The Forbidden Life of Alex Moore(31)
Alex laughed, but in a strange and probably completely wrong way…they were.
But all through Belle’s long and arduous labor, Alex had heard hellhounds baying and knew that with dawn, the next battle would come. One he might not win, but one he would fight with all his might. Because if he did survive, if he did destroy his enemy, he wouldn’t be returning to the Beyond. He didn’t care about the afterlife. He cared about this life that had been offered with no expectation that he would accept it.
He might not be worthy, but he wasn’t an idiot either. He would take it.
As the sun rose, Lilly put fresh blankets down for Belle and her new family. She brought water and food out for both the big dog and the hellhound. She fed Alex, too. He sat across the table from her, knowing he wanted to stay. Whether he belonged or not—maybe he’d never know. But if he could a find a way, he would never leave. Yet the words wouldn’t come so he did the only thing he could—he made love to Lilly. He let Lilly make love to him.
The first time, they’d been driven by something primal. He still felt that Lilly would always be a basic need in his life. Air. Food. Water. And Lilly. Not necessarily in that order. But as he let his fingers wander over her silken curves, what he felt came from deep inside. It was longing and hope and belonging, all twisted into the spark that ignited when he moved between her legs and thrust into her body.
Nothing could compare to the feel of Lilly, surrounding him, hot and wet and wanting. Him. Wanting him to complete her.
In the end, he didn’t say the words. But she knew.
Dark and Deadly: Eight Bad Boys of Paranormal Romance by Jennifer Ashley, Alyssa Day, Felicity Heaton, Erin Kellison, Laurie London, Erin Quinn, Bonnie Vanak and Caris Roane
CHAPTER 12
Blue sky showed through the clouds when Alex stepped from the bedroom. He went to the window to see what impact the bright sun had had on the frozen world. The sight that met his eyes made him still with shock. Silently, he pulled Lilly beside him.
“Look out the window,” he said softly.
Lilly’s eyes widened as she took in the five hellhounds sitting on the porch, lined with military precision to keep watch from every angle.
“I know this sounds crazy,” he said. “But I think they’re guarding us.”
From somewhere not far away, the sound of other hellhounds baying raced across the bright morning. The hounds on the porch stood up and Blue-Eyes—as Lilly had dubbed him—jumped out of the enclosure. He gave Belle a parting glance that she seemed to understand. At the door, he turned those eyes on Alex.
The message was clear.
The battle was no longer coming. It was here and these creatures of damnation were now his army, if Alex chose to lead them. He gave the hellhound a stunned laugh.
“Yeah. Okay.”
The hellhound sneezed, shook its body, and waited for the door to be opened.
Alex strapped on his machete and Lilly reached for her rifle. He hated the thought of her going out into what could only be a bloody fight. But she gave him a bright smile.
“I’m an even better shot when I can see what I’m shooting.”
He laughed again. It was ridiculous to be so happy in the face of waiting violence. Yet he couldn’t stop grinning at her. “Did you really learn to shoot from YouTube?”
She pressed her mouth to his. “Ask me tomorrow.”
Her pack of crazy dogs gathered around the hellhound at the door, ready to accompany Lilly out and fight at her side. Even the toy dog danced with impatience.
She told them all to sit this one out.
“Stay with Belle, girls.”
Harley barked in protest, but when Lilly settled him beside Belle, he nudged the puppies into place and patrolled the edges like a sergeant.
“Lilly,” Alex said before he stepped outside.
“Don’t you dare say goodbye.”
Alex shook his head. “Not a chance. If we get out of this, only God himself can take you from me or me from you.”
“It was always that way, Alex. Didn’t you know it?”
He smiled again and kissed her. Together they went out to fight for their future.
Dark and Deadly: Eight Bad Boys of Paranormal Romance by Jennifer Ashley, Alyssa Day, Felicity Heaton, Erin Kellison, Laurie London, Erin Quinn, Bonnie Vanak and Caris Roane
CHAPTER 13
Lilly didn’t know what to expect of the hellhounds who’d stood guard, but she had faith that they wouldn’t turn on the humans when they stepped out. She was so focused on the interaction between the animals that she didn’t see the three men who slipped out of the trees until she heard Alex curse beneath his breath.