Moira Rogers: Deadlock

Jackson pretended to consider it. «Can saving the world wait ’til I get back from Vegas?»

His partner had joked about drive-through Las Vegas weddings so often Alec didn’t have to ask. He wasn’t surprised by the spike of happiness — Jackson deserved the love he’d found with Mackenzie — but it was oddly relaxing not to feel the usual accompanying jealousy. «About time. You better be damned ashamed if I end up hitched before you do.»

«No way. It’ll take a year to plan the kind of to-do y’all have to make.» Jackson glanced up at the darkening sky. «I’m engaged, you’re engaged, and no one’s dead. Seems like a good night for a party.»

«You’d know all about it.» Alec clapped his friend on the shoulder. «Why don’t you go get things started? I’ll be along in a few minutes.»

Jackson retreated into the house, and Alec sighed and glanced back to where Carmen still talked to her brothers. All he wanted in the world was a few uninterrupted moments with her. A chance to celebrate in private.

Maybe this was his first test as the leader of their region — smile and play host when he really wanted to chase his lover through the woods and take her where he caught her. The urge had been with him since the fight, but looking at her now, in the uncertain twilight with the wind stirring her hair and her eyes alight with pleasure…

Christ , he needed her.

He always would, and maybe that was the best part of all.

The house bustled with celebration. Music spilled out of the open doors and windows into the night, following Carmen as she slipped off the back porch and went in search of Alec.

Cicadas sang through the deepening darkness as she walked through the back yard. He wouldn’t return to the clearing, not so soon after the fights that had stained the ground that afternoon, and the barn was dark.

She followed her intuition more than anything, and it led her down a path she only vaguely remembered. It wasn’t until she heard the lapping of water that she felt him — Alec, deep in thought. Pensive.

Wondering.

Moonlight glinted off the lake’s marshy surface as she walked up to stand beside him. «Jackson and Mac went for pizza.»

His fingers curled around her hand. «With the way things are carrying on in there, I hope they took a moving van to bring it back in.»

«I hope they don’t get too much. Five minutes after they left, Walker and his brother showed up in a catering van. They’re boiling shrimp in your kitchen as we speak.»

A chuckle spilled free. «Every victory party needs a voodoo chef. John makes some damn good food, you know.»

«So I’ve heard.» She leaned her head on his shoulder. «What are you thinking about?»

«You.» One arm looped around her waist, and he tugged her to his chest and turned around slowly, away from the lake. «Right there. That’s where it happened.»

Her cheeks heated. «Where I ran like an idiot and fell asleep on you?»

«Where an empath up to her ears in feral instinct looked at me and saw safety.»

It was exactly what had happened, the only reason she’d ever allowed herself the luxury of rest that day. «What should I have seen?»

«A bastard. A stranger. A killer.»

«Nope.» She stroked his arm soothingly. «You tricked everyone else, but there’s no fooling someone who can see inside you.»

«And understand what she sees.» His chin came to rest on her head. «Everything’s going to change now. It’s good. It’s been a long time coming. But God almighty, Carmen…what if I’m not up to this?»

«Up to what? Making sure that all the people in your care, under your authority, have the opportunity to live their lives as best they can? That they have help when they need it, and someone to make them stop if they step over the line or hurt others?»

«No.» A whisper, fading into the night. «What if I’m not up to figuring out all the ways the world needs to change?»

There had to be things she didn’t even know about yet, but she knew where to begin. «The need, Alec. There have to be people out there who need your help, even if they think they can’t ask for it, or they don’t know how. Start with that. Then, the injustice. Every time someone expects special treatment or a different set of rules because of money or their family name.»

«We could spend the next decade on that.» He kissed her temple and then her cheek, his arms tightening around her waist. «Franklin finally told me where the money’s coming from, and Dade said there’s more if we need it. Enough to establish clinics throughout the Southeast. I was hoping you’d organize that, since I don’t know where to start.»

«I have a few ideas.» Carmen spun in his arms and looked up at him. «You can do this, honey. Just think of all the reasons you didn’t want to have anything to do with it in the first place. You can change them now.»

« We can change them now.» A full moon hung heavy overhead, reflecting the white glint of his teeth as he grinned down at her. «I’m going to marry the hell out of you, Carmen Mendoza. You’re not getting away. You’re mine.»

The perfect time to lower her walls and let him back in so he could feel her delight at his words. «Good. If you marry me, I won’t have to chase after you.»

His amusement curled around her, followed by his pleasure at the touch of her empathy. «I thought we had it pretty well established that I’m the one chasing you, no matter where you run.»

«Mmm, that’s what I let you think. You chased me until I caught you.» She stretched up until her lips brushed his. «Sneaky, right?»

«Mmm, sneaky. And bullshit.» A soft growl, and he nipped her lower lip. «Don’t pretend you don’t love getting caught.»

She loved everything, every part of being with him. Words failed her, but that was okay. She nuzzled her face to his and let him feel it instead, bypassing her clumsy tongue altogether.

For once he had the words, and he whispered them against her lips. «Love you. Love every damn bit of you.»

Contentment flooded her, a curious peace edged with excitement. «Your house is full of people. How am I supposed to drag you to bed right now?»

«Who needs a bed?» Teeth scraped her earlobe, a sharp bite as dark promise wrapped around her. «I’ll give you a head start this time.»

Anticipation and arousal curled through her, smoke from a building fire. «That’s wicked.»

«That’s nothing.» He released her and took a step back. «Wicked is what happens when I catch you.»

« If you catch me,» she countered, her mind already whirling with the sensual possibilities.

«I’ll always catch you.» Quiet. Sure.

The rest of Carmen’s life stretched before her, a continuous wave of good and bad, joyous and sorrowful, just like everyone else’s. This was what would make it perfect — unwavering devotion.

Love.

She turned and ran for the barn with a laugh. Every quick stride echoed her heartbeat, singing through her blood along with the joy they shared. Alec would catch her, and she would show him the moon.

The night, the world , was theirs, and all that mattered was the two of them.

How do you make a Moira Rogers? Take a former forensic science and nursing student obsessed with paranormal romance and add a computer programmer with a passion for gritty urban fantasy. To learn more about this romance-writing, crime-fighting duo, visit their webpage at www.moirarogers.com, or drop them an email at moira@moirarogers.com. (Disclaimer: crime-fighting abilities may appear only in the aforementioned fevered imaginations.)

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