Protecting Salvation: A Shadow Elite Novel

“Oh my God, I need to sit before I pass out.”

Peyton stumbled back to their seats and Warren slid in beside her, grabbing the water the waitress put down and downing half of it. Sweat was pouring off her and she was sure her make-up had slid off her face but she was having so much fun.

“Having fun?” His eyes twinkled as he looked at her like she was his next meal.

“When you asked me for a list of things I’d put on my bucket list, I never expected you’d try and cram every single one of them into a two-week period.”

He lifted his arms and she cuddled against him, loving the feel of his hard muscular body beneath her fingers. His lips nuzzled her ear making her shiver.

“What my girl wants, my girl gets.”

So far they’d spent a day touring London and doing all the tourist stuff, including visiting the castle and the Harry Potter experience. They’d taken a canal ride on the Avon and visited Shakespeare’s home town. Been to a comedy night with Aoife and Bram and now they were learning to line dance in a bar that had been styled after an honest-to-goodness cowboy bar. The owners had moved from the US when their daughter married an Englishman and opened the place as something to do. It was now packed out every night and although she wouldn’t be winning any line dancing competitions anytime soon, she was having the time of her life. “I can’t believe you picked it up faster than me.”

Warren shrugged, a sexy smirk on his handsome face that would charm the birds from the trees. This man had it all, handsome, kind, humble, sexy, and he had that whole alpha protector vibe going on too. “It’s in my blood.”

Peyton felt her smile falter and dipped her head to kiss him so he didn’t see it. His health had been something they’d both avoided but he’d stayed home a couple of nights and she wondered if that was so she didn’t see him sick again. When she asked Lotus, she shrugged and said she didn’t know. Peyton could respect them keeping his business private but they were building something here and the thought of him holding back felt every kind of wrong.

“Come on, country girl, get your ass up for this next dance.”

He lifted her to her feet and she shook off her thoughts, determined to enjoy every second. Trevor was in jail on remand awaiting trial after the remains of Craig Lewis had been found at the farm. DNA results were still pending but evidence at the scene had given them enough to charge Trevor, or Vincent as he really was, with murder. He was also later charged with murdering her cousin.

Hilary had been charged with perverting the course of justice by concealing a murder. Peyton felt bad for her. She’d never stood a chance once Trevor got his hooks into her and she hoped the judge would take that into account. More was likely to come out but she wasn’t going to keep up with it. Now that she’d given her statement, she was free.

Lining up beside Warren, she turned and he winked at her.

“Ready?”

“Yep. Let’s do this.”

She watched his feet and tried to follow instructions but kept bumping into him. “I don’t think line dancing is my thing. I might be more of a dance girl vibe.”

As a slow song came on he pulled her into his arms and held her tight as he looked down at her like she hung the moon in the sky every night just for him. “Do you have any idea how gorgeous you are?”

Peyton blushed and dipped her head before looking back up at him as they danced. It felt like in this moment they were one person. Their bodies moved in sync, every part of her heart belonged to this man. “Is it silly to say that being with you makes me almost glad my attack happened?” He frowned and she rushed to explain. “Without it, we might not have met and you’re the best thing in my life. The best person ever to walk into my life and I can’t imagine it without you.”

“We would’ve found a way to meet, sugar. You were always meant to be mine in some way.”

Peyton tried not to dwell on what he wasn’t saying. The promise that he’d always be with her was one he didn’t make and he made no mention of the future. She understood it but she wanted him to know how she felt. “I love you, Warren Tanner, and for all the universe has taken from me, you’re the greatest gift. I hope you know how much I cherish you.”

His lips crashed into hers and she felt every ounce of emotion he was holding back from saying. He poured himself into the kiss and her heart felt like it fractured down the middle and then healed itself in his arms.

His eyes were on her as he lifted his head. “Wanna go home?”

“Yeah, baby, take me home.”

He drove them home with his hand on her leg and carried her into the house as she kissed his neck, his big arms holding her as he laid her gently on the bed. No words were said as he stripped down, and she admired every ridge of muscle and dip on his body. His hands unbuttoned her blouse slowly as he kissed his way down her middle, past the white lace bra to the top of her jeans.

He helped her shed her clothes, pulling her jeans and underwear off and tossing her cowboy boots behind him. He bent and kissed his way up her belly, flicking the clasp on her bra and reverently pulling it down and off. Then he stood back and admired her as she lay naked before him, their eyes locked.

“You’re so beautiful it pains me to look at you sometimes. I want to spend every day wrapped in you, holding you, and worshipping you.”

Peyton felt tears prick her eyes at his softly spoken words as she held her arms out to him.

He bent a knee onto the bed and again kissed his way up her body. He stroked her inner thighs, spreading her open for him before his face was where she needed him. Her back arched off the bed as he cupped her ass in his big hands and lifted her up to his face as if she was a treat he couldn’t get enough of. Her climax crashed over her as his name fell from her lips over and over again.

Warren palmed her breasts, laving her nipple with his tongue before sucking each beaded point into his mouth. He did the same on the other side and she held him to her, her legs wrapped around him as her nails scored down his back. Nothing felt hurried or rushed. This wasn’t fucking, he was making love to her, showing her what was in his heart.

When he finally pushed inside her, she gripped his shoulders, her fingers holding him close as he rocked into her, again and again, slow and determined. His eyes never left hers as he stroked into her, his beautiful cock hitting parts of her that made her toes curl.

“Warren.”

“You’re the best of me, sugar.”

Tears fell and he kissed them away as her pleasure built and spilt over as she came and he followed her over, his breath against her neck, a mumbled word that she didn’t catch on his tongue.

She fell asleep in his arms that night feeling like everything had changed. He may not have said the words but what they’d shared was special. It gave her hope that, finally, they were on the same path because a life without him was unthinkable.

Over the next two weeks, more dates followed, interspersed with girl’s nights when she didn’t see him and on those nights she missed him like a lost limb. She couldn’t sleep when he wasn’t around. Her body missed his arms around her, his heat next to her body.

When he was there, it was perfect. He was sweet, attentive, romantic, and he made her laugh like nobody ever had, hiding knock-knock jokes in her pantry or emailing her funny things he had read.

They were building a life together, yet he never talked about his tumour or told her about his visits with Dr Decker. She didn’t want to ask, she wanted him to come to her because she knew he hated feeling like a sick person. Sooner or later though, they’d need to discuss it if they were to have any chance at a future together. Secrets and half-truths were like a slow-acting poison and she had no intention of letting the best thing she’d ever had go so easy.