Chapter 42 Kat
KAT
I’m surprised when we pull the Range Rover into the parking lot, the SUV we arrived in a week before occupying the same space where we’d left it.
“Grimm did a thorough sweep,” he says as he backs in and puts it in park. “We want to keep things as normal as we can when we get back to the house.”
“I don’t even know what is normal anymore.” I sigh, letting my head fall back against the headrest as my eyelids flutter closed.
“Strictly professional. We’ll give the illusion that there’s nothing happening.” He motions between us as I turn my head in his direction and frown.
“No, thank you.”
“It’s one day,” he tells me, a sexy grin on his filthy mouth—the one that had devoured me until I came all over his face before leaving the cabin.
Twice.
And then he fucked me on the counter for old times’ sake—because apparently that’s our thing—and I don’t hate it.
“It’s going to be a long day.”
“It will be regardless, but I promise to make it up to you tomorrow after the event.”
Nibbling on my bottom lip, I ask the question I’ve been too afraid to voice. “Do you really think all this will be over tomorrow?”
“That’s what we’re preparing for.” He brushes a stray lock of hair back from my face.
“But you don’t know.”
“Nothing is ever foolproof.”
“This is why I like writing. I make the rules. I know the outcome, and even when my characters go rogue, I’m still the one putting the words on the page.”
“There’s no rule book for this kind of thing, Kat. We can only speculate what someone’s motives are. They don’t need to make sense to us. We just need to figure out enough and then do everything in our power to prevent anyone from getting hurt because of it.”
“I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“You already got hurt, Kat. I won’t let it happen again.” His words have warmth blooming in my chest as I blink back tears. “Don’t do that,” he whispers, wiping the lone tear that snakes down my cheek.
“It’s hard feeling so lucky and thankful this happened but also being forced to acknowledge how terrifying it’s been too.”
“I’d give anything to go back so you weren’t in that car by yourself.”
“If it wasn’t that, it would have been something else. Their behavior has escalated just like you said.”
“I hate being right all the time.” He smiles, slow and seductive as he reaches over the center console to cup my cheek and pull me in for a kiss.
There’s not a retort worth making when all I can think about is the feeling of his tongue sliding against mine. I’ve never been loved so thoroughly. And maybe this isn’t exactly love just yet, but it’s getting there.
I’ve written characters falling in love in a couple of weeks, the traumas they face bonding them so completely it’s like they’ve spent a lifetime getting to know each other when it’s only the blink of an eye.
“What are you thinking about so hard?” His thumb smooths the space between my eyebrows as I lean into his touch.
“Feeling so connected to you and wondering if it’s real or if it’s because we’ve been in this whirlwind of high-intensity chaos.”
“I can’t speak for you.” His words are measured. Intentional. “But I can assure you, this is very real for me.” Pressing a kiss to my lips, he sighs. “And while I’d love to be able to reassure you of that completely…”
“We don’t have time.”
“We do not.”
“Fine.” Grumbling, I unclip my seat belt and wait patiently as Tom gets out and rounds the hood, his shoulders shaking with laughter.
His smile is bright when he pulls open my door, and my feet are barely on the pavement before his hands are buried in my hair and his tongue is forcing its way between my lips.
Oh God, this is good.
It’s dizzying.
The kiss is so completely consuming all I can do is hope my knees don’t buckle when he pulls away. But he doesn’t pull away, not completely.
He’s imposing when he needs to be, and he’s also graciously aware of what I need, even before I know. Do I need a hero? Or do I need the silent reassurance that my accomplishments are many and I can conquer anything life throws at me?
Right now it’s both, and he seems to know that too as he scoops me into his arms and carries me to the SUV, settling me into the passenger seat before getting the rest of our stuff and joining me in the cab.
“I almost forgot; this is yours.”
“What is it?” I ask as Tom hands me a cell phone.
“Your new phone.”
New…
“But everything is synced, right?” He shakes his head and cue the internal panic. “Tom,”—I swallow hard as my cheeks heat—“I may not have stressed this before, but I am terrible with technology and heavily reliant on all the notes and passwords I have saved in my phone.”
Also scratch all the nice things I said about him knowing exactly what I need because this is not it. I’m the person who literally holds on to anything until they tell me they don’t make the necessary parts, chargers, or updates to support the device anymore.
I’m not cheap as much as I hate change and magically became far older than my thirty-four years would suggest.
He nods, pressing the device more securely into my hand. “Which is how Royce figured out someone had duplicated your entire setup and could monitor everything you were doing.” He softens his voice. “It’s how we think they figured out where the rental was.”
“I used a personal account for the email because I wanted to be able to pull up the access code without logging in.” I want to scream and cry because when will it end? Will I ever stop looking over my shoulder? Even when this is done, will I ever be able to really live again?
It’s too much to dwell on right now, and Tom seems to realize that because he pulls me into a hug and presses a kiss to the top of my head.
“Royce made sure this one is secure.”
“Okay, but I don’t like it.”
“Your objection is noted.”
“I’m adding it to the list of things you need to make up for tomorrow night.”
“No complaints from me, Kitten.” The rumble of his voice mixes with the smooth sounds of the engine as he pulls out of the parking lot. “Just be careful what you wish for.”
No complaints here either.