A Heart's War (The Broken Men Chronicles Book 5) by Carey Decevito Page A

shook my body.
    “You’re fine,” she whispered after a while, and I felt her lips on the top of my head.  “You’re safe.  It’s okay.  I’m here.”
    “If you only knew.”  My voice quivered.
    “Shh.”  She began to rub my back.
    Feeling one of her tears trickle down the side of my face, I pulled away, her arms giving a little at her grip.  I chanced a look at her, and couldn’t help but cup the sides of her face and brush the tears that had streaked her cheeks with the pads of my thumbs.
    The look of emotional turmoil.  The pain.  You did this to her.   I cast my eyes downward, the guilt and shame overwhelming me.  “I shouldn’t be here.” But I couldn’t bring myself to leave.
    “Y-you were there.”  She gulped. “You didn’t just know him in passing, did you?”
    I shook my head.  “He was with my team.”
    “You know what happened?”
    “More than anyone else.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, the air in my lungs having turned to fire.  “I’m the only one left from that day.  I relive it every single day, Morgan.”
    Her breath released with a whoosh.  “Sergeant T?”  I hadn’t heard that moniker in far too many years, which had my eyes snapping to hers. I nodded, her eyes widening.
    Instead of plying me with questions, her hands tightened on the sides of my neck and pulled me back in.  I knew I shouldn’t, but my arms wrapped around her and pulled her tight against me as more sobs broke the surface on both our parts.
    As we regained our wits, I buried my face in Morgan’s neck.  She smelled of flowers and fresh air mixed with a subtle hint of sweat from her labor.  It was soothing and intoxicating all at once. 
    Nuzzling the pulse by her ear, I felt heat flare on the skin beneath my lips.  “I’m sorry,” I whispered and kissed her where I had just nuzzled and pulled back to hold her face between my palms.  “I’m so sorry,” I kissed her cheek.  “I’m so fucking sorry, Morgan,” I said yet again and kissed her other cheek as my body shook with so much pent up remorse that had yet to be released.  “I’m-”
    Her lips crushed mine in a kiss that seared.  I tasted her sweetness combined with the salt of our mixed tears.  When her tongue traced the seam of my mouth, I opened for her, and she moaned as velvet met velvet.
    Knowing I needed to get control of myself, I slowed things down.  We sipped at each other before I finally pulled away and laid my forehead against hers.
    Trying to regain my breath, I looked at the woman before me; her face flushed and blotchy from her tears, her eyes closed.  The tension that had been present in her expression earlier was absent.
    Rubbing my nose against hers, she opened her eyes, and my regret was instantaneous when I saw the fires of passion in them.
    “Theo,” she whispered at the same time I said, “Morgan.”
    She leaned in for another go, and as much as it thrilled me that our attraction was mutual, I couldn’t allow myself to give in, no matter how much I wanted to.  So I turned my head to the side. Morgan pulled back and when our eyes met, all traces of passion had left, and in its stead, hurt reigned.  She looked as if I’d slapped her across the face.
    “I can’t.”
    “Why not?”
    “I just…” I shook my head and sighed.  “I can’t.”
    She grabbed my face, forcing my eyes to meet hers.  “At least look at me when you’re rejecting me.  I think I deserve that much.”
    “You deserve that and a lot more than what I can give you, Morgan.  I just can’t.”
    “You’ve said that already.” She shoved my shoulders and got up off of me.
    “I’m no good.”
    “What am I, seventeen?”  She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest.  “I think I can figure out what’s good for me and what’s not, Theo.  I’m a grown-ass woman.”
    “I’d say you’re right, but in this case…” I allowed my voice to trail off.
    She threw her hands up in the air in defeat,