Page 66 of Guarded Hearts

Oaks and Carson chuckled and got in line to receive the bowls that Willow was dishing out. Willow took her seat last and began slicing the homemade bread.

For a minute, nobody spoke as they sampled the delicious stew that was hearty enough to stick to their ribs on this coolrainy night. It warmed Carson all the way to his toes, and the rich taste of beef and vegetables slow cooked with love hit the spot.

As she ate, Layne stole glances at Carson and his family. What was going on in that beautiful mind of hers? It could be any number of things. The Malones had a rough upbringing compared to what she knew growing up.

A few of the stories he’d told her about their father made him wish he’d held his tongue back then. But he was young and stupid. Keeping anything from the girl he loved was difficult.

Keeping things from the woman he loved now seemed impossible.

Yet he and his siblings made it through the tough times, sticking together over the years to forge a tighter bond. And the absent brothers—Gray, Denver and Theo—weren’t far from any of their minds. They’d left seats around the table empty. To Layne, it must appear as if they expected the family members to return for the meeting that would soon begin.

After they were all nourished by stew, coffee and thick bread, silence descended over the table.

Carson set his elbows on the surface and cleared his throat. With a worried glance at Layne, he asked, “You sure you don’t want to get some rest?”

She planted herself more firmly in her seat. “I’m staying.”

He filled his chest with air and started firing off information about the call they received from Denver while they were landing in Italy. When he related what happened upon touchdown, and how the city seemed to be in the throes of turmoil, Willow let out a gasp.

“A car actuallyslammed intoyou?”

Layne nodded. “That’s how Carson got the cut on his face. The window shattered.”

Their attention shifted from him to Oaks, who bore a similar bandage on his face.

“We need to find this guy who’s after Layne. The threats are getting more serious.” Carson’s tone grated with fury. “He isn’t going to stop, and we don’t know what else he has planned. But here’smyplan. Tell me what you think.”

* * * * *

Moonlight slanted through Carson’s bedroom window, painting him in silvery-blue light. Layne’s breath caught as she studied the artwork that was the man she loved.

Built of steel and encased in granite. A good heart beat inside the strong frame of the man. And those eyes burned for her.

He stepped toward her, his cock jutting stiff and proud.

Unable to remain still another second, she hurled herself at him. He grabbed her around the waist and lifted her, turning for the bed in the same movement. They tumbled onto the cool sheets, mouths fused in a passionate kiss.

Need throbbed in her core. She was drenched and aching for him.

When he hovered over her, he flicked his gaze to hers as he slowly lowered his lips to trap her nipple in his mouth.

A sharp cry escaped her. She tried to muffle it so the other people under this roof didn’t hear, but it felt so good. So right.

He swirled his tongue around and around her bud, making it pucker for him. Her pussy flooded, and she rocked into him, seeking that thick length she needed tunneling through her soaked walls.

When she thought she’d lose her mind from the warm, slick feel of him sucking her nipple, he released it and moved to theother. The kisses he spattered over her rounded breasts were filled with more love than any simple sexual act.

This was how it would be with Carson in her bed. In her life. Even after she was safe, he would be her protector because he always had been.

She cupped his face and drew him up her body to capture his lips. “I love you.”

“As I love you.” He slanted his mouth and claimed her. Fire shot high between them. When he closed his hands on her hips, drawing her up to meet his first gliding thrust, she cried out.

He buried his cock deep. Her inner muscles squeezed around him, trying to hold him in place, but he withdrew in a slow rocking motion before slamming home again.

When he reached between them and brushed his callused thumb across her clit, electricity sparked through her body, as bright and blinding as the lightning of the storm they’d landed in.

Her insides tingled. Pleasure made her back arch.