“So you kidnapped me for my own good?”
“Pretty much.”
“Jerk.”
He shrugged. “I’ve been called worse. And no doubt I’ll be called worse in the future. So call me any name you want. It doesn’t change facts,” he said flatly. “You are the first woman aside from my mother who put me before her own safety. Even if I have to keep pissing you off to do it, I will make sure you are protected while we figure this shit out.”
“Why?”
“I don’t know.” He snagged her by the arm and tugged her closer to him until she lay flush against his chest. “I also don’t care. I just know that I’m doing it and this,” he waved a hand between them, “will be a lot easier on both of us if you stop fighting me at every turn. I’m tired of fighting. Between war and my bitch wife who thought she could earn bank in the divorce… enough with the fighting shit. I just want to make sure you are safe, then you can go home.”
By the way his eyes widened, then the surprised expression in them blanked out, she figured he’d probably told her more than he’d meant to. “Gimme a minute to think.” Was she being one of the too stupid to live people in the horror movies who answered the phones or went in the basement? Probably. But she had come to Italy to warn him of the list… to help him. So why was she fighting him at every turn?
Because he didn’t freaking ask, he just took.
Maybe if he asked, then her stubbornness could legitimately take a back seat and they could work together to get everything fixed, and she could safely go home and forget this ever happened. This was probably a stupid move on her part, but she decided it was probably the only option she had at this point. “Ask me to stay and help.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Pullingher this close to him was a stupid move. He realized it the second she peered up at him with those pretty green eyes of hers. Him from before would have taken the time to get lost for days in those curves she rocked and didn’t seem to know she had. Or at least didn’t try to use against him. Him today silently reminded his dick that it had no say in a damn thing. This woman was off limits to him. He would never make the mistake of trusting a woman again.
Been there, got the t-shirt. Hell, I have so many of them I can’t give them away fast enough.
He was probably an idiot for wanting some kind of understanding between them. He knew from experience most women didn’t keep their word.
“Ask me to stay and help.”
He stared down into her eyes in confusion. “Huh?” He inhaled and got a noseful of apple shampoo and scent he couldn’t place. He sniffed again. Was that her?
Dayum, if sexy had a smell, this would be it.
She huffed out a breath of annoyance and he wondered if she knew what feeling it hot on the bare skin of his throatdid to him. As she didn’t knee him in the balls, he figured she didn’t.
She asked me something. What was it? Why are we doing this?
Oh, yeah, because to get to him, someone would have to come through his brothers. He already knew they would protect him at all costs, he didn’t doubt that for a second. Just as Gunnar knew that he also knew his own honor would not allow Jorja to get caught in the crossfire. He’d take multiple bullets and piss off everyone from the Pope to multiple countries to ensure that didn’t happen.
She nudged him in the side, dragging his attention back to where it should be. “Ask me to stay and help,” she asked again, then added on, “if you don’t ask me, I don’t know that my brain will get on board, and I’ll keep trying to leave. I know me well enough to know it will happen.”
It made sense to him. As he was a sucker for someone asking him for help, he understood why she needed him to ask it of her. “Please, Jorja, will you stay and help us—me figure out what’s going on?” He cupped her chin with his palm and stroked her soft skin with one thumb. “I swear once we do and we know you are safe, I’ll take you home myself.”
She shook her head slowly and disappointment filled him. For a second there, she’d had him going. He started to remove his hand from her face when she placed hers over it and rubbed her cheek against his palm. “I have my car. I don’t need you to take me home, just back to my car.”
Shit, thank fuck he hadn’t given his thoughts words, or he’d have pissed her off. “I’ll ship your car home, so you don’t have to drive all that way by yourself.” She didn’t say anything for a couple of moments, and he could tell she was thinking about his offer. He didn’t mind waiting here with her in his arms. She deserved the time to decide. He just hoped she chose to do as he asked.
“Deal.”
She’d whispered the word so quietly, he almost didn’t hear it, and for his own sanity he needed to clarify it. “Seriously? You would do that for me?”
“Yes, you cave man jerk.” She swatted at his chest. “Try asking next time, you idiot. Not all women are selfish bitches like your ex-wife or Remi’s.”
Yeah, she tempted him to believe it. But time would show if it was true or not. He’d reserve judgment on that one. “I’m sorry for being a jerk.”
“Yeah, you were. But I accept your apology.” Jorja surprised the crap out of him by wrapping her arms around his waist and hugging him. That he hugged her back surprised him even more. After a moment, she pulled away from him, moved her hands up to wrap around his neck, and then stretched up, her mouth brushing over his. He blinked and held his breath, stunned by what was happening. Stunned that he wanted it as much as he did. He wanted to believe this wasn’t some kind of ploy, but had no way of knowing for sure.
Her lips touched his. Warm and coaxing. Electric and sensual. A full body shiver overtook her as she pressed against him. He could resist her no more and melded their mouths together, exerting gentle pressure.
Despite the barrier of his t-shirt, her hands were like a brand on his skin. He continued the assault on her senses as he scooped her up and set her on the counter. When she widened her knees, making room for him to step closer, he deepened the kiss. Gunnar ran his tongue over the seam of her mouth. Once, twice, three times, seeking entrance to her mouth.
