Possession (21 page)

Chapter 30

Guitar music wafted from outside when Tonia walked into the kitchen to get an early morning cup of coffee.  It seemed Logan was on house guard duty. She followed the sound and made her way out to the patio. She held the cup and leaned onto the doorjamb to listen to the song. Logan slid his eyes toward the backyard.

"I believe it's for you," Logan told her, not stopping his strumming.

"Me?" She pushed her hair behind her shoulder and stepped into the sunroom. No one stood out by the gazebo, it was set with a table and two chairs, a bright yellow tablecloth flapped gaily in the wind.  "Why do you say it's for me?"

The cowboy shrugged and smiled.  "Go out there and see."

After placing her cup down, she strolled toward the display.  The breeze picked up and her hair flew over her face. She swept the hair away and was startled to see Fallon emerge from behind a tree.

Dressed in black trousers with a grey shirt, he held a rose in his hand and she covered her mouth.

Fallon neared and she glanced over her shoulder toward the house hearing the guitar music. No one watched.

When he held his hand out to her. Tonia took it, warmed when his fingers entwined with hers. Fallon's beautiful lavender eyes met hers. "I want to do something special for you. I hope you like red wine."

"Yes, I do. Actually Cabernet is my favorite."

Once they got to the brightly decorated table, Fallon held a chair out for her.  Tonia sat and he poured two glasses of wine.  His manner cool, but, at the same time, she sensed a nervousness about him. With a visible swallow, Fallon cleared his throat.  "There is bread and cheese, oh and some fruit."

Tonia took a sip of the bittersweet liquid. "What is this all about?"

"I thought sitting out here would be a good opportunity to talk." Fallon sat across from her and tapped his glass against hers. "Cheers."

They spoke of her plans for the presentation. Fallon gave her some good pointers and ways of getting the message across without the danger of crossing the line and revealing too much.

She began to relax, enjoying his company. For the first time in a long time, they were actually spending time together, getting to know each other.

"I thought you had to return to England," Tonia asked.

"Ah yes, I spoke with my solicitor, he's postponed our business for a couple of weeks.  I'm hopeful that you will travel with me. I'd like to show you where I grew up. I still own the brownstone where I lived with my parents."

She couldn't imagine going to England unless their relationship got better. "Oh, of course, that would be nice."

"I have something to ask you.” Fallon swallowed and stood, her heart skipped a beat. Why was he so nervous?

He crouched to eye level and took her hands in his. "I want us to have a better relationship, to become closer."  His lips pressed onto her knuckles and then he looked up at her. "I am in love with you, Tonia."

Her breath caught and she could only stare at him wide-eyed. "Do you mean that?"

"Yes, I would not say it if it were not true. I don't want you to separate from me.  I know it's mostly my fault. An overreaction."

"No." She pressed a finger over his lips. "I was wrong and you are right to be protective of everyone here.  I should have discussed it with you first and waited for the right time."

"So..." he smiled and his eyes slid away. Fallon pulled a large diamond ring out of his shirt pocket. "Will you marry me and give me an opportunity to be a better mate to you?"

"Oh, Fallon." Tonia threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Fallon lost his balance and both fell onto the ground.

His mouth covered hers, his arms around her waist as she lay over him relishing the feel of his hard body. Her fingers through his hair, she held on to him, prolonging the kiss.

"Is this a yes?" A breathless Fallon asked, pressing another kiss on her lips.

A smile curved her lips. "Yes, it is. I can't wait to marry you!"

They sat up and he got to his feet pulling her up to stand.  Fallon's eyes went wide. "Oh Crap. The ring?"

They went to their knees and began to search for it, raking their fingers through the blades of grass.

"Well, this is romantic," Logan stood over them, guitar in hand.  "What the hell are you two doing?"

"Get down here and help us find my ring," Tonia tugged at his pant leg.  "Watch where you step," she admonished when he moved closer.

"What's going on?" Wendy called from the screened in patio.

