Free Hell Bound (Seventh Level Book 2) by Charity Parkerson, Regina Puckett Page B

Cole.”
    He was too close. She’d never been able to think clearly with Wade invading her space. Avoiding his stare, she concentrated on his mouth, but that turned out to be a mistake, as well. She blamed her sudden inability to breathe on the strong pain medicine she’d been prescribed. The memory of his taste filled her mouth, and she licked her lips in response. “Please?” she begged, and even she didn’t know what she asked for. She’d not meant to say it, but too many emotions flooded through her at once until she was unsure of whether she begged for him to move away or to love her. Touching her chin, he tilted her head back until she had no other choice but to meet his eyes. Everything inside her rebelled against the emotions swimming in his gaze.
    His thumb brushed her bottom lip and her heart beat faster. If anyone had told her love could survive years of separation without as much as dulling an ounce, she would have scoffed at the idea. However, the way she felt about Wade defied all logic. He lowered his mouth to hers and she was too tired to fight it. When his lips brushed hers, a crushing weight landed on her chest. It was cruel that life continued throwing him into her path. As his tongue touched hers, something warm slid down her face. It wasn’t until Wade pulled away and swiped his thumb across her cheek she realized she was crying.
    “You’re tearing my heart out, Morgan. Please don’t cry.”
    “You always destroy me.” At her words, he buried his face in her hair and pressed his lips to her neck. Against her skin, he begged, “Just one more time. Please? Give me one last chance to prove I can be different.”
    Stepping out his hold, she placed some distance between them by walking toward the door. “I have to go rescue Mark. Cole can wear someone out quickly.” She didn’t look at him. She couldn’t. If she saw an ounce of pain in him then she would cave. She almost made it to the door before he spoke. “I’ll be there tomorrow, the next day, and the day after that until you finally figure out I’m not going away.”
    Shoring up her courage, Morgan pasted a fake smile on her face and turned to look at him. He was surprisingly composed. “It’s not as if I could stop you,” she said attempting nonchalance. Wade held her gaze steadily and for the first time in years, she didn’t feel as if she only held a tiny slice of him. “I love you, so you’re right. You can’t stop me.”
    * * * * *
    Mark left Morgan with his cell phone number in case she needed anything else before he headed home. The drive gave him time to gather his thoughts. He’d not slept well in a long time and the few hours he’d managed to snag in the uncomfortable chair next to Morgan’s hospital bed had not done his fucked up back a bit of good. However, meeting Morgan shed new light on his purpose. It amazed him how similar she was to the Trace sisters. All three women had been cast into a heartless world and left to find their way alone, and each one a part of a bigger plan they couldn’t see. Morgan possessed one thing the Trace sisters had not. She had a reason to live. It made sense Pamela would see Wade as the weaker link, but that was before he’d found his purpose. Now, Mark didn’t think Pamela would find him easy prey.
    Mark’s life had changed dramatically when he’d met Anne, and he’d been shown a slice of the afterlife. Things weren’t quite as cut and dry as people would like to think. All the jokes people crack about what they would trade for their souls—yeah—that shit really happened. There were demons everywhere, living right under people’s noses and biding their time. All it took was one moment of weakness and the price of eternity.
    Shaking himself, Mark concentrated on the road. No good could come of thinking about Anne. Failure was a heavy load. Thankfully, Wade kept a few extra security people in rotation, and Mark was able to go straight home. For once, he thought he might be