What the Heart Desires

  “When you told me you sensed me, I wondered if you’d be able to sense others. I’m not surprised you can. Dylan saved my life when I was born. He shared his abilities with me. I’m assuming that’s what happened with us. I saved your life and shared my abilities with you. Plus, our connection deepened.”

  “So I have Dylan’s abilities, not yours?”

  “No.” She chuckled at his question, obviously sensing his frustration with the idea of getting his friend’s abilities. “Dylan can’t sense other people like I can. He isn’t clairsentient. He’s empathic to me and Adalyn.”

  Good. He didn’t want anything that belonged to Dylan. Except her…

  Releasing his arm, she teased the skin above his elbow before stepping away. She collected Adalyn from the mattress, then passed him on her way to the bassinet. As she laid her daughter inside, the warmth of her energy swirled around him. He liked how their connection wasn’t like the one she shared with her husband. In a way, he had a part of her all to himself.

  The thought spurred another question, one he hadn’t considered. Perhaps she had, but the only way he’d know for sure is if he asked. “Do you have my abilities?”

  Her movements slowed. She eased her chest from the bassinet, but didn’t look away from her daughter. At least he knew she was pondering his question. All the subtle signs were there. Her distant gaze. The way she chewed her lip. Even the rapid pace of her energy.

  His impatience got the better of him. He needed to know if she could produce the flames he could. If so, then—

  “I don’t believe I did, Layne. Dylan didn’t get my abilities, so I doubt I have yours.”

  It was best if she didn’t. He would have to teach her to control the fire, and once she learned, she wouldn’t need him anymore. Why would she?

  “Do you think Dylan will sense any of this when he returns?”

  She shrugged in response and kept her attention on her daughter. “Adalyn is still blocking us. I don’t know how long it will last, but until she stops, he won’t sense anything from me. He can’t sense you. But my parents… Both have an ability to sense the truth in us. So does Hope.”

  Fuck.

  He hurried toward the door but stopped near the window overlooking the front yard. There was no sign of Dylan, but that didn’t mean they weren’t screwed when he got there. She should have let him die. Then she wouldn’t have to choose between the truth and a lie.

  “Do you honestly think I could live without you?”

  Her voice had him snapping his eyes shut. How did she do it? How did she sense his emotions and know exactly what he was thinking? It was like being around her father at times.

  “Your life would be so much better without me, Heaven. Look at the mess I’ve created for you. All because I felt betrayed by your sister and my friend. Now I’ve betrayed a friend.”

  “You protected me from Nate and his men and nearly died because of it. If I hadn’t saved you, we’d both be dead. You saw the map, Layne. Dylan wouldn’t have found us before Nate returned.”

  “Maybe not, but the man that saved us would have.”

  Silence reformed between them. Her energy tugged on his soul as muffled steps resonated from her direction. They faded behind him a second later. Then her hand curled around his shoulder.

  Gripping the casing, he turned to face her, pressing his back to the wall. His breathing stalled when he noticed how close she stood. She needed to avoid the pull between them and concentrate on burying her feelings. If she didn’t, she’d have to tell Dylan the truth. Maybe that was her plan—to tell Dylan everything, but didn’t she realize plans backfired?

  “You don’t have to do this, Heaven.” His insides shook with every word he said. “You don’t have to hurt him. You don’t have to tear your family apart. I won’t say anything. I won’t betray you. Ever.” She was in kissing distance. He knew that, but he straightened his back and stared past her, to the wall across the room. “I won’t look at you too long, or stand too close, or even touch you.”

  As she leaned closer, he tried to back further away, but the wall prevented him from moving. Her lips hovered near his. “What if I want you to touch me?”

  He swallowed hard. “You won’t.”

  “What if I already do?”

  Was she really going to do this when she knew Dylan could show up any minute? Screw it. If she refused to fight their desire, so would he. It didn’t matter how long they had. Five seconds would be as good as five hours if it meant he could touch her.

