Soul's Desire, page 1
Soul’s Desire
by
Sharon C. Cooper
Soul’s Desire
by
Sharon C. Cooper
Copyright © 2019 Sharon C. Cooper
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. For permission, contact the author at www.sharoncooper.net
Smashwords Edition
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Disclaimer
This story is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are either products of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Dear Reader,
I’m happy to announce that I, along with authors Stephanie Nicole Norris and Delaney Diamond, have collaborated to bring you a fun and sexy romance series! The Unparalleled Love series takes you on a journey of three friends who each find love and their happily-ever-after.
SOUL’S DESIRE is my contribution to the series and I can’t wait until you meet Soul Carrington and Micah Olsen! They were college sweethearts and for reasons that you’ll find out in the story, they went their separate ways. Don’t worry, though, they do find their way back to each other, but not without a few challenges.
I hope you enjoy Soul and Micah’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it!
For all of the fans of my Atlanta’s Finest series, Soul Carrington is the little sister of Myles Carrington (think former CIA agent) who was introduced in ACCUSED (Atlanta’s Finest series). **This story takes place at the same time as that story. Also, I’m happy to say that a couple of your favorite characters make guest appearances in this story!
Enjoy!
Sharon C. Cooper
NOTE: The Unparalleled Love Series can be read in any order.
Blurb
Some past loves can stand the test of time…
Ballet dancer Soul Carrington has lived her dream of traveling the world. But the past year has been one life hurdle after another until she moves back to Atlanta. Now life is looking up, especially when she comes face-to-face with a past love. A man who makes her heart dance pirouettes and her body pulse with desire.
Not a day has gone by that police officer Micah Olsen hasn’t longed for his first love. However, their encounter in Atlanta is not by chance. Yet, against his better judgment, he has to let her believe it is, which isn’t easy. All of the emotions he once felt for her return with a vengeance. Their attraction is more powerful than ever, and when hot kisses turn into heated nights, Micah knows he has to come clean. But will it be too late?
Chapter One
Who says dreams don’t come true?
Soul Carrington stood smiling inside the front entrance of the fifteen-hundred-square-foot building, excitement bubbling inside of her. The scent from freshly painted walls was lighter than it had been the day before, and the transformation was finally taking shape. Soft jazz flowed through the surround-sound speakers filling the space with a peace that she felt deep inside. She’d done it. She had finally accomplished one of her long-time goals—opening a dance studio.
Finally.
The dream morphed into a goal during her ten-year stint with an international dance troupe. Now there were moments she still couldn’t believe it had come to fruition.
She moved further into the building, glancing into the oversized room to her right. Floor-to-ceiling mirrors covered every wall except one which was a window that looked out onto the strip mall’s parking lot. The open space had shiny hardwood flooring, two barres—an upper and lower one for the students, as well as a couple of benches along one of the walls. The space could easily accommodate fifty dancers.
Moving down the long hallway, she passed the space where walls had been built to enclose two smaller dance rooms, a lounge area, a small galley kitchen, and her office. It was more space than Soul had planned for, but enough to grow into.
She had recently taken over ownership of the business, as well as the building lease, when the previous owners decided to retire. They operated the dance school for over twenty years, built up a sizable clientele, and had become a staple in the community. Now it was all hers, including some of the equipment.
“All mine,” she squealed inside the smallest of the dance rooms. Excitement rushed through her veins as she did a series of pique turns, her back straight and arms rounded. She gazed up at the popcorn ceiling, wanting to scream to the world that she’d done it. “I’m doing this. I am really doing this.”
The only thing…or person…missing from her special moment was her father. Her hero. The man who lost his wife while gaining a daughter. When Soul was old enough to understand that her mother had died giving birth to her, she hated herself. Hated the fact that because of her, her mother would never hold her daughter. Nor would she be able to teach her all the girly things that mothers taught their little girls. Soul had also hated that she would never know her mother.
But her dad had been everything a girl could ever hope for in a father. Loving. Kind. Generous. He treated her like a princess. Supported every interest she had, and never complained about driving her to gymnastics, ballet, or swim classes. While she’d been touring with the dance troupe, he had been the one to give her the idea of opening her own dance studio one day. He had also left start-up money in his will.
I miss you, Daddy. It’s because of you that this dream is finally a reality.
“Okay, where are we putting everything?”
Soul startled, her hand flying to her chest at the sound of her brother’s voice. “God, you scared me!” So caught up in her thoughts, she hadn’t realized they’d started unloading the moving truck.
Myles narrowed his eyes, studying her as if she was up to something. The former CIA analyst, or so he liked everyone to believe, didn’t miss much. Soul didn’t have any proof, and he and their brother, Ray, who lived in Los Angeles, never confirmed it. But she was pretty sure Myles was once a CIA secret agent. It was in the way he processed information, the confident way he carried himself, and that air of mysteriousness that followed him around. He was also freakishly quiet when he moved, popping up out of nowhere at any given moment.
