What the Heart Keeps

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Heaven wrapped her arms around Layne’s neck and pressed her breasts against his chest. She gasped at the heat spreading over her body. In one quick thrust, Layne filled her. His c**k pulsed in the deepest part of her core, and every fiber in her being blazed to life.

Nothing compared to having his body next to hers. His soul had a way of intertwining with her soul, bringing it love, light, and pleasure. She savored every second they spent together, but it was times like this, the quiet, intimate moments alone, she cherished.

Forever.

That one word held so much power. It was a promise they made to each other, and despite all the opposition they’d faced, they’d taken the first steps in making that promise a reality. Nothing would stop them from becoming husband and wife, not The Fallen, Bo McConnell, or Dylan and his Keeper.

The thoughts vanished from her mind once Layne worked his fingers through her hair and took her lips in a rough kiss. Their tongues darted together, then rolled in a fierce dance. He tasted like cinnamon candy, sweet enough to leave her craving more and bold enough to remind her what he would give her—pure ecstasy.

When their lips finally parted, the fading golden hues from the sunset lit up the room enough that she could see Layne’s face. His fiery gaze locked with hers. So much passion burned within him, as did love and devotion. Every time she looked into those caramel eyes, the world disappeared.

“I love you,” Layne whispered.

He kissed her again, causing Heaven to rock against him. She spread her legs wider, taking every inch he offered as she rode him. A moan drifted past her lips. No words could express the sensations making love to him induced. It was natural, powerful, and it completed her in every way possible.

Layne’s hands slid down her body, stopping at her hips. He grabbed both and worked them back and forth. The further she slid on to him, the hotter her body burned. Her n*****s grew taut and tender each time they brushed against his chest. She wanted that soul-shaking o****m only he could give her. And it was close, so painfully close that she swore she would combust if it didn’t happen soon.

He must have sensed her insatiable need in their bond, because it took him less than a second to flip her onto the bed and drive his c**k so fast and deep, the bed scooted away from the wall. His hips moved swiftly—precisely—each pump bringing her closer to the relief she was desperate to feel.

When Layne gripped her shoulders and pulled her into another thrust, the pressure building behind her c**t peaked. Everything exploded. Her body twitched as she came hard. Moans left her mouth, moans Layne devoured with his lips as his thrusts continued above her.

Her body trembled. Waves of ecstasy threatened to drag her into the abyss of unconsciousness. She lowered her arms around Layne’s waist and grabbed his a*s just as his body froze. He broke their kiss, releasing a few grunts before their eyes connected. Then every ounce of his seed spilled inside her.

Labored breaths were the only sound filling Heaven’s ears. She gazed up at Layne, then placed her hands against his cheeks, where a small flame formed. He leaned into her palm and closed his eyes.

After several seconds of trying to catch his breath, Layne’s breathing returned to normal. He opened his eyes and found hers. A smile formed on his lips before he kissed her again. Their lips brushed together so many times, Heaven swore he was about to begin round two. Instead, he fell to her side and drew her into an embrace.

Tucked inside his arms—her favorite spot—she admired the tattoos covering Layne's body. They mirrored the ones covering hers. The vibrant red, orange, and yellow hues seemed to glow in the same rhythm as their connection. She'd lost count of how many tattoos had appeared since they completed the convergence, but she had noticed no new ones in the last week. Regardless of how many they had, Layne’s tattoos only made him that much more desirable, as if he wasn’t gorgeous enough.

Caught up in the moment and the love they shared, Heaven gazed at Layne and smiled. “You never cease to amaze me.”

“Why is that?” Layne chuckled.

Heaven laid her head against his pillow as she traced her finger down his lips, chest, and abs. “When you touch my body, it comes alive. I sense and feel things I’ve never experienced in my life, and the pleasure you give me… It’s indescribable.”

A grin covered Layne’s face. He clasped the hand she’d laid on his waist and brought it to his lips. “We’re Twin Flames.” He kissed the back of her hand. “I know your body as well as I know mine. Everything you feel, I feel. We’re in sync.” After he brushed a strand of hair from her face, he placed his hand on her abdomen. “I love making love to you. It’s how we ended up with this little one, but I sometimes worry I get too rough. You make me lose my inhibitions.”

Heaven covered his hand with hers and smiled. “I have no complaints. And s*x, in most cases, is safe during pregnancy. Your mom gave me and the baby a clean bill of health the last time she did a check up. You have nothing to worry about.”

The peaceful hum of their connection fluctuated. Heaven sensed Layne’s fear. The solemn expression on his face coincided with his emotions. He glanced her way and released a sigh. “Bo McConnell wants to kill you. I have plenty to worry about, Heaven.” Layne stroked her stomach. “We both do.”

“Hey,” she cupped his cheek. “When the time comes to face Bo, we’ll be ready. Until then, I don’t want to spend every waking moment worrying about him. We need to focus on the good in our life.”

