Marley tilted her face into his palm. “Sorry, Mack. I’m so sorry.”
Another giant crack in his heart. She cared about them enough to worry about his destroyed relationship with his son. Even missing her daughter as much as she did right now, she was still concerned about him. Mack felt something break free inside him, something warm that enveloped his entire being. “You make me want to try, Marley Mitchell. You make me want to fight for him.”
Her eyes closed and the fresh tears slipped down her cheeks. “I wish I could fix it. I wish I could fix everything.”
He brushed her tears away, shuddering right along with her. The feelings that wrapped around them, cloaking them, were so intense, so strong. He hadn’t felt this way about anyone since he and Barb had first gotten together—and those memories were hazy. He had loved his wife, but he didn’t remember feeling this primal need to protect and cherish her. He wanted to slay Marley’s dragon and appear before her triumphant. He wanted to do anything to ease the pain on her beautiful face.
“Maybe you could go see Cooper with me after we get back home. Just knowing you’re there would give me strength.”
Mack’s insides froze with uncertainty. No one had said a word aboutafterthe Congo, at least not explicitly. He couldn’t yet describe what he wanted in words, but he knew without a doubt he wanted Marley in his life. The connection between them went far deeper than a quick screw after a near-death experience. He wanted her now and he wanted her to be with him later.
Just being around her comforted him and gave him strength and a renewed energy. He could conquer anything when Marley was here. His entire being buzzed with energy as he waited for her to answer.Please let her want the same.
She gazed up at him with such rawness. “I would love that.”
Mack yanked her to him, squeezing her with relief and fierce joy. Damn, he was going to spend the entire night savoring her sweet body.
“Mack, you’re smothering me,” she said in a muffled voice.
Immediately he relaxed, allowing her to lean back but not to step away. “Sorry.”
Marley gazed up at him, her lips slightly parted and turned down, her brown eyes searching his. “You would do anything for your son, wouldn’t you?”
“Of course. I’d kill for him.”
“Would you die for him? Even if he would never find out what had happened to you?”
“I would, but neither one of us will have to do that, because we’re getting the hell out of this place as soon as we find my team.”
Mack’s stomach rumbled this time and he chuckled before placing a fierce kiss on her lips. “Now enough of all the sad talk, I’ve got two surprises for you.”
Marley gathered herself up and moved her hands down her thighs. “Oh, wow, two surprises?”
Mack strutted over to the dead animal. Using the knife jutting up out of the root to spear it, he held it up for Marley to see. “May I present your supper, my queen?” He bowed his head low.
Marley giggled and clapped and he freaking loved the sound of her laughter. He loved knowing he was the one who’d made her smile when she had been so sad just seconds before. “I don’t make a habit out of eating recently killed animals, but that looks better than any pizza I’ve ever laid my eyes on.”
Riding on the high of her smile, Mack reached down into his pocket and pulled out another water purification tablet and a flint. “And I’ve got the key for fresh water. The chemicals make it taste like shit, but right now I don’t think either one of us will care.”
“You really are the perfect man.” Marley said with a teasing lilt to her voice.
Mack stood proud and tall, holding the fresh water supplies in one hand and the carcass in the other. “Anything for you, babe.”
Mack swore he caught the briefest look of pain in her eyes, but it was gone in an instant, her smile back in place. Hunger and dehydration must be getting to him.
“I’ll find something we can use to make bowls for the water,” she said.
Mack shook his head. “All right, but don’t wander very far away. I saw some pretty big tracks out there. I want to make you supper, not be supper.”
