Her Guardians: Her Guardians Trilogy Book 1 (14 page)

“Well
, I meant it then, and I mean it now. I wonder if I have a really long jumper and a pair of sweatpants that you could wear. Not that it would help much.”

His smile broaden
ed and I couldn’t help but smile back.

“So,” I began,
biting into my toast. “These others… They’re just like me?”

“Yes, all the same gift.
The gift of sight. How they’ve been using it over the years is anyone’s guess. I should imagine much the same as you. I know it can’t be easy for any of you. You’ve been completely alone in all this.

“
I wish I hadn’t been so dumb. All this time, you were right here. I could have been there for you all these months and I just kept trying to ignore you, hoping that what I felt would go away.”

Knowing how he now felt
, I had to ask, “Did you know how I felt about you?”

“How
do
you feel about me?” He regarded me with a cheeky grin. It wasn’t as cheeky as Stephen’s, but cheeky nonetheless.

“You know.
” I was blushing. “The same as you.” I was hoping that was a good explanation.

Michael reared his head back in shock.
“Really?”

“Why do you look so shocked
?”

Just at the point he was about to answer
, his phone started ringing. “Excuse me.” He sprinted off as quickly as he could, leaving me alone again.

I couldn’t hear much of what was being said, but I got the general gist.
Daniel had been taken care of. I did not know how, but I knew Michael wouldn’t do anything bad. I trusted his judgement. But someone was helping him. Who could that be?

The bulb suddenly
went on above my head. Why didn’t I think of this yesterday?

Just as I was mulling it over
, Michael came back into the room. “Did Stephen take care of Daniel then?”

Michael stopped dead in his tracks.
“How did you know?”

“I can’t feel anything from him, same as you.
I couldn’t believe it that first day we met and I shook his hand.” I paused a minute and something else came to me. “Hold on a minute. He knows about me, doesn’t he? He kept saying I was innocent and that I would get him into trouble.”

Michael looked pissed—v
ery pissed. I suddenly found myself recoiling from his angered glare. He growled a little and stomped over to the bed. “Yes, he knows about you.”

“So he’s like you
?”

He turned
to face me. “He’s
nothing
like me, Cassie. He’s trouble. Stay away from him.”

My eyes
opened wide. His outburst scared me a little.

“I’m sorry.
I didn’t mean to frighten you. It’s just that Stephen has always had trouble following the rules. He’s well-known for being a troublemaker. He doesn’t like being told what to do, and never has. He’s not a bad person. He just likes to be in control of everything.”

I thought I had better change the subject.
I knew Michael didn’t like Stephen near me and now I knew why. But I was curious…extremely curious.

“Is he on some sort of bad side then?
Is he out to harm me?”

Michael shook his head
, relaxing a little. “No, of course not. He wants to help, but just on his terms. He was ostracised from our group because of the way he is, but he’s not bad. He may feel a little bitter towards them for it but, deep down, he wants to do good.”

“So did he take care of Daniel last night?”

Michael sighed and sat down on the bed. “Yes. He followed him and once he knew he got him alone, he snuck up behind him and hit him. He was unconscious for a few hours before someone noticed him in the early morning hours and called an ambulance. He was drunk, of course, and doesn’t remember anything, considering Stephen came at him from behind. I don’t like it, but it’s better than his poor wife getting it.”

I cringe
d. It still didn’t help her future. He’s done it before, so he’ll do it again.

“I know this is only temporary,” he said
, answering my question, “but it will have to do until we can figure out a way to stop him.”

I nod
ded, deep in thought. “Are there any others I don’t know about lurking around the police station?”

“No, just him and me.
Stephen felt it necessary to step up measures once he knew I wasn’t getting anywhere. I knew he was smug that first day he met you. Now I know why. He knew who you were from the very beginning. That’s not going to do much good for his ego. Plus, he made me look like an idiot. I was there six months and was so busy avoiding you that I didn’t realise it was
you
I was looking for all along.”

I saw his frustration and wanted to take
it away from him. “Michael, I’ve been fine these past six months. I must admit, it would have been nice for you to have acknowledged me a little. At times, I felt like you hated me. In fact, I believed you did, but I understand why you did it. You can’t beat yourself up over this. It’s done. Get over it. Move on. I’m sure I could
help
you move on.” I winked at him and he shook his head.

“Stop that.”
His voice was scolding, but I’d obviously amused him because he was fighting hard to keep his grin under wraps.

“Stop what
, Michael?”

“I know what you’re up to and it’s unfair.
I think I need to find you some clothes.”

He got
up, stomped over to his wardrobe, and searched through his things. He pulled out a polo shirt and tracksuit bottoms, handing them to me.

Rising from the bed
and smiling, I felt the towel loosen its grip. I did nothing to aid its hold on me at all. In fact, I thought I would wiggle a little and see if I could loosen it further. I had clothes in my hand. It was very difficult to hold onto them and the towel at the same time.

Sure enough
, the towel fell to the ground. “Oops,” I said, bringing my hand up to my mouth.

Michael turn
ed his head towards me and his expression nearly sent me into a fit of giggles. I don’t think I have ever seen anyone’s eyes bulge as much as Michael’s were now.

“Shit
…” He stood rigid, staring across at my nakedness.

“Tut, tut, Michael
. A man of your stature should not be swearing.” This was certainly fun.

