Free Beautiful Storm by Megan Isaacs Page A

permanently wet imaging how I’m going to take you next time.” I lean down and run my nose up the soft skin of her neck to her ear. “I want you to need my hands and mouth on your pussy, and when you can’t take it anymore, I want you to beg me to fill you”—I sound like a conceited tosser, but I know how to fuck, and if that’s the only thing to bring her back to me, it’s what I’ll use—“and begging to be mine.”
    Her breaths become shallower, and between my thighs I can feel hers tighten. I tease her ear with my teeth and trail my tongue back down her neck. I could cut glass with how hard my cock is, but this is the right thing to do. Claiming her now would achieve nothing, and make my thirst for her worse.
    I plant a swift kiss to her lips and stand up. “Do you want a cup of tea before you leave?”
    The soft laughter from her doesn’t go to my cock. It hits my heart. Hard. And I’m temporarily paralysed.
    This shit is going to kill me.
    “I’d love one. Thank you.”
    I nod and go downstairs, trying to figure out what the hell’s up with me. When did my heart get involved in anything ?

    Lizzie left an hour ago. For the past sixty minutes I’ve been staring at my coffee cup. A thousand different thoughts have been whirling through my brain, but I’m trying hard to ignore the main one I keep coming back to.
    When the wanker’s gone, I get her to myself. We can’t go out for meals, or on dates, because we aren’t a couple. They are, although they haven’t been together for months. I know next to nothing about him, apart from he’s in some band. I don’t give a shit who he is. He’s a tosser. He’s never here for her and I get the feeling there’s something very wrong with their relationship. I know she’s unhappy, or she wouldn’t be in my bed. She’s not the type to have a fuck toy on the side. Plus, last night she handed me her heart.
    I pour the remaining coffee down the sink and slam the cup down on the side. The only thing I can think to do is go for a run, or I’m going to go all caveman and drag her arse back here. I quickly put on my running shoes and a sweatshirt, then head out the door.
    After ten miles it becomes clear the burning feeling in my chest and the rampant thoughts in my head aren’t going to disappear anytime soon.
    I’m in love with her.
    Fuck.
    How do I deal with this?
    Another five miles and my muscles burn, my sweatshirt’s soaked, and nothing’s changed. I still feel the same. Exhausted, I turn for home and watch people on the way. Couples young and old, families, doing day-to-day shit, but they’re happy. I’ve never wanted that, avoided it for good reason. My life involved other people’s deaths, so it’s safer for everyone if I stay away from relationships. It’s better not to get attached. But that was my old life, right? I’m past all that. Retired.
    I stop to plug in my earbuds, hoping the music will drown out my thoughts. My lungs are on fire by the time the house comes into view. I jog up the driveway, and then do some stretches before trying to get much needed air back in my lungs.
    I release a disgruntled exhale and run a hand through my sweat-drenched hair. Falling in love is a dangerous game, as Lizzie stated; someone usually gets hurt. But for me? I know it’s already too late. She fucking owns me, black heart and all. And I’ve just made the biggest decision of my life. No music, no amount of muscle fatigue, and no internal argument could change my mind.
    I’m going to ask her to move in with me. I need her by my side.

M Y HEART SQUEEZES as I drive away from Noah’s. I hate this. Leaving the arms of the man who holds my heart and doesn’t have a clue is breaking me.
    I love him. My heart should have been more guarded. But Noah is raw, passionate, and gentle with it. It stood no chance. The first time I met him I knew he’d be trouble if I let him get close. And he is. He’s under my skin and in the air I breathe. He consumes