Acquiring Trouble

knew that this was something he had to do himself. She just needed to be there for him no matter what he said.
    “I might not have pulled the trigger, but I killed her nonetheless and ever since then I’ve been paying the price for my failure,” Miles spoke to the night. Morgan waited patiently for the reluctant story. “It was a rescue that went wrong. Cade was captured and beaten into a coma for three days. My target was Mariah Brown.”
    Morgan’s eyes went wide. She knew the story of Mariah —e veryone did. She was t he college daughter of the former Secretary of State who was brutally murde red in Afghanistan after bein g kidnapped. It wa s such a powerful moment that led to the leveling of a whole mountain region known for harboring terrorists in a part of Afg hanistan that bordered Pakistan and Tajikistan. But, in all the news coverage there was never an y mention of a rescue.
    “Cade and I took out a lot of the rebels before he was caught. I lost it. I allowed the rage to take me when I saw the gun to his head and I took them all out. That’s when I found Mariah bloodied in the trunk of a car. We were tracked and attacked on a mountain pass close to the Tajikistan border. There were injuries to everyone, but I managed to get us to the border.
    “ A res cue copter was there and she was almost to safety when she turned back to try to save me from the last rebel. He killed her. She died in my arms and now she returns every night to my dreams to remind me I let an innocent kid die. I’ll never forget her face.” Miles paused and Morgan heard him swallow hard. “She smiled up at me and said, ‘thank you .’ And then she was gone.”
    Morgan stared at his wide back as it silently shook in the moonlig ht. The wounds from the knife were only physical and had healed long ago . His unhealed wounds were hidden. Hidden from the world and even hidden from him. “Miles, I don’t think you’ll believe what I’m going to say, but I don’t think Mariah felt as if you failed her. She knew that and now it’s time for you to know that. ”
    “I can’t do it. She reminded me so much of Paige. The whole time I kept thinking I had killed someone’s little sister.”
    “But you didn’t kill her. You have to learn to accept that. I can’t make it better, but what I can do is tell you that I think what you did was heroic and I love you all the more because you’re man enough to feel responsible for her. You did everything in your power to save her and for that, she was grateful. I’ll also tell you that I think you need to channel these feelings into something besides guilt. Le t me help you find a way. Miles…”
    She held out her hand and waited for him to accept help. Morgan felt her arm trembling. She could onl y pray that he’d turn around to accept her help and all the love she could give him. Miles slowly circled and looked at her. Her breath caught as she waited for him to decide if he wanted to stay in the past or move with her into the future.
     
    Miles raised his eyes and looked into the amethyst depths that were watching him. He had never told anyone what happened that night. He didn’t know what had compelled him to tell her other than the overwhelming feeling of love they shared . He almost laughed as he thought how much his life had changed since this raven-haired vixen reentered it .
    “Morgan, there’s something I want you to do.”
    “Anything.” She was so sincere. All he wanted to do was lose himself in her body for the rest of his life.
    “Remind me to call Cade in the morning.” Miles chuckled as her eyebrows shot up and her eyes widened. It wasn’t what she had been expecting. But then she scrunched her nose and narrowed those gorgeous eyes at him for laughing at her.  “To get the name of the PTSD specialis t he saw.”
    “Oh Miles!” Morgan dropped the sheet and scrambled out of bed and straight into his arms.
    “This is where I want you. You’re my best medicine, sweetheart.”
    Miles raised her chin and placed his lips on hers. He gently rubbed his lips against hers teasing them bo th before sliding his tongue along the sea m of her lips. He drew in her lower lip and nipped it gently as Morgan writhed against him trying to urge him for more.
    “Patience, sweetheart . We have all the time in the world.” He trailed his lips down her neck, over her collarbone , and to the hollow of her throat.
    The throaty purrs that Morgan made just urged him on as she moved