Off Base

That’s when panic had hit him. The glow on Ke

Mary gripped his arm and he wanted to jerk away. No one touched him but Ke

As if he’d called her name out loud, Ke

Focus. He hadn’t lost her yet. She was still there. The possessive beast inside him demanded he storm toward her, shake her and kiss her until she stopped looking so devastated. Her loss of hope was an insult to that ferocious part of him. Logic, however, managed to wedge its foot in the door. She needed time to reason this out. This moment was equally important to both of them. He needed her trust. She needed to learn how to give it.

“It’s just…you were gone so long. I couldn’t just wait around, getting older.” Mary sobbed into the sleeve of her coat and Beck felt a pang of sympathy. He harbored no ill will for her. They’d been children with grown-up plans, and he didn’t fault her for not wanting to put her life on hold for him. “But I know I messed up bad, Beck. When I heard you were coming back, I thought maybe we could have a second chance.”

Beck didn’t answer. Every ounce of his energy and attention focused on Ke

Beck’s reality shifted when Ke

Ke

Arms locked at her sides, Ke

“Hey, Mary?”

His ex-girlfriend jolted at the sound of another female voice, although how she could have missed his rapt attention on Ke

Mary swiped a hand across her eyes, darting a look between Ke

“I, um.” Ke

For the first time in his life, he experienced what it felt like to be weak and strong, both at the same time. His limbs shook with the need to hold her, while his heart rumbled like an approaching locomotive, gaining power with each passing second. Ke

Mary gave a resigned laugh. “Looks like someone beat me to it.” She wedged her purse beneath her arm. “I can’t even say I’m the least bit surprised. I knew if it wasn’t me, a good woman was going to snatch you up one day and never let go.”

As Mary repeated the words Ke

Neither one of them broke eye contact as Mary turned and left the building. Beck wasn’t sure he’d look anywhere but at Ke

“So, yeah. I’m fighting for you,” she whispered. “And I’ll go with you to Georgia on one condition.”

“Which is?”

Her smile melted the remaining ice in his chest. “I drive.”

“Thank Christ.” Beck lunged forward to grip the sides of her face. “You don’t have to fight for me, you crazy, gorgeous girl.” His thumbs swept across her cheeks. “Neither of us has to fight. We won.”

Her laugh sounded slightly incredulous. “I mean, I was really ready to throw down, though.”

Beck shook his head, dying to get started on the next sixty years with this girl. “It’s a good thing you held off,” he murmured, watching her green eyes go smoky. Yeah, she knew what was coming. “You’re going to need your energy.”

She gasped as he dipped down, wrapped his arms behind her legs and threw her over his shoulder. She recovered in time to smack his ass as they strode through the double doors, out into the night. Together.

HUNTLEY & CULLEN

Sophie Jordan

Chapter One

Getting piss drunk sounded like a fine idea.

Not only was Cullen having a shit week, but Huntley had decided to walk into Bombs Away in a skirt shorter than she’d ever worn. Maybe this was part of his punishment. If it wasn’t for him, Xander wouldn’t have been over there. Xander wouldn’t be dead.

The flirty hem danced around a pair of gold-ski

He tilted his head back and finished his bottle of beer, trying to tear his eyes off her. He didn’t need this right now. He especially didn’t need all these meatheads looking her over like she was something they wanted to sink their teeth into. Stand down. Not your job to babysit her tonight. Her brother is here.

Despite the voice of reason whispering inside of him, he was tempted to find a blanket and drape it over her.

With a small shake of his head, Cullen turned to glare at the shots lined up in front of him. He downed one in a swift motion, slamming the glass back on the bar.

“Huntley,” her brother began. Better him than Cullen. He wasn’t in the mood to talk right now. “I didn’t expect you tonight.” Beck paused awkwardly. Cullen grimaced. He might as well have told his sister to take a hike for the injured look to cross her face. “There’s something I need to speak with Cullen about. Let’s meet tomorrow.”

Cullen’s stomach bottomed out. He knew what Beck wanted to talk about. This conversation was long overdue.

“You can’t tell me whatever it is, too?” The hurt in Huntley’s voice was undeniable, and he pushed down the urge to assure her she could stay. Looking out for her was instinctive, but Beck was right. She didn’t need to be here for this shit.