  Gripping her hips, he jerked her body into his. “If you want me to be your dirty little secret, Heaven, I will. I’ll steal you away every chance I can. I’ll suffer through the want and the need until we’re alone. Then I’ll hold you close”—he crushed her to his chest—“and I’ll kiss your lips”—his lips swept over hers in one slow motion—“and I’ll make you mine for however long I can.”

  He rested his forehead against hers, unable to stop himself from touching her everywhere. He finally understood why men grew weak around women. The woman that held a man’s heart had the power to bring him to his knees. If Heaven wanted to destroy him, she could with one word.

  Goodbye…

  The thought made his blood burn hot, but the sparkle in her eyes said he had nothing to fear. She didn’t want him to leave, no matter who tried to convince her otherwise, nor was she going anywhere.

  “And what if it’s not enough, Layne? What if the ache becomes too much and we can’t keep the secret?”

  He was still open to sharing her. If it gave him a chance to be with her, touch her, and make love to her, she wouldn’t have to ask twice.

  “I already told you, I’ll support you, no matter what you choose to do. But you have to make the choice, Heaven. I can’t do it for you. I’m too selfish. I’d want you to myself.”

  The room grew quiet, except for the birds he heard, earlier. Their chirping switched to a series of trills that mimicked a song. He doubted she heard them at all. She was too busy staring at his lips. Then she did the last thing he expected.

  She pressed her mouth to his.

  The fire within him rolled upward and out, beading his back with sweat. Even her skin grew damp under his palms. He swept one up her neck then cradled the back of her head. Another breeze blew through the window, but it did little to ease the heat building between them. It couldn’t when her lips kept sliding over his.

  They shouldn’t be doing this, for many reasons, but he’d be damned if he pulled away. He couldn’t, not when he knew she wanted him as much as he wanted her. She may be his source of power, but when it came to his heart, she was his weakness.

  His other hand slid down her back. He grabbed her ass and pulled her against the throbbing thickness his jeans concealed. Temptation urged him to lift her up and carry her to the bed. He’d love to give her every ounce of himself, show her how their previous lovemaking had only been a taste of what he could do to her.

  Instead, he spun her around, pressing her to the wall. She whimpered against his lips when he rocked into her. The sweet sound made him growl. If she didn’t stop what was happening, neither would he. He’d take her in this very spot and not think twice about it. Logic left his mind the instant she kissed him. So did every thought, every sound, and every emotion except one. Passion.

  As their lips pressed and parted, he worked his fingers to the curve of her hip, drawing her dress higher. A few tugs later, her skin warmed his hand, but so did the cotton barrier. He hated the barrier, the way it prevented him from feeling her wet warmth. Yet the second her moan vibrated his lips, he refused to let the fabric keep him from what he wanted.

  He worked his hand between her thighs. The further he went, the harder she breathed. By the time he pushed her panties aside, she was panting.

  Damn, she was wet…

  His fingers met no resistance as he slid two inside. Her knees grew weak, but he held her tighter, pinning her body to the wall with his. He glided his fingers in and out, sp
inning, curling, stroking her depths with fervor.

  She moaned again. Her arms wrapped around his neck as if she were trying to get closer. There was only one way to accomplish that, and the more he thought about it, the less he resisted the idea. He wasn’t above a quickie. Yeah, he wanted to take her to the bed, but he knew that would turn into hours of pleasure. They didn’t have hours. Besides, it wouldn’t be the first time they made love against the wall.

  Heaven began working her hips, grinding against him. The waves of pleasure building within her built in him as well. They were playing with fire, risking her husband walking in and discovering them, but the need to be with her outweighed logic.

  His resolve faltered. He removed his fingers from her body, and then his lips. Her breath beat against his face. He saw how much she wanted him. The ache consuming him consumed her as well. He raised a brow. She nodded in response. But before he could unzip his jeans and bury himself inside her, a voice echoed from downstairs.

  “Heaven?”

