by Lisa Kessler
“Thanks for waiting so we can talk to her together.”
He parked the car at his place and took her hand again. “I’m new to this whole relationship thing, but as I understand it, we’re a team, right?”
She nodded and got out of the car.
Once he had her and her things inside, she walked toward the bedroom. “I need a shower.”
He tensed up, imagining her fainting and hitting her head. Maybe her muse was rubbing off on him.
As if she could read his mind, she glanced back. “I might also need a shower buddy, just in case I get lightheaded.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “Safety first, right?”
Mel unbuttoned her shirt, eyeing Nate’s muscular back as he bent to turn on the hot water. Her wound was still bruised and tender, but she was desperate to be close to him, skin to skin. Since the attack, sleeping alone had been a challenge. Her dreams were haunted by that damn mask of Kronos’ face.
Nate straightened up and closed the lid on the toilet. He took a seat and stared up at her. “I can wait here…”
She shook her head, working her lower lip with her teeth. “I need you close.”
He didn’t question her. Without a word, he tugged off his T-shirt and tossed it on the floor. Seeing his toned chest, his abs like iron, stoked her hunger for him, leaving no room for fear. This was her Guardian. Hers.
For the first time since she woke up in the hospital, she felt safe.
With the buttons of her top undone, she started to slide it off and winced.
Nate was on his feet right behind her. “Let me help.”
He slid the shirt down her arms and came around in front of her. His gaze wandered to her stitches. “I’m so sorry I didn’t get there sooner.”
“He’ll never touch me again. That’s all that matters.”
His eyes met hers. “Never again.”
“Every time I see this scar, I’m not going to remember him. I’m going to remember this was the day you saved my life.”
He closed the distance between them, kissing her lips, hungry but still tender. She ran her hands down his chest, enjoying the way his muscles contracted at her touch. Without breaking the kiss, she unbuttoned his pants and lowered the zipper.
He caught her hand. “Are you sure? I don’t want to hurt you.”
“We’ll be careful.” Her heart pounded, heat smoldering low in her belly. “I need you. Please.”
She hadn’t told Nate about the nightmares or how she’d endured her hospital stay by imagining being naked in his strong arms. It was their future together that inspired her healing, and she didn’t want to let the crazy man in the gold mask steal any more of their time. They were alive and in love. Fear could take a flying leap.
He searched her eyes and finally kissed her slowly. He rested his forehead against hers. “I need you, too.”
She tried to slide his pants down, but Nate came to the rescue, getting his jeans off and then helping her with her sweatpants. He tested the water in the shower and then took her hand as she stepped inside.
The warm water shocked her system. She trembled, and Nate turned them both so the spray hit his back instead of hers, still protecting her. “Is it too hot?’
“No.” A smile curved on her lips. “It’s just been awhile since I felt warm and safe. I forgot how good it feels.”
His shoulders relaxed and he bent forward, his lips caressing her shoulder as he turned slowly. The warm water didn’t surprise her this time. Nate lathered shampoo into her hair, his fingers massaging her scalp until she moaned. One hand drifted down her back, cupping her backside and pressing her closer to him. She opened her eyes to find him staring at her face.
His voice was deep, filled with emotion. “I love you.”
She reached up to caress his cheek. “I love you, too.”
He bent his knees, sliding his hands down her back to grip her hips. She wrapped her legs around his waist, careful not to bump her stitches.
“Are you all right?” he asked. “Did I hurt you?”
“I’m fine.” She leaned in closer and whispered against his ear, “I bet you’ve never had sex with a fiancée before.”
“It’s my first time.” The corner of his mouth quirked up into a sexy crooked smile as he slowly entered her, careful to hold her steady. His teeth teased her ear. “Be gentle with me.”
Mel tipped her head back into the water, moaning and laughing all at once. She held tight as he rocked slowly into her, grinding to keep from jostling her. The pleasure, the connection; they were healing her. “I missed this.”
“I missed you, too.” He kissed his way down to her neck as he turned to rest her back against the wall of the shower. He lifted his head. “Too cold?”
“No.” She shook her head. “Don’t stop.”
He slid a hand between them, stroking her in time with his thrusts as his lips claimed hers. She moaned into the kiss, working her hips into him until they both surrendered. Her nails dug into his shoulder as they crashed over the edge together.
Nate straightened after a minute, water dripping from his hair. “I need to put you down before we fall.”
Mel let her legs slide down from his waist as he lowered her. Even after her feet were on the floor, he kept one arm around her, steadying her. She definitely got lucky the day the gods chose Nate as her Guardian.
“Nate, can you tack this side of the banner up?” Callie held the other end up from the top of the stepladder.
