Betrayed By Her Seven Protectors

RA

It was a masochistic need to confront the ghosts of my past.** I ran a hand over the polished leather of t

nothing, just nodded, but I had interpreted his silence as a profound declaration. How wrong I was. His every

The wind whipped at my face, a welcome sting that helped clear my head. I pushed her faster, faster, l

e world lurc

I lost my balance, my hands scrabbling for a hold that wasn't there. Starl

my lungs, a raw, pr

watching, supposed to be my protectors. But they were gathered in a circle, laughing, t

blur o

he was there, his powerful body moving in sync with my falling one. He caught me, his arms banding aroun

my neck. The world smelled of him-sweat, leather, and something uniquely Sterling. The o

nds checking me over for injuries with

umbled, pushing

n Wade. "You were supposed to check her tack! Thi

unreadable. He set me down on the porch swing and tended to my scraped elbow with a gentleness that felt like a lie

veranda for some air. And I heard them again. Hushe

voice was a low, angry hiss. "What if I h

hine. "I just... I loosened it a little. I wanted to scare her. She was

od ran

. It wasn't negligenc

softening into a sigh of resignation. "I'll handle it.

Wade, it was all an act to protect the real culprit.

cheek. This wasn't just a game of heart

trying t