Stolen Lives (Blood Brothers Book 1)

by Manda Mellett

  “Cara, Cara, sweetheart. I’ve hurt you.” He’s concerned.

  I rush to reassure him, my hand stroking his face.

  “No, my love, my husband. You didn’t. I’m so very, very happy. So happy, I can’t help crying.”

  Gently he pulls out of me and lets my legs drop to the floor. He keeps me secure until I can take my weight, my legs trembling from our exertions. I can feel our combined juices dripping down my legs. I sob, loudly, unable to stop. His arms envelop me, and he holds me so tight. When I look into his face he, too, has tears in his eyes.

  “I love you, my Cara, my sheikha, my wife.”

  “I love you too, Nijad, my sheikh, my husband.”

  He leads me to the bed and helps me lie down. I’m so tired it’s difficult to keep my eyes open. I feel the warmth of his body surrounding me.

  “You truly are happy?” His hand wipes away the tears that I can’t seem to stop falling.

  “You know I am.” I lift my head and lean over, touching my lips to his. I’m not a kidnapped bride, and neither of us has been forced into this marriage. I have earned a place in his country, and know I have a place in his heart. I’m home.

  Two lost souls come together. Two people who’d had their lives stolen from them, finding a new life together. Yes, I’m happy. I could never be happier.

  Jon

  In my line of work making a mistake could mean someone ends up dead, or, as so recently happened, in exile for a crime they didn’t do.

  I knew from the start that I shouldn’t have assigned myself to provide personal protection for the woman who’s being stalked, but as soon as I met Mia, something about her called to me, and I wasn’t about to let anyone else get close to her. But I was selfish. I failed, again. And yet again, someone else paid the price for my failure.

  I’m a Dom; I should have known better.

  Mia

  For seven years I’ve been dead inside. Oh, I’ve been breathing air and walking around just like anyone else, and I’m able to fulfil my dream as an erotic fiction writer: but something was missing, I just didn’t know what.

  And now someone’s stalking me, threatening me which brings him into my life. Not just any man, but a Dom, and he’s become my protector. He makes me feel things I never believed I could ever feel. But the deeper I fall for him, the more he pulls away. When shit hits the fan, he blames himself and pulls away, and I lose the first and only man I could ever love.

  But I’m going to get him back.

  Blood Brothers #2: Close Protection

  Acknowledgements

  Thanks must go to my beta readers, Kirsten, and Christy who helped me get the plot in shape and gave me the encouragement to continue, and I’m very grateful for the in-depth beta read and tremendously useful report and comments from Kate Marope of The Ribbon Marker Editorial Services.

  Cover design and formatting by Free Your Words. Lia, it was great working with you!

  Editing by Betterwrite.com. Thanks Rob and Nikki.

  Finally thanks to my husband for letting me have the freedom to write, and to my wonderful son who didn’t seem to get bored when he listened to my ideas.

  And of course, I’m grateful to everyone who’s taken the time to read Stolen Lives. If you enjoyed it, please leave a review.

  About the Author

  After commuting for too many years to London working in various senior management roles, Manda Mellett left the rat race and now fulfils her dream and writes full time. She draws on her background in psychology, the experience of working in different disciplines and personal life experiences in her books.

  Manda lives in the beautiful countryside of North Essex with her husband and two slightly nutty Irish Setters. Walking her dogs gives her the thinking time to come up with plots for her novels, and she often dictates ideas onto her phone on the move, while looking over her shoulder hoping no one is around to listen to her. Manda’s other main hobby is reading, and she devours as many books as she can.

  Her biggest fan is her gay son (every mother should have one!). Her favourite pastime when he is home is the late night chatting sessions they enjoy, where no topic is taboo, and usually accompanied by a bottle of wine or two.

  Email: manda@mandamellett.com

  Website: www.mandamellett.com

  Connect with me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mandamellett

  Sign up for my newsletter to hear about new releases in the series: http://eepurl.com/b1PXO5

  Photo by Carmel Jane Photography