“Tell me.”
“Oh no. I asked about your filthy fantasies first. You tell me yours, then I’ll tell you mine.”
It’s too dark to see, but I swear her cheeks just turned the deepest shade of crimson. I feel her blush in her words, and that’s sexy as fuck.
“I can’t do that.” There goes that tiny squeak in her voice. I can’t wait to watch Eve blush where I can see all of her.
With that thought, I make a slight adjustment in how I’m sitting. My pants are getting uncomfortably tight in the groin.
Unfortunately, my attempt to find a more comfortable position results in a sharp pain shooting down my leg. I grunt and grasp my injured leg. That’s one way to get my dick to calm down.
“I really should look at that.” Eve leans forward, and as she does, the swell of her breast brushes against my arm.
I bite my lower lip and hold back a groan. My dick, the eager fuck, takes notice, growing harder, longer, and more demanding. The conversation needs to get off the topic of sex or it’s going to be a very long and uncomfortable night.
“It’s too dark. I don’t think you can see anything.”
“It must hurt so bad.”
It hurts like a motherfucker, but I’m too distracted by her being so near to concentrate on the pain.
“Only if I move.” I pull her back until we’re sitting side by side. “It’s getting late. You should get some sleep.”
“What about you?”
“I’ll keep watch.”
“You’ve got to be exhausted. We should both sleep.”
“Not gonna happen.” I make a vague gesture toward the jungle floor. “I need to keep watch.”
“How about me? I can keep watch and you can sleep. You’re going to need all the rest you can with your leg.” She shifts beside me. “And how’s your arm doing?”
“My arm is the least of my worries. That, at least, is a flesh wound.”
It’s deeper than a flesh wound. The bullet ripped through skin and muscle. Unlike the bullet in my leg, however, that bullet continued on through. The one in my leg is most likely lodged against the bone.
“Well, you need to sleep. I’ll take first watch.” She’s cute when she tries to be bossy.
“Luv, there’s no way I’m getting any sleep tonight.” And, it’s not just because I need to watch over our position. I can’t afford to fall asleep with Eve in my arms.
Eve draws her knees to her chest and peers out into the inky black of the canopy. Her attention shifts to my rifle.
“And you really think Benefield will come after me?”
“I do.”
“Wow, no hesitation there.”
“Sorry.”
“Will we be able to hear them?”
“Not how you think.”
“Huh?”
I explain to her about the rhythms of the night and how by listening to the jungle, we’ll be alerted to any human approaching.
We continue talking, which means I explain what I’m listening for, and why, as well as where Knox went and what we expect from that.
“So, all we need to do is stay put?”
“Pretty much.”
“I’m glad I’m here with you.”
I lift my arm and drape it over her shoulder, not even thinking about the intimacy of such an embrace. To be honest, it feels natural.
It feels right.
It feels even better when Eve turns toward me, curling against my side. The thing about jungles is they’re never silent, especially at night. That noise means we’re safe.
“I wish we could stay here forever, just you and me, that the outside world didn’t exist.” She lays her arm across my midsection, getting closer.
“I wish for that, too.” This moment is one I’ll never forget. I’ve found heaven, and she’s sitting right beside me, lowering her walls, and baring her soul. Nothing else in the world could be this perfect.
The wind rustles the leaves. Tree frogs and cicadas chirp and buzz at near deafening levels. Off in the distance, monkeys howl as they call out to their troop to settle in for the night. Most birds have found their roosts, but their evening song fills the air. Chirping and buzzing insects round out the noise, along with a slow drip.
Drip?
I take note of that sound in particular. Depending on how long we find ourselves here, that could be a viable source of water. I send a silent prayer to Knox. He won’t let me down, and until he can return with the rest of our team, I will keep Eve safe.
But I pray they don’t come too quickly. Like Eve, I never want this moment to end.
The pain in my leg keeps me awake most of the night, and despite the harsh discord of noise all around us, I’m acutely aware of the moment Eve drifts off to sleep while I hold her in my arms.
Trapped in a jungle somewhere in Colombia, hiding fifty feet in the air, I realize something profound.
I’ve fallen in love.
Eve is no longer a package to secure, a hostage to rescue; she’s my everything.
And I’ll do anything to keep her safe.
Anything.
My thoughts turn toward Benefield and our client. Carson Deverough.
What the hell are you two playing at?
Thirty-Three
Eve
This does feel like a dream; one I never want to end.
Perhaps, I shouldn’t cling to Max the way I am, but he’s not pushing me away. As long as he lets me touch him, I’m going to get my fill. My greedy fingers eagerly explore the expanse of his chest. They dip down to rock-hard abs and linger there for a bit, enjoying the ridges and valleys of a body cut from stone.
I’ve heard of such things, but I’ve never really felt them on a man before; the six pack, or rather an eight pack. The amount of physical training it must take to maintain this level of fitness astounds me. And I’ll admit to staring at Max’s ass during the climb up the tree.
I struggled.
Not because there weren’t plenty of hand and footholds, but because of how high we climbed. After the first ten feet, I was exhausted. Not Max. Even with a bum leg and injured arm, he climbed upward like it was nothing.
His leg worries me. I want to take a look at it, but in the darkness, what would I see? Nothing. And I don’t need to be putting my dirty fingers anywhere near the injury.
I curl up against Max and listen to the sounds of the forest. All the noises only amplify my fear, at least until he explains everything to me.
And let’s face it, curling up against a Guardian feels like the safest place on Earth. I know now what he is: a Guardian. He’s a protector and a rescuer, devoting his life to saving people like me.
Not sure when I fell asleep, I remember the precise moment when I wake in his arms. It’s to the soothing rhythm of his fingers combing through my hair. The gentle tugging on my roots relaxes me.
So perfect.
“Good morning, sleepyhead.” The low rumble of Max’s voice welcomes me to a new day.
I run my fingers over the expanse of his chest and breathe out a contented sigh.
“Is it morning?”
“Open your eyes, bubbles.” His soft laughter makes my pulse race. Either that, or it’s the ridiculousness of the nickname.