He leaned across the center console and took my chin into his hands. “I’m supposed to be doing exactly what the hell I’ve been doing. Which isyou.”
My nipples tightened at the resounding declaration in his voice. I sighed at the same time my eyes dropped to his lips. “Thank you,” I said, surprising both of us.
“For what?”
“Extending your vacation.” He was initially scheduled to leave the following day, but since he’d extended his trip by another week, we had more time together.
He smirked before leaning in and kissing me breathless.
Brutus climbed out of the car and strode around the front to my side to hold the door for me as I got out. Even after two weeks, I still hadn’t returned to the Cancún Airport to straighten out the situation with my rental car. The rental company had refunded me the deposit I’d put down on the vehicle, and Brutus never once complained about driving us around. In fact, he seemed eager to do it.
We entered the lounge, and I instantly caught the eye of a tall man with dark brown hair and eyes. His smile grew as he looked over my shoulder.
“Son of a bitch. You actually showed up,” he bellowed as he approached. He clapped Brutus on the shoulder and smiled before looking over at me.
“Mia, this is Jameson,” Brutus introduced.
“Miss Mia,” Jameson said with wide arms. He looked me up and down. “You are beautiful.” He took my hand in his and kissed it. “Nice to finally meet you. This guy’s been keeping you to himself.” He nudged Brutus with his elbow.
“Because she’s mine,” Brutus responded, possessively taking my hand out of Jameson’s hold. “So stop looking at her like she’s about to be wife number three,” Brutus warned. His voice sounded awfully similar to the time he threatened that guy who nearly pushed me off of that rock.
Jameson chuckled but he also took a step back with his hands up. “Did you come here to have fun or to bust my balls about my failed marriages?”
“I can do both,” Brutus quickly replied. He wrapped an arm around my waist, pulling me in close. “Are you hungry?”
I nodded.
“Excellent,” Jameson said. “This place has the best guacamole around, and the shrimp empanadas … muah!” He kissed his fingers to indicate how tasty the food was.
Brutus kept his hand at my back as we made our way to the table where a group of other men sat. He introduced me to all of the men at the table, who I came to find out were all past Army buddies of his. I should’ve picked up on that. They all had that appearance about them. A look that read they could be lethal when and if they wanted to be. Even when they were laughing, there was a particular gleam in their eyes.
I first spotted that look in Brutus’ gaze the moment we began talking on the plane. Every so often, he would scan the aircraft as if looking for possible danger, just as he did that night. Over the previous two weeks, I realized that it wasn’t even a conscious act with him. It was an innate paper of who he was, to be protective, on the lookout.
“Want to split a basket of chips and guac with me?” I asked him.
His grin widened. “Make it two baskets. I’m hungry as hell tonight.”
I laughed. Brutus wasn’t big for nothing. All of that muscle required calories. And as much as he ate, he worked it off, too. Every morning since that first morning we ended up together, he either slept at my place or me at his. Most of the time I awakened to either his tongue, his fingers, or his dick inside of me, but after he delivered an orgasm that would send me back to sleep, he went out for a run along the beach.
He’d come back sweaty and smelling like salt water. Then we’d go another round in the shower, washing it all off.
“Mia, you’ve been keeping this guy busy,” Will, one of Brutus’ friends, said from across the table.
I chewed and swallowed the chip I’d just taken a bite of before answering. “Sorry about that,” I acknowledged. “To be fair, though, I did try to convince him to hang out with you all more, over the past few weeks.” I shrugged and grabbed for the mimosa that’d been delivered to the table. I swirled the straw around in the glass before cheekily saying, “I guess I’m just more entertaining than you all.”
Will burst out laughing along with Brutus. “You’re better looking, for sure,” he added.
Brutus grunted beside me and tightened his arm around my shoulders. “I’ll second that.” His lips brushed against my temple.
I scooped up a tortilla chip, dipped it in guac, and held it up to his lips. He took the offered chip without a second thought.
A low whistle from across the table grabbed my attention. That was from Tony. “Yeah, we sure as well ain’t feeding his big ass chips and guac like that. No wonder he prefers you over us.”
I laughed and continued to joke with the guys at the table. Brutus was mostly quiet, interjecting here and there, but mainly he kept his hand stroking up and down my back, even when our meals arrived.
“That looks so good,” I crooned, staring over at his plate. “I should’ve tried the shrimp empanadas.” I pouted.
“Here, take one of mine,” Jameson offered.
