Love in Retrograde (9 page)

BOOK: Love in Retrograde

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“In the end I couldn’t go through with it,” Lucius confessed. “I did my best to deter him as long as I could. There was a lot of arguing and tea.” Lucius rubbed at his jaw. “After he clobbered me, we decided to come up with a different plan. Of course we had no idea you’d lay bloody siege to the whole building.”

Kelly shrugged. “What can I say? Love makes you do crazy things, even if you don’t know that’s what’s driving you to it.” He gave them a wink and walked down the wooden steps to the flip-flops at the bottom. He slipped them on his bare feet and made his way across the sand to Mars, who appeared to sense him approaching. Mars pushed himself to his feet and turned into Kelly’s open arms.

Mindful of his wound, Mars wrapped his arms around Kelly and brought him up hard against him, then kissed him feverishly. Their scorching kiss grew tender, and Kelly smiled against Mars’s lips.

“I love you. I’m sorry it took a military assault to make me see it.”

Mars’s smile couldn’t get any bigger, and his amber eyes sparkled with joy. He pulled Kelly with him, and they sat together on the large beach towel. Mars’s smile faded, and Kelly cupped his face.

“What’s wrong?”

“Will I be enough for you? Will this”—he motioned around him—“be enough to keep you happy? I’m afraid you might regret everything you’ve left behind. Your career, your home?”

Kelly took in the beautiful, peaceful scenery around him. He spotted Lucius and Jordan kissing and cooing at each other on the balcony of the large beach house. Then he turned his gaze back on Mars and the love burning in those amber eyes. There was so much hope in them too. How could Mars think he wouldn’t be enough for Kelly? Kelly pulled Mars down into the warm sand, lay down beside him, and kissed him sweetly.

“I had a house, but it wasn’t a home. New London was never my home. I can’t really remember the last time I had one. That’s all changed now.”

It was a lot to take in, and it wouldn’t be easy. In fact, being without any technology was going to prove to be a challenge, but as he looked into Mars’s amber eyes, he smiled. It was a welcome challenge. It had taken a bioengineered human to teach him about love and taking chances. A lesson he wouldn’t soon forget and one he’d have the rest of his life to cherish.

More from Charlie Cochet

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Cael Maddock is no stranger to heartache. As a Recon Agent for Destructive Delta, he has successfully maneuvered through the urban jungle that is New York City, picking up his own scars along the way. Yet nothing he’s ever faced has been more of a challenge than the heart of Ash Keeler, his supposedly straight teammate. Being in love isn’t the only danger he and Ash face as wounds reopen and new secrets emerge, forcing them to question old loyalties.

North Pole City Tales: Book 4

From North Pole City to Winter Wonderland, preparations are underway after a royal announcement sweeps everyone into a frenzy of festivity. At the heart of the celebration are the city’s most beloved elf pilots, the Rein Dears. Once the Big Flight is behind them, the pilots prepare for the royal event. Assigned a special task of finding an Elska rose, Cupid and Blitzen are unaware of how their friendship is about to change forever.

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CHARLIE COCHET
is an author by day and artist by night. Always quick to succumb to the whispers of her wayward muse, no star is out of reach when following her passion. From adventurous agents and sexy shifters to society gentlemen and hardboiled detectives, there’s bound to be plenty of mischief for her heroes to find themselves in—and plenty of romance, too!

Currently residing in Central Florida, Charlie is at the beck and call of a rascally Doxiepoo bent on world domination. When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found reading, drawing, or watching movies. She runs on coffee, thrives on music, and loves to hear from readers.

Website: www.charliecochet.com

Blog: www.charliecochet.com/blog

E-mail: [email protected]

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Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/CharlieCochet

THIRDS HQ: www.thirdshq.com

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