Book 2: Chapter 140

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“If I had a brain, I would have sent you back to Kansas. At least you would have been safe there.”

Sandra snorted a half laugh and leaned into him, caressing his cheek with the tips of her fingers.

“You do remember where I lived, right?” she asked him. “Kansas is part of Tornado Alley. Trust me, a few displaced animals and a couple of threats are nothing compared to what I grew up with. I know things are crazy right now, but it will get better. The worst thing I could have done was leave you.”

Creighton smiled, or attempted to, but he knew it was because of his past that she was in harm’s way now.

“Listen to me,” she continued. “You told me once, if I left you, I took everything you have of worth. You said I would take your heart and your soul. Do you still feel the same way?”

“More today than the day I told you,” he said, the twinkle in his dark eyes told her the love was still there, only hidden behind a wall of fear.

“You’ve always told me to trust you, well I still do. I know things will work out and we can get on with our lives. But just now, my love, you have to trust me. I will never leave you and will never back down just because there’s some creepy little jerk who thinks he deserves something for his crimes.”

Creighton sighed and pulled her into his warm embrace, kissing her lips passionately as though his life depended on it. His tongue easily slipped out and traced the outline of her lower lip before sliding between her teeth. He teased and tasted, battling against the eagerness of her tongue, sweet from the strawberries she had been eating. Sandra moaned into him, surrendering her heart and absorbing his frustration, leaving both of them panting and anxious for more.

“I should put you on the Tornado and send you into the ocean where you would be safe.

At least I’d know you were away from here and out of the reach of whatever bastard is behind all this.” Sandra laughed, her arms wrapping around his neck as she pulled him down across her, lying against the wavy floral design of the sofa.

“I’d be safe until a hurricane came by to say hello, or a tsunami decided to make my acquaintance.”

Creighton laughed, kissing her neck.

“I suppose, no matter how much I try to keep you safe, I’d be wasting my time?”

“No, you’d just be trading one situation for another.”

Sandra reached up and cupped his cheeks in her hands, caressing the soft dusting of the beard with her thumbs.

“You’ve always asked me to trust you, now I’m telling you to trust me,” she said softly. “I will not leave, and I will not hide. You are as much my heart and soul as I am yours and you’re stuck with me forever.”