaning and snuggling. It was their sickly cute sweatshirts proclaiming I'm with Mike, and I'm with Ginny, that had given that tidbit away.
> Lacey's response to my question refocused my attention. "I would have dressed like everyone else," she was saying. "Or worn a hoodie, at least. But my stupid brother wanted to skip orientation."
"What's that have to do with anything?" I wondered aloud.
Lacey shrugged. "One of us has to play by the rules when Sebastian gets up to his antics. Wearing regulation garb is my concession to keep us in good graces with the brass."
She nodded to the camp director.
"Hmm," I murmured. Ah yes, the one notable absence that fine morning—Sebastian Kain.
"I do remember seeing his name on the roster," I mused.
I wondered why the guy would so blatantly bail on the first mandatory meeting.
"Yep,"—Lacey nodded—"he'll show up eventually. Sebastian just does things according to his own schedule."
A rebel, I kind of liked that. This Sebastian sounded so unlike me. I was Miss Rule-Abider Extraordinaire.
But I was done with that, right?
Just then Shirley, the no-nonsense director, asked Lacey where her brother was.
"Sleeping in," Lacey replied.
Her accompanying shrug had a what-can-you-do-about-it quality. "You know how Sebastian is."
I expected Shirley to have a fit. She seemed the take-no-prisoners type, what with her bulldog chops and grim scowl.
But, to my surprise, she actually smiled. "That's fine, dear. I'm sure Sebastian knows all the rules by now, anyway."
What? Are you kidding me? Talk about special treatment!
I was starting to kind of dislike this brother of Lacey's, even though I'd not yet laid eyes on him.
That sentiment deepened when he failed to show at camp the next day.
The problem was we needed him. Things had gotten extremely busy. The campers had arrived, all thirty of them. And that rather rambunctious crew of ten-to-twelve-year-olds outnumbered us six to one.