Page 21 of Under A New Moon

Galen’s breathing slowed, and she realized he’d fallen asleep. She enjoyed the warmth they’d created, nearly dozing off, herself. But reason came trickling in, little by little. She remembered their predicament in pieces.

Her eyes peeled open against her will.

This was- fantastic. Better than anything she might have imagined. And still, their enemies were all around, waiting for them to expose themselves. The situation with PEACE had to be a misunderstanding. Ithadto be.

Darla turned in his arms and traced little circles against his flesh. He wasn’t what they said he was. Not at all. And she believed it when he said he was innocent. They’d put him on a list but itmusthave been a mistake.

If Lily answered her back, she was certain they could make it right.

She studied his clean-shaven face and the soft curve of his cheekbones. He looked younger when he was asleep, without the hard lines of frustration marring his handsome features.

Could they really be mates?

Was it possible?

It was fun, that’s for sure. There was no question she wanted to do this again. He’d railed her like no one ever had before. Her body was still recovering from him, humming with deep satisfaction. Her sigh was one of contentment.

She should have slipped from his arms and made a few more calls. Been more insistent with her contacts. But she had no interest in moving. Not yet.

Just a few more minutes.

It was all she wanted, to lie here and fall asleep with him. To pretend, for a little while, that their whole world wasn’t crashing in around them.

They’d been through enough, hadn’t they?

She nestled tighter against him. Maybe he was all she needed. Even if their lives were turned upside down, she could survive it, if he was by her side. She made a concerted effort at closing her eyes, linking her arm around his shoulder, and pressing her head to his chest. The strong beat of his heart pounded in her ear, and she was home.

No matter how loud it was, it still didn’t drown out the truth. The universe was caving in on this shifter, and he didn’t have a friend in the world.

Well, except for her.

Seventeen

Galen

When Galen awoke, he turned over to see Darla. He wanted to make sure that it hadn't all been some dream. She was really there. The room still carried the scent of sex. It was reality.

He had been down in the depths of his depression for so long that he'd entirely forgotten what contentment felt like. He was happy. She was here, and they were connected in a way he wouldn't have expected. It was like nothing he'd felt before.

He'd heard people talk about it—the bone-deep feeling of belonging. But it sounded like something out of fiction. He thought no one could make you feel whole. But Darla did. It was strange and new, but he liked it.

Even though things were more than a little complicated with people trying to kill them, that felt less ominous with her there. They could handle this together.

Or at least he thought. There was that nagging pessimism he'd developed over the years of isolation and loneliness. It sat there in the back of his mind telling him that all he was feeling now was just the waves of chemicals his brain was soaking in after sex and a decent night's rest.

He could feel it creeping in, trying to steal this moment of serenity. A man could only live in doubt and depression so long before it became a part of him. He didn't want it. He tried to stick to the light, but there was still darkness to be held back.

Their entire first two weeks of interactions had been a lie. He'd been calling her Shelly. She had a cover identity because she'd been sent to kill him. It wasn't the best start for a relationship. But that wasn't Darla's fault.

She was told he was dangerous. A slight chill ran through him when the phrase "just following orders" floated to the top of his mind, but he beat it back. PEACE had billed itself as an agency meant to deal with metahuman crimes.

But he'd committed no crimes. He'd just been living his life. But Darla didn't know that. How would she? She was told where he was, what he was. She hadn't questioned it.

Galencouldbe dangerous. At least the potential was there to let him move past the idea that there was a risk in being bound to her.

Any lingering doubts about her intentions to 'complete her mission' were dispelled by the fact that he woke up. If she were still a danger to him, then he wouldn't have woken up. It was an ultimate test of vulnerability to be unconscious next to her.

There was still the overarching doubt about what PEACE was up to, especially with them turning on one of their own. He'd been ready for the packs to come for him. He'd lived knowing that was always a possibility.

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