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glances and Hayden began to introduce everyone.
    “Daniel Cranstone, Melissa Geyton, this is Kate Williams and
Joshua Delamere,” Hayden began as he indicated them each in turn. “Kate is a
Guardian and is currently protecting Josh, whom I think you both know works
with Kiera under Morgan’s aegis in the Strategic section of the Enforcers.”
    They all nodded politely and greeted each other
simultaneously. Melissa was a pretty witch with long, blonde hair falling to below
her shoulders in soft wavy curls. Blue eyes and a lithe figure made her look
sexy and feminine—no one would ever guess she was an Assassin. Daniel had
spikily cropped blond hair and icy-blue eyes, a cool color, which appeared to
be constantly assessing the area and all those within his designated perimeter.
Josh would have bet a month’s pay the large Assassin didn’t miss a thing.
    When Melissa grinned at Josh, Daniel shifted a little closer
to his partner in clear albeit silent warning. Josh nodded minutely at the
Assassin, even though he had not the least intention of flirting with the
witch. He already had his hands pleasantly full with Kate. A second passed
before Josh realized exactly what he had just thought, completely naturally and
without any prompting.
    Obviously his unconscious mind had decided that it didn’t
feel even the remotest interest in a mild, light flirtation with another
beautiful witch. Instead his thoughts were centered on Kate and all she could
come to mean to him.
    Josh swallowed hard and struggled valiantly not to think
about the potential that had arisen inside him. Kate was intoxicating, yes, but
was he genuinely even dabbling with the idea of monogamy? Beyond a doubt he
knew Kate was beautiful, strong and a warrior in her own right—absolutely. But
Josh had never considered that he might be ready for more from any witch—more
than a lot of mutually shared pleasure and a few nights or so of wild, wicked,
passionate fun and lust.
    Entertaining the possibility of something longer-term
simultaneously shocked Josh silly and scared him. The idea of sharing something
deep and meaningful with a witch, something that might not have an expiry date,
was unheard of for him. Yet despite the fact he feared it, Josh found himself
mentally turning the idea over and over in his head, examining it from many
angles and not discarding it out of hand.
    Tuning back in to the conversation for a second, Josh
realized Kate and Hayden were bringing Melissa and Daniel up to date with
everything from when Morgan had given the manuscript into their keeping to
being attacked outside the Enforcers’ building and chased by the crew out for
the contract on their heads.
    Kate appeared to listen intently even though this was not
new to her, and Josh found himself relaxed just watching her, charmed. Her pale
skin almost glowed with health, vitality and strength. Luscious red hair fell
neatly to her shoulders, a slight wave in it taunting him to reach forward and
stroke the silky strands.
    Recalling how mussed, flushed and decadent Kate had appeared
after they had taken each other against the front door, Josh wished idly for a
moment that they were anywhere but here in the café. The nearly overwhelming
desire to lean forward, touch Kate’s soft skin, tilt her chin toward his face
and press a quick kiss to her full lips had his body shaking slightly.
    Her mouth would be passion-swollen and a vivid red color. Earlier,
with her cheeks flushed, her mouth erotically bruised from his ministrations
and their mutual love-making, Josh had found the desire to kiss her almost
irresistible. Her face had a beauty not strictly traditional and Josh found
Kate’s lips deliciously, highly addictive.
    Josh was just starting to weave a fantasy about Kate’s
luscious lips spread wide as he thrust his cock into her throat when she looked
up at him. With her clear, blue-green gaze, she seemed practically to read his
secret thoughts, and even though the corner of her