Absolution (Honor Guard 1)

***

Eva walked out of the school and slipped her sunglasses on. The sun glared against the white cement, and she had to blink a few times to adjust, even with the dark lenses over her eyes. No wonder her students hadn’t given her even half their attention throughout the day. They all wanted to go out and play. She couldn’t blame them. She could use a bit of playing herself. And she had a date later to prove how badly she needed a night of fun.

She and Antonio had come into the coffee shop at the same time every day, and after a ton of light flirtation, he’d asked her out. Her love life had been a bit slow going the past six weeks, since her ex had broken her heart and stomped it into itty-bitty pieces. Not only had he cheated on her, but he’d also had the audacity to pass out naked and drunk afterwards. With a stripper.

In their bed.

But why dwell on the past? She had a hot date with a new guy.

“Eva,” a voice called from behind her.

She stopped dead in her tracks. His voice washed over her like an electric shock, causing her heart to race and her knees to go weak. Oh, hell no. Anyone but him. Did he somehow sense he was on her mind? With a moan, she squeezed her eyes shut tight. No, it has to be a coincidence. My imagination.

“Eva, look at me,” he said, his voice sounding closer.

She shook her head, wiping her shaky hands on her khakis.

His face swam into her mind. The only logical explanation for his voice echoing in her ears was pure fancy. She just thought it was him. When she turned around, she would see someone else who sounded like Joseph. A trick of the mind.

“I’m not going to disappear if you refuse to look at me.”

Why me? Why is he back? What the heck did I do to deserve such torture?

Opening her eyes, Eva took a calming breath and spun to face him. She hadn’t seen him since she’d kicked him out of her bed and life six weeks ago. Her heart ached from just one look at him. Damn it, he looked good. His hotness served to make her more furious, and she welcomed the emotion with open arms.

“Really? I was so hoping you would. But you know what does work? Me, walking away. Which I’m doing now.”

She turned, took a step, and found her escape thwarted by his hand on her elbow. When she tried to yank loose, he tightened his grip and stepped closer, his chest brushing against her shoulder. Jolts of lust shot through her.

Damn him.

“Let go.” She fought to control her emotions.

He released her, and ran an unsteady hand through his exceptionally perfect auburn hair. Ha, at least he wasn’t unaffected by her, either. Good.

“I’m leaving, and you’re going back to wherever the hell you came from.”

“Sorry, pumpkin, but that’s not an option,” he said, almost pulling off an apologetic tone. His endearment made her heart lurch.

“Don’t call me that. You lost the right to use your nickname for me when you f**ked a stripper in our bed.”

Joseph paled and backed up a step. “I’m not going anywhere. I’m here to guard you. You’re my new assignment.”

“What? Me? Why the hell would someone send you to protect me? I’m a teacher, for Christ’s sake. I’m in no danger. Well, maybe a kid will puke on me, but it’s no reason for a guard.”

“Your father disagrees.” Joseph crossed his arms over his chest and raised his eyebrows.

“My father put you up to this? But he hates you.” If her father had asked Joseph for help, then he must be worried. And if he had a reason to be worried, well, then, so did she. “What’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you everything. But not until I get you inside. Take me to your place.”

She laughed. “Hell, no.” Worried or not, he would get nowhere near her apartment ever again. “I told you when I kicked you out you’d never be welcome inside my house again. Nothing has changed. I’m a big girl, I can handle myself.” She took a step away and once again he took her by the elbow.

This time, Joseph didn’t halt but grabbed her and dragged her behind him. “No, you can’t. And if you won’t take me to your place, I’ll just lead the way. Either way, I’m getting in.” He tugged her toward the red-roofed, stucco building Eva lived in, and she tensed.

“Go to hell!” She struggled against his hold, but he didn’t even pause. She tried to dig her heels into the cement and yanked her arm but failed to free herself from his grip. “I’ll scream.”

He leaned toward her, getting in her face. “You wouldn’t dare.” Without waiting for her reaction, he continued to escort her toward her building.

She opened her mouth, took a deep breath, and yelled, “Help—”

Joseph stopped, eyes wide. He spun her until she rested against the wall of a nearby building. She had time to yelp before he crushed his lips to hers and thrust his tongue inside her mouth.

She pushed against his shoulders, and he groaned, deepening the kiss. She longed to bite his tongue, to kick him in the balls, but damn it, he felt so good. It might have been six weeks since he’d last kissed her, but her body remembered him well—including all the feelings he brought out within her—and wanted more.

She pulled him closer while he slid his palms down her back and cupped her bu**ocks, hauling her up tight against his erection. She groaned in unison with him. He tore his mouth away and nibbled on her right ear.

“God, Eva, I’ve missed you so much.”

Nothing he could have said would have sobered her more. Man, but he had some cojones telling her he missed her! He’d cheated on her, not the other way around. She jerked out of his hold and slapped him hard across the face.

He covered his cheek with his hand. “Damn.”

“You’re a nasty son of a bitch. You broke my heart.” Her voice cracked, and she grimaced at the tears stinging to her eyes. She’d cried so much over this man already, how could she have more to shed? “And you stroll back into my life, kiss me, and tell me you missed me? Fuck you!”

He pressed his lips together and shrugged. “I can’t help it if I miss you. I can’t help it if I regret what happened every single day of my life. One night. One night of bad decisions, and my life got ruined. And has been ever since.”

Her heartbeat sped up, and she raised her fists. “Your life was ruined? Have you any idea what it felt like to find you with that…together?”

He kicked the wall and grabbed her elbow. “Yes, I do. But right now is not the time for this discussion. I need to get you inside.”