Beneath the Fire (A Guardians Novella) by Victoria Paige Page A

lease on her apartment. Lucy felt a shudder go through her as she remembered her old place. She had loved that apartment, she had spent her first three years of college there and now that memory was tarnished by a heinous act of revenge.
    She was thankful that Nathan had cleared out the remnants of that bloody night by the time she was released from the hospital. Lucy still had nightmares of Sayeed. The cold steel of the sharp blade was so vivid and she would wake up trembling and crying, but Nathan was always there to soothe her.  
    She went to a trauma counselor twice, but she found out she had a great network of friends and family who were always there for her. Her mother had flown in the very next day after the attack and had stayed for a week. Eva and Leo were visiting everyday. So she was never alone, and the cocoon of security was slowly rebuilt.
    Plus, Nathan was her rock.  
    “Well, are you happy now?” Leo’s disgruntled voice broke through her ruminations.  
    “It’s perfect, Leo.” Lucy walked up to her brother and gave him a peck on the cheek before moving over to Nathan to circle his hips. His arms immediately came around to hug her.
    “Thanks, honey,” Lucy stood on tiptoe, tilted her head up and gave Nathan an affectionate smack on the lips.
    “Anytime, babe.”
    “Alright, I guess that’s the last of it, I’m outta here before I puke,” Leo said. “You guys are so cheesy.”
    “Don’t forget Sunday dinner!” Lucy called after her brother.
    Leo just raised his hand in acknowledgement without looking back.
    “Guess he can’t wait to get out of here...” Nathan murmured. “Works for me...”
    Lucy glanced up suspiciously at her boyfriend. He was grinning devilishly down at her. She quirked an eyebrow and said, “No.”  
    “Why not?” Nathan breathed into her ear and she felt a warm tingle between her legs.
    “Because... you’re sweaty and I just showered,” Lucy retorted, but heaven help her, his masculine sweaty scent was turning her on big time.  
    “Yeah, you smell delicious,” Nathan whispered. He herded her toward the loveseat until the back of her legs hit the edge. She lost her balance and plopped down on her ass. “I think we should try out the new furniture.”
    “It’s not new... it’s...oh,” Lucy gasped as Nathan knelt down before her, quickly unfastening her shorts and pulling them off, leaving her in her panties. Then he wedged himself between her legs, leaned in and kissed her thoroughly, his hand sneaking under her shirt and flicking her nipple with his thumb through her bra.  
    After a few minutes of scorching kisses, he leaned back, his eyes smoldering possessively, leaving Lucy mesmerized as they stared at each other
    “You are so beautiful...” Nathan whispered. He reached out and gently removed her shirt. The back of one hand stroked the top of her breast in a tender caress before slipping behind her to unhook her bra. A groan escaped his lips as he greedily sucked the plump orb into his mouth, grazing the nipple with his teeth while his hand dipped into the waistband of her panties, cupping her where she needed him the most.  
    Releasing her breast, he buried his face in her hair as his fingers continued to stroke her maddeningly between her legs.  
    “Can’t wait to be   inside you... fuck, you’re so wet for me, babe,” he groaned in her ear as his fingers continued to drive her to an orgasm. Suddenly she lost his fingers and her panties quickly disappeared and his face was buried between her thighs.
    Lucy loved Nathan’s tongue. He worked miracles with it. And tonight was no exception. He was patient and thorough; he knew every pleasure point to stroke to drive her wild. And her orgasm, when it came, was incandescent. And she anticipated what would come next...
    Nathan pulled her slightly forward until her hips were almost off the loveseat and before she knew it, he was pushing inside her. Sometimes their sex was primitive, but this time