The Guardians: An Urban Fantasy Romance by Elise Marion

Author:Elise Marion [Marion, Elise]
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Publisher: Marion Press
Published: 2014-10-31T04:00:00+00:00

***

Addison stumbled bleary-eyed into the kitchen, still trying to shake off the fog of fatigue. Despite getting a full seven hours of sleep, she was exhausted. It must have been the emotional trauma of the night before that had her feeling like she’d just gone ten rounds with Mohammed Ali. The smell of coffee had her mouth watering and was a big help in helping her perk up. Jack slept on the couch, she noticed as she padded past the living room, careful to keep silent. The blanket over him had fallen down to his waist, revealing his naked torso. She paused, coming to full wakefulness as she studied his sleeping form.

She did not need to know that he slept without a shirt on. She didn’t need that image tormenting her with ideas of what it might feel like to sleep next to him with that naked chest pressed up against her back. She didn’t need that at all—not after the kiss they’d shared the night before. Now, on top of having to relive that moment over and over again, she would be tortured with knowing every contour of his chest and abdomen.

Hope. It’s what his kiss had given her. Jack didn’t know it yet, but kissing her had been an epic mistake. What was he thinking, giving a girl like her hope that there could ever be someone out there who could love her? It was like dangling sweets in front of a kid not allowed to have candy. The more the kid saw it, the more they wanted it, their lips watering for that elusive, honeyed taste. How long would it take before it got snatched away; before their mission ended, with Jack no longer responsible for her? She’d be alone again, and heartbroken. Not that she thought he’d ever hurt her on purpose; he didn’t have it in him. However, while he’d been elusive when speaking of Tracy the night before, Addison could read between the lines. She saw the things he didn’t say. He was about the job, and nothing else, because experience had taught him this would be the best way. He’d kissed her last night in a moment of weakness, but in the back of his mind, he would always remember how easy it must be to lose someone in this battle he fought every day. That meant nothing could happen between them past the solitary kiss they’d shared—for both their sakes.

Addison wasn’t exactly stable, and she wouldn’t deny that. When they defeated Eligos, and Jack was able to move on with semblance of a normal life, it should be with someone other than her. Someone whose life didn’t represent a magnet for danger and mayhem. She held no delusions that completing this mission would free her from being targeted by her father and his minions. This was what her life would be, and Jack should have no part in it.

With that in mind, she tore her eyes away from Jack and continued on.

“Didn’t you get enough last night?” Micah quipped as she entered the kitchen.

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