High Voltage

The phone continued to ring.

Garrett's gut twisted. He had a bad feeling about this interruption.

But Serena's mouth felt too enticing, too wonderful on his cock to stop her. He just couldn't...

And then her hand gently cupped his balls at the same time she pulled him fully into her mouth, and Garrett came. There was no staving off the intense sensations. They were all-consuming. And Serena's sweet mouth on him was just too damned much for him to take.

Garrett growled deep in his throat as the orgasm rocked his body, making even his powerful legs tremble slightly. He held fast to the erotic feelings coursing through his body.

The phone was still ringing.

"Must be important,” Serena said. She stared up at him. Her tongue traced her upper lip in a provocative manner. Garrett's groin tightened once again. If he just had a few minutes to recover, he could make love to her. But...

His gaze shifted to the phone sitting on the bedside table. Pushing himself away from the wall, he strutted over to the nightstand and snatched up the receiver.

"Garrett."

"We have unexpected guests,” Robert said in a tight voice.

Garrett's fist clenched at his side. “Not unexpected. But definitely uninvited.” He hung up and turned back to Serena. Trying to keep his expression neutral, he said, “I've got to take care of some unfinished business. I need you to wait here for me."

She rose to her full height and crossed her arms over her chest. Curiosity danced in her bright blue eyes, but concern was etched across her lovely features. “Something wrong?"

He nodded. “Yeah. But I don't want you to worry about it.” He crossed to his enormous walk-in closet and dragged on a pair of jeans with a T-shirt and boots. When he returned to the room, he gr

ipped Serena's upper arms with his hands and looked deep into her eyes. “I made a promise to you that no one would hurt you. I'll do anything to keep that promise. No one will come near you while I'm alive."

"While you're alive?” The concern morphed into fear.

"If anything happens to me, I want you to go with Robert. He'll get you out of the state. He'll keep you safe."

Her head shook slowly. “I don't understand..."

"I know. But I don't have time to explain it.” His hands slid away.

Panic flashed in her eyes. “Please don't leave. I need to know what's going on."

Garrett let out a long breath. He didn't want to scare her. He didn't want her to know about the confrontation with Braedan that awaited him. His jaw tightened as he considered what to do. The lodge was empty because they didn't get much traffic in the late spring or summer months, so there would be no audience when he met Braedan. Except for Serena. Unless he could keep her settled in his suite.

Would she stay put?

He continued to stare at her, seeing the determination in her face.

No. She wouldn't stay put. He knew her well enough to know that she would want to know what was going on. She would want to make sure he was safe.

A grin touched his lips, unexpectedly. He cupped her face in his hands and said, “I admire your strength. I respect everything about you, including your nerve. But this is one time when I'm going to ask you—beg you—to trust me and do exactly as I say, no matter how difficult it is for you. The best way for you to help me is to listen to me. Can you do that for me?"

The gravity of the situation obviously registered, because her look softened and she nodded her head. “I'll do whatever you say. I want to help ... not make matters worse for you. Or put you in danger."

He breathed a sigh of relief, then said, “Stay here. Robert is on his way up. He'll protect you. But I need you to do what he asks of you. I need you to just sit here and wait for me. Can you do that, sweetheart?"

She nibbled her lower lip a moment. He could tell she wanted to help him. That she wanted to be by his side. But this was his fight—and there was no way she'd survive it, so he needed to keep her here. Out of harm's way.

A few tense moments slipped by, but eventually, Serena conceded. “I'll stay here."

"Good.” He kissed the tip of her nose. But the desire to really kiss her was too tempting to pass up. His mouth pressed to hers and he kissed her deeply, hoping to convey all the passion and desire and love he had for her. It was a kiss meant to solidify a future. It was a kiss between soul mates.

When he finally pulled away, she swayed unsteadily on her bare feet. Garrett grinned. “We'll finish what we started when I get back."