"We lost my engagement ring," Tonia replied back with a wide smile. "It's got to be around here somewhere."

"Oh my God!" Wendy squealed and ran over to where all three were now searching.

With little hesitation, she bent and picked it up.  "Here it is!" The petite woman began to dance in a circle holding it up. "Oooh, it's so pretty!"

Fallon held his hand out to Wendy. "May I have it please?"

"Of course," Wendy quipped and placed it in his palm. Then she looked on expectantly, her eyes darting between her and Fallon.

Everyone laughed when Fallon grabbed Tonia's hand and jammed the ring onto her finger. "There."

Tonia hugged him and pressed her forehead into his chest. "I love you, Fallon."

He cupped her face with his hands and lifted it to him. "I love you. Will you please move back into our bedroom?"

***

The moonless night meant more demon attacks. Fallon pressed against a wall, Sebastian beside him.

A group of demons had entered the side street moments earlier. From where they'd stood it was hard to make out if any humans were amongst them, but their wary motions were enough to raise suspicions that something was amiss.

Screams rang out, but neither male budged, it was best to wait and make sure it wasn't a type of trap.

Women began to cry, and Sebastian moved toward the noise. "I'll go look, they may not suspect me." The incubus sheathed his sword into his hip holster and moved forward to disappear into the darkness.

"I'm right behind you," Fallon whispered.

Two large males blocked Sebastian's path, stepping into the narrow entrance to what looked like a patio.  "What do you want here incubus?" one asked, narrowing his eyes and leaning forward in an attempt to intimidate Sebastian. "You have no business here."

Sebastian shrugged. "If there are women, I am always interested."

The bulkier male stepped forward. "We are not sharing." He shoved Sebastian, who in one fluid motion, took his hand and twisted it. The crack was loud enough for Fallon to hear.

The demon yowled and his partner charged. "Get the fuck out of here." He drew a gun and pointed it. "Go away now."

Sebastian shook his head. "I don't think so.  And by the way, what's with the gun? Bullets don't kill us."

A gunshot rang out hitting Sebastian in the shoulder. The incubus snarled, and unsheathing his sword, he stormed at the demon. 

At the sound of the gun firing, three more demons came running. 

Fallon spotted another couple of demons standing back.  They held women who struggled and screamed.

The downward swing of a sword took his attention, and he began to fight.  Sebastian held off two, while he fought a large, high-level who growled in anger. Bright red eyes told that he was also hungry. No doubt the women were meant for him to feed from.

Squealing tires followed the sound of an engine gunning, as a dark van skidded to a stop from the other end of the street. The demons ran with the women and pushed them inside.

"Help me!" a woman shrieked and the incubus' face jerked toward the van.  His lack of attention gave the demon he fought the upper hand. When the sword cut Sebastian's arm, he stumbled back.

The demons at once stopped fighting and ran towards the van. The high-level made it inside.

The other two continued running. Fallon and Sebastian ran after the van.

Sebastian groaned and held his arm. Fallon stopped and went back to him. The van raced away, with what looked like four women hostages inside.

"Shit." Fallon sheathed his sword. "We're going to have to get back to the house, find the others. Those women won't survive long if Carlo is recruiting high-levels to come into the city by enticing them with women."

The incubus' face was stoic.

"Who are you?" Fallon asked.

"Someone who hates the way they treat humans, especially women."

Fallon understood the desperation in Sebastian's face.  Although incubus were sensual beings who could not be monogamous, that didn't mean they could not develop feelings.

"We'll get them."

Chapter 31

Carlo had to be found and kept from harming more innocents. The threat from demons was never gone. There was much to be done. Fallon pushed away the thoughts of all the Protectors faced in the coming weeks. In this moment he wanted to be more present than ever.

Under the gazebo Kieran, his best man, stood beside him. He looked up when Logan began to strum his guitar, the notes floating across the lawn.

First, Wendy walked down from the back of the house, her bright eyes blinking in a futile attempt to contain tears of joy.

