His head fell to her shoulder as the aftershocks of pleasure continued to race through her. He paused, his breath harsh and heavy. He held her close, tight, his body still a part of hers.
"I can forget my very existence when I'm inside of you," he murmured, kissing her collarbone.
She sighed, tangling her fingers in his hair. She could lie in his arms forever, and forget the world.
To think she had almost lost him. That she had ever been willing to walk away from what they had. Her chest tightened. She tried to push the thought away, but a tear escaped and slid down her cheek.
He rolled to his side, and wrapped an arm under her neck, pulling her against him. He watched her with steady eyes, always aware of her changing moods.
"You're thinking again," he said with a smirk, and kissed the tip of her nose.
"It's a bad habit." She bit her cheek to keep her emotions in check.
The past couple of months were a pale shadow over them. Tears filled her eyes as she held him to her. They had been deceived, used, and manipulated by the very people who were supposed to protect them. The memories of what she had to do to survive, what they had both sacrificed was a pain that still blazed through her soul.
She let out a shuddering breath.
"You're safe now. I won't let anyone hurt you. Ever." His voice was thick with the same emotion.
"It's you I worry about. I don't want to lose you."
"I'm done chasing ghosts. I have everything I need right here."
She knew better. His job was full of dangers. And as long as Circe remained a fugitive, there would always be unanswered questions.
"Are you worried about your mother?"
His muscles tensed briefly. He exhaled slowly. "The mother I knew is dead. Jacob has his best men searching for her. The only reason I care if she is found is to help with the treatment of the remaining victims."
Riley heard the small lie in his voice. No matter how malevolent the woman was, she would always be his mother. There would always be the child inside of both of them that wanted their parents to be the heroes they had once thought they were.
She entwined her fingers with his. Their lives had been similarly intertwined far longer than they had ever known. A web of lies and deception that could have destroyed them both.
"I can't hate him," she said, catching Turner's gaze. "My father. I hate what he did. Who he became. I'm glad he'll never be able to hurt anyone else. But I can't bring myself to hate him."
Turner's lips twitched. "I've spent my life hating the man. For the things he did, the things I imagined he'd done. But how can I hate the man who gave me you?" He pressed his lips gently against hers and wiped away a stray tear from her cheek. "I love you, Riley."
Something seemed to shatter in her chest. With a sigh, she released the fear of what tomorrow would bring.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, and his lips covered hers. His body surrounded her, his warmth and strength encompassed her—she was his.
Body.
Heart.
Soul.
In his arms, she knew she was loved, protected. Let the world come at them. There was nothing they couldn't face together.
Coming Spring 2016
Read Jacob and Kiera's story
Taming Kiera
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Chantel Seabrook currently resides in London, Ontario, with her husband and two daughters. She is passionate about writing and enjoys reading fantasy, paranormal romance, and science fiction. Chantel has a four-year Anthropology degree from Western University
Turning Payne Page 15
