by Peyton Banks
“Guess there are worse evils out there?” I asked, yet wasn’t really asking. It just sort of fell from my lips. I wiped at my face, taking a moment to try and get my drugged out emotions to stand down. I needed a clear head to deal with this man and our present issues. Namely the fact that I was torn between smacking him and kissing him. Lord, help a girl out, please. I don’t ask much.
“Yeah.” He sat in the chair beside the bed and clutched my hand. “I’ll never be able to say I’m sorry enough times to make this better. I’ve kept up with you when I could though. Gran helped me out when she could. That woman always knew everything.” He again paused then met my gaze. “I saw you once while my team and I were in Charlotte. I wanted to approach you. I almost did…but I wasn’t sure if the man holding your elbow was a coworker or more.”
My head was getting foggy, but I was saved from replying thanks to the nurse coming in with meds. “Here you are, daring. You’ll be out in no time. Just relax and let it happen. The doctor will be back in the morning to check on you, but if you need anything, press that red button on the controller and one of us will come help.”
“I’ll be staying tonight. If she needs you, I’ll see you’re called.”
“You don’t have to, I’ll be sleeping.”
“I wasn’t there when you needed me—I won’t let that happen again.” His brows creased and his jaw ticked. I pulled his hand up and rested my cheek against it.
“This was not your fault. Don’t make me sock you.” The nurse left the room chuckling. I smiled at him, my body already starting to feel like it weighed a million pounds.
“I’m going to be right here with you. Sleep, beautiful. You’ll be safe, I promise.”
“Promises don’t mean much...unless you actually mean...them…”
5
Phillip
Standing on Reggie’s front porch, my heart was thumping harder than it was five minutes ago. Each time I came over here it was the same. Keisha was on the other side of the door. It had happened every time I’d been here over the last six weeks. The unknown of where this was going and what we would become again—it had me as nervous as a needy schoolboy getting ready to ask out the most beautiful girl in the class.
After leaving the hospital, Keisha and I had been spending time together. I needed to make sure she was healing and taking care of herself. The need to take care of her myself was something I couldn’t ignore.
The ritual hadn’t changed much. Each time I’d come over I’d stand here, trying to get myself together, and she would let me. I could see the shadow of her pass the window each time. I was sure if I counted to ten it would be timed right with her opening the door. My head shook and I rapped my knuckles gently on her door. “Delivery,” I called out. My lips tipped up in a grin.
She spoke as the door opened, “I’ve told you that if you keep bringing me all this yummy food, I’m gonna need new pants.” She waved her hand at me to come in, her eyes twinkling with mischief. I took the invite as it was intended and stepped inside, allowing her to shut the door.
“Well, I happen to prefer your curves,” I said, shrugging. “You’re beautiful, always have been.” I moved into the living room and set the bags on the table. “I got a bag of skins. They’re fresh from the cooker too.”
When she walked into the room her hands went to her hips. “Skins? Seriously? They’re going straight to my backside...but let me have them!” She was all smiles as I held the bag of skins up over my head.
“They’re to celebrate. What did the doctors say at your follow up today?” She went back onto the flats of her feet, her head tipping back slightly so she could see me.
“The bones are completely fused back together. I’ve gotten the okay to go back to normal life. There’s a small twinge in the muscle still where those few stitches got infected and they had to heal on their own. Nothing bad though. My bloodwork came out normal so there is nothing to hold me back.”
“That’s great,” I said leaning down. My lips pressed a kiss to her forehead. She took advantage of my sweet gesture and made a play for the bag of skins. I, however, was faster. I held them up and smiled wide at her huff.
“Don’t make me hurt you!” She tried to look mad. Really tried, but the tick of her cheek and the mirth in her eyes said more to me than words ever could. So, I played along.
“Yes, ma'am. I’d hate to lose my street cred by getting beat up by a girl.” She snorted. My grin grew as she went over to the TV and pulled out a couple of DVDs. She studied them for a moment then opened one, slid it into the machine, and came back to the couch.
I couldn’t help but study her every move as she grabbed a cup from the side table and went to the kitchen. She had on a pair of jeans that hugged her luscious curves just right. She was the embodiment of beauty and perfection in my eyes. A smile that dazzled me. Eyes that entrapped me, and a mouth that had me fighting every second not to claim it as I once had. The lotion that she used. The way she looked at me when she thought I wasn’t looking…it was all of the things.
Being a gentleman and letting her heal over the last few weeks was killer. I’d become a pro at hiding my raging hard-ons. It was like being sixteen again. As I worked to take the plates from the bag, she came back into the living room. The tank top she wore under her ‘grandpa sweater’ did nothing to hide the fact that she was busty. I, for one, would like it if the sweater took a hiatus, but this was her movie attire. A sweater to bundle up in since Reggie kept his house colder than most of us. I was okay with the colder air. It meant she would snuggle into my side as we watched whatever movie she picked.
“I put in Captain Marvel; it’s the next one in the lineup.”
“We’ve already seen that one.” My brow arched.
“Yeah, yeah, but it technically is the second movie in the lineup now. Iron Man is now the third. Timeline-wise at least.”