Layne brushed his fingers over her abdomen again, then leaned his forehead against her. “You’re right. That’s why I insisted we come back to the cottage. We needed some time alone after spending the day strategizing.”

Whimpering sounded from the crib on the opposite wall, where Adalyn slept. Before Heaven could sit up to check on her, Layne was on his feet. He grabbed his pants, slipped them on, and walked over to the crib.

“Is she okay?” Heaven asked. She grabbed her clothes off the floor and watched Layne lean over the side of the crib while she dressed.

“She’s still asleep. Maybe we were talking too loud.”

“Or she’s having a bad dream.” Heaven slipped on her shirt and flipped on the light before she joined Layne by the crib. She placed her hand on Adalyn’s head, using her thumb to stroke her daughter’s forehead. “Dad mentioned she’d had a couple nightmares about Dylan.”

“Do you think she’s seeing something in the future?”

Heaven shrugged. “I don’t know. Considering she has prophetic dreams, it’s possible.”

After waiting several seconds, Adalyn’s energy returned to a normal rhythm. Heaven eased her hand out of the crib and rubbed the tense muscles in her neck. Thoughts of Dylan plagued her mind. Even after the hell he’d put her through when he left Brightsville, she wanted nothing bad to happen to him. He was still Adalyn’s father.

If Delia hadn’t talked to him a few days ago, Heaven would worry The Fallen had located him and Simone. Dylan hadn’t disclosed his whereabouts, but it didn’t mean Bo or his men hadn’t found him. The Fallen had tracked them to every location they went to, except one—the safe house. She hoped Bo assumed Dylan was still with them in Brightsville.

A loud boom sounded in the distance. Two more followed, then crackling sounded from every direction. The hairs on the back of Heaven’s neck erected. She grabbed the side of the crib, ready to remove Adalyn from it and run. But before she could act on her thoughts, Layne grabbed her shoulder and motioned for her to wait. He c****d his head to the side and listened. The stern expression he wore faded a moment later.

“Relax. It’s just fireworks.”

Heaven’s cheeks heated. What an i***t. “I forgot about the annual Labor Day celebration at the park.” She tittered while patting her chest. “I, uh, think I’m just…”

Layne rubbed her back. “It’s okay. You don’t have to explain. We’re both on edge.”

Adalyn whimpered again. This time, when Heaven placed her hand on her daughter’s forehead, the room disappeared. In its place, a dark, wooded scenery sprung to life.

Amid the trees and thickets, a fight erupted. Energy of all shapes and colors lit up the battleground. Then two clearly divided mobs clashed in a physical confrontation. Before Heaven could find a recognizable face, the scene before her faded. The bedroom, crib, and her daughter came back into view, and she gasped.

“What’s wrong?” Layne asked. The heat of his hand warmed her arms when he squeezed gently.

“Adalyn just showed me a vision. A battle, somewhere in the woods. I think it was at night, but I don’t know when or where it happened, or who it involved.”

A crease formed between Layne’s brows. It matched the confusion she sensed inside him. He parted his lips like he was about to say something when another round of fireworks sounded in the distance. An explosive third round followed, and this time, the cottage shook.

“Something’s not right,” he said as he slowly spun in a circle. “The fireworks shouldn’t have any effect on this house. Not with the distance between us and the park.”

“Do you think some of Captain Laveaux’s men are doing drills or something?”

He held up his finger and signaled for her to give him a minute, then crept toward the window. Upon reaching it, he glanced both ways, peering into the darkness.

“Do you see anyone?”

The seconds passed as she waited for him to answer. When she saw no inclination that he would, she stepped closer. Layne motioned for her to stop. Then he whispered, “Oh shit.”

Fear struck Heaven, leaving her paralyzed. Time seemed to slow as Layne spun around. He rushed toward her just as something smokey barreled toward the cottage. By the time Layne reached her, the mysterious item made contact, causing the walls to rumble. She expected to see a gigantic hole in the wall, but the object had collided with something else—the protective barrier Ryker had placed on the cottage.

Confusion and panic wove through Heaven’s soul as she reached into the crib and lifted Adalyn in her arms. Her daughter whimpered softly as she batted her eyes several times, then finally shut them.

When Heaven faced Layne once more, another object zipped toward the house. A loud commotion erupted, followed by screaming and shouting from every direction. Within seconds, the cottage walls rumbled again, but no damage appeared. Smoke and debris clouded Heaven’s view of the woods, not that she could see much at night.

The longer she stared, the harder Layne tightened his arms around her. “Heaven, I need you to stay here and let me go investigate.”

“Please don't,” she begged. “What if someone gets inside the cottage?”

Layne grimaced at her words and glanced at the window again. She did the same. The smoke had cleared enough that she saw orbs of energy soaring through the air. A moment later, a face appeared in the window—Captain Laveaux.

He stared into their room, and locked eyes with Layne as he shouted the words, “We’re under attack.”