Chapter 30
30
VAUGHN
H ope fought like a wild woman beneath me, but her mouth moved against mine, meeting my advances lash for lash.
What the fuck was I doing?
I didn’t kiss. Ever. At least not since returning from Venezuela. Although you could hardly call this fierce clashing of lips, teeth, and tongues a kiss. This? This was a raw, highly charged venting of pent-up sexual energy. It didn’t feel like any kiss I’d ever had. It felt like we were going to war, battling for dominance with our lips.
Hope’s tongue invaded my mouth, seeking more. Then the little minx bit my lip hard enough to draw blood.
Surprised, I pulled back and took in her flushed cheeks, heated eyes, and crimson-stained lips. She’d never been more beautiful.
“You’re so fucking perfect,” I said, looking down upon her with bewilderment.
“I hate you,” she growled with murder in her eyes.
“Liar. The only thing you hate is that you want me.”
“Shut up, you son of a bitch.” She yanked my mouth back to hers in another bruising kiss.
I didn’t notice I’d released Hope’s hands until she dug them into my hair, the only safe place for them. She clutched the strands like she never wanted to let go. And fuck me, I didn’t want her to. If she needed me to stop, all she had to do was push against the scars on my chest and the spell would be broken.
I wanted to touch and taste her everywhere. I wanted to tear her clothes off and shove my face between her thighs. I wanted to make her come over and over again, and then I wanted to hear her beg me to fuck her. If she ever uttered those sweet words, I’d lose myself in her pussy for days.
This woman made me feel things when I couldn’t afford to feel anything. She was driving me crazy.
We had to stop this. Which begged the question: why hadn’t Hope forced me away already?
I broke off the kiss and reared back. We shared a brief moment, staring at each other in shock over what had just happened.
As if a priest had caught us fucking on a church altar, Hope’s eyes went wide, and her fingers quickly untangled from my hair. Then she slapped my face so hard the sound left my ear ringing.
“Get away from me,” she hissed, chest heaving.
I rubbed my tingling jaw. “I was just about to say the same thing.”
Outrage flashed in her eyes before she quickly masked it with contempt.
“First, you and I are going to have a little talk, and if you’re thinking about slapping me again, you should know that your violent side is a real turn-on and I won’t hold myself accountable for whatever happens after. Understood?”
Her nostrils flared. “I have nothing to say to you.”
“That’s funny, because I could’ve sworn your tongue was trying to communicate something just now.”
Her cheeks reddened. “Lapse of judgment. What’s your excuse?”
“Temporary insanity of the dick.”
Hope scoffed and turned her head, so I took her chin between my thumb and forefinger and forced her eyes back to mine. “Let me spell this out clearly, you stubborn, infuriating woman. I am not your enemy. I am not going to hurt you or put you in danger. Ever . I’m working undercover, doing jobs for la Mano Roja to get intel. I don’t like it, but once we take down the PCC, I can leave it all behind. For now, I’ll do whatever ugly things I have to do to bring the trafficking victims home and end the cartel.”
She bared her teeth. “Including handing me over to Carlos.”
What ?
“No.” I screwed my face up. “Why would you think that?”
“Because I heard you say you had a special delivery for el Capitán. Something my father would want.”
“And you thought I meant you?” I sighed and dipped my head before meeting her eyes again. “I was talking about rare Cuban cigars. The kind your father is rumored to prefer but hasn’t been able to get for a decade. I located a cache in a stash house, and I’ve been waiting for an opportunity to gain an introduction to senior Pacific Coast Cartel members. That was my in. Not you, all right? I’d never hand you over.”
I understood why overhearing that phone call made her suspicious. I should’ve told her about my involvement with la Mano Roja earlier. Truthfully, I’d been so distracted by Hope that I’d forgotten I was waiting for that call at all. But, Jesus Christ, did she really think I’d give her to our enemy?
“If you’re lying to me, I swear to God I’ll?—”
“I’m not lying to you.” I tightened my hold on her chin and stared into her eyes. Fuck. I really wanted to kiss her again. What was up with that? “I’ve never lied to you. Not once.”
Her bottom lip trembled. “I thought you were going to take me back to him.”
And she’d still kissed me? Hope was crazier than I was.
“No one’s taking you back. If anyone tries, they’ll have to get through me first, and I won’t let that happen.”
“How are you so confident?”
Because I couldn’t breathe if anything happened to you.
“Plenty of people have tried to kill me. Shocking, I know. But I’m still here, and most of them are waiting for me in hell. I might be a fuckup with everything else in my life, but I’m good at staying alive. Now, that protection extends to you.”
She sniffled. “Okay.”
I brushed a lock of hair from her cheek. “I’ll keep you safe. You’re my number-one priority.”
“I am?”
“Yeah.” My gaze roamed her beautiful face, and something constricted in my chest. “You are.”
And it had little to do with this being my job. How had that happened? And in such a short space of time?
“Until your brother replaces you.” Hope’s breath hitched. “Don’t go.”
I hesitated to answer, because I didn’t know what to say. The reasons I wanted to stay were the same reasons I should run in the opposite direction. Whatever was happening between us was more than physical attraction, and that was a problem.
I could do my job, but I couldn’t be the man Hope needed. She deserved so much more than I’d ever be able to give. I’d only disappoint her, hurt her, and leave her wishing she’d never met a screwup like me. Once this job was over, she’d be better off without me.