“You all right?” he asked, now standing in front of her. He had been her rock for the past year after their father died, and then again when her fiancé suddenly decided he didn’t want to get married. Myles helped Soul realize it was time to make some changes in her life. He showed up on her doorstep months ago, determined to move her back to Atlanta.
Why not, she’d thought. There had been nothing left for her in Houston. Soul had packed up her bags and headed to Atlanta. So far, it had been one of the best decisions she’d made in a long time. Currently, she was living with two of her best friends, and she was fulfilling one of her dreams.
“I’m fine,” Soul finally answered, digging out a scrunchy from the front pocket of her denim shorts and pulling her hair into a ponytail. While they moved the furniture in, she’d start tackling some of the cleaning. The studio was re-opening in a week, and she wanted the place to look perfect for the grand opening.
“Okay, then. Show Laz and me where you want everything to go.” At that moment, his friend and co-worker, Lazarus Dimas strolled into the room, his intense eyes doing a quick sweep of the space. Like her brother, he stood over six feet tall with broad shoulders and a badass vibe that bounced off of him in waves. He was also downright gorgeous with olive skin, hazel-green eyes that seemed to take everything in, and a bad-boy attitude that said, yeah, I’m the shit so watch yourself.
Soul had met him a little more than a year ago when he was still a detective with Atlanta PD. Now, he worked with her brother as a security specialist for Supreme Security. Most referred to the specialists as Atlanta’s Finest, providing personal security to some of the wealthiest people in the country. They stemmed from every branch of law enforcement. The few of them that Soul had met were definitely some badasses.
Laz removed the baseball cap he was wearing and ran his fingers through his dark hair that curled at his nape before replacing the hat. “This is a nice place, but you’re going to need a new lock on the back door. One solid kick near the handle and the whole damn thing might fall apart.”
“Yeah, I told her the same thing,” Myles said. “I’ll take care of it later. Now tell us where you want everything to go.”
“Okay, the sofa, upholstered chairs, and the lamp go in this room,” she said, leading them a short distance down the hallway to the lounge area that she was setting up for parents. Most of the classes would be an hour. She wanted them to have the option of sticking around in a comfortable setting while they waited for their children.
“The desk, leather chair, and file cabinet will go in the small room, the third door on the right.” She had hoped to find a two-story building. That way her office could be in a separate part of the building, but she couldn’t pass up the deal she’d gotten for the existing business.
An hour later, Soul wiped her sweaty forehead with her forearm. Even indoors with the air conditioner up high, summer heat in Atlanta was torturous.
“Hello? Anyone here?” a deep voice called out. A voice that Soul hadn’t heard in over fifteen years. A voice that sent a wave of awareness crashing through her body, nipping at each nerve.
It can’t be.
With her heart doing a little jig inside her chest, she quickly washed her hands in the bathroom sink, trying not to get her hopes up, but failing miserably. Since moving back to Atlanta, she had thought of him more often than not, but hadn’t planned on seeking him out.
Taking a deep breath and releasing it slowly, Soul headed to the front of the building, her pulse pounding in her ears. Maybe she shouldn’t be too excited to see him again, considering the way things had ended between them, but she couldn’t help it.
Soul slowed when she spotted the man who would forever be ingrained in her heart. Micah Olsen. Her first love. Her only true love.
He and her brother shook hands, then pulled each other into a man-hug, pounding one another on the back. They fell into a deep conversation, talking like old friends. Sure, they’d met many years ago, but they seemed more familiar than she would’ve expected.
As if sensing her presence, they both turned.
Soul’s breath stalled in her throat when her gaze clashed with Micah’s. Those whiskey-colored eyes bored into her, piercing her with a need she hadn’t felt in ages, leaving her unable to move or speak. The years had indeed been good to him. Micah had always been gorgeous with his smooth, pecan-brown skin. But the man standing only ten feet from her now was mouthwatering fine!
In college, he wore his hair in cornrows, which Soul hated, and his face was always clean-shaven. Now he sported a low fade and a little scruff on his face, which she liked. Back then he was athletically built, like a basketball player. Now, his large frame had filled out in all the right places. His white T-shirt hugged his wide chest and broad shoulders, while his biceps bulged beneath the short sleeves.
A magnetic force surged through her body as his appreciative gaze slid over her from head to toe. Every nerve ending within her was standing at attention. How could he still have such an effect on her? It had been like forever since they’d seen each other.
Ugh. If only she had known he was coming. She would’ve gotten cleaned up instead of letting him see her all grungy and sweaty.
