Page 30 of The Specialist

I set down my coffee. “You never called.”

“I took a cab, Egan.” She approached me, tugging off her coat and leaving it on the sofa. “You’ve been up all night, haven’t you?”

“Yes.”

She stopped in front of me, cupping my cheek. I shut my eyes, leaning into her caress. “You think I’m going to leave you.”

I heard the tenor of her voice. The gentleness only she would allow me to witness.

Was she trying to let me down easily?

“Yes.”

“I’m not going anywhere, Egan.” She cradled my face between her palms. “Look at me.”

I opened my eyes, meeting her gaze. It was tired and beautiful. Filled with patience and something else. Something she had never allowed me to see before now.

Love.

My heartbeat picked up. “Sofia?”

“I can’t walk away, even though I’m scared. We’ll face whatever comes our way together.”

“Why?” I asked, needing to hear the words. Desperate for her to say them.

“I love you, Egan Vulpe. So much.”

“My past?”

“Is just that. Your past. It shaped the man you are now. The man I love. You are a warrior. My warrior. Mio guerriero.”

My heart quickened at her endearment.

“And your worries?”

“I have to let them go.”

“Tell me why,” I asked again.

“Because living without you now would hurt more than losing you in the future. I want whatever happy times we have in between.”

I stared at her. “Nothing is going to happen to me.”

“Then we get to live a long, wonderful life together,” she whispered. “If that’s what you want.”

“It is.” I covered her hands with mine. “What do you want, iubirea mea?”

“You, Egan,” she responded simply. “Just you.”

I yanked her into my embrace and kissed her. Every emotion I was feeling—relief, wonderment, joy, and love—was in that kiss. She threw her arms around my neck, kissing me back with equal fervor. I lifted her, carrying her down the hall. I was going to show her with my body what I was feeling in my heart.

Until she was saturated in me.

Until she was writhing and screaming my name in ecstasy.

And then I would start again.

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