The real estate agent almost dropped her clipboard when Julian paid for the small beach house in solid gold.We stood on the wooden porch of a blue weathered cottage sitting right on the dune line. The agent was a middle aged woman named Martha, and her hands were trembling as she held the three heavy gold coins Julian had set down on her glass clipboard.Is this a joke, Martha asked, her voice squeaking as she looked from the coins to Julian's towering frame.It is pure gold, I said quickly, stepping between them with a polite smile. It is an inheritance from my grandfather. You can take them to the jeweler in town to verify the weight right now.Martha swallowed hard, her eyes darting over the quiet beach behind our house. The listing price was two hundred thousand dollars, but these three coins were worth easily double that amount.The keys are on the kitchen counter, Martha said, her voice barely a whisper as she backed off the porch toward her car. The deed will be mailed to you

The wooden dock gave way beneath my boots with a violent crack that sent cold seawater splashing over my ankles.Julian grabbed my waist before I could fall into the dark harbor water below. He pulled me up onto the solid stone wall of the pier with one swift lift of his arms, his chest breathing hard against my back.Watch your step, Liam, Julian growled into my ear, his broad hands staying clamped onto my hips. This whole town is falling apart.It is just old wood, I said, turning around in his grip to look at the busy harbor.The morning mist had finally lifted, revealing a row of colorful fishing boats tied to the docks. Local fishermen were throwing heavy nets onto the wooden planks, calling out to each other over the screeching seagulls circling overhead.Over here, a fat man behind a wooden table called out, waving his hand toward a pile of fresh silver fish resting on crushed ice. Best catch of the morning! Two dollars a pound!We walked over to the stall, the smell of salt an

The smell of wet wood filled my nose before I even opened my eyes.I tried to turn over on the mattress, but Julian had his broad arm pinned over my stomach, holding me glued to his chest. The storm outside had died down to a gentle drizzle, the rain tapping softly against the glass pane in the hallway.Julian, I whispered, reaching down to pat his forearm. The rain stopped.Julian did not move a muscle. He just pulled me two inches closer, burying his face deeper into the crook of my neck and letting out a low rumble that vibrated through my ribs.It is too early, he grumbled, his voice thick and raspy from sleep.We have a broken door to fix, I reminded him, tracing the smooth muscle of his shoulder. The wind blew half the ocean into our living room last night.Let the ocean have the living room, Julian murmured, his lips brushing against the sensitive skin right under my ear.You are being lazy, I laughed, turning my head slightly to look at him. Yesterday you were worried about st

A heavy wooden post snapped in two when Julian leaned his weight against the old fence line.The sound echoed across the grassy dunes like a rifle shot in the quiet morning air. I dropped my pile of small beach stones onto the grass and looked over at him, shaking my head as he held the broken piece of timber in his massive hand.You do not know your own strength, I said, walking over to the perimeter of our yard where the sand met the long grass.This wood is rotten, Julian said, his voice flat as he tossed the broken post into the brush. It was not going to protect anything anyway.We are building a garden gate, not a fortress, I laughed, picking up a smaller wooden board from the pile we bought yesterday. You do not need to test every post like it has to stop a truck.I want to make sure the boundary holds, Julian grumbled, his hazel eyes scanning the empty shoreline behind me.Why are you so obsessed with boundaries today, I asked, stepping up close to him and resting my hand agai

A harsh, metal scraping sound echoed from the dirt road just behind our cottage.I sat up on the wooden porch railing so fast my knee slammed against the post, my hand instantly going out to grab Julian's arm. He was already on his feet, his massive frame blocking the morning light as his hazel eyes locked onto the black sedan crawling up our gravel driveway.Who is that, I whispered, my voice dropping into a tight thread as my pulse began to hammer against my ribs.Stay right behind me, Julian said, his voice flat, low, and completely devoid of fear.The car stopped twenty feet from our porch steps. The driver side door opened, and a tall man in a dark grey suit stepped out onto the dust, holding a thin manila folder in his hands. He did not look like an enforcement officer from the old sector, but he certainly did not look like a local fisherman either.Are you Liam and Julian, the man asked, his voice calm and polite as he stayed right by his car door.We are, Julian growled, stepp