“I really want you to stay. Just think about it, please?” Hope added when the silence became awkward. “God, I feel like such an idiot. When I overheard your conversation, I panicked.”
“It’s not your fault. I should’ve told you about my dealings with la Mano Roja.”
“I almost hit you over the head with a shovel.” She winced. “I’m sorry.”
“You don’t need to apologize.” Especially not for the part where we’d rolled around in the sand and locked lips like fiends. “Just don’t run away from me again, all right?”
Hope nodded.
“Are we good?”
She gave me a small smile. “We’re good.”
We both tensed at the sound of a vehicle approaching in the distance.
“Are you expecting Daphne back today?” I asked.
“No. Tomorrow. It’s probably Enrique coming to build the new dog cages. Let me up.” She wiggled beneath me, but I didn’t budge. Not yet.
“Does he still think I’m your cousin?”
“Of course. Everyone thinks you’re my cousin. It’s your cover story.”
No wonder assholes at Javi’s kept staring at Hope as if she were fair game. I didn’t like that.
I grunted. “You should tell people you’re with me.”
“Why would I do that?”
“So they stop bothering you.”
“No one bothers me. Not with a face like this.” She pointed to the bumpy flesh on her cheek. “Now move.”
Did she really think the men in this town didn’t want her? If they didn’t hit on her, it was because she intimidated them and they knew they weren’t worthy.
When the vehicle drew nearer, I rose from the sand, pulling Hope with me.
She dusted herself off and looked toward the front gate, shielding the sun from her eyes. “Yeah. That’s Enrique’s pickup. I told you, he’s just a friend. Don’t scare him with your territorial macho bullshit.”
“I want to talk to him.”
“No way.” She came closer and aimed an accusing finger at me. “If you think after everything Jorge put me through that I’m going to let you interfere with my relationships, you’re out of your mind.”
“Are you seriously comparing me to that asshole? I’m nothing like Ortega.”
She folded her arms. “Prove it.”
I mimicked her pose. “I shouldn’t need to prove it. I’m only looking out for you.”
“The only thing you’re doing is being a royal pain in my ass. Go inside while I talk to Enrique, or I’ll make you regret it.”
Regret it? What the hell did that mean?
“Last chance,” she warned.
I wasn’t one of her trained strays. She couldn’t tell me what to do.
A moment later, a truck carrying lumber on its roof drove around the side of the house and parked near the kennels. Enrique the douchebag hopped out and beamed a white-toothed grin at Hope. I muttered a bunch of curse words under my breath when she smiled just as brightly.
“Hola, Kiki.” Hope strode to him and gave him a hug.
A fucking hug!
Enrique seemed as surprised as me by her enthusiasm. Was she flirting with him to piss me off? She was going to get this guy murdered.
And then she’ll hate you as much as she hates Ortega.
Dammit. My hands were tied.
“Hermosa. ?Cómo estás?” Enrique released Hope and then nodded toward me. “Hey, man.”
He was still touching her, so I couldn’t do anything except aim a death stare where his hand rested just above her ass.
Fuck. Why was my heart beating so fast? My jaw ached from how hard my teeth ground against each other.
This was stupid. How could I be losing my shit over a girl? Despite what had just happened, Hope wasn’t mine and never would be. My clenched fists and size-fourteen boots disagreed. They wanted to mess this kid up for breathing the same air as her. I lit a cigarette to calm me down.
“Don’t mind my cousin ,” Hope said, giving me a stern look. “He has a severe personality disorder.”
“It’s true.” I took a drag. “I suffer extreme violent outbursts whenever people touch my things.”
Hope looked ready to find the shovel and take another swing at me. Enrique didn’t know where to cast his eyes.
To avoid an assault charge and aggravating Hope even more, I decided to give her some space, but I wouldn’t go inside and leave her alone.
“I’ll be watching from just over there.” I pointed toward the back porch and exhaled a cloud of smoke into the sky. That information was for Enrique in case he had any ideas about getting handsy with Hope. I met her unamused gaze next. “You’ve got five minutes, and then I need to talk to you inside.”
We had to discuss tonight’s meeting with la Mano Roja and the raft of problems it posed. I had plenty of time to fly to Puerto Escondido, but how could I keep Hope safe while I was gone?
Right now, I needed her away from this fuckboy. Jealousy burned through my veins, desperate for an outlet. I was done trying to justify my possessiveness over Hope. It wasn’t going away, no matter how much logic I tried to apply to our situation. We just had to deal with it.
Hope gave me a defiant glare, so I strode to the porch without waiting for her to tell me to go fuck myself, which I probably deserved.
Titan stood shifting on his feet behind the screen door, so I let him out. Then my canine buddy and I played a game of fetch, watching Hope shamelessly flirt with that pretty-boy dipshit.
Enrique clipped a tool belt around his waist and laughed at something Hope said. She curled her hair around one finger, and I swear to God, her hips swayed more than usual as the pair made their way toward the kennels. This was torture.
“She knows we’re watching.” Titan dropped the ball at my feet, and I gave his shiny black head a scratch. “Did you know your mom was this cruel?”
He smacked his jowls, and one of his brows twitched. Pretty sure that translated to You earned it, douchebag .
Couldn’t argue with him there.