Page 43 of The Hunter's Empire

"It feels suspiciously close to entertainment."

That earns another quiet laugh from him. His gaze drifts slowly across my face before returning to my eyes.

"You know," he says casually, "for someone insisting this is strictly professional, you are very aware of where my hand is."

I turn toward him fully. "And for someone claiming this is operational strategy, you seem to be enjoying yourself far too much."

His expression barely shifts. But his eyes darken slightly. "Your body language disagrees with your tone."

The tension between us sharpens almost immediately after the words leave his mouth. His hand remains warm against my side, steady enough to feel intentional, and the close quarters of the jet suddenly feel far too small.

I become painfully aware of everything at once. The heat of him beside me. The quiet confidence in his voice. The fact that he notices every reaction before I can hide it.

I almost roll my eyes.

"Do not flatter yourself." I say coolly. "I am focused on the fact that we are flying toward a family known for making people disappear, not on your hand."

"Mm." Again with that sound. I look down pointedly at the hand still resting against my waist.

"Remove it if you would like to keep full use of your fingers."

That finally makes him laugh properly. Low. Genuine.

I narrow my eyes. "You are insufferable."

"And yet you are still sitting here."

Before I can answer, my phone vibrates softly against the table. Sebastian.

Something in my chest tightens immediately, settling into an emotion I don't particularly want to examine.

I answer after a second. "Sebastian."

His voice comes through, calm but tense beneath the surface. "You landed yet?"

"Not yet."

"You should have taken additional security with you."

I glance briefly toward Domenico, who says nothing but watches me carefully.

"We already discussed this." I reply evenly.

A pause. Then Sebastian exhales quietly. "Call me when you land."

"I will."

The conversation ends shortly after that.

I place the phone back down beside me, only to realize Domenico still has not moved his hand from my waist.

One corner of his mouth lifts faintly. "Fiancé?"

I hesitate for half a second before answering. "Yes."

Domenico nods once. Then, mercifully, he lets the subject go. He reaches for one of the files spread across the table and opens it between us.

"Darragh Keegan." He says. "Officially charming. Unofficially dangerous."