I'm in the cave, so here's a sneak peek at what's happening... this excerpt is from Derek's POV~

ONE TO PROTECT
By Tia Louise
*unedited draft, subject to change*
expected release April 2014
© 2014, Tia Louise

Her fingers touch my brow and smooth it back. “You’re less tense than you were when I got here, and now I have to leave again.”

“You forget, I’m trained for long separations.” Even as I’m saying it, I know nothing makes telling her goodbye easier.

She pushes up into a sitting position and moves me onto my back. “So being a Marine means you don’t miss me?” Her elbows are bent, and one cheek rests on her palm.

I can’t help laughing at her eyes narrowed in disbelief. I’m not fooling anyone. “I miss you like the worst pain in the world. Like missing water in the desert.”

“That’s something you have experience with.”

Catching her neck, I pull her forward for a kiss, but she arches away before I can take it further. “Tell me more about your training. You haven’t mentioned any special skills. Can you fly a plane?”

I shake my head. “Sorry, darling. No piloting for me, but I think Patrick did some flying—”

“I don’t believe it. You know things.”

Pressing my lips together, my eyes move down to her chin then to her slim neck. Yes, I know things.

“You keep so many secrets from me,” she sighs. “What are you thinking now?”

“The things I know aren’t things you want to hear about.” Reaching over, I slide my palm down the curve of her waist.

She catches my cheeks in her hands and draws my gaze back. “I want to know everything about you.”

For a moment I hesitate. Then my eyes are drawn to the scar, that tiny silver line that starts at the top of her forehead, just above her temple, and disappears into her hairline. “I can kill a man with my bare hands.”

Our eyes meet again, and I can tell she knows where my thoughts have gone. “Have you ever done it?”

When I answer her, my voice is quiet. “I’ve had to kill people.”

Her hands move to my shoulders, and her voice is equally quiet. “I’m sorry. I’m not trying to bring up painful memories. We don’t have to talk about it.”

Wrapping my arms around her torso, I pull her closer so I can kiss her neck. “Have I told you how amazing you are?”

A laugh bubbles in her throat. “You always say that. I’m not so amazing.”

Rolling us so she’s on her back, I look down into her beautiful face. “You’re smart and beautiful. You’re incredibly busy, but you make time to show up here—”

“When I know you need me.” Leaning down, I kiss her jaw as she continues. “Besides, I can work from anywhere.”

“Then work from here.”

“You can work anywhere, too.”

Our old argument. Neither of us chases it any further—not on our last morning. We’re counting down the hours before we’re apart again, and instead I focus on trailing my lips down to her collarbone, where my floating heart lies. Lower to her breasts until we’re lost once more...

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stay sexy~ <3