Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
Home.
A sweet echo builds around the word.
He feels good. Strong, solid, and safe. Just what I need. Have needed for so long.
When a yawn hits, I cover my mouth.
“Sorry, I fell asleep.” I’m still bleary-eyed from napping on his chest.
“Yeah, you did, Angel. Now let me get you settled.”
As he carries me, I survey the area.
The house is behind a grove of trees, set back from the main house where we met the team earlier. We’re far enough for privacy, but close enough they could be back-up.
A calmness sweeps over me that I haven’t felt since this whole fiasco with my father began. Not that Truck can’t keep me safe, but his team’s help is just moments away.
Keeping him safe too.
When the second yawn hits, I nestle into his shoulder. “You can put me down, but this is really nice.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
“Well, then… if you insist.”
He does a one-handed thing with the electronic keypad and then pushes the door open. Never letting me go. If anything, holding me tighter.
A rough sound comes from his chest, vibration tickling my ear.
“Fuck, I never thought this little bungalow would elicit the emotion it does as I step across the threshold with you in my arms.”
Well, talk about hitting you in the feels when you’re already a raw, exposed nerve ending. It takes a few seconds before I can close my mouth.
I’m stunned silent. Except for my heart, which is singing.
He’s really feeling this too…
A tingle hits the nape of my neck, wraps around to squeeze my chest, where it heats up to a barely tolerable level.
Tone husky, he asks, “Shower or bed?”
“Shower.”
When he sets me easily onto my booted feet, I bobble.
“Instead of Trains, Planes & Automobiles, I’ve just survived the leap off a cliff, swim, crocodile attack, a boat ride, swim some more, another boat ride, a high-speed chase, roof hop, tunnel escape, and a long car ride home. I’ve got sea legs, or whatever you call them.”
He loops an arm around me. “Lean on me.”
I won’t say no to that. Fascinating how that’s changed.
Truck lets me look around for a beat, adjusting to my new environment.
“It’s not fancy.”
Bedroom, kitchen, and living room are all adjoining, an open concept with the bed behind a decorative screen. A bathroom to one side, a small sitting area to the other side.
“This place is adorable. Did you do this?”
“Oh, no. I don’t do home decor unless it’s in a fully furnished apartment. This place comes with the job. The owner of Agile bought the farm, sort of. It’s a long story. I’ll let Evan and Marianna tell you.”
“Well, it’s nice. And it feels… safe.”
He helps me take a few steps toward the bathroom. “I wish we were in a bunker, but this is safer than anywhere we’ve been.”
“I’m not worried.”
He stops, looks down at me, and something stark and open passes over his expression. “I’ll be right here, and you know I’ll do anything to protect you, babe.”
Shower forgotten, we look at each other. His arm looped around me, steadying me. Like he’s done so much. With words, holding my hand. Supporting my body.
Tears brim up and make my vision wavy. “You’ve nearly sacrificed your life for me multiple times.”
He flips his baseball cap backwards, studies me for a second, and brushes a thumb over my cheek. “I’ll do it again and again.”
A flutter takes off inside my stomach.
“Why?”
He leans in slowly, his warmth from knee to waist pressing against me as he kisses me.
It’s sweet, and full of restraint. Just a brief brush of his mouth against mine.
“Because you’re like oxygen.”
I whisper into the quiet space between us. “I like that.”
We stand like this for a long time. Just breathing each other. Until my stomach lets out a hellacious growl.
Moment killed.
“Sorry, I’m just really hungry. It’s not because I wasn’t into your kiss… or you looking at me like that. Because I’m really into it. But…” With a little cringe, I ask, “Do you think we’re really going to get tamales?”
He throws his head back and laughs.
I’m caught in the sight.
The strong lines of his throat, the way his Adam’s apple works.
I want to lick him.
Truck kisses me again, this time on the tip of my nose. “Yeah, I do. Justice won’t shut up, and Beast is a man of his word. Or Justice will go get them himself. So, I’m expecting a delivery. Knowing them, they’ll probably get churros too.”
“Oh, my god. That almost sounds as good as that shower you promised.”
“I’m holding up my end of the deal. Shower's just ahead."
He turns me loose with a gentle brush along my lower back. "Go on in. I'll grab you something to wear."
Unable to stop myself, I catch his wrist as he turns to leave. "Thank you. For everything."
His palm goes to his heart. “Those darned helicopters are back. Whirring, thumping, and dipping inside my ribcage.”
When I tilt my head, confused, he laughs.
"Nothing. I just got this thing going on inside of me… But you don't have to thank me, sweetheart."
"I do." I hold onto him with all my might because I need to say this. "You were on a mission to find me and protect me. I didn’t even know men like you existed."
He holds his breath, then sighs with his gaze dropping to the floor. “Not sure why, but you saying that feels like a cool, comforting breeze washing over me. Brushing away the fire that’s singed my soul since Hope died. Like I’ve been forgiven for my greatest error.”
Emotion claws up my throat.
I shake my head and let him go. “If you keep talking like that, I’m never going to get to wash my swamp hair.”
But it’s him that steps toward me, hemming me in against the door frame with his tall body as he cups my face in both his hands.
One of his muscular thighs brushes on the outside of my leg.
There’s fire in his gaze.
"Listen to me, sweetheart,” he says in a slow, rough tone. “We’re in this together now. I’m not stopping. Whatever's going on, whoever is hunting you, no matter how long it takes to make sure you’re safe, I’m with you. You're not alone anymore."
Oh, god. That’s the key to unleash the waterworks. Swallowing becomes impossible.
It’s silly how overwhelmed he makes me. “Sorry, I’m so sappy right now.”
“Don’t cry. Babe, I can’t take it. That’s why I took you on the run.”
I blink at him, trying to clear the waves in my vision. “What do you mean?”
He’s silent as he studies me. “We have a lot to talk about.”
He kisses me deeper this time, his mouth insistent, his tongue thoroughly wrapping and tangling with mine.
I’m dizzy and not thinking clearly when he pulls back and moves into the bathroom.
"Let me start the shower for you."
“Come with me.”
He locks up, his hand on the shower knob. “You won’t get the relaxing shower you deserve.”
“I’m okay with that.”