Then Fallon's breath left his lungs and everything around him disappeared. In that moment all that mattered was the gorgeous woman who walked towards him with a single white rose in her hand.  Breathtaking in a green gown, she met his eyes and smiled. Never breaking eye contact, she neared and stood next to him. Not sure he could remain standing, he took her hand.

Surrounded by his friends and partners, and their wives, Fallon could count this day as one of the most memorable in his long life.

Even Sebastian attended. Although lines of worry etched his face, he'd managed to put the uncertainties of the kidnapped women aside to come and be present for him. It also assured him he could count Sebastian as a friend.

As if sensing his thoughts, the incubus met his gaze and nodded.

"Should we get started?" The judge got everyone's attention.

Tonia stood beside Fallon, holding hands and barely able to wait until the judge pronounced them husband and wife.

The woman finally spoke the words pronouncing them husband and wife and he took her in his arms, his lips pressing against hers with so much enthusiasm that she blushed.

Wendy's whoop, accompanied by clapping was like music to her ears.  Tonia turned away from her new husband to smile brightly at her new large family.

For the first time in her life, the aloofness of her parents—who'd sent a congratulatory note along with expensive gifts not bothering to leave their Martha's Vineyard home to attend—did not upset her.

Eventually she'd visit and take Fallon to meet them, but for now, she was content in the cocoon of warmth that enveloped her when the other Protectors' wives surrounded her, hugging her and, in Wendy's case, wiping away tears.

The party headed inside the mansion where Hector was preparing a wedding feast she was sure would be amazing.

"Packed and ready for London tomorrow love?" Fallon asked, kissing her hair.

"Yes, I can't wait to have you all to myself." Tonia threaded her fingers with his.

Later that night in their bedroom, Fallon held her while she kissed his throat.

"Did you imagine you'd be married to someone like me, Lord Trent?"

He took a breath, his fingers tracing lazy patterns on her arm. "I’d always wondered who my mate would be. I imagined it would be a woman who’d I'd be comfortable with, someone I'd grow to care for. Never did I imagine a passion, a deep love, like I feel for you."

"Wow." Tonia blinked away the tears in her eyes at his words.

His arms encircled her waist and she smiled, at peace. When she looked up at Fallon, the fullness of his love for her made her vision mist.

“I love you Tonia. I fell in love with you that first night.”

“When you were demon-possessed and wanted to kill everyone? That’s romantic.” She pulled him down for a kiss and melted against him.

“I want to make love to you,” he told her, his voice gruff. “Do you think we can take it slow this time?”

“No way,” she replied already working her hands past his stomach. “I’ve been thinking about you naked as my husband for too long.”

"Well, I'm naked.” His lips curved. "Totally and utterly naked."

"Come here," she growled, pulling him on top of her. "We don't do slow."

Fallon laughed. “That’s my woman.”

A Note from the Author

I loved writing Fallen and Tonia's story.  These two captured my heart and I can't wait to delve back into the Protector world with Logan's story, which is next.

I am sure you will be both surprised and happy at the changes in the Protector world in the next book.  Some of them will be reassigned to other locations.  But you will still visit and hear all about each couple.

Logan's story will be touching, exciting and not at all what you expect from these easygoing heartbreaker.

Until then, check out my shifter stories.  The Devlin Beach pack is full of sexy werewolves, who will have you panting in no time flat!

Bestselling author Hildie McQueen loves entering unusual situations and getting into interesting adventures, which is what her characters do as well. She writes romance because she is in love with love! Author of Romance in Highland historical, Western Historical and contemporary, she writes something every reader can enjoy.

Most days she can be found in her pajamas hiding from deliverymen while drinking tea from her David Gandy coffee mug. In the afternoons she browses the Internet for semi-nude men to post on Facebook.

Hildie's favorite past-times are romance conventions, traveling, shopping and reading.

She resides in beautiful small town Georgia with her super-hero husband Kurt, an unruly boy Chihuahua and a spoiled rotten girl Chiweenie named Lola.

Visit her website at
www.hildiemcqueen.com

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