Page 92 of Guarded from Corruption

“Sweetheart, you look beautiful.”

As Niall’s lips brush the side of my neck, my breath catches.

Even though we’ve been together for months now, I never stop feeling that flutter of excitement whenever he touches me. I still get that same spurt of joy any time I hear his voice. When he calls me beautiful, or tells me he loves me, I can’t believe how lucky I am.

His hands move to my waist, gently turning me toward him. “You look more than beautiful,” he amends, his gaze drifting across my body and back to my face. “You’re incredible, Jade. I still can’t believe you’re mine.”

Happiness blossoms inside me, the sun bursting over the horizon and filling me with delicious warmth.

“Look at you.” Stroking my hand across Niall’s bristly cheek, I brush a kiss across his lips before adding, “You’re the most handsome man I’ve ever seen. And looking like this…”

In a nod to the occasion, Niall’s more dressed up than usual. Not formally—it’s still just a party in the barn—but he’s wearing tailored gray pants and a crisp white button-down with the sleeves rolled up enough to expose his very sexy forearms. I never gave much thought to a man’s forearms before, but Niall’s—they’re ropey with muscle and his golden skin is lightly dusted with dark hair and I can envision them vividly when they’re braced over me during sex.

His lips quirk. “Jade. You’re looking at me again.”

“What?” I widen my eyes innocently. “I was looking at your outfit. It looks really nice.”

He tugs me closer, so I’m flush against him, and I can feel his growing arousal prodding my belly. His voice goes low and rough. “You know what that look does to me. It makes me want to take you in the bedroom right now and strip this pretty dress right off you.”

His hand cups my breast, his thumb rubbing my tightening nipple. “Or. I could take you against the wall with your dress still on. Would you like that?”

An ache builds at my core and I squeeze my thighs against the pulsing need. “I would. But?—”

“You guys.” Shea walks into the kitchen, shaking her head at us. She’s smiling as she adds in a lightly scolding tone, “I know you two can’t keep your hands off each other, which is adorable even though Niall is my brother. But you have a guest who would prefer not to watch her brother making out in the kitchen.”

My cheeks go pink. “Sorry, Shea.”

Niall moves his hands to a more PG position. He chuckles. “You should make a noise when you’re coming, Shea. As a warning. Otherwise, you may see things you don’t want.”

I look at Shea. “He looks so handsome, though. Doesn’t he?”

She makes a little face. “I guess. For my brother.” Then she exchanges a quick glance with Niall before shifting her gaze back to me. “So. Are we ready to go? Do we have everything ready?”

Glancing along the kitchen island, I take stock one more time. Spinach and artichoke dip with crusty bread pieces arranged artfully around it? Check. A huge tray of lemon bars generously dusted with powdered sugar? Check again. Three pitchers of pink sangria with chunks of fresh fruit floating in them? Triple check.

“Yup,” I announce. “Everything looks good.”

“Okay, then.” Niall frames my face and kisses me one more time. Then he somehow grabs all three pitchers in one hand and wraps his free arm around my waist. “Are you two alright to carry the trays?”

“Of course,” I reply with a smile. “It’s not like the lemon bars are heavy.”

“I know.” His voice dips and he holds my gaze as he says quietly, “I told you. I always worry about you.”

Shea snatches up the artichoke dip and smirks at us. “Honestly. If you two weren’t so darn cute…”

Niall flashes his sister a teasing grin. “Get ready for this every holiday. Kissing Jade by the Christmas tree, at Thanksgiving, Fourth of July fireworks…”

“Okay, okay.” I intervene with a laugh. “I’m sure everyone is wondering where we are. And where the sangria is.”

So we all pile out of the apartment—not Niall’s apartment, it’s definitely ours now—and make our way out to the barn. And just like every time I walk through the Blade and Arrow building, I’m happy all over again to call it my home.

Home. A real home, with a man who loves me. A place with five other people who’ve become more than friends. In the few months I’ve lived at B and A officially, I feel like I’ve gained a new family.

Me. Niall. Xavier, who’s like an affectionate but annoying older brother. Erik, who has patiently taught me yoga and meditation to help me cope on the days I’m struggling. Smart and sensitive Matt, who’s dragged me into his pranks—the most recent one involving covering Dante’s apartment door with three layers of Saran Wrap.

There’s Dante, who might be the softest of all of them, and is now teaching me some of his mom’s recipes so I can make them for Niall. And Rhiannon, who’s become like a sister to me.

While I have this wonderful new family, I haven’t completely turned my back on my biological one. Not my father—aside from testifying against him in court, I have no plans to ever see him again. But I’m slowly building a relationship with my mother now that she’s been through a couple months of treatment.

---