Running
over to me, he knelt in front of me to grab my towel. I needed to touch him, so I grabbed a handful of his hair and seductively ran my fingers through it. He stops momentarily and grabs one of my thighs. His delicious mouth was soon on my skin. I felt like I was on fire. He starts kissing me gently along my leg and up my thigh. I throw my head back, letting the sweet sensation take over.

Slowly, he
moved towards my belly, trailing kisses across my sensitive skin. I moaned. I couldn’t help it. The feeling was just too good. He eventually came up to my lips, but not before wrapping the towel back around me.

“You’re not playing fair
, Cassie. What you have and kept a hold of all these years is not something to throw away that easily. You’re so special and deserve to be treated that way. When it happens for you, you deserve nothing but the best.”

“You’re not helping
, either, when you say things like that, Michael. You talk like you’re undeserving of me. I think I can decide that for myself.”

He
cupped my face in his hands and kissed me gently on the lips. “You were the creation of angels, Cassie. You don’t understand how important you are. You certainly are to me.”

“Tease
,” I pout, being as cheeky as I possibly could.

Michael
left to let me get dressed. For a while, I was lost in thought. He said I was the creation of angels. That’s a lot for a twenty-five year old girl to take in for one day. He certainly held me in some sort of high regard. It made me feel special, though, so who am I to complain? It was only what I have been dreaming about all these months.

Once I
was dressed, Michael returned to me and eyed my attire. He shook his head, smiling, and I looked at him questioningly. “What?” I asked.

“Even my baggy clothes
do nothing to stop how—.” He thought for a moment, wondering how to put it. He seemed to be having a debate in his head. Eventually, he gives up. “Sexy you are.” He sighed a little, like it was a lot of effort to think that one up.

I smile
d, elated at the thought. “You think I’m sexy?”

“Yes
, and stop that.”

“Stop what
, Michael? I’m not doing anything.”

Prancing around the room
, I hold onto his t-shirt and start singing,
I’m Too Sexy
by Richard Fairbrass. “I’m too sexy for this shirt, too sexy for this shirt. So sexy, it hurts.”

Laughing,
Michael was nearly falling on the floor. It was a beautiful sound. I didn’t know why he didn’t laugh more often.

The sound
made me carry on further, feeling lighter than air. He suddenly grabbed me, halting me in my tracks. He stared into my eyes for a few seconds. It’s almost like he was drinking me in. “You’re so beautiful, Cassie. I’m so glad I found you.”

My breathing
spiked and I couldn’t help but pull him into me. I grabbed his hair and pulled him to my mouth. He moaned and the sound sets my soul on fire. I want him to touch me. I
need
him to touch me.

The kissing
, normally so gentle, seemed to be getting fiercer as his hunger set in. I felt him giving in and I knew I was about to burst at the seams.

Our tongue
s explored and our breathing was harsh. I felt somewhat satisfied, but I knew I wanted more.

G
rabbing his hand, I pulled it towards my breast. I needed to have his hands on me. To my amazement, he complied, squeezing it gently. My nipples go rock solid under his touch as he gently rubbed one, causing me to shudder.

“Oh
, Michael, please.” I was begging again.

I
tried hard to pull him towards the bed. At first he hesitated, but I scratched his back and that seemed to spur him forward.

We fall onto the bed and he
was on top of me in a second, exploring my breasts. Heat rose up my body and towards my face. I felt giddy and so turned on.

It somehow
felt strange to me that I wanted something I’d never had. I knew Michael would never hurt me. I knew he would be gentle and kind. That was why I instantly knew that he was the one. He
had
to be the one.

My emotions run even higher when h
e flicked his thumb over my nipple again. My hips involuntarily rose up to meet his hardness. I moaned so loudly that it made Michael emit a rumbling sound in his chest. It was so animalistic that my body quickly reacted to it.

“Michael,
please.” I didn’t know what I wanted him to do, but I needed him to do something to relieve this enormous pressure building up inside me.

I
tried taking his shirt off, needing to feel his skin on mine. I was so overcome with need that my body seemed to be taking control. I felt like I was finally breaking down his walls…until his hand reached down to stop me.

He
broke away from my kiss, breathing erratically as he rested his forehead on mine.

“I’m sorry.
” I gripped my eyes shut, feeling guilty for pushing him.

He
pushed himself up, taking a seat at the edge of the bed. Closing his eyes, I wonder if he was angry with me for pushing him so hard. My eyes filled as the feeling turned from hot and heavy to devastating rejection within seconds.

Trying to calm his breathing,
he turned to face me, eyes wide. “Please don’t be upset, Cassie. You have nothing to be sorry for, okay?
I’m
sorry. The last thing I ever want to do is hurt you. You have to understand I want you, too. More than you know. There is nothing more in this world that I would want than to make you happy, believe me. I just want you to give me some time to make this right for you. I want you to know that if I kiss you and break away, it’s not because I don’t want you. It’s because I’m trying to control myself. I want it to be perfect, just like you.”

I smile as a single tear dro
pped down my cheek. Michael reached up and gently wiped it away.

“I hope th
at’s a happy tear.” His face was filled with warmth, and it took my breath away.

N
odding, I took his hand and kissed his soft skin. “Thank you,” I whispered.

“For what?”
His face crinkled into a slight frown.

“For finding me.”