He pushed a pin through the WELCOME HOME! banner and into the ceiling. On the other side of the room, Trinity and Polly blew up balloons with Maggie. None of them knew about the engagement, the baby, or the adoption paperwork he and Mel had already started.
They wanted to share the news together to all their loved ones at once.
And she had no idea about the party. Mel’s parents came into town after he told them about the attack, and they were distracting her today so he and her sisters could decorate.
So while the muses were plotting to surprise Mel, they had their own surprise coming…
John came in the door with his wife, Beth, and Nate introduced her to Mel’s sisters.
Nate shook John’s hand and kissed Beth’s cheek. “I’ll be back soon.” He turned toward Maggie. “Ready to pick up Mel?”
Maggie bounced to her feet. “Yes! But I won’t tell her about the party.”
He held out his hand and she took it, waving at the others. “See you soon.”
The plan was to grab Mel from the hotel where her folks were staying. It would give them time to sneak over to Nate’s place with the others and also give Mel and him a private moment to talk to Maggie.
The second they entered the hotel lobby, Maggie made a break for it, running to hug Mel. “I was scared.”
Mel smiled at Nate from over Maggie’s curls. “I’m all right.” She pulled back, holding Maggie out at an arm’s length. “So what’d I miss?”
That was all it took. Maggie rambled on about school, her new friends, and her teacher, while Nate said his good-byes to her parents. He turned toward Mel and smiled. He loved seeing her with Maggie. He hoped the feeling wouldn’t ever wear off. He never wanted to take his new family for granted.
Once he had them both in the car, he glanced at Mel and she squeezed his thigh. He winked and pulled out of the parking lot. Instead of heading back to his place, though, he drove to his spot at the beach.
Maggie got out of the car and frowned. “This isn’t where we’re a-post to be, Uncle Nate.”
He caught Mel’s hand, his fingers twining with hers. “We came here first so we could talk to you before we went back to my house.”
She glanced between the two of them and finally nodded. “Okay.”
Nate herded her over to the bench. It seemed like ages since he had sat in this spot and first shown Mel his birthmark, when she’d told him the truth about their connection.
Maggie was between them now, swinging her feet that didn’t quit
e reach the ground.
Nate patted her leg. “We wanted you to know our surprise before anyone else.”
Her eyes widened. “A surprise?”
Nate nodded slowly, his eyes meeting Mel’s. “I asked Mel to marry me.”
Maggie’s jaw dropped.
Mel grinned. “And I said yes.”
Maggie put a small hand on each of their knees, her gap-toothed grin at full power. “You’re getting married?”
“Yes.” Mel placed her hand over Maggie’s. “And if you’re okay with it, we want you to come live with us.”
Nate held his breath. Maggie spun toward him, her bright eyes brimming with tears. “You mean it?”
Nate nodded, his own eyes burning. “I’d like to be your dad if you’ll have me.”
Maggie lurched forward, her arms clamping around his neck and her little sobs breaking his heart. He held her close while Mel embraced them both. He didn’t know how long they sat like that, clinging to one another, but Maggie finally whispered, “I love you.”
He laughed, choking on a tight throat. “I love you, too, Maggie.”
Mel pulled back a little, her voice soft. “We have one more surprise.”
Maggie loosened her hold on Nate and turned toward Mel, her breath still hitching. “Another one?”
Mel nodded slowly and met his eyes. Nate wanted to memorize every second of this moment. The way the sea breeze pulled at Mel’s hair, the way her skin glowed, the way she looked at him and told him she loved him without saying a word.
Her gaze moved to Maggie as she took her hand. “You’re going to be a big sister.”
A wrinkle formed in the middle of Maggie’s forehead for a second, and then it gave way to a joyful smile. She hopped off the bench, facing both of them. “You’re having a baby, too?”
“Yes.” Mel paused. “And it would be the luckiest baby on earth if it got to have you for a big sister.”
Maggie took each of their hands and squeezed them tight. “This is the best day ever!”
Nate couldn’t contain his joy any longer. He shot out from the bench and caught Maggie around the waist, lifting her into the air. He spun her in a circle, drinking in her laughter before hugging her again, his eyes on Mel over at the bench.
“I agree, kid. Days don’t get much better than this one.”
Mel held Maggie’s hand as they walked across the parking lot toward Nate’s condo. Half of her still struggled to believe that today was real. She was going to marry the most amazing man she’d ever met, become a mother to a feisty seven-year-old, and in a few more months, she’d have two children.
Her head was spinning, but as much as her mind fought to work through all the new changes coming her way, her heart was overflowing with joy. There were so many more blessings in her life than she ever dreamed she’d have.
