He wasn’t joking, because by the time the sun had melted into the horizon, my throat was hoarse and my body deliciously spent.
Chapter 39
Sophie
Whatever Kian and I had was working well, and after our last talk, we fell into a new routine. Mornings started with the smell of coffee he’d bring to bed and the sound of waves and birds overlapping through the open windows.
We’d have breakfast together, and he’d help me practice my Albanian for my daily lessons with the local teacher we found. Kian turned it into a game, pointing at things like I was a kid again.
Door. Sky. Coffee. Lips. Breasts. Thighs. Those last few were very important if I was to practice medicine in this country, but more often than not, they’d lead us back to bed where I’d be given a new set of words to memorize.
By the end of the second week of lessons, the language no longer scared me. It felt clumsy to speak certain words, their vowels stretching and consonants biting back, but slowly—very slowly—I felt more confident.
But of course, I should have known these moments of bliss wouldn’t last forever.
“How about you skip your lesson today and hang out with me?” he asked as I got out of bed and stretched.
“No way.” I yawned. “You’re bound to have some importantbusiness happen and then I’ll be left doing nothing. These lessons are important.”
He chuckled and sat up on the side of the bed. “I love your dedication, my little geek.”
“I’m… not a geek,” I sputtered a little too defensively.
He walked toward me and trailed a thumb across my cheek. “It’s not a bad thing.”
I bit my lip. “Sorry, that just brought back memories. I used to be teased relentlessly about my bookishness.”
His eyes hardened. “By whom? I’ll find them and?—”
“It was ages ago.”
I couldn’t stop the smile, which made me shake my head and let out a frustrated groan. I was growing too fond of his protectiveness.
He turned my face and kissed me possessively, somehow getting me back in bed and screwing me till I lost all sense of schedules and to-do lists.
When we both came back to earth, our breathing still heavy, I breathed, “I’m still going to my lesson.”
He chuckled, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. “I know, but I’m having two men watch over you and I’ll pick you up when it’s finished.”
My brow furrowed.
“Did something happen?” He shook his head, but I couldn’t miss the way his jaw tightened. I chewed my cheek, unsure if I wanted to ruin this perfect morning, but sense prevailed. “Is it Jacqueline?” I asked.
“She may or may not be on a yacht that’s roaming between Greece and Albania.”
“Why would she be on a yacht?” I whispered. “You think she knows I’m here?”
“She might. It’s not like you changed your identity.”
I swallowed. “It honestly never occurred to me.”
“We’ll get her, I promise. The extra men are just a precaution.” He cupped my face. “Promise me you’ll remain vigilant about yoursurroundings whenever you’re not on the property. It will make me feel better.”
“I promise.” I pursed my lips. “Maybe I shouldn’t have Dina drive me.”
He chuckled. “Good luck trying to stop her.”
“But if we tell her?—”
