Fragile Sanctuary (Sparrow Falls #1)

by Catherine Cowles

Fallon had three older brothers. One by blood, Copeland. One adoptive, Shepard. And one foster, Trace.

Like my mom. My dad. Emilia. And me, in a way. The me I’d been then had died right along with them, thanks to old wiring in an even older house. A home that had been so full of life and love once but had been left half-burned for the past fourteen years.

“The only thing they would want is for you to be happy.” My throat burned as it worked to hold back a sob. “I know. But sometimes being happy feels like the worst betrayal of all.”

I was an asshole. But an asshole was better than the alternative. Better than caring. About anything or anyone. Caring was a recipe for nothing but agony.

Happiness was the greatest torture of all because it could all be taken away—and it was so much worse than if you’d never experienced it at all.

Only the last section of each book remained dusted with black flecks from the fire. Because as frequently as I revisited each one, I couldn’t seem to force myself to make it to the end. Of any of them. Something about the endings was too painful, too final, even if they were happy.

“Don’t do people. Love dogs.” And with that, he stalked back to the main site and his crew.

“You shouldn’t hide a damned thing, Reckless. Especially not something that proves how strong you are.”

Hearing her say my name was the most beautiful kind of torture.

“Because I’m holding on to my last shred of humanity, and if you stand here in those goddamn shorts for another ten seconds, it’s going to snap.”

“I fuck you so hard you’ll feel me for weeks. I’ll ruin you, Reckless. You think I can’t taint you with my pain and the darkness that lives inside me, but you’re wrong.”

Defiance swept into those witch eyes. “One.” She licked her lips. “Two.” “What the hell are you doing?” I snarled. “Counting down to the snap,” Rho challenged. “Three.”

“Four…” she goaded, slipping one strap of her tank top down. “Five.” The other fell free. “Fuck it.”

She bit down on my shoulder to keep from crying out. “Gonna brand me, Reckless?” Rho’s head pulled back, her hazel eyes swirling. “More.”

My name on her tongue. Heaven and hell all at once.

I circled her clit with my thumb, and Rho’s eyes closed as her mouth fell open. I tweaked her nipple. “Eyes on me.”

She haunted me in my waking hours and in my sleep. I couldn’t escape her. And maybe I didn’t want to.

“Can’t handle being away from you,” he croaked. “Especially not when you’re hurting.” He swallowed hard. “I didn’t want to care about anyone. But you shot that all to hell.” My heart hammered against my ribs, butterfly wings dying to break free. A muscle fluttered in Anson’s cheek. “You didn’t sneak past my defenses, you bulldozed them. Reckless to the bone. And maybe you made me brave enough to be reckless, too.”

“Your beauty scalds, Reckless. Anyone who’s ever had the pleasure of looking at you will never be the same.”

Wherever Rho was, that’s where I wanted to be. The cost didn’t matter. Because she was my sanctuary. I’d just never realized how fragile it all was.

“Home is wherever you are,” he whispered. “You’re my sanctuary. Where I feel peace. Where I feel seen. Don’t want anything more.”

Anson slid the ring onto my finger. “Had to be a pink diamond for my colorful, reckless girl. A flower for the queen of life.” His lips hovered over mine. “I love you.”