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Aiden smiled. He’d kissed her last night. Oh, how he’d kissed her. That was why he was such a mess. He’d also promised to keep her safe. What did that mean? Have one of his men watch over her again, or could he rationalize keeping her by his side? He loved that idea. Somehow he would keep his promise to his dad and not lose Chalisa on the pretense that only he could keep her safe.
He groaned.
“That’s the problem. He has been kissing her,” Stuart said.
Aiden pumped his eyebrows, and they both groaned. He was trying to tease, play this off, but Chalisa and how he loved her was no teasing matter.
“All right.” Stuart grabbed the visor of his metal helmet and yanked him in close.
Aiden let him.
“You are a warrior. Nothing is in your head but fighting, excelling, and winning. It’s who you are, and what you were made for.” Stuart’s dark-brown eyes were intense and his words even more so.
Aiden’s dad had blue eyes just like him and Ike. His dad loved them and would hug them goodnight and affectionately ruffle their hair or pat them on the shoulder. He’d always praise their success and hard work, but he’d been just as intense as Stuart’s speech. He’d heard almost those same words from his dad many times. It was exactly what Aiden needed.
“Yes, sir,” he barked out.
“Hoo-ah!” Wes hollered.
“Don’t let me down, Captain,” Stuart barked.
“Never, sir!”
“Hoo-ah!” Stuart released him, and they got back to work.
He still knew exactly where Chalisa was and what she was doing, but Stuart’s speech had helped clear his head and he could at least focus on training and excelling. A warrior. Bionic Man. What he was, and what he was made for. He couldn’t let Stuart down, or his dad.
The day was long and hard. Dinner with Chalisa looking like the most tempting angel to ever walk this earth in a black, form-fitting, V-neck dress was even harder. Her wearing the Maquech Beetle was even harder. He was certain she’d never choose that dress for herself, it was far too flashy for his sweet and unassuming Chalisa, but she looked exquisite in it.
He joked and teased with Chalisa, Prince Malik, and Princess Addie, who were seated next to them. Chalisa brushed against him too many times during dinner. Finally they finished, said their goodnights, and he was escorting her up the stairs. His heart seemed to flutter in his chest, not really beat. Could he kiss her again? This time in the main room so he wasn’t tempted to kiss the night away?
He glanced her way. She gave him a sweet smile. He needed to start the kissing right next to the necklace, take his time with her soft neck, and slowly, slowly make his way to her lips.
Wes had said he should kiss her and then he could focus. That was the advice he’d cling to tonight, pushing away Stuart’s more accurate advice about him being made to be a warrior and his dad’s voice to not let anyone into his heart or let his emotional barriers down.
At the moment, there wasn’t a barrier in place. That should’ve concerned him deeply. Instead he felt energized, buoyant, and happy. He couldn’t recall a time he’d ever felt this happy. The woman walking next to him created that happiness.
They reached the second level, and he upped their pace toward the next staircase.
“In a rush?” she asked.
He paused and traced his eyes over her beautiful face and then to her neck. Maybe the kissing could start right here and continue into their suite. He’d kiss her neck, then her lips. He’d sweep her off her feet and carry her up the next staircase and down the hallway. The kissing did not need to stop while he carried her. He could easily accomplish both with his dexterity and strength.
Sliding his arm around her back, he turned her toward him. Her blue eyes lit up.
“Aiden! Chalisa!” Mercedes’s voice floated up the stairs to them.
Aiden groaned, and Chalisa smiled at him. That smile. He didn’t care if Mercedes had to wait. She could watch them kiss. The benevolent lady wouldn’t complain.
“Aiden! Chalisa!” Mercedes’s voice was closer and out of breath from climbing the stairs.
Chalisa unfortunately turned to face their hostess. Aiden knew he should do the same. He released her, turned, and straightened, pasting on his ‘charming’ smile.
Mercedes and Shawn, flanked by two dark-haired men, ascended the staircase and stopped in front of them. The men were non-descript to him—dark hair, dark eyes, above average height, well-built, passably handsome, military bearing.
Their Navy SEAL friends had arrived. The Marines would say ‘oorah,’ but he thought of Stuart and Wes and their “hoo-ah’ and smiled bigger. He was going to decimate these two tomorrow.
The man to the left of Mercedes couldn’t seem to peel his eyes from Chalisa’s face.
