Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem ( Elysia and Tarquin)

Tarquin threw back the covers, ready to say something, but the words died on his lips. There, standing by the window, was a slender, graceful figure with flawless, porcelain skin. Long hair, a trim waist, legs that went on forever... Her silhouette was just stunning.

He'd seen her, touched her, kissed every inch, but it never felt like enough.

His throat tightened. All he could think about was the memory of pressing her up against the glass patio door, hiking her leg up, losing himself in her...

He wasn't satisfied last night, and now his body was burning up for her all over again.

He wanted nothing more than to sweep her up and take her right then and there- but he didn't dare.

Elysia was desperate to get those virus samples back to the mountain, and if he left her too sore to walk, she'd go ballistic.

Best-case scenario, she'd just give him the silent treatment.

Worst case, she'd banish him to the guest room for the whole week.

It just wasn't worth risking his future happiness for a few minutes of pleasure.

Tarquin glanced at his phone and saw a message from Lowell. He shrugged on his bathrobe, grabbed his phone, and stepped out onto the balcony.

The cool morning breeze helped clear his head as he called Lowell back to talk shop.

He'd known ever since they got the samples last night that today would be a travel day.

He'd spent most of the night on the phone with Lowell, making sure everything at work would run smoothly while he was gone.

Elysia had made it clear-her friends up in the mountains didn't trust outsiders, so this time he wasn't bringing anyone. Not even Lowell or Axel.

Lowell would stay behind to keep work on track.

Axel's job was to keep an eye on Zane, just in case he and that mysterious stranger tried anything in Tarquin's absence.

Tarquin wrapped up his call with Lowell after a few minutes, just in time to see Evan vaulting over the backyard fence.

The wall was nearly ten feet high, but the kid made it look easy.

son, Evan used the

Instead of coming in through the back door like a normal trellis, climbed up to Tarquin's bedroom window, and let himself in.

Tarquin wasn't even surprised anymore. He knew Evan had been training with that scarred, tough-as-nails guy everyone called "the Freak."

For weeks now, the guy had shown up at dawn to drag Evan out for training.

Tarquin trusted him not to hurt Evan, so he told the security team to just leave them be.

But now that they were heading back to the mountains, he needed to talk to his

son.

Evan came in, sweat-soaked and breathing hard, clearly fresh from a workout. He looked up, surprised. "Dad?"

Tarquin smiled gently. "Don't chug water right after you exercise. Take it slow."

"I just had a couple sips. Did you need something?"

Tarquin hesitated, then asked, "We're heading back to the mountain today. Do you have any plans for that freaky guy?"

He knew that “the Freak” had been looking for Evan's mentor for ages.

Back in the day, the guy had hidden out at some remote monastery, got mixed up with Gideon up with Gideon Bradford, all

ck down a certain someone.

Now he was shadowing Evan for the same reason.

Wherever Evan went, he went. If Evan returned to the mountains, the Freak would follow.

And since there was bad blood between the Freak and Evan's mentor, Tarquin doubted their reunion would be peaceful.

Plus, Evan's mentor might not even want to see the guy...

Evan's eyes went wide. "We're really going back?"

Tarquin nodded. "Yep."

"Are you sure? Did Mom say so?"

Tarquin smiled. "She did. We leave after breakfast."

Evan's excitement was obvious at first. But in just a few seconds, his face

changed, worry clouding his eyes.

"If I go home, he'll definitely come with me. But if he sees my mentor... what if he tries to start something?"

Tarquin sighed. "Honestly? He probably will."

Evan frowned, looking completely lost.

Tarquin ruffled his hair and offered, "You've got two options. Either figure out a way to keep him from following you, or just let it happen and face whatever comes. Maybe it's time they settled things, one way

or another. What do you think?”noveldrama

Evan looked up at him, face scrunched in thought. "He's so strong... Is there even

a way to stop him from tagging along?"

Tarquin grinned. "There's always a way. You could slip him something in his coffee-knock him out for a while. Or, could have someone hold him here in Jindale City. But if you go that route, you'll probably ruin whatever trust you've built with him."