“Hey, beautiful.” His deep voice settled around her, sending tingles swarming over her skin. “You’re even prettier than I remember.”
*
Ever since Myles called him a few days ago, needing a favor regarding Soul, Micah wondered what it would be like to see her again. But nothing could’ve prepared him for the stunning beauty in front of him. Those large expressive eyes held him captive until he allowed his gaze to take in the rest of the stunning package. He gave extra attention to the tank top that covered perky breasts and toned legs beneath the tiny denim shorts. He hadn’t been kidding when he said she was prettier than he remembered.
Since she was rooted in place, looking as if she was holding her breath, Micah walked toward her. Only two steps in and she rushed toward him, leaping into his arms. His heart nearly burst out of his chest as she snuggled into him. Burying his face into the crook of her neck, Micah held her close, never wanting to let her go again. His eyes drifted closed as he soaked up her heady lavender scent and the softness of her body.
“Ms. Prissy…God, I’ve missed you,” he said, placing a feathery kiss against her cheek before finally setting her back on her feet.
“What did I tell you about calling me that?” she said haughtily, her lips twitching to keep from smiling. Petite, prim, and proper, she might’ve hated the nickname, but the name fit her perfectly.
Micah held her hand and stood back to get another look at her. It had been years since he’d seen Soul. When they dated, he’d always wanted to feed her, put some meat on her bones, but dancing was her life. Maintaining her slim figure was her top priority. Since then, she had filled out a little, adding some nice curves to her lithe body.
Micah’s gaze went back to her face, her smooth, dark skin glistening from the humidity. She was one of those women who didn’t need makeup. Her natural beauty shined through, and those lips… Lord, those sweet pouty lips that he used to feast on all those years ago were still as tempting as they’d been back then.
“It’s so good to see you,” she said just above a whisper, staring as if she couldn’t believe he was standing there.
“Likewise, baby.” Unable to help himself, Micah pulled her back into his arms, holding her tight. His biggest regret was walking out of her life, and there’d been too many days that he longed to have her in his arms again.
“You know what? That’s enough of this shit. I get it. You both are happy to see each other,” Myles ground out, irritation in his tone as he frowned at Micah. “Let her go and back the hell up.”
Micah loosened his hold and laughed. “Man, you don’t scare me anymore. Besides, she’s grown now.”
“Oh please. I was grown then. He just always treated me like a kid.”
Myles shrugged. “You’ll always be my kid sister. I couldn’t let punks like him push up on you without laying down the law.”
“Yeah, he definitely laid down the law,” Micah grinned, shaking his head as memories of that first meeting came to mind. “I’ll never forget the first day I met Myles. I was on my way home from playing basketball at the rec center, and your brother comes out of nowhere. Like a damn ninja ghost, he materialized out of thin air. Scared the crap out of me.”
Soul laughed while Myles smirked.
“I remember you telling me about that night,” Soul said, smiling before glancing at her brother. “What I don’t remember is how you found out he and I were dating.”
“I have my ways,” Myles said without elaborating.
Micah’s mind drifted back to that night in the alley. He wasn’t easily intimidated, but there was something about Myles that would spook the bravest man. Myles was a few years older and now the two of them were close in height, but Micah was about ten or fifteen pounds heavier. In college, Soul had mentioned her brothers, but at that time, he hadn’t met either of them.
Being the only girl and the baby of the family, her brothers and father had been fiercely protective of her. Micah had later learned that her mother died during childbirth. Considering how Myles had hunted him down back then, and again recently to ask Micah for a favor, Soul probably had no clue the lengths her brother would go to protect her.
“Now yo’ ass shows up after we’ve unloaded the truck,” Laz said to Micah as he strolled from the back of the building.
“Ahh, man. Y’all just let anybody up in here,” Micah cracked, laughing as he stuck his hand out to Laz, and they pulled each other into a hug. “Long time no see, man. What’s going on? And what’s this crazy rumor I’ve been hearing about you being married to the assistant district attorney, and with a baby on the way?”
Laz chuckled. “Those are facts, son. It was time.”
“Besides, he had to marry her. He needs someone close by to keep his ass out of jail,” Myles added.
“Don’t even go there. Now I know it’s time to go before they put all my business out here.”
Soul turned to Micah. “How do you know Laz?”
“Micah’s a cop,” Laz volunteered before Micah could respond.
Soul’s brows shot up. “Really?” she said. With that one word, Micah couldn’t tell if that was only surprise in her tone, or surprise with a hint of disapproval.
After his last tour with the Marine Corps, he had joined Atlanta PD, following in his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather’s footsteps. He had met Laz a few years ago and liked him immediately. He was no-nonsense and had earned a reputation of being a by-any-means-necessary kind of cop to get bad guys off the streets. The man didn’t play.