My eyes flicked from her to the TV and I grinned, shrugging. “Ah, well, I do love a woman in a bodysuit.”
“Don’t be a pig,” she slugged my arm and I pretended to stumble back. “Carol Danvers is the role model little girls need. The reminder to us older girls that we are strong, capable. I, for one, am so excited to know that the Marvel Universe is not all hunk men with big muscles, fine asses, and egos as big as the Mississippi. They’ve got the chick in there to drown them all out.”
I just watched her as she spoke. The truth and heartfelt words had my heart galloping as my need to touch her rose. She had no idea what she did to me. I shook that off; I had to give her space...right? God, I didn’t want to. Not anymore. I just wanted her in my arms again.
“I’m internally rolling my eyes so they don’t fall out of my head.”
“Why?” I asked pulling myself back to the present.
“Because you’re standing there looking at me like I’m some crazy person.”
She had me all wrong. Fuck it. I moved closer to where she stood, stalking my prey. Her eyes widened slightly but I didn’t stop. Her back hit the wall as my arms came up and caged her where she stood. I couldn’t fight it any longer. My head dipped and I captured her mouth with my own. Claiming her. Devouring her in the only way I could right now. Her hands moved to fist into my shirt. When I needed air I released her mouth, trailed kisses along her neck, and just as a moan escaped her, I nipped the spot under her ear. It was her sweet spot. Hearing her moan though, it was painful for me. My dick was pressed so hard against my zipper it would probably need to be surgically removed.
“Phil…” Her fists tightened in the fabric of my shirt. In a swift move she was up in my arms, her legs going around my waist. The evidence of my arousal pressed against her. I rubbed myself against her. Shamelessly needing to get her as worked up as I was. “God…” Well, that was all of the encouragement I needed. I didn’t want to push her into anything, in case she wasn’t ready, but for now, just having her pressed against me...it would make for great dreams tonight.
Her hands cupped my face, bringing my
mouth back up to hers. The kiss was softer this time before she pulled back.
“I’ve been waiting on you to kiss me for weeks…”
Her words had me blinking. She had. “What?” I said, stupidly.
Laughter filled the room as she leaned her forehead against mine. Her breath was slowly washing its way over my face as she spoke. “I’ve been wanting to kiss you so bad. I wasn’t sure if you were ready for that.”
“Ready? Baby, I've been ready since that night in the hospital. I lost you once. I won't let that happen again. I want to claim every inch of you, slowly. I want to hear you moaning my name. Writhing under me. Riding me until you collapse from sheer exhaustion.”
“I want that too.” She pushed back so she could see my face. “What took you so damn long to say something?” She looked offended.
My eyes narrowed. “You were stabbed. I was letting you heal. Jesus.”
“Oh…yeah.” She let out a very unladylike snort and I chuckled. The sound of car doors slamming outside drew my attention to where we were. I set her on her feet and sighed.
“We will finish this, after the movie. You’re coming home with me tonight. No is not an answer. I will toss you over my shoulder and spank you all the way there if you resist.”
Her eyes met mine and just as keys hit the front door lock, she ran a hand over my aching crotch. “I’ll make sure to put up a good fight then.”
My mouth opened but the door opened also and two small boys ran in, both of them calling out for Keisha. They had balloons and a small bag in their hands. She got on her knees to give them both hugs. I moved to the couch and sorted out the plates. Reggie came over, a beer in hand. I took it with a nod.
“Thanks, man.”
He nodded back then leaned in to speak. “If you hurt my sister again—they’ll never find your body.” With that he called for the boys to come into the kitchen. I couldn’t say anything. I had hurt her before, but that would not happen again. Never. If it did, I’d let him do whatever he wanted to me. She was going to be my salvation, my future. As she should have always been. She was my missing piece and now that I had her back, I was never letting go.
Reclaiming Her Heart ~ Playlist
Brother - Needtobreathe (Ft Gavin DeGraw)
Catch My Breath - Kelly Clarkson
Dancing In The Sky - Dani and Lizzy
Don’t Take The Girl - Tim McGraw
I’ll be There - Jess Glenne
Imperfect - Stone Sour
New Normal - Louisa Wendorff
No Air - Caleb & Kelsey
Only Here For A Little While - Billy Dean
Southbound - Carrie Underwood
Stuck - Imagine Dragons
Superman - Daughtry
What Happens in a Small Town - Brantley Gilbert & Lindsay Ell
What Might Have Been - Little Texas
About the Author
Barb is a Carolina girl by right and a Texan by birth. By day she’s a desk jockey for a rural transportation company and a book lover, reading through as many books as she can. At night, though, she turns into her alter ego: a writer—cape optional, depending on her mood.
Her stories are a mix of real-life events, personal experiences, and the craziness of her own imagination and those of her best friends. And when their imaginations blend together, it can be crazy. Barb writes in multiple genres, encounters new adventures, creates new worlds, and has a fantastic time breathing life into new stories, creating something she hopes inspires anyone who reads to fall in love with them as she has.