Nate opened the door to his place then, and a roomful of her favorite people shouted, “Welcome home, Mel!”
Her heart nearly burst. “Aw, thanks, you guys…”
The second the door closed behind them, Maggie squealed, “They’re getting married, and we’re going to be a family!”
Mel laughed while Nate mussed Maggie’s curls.
John made his way through all her sisters and stood in front of her, his expression blank. “I told you, Nate doesn’t do relationships.”
Mel wasn’t sure how to respond, but before it got too awkward, John grinned and opened his arms. “Glad you showed him the light.”
Mel accepted his hug, and John whispered against her ear, “Take good care of my partner.”
She nodded as she pulled back. “I will.” Then she noticed her parents lurking over in the kitchen area. “You were in on this, too?”
Her mom had a sheepish grin on her face. “It was Nate’s idea.”
Before Mel could reply, Callie came up to her with a hand on her hip, a smile threatening to break through her mock anger. “We had a pact, remember?”
Nate stiffened, but Mel shook her head. “I love you, Callie, and I hope the fates put a man in your path that makes you kiss our pact good-bye, too.”
“Don’t wish that on me.” Callie chuckled and came forward to hug her. “We still have a theater to restore.”
Mel squeezed her tight and stepped back. “I know. And we’ll have even more hands to fix it now.”
Nate slid his arm around her waist. “Maggie and I will help.” His green eyes met hers, making her tingle all over.
Mel pulled her gaze back to her sisters. “And one more thing…” She ran her fingers through the back of Maggie’s curls. “You want to tell them?”
Maggie nodded with a grin. “I’m going to be a big sister.”
Mel’s sisters surrounded her while Nate stood beside John. He smiled at her and mouthed, I love you.
Her eyes brimmed with happy tears. The muse was silent inside her. Today, her glass wasn’t half-empty.
It was overflowing.
Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed the book, please consider posting a review. It really helps other readers discover the series too.
The concept for The Muse Chronicles was inspired by a short story I wrote while I was taking up Ray Bradbury’s Challenge to write 52 Stories in 52 weeks. Unemployed Muses Anonymous is part of the Forgotten Treasures anthology.
I’m so excited to finally be able to bring the series to life!
I give away free short stories with my monthly newsletter, along with eBooks and updates about new releases and sales.
You can sign up for my newsletter here: goo.gl/qaIIiS
Other Novels by Lisa Kessler
The Muse Chronicles
LURE OF OBSESSION
LEGEND OF LOVE
The Night Series
NIGHT WALKER
NIGHT THIEF
NIGHT DEMON
NIGHT ANGEL
NIGHT CHILD
The Moon Series
MOONLIGHT
HUNTER’S MOON
BLOOD MOON
HARVEST MOON
ICE MOON
BLUE MOON
Stand Alone Works
BEG ME TO SLAY
FORGOTTEN TREASURES
ACROSS THE VEIL
Acknowledgments
When the idea for the Muse Chronicles came to me, it was my amazing agent, Laurie McLean, who first encouraged me to self-publish this series. Then my grandmother helped me to make it a reality. Thanks for your support for this new venture!
Self-publishing is a big project that I couldn’t do alone, so first off, thanks to Danielle Poiesz from Double Vision Editorial. It’s so great to work with you again! And a big thank-you to Fiona Jayde for taking my vision for the Muse Chronicles and making such a gorgeous logo and cover. You rock! Thanks to my intrepid beta readers, who also helped me on the back cover copy. Denise Fluhr, Heather Cox, and Elizabeth Neal, you guys are the BEST!
Big thanks to the Night Angel Legion for all your support! It’s scary to dip my toe into indie publishing, but you all have my back and I love you for it!
I also need to give a shout out to Eleanor Nystrom and the RWASD Sprinters for inspiring me when I was in the homestretch, writing this book until all hours of the night. You guys made it fun!
Big thanks to Arianne Cruz for proofreading for me, and Guillian and the team at Inscribe for helping me get the word out about the new series!
And finally, thanks to my family and my husband, Ken, for all your support. I couldn’t do this without you!
Lisa Kessler is an Amazon Best Selling author of dark paranormal fiction. She’s a two-time San Diego Book Award winner for Best Published Fantasy-Sci-fi-Horror and Best Published Romance, an Award of Excellence for Best Paranormal Romance, as well as the Romance Through the Ages Award for Best Paranormal and Best First Book.
Her short stories have been published in print anthologies and magazines, and her vampire story, Immortal Beloved, was a finalist for a Bram Stoker award.
When she’s not writing, Lisa is a professio
nal vocalist, and has performed with San Diego Opera as well as other musical theater companies in San Diego.
You can learn more at Lisa-Kessler.com
