His eyes are wet with moisture as he shakes his head. His fingers travel up to brush against my ear and hair.
“Kate, you don’t need to apologize. You were nearly killed twice because of me. They told you I might be a murderer.”
His face has a slightly guilty expression, and I realize that he thinks I don’t want to be with him because it’s dangerous.
“I...I didn’tlovethe danger and thegetting stabbedpart, but it was exciting while also being completely terrifying. If that’s what I have to go through to be with you, then so be it. Being with you is worth it because...I love you too.”
It’s all out there now. He either wants it or?—
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather have a nice, quiet life with a musician? Or someone with an occupation that doesn’t involve mercenaries and safe houses?”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying. I want you. Whatever that means...I want a life with you, Luke Bradshaw.”
He smiles down at me, probably the first real smile I’ve ever seen on his face.
“A life as more than my assistant?”
“Ha. Yes...much, much more. Unless being your assistant involves tending to your physical needs,” I say suggestively.
His grin widens as he starts to pull me through the tunnel. “I have one more surprise for you.”
My head is spinning with the excitement and the realization that this man loves me and I actually get to be with him.
“What is it?”
He smiles but doesn’t respond. My question is answered as we approach the next exhibit, and I admire the herd of enormous sea turtles swimming around. They’re different shades of green, some with yellow spots and squares on their backs. The lighting in their tank is brighter, switching from purple to turquoise every few seconds. It’s breathtaking and mesmerizing to watch.
He steps behind me, hugging my back to his front. “Do you want to swim with them?” he whispers in my ear, a warm breath on my cheek.
“What?” My voice is barely audible as I confirm what he asked me.
“Do you want to swim with the sea turtles? I have wet suits and?—”
I turn around and jump up on him, wrapping my legs around his waist and peppering his face with kisses. He laughs as his arms come up to support my butt, locking underneath me. My fingers push through his dark waves right as his lips touch mine.
He presses my back up against the glass, his tongue parting my lips. I love the feel of his hungry kiss, the way his hands knead my ass, and the soft groan he lets out when I press my hips into him.
I nibble on his bottom lip, drawing it into my mouth as he threads his fingers up into my hair, holding me with one muscled arm.
“How are you so strong and sexy and perfect?”
His lips find my neck, sucking on my skin for a moment. “How do you taste so sweet?”
My dress is up around my hips, and I bet the turtles are getting a nice view of my butt cheeks. Luke is driving my heart rate up with the kisses he’s trailing from my neck to down over my shoulder, leaving damp places for the cool air to light up with shivers on my skin.
His free hand reaches to pull down the strap of my dress and bra. The fabric is slightly stretchy, so he slowly pushes it until my breasts are exposed. He tastes me there, too, and my head tips back at the sensation. I have a flashback to the first night we met, and I realize how much better it is now that I really know and love him.
He pulls away, slowly lowering my feet to the ground. “We’ll never get to the swimming part if we keep this up.”
He adjusts the front of my dress to cover me, grabs my hand, and leads me back around the glass through a door. My nerves are on end with the thrill of simply being near him, knowing how he feels about me.
We walk up a set of stairs, ending up on the upper side of the exhibit with an opening directly into the water. There are two wet suits hanging up, and all the headgear and oxygen tanks are set up on a table.
“Have you ever done this before?” He pulls his shirt over his head, revealing the taut muscles of his abdomen and shoulders.
I forget to respond for a few seconds, my mouth hanging slightly open.
I finally recover, rushing out, “Uh, no.”