Barb lives by one little rule: tomorrow is never guaranteed, so make sure you live each day to its fullest.
~ Connect with Barb here ~
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The Guardian
CARA NORTH
Blurb
Glory was a good Guardian until she lost her way and began to resent the people she was working to protect. As a means of teaching her a lesson, she was made human for a day. In less than twenty-four hours she meets Victor and everything changes. She has a reason to love humanity again. She has a reason to hope for a better future.
1
Guardian
I’m a guardian. I get assigned to humans and my job is to be that little voice in their ear that tells them not to do bad things. I’m supposed to ensure they have that little gut feeling when something bad is going to happen or warn them when they are in possible danger. I’ve been doing this job for a while now. A long while. In fact, I am tired of it. They never listen. There aren’t enough of us to support the human population, so we are overworked, overextended, undervalued, and not appreciated.
“They don’t deserve to live! They waste every opportunity and destroy more than they build.” Those were the words that got me sent to this place. This ridiculous city with all the people so focused on their phones or themselves they didn’t even notice that I appeared from out of nowhere.
Except, maybe this one.
“Oh shit!” He tried to stop in time, but collided with me, nonetheless.
I could feel my lip curl up in a snarl as I went backwards and onto my ass on the pavement. I am not used to being off balance. Guardians are essentially perfection. I am perfect, or I was before being cast down to this place. I blame him for running into me. I also wanted to understand what the fuck that feeling was. It sure didn’t seem nice. “Ouch!”
“I am so sorry. I didn’t see you.” He extended a hand and I looked at it skeptically. “Seriously? At least let me help you up.”
I frowned up at him, more aggravated by the fact that something was blooming inside of me than the fact that he was offering to help. Help. From a human. I was disgusted by the thought. Still, I wasn’t exactly disgusted by him. Him and his wide shoulders, honey colored eyes, smooth dark skin, and a smile that made me think things I have definitely nudged women to ignore before. These ridiculous emotions I have seen on hundreds, thousands of humans, but never experienced them for myself.
I glared at him hoping he would take the hint. He didn’t. I tried and failed to keep that sour expression. I felt my lips stretch to return the smile. I was smiling! It’s not like I didn’t smile or have feelings, I just didn’t have these additional feelings that seemed to come with his touch.
I put my hand in his and he pulled me to my feet. I let go of that hand quickly and dusted myself off. Funny thing about being a bit less human is the outfit I was wearing never bothered me before. The heels were suddenly something I was aware of. Maybe all that beauty is pain talk I would pass off as drama was real. “Thanks.”
“Can I buy you a coffee?”
I shrugged. I didn’t exactly know what I was supposed to be doing here other than learning a lesson. If they wanted me to learn that this was a total waste of time, they were off to a good start. “Sure. Why not?”
He laughed out loud and I liked the sound of it a little more than I thought appropriate. I know in the past I have had a few mischievous incidents where I provoked a few creeps into doing things that landed them in jail or in some form of trouble. I may or may not have encouraged a few teens to go on some outrageous adventures. I could possibly be responsible for social media, but in fairness, I didn’t think it would take off like it did. I thought people were above holding relationships with technology. I was really wrong on that one.
It didn’t make our lives any easier when the forces against us, the ones that are always nudging people to do really horrible things practically doubles our ranks and thanks to the social media have influence that stretches generations without limitations to time or geography. That error got the team referring to me as the devil on the shoulder rather than the angel. I knew bad guys when I saw them. This was not a bad guy. This was a very interesting human. I couldn’t read his thoughts which was new for me. I could read his body language though and it was cautious but interested as we began walking the direction he was heading to begin with.
A human offering
to buy me coffee after knocking me on my ass. We took a few steps before mister handsome face spoke again. “I’m Victor.”
“A winner. Champion. Hero.” I know it was a little more sarcastic than not, but I didn’t know what to do with this newfound appreciation for this species. I was trying to be the devil on my own shoulder and push him away quickly.
“Sometimes. More often than not, I feel like I am doing all right, but things could be better. Could be worse but could be better.” He winked at me then and I know my face gave my thoughts away. “Wow. You really do not want to talk to me, do you?”
“I’m not used to talking to people.” Not when they actually spoke back in an interactive way. I was used to talking at people.
“Well, it’s not every day I don’t get to knock over a beautiful creature like yourself and then take her out for coffee, so you won’t mind if I don’t give up right away, will you?”
He smiled and I wanted to touch his lips, get close enough to smell his neck, place my hands on his bare chest and…what the fuck was wrong with me? Fortunately, we arrived at the coffee shop and as I entered, I could smell the aroma of fresh brewed coffee. I didn’t have all these senses before. I didn’t know what all the hype was about. I was sure learning fast. “Wow. That…smells fantastic.”
“I know, right? I was on my way here when I ran into you.” He guided us to the line to place an order.
I tried to remember all the orders I had heard through the years. I was certain humans spent entirely too much money on things like this and too much time waiting in line for something to eat and drink. Still, I was feeling what was obviously cravings. I wanted a lot of things at this moment, but coffee was the safest. “What do you get here? I don’t really know what to order.”
