“Does that mean you know for sure it’s a her?” he whispers into the side of my neck. The same thing I’ve imagined him doing for so long it’s a shock to find out how much better it is in real life.
“All signs point to that,” I say, losing most of my breath halfway through the sentence when the glow of the spotlight from our rendezvous point washes over his face, detailing each feature in its full glory.
There’s so much to tell him but I start with what must be top of his mind. “I know we’re leaving the country—”
“Touch wood,” Kai says, tapping his knuckles on the plastic dashboard.
“But there’s enough money for you to come back and visit your son. I don’t know what that’ll entail, especially if the police have worked out your connection, but—”
He frowns at me, putting a finger to my lips to cut me off as he shakes his head. “He wasn’t…” He breaks off to swallow heavily, before starting again. “He wasn’t mine.”
The words fill me with a mix of relief and rage. “What?”
“It was…” His words fail, and I put my hand on his chest as he struggles. “She wanted leverage.”
“She used you.” My voice is flat, but my head is full of angry tears. How dare she? In any other scenario, she’d have my sympathies, but how could she abuse Kai that way? “In that case, I’ve got money to spare. You want me to hire someone to go around and kick her arse?”
His soft laughter warms the side of my face as it warms the inside of my soul. I bend my head to rest lightly against his chest, taking a moment just to feel him, his solidity, his realness. Every inch of him just as masculine as I remember.
I lean back, squinting a little in the dim light.
Every bit just as hot.
Kai whispers, “Is this where we get off?”
I laugh at the double entendre but nod in agreement as Mack turns the vehicle in a slow loop, getting us as close as he can to the marina fence. Even when we leave the truck, Kai holds onto my hand while we follow the path down to the jetty. Once we’re there, a double flash of light signals the correct vessel, and we quickly move to board.
“You bought this?” Kai asks in wonder as we’re directed into the cabin. Once we’re both out of the way, the crew who actually know how to sail and navigate free the boat from its temporary mooring.
“No, I didn’t buy a luxury yacht. Are you insane?” I sling my arms around his waist, resting my forehead between his pecs and feeling the thump of his heartbeat, synching with mine. “Some of Josh’s contacts put me in touch with a boatbuilder who felt inclined to help.”
“Out of the goodness of his heart.”
“His heart and his bank account balance. I have it on good authority that we do not want to be anywhere near this thing if someone pulls it in for a thorough inspection. Something about fake panels and contraband.”
He bursts out laughing and the sound warms my soul. I don’t want to break my hold on him. I don’t want to stop touching him ever again.
“Have I told you how glad I am you abducted me?”
“Pfft.” He gives a brief chuckle, then lifts me onto his shoes so he can walk us along the corridor towards our allocated cabin. “Abducted is such an inflammatory term. I borrowed your car for a few hours with you in it, then you wouldn’t leave me alone.”
He shakes his head, blue eyes twinkling like a tropical sunset lighting up an infinity pool. Something I hope we’ll see for real soon enough.
“Now tell me more about these panels. You’re not a secret drug lord, are you? Only each time we meet, you’ve got illegal powder stored in places you shouldn’t.”
“Sure. That’s why my son’s in prison. Because I’m a drug lord.”
“You could be a bad one,” he says with a teasing air. “Nobody said anything about being successful.”
“Yet here I am. Feeling pretty successful if I say so myself.”
His hands roam all over my body, landing on my hips which he uses to draw me closer. “Mm. You definitely feel successful but maybe I should commit to a more thorough investigation.”
“Oh,” I say, then again, louder, when he squeezes my butt cheeks in his powerful hands. “Yes,” I add, my face growing more flushed with each passing second. “You should get onto that right away.”
And, by the time we reach our cabin, he’s hard at work. Being a good boy. Following my every instruction.
CHAPTERTWENTY-THREE