  He swore he’d fallen into a bed of nails the way his skin prickled. His heartbeats made the stinging increase. This wasn’t happening. Dylan wasn’t here. He wasn’t downstairs, calling her name. Reality wasn’t that big of a bitch.

  Doubt still played in his mind, even when her eyes widened. But when she mouthed oh my god, he knew it was true. Dylan had returned.

  An ache began in his chest. It consumed him with such force, he couldn’t move or speak, could only stare as Heaven moved away from him in haste. She rushed into the hallway and stopped.

  “I’m here, Dylan. I’m upstairs.”

  She motioned for him to join her and then moved down the hall. Before she left his sight, he noticed something he hoped Dylan wouldn’t—the way his kisses made her lips swell.

  Layne forced himself to walk to the door and enter the hallway. Just when Heaven came into view, Dylan topped the staircase. As he hurried down the hall, he spared Layne a quick glance, but Heaven regained his attention. She remained his focus until he stopped in front of her. Each shake of his head sent Layne into defensive mode, especially when he whispered one phrase.

  “I can’t believe this.”

  * * *

  Every breath Heaven took did little to stop her racing heart. Each time Dylan’s foot connected with the steps, a wave of anxiety flooded her. She didn’t sense his anger, or any other emotion for that matter, but the closer he came to the top of the steps, the more her body trembled.

  Biting her lip, she winced at its tenderness. Both burned just as hot as when Layne’s lips were scorching them. As passionate as those kisses were, her lips had to be swollen.

  She did more than kiss him. They’d made out like teenage kids sneaking behind their parents’ backs. There was no other comparison, except maybe an adulterous wife sneaking around with her husband’s friend.

  Oh wait…

  No. She wasn’t going to do this to herself. It wouldn’t change the fact that she had been unfaithful anymore than it changed the fact that Layne almost died. And nothing would change the way she felt about Layne. She loved him. She loved them both.

  Dylan climbed the stairs. When he entered the hallway, he gazed past her, though she didn’t have to turn and see why. She sensed Layne’s energy burning behind her the instant he stepped out of the bedroom.

  Thank God Dylan had called to her before searching the house. The thought of him coming upstairs and walking into the room… Her stomach sank at the thought. She’d been too careless with Layne, which is why she needed to tell Dylan the truth. Still, the thought of hurting him to relieve her mind seemed just as bad as lying to protect him.

  Raphe was right. What a tangled web she’d woven.

  Dylan’s sudden stop had her drawing in a deep breath. The spicy scent she loved, the one that always soothed her anxiety in the past, amplified it. She stood in silence, unable to release the air in her lungs.

  If only she could sense him. Then she’d know if he was relieved to see her or if he’d sensed the change between her and Layne. When he began shaking his head, all the fear she’d kept at bay flooded her soul.

  “I can’t believe this.”

  Her knees began to shake. He’d figured it out. How, she didn’t know, but he’d figured out what happened between her and Layne. After he confronted them, he would leave. She’d never see him again, and if he took the notion, he’d take Adalyn with him. He wouldn’t care what it would do to their daughter or her. He’d only care about causing her the same amount of pain she’d caused—

  Warm arms wrapped around her body. The air in her lungs burned as sudden pressure forced it out. It wasn’t until Dylan buried his face between her neck and shoulder that she realized he’d crushed her to his chest.

  “I can’t believe this.” He repeated the words once more. The vibration of his voice on her neck left a tickle in its wake. “I can’t believe you’re really here.”

  The words had little time to resonate before he cupped her face and pressed his lips to hers. His kiss spoke of what she couldn’t sense. His fear of losing her, the way it consumed him every second she’d been gone. Sweep after sweep of his lips increased the tenderness in hers, but she didn’t complain. She enjoyed each one.

  An array of emotions tightened her chest. Even after admitting her love for Layne, Dylan still affected her mind, body, and soul. In fact, she didn’t realize how caught up she was in their kiss until the heat of Layne’s energy sheathed her in sweat. Though he said he would be her secret and suffer through the pain of watching her and Dylan, it still bothered him.

