The Surrender Gate: A Desire Exchange Novel by Christopher Rice

Author:Christopher Rice [Rice, Christopher]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: 1001 Dark Nights, Paranormal Erotic Romance
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
Published: 2015-02-03T08:00:00+00:00

Tonight, after sundown, your desire will be tested.

- TDE

15

The note had the same effect as a shotgun barrel shoved between their bodies, and with each hour since she pulled away from Marcus inside of Blake Gallery, her body temperature seems to have dropped another degree. Now she’s shivering in front of the balmy beach scene visible through the great room’s soaring plate glass windows, her only warmth a sense memory; Marcus gripping her trembling hand after he removed The Desire Exchange’s ornate offering from her fingers. But the memory is sure to fade after a while, and then what will she have to comfort herself with until sundown?

The light from the westward-leaning sun silhouettes waves stronger than the ones that were rolling to shore that morning when she woke to the sight of him standing watch, when she realized the hours during which he’d guarded her sleeping form constituted one of the most selfless, generous things a man had ever done for her. Watching over her was his job description, for sure, but not from so close, and not when he was scheduled to sleep. And then there was the blanket and the pillow, and the gentle graze of his fingers along her cheek.

She’d never been one of those people to claim chivalry was dead. But she hadn’t realized until that morning how much chivalry could set her heart to simmer. Most of her relationship history had been defined by a series of what Jonathan had called the Oh, goods.

Oh, good, he’s not late. Oh, good, he didn’t show up drunk. Oh, good, he isn’t still involved with his ex.

With Marcus, the Oh, goods, seemed monumental.

Oh, good, there’s a man of focus and dedication behind that swagger. Oh, good, he’s gorgeous but doesn’t skate through life on his looks…

The slanting sunlight gives definition to every fold in every dune and every footprint in the sand. Finally, she realizes she’s looking for theirs. It’s a silly endeavor, but not impossible. The beach didn’t see that much foot traffic that day, and maybe, after a few hours, it would be possible for her to mark the twin-trails they made that morning as he followed her toward the walkway. But it’s a silly distraction from the unsaid words burning a hole in her throat.

She pulls the earpiece from her pants pocket and slides it into her ear.

“Marcus?”

“Yeah.”

“I can’t do this.”

He’s stricken silent. Were her words too ambiguous? Does he think she can’t do whatever’s growing between them, that she’s taking back the gift she just gave him and throwing away their moment of restrained, electrified passion inside of Blake Gallery.

“I want to speak to Arthur,” she says quickly.

“Emily…”

“If it’s not Ryan who shows up tonight, I’ll just give whoever it is the letter and then I’m done. The rest can be in God’s hands. Because, seriously, I just can’t…”

“That’s pretty dangerous at this point, babe.”

“Why is it dangerous?”

Babe. He called me babe. What would it be like to hear him whisper it against my neck as he—

“Because it gives Ryan a chance to vanish into the wind.

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