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    Handle With Care
    Handle With Care
    Handle With Care
    Ebook102 pages1 hour

    Handle With Care

    By Willa Okati

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Love conquers all—even a proud man's need to stand tough. No matter what it takes to heal his wounded soldier, Daniel is willing.

    Daniel keeps a secret close to his chest—he's long believed his soulmate-to-be, Jesse, was killed in action before they had a chance to fully bond. Jesse had asked Daniel to wait, to be patient, and to grow up a little before he fell in love.

    In return, Daniel promised to wait for Jesse and take care of him—always.

    Now, word's come that the report was in error. Jesse survived, and has returned home, but doesn't want to see or hear from Daniel. When Daniel tracks Jesse down, he finds a broken, wounded man who isn't glad to see him.

    While Jesse knew finding his soulmate would help him heal, he'd wanted to become strong enough to be worthy of Daniel before they reunited. Angry and ashamed, he's ready to run again.

    It's a hard row to hoe and a nut almost too tough to crack, but Daniel's come this far in search of his soulmate. He won't give up now—and he won't let Jesse give up either.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherPride Publishing
    Release dateAug 22, 2014
    ISBN9781784301477
    Handle With Care

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      Book preview

      Handle With Care - Willa Okati

      Page

      A Totally Bound Publication

      Handle With Care

      ISBN # 978-1-78430-147-7

      ©Copyright Willa Okati 2014

      Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright July 2014

      Edited by Rebecca Douglas

      Totally Bound Publishing

      This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.

      Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorized or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.

      The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.

      Published in 2014 by Totally Bound Publishing, Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN

      Warning:

      This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a heat rating of Totally Sizzling and a Sexometer of 1.

      Soulmarked

      HANDLE WITH CARE

      Willa Okati

      Book three in the Soulmarked series

      Love conquers all—even a proud man’s need to stand tough. No matter what it takes to heal his wounded soldier, Daniel is willing.

      Daniel keeps a secret close to his chest—he’s long believed his soulmate-to-be, Jesse, was killed in action before they had a chance to fully bond. Jesse had asked Daniel to wait, to be patient, and to grow up a little before he fell in love.

      In return, Daniel promised to wait for Jesse and take care of him—always.

      Now, word’s come that the report was in error. Jesse survived, and has returned home, but doesn’t want to see or hear from Daniel. When Daniel tracks Jesse down, he finds a broken, wounded man who isn’t glad to see him.

      While Jesse knew finding his soulmate would help him heal, he’d wanted to become strong enough to be worthy of Daniel before they reunited. Angry and ashamed, he’s ready to run again.

      It’s a hard row to hoe and a nut almost too tough to crack, but Daniel’s come this far in search of his soulmate. He won’t give up now—and he won’t let Jesse give up either.

      Dedication

      For J.L. and Kimberly, with thanks.

      Trademarks Acknowledgement

      The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:

      Guinness: Diageo plc

      Bobcat: Doosan Group

      Prologue

      Anything else for you and your little brother?

      I’m not his—

      Jesse did three things at once—raised his hand, kicked back in the booth and grinned at the waiter. One of the three made something small and hot knot up in Daniel’s stomach. He just wasn’t sure which.

      He’s not my brother, Jesse said. Just a friend.

      The waiter frowned at them. He looked both young and bone-tired. His name tag hung crooked and the letters spelling Robbie were askew, but he had sharp, clear eyes and he carried a thick paperback tucked in his hip pocket. Daniel would bet he could tell what was going on.

      He didn’t call them on it, though, and he had a nice smile. Your call. Shout if you change your mind.

      Jesse watched him go without looking at Daniel. Calm down and drink your coffee, he said. They make an okay cup here. I’ve seen that guy around. He’s got two brothers of his own, that’s why he thought what he did. He won’t tell and get you in trouble.

      I’m not worried about him.

      You should be. You crossed two state lines to get here, and you’re just sixteen.

      Daniel hunched his shoulders. He turned his coffee cup around and around, blowing at the steam. The lenses of his glasses fogged over, but the ceramic warmed his hands. You’re barely eighteen. Yesterday you were seventeen.

      And you’re not going to be seventeen for almost eight months. Jesse touched his chin, as if he were going to say something, but didn’t. Nothing except for, Hurry, before it goes cold.

      Daniel bit his lip and fell silent, but he didn’t drink his coffee. He watched Jesse instead.

      Not many people used Finders anymore. Not since it’d become easier to search for soulmates with online registries and even so, most people preferred to let nature take its course. They’d meet their soulmate when they met their soulmate, done and done.

      Daniel didn’t get that. Didn’t they want to know? Couldn’t they feel the tugging pull that yanked them awake every time they fell asleep, too restless to dream with the need to get up and go searching?

      The Finder Daniel had been to had said that no, most people didn’t. Developing so young—the Finder’s words, not Daniel’s—made him an outlier. Different. Fine, then. Jesse had gone to a Finder young, too, hadn’t he? And if the Finder was right, then he and Jesse were—would be—soulmates. Someday. Jesse knew that as much as Daniel did.

      So why wouldn’t Jesse even look at him?

      Daniel sighed. Jesse didn’t look much like the picture he’d sent the Finder. He’d gotten older since it was taken. Still, Daniel knew he would have been able to pick Jesse out of a line-up. It was his nose, Daniel thought. Wide at the bridge, like a lion’s. And he had a…different…kind of face. It sort of changed every time Jesse smiled or frowned or went quiet. Daniel couldn’t decide if he was good-looking or not.

      Jesse’s uniform didn’t fit him right. Too new. Daniel could smell the sharp chemical clean and the plastic it’d come wrapped in. Green Alphas, every stitch of them regulation. The cuffs rode up over his wrists when he moved his hands, and he had orders to report to someplace called Parris Island tomorrow morning. If Daniel hadn’t come that day, without warning Jesse, he’d have missed Jesse completely.

      He didn’t get how Jesse was okay with that. How he could be okay with it.

      Jesse stayed put on the other side of the booth, arms carefully crossed. Daniel would bet he didn’t know what to do or say either. That should have made Daniel feel better. It didn’t.

      Do you drink a lot of coffee? Jesse asked.

      Daniel made a dismissive gesture. Just every now and then. If I have a big test at school. He tried a sip. It wasn’t too bad. Too strong, but that was better than too weak. Why didn’t you tell him the truth? The waiter, I mean.

      Because legally I’m an adult, and you’re not.

      Daniel scoffed. Soulmates are different.

      Not that different. Not unless their guardians are with them. Jesse shifted in the seat as if he wanted to lower his hands to the table but wouldn’t let himself. If I’d known you were planning to come out here, I would have asked you not to.

      That hurt going down, like swallowing a bite of bitter orange. Why?

      It isn’t right. It isn’t what I wanted.

      No? Daniel’s knuckles went white around the mug. Why didn’t you say so in the letter you sent? Why did you go to a Finder in the first place if you didn’t want to meet your soulmate?

      "Because

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