Her eyes flash with emotion, and she drops her hand, scooting back on the bed a few inches and facing me without embarrassment. I fight not to let my gaze drop to her breasts. I may respect the fuck out of her, but I’m still a man—last time I checked.
“Austin, have you ever knowingly hurt a woman?”
I straighten my spine, years of military training lending strength to my words. “No, ma’am. Never.”
“Have you ever cheated? Lied for your own benefit? Or been anything other than completely and totally respectful to me?” Warm fingers circle my wrist, and she brings my hand to her breast.
I barely manage to stifle my groan. She’s a perfect handful. Her nipple pebbles under my palm and goosebumps race down her arms. Keeping perfectly still, unwilling to do anything she’s not completely ready for, I hold her gaze. “No. At least not…intentionally.”
“That’s what I thought. Don’t try to tell me you’re someone Iknowyou aren’t,” she says with a huff. “You’re a good man, Austin. And if this were a normal vacation, we’d be naked in this bed right now.”
My dick goes from zero to granite as that last sentence sinks in. “Mik…God. You have no idea how much I want you.”
She chuckles, and though I refuse to let my gaze leave her eyes, she makes it a point to stare directly at my hard on. “Noidea? I’m notthatnaive.” Leaning in for a quick, hard kiss, she pushes up and then shuffles back to the bathroom.
Fuck. This amazing woman might actually accept me as broken as I am—with all my darkness, all my flaws, all my nightmares and pain.
My phone buzzes, and I roll my eyes as Trevor’s name pops up on the screen. I’m surprised he waited this long. “Yeah?”
“Should have known you wouldn’t reach out on your own,” Trev mutters. “You going to make that flight?”
“Yes. We’ll be at the airport right around 1:00 p.m. But…there’s something else I need to ask you for.”
“Name it.”
Despite his matter-of-fact tone, I know I’m about to push my luck. “I need a protective detail for three people.”
“Three?” He snorts. “What the fuck are you doing down there, Austin? Rescuing a small village?”
“Just one botanist and two twenty-something research assistants.” I run a hand through my hair, hoping he won’t make me explain here, with Mik in the next room.
“Days and nights?”
“Yes. The botanist…I can handle nights, but a couple of external surveillance cameras wouldn’t be a bad idea. For all of them. I don’t know how far this particular cartel is willing to go to keep them quiet.”
I realize my mistake when Trev chuckles. “We’re going to have a long talk when you get back, man. And I assume you’re going to let me and Dani meet her. Or…I shouldn’t assume…him?”
“Her,” I say sharply. “And maybe. If things work out. Don’t push me. Not on this.”
“Austin, I get it. You don’t think it was damn near impossible for me to admit my feelings for Dani? I’m not pushing you. I’m…” He sighs, and there’s a long silence followed by a whispered curse. “I’m trying to say I understand. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned since Venezuela,” his voice cracks, and I sink down onto the bed, “it’s that holding all this shit in doesn’t do you a damn bit of good. Only makes life harder. Don’t make the same mistakes I did. Don’t shut your family out. And if whatever’s going on with this botanist is serious, don’t shut her out either.”
Someone knocks on Trevor’s door, and he calls out, “Come on in, Dax,” before lowering his voice again. “When you land, Ronan will be there with a car. Stay safe, brother.”
Brother.
The word rattles around my brain as Mik emerges from the bathroom and I tuck the cell phone into my pocket. Every time I see her face, she takes my breath away. Now, with her hair swept back and a hint of blush on her cheeks, it’s like she’s rediscovered some of her confidence. The tank top molds to her breasts, and though she’s still limping, her steps are smoother, her shoulders a little straighter, and when she reaches my side, she wraps her arms around my waist. “Who were you talking to?”
“Trevor. He and his boss, Dax, were the ones who arranged the flight for us.” Staring down at her, I almost can’t believe she’s real. That I met her in a bar in the middle of Mexico, and now…there’s something between us so intense, I don’t ever want to let her go.
“Are you ready to go home?” I skim my knuckle over her cheek, and her eyelids flutter as she settles against me.
“Are you sure it’s safe?” Uncertainty clouds her gaze. “They took my driver’s license. What if they show up at my house?”
“It’ll be the last thing they ever do. Dax’s firm—Second Sight—they’re the best in the world. I asked Trev to set up surveillance for you, Li, and Isaiah. No one’s going to get to you on my watch.”
“And you’re…” She shakes her head. “Crap on a cracker, I’m so bad at this.”
“At what?” Pulling her over to the bed, I ease her down and take her hand.
