Fragile Sanctuary (Sparrow Falls #1)

by Catherine Cowles

Nora gasped to my right. “Mom! Tell me that isn’t a penis.” I choked on a strangled laugh as the dick and balls came into focus. Lolli wasn’t happy with simple diamond art. She needed inappropriate gemstone creations.

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.

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

I set the knife down on my cutting board and turned to face him, an appalled look on my face. “Anson Bartholomew Cattigan.” That lip twitch was back, a little stronger this time. “You know that’s not my name, right?” “Well, I don’t know your full name, and I needed three names for emphasis.” “It’s Anson Sutter Hunt.” It was my turn to scowl at him. “God, that’s a good name. But that’s not the point. We do not eat store-bought salsa in this house.”

“Then find those people. I do not want some possessed AI taking over my space and murdering me in my sleep.”

I watched her go for too long, as though I could see the particles she left in her wake. I wanted to grab each one and hold them close. But they were like fireflies. If you kept them captive, they’d die. All you could do was relish having them swirl around you in the moments they graced you with their presence.

“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.” Everything about her set my blood on fire, from her strength to her beauty to her fearlessness. “Four…” she goaded, slipping one strap of her tank top down. “Five.” The other fell free. “Fuck it.”

“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.”

My fingers stilled. “Told you. Can’t stay away. You clawed yourself inside. Walking away would be like tearing out a part of myself—even if it would be the smart move.”

Because she was my sanctuary. I’d just never realized how fragile it all was.

It’s not a sappy love. It burns. Scars. It changed me.

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