Protecting His Windflower (A Spirit Hunters Series Novel Book 1) by Temperance Dawn (best black authors .txt) 📕

head back upstairs, but she couldn’t forget her computer. She grabbed the laptop from the kitchen counter, the charging cable, and her planner, and placed them in her bag as well. “Okay. I’m ready.”

Taking the duffle bag from Emily’s hand, Liam led her back to the front door, where she put on her favorite pair of Toms shoes and grabbed a cardigan and scarf that were hanging on a hook with her purse. She grabbed them, and Liam led her out of her flat and back up the stairs. Inside, Emily let out a long sigh.

“Okay?” Liam asked.

“I think I held my breath the whole time we were in there. It doesn’t feel the same. It feels different.”

Liam nodded after she spoke, agreeing with her. “Heavy.”

It wasn’t a question as much as it was a confirmation. “Yeah,” Emily agreed. “Why doesn’t it feel like that here? It’s the same building. How can my place feel like that and it’s only a few feet away?”

Liam shook his head and stepped closer to her, where he placed his palm on her cheek. Emily closed her eyes. She now craved the grounding sensation that blanketed her every time they touched.

Leaning down, Liam placed his forehead on hers, and she could feel the heat radiating off of his entire body. “I can’t give you an answer as to what is happening or why it’s happening. But, I can tell you that I will do everything I can to try and get to the bottom of this and keep you safe. I just need you to trust me. Trust Trey and Luke, too. Okay?”

“I’ve never had anyone to lean on before,” Emily explained as she tried to control the hitch of emotion in her voice.

“That changes now. You can lean on me. Me and the guys lean on each other. That’s how we operate. We’re a team.” Liam’s hand went to the back of her neck. His other hand rested firmly but gently on her hip.

“Are you saying I’m a part of your team now?”

“I’m saying you’re with me now. And since you’re with me, that makes you one of us.”

“I’m with you?” Emily asked. Liam’s declaration shot through her like a lightning bolt. Scaring her and exciting her all at once.

“Yes, baby. At least I want you to be. If that’s what you want too. I know we just met. But …” Liam paused, squeezing his eyes shut before opening them again.  “I feel like I’ve known you my whole life. You’re not someone new to me. I don’t know how that’s possible, but it’s true.”

“I’m scared, Liam. What if it tries to hurt you to keep us apart?”

Liam gently quieted her by placing a finger over her lips. “I’m not scared. Remember, this is what I do. I chase ghosts for a living. But I don’t want to be with you because of everything that’s happened. I want to be with you because I like you. Because the moment I laid eyes on you that first night, I felt something. Electricity struck me that moment, and now I feel tethered to you. That might scare you. Fuck, it scares me. But I’m an honest man, Emily. I’ll always tell you what I feel. And what I feel for you is like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I don’t think the English language has words yet to describe what I feel. I want you here, if you want to be here, ghosts and all. I want to get to know you. All of you. I even want to meet Lexi. So yeah, babe. You’re with me. If you want to be.”

Swallowing hard, Emily closed her eyes and leaned into him. “I want to be with you.”

“Thank god.” And with that, he moved the hand that was on the back of her neck to her chin, moving her gaze up to look at him. “Trust me, Emily.”

“I trust you.”

Liam lowered his head and placed a kiss on the corner of her mouth, letting his lips linger for a moment before stepping away and saying, “Go on, babe. Go get ready. I’ll wait for you, and then we’ll go. I’ll feed you, and we can talk. Yeah?”

“Okay. That sounds good.”

Emily walked into the bathroom, shutting the door and leaning against it, steadying herself. How could one man make her so weak in the knees? She felt like flowing molasses. Being near Liam caused her to slip further and further, inching her closer to a yearning and desire she had no idea existed within her. She was hungry for it, desperate to feel passion with another person, to share a closeness with someone, a bond she thought could only exist in books and movies. And for the first time in her life, she wasn’t afraid to take that leap and experience the excitement and satisfaction and possibility of, dare she say, those three little words.

Fourteen

Liam explained the area they were headed to was known as Lands End, located on the Western side of the city, and he was taking Emily to one of his favorite restaurants. He promised her a delicious breakfast featuring a picturesque view. They sat in comfortable silence on the car ride across the city. Liam’s hand rested in Emily’s hand on her lap, where she gently stroked his knuckles. And, he snuck a peek at her out of the corner of his eye every so often. It was still hard for him to believe that the woman he’d dreamt about for years was real, in his presence, and he was able to physically touch her. “I hope you’re hungry.” Liam broke the quiet between them. “This place serves up some hefty portions.”

Emily turned in her seat, positioning her body and leaning toward him a little more. “I am. We didn’t end up eating last night. I’m starving.”

Liam’s jaw tightened as he remembered their dinner being interrupted by the spirit the night before. He raised Emily’s hand to