He’d even kept the truth about her father from her.
Maybe there was another way. He’d never allowed himself to ponder that thought before. Ever since he realized Caroline’s blood was the answer to the serum shortage, he’d only thought about her as a supply, not the beautiful creature contentedly curled in his arms.
She’d already revealed she had a giant heart, when she’d exclaimed over him stripping the clothes from those dead bodies back in the building. Someone who cared about the dead that much would care about the living even more. Maybe he could explain the situation, tell her how much he needed her, how much his entire team would rely on her for their mere survival. But in so doing, he would make them all vulnerable.
If she bolted, there was always the risk, no matter how small, that she might escape. He’d made sure to use only one vial of the serum, so that each and every one of his teammates would have one remaining dosage if it came down to it, but without Caroline and her blood, they would eventually die from withdrawal. Just like his soldier had died in the lab.
And it would be his fault.
He could risk his life, but not his teammates’ existence. How could he be sure that her affection wasn’t simply an adrenaline rush from him rescuing her from her perceived enemy? Hell, she’d been raised the spoiled daughter of a United States senator, how much emotional depth could she really have?
Was it even possible she’d consider putting herself back into the lab to save others?
He gazed down at her sleeping face, wishing he could see inside her soul. Maybe tonight he could talk to her, probe her, and gauge her responses without letting her know the truth. Depending on what she said, he might be able to make a fully informed decision.
If Caroline responded the way he wanted her to, he could tell her almost the whole truth. Then he’d actually stand a chance at keeping her in his life.
That thought warned him more than the sun. Coming home from the mission and knowing Caroline would be there waiting for him made his skin tingle with anticipation. She would be just as eager as she had been today, offering herself to him so unselfishly.
And she’d actually tried to push him into the pool. Reaper snorted at that, his amusement undeniable. As if a puny thing like her could budge him an inch. He’d been shocked at first that she’d even attempt such a thing. It had taken him half a second to realize that she’d been teasing him, trying to get him to smile and laugh like her. The attempt, although futile, made him look at her in a completely different light.
That Caroline was willing to give so much of herself to a man like him, whom she’d only known for such a short period of time, told him a lot.
She was special. She wouldn’t let his men die.
Caroline lifted her head from his shoulder, her heavy-lidded gaze landing on him, and propped her chin on his chest. She looked like a contented kitten that just drank an entire bowl full of warm milk. When only a little while ago she’d been a wild and abandoned tigress riding him with fervor.
“How long was I napping?” she asked in a husky voice that made him imagine doing dirty things with her.
“Couple of hours maybe,” he answered just as gruffly. His cock was already hard. It had sprung to life the moment she opened her eyes, but even he, who’d had so few lovers recently, knew he’d used her roughly and her body needed a break. He could hold out for a few more hours and give her time to rest.
“What about you? Did you just wake up?”
“No, I didn’t fall back to sleep.”
She lifted up onto her elbows, and her breast bounced in a way that begged for his touch. “Why didn’t you wake me? What have you been doing this whole time?”
Reaper tore his gaze from her and stared at the clouds directly overhead, scrubbing a hand over his face as he fought for control.
Staring at you.
“Resting. Relaxing. I’ve never really done much of that before.”
Caroline propped her dainty chin on her hand and her lips worked up at one corner. A stray lock of pale blonde hair fell over her forehead, and he brushed it back behind her ear using any excuse he could to touch her soft silky hair.
“What do you mean you haven’t done much resting or relaxing before?”
“We don’t have much downtime in my line of work. When we’re not on a mission, we’re training; and when we’re not training, we’re checking supplies or working out.” For his entire adult life, Reaper had lived for the United States government. He’d been so enthralled with their cause he’d volunteered them for Project Mayhem, willingly putting his life into their hands.
“Surely you’ve had some downtime before?”
He shrugged.
“Vacation?”
“If you call tent camping in the Middle East a vacation, then sure.”
Caroline arched her brow. “How about a day off to just do what you wanted?”
