I expected him to clap back.
But his lips curved up instead.
“There you go. Just checking.”
“Checking what?”
“To make sure I wasn’t taking orders from someone who’s never had to make a decision in his life.”
I hated how accurate those words were. Because, yeah. I’d gone from under my parents’ thumbs to right into the military, where I was told what to wear, when to eat, and what to do… every day of my life. The only real decisions I’d ever made for myself were divorcing my wife and beating the shit out of my best friend. Not exactly a glowing record.
“It’d be different if it was just you and me. But I’m trusting you to make the right decisions for my brother. I take that shit seriously.”
“I get it,” I said, nodding.
I wouldn’t pretend to understand the depth of their connection. The sibling relationship that was also somehow like a father/son oneanda boss/employee one. That said, anyone who saw the two of them together could see how seriously Saint took his protection of his little brother. And how much Syn looked up to Saint.
“You know, I guess that’s why it works,” Saint said.
“Why what works?”
“You. Her.”
“I dunno what you’re talking about.”
“No?” he asked, smile going a little wicked. “You’re gonna try to pretend you don’t find it hot that she’s the type to bark orders at you?”
My memory flashed back to the kiss from the night before. To the way she grabbed my face, told me she didn’t say to stop, then kissed me again. Harder. Hungrier.
Yeah.
Okay.
It was kind of hot.
It was also the complete opposite of the dynamic I had with my ex. Who had been a bit of, well, a damsel in distress. She always wanted to be rescued, coddled, and taken care of. It’s probably how I got good at gifts, since I couldn’t be there for her physically, but I could provide comfort from afar.
And I dunno… there was just something about the thought of being able to take care of someone who didn’t think they needed it that really appealed to me.
“So long as you two don’t fuck so loud on the stakeout that you blow our cover and get us all killed, I got no problem with what you two do while we’re over there.”
“Gee, thanks,” I said with a huff of a laugh.
“Gonna be amusing as fuck to watch that woman walk you like a dog,” he said on his way out of the room.
Maybe that would be something to look forward to.
But the sentimental part of me was looking forward to showing her that she was safe enough to let her guard down, that she was in hands careful enough to handle her softness without leaving bruises.
And I had a feeling I was going to have more than a few opportunities to do that on this little road trip and job of ours.
Even if she started off pissed at me.
I couldn’t blame her for it.
Sure, she’d gotten off, but it was clear she was primed for more.
It was one of the hardest things I’d done, walking away from her when she’d been looking up at me with those needy eyes and flushed cheeks.
