Hearing Zachery use his first name floored him, but then... the kiss. If the man had fired a bullet into his chest, he couldn't be more surprised. Monroe shook his head trying to clear the memory of Zachery's warm lips. He had to concentrate to stay alive and keep the people he loved safe. To do that, he needed to kill Uday.Monroe drove for an hour, obeying the speed limit and doing nothing to attract attention to the vehicle. He pulled into a warehouse district in downtown Houston and sent a text. Twenty-seconds later his phone vibrated and the large door in front of him rolled up.The men inside took care of the bodies and the vehicle. Monroe changed clothes, and then left in another car, driving to a private airfield. He jumped aboard a small aircraft and leaned back as the pilot immediately took off.Past exhaustion, he needed sleep. Closing his eyes, he let the plane's engine lull his mind, but sleep didn't come quickly, because thoughts of Zachery's lips clouded his senses.
He woke with a slight throb in his leg but after straightening it out he was relieved it wasn't in worse shape. Angel rested in his arms, still asleep, her breathing soft. His fears for Monroe threatened to overwhelm him, so he took long, steady breaths to control his thoughts.Monroe could not die again. Zach was not that strong.His mind flashed on every conceivable problem and then zeroed in on the "what ifs." When Monroe returned, Zach needed to have his priorities straight. It was one thing to wish he'd gone about their relationship differently. And quite another to embrace a lifestyle he had never accepted for himself.The thought of total submission brought along another set of uncertainties. As one of Monroe's Shibari models, he'd fought the overwhelming urge for years. Yet, he craved the ultimate release he'd seen so many others give over to Monroe. What's more, he knew Monroe felt Zach's desire to set himself free. He never pushed, but Zach saw the disappointment in his ey
The dense jungle obliterated any signs of his trail as Monroe made his way to Uday's location. All his senses remained on hyper alert and he refused to let thoughts about what would happen after his mission encroach. He would not repeat the mistake he made in the Middle East that almost cost him his life.He had spent two days watching the compound to determine the best way to proceed. He put his plan into action late on the second night. The death of the two guards was short and silent-the knives in his hands were an extension of his mind and body. Wiping the dripping blood on his pant leg, he continued to the house.He had briefly seen Uday the day before, so he knew the man was somewhere inside. The home sprawled in a large square with only a few windows, though they were too small for him to fit through. He knew from other similar homes used in Mexico and the Middle East that a courtyard would grace the center of the building. Monroe had no idea where Uday was, but had no doubt h
Nine days had passed since Monroe's short appearance, and Zach was becoming worried. The first week was easy because he refused to accept that Monroe wouldn't return to them. This evening, he met Stephens' eyes and saw the same trepidation on the older man's face.Running with Angel each morning after a round of sex and spending time each evening in the playroom helped him fall into an exhausted sleep at night. But... the days were becoming unbearably long.A little after one in the morning, his eyes instantly opened at a short chirp from his cell. One hand went to his gun while he read the message on the screen.He's here. I need your help. Come to the garage.Stephens' apartment was over the garage, but Zach wasn't leaving Angel without being sure. He pulled on pants, walked into the hallway, and then went to his old room and dialed.Stephens picked up immediately."Sir, I'm sorry, but he needs help and he's not cooperating.""I'll be right there."Zach practically ran from the house
She held onto Master tightly. After repeated nightmares that ended in his death, she had trouble believing he was real. He usually disliked touch, but when she tried to take her hand away, he grumbled low in his chest and didn't settle until her hand covered his heart again."I love you. Don't leave me again," she repeated the few times his eyes opened.Mostly she watched him sleep.The bed dipped and Sir moved in with his chest against her back. He kissed her shoulder and neck while threading his fingers through her hair. "I'm sorry, Angel."She didn't take her eyes from Master. "This is truly real?" Even she could hear the doubt in her voice."This," he pressed in closer and kissed her tear-streaked skin, "Is incredibly real."Angel feathered her hand across Master's skin. It seemed slightly cooler than earlier, but she wasn't letting go."How?" she asked without turning.Sir's breath was warm against the curve of her shoulder. "I don't know the full story but he came to the
Home... Angel, Zachery, Marguerite, and Stephens. He remembered Angel's fingers resting against his chest and Zachery's low voice assuring her that everything would be okay. For a short time he didn't think he'd make it. The anguish of leaving Zachery and Angel again was unbearable and what kept him moving in their direction.The pain was finally at a bearable level, but the past hours, or maybe days, were a blur. He tested his limbs to see that everything worked.Dull, throbbing pain, but manageable.He needed the bathroom first, then food, then... rest. Just the thought of getting up made him want to close his eyes again. But, the pressure on his bladder could no longer be denied. He rolled to his side away from Angel's warmth and realized he was attached to an IV line.He attempted to rip out the needle.A large hand, very un-Angel, grabbed his wrist. "I don't think so," Zachery said.Monroe turned his head and saw Zachery lying next to Angel."Then how the hell do you expect
The next time he woke up, the world was a little clearer and his pain had ebbed slightly. His stomach growled loudly and Angel's hand traveled down to where the grumble came from."Do not stop there."Her hand snatched away and she sat up. Her eyes were so incredibly large and the tear that slipped down wasn't unexpected."No tears." He reached up and slid his finger over the wet streak."You're in no position to stop me.""Ahh, you have become the bratty sub Zachery tells me about.""When you're better, I fear you will be seeing an even brattier sub. I can't lose you again and I may need to beat you to prove my point.""Come here." He reached out."I don't wish to hurt you.""Never."He pulled her into his chest, feeling a twinge where the bullet struck his abdomen, but the pain was a small price to pay for having her in his arms. Dipping his head, he inhaled her scent.Zachery rolled and leaned over Angel's shoulder. "I'll hold you still while she beats you."Angel's laug
The kiss.He dreamed about it. He tasted it. He could think of little else.Late in the third day after his return, Stephens removed the IV line and Monroe took a shower. He hated the exhaustion he felt from doing something so simple. He also hated the fuss made over his wounds, his food, and his sleep. He had no patience for a slow recovery.He fought a smile when Angel finally brought in a skein of rope and sat with him in bed while he tied her arms in semi-complex patterns that he had worked with her on during her early introduction to Shibari. The rope always calmed him and this time was no exception.At night the two men slept with Angel between them. To Monroe it felt like nothing changed, but then he would notice a small look from Zachery and his breath would catch.Desire.The thought actually shook Monroe's tightly controlled thoughts. He had yearned for Zachery for years. During his early days of Shibari and his introduction to BDSM, he played with both sexes and enjoye