Page 37 of The Guardian

“Yes, when I was a teen.”

“And?”

“It wasn’t so bene. Not Figo. It was not hot and hard, as you say.”

I chuckled at this summation. “So, you had a boyfriend?”

“Maybe you could call him that? But he was just a boy really. You? Hmmm…” She smirked. “You are not a boy.”

“Damn,” I muttered. That smirk of hers made me feel hungry. And not the normal lust kind of hunger. Something more. I knew if I ever tasted this woman or had her under me… I would be hers permanently. With my history, the women I chose were not right for me. Dodgy as all hell. Beautiful but untrustworthy. This one, however, had a pure heart. She protected those children with her very life. Helped them and kept them well for three years. As a paid nanny, maybe. But I was sure those two hags paid her a pittance and she went further than anyone ever did to save those kids. I already saw many examples of her unselfish ways, like not wanting to endanger Rain and I.

I wanted to laugh at her protective nature towards us. He and I would be called stone cold killers by some. We weren’t afraid to spill blood or kill when we had to. This was why Carlos wanted us with him on his rescue mission in fact. What she did not seem to realize is she needed our protection and I did not care if she slept with me or not…she would still get protection.

“Henry?”

I raised my gaze to her face as I did get a little lost for a minute. “Yes, sweet Maya?”

“Do you really want…” She shook her head.

“Want?” I asked as I stepped closer to her as I added, “You?”

Nodding, she bit her lower lip.

“Hell yes, I want you.”

She stared at me.

“But if we do this. You will stay with me,” I warned her.

She cocked her head at me and asked, “For how long?”

“Forever.”

Meeting my gaze, she looked stunned. “Like… as a couple?”

I nodded. “I already know that what I feel for you is not a temporary thing. I think I have been waiting for you for a long time.”

Her eyes rounded as she asked in shock, “But how can that be? You only just met me a few days ago.”

“I know the kind of woman I don’t want. As the Americans say, been there, done that. You are special.”

She scoffed. “Men do not do such things.”

“What things?” I asked.

“Say they want a woman for always. Not when they just shared one kiss. Non essere pazzo! It is impossible.”

“It is possible. Men can fall for a woman and want to keep her, Maya.”

She scoffed. “In Italy all I met were rogues. Uomini selvaggi. Men of the night life or businessmen wanting affairs.”

“And all I met in my life were women who were unfaithful and calculating. But guess what Maya? That is not you. And furthermore, I have never been to Italy. I am a British bloke and we are gentlemen.” I gave her a wink.

She stared at me then burst into laughter.

I laughed with her. “Ok, so I’m not always well mannered and polite, but you should know that I have not had a steady woman since I was twenty-two. I have been single for a decade. And that was for two reasons. One, I was cheated on and lied to by the females I fell for.”

“That is terrible.” She cocked her head at me and asked, “And two?”