She tasted even better than I remembered. And I’d replayed our first kiss over and over again in my mind for the last five years. And when she kissed me back, I was ready to throw her on the bed and explore just how hot our chemistry really was.
But instead of doing what I really wanted—stalking back inside to kiss her again—I was out in the cold, burning off my pent-up energy by making my way through the bushes like they’d personally offended me.
After spending over an hour imitating the Hulk, I finally calmed down enough to actually do what I came out here to do—check the perimeter.
Once I’d finished, I sat on one of the chairs on the porch. Since going inside meant being entirely too close to temptation, I would park my ass outside for as long as possible.
The chirping of my phone was a welcome distraction. When I answered, the news wasn’t as welcome.
“Boss, I know you said you’re in a secure location that you won’t tell anyone about—not even your best friend, I might add—but the Irish must have found something. They’re heading out in a hurry.”
I stood and paced up and down the short porch. “How long ago?”
“An hour. You really need to check your phone more often. You know, since there are a bunch of lunatics after you.”
“Fuck,” I cursed.
The Irish’s reach had grown exponentially over the past few years. I wasn’t surprised it had all come to a head.
“You need backup?” Carter asked.
I knew I could trust him. He couldn’t be the mole. I was sure it was Constantine Olysses who had the weak link in his organization, not me. But as soon as I mobilized my team, there would be no hiding this place anymore. If it had ever been hidden in the first place.
But there was still a chance that the Irish were searching without a real idea of where we were. And we were as safe as we could be out here. I’d set up so many traps and sensors, it’d be impossible to get to us without me knowing.
“Not yet. But I need the team on standby.”
We hung up, and I went back inside.
Freya’s small form underneath the blanket moved steadily up and down. I watched her for a moment before moving my ass into the bathroom and taking yet another cold shower.
When I came back out, my eyes immediately drifted to her again. The blanket had moved down her body. She was a restless sleeper, and despite wearing a few layers of clothes to bed, she always woke up cold.
So I did what I’d been doing every night since we got to the cabin and pulled the blanket over her before throwing an extra one on top.
There was a limited supply, so I used one of mine. It always found its way back onto the couch in the morning, but Freya had never said a word about it, so I continued putting it on her.
I didn’t get cold very often, usually opting to sleep in as little as possible with only a thin sheet to cover me. But thanks to my new sleeping arrangements, I’d taken to wearing flannel pajama pants that kept me warm despite only having one thin blanket.
I settled on the couch, lying on my side, eyes on the fire. The crackling soothed me into a light sleep. But Carter’s phone call had put me more on edge than usual, and I woke every time the cabin so much as creaked.
Killer rustled in his cage, and I glanced to where he was set up at the foot of Freya’s bed. He was growing on me. Not that I’d ever admit that to Freya.
Eventually, I gave up on sleep, so, after making sure Killer had enough food, I pulled out one of the books I kept in a box in a corner of the room. Freya had been more excited than I’d ever seen her when I showed her the box. It held most of my favorites, and since there was no TV or internet, reading had often been the only thing to entertain me while I was living out here.
Now the books kept Freya from going crazy. I had mostly sci-fi novels and a few biographies, but she didn’t seem to mind and read whatever was on top of the pile.
I’d hoped reading a book I’d already read numerous times would lull me back to sleep, but the endeavor was fruitless. Freya kept making noises in her sleep, and I had to fight not to let my gaze drift to the bed.
I didn’t always succeed, and in those times, I watched her sleep, remembering what her soft lips had felt like against mine.
And desperately wanting a repeat.
Chapter13
Freya
My head was pounding,and I didn’t want to open my eyes. Because opening them meant I had to face the day. And Gunner. Who I had kissed yesterday. And he’d rejected me.