  It bothered him a lot.

  Dylan broke their kiss but didn’t back away. He wanted to be alone with her. She didn’t need to sense his emotions to know as much. The way he stroked the small of her back and held her close said he needed to be alone with her.

  “Where were you?” His voice shook as he stroked her cheek with his thumb. “I’ve been everywhere, searching for you and—”

  “Raphe found us, Dylan. He transported onto the property with a group of men and captured us. He took us to your father.”

  She wanted to say more but stopped. His lips fell open for what she assumed would be cursing. Yet no words came out. Realization had sank in, realization that his father had come close to getting what he wanted—her death.

  His nostrils flared. “Son of a bitch. I knew he was involved. He sent me a photo to imply that you and Layne…” He peeked at her Keeper, then her. “It doesn’t matter. I knew what he was doing and I didn’t fall for it.”

  The more she replayed his words in her mind, the more her stomach tensed. If she told him the truth, not only would it devastate him, he would feel like a fool. He wouldn’t understand why she did what she did. He would hate her for proving his dad was right.

  Another caress of his fingers forced her to look away. She hesitated on his chest, near his heart. Each beat was for her, but they wouldn’t be if he knew she’d betrayed him.

  “Tell me what happened, Heaven. I need to know everything.”

  Everything was a loaded word filled with painful memories. Still, some of those memories would be the only thing she had to defend her actions. So she told him what happened. Told him the horrible details, from losing consciousness in the woods to rushing down the old dirt road.

  But she didn’t tell him everything.

  He listened with care, even glanced at Layne a few times when she described his battle with the Benders. Nothing about him seemed off kilter, but without sensing his emotions, she didn’t know for sure. She did notice his heart rhythm change when she mentioned his father. Otherwise, he held her hand, taking in each word.

  Once she finished, no one spoke. The awkward silence increased. When he finally blinked, his attention shifted to Layne. She couldn’t say for sure, but she suspected he was studying his injuries. The internal ones had healed. The external ones were close, even the scar on his cheek. She hadn’t checked the one on his side since he put on the shirt she found
in the truck.

  Memories flooded her thoughts, memories of her assessing Layne’s wounds. It wasn’t long after he removed his shirt that he’d collapsed against her, still weak from the attack. But the memories didn’t stop there. Others came to mind, like the one of him writhing against her in pain as she healed him.

  The moment her body tingled, she regained her husband’s attention. No words could describe the fire scorching through her, fire fueled by guilt. Thank God he couldn’t read her mind. The emotional block Adalyn placed between them hadn’t eased either, but there was no way to tell how long it would last.

  Painful vibes rippled behind her. Layne was tuned into their connection, sensing her guilt. As much as she wanted to assure him that she didn’t have any regrets, she couldn’t force herself to look at him. Not when she noticed Dylan’s jaw flinch.

  “My dad will pay for this. It won’t make up for what he put you through, but he will suffer.” He peered at Layne again. “You went through hell last night. Do you have some type of new power or something?”

  The words made her cheeks heat, especially when she sensed Layne’s worry. It quaked within him as he stood behind her, speechless. Had Dylan picked up on their new connection?

  “Sorry, dude,” Layne grumbled in response. “I’m not following you.”

  Dylan pointed to a spot beside his eye that mirrored the one beside Layne’s, the same spot where the metal bar smashed into his face. “The scar is obvious. I see some bruising and a few scrapes, but I don’t see any other visible marks. I know my wife doesn’t exaggerate. So if she says you were close to dying, I know you had to be in bad shape. If you don’t have a new power, how the hell did you heal so fast?”

  As the question remained unanswered, Heaven held her breath. It was the moment of truth, the moment when she could lay the facts before her husband and explain why she did what she did. But being honest about what happened meant being honest about everything, including her feelings for Layne.

  Would her Keeper stand true to his word—to not betray her—or would he confess what happened between them? After feeling the ache in his heart, she wasn’t sure if he’